HACKLEY HACKLEY REVIEW
COMMENCEMENT SUPPLEMENT 2022
As we reflect on the 2021-2022 school year, we are reminded of the countless ways our community spreads beauty and light each day, demonstrating what it means to uplift one another. Our students continue to inspire us through their resilience and empathy, reminding us that at Hackley, character, generosity, and unreserved effort are more than words. Each of the speeches shared this year are powerful testaments to the deep connections to friendships and learning formed on the Hilltop. In the pages that follow, please join us in celebrating the Hackley community.
Table of Contents The Year in Visual Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Year in Performing Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Year in Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Fourth Grade Recognition Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Eighth Grade Recognition Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 The Cum Laude Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Senior Dinner Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Class Day Awards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 2021-22 Athletics Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Community Council 2021-2022. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 The Salutatory Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 The Valedictory Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 The Commencement Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Congratulations to the Class of 2022!. . . . . . . . . . 47
ĵ Visit hackleyschool.smugmug.com to find 2021-2022 photo galleries, or access via the Hackley Online Resources tab and open the SmugMug Photos page.
After beginning their day with a senior breakfast at Gage House, the Class of 2022 makes their way to Pickert Field for the Commencement Ceremony.
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The Year in Visual Arts
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Sophie Miller '22
Lower School Art Show
Drew L. '27
Cadence D. '29
Misha J. '29
Kareena P. '26
Ella C. '26
Norah E. '28
Annabelle Gray '22
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The Year in Visual Arts
Meredith Greenberg '22
Tyler S. '27
Mira Zaslow '22
Mia S. '28
Maddie C. '29
Max Calman '22
Kareena P. '26
Annie E. '27
Nora M. '29
Bode C. '26
Lower School Art Show
Skylar V. '26
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The Year in Performing Arts
Middle School Spring Acting Showcase
Middle School Fifth and Sixth Grade Spring Play "School of Sharks"
Upper School Spring Jazz Combos
Lower School Strings Spring Concert
Lower School 3rd Grade Spring Play
Upper School Fall Play "The Alibis"
Upper School Spring Band and Choral Ensembles
Upper School Winter Jazz Combos
Middle School Strings Concert
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The Year in Performing Arts
Lower School Winter Concert
Upper School Spring Acting Showcase
Middle School Spring Strings
Upper School Spring Chamber Ensembles
Upper School Spring Play "Murderous Crossing"
Middle School Bands
Upper School Winter Chamber Ensembles
Lower School Flat Stanley
Middle School Spring Chorus Concert
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The Year in Athletics
Girls’ tennis was undefeated in the league, bringing home their second consecutive Ivy Championship and their second consecutive NYSAIS Doubles Champion. All seven starters were named all-league.
Boys’ Varsity Soccer had a strong season with a 11-7-3 overall record in a highly competitive league. The team finished 4th in the Ivy League standings and had an exciting NYSAIS Championship run to the final, falling just short 2-1.
Boys’ Cross Country earned 3rd place at both the Ivy and NYSAIS Championships. Three competitors represented Hackley at the New York Federation Championships.
Football had a rough start to the season losing two of its first three. In true Hackley fashion, the team turned it around winning four of its last five contests.
Girls’ Cross Country earned 3rd place at the Ivy Championships and 5th at the NYSAIS Championships. One competitor represented Hackley at the New York Federation Championships.
The Varsity Field Hockey team won the Ivy League Championship for the seventh straight season with an undefeated record and allowing only one goal by Ivy League opponents. The seniors led the way with their dominant play, passion, commitment, and good humor, embodying their favorite quotation, “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose.”
The Girls’ Indoor Track and Field team finished 4th overall in the Ivy League. The team was a force to be reckoned with through the season earning countless victories and personal bests.
The boy's Epee, Foil, and Saber teams won both the ISFL league season titles and the ISFL Team Championships titles. This was the third for boys foil and saber teams. The girls’ Epee, Foil, and Saber teams had a great showing at the ISFL team championships improving in all three disciplines. The team has a good core of younger fencers ready to step up in 2022.
The 2021-22 Boys’ Varsity Basketball season concluded with an exciting run to the NYSAIS semifinals. The late season run included marquee wins over Trevor Day and Riverdale.
Girls’ Squash finished the season with seven wins and three losses. After overcoming Chapin in the first round of NYSAIS 6-1, the girls put up a good fight against a strong and experienced Spence in the semifinal. The team then finished the season competing in division two at high school nationals where they placed 9th.
Both the boys’ and girls’ swim teams had a successful season with all swimmers happy to be competing again. The girls’ team finished 3rd among Ivy League schools, and the boys’ team finished 4th and set new Ivy League and school records in three events.
Boys’ Squash had a strong showing this season, finishing top of the League with a record of 11-2, which included wins against Poly Prep, completing a clean sweep against fellow Ivy teams. The team finished 2nd in NYSAIS and 4th at Nationals in division three.
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The Year in Athletics
The Hackley Wrestling team placed 4th in both the Ivy League and NYSAIS Championships. Hackley had two Ivy Champions and two NYSAIS Champions.
The varsity Boys’ Golf team was thrilled to finally be out on the course competing again this spring. The group had several big wins within the Ivy League and had a strong showing at NYSAIS.
After a 2-year hiatus, the softball team came out swinging. With a team that included seven freshmen, the group placed 2nd in the Ivy League and lost in the NYSAIS final.
Girls’ Varsity Basketball came off a 2-year hiatus and hit the court running. The team placed 2nd in the Ivy League and lost in the NYSAIS semifinals.
Hackley Girls’ Varsity Soccer finished the year with a record of 9-6-1, placing 2nd in an extremely competitive Ivy League. One highlight of the season was defeating two-time reigning NYSAIS champion Poly Prep under the lights for the teams’ senior game and annual Dave Allison Memorial Game.
Boys’ Tennis earned the #1 seed in the Ivy League tournament with an impressive 7-1 regular season record. They finished 4th overall in the league, with their #1 singles player winning a NYSAIS championship and their #1 doubles team making it to the NYSAIS finals match.
Hackley Boys’ Track & Field had a strong year, finishing the season with two NYSAIS champions and three Ivy League champions that led to a 3rd place team finish.
The Girls’ Lacrosse team defended their 2019 Ivy League and NYSAIS Championship and ended the season undefeated in the Ivy League with an overall record of 16-3. This incredible season illustrated hard work, tenacity, and the excitement of being back on the field.
Girls’ Track & Field put together strong performances across different event groups this year to earn a top-3 finish at the Ivy League Championship meet.
Boys’ Lacrosse successfully defended their 2019 Ivy League title and returned to the NYSAIS tournament championship game in May. While they ultimately fell in a heartbreaker, 9-8 in overtime, their 15-5 record still represented a triumphant return to the field.
Hackley Baseball was thrilled to finally be back on the field and playing a full Ivy League schedule. The team played with passion and commitment, coming to practice determined to improve their skills.
