25 Students Named to Cum Laude Society

Mercersburg honored 25 members of the Class of 2023 for excellence in academic work at the annual Cum Laude Convocation in March. G. Dean Patterson Jr. ’71, retired Case Western Reserve University administrator, was the invited speaker. Patterson challenged the students to put people first in whatever vocation they pursue.

“Everyone wants to feel cared for, that somebody cares about them,” Patterson said. “It’s not about passing judgment. It’s about seeking to understand.”

Patterson was the 2021 recipient of Mercersburg Academy’s Class of ’32 Distinguished Alumni Award. This prestigious award is presented annually to members of the alumni body who have distinguished themselves through character, service, and achievement.

Founded in 1906, the Cum Laude Society is billed as the secondaryschool equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. Cum Laude honorees are elected as seniors by the faculty of Mercersburg’s Cum Laude chapter. Mercersburg is one of 382 secondary schools across the country with a Cum Laude Society chapter; those chosen for membership represent the highest level of academic achievement within the school.