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Commencement Address by David Tang ’94
The Webb School’s Class of 2022 graduated during the 152nd commencement ceremony on May 28. Family and friends joined faculty and staff in honoring the class. David Tang, a 1994 Webb graduate, gave the commencement address.
Graduation was preceded by Baccalaureate with speaker, L.R. Smith, retired Webb history and ethics teacher, Honor Council advisor, chapel director and longtime clay target team coach and assistant coach. He is also the parent of Caroline Smith Pryor, a 2011 Webb Alumnae.
Also participating in baccalaureate were Jim Callis, associate head of school, offering the opening prayer, and Pratham Patel, Honor Council president, who read Psalm 1.
Following the academic processional for the commencement ceremony, Dr. Tabetha Sullens ’94, assistant head of school, gave the invocation.
In opening his remarks, Head of School Ken Cheeseman welcomed those attending commencement and then turned his focus to the graduates’ parents.
“As your child’s head of school, I am very grateful to you and for you. You have given us a gift by allowing us to know, love, teach, coach, advise, and mentor your children. We are particularly grateful to you for your support and confidence in us as we led your children and you through some very trying times the last 2 and ½ years,” he said. “We could not be here having achieved as much as we have without your support, so thank you. Having spoken recently to many of your children about you, I know they are thankful for the opportunity that you have given to them. So, while all parents of seniors remain seated, I ask the graduates, faculty, and guests to stand and give a hearty round of applause to the parents of our seniors.”
Cheeseman was joined on the stage by James I. Vance Berry '72, Board of Trustees chair. Also recognized were other trustees in attendance, including Vice Chair Farrar Vaughan ’95, David Brown, father of graduating senior, Conner Brown, and Evan Cope ’94. Webb Follin III, Alumni Board past president also attended the ceremony.
Six students who left prior to graduation were honored with a ceremony
on May 20 before the Senior Luncheon and Senior Chapel. They were
also honored in absentia as part of the 2022 Commencement Ceremony
on May 28. Students pictured with Jim Callis, associate head of school,
left, and Ken Cheeseman, head of school, right, were, second from left,
Yewon (Hazel) Song, Zhengxuan (Jason) Liang, Rui Zhou, Jiaqi (Jessica) Le,
Chenyu (Wendy) Fu, Keqin (Nicola) Sun.
Turning the attention to the Class of 2022, the head of school continued, “I am proud of you! The last 2 and ½ years of your high school experience was shaped not only by COVID, but also by some of the most significant social, racial, and political challenges in decades. These challenges certainly buffeted you, individually and as a class, but you are resilient and you clearly care for each other, which has made such a difference in the strength of your perseverance. Just last weekend a story unfolded that is emblematic of how the care and support you have shown each other makes your class better and stronger. Coleton Pedigo, who has courageously and admirably fought through his own set of struggles since he has been at Webb, could not attend the trip. His disappointment at not being able to share this experience with you all could have left him bitter and discouraged, but the moment he realized Weston Coop who was delayed from joining the group needed a ride to join, Coleton stepped into that space, sacrificing his time to drive Weston to join the group. Good for Weston and the entire class, to be sure, but good for Coleton to display such sacrificial leadership; thank you Coleton and thank you Class of 2022 for caring for each other, encouraging perseverance and resilience in the face of some historic challenges. Well done.
“Even as I turn my attention to the particular highlights of your class of 48 students, I am reminded that only 42 of you are present today because of COVID protocols impacting some of our international students’ travel. You are a medley of talents, skills, passions, and paths forward. We celebrate your accomplishments, are grateful for the journey we shared with you, and have great hope for your future.”
Continuing, Cheeseman said, “As you have worked hard to reach your academic goals, and you have been leaders in the classrooms, on the courts, and on the stage, we recognize a few individual highlights. Ben Greenberg is a commended scholar in the National Merit Scholar program.”
Also highlighted were the following students who are AP Scholars, meaning that they achieved AP scores of 3 or greater on 3 or more AP exams: Wendy Fu, Zoë Nicholson, Lola Reyes, Maddox Sutton and Yaotian Zhang. Students with an AP score average of 3.25 or higher on 4 or more AP exams are considered AP Scholars with Honor. Recognized were Jessica Le and Jason Liang. The highest AP honor is the AP Scholar with Distinction. Jerry Feng, Hazel Song, and Ray Zhou achieved this honor by having an AP Average of 4.50 or higher on 5 or more AP exams.
Among highlights in the arts at Webb were the fall production of “Little Women”, introduced by the Mark Twain soliloquy, the fall and spring string concerts, the coffeehouse and springfest, and Jason Liang’s performance of “Liebestraum” by Franz Liszt.
