THOMASVILLE- As the end of the school year nears, Brookwood School celebrated Upper School students who have achieved the highest levels of academic success during its annual Honors and Awards Day ceremony on April 24.

John Albert Roesel was named valedictorian for the Class of 2025, having earned the highest cumulative grade point average across his four years of high school at Brookwood. Roesel will deliver the concluding speech at Brookwood’s graduation ceremony.

The salutatorian for the Class of 2025 is Ben Watts, who achieved the second-highest GPA among his peers. In keeping with Brookwood tradition, Watts will open the graduation ceremony by addressing his classmates.

“This is a dynamic and competitive class with many motivated and high achieving students. I am very proud of John and Ben and I know that they will do an excellent job of representing the class of 2025 in their comments at graduation, ” said Headmaster Dr. Randy Watts.

In addition to recognizing this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian, Brookwood honored students with top academic performance throughout the Upper School.

Summa Cum Laude graduates (GPA of 4.0 or higher) include Henry Frye, Morgan Boggs, Diya Choksi, Shep Davis, Matthew Lauderdale, Ainsley Jacobson, Avery Kate Lee, Sophia Lee, Kensley Rodd, John Albert Roesel, Emma Rhodes, Emmy Sanders, Abby Stalvey, Miriam Simmons, Caroline Stewart, Andrew Strickland, Kate von Hellens, Waverly Waldrep, and Ben Watts.

Magna Cum Laude graduates (GPA of 3.67 or higher) include Walker Jackson, Isiah Hill, JD Culbreth, Jacob Clark, Will Kadel, Cate Stallings, Rylee Knight, and Carriyona Williams.

Cum Laude graduates (GPA of 3.33 or higher) include Clark Carter, Ava Dumas, Byrdie Bryan, and Anna Belle Willcox.

Members of the Class of 2025 have also been accepted to an impressive list of colleges and universities across the country and abroad.

In the Southeast, students received acceptances to Anderson University, Appalachian State University, Auburn University, Augusta University, Belmont University, Berry College, Clemson University, College of Charleston, College of Coastal Georgia, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Emory University, Florida Institute of  Technology, Furman University, Georgia College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Kennesaw State University, LaGrange College, Mercer University, Samford University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Sewanee: The University of the South, Southern Union State Community College, Truett-McConnell University, University of Alabama, University of Alabama-Birmingham, University of Georgia, University of Mississippi, University of North Georgia, University of South Carolina, Valdosta State University, Washington and Lee University, and West Virginia University.

In the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, acceptances included Cornell University, DePaul University, Molloy University, New York University, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Virginia.

In the Midwest, students earned spots at Miami University (Ohio), Purdue University, University of Missouri, University of Kentucky, and University of Tennessee.

In the West and Southwest, students were accepted to Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, University of Colorado, University of Denver, and University of Oklahoma.

Brookwood graduates were also accepted to several international universities, including Richmond University in London, St. Andrews University in the UK, and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Additional notable acceptances include High Point University, Kansas State University, Louisiana State University, Loyola Marymount University, Madonna University, University of Arkansas, and University of Miami (Florida).

Brookwood’s graduation ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 17, in the Joe and Mary Beverly Athletic Center and will be broadcast on Livestream for those unable to attend.