2023 Graduate Awards
Saint Gregory’s is proud to offer all of our students an exceptional education, whether they are some of our youngest learners in our Pre-K program and Kindergarten, or preparing for high school in our upper school. Our students find success immediately following their time at our school in high school and in college. We are proud to report that 100% of our students go on to higher education at a college or university, leading to a career that fulfills our students’ lifelong ambitions for success.
The Eighth Grade Awards are a tradition at our annual graduation ceremony, serving as an opportunity for the faculty to recognize the hard work of our oldest students before the next phase of their educational career.
Read about our 2023 Eighth Grade Awards, along with an excerpt from our teacher/presenters’ speeches for each award:
Discere, Adsequi, Fieri Award for Excellence in Latin
Jude
"This student has embraced the subject of Latin with passion, intellectual dexterity, and a desire to figure out all the nuances. He simply loves the challenge, the in the moment exhilaration of piecing it together."
The Virginia Kopp Award for Excellence in English
Mary
"This award goes to a student who possesses exceptional abilities in English. She is a voracious reader, an articulate, precise writer, and has a solid understanding of grammar. She is thoughtful and reflective in interpreting literature. Most impressive is her vocabulary and her ability to find the perfect word for the moment."
Fernandez Family Award for Spanish
Avery
"Successful world language learners are open minded, tolerant and understanding. They are proven to be better problem solvers and creative thinkers. In an increasingly globalized world, these characteristics are more valued than ever. [...] The recipient of the Fernandez Family Award for Spanish is an inquisitive language learner and possesses these qualities."
The Anne Smith Maloy Award for Excellence in Religious Studies
Rishab
"There are a number of students who deserve this award, but none is more deserving of recognition than one student, who over the last few years has proven to be most deserving of this Award for Excellence in Religious Studies. Dependable, insightful, dedicated, self-aware, humble, compassionate, and even willing to try vegetable sushi at our last class session."
Award for Excellence in Research and Rhetoric
Avery & Mary
"With the help of a faculty committee, this year’s selection was based on the quality of writing, thoroughness of the research, evidence of critical thinking, topic selection, and how little a student complained about this outrageously demanding assignment—my call! [...] In the spirit of collaboration so ordinary at Saint Gregory’s School, I am very pleased to announce that we selected TWO recipients for the Award for Excellence in Research and Rhetoric."
Robert M. Thomas Award for Excellence in Computer Science
Ogden
"This year’s Robert M. Thomas Award for Excellence in all things technology goes to perhaps our most “techy” student. This is a student who is always on the leading edge of the latest and greatest piece of technology and can most assuredly know how to use it in their daily lives far greater and far faster than an adult."
Jacqueline A. Mauro Award for Excellence in Fine Arts (Visual Arts)
Mary
"This young artist challenges her imagination, gets right to work, immerses intently on the details and never wastes time. She loves to draw animals and uses beautiful colors, especially those bold Clemson University colors, to bring her animals to life."
Jacqueline A. Mauro Award for Excellence in Fine Arts (Music)
Avery
The Parents' Association Award for Community Service
Sofia
"The Parents’ Association Award for Service to the Community is presented to a student who has dedicated themselves to giving back to our beloved Saint Gregory’s. This award is for a student who understands the virtues of service, does so willingly and openly, and does so not for credit, but simply because it is the right thing to do."
Catha Sheer Britton Award for Community Service
Vinny
Attorney General's Triple C Award for Commitment, Character, and Courage
Nora
Parents' Association for Sportsmanship Award
Annabel & Leif
The Most Improved Award given by Lozman Orthodontics
AJ
"This student joined the class midway through an academic year, and I know it was a difficult transition especially to the academic demands of our curriculum. However, through hard work, a tenacious attitude, and strong support at home, he has developed essential skills that have allowed him to excel."
Faculty Award for Academic Excellence
Sofia
"This student works tremendously hard, and isn't afraid to sacrifice fun to seek extra help. And seeks help in order to become the best version of themselves. This student is incredibly well rounded; seeing the importance of every subject and maintains an insatiable hunger to be a master of all trades."
The Board of Trustees Award for the Spirit of Saint Gregory's
Franny
"As we sit here today in this beautiful space and at this important time, we, the faculty, present the Spirit of Saint Gregory’s Award to a student who lives our daily experience and defines our culture. This award is given to a student who embodies our values, our traditions, and our vision as a school."
Our graduation ceremony for the Class of 2023 was a day we will never forget. We know our students will make us proud as professionals, community members and people once they graduate from our school. In the immediate future, we hope that the Eighth Grade Awards affirm each student’s strengths and encourage them to continue to set ambitious goals. Someday, we hope our students will remember these awards as part of their time at SGS on their journey to success.
Thank you to all the family members and friends who attended this year’s ceremony, we are thrilled to have been able to share this proud moment with you. Relive some of the highlights of this special day in our flickr photo gallery!
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