Celebrating Academic Excellence, Service, and Leadership
On a bright and hopeful morning, the community gathered for an occasion that was anything but ordinary. With parents, faculty, and students assembled, this year’s Underclassmen Awards Day set a high standard—not only for academic achievement, but also for leadership, character, and service.
A Morning of Meaningful Recognition
Upper School Head Dr. George Scouten opened the ceremony with a message that echoed the values at the core of the Heathwood Hall experience:
“Today is not just about the awards,” he said, “but about recognizing excellence, celebrating our shared values, and inspiring future achievement.”
From that opening note, the ceremony flowed with heartfelt tributes to students who exemplified the best of Heathwood’s mission.
The Heathwood Hall Approach
Heathwood Hall’s 2025 Underclassmen Awards Day
| Celebrating Academic Excellence: Cum Laude Society | |
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Dr. Elisha Sircy began by inducting new members into the prestigious Cum Laude Society, which honors students for academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and rigorous scholarship. This year’s inductees included:
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| Honoring Commitment to Service | |
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Elise Hagstette presented the President’s Volunteer Service Award to students who contributed over 100 hours of community service in the past year: 9th Grade: Evy Engh, Sam Florence, Maire Hanna, Kasey Quinn, Raye Beth Richardson 10th Grade: Annabelle Brock, Ouita Elliott, Philip Ervin, Catherine Jowers, Annie Liu, Elliott Murphy, Logan Wells 11th Grade: Thompson Adams, Anna Alan, Ginger Barker, John Florence, Nadia Howard, Jay Nelson, Thomas Scurry, Walt Suber, Scott Thomas, Reston Wood |
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| A Changing of the Guard: Student Council Induction | |
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Outgoing Student Council President Sellers McGee welcomed his successor, James Richardson, with words of admiration and confidence. James accepted the Oath of Office and introduced next year’s Executive Council:
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| J. Robert Shirley Awards: Honoring Determination | |
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Presented by Sally Plowden, the J. Robert Shirley Award recognizes students who exemplify perseverance and dedication to classroom excellence:
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| College Book Awards: Recognizing Rising Seniors | |
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A series of esteemed colleges honored students for intellectual promise, leadership, and character. These awards recognize and encourage students as they prepare for their final year at Heathwood:
Each student was introduced by a representative of their respective sponsoring institution or alumni group, who highlighted their blend of scholarship, service, and character. |
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Looking Ahead With Purpose
As the ceremony concluded, one message remained clear: Heathwood Hall is a place where effort is honored, service is celebrated, and leadership is nurtured. Whether recognized on stage or inspired from the audience, every student walked away reminded of the values that define their school—and the promise of what lies ahead.
Congratulations to all the 2024/25 award recipients—and to the entire Heathwood Hall community—for a year of growth, service, and academic excellence.
To view more photos, click here.