Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold ’96 delivered the commencement address for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Heather Holcomb Stemmler ’96 and Hutchison Athletics Director Caroline Schaefer ’08, who was Dr. Arnold’s flower girl, traveled to Knoxville to see Dr. Arnold deliver her speech.
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Hutchison Alumna Serves as UT Knoxville Commencement Speaker
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.
Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold ’96, a Class of 2000 UT alumna, called delivering the commencement speech the “honor and invitation of a lifetime.” Dr. Arnold is the founder and medical director of Clínica Médicos, a medical clinic modeled after global mission hospitals, whose goal is to make quality healthcare accessible to Chattanooga’s Latino community. She also serves as a United States Civil Surgeon and has an active role as an associate professor within the Department of Family Medicine at UT College of Medicine/Erlanger.
Below is an excerpt from her speech:
“We are the culmination of the days between the cracks, those inside or laid in front of us, but the unglamorous moments, the failed attempts, the tired days - school rejections, broken love, the family cracks – you name it,” she said. “I create solutions that help people through the times when things break – bones, organs, hearts, the mind. We try to put them back together, even when they cannot be put back as one. The more pieces we pick up, either our own or those of others, the more compassionate we become… Some of you will reach a point in life where you are strong enough to not only pick up your own pieces but to pick those up for someone else, like the friend who sweeps up the glass in the mess. If you can feel the beauty of carrying someone else’s trouble, who is weaker, poorer, or more afraid, service might become a decided way of the heart and not an obligation.”
You can watch the full commencement speech here. This also is a true example of how the friendships made at Hutchison bring joy for years to come as Heather Holcomb Stemmler ’96 and Hutchison Athletics Director Caroline Schaefer ’08, who was Dr. Arnold’s flower girl, traveled to Knoxville to see Dr. Arnold deliver her speech. How special!
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.
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.
Excelsior! Demonstrating their knowledge of Latin, Hutchison had a total of 10 students win awards at the Tennessee Junior Classical League Convention.
Jayla Dorsey ’24 was a dedicated member of the varsity basketball team all four years of her high school experience, and she credits her coach, teammates, and Hutchison community members for believing in her.
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.
Hutchison Now highlights graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Mary Catherine Hughes ’10, a development associate at the Nashville Repertory Theatre.