Springer promotes “The Power of We” as Culver recognizes CGA, CMA leaders

 

Senior Prefect Jade Springer (Indianapolis) reminded Culver Girls Academy leaders at their induction ceremony Thursday night about the importance of unity and working together, saying it leads to collective strength and success.

“We bring values and ideas that are grounded in collaboration, inclusive decision making and teamwork,” Springer said. “We have the ability to bring different points of view and strengths to the table because our experiences as women have been different; we use these strengths to break down barriers and to lead with empathy.”

Culver Academies opened its academic year Thursday night by inducting CGA leaders and commissioning CMA officers in separate ceremonies. CGA had 184 students receive leader name tags.

At the Culver Military Academy ceremony, held on the lake side of Legion Memorial Building, 59 officers were commissioned: three cadet captains, 30 cadet 1st lieutenants and 26 cadet 2nd lieutenants.

Students arrived on campus this week and the 2024-2025 school year gets underway on Monday. CMA has 143 new cadets and 332 cadets returning while CGA has 99 new girls and 261 returning students.

Springer reintroduced her theme for this first rotation, “The Power of We.” She said it aligns well with Culver’s theme for the year of “E Pluribus Unum,” or “Out of Many, One.”

“Both themes address the importance of unity and how working together leads to collective strength and success,” Springer said.

 

 

She said her objectives for “The Power of We” include collective empowerment and open communication. She also urged the girls to be good mentors to first-year students and sophomores.

“Let’s create an environment where we are available and approachable so that they will feel comfortable asking for help as they adjust,” she said.

Springer is the sister of Jenna Springer ’22, who was the senior prefect when Culver held the inaugural Leader Induction Ceremony in 2021.

CGA Dean Caren Standfast told the girls she attended a conference of leaders from all-girls schools worldwide this summer and met powerful women who are changing the world through their contributions in the sciences, arts, medical, athletic and educational fields.

“I saw firsthand the remarkable outcomes that arise when we have mentors and allies who model how to show up for one another, when they have intentional spaces to practice their leadership skills in an ever-changing world, and when they embrace the power that our relationships create. That’s legacy – that’s sisterhood,” she said.

Standfast said she sees that same dedication at CGA, pointing to CGA’s hockey, sailing, rowing and fencing programs that in the past decade have grown from concepts to nationally competitive levels because Culver has invested in facilities and high-level coaches.

“This commitment to female leadership extends across our campus. We’ve invested in spaces, teachers, advisors and coaches who are intentionally committed to our female leaders,” she said.

She said the fact that five to seven CGA students are honoring in engineering each year and an increasing number of CGA graduates are attending service academies or ROTC programs shows the progress that is being made.

She reminded the girls that CGA is presenting them with an opportunity to lead and asked where they can create spaces that empower other CGA students to chase their passions.

“How will you mentor and model responsible citizenship? And as you are teaching the next generation of leaders in the classes of ’27 and ’28, I hope you enjoy the sisterhood and legacy you make,” Standfast said.

 

 

At the CMA ceremony, Col. Michael Squires, commandant of cadets, began by asking the cadets what is the primary role of an officer?

“Set the conditions for success,” a cadet answered.

“And here at Culver, the most important condition for success is?” Squires asked.

“Positive command climate,” another cadet answered.

“That’s what you’re charged to do, right? You are going to set conditions for success no matter what you do,” Squires said. “That might be making sure we’ve got enough mops. That might be making sure we have enough information relayed down the chain of command for success, whatever it may be. But the most important one is, overall positive command climate.”

He then asked the cadets why he was giving them accoutrements, such as a rank on their collar.

“To set us apart,” a cadet said.

“Why do I want to set you apart?” Squires asked. “Because you should be doing what all the time?”

“Modeling the way,” a cadet said.

“Modeling the way, doing the right thing, so I or anyone else here who sees a problem knows to find an officer and say, ‘Hey, officer, come here and solve that problem,’ ”  Squires said.

Squires then administered the CMA oath of office, where the officers swore that they would do their best to live up to the highest ideals of Culver Academies and would seek to lead others to do the same. They also accepted the responsibility of serving as exemplars of the Culver system and to uphold school policies and to ensure those they lead adhere to Culver rules.