Hutchison’s Emily Smith Britton Chapter of the Cum Laude Society inducted 15 new members this spring.
Founded in 1906 on the model of Phi Beta Kappa, the Cum Laude Society honors the academic achievement of high school scholars. Hutchison’s Chapter of Cum Laude was installed in 1958 in honor of Emily Smith Britton ’55.
Brittany Trimble ’08, this year’s distinguished alumna honoree, delivered the Cum Laude address to the girls. She serves as a Captain in the United States Air Force as an F-16 pilot and has been a commissioned officer since 2012.
In her address to the girls during today's ceremony, she talked about the life lessons she learned at Hutchison that have helped her succeed in her career such as critical thinking, attention to detail, and the concept of Parkinson’s Law.
“During pilot training, I realized a critical component of aviation was attention to detail, and I credit the Hutchison literacy program with teaching me this valuable skill. I began applying the same focus that I did to my English papers to airspace and altitude blocks and communication flows.
“I am able to fall back on the lessons I learned in these halls, but one final skill remains as the foundation of my successes: critical thinking. Though you may not see it now, rest assured the lessons you aren’t aware of yet, those slowly being built in the background of your mind, will one day pave your way.”
We asked Kristen Farmer Davis ’99 about some of her past experiences, how those influence her work with Hutchison students today, and what she’s excited about in her new role.
Congratulations to the 18 middle and upper school girls who won Scholastic Writing Awards in the recent Alliance for Young Artists & Writers competition!
If there’s one thing Elizabeth Blankenship-Singh ’08 knows about, it’s pivoting. It’s something she has done successfully several times and something she believes Hutchison prepared her well for.
The best coaches teach you lessons that last long after the final buzzer. Ten alumnae hope to impart what they learned through Hutchison athletics by coaching girls in sports such as soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and volleyball.
Hutchison Now highlights graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Hannah Freeman ’20, a trade and investment officer for healthcare and life sciences at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.
While studying dinosaurs, Anne Willson’s pre-kindergarten class became interested in volcanoes. They worked together to build their own and joyfully watched their creation erupt.
Hutchison Now highlights recent graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Kelley Guinn McArtor ’12, a brand marketing director at PepsiCo in New York.
Molly, a nationally recognized midfielder, signed her National Letter of Intent to play Division I soccer. She credits Hutchison with helping her build a strong work ethic and providing training and recovery opportunities in the Crain Center.
How does Hutchison support student well-being? During an Independent Schools Management webinar on school leadership, Head of School Dr. Kristen Ring shared with educators how Hutchison is responding to evolving student needs with clarity, consistency, and care.
Since joining Hutchison in 2020, Chief Financial Officer Melissa Baker has exemplified what it means to be a mission-driven, forward-thinking financial leader. She was a finalist for the 2025 CFO of the Year award from the Memphis Business Journal and was featured in its October 24, 2025, edition and online.
One of the best ways to narrow down career interests is through experience, and the Institute for Responsible Citizenship provided our freshmen and sophomores with a closer look at the possibilities.