Commencement

116th

Commencement

In her first Commencement charge as the GPS Head of School, Megan D. Cover addressed the Class of 2022, acknowledging their incredible commitment to their school and GPS sisters through the turmoil and uncertainty of the past few years. “Your shared adversity and your ability to make the most of an unpredictable future has forever bonded your class,” she said. “Throughout all of the plans made and then rescheduled, you never stopped demonstrating empathy and kindness to each other.”

Emphasizing the importance of remaining in the present, Cover encouraged the graduates to look around, pause, breathe, take a snapshot of the historical day, and feel the love that surrounded them. She said, “This moment culminates your incredible journey at GPS, this time celebrates you.” She concluded her speech by thanking the Class of 2022 for their grace, guidance, inspiration, thoughtfulness, and joy. “Just as the bridges in Chattanooga connect one side of the river to the other, you will always be my first connection to this incredible school and the sisterhood that unites each GPS girl.”

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS

This year, the Ethel B. Poston Valedictorian honor was awarded to Lauren Thacker, who likened the Class of 2022 to a favorite song of theirs—“22” by Taylor Swift. She used lyrics from the song to remind her classmates about the mixed emotions that came with the first day of sixth grade, the transition to Upper School, learning through a pandemic, and finding friends and passions along the way.

Her class, she said, has not been afraid to be authentically themselves through it all, and their time at GPS has been characterized by growth. “I feel confident that regardless of what life throws our way, everything will be all right if we just keep dancing like we’re the Class of ’22. Let’s live our lives in a way that reflects the values we’ve come to honor here. As we go to college and beyond, let’s connect with others in the way we strived so tirelessly to do in the early middle school days. Let’s be resilient in the face of adversity as we’ve been all throughout high school. Let’s find people like our classmates, who will always share in our adventures and make us comfortable to be unashamedly ourselves.”

SENIOR SPEAKER

As is tradition, prior to Commencement, the members of the senior class select one Chapel Talk to be presented during the ceremony. This year, Julia Combs was awarded that honor. In her speech, she likened her time at GPS to a puzzle, acknowledging that she and her classmates are placing their final pieces at GPS as they go on to begin new ones in college. “As I marvel at the almost complete puzzle, I am starting to see that this one is special. We will always continue to grow off of this puzzle each of us have started here at GPS.”

PARTING THOUGHTS

After the student speeches, Clay Watson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, addressed the class. “You may not realize it until you get to college, but one day soon you will look back on your time at 205 Island Avenue and realize that you were part of something really special. That your education and experience has set you up for success in life. No matter what path you choose, what degree or degrees you earn, GPS is an important part of your story, and we are proud to say you are an important part of ours.”

They did it! On May 14, 89 seniors from the Class of 2022 graduated in the 116th Commencement exercises of Girls Preparatory School.

Class of 2022 Where OhWheres

Abigail Elaine Austin | George Mason University Susannah Givens Baker* | Appalachian State University Edie Carden Beagles | Samford University Kate Bell Becksvoort* | Elon University Ansley Grace Blevins | Middle Tennessee State University Louisa Sutton Bohner* | Auburn University Madeline Grace Brock | The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Jenna Corley Brown | Mississippi State University+ Alice Kennedy Brown* | The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Olivia Catherine Burns | The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Mary Catherine Clelland* | University of Maryland, College Park Madison Rhodes Clower* | East Tennessee State University Alyse Lillian Coakley | Tulane University+ Julia Love Combs | Colby College+ Frances Jean Crowe | University of Denver Allyson Leah Daniel | College of Charleston Madeline Kate Davidson | The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hannah Kathleen Eftink | Wake Forest University Katharine Bibb Eyster | The University of Alabama Caroline Elizabeth Farris* | New York University Graci Madge Felker | Butler University Isabella Kathryn Fivas | Oxford College of Emory University Madeleine Elizabeth Flynn | West Virginia University Savannah Grace Friant | Baylor University Endya Alexis Gaines | Agnes Scott College Molly Anne Gallagher | Loyola University Chicago Trinity Claire Greene | University of Mississippi Lily Grace Greenwood | The University of Tennessee, Knoxville+ Emma Grace Hamilton | Lee University Laci Grace Holt | Middle Tennessee State University Madalyn Grace Hubbard | Huntingdon College Caroline Marie Hutcherson | The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Ella Gertrude Ingalls | University of Massachusetts, Amherst Mary Evangeline Jackson | University of Mississippi+ Mary Katherine Johnson | Tulane University+ Abigail Leigh Johnston | Mississippi State University Sarah Caroline Kalla* | The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga+ Merritt Isabella Kelley* | University of Georgia Kathryn Ella Michele Kraus | Fordham University Emily Catherine Kreek | College of Charleston+ Abigail Grace Kueter | University of San Diego Hannah Lauren Levin | American University Ann Marie Lindley | University of Georgia Catherine Grace Lynch | University of Alabama, Birmingham Manasa Shanker Makam | Purdue University Lillian Grace Marshall | Samford University Elena Jean McDonald | Tennessee Technological University Gabriella Alexandra Meadows* | The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Madison Jon Meek | The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Charlotte Emeline Megahee | The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Willa Grace Mirmelstein* | George Washington University Aarushi Chandresh Modi | University of Alabama, Huntsville Kennedy Brooke Moody | Tennessee Technological University Camilla Florence Alice Mook* | Sewanee: The University of the South Chloe Margrethe Newman | Maastricht University Hannah Kate Newman | The University of Alabama+ Chloe Magdalena Nicola | Georgia Institute of Technology Claire Christine Nicola | Webster University Brooke Claire Niemeyer* | University of Kentucky+ Mary Claire Nimon | Samford University+ Caraline Elise Paty* | Middle Tennessee State University Lily Nicole Petree | Maryville College+ Abbey Katelyn Pettus | Rensselaer Polytechnic University Christiana Jade Polk | Loyola University Chicago Abigail Claire Prescott | The University of Alabama+ Catherine Frances Pritchard* | John Cabot University Alana Danielle Ratchford | Auburn University Abbie Luanne Reel | East Tennessee State University Emily Denise Richardson | University of Kentucky Emelia Foerster Richey | Washington and Lee University Shalizeh Fatima Rizvi | Loyola University Chicago Elizabeth Blair Rogers* | Auburn University Rosemary Gardner Rustand* | University of Kentucky Minah Nasrin Jane Sadrabadi* | Washington and Lee University Hanna Grace Schmidt* | The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Ava Craton Scotchie | Texas Christian University Olivia Jaspin Scotchie | Baylor University Kylie Brighton Smith | James Madison University Maggie Elizabeth Stevens | The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Savannah Lee Stout | University of Alabama, Huntsville DeMoss Grace Stribling* | Auburn University Ellen Eades Taliaferro* | Vanderbilt University Lauren Elizabeth Thacker | Gap year with the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (Russian); University of Georgia+ Ruth Harper Wamack* | Samford University Clayton Steele Watson* | Texas Christian University Kennedy Price Watson* | Texas Christian University Emma-Kate Alexandria White | Sewanee: The University of the South Julia Caroline Watson Wiedmer | University of Kentucky Samantha Diama Williams | George Washington University