Cum Laude Society Inducts 16 New Members

Bryn Mawr is pleased to announce sixteen students from the Class of 2023 have been inducted into the Bryn Mawr chapter of the Cum Laude Society, an international organization dedicated to recognize scholastic achievement in secondary schools.

Seniors Lucia Ayala, Makenna Bachman, Bridget Bauman, Christina Biuckians, Amara Danchin, Kiara Dresp Pedra, Jane Eiswert, Arezu Fayyazi, Margaret Lynch, Sabrina MacArthur, Francesca Polito, Meredith Schatz, Rachel Shin, Reese Woodworth, Caroline Wu and Catherine Zic were recognized for their academic accomplishments as they were welcomed into the society during a special ceremony in Centennial Hall. 

 

The Cum Laude Society is modeled after Phi Beta Kappa and was established in 1906 as Alpha Delta Tau, the became the Cum Laude Society in the 1950s. Today it includes 382 chapters around the world. The Bryn Mawr Chapter was established in 1984. The faculty members of the Bryn Mawr Chapter include representatives from the Upper, Middle and Lower School, this year it was coordinated by Upper School biology teacher Reema Khanchandani, with Upper School history teacher Irina Spector-Marks ’04, Ann Marie Strauss, director of college counseling and Kate Brendler, Middle School science teacher. 

Membership is selective as the society was created to celebrate not only academic achievement, but to promote justice, honor and excellence. Upper School Director Dr. Nicole Hood described the inductees as having, “distinguished themselves as scholars and as school citizens by bringing their high standards and applying their dedication to all of their school commitments.” 

Christina Jacobs Easton ’02 and current trustee was invited as guest speaker to share her experiences and the importance of education and student leadership, the value of bold voices and creating and cultivating an environment of equity and joy.  

In addition to The Cum Laude Society induction, seniors were also recognized with departmental awards for academic excellence and intellectual curiosity.  

The Britten Moore Math Award — Makenna Bachman

The Creative Writing Award — Katie Nelson

The Ruth Bridgman Pagon Memorial Award — Marguerite Antoniades

The Lawrason Perkins deMuth Prize in History — Natalie Cai

The Rosemary Elliott Keyser Harder Art Award — Merriwether King

The Music Prize — Carolyn Su

The Class of 1974 Performing Arts Prize — Mia Boydston

The Evelyn Estey Sanders Latin Prize — Reese Woodworth

The Yvonne Green Goodhue Modern Language Prize — Maya Reedich

The Clare Coriell Hardy Award in the Sciences — Lucia Ayala

The Lynn Sears Byank Computer Science Award —Lucia Ayala

 The Anne Pugh Award — Reese Woodworth