Indian Springs School Salutes Class of 2014 at 60th Graduation Exercises

Indian Springs School saluted its "Diamond Anniversary" class at the school's 60th Graduation Exercises, held on May 23 on the ISS Lawn. Known collectively for their scholastic achievements (this class had the highest number of National Merit recognitions among ISS classes in recent years), their passion for science and engineering, and their involvement in social activism and community service, the Class of 2014 is headed for top colleges and universities from coast to coast.

Addressing an audience of more than 700 family members, faculty, and friends, student speakers Seth Perlman ’14, 2013-14 Mayors Evie Baxley ’14 and Tara Markert ’14, and John Banks ’14 presented remarks, thanking Springs for "turning my world on its head" and being "the best thing that ever happened to me" and calling on classmates to use their "talent, intellect, and passion" to meet their potential and to "help one person, and in doing so, help many."

In his Welcome remarks, Perlman said, “Thank you, Indian Springs. Thank you for being strange; for turning my world on its head. Before I came here, I assumed that all teachers were boring and mechanical, and that after class, they curled up under their desks and slept until 8 a.m. the next day. But at Springs, teachers don't just teach, even though they do that quite well. They are also hilarious and brilliant and interesting outside of the classroom. … At Springs, the teachers aren’t just our teachers—they are our friends. And in the same way, our friends aren’t just friends, but they are also our teachers. At no other school could I have been surrounded by such clever minds. … None of the intellectual stimulation I crave outside of the classroom would be possible without Indian Springs bringing all of us together, and for that, I have to say thank you."

“Our potential is great,” said Baxley of the Class of 2014. “We have the talent, we have the intellect, we have the passion. My expectations for our 20-year reunion are exceptionally high. Who will be the rocket scientist? (Tara [Markert].) Who will be the millionaire? (Tara [Markert].) Who will be the president? ([Caleb] Wakeford.) I want to come back and hear Jack O’Malley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning poetry and Dr. Nikhi Singh’s lecture on brain surgery behind Ms. Sheppard's podium. … The bar is set high and I am certain we will pass it.”

Baxley received the 2014 Leadership Award, selected by faculty on the basis of exemplary leadership and character shown through participation in student activities. She and Markert also received 2014 Spiritual Awareness Awards, presented by their classmates in recognition of their embodiment of dignity, humanitarianism, and spiritual awareness.

“In my time at Springs,” said Markert in her remarks, “I have learned about people and cultures from Korea to Rwanda; I’ve learned about Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam; and a spectrum of political beliefs – all of which have broadened the way I think about the world. Appreciating this diversity and being able to communicate, effectively and with sensitivity, creates trust between people who are very different, and can foster a synergy of ideas that can produce flashes of understanding, which can be transforming. This is one of the most valuable things that I appreciate from my Springs experience. And this is perhaps something that we can bring to the table in our new communities, simply because we have had the practice in learning how to navigate around the tricky waters of diversity."

Markert continued, “I also hope that we will have the chance to use what we have learned at Springs to build our communities in the model that we have learned here, wherever we end up. Because the community that we have here is unique. It’s a place for people who want to use the knowledge they’ve gained to make scientific advancements, to fulfill artistic exploration, to lead humanitarian efforts – to leave the world a little better than they found it.”

In his Closing Remarks, Banks reflected on the future for this promising class: “As I have grown over my time here, I have had the pleasure of watching my peers mature as well. We are not done growing, maturing, or learning yet. Our Springs career was the intro to our journeys, but the experiences have truly prepared us.”

Click here to view and download photos from the ceremony. Congratulations to all graduates, and best wishes from the entire Indian Springs School community!

Auburn University*

Barnard College

Birmingham-Southern College*

Boston College*

Boston University*

College of Charleston*

Cornell University

Emory University*

Furman University

George Washington University

Georgia Institute of Technology*

Georgia State University

Harvard College

Harvey Mudd College*

Howard University*

Indiana University

Ithaca College

Johns Hopkins University*

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mississippi State University

Northeastern University*

Northwestern University*

Oberlin College*

Oxford College of Emory University*

Pomona College*

Rhodes College*

Scripps College*

Sewanee: The University of the South*

Stanford University

Trinity University*

Troy University

Tulane University*

University of Alabama*

University of Alabama at Birmingham*

University of California – Davis*

University of California – Los Angeles*

University of Denver

University of Rochester*

University of Tampa

University of Toronto

Virginia Polytechnic Institute*

Wagner College

Washington and Lee University*

Washington University in St. Louis*

Williams College