North Cross School held its 49th Commencement Ceremony on Sat., June 2. The outdoor ceremony was held in the school’s courtyard with a reception for the graduates and their families taking place at the headmaster’s home located on campus immediately following commencement. The ceremony was held in the tradition of independent school graduations across the country with girls wearing white dresses while carrying roses and boys wearing suits and ties while processing to receive their diplomas.
Sarah Kate Holley was named the valedictorian of the 2011-12 graduating class and spoke at commencement about the positive impact the school has had on her life. Several other students were recognized for academic achievement and exceptional leadership during the graduation ceremony. Tyler Lemon was named salutatorian, and Tim Putnam was the recipient of the Thomas A. Slack Award, which is presented to the student in the senior class who has rendered the highest service to North Cross School through leadership based on the influence of character. Miranda Clarke, Sarah Kate Holley, Laura Lemon, Tyler Lemon, Shelby Lipes, Drew Maurer, Bryan McDonnell, Lara Min and Alexandra Worthy were all inducted into the Cum Laude Society, which recognizes academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence, justice, and honor.
This year’s commencement address was given by Jim Flowers, the Executive Director of VT KnowledgeWorks. VT KnowledgeWorks is an entrepreneurship support program located at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg. Along with his work at VT KnowledgeWorks, Flowers has been a senior consultant for more than four decades to technology based companies. He published his first book in 2009 titled “Moxie and Other Fundamental Entrepreneurial Concepts.” The title of his commencement address was “A String, a Rock and a Can of Moxie!”
