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Commencement 2022
Congratulations
Dazzling sunshine bathed campus in June as Exeter celebrated Commencement on the front lawn of the Academy Building for the first time since 2019. The joyous occasion began with 312 members of the class of 2022 confidently striding from points on the south side of campus and crossing Front Street to take their seats. Proud and excited teachers, family members and friends lined the procession to offer congratulations as the graduating seniors passed.
After welcoming those gathered, senior class president Bona Yoo kicked off the ceremony by inviting her classmates to remember their younger selves, and to reflect on how far they had come. “We took this crazy bet on ourselves, picked up our bags, left everything we knew and congregated from all corners of the world to live together in Exeter, New Hampshire,” she said. “We had to start from scratch and build with what we had, and what we had was each other.”
In addition to revisiting some “snapshots of bliss” — including a sunrise walk with her roommate and celebrating the first football win over Andover in eight years this past fall — Yoo also acknowledged the “gut-wrenching lows” she and her classmates endured together, particularly the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “For the past two years, we’ve been fighting pretty hard to stay connected and to keep our traditions alive,” she said. “We learned how to connect and to stay resilient. We stunned each other with our talents, our capacities to listen and our ability to challenge one another’s values and notions.”
“We are wiser, stronger, but most importantly, we’ve built a family of lifelong friends this early on in life,” Yoo concluded. “That is truly a rare thing.”
Principal Bill Rawson ’71; P ’08 spoke eloquently from the lectern, beginning his remarks by noting the special connection between himself and the class of 2022. “Your first Assembly was my first Assembly,” he said. “You were nervous and excited preps; I was your nervous and excited new principal.” Rawson lauded the students’ accomplishments and pursuit of excellence in the classroom, the arts and athletics, as well as how they had worked to make the school a more equitable and inclusive community, among other contributions. “I also admire the way you have cared for and supported each other,” he continued. “You always show up for each other. In doing so, you have set a powerful example for the classes that will follow.”
Rawson repeatedly drew parallels to his graduation from Exeter 51 years earlier, at one point quoting from a speech made on that day by his classmate Roberto Garcia ’71. Rawson echoed Garcia’s statement of optimism and purpose, and his emphasis on the importance of “human connections” when it came to making a difference in the world. “You are ready to take your place in the world and follow the examples of generations of Exonians who have come before,” Rawson said. “You are ready to be the kinds of citizens and leaders that our world needs — citizens and leaders who will act with empathy, understanding and respect for their fellow human beings … and who will work together to break patterns of injustice and form a better world.” — Sarah Pruitt ’95 “You are ready to be … citizens and leaders who will act with empathy, understanding and respect for their fellow human beings and who will work together to break patterns of injustice and form a better world.”
PRINCIPAL BILL RAWSON
CHERYL SENTER
Class of 2022!
SENIOR UNITY
“I think everyone in my class cares a lot about the way that they impact other people. I don’t know how much of that is a result of COVID and being alone for so long and then having to relearn all these social dynamics. But I think everyone is uniquely aware of how their actions impact not only their friends in their immediate circle, but the grade beyond.”
ANNE CHEN ’22 Below: Sophie Fernánndez wears a Russian pretzel necklace representing her experience in Exeter’s Russian program and army boots honoring her future commitment to the military.
Classical scholar Hansi Zhu dons her wreath.
MARY SCHWALM
Evan Gonzalez and Elijah Porras
CHERYL SENTER
MARY SCHWALM
Aiden Silvestri accepts the Yale Cup.
Graduation Prizes
The Yale Cup, awarded each year by the Aurelian Honor Society of Yale University to that member of the senior class who best combines the highest standards of character and leadership with excellence in his studies and in athletics.
Aiden Silvestri, Newtown, Pennsylvania
The Ruth and Paul Sadler ’23 Cup, awarded each year to that member of the senior class who best combines the highest standards of character and leadership with excellence in her studies and in athletics.
Kate Mautz, Exeter, New Hampshire
The Perry Cup, established by the class of 1945 in honor of Dr. Lewis Perry, eighth principal of the Academy, and given annually to a senior who has shown outstanding qualities of leadership and school spirit.
KG Buckham-White, Smyrna, Georgia
The Williams Cup, established in memory of George Lynde Richardson Jr., and given annually to a student who, having been in the Academy four years, has, by personal qualities, brought distinction to Phillips Exeter.
Neil Chowdhury, Bellevue, Washington Emma Finn, Annapolis, Maryland
The Eskie Clark Award, given annually to that scholarship student in the graduating class who, through hard work and perseverance, has excelled in both athletics and scholarship in a manner exemplified by Eskie Clark of the class of 1919.
Anne Chen, Woodbridge, Illinois
The Thomas H. Cornell Award, based on a vote by the Senior Class and awarded annually to that member of the graduating class who best exemplifies the Exeter spirit.
Dorothy Baker, Baltimore, Maryland
The Multicultural Leadership Prize, awarded annually to the member or members of the graduating class who has most significantly contributed to educating the community about, and fostering greater understanding around, topics of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, ability, religion, spirituality, or other aspects of identity.
Zara Ahmed, Burlington, Massachusetts Adam Belew, Stone Mountain, Georgia Mali Rauch, Cypress, Texas Marina Williams, Elk Grove, California
The Cox Medals, given by Oscar S. Cox, in memory of his father, Jacob Cox, are awarded each year to the five members of the graduating class who, having been two or more years in the Academy, have attained the highest scholastic rank.
Audrey Aslani-Far, Rye, New York Emma Finn, Annapolis, Maryland Valentina Kafati, San Pedro Sula, Honduras Bona Yoo, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey Felix Zou, Shenzhen, China
The Faculty Prize for Academic Excellence, given to that member of the graduating class who, having been two or more years in the Academy, is recognized on the basis of scholarship as holding the first rank.
Audrey Aslani-Far, Rye, New York
CHERYL SENTER
KG Buckham-White (left)
MARY SCHWALM
Russell Tam
PATRICK GARRITY
Cyrus Braden and Marina Williams SENIOR GROWTH
AKILI TULLOCH ’22
Watch Principal Bill Rawson’s remarks and view more photographs from graduation day at exeter.edu/2022-graduation.
SENIOR CLASS!
