How Connection Shaped the Rogers Scholars’ Journey

Connection was at the heart of this year’s Rogers Scholars experience in the Institute for Responsible Citizenship. Led by Harper Behnke ’26, our upper school girls spent time with women entrepreneurs in the Memphis community. They visited small businesses, several owned by Hutchison alumnae, and heard firsthand stories of leadership, risk-taking, and resilience.
 

“I wanted a theme that could fill needs for the whole group. I thought that women entrepreneurs in Memphis would be something that everyone looked forward to and was interested in because it covers so much,” Harper said. “I hope that all of the girls in Rogers Scholars know how much of a gift it is that we were provided with funds to explore the city of Memphis in any way that we want to understand the Memphis community better.”

Upper school girls went on field trips to ZüpMed, Hot Yoga Plus (Susannah Herring ’96), Goetze Art & Design (Amanda Eckels Goetze ’94), Stovall Collection (Curry Barton Blanton ’03 and Hutchison parent Jody Geary), and Sweet LaLa’s Bakery. “The coolest thing for me was seeing that these women were able to turn their niche passions into a business,” Harper said.

Each business owner spoke about her entrepreneurial journey. Here’s some of the advice that Hutchison alumnae shared with our girls:

“Meeting the alumnae and having Hutchison as a drop of connection is the best thing ever,” Harper said. “It’s an easy conversation starter to talk about Hutchison and what they learned because they know exactly what it’s like.” 

Harper said Rogers Scholars members told her that they enjoyed networking with the business owners, who offered shadowing and internship opportunities and helped them gain more insight about their futures. After our girls saw what it looks like to turn passion into purpose, their work didn’t stop there. In the second half of the year, those lessons came full circle as Rogers Scholars partnered with our fourth grade girls on their Strong Women presentations, guiding them through research, helping shape their ideas, and encouraging them to find their voices. 

“I wanted my classmates to feel like they could connect with younger grades based on general knowledge. I knew that all of us could help with essay writing and research as high school students, and I knew that the students could also benefit from hearing about our experience with the women business owners,” Harper explained.


As the fourth graders learned about trailblazers and changemakers, the upper school girls also shared about the women entrepreneurs that they met in the Memphis community who are making a difference. They created and presented slides about the business owners that the group visited, showing the younger girls how they can have an impact through their projects.

“Going on field trips, asking questions, and seeing what people do in the real world, and making connections in the business world is one thing. I also wanted girls to create something, feel connected, and know that they were making a difference somehow,” Harper shared.

From start to finish, the Rogers Scholars' year was about connection: learning from others, growing together, and passing that encouragement on to the next generation.