RECOGNITION DAY April 28, 2025
AWARDS DAY May 14, 2025
MIDDLE SCHOOL CEREMONY May 15, 2025
COMMENCEMENT May 24, 2025 Chattanooga, Tennessee
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2025
NINE O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING BAYLOR SCHOOL HEYWOOD STADIUM
PRELUDE
PROCESSIONAL
(please remain standing)
NATIONAL ANTHEM ................................................................ Maggie Tansor ’25
INVOCATION ............................................................ Bradley Ilunga-Bisselele ’25
SALUTATORY ......................................................................... Vivien Webster ’25
SPECIAL FACULTY-STAFF RECOGNITION.............. Chris Angel ’89, Head of School
ACADEMIC HONORS ....................... Shaw Wilson ’84, Assistant Head of School
JO CONN GUILD SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
REISMAN VALEDICTORY AWARD
VALEDICTORY ......................................................................... Meghan Royal ’25
REMARKS ................................................... Chris Angel ’89, Head of School
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS .........................Chris Angel ’89, Head of School Shaw Wilson ’84, Assistant Head of School
READER.......................................... Garrison Conner ’05, Upper School Head
ALMA MATER
BENEDICTION .......................................................................Will Ratterman ’25
RECESSIONAL (please stand)
2025 GRADUATING CLASS
VALEDICTORIAN: Meghan Marie Royal
SALUTATORIAN: Vivien Violet Webster
Lilly Hayden Adair
Kathryn Maelynn Adams-Cook
Brandon Barrett Adkins
Tova Oluwatomi Ajayi
Ebun Eden Akinlaja
Leya Wesam Alani
Drake Charles Alling
Stella Lillis Allison
Laura Kathryn Anderson
Abigail Rose Angel
Jackson Thomas Babb
Gregory Alfred Bailey
Praval Reddy Bathi
Emily Woodruff Beardsley
Hannah Scott Belsinger
Margarette Elizabeth Berdy
Jackson Ray Alexander Bergmann
Marshall Allen Bible
Jaxston Emmett Bishop
Jessy Michelle Blevins
Jacob Steven Bond
Charles Bolton Born
Franchesca Joyce Brooksbank
Reagyn Alexandria Brown
James Dallas Bryson
William Nelson Buiel
Margaret Grace Bullock
Finley Constance Burnette
Miles William Busch
Jiashu Cao
Aden Jarrett Cash
Alisha Annika Chandra
Emerson Grace Clement
Aidan Michael Clementson
Camden Matthew Cloud
Nyrider Dennis Cofer
Lane Thomas Cooper
Molly Kate Cope
Brent Alexander Coppage
Gabriel Alesander Costilow
Isabelle Madeline Cox
Oona Stetson Cruikshank
Emily Kate Cuthbertson
Roman Jack Damkier
Benjamin Wilcox Daniel
Benjamin Lee Darnell
Bryce Kimbrough Davis
Mary Katherine Dickson
Matthew Shelton Dill
Charlotte Lindsay Dillmon
Joakim Deshae Dodson
Wade Caswell Donovan
Sloane Harper Drayer
Natalie Regina Duke
Katherine Michele Eller
Claire Smiles Ellish
Justine Emond
Fernando Figueiredo Navarro
Claudia Pearson Finlay
Allison Danielle Fisher
Maryl Claire Ellen Ford
Carlton Montgomery Forrester Jr.