A rejuvenated Hackley Girls’ Golf team battled their way to a 3-2 record. Individual match wins came from throughout the line-up, demonstrating the resilience and depth of the roster. 2022 was indeed a year of tremendous growth for each player and for the team as a whole.
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Fourth Grade Recognition Day Director of the Lower School Lisa Oberstein celebrated members of the fourth grade at the Recognition Ceremony held on June 7, 2022.
Good morning families, faculty and staff, guests, and students as we come together to celebrate the Class of 2030! Thank you all for being here this morning on this beautiful day to take time to celebrate our fourth graders. I’d like to begin with a quote by Minor Myers Jr., who was the 17th president of Illinois Wesleyan University. He stated, “Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good." This quote so eloquently sums up this particular group of fourth graders; a group that has made quite a mark on the Lower School. Every class has its own unique personality, and this group is known for being “UNSTOPPABLE,” as one teacher wrote to me; in all caps, no less. They are, in so many wonderful ways, determined, enthusiastic, and creative. They are do-ers—caring citizens, intelligent, and resilient. They are also very funny. Some of you may not know that we have daily morning announcements where our fourth grade leaders tell us the birthdays of the day, important events, and very funny jokes. I know I am not alone when I say that I look forward to these jokes each morning and chuckle out loud when I hear them. These two are really good ones so I had to share them with you: 1) Can I tell you a story about a pencil? Nevermind, it’s pointless. and 2) How do you describe a piece of penne in a box of spaghetti? An impasta. In addition to their silly spirited side, our fourth graders are passionate about their world and making it a better place. They are overwhelmingly described as changemakers by all of their Lower School teachers. Amongst this group are students who care deeply about equal rights, protecting animals, caring for the environment, and many other important causes. Not only do they care and advocate, they
Lisa Oberstein addresses the Class of 2030 at their moving up ceremony held June 7, 2022 on Pickert Field. During her speech, she shared advice from Lower School teachers to the rising Middle Schoolers.
are often compelled to action. Just a few Fridays ago, the fourth graders culminated their year-long Big Experience with a phenomenal Environmental Citizenship Service Day, each project researched, designed, and confidently presented to the younger lower schoolers, showing them that they, too, can make a difference. This group also deeply understands Hackley’s core value “Enter Here to Be and Find a Friend.” Always champions for one another and looking out for their friends, when Mrs. Steinberg handed out parts for the Americana play earlier this year, each class received each casting with applause and big congratulations to one other! As we look to the future for this fourth grade class, what do we see? Students, your teachers see you in different places all over the world! On Broadway, on book jackets lining the shelves of the bookstore, on rocket ships, as president! In each career choice they see you helping others—changing the world for the better, and teaching your own children to help others, too.
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 2030
Finally, we would like to offer you some advice. Are you ready? Your teachers would like to offer the following thoughts: • Keep thinking critically and advocating for yourself and others. • All of the answers are already inside you. Trust your gut! Listen. Observe. Own your truth. • Always act with integrity. While this world can sometimes get you down, the majority of people are caring, kind, and helpful. Focus on being a "bucket filler" and not a "bucket dipper," and you will go far in life.
• Follow your dreams—find a focus in your life that makes you happy to get up each day. • Keep an open mind and try to view situations from multiple perspectives. • Remember to always speak loud and proud. You are important and what you have to say is valued. Fourth graders, if you couldn’t tell from these comments, you are deeply cared for and greatly appreciated. I am so proud of each of you and I know all of the adults in our community are too. We wish you the absolute best as you Go Forth and Spread Beauty and Light in the Middle School. Congratulations Class of 2030!
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Eighth Grade Recognition Day The Class of 2026 selected Middle School teacher Kristyn Polucha as the faculty speaker for the Recognition Ceremony held on June 6, 2022.
Good morning, everyone. My name is Kristyn Polucha, and I teach eighth grade science and coach three Middle School sports. This is my third year here at Hackley, and my first time writing one of these recognition speeches. So, to you, rising ninth graders, Class of 2026, I mean this when I say it is an honor to be up here speaking with you today. There is no question we all expected last school year would be difficult given the circumstances. But this school year, we were faced with a different set of challenges. In the fall, we started school hopeful that we were on track to getting back to normal life. But, in reality, we were still living in a very active pandemic. Both you and your teachers were trying to navigate through the new and everchanging rules about masks, COVID-19 testing, quarantine, and a long list of other things. But, after a long nine months of tests, homework, and papers, we finally made it. Here you are, sitting under this tent today, before your teachers, your parents, family, and friends, getting ready to write a whole new chapter in your lives as Hackley Upper School students. It is crazy to think that your time here in the Middle School is coming to a close. You’ll be leaving Hackley’s campus for the summer as ninth graders. And your teachers will be enjoying summer vacation with a few more gray hairs. But mostly, we will be concluding this year together with a ton of great memories. Some of my favorites include discussing the heartaches of playoff hockey with Zena, or learning how to do the Griddy dance from Jelani and Micah, or receiving an email attachment from Ben, and Julian eating McDonald’s after our nutrition unit. I’ll definitely remember these for years to come. But I also want
Kristyn Polucha addresses the Class of 2026 at their moving up ceremony held June 6, 2022 on Pickert Field. During her speech, she explored what it means to have a growth mindset and she asked students to consider how they would want to be remembered.
to express how much your teachers and I appreciate and will remember the times when you greeted us in the hallways with a good morning; or thanked us at the end of class; or invited us to cheer on your games and performances. You shared with us your interests, activities, and goals. The things that make you who you are. But really, as we, your teachers, reflected back over the year, the one thing that stood out the most to us was your growth and maturity during an unusually difficult school year. I want you to take a moment to understand just how far you and your peers have come, and all the adversities you have faced together. Look around you. You have all gotten stronger as a group over these last few years. You even made some wonderful new friends along the way. But, as you begin writing the next chapter of your life, over the course of the next four years, you will experience new hardships. You will meet new people and be faced with new challenges. And it is how you handle those challenges that will demonstrate your character.
E I G H T H G R A D E R E C O G N I T I O N D AY
To quote Caitlyn Jenner, “Your ability to grow is directly related to the amount of insecurity you can take in your life.” We all know middle school is full of insecure moments, and quite honestly, the same can be said about life in the Upper School. Knowing this, your teachers and I encourage you to enter ninth grade with what we call a growth mindset. A growth mindset is freedom; it allows for perseverance in the face of failures; find inspiration in the success of others; embrace challenges, accept criticism, and engage in a desire to learn. We don’t want you to shy away from what is difficult; instead, we want you to welcome it. To challenge yourself; to find solace in your hardships, and to foster a desire to grow. It is these things that will truly make you better people, for today, tomorrow, and your future.
The Class of 2026
As we depart today, I want you to know that you have four years to create your legacy here on the Hilltop. And while it is clear you’re becoming your own people now, advocating for yourselves and learning lessons along the way, I ask you, Class of 2026, after those four years, how do you want to be remembered? What do you want your legacy to be? I think, four years from now, it would be pretty cool for you to be known as the group that cultivated that growth mindset, and welcomed new friends as they arrived on the Hilltop and shepherded them into the fold. You made it this far together. Continue your growth and maturity together, and if you can’t picture it clearly now, I promise, in four years, you will.
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Eighth Grade Recognition Day The Class of 2026 selected Ben I. ’26 as the student speaker for their Recognition Ceremony held on June 6, 2022.
Hello students, parents, and faculty! For those who don’t know me, my name is Ben. I am a member of the eighth grade Community Council and was elected to give a speech to the Class of 2026. First off, congratulations! We did it! We finished our time in middle school. A lot has happened around the world in these past four years, but we got through it together. So at this moment give yourself a pat on the back and a round of applause for your fellow students. I would first like to start off with a story I think we can all relate to. I remember back in fourth grade feeling like a boss. Like the top of the food chain. I was a senior in elementary school—that is boss-level type of stuff. I remember the feeling of going into the Middle School. I remember all my teachers hyping it up. This
Ben I. '26 addresses the Class of 2026 and urges his peers to take time to live in the moment.
is the pinnacle of independence. This is where that Spider-man quote, “With great power, comes great responsibility,” comes into play. And I remember feeling so strong, so confident, so cool, walking into the Saperstein Arch and up those stairs. And then I ran into an eighth grader. Three times bigger than me. And at the moment, all the confidence, strength, and coolness, just disappeared. I was petrified. I’m going to be in the same school as this giant, and it wasn’t just one, there were tons of them. But then at the end of the year they left. And the new eighth graders weren’t as scary or big to me anymore. Same height, same attitude, but something was different. And it wasn’t them. It was me. The next year the same thing happened. As time passed in Middle School, that confidence from fourth grade started coming back; sadly I'm still waiting for the strength and coolness, but hopefully next year. So now being the eighth grader that I had so much fear of makes me realize something: We are growing up.
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Now, you're probably thinking, “Obviously. That's how time works.” But we are growing up. We are getting older and some of us are getting more mature. Not me and my friends, but some of us. We are growing up. College, yes college, is as close to us as Lower School was. We are going to be driving soon. We are growing up. And if I am going to be honest, I feel like nothing has changed about us. To me, you all are the same as you were when I first met you. And that is so weird. Because when we think about growing up, we see ourselves as a completely new person, but that's not how it is. I realized something else, too. In that moment of thinking of the future, of what is going to happen. I understood something. I was thinking this exact same thing in fourth grade. About this moment. And I understood that if we keep focusing on Upper School, college, and driving, we are going to miss what is happening right now. You are going to miss watching you and your fellow classmates grow and all that comes with it. Now this does not mean we're not excited for Upper School. We are overjoyed, even though we all know that it is going to be difficult and a bit scary. We are excited. But, don’t obsess over what
junior year is going to be like, don’t drive yourself crazy over your GPA and what college you are going to go to, and don’t think about what's going to happen at prom. Work hard, dream big, and remember to take care of yourself, because though grades are so important, there is nothing more important than your health and well-being. And Mr. King, I just want you to know that this class is made up of strong, kind, talented, and intelligent students, and I could not have asked for better classmates to enter the Upper School with. United, we will help one another next year. Now, with my last few seconds, I am going to quote one of the most interesting, powerful, and original movies of all time—Kung-fu Panda. Apparently Bil Keane is credited with this quote and Eleanor Roosevelt made it popular. But I learned it from Kungfu Panda. Master Oogway says, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” Enjoy your last moments as a middle schooler, enjoy your summer, enjoy Upper School, and enjoy the present.
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The Class of 2022 gathers on the spiral stairs that connect Kroeger Arch to Akin Common before beginning their procession to Pickert Field for the Commencement Ceremony.
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HACKLEY REVIEW COMMENCEMENT SUPPLEMENT 2022
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Cum Laude The Cum Laude Address Regina Chan This year’s Cum Laude Address was given by Regina Chan ’11. After graduating from Hackley Cum Laude in 2011, Regina attended Yale University where she studied Mechanical Engineering and Economics. She is currently a Senior Associate on the Goldman Sachs Real Estate Investment Banking team.
Cum Laude Society
The 2022 Inductees to Hackley’s Cum Laude Society: Jinlin Cai Sydney Noelle DeFilippo Thomas Charles DeGirolami Annabelle Jordan Gray Catherine Morrison Lapey Kamila Sophia Qashu Lim
Iheukwumere Woyinmiedor Marcus Maya Grace Miller Sophie D. Miller Divek Patel Molly Dylan Reinmann Griffin Michael Senyek
Siddhant Sohal Shah Mayyada Omar Shair Noah Ben-Or Tirschwell Alina Hesse Watson Zachariah Yusaf Daniel Frank Zhang
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Senior Dinner Address Tessa Johnson Upper School biology teacher Tessa Johnson was chosen by the Senior Class as this year’s Rice Award recipient. She delivered the Senior Dinner Address on June 6, in which she shared the three key phrases that impact her life.
It is an honor and a privilege to be standing here. This evening, there are many welldeserved thanks to extend, so I will begin by thanking the Rice brothers, Tony, Don, Bill, and John who have endowed this award. Thank you to the members of the parent committee who organized this celebratory event, especially Carolyn Carr-Spencer and Jayne Lee. Thank you also to the many, many faculty who have helped to get this class to the finish line. Many thanks to the Dean of the Class of 2022, Melissa Stanek, who has led students and advisors through challenging times and who always leads with her heart—we are so fortunate to have you in our community. Thank you, also, to all you wonderful students for this opportunity to speak with you. I am both a teacher and a mom. I have realized over the years if you want kids to remember something, short phrases repeated often are key. In my family, I have three phrases that I repeat to my own kids frequently— always ask, “How Can I Help?”; Be Brave. Be Kind; and give yourself the I’m Happy With My Life Award. Some of you should already be familiar with “the four most important words,” but you might not know the story behind why I constantly repeat it. I once completed a program called Sea Semester where I spent six weeks in Woods Hole taking classes and six weeks on a 135-foot sailboat learning to sail and doing oceanography research; It was pretty incredible and lifechanging. When we were on the boat, we were split up into watches of about eight students. We were assigned two teachers—one sailing and one oceanography. My oceanography teacher was a recent college graduate by
the name of Jeff Dorman. He was like the pied piper— we absolutely worshiped the ground he walked on. Jeff Dorman had a way of teaching that made you not only want to learn, but to be a better person. In fact, he was one of the teachers that inspired me to teach. Well, it was three in the morning one day on the boat, and we were grumbling about some clean up we had to do. Jeff didn’t really like our attitude and had us gather around for a story, and then asked if we knew the four most important words. We had no idea. Finally, after much guessing, he said, “How Can I Help?” At first, we wondered what he meant. How can those words be life-changing? But he was right. In the workplace, it is good to be helpful. Half the time, people don’t really even need you to do anything, but the fact that you noticed they might need help can lighten a load. In relationships, it is important to be helpful and ask the question—with my daughter I will say it and
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she often replies, “This is not a helping thing. This is a listening, non-judging thing where you tell me everything will be ok.” That is good information to have and makes it much more likely that she will talk to me. So, Phrase 1—How Can I Help? The next phrase I actually stole from the Lily James Cinderella: “Be Brave. Be Kind.” Actually, a graduation speaker used it a few years ago and I said to a coworker, “That’s from Cinderella,” to which they replied, “There is no way that man is quoting Cinderella,” but it turns out he was. The actual quote is from Cinderella’s mother — “I have to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Have courage and be kind.” Saying the words ‘Be Brave. Be Kind’ is how I send my daughter out the door. I definitely get an eye roll, but those two qualities are two of the most important to have every day. Bravery. You might think I mean the kind of bravery where you run into a burning building to save people or the kind where you defend your family from a saber tooth tiger or even trying something new, but I actually mean the kind of bravery where you have tough conversations—like the ones you have with your friends where you admit that your relationship is not healthy or you are not making choices that are good for you. Friends that have those conversations with you are friends you want to keep because they care enough about you to speak up for you. These brave conversations also feed over into the workplace. You’ll need to ask for things—like pay raises or promotions. You might have to ask more than once. The orchard, for example, wasn’t just given to me to build—I had to ask for it several times in several different ways before it happened. You also have to be brave enough to say, “I don't understand or know what you want.” My husband has a hard time with young employees because instead of asking for help they will just keep doing something incorrectly. So be brave and have those tough conversations. Be Kind. That seems easy—you all illustrate kindness all the time. I know there are many different groups in your class, but I always see you working together and being kind in so many ways. You are super supportive of each other which is amazing, and the kind of kindness I want to emphasize is being kind to yourself.
