During football spirit days this fall, senior
Lucy Callicott '18 paraded through the halls dressed as a "Mississippi Queen." She joked with her fellow students about her small town Mississippi roots, while wearing a bold 80s prom dress, tiara and the brightest shade of red lipstick known to man.
Though Lucy often jests about being from Senatobia, Miss., the reality of her upbringing is much more impressive than she lets on. Lucy's father, Alan, has been mayor of Senatobia for the last seventeen years. The town is approximately 45 miles south of Memphis, and the Callicotts decided to move their children into Memphis private schools when Lucy was in Middle School. She transferred to Lausanne as a sophomore and fell in love with the diversity of the student body and the overall feel of campus.
"Within a short drive, I found the world," said the senior. "Lausanne's academic rigor and global-minded atmosphere granted me opportunities to thrive in ways I couldn't have imagined before, living in a more close-minded community back home."
Lucy got right to work as a new student and immediately felt welcomed in her new school community. Upon her arrival, she became involved in numerous extracurricular activities such as the National Honor Society, French and English Honor Societies, Quill and Scroll, the bowling team and Musical Theater. She holds leadership in numerous organizations including being president of the spirit committee, co-captain of the PomCats, co-president of Lynx Live and last but not least, Lucy serves as Student Government Association (SGA) president for the 2017-2018 school year.
Needless to say, leadership did not skip a generation in the Callicott Family. On January 30, 2018, the “Mississippi Queen” was voted by her peers as Lausanne’s Homecoming Queen.
Lucy is currently deciding between several amazing collegiate offers including Indiana University, College of Charleston and Elon. She is a finalist for the Elon Honors Fellowship and Elon’s Teaching Fellows. She plans to double major in international and global studies and elementary education.
“Coming to Lausanne has opened my eyes to how big a gap in education there truly is and the difference education can have in terms of opportunities and academics,” said Lucy, who hopes to someday work in a setting where she can teach refugees.
For Lucy, her experience of diversity at Lausanne has shaped who she wants to be.
“I found out very quickly that Lausanne was home. Home to those of all cultures, colors, religions and ideas. We embrace it, we celebrate it and we learn from one another. The diversity is not a boundary for us, it’s an opportunity, and it’s my favorite thing about Lausanne.”