This morning, the class of 2025 graduated from Charlotte Latin School in joyful and moving Commencement Exercises. Students received diplomas and handshakes from Head of School Charles Baldecchi, Head of Upper School Lawrence E. Wall and Board of Trustees Chair Rael Gorelick; some then punctuated the moment by bumping fists with commencement speaker Carson Clough ’12, but all confidently walked across the stage in the Beck Student Activities Center in front of their friends, family, and loved ones, stepping forward into their futures.

The day included music from the Upper School Concert Choir and the Charlotte Latin Philharmonic; it began with a reflection from Ross Bellavia ’25 (vice president of the Student Council) and the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Andrew McDonald ’25 (secretary of the Student Council). Rael Gorelick welcomed the 144 graduating members of the class of 2025. “Today is only the culmination of who you’ve become in the years past,” he told them. “Latin graduates find great success in this hard world, and I can’t wait to watch you all.”

Lawrence Wall presented some significant academic awards. The Senior English Award went to the “stylistically sophisticated” and “nonconformist” Natalie Gaslin ’25. The class’s valedictorian, she also received the Senior Classical and World Languages Award. “She works hard, not merely to understand, but to make meaning,” Wall said.

The recipient of the Senior History Award was Norah White ’25; Wall cited her “intellectual precision” and her “masterpieces of deep scholarly insight.”

“‘Brilliant’ is not a term we use lightly in the Science Department,” Wall said, but nevertheless applied it to a student who had displayed “the highest levels of cognition.” Adam Stone ’25, the class’s salutatorian, received both the Senior Science Award and the Senior Math Award.

Charles Baldecchi then took the podium. With the assistance of Deborah Harris, mother of Sara Harris Hutchinson ’93, he presented the award named in her memory, Sunny’s Honor. “The recipient of Sunny’s Honor is one who, in the estimation of his or her classmates, lights up a room with boundless enthusiasm, connects deeply by seeking first to understand, and commits fully to both academic and extracurricular life on campus,” he explained. “For her exceptional ability to brighten every room she enters,” he said, Sunny’s Honor this year was awarded to Maggie Hyder ’25.

The Student Achievement Award honors a student who has shown impressive growth and persistence in their Upper School academic career. It went to Alessandra Martin ’25, who he said demonstrated “pure determination and a willingness to work hard to achieve her best.”

The Leadership and Service Award went to a student who distinguished himself with his work on Student Council, Service Council, and especially Club Sandwich. “His legacy will not be measured merely in achievements, but in the countless lives he has touched through his exceptional capacity to listen, empathize, and inspire,” Baldecchi said of Tyler McAndrews ’25.

Baldecchi said that Maggie Hyder ’25, who received the Faculty Appreciation Award for enhancing the culture of Latin’s classrooms, “exemplifies what it means to strengthen a community through passion, dedication, hard work, empathy and joy.”

The Wickham Award, funded by the Charles Wickham family, finances post-collegiate travel for a future community leader in the hope that it will provide some time for students to contemplate their futures: this year, Camille Becker ’25. “While carrying an exceptionally rigorous course load is impressive enough, this student is known even more for her kindness, her inclusivity, and how she values community above all else,” Baldecchi said.

The Head of School Award went to Phillip Hullinger ’25, who Baldecchi said bleeds Latin blue: “When it comes to CLS, he’s all in and he will show up on time, every time.”

Baldecchi also paid tribute to Lawrence Wall, who is retiring after 25 years as Head of Upper School. “As integral as teaching is to his identity, he will never truly retire as long as there are people around him, people who no doubt would be better off if they knew just a bit more about the uses of the subjunctive,” Baldecchi said. Wall received a Charlotte Latin diploma and a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd.

Turning back to the class of 2025, Baldecchi shared some statistics about their various accomplishments, including their college admissions: they were accepted to 165 schools, and will be attending 72 different institutions this fall. The school that will be graced by the largest number of Hawks is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; 14 of the 22 Latin students who were admitted there will be attending in the fall.

Baldecchi struck an emotional note as “Head Dad,” noting that his youngest child, Cade Baldecchi ’25, was receiving her diploma. He praised the members of the class of 2025: “They are resilient and intelligent. They are leaders. They are courageous, creative, talented, and impressive. They are Latin.”

Carson Clough, introduced by Anish Thora (president of Student Council) is the CEO and cofounder of Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters. He also won a silver medal competing in triathlon in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Reflecting on what he described as his own checkered Latin career, he told the graduates, “I was the reason you guys can no longer wear sweatpants to class.”

In a funny and wise speech, Clough told the class of 2025 about the boating accident that cost him a portion of his right leg and his determination not to define himself as a victim afterward. “I had a choice,” he said: “Wait for my leg to magically grow back or move forward anyway.” He decried how victimhood could make people side characters in their own lives and said that “when you reject victimhood, you also regret entitlement.”

The two fundamental lessons that Clough impressed on graduates were that “We do not get to choose every event that shapes us, but we do get to choose how we respond” and “The world does not owe us anything.” He added, “I share this adventure not to scare you but to empower you.”

The 144 empowered members of the class of 2025 then received their diplomas, with Associate Head of School Dr. Sonja L. Taylor reading their names, to rolling crescendos of applause and cheers. 

Tyler McAndrews ’25, treasurer of Student Council, delivered a closing reflection, in which he said that he had thought that he would be in high school forever; he conceded that he had been wrong, but that high school would nevertheless stay with them forever. Charlotte Latin School’s class of 2025 then marched out into the sunshine to celebrate and to begin the next chapters of their lives.