Avery Webb ’26 met with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (left) as she shadowed TN House Rep. John Gillespie (right)
“I wanted to shadow at the Capitol because I have been interested in learning more about and possibly pursuing a career in politics. This experience helped me gain more knowledge about my interests,” Avery said.
She also met Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, Secretary of State Tre Hargett, State Treasurer David Lillard, Jr., and Comptroller of the Treasury Jason Mumpower.
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Sophomore Shadows TN House Representative, Meets Gov. Bill Lee at State Capitol
Avery Webb ’26 enjoyed the opportunity to shadow Rep. John Gillespie in Nashville as he interacted with state officials and legislators, and she even got to meet Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
Avery Webb ’26 was able to attend a day and a half of the Tennessee legislative session and explore her interest in politics thanks to our college counseling team. She is interested in the legislative process, specifically in the areas of criminal justice, civil justice, and health issues.
While at the State Capitol, Avery met with state officials including Gov. Bill Lee, Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, Secretary of State Tre Hargett, State Treasurer David Lillard, Jr., and Comptroller of the Treasury Jason Mumpower.
“Shadowing Rep. Gillespie expanded my knowledge of what goes on throughout the government to better our state. Each official helped me learn more about how each department acts and deepened my interest in politics,” Avery said. “I learned the importance of taxes, bills, and voting for who represents your district.”
Avery was named an honorary page to the Tennessee House of Representatives by Speaker Sexton in recognition of her outstanding service to the state and extraordinary interest in governmental processes.
Spring is a time of traditions at Hutchison. Some, like the celebration of May Day, have been around for a century or more. And some, like the Number Five Award, are brand new.
Empathy. Discomfort. Controversy. Curiosity. Perspective. Engagement. These six words encompass a wide range of emotional and intellectual ideas. In the fall of 2020, when the Class of 2024 were freshmen, they started attending sessions to learn about civil discourse. While the world was still navigating the pandemic, it was a great time to practice how to have constructive conversations about things we agree on… and things we disagree on.
Nine Hutchison upper school girls served the Memphis community during the Church Health Youth Service Council’s inaugural year and will continue to serve on the council next school year.
Hutchison Now highlights graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Shelton Wittenberg ’14, an associate attorney at Baker Donelson who also coaches Hutchison middle school lacrosse.
Jordan Deupree ’24 and Bailey Wiener ’24 have been recognized for their leadership in their selection for the Next Gen program, which provides students with mentorship and opportunities to learn more about the Memphis business community.
Hutchison alumna Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold ’96 had the honor of serving as the commencement speaker for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Arts and Sciences ceremony in May 2024.
At Hutchison, Zelia Cedeño-Avila ’24 stepped out of her comfort zone to try many different things and hone in on her interest in science and math, from serving as Technology Council president to creating a robotic scarecrow for her myExperience capstone project. A lifelong learner, she will bring her knowledge and skills to Vanderbilt University, where she plans to study mechanical engineering.
Three upper school students will participate in high-intensity summer programs in subjects including emerging technologies, international studies, and computational physics.
A discovery in one science class led Izzy Ellis ’24 to delve deeper into her interest in biology and map out a path for college and beyond. Along the way, she nurtured other interests, from athletics to civics. An aspiring oncologist, her dream is to find a new, innovative treatment that could help save lives.
Hutchison world language students participated in the 2024 U of M Language Fair, sponsored by The University of Memphis Department of World Languages and Literatures. Demonstrating their knowledge of Spanish, Hutchison had a total of 12 students win awards at the fair.
AP Scholar and National African American Recognition Program Scholar Lauren Coleman ’24 explored her interest in science and the environment at Hutchison. She hopes to make a difference through a career in sustainability.
J’oules Williams ’24 is a member of Memphis Parent magazine’s inaugural 10 under 20 class. The award celebrates youth who strive to make a difference in their community and change the lives of others for the better.
Adela Calzada ’24 has attended Hutchison since pre-K, and she said it allowed her to blossom into a leader who also makes Hutchison feel like home for her peers.
Our inaugural graduating class of the myExperience program presented their capstone projects with confidence, poise, and enthusiasm at our first myExperience Senior Showcase.