The Upper School honored its new inductees in the Seven Hills chapter of the Cum Laude Society, a national honor society which recognizes academic excellence, at the Cum Laude Dinner April 14. The event also honored the members of the Cum Laude Society who were inducted last year as juniors: Britt Cyr, Sarah Kloepper, Danny Korn, Gilbert Pasquale, Sara Schonfeld, Josh Wang, and Henry Warrington. Head of School Chris Garten said, “Modeled after Phi Beta Kappa at the college level, the Cum Laude Society recognizes academic excellence in some of this country’s most prestigious high schools. Membership is strictly limited to schools with exemplary academic programs, and our having been granted a chapter at Seven Hills, one of just a handful in the state of Ohio, is a recognition of the strength of our school. Induction today means that these students are being recognized as among the best of the best in secondary education in the nation.” It’s a tradition at the event for faculty members of the Cum Laude Committee to address each new member with remarks compiled from quotes from the student’s teachers. Excerpts from those remarks appear on these pages.
Congratulations to New Members of National Cum Laude Society Justine Cefalu (11) “You are described as a student who invariably brings something to each of your classes. It might be insightful comments that lend depth to the discussion, it might be a creative solution to a mathematics problem, it might be lending a helping hand or offering a useful thought to a classmate but most of all it seems that you bring an enthusiasm for learning in your own unique way. You have been willing to work very hard and always maintain a vibrant sense of humor.” David Abineri Peppar Cyr (11) “Mr. Abineri comments on your wonderful talent for thinking critically and for problem solving in math, but we can find the same traits in English, history, science, language, music, theater—in all that you do. You throw yourself into a class with energy and enthusiasm, testing your knowledge, pushing personal boundaries, and, when necessary, fixing your own problems. Mrs. Ford may have spoken for us all when she wrote that you inhale knowledge and exhale excellence.” Lowell Wenger Joshua Dunaway (12) “To say that you are well prepared and fully engaged only touches the surface. In economics, I appreciated your desire to probe beyond the obvious, to look for multiple facets of an issue, and to present your findings in a clearly phrased and carefully crafted response. But then you bring that avid curiosity and strong determination to solve problems to math, English and every class. We appreciate the obvious joy you have in learning and your readiness to share it with the class.” Lowell Wenger
Retiring Science Department Chair David Abineri, who presided over the Cum Laude Dinner, and guest speaker and 1983 alumna Dorothy (Dotty) Shaffer, M.D. Dr. Shaffer practices at Full Spectrum Health Center (internal medicine, acupunture, holistic therapy) in Cincinnati. “David Abineri was the best teacher I ever had,” she told the dinner guests, who responded with enthusiastic applause.
Maddie Elkus (12) “Your teachers can attest to your literary strengths and finely-tuned linguistic and analytical skills. As a lifelong, passionate reader, you are a broadgauged learner, a student who has enjoyed your humanities classes as much as your chemistry and biology classes. Kindness and compassion, social responsibility, the importance of family, and a strong work ethic are all principles that you live by. Besides your strong intellect and academic motivation, you bring deep reservoirs of good will, compassion, and respect.” Wynne Curry 16