Vintage Eagles are students who have attended Woodward Academy from pre-K or Kindergarten through graduation. It is exceptional to have a single Vintage Eagle valedictorian. This year Woodward is graduating THREE. We sat down with valedictorians Carson Blaise Connors, Reagan Laine Gary, and Robert Lane Tharp Jr. to discuss their time at Woodward, their advice for other students, and what comes next. (Conversation has been edited for length and clarity.)
 

What is your earliest Woodward Academy memory?

Carson: I remember during my second grade year at Woodward North we had a field day that everyone always looked forward to during the year. They would separate the entire elementary school—pre-K through sixth grade—into about seven “countries” or teams and have us compete in events like a basketball shootout, an egg carry race, or a softball throw competition.

One particular year I was paired up on team Qatar with both of my brothers, Aidan, who was in 3rd grade, and Jameson, who was in 6th. Jameson was the team captain. Right before the final event of the day, all of my friends and I ran into the main assembly room and noticed our score on the big screen had us in second place, just out of first. The make-or-break event was a team Tug-of-War. After all the other teams went it was finally our turn. Everyone was anxious and excited, ready to go against the first place team to take gold. We were positioned in order from smallest to largest, with me in the front and my oldest brother in the back. The rope was lifted and our hearts were racing. As soon as Coach Brown blew the whistle, I pulled with every ounce of strength with my eyes closed shut. We went back and forth multiple times, my feet sliding and recovering; but soon the shouts grew increasingly louder. Finally, the whistle blew and everyone cheered. My brothers and I celebrated as our team crowded the field in celebration of winning first place.

 

Reagan: Honestly, my earliest Woodward Academy memory is from pre-K, when I was so reluctant to leave my parents that I would pretend to be asleep so they’d carry me inside and I could get a few extra seconds with them. Nap time in the Primary School was easily my favorite part of the day. But one memory that really stuck with me from those early years was when the Upper School String Machine came to perform at a Primary School community meeting. I remember thinking they were so cool and wanting to be just like them. Fourteen years later, being a member of String Machine is one of my favorite parts of my Woodward experience, which makes that moment even more special to look back on.

 

Lane: My earliest Woodward Academy memory is staying up during the allotted “nap time” in pre-K. Every day, I would spend the time talking with a friend instead of napping, and my teacher would whisper-shout at us to go to sleep. Despite my teacher’s disapproval, my parents were glad because whenever I did actually take a nap, it was impossible to get me back to sleep when I got home.

 

What does it mean to you to be a Vintage Eagle?

Carson: I feel very proud to be a Vintage Eagle, let alone valedictorian. I have spent nearly my whole life attending Woodward. It gives me a sense of nostalgia. There are so many memories that I associate with Woodward North: bingo nights, field days, the class musicals and plays, the Odyssey of the Mind competitions, and most definitely the classes and teachers. It really means a lot to me that throughout these 12 years at Woodward, I have been supported and influenced by not only the teachers but also by the community of students and my friends. I honestly do not think that I would be the person that I am today without the experiences I have had and the people I have met here through the years. I am an Admissions Ambassador for the Upper School, and that is something I brag about all the time.

 

Reagan: Being a Vintage Eagle has meant having an incredible group of teachers and peers to support me in every step of my education. In Primary School my teachers showed me so much love and enthusiasm; teachers like Ms. Amy Walker, who saw me as the shy kid I was, made a real effort to create a space where I felt safe, supported, and able to come out of my shell. In Lower School I remember Ms. Vangrofsky being there for everything, from when I was struggling with friendships to when we would compete with each other every day to come up with the most creative ways to say goodbye. In the Upper School, my teachers played a huge role in helping me thrive academically. I felt comfortable taking on challenges and taking classes I never thought I could succeed in because I knew my teachers would meet me with patience and support—whether that meant staying late after school to answer my endless questions or even showing up to support me at orchestra concerts.

 

One of my favorite parts of being a Vintage Eagle has been growing up alongside my peers. I’ve had the chance to watch people I’ve known for years pursue such a wide range of passions and accomplish incredible things at Woodward across athletics, the arts, academics, and beyond. Even though we’ve all taken different paths and aren’t always in the same circles, I feel a strong sense of pride and community that comes from having grown up together. I’m proud of them, and I’m reminded every day that they’re proud of me, too. I'm grateful to know that we have a community to support us as we go off to accomplish amazing things all over the world.  

 

Lane: Being a Vintage Eagle means growing up with, and alongside, the Woodward community. For the past 14 years I’ve had the pleasure of being surrounded by one of the most supportive groups of peers out there. It’s really special to me that I’ve had the opportunity to graduate this year with some of the same people I knew back when I was four years old. That opportunity has let me form deep bonds with my classmates!

