Country Day’s traditional graduation ceremony may have looked different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Class of 2020 celebration is one to remember! With safe practices in place, on May 20 seniors picked up their diplomas in the Hance Family Gallery with Head of School Mark Reed, Head of Upper School Matt Less, and immediate family members present.
On May 22, the Baccalaureate ceremony was live-streamed, consisting of remarks by students and administration, including longtime Upper School History Teacher Bob Plyler, who was voted by the senior class. Watch it here.
There is no doubt this is a special class and the challenges we’re dealing with now will not define them, unless it is for the good. Class 2020: your resilience and positive attitude has been inspiring to everyone around you. This entire community is proud of you!
Mark Reed, Head of School
Highlights of the Class of 2020
- 115 students will attend 62 different colleges and universities in 25 different states, Washington, DC and Canada.
- Class was admitted to 157 different colleges and universities. See full list here.
- 70% of the class will attend colleges and universities outside of North Carolina; 30% will attend in state.
- 50% of the class will attend private universities; 50% will attend public institutions.
- 964 applications submitted by 115 seniors, which averages 8 per student.
- To date, the class has received $11.5 million in scholarship offers based on academic, merit, athletic abilities, or special talents.
Scholarships and Special Opportunities
- Two recipients of the Richard Vinroot International Achievement Award, for continued internationalization of Charlotte and our region.
- Notable scholarships include: National Merit Scholarships, the UNC-Chapel Hill Will Froelich Honors Fellowship, US Senate Youth Scholarship, Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Scholarship, and the Odyssey Program at Elon University.
- Schools accepting one or more of our seniors into their Honors programs: American University, Belmont University, College of Charleston, Clemson University, Georgia Tech University, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Georgia, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Sewanee: The University of the South, Tulane University, Villanova University.
Athletics Accomplishments
Seventeen seniors will continue their sports careers with the following athletic programs:
Boston College, men’s tennis
Davidson College, men’s track & field
Hamilton College, football
Haverford College, men’s cross country/track & field
Johns Hopkins University, baseball
Purdue University, football
Sewanee, University of the South, women’s lacrosse and men’s lacrosse
Skidmore College, men’s lacrosse
Tulane University, football
University of Alabama, women’s cross country/track & field
University of North Carolina-Charlotte, football
Wake Forest University, women’s track & field
Washington & Lee University, women’s soccer
Washington University of St. Louis, women’s track & field
Yale University, field hockey
Fine Arts Accomplishments
One student was accepted to Johns Hopkins’ Peabody Institute and UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music for classical voice/opera.
Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
