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Thank you for your interest in Westminster School!
As a Westminster alum, I have witnessed the physical transformation of the places where I once lived and learned as a teenager into the magnificent, modern, community-focused spaces that grace Williams Hill today. But while the campus looks very different than when I arrived in 1990, the soul, the feel, and the traditions remain remarkably the same. It is this enduring spirit that has led generations of students, myself included, to consider Westminster a home away from home—and continues to bind us together.
That enduring spirit is, at its core, a reflection of Westminster’s motto—“Grit & Grace.” Here, grit and grace go hand in hand.
Grit is how we respond to failure and challenges. It means learning from our mistakes, digging deep, picking ourselves up, trying again, and embracing the opportunity to do better and be better. Grit is harder to learn and to teach because it is born out of lived experience and trial and error. But Westminster’s challenging program and supportive community provide a perfect test ground.
Grace, on the other hand, may be easier to teach, but it requires something deeper: maturity, self-awareness, and empathy. Grace shows up in the little things—saying hello, holding a door, and asking about someone’s day. But it also means genuinely giving of yourself and supporting others in doing the same. It means choosing empathy and kindness and recognizing the humanity in imperfection. Westminster’s commitment to relationship-based education fosters this kind of introspection, social awareness, and development.
Together, grit and grace guide us toward balance in the way we comport ourselves—regardless of the circumstances.
Whether I am shopping in our local grocery store or walking down the street in New York City, I am always that guy greeting those I pass along the way. When I was younger, I assumed that was simply who I was. But as I reflect now, I realize that it is one small—perhaps slightly countercultural—reflection of how Westminster shaped me: to show up in this world with Grit and Grace.
That enduring spirit is, at its core, a reflection of Westminster’s motto—“Grit & Grace.” Here, grit and grace go hand in hand.
Grit is how we respond to failure and challenges. It means learning from our mistakes, digging deep, picking ourselves up, trying again, and embracing the opportunity to do better and be better. Grit is harder to learn and to teach because it is born out of lived experience and trial and error. But Westminster’s challenging program and supportive community provide a perfect test ground.
Grace, on the other hand, may be easier to teach, but it requires something deeper: maturity, self-awareness, and empathy. Grace shows up in the little things—saying hello, holding a door, and asking about someone’s day. But it also means genuinely giving of yourself and supporting others in doing the same. It means choosing empathy and kindness and recognizing the humanity in imperfection. Westminster’s commitment to relationship-based education fosters this kind of introspection, social awareness, and development.
Together, grit and grace guide us toward balance in the way we comport ourselves—regardless of the circumstances.
Whether I am shopping in our local grocery store or walking down the street in New York City, I am always that guy greeting those I pass along the way. When I was younger, I assumed that was simply who I was. But as I reflect now, I realize that it is one small—perhaps slightly countercultural—reflection of how Westminster shaped me: to show up in this world with Grit and Grace.
Chapel Talks
Giving a chapel talk can be a significant rite of passage in a student’s Westminster career because it highlights his or her personal courage, eloquent writing, and graceful public speaking. Click a video below to see a chapel talk. A playlist of all chapel talks can be found on our YouTube Channel.Get Social With Us
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students
In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national and ethnic origin, ancestry and/or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.
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