Pursuit of Excellence Exemplified in Cum Laude Inductees

After having inducted seven new members into Hamden Hall’s Chapter of the Cum Laude Society in the fall, another eight seniors were installed at a recent ceremony.

Cum Laude Chapter leaders Yasmin Haque and Judith Bratt inducted Peien “Nick” Ma, Spencer McCleery, Nicholas Perkins, Cameron Saidock, Amandine Sime, Victoria Yi, Steven Zhang, and Zijing “Carol” Zhou.
Seniors Ruth Wang, Nathan Thomas and Josh Baehring, who were among those inducted in the fall, were also on hand for the event.

“Students selected to be inducted into Cum Laude have achieved success by earning high grades in the most difficult and demanding classes at Hamden Hall, earning recognition from the College Board or the National Merit Scholarship Program, and generally delivering in every aspect of student life,” said Head of School Bob Izzo.

According to Ms. Haque, it is “truly noteworthy” to be inducted. Hamden Hall is among 382 Cum Laude chapters – representing just about 1 percent of all high schools in the country. Hamden Hall is proud to be one of those schools, said Mr. Izzo.

Founded in 1906, the Cum Laude Society is dedicated to honoring scholastic achievement in secondary schools, according to the organization’s website. Inductees are engaged, self-disciplined learners who have discerned that such practices are a much more interesting and rewarding way to experience high school.

“This sustained pursuit of excellence over the entire course of their high school years qualifies them for consideration into Hamden Hall’s Cum Laude Society,” maintained Mr. Izzo.

With such distinction also comes responsibility, said Ms. Bratt

“We hope that the students accept this honor as a responsibility to make a contribution to the ongoing search for greater understanding of humanity and society,” she said.