Caroline Couch ’20 Receives Fulbright Award to Study Sustainability in the Netherlands
Caroline Couch ’20 will study the intersection between the creative sector and climate at Radboud Universiteit in the Netherlands.
On her daily car rides from Hernando, Mississippi to Hutchison, Caroline Couch ’20 fell in love with opera. Now, her dream is to develop the Metropolitan Opera’s first-ever formal sustainability program, where she currently works as a production assistant. She recently received a Fulbright Award to research, explore, and develop new approaches to climate sustainability through the lens of opera. She is finishing her time at New York University, and in the fall, she will move to the Netherlands to attend Radboud Universiteit and pursue a master’s degree in Arts and Culture, specializing in creative industries.
“By bridging the information asymmetry found between artistic and scientific stakeholders, I want to help create a working model of tangible sustainability practices for opera companies as the content of my master’s thesis,” Couch said.
In May, Couch will graduate from NYU with bachelor’s degrees in Public Policy and History and a minor in Chinese. In addition to working for the Metropolitan Opera, she serves as the executive director of Village Verein, a classical music chamber ensemble.
Couch also has another incredible opportunity to celebrate. She received an international scholarship from the Wagner Society of New York to attend the Bayreuth Festival, one of the world’s leading opera festivals. Before she moves to the Netherlands, she will head to Bayreuth, Germany, and learn from arts professionals during the Richard Wagner Scholarship Program in August.
The career Couch is pursuing feels like a synthesis of what she participated in during high school, she said. She was involved in civic activities including Girls Nation, Model UN, and Youth in Government, while also being heavily involved in the arts. She credits Hutchison’s opportunities for helping her throughout her journey. “Hutchison has prepared me to be confident, hold my own, and take risks,” she said. “Now I have found a sweet spot between my background in public policy and the creative arts by doing research in the realm of cultural policy and public administration for arts organizations.”
Nine Hutchison upper school girls served the Memphis community during the Church Health Youth Service Council’s inaugural year and will continue to serve on the council next school year.
Jordan Deupree ’24 and Bailey Wiener ’24 have been recognized for their leadership in their selection for the Next Gen program, which provides students with mentorship and opportunities to learn more about the Memphis business community.
Hutchison alumna Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold ’96 had the honor of serving as the commencement speaker for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Arts and Sciences ceremony in May 2024.
At Hutchison, Zelia Cedeño-Avila ’24 stepped out of her comfort zone to try many different things and hone in on her interest in science and math, from serving as Technology Council president to creating a robotic scarecrow for her myExperience capstone project. A lifelong learner, she will bring her knowledge and skills to Vanderbilt University, where she plans to study mechanical engineering.
Three upper school students will participate in high-intensity summer programs in subjects including emerging technologies, international studies, and computational physics.
A discovery in one science class led Izzy Ellis ’24 to delve deeper into her interest in biology and map out a path for college and beyond. Along the way, she nurtured other interests, from athletics to civics. An aspiring oncologist, her dream is to find a new, innovative treatment that could help save lives.
Hutchison world language students participated in the 2024 U of M Language Fair, sponsored by The University of Memphis Department of World Languages and Literatures. Demonstrating their knowledge of Spanish, Hutchison had a total of 12 students win awards at the fair.
AP Scholar and National African American Recognition Program Scholar Lauren Coleman ’24 explored her interest in science and the environment at Hutchison. She hopes to make a difference through a career in sustainability.
J’oules Williams ’24 is a member of Memphis Parent magazine’s inaugural 10 under 20 class. The award celebrates youth who strive to make a difference in their community and change the lives of others for the better.
Adela Calzada ’24 has attended Hutchison since pre-K, and she said it allowed her to blossom into a leader who also makes Hutchison feel like home for her peers.
Our inaugural graduating class of the myExperience program presented their capstone projects with confidence, poise, and enthusiasm at our first myExperience Senior Showcase.
Excelsior! Demonstrating their knowledge of Latin, Hutchison had a total of 10 students win awards at the Tennessee Junior Classical League Convention.
Jayla Dorsey ’24 was a dedicated member of the varsity basketball team all four years of her high school experience, and she credits her coach, teammates, and Hutchison community members for believing in her.
Avery Webb ’26 enjoyed the opportunity to shadow Rep. John Gillespie in Nashville as he interacted with state officials and legislators, and she even got to meet Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
Hutchison Now highlights graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Mary Catherine Hughes ’10, a development associate at the Nashville Repertory Theatre.