Charley Lane Fowler
Parker Elizabeth Frierson
Laney Marie Frost
Ava Elizabeth Gallien
2025 GRADUATING CLASS
Helena García Nieto
Juliana Isabel Gardner
William Davis Garrett
Rosalie Gauvin
Haoqi Ge
Brenley Claire Gentry
Charles Eugene Good
Lucius Elizabeth Gratz
Addison Marie Greene
Fisher Harvey Greenfeld
Julia Claire Guthrie
Mary Margaret Guthrie
John Elisha Haddock
Rees Caroline Hamilton
Prescott Vining Hampton
William Tatham Harrison
Chase Colby Hart
Lilian Marie Hartley
Sophia Kay Hartung
Reife Davis Hawkins
Luciana Joy Hemphill
Edith Sarah Herndon
Maxton Reece Hickman
Gabriel Rowan Hill
Sara Frances Hill
Ella Brett Hitchcock
Katherine Greer Horridge
Avery Elizabeth Houston
Frederick Harvey Howalt IV
Joseph Bailey Howalt
Bradley Bernard Ilunga-Bisselele
Garrit Illges Jackson
Michelle Jiang
Teag Micah Johnson
Wade Karner Johnson
Livia Jane Jordan
Arya Ganapathy Kallambella
Addilyn Noel Kegerreis
Grey Anissa Kelley
James Corbin Kelley
Harper Elsie Kelly
Lars Gottlieb Korthals
Philippe Laforge
Rowan Alexander Langston
Ella Grace Lazenby
Owen James Leavy
Alexis Leclerc
Thomas Carroll Lee IV
Cooper William Lehman
Charlotte Emmaline Lind
Avery Ella Listen
Tsianina Austin Lohmann
Cole Peterson Lookabill
Joel Tate Lowenberg
McGee Templeton Lowrance
Elizabeth Rose Lydon
Abigail Kay Mahan
Emily Jane Mahan
Zuri Eugene Marler
Reed Henry Martin
Lea Jocelyne Masson
Ava Caroline McCoy
Jackson Blake McGowan
Harry Scott McGuire
Michael Randolph McLaughlin Jr.
Lander Phipps McNeely
Aidan Rois McRorie
Bruna Sofia Mendes Monteiro
Noah Alexander Miles
Shekai Mills-Knight
Isabella Brooke Moore
William Mercer Murphy
2025 GRADUATING CLASS
Raphy Christeli Nkunzimana
Maximus Parker Norman
Layli Marie Nunes
Sydney Rose Pack
Elijah Collin Panter
Reyna Haeun Park
Olivia Lee Alexandra Peeker
Mia Sophia Perdomo
Curtis Fox Quinn
Julian Anthony Ramirez de Arellano
Willingham Larson Ratterman
Frances Morgan Raulet
Kennedy Sian Ray
Mary Blake Reese
Christopher Scott Renegar Jr.
Zane Restelli
Tyler James Rice
Grady Matthew Robbins
Matthew Michael Rosenke
Meghan Marie Royal
Aiden Saadeh
Kevinas Šacas
Saylor McCall Scearce
Hays Hammond Scoggins
Bailey Anna Shahan
Sydney Brooke Sharpe
Layah Jordan Shelton
Juliet Beatrice Sikes
Grace Evelyn Simmons
Violet Olivia Simon
Jayla Sanaa Simpkins
Miriam Vassar Sliman
Augusta Berkeley Smith
Jonathan Kosango Smith
Luke Edward Smith
Olive Maria Smith
Sasha Elizabeth Smith
Vivian Smith
Aly Asad Sohani
Cameron Lamar Sparks
Damian James Sparks
Kristin Elizabeth Spykerman
Gilbert Harris Strohmaier Stein
Caroline Matthews Stickley
Hunter Anderson Sturgill
Caiden Elizabeth Sumner
John Hadley Sutter
Margaret Constance Tansor
Kuzey Tukel
Ivey Elizabeth Vance
Coralie Ruth Verville
Vivian Radna-Mae Vetzel
Felix Sawyer Vicknair
Lucas Reed Waldrep
Soriyah Da’Yanna Ware
Mabry Corbett Warren
Bruin Mitchell Webster
Vivien Violet Webster
Carter David Weekley
Kramer Scott Weidlich
Gage Kolb Whited
Elizabeth Donelson Williams
Madeleine Grace Winchester
Nolan Jonathan Witt
Thomas Brody Womack
Christopher Michael Wyller Jr.
