Back Row (L to R): Monica Fleck, Caroline Pollard, Caroline Jones, Hannah Weatherly, Anna Murrey, Samantha Tancredi. Front Row (L to R): Head of School Dr. Annette Smith, Lillie Gillespie, Owen Hergenrader, Macy McCullough, Caroline Rogers, Larkin Schultz, Anna Apollonio, 2017 Distinguished Alumna Colonel Julie Rim Huygen ’87. Not Pictured: Alice Curry Wilson
1/1
Girls Honored for Academic Achievement
Hutchison’s Emily Smith Britton Chapter of the Cum Laude Society inducted 12 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.
As guest speaker of the ceremony and this year’s distinguished alumna honoree, Colonel Julie Rim Huygen ’87 delivered the Cum Laude address to the girls. Colonel Huygen is a member of the Cum Laude Society at Hutchison. After Hutchison, she attended Harvard for undergrad and The University of Maryland for law school. In her professional life she is Chief of the Military Justice Division, Air Force Legal Operations Agency at Joint Base Andrews, and has a 19-year career in the Air Force. In her address, she talked to the girls about making sure their appearance helps project what they want it to project – their academic prowess – and to be careful with the kinds of images and communications they present on social media.
Ali Chesney was presented with the Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals furthering the early environmental education of youth.
One of our most highly decorated athletes, Ava’s accolades speak for themself: Daily Memphian Player of the Year, Commercial Appeal All-Metro Player of the Year, a TSSAA Miss Basketball finalist, four-time All-Region selection, and a 1,000+ career point scorer.
Hutchison’s assistant head of school is the first recipient of the Lynn Parkes Award, which is given to a former student-athlete who has had a profound impact on the community through women's athletics.
Hutchison Now highlights graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Gaby Nair ’14, Ph.D., a Postgraduate Research Associate in Politics at Princeton University, where she recently completed her PhD in political theory. She is also a former Morehead-Cain Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Hutchison is thrilled to announce that Kristan Ash will be leading the Hutchison lacrosse program. She steps into the role of Varsity Head Coach starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
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.
Hutchison’s Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum weaves critical skills development throughout the school day. As girls progress to the next grade and beyond, they revisit the same traits that they first learned in Early Childhood.
Congratulations to the 18 middle and upper school girls who won Scholastic Writing Awards in the recent Alliance for Young Artists & Writers competition!