Aiken Prep graduates 8 students 5/29/2009 11:50 PM
By ROB NOVIT Senior writer
It's been 20 years since Aiken Preparatory School went co-ed by merging with Aiken Day School.
Among the first female students was Denning Robinson Saum, a 1992 graduate at a time when the school went only through ninth grade.
Headmaster emeritus Robert Harrington introduced the Atlanta trade specialist as the guest speaker at Aiken Prep's commencement exercises Friday, where six of the eight graduates were female, including valedictorian Pauli Jett. Harrington called Saum one of his top students.
"The relationships you build in life will have the most impact on your success," Saum told the seniors. "Meet new people and learn from them."
Saum earned an MBA from the University of South Carolina's Moore School of Business in 2005. She joined GeorgiaLink Public Affairs Group of Atlanta that year and has helped develop a new initiative, Hemisphere Trade Group. Her mother is Frances Reynolds, who has taught 4-year-old kindergarten at Aiken Prep for two decades.
"I met my husband (Stuart Saum) here, but I didn't know it at the time," Saum said with a smile. "That came many years later, and it all worked out."
In addition to Jett, the graduates include salutatorian Douglas Greer II, Alex Clark, Kristen Norwood, Brynna Sawyer, Catherine Stumberg, Amber Tullius and Sydney Turnquist.
Jett said she too found the support of Aiken Prep important in helping her reach her full potential. The faculty worked on molding students into individuals of utmost character.
"We are facing the biggest decisions of our lives," Jett said. "We're all going to different schools, but none of us will forget the great times here."
She will major in biology at Clemson University's honors college, with plans to attend medical school. Greer is also headed to the honors college as a mechanical or nuclear engineering major.
He said Jett "will get one half the campus and I'll get the other."
Graduation was especially poignant for Greer; his father, Dr. Douglas Greer, died in late December. The support of his classmates and the faculty were essential for him, and he said he tried to provide support for them in return.
Jett captured the Headmaster's Award, while Stumberg won the Palmetto Award. The Melanie Farmer Citizenship Award went to junior Lauren Norton, and the Thomas E. Ewing Spirit Award when to Norwood. Faculty member Buddy May received a standing ovation when he was named the recipient of the Jaime Ortiz-Patino Award for his contributions to the school.
Other awards were announced Thursday:
* Middle-school awards -- Sabrina Giancroce (Robert J. Harrington Spirit Award); Jasmine Young (Melanie Farmer Citizenship); Madison Martin (Headmaster's Award); Zach Harrington (Palmetto Award).
* Departmental Awards -- Max Moreland, Mario Alba (art); Max Moreland (computer); Tyler Walker (beginning band); Brynna Sawyer (concert band); Madison Martin, Catherine Stumberg (Miller literature award); Jessaline Good, Anna Brisbin (English); Benjamin Fetterolf (French); Zach Harrington, Doug Greer, Pauli Jett (math); Andrew Winter, Mario Alba, Tristan Young (Latin); Jasmine Young, Alex Clark (science); Jasmine Young, Matthew Scharf (social studies), Anna Brisbin (the Aiken Knight).
* Scholarship Awards for GPA by grade -- Tyler Walker (grade 6); Madelyn Eaves, Kristina Greer-Ruud (7); Zach Harrington (8), Stephanie Ling (9), Taylor Blanton (10), Anna Brisbin (11), Pauli Jett (12).
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.
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