Crest Ceremony keynote speaker tells students of Culver’s gravitational pull toward success

Cassidy McSharry ’26 told Culver Girls Academy students that after receiving her Crest, which signified her becoming a full CGA member, she began noticing a gravitational force pulling students toward success.

“Culver sees potential in all of us. It believes in us. And most importantly, it never settles,” said McSharry, who was selected by new students to be the keynote speaker during the cresting ceremony in Eppley Auditorium on Sunday. “Whether we notice it or not, the gravitational force here is always toward success.”
A video of the ceremony can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/1158552964/b81e71a8ef?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

McSharry recalled arriving at Culver believing success depended on grades, awards and other material things. As time passed, she realized success was found through character, not grades.

McSharry also realized that expectations considered routine at Culver, such as greeting others or holding the door for the person behind you, are often seen as exceptional elsewhere.

“Culver has set the bar so high that I now expect things from people that, honestly, I probably shouldn’t,” she said.

McSharry said Culver’s community creates a gravitational pull toward community respect, discipline and accountability, a pull that the new students are now responsible for upholding.   

“The crest we receive today isn’t about what we’ve already accomplished, it’s about what is now expected of us,” she said.

The crest represents how they are no longer “just affected” but are also responsible for setting an example for others.

“We are no longer just affected by Culver’s gravity, but also, we are responsible for carrying it forward, setting the example for others, and aspiring to be a part of the gravitational pull,” she said. 

Finally, McSharry encouraged the new girls to slow down and enjoy Culver.

“Don’t stress about college, your future or whatever happened in the past; focus on right now. Focus on making deep friendships, succeeding in school and having fun,” she said.

After the CGA girls received their crests and a song from the Harbor Harmonizers, Dean Caren Standfast commended McSharry for her speech on Culver’s gravitational pull.

“Back in August, our CGA leaders – adults and students alike – accepted the responsibility of welcoming new students to CGA,” she said.  You were eager to teach our history and traditions, but you were most eager about creating community.”

She invited students to think of their own first time at Culver, how that made them feel included, and how they could use this to build inclusion for new students.

“You built belonging for our new students through presence, trust and competence,” she said. “You modeled that while individual achievement matters, our strength comes from learning CGA first and embracing the idea that leadership is about how you make others feel. “

She said the students took to heart James Kerr’s recipe for a happy team in his book “Legacy.” He wrote that happy teams are built through humility, excellence and respect. Standfast also said that research shows that women often perform best when they feel part of a group first.

“This is the power of sisterhood — and the outcome is the power of a happy team,” she said.

The Cresting ceremony, Standfast says, is the result of a strong culture of sisterhood and a successfully built happy team. She said author Glennon Doyle writes that sisterhood is like joists, or beams, that support a greater framework. When a joist weakens, the carpenter strengthens it through reinforcing it with boards on either side, called “sistering.”

“Women are like these strong beams, supporting one another through life’s challenges. When things get heavy, we need our sisters beside us to steady and strengthen us,” Standfast said.

Standfast thanked the CGA leaders for their boldness, tenacity and passion, welcoming the new girls into the community, and encouraging all students to keep strengthening CGA’s gravitational pull.

“Lead by creating the conditions in which those in our care can flourish, thrive and become their true selves, despite society’s pressure to be otherwise,” she said. “Thank you, again, to the many of you who helped support our new students. That is leadership.”