Photo Gallery - Senior Blazer Day 2021
The Webb School continued a long-standing tradition of honoring seniors during the annual Senior Blazer Day. On Nov. 15, the South’s oldest, continuously operating boarding school hosted the ceremony and 48 members of the Class of 2022 were presented their Webb blazers. Caroline Smith Pryor, a 2011 graduate and an alumni board member, was the guest speaker.
Ken Cheeseman, in his second year as head of school, welcomed seniors, parents, guests, and those who joined the ceremony via livestream.
“This is an important day in the life of, not just our seniors, but our entire community. For those of you who are new or who may not yet understand what it means to put on the Senior Blazer for the first time, I offer two quotes for you from our alumni,” Cheeseman said. “I ask that you ponder each word and phrase that is offered here from two graduates who invested much in our Webb community and reflect our core values very well.
"When I put on my senior blazer, it meant that I fully embodied the mission statement, all that Webb stands for in embracing challenge, committing myself to learning, and living a life of honor."
Lexis Sullens '18
"When I put on my senior blazer and went to take pictures, it meant that I did everything at Webb. I watched my friends, took pictures, and rang the bell. We made it. I remember being in the sixth grade and not having friends; now I’ve got a blazer with others I have been in class with for almost a decade, and I saw my closest friends get our blazers all together. This solidified our friendships."
Mollie Kate Creech '21
Seniors, you being given the blazer today signifies your faculty’s pronouncement that you have reached an important and time-honored milestone in the development of your character and your prowess in the three A’s: academics, arts, and athletics. It is my hope and prayer that in receiving the Blazer, you will continue to commit to the pursuit of wisdom, the wisdom necessary to lead your generation, both here and far beyond our borders. Lead your generation where and how? Towards justice, mercy, and truth; I both challenge you and expect you to intentionally commit to making your sphere of influence and the world beyond a better place than the one you inherit. If not you, then who will lead us? The world needs you.”
Introducing Pryor, the head of school said, “Caroline Smith Pryor, Class of 2011, has a deep and rich history here at Webb. She grew up here on this beautiful campus; she was both a day student and a boarding student. Her mother is the much beloved Moira Smith, who taught French here for more than 30 years, and her father is L.R. Smith, who retired last year after 44 years as a hugely influential faculty member. After graduating from Webb, Caroline attended Davidson College in North Carolina, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in French and Francophone Studies and International Studies in 2015. She returned to Webb and worked as an admissions coordinator and residential faculty member. She then earned a Master’s of Business Administration from Ole Miss. She works for Delta Health Alliance, where she researches particular challenges among the poorest residents of the Mississippi Delta, develops plans to solve and mitigate those problems, and raises support to fund those plans. Her work focuses on helping children thrive from the cradle to career. She is a shining example of powerfully leading her sphere of influence toward justice, mercy, and truth.”
Click to read Caroline Smith Pryor’s Remarks
The head of school also introduced others participating in the ceremony: Julie Yamamoto Harris, class of 1995 and director of enrollment management; Kristen Linton, class of 2000 and director of leadership annual giving; and Webb Follin III, class of 1973 and past chair of the Alumni Board.
The 2022 seniors include: Helen Allison, Brady Badour, Jacqueline Bain, Aidas Berzinskas, Conner Brown, Ari Cook, Weston Coop, Myles "Eddie” Cumberbatch, Lauren Cummins, Emme Elgin, Evan Eursher, Zhehan “Jerry” Feng, Gal-la Font, Chenyu “Wendy” Fu, Emmett Gabehart, Ben Greenberg, Avante “Khi” Harris, Maritha Issel, Andrew Lawson, Jessica Le, Luke Ledbetter, Zhengxuan “Jason” Liang, Krish Mansharamani, Alexander Mast, Zoë Nicholson, Diane Olvera, Pratham Patel, Coleton Pedigo, Iris Reyes, Lola Reyes, Grayson Rone, Jack Ryan, Johnathon Savage, Simon Sengchanh, Brooklyn Shepard-Wheelon, Miles Simons, Sydney Sinclair, Phoebe Smith, Hazel Song, Keqin “Nicola” Sun, Maddox Sutton, Roman Tavares-Finson, Kaden Thephavong, Caroline Whitaker, Corbin Whitney, Peja York, Yaotian Zhang and Rui Zhou.
Following the ceremony, seniors had the opportunity to gather with family members for photos at the Webb School Bell that once stood on the original school grounds in 1870 in Culleoka, Tenn.