Jiang Xu
Evan Hyun-Jung Yim
Sean Kazuma Yoshida
Yueran Zhang
Xingshun Zhao
Eric Jiaen Zheng
2025 COLLEGE MATRICULATION
The Graduating Class of 2025 will be attending the following Colleges and Universities:
Auburn University
Baylor University
Belmont University
Berry College
Boston University
Brigham Young University
Brown University
California State University (Long Beach)
Carnegie Mellon University
Carson-Newman University
Centre College
Chattanooga State Community College
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Claremont McKenna College
Clemson University
Coastal Carolina University
College of Charleston
College of the Holy Cross
Concordia University - Montreal
Cornell University
Covenant College
Cumberland University
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Dartmouth College
Denison University
East Tennessee State University
Emerson College
Fordham University
George Washington University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Hampden-Sydney College
High Point University
Howard University
2025 COLLEGE MATRICULATION
Indiana University
Indiana Wesleyan University
Kennesaw State University
KU Leuven
Lake Forest College
Laval University
Lee University
Lincoln Memorial University
Lipscomb University
Louisiana State University
Lynn University
Middle Tennessee State University
Mississippi State University
Montana State University
North Carolina State University
Northeastern University
Penn State University
Rhodes College
Rice University
Rollins College
Saint Joseph’s University
Samford University
Sewanee: The University of the South
Shorter University
Southern Methodist University
Stetson University
SUNY University at Buffalo
Syracuse University
Tennessee Technological University
Texas Christian University
The University of Alabama
The University of Tampa
The University of Tennessee (Chattanooga)
The University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
Troy University
Tufts University
2025 COLLEGE MATRICULATION
Union Commonwealth University
United States Naval Academy
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
University of California - Irvine
University of Central Florida
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Georgia
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Kentucky
University of Mississippi
University of North Carolina at Asheville
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Oregon
University of Richmond
University of South Carolina
University of Southern California
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
University of Washington
Vanderbilt University
Wake Forest University
Washington and Lee University
Washington College
West Virginia University
Western Kentucky University
Wofford College
CUM LAUDE SOCIETY
Maelynn Adams-Cook
Abigail Angel
Jackson Babb
Emily Beardsley
Margarette Berdy
Danny Cao
Alisha Chandra
Camden Cloud
Isabelle Cox
Oona Cruikshank
Benjamin Daniel
Molly Kate Dickson
Claudia Finlay
Laney Fowler
Julia Gardner
Lucy Gratz
Tate Harrison
Edie Herndon
Max Hickman
Sara Hill
Harper Kelly
Avery Listen
Abby Mahan
Lea Masson
Ava McCoy
Mercer Murphy
Julian Ramirez de Arellano
Mary Blake Reese
Tyler Rice
Meghan Royal
Aiden Saadeh
Bailey Shahan
Grace Simmons
Sasha Smith
Kristin Spykerman
Caroline Stickley
Johnny Sutter
Vivian Vetzel
Felix Vicknair
Soriyah Ware
Vivien Webster
Sean Yoshida
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Maelynn Adams-Cook
Abigail Angel
Jackson Babb
Greg Bailey
Praval Bathi
Emily Beardsley
Margarette Berdy
Franny Brooksbank
Will Buiel
Danny Cao
Alisha Chandra
Camden Cloud
Lane Cooper
Brent Coppage
Isabelle Cox
Oona Cruikshank
Kate Cuthbertson
Roman Damkier
Benjamin Daniel
Molly Kate Dickson
Charlotte Dillmon
Katie Eller
Claire Ellish
Justine Emond
Claudia Finlay
Allison Fisher
Carlton Forrester
Laney Fowler
Parker Frierson
Laney Frost
Helena García Nieto
Julia Gardner
Rosalie Gauvin
James Ge
Brenley Gentry
Lucy Gratz
Addi Greene
Tate Harrison
Luci Hemphill
Edie Herndon
Max Hickman
Sara Hill
Ella Brett Hitchcock
Garrit Jackson
Michelle Jiang
Harper Kelly
Ella Grace Lazenby
Thomson Lee
Avery Listen
Abby Mahan
Emily Mahan
Reed Martin
Lea Masson
Ava McCoy
Aidan McRorie
Isabella Moore
Mercer Murphy
Max Norman
Reyna Park
Liv Peeker
Curtis Quinn
Julian Ramirez de Arellano
Will Ratterman
Kennedy Ray
Mary Blake Reese
Tyler Rice
Meghan Royal
Aiden Saadeh
Saylor Scearce
Bailey Shahan
Juliet Sikes
