GPS Celebrates May Day 2025

Girls Preparatory School held one of its most cherished traditions today—May Day, a celebration of sisterhood, spring, and the graduating class of seniors. The rain may have made an appearance, but the day was still a blast! This year’s pageant, themed “Modern-day Majesties,” honored the strength, courage, and leadership of Disney princesses reimagined as role models who embody the values GPS girls hold dear: resilience, compassion, self-acceptance, and determination.

The afternoon began with a warm welcome from Head of Upper School Beth Creswell Wilson ’96, PhD on Smith Courtyard, where family, friends, faculty, and alumnae gathered to witness the elegant and joy-filled celebration. As the Class of 2025 processed across the lawn in their brightly colored dresses, they were met with applause and admiration, a testament to their accomplishments and the bright futures ahead of them.

In the spirit of honoring both tradition and growth, the program drew thoughtful parallels between GPS students and the heroines of beloved stories—Tiana’s drive, Moana’s leadership, Rapunzel’s curiosity, Merida’s bravery, Elsa’s self-acceptance, and Mia Thermopolis’s evolution from self-doubt to empowered royalty. These “modern-day majesties,” Beth noted, reflect the journey of every GPS girl—each writing her own story with courage and heart.

At the heart of the celebration was the presentation of the May Court, including Crown Bearer Anika Elia Bhushan, Scepter Bearer Caroline Baker Grant, Trainbearers Sadie Camille Buhrman and Eliana Noelle Tabibiazar, Maid of Honor Ella Elizabeth Cobb Wiedmer, and this year’s May Queen, Gwyneth Elnora Moon Parks. The ceremony was guided by the Senior May Day Committee, chaired by Emma Davenport and supported by eleven of her classmates, who spent months bringing this beautiful day to life.

Before the pageant, campus buzzed with festivities. GPS clubs hosted a lively student fair, offering flower crowns, activities, and treats as guests explored the booths and celebrated the spirit of student involvement. Earlier in the day, GPS also welcomed back alumnae for the Alumnae Brunch at Founders House, where generations of GPS women gathered to reminisce, reconnect, and celebrate the shared legacy that continues to shape young women at the school.

The pageant concluded with the traditional maypole dances, which, while a bit damp this year, were still a vibrant symbol of spring’s arrival and the unity of the GPS community. Following the ceremony, legacy families gathered for a special photograph, honoring GPS mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers whose daughters have followed in their footsteps. A reception for seniors and their families on DeFoor Patio completed the day.

As May Day 2025 came to a close, it served as both a heartfelt farewell to the seniors and a joyous reminder of the enduring bonds of the GPS sisterhood. Today’s celebration was more than a pageant—it was a tribute to the strength, grace, and brilliance of the Class of 2025 and a joyful affirmation of the values that will continue to guide them as they step into the next chapter of their lives.