To everything there is a season, and spring is a season of transitions at Saint Mary's. Seniors are enjoying many student experiences and traditions for the final time along with all the rites of passage to say farewell, celebrate, and transition from life at Saint Mary's to college life. Underclasswomen and juniors are beginning to step up to a new grade level status and to assume new leadership positions, as they grow and progress through their Saint Mary's years.
Student leader election and selection season is in full swing at Saint Mary's. The 2018-2019 executive SGA officers, marshals, and class officers have been elected. Prefects, vestry officers, and numerous club and organization officers will be selected in the weeks to come.
The 2017-2018 student leaders are in the process of passing the torch of leadership to a new crop of officers for another year ahead at Saint Mary's School. The transition process will culminate with a series of leader induction ceremonies in the weeks to come. SGA and marshal inductions will be held April 26 in the Chapel. Vestry officers will be inducted May 4 in the Chapel. Prefects will take the oath of office at the final residential life dinner.
For seniors, it is a bittersweet time of reflection, as they look back on their Saint Mary's years and forward to their college years.
"Although it is sad that my tenure as SGA President is coming to a close, as I reflect on this past year I am very proud of all that the Executive SGA and I have accomplished this year," says 2018 SGA President Grace Battle Thompson '18. "The incoming group of Executive SGA leaders are intelligent, innovative, and compassionate girls. I am honored to hand down the torch to them. Being president, this year has taught me a lot and shown me the true value of leadership. I come from a family of leaders - in fact, my mom was also SGA President when she was at Saint Mary's. She has always talked about what a transformative year it was, and I will always be thankful I got to experience it. I am honored that I was able to represent the Saint Mary's student body."
Congratulations, to the newly elected student leaders, and kudos to all who ran for office and offered to serve.
Leadership comes in many forms, and not all student leaders hold an official title or office. As the 176th year at Saint Mary's enters its final weeks, we celebrate the achievements of all students, as each girl has contributed in both quiet and highly visible ways to the rich fabric of school life in academics, athletics, the arts, community service, student government, the Chapel program, residential and day student life, and more.
Photos:
Top: Class of 2018 (top row) and Class of 2019 (front row) marshals
Bottom: Class of 2018 Executive SGA officers at their installation in the spring of 2017.
Bottom: 2018 SGA President Grace Battle Thompson '18; with her grandmother Sue Battle Moore '63C (left), former Saint Mary's Alumnae Association president; and her mother Heather Moore Thompson '88HS '90C, former SGA President.
