Kingswood Oxford welcomes 18 students to Cum Laude Honor Society.

Kingswood Oxford welcomed 18 seniors into the Cum Laude Society on Feb. 19; seated, from left: Lydia Bailey, Julia Bayer, Lina Volin, Reilly Callahan, Julianne DeAngelo, and Lauren Cooper. Standing, from left: Zach Goldman, Shira Richards-Rachlin, Ryan Wetsman, Robert Scappaticci, Max Bashm Sal Caruso, Jacob Tvaronaitis, Chris Marcello, Katie Smith, and Cole Adams. Not pictured: Claire Halloran and Jen Shook. Photo credit: Todd Kelmar ’12

Submitted by Kingswood Oxford School

Despite the piles of snow, howling wind, and frigid temperatures outside, the feeling inside the Conklin Library was cozy and heartwarming on Feb. 19, as 18 members of the Class of ’15 were inducted into KO’s chapter of the Cum Laude honor society.

Keynote speaker Cathleen Davitt Bell ’89, a young adult author, set and reflected the tone with remarks that “seemed to dance, spin, and turn around, as she captivated and enthralled her audience,” according to Head of School Dennis Bisgaard.

The Cum Laude Society is a national honor society for independent schools. To qualify, students must be in the top 20% of the class by the end of the first semester of senior year and must have demonstrated good citizenship.

Founded in 1906, the Cum Laude Society is dedicated to honoring academic achievement in secondary schools by promoting the ideals of excellence, justice, and honor. Modeled after Phi Beta Kappa, the Cum Laude Society comprises 382 chapters in the U.S., Canada, England, France, Spain, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

The newest members of KO’s Cum Laude Society are:

• Cole Adams, son of Sonya and Garth Adams of West Hartford
• Lydia Bailey, daughter of Lisa and Charles Bailey of Simsbury
• Maxwell Bash, son of Jeffrey and Hope Bash of West Hartford
• Julia Bayer, daughter of Elizabeth Schiro and Stephen Bayer of West Hartford
• Reilly Callahan, daughter of Kimberly and John Callahan of Bristol
• Salvatore Caruso, son of Josephine and Marco Caruso of Wethersfield
• Lauren Cooper, daughter of Margaret and Christopher Cooper of Avon
•  Julianne DeAngelo, daughter of Laura and Vincent DeAngelo of Weatogue
• Zachary Goldman, son of Kathryn and Stephen Goldman of West Hartford
• Claire Halloran, daughter of Thelma and Robert Halloran, Jr. of Ivoryton
• Christopher Marcello, son of Kathleen Sardegna and David Marcello III of West Hartford
• Shira Richards-Rachlin, daughter of Faye Rachlin and Gary Richards of East Hartford
• Robert Scappaticci, son of Antonio and Bonnie Scappaticci of Bristol
• Jennifer Shook, daughter of Wendi and Michael Shook of Rocky Hill
• Katherine Smith, daughter of Joan Gigstad of West Hartford and Robert Smith of Hartford
• Jacob Tvaronaitis, son of Deborah and Robert Tvaronaitis of Rocky Hill
• Lina Volin, daughter of John and Valeria Volin of Glastonbury
• Ryan Wetsman, son of Lori and David Wetsman of West Hartford