The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and EDGE (Economic Development Growth Engine) of Memphis visited Hutchison to recognize the school’s enduring impact through more than 120 years of leadership in girls’ education.
Alex Wilson, Business Development Consultant with TNECD, presented President and Head of School Dr. Kristen Ring with a special certificate.
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State of Tennessee Recognizes Hutchison for 100+ Years of Impact
As part of a State of Tennessee initiative, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development recognized how Hutchison has made a difference in local and state communities for over 100 years.
Hutchison has stood as a pillar of progress and possibility since 1902, helping shape the future one girl at a time. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and EDGE (Economic Development Growth Engine) of Memphis visited Hutchison to recognize the school’s enduring impact through more than 120 years of leadership in girls’ education. This ceremony was part of a State of Tennessee initiative to thank organizations and companies that have been contributing to the state’s growth and success for over 100 years. You can read more about that initiative here.
“We are excited and honored to receive this recognition. I am proud of the fact that we have been developing and growing smart, confident, strong leaders and impacting our community and beyond,” President and Head of School Dr. Kristen Ring said.
When Mary Grimes Hutchison founded this school in 1902, she was a trailblazer in girls’ education challenging the limits for girls, expanding their opportunities, and building their confidence and character. While the educational landscape has changed since then, that noble calling of closing the opportunity gap for girls, helping them find their voices, and building character is as relevant today as it was more than 120 years ago. Hutchison now enjoys a national reputation as a leading college preparatory school for girls from pre-kindergarten (2 years old) to 12th grade.
Hutchison world language students participated in the 2025 U of M Language Fair, sponsored by The University of Memphis Department of World Languages and Literatures. Demonstrating their knowledge of Spanish and Chinese, Hutchison had nine upper school girls win awards at the fair.
Yes, egg prices are high, according to our fifth graders’ research! Their Mean Monday activity tracking grocery store prices was highlighted on WREG News Channel 3.
Carpe diem! Demonstrating their enthusiasm for Latin and Roman culture, Hutchison had several students win awards at the Tennessee Junior Classical League Convention.
Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test—these are the five steps of design thinking that our lower school girls live by in the Design Lab with academic technology specialist Jennifer Stover.
Our innovative middle school STEM explorations class is designed to inspire young girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through exposure to different types of STEM-adjacent careers and visits from professionals working in STEM careers, we hope to encourage the next generation of female leaders in these fields.
Louise Smythe ’06, who works as a storyboard artist at Pixar Animation Studios and contributed to “Inside Out 2” credits her time at Hutchison for building her confidence and skills.
Hutchison Now highlights graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Margaret Shaul ’14, a senior experience strategist at Czarnowski, a full-service exhibit and event marketing company. Shaul was named to Nashville’s Top 30 Under 30 leaders list in 2022.
While the weather outside is frightful, Ms. Hollingsworth and Ms. Aguilar’s Little Hive girls are staying warm and cozy in their own igloo built entirely from milk jugs.
“H” is for Honest, “U” is for Understanding, “T” is for Trustworthy… Hutchison’s beloved acrostic got a makeover in middle school this year, but the familiar character traits of the Ideal Hutchison Girl remain unchanged.
Caroline Orr ’12 has built a unique career that merges her love for art with business acumen. After working at Sotheby’s, she now works as an art services specialist at Bank of America, where she helps collectors navigate the art market with strategic advice.
The College Board recognized Hutchison for our commitment to expanding girls' access to AP Computer Science courses, empowering students with essential coding, problem-solving, and analytical skills to pursue future opportunities in STEM fields.