Alex Jahangir, the head of Nashville’s COVID-19 task force and Metro Board of Health chair, spoke to students inducted into the Cum Laude Society, which recognizes members of the graduating class who have distinguished themselves for academic excellence.
By Sierra Smith, Communications Specialist
Twenty-four students were inducted into the Cum Laude Society on Thursday, October 7. The keynote speaker was orthopaedic trauma surgeon and leader in Nashville’s response to the coronavirus, Alex Jahangir.
A national organization begun in 1906, the Cum Laude Society recognizes students who have distinguished themselves for academic excellence. The society makes clear academic excellence does not refer only to superior scholarly achievement but also to the qualities of dignity and honor in pursuit of those achievements. The Cum Laude Society’s motto, “Areté, Diké, Timé,” means “excellence, justice, and honor.”
Class of 2022 honorees are:
Adeolu Oluwaseun Ajayi
Josefina Lynn Aronoff
Kaya Leigh Booth
Nia Aralyn Chetkovich
Isaac Erickson Chomsky
Caroline Grace Cramer
Sydney Rebekkah Emeson
Emanoeel Samy Ghabrial
William Walker Grobmyer
Latham Poulson Hall
Laura Peyton Harris
Eden Ruth Horton
Tate Blair Keuler
Acadia Louise LeQuire
Greta Xicai Li
Piers German Mason
Greta Nicole Matthies
Lia Clare Payne
Arnav Voncha Reddy
Nandan Sarkar
Abigail Schoenecker
Wesley August Smail
Elena Annika Wierich
Emilia Grace Zenker
"In reading our inductees' reflections on their learning and scholarship, I was struck by our students' gratitude for each other — for the ways they hold each other to high standards of learning and engagement, of pushing each other to be better students and participants and learners. They are curious and want to understand why; they want to make change in the world," English Department Chair and Cum Laude Chapter Secretary Freya Sachs shared.
The Quiz Bowl team won second place in the South Warren Spartan Open tournament, qualifying the team for the 2026 High School National Championship tournament. Congratulations to Basil Broemel '28 and Jasmine Horwitz '26 for placing seventh and ninth, respectively.
Students and faculty have resumed composting at USN. Through collaboration, persistence, and student leadership across all divisions, the program has already gotten off to a great start.
Should snow or ice alter the school day, expect to receive a USN Alert by 5 a.m. This information will also be posted on the usn.org homepage and the school's official social media accounts, as well as shared with local broadcast stations. Be sure your wireless number is listed correctly in the usn.org directory to receive USN Alerts. Also, share your snow day fun by emailing socialmedia@usn.org or using #USNsnowday; we especially appreciate photos of the USN community wearing school gear.
USN Mission: University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.