Sanford 2025 Cum Laude Society Induction

The evening brought together students, families, faculty, and alumni in a ceremony that honored these exceptional scholars' hard work, perseverance, and character. New inductees from the Class of 2025 and Class of 2026 joined current Cum Laude members from the senior class on stage, representing the top 20% of Sanford’s Upper School based on cumulative GPA, as well as qualities of honor, integrity, and a love of learning.

The Cum Laude Society, with its motto Areté, Diké, Timé—meaning excellence, justice, and honor—recognizes not just academic achievement, but the personal values that define a true scholar. As Sanford’s chapter emphasized, students are selected not only for their grades but for their commitment to ethical behavior, generosity of spirit, and leadership both inside and outside the classroom.

A highlight of the evening was the keynote address by Sanford alumna Nia Naylor '20, a recent graduate of Howard University and a current Hill staffer in Washington, D.C. Reflecting on her own journey, Naylor spoke about how Sanford laid the foundation for her success, encouraging her to pursue bold dreams—from delivering a TEDx Talk as a high school sophomore, to leading Howard University’s student government as Executive President.

"Sanford didn’t just give me an education," Naylor shared. "It gave me the opportunity to grow, to stumble, and most importantly, to curate my place in the world." She encouraged the inductees to recognize that their talent is already shining and urged them to carry the lessons of Sanford forward into the next chapters of their lives.

The ceremony also featured personal tributes written and delivered by Sanford faculty members, highlighting the individual strengths, humor, work ethic, and curiosity of each inductee. Head of School Mark Anderson closed the event by emphasizing the unique culture of Sanford’s Upper School—a place where it’s “cool to be smart” and “cool to work hard,” thanks to the leadership of administrators, teachers, and the students themselves.

"You didn’t just meet the academic challenge," Anderson told the honorees, "you invited it. You asked us to push you, and you leaned into that challenge with curiosity and grit."

The 2025 Cum Laude Inductees are: