HACKLEY HACKLEY REVIEW
COMMENCEMENT SUPPLEMENT 2021
In his September 2020 Convocation Speech welcoming the new school year, Head of School Michael Wirtz shared, “From social distancing to masks to drooling into a vial each week—and then bringing it to school!—it is clear that 2020– 2021 will be a school year unlike any other.” The months that followed proved what we already knew: We can get through anything, United. Our students continue to inspire us through their resilience and empathy. This year, our end-ofyear events were once again held in-person, and it is a testament to our community’s commitment to ensuring a safe, healthy, and engaging experience for our students. In the pages that follow, please join us in celebrating the Hackley community.
Table of Contents Fourth Grade Recognition Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Lower School Reflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Eighth Grade Recognition Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Cum Laude Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Senior Dinner Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Class Day Awards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Community Council 2020-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 2020–2021 3x4 Awards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 The Salutatory Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 The Valedictory Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The Commencement Addresses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Congratulations to the Class of 2021! . . . . . . . . . . 37
ĵ Be Sure to login to Hackley Online, click on the Resources tab, and open the Smug Mug Photos page to find 2020-2021 photo galleries.
Photo by Iheukwumere Marcus '22
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HACKLEY REVIEW COMMENCEMENT SUPPLEMENT 2021
Fourth Grade Recognition Day Director of the Lower School Lisa Oberstein celebrated members of the fourth grade at the Recognition Ceremony held on June 8, 2021.
Good morning families, faculty and staff, guests, and students as we come together to celebrate the Class of 2029! It is a real pleasure to be standing here with all of you this morning, in person! What a year this has been. Faced with the unprecedented, our Hackley community came together in ways we never dreamed possible and experienced, all in all, a year of joys, challenges, triumphs, and powerful learning. In the Lower School, we had our first ever Fun Day, an experience that initially came out of the loss of going to Kingsland Point Park, but allowed us to create something special, brand new, and memorable. And who can forget the live streamed Halloween parade, a spectacle that received the highest accolades from families and students alike? Usually in the spring the 4th graders and their Kindergarten buddies visit the Wolf Sanctuary for a day long field trip. And although they could not do that this year, Mrs. DiStefano and all of the teachers arranged a full day of on campus activities, which culminated in a serenade by Kindergarteners to their 4th grade buddies, a song entitled “Walk Through Life.” “Walk through life. Every day is a new beginning. Shine your light. It’s your day the world is waiting. Move along to the song singing in your soul. Feel the beat, clap your hands, let it take control.” This year our character education program was still as strong as ever and the virtues we focused on in the LS included curiosity, flexibility, friendship, and integrity. These virtues helped ground us and enabled us to keep asking questions, to pivot when needed, to reach out for help from others when necessary. I found a quote by author Greg Kincaid about resilience that I found particularly fitting given the massive amounts
Lisa Oberstein addresses the Class of 2029 at their moving up ceremony on June 8. During her speech, she shared advice from the rising fifth graders to their Lower school friends.
of snow we had to deal with earlier this year — “No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That’s the only way to keep the roads clear.” I commend all of our Lower Schoolers for being flexible to the changes we had to make this year, and in particular I thank our fourth graders who remained our Lower School leaders throughout it all, showing the younger students how to care for one another, to be an upstander when necessary, and to show kindness and inclusivity to all even when it was a difficult thing to do. As you move onto the next chapter in your academic careers, fourth graders, I hope you remember your time in the Lower School fondly. My wish for you is that you carry the things you learned forward so you can pave the way for your younger friends who will join you in the years to come, and so you continue to serve as a role model, as the younger students look down from the Lower School and watch you playing on Akin Common. I have seen how well you as a class embody our core values of Enter here to be and find a friend, and United we help one another. I know you will continue to make us proud!
F O U R T H G R A D E R E C O G N I T I O N D AY
The Class of 2029
A few weeks ago, I asked our fourth graders to share their favorite memories of the Lower School. They shared so many! Events and experiences like Flat Stanley, Trip Around the World, Scavenger Hunt, Field Day, and the Stings. Other students shared having and being a Kindergarten buddy, assemblies in the All Purpose Room, watering the new chestnut tree in memory of the old oak, painting the mural, playing football and soccer on Akin common, and even breakfast for lunch and taste testing smoothies in the Dining Hall! And one student said, I really don’t have one, because all of them are great. Here is the advice that the fourth graders would like to give the remaining Lower Schoolers (and maybe to some of the grownups too): • My advice is to not be nervous because there is nothing to worry about because everyone is nice here. • I think that people coming into the Lower School should know that all the people here are kind, there are wonderful teachers, and they will help you with anything you need. • Focus on the best things each day, week, month and year, because the bad things are not worth wasting your time thinking about. • Don’t get bummed out about assignments, because they will make more sense overtime. You just gotta keep trying. • Always keep an open mind about everything. You should never judge anything/anyone by the way it looks.
• My advice is to try as best as you can. Don’t worry about things that are out of your control, and make sure to have fun! • Be yourself because everybody else is taken. • My advice is don’t be scared because all of these teachers will treat you like their own children just like they did for us. The fourth graders want to thank their teachers for being funny, nice, caring, flexible, thoughtful, easygoing, interesting, fun, joyful, kind, creative, curious, helpful, compassionate, warmhearted, empathetic, open-minded, forgiving, and strict, “in a good way.” As one student said, “The teachers show grit. They also show courage.” Thank you, fourth graders, for sharing your thoughts and observations with all of us. I am so proud of each of you and I know all of the adults in our community are too. Dear Fourth Graders, “Go Forth and Spread Beauty and Light.” Share and spread your individual and collective beauty and light to all. Middle School is so lucky to have you. In past ceremonies, one speaker was elected to represent the grade at the recognition ceremony. This year we decided to highlight each of the fourth graders’ voices through poetry, written and performed by each class. In this way we are able to honor our strong community and each student’s voice and experience. Congratulations Class of 2029!
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Looking Back by 4C Kindness is including others to sit with you at lunch A sibling who cares —Eamon O. Kindness is appreciating what your teachers do for you A selfless mentor to the class by opening their hearts —Kennedy W. Kindness is showing gratitude for your bus driver The bookend we need for a successful day —Ela G. Respect is celebrating countries we come from through Trip Around the World Just like our friends, it would be really rough and a struggle to survive without them —Charlie W. Respect is being mindful as you start your day Just like brushing your teeth daily —Maggie S. Respect is picking up trash on Akin Common to enforce and protect of our precious environment Just like an insect, we need to protect it — not squash it —Aiden O.
Cyndy Jean, outgoing Director of the Middle School and incoming Assistant Head of School for Community and Inclusivity, welcomes the rising fifth graders to the Middle School.
Friendship is being an upstander for a friend in need Like standing up and having their back —Emilia O. Community is Third Graders Making a Difference The shoes we donated to those in need jump with joy —Gabriel E. Community is life around you and learning a new language together Words dance on my tongue: la biblioteca bonita —Ali B. Adventure is trying new foods in a taste test Tomatoes dance in our mouths as we discover which is best —Stella M. Adventure is exploring the depths of the Hackley woods and the Hudson River Rocks talking about the secrets of the past —Trevor H. Flexibility is being safe in new ways during COVID-19 Ahem, achoo, sniff, means stay home when you are sick —Arlee J.
Friendship is teaching, learning and growing with our K/4 buddies Like a blossoming flower or sprouting seed —Anya M. Friendship is inviting new kids to play LIke guiding them through the dark and bringing them into the light —Dan R.
Flexibility is being open to a different snack Chomp, crunch, gulp, the satisfying feeling of being open to change —Logan L. Flexibility is adjusting to distance learning via Zoom Swipe, bing, tick we struggle to log on and then boom, it all starts to click —Annabelle R. Congratulations all 4th Graders!
F O U R T H G R A D E R E C O G N I T I O N D AY
Our Years at Hackley Lower School by 4F Kindergarten: The first day of kindergarten, Hooray! I hope I make some friends today! —Aila R.
3rd Grade: It is time for school It was very cool —William N.
Nervous, Scared, Worried, Alone Ms. Chishlom helped me with her stuffed kitty. —Norah M.
Oreo Oreo bar models too Put them together mmmm mmmm —Samantha S.
1st Grade: The 1st day of school, a party had begun. Reading, laughing, and having fun —Samantha R. The magnets were sticky in 1st grade. The kickball got kicked far in 1st grade. —Max Hegyi It was a dream that I never wanted to end I remember my teacher helping me mend. —Ella J. 2nd Grade: New words, new friends, toadstool, Roald Dahl In 2nd grade I’ve been through it all. — Yanbo P. Mindful moments always so fun It makes you sad when you are done. —Leena S. Elsa is finally trending. The book of science is the best —Zihou D. Waiting for the pirate play. Wearing the mustache was hooray. —Cadence D.
R.U.T.F one soul at a time third grade is making a difference —Ava P. Third grade was great! Third graders making a difference is soon to be national! — Tyler C. 4th Grade: Laughter and joy floating through the air You’ll be happy as it blows through your hair — Josie M. 4F is loyal like a wolf pack But when we play tag, don’t step on a crack — Jim K. The wolf trip was very fun, And the wolves looked very fluffy — Dustin R. So close, so close, just one More day until we say Hooray! — Sam E.
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Reflection by 4s People are different, But we are all in unity —Adhijay A. I’ve written what I’ve learned Now it’s time to use it —Misha J. We can’t see the birds eye view, but we can see the historical view. —Adelle H. I’ve practiced painting a picture, Now, I’m ready to paint life. —Willow D. I’ve learned to become kind, and now it’s time to use kindness. —Luke D. We have heard lots of music But now it’s time to really use it. —Sophia F. In P.E., on our teams, trying and flying to our dreams, I’ve learned that hardship is a necessity to win —Luke S. We’ve gotten to write, to read, and to speak, Now I can build my future in front of me. —Jojo H. In literacy we learned to write other people’s stories, Now we are prepared to write our own. —Rohan M.
We’ve learned how to read books about what other people should do in the future Now we can decide what to do in our future. —Sage S. So one plus one is two I’ve found how to calculate mistakes as well as some math —Ben S. We read, write, learn, and speak, So now it’s our duty to pass it on. —Roshan V. I’ve written about what my future might be on paper. But now it’s time to decide what I will do in my future. —JB H. You have learned the words, To spell out a new and different world. —Joey T. Being a good person is hard, that’s what I know, But perseverance is part of the way to go. —Maddy C. We discover, we coordinate, we comprehend, now it’s time to put it to the test. —Juno S. We have made our Lower School experience the best!
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Eighth Grade Recognition Day The Class of 2025 selected Middle School teacher Damon Hall as the faculty speaker for the Recognition Ceremony held on June 7, 2021.
Good morning parents, faculty, administrators, and most importantly, students. It is an honor to have the privilege to address the Class of 2025 at this special ceremony today. I don’t believe it is any secret how fond I am and have been of this group. 8th graders know how I love to show appreciation for my advisees and former advisees. I’ve often referred to my 8th grade history class as a group of all-stars. And to the dismay of some 7th graders, they’ve heard me sing the praises of the 8th graders far more than they ever desired to. Suffice to say, being your faculty speaker today is a great honor to me. One thing that I really admire about this group is your perseverance and optimism in the face of adversity. Sure, you conquered the comps and papers, tests and quizzes, projects and presentations that we’ve thrown at you. But you also survived the Fall Poko trip of 2019. Remember that? The nature gods imposed their will on you in the form of winds and heavy rains, but you still managed to make it an unforgettable trip. You’ve also made it through a year and a half of school in a worldwide pandemic. Throughout the quarantine, zoom classes, social distancing, and cancelled sports contests you’ve remained steady and strong, finding joy through one another. At this point, 80 million asteroids could crash down to earth, and I’m not sure it would stop you, but who could say for sure? As a group, I’ve found you to be very welcoming and accepting of one another and others. Many of you
Damon Hall addresses the Class of 2025 at their moving up ceremony on June 7. During his speech, he shared nuggets of wisdom with the rising ninth graders and reminded them to enjoy the journey.
were new to Hackley in 6th grade but now serve as ambassadors for the school, speaking to prospective students and families at open houses or meeting with faculty and administrative candidates to see how well they’d fit into this community that you now know so well. You’ve welcomed two new students to the grade the past two years and chose one to be a student speaker today, further illustrating this point. I know how hospitable this group can be from firsthand experience. I was new to the Hackley community last year and have been welcomed with open arms. I’ve been trolled, badgered, and asked about my rising moon sign...I know that these are all ways in which the Class of 2025 shows their love, so thank you. I also have a lot of respect and appreciation for the joy and talent that I’ve seen from the Class of 2025. I’ve been wowed by your musical talent, your athletic
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The first piece of advice is practical and I’m sure that I’m not the first person to give it to you. Please, put down the electronics for a second and take time to smell the roses. There is a whole big world out here if you take some time away from the screens in your life. I know that learning Tik Tok dances are fun. I know that you’ve got to build up your hogs to beat your friends in Clash Royale (or something like that). I also know that connecting with friends through games, text, and social media probably provided a lot of you with a sense of connection and friendship during the lows of the pandemic which has been a lonely, scary, and likely boring time for a lot of you. But there is a lot of joy to be had out here in the physical world too. Technology is great but is no replacement for face to face contact...even masked and six feet apart. ability, and even your culinary talent (that’s cooking skills). I went into our 7th grade “Chopped” activity night with a little trepidation about how my stomach would handle things, but I must say I was very pleasantly surprised. I could go on and on singing the praises of these rising 9th graders, but it is customary at events like this for the speaker to try to impart some nuggets of wisdom, guidance, or advice to those being honored, so I’ll give it my best shot for you all.
Wisdom Nugget #2. Remember that you’re growing and changing and will be for a long time. Who you are is very far from set in stone. Your interests, talents, and goals will change, and change again, and change again. Even all the boomers here today, (which parents should know is essentially anyone over 18 to this grade) are still discovering new things about themselves and developing new hobbies. It isn’t uncommon for me to be in the halls and hear someone say “I’m not good at math” or “I don’t like competitive sports.” or “I wouldn’t be good at that.” Let high school be a time of trying new things and
Director of the Upper School Andy King welcomes the rising ninth graders to the Upper School. Also pictured seated from left to right: Cyndy Jean and Damon Hall.
E I G H T H G R A D E R E C O G N I T I O N D AY
The Class of 2025
cultivating the interests and talents that you already do have. I don’t think any of you would say that you have the same limits and capabilities that you had as 4th graders. As you sit at your graduation 4 years from now, you’ll be impressed with how far you’ve come and the skills you’ve picked up along the way.
ability to cooperate and support one another. How we treat one another matters on a small scale and large. This grade is very comfortable with one another and that’s a great thing to see. However, in between bouts of playful teasing and games, remember that words and acts of kindness can truly go a long way.
Lastly, care for one another and treat each other well. Think of people beyond yourself. Expand your circle of concern. We often prioritize achievement inside and outside of school. We prioritize personal happiness as well. It is important that you are healthy and happy. It is great that you and your parents and the faculty want you to achieve and be successful in whatever way that you define success. However, it is also important that you become a considerate and compassionate person. It is a social and interconnected world. Schools, teams, governments, neighborhoods and communities depend on our
To wrap up, let me remind you that this isn’t the end. Some of you will be moving on and we wish you the very best, but most of you will be moving up. The next four years will hold plenty of adventures, challenges, and curveballs for you to live through. Continue to grow, learn and enjoy the company of one another and others. Know that all of the other people in this tent and beyond are here to support you and to push you to be your best. You’ll make some mistakes and you’ll also do great things. Enjoy the journey and make it your own. Thanks.
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Eighth Grade Recognition Day The Class of 2025 selected Rafael C. ’25 as the student speaker for the Recognition Ceremony held on June 7, 2021.
Good afternoon to the class of 2025, and before I begin, I’d like to thank the student body for this opportunity to go up here and speak. To start this off, I’d like to tell all of you a story about when I first came to Hackley, in 2013. I was going into my first day of kindergarten, and I was excited to be a part of a new community of teachers and peers, but I was also shy and anxious. I was escorted by a teacher to my classroom, and I had a lot of fun, and learned a lot that day. I made friends, and I became part of the Hackley community. So, the next day, I was more confident, and didn’t even need a teacher to escort me anywhere! So, five-year-old me walked in there, got lost, and was ten minutes late to my second day of kindergarten. While this story might just seem like something to laugh about, this also has a hidden meaning behind it. Five-year-old me was more confident than most people are now, which was good in the short term,
Rafael C. '25 addresses the Class of 2025, brightening an already beautiful day with humor and laughter.
but disastrous in the long run. I overshot my goal, and ended up in a place I wasn’t ready for, the first grade hallway. This is part of the message I want to communicate to the class of 2025; to not overshoot your goals, and to know your limits. I personally know so many of you, and I know there are so many big dreamers in this class, something that will get you farther in life than you expect. However, overshooting your goals doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. When I went into that firstgrade hallway, I met my future teacher, and had a quick, but teary, conversation with her, and got to know her. Knowing I had one extra teacher friend at Hackley helped me stay positive throughout the year, and didn’t make my excitement go unrewarded. This is another point about dreaming big; that if you shoot for the moon, you’ll land among the stars. I shot for the moon, passed by it, hit my head on it a couple of times, but I did find a nice star to land on. This example has been illustrated throughout history countless times, such as when Dr. Alexander Fleming made penicillin. He just left some bacteria in his lab,
E I G H T H G R A D E R E C O G N I T I O N D AY
and left for two weeks. Eventually, he came back, and the bacteria had this new mold on it, which became penicillin. Dr. Fleming, in this case, shot for the stars, but landed on the moon, which illustrates another point in this speech, which is to stay positive, and to keep working hard no matter what. Speaking of medicine, this year was especially tough for the eighth grade, seeing as how we had to attend school in a pandemic. This experience was new to students and teachers alike, and coming out of quarantine and going into school headfirst was also difficult, socially and academically. Even humour was tough — since I’d been in quarantine for so long, all I knew were inside jokes! I’m sorry about that — all these virus jokes are really catchy. On a more serious note, making it through online school was a difficulty that we not only overcame as a student body, but as a community of peers. Over the course of this year, I’ve seen new friendships being made, and people connecting in various ways that they wouldn’t have otherwise, if it wasn’t for the quarantine. In other words, we took what could have very easily been taken as a negative, and shaped it into a positive! Over quarantine, we practiced pre-existing skills and learned new skills, made new friends even when we were physically farther than we’d ever been, and by the time we got back to in-person school, we were ready to go, and filled with the same enthusiasm I had running down the kindergarten hallway.
In conclusion, school throughout the course of the year has been vastly different from any of our expectations of it. This was a new experience for all of us, but even when we had to go on Zoom, and there seemed to be obstacles in the way of our education, we overcame them and came out stronger than ever, as one Hackley community, united. We overcame these challenges for one main reason — not because it was fun, or easy, but because of all the big dreamers in this class, who want to do so much more in their lives, young people filled with the same excitement for high school I felt entering Hackley School on my second day ever of school. Keep dreaming big, and don’t let anything get in the way of your aspirations, unless it’s a government-mandated six feet.
Middle Schoolers perform during the Eighth Grade Recognition Ceremony.
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Cum Laude The Cum Laude Address Adrianne Pierce
I am so honored to be speaking to you today, and I want to thank Mr. Wirtz, M. Fahy, and my colleagues for inviting me to share some thoughts at this ceremony. I’d like to spend a few minutes talking to you about the “Big Picture”. In 1985, about the time I was beginning my graduate studies, a movie called “Creator”, starring Peter O’Toole and Mariel Hemingway, premiered in theaters (do you remember movie theaters?). O’Toole plays a slightly manic scientist, Dr. Harry Wolper, devoted to bringing his dead wife back to life via her harvested cells. But that’s not important right now. Vincent Spano plays Boris, a young, eager grad student who arrives in Wolper’s lab looking for another professor for whom he will be a lab assistant. Wolper tells him that the other professor no longer has room in his lab and has run out of money, so Boris will have to join his lab. As Boris presents Wolper with his course schedule to approve and sign, Wolper, giant unlit cigar hanging out of his mouth and glasses halfway down his nose, dismisses all of his courses with statements like, “Whatever you learn in Cavelli’s Genetics 101 will be redundant by the final exam.” Boris objects that he needs to take 12 credits for the semester, to which Wolper responds: “Introduction to the ‘Big Picture’’’ — 12 credits.” “That’s it? (says Boris) One course in the ‘Big Picture’ — 12 credits?” “It’s very big; 12 credits probably isn’t enough, it’s so big.” On the surface, the field of Classics and 12 credits of the Big Picture would seem at best irreconcilable and, at worst, oxymoronic. Classics with its focus on nominatives and genitives, ablative absolutes, the
Upper School teacher and DEI Coordinator Adrianne Pierce addressed the Class of 2021 at the Cum Laude Ceremony held on June 10, 2021. Dr. Pierce retires on July 1.
middle voice, and passive periphrastics (“what now?”, I hear you cry) — how could such a field possibly encourage engagement with the larger world? What Classics students have discovered, however, is that Caesar’s military strategies are still a part of the curriculum at West Point and the Naval Academy; that when Taylor Swift sings, “I say, “I hate you,” we break up, you call me, “I love you”...we are never, ever, ever getting back together”, she is channeling Catullus’ famous lament “odi et amo” — I hate and I love; perhaps you may ask why I do this. I don’t know, but I feel it happening and I am tortured. Quintus Cicero’s advice to his brother on how to run his campaign for consulship should be bedside reading for any politician, and I have given copies of this to more than one candidate. These are but a few small examples of Classics’ continued relevance to our 21st century world, but they are echoed in recent comments by Dr. Cornel West: “The Classics force us to come to terms with the most terrifying question we could ever raise, which is what does it mean to be human.” Classics has come under fire, and rightly so, largely because of the way in which it has been taught and the age-old focus on Classics as “the roots of Western Civilization”. Dangerous misappropriation of symbols, misuse of images and texts, and misinterpretation of the ancient
THE CUM LAUDE ADDRESS
world in recent times account for a reassessment of the value of including Classics in the curriculum. Nonetheless, there are lessons to be learned. What can Caesar’s domination of Gaul and the sprawling Roman empire his conquest set in motion, ensuring the spread of the Latin language and the resulting linguistic dominance, teach us about foreign policy? How can Thucydides’ warning about how words change their meanings during times of unrest prepare us to defend ourselves against authoritarian rule and doublespeak? What does archaeology reveal to us about our own discarded items in a throw-away culture and those who might be missing from the historical record?
nature of travel and exploration. But wandering, and therefore appearing to be lost, does not always need to involve passports, airplanes, and sturdy walking shoes. When a student asks, “where does this word come from”, I respond, “let’s look it up”.
Because Classics encompasses so many fields — language and literature, history, philosophy, art and archaeology — this training has engendered in me an endless curiosity about the vagaries of language, the patterns of history, and human nature.
These days, looking up a word’s etymology, however, is a mere click or two away on Dictionary.com. But in my classroom, we use the heavy American Heritage dictionary — yes, an actual book — to find the answers we seek. As I explain, if you use an online resource, you may get the answer you are looking for, but you won’t ask other questions in the process; your intellectual journey stops there. Looking in the dictionary, on the other hand, yields not only the lexicographical answer, but also all the other words on that page and the facing page — words you didn’t know you were looking for but which inevitably lead to a fascinating and possibly never-ending journey into language and thought.
My tenure as Allstom Chair in Foreign Affairs afforded me the opportunity to travel, meet students and colleagues from around the world, and explore other cultures — to learn from varying perspectives, if you will. It is no surprise that my predecessor in the Allstrom Chair role, Mr. Klimenko, has Gandalf’s words, “not all those who wander are lost” on his car bumper; as I walk my dogs in the afternoon, I have seen this sticker on his car and meditated on the
Rabbit holes were not invented with the internet. The same idea applies to perusing library stacks while searching for a particular book. If you must use a request slip and receive only the volume you ask for, in closed stacks such as The New York Public Library, you don’t get to discover what else may be on the shelves near your desired book — the pleasure of finding something you didn’t even know you needed or weren’t even looking for is a true delight. When the
Cum Laude Society The 2021 Inductees to Hackley’s Cum Laude Society: Samantha Jewel Albright Austin Michael Benedetto Kiriann Elizabeth Fitzpatrick Isabel Maria Francis Cate Averil Goodwin-Pierce Oliver Winslow Griffen Arav Aksar Misra Nina Mital Lily Sara Napach Allison Yubin Oh Anthony Paul Pizzolato Audrey Anna Pizzolato William Matthew Rifkin Ava Rose Roberts Charles Wheeler Rudge Lara Anne Schechter Sarah Margaret Shapiro James Murray Spencer III Louisa Rose Thompson
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increase productivity. Why not? Because that success, while certainly enhanced by cozy, multi-colored work stations, scooters, and massages, is also a result of a balance of business practices that are not necessarily quantifiable, definable, or imitatable. And, one size does not, in the end, fit all.
Eisenhower Library at Johns Hopkins, in a legitimate effort to increase their capacity, installed moveable stacks on the lowest level of the building (where the Classics books were shelved, of course), we lost the ability to spend leisurely minutes perusing the shelves. Your moments in the stacks infringed upon others’ ability to acquire their own books next door. The fact that we sometimes climbed onto the ends of the stacks, pushed the button and “rode” back and forth compensated only temporarily for our lack of unlimited access to our books (especially after the staff caught us at it…). Wandering, as Gandalf would agree, can take many forms, and we must be careful not to assume that we ourselves, or others, are lost when our curiosity about the larger world, whether physical or intellectual, has taken us down unexpected paths. And those paths, unexpected or otherwise, must be your own. There is a phenomenon in nature called isomorphic mimicry — I ask for your indulgence for a moment. Some creatures develop methods of advertising that they are dangerous to touch or consume, for example an insect with a certain type of spot that exudes a poison. Birds recognize these spots and know to stay away. Hence, the insect survives. Other insects see this and think, in their little insect brains, “Hey, I could keep birds from eating me if I look like I might be poisonous”, and they develop the same spots, even though they are not really poisonous at all, but perhaps quite tasty, if you’re a bird. Not a bad idea, right? What about in the business world — where gyms, video games, and coffee bars do not immediately
In international development, one country may admire the policies of another regarding education or health care or land use; but, without the infrastructure or training or oversight of the successful country, the policies will not yield the desired results. Isomorphic mimicry confers a false and superficial legitimacy. You can take inspiration from a mentor, peer, or teacher, and learn from their experiences, but you must work to discover what is best for you; explore, experiment, and engage with the world and find what works for you, makes you happy, and satisfies your passion. To quote Pablo Picasso, “the meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” Be generous with your knowledge, your experiences, and your time as you have received the same from others. Sometimes, you must have the courage to pursue what others may question — those who see you wandering and assume you are lost and need direction. “Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music,” a sentiment often attributed to Nietzsche, which again involves an assumption on the part of the outsider or observer. As I said just the other night to the DEI team, I have had this quote posted in my office, just over my desk, for a long time; day to day, I didn’t give it much thought until I went to take it off the wall as I was cleaning out my office. It occurred to me then that a large part of our work in DEI is to help others to hear the music and thus be more inclined to join us in the dance. So it is with the courage of your convictions that you must forge your path, and invite others to experience the music too, not necessarily as you hear it, but so that it makes sense to them on their own journey, with their own tune and beat. Those of you who know me may be thinking at this point, “Dr. Pierce has been speaking for a while, and she’s covered Classics, global education, archaeology, and DEI, but she has yet to make a “Star Trek” reference.” Oh, fear not. Here it comes.
THE CUM LAUDE ADDRESS
In the episode “Mirror, Mirror”, James T. Kirk (and I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you that his middle initial stands for Tiberius), Captain of the Enterprise NCC-1701, and the landing party — Dr. McCoy, Lieutenant Uhura, and Engineer Scott — intersect, because of a transporter glitch, with their counterparts in a parallel universe. Their doppelgangers end up on the Enterprise, and they find themselves part of a more violent, cutthroat ship known as the ISS Enterprise, flagship not of the Federation of Planets but the Empire, where everyone is armed and no one can be trusted. After a number of attempts on his life by the alternate versions of Chekhov and Sulu, Kirk manages to get his comrades and himself to the transporter room and, with any luck, a return to their own ship. Commander Spock, ultimately realizing that this Kirk is not his Kirk, agrees to send them back through the transporter, but not before he and Kirk have the following exchange: KIRK: You’re a man of integrity in both universes, Mister Spock. SPOCK: You must return to your universe. I must have my captain back. I shall operate the transporter. You have two minutes and ten seconds. KIRK: In that time I have something to say. How long before the Halkan prediction of galactic revolt is realised? SPOCK: Approximately two hundred and forty years. KIRK: The inevitable outcome? SPOCK: The Empire shall be overthrown, of course. KIRK: The illogic of waste, Mister Spock. The waste of lives, potential, resources, time. I submit to you that your Empire is illogical because it cannot endure. I submit that you are illogical to be a willing part of it. SPOCK: You have one minute and twenty three seconds. KIRK: If change is inevitable, predictable, beneficial, doesn’t logic demand that you be a part of it?
reason for sparing the Halkans and make it stick. Push till it gives. You can defend yourself better than any man in the fleet. Mr. SCOTT interrupts: Captain, get in the chamber! KIRK: What about it, Spock? SPOCK: A man must also have the power. KIRK: In my cabin is a device that will make you invincible. SPOCK: Indeed? KIRK: What will it be? Past or future? Tyranny or freedom? It’s up to you. SPOCK: It is time. KIRK: In every revolution, there’s one man with a vision. SPOCK: Captain Kirk, I shall consider it. 4 words — “I shall consider it” — a concession to the possibility of another way of looking at things. An acknowledgement of the “Big Picture” — that there is more out there than might be visible at that moment. An expression of courage, optimism, and hope. Induction into the cum laude society represents but one stage, one step, in your graduation from Hackley. You heard M. Fahy speak about the motto of the cum laude society — the Greek words ἀρετή: excellence, moral virtue, good service, δίκη: order, justice, what is right, and τιμή: honor, dignity, or worth. Embrace these concepts as you embark on your journey. Open yourself to the world, wander just for the hell of it, dance whenever you hear the music, consider all the options, no matter how far-fetched they may seem at the time, and give others the chance to join you as often as possible. Take all 12 credits, but remember — the Big Picture is so big, 12 credits may not be enough.
SPOCK: One man cannot summon the future.
I have one last wish for you, but, alas, I need a little help from my colleagues here, as I have never been able to pull off this move.
KIRK: But one man can change the present. Be the captain of this Enterprise, Mister Spock. Find a logical
May you live long and prosper.
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Senior Dinner Address Diane Remenar Upper School Spanish teacher Diane Remenar was chosen by the Senior Class as this year's Rice Award winner. She delivered the Senior Dinner Address on June 7, in which she explored the importance of getting out of your comfort zone and finding the lessons in each moment. Ms. Remenar retires on July 1.
It is an honor and a privilege to be standing here, forming part of this very special event. This evening, there are many well deserved thanks to extend, so I will begin by thanking the Rice brothers who have endowed this award. Thank you to the members of the parent committee who organized this celebratory event. Thank you to the people responsible for creating and raising the members of this class. Thank you to my colleagues and friends, the teachers, coaches and mentors for working collectively to get this class to the finish line. Also, many thanks to the Dean of the class of 2021, Madame Crepeau, who has led this group, and my fellow advisors, through the challenging times and the BEST of times. And, my sincerest thanks to the entire class of 2021, including my flight crew and the Gru crew, for kindly or punitively inviting me to step out of my comfort zone and address you this evening. Class of 2021 — you have formed a cohesive group of learners who really are a pleasure to spend time with. I have learned so much from you over the years that I sometimes pause and ask — who is the teacher in the room? But at least for tonight, I am. Just so you know, I have always wanted to be a teacher. One Christmas when I was 8, I thought I had died and gone to heaven when my parents indulged me with a huge blackboard, an eraser, and chalk. Remember, this was way before technology made our lives easier, OR NOT, but I loved giving lessons to whoever would listen to me. As a junior in high school, I was even the recipient of a scholarship created for a student who wanted to become a teacher. So, I’ve been fortunate to have spent my professional life doing what I enjoy. Now, having you as a captive audience, a teacher’s delight, I can’t
resist giving you some advice based on my own experiences. I have wracked my brain trying to figure out how to avoid clichés in talking to people who, to use a cliché, are just starting out in their adult lives, but as you see, I can’t! For those of you who have been in my class, you know that I like to do things with bullet points and time things out. So, for my 12 minute speech tonight, I have three bullet points, each with a personal story, that I hope will…here’s another cliché…serve as advice for life. So here they are: 1. Pay it forward 2. Be a traveler not just a tourist 3. Find your passion
SENIOR DINNER ADDRESS
Bullet point number 1 — Pay it forward. I was once in a very serious car accident when I was in my 20s, footloose and fancy-free traveling down the beautiful Pacific coast of Mexico. A friend and I were traveling from Zihuatenejo en route to a bohemian beach town further down the coast called Zipolite. We set off on our adventure a little earlier than planned that day so we could take our time and enjoy the scenery along the way. We were traveling at a reasonable speed, and as I said, taking it easy, in a sturdy sedan along a somewhat treacherous two-lane highway. Suddenly, up over an embankment, that wasn’t a road, came a flatbed ford loaded with soldiers. Contrary to what one would think at age 21, and to quote an old Eagles song — that flatbed ford was not taking it easy nor was it slowing down to take a look at me. It came barreling up the embankment to zoom across the highway without checking to see if anyone was coming. There was no time to react — we crashed smack into the side of the truck and we were knocked unconscious. The next thing I remember was waking up in a different vehicle with a stranger driving, not my friend, and with what I thought was a red tee shirt on my face which was actually a white tee shirt stained with blood. I could feel deep cuts all over my face through the tee shirt. Long story short, I spent the night in a health clinic in a tiny village pretty much in the middle of nowhere immobilized, in pain, and hooked up to an IV with voracious mosquitos feasting on my arm. When I fully regained consciousness and asked who rescued me, the doctor and nurse on duty said that a kind and brave person who worked for the telephone company had picked up my friend and me, loaded us into his work vehicle, carried us into the clinic, where he stopped only to make sure we were attended to and then took off without a trace. The accident, so long ago, made me realize how precious life is and served to make me treasure all the time I have had since then in a way I might not have otherwise. I have never stopped being grateful to the person who rescued me, and although I never found out who that person was and never had the chance to thank him personally, his random act of kindness not only saved my life, but changed my life. In addition to being thankful, I will never forget what a stranger did for me. So, my advice to you is to think
about doing random acts of kindness. There are a myriad of ways to do so, and by doing so, you will at least brighten someone else’s day and you may even save a life. Then, don’t tell anyone. Let it be your best kept secret. Bullet point number 2 — Be a traveler, not just a tourist. Visit different countries, experiment with languages, learn about different cultures. When you travel, I hope you discover the difference between being a tourist and being a traveler. There is nothing wrong with being a tourist. You can follow a tour guide with a sign or a flag, be fed a lot of interesting information and learn very much. But, when you are a traveler, you go off the beaten path, make discoveries and learn on your own. A couple of summers ago, I took a trip with one of my sisters and her husband to Slovakia, the homeland of my father’s family. They were from a small village outside of Bratislava called Kucyna (coo kee ña). The linguists among you probably figured out that Kuchyna means kitchen. Kucyna is a farming village and got its name because it was a place where travelers would stop for a meal before continuing their travels to Bratislava or elsewhere. To get to this tiny village one Sunday morning, we took an Uber from Bratislava with a driver who had never heard of the village, but who was determined to get us to our destination. We set off with no plan other than to see the village that we heard about growing up and walk the streets of our ancestors. We were also hoping to see the family farm where my Great Aunt Katerina and her family were held captive by the Nazis during WWII. After we had been driving down the highway for a bit, a small sign saying Kucyna told us we had found the village. There were no shops, no restaurants, not even a town square, so the driver suggested leaving us off in front of the town church as a good place for us to start our exploration. As we were climbing the stairs to enter the church, a mass had already begun. We were commenting to each other selfconsciously about being late for mass, when a woman approached us laughing and said to us in English — oh don’t worry, I am late too, and I didn’t travel far to get here — I live right next door. After mass, she approached us and asked what we were doing in Kucyna since it is not a place that tourists frequent. She ended up inviting us to her home, even inviting neighbors over to help us find out about our father’s family. She
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The Class of 2021 gathered on November 20, 2020 in front of Gage House for the annual Senior Breakfast.
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drove us around the village and managed to show us the Remenar home, where my father grew up still standing and still occupied by Remenars. Our newfound friend of a few hours, ending up driving us back to Bratislava taking us to sites along the way that we might not have seen otherwise had we been on a tour. This trip to the town of Kuchyna became the highlight of our trip and one of my happiest memories. The human connection was priceless and one we would not have made had we been on a tour. So, while you travel, get out of your comfort zone and meet the locals. Find out how to say a few words in the language of whatever country you visit. When you turn 21, and, yes, I know it’s 18 or younger in some countries, also learn how to say cheers, salud, santé, and as we say in Slovak — naz dravie. But if nothing else, learn how to say please and thank you. As a traveler, not just a tourist, you will see more and learn more than you could any other way and you may turn out to have experiences of a lifetime. Bullet point number three, Passion, but not the Bridgerton type YET!: As I mentioned previously, I was lucky enough to find my passion at a very young age, but even though teaching was my passion, the road was not always smooth. While I was studying at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City, there was an incident that almost derailed my plans. I was in a program working towards certification as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language, as a way to refresh my teaching. The program was drawing to a close, and I had prepared a lesson for a group of university students to be observed by a group of professors I had never met. After the class, I sat down with them to receive feedback. The lead professor, who knew nothing about me, other than that I was the gringa in the program, commented disparagingly that, although the class went well, if I wanted to be an effective English teacher I must work on my English pronunciation. At the time, I thought he was referring to my NY pronunciation of cawfee, dawg, awffice, Bawston and that he was trying to discourage me from finishing the program because I was a foreigner at their national university. In retrospect, I realized that my pronunciation problems stemmed from difficulty I had had
with the International Phonetic Alphabet which took me some effort to overcome. For just a moment, I actually wavered, thinking — was I really going to be an effective teacher? And then I drew on what I had already learned as a teacher—that what is more vital than perfect pronunciation or perfect grammar is the desire to communicate effectively and the importance of patience with people who are struggling to do so. And, although the comment was hurtful, I didn’t let it or my challenges with the International Phonetic Alphabet discourage me. So, whatever obstacles each of you finds along your path, and there will almost certainly be some, you can’t let them discourage you. And if you are not sure what your passion is, don’t worry. Just keep trying things until you find it. And my wish for you is that when you DO find your passion, it will give you the sense of fulfillment and happiness that teaching you has given me. Entonces, para concluir, So in conclusion, let me remind you, Class of 2021, that you are a special, multi-talented group of awesome young adults who have inspired me and others since the boat building day of your freshman year to the impressive senior project reflections and presentations. And let’s not forget all the plays, concerts, artwork, debates, science experiments, math competitions, games, matches, service-learning projects, PencilMan encounters, rapping of the alma mater and every other activity in which you engaged in your time at Hackley. I have every confidence that you will go forth from our Hilltop and through your travels spread beauty and light and be passionate not only about gaining knowledge but about giving to others and finding ways to make the world an even better place. I couldn’t be more proud of your growth and achievements and the people you have become. As I stand here, my heart is filled with gratitude for the pleasure and honor of working with you and enjoying your successes. Class of 2021—you’ve made us all proud. Job well done! I will conclude this speech the way I conclude my classes — Espero que hayan aprendido algo el día de hoy. I hope that you have learned something today. Gracias, merci, shie shie, Da’kuyem, Arigato, asante, kham sa ham nee dah, shUk riya, and from the bottom of my heart — Thank you.