 

What have been some of your favorite experiences during your time at Woodward?

Carson: I would say one of my favorite experiences was the French Exchange Trip, where I traveled with a group of Woodward students to Roanne, France. That whole trip was extremely eye-opening and it was something that definitely brought me closer to a lot of my friends and even the students in France. The Peer Leadership Retreat also was an amazing experience, when we stayed over at school for a weekend getting to know the other students and hanging out with my friends before school started back.

 

Reagan: Just to name a few of many great memories… Super Goober Day! (especially the Cake Walk and getting fake casts); homeroom performances in the Primary School community meetings; Primary School Halloween parades; book fairs; WA summer camps (Minecraft, Friv, Art Classes, playing Minute to Win-It); sixth grade Modern World History (watching Sherlock Holmes and the Ancient Egypt project); Lower School Fiddle Club (with Dr. Bermel); Senior Pen Pals (both when I was in Primary School and now as a senior); orchestra trips to New York, Orlando, and Nashville; String Machine; AP Statistics with Mr. Wylder; Experience the Arts Day; playing in the pit orchestra for Upper School musicals (shout out to all my talented friends in theatre); building the canned food drive display with the Service Leadership Board; senior Screen on the Green.

 

Lane: Woodward does an amazing job with all of the senior year events. From dressing in pink on seniors' last first day to painting my pants to staying up during seniors’ last blast, I’ve formed memories that will last forever. Senior year is really the culmination of all your friendships throughout Woodward, which makes these experiences extra special.

Additionally, my time with the Woodward debate team has been a real highlight of Woodward. It’s truly such a friendly group that just makes me feel at ease. I’ll cherish both the big and small memories forever, from winning state championships to going out for Chick-fil-A before practice.

 

As a valedictorian, what advice would you like to share with your fellow students?

Carson: I would advise everyone to take advantage of every opportunity you’re given, whether that’s trying out for a sport, taking a harder class, pursuing a niche passion, or simply talking to someone new.

Looking back, I’ve realized I regret the things I didn’t do far more than the things I did. We spend too much time worrying—about what we wear, what we’ve achieved, and what others think of us. We wait until we feel “ready” or for the perfect moment, but the truth is, that moment never comes.

So start now. Whatever it is you’ve been putting off, go after it. You don’t need to have everything figured out. Honestly, part of the process is figuring it out as you go.

 

Reagan: Guys—school is tough. When so many of us are balancing academics with sports, arts, and everything else in our lives, being a student is overwhelming. Although I’m valedictorian, I am far from figuring it all out myself. But as a soon-to-be alum, there are a few things I’ve learned along the way.

One is that there are so many different versions of success, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. As a student, it’s easy to feel like you have to prove yourself or seem perfect by other people’s standards, even if you have your own path in mind. In the long run, what matters more is being honest with yourself. When you’re focusing on what you’re actually passionate about, you will “succeed” far beyond what you would otherwise. So, if being a nerd is what drives you, go for it! But every day I look around me at my peers and am inspired by how they are pursuing their own vastly different goals. So I encourage you to take a chance on yourself whenever you feel like being someone else.

And along the way, one of the most difficult and important things I’ve learned is to stay mindful—mindful of your relationships, of your body, of your health, of being a kid, and of being you. Humans are awesome, but we also can be self-destructive. So don’t forget to take a breath every once in a while and take care of yourself. You’ve got this!

 

Lane: Enjoy Woodward while it lasts because it’ll be over before you know it!

 

What’s next for you? What are you passionate about pursuing?

Carson: I will be attending Georgia Tech as an aerospace engineering major. I’m passionate about engineering and excited to push myself academically while exploring opportunities in fields like aviation and motorsports. I’m especially interested in designing and building high-performance machines, whether that’s military aircraft or race cars.

Looking further ahead, I hope to build something like a business centered around creating innovative, cutting-edge technology. I’m driven by the idea of not just contributing to the future of engineering, but actively shaping it.

 

Reagan: As of right now, I will be attending the University of Georgia Honors College as a Foundation Fellow to study Data Science and Viola Performance, with an interest in pursuing postgraduate studies, too. Woodward has given me a deep passion for the arts, especially the viola, so no matter where I end up, I know music will always remain an important part of my life. 

As for my career, my interests span from data science to neuroscience and criminology, and I’m excited to explore the many paths ahead of me. More than anything, I’m grateful for the strong foundation Woodward has given me to approach these possibilities with curiosity and confidence.

 

Lane: I will be attending Emory University as a Robert W. Woodruff Debate Scholar. At Emory, I plan to further my passion in debate at Emory’s Barkley Forum as well as study business. My interest in business arose from watching both my parents operate their small businesses, and then it was furthered by getting to invest my allowance into companies that I researched.