You may be graduating, but you are still quite young. Do you remember when your brain finally finishes growing (age 24)? And the part that is growing now is the part that controls logical thinking and rational decision-making. This means you are going to make mistakes and now that you are older those mistakes might have consequences. That is ok—it is normal and expected. You need to forgive yourself and move forward, and of course, try not to make the same mistake over and over again. You should also be kind to your parents or guardians. Some of you are ready to be done with Hackley, some are scared to leave, and some of you are somewhere in the middle. No matter where you are, Hackley has helped shape you into the wonderful person you are today and you would not have been able to attend the School without the support from your family. So when your parent or guardian is bugging you about filling out a form, getting your work in, or even just maybe letting them know what your plans are so they can make their own plans, instead of getting annoyed, say “I see you—I love you—and thank you.” We love you more than you could ever imagine and all we want is for you to be happy, healthy, and safe. So tonight—take a minute to thank those who have helped you get here— Be kind. So, ask “How Can I Help?” and remember Phrase 2: Be Brave and Be Kind. Now, the third phrase also comes with a story or two. My son went to the Croton Sailing School for many summers. It is a nice program where you are outside and follows a step-by-step program until you can sail a boat—you start out as shark bait and slowly progress up to Salty Dog. He loved it when he was little. But, every week, they had an award for the best sailor and best sportsmanship. He told me that he knew he would never win the best sportsmanship, but he could win the best sailor, and every week he wouldn’t win it—it was taking away the joy of the camp. We had a long conversation about it and I thought, “Dude you are at Hackley—everyone is ridiculously amazing here— it’s not a place to go to win awards because everyone is award-winning in their own way. The only award you really need to win is the I’m Happy With My Life Award.” It is a great award because you can give it to yourself every day or you can make changes so that
SENIOR DINNER ADDRESS
favorite award ever received was from the captain and first mate of the boat. When I graduated they gave me an engraved timer that said “Number 1 winch wench.”) Instead of doing something I absolutely loved, I was stuck in the lab picking through my samples and doing gut content analysis of larval herring and larval anchovies about 12 mm in length. Let me assure you that my lab work is 1000 times more boring than it sounds. And to make matters worse, the answer to my thesis question—Do larval fish feed better in tidal fronts?—was turning out to be “who knows.” While sometimes no difference can be good, in this case, it was probably due to my sampling design. There is a reason most do not study tidal fronts—it is hard. you can win it. You completely control this award. Since then, I have repeated Phrase 3 to my kids—“Give yourself the I’m Happy With My Life Award.” This year during a class, my students asked if I could win this ‘happy with life’ award, and while my answer was yes, that wasn’t always the case. Let me explain. My last year of graduate school was challenging. At that point, my lab had 13 students which is quite large. Socially, I was not really in a group in the lab anymore as most of my good friends had graduated. With the groups that were left, I either wasn’t ‘crunchy enough’ because I used paper towels or I wasn’t ‘studious enough’ because I ‘laughed too much and was too cheerful to be taken seriously.’ The only really good friend I had in the lab was Jeff Dorman who randomly started in the lab the year after me—it is a small world sometimes. Tricky social dynamics in the lab was my first problem. The next problem was that I was banned from fieldwork. I was on a 3-year grant and my professor wanted me to finish—because of the grant I was basically a free student and he didn’t want to have to pay me. But I loved fieldwork. I got to spend a month during summer on a research vessel in the Pacific Ocean. I spent hundreds of hours on a research boat in the San Francisco Bay. And I was asked to do a lot of lab work by default—In my lab of 13, ten of us were girls, and most were incredibly petite. I was one of the stronger girls and could carry around 50 to 100 pounds of equipment easily. In addition, the winch on our boat was tricky and I had a lot of practice getting it to work, so I was often called upon to work wench. (I think my
So right now, you must be thinking, “She doesn’t have any friends in her lab and her research is terrible— that is not the end of the world.” And if it had been just that, I would have been okay and might have gone down a different path, but my professor was also a problem. In my first year, I was in the field so much and in classes that it didn’t matter. In my second year he was away so I didn’t see him, but he would call every day at 5:00 p.m. to check in on us. One of the boys in my lab would surf all day—he had a ridiculously easy master’s project, but he made sure he was in the lab and answered the phone at 5:00 p.m. when my professor called. My professor then started telling us that we needed to be more like Darren because he was always working so hard in the lab. The lesson here is that while at Hackley we celebrate unreserved effort, in the working world appearances also matter so make sure your effort is noticed. I never answered the phone, so I got in trouble and was told to work harder even though I was always there and Darren was not. My professor was also verbally abusive to the female graduate students. By the end of my third year, I was a disaster. I have always been a worrier and a peoplepleaser, but after a year of belittling and put-downs by my professor who had complete control over my life then (I graduated or not based on his signature), I had developed a full-blown anxiety disorder and panic attacks. It was so bad that I couldn’t retain any nutrients in my food, and I lost a lot of weight my last few months of school.
