NewsAthleticsUpper SchoolStudent LifeFaculty/StaffAcademics
Allen serves as first-ever DC president
Sep 14, 2004 8:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
While the Discipline Committee has been an important part of Darlington School and its student life for many years, 2004-05 marks the first year that the organization is being led by a student. Appointed by administrators, senior Gray Allen serves as president.
“Gray is one of our top students in many different ways,” said Head of House James Milford. “She is a four-year resident, a two-year prefect and head prefect this year.”
Allen first became involved in the DC because she wanted to help and work with others while learning something along the way.
“Being on the DC has definitely taught me how to balance my friendships and my responsibilities,” she said. “It is a difficult task to stick to my principles with the fate of my peers, and especially my friends, hanging in the balance. My involvement with the DC has helped me to learn how to be fair, honest and just in such situations.”
While the Honor Council has been student-driven since the 1920’s, the DC only recently began adding students to the committee. According to Greg Griffeth, dean of students, it is only fitting that a student leader be selected to represent and carry the goals and mission of the DC.
Allen, a third-year member of the committee, agreed. “It is important that students are a part of the DC because it shows other students that their peers care about them,” she said. “[Having students like themselves on the DC] also helps students feel as though they are represented and, therefore, treated with more fairness. Being a part of the DC also helps each student member learn valuable lessons about fairness and honesty.”
Griffeth said Allen was selected to serve as president because she is a senior with experience on the committee. In the future, if there are one or more seniors with experience, the committee will elect its student leader.
“The view is for the DC president to take on more responsibilities, including running meetings and relaying messages to the student community,” he said.
Allen’s position on the DC mirrors her leadership position with this year’s “Jabberwokk.” For the second consecutive year, Allen will serve on the editorial staff of the publication, this year as editor-in-chief of the Centennial edition.
“The best part of working on the yearbook is getting the finished product back in the spring and knowing that you have really contributed something to the School,” she said. “The feeling that I get when I watch everyone get excited about looking through and signing the yearbooks is very rewarding. I know that I have helped give each student something great that they can always keep to remember their days at Darlington.
“I feel that my work on the yearbook is definitely one of the most rewarding and lasting contributions I can make to Darlington and the student body,” she continued. “I hope that the Centennial ‘Jabberwokk’ will be very student-oriented and fun – something that everyone can enjoy.”
In addition to these two leadership roles, Allen is also head prefect of Milford House, a member of the House Senate and a varsity lacrosse player. While at Darlington, she has received the Darlington Parents Association Student Award, the E.L. Wright Award for Publications Practicum and the Jabberwokk Tray.
She also receives the prestigious Cornwell Scholarship, awarded to the most qualified resident student, male or female, from the state of North Carolina, regardless of need.
After graduating, Allen said she would like to attend Wake Forest University, but has not yet decided on a major. “English and public relations are two possibilities,” she said.
Allen is the daughter of Ben and Roberta Allen of Albemarle, N.C.
“Gray is one of our top students in many different ways,” said Head of House James Milford. “She is a four-year resident, a two-year prefect and head prefect this year.”
Allen first became involved in the DC because she wanted to help and work with others while learning something along the way.
“Being on the DC has definitely taught me how to balance my friendships and my responsibilities,” she said. “It is a difficult task to stick to my principles with the fate of my peers, and especially my friends, hanging in the balance. My involvement with the DC has helped me to learn how to be fair, honest and just in such situations.”
While the Honor Council has been student-driven since the 1920’s, the DC only recently began adding students to the committee. According to Greg Griffeth, dean of students, it is only fitting that a student leader be selected to represent and carry the goals and mission of the DC.
Allen, a third-year member of the committee, agreed. “It is important that students are a part of the DC because it shows other students that their peers care about them,” she said. “[Having students like themselves on the DC] also helps students feel as though they are represented and, therefore, treated with more fairness. Being a part of the DC also helps each student member learn valuable lessons about fairness and honesty.”
Griffeth said Allen was selected to serve as president because she is a senior with experience on the committee. In the future, if there are one or more seniors with experience, the committee will elect its student leader.
“The view is for the DC president to take on more responsibilities, including running meetings and relaying messages to the student community,” he said.
Allen’s position on the DC mirrors her leadership position with this year’s “Jabberwokk.” For the second consecutive year, Allen will serve on the editorial staff of the publication, this year as editor-in-chief of the Centennial edition.
“The best part of working on the yearbook is getting the finished product back in the spring and knowing that you have really contributed something to the School,” she said. “The feeling that I get when I watch everyone get excited about looking through and signing the yearbooks is very rewarding. I know that I have helped give each student something great that they can always keep to remember their days at Darlington.
“I feel that my work on the yearbook is definitely one of the most rewarding and lasting contributions I can make to Darlington and the student body,” she continued. “I hope that the Centennial ‘Jabberwokk’ will be very student-oriented and fun – something that everyone can enjoy.”
In addition to these two leadership roles, Allen is also head prefect of Milford House, a member of the House Senate and a varsity lacrosse player. While at Darlington, she has received the Darlington Parents Association Student Award, the E.L. Wright Award for Publications Practicum and the Jabberwokk Tray.
She also receives the prestigious Cornwell Scholarship, awarded to the most qualified resident student, male or female, from the state of North Carolina, regardless of need.
After graduating, Allen said she would like to attend Wake Forest University, but has not yet decided on a major. “English and public relations are two possibilities,” she said.
Allen is the daughter of Ben and Roberta Allen of Albemarle, N.C.
