All School
June 6, 2022
Seven Hills graduates 90 students in 48th Commencement
“Each of you must work to the best of your abilities to be a tsunami of goodness. Acts of kindness generate waves of positive change within yourself, your family, your friends, and your community.” The words of commencement speaker Pastor Peter Matthews ’91 charged the Class of 2022 with the responsibility of using their talents to better the world around them. Seven Hills celebrated its 48th Commencement in the Field House on the Hillsdale Campus on June 3. The 90 graduates, clad in caps and gowns, came together to commemorate their myriad achievements and time at the Seven Hills Upper School and to listen to the words of wisdom of several school community leaders, including Head of School Chris Garten, Head of Upper School Matt Bolton, and Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Baggott. Students also heard from classmates Anand Patil, Thomas Murphy, and Mercer Kruzner, history teacher Eric O’Connor, and parent Maureen Hood. Congratulations to the Class of 2022!
SNAAP Banquet Honors Students
The Seven Hills Network of African American Parents (SNAAP) hosted its 2022 Recognition Banquet on June 5. The banquet celebrates the students moving from fifth to sixth grade, eighth to ninth, and this year’s Upper School graduates. SNAAP treasurer Kenneth Best served as the afternoon’s master of ceremonies. Best opened the ceremony by welcoming rising sophomore Jazelle Merritt for a poetry reading. Best gave the invocation before lunch, followed by opening remarks from Head of School Chris Garten. “Thank you all for the support you have given to our children,” Garten said. “Students, we are incredibly proud of everything you’ve accomplished and strived for this year.” Following Garten’s remarks, Best welcomed the program’s keynote speaker, Dr. Odell Owens. Owens’ many achievements include the Irving Friedman Award for Outstanding Chief Resident while in the obstetrics/ gynecology department at Yale Medical School, completing Cincinnati’s first in vitro fertilization conception and pregnancy from a frozen embryo, and being the first African American to hold an executive office in Hamilton County when he was elected coroner in 2004. He was reelected in 2008 with the most votes a candidate ever received in Hamilton County. Owens urged students to not just ask God or their fellow man why bad things happen, but to reach out their hand and help others. Best then introduced Elana Elmore who performed a musical selection honoring the rising students and graduates. SNAAP co-chair Kimberly Jackson presented the Tasha K. Porter Leadership Award to Upper School teachers Mark Beyreis and Marc Raia for their commitment to excellence and outstanding leadership at Seven Hills. SNAAP co-chair Tonya Best presented the rising students, including Class of 2022 graduates Ahmed Abass, Gabrielle Christmon, Gabrielle DeLyons, Jack Fechter, Harper Gable, Joshua Porter, Amaiya Sims, and Paris Weems; rising ninth graders Nathan Asfaw, Darryl Bailey, Vivian Brown, Malcolm Faison, Maxwell Faison, Aleeya Pippins, Andrew Sanker, Davion Washington, and Lemuel Zyyon; and rising sixth graders Kendall Coffey and Sarah Olowokure. The ceremony closed with words from Jackson, recognizing the efforts of the entire SNAAP network.
New Tennis Courts
Thanks to the generous donations of the Seven Hill community, crews are hard at work on three new tennis courts at the Hillsdale Campus between the existing tennis courts and the Field House. With the new addition, there will be a total of 10 tennis courts. Weather pending, the courts will be completed in time for the start of the girls tennis season in the fall.
Happy Retirement!
Thank you for your decades of service, and a big congratulations on your well-deserved retirements!
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Five Stingers Sign to Play in College
Five Stingers from the Class of 2024 signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic careers in college.
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