In athletics during the past year, the head of school highlighted Johnathon Savage, who earned a national championship in international skeet, and Miles Simons, who was the state champion in American skeet, doubles skeet and international skeet. The Class of 2022 also had 2 All-District senior athletes, 6 senior athletes that made All-Region, and 3 senior athletes, Conner Brown, Evan Eursher and Brooklyn Shepard-Wheelon earned All-State honors.
In team results, the following recognitions were mentioned. The Webb international skeet squad placed second in the nation, and the boys golf team won districts and regions and placed 4th in the state. The boys’ basketball team made it to the Elite 8 in the state championships. The boys’ tennis team made it to state championship for the first time in school history, and the boys’ soccer team made it to the Elite Eight in the state championship.
The head of school closed addressing the graduates saying, “The faculty and I congratulate the members of the class of 2022 for all of their accomplishments and for having achieved this important milestone in their lives. I also want you to know we will miss you. We are grateful for having shared this time in this place with you.”
Cheeseman introduced Tang, who has spent the last 25 years in the mergers and acquisitions and investing space. He is currently vice president of M&A and Business Development for PurposeBuilt Brands, where he originates and executes acquisitions for a leading cleaning products company. Prior to PurposeBuilt, he executed acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and venture investments for Fortune Brands Home & Security, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Brickman Landscaping. He previously led private-equity investments for Allied Capital and Emerging Markets Partnership. Tang started his career in investment banking with Bowles Hollowell Conner. He is a 1994 graduate of The Webb School and attended Webb for six years. After Webb, he attended Harvard College, where he graduated with a degree in Economics cum laude. He is a resident of Highland Park, Ill., and is married to Elizabeth. They have a 12-year-old daughter named Emmy.
Following Tang’s remarks, Cheeseman recognized the faculty and also thanked two retiring faculty members – Sandy Truitt, with 48 years of service, and Mike Quinn, with 23. Quinn was recently honored, and Truitt will be honored next week.
Physics teacher Henry Brooks received the 2022 David Newton McQuiddy Award that honors a teacher who has integrity, is loyal to Webb and its ideals, is dedicated to the profession, and who encourages sound character development and academic excellence. The recipient of the award is selected by a vote of the student body. Brooks was valedictorian of his class at Davidson College and joined Webb as a faculty member for three years. He also serves as coach, dorm parent and advisor.
The Head of School’s Award is funded by the J Murray Hill ’75 Endowment. This award is intended to be given by the Head of School to fund any appropriate annual expense. For this school year, it was designated for the following purposes. Webb eighth grader, Ben Lesher, has qualified for the national science bee in Orlando, Fla., and the school will send him to the competition. The fund will also be used to purchase and install a display case for both the Academic Student of the Month and the Arts Student of the Month, bringing greater recognition to top students in both of these important areas of school life. “We are very grateful for Mr. Hill’s generous gift,” Cheeseman acknowledged.
As part of the commencement ceremony, Jiaqui “Jessica” Li received the highest academic honor in the class, the Anna Landis Hightower Award, which honors the student with the highest grade-point average for four years at Webb.
Zoë Nicholson received the John Hardin Highest Scholastic Award as the student who achieved the highest scholastic average in his/her senior year and the Webb Follin Award, in memory of Gerald Webb Follin, as the senior with the highest cumulative English grade average. Nicholson also received the John Lewis Morgan Award, which is presented annually to the student(s) who has maintained high standard of excellence in his or her academic work and who has demonstrated the highest qualities of good citizenship in the service of the school. As the student who has made significant contributions to the theatre at The Webb School throughout his or her time in high school, she received the Joseph Peters Meersman Jr. Award.
The John Freeman Academic Achievement Award, presented to a persevering student who faced initial academic difficulties at Webb but who began to flourish academically and realize his/her potential, was presented to Diane Olvera.
The Henry Harrell Mathematics Memorial Award, given to the graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence in all of the mathematics courses he/she has undertaken at Webb, was presented to Yaotian Zhang.
Maddox Sutton (3.97 GPA) and Helen Allison (4.17 GPA) received the Senior Achievement Scholar-Athlete award, which recognizes two seniors: one male and one female who have excelled both academically and athletically. Conner Brown, who maintained a 3.55 GPA during high school, received the Athletic Director’s Scholar-Athlete Award, earning all-state three different times during high school and leading the Webb team to the state golf championships his junior and senior years.
