When the Agnes Scott Tennis Team qualified for the second round of the NCAA Championships in Virginia, a scheduling conflict occurred. The second-round matches were set to take place on Saturday, May 9, the same day as the Agnes Scott Graduation Ceremony.
Facing a tough decision, senior Esther Kaplan chose to skip the pomp and circumstance of Agnes Scott’s Commencement and instead, play on with her Scottie teammates. When she made the decision, she had no idea of what was to follow.
On May 15, a few days after Esther and the tennis team returned, members of the campus community rallied and gave Esther a surprise; a personal graduation ceremony.
Everyone from the president to the chair of the board of trustees to the registrar attended the commencement ceremony in full regalia, as they wished Kaplan well and recognized her academic and athletic achievements. Kaplan, an active student on campus, was also named Agnes Scott Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the Athletics Banquet in April.
View Esther Kaplan’s Commencement photo album.