Celebrating the class of 2010

By Lucia Meeks

Posted June 14, 2010

Since their early years in the lower school, the class of 2010 has always been regarded as a special group of young people who hold much promise. As they culminated their years at SDS, their collective accomplishments served to prove everyone right.

"Their combination of talent and the courage to give things a try is a hallmark of the class of 2010," said Jack McMullan, Head of the Upper School. "They sing, they dance, they play music, they play sports, they are active in serving the community, they publish – all while managing very high expectations academically."

While most senior classes accomplish some of these things, the class as a whole is regarded by the faculty and SDS community as special.

"Both the quality and quantity of this group's work sets them apart from any other group I've worked with during my years in education," said McMullan.

The graduating class is 41 students, 23 who have been at SDS since at least first grade - earning the designation of “Lifers.”

The group submitted over 250 college applications - 207 qualified for admission. They applied to 116 different colleges and universities in 31 states, the District of Columbia, and Scotland. 82% 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 $4 million dollars. This coming fall the Class of 2010 will attend 32 different colleges and universities in 15 different states and the District of Columbia.

Valedictorian Anna Ike, who addressed her classmates at graduation, remarked on how valuable strong relationships and team work had been for her class, as they challenged and motivated each other to achieve the greatest degree of success possible in all their endeavors.

Worthy of note were the following recognitions bestowed upon them:

· The highest academic award which the Day School bestows is membership in the Cum Laude Society. The Cum Laude Society is the high school fraternity of Phi Beta Kappa, the most distinguished honorary fraternity in the collegiate arena. The Spartanburg Day School chapter of the Cum Laude Society is the oldest in South Carolina. Each chapter of the Cum Laude Society may elect members on the basis of academic excellence. Not more than 20% of the senior class may be elected, nor more than 10% of the junior class. Last year the Society elected from the Class of 2010 Stuart Long, Anna Ike, Liz Fedalei, and Ashley DeVore; this year: Victor Long, Molly Hatch, Rachel Josey, and Leslie Ruffing

Three juniors – Class of 2011 were also elected: Changchen Chen, Jamie Freeman, and Drew Sanchez.

· Each year the National Merit Scholarship Corporation conducts a competition to identify the top student scholars in the country. The competition uses the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test—taken during the junior year as a measuring tool. Of the 1.5 million current seniors who took the test, 50,000 (representing the 97^th percentile) qualified as Commended Scholars. The Class of 2010 had 4 such students: Anna Ike, Liz Fedalei, Stuart Long, and Christopher Riehle.

· The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship was created to recognize academically talented students in South Carolina who will be attending a South Carolina College or University. Three seniors have qualified for the award this year. Colette Ashley and Molly Hatch have accepted the award and will be attending College of Charleston this fall. Ashley DeVore has accepted the award and will be attending Clemson University.

· The following students achieved Honors – a designation for those who earn no less than a B

Veronika Alex

Carter Davis

Jamie England

Elizabeth Gould

Erin Hurlbert

Victor Long

Jennifer Omlor

Morgan Phillips

Christopher Riehle

Julia Rogers

Leslie Ruffing

Lindsay Russell

Anna Spears

McDavid Stoddard

Annelise Weir

· The following achieved High Honors – a designation for those who earn all A’s

Colette Ashley

Ashley DeVore

Liz Fedalei

Molly Hatch

Anna Ike

Rachel Josey

Claire Kana

Stuart Long

Matthew Roberts

Finkelstein Physics Award (Jason Lonon) Stuart Long

Palmer Science Award (Donna Childers) Leslie Ruffing

Permanent Collection (Nancy Corbin) Veronika Alex, Rose Spencer

Linda Hudgins Art History Award (Nancy Corbin) Rachel Cooley

RISD Studio Art Awards (Nancy Corbin) Rachel Josey

Drama Award (Valerie Barnet) Jena Alford, Chris Riehle

Donnelly English Award (Bill Pell) Colette Ashley, Anna Ike, Stuart Long

Spanish Award (Elizabeth Flores) Colette Ashley, Rachel Josey, Ashley DeVore

Bray French Award (Margaret Howie) Colette Ashley, Stuart Long, Morgan Phillips

Special Recognition (Margaret Howie) Colette Ashley

Forensic Award (Margaret Howie) Chris Riehle

Latin Award(Kyle Lee Andrews) Matthew Roberts, Anna Ike, Claire Kana

Davison Mathematics Award (Joan Tobey) Liz Fedalei

Ergle History Award (Gary Robinette) Colette Ashley

Johnson History Award (Tim Fisher) Chris Riehle, Molly Hatch

Publications Awards (Kyle Lee Andrews) Jennifer Omlor, Julia Rogers

Carolyn Worth Music Award (Dick Barnes) Stuart Long, Victor Long, Veronika Alex

Dent Athletic Award (Dan Gilmartin) Wilton McKown, Anna Ike

Class of ’75 Spirit AwardSonni MacFarland and Julia Rogers

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