Nicholson was also selected by seniors to deliver the Student Address during the commencement ceremony. In introducing her, Cheeseman said, “It is my pleasure to introduce our student speaker for the class of 2021. Zoë Nicholson has been at Webb since the sixth grade. One teacher notes, ‘She has been as reliable as any colleague I have known. Her talent for cutting through the thicket of the lengthy and dense process or dramatic material is keen and accurate.’”
Cheeseman added, “Her energy and sense of self in relation to events or surroundings are admirably strong. This student has competed on the Mock Trial team, is active in a leadership role in Creative Writing; she works in the Bond Library as an aide and alongside our official Webb archivist.
“She strives to create her work within the construct of openness and understanding. As a student, she exemplifies the heart of the Webb mission, embracing a sense of what went before while confidently moving forward in shaping our world as a community. Spend any amount of time with Zoë Nicholson, and you will soon be discussing the arts and the humanities, history, and great literature. Zoë plans to attend Agnes Scott Women's College in metro Atlanta in the fall.”
Music for the baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies was directed and provided by Janet Linton, Fine Arts Department chair, Susan Mullen, string instructor and string orchestra director and the string ensemble.
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A listing of recognitions and other awards presented during the commencement ceremony included the following.
Community Service Award
Students who have averaged 50 hours of community service each year they have attended The Webb School.
Helen Delia Allison, Ari Cook, Benjamin Henry Greenberg, Andrew Lawson, Luke David Ledbetter
Zoë Walker Nicholson, Brooklyn Hope Shepard-Wheelon, Hazel Song, Maddox John Sutton and Caroline Ruth Whitaker
Honor Council Senior Members
Pratham Patel, Grayson Rone, Andrew Lawson and Phoebe Smith
Old Guard (students who have attended Webb for four or five years)
Brady Badour
Jacqueline Bain
Weston Coop
Jerry Feng
Jessica Li
Luke Ledbetter
Zhengxuan Liang
Krish Mansharamani
Phoebe Smith
Yewon Song
Maddox Sutton
Corbin Whitney
Rhui Zho
Ancient Guard (students who began their careers at Webb in the 6th or 7th grade)
Helen Allison
Aidas Berzinskas
Connor Brown
Ari Cook
Eddie Cumberbatch
Ben Greenberg
Andrew Lawson
Zoe Nicholson
Pratham Patel
Iris Reyes
Lola Reyes
Johnathon Savage
Simon Sengchanh
Brooklyn Shepard-Wheelon
Miles Simons
Kaden Thephavong
Caroline Whitaker
Diane Olvera
Sydney Sinclair
Vance Berry, Board of Trustees chairman, presented Bibles and graduation certificates to the Class of 2022.
Rui Zhou
Yaotian Zhang
Peja Tazzlyn York
Corbin Whitney
Caroline Ruth Whitaker
Chanthavilai Kaden Thephavong
Roman Tavares-Finson
Maddox John Sutton
Keqin "Nicola" Sun
Hazel Song
Phoebe Star Smith
Sydney Madison Sinclair
Miles Michael Prater Simons
Brooklyn Hope Shepard-Wheelon
Simon Sengchanh
Johnathon Roy Savage
Jack Michael Ryan
Grayson Tilghman Rone
Lola Gisselle Reyes
Iris Gabriela Reyes
Coleton FitzJerrold Pedigo
Diane Olvera
Zoë Walker Nicholson
Alexander Mast
Krish Mansharamani
Zhengxuan "Jason" Liang
Luke David Ledbetter
Jiaqi "Jessica" Le
Andrew Lawson
Maritha Issel
Avante Mehki Harris
Benjamin Henry Greenberg
Emma Gabehart
Chenyu Fu Wendy）
Gal-la Font i Valls
Zhehan Feng
Evan Eursher
Margaret Elizabeth Elgin
Lauren Michelle Cummins
Myles Edward Cumberbatch II
Weston Thomas Coop
Ari Cook
Conner Alan Brown
Aidas Alan Berzinskas
Jacqueline Renee Bain
Brady Patrick Badour
Helen Delia Allison
Pratham Patel
The head of school closed the ceremony saying, “To the class of 2022, you will leave Webb, your second home, to embrace new endeavors. Senior Survival solidified your relationships and pushed you to a new grit many of you didn't know you had. There are some members of your class whom you may never see again … and there are some who will be closer than a brother or sister for the rest of your lives. We hope that you will return often to Webb, and share your celebrations with us. Webb will always be your home.
“Wherever you go, remember that you are a Webb lady or gentleman. That honor comes with the great responsibility of living your life with integrity, character, and service to others. These lessons are lifelong; you carry these with you in college and in organizations later in life. Lead a purposeful life, be a servant leader, and always be kind. Godspeed to you all.”