Grace Simmons
Jayla Simpkins
Gussie Smith
Sasha Smith
Damian Sparks
Kristin Spykerman
Caroline Stickley
Caiden Sumner
Johnny Sutter
Vivian Vetzel
Felix Vicknair
Soriyah Ware
Bruin Webster
Vivien Webster
Nolan Witt
David Xu
Sean Yoshida
Anna Zhang
STUDENT LEADERSHIP BOARD
SENIORS
Tova Ajayi
Reagyn Brown
Claire Ellish
Tate Harrison
Avery Listen
Tyler Rice
Caroline Stickley
SOPHOMORES
Rory Oleksik
Krishna Patel
JUNIORS
Daniel Bruce
Timmy Mitch
Mary Holmes Phillips
Ezra Sixto
ROUND TABLE
Alisha Chandra
Oona Cruikshank
Benjamin Daniel
Julia Gardner
Charlie Good
Lucy Gratz
Tate Harrison
Max Hickman, President
Michelle Jiang, Vice-President
Harper Kelly
Aidan McRorie, Secretary
Maximus Norman
Mia Perdomo
Meghan Royal
Gussie Smith
Sasha Smith
Johnny Sutter
Vivien Webster
HONOR COUNCIL
SENIORS
Johnny Sutter, Chair
Tyler Rice, Vice-Chair
Maddie Winchester, Secretary
Carlton Forrester
Max Hickman
SOPHOMORES
Demir Bozbey
Warren Kim
Jackson Reisman
Jaxson Simpkins
HARRISON HALL
Emily Beardsley
Ruby Dozier
Taryn Harris
Milly Rainero
HOWALT HALL
Cody Coppage
Carlton Forrester
Mac Lowrance
Harry McGuire
Damian Sparks
JUNIORS
William Hubbard, Clerk
Heath Techasiriwan
FRESHMEN
Patrick Rice
Logan Smith
PREFECTS
HUNTER HALL
Eloise Adams
Lea Masson
Sasha Smith
Olivia Williams
Zhianne Wilson
LOWRANCE
Margarette Berdy
Claire Ellish
Ella Brett Hitchcock
Mary Holmes Philips
Juliet Sikes
Vivian Smith
LUPTON
Praval Bathi
Max Johnson
Cole Lookabill
David Xu
Louis Zhao
PROBASCO
Brandon Adkins
Brent Coppage
Smith Kibbe
Max Norman
Micah Reeves
Bruin Webster
RIVERFRONT
Tova Ajayi
Angelina Falcone
Helena Garcia Nieto
Yulissa Gerard
Grace Simmons
CIVIC SCHOLARS
Tova Ajayi
Franny Brooksbank
Alisha Chandra
Oona Cruikshank
Benjamin Daniel
Claire Ellish
Julia Gardner
Lucy Gratz
Tate Harrison
Luci Hemphill
Michelle Jiang
Harper Kelly
Aidan McRorie
Mia Perdomo
Meghan Royal
Jayla Simpkins
Miriam Sliman
GLOBAL SCHOLARS
Abigail Angel
Gregory Bailey
Margarette Berdy
Benjamin Daniel
Claudia Finlay
Tate Harrison
Helena Garcia Nieto
Lea Masson
Reed Martin
Aidan McRorie
Mia Perdomo
Saylor Scearce
Caroline Stickley
Johnny Sutter
Bruin Webster
RESEARCH SCHOLARS
Tova Ajayi
Leya Alani
Emily Beardsley
Alisha Chandra
Gabriel Costilow
Molly Kate Dickson
Claire Ellish
Laney Frost
Helena García Nieto
Julia Gardner
Addi Greene
Tate Harrison
Luci Hemphill
Edie Herndon
Michelle Jiang
Harper Kelly
Rowan Langston
Ella Grace Lazenby
Ava McCoy
Reyna Park
Grady Robbins
Meghan Royal
Aiden Saadeh
Layah Shelton
Gussie Smith
Kristin Spykerman
Caiden Sumner
Kuzey Tukel
Coralie Verville
Bruin Webster
Sean Yoshida
Eric Zheng
AWARDS
ART AWARDS
Two-Dimensional Art .................................................................... Isabella Moore
Three-Dimensional Art Lea Masson
Dance Laura Kathryn Anderson
Band Bruin Webster
Theater ...........................................................................................Harper Kelly
Orchestra ....................................................................................... Vivian Vetzel
Vocal Music .............................................................. Julian Ramirez de Arellano
ATHLETIC AWARDS
Outstanding Female (Athletes) Addi Greene
Outstanding Male (Athletes) Tyler Rice
All-Around Female (Coaches) ............................................................ Addi Greene
All-Around Male (Coaches).............................................. Bradley Ilunga-Bisselele
Scholar Athlete Female ........................................................................... Sara Hill
Scholar Athlete Male ............................................................................. Tyler Rice
ENGLISH AWARD ............................................................................. Julia Gardner
Max Hickman Johnny Sutter
HISTORY AWARD ........................................................................ Benjamin Daniel
Julia Gardner
Vivien Webster
LANGUAGE AWARDS
Chinese Betsy Williams
French Aidan McRorie
German ......................................................................................... Max Norman
Latin .............................................................................................. Soriyah Ware
Spanish .................................................................................. Oona Cruikshank
AWARDS
MATH AWARDS
Math .............................................................................................