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In fact, because of me, the director of my research center took note and started an investigation into my professor who was later asked to resign after it was discovered that other young female scientists were struggling—two girls left our lab and restarted graduate school elsewhere and two others started counseling. It was not good. At this point in time, I was not winning the I’m Happy With My Life Award. I wanted to move back to Virginia to be with my family. I had, however, met my future husband—Mike. He told me that he was not quite ready to move back east and I should probably stay one more year to recover, and that if I could wait a year we could move back to New York and get married. This meant I needed to find a job. I had no idea what to do—the only thing I knew for sure is that I wanted nothing to do with research or a lab. I received two different offers—a consulting job right outside of San Francisco and a teaching position at the Athenian school an hour away. The consulting job paid $130 and the teaching job paid $38. Both of those salaries sounded great to me. The Athenian School is a rather remarkable school right next to Mt. Diablo State Park and I was to be a sabbatical leave replacement for one year. They wanted to train me and also offered to pay for me to go to New York to find a teaching job in the spring. They loved me and I loved them, but there was a huge difference in salary and commute time, and many of my friends were graduating from medical school and law school, and being a teacher didn’t sound quite as cool as being a lawyer or doctor. In fact, my father was furious at first and told me I was wasting my education. To give him credit, he was a Top Gun fighter pilot instructor for the Navy and then became a lawyer who went and worked for the FBI doing Chinese espionage and polygraph—he was pretty intense. Twenty years later, both of his daughters are teachers and he is super supportive of teachers and very proud of us and denies ever making that comment. Lesson for those of you who have parents that rate high on the intensity scale, wait another 15 years and throw in a couple of grandbabies and you will see a very laid back version of the parent in front of you today—it just takes a while.
So, back to the story—I didn’t know what to do. Mike said, “You should do that teaching position—you loved it there. I haven’t seen you that happy working in a while. If it doesn’t work, you can always try something else.” So I did, and that choice led me to this moment today and I can say with 100% certainty that I can now give myself the I’m Happy With My Life Award every day. It doesn’t mean I’m completely happy every day, but I am happy with where I am. This year, a large part of that happiness is due to you all sitting here. Thank you for being your unique indescribable selves. The program says that you are extraordinary and it is true—you are for so many reasons. It is not just that you are all intelligent, beautiful, and talented. It is also that your curiosity knows no bounds. For example, one of you came to AP Bio for at least ⅓ of the classes and you were not even in AP Bio. Another one of you came to both AP Bio classes because you love to learn. Your enthusiasm is contagious. I asked a group of you if you wanted to go eeling with Teatown as a joke, and yet you all came and had so much fun and it brought such joy into my life watching you. You are incredibly resilient. It has been three long and challenging pandemic years, but they have made you good at picking yourselves up and moving forward. My AFER class walked in the grass by the back entrance this year and got covered in ticks—and I mean hundreds of ticks. Six of them had to go home and shower. It was one of the worst moments of my teaching career. I wondered, “How am I ever going to get them back outside?” but the next day the entire class showed up and were ready to go—amazing! I have loved debating everything with you all. From all of the free response questions in AP Bio—Yes Mac Wyman you must say ‘five carbon sugar’ not just ‘sugar’— to the wonderful complicated discussions I had in my advisory about current events. To my advisory: I have loved watching you grow and I have no idea how I am going to start over again next year—I am sure I will love my new crew, but I will miss you all dreadfully. To conclude, always remember: Ask, “how can I help?”; be brave and kind; and give yourself the I’m Happy With My Life Award every day. Thank you for all the wonderful memories.
click here for photo gallery
Class Day Awards Class Day is a Hackley tradition in which students and faculty gather together to acknowledge the end of another year of growth in “character, scholarship, and accomplishment.” The Ron DelMoro Award for Excellence in Teaching
Anton & Lydia Rice Inspirational Teaching Award
Oscar Kimelman Award
Krysta M. Dudley
Tessa Johnson
Awarded to a Lower School teacher, nominated by his or her peers for excellence in teaching.
Senior Dinner speaker, chosen by the senior class.
Chosen by the Class of 2020 and presented to the teacher who has most contributed to their subsequent progress.
Christopher Loomis
Yearbook Dedication Mary Lambos Award
Melissa Stanek
Donald N. Eleck
Chosen by the Class of 2022
Awarded to a Middle School teacher, nominated by his or her peers, for excellence in teaching.
The Robert Pickert Award for Coaching Excellence Dawn M. Crainer Middle School Subject Awards Abigail N. ’26 English Zion B. ’26 History Phillip I. ’26 Spanish Benjamin N. ’26 French Sophie F. ’26 Latin Annie S. ’26 Chinese Kareena P. ’26 Art Jiya D. ’26 Chorus Isaac A. ’26 Mason L. ’26 Instrumental Music Annika D. ’26 Drama
Lower Schoolers perform The Alma Mater and "The Rhythm of Life" during Class Day in the Johnson Center for Health and Wellness.
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The Class of 1972 Community Service Awards Jack Patrick Magidson ’25 9th grade Samuel Benjamin Sanders ’24 10th grade Ella Brooke Sonnenberg ’23 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.
Friends support Calliope Y. '26 as her name is called for Notable Improvement of Mind and Attitude.
Pauline M. Gillim Library & Reading Award
The Hilltop Award
Madison C. ’26
Chosen by the “Lifers” in the Class of 2022.
Arthur Niles King Science Award
Marija Berisaj
Ira Seebacher Scholarship Photography Award Iheukwumere Marcus ’22 Awarded to the student whose work in photography has over three years achieved the highest distinction in technical skill and artistic vision. Class Of 1938 History Award
Community Council Award
Samuel Benjamin Sanders ’24 Talia Tirschwell ’24
Capt. Charles M. Kelly, Jr. & Ethel Kelly Mathematics Award
Jinlin Cai ’22 Aidan Aybar ’22
Awarded to a Sophomore for the most distinguished essay in History.
Ella C. ’26
Awarded to the Council member who made the greatest contribution to the Council’s activities.
Sarah R. ’26
Middle School Miller Bowls Calliope Y. ’26 Improved Student
Community Music Awards
Dylan G. ’26 Kindness and Courtesy
Thomas Charles DeGirolami ’22 Band
Beniamino I. ’26 Enthusiastic Cooperation
Noah Ben-Or Tirschwell ’22 Chamber Ensembles
Lawrence M. Symmes Award
Eve Catherine Spencer ’22 Chorus
Jiya D. ’26 Presented to the Most Constructive Middle School Student.
Class Of 1936 Cup Phoebe Juliet Abrahms ’24 Presented to the outstanding Sophomore for distinction in any or all phases. Albert R. Dupont Award Angela Dea Croce ’25 Presented to the outstanding ninthgrader for distinction in any or all phases.
C L A S S D AY A W A R D S
US Miller Bowls Skyler Kate Safriet ’22 Improvement of Mind and Attitude Colin Alexander Ives '22 Kindness and Courtesy Noah Ben-Or Tirschwell ’22 Recognizing Enthusiastic Cooperation Hackley Bowl John Barrett Churchill ’23 Outstanding Junior boy Zara Steichen Haider ’23 Outstanding Junior girl Junior Subject Book Award Nailah Carlotta Archer ’23 English Haley Stephanie Ganzer ’23 History Shahid Jaan Rothschild ’23 Latin
From left to right: Division Directors Lisa Oberstein (Lower School), Shazia Durrani (Middle School), and Andy King (Upper School) pictured together on Class Day.
