On the afternoon and evening of Sunday, May 19, the 139 graduating members of the Charlotte Latin School class of 2024 were honored for their achievements and encouraged to sustain their high personal standards in the years to come.

At the Senior Supper, held in the Beck Student Activities Center (transformed into a swanky banquet hall), Head of School Charles D. Baldecchi thanked the class of 2024 for their perseverance under difficult circumstances and their leadership.

He then announced the 2024 Head’s Quest for Character Awards, established in 2002 by Headmaster Emeritus Arch McIntosh and voted on by the Grade 12 students themselves. The awards honor and recognize the members of each class that best exemplify each of Charlotte Latin’s six Core Values.

Caroline Howley received the Quest for Character Award for “Honor Above All.” As one of her peers said, “She wants everyone to understand the Honor Code, not as something to scare us, but something we can abide by in order to be a better student and person.”

Evie McMahan was awarded the Quest for Character Award for “Commitment to Excellence.” “She is not trying to be better than anyone else,” Baldecchi said. “She is trying to be the best version of her own self.”

Stewart Langley was honored with the Quest for Character “Thies Leadership Award.” The Student Body President was lauded for his leadership in other aspects of life, such as athletics and academics, and for constantly putting others before himself.

Robby Gette was the recipient of the Quest for Character Award for “Respect for Oneself and Others.” “This student is seen as always been kind and respectful,” Baldecchi declared before sharing a peer’s tribute: “He is awesome sauce!”

Tommy Beason was honored with the Quest for Character Award for “Personal Responsibility.” One of his peers lauded him thus: “He’s super-nice — one of those guys who always does the right thing when nobody’s looking.”

Tyler Horiuchi received the Quest for Character Award for “Moral Courage.” Baldecchi declared, “He is willing to speak up on behalf of others and is known to be brave enough to say what others are unwilling to say.”

Baldechhi also honored the 60 Latin Lifers in the class of 2024, who joined the school either in Kindergarten or Transitional Kindergarten and have been classmates ever since. He pointed out many of the ways in which popular culture had changed in that time (with perhaps the only exception being the enduring popularity of Taylor Swift).

The evening also featured gifts for the Senior Class Advisors (Caroline Cuellar, Haley Cripps, and Chris Downing) presented by Senior Class Vice President Jordan Pence; a blessing from Senior Class President Collin Degenhardt; remarks by Head of Upper School Lawrence E. Wall, Jr., in which he urged the students to maintain their high standards of leadership, and a video slideshow highlighting the exploits of the Class of 2024.

The Senior Supper Co-Chairs were Lauri Clark and Lisa Hill, with support from Kendria Sweet; the Senior Class Liaisons were Kristin Lewis and Winn Elliott; the video was prepared by Laura Casey and Lauran Godwin.

Before the Senior Supper, the Class of 2024 and their friends and family gathered at the Covenant Presbyterian Church for the Baccalaureate Service. The interfaith ceremony included a choral offering from the Upper School Concert Choir and readings from the Jewish, Buddhist, and Zoroastrian traditions. Mrs. Mary Kate McAlister Sykes ’10, Pastoral Resident for Education at Covenant Presbyterian, reflected on her own time at Charlotte Latin and the Parable of the Talents, exhorting the graduating seniors to make the most of their own gifts.

Alan R. Becker offered the faculty prayer for the Class of 2024, asking for the graduating students to have the patience needed to hold fast to their values and “the infinite strength that comes from knowing they are loved.”