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Class Day Awards
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Class Day is a Hackley tradition in which the student body and faculty gather together to acknowledge the end of another year full of growth in “character, scholarship, and accomplishment.” The Ron DelMoro Award for Excellence in Teaching
Anton & Lydia Rice Inspirational Teaching Award
Oscar Kimelman Award
Regina DiStefano
Diane Remenar
Presented by Lisa Oberstein
Senior Dinner speaker, chosen by the senior class.
Chosen by the Class of 2019 and presented to the teacher who has most contributed to their own subsequent progress.
Awarded to a Lower School teacher, nominated by his or her peers for excellence in teaching. Mary Lambos Award Emily Washington
James Flanigan
Yearbook Dedication Michelle Crepeau Chosen by the Class of 2021
The Robert Pickert Award for Coaching Excellence Philip Variano
Presented by Cyndy Jean
Awarded to a Middle School teacher, nominated by his or her peers, for excellence in teaching.
Middle School Subject Awards Suka Deborah N. ’25 English Megan Margaret H. ’25 History Megan Margaret H. ’25 Spanish Joumana Omar S. ’25 French Samuel McLean S. ’25 Latin Angela Dea C. ’25 Chinese Lucia Nicole B. ’25 Art Aran B. ’25 Chorus Gabrielle D-A. ’25 Instrumental Music N’Darri Symone Bentsi-Addison P. ’25 Fox Aldrich Q. ’25 Drama
Director of the Upper School Andy King with Joshua Williams '21.
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Pauline M. Gillim Library & Reading Award
The Hilltop Award Sonia Aguirre
The Class of 1972 Community Service Awards
N’Darri Symone Bentsi-Addison P. ’25
Chosen by the “Lifers” in the Class of 2021.
Eliza Podvalny ’24 9th grade
Arthur Niles King Science Award Aran B. ’25
Community Council Award Sebastian Jose Docters ’21
Wenjia Q. ’25
Awarded to the Council member who made the greatest contribution to the Council’s activities.
Middle School Miller Bowls
Community Music Awards
Suka Deborah N. ’25 Improved Student
William Ryan Gannon ’21 Band
Alexander Chung B. ’25 Kindness and Courtesy
Allison Yubin Oh ’21 Chamber Ensembles
Sejal Swarn V. ’25 Enthusiastic Cooperation
Ava Rose Roberts ’21 Chorus
Capt. Charles M. Kelly, Jr. & Ethel Kelly Mathematics Award
Lawrence M. Symmes Award
Advith Sharma ’23 10th grade Mira Rai Zaslow ’22 11th grade The Class of 1972 Award is given to the freshman, sophomore and junior students who best personify the spirit of service to others — a quintessential Hackley tradition. Ira Seebacher Scholarship Photography Award William Matthew Rifkin ’21 Awarded to the student whose work in photography has over three years achieved the highest distinction in technical skill and artistic vision.
Gabrielle D-A. ’25 Presented to the Most Constructive Middle School Student.
Class Of 1938 History Award Elizabeth Louise Rudge ’23 Awarded to a Sophomore for the most distinguished essay in History. Class Of 1936 Cup Florangel Guzman ’23 Presented to the outstanding Sophomore for distinction in any or all phases. Albert R. Dupont Award Cassandra Lopez ’24 Presented to the outstanding ninthgrader for distinction in any or all phases.
Pictured left to right: Kiara Abbey '21, Kiriann Fitzpatrick '21, Cate Goodwin-Pierce '21, Sophia Thomas '21
C L A S S D AY A W A R D S
US Miller Bowls David Fredrick Bernstein ’21 Improvement of Mind and Attitude Joshua Alexander Williams '21 Kindness and Courtesy William Clark Kneisley ’21 Recognizing Enthusiastic Cooperation Hackley Bowl Siddhant Sohal Shah ’22 Outstanding Junior boy Eve Catherine Spencer ’22 Outstanding Junior girl Junior Subject Book Award Molly Dylan Reinmann ’22 English Noah B. Tirschwell ’22 History
M. Cyndy Jean with N'Darri Bentsi-Addison P. '25 and Fox Q. '25.
Austin Michael Benedetto ’21 Siddhant Sohal Shah ’22 Latin
The Benjamin E. Bergen ’96 Award
Class of 1921 Athletic Trophy
Divek Patel ’22 Math
Sophia Petriello ’23
Theodore Alexander Saujet ’22 French
Varsity “H” Award
Awarded by the Athletic Department to a male for distinction in Upper School athletics.
Sydney Noelle DeFilippo ’22 Spanish Dionne Linda Chen ’22 Chinese
Jack Marshall P. ’25 Boy-MS Athletics Kayce Hana P. ’25 Girl-MS Athletics
Divek Patel ’22 Science
Head of School’s Award
Divek Patel ’22 Technology
Performance, sportsmanship, and leadership on and off the athletic field has set an example for all Hackley students to follow.
Sophie D. Miller ’22 Visual Arts
William Matthew Rifkin ’21
Jonah Daniel Gorevic ’21
McIlhenny Bowl Isabella Jin Monteleone ’21 Awarded by the Athletic Department to a female for distinction in Upper School athletics.
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Mrs. Frederick W. Sherman Book Prizes Cate Averil Goodwin-Pierce ’21 Classics Isabel Maria Francis ’21 English Ava Rose Roberts ’21 Alan Seeger Prize In Writing Charles Wheeler Rudge ’21 History Allison Yubin Oh ’21 Modern Language Anthony Paul Pizzolato ’21 Mathematics Ocean Saric ’21 Visual Arts Hadassah N’Zingha Henderson ’21 Performing Arts — Drama Kiara A. Abbey ’21 Technology
Lily Napach '21 with Upper School Director Andy King.
Steven A. Frumkes Award
Royal A. Clark Memorial Award
Stanley Pennock Prize In Science
Daniel David Rivera ’21
Kiriann Elizabeth Fitzpatrick ’21
Lily Sara Napach ’21
For the Friendliest Senior
Class of 1963 Charles Tomlinson Griffes Award
Valedictorian
Kiriann Elizabeth Fitzpatrick ’21
Lily Sara Napach ’21
Bruce F. Roberts Scholar Athlete Award Lara Anne Schechter ’21
Salutatorian
Richard Perkins Parker Memorial Cup
Kiriann Elizabeth Fitzpatrick ’21
Sophia Claire Thomas ’21
Pictured left to right: William Gannon '21, Ishaan Ratliff '21, Arav Misra '21, Siddhant "Sid" Shah '22, Arjun Dayal '21, Zachary "Zach" Couzens '21
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Community Council 2020–21 PRESIDENT
SOPHOMORE CLASS AGENT
RISING SENIORS:
Sebastian Docters
Wylie Churchill
Mira Zaslow, Luke Chiasson, Maya Miller, Kami Lim, Noah Tirschwell Chelsea Weisenfeld Maren McCrossen Jason Campbell
VICE PRESIDENT
FRESHMAN CLASS PRESIDENT
Daniel Cai
E J Regalado
SECRETARY/TREASURER
FRESHMAN CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
Winslow Griffen
Edele Brennan and Remi Myers
SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT
SOPHOMORE CLASS AGENT
Hadassah Henderson
Mac Broaddus
SENIOR CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
BOARD OF MAGISTRATES
David Bernstein and Kiara Abbey
Seniors Kiriann Fitzpatrick, Jordan Johnson, Will Kneisley, Arav Misra, Nina Mital, Charlie Rudge, Eki Uzamere, Charlie Wind
SENIOR CLASS AGENT
Sophie Thomas JUNIOR CLASS PRESIDENT
Michael Lee JUNIOR CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
Jason Berger and Sophie Miller JUNIOR CLASS AGENT
Destiny Stephen SOPHOMORE CLASS PRESIDENT
Maggie Zhang SOPHOMORE CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
Aidan Aybar and Steven Li
2020–2021 3x4 Awards Each year, 3x4 Awards are earned by students who have completed 3 seasons of sports each year for all four years of Upper School. 3X4 Award Winners
Kiara Abbey Hadley Chapman Andrew Davis Jonah Gorevic Oliver Griffen Will Kneisley Gainsley Korengold Isabella Monteleone Will Rifkin Ava Roberts Anna Sanzenbacher Lara Schechter James Spencer Sophie Thomas
Juniors Luke Chiasson, Kami Lim, Maya Miller, Noah Tirschwell, Mira Zaslow Sophomores Ava Lattimore, Mason Napach, Kirsten Trivell BOARDING REPRESENTATIVES
Vanessa Restrepo and Alexander Kirschgaessner
RISING JUNIORS:
Ava Lattimore Mason Napach Kirsten Trivell Elizabeth Rudge Zara Haider Liam Abraham Ben Lefkovits Nailah Archer RISING SOPHOMORES:
Nevin Mital Alex Scheller Asher Beck
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HACKLEY REVIEW COMMENCEMENT SUPPLEMENT 2021
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Commencement Addresses The Salutatory Address Kiriann Fitzpatrick ’21
Thank you Mr. Wirtz, Mr. King, Mr. Bileca, Mr. Variano, assorted guests, friends and families, soon to be graduates, and all others who could be here to support us or are watching from home. And most importantly, Congratulations Class of 2021. I feel I must begin with an acknowledgment of our achievement of becoming graduates. Throughout this year, we have demonstrated flexibility, strength, and most importantly perseverance. And as I look out at our class I see so many incredibly accomplished people. I see artists who are capable of creating things that are unimaginable to me, athletes with admirable work ethic and endurance, people who have worked to better our community, whether that be as community council members, service leaders, or simply as students. And most importantly, I see those among us who have truly embodied a character colored by kindness, generosity, and integrity which the rest of us should strive to equal. But before we get too caught up in celebration, I want to recognize the challenges that we have faced along the way to this moment. This year has been incredibly difficult, it has included loss and sacrifice, both within our community and for the world at large. It has been filled with moments that have made us angry or sad or even hopeless. And it is important to recognize and validate those feelings. It was upsetting to see my friend be quarantined five times throughout this year not due to irresponsible behavior, but rather
unfortunate circumstances. But I was comforted by the knowledge that because of our ability to have pool testing, this community was kept safe and that we had the privilege of receiving an in person education that most didn’t and I remain grateful for that. It was upsetting for me as a musician to learn that it was not safe for students to perform in person for the first two coffeehouses of the year, events that many had looked forward to and had spent time dreaming about. But it made all of us more appreciative of the spring Coffeehouse where we were able to hear live, in person performances. And it spotlighted just how much work was being done behind the scenes in order to give us an enjoyable experience. And in one of my hardest moments of this year, it was upsetting to read through posts on the harassmentathackley instagram account that brought attention to the pervasive issue of sexual misconduct, that some within our community were already far too aware of. While I allowed myself to be angry and sad over what I was reading, that anger pushed me to fight for change within the community. So for my senior
