Twelve Pennington School seniors were inducted as student members of the School’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society before an audience of the entire Upper School, faculty and parents on December 17, 2015. Students inducted are within the top 10 percent of the cl ass, as determined by grade point average, and the School views selection for membership as one of the highest honors it can confer.
The new members of Cum Laude are Sang Won Baek (South Korea), Emma B. Bouton (Pennington), Matthew A. Celentano (Yarley, Pa), Quincy F. Huang (Princeton), Dong Jun Kim (South Korea), Emma R. Kramer (Princeton Junction), Audrey L. Plimpton (Pennington), Christian J. Tringali (Hamilton), David Wan (Shanghai, China), Karolina Zachor (Lawrenceville), Duncan S. Zavanelli (Pennington) and Alexandra S. Zimmer (Princeton).
The Cum Laude Society is an international organization recognizing “academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence, justice, and honor.” There are approximately 380 institutions in the Society; most are independent schools.
After a welcome from Headmaster William Hawkey, faculty member Donald Dolan provided information about Cum Laude’s history and motto. Dean of Academic Affairs Scott Peeler introduced the faculty members and speaker, Pennington School Chapter President Lisa Houston who then formally inducted the students.
The Pennington School, founded in 1838, recently celebrated its 175th anniversary. It is an independent coeducational school for students in grades 6 through 12, in both day and boarding programs. The curriculum is college preparatory, with an emphasis on individual excellence, fostering the development of the whole student through academics, athletics, community service and the creative and performing arts.
