The AAG Cum Laude Ceremony is a long-standing Academy tradition that celebrates the achievements of all the senior girls, and specifically highlights the academic accomplishments of the top percentage of the graduating class who are inducted into the Cum Laude Society. As Dr. North, who spoke at the assembly last Wednesday, said of the ceremony, “Is it to honor the few but to praise everyone.”
In contrast, the AA Cum Laude Ceremony consists of a dinner to which only those students who are inducted are invited (various faculty members also attend); the rest of the class is not recognized.
Herein lies a fundamental conflict between acknowledging everyone — regardless of respective achievements — and only acknowledging those who have truly earned the praise. Both systems have merit, and both leave something to be desired. Seeing that we are now one school, should we decide upon and stick to one method — even if it sends conflicting signals about the values of our institution — or should we maintain two separate ceremonies for the sake of tradition?
As Mrs. Koester unfailingly demonstrates each year through her lyrical narratives of each senior girl, academic achievement is only one measure of ability. Every student — including those who do earn Cum Laude — have talents and idiosyncrasies that cannot be captured solely by a grade-point average, but that nevertheless deserve to be applauded. If we only recognize those who excel academically, we would never get to hear about any of the other defining eccentricities of the senior class.
On the other hand, by commending only those students who actually earn Cum Laude, the exclusive AA Ceremony emphasizes the importance of this academic achievement, and does not dilute that distinction by including the entire class.
Another issue is whether or not it is fair to have two very different ceremonies when everyone — girls and boys — attend the same school and have the same academic opportunities. The separate assemblies were first held when AA and AAG were two separate institutions, but does the goal of preserving traditions (certainly a worthy one) trump fairness?
Having spent 14 years at this school, I do have memories — albeit somewhat ephemeral — of attending the Cum Laude ceremony as a lower school student. Each year, I listened as the lives of the otherwise mysterious seniors unfolded before me, and I mused on what would be said about me when I was in their seats. Moreover, as Mrs. Koester herself alluded to in her introduction, the ceremony provides an opportunity for the younger students to form their own ideas of who they want to be in high school and how to embrace all the possibilities that our school offers. Without this part of the ceremony, the younger students would miss out on a valuable and inspiring chance to get to know their older counterparts, and to dream of their own future. Unfortunately, the lower and middle school were unable to attend the 2011 ceremony; I sincerely hope they will join us again next year.
While there is something to be said for preparing our graduates for the sometimes harsh realities of college and beyond when, as the saying goes, not everyone gets a trophy, I think the AAG ceremony perfectly complements the positive and supportive atmosphere of our school. Furthermore, if the future is indeed far less laudatory than high school, then the Cum Laude ceremony is one of our last chances to celebrate the seniors and their accomplishments.
Interestingly, the structure of the two ceremonies reflects the fundamental differences between girls and boys. That is, girls have a tendency to include everyone so as not to offend anyone, whereas boys are usually more frank when it comes to separating those who excel from those who do not. However, perhaps the boys would not appreciate the personal commentaries as the girls do, and I’m sure the AAG seniors would feel slighted if their ceremony were limited to only those who earn Cum Laude. Nevertheless, regardless of who was recognized last week, the true and lasting honor is being a graduate of the Albany Academies.
Disclosure: I have lived through 14 years of AAG traditions, and am part of Mrs. Koester’s advising group.