Tate Harrison
Kristin Spykerman
Computer Science................................................................................ Eric Zheng
SCIENCE AWARDS
Science Achievement Award ........................................................ Gabriel Costilow
Harper Kelly
Research Award ...............................................................................Gussie Smith
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD ............................................................. Isabelle Cox
Molly Kate Dickson
AWARDS CHOSEN BY STUDENT BODY
Jumonville Award ..............................................................
Mary Holmes Phillips
William Hubbard
O.B. Andrews Award ...............................................................
Maddie Winchester
Tyler Rice
AWARDS CHOSEN BY FACULTY
Stagmaier Award .........................................................................
Alisha Chandra
Carlton Forrester
Gilbert Stein
Vivian Vetzel
Michelle Kadrie Award Max Hickman
Service Award .............................................................................. Isabella Moore
Herbert B. Barks, Jr. ........................................................................ Charlie Good
Tate Harrison
Gussie Smith
Herbert B. Barks, Sr. Award ...........................................................
Brent Coppage
Max Norman
Grace Simmons
Alexander Guerry Award ........................................................
Maddie Winchester
Tyler Rice
John Roy Baylor Award Benjamin Daniel
Julian Ramirez de Arellano
Meghan Royal
Johnny Sutter
Faculty Commendation Award .............................................................. Aden Cash
THE AWARDS THIS DAY ARE GIVEN IN HONOR OF OR IN MEMORY OF THE PEOPLE LISTED BELOW
Oliver B. Andrews: member of Baylor’s first student body and the class of 1895
Herbert B. Barks, Sr.: third head of the school
Herbert B. Barks, Jr.: fifth head of the school
John Roy Baylor: founder and first head of the school
George L. Bradford: member of the faculty, 1905-1911 and 1920-1950
James C. Duke: member of the faculty, 1971-1987
Alexander Guerry: second head of the school
Bruce C. High III: member of the faculty, 1967-1969 and 1970-1987
James E. Hitt: member of the faculty, 1942-1977
Summerfield K. Johnston: member of the class of 1918
Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Jumonville: donors of the Jumonville Award and parents of two members of the class of 1936
Michelle Kadrie: member of the class of 1991
Vernon B. Kellett: member of the faculty, 1955-1959 and 1962-1973
Willard M. “Pop” Keyser: member of the class of 1928
Tim Houston Lea, Jr.: member of the class of 1964
Stanley J. Lewis: member of the faculty, 1948-1986
Thomas Sutton Mullican: member of the class of 1968
Frederick Theodore Lee Nelson, Jr.: member of the class of 1943
George H. Patten, Jr.: member of the class of 1933
James B. Rike: member of the faculty, 1919-1959
Ethel B. Smith: member of the staff, 1920-1940
Broadus M. Smith: member of the faculty, 1922-1957
Sumner Joseph Smith: member of the class of 2017
Hubert J. Stagmaier: member of the class of 1921
Dean Sterling: member of the faculty, 1944-1979
Eric Swanson: member of the faculty, 1958-1979
Thomas O. Trotter, Jr.: member of the class of 1916
William White: member of the class of 1928
MIDDLE SCHOOL CEREMONY
Salutatory Award ....................................................................... Lauren Reisman
Dean R. Sterling Valedictory Award ..................................................... Luke Oakes
Alexander Guerry Award ............................................................... Ryder Flaherty Cora Stowe
English Award ................................................................................. Leah Gordon
Global Studies Award .................................................................. Lauren Reisman
Mathematics Award Luke Oakes
Band Award ..............................................................................Acadia Robinson
Orchestra Award ..................................................................... Christian Kubasik
Choir Award ....................................................................................... Alex Kelley
Dance Award Jenna Blevins
Theater Award Grady Colvin
Science Award ...................................................................................... Jack Sikes
Studio Art Award ........................................................................ Phoenix Beasley
Chinese Award.................................................................................... Chloe Potts
French Award Evie Stewart
German Award Thad Smith
Latin Award .............................................................................. Adelaide Gerwin
Spanish Award ........................................................................... Mason Richards
Accelerated Spanish Award Pei-Ying Olsen
Scholar Athlete Award Harrison Banks Nissa Ruth
Michelle Kadrie Award Anna Card
CLASS OF 2029
VALEDICTORIAN: Luke Vincent Oakes
SALUTATORIAN: Lauren Mathews Reisman
John Winfield Allred IV
Caroline Elise Murray Au
Harrison Alexander Banks
Mason Gregory Bankston
Anna Blaire Barton
Phoenix Marie Beasley
Hartley Elizabeth Beckham
Audrey Linda Bischoff
Lucas Warner Blasbery
Jenna Lee Blevins
George Matthew Brock Jr.
