Cum Laude Society Inducts 20
The Memphis University School chapter of the Cum Laude Society inducted 20 members from the classes of 2026 and 2027 during a ceremony April 24.
Membership in the Cum Laude Society is the highest academic honor students in a secondary school can receive. The MUS chapter, modeled on Phi Beta Kappa, was chartered on December 14, 1967.
Representing the top 10% of their class in grade point average were junior inductees Advay Adapa, Krish Agrawal, Carson Alexander, Will Brezina, Liam Curran, Abdullah Khawaja, Dhilan Madasu, Shay Mukatira, and Doug Suddarth.
Also inducted were seniors Bill Chiang, Brady Ehrhart, Advay Iyer, Aadil Omer, Glover Patton, Daxton Saunders, Porter Spiceland, Will Stinson, Sohum Valaulikar, George Willmott, and Lucas Zhang.
They join the Class of 2026 honorees inducted last year: Albert Ding, Will Fortas, Joshua Gramm, Nicholas Lee, Wilson Pace, Henry Phan, Ashwin Subramaniam, Luke Tjiong, Henry West, Carter Wildrick, and Ethan Zhao.
During the ceremony, Headmaster Pete Sanders introduced Mathematics Instructor Darin Clifft who spoke, surprisingly, about ignorance and stupidity.
Drawing a distinction between the two states, he said, “Ignorance is just a state of not knowing. But stupidity?... That’s knowing and acting indifferent to that knowledge.”
After describing instances of ignorance and stupidity in his own life, he said, “What separates our Cum Laude Society members from the rest of us … is the ability to pinpoint their ignorance AND the desire to alleviate it.”
Sometimes it’s as simple as these scholars asking a question about something they don’t understand, he said.
“The stupid thing to do would be to act indifferent in the light of their ignorance. To just do nothing and hope for the best. That path leadeth unto S-cubed [study hall], my children!”
The Cum Laude inductees know their deficiencies and seek the solutions, he continued. “You’ll see them watching game film, talking to their coaches on the sidelines, asking their college counselors about next steps, doing their homework. It’s a sense of self-awareness that they make a fundamental part of their life. A daily decision to take stock of themselves, their individual strengths and their weaknesses, and to take the day with a full acknowledgement of how their decisions and their behaviors impact them and those around them.”
In closing he implored Owls to know their limitations so they can continue flourishing, “My prayer is that each of us finds the satisfaction and peace that comes with a fully recognized acceptance of who we are and what we can do. Know your limitations. Know the difference between ignorance and stupidity.”
Sue Hightower Hyde Chair of English Lin Askew then took the podium and continued the theme of ignorance and stupidity, incorporating the characters of white teen Tom Sawyer and runaway black slave Jim from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to illustrate the difference. “Huck recognizes Jim’s humanity; he is willing to risk his life and eternal damnation to rescue his friend. Huck is ignorant like Jim, but he’s neither blind nor stupid.”
For the induction Upper School Academic Dean Phillip Stalls announced the names of the new members, who stood in front of the stage as Headmaster Sanders, president of the chapter, presented the charge. Afterward, parents and faculty joined Cum Laude members for a reception in the Ingram Dining Hall.
See the event photo album HERE.
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Representing the top 10% of their class in grade point average were junior inductees Advay Adapa, Krish Agrawal, Carson Alexander, Will Brezina, Liam Curran, Abdullah Khawaja, Dhilan Madasu, Shay Mukatira, and Doug Suddarth.
Also inducted were seniors Bill Chiang, Brady Ehrhart, Advay Iyer, Aadil Omer, Glover Patton, Daxton Saunders, Porter Spiceland, Will Stinson, Sohum Valaulikar, George Willmott, and Lucas Zhang.
They join the Class of 2026 honorees inducted last year: Albert Ding, Will Fortas, Joshua Gramm, Nicholas Lee, Wilson Pace, Henry Phan, Ashwin Subramaniam, Luke Tjiong, Henry West, Carter Wildrick, and Ethan Zhao.
During the ceremony, Headmaster Pete Sanders introduced Mathematics Instructor Darin Clifft who spoke, surprisingly, about ignorance and stupidity.
Drawing a distinction between the two states, he said, “Ignorance is just a state of not knowing. But stupidity?... That’s knowing and acting indifferent to that knowledge.”
After describing instances of ignorance and stupidity in his own life, he said, “What separates our Cum Laude Society members from the rest of us … is the ability to pinpoint their ignorance AND the desire to alleviate it.”
Sometimes it’s as simple as these scholars asking a question about something they don’t understand, he said.
“The stupid thing to do would be to act indifferent in the light of their ignorance. To just do nothing and hope for the best. That path leadeth unto S-cubed [study hall], my children!”
The Cum Laude inductees know their deficiencies and seek the solutions, he continued. “You’ll see them watching game film, talking to their coaches on the sidelines, asking their college counselors about next steps, doing their homework. It’s a sense of self-awareness that they make a fundamental part of their life. A daily decision to take stock of themselves, their individual strengths and their weaknesses, and to take the day with a full acknowledgement of how their decisions and their behaviors impact them and those around them.”
In closing he implored Owls to know their limitations so they can continue flourishing, “My prayer is that each of us finds the satisfaction and peace that comes with a fully recognized acceptance of who we are and what we can do. Know your limitations. Know the difference between ignorance and stupidity.”
Sue Hightower Hyde Chair of English Lin Askew then took the podium and continued the theme of ignorance and stupidity, incorporating the characters of white teen Tom Sawyer and runaway black slave Jim from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to illustrate the difference. “Huck recognizes Jim’s humanity; he is willing to risk his life and eternal damnation to rescue his friend. Huck is ignorant like Jim, but he’s neither blind nor stupid.”
For the induction Upper School Academic Dean Phillip Stalls announced the names of the new members, who stood in front of the stage as Headmaster Sanders, president of the chapter, presented the charge. Afterward, parents and faculty joined Cum Laude members for a reception in the Ingram Dining Hall.
See the event photo album HERE.
Embracing a Bold Vision. Building a Bright Future.
Memphis University School is a college-preparatory, independent, day school for boys in Grades 6-12.
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