Vihaan Dheer ’23 Math
The Benjamin E. Bergen ’96 Award
Class of 1921 Athletic Trophy
Ava Paris Lattimore ’23 French
Harper Corinna Kelsey ’24
Nailah Carlotta Archer ’23 Spanish
Varsity “H” Award
Awarded by the Athletics Department to a male for distinction in Upper School athletics.
Mason William Napach ’23 Chinese Noah Auguste Nager ’23 Science Paul Jai Evans ’23 Steven Sun Yu ’23 Technology Sarah Malach ’23 Visual Arts
Jelani M. ’26 Boy-MS Athletics Gabriella P. ’26 Girl-MS Athletics Head of School’s Award Phoebe Marin Naughton ’22 Performance, sportsmanship, and leadership on and off the athletic field has set an example for all Hackley students to follow.
Daniel Eiji Nuzum ’22
McIlhenny Bowl Eve Catherine Spencer ’22 Awarded by the Athletics Department to a female for distinction in Upper School athletics.
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Mrs. Frederick W. Sherman Book Prizes Thomas Charles DeGirolami ’22 Classics Alina Hesse Watson ’22 English Corrine Therese Cheong ’22 Lucas Yerkes ’22 Alan Seeger Prize In Writing Noah Ben-Or Tirschwell ’22 Molly Dylan Reinmann ’22 History Kamila Lim ’22 Alina Hesse Watson ’22 Modern Language Divek Patel ’22 Mathematics Max Nathan Calman ’22 Visual Arts Michael Richard Potanin ’22 Performing Arts — Drama Sydney Noelle DeFilippo ’22 Technology
Sid Shah '22 takes a selfie with Head of School Michael Wirtz after accepting the Richard Perkins Parker Memorial Cup.
Steven A. Frumkes Award
Royal A. Clark Memorial Award
Sophie D. Miller ’22
Mira Rai Zaslow ’22
For the Friendliest Senior
Stanley Pennock Prize In Science Maxwel Wilcoln Lee ’22 Class of 1963 Charles Tomlinson Griffes Award Daniel Zhang ’22
Valedictorian Noah Ben-Or Tirschwell ’22
Bruce F. Roberts Scholar Athlete Award Brendan Gabriel DiStefano ’22
Salutatorian
Richard Perkins Parker Memorial Cup
Thomas Charles DeGirolami ’22
Siddhant Sohal Shah ’22
Middle School Administrative Assistant Marija Berisaj accepts The Hilltop Award, chosen by the “Lifers” in the Class of 2022.
2 0 2 1 – 2 0 2 2 AT H L E T I C S AWA R D S
2021–2022 Athletics Awards Fall Season
Spring Season
Cross Country
Baseball
BOYS’
Nikhil Dhakad
Brendan DiStefano GIRLS’
Eve Spencer Field Hockey
Colin Ives Football
Lacrosse BOYS’
Jack Meyer Parker Diaz Johnny Esposito GIRLS’
Harrison Riopel
Jessye Salmon Elizabeth Rudge
Soccer
Golf
BOYS’
BOYS’
Dan Paridis Fritz Lauerwald
Jake Hendelman
GIRLS’
Calista Santomero
Welyn Waterhouse Tennis GIRLS’
The Girls' Varsity Tennis Team
GIRLS’
Softball
Andrea Hegarty Tennis BOYS’
Winter Season Wrestling
Cole Joseph Squash BOYS’
Shiraz Awan
Ethan Ohm Track & Field BOYS’
Brendan DiStefano Michael Abbey GIRLS’
Skyler Safriet
GIRLS’
Sejal Virk Swimming
Grace Park Max Hardart Basketball BOYS’
Stefan Darmanovic GIRLS’
Sophia Petriello Alessa Mendozza Fencing BOYS’
Maxwel Lee GIRLS’
Jessye Salmon Indoor Track BOYS’
Brendan DiStefano Harrison Hayward GIRLS’
Skyler Safriet
2021–2022 3x4 Awards Each year, 3x4 Awards are earned by students who have completed three seasons of sports each year for all four years of Upper School. 3X4 Award Winners
Jason Berger Brendan DiStefano Annabelle Grey Colin Ives Ashley Morgner Phoebe Naughton Wesley Neidhardt Daniel Nuzum Katerina Popova Kaitlyn Qu Skyler Safriet Eve Spencer Destiny Stephen
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Community Council 2021–22 PRESIDENT
SOPHOMORE CLASS PRESIDENT
7TH GRADE REPRESENTATIVES
Daniel Cai
Ej Regalado
Nico K., Riya M., Alex N., and Ace P.
VICE PRESIDENT
SOPHOMORE CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
8TH GRADE REPRESENTATIVES
Michael Lee
Edele Brennan and Remi Myers
Ben I., Micah J., and Abigail N.
SECRETARY/TREASURER
SOPHOMORE CLASS AGENT
BOARD OF MAGISTRATES
Steven Li
Mac Broaddus
SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT
FRESHMAN CLASS PRESIDENT
Sophie Miller
Rafael Castro
Seniors Jason Campbell, Luke Chiasson, Kami Lim, Maren McCrossan, Maya Miller, Noah Tirschwell, Chelsea Weisenfeld, and Mira Zaslow
SENIOR CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
FRESHMAN CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
Jason Berger and Skyler Safriet
Angela Croce and Hailey Won
SENIOR CLASS AGENT
FRESHMAN CLASS AGENT
Destiny Stephen
Taylor Safriet
JUNIOR CLASS PRESIDENT
5TH GRADE REPRESENTATIVES
Maggie Zhang
Norah M., Sage S., and Leena S.
JUNIOR CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
Aidan Aybar and Kevin Kim JUNIOR CLASS AGENT
Esther Choi
6TH GRADE REPRESENTATIVES
Farah G., Saifan M., Emerson P., and Katie Y.
Juniors Liam Abraham, Nailah Archer, Zara Haider, Ava Lattimore, Ben Lefkovits, Mason Napach, Elizabeth Rudge, and Kirsten Trivell Sophomores Asher Beck, Nevin Mital, and Alex Schiller BOARDING REPRESENTATIVES
Jason Berger and Decchen Sherpa
click here for video
Commencement The Salutatory Address Thomas DeGirolami ’22
I am honored to represent the Hackley Class of 2022 as salutatorian, and I want to thank Mr. Wirtz, Mr. King, and all of my outstanding teachers. When I was told that I would be speaking at Commencement, I started to think about what a salutatorian actually is. And as I turned to writing my speech, I realized I had no idea what it was supposed to be about! So… I decided to turn to a topic that I do know something about—and that I also know is universally considered riveting, exhilarating, and wildly entertaining: classical etymology! (Quick disclaimer: this speech is not sponsored, paid for, or otherwise endorsed by the Hackley Classics Department in any way). It seems reasonable that a salutatorian is supposed to give salutations. But what really is a salutation? In this speech, I'd like to take you through some different connotations of salutations. The word "salutations" derives from the Latin salutare, meaning “to greet" or "to welcome.” In a first and most well-known connotation of the word, I welcome you all to today's commencement exercises. Welcome, guests! Hello, families! Greetings, Hackley faculty and friends! Salutations to all! Now that you surely feel adequately welcomed, I'll move on to a second connotation of a salutation: to show respect.
