The Class of 2030 ‘radiates sparkle’

By Ava Rumsey ’25

Whether it be surprise flash mobs, lively talent show performances, or “laugh attacks” in the hallways of the middle school, the tenacity of the Class of 2030 has left an undeniable mark on Harpeth Hall.

“I have never met a group of girls that radiate this certain energy that I can really only describe as a sparkle,” said Mary Coleman McMurry, the 8th grade student speaker at the 2026 Honor Day celebration. “They shine with positivity and truly radiate the happiest, bubbliest, and warmest energy I can picture.”

On May 22, the Harpeth Hall community came together to honor the Class of 2030. This beloved tradition celebrates all that the 8th grade class has accomplished in the middle school as they prepare to transition to the upper school. Pink roses in hand, the Class of 2030 filled the Frances Bond Davis Theatre with their joy and laughter. This class was not just marking an ending, but celebrating and enjoying the community they had created.

Mary Coleman reflected on her classmates’ middle school years. From their first classes in 5th grade, “a year of curiosity and discovery,” to their last days “on top of the middle school” as 8th graders, she recounted how they led the middle school with unmatched enthusiasm.

This “sparkle” inspired girls in the grades below, like 7th grade student speaker Eli Bashian. Eli recalled the Class of 2030 as the older girls they all “watched, looked up to, and tried to keep up with.”

She highlighted their investment in the Harpeth Hall community and their relationship with each other. “We noticed the way you encouraged each other during games and performances. We noticed the friendships you built. We noticed the confidence you carried as you grew from nervous middle schoolers into young girls ready for upper school.”

The Class of 2030 has inspired more than just their peers. Middle School Director Elizabeth Ecker ’00 reflected on how the 8th grade students pioneered new leadership groups, engaging the middle school in meaningful theme weeks and advisory lessons that showed the younger students how to connect in community and put honor into practice.

 “Thanks to your investment, your enthusiastic engagement, and your tremendous capacity to lead by example, these meaningful community activities and middle school programs will continue next year,” Ms. Ecker said. “Your teachers and I cannot wait to see how you carry your leadership skills and commitment to going all out in all that you do into the upper school.”

The Class of 2030 leaves behind a legacy of energy, community, and sparkle — one that their teachers and peers expect will carry them far as they cross the lawn to the upper school.