MUS Salutes Rudd, Craft

The MUS Class of 2022 valedictorian and salutatorian were announced at Commencement on Sunday, May 15. Forest Rudd and Collin Craft earned valedictorian and salutatorian honors respectively. In addition to impressive academic careers, both Owls have rich resumes in service and extracurricular activities, both graduated summa cum laude, and both will attend Duke University in the fall.
Forest Rudd, Valedictorian
Valedictorian Forest Rudd excelled academically throughout his high school career. A National Merit Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction, Rudd was the recipient of the Yale Book Award, and he was on the Dean’s Scholars list and Faculty Honor Roll every semester.

A service-minded scholar-athlete and leader, he lettered two years in soccer and cultivated a diverse range of experiences. He served as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, vice president of the school’s Civic Service Organization, consul for the Latin Club, captain of the Mock Trial Team, and he was also a Student Ambassador. Rudd supported other students as a Peer Tutor, Owl Camp counselor, Lower School Heartbeat mentor, and Balmoral Elementary tutor. He was a member of the Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Societas Caritatis (service honor society), Mu Alpha Theta, Latin Honor Society, and Quill and Scroll Society.

Sophomore year, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, served as senior patrol leader, and worked as sports area director for the Kia Kima Scout Reservation. He used his summer months to attend the Wake Forest University Summer Medicine Immersion Program and complete the Northern Tier High Adventure, a 60-mile canoe trip through the Boreal Forest in Canada.

The son of Lilian and Lee Rudd, he graduated summa cum laude and will attend Duke University, where he plans to pursue a career in biomedical engineering.

Collin Craft, MUS Salutatorian
A perfect ACT score is just one of many academic accolades credited to salutatorian Collin Craft. Junior year, Collin was inducted into the Cum Laude Society and awarded AP Scholar with Distinction. In addition to achieving Faculty Honor Roll and Dean’s Scholar each semester, Collin holds membership in Mu Alpha Theta, National Latin Honor Society, and National Honor Society. His intellectual curiosity manifests itself both in and out of the classroom. An avid reader and a gifted writer, Collin enjoys discussing the books he reads and finds intellectual musings unifying. 

Collin competed locally, regionally, and nationally for Memphis Tiger Swimming and led his team to Southeastern Championships and YMCA National Championships last year. This year, Collin and his MUS teammates took first place in the Shelby County High School Championship and fifth place at the Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association State High School Championships.

A dedicated community volunteer and servant-leader, Collin served as an executive for the Civic Service Organization. He invested over 200 hours giving back to the Memphis community, showing deep concern for those around him and building relationships with people of all ages and backgrounds.

Collin’s interests are many and include subjects such as literature, philosophy, and constitutional law. The son of Holly Craft, Collin graduated summa cum laude and will attend Duke University.
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