This is a more etymologically accurate version of the Latin salutare I mentioned before. For the ancient Romans, following the proper formalities of honor and respect was absolutely critical. In fact, our word "salute'' derives from this same meaning. Even though none of us are soldiers… yet (I'm looking at you, Danny. Go Army 2026!), I'd like to consider the function of military salutes. Soldiers of all stations and ranks salute when they first meet, as well as when they depart, paying one another the same respect. They are both respectful beginnings and endings. In this distinctive way, I would like to salute my fellow members of the Class of 2022. We made it, and what we have accomplished here deserves respect. But this is only half a salute—the salute due to us. The other half is the salute we now owe to others. We will all be graduates very soon and go our own different ways. When we go, I urge you to remember to salute others.
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Bear in mind your time here at Hackley; and bear it in mind with the respect and honor it is due. Recall where you've come from whenever you come across your equivalent of a superior officer or a subordinate soldier. Carry Hackley with you in remembering in those moments that everyone, low or high, deserves the same salute—the same respectful greeting and goodbye.
But, the life of eudaimonia and human flourishing is just beginning for us. And so, a salutation in this third sense isn’t just saying hello, or even showing respect. This kind of salutation is a challenge—the challenge to go forth from Hackley and live lives of human flourishing, of achievement and excellence and contribution to human well-being. A challenge to be well by doing good.
Now, let's move on to a third connotation of a salutation. The verb salutare itself comes from the Latin noun salus, meaning health or vigor, but maybe the truest translation is in the phrase "to be well."
And last—a fourth connotation of a salutation. Here, I will be brief. This final meaning will be familiar, even ordinary, but not less important for all that. It is the meaning that expresses warmth and fellowship when we toast an important occasion.
Here at Hackley, we talk a lot about "wellness." We even have The Johnson Center for Health and Wellness. We believe that a person's health is more than just physical, and I think that is true. But I'd like to consider another side of wellness: an ancient Greek one. Plato and Aristotle were some of the first philosophers to examine in depth what it means to live a truly good life. They asked the question, "What makes a life well lived?" Their answer was the concept of eudaimonia, often translated as happiness, human flourishing, or wellbeing. What does it mean to be happy and well? For them, happiness is not just physical pleasure, like the sensation you get from eating ice cream, or procrastinating homework by watching Youtube, or even the internal glow that comes from personal success. Imagine sitting in your rocking chair at 95 years old, looking back on your life and feeling that it was good—that you accomplished great things and improved the lives of those around you, not just your own life. That's Aristotelian happiness. Happiness—eudaimonia—is when you've contributed to a life of flourishing. We have flourished here at Hackley—we have achieved. We have lived lives of doing: we have studied and worked to learn and to know; we have practiced and contested and fought on sports fields; we have created beauty in art and music and writing; we have contributed to the well-being of our immediate and more distant communities in countless ways.
It is the meaning we hear in Spanish “Salud!”; or the Italian “Alla nostra salute.” (“Prost” in German; “Ganbei” in Mandarin; “Skol” in Swedish; “Bajabule” in Zulu…but I digress). When we say “Cheers,” we are wishing for each other happiness, togetherness, well-being, and belonging. I will conclude by toasting the Class of 2022 (perhaps for some of us with a glass of Champagne or two… or three—later).. May we all long enjoy and partake of the four salutations!
click here for video of the Address
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The Valedictory Address Noah Tirschwell ’22
Thank you, first and foremost, to our awesome, one-of-a-kind dean, Mrs. Stanek. Thank you to Mr. Wirtz, Mr. King, Mr. Bileca, Ms. Jean, and Mr. Aldrich. Thank you to our incredible teachers, to the administration and staff, to FLIK, to B&G, and to the custodial staff. Thank you to the HPA, the Board of Trustees, and everyone else who made today possible. And perhaps most importantly, thank you to our parents and families. Mom, Dad, Oren, and Talia, thank you for your unwavering support—I would not be here without you. And to the Class of 2022—Congratulations! We made it! We have a lot to celebrate. From ninth grade boatbuilding to Senior Projects and everything else in between, we have had some pretty amazing experiences over the past four years, and we have grown tremendously not only as students, but also as individuals and a broader community. We have also been through a lot, and throughout our time at Hackley, we have faced some pretty extraordinary challenges. So I promise I will come back to the positive, but first, I want to acknowledge everything we have been through these past four years. When we were freshmen, a swastika was found carved into a desk. At the end of our sophomore year, a worldwide pandemic threw us online, and as we Zoomed into school, which was hard enough on its own, we were forced to grapple with the racial prejudice that Black at Hackley revealed. Our junior year, we had to navigate weekly spit testing, mask-wearing, and plastic barriers as we confronted the sexism, homophobia, and sexual assault that Harassment at Hackley brought to light. And then right when it seemed like there was light at the end of
the tunnel, right as our senior year seemed to be on the upswing, we lost a student in our community. Our high school years have not been easy. But that is not to say that the past four years have been dominated by hardship; in fact, I would argue the exact opposite. Time and again, we have found the light in all of this darkness. We have found beauty, joy, and happiness in the most difficult of times. We have laughed together, we have forged meaningful bonds with one another, and we have created memories that will last far beyond our high school years. So let’s return to Black at Hackley, Harassment at Hackley, and the swastika. These episodes were painful and jarring and perhaps even frightening. But as terrible as they were, they created an opportunity for progress. They led to important discussions around bigotry and assault at our school. It is clear that we are not where we need to be, but these moments provided us with a first step towards healing. When the pandemic struck, we likewise found a silver lining. We were able to see our teachers as
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parents. We debated each other at fireside chats and played whats-it in homeroom. And in the long run, we developed a greater appreciation for our physical connections with one another. For all of its hardships, the pandemic has made occasions like today far more meaningful. Our darkest and most difficult moment, however, came just four months ago when we lost Wenija Qin, known to most of us as DD. And I want to take this opportunity to talk about DD, because DD was a truly extraordinary person—someone who was an athlete and a student and above all else, a friend. I personally knew DD as a supportive teammate, someone who brought a smile to every day of practice. Friends and mentors described DD as passionate, genuine, inquisitive, special, kind, creative, humble, outrageously funny, and extremely intelligent. DD was a special kid, plain and simple, and for that very reason, I think I speak for the entire community when I say that DD will never leave us. So I realize this is somewhat unconventional for a graduation speech, but before I go any further, I’d like to ask that we take a moment of silence to honor DD’s memory. Thank you.
