Commencement 2022

On Sunday, May 22, Latin alumna Dr. Jenay Powell of the Class of 2009 delivered the commencement address to the Class of 2022 in the Beck Student Activities Center on Charlotte Latin School's campus.

Dr. Powell majored in the History of Medicine and minored in Global Health and Health Policy at Harvard University. Upon graduating in 2013, she attended medical school at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine. While in medical school, she and four classmates founded The White Coats Black Doctors Foundation, a nonprofit organization that serves to support the development of current and future black physicians. Dr. Powell is currently doing her residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis.

Excerpts from Dr. Powell's Address to the Class of 2022

As a physician who has ridden the ebbs and flows of the pandemic, I will be among the first to tell you that I've witnessed COVID's brutality firsthand. I'm also not standing up here to tell you that it's over. However, this pandemic is far from the only storm you'll weather. So, I do want to share a few of the things that I've learned along the way:

1. Triage is necessary.

2. Don your own PPE first.

3. There is no such thing as the Suffering Olympics.

4. Always look out for Future You.

5. Life can be a series of checklists — which is fine, as long as you are on them.

You all have had some experiences that will shape you and your trajectories for the rest of your lives. Already, you strike me as more mature and wiser than my colleagues were at your age, but hopefully I've said something that will resonate with you. You have already made the most of your high school years and I am certain that you will continue to thrive in college and beyond, not just because of what you've been through, but because of how you've grown from it.

Board of Trustees Chair, Denny Smith O'Leary '90; Head of School, Chuck Baldecchi; and Commencement Speaker, Dr. Jenay Powell '09.

 

Awarding of Diplomas

Diplomas were awarded by Board Chair Denny Smith O'Leary '90, Head of School Chuck Baldecchi, and Assistant Head of School Dr. Sonja Taylor.

Presentation of Class Gift

The Class of 2022 has made provision for a mural within the Inlustrate Orbem Building alongside the staircase leading from the 800 to the 900 hall. This mural will provide aesthetic beauty to the building that has become the heart of our thriving campus since these students have been in Upper School. "We hope this piece of art will stand as a monument to our school's commitment to enlighten the world," said Class President Harrison Klingman.

Presentation of Honors and Awards

Senior English Award - Isabelle Cowan (Barnard College)
Senior History Award - Laura Han (Duke University)
Senior Mathematics Award - Tyler Hill (University of Notre Dame)
Senior Science Award - Megan Aljian (North Carolina State University)
Senior World Languages Award - Harrison Klingman (The College of William & Mary)
Sunny's Honor * - Mary Schleusner (Washington and Lee University)
Student Achievement Award - Ryan Beam (Northwestern University)
Leadership and Service Award - Elaine Liu (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Faculty Appreciation Award - Ella Livingston (Wake Forest University)
Wickham Award - Cameron Kaplan (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Wickham Award - Donovan Sanders (Tufts University)
Head of School Award - Brandon Lavitt (Susquehanna University)
Valedictorian - Tyler Hill (University of Notre Dame)

*New this year. Read more.

From the Head of School

Speaking to the Class of 2022, Head of School Mr. Baldecchi began by referencing Reverend Zimmermann's words from the Baccalaureate Service, "She urged us all to slow down and not rush. Slow down and be human to each other. So that message sat with me as I drove home and the words from a Rolling Stones song kept playing in my head. If you all don't know, there is a genre of music today called Dad Music. It basically means songs from the 60s through the 90s. The song was 'Time Is On My Side.' To the Class of 2022, 'Time' is really on your side. You have a bright future ahead. I have no question you will go on to do great things because you have such a kind and bright perspective on life already. You are wise beyond your years."

The Scholarship Numbers

In 2022, 74 seniors reported 207 merit scholarships at 95 different colleges and universities totaling more than $14 million. Forty-four students were awarded more than $100,000 each in scholarships. Twenty-seven students have decided to matriculate at a college which offered them merit scholarship money.

Senior Supper

Congratulations to the following seniors who were recognized at the May 15 Senior Supper in the Beck Student Activities Center.

