SPO was shining as bright as the day with pride during Princeton's Class Day event on Canon Green this year. The event began with a lively speech by Brian Li, Portuguese tutor for SPO, and was followed shortly after by a speech by class president and SPO major, Sydney Johnson. Sydney's speech to her senior class was both inspiring and action-oriented, encouraging students to embrace discomfort to live a life of no regrets. 

Sydney also received two prizes: the W. Sanderson Detwiler 1903 Prize, awarded to a senior who, in the judgment of classmates, has done the most for the class, and the Walter E. Hope Class of 1901 Medal, which recognizes the senior who, in the judgment of classmates, has done the most for Princeton. 

The two prizes were last awarded to the same student in 2011. In addition to majoring at SPO, earning certificates in Latin American studies and urban studies and serving as president of the Class of 2024, she participated in numerous campus organizations, including the Black Theatre Collective, the Princeton Film Society, El Centro ESL and women’s club volleyball, where she was an officer. She also served as a student representative for Princeton in Hollywood. She is a member of New College West, where she was a residential college adviser.

SPO is very proud to have been an important part of Sydney's journey here at Princeton and we look forward to watching her continued success as she moves to California to pursue a career in TV and film production. Join us in congratulating her on SPO's Instagram post!

Access the recorded livestream of Princeton's 2024 Class Day Ceremony.