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McDonogh School’s Cum Laude Society welcomed 35 new members from the Classes of 2022 and 2023 during the 61st annual induction ceremony on Thursday, April 21 in the Ceres M. Horn Theatre. They joined 14 seniors who were inducted in 2021. The national honor society, which recognizes academic achievement grounded in character, honesty, and integrity, is modeled after the Phi Beta Kappa collegiate honor society.

The 18 initiates from the Class of 2022 are Harper Allee-Press, Paul Baliff, Jack Bussard, George Constable, Jacob Haroun, Armin King, Laney Krause, Rylee La Testa, Cooper LaPorte, Beatrice Messaris, Taylor Moorehead, Joshua Na, Isabella Paliotta, Owen Pett, Riya Sanghavi, George Seybold, Benjamin Weintraub, and Amanda Willen.

The 17 initiates from the Class of 2023 are Ayomide Addey, Mehek Bajaj, Piper Borz, Chloe Gordon, Jack Gordon, Morgan Kazerman, William Kibel, Christopher Kobulnicky, Adam Levine, Simon Osgood, Sophia Park, Vir Rami, Christopher Schlossnagle, Daniel Sung, Sofia Velculescu, Cole Winston, and Benjamin Yu.

Addressing the initiates, their parents, and the Upper School community at the ceremony was McDonogh School trustee David Rothschild ‘82 who catalyzed the launch of Greatest Good McDonogh with an endowed commitment and partnership support.

Rothschild spoke about his journey to discovering that doing well for yourself doesn’t take away from doing good in the world. “In fact, purpose and profit often complement one another, he said.”

After touching on his early career, which included starting a computer systems integration company, working as a Wall Street analyst, and managing funds as an investor, he spoke about his commitment to service and giving back. Rothschild said he was inspired by his grandmother who taught him that the privilege of well-being brought with it the obligation to serve. And he made a point of noting how happy she was when she was helping people.

Rothschild then shared his path back to his alma mater and his inspiration for Greatest Good McDonogh, saying “I believe that giving people a taste for doing good early in life will change their lives and change the world.”

“Helping others helps you. Empathy for others, particularly those you disagree with, helps you,” he continued. “My personal experience—and more importantly, evidence-based data— has shown that engaging with the community fosters a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and deepens understanding of a complex world.”

Rothschild concluded his remarks with a challenge: “Live your life for profit and purpose,” he said. “I’m not making this ask because ‘it’s the right thing to do.’ I’m asking because it’s one of the best ways to create joy in your life.”

The Cum Laude Society, founded in 1906, recognizes the scholastic achievement of juniors and seniors in secondary schools. Chapters elect only students who have demonstrated good character, honor, and integrity in all aspects of their school life. While the founders of the society wanted to recognize outstanding scholarship at the high school level, they also underscored their belief that such scholarship needs to be grounded in integrity by thoughtfully choosing the words of the society’s motto. The motto of the Cum Laude Society is “Arete, Dike, Time — Excellence, Justice, Honor.”