Katherine Margaret Bruce
Hadley Elizabeth Bruns
Wrigley Abigail Burge
Weston Forbes Burnette
Benjamin Reed Caplenor
Anna Reid Card
Josephine Card
Owen Michael Clark
Grady James Colvin
Iris Analea Combs
Jack Patterson Corey
Addison Lane Cotter
Kenneth Lebron Craig Jr.
Ellison Elizabeth DeMatteo
Allen Thomas Dorough III
Mackenzie Grace Douglass
Anabella Duarte
Douglas Reed Finlay
Ayson Ryder Flaherty
Christina Lindley Ford
Charlotte Susan Frankenberg
Tallulah Grace Fuller
Madelyn Harper Gabor
Carlos Daniel Garcia
Adelaide Bess Gerwin
Samara Ghani
Tucker Emerson Gibbs
Leah Elizabeth Gordon
Austin Collin Guth
Justin Roberts Guthrie
Grace Elizabeth Haddock
Bryan Galen Hamilton
Emma Paige Hartline
Madeline Emory Hawk
Catherine Cunningham Hemphill
Austin Thomas Henderson
William Cooper Hensley
Henry Christopher Hickey
Ella Claire Higgins
Madeleine Ansley Horn
Simon Huntley Huffines
Knox Patrick Johnson
Braedyn Makhi Johnson-Mills
Alexandria Morgan Kelley
Briley Kayt Kesler
CLASS OF 2029
Barrett Francis Kinzler
Christian Vegas Kubasik
Ava Ruth Ladebauche
Leighton Olivia Large
Katharine Parker Levendoski
Nathan Michael Manning
Jackson Wright Mauldin
Hannah Elizabeth McAnnally
Jaxson Ryan Metcalf
Joseph Edward Mitch
Thomas Kristoffer Mize
Lila Margaret Montgomery
Lian Claire Moran
Mason Nadeem Moughrabi
Jaxson Ray Nicholas
Emma Claire O’Kelley
Pei-Ying Olsen
Alba Ortega Mac Lean
Dehil Himanshu Patel
Campo Elias Perdomo
Patrick James Perdomo
Harrison Lee Phillips
Cole Austin Pitts
Alexander James Ponce
Chloe Rui Potts
Wyatt Stroup Provonsha
Luca Parker Pullen
Waylyn Felson Pullen
Eva Daniel Quarfordt
Margaret Solomon Ray
Mason David Richards
Maddin Nora Rippon
Acadia Victoria Breeze Robinson
Eleanor Jane Rodriguez
Mabry McCann Rogers
Torin Scott Rogers
Audrey Victoria Ruth
Nissa Danielle Ruth
Maxwell David Sawrie
Charles Willis Scearce
Riya Prashanth Sekhar
Labron Oneal Shackelford
Jack Randall Sikes
Thadeaus Cleveland Smith
Marshall Cameron Sommer
Evelyn Wiley Stewart
Harris Streed Stinson
Kathryn Cora Stowe
Aven Eve Sweet
Lila Zari Taslimi
Harper Rose Thomas
Audrey Tegan Tym
James Watson Vaughn III
Tyce Philip Veltenaar
Yagmur Volkan
Mina Skye Warden
Timlan Leon Williams
Kailyn Wilson
Inayah Wood
Gabrielle RaeAnn Wright
2024 - 2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Alexis Guerry Bogo ’89, Chair
John Frederick Akers ’72
Kara Ethier Ashburn ’99
G. Matthew Brock, DDS ’91
Robert C. Bullard ’81
Allen F. Carter ’91
Allison Edgmon Cromie ’90
Joseph H. Davenport IV ’97
Christine R. Dillard ’97
Carlton M. Forrester ’95
Alexander Guerry III ’67
Richard R. Hays ’78
J. Robert Headrick, MD ’82
Frederick H. Howalt III ’85
James C. Hudson ’75
William R. Ireland Jr. ’75
David L. Knox ’02
Brooke P. Moore
G. H. Patten Pettway Jr. ’87
Scott L. Probasco III ’73
G. Leyden Pugh Jr. ’85
C. Lockman Reddic ’84
John G. Reid ’87
David Y. Smith
Jason L. Soss ’97
Andrew T. Tucker ’86
ALMA MATER
On the City’s northern border, Reared against the sky, Proudly stands our Alma Mater As the years go by.
