On Friday, January 16, fourteen students and two faculty members were inducted into the Cum Laude Society.

“Membership in the Cum Laude Society is the highest academic award that the Williston Northampton faculty can bestow,” said Mr. Peter Gunn while introducing the award Friday morning during assembly. Mr. Gunn thanked the inductees for teaching the faculty “about, above all, a love of learning.” Mr. Gunn concluded by telling the inductees, “As we acknowledge your past effort and present accomplishment, you fill us with hope for a future full of achievement.”

The fourteen seniors to receive this award were Lena Gandevia, Katie Murray, Maisy Glick, Emily Peirent, Emily Grussing, Loren Po, Cameron Hill, Mackenzie Possee, Emma Kaisla, Matthew Steinberg, Umi Keezing, Cade Zawacki, Rae Kim, and Tina Zhang. These students were joined by honorary inductees Mr. Ben Demerath and Ms. Lynn Magovern.

The first round of Cum Laude inductees are comprised of the top ten percent of the senior class, based on academic standing. At graduation, the next ten percent of the senior class will be inducted into the society.

Mark Franczyk ’00, a former Williston Cum Laude Society inductee, spoke to the inductees during the assembly in Williston’s Philips Stevens Chapel. Mr. Franczyk graduated from Williston in 2000. While at Williston, Franczyk participated in many aspects of the community including the swim team, theater, The Willistonian, and Caterwaulers. He went on to graduate from Columbia University and pursued a successful career as a banker on Wall Street for a decade later. He quickly became vice president of the Treasury & Securities Services branch of J.P. Morgan. He then became an analyst in the Investment Banking Division.

This career didn’t make him happy or keep him healthy. Franczyk believes he spent much of his time in a state of “constant panic.” He told the inductees to make sure they “take the time to enjoy your successes.”

Instead, Franczyk pursued his hobby of cooking and began taking classes. Shortly after, he quit his job and enrolled in culinary school. He runs a blog, “Outside The Breadbox,” with commentary on his culinary journey and recipes. 

During his presentation Franczyk told the students, “The difference between fourteen hours in the office and fourteen hours in the restaurant, doing what I love—it was amazing.”

Franczyk says that through all of this, he had a lot of support from his family and friends. “I know I can’t ask for you guys to have support, but what I can ask is that you’re supportive to one another…it is extremely important.” His final advice to the inductees was to “take a good look at where everyone else is running, and go in the opposite direction.”