“All of our shared journeys have led to this moment,” said Ross Bellavia ’25 (vice president of the Student Council) at the Charlotte Latin School Convocation Exercises on the morning of Friday, August 30. The ceremony officially marked the beginning of the senior year of the class of 2025, who were in attendance in Thies Auditorium in academic caps and gowns, joined by family members, Latin faculty and staff, and the classes of 2026 and 2027.

“In order to lead, one must command respect,” said Lawrence Wall, Head of Upper School, in his remarks. He observed that the senior class had earned that respect: “They have accepted the mantle of leadership, and we celebrate them here today.”

After sharing some of their academic achievements (including an average ACT score of 30 and having 17 AP Scholars among their number), Wall related some of the astonishing, globe-spanning achievements of the class of 2025. A few highlights from his list: Latin seniors have variously climbed the Pyrenee mountains, flown a Cessna 172 while working towards a pilot’s license, completed Fab Academy, drummed in a garage band, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and competed at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Australia. He concluded, “Most of all, class of 2025, you are nice young people with good hearts.”

Anish Thota ’25, president of the Student Council, introduced the Convocation speaker, Upper School History Teacher Whitney Duquette, by praising how she always prioritized her students over her daily lesson, advocated for personal growth, and energized early-morning meetings with her positive attitude.

Duquette’s remarks centered on one of her favorite pedagogical modes: the Harkness discussion. “A Harkness discussion is similar to a Socratic seminar, but it is more student-driven,” she helpfully defined for those in attendance who hadn’t taken one of her classes. “The purpose is to gain a greater understanding of topics and/or texts, collaboratively.”

As she pointed out, the qualities that make for a good and meaningful discussion translate directly to a good and valuable community, and valuable contributors to a Harkness discussion are well-prepared to be leaders outside the classroom. The fundamentals: calling people by their preferred names, referring to outside sources when making a point, raising questions, making connections among disparate topics, not interrupting other people, and showing enthusiasm and compassion for other people’s points of view.

“It’s only fair to remind you that this is not easy,” she concluded. “We practice being good people wrestling with complicated ideas in a Harkness discussion so that we are prepared to be good people wrestling with complicated ideas in the world outside Latin.”

(She also a shared a neologism from her six-year-old daughter: “tree blood” for maple syrup, as in “Mama, don’t you think tree blood is delicious?” Which in addition to being a delightful coinage, underscored the point that even when you’re confident you know that somebody is about to say to you, you can be wrong.)

Tyler Andrews ’25, secretary of the Student Council, offered a moment of gratitude; Andrew McDonald ’25, treasurer of the Student Council, led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. Music was provided by John Herrick, Amy Morris, Brian Winegardner, and the Concert Choir of Charlotte Latin School.

In his remarks, Chuck Baldecchi, Head of School, urged the seniors to “live in the present and live out each moment every day” and warned them that this year would pass by in an eyeblink. “Seniors, your time has come,” he told them. “Go illuminate and enlighten the world.”