Thistletalk Autumn 2008 - Winchester Thurston School

wt todayNine Seniors Inducted intoCum Laude SocietyIn January 2008 Winchester Thurston School inducted ninemembers of the Class of 2008 into the Cum Laude Society, anorganization dedicated to recognizing academic achievement insecondary schools. Founded in 1906, Cum Laude was modeledafter Phi Beta Kappa and has grown to 350 chapters, most ofwhich are located in independent schools.The nine outstanding members of the class of 2008 selectedfor induction were:Jon-Paul BerexaSamuel WyattPeter CurtisAlexandra Dixon-ErnstYin Yin OuEmily PantaloneIda PosnerAmelia PossanzaSophia Ward-VetranoDr. David Seward, Director of College Counseling, commentsthat, “Induction is a very selective award limited to the top 20%of a given class, and is a purely academic honor.”The students selected Dr. Michael Naragon, Chair of WT’sHistory Department, to speak at their induction. Dr. Naragondelivered a moving, eloquent tribute to the Upper Schoolstudents. He noted that each of the nine inductees embody character,honor, and integrity in his or her own unique way, and that“these commonalities transform [the] moment, elevating it froma celebration of what these young men and women have done toone in which we can begin to imagine the types of leaders thesesame young men and women will be.” Naragon urged studentsto look to history as one guide on the path toward a “world inwhich we expect those who lead communities, corporations, andcountries to be revered for their honesty and sagacity as well astheir intellect,” and to learn from history as they go out into theworld to make their own.18 T h i s t l e t a l k A u t u m n / 2W0i0n8te r 2 0 0 8