57 seniors were inducted into the National Cum Laude Society by History Teacher and Cum Laude Chapter President Lilas Lane during the annual Cum Laude assembly in Rugby Theater May 19. The recipients of this award are in the top 20% of the class based on the average of their weighted and unweighted GPAs from the three years they have been at the Upper School.

At the end of the ceremony, President Rick Commons announced Executive Managing Editor Zoe Goor ’25 as valedictorian and Jacob Massey ’25 as salutatorian.

Inductee Alexa Liu ’25 said she was grateful to be recognized academically and credited her teachers for playing a significant role in her academic journey.

“I felt honored to be selected for a class that is amazing academically and incredibly talented,” Liu said. “I am lucky because I have had a majority of very supportive and kind teachers throughout my time at Harvard-Westlake. Their work enabled me to enjoy class and do well academically.”

Typically, the salutatorian and valedictorian are not announced together because the salutatorian is not always in the top 20% of the class. This year, however, Commons announced them together. Lane said she enjoys watching students she has taught walk across the stage and receive the award, as the salutatorian and valedictorian are announced together.

“It’s always great when I have some of my former students crossing that stage, giving them a wink and a nod,” Lane said. “I love it when [Commons] announces the valedictorian and the salutatorian, although it’s funny because normally he doesn’t announce the salutatorian. It’s very unusual but fun. I loved it when they announced [Massey’s] name.”

Inductee Ryder Katz ’25 said that a phrase his parents often told him as a child helped him persevere throughout high school, ultimately leading to his induction into the Cum Laude Society.

“Cum Laude had always been in the back of my mind, but I wouldn’t say it was a particular focus for me,” Katz said. “However, as I was coming down the stretch of senior year and felt it was in reach, it definitely was something that I was aiming for and hoping to accomplish. When I was in kindergarten, my parents began telling me that I was “a boy who could do hard things,” and since then, that’s been a phrase that’s guided me throughout my life. It’s allowed me to keep my head down and work even during the times when it doesn’t feel worth it. Even though it didn’t necessarily originate during high school, I think it’s a large part of what got me here.”

Attendee Elliot Murphy ’27 said seeing the celebration inspired her to be more friendly and find her identity.

“After the valedictorian and salutatorian were announced, I got to see the Harvard-Westlake community come together and celebrate two people for being themselves here and that was beautiful,” Murphy said. “So in a way, that motivated me to strive to include others and find my own individuality because I know it will be celebrated too, no matter what.”