Celebrating Excellence, Justice, Honor

McDonogh joined the Cum Laude Society in 1961. The society, founded in 1906, recognizes the scholastic achievement of juniors and seniors in secondary schools. Chapters elect only those students who have demonstrated good character, honor, and integrity in all aspects of their school life. While the founders of the Society wanted to recognize outstanding scholarship at the high school level, they also underscored their belief that such scholarship needs to be grounded in integrity by thoughtfully choosing the words of the society’s motto, “Arete, Dike, Time—Excellence, Justice, Honor.”