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESSES
project I conducted research and ultimately wrote a report including recommendations for ways our school could better deal with the issue of sexual misconduct. And I was grateful for the cooperation and support I received from students, teachers, and administration throughout the process. This year has been challenging. But we can all be proud of the fact that we have stepped up to face those challenges and I hope we have learned that when presented with the choice, whether to dwell on the inevitably difficult circumstances we will face or to be grateful for the positive things that remain, we will always choose the latter. Included in the loss of this year is the story of a person that I believe encompassed so many aspirational traits and who deserves to be honored. During my sophomore and junior years of high school I was a member of a youth orchestra that was lucky enough to have an incredibly dedicated conductor named Vincent Lionti. He was not only a phenomenally talented musician, but also a compassionate and inspiring conductor. And for two years, I quietly appreciated his brilliance from my seat in the oboe section. I had always wanted to learn more about him, but was either too nervous to approach him or too caught up in my own life to take the time. And then one night at the end of rehearsal, as I was handing in the sheet music for my section, he stopped me to inquire about the origin of my name, asking if I had been named after the opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa. And I was touched by his genuine curiosity and interest in my life. In all, the interaction was only a few minutes. But as soon as I got to my car I enthusiastically called my mom to tell her about the first person to ever recognize who I was named after. This turned out to be our last rehearsal because we were soon shut down along with the rest of the world due to the pandemic. And then, a few weeks into quarantine an email informed me that Mr.Lionti had passed away due to complications of COVID-19. I was overwhelmed with the wish that I had seized the opportunity to learn about his life as he had learned about mine that night. But more importantly I was struck with immeasurable gratitude for the kindness he had shown me and my peers and for
the way that he had made me feel. I realized how he had perfectly embodied uninhibited curiosity and kindness and that I hope I can one day impact people in the same way that he had impacted me. This experience, and the others I’ve mentioned, highlight the importance of one of the two traits I’d like to discuss today: gratitude. I am honored to have the chance to extend a personal and collective thanks to the entirety of the Hackley community and to our friends and families for all of the ways in which our class has been supported through our journey here. Although things were certainly different, our ability to have a senior year in the way that we did was thanks to the diligent work and generosity of the administration, faculty, HPA, Board of trustees, custodial, Buildings and Grounds and Flik staff, and the other countless people who put in time to make sure our senior year was as memorable as it could possibly be. I want to take a moment to extend a personal thanks to two very special faculty members, my parents, for supporting me as well as many of my classmates through our time here, and being the very reason that I was fortunate enough to receive a Hackley education in the first place. 18 years and two days
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ago, on the day I was born, I was immediately brought to Hackley’s campus and became a part of the community which I was lucky enough to remain in for the entirety of my life. Since that moment I have been on the receiving end of the overwhelming charitability of so many here. I have struggled to capture the enormous amount of gratitude that I, as well as the rest of my class, owe this community for the education we have received. Whether 18 years or 2, I know that each of our journeys here have included our own unique stories of the people at this school who have uplifted us in moments of turmoil, offered help in times of need, or have simply been the type of people that we are better off for having known. We have been afforded resources and opportunities here unimaginable to most people. These are gifts that we have been given, by our families and by this school, which we should never take for granted. I believe that the opportunities that we have been given come with a responsibility to effect positive change in the world. And that the best way to show our gratitude will be to do for others what has been done for us. And I have no doubt that each member of our class, as we are set on distinct and promising paths for our future, will find ways to do this. But I want to end by discussing a second trait that I hope can aid us in our endeavors: curiosity.
We are about to head out into new environments with people whose experiences will be different from our own. And I would encourage us all to take the time to ask questions and demonstrate unabashed curiosity. Get to know people without ulterior motives, without thinking about networking or getting invited somewhere or even social comfort but only to learn and show genuine regard. Take advantage of the way that our lives will intersect with others. Listen to the voices of people whose perspectives and experiences are different from your own. And allow that to truly change the way that you think about the world. I believe that curiosity and gratitude will be the key to remaining lifelong learners, as we have already been encouraged to become throughout our education here. And I am able to give this advice, not because I have always exemplified these traits, but rather because I have been fortunate enough to come across people like so many within this community and like Mr.Lionti who have. So what I’ll leave you with is this: My ultimate hope for this class, and one that I know we are capable of achieving, is to all become people who will positively impact the lives of those around us, and who will truly capture one of Hackley’s mottos, which I’ve only recently begun to understand, go forth and spread beauty and light.
click here for video of the Address
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The Valedictory Address Lily Napach '21
Hi everyone! I just wanted to put it out there that I am really nervous, but I will take Coach Karpinski’s words about nerves, I think they just mean I care. So here it goes. When our classes ended almost a month ago and we all went on our separate ways to embark on our senior projects, I spent 3 weeks filming an interview with my 97 year old great-grandmother, a Holocaust survivor. Sitting at her kitchen table, we spent hours discussing her experience in the war. We held hands, and our eyes welled with tears as she talked about all that she lost as she went from the Lodz Ghetto to various concentration camps. She sat tall as she told her tale of survival, recounting how she literally ran with bullet and shrapnel wounds in her legs as she was liberated. I sat there proud of the strong, brave, and resilient woman in front of me, and I felt connected to her. In telling me her story, she transformed an isolated individual memory into something we now shared. While the interview was valuable to me personally, I didn’t know what to do with my footage to make it into a senior project. However, during the course of our conversations, my great-grandmother kept asking me — what will you do with the interview? Who will see it? How many will watch?, clearly pressing me to share her story. Being a shy and private person, I was a little confused as to why she would want me to share her personal details with so many people. However, as she continued to explain the importance of spreading the lessons from her journey, I thought about how valuable what I learned was. I learned the dangers when a community does not stand up against hate. I learned how to be resilient, brave, and strong when presented with challenges. And I realized by telling her story, much as sharing a bit about her today, I can
help us all learn to be courageous, to care, to advocate, and to speak up against hate. So, with the help of my great-grandmother, I came away with two takeaways about storytelling: the first: retelling stories is a way to amplify the lessons that can be learned from them. And second: I realized that as a member of a generation that will likely be the last living link to Holocaust survivors, I have an obligation to share her story. More generally, it is important to recognize when we occupy a unique position to tell a certain story. I began to write this speech around the time I was finishing up my senior project. I struggled a lot. It was really hard for me to think of something to say when I felt that each member of our class had an anecdote or lesson that would offer just as much wisdom. With the insights I learned from my senior project in mind, I began to think about my speech today as a chance to be a storyteller for our grade. We’ve experienced some pretty amazing moments as a senior class, and I think as a speaker today, I have a unique opportunity to amplify the impact these stories had on me by sharing them with all of you. The first story I want to tell is one that highlights the kindness that lives within the Hackley community.
