Totomoi
In 1954, MBA developed an honorary society modeled after the national leadership fraternity Blue Key at the urging of two alumni from the class of 1950 -- Inman Fox and Robert McNeilly and Head of School R. L. Sager.
Seniors and juniors (in the spring) apply and are selected for Totomoi induction by a committee of Totomoi faculty and students in course. The students selected must be approved by the faculty. Inductees are honored at a tapping ceremony held twice annually.
The school named the honorary society Totomoi to honor the estate that MBA had purchased from the Tinsley family on Harding Road in the 1920’s. When the Tinsley family moved to Nashville from Virginia and purchased this property, they had named the home and land in honor of their family property in Virginia. In the 1600's Thomas Tinsley had negotiated cooperatively with the Native American Chief Totopotomoi the sale of this property in Virginia. Chief Totopotomoi was a powerful and respected leader. The family named the creek on their property in his honor -- Totomoi.
MBA's honor society of Totomoi recognizes students whose leadership and character are exemplary and of the highest order. In turn, MBA wants to recognize this tradition by asking the Totomoi chapter to honor all people and to build a more inclusive community at MBA.