Cum Laude Inducts New Members, Celebrates Seniors
On a beautiful spring evening, seniors sat on the front patio for a ceremony honoring their induction into Penn Charter's chapter of the Cum Laude Society. Families of seniors sat under the Treaty Elm.
A national honor society established in 1908, Cum Laude celebrates Areté, Diké, Timé – Excellence, Justice, Honor.
Head of School Darryl J. Ford and math teacher Jen Ketler, secretary of Penn Charter's chapter, presented and introduced each senior inductee to the audience.
Liz Thom OPC '10 addressed the group about her commitment to and love of learning, her motivation and her career.
The following 11 seniors were newly inducted: Lauren Anderson, Angelina Atacan, Kayla Bass, Will Betts Cope, Madison Brooks, Ethan Cullen, Jackson Gold, Lauren Martz, Liam McLafferty, Hyun Su Price and Seth Spector.
Though not at the ceremony, the following 12 juniors were inducted: Lexi Bari, Steven Bernstein, Matt Clarke, Justin Cockerham, Noah Dacanay, Jack Frank, Lindsay Gadsden, Merrill Gadsden, Francis Kraemer, Danielle Shipon, Harrison Signorello and Brooklyn Trevisan.
These 13 seniors were inducted last year as juniors: Amanda Ehrenhalt, Darcy Felter, Jackson Handler, Charlotte Hodgson, Alexis Melchiorre, Lane Murray, Danielle Ohemeng, Gabrielle Polite, Madaline Puma, Jerry Rullo and Grace Turner.
As the 2022 Cum Laude laureate, Liz Thom OPC '10 spoke to the gathered crowd. A PhD candidate at Harvard, her research in comparative welfare systems and social policy looks at how "policies sometimes constrain politics, and politics often constrains policy."
"If there is a unifying thread that connects my path thus far, it’s curiosity, a drive to seek new knowledge," Thom said. "Curiosity is a state of mind that recognizes there is always more to be sought out and learned. In thinking about how to nurture a curious mind, I’m reminded of the idea of continuous revelation, which is the Quaker belief that discernment is always ongoing and that the world is constantly revealing new truths to us. By staying curious, we allow ourselves to remain open to the possibility of learning new truths and welcoming them into our lives."
Thom was inducted into the Cum Laude Society while at Penn Charter.
Congratulations to the 2022 inductees to the Cum Laude Society. See more photos.
