Honor at MBA
At MBA, honor is not just a tradition—it’s a defining part of our culture. Since 1945, students have upheld a peer-led Honor System built on trust, personal responsibility, and a shared commitment to truth.
Though the Honor System was formally adopted in the mid-20th century, the values it represents have shaped MBA since its earliest days. From class mottos to personal pledges, honor has long been central to what it means to be a student here.
A New Chapter
In 2025, the student body reaffirmed its commitment to this tradition by drafting and adopting MBA’s Honor Code:
An MBA student will promote a culture of honor every day to maintain a community of moral courage, integrity, and respect. He will not lie, cheat, or steal in any relationship nor tolerate those who do.
This student-written Code is the product of months of dialogue, reflection, and input from every grade level. It offers a clear, lasting expression of the values that define our community.
“This is not some law handed down by the Honor Council. This Honor Code is the direct result of what we as students believe is important and what we believe defines MBA.”
– Thompson Adams ’25
A Community of Character
At MBA, living with honor means striving to live with integrity and moral courage, and treating others with respect. We seek to do what is right, even when no one is watching. The Honor System is not imposed from above; it is embraced by students who hold themselves—and one another—to a higher standard.
“This Honor System is not something that the teachers have thrown upon the students of MBA, but a system which the students themselves voted in as part of the rules of the school in 1945.”
– Sandy Haury ’68
Explore how our commitment to honor shapes every aspect of life at MBA.