It is times like these where it would have been easy to give in to the grief and the pain and the anger. It would have been easy to lose hope. But that is not what we did because the people under this tent went out of their way to care for one another. There were spontaneous hugs in the halls. There were handwritten notes and heartfelt texts between friends. DD’s locker was transformed into a beautiful memorial, and perhaps most importantly, our community came together. We could have accepted the darkness, but we chose to find the light. And that is what has defined our class. In the face of unbelievable adversity, we have continued to find hope and love and joy. And now we find ourselves at a juncture that is all too familiar because as we prepare to leave the Hilltop, we face a world that is marred by crisis. But we don’t need to accept the darkness as inevitable and that is what I keep coming back to. We, the Class of 2022, have proven ourselves to be capable of finding hope in hopeless times. We have lived the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said that “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.” We have shown that when our community comes together, we can overcome any challenge, no matter how big or small. We have done it before and we can do it again. So with that in mind, I would like to share the words and wisdom of a fifth grader — a fifth grader who speaks with a purity and authenticity that can help all of us as we think ahead to the future. Just over a week ago, there was a walkout here at Hackley to honor those whose lives have been lost in mass shootings in Uvalde, Buffalo, Tulsa, and too many other places. After the walkout, one of the fifth graders wrote a note to her representative in Congress, and I want to read the following excerpt from her letter: Dear Congressman Mondaire Jones,
Seniors Dionne Chen, Hannah Carey, Lucas Caramanica, Jason Campbell, Jinlin “Daniel” Cai, and Max Calman together in the Johnson Center before the Commencement Ceremony.
I’m writing to address the shootings that have been happening lately. From what I’ve seen on the news, there have been three mass shootings lately. The
COMMENCEMENT
Seniors gather for a Senior Breakfast before the procession.
amount of death has been at least 25. I want to ask what are you doing about this? I want to ask: what are you doing about this? A fifth grader wrote that. I think we can all agree that an eleven-year old should not have to ask that question. And this is where we come in because we are reaching that moment in our lives where we can begin to make a difference on a far greater scale. The collective talent that exists under this tent is mind-boggling. We are D-1 athletes and prize-winning artists. We are debate champions and science fair winners and published authors. We are activists, scientists, mathematicians, musicians, athletes, coders, linguists, historians, actors, writers, and leaders. We have channeled our skills to make Hackley a better place, and we now have the potential to broaden our impact. So with a slight twist, I want to throw the powerful words of that fifth grader back at all of us and ask: what are we doing? What are we doing to make sure that our skills bring about change? What are we doing to leave a positive mark on this world? What are we doing to fight back against the darkness and bring about the light?
These are the questions that will define us. Our time at Hackley may be running out, but our legacy as a class has only just begun. And we have a serious decision ahead of us: will we ignore the dizzying number of problems that plague this world, or will we take a stand and fight back? I don’t know what we’ll end up choosing, but here is what I do know. We have the potential to be the agents of change this world so desperately needs. What we have endured these past four years is stupefying, but we have proven again and again and again that we can push back against the darkness. And if we leverage our skills to help those who need it most, if we go forth and spread beauty and light, then together, we can create a future that is filled with hope, and we can make this world a better place. Thank you all, and congratulations to the Class of 2022.
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click here for video of the Address
The Commencement Address Dave Karger ’91
Good morning Hackley faculty and staff, trustees, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and most of all, members of the Class of 2022. It is wonderful to be back here on the Hilltop for the first time in years, and I’m honored that you invited me to be a part of your ceremony today. I am told that you chose me based on an anonymous description that read in part: “He is a television host who appears regularly on E! and the Today show and has co-hosted ABC’s Live from the Red Carpet on Oscar night.” So I apologize to any and all of you who thought that you were getting Ryan Seacrest as your commencement speaker. But even if it is not from Ryan, you all certainly deserve a hearty congratulations. No class was hit harder by COVID-19 than the Class of 2022. I feel horrible that, for over a year, you couldn’t have any athletic matches, musical concerts, or dramatic performances. And it’s so frustrating that the pandemic denied you so much precious in-person time with your classmates. But I think it’s so great that, when the outdoor mask mandate was lifted right in time for your Junior Day of Fun, almost all of you braved the summer-like temperatures to play kickball, toss water balloons, and make tie-dye t-shirts. I mean, you even organized a ping pong tournament in the chapel? You are my kind of people. Although you are all about to embark on an exciting adventure and spread out across the country and maybe even the world, the people that you are sitting with right now will always be a huge part of your lives. And although I am sure you’ve heard this before, it is true and it is the best news: Your Hackley education, especially the emphasis on writing, is going to give you a major head start during your first fall semester and beyond.
So how can you all continue to spread joy and live authentically as you head off to college and begin thinking about your life after school? Well, I am here with a few lessons learned in the 31 years since I was in your shoes. When I think back to everything that has gone right in my life, I can always attribute it to a combination of three words that start with O: optimism, opportunity, and openness. You will surely hear those three words several times during the rest of this speech. Throughout my childhood, I always had an obsession with music and movies. As a first-year student at Duke University, I remember walking into the career center on campus, asking for the entertainment industry specialist, and telling him I was interested in finding an internship in New York City for that summer. He said, “Wow, we’ve never had a freshman come in here before.” But I refused to let that deter me, and I was optimistic and continued to check in with him until he alerted me to a PR firm in Manhattan that was willing to consider a younger student. That internship led to another one the following summer
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at MTV, which helped me land my third internship, at Entertainment Weekly, which turned into a full-time job after I graduated. So if there is something you want to pursue, go for it. Go for it from the day you arrive on campus. It will never be easier for you to gain valuable job-related experience than while you are in college. Write for the paper, sing in an a cappella group, play intramural sports, produce news stories for the campus TV station, and take that class that everyone else thinks is too weird. Use these next four years to find out what you truly love. Part of that will mean finding out there are things you think you’ll love doing or learning about, but then you realize once you start diving into them that you actually don’t, and that is totally okay too. You might even realize you can do something you never knew or dreamed that you could. That is certainly what happened to me. Even though I pursued a career as an entertainment journalist and managed to land a dream entry-level job right after I graduated, I never thought I would become a broadcaster. I thought that if you were a writer at a magazine, then you just wrote for the magazine and that was pretty much it. But I soon learned that journalists of all sorts are often sought after on the radio and on television as experts in their given fields. A colleague at Entertainment Weekly encouraged me to try some live radio and TV appearances after hearing me speak at a staff meeting, and I decided to be open to the idea and run towards the opportunity and give it a go. A few years later, I became a regular commentator on the TODAY show, which helped me eventually transition from print journalism to the broadcast world. So be open to any new experiences or opportunities and listen to people who see in you something that you didn’t necessarily see in yourself. And then be sure to be not only your own harshest critic, but also your own biggest fan. Although it helps when someone believes in