Head of School's Quest for Character Awards

Honor Above All - Maddie Shannon
Commitment to Excellence - Daniel Haughton
Thies Leadership Award - Brandon Lavitt
Respect for Oneself and Others - Julie Derraik
Responsibility - Harrison Klingman
Moral Courage - William Burleson

National Merit Commended Students

Kennon Acks
Megan Aljian
Ryan Beam
Helena Berens
Erin Corwin
Vikram Dhillon
Katherine Fultz
Sam Kaw
Shea Kennedy
Elaine Liu
Ryan Lupfer
Kaya Nichols
Dan Schwarz
Abby Snyder
Sophia Vona
Alex Wu
Irene Yang

National Merit Finalists

Walden Becker
Benjamin Bridges
Davis Cary
Joshua Fan
Rachel Hall
Laura Han
Cora Snyder
William Zhou

National Merit Scholarships Accepted

Rachel Hall
Laura Han

Honors and Awards

Congratulations to the following seniors who were recognized at the May 20 Honors and Awards Assembly in Thies Auditorium.

Coach's Award in Speech & Debate - Elaine Liu
Outstanding Competitor in Debate - Davis Cary
Class of 1975 Award - Thierry Charles
Global Citizens Award - Ryan Beam
Marjorie Nicholls Friendship Award - Kate McCracken
Patrick N. Calhoun Sportsmanship Award - Mary Schleusner
Student Council Award - Elaine Liu
Outstanding Achievement in Art - Millie Holtz
Excellence in Drama - Lizzy Griesser
Music - Band (John Phillip Sousa Excellence in Band) - Thierry Charles
Music - Choral (National Choral Award) - Sharanya Ravi Kumar
Music - Orchestra (National Orchestra Award) - Joshua Fan
Musical Theater (Excellence in Music Theater) - Kate McCracken
C.W. Stacks Service Award - Rachel Hall
C.W. Stacks Service Award - Elaine Liu
C.W. Stacks Service Award - Quincey Moreland
Cervantes Award in Spanish - Sydney Gee
Homer Award in Greek - Kate Addison
Petrarch Award in Latin - Josie Harper
Eyry Award - Aven Cutter
Eyry Award - Josie Harper
Hawk Eye Award - Ryan Lupfer
Baird Award - Shea Kennedy
DAR Good Citizen - Harrison Klingman
Morehead-Cain Scholarship at UNC-Chapel Hill - Thierry Charles

Latin Lifers

Kennon Christopher Acks

Benjamin Rudisill Anderson

Evelyn Stewart Austin

Ryan Patrick Beam

Walden Matthew Becker

Brooke Raja Bellavia

Isabella McClure Brawley

William Baker Burleson

Cross McDonald Canady

Maret Wallace Claytor

Jessica Lynn Clover

Erin Rebecca Corwin

Isabelle Grace Cowan

Aven Elizabeth Cutter

John William Dannemann

Hamilton Chace Davis IV

Luisa Maria de Armas

William Cleckley Dolan, Jr.

Bennett Addison Eastridge

Grayson Thomas Gatrel

Sydney Rebekah Gee

Elizabeth Lanier Griesser

Morgan Elizabeth Hammer

Noelle Marie Hein

Tyler Ray Hill

Sarah Noel Hinrichs

Thomas Patrick Hullinger

Cameron Austin Kaplan

Shea Maren Kennedy

Harrison Hunter Klingman

William Carson Latta

Nina Sarah Lavelle

Abby Caitlyn Lebda

Mary Ella Livingston

Robert Samuel Lucas

Camilla Parmer Mattei

Lillian Kathleen McMahan

Conner Mahlon McRae

Walker Everett Mermans

Quincey Elizabeth Moreland

John Bruce Morrill III

David Martin Mosrie

Anna Yurievna Nesmelova

Christopher McAllister O'Leary

Kamryn Elisabeth Overcash

Caroline Mary Paschal

John Reynolds Pence

Anna Elizabeth Pope

Sharanya Ravi Kumar

Ryan Owens Reimers, Jr.

Anna Miller Rogers

Mary Ellison Schleusner

Daniel Alexander Schwarz

Madelaine Boyce Shannon

David Jackson Simerville

Sophie Elizabeth Smith

Edward Davis Thompson

Wilson Glenn Thrift

Chloe Parker Wooster

Claire Anne Zimmerman