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St. Luke’s 2024 Cum Laude Society Induction Ceremony
Front Row L-R: Katie Summers, Megan Case, Ava Weneck, Sarah Lau, Kelly Neuner, Olivia Lee, Sienna Pilla
Back Row L-R: Watson Meyer, Eli Brody, Patrick Regan, Will Drapkin, Michael Luther, Chad Ruggiero, Bryan Larkin, Sankalp Ojha
Not Pictured: Jack Lyons, Chas Jones
Seventeen seniors were recognized at St. Luke’s Cum Laude Society Induction Ceremony on Wednesday, May 1.
Founded in 1906 by Dr. Abram W. Harris, director of the Tome School, the Cum Laude Society began with seven schools receiving a founding charter, and today more than 380 schools are charter members.
Modeled on Phi Beta Kappa at the collegiate level, the Cum Laude Society honors the scholastic achievement of secondary school students. The society’s motto, “Arete, Dike, Time,” translates from Greek to “Excellence, Justice, Honor.”
During the ceremony, St. Luke’s Head of School Mary Halpin Carter reflected back on her Cum Laude Society induction, “I remember feeling a sense of awe that I was being brought into a group of students whom I admired for their intelligence, their leadership, and their wisdom,” she told students, “I am so happy for you today because this is actually the beginning. Next year in college, keep joining groups of scholars — people who relish a life of the mind. Your impact on the body of human knowledge will be greater with the support, camaraderie, and collaboration of other great students. Seek out communities of those who share your high standards and a love of learning.”
The students inducted into the St. Luke’s chapter are:
- Eli Brody
- Megan Case
- Will Drapkin
- Chas Jones
- Bryan Larkin
- Sarah Lau
- Olivia Lee
- Michael Luther
- Jack Lyons
- Watson Meyer
- Kelly Neuner
- Sankalp Ojha
- Sienna Pilla
- Patrick Regan
- Chad Ruggiero
- Katie Summers
- Ava Weneck
This year's Cum Laude inductees plan to attend the following colleges and universities:
- Boston College
- Colgate University
- Cornell University
- Duke University
- Georgetown University
- Penn State University
- Princeton University
- Harvard University
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Maryland
- University of Georgia
- University of Virginia
- Wake Forest University
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Yale University
The Cum Laude Society Committee at St. Luke’s School includes:
- Liz Perry, Assistant Head of School for Academics & Cum Laude Chapter President
- Jim Yavenditti, Director of Studies & Cum Laude Chapter Secretary
- Ryan Kohl, US Math teacher
- Susan Doran, US English teacher
- Mitch Murphy, US History & American Studies teacher
- Joshua Schneider, US Science teacher
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