Forward ever be our watchword, Conquer and prevail; Hail to thee our Alma Mater, Baylor School–all hail.
Cherished by her sons and daughters, Memories sweet shall throng Round our hearts, O Alma Mater, As we sing our song.
Forward ever be our watchword, Conquer and prevail; Hail to thee our Alma Mater, Baylor School–all hail.
THE ACADEMIC PROCESSION
For the benefit of our visitors the following information digested from “An Academic Costume Code and Ceremony Guide” prepared by the American Council on Education, may prove helpful in identifying the costumes you will see in the Commencement Procession. The history of academic dress reaches far back into the earliest days of the oldest universities. A statute of 1321 required that all “Doctors, Licentiates, and Bachelors” of the University of Coimbra wear gowns. In England, in the second half of the 14th century, the statutes of certain colleges prescribed the wearing of a long gown. When American colleges and universities desired to adopt some suitable system of academic apparel a half century ago, a conference held at Columbia University in 1895, made up of representatives from various institutions drew up a “By-Law, Regulation, or Statute” for the establishment of a suitable code of academic dress for colleges and universities in the United States. This code, with modifications made in 1959 by The Committee on Academic Costumes and Ceremonies of The American Council on Education, is still in force; the costumes and colors, trimmings, and patterns you will see are all traditional, and interpret both the degree and the field of learning. The bachelor’s gown, designed to be worn closed, has pointed sleeves; the master’s gown, which may be worn open or closed, has an oblong sleeve, open at the wrist which hangs down in the traditional manner. The rear part of its oblong shape is square cut and the front part has the arc cut away. The doctor’s gown has bell-shaped sleeves. It may be worn open or closed.
Black is the recommended color for all academic gowns. Bachelor’s and master’s gowns are untrimmed. Doctor’s gowns are faced with black velvet, with three bars across the sleeves; or the color of the velvet may be that which is distinctive of the degree, agreeing with that of the edging of the hood. The colors you will see in the hoods and gowns of our faculty represent the various fields in which the degrees were taken:
Apricot ........................................ Nursing
Brown ....................................... Fine Arts
Citron .................................. Social Work
Crimson ................................. Journalism
Dark Blue ............................... Philosophy
Golden Yellow Science
Green ........................................ Medicine
Lemon-Yellow ..................Library Science
Light Blue Education
Lilac .......................................... Dentistry
Olive Green .............................. Pharmacy
Orange .................................. Engineering
Pink Music
Purple............................................... Law
Sage Green ................. Physical Education
Salmon Pink Public Health
Scarlet ....................................... Theology
Yellow-Brown .........Commerce, Business, Accountancy
White ............... Arts, Letters, Humanities
The hoods, differing in length for the three degrees, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor’s, are lined with the official colors of the university or college conferring the degree, usually with one color forming a chevron pattern over the other. Hoods are edged and bound with velvet of the color appropriate for the degree. You will see in our procession many edged with dark blue, for doctor of philosophy.
Mortarboards are the approved headgear. The tassel, worn on the left side of the cap, may be of gold if the holder has a doctor’s degree.
The procession follows a traditional order: first come the speakers, trustees, administrative officers, candidates for honorary degrees, and other members of the platform party: next, the faculty; and finally the candidates for degrees, arranged in the order in which the degrees are to be conferred.
From the commencement program of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.