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One of our classmate’s dedication and concern has left such an indelible mark on me, and I am sure all of us, and I hope its impact can be amplified by recounting it today. During midterm exams last year, our grade was overwhelmed and stressed. We poured over books, stayed up way too late making study guides, and devoted ourselves to work for two straight weeks. Personally, I found the exam time to be not only exhausting but isolating, a time where I didn’t feel particularly connected to the Hackley community. In the midst of the stress, our class president organized an effort to make goody bags for each junior. Receiving a goody bag personalized with my favorite snacks and a handwritten encouraging note put a smile on my face and pulled me back into the community I’d felt distanced from. This person’s actions reminded me that at Hackley, students care about each other’s well-being. Her selflessness and thoughtfulness made me think a lot about how a small act of kindness can have a tremendous impact, especially in connecting a community when individuals feel isolated. Little did we know how important that connection would become. Since that day, I have tried my best to take a step back during times that are stressful for me and check in on others. While the council's goody bags may have made 100 of
Head of School Michael C. Wirtz congratulates the class of 2021.
us smile that day, using this platform to tell this story, I hope to amplify its impact and encourage us all to do small acts of kindness. I also want to tell you all a little bit about another time where we built connections as a grade after much isolation, this year's Coffeehouse. The warmth, risk-taking, and resilience displayed at our spring Coffeehouse this year showed me a lot about dissolving barriers that difficult circumstances may place. For those of you who don’t know, Coffeehouse is one of the most beloved Hackley traditions. In typical years, Upper School students pack together tightly in the PAC to be wowed by the musical talents of our classmates. At the end of last spring, as I watched the first Zoom Coffeehouse, I was surprised at how much I missed the in-person connection this event provided. We were all excited this spring when we were told that the final Coffeehouse of our Hackley years would be in person, albeit outside and modified for COVID safety protocols. To say that it was amazing would be an understatement. Although distanced and masked, the hosts welcomed us with warmth and humor, which made all the seeming walls of anticipation and nerves in the community fall away. Many first-time performers bravely took the stage, including a sibling duo with hidden talents. We even had a member of the senior class serenade us with a modified version of the Hackley alma mater. Performers were not weakened by separation, but rather took advantage of what they had now to take risks and put themselves out there, dismantling any barrier of awkwardness that the new type of coffeehouse may have presented. The night ended with all of the seniors singing to old songs, arms around each other, relishing in a moment of connectedness that we had not felt in a long time. As a grade, we joined together as we realized that because of the challenges we experienced being seniors in a global pandemic, we could be closer than any class before and conque anything as leaders of the school together. We were warm, brave, and resilient that night, overcoming the barrier of time and distance apart to forge a more meaningful grade-wide connection.
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The list goes on because, as I learned from my greatgrandmother, stories are just memories that we can share. A friend regularly bakes for me every time I have a bad day. She has taught me the importance of outwardly showing people you care about them. I have two teachers who have spent the year encouraging me to be more confident. They’ve taught how meaningful it is to have people that believe in your abilities. I created a book club with three friends who share a love of reading. The fact that book club meetings are the highlight of my calendar has proved that surrounding myself with people who share interests can be inspiring. Having a teacher who excitedly shares his passion for research sparked my own love of exploration of scientific answers. Being part of a team that supports the middle school students as they develop their skills has highlighted the value of being a mentor. After advocating for me initially, my advisor has taught me how to do so for myself, and has shown me why we must always have someone in our corner. And the teacher who has been willing to help with college essays and speech writing after the school day ends, has shown me how going an extra mile can make such a big difference to the person on the receiving end. A common thread in these stories is surrounding yourself with people who will lift you up, who share your passions, who care about you — I encourage us all to not only to embody the traits that helped me in the above stories, but to surround ourselves with people who will make us feel connected by doing these things. I know for years to come I will continue to tell my Hackley stories, and hopefully shape others with the valuable lessons I have learned. I know how much my future actions, large and small, will be defined by the experiences these stories encapsulate. And to you my classmates, while we have shared many of these stories together, I encourage you to retell your own. But not only that, I hope you remember the small acts of kindness, the resilience, the support, and advocacy as you create your own stories worth telling. And lastly, let’s all remember the strength is not only in telling the stories, but also in being a good listener. Listen actively and with an open mind as others share their lives with you.
Seniors gather for a Senior Breakfast before the procession.
Before I conclude, I just wanted to thank Mr. Wirtz and the administrative team for keeping us safe and happy in school this crazy year. We know we are so fortunate. Thank you to Mr. King for teaching us the importance of gratitude and personally, thank you for your many book recommendations. Ms. Crepeau, thank you for being the best dean we could have asked for. We appreciate all you have done for us. Thank you to our teachers. We know you always go above and beyond, but particularly, we know this year could not have been easy. Your smiling eyes and encouraging words got us through a tough time. You have instilled a lifelong love of learning in each one of us that will inspire us to do great things in the world. To B&G, FLIK, advancement, the HPA, board of trustees and everyone else who makes Hackley run smoothly, thank you. To our families and friends, we recognize the sacrifice, support, and love you show to us each day that has made us who we are. Thank you. And while I have the microphone, Mom, Dad, Mason, and Charlie — thank you for being my best friends, my role models, and the people who I can tell anything to. Class of 2021, thank you for being you. We’ve created a story of kindness, support, resilience, and strength. We’ve all persevered through this global pandemic. I know we can do anything. Congratulations.
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click here for video of the Address
The Commencement Addresses Doug Clark This year, both Doug Clark and Philip Variano delivered commencement speeches, ensuring that we learn from their 41 years at Hackley (each!) before their July 1st retirement. The first speaker was Upper School math teacher Doug Clark.
Back in February when I was contemplating retiring at the end of this year (my 41st at Hackley), I thought, “Well, there was one good thing that came out of this pandemic. There was no big fuss made over the gargoyle that was put up to honor 40 years of service and there will be no big to-do about my retirement, and, thankfully, I won’t have to give any speeches. Well, here we are. When I told my friends that I was asked to give a speech and that I wasn’t too confident that I could pull it off, some tried to comfort me by saying, “Don’t worry. Half of them aren’t even listening, and, fifteen minutes after you’ve finished, the other half won’t remember anything that you said.” So, raise your hand if you’re not listening. I don’t know that any of that is true, but I appreciated their telling me that I can’t really mess this up too badly. After 45 years of teaching, I have found out quite a few things that I wish I had known when I was your age, things I wish someone had told me. I might not have listened to them, but it would have given me something to think about, and I might have done some things differently. One thing that I found out through experience, and that our professional development recently confirmed, is that saying too many things at one time is not productive. So, as one of my students said before making a presentation, “I will make this short but brief.” It was 1981 or 82 and I was teaching an Algebra II class. We were solving trigonometric equations. One of the students was leading me through his solution,
which I was writing on the board. He took 10 or 12 steps to solve the problem, which he did correctly. I then wrote another possible way to solve the problem using some trig identity that took just 3 or 4 steps, and I said for the first time, “It’s good to know stuff.” I’m telling this story because, now that it is literally written in stone, I want to say what it means to me and what I hope it means to my students and to all of you. People who haven’t been in class with me might think that it has something to do with winning at Jeopardy or solving the Sunday Times crossword. But actually it was and is about having more ways to think about how to solve problems. And not just math problems but problems in life. For example, over the last decade, I have had an occasional problem with my lower back. I looked on line for ways to relieve lower back pain and found several stretching exercises for the lower back, none of which helped. Talking to a friend who had a similar problem, he showed me stretches given to him by the trainer at his gym that targeted specific muscles. These were different from those that I had seen online, and, happily, they worked for me. When I played sports in high school, coaches introduced me to stretching, but never told that stretching one group
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of muscles might benefit another group of muscles. They also never mentioned that stretching is beneficial whether you are playing sports or not. So, I learned from this whole back pain experience that, although all of the answers might be somewhere online, you need a certain amount of knowledge to find what you are looking for and then to understand it.
What can I do?” I felt powerless until I came to an important realization. Maybe I cannot change the world, but I can work to make the little part of the world that I’m in a better place to be. I can do the right thing, I can be helpful, and I can be kind. Whatever the situation or circumstance, I can take a breath and ask myself,
Knowing more about individual muscles might have helped me find those exercises online. So, although the information may be out there, you need to know stuff to be able to find it and to understand it. It really is good (and often less painful) to know stuff.
“What is the kindest and most helpful thing that I can say or do right now?” Please know that I understand that this is no simple task. It is human nature just to react when someone does or says something that we perceive as wrong or hurtful. It is difficult to stop and think of an appropriate response, one that is both helpful and kind. It takes practice and conscious effort. As with many things, the more you practice the easier it gets.
Sports were a big part of my life. I played soccer, basketball, and baseball in high school. It was intramural soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, and softball in college, then various men’s leagues throughout my twenties and thirties. Time to play these team sports felt limitless. There was always tomorrow. But the time came when my body told me that my days of playing those team sports were over. I’m not going to play soccer, basketball, baseball, or rugby again. I have to admit that I miss the joy of playing those games, the pure delight of running, jumping, shooting baskets, making a nice pass, scoring a goal. I’m sorry that it is over for me, but I’m glad that I did it and I enjoy the memories. For me it was team sports. For you it may be something else that can only be done while you are young. My thought for you is: take advantage of and savor that time. You probably will be young enough to do whatever it is for quite a long time, but it will not be forever, so treasure the time that you will have to do those things. When I was your age, I thought that I understood how things should work. There was right and there was wrong, and the wrongs needed to be righted. There were so many things that needed to be fixed. I am certainly not alone in that appraisal. There are those people who see this and have a vision and somehow find a voice that people will listen to on a large scale. Perhaps some of you sitting here today will be that kind of visionary. I was not. I did not have whatever it took to have people listen and want to join up and make positive change. I came to that place where I thought, “What’s the use?
I want to give a special thanks to those of you who were in my classes this year. In a difficult time, you made my last year at Hackley more fun than I could have imagined. And congratulations to all of you for making it so successfully through a year difficult in a way that no one could have foreseen. You should be proud of all that you have been able to accomplish during these weird and trying times. I am, after all, a teacher, so here’s the recap. It’s good to know stuff. Enjoy your youth and youthfulness. Make the space around you a safe and happy place. And, above all, be kind.
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click here for video of the Address
The Commencement Addresses Philip Variano This year, both Doug Clark and Philip Variano delivered commencement speeches, ensuring that we learn from their 41 years at Hackley (each!) before their July 1st retirement. The second speaker was Phil Variano, Associate Head of School for School Operations.
While I'm thrilled and honored to be here, I am not convinced that I have special wisdom for you, so I will instead tell a story. It's a bit about me, a bit about you, and a lot about Hackley. It starts right where you are sitting. Except, in the late summer of 1980, none of “this” was here. Instead all around us was a large forest, untouched for perhaps a hundred years. You'd think this plateau was chosen for a football field because it was flat, but in 1980 it wasn't flat at all. Actually a large hill rose in this very spot. At the top of that hill was a peaceful, grassy patch, not unlike a small orchard. And I, at age 23, sat in the middle of that spot knowing that the next day I was to begin teaching middle school children for a living and wondering what I had gotten myself into. My “choice” of teaching was completely random. A friend I shared an apartment with taught and coached at a prep school in New Jersey. He disliked teaching, but at one point he casually mentioned “I bet you'd really enjoy it.” I was skeptical. I did not love school, perhaps because I had graduated from a high school so large that my senior class had more students than all of Hackley does, but I was not fond of my own job either so I thought “Why not?”
I, like you right now, was on the verge of great change in my life. But it wasn't obvious then and frankly what I most felt was anxiety bordering on panic. Hackley itself, at that time, was dramatically different from the school you know now. Hackley has a lot of land, but by almost any measure, we are not a big school. And back then the school was even smaller than it is now. There were fewer teachers and fewer students, and the campus was considerably smaller and a bit... shabby. In classrooms tests and homework were different because there were no copy machines. There were no computers, either in classrooms or offices. But (to my mind) Hackley was smaller in dreams and aspirations as well.
And so a few months later I found myself in Tarrytown with no teaching skills, no lesson plans and a schedule of five classes a day to teach.
Our hook to families was that we were “rigorous, traditional, and personalized”. The range of ability between students was so wide compared to now that we ran classes called “Two-Year Algebra” and “Introductory Geology” to accommodate the spectrum of learners.
As I look back now it's obvious to me that at that moment, coincidentally only a few meters from here,
Our boarding program consisted of 44 boys, 43 of whom played football, wrestling, or lacrosse, and who
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resided, alongside me, on the upper floors of Minot Savage Hall, in other words just above admissions. The Head of School at the time, Donald Barr, was quite an accomplished educator, and as a strategy to attract students and differentiate Hackley, he had been recruiting scores of international faculty members. So Hackley offered science classes taught by European scientists; 8 different foreign languages taught by (native speakers) and also math and physics classes taught by Russian emigres. The idea was to attract students away from Scarsdale High School and other similar Westchester public schools which had turned away from reading and writing in the wake of the cultural revolution of the 60's in America.
and to grow. “Hard work and traditional reading and writing” were not sufficient to define us as we moved nearer to the decade of the '90s. We couldn't wait for change; we needed to create change. And I was in a similar paradigm to the institution. I was getting a little tired of teaching and coaching and wanted to make my mark professionally. So I began attending graduate school, turned to administration, and in my personal life began to raise a family. Maybe I was wiser, or more aware, or maybe just older, but rather than letting circumstances randomly change me this time, I leaned into change with volition and intention.
Now let's move from this uniquely-shaped tent for a minute, and imagine you are standing in the center of Akin Common. Back in the 1980's that area was not a commons nor any other category of open space.
At this time, and fortunately for all of us, new leadership came to the school, ushering in an era of institutional growth that continues to this day. School and Board leadership enacted by administrators like myself established strategies for Hackley to grow, modernize, and shed our sleepy past.
The Upper School sat tall on the south, dominating your view just as it does now. But as you faced the river you'd be confronted with two squatty brick buildings which connected back to Goodhue by concrete and iron walkways.
The school was slowly embracing change, planned change which derived from vision and forethought. And at this moment something critical occurred when out of the blue we learned that the Rockefeller family was in the final stages of selling 172 acres of land, (yes the
Those brick buildings were the science and middle school buildings and they in turn led to the geodesic dome of the swimming pool which the Lifers in the audience will remember. And on the other side of this “commons” was the old Lower School, and a small house containing the infirmary. Finally on the left or north side sat, for reasons unknown, a large bocce court and a prominent hut where students were allowed to smoke during their free periods. So this was the environment where I taught middle school for a decade. And while it was not easy at the beginning I managed to both trust and follow my instincts, and things got better. During that time, the school was not so much thriving as simply surviving. Looking back now I can recognize how badly we needed to change if we wanted to secure an identity
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land under our feet right now,) to one of three housing developers. Well spoiler alert: the developers did not get the land….we did...and... Hackley School was finally on the move. We had the vision and now had the land to execute the vision. You now all enter the story because the year you were born was the year we sat with architects to begin planning our new Middle School and Science buildings. Soon thereafter came the beautiful Lower School (in 2007), and in 2008 all of you entered kindergarten, either here or elsewhere….and of course your Kindergarten year is also remembered as the year Andy King became Director of the Upper School. We had succeeded in growing the school and adding the kind of dynamic student that sits here today on the brink of their adult lives. No more Rocks for Jocks or Truck Driver math. With the ability to pay teachers more, we pivoted from hiring mostly young, mostly single teacher-coaches to more experienced faculty leaders who were masters of best practices. Our classrooms became lively places of exploration and exchange of ideas. Students were thinking, questioning, debating, and learning. Even the devastating fire that burned down Goodhue Hall along with nine classrooms when you were in preschool was an opportunity for growth and change for us. So as we recovered from the fire, rebuilt Goodhue, and constructed the new athletic center, you grew from kindergarteners interested in Ninja Turtles to talented curious students. Our current strength as an institution is in no small way due to students like you who are both invested in your success and accountable, but who want the school to be accountable as well. The ending of my story coincides with the story of your next steps, and while you've lived through calamity these past 15 months, you handled it with the grace and integrity you've demonstrated for years in our classrooms. And now it's time for your big changes. In minutes you will receive your diplomas and walk away from here.
What particular quality of change awaits you? When you think about it, while you might have chosen to attend Hackley itself, You certainly did not choose to go to school, you had to. Dropping out was a choice not available to you. But now, as a graduate, you're becoming an adult. And you have chosen to go to college from among 100's of other possible choices. In the last two years you've probably asked yourself in fifty different ways “Where will I go to college?”, but how many times did you ask yourself why? or what will I do when I get there?, or what do I want from college? I'm going to assume that most of you have decided what you'll study in college, and a fair number of you may already be thinking about a career after that. Yet, A famous cultural anthropologist recently completed a study of college graduates and found that only slightly more than a third strongly agreed they had discovered a work path with a satisfying purpose once they graduated. So college, for two-thirds of you, is going to be a start, albeit an excellent one. By graduating today and moving onwards and upwards, you are now entering the phase of your life where you will decide things for yourself and will live outside your family's influence. You'll live by your value system now, your internal gyroscope. And you're definitely ready, you've proven that to all of us. So, with minutes to go before the big moment of this wonderful event I ask you to consider the way that both individuals and institutions can and do change, either rapidly... or over decades... by surfing the waves of unintentional change that life gives us, but also by imagining and planning change that can be deeply meaningful and purposeful. So if a moment of anxiety hits you this fall, perhaps you can take comfort that the power of change not only flows around you, pushing you onwards, but also resides inside of you, ready to be tapped. I wish you all the best, and my sincere congratulations!
click here for Commencement photo gallery click here for Diploma Ceremony photo gallery
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Congratulations to the Class of 2021! Kiara Afriyie Abbey Jacob Paul Abraham Samantha Jewel Albright Benjamin Barrett Aybar Jessie Lila Bard Alejandro Robert Barriera Austin Michael Benedetto Samson Hy Bennett Andrea Curry Bernacchia David Fredrick Bernstein Thomas Barrett Bosco Taylor Nicole Brown John Maxwell Bryant Odessa Stoddard Buell Sarah Chang Hadley Nelson Chapman Mason Carter Chapman Ryan Andrew Chen Zachary Cleveland George Couzens Alexander Michael Crispi Andrew Francis Davis Arjun Dayal Riley Bryn DeMatteo Charles Jackson Dewey Sebastian José Docters Cody Nicole Eckert Kiriann Elizabeth Fitzpatrick Isabel Maria Francis William Ryan Gannon Alexander Daniel Meade Goldman Cate Averil Goodwin-Pierce Jonah Daniel Gorevic
Gracelynn Olivia Ruth Green Oliver Winslow Griffen Martha Lucy Harris Hadassah N'Zingha Henderson Seán Brennan Henry James Benjamin Hirschberg Blu Lake Hudson Jordan Johnson Chapman Northcutt Jones Mackenzie Jones Alexander Peter Kalapoutis Nicholas Burke Khoo Alexander Russell Kirchgaessner Benjamin Scott Kirsch Alexander Charles Klein Henry Mansfield Knapp William Clark Kneisley Gainsley Marie Korengold Alexander Stefan Kyimpopkin Hannah Rose Leighton Ethan Norman Lin Luca Nicholas Gorman McAdams Shira Kahn Meer Arav Aksar Misra Nina Mital Isabella Jin Monteleone Madeline Spring Moskow Henry Vincent Nadile Lily Sara Napach Camille A. Ngbokoli Sadie Grace Nipon Gregory James Occhiogrosso
Allison Yubin Oh Hannah Rose Ostfield Deeya Patel Jasmyn Andrea Phillips Anthony Paul Pizzolato Audrey Anna Pizzolato Ishaan Preston Ratliff William Matthew Rifkin Daniel David Rivera Jr. Ava Rose Roberts Tierra Saria Robinson Charles Blake Rosenblum Jacob Bernhard Rosenthal Mary Hartnett Rotenberg Olivia Rachel Rowbottom Charles Wheeler Rudge Anna Margaret Sanzenbacher Ocean Sebastian Saric Hannah Jennifer Satty Lara Anne Schechter Abigail Ellis Schiller Sarah Margaret Shapiro Charlotte Eve Smith James Murray Spencer III Sophia Claire Thomas Louisa Rose Thompson Ekinodose Emily Uzamere Joshua Alexander Williams Charles Jacob Wind Tyler William Wyman Jacob Noah Zelvin
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