Each year, seniors vote on who they believe is the best representation of the class. This year, Dashers named Rachel Memory, DSHA '26, the Spirit of the Class for her ability to build friendships, strengthen bonds, and believe in the power of sisterhood.

Making DSHA a Home

Rachel recognized early on that being a leader is more than running drills at field hockey practice or raising her hand in class. She knew that leading the way for her fellow Dashers meant building relationships and developing community.

"My goal was to make school an environment that's welcoming and fun – a place where you have someone to talk to in every class and something to look forward to each day," said Rachel.

This came naturally to Rachel. She immediately identified the unspoken bonds of girlhood. "Even though we come from different backgrounds and have different personalities, different families, we still have that underlying yes of being girls," explained Rachel. She used that commonality to make connections on her teams, in co-curriculars, and in the classroom.

Over the course of her four years at DSHA, Rachel played softball and field hockey; she also participated in Forensics, The Word, French Club, Model UN, Debate, and more.

Building the House System

Rachel's eagerness to foster relationships and connect her classmates made her an ideal candidate to take a leadership role in the new Salvatorian Family House System.

As a pioneering House Captain for Dignitas, Rachel saw it as her mission to get her fellow Dashers on board. "Being a House leader was really fun, but it was challenging at first to convince everyone," she explained.

This process came easily, though, according to Dignitas House Dean & Social Studies Faculty Dan Demeter. "Her energy, enthusiasm, and dedication are truly unmatched... others were inspired by her passion and eager to follow her natural leadership," he said.

The proof, in Rachel's mind, came early in the school year with Dash-A-Thon. For the first time, students raised money for DSHA in Houses rather than by grade level. "It was the most successful Dash-A-Thon, and it's a testament to what we can do as Dashers," she said.

This success, and the success of her class, is no surprise. Speaking of her class, Rachel shared, "We're adaptive, strong, and bold."

Watch Rachel's graduation speech