Thomas Jefferson baccalaureate, commencement set for Sunday

(From Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School)

The entire TJ community is celebrating the TJ Class of 2023 this week, with a combined Baccalaureate and Commencement scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday in the TJ Concert Hall.

These remarkable young people have made significant accomplishments during their time at TJ -- especially during their senior year -- and these stats highlight just some of their success:

These students averaged 8.7 Advanced Placement courses each during their Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. The range is 7 AP courses (4 of the students) to 10 or 11 AP courses (7 of the students).

Seventeen of them were named Advanced Placement Scholars (10 are AP Scholars with Distinction) by College Board for their performance on AP exams as juniors. TJ’s liberal arts, college prep program (including the 20 AP courses offered) prepared the seniors for college, as indicated by their spectacular performance on college readiness standardized tests including the PSAT, ACT, and SAT.

Seven of these seniors were recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program – four as Finalists, and three as Commended Students.

Three of these seniors earned a perfect score on the ACT.

The average ACT Composite Score for the Class of 2023 is 30!

The 22 members of the Class of 2023 earned 117 admission offers from 71 colleges and universities, including to some of the most selective schools, and to the honors colleges at many schools.

All of the students earned merit-based scholarships from 4-year colleges and universities, and they earned more than $7,000,000 in all in merit-based scholarship offers.

Of the 22 members in the Class of 2023, 18 competed at the varsity level during their senior year in cross country, tennis, volleyball, golf, basketball, cheer, and track & field. Several new school records were set in basketball and track 7 field, and there are district and conference champions among the class. Several of the seniors played on the state quarterfinal boys basketball team, competed at the state cross country meet, and will compete at the state track & field meet this weekend. They are also among the members of the state runner up scholar bowl team.

Many of these same students were among the 19 in the class who performed as part of the Upper School Orchestra and/or Upper School Vocal Ensemble this year.

Of the 22 seniors, 18 participated in the Upper School Musical production of West Side Story this year.

All 22 of the seniors are fully committed members of the National Honor Society. Five of them completed the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today community leadership program, and six of them served as leaders in the Upper School Student Council.

All 22 members of the TJ Class of 2023 were accepted to and will matriculate in the fall to 4-year colleges and universities including:

(in alphabetical order)

Barnard College at Columbia University
Boston College
Boston University - Honors College
High Point University
Hofstra University
Missouri University of Science & Technology - Honors Program
Truman State University
University of Arkansas at Little Rock - Honors College

University of Kansas
University of Kansas - Honors College
University of Missouri-Columbia (4)
University of Missouri-Columbia - Honors College (3)
University of Missouri-Kansas City (6-year BS/MD program)
University of Missouri-Kansas City - Honors College (2)
University of Tulsa - Honors Program
Washington University in St Louis

The Class of 2023 Baccalaureate and Commencement are scheduled for Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m., in the TJ Concert Hall.

The TJ graduate who will deliver the alumni address at the Class of 2023 Commencement is William Rhoads, TJ Class of 2007.