Ten MB Seniors Inducted into Cum Laude Society
On October 11, ten seniors were inducted into the Moses Brown Chapter of the Cum Laude Society. Founded in 1906, the Cum Laude Society is dedicated to honoring scholastic achievement in secondary schools. The founders of the society modeled Cum Laude after Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious academic honor society at the college and university level in the United States. Cum Laude students demonstrate academic success and attention to good citizenship.
Class of 2023 inductees include: Salter A., Elizabeth C., Jaeson D., Kylie E., Abigail L., Gabriel M., Saran M., Mia N., Faizaan Q., and Nicole X.
Upper school was fortunate to have recent graduate Emilie Lum ’20 at the assembly. She praised the inductees for their accomplishments and shared insights about her own personal and academic journey.
Inductees with Emilie Lum ’20 (second row, far right)
“You each have demonstrated your unique contributions to this school and your community in unquantifiable ways,” remarked Emilie about the newest members of the Cum Laude Society.
“It is not only academic achievement that you excel at, but also the standards you hold yourself to… excellence, justice, and honor. Not only does it often require hard work, discipline, and sacrifice, but it also takes virtue, character, and true good will to be able to get where you all are today.”
Today, Emilie is a junior at Brown University. She spoke about the challenges she faced as a student during the pandemic years and how her academic interests evolved, from a focus on STEM and medicine to a major in ethnic studies.
“It is rarely a linear pathway when it comes to figuring out who you are and what you can and want to do after high school. You will be successful in a multitude of ways that cannot be defined by a single narrative. Each and every one of you has your unique passions, talents, and things that spark your own joy within you. Both during your time at MB and after, I encourage you all to lean into the practices of finding joy and community.”
In the years since its founding, Cum Laude has grown to 382 chapters, approximately two dozen of which are located in public schools and the rest in independent schools. Membership is predominantly in the United States, but chapters also are located in Canada, England, France, Spain, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.