Congratulations to the class of 2012
Posted May 26, 2012
In front of family, fiends, faculty and members of the SDS community, the twenty seven members of the class of 2012 yesterday graduated from Spartanburg Day School.
Taking place outside in the Senior Courtyard, the ceremony capped a successful year for everyone at SDS, but particularly for members of the graduating class.
Headmaster Chris Dorrance - who is retiring after eleven years at SDS - spoke about making the most the opportunities an SDS education provides, and challenged graduates to work hard so that they aways have choices in life.
The Larrabee Endowed Chair recognizes excellence in teaching and service to the school. Awarded to a member of the SDS staff, this year’s recipient was math teacher, Lee Vasbinder. Vasbinder is not only one of the longest serving teachers, and most respected, she is also the driving force behind the immensely successful internship program.
Allison Pennington was named as the 2012 Valedictorian. Pennigton, a member of the Cum Laude Society, has involved herself in a myriad of activities and organizations. From Youth in Government to Big Brothers Big Sisters, from Honor Council to Student Government, Pennignton embodies what being a Griffin means - opportunity. She thanked her family and the faculty and encouraged her friends to always remember where and how they became the young men and women who are now heading to college.
Two awards were given in honor of past heads of school. The Gary Clark Award was given to Caroline Starnes and the Groblewski Cup Leadership Award was given to John McBride.
The graduates heard from SDS alumni, parent and friend, Chris Crowley (‘75), who delivered the graduation address. Crowley gave the new graduates advice for success at college and encouraged them to to view their time in college as a time to be embraced.
The Caggiano Alumni Award, traditional also presented at graduation, was this year given to Garret Scott for his support of the school generally and, most recently, for his efforts during the Annual Fund. Scott, and his wife Kathy, chaired the Annual fund drive, which raised over $1 million.
This year’s graduating class submitted 163 applications to 89 different colleges and universities, representing 22 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Great Britain; 70% of those applications qualified for admission, and 80% of those admitted received offers of scholarships or grants. The combined total of these scholarships and grants approached $3.5 million dollars over a four year period, for an average of over $125,000 per student. This coming fall the Class of 2012 will attend 17 different colleges and universities in eight different states and Great Britain.
Congratulations class of 2012.
Abby Danielle Adams
Attending: Samford University
Criosanna Eileen Allred
Attending: Simmons College
Samuel Warren Barker
Attending: Berklee College of Music
Neil Madhu Borad
Attending: The University of Southern California
Wyatt Howard Dodson
Attending: Coastal Carolina
Keegan Patrick Duesterhaus
Attending: McDaniel College (Honors)
Catherine Avery Elliott
Attending: College of Charleston
Darby Michelle Enright
Attending: University of South Carolina
Bailey Rose Foster
Attending: College of Charleston
Mason Brandt Gillespie
Attending: Wofford College
James Kenan Hamilton
Attending: Hampden-Sydney College
John Wilson Hammond
Attending: Presbyterian College
Adelaine Brooks Hogan
Attending: College of Charleston
Louis Hampton Ike
Attending: Washington and Lee University
Celia Elizabeth Jeffords
Attending: University of Virginia
Ruoyu Jiang
Attending: Georgia Technical College
Yiru Ma
Attending: Boston University
John Patrick McBride
Attending: Washington and Lee University
Addison Reece Murff
Attending: Presbyterian College
Shelby Victoria Nelson
Attending: University of St. Andrews, Scotland
Allison Elizabeth Pennington
VALEDICTORIAN
Attending: Wake Forest University
Lindsay Leigh Shanor
Attending: Presbyterian College or Clemson University
Jay Spencer Shelley, Jr.
Attending: Presbyterian College
Sarah Latane´ Spencer
Attending: University of Virginia
Ellison Caroline Starnes
Attending: Wofford College
Lindsay Feldmann Stephens
Attending: Wofford College
Catherine Eve Tisdale
Attending: Wofford College
