On Thursday, April 23, fifteen members of Athens Academy’s Class of 2026 were inducted into the prestigious Cum Laude Society in recognition of their commitment to superior scholastic achievement throughout Upper School.

The fifteenth annual Cabaniss Lecture, which preceded the
ceremony, was given by Dr. Karl W. Kuhnert, professor of the practice in organization and management at the Goizueta Business School at Emory University.

As the secondary school equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa, The Cum Laude Society recognizes superior academic achievement and sound character. Congratulations to inductees Charlotte Campbell, Kathryn DeLoach, HT Garrard, Brendan Golish, Riley Harding, Connor Kane, Luke Kelly,
Chenghan Li, Zhenxi Li, Annie Luke, Remy Marty, Will McCleary, Anshi Patel, Weston Smart, and Charlie Walton.

These students represent some of Athens Academy’s best and brightest. They are leaders, athletes, artists, actors, volunteers, and more. This fall they will attend the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, the U.S. Naval Academy, UNC Chapel Hill, the University of Notre Dame, Wake Forest University, and more.

“A Cum Laude chapter represents a school’s commitment to recognizing the highest levels of academic achievement,” said Head of School John Thorsen. “These students have demonstrated both excellence and character in their work. We commend their accomplishments and appreciate the example they set for others at Athens Academy.”

In 1988, Athens Academy became only the seventh school in Georgia to be chartered as a chapter of The Cum Laude Society. There are currently only eleven chapters in the state. An annual highlight at Athens Academy, the induction ceremony is preceded by a lecture on the lifetime pursuit of scholarship and integrity.

In April 2011, the Athens Academy Board of Trustees formally named the Cum Laude lecture The Cabaniss Lecture to honor Dr. Harvey Cabaniss, a longtime supporter and founding trustee. The first Cabaniss Lecture was held on April 27, 2011, where Dr. Cabaniss was recognized
for his service to the school.

Athens Academy is an independent, co-educational school for students in K3 through 12th grade, located on a beautiful 152-acre campus in Northeast Georgia. Now in its 59th year, Athens Academy pursues its mission of “excellence with honor” through academics, athletics, fine arts, and service and leadership. Ranked the #1 private school in Athens, #7 private school in the state of Georgia (out of 400+ schools), and #1 private school in North Georgia (Niche.com).

For more information, please contact Kelley Cuneo, communications director, at [email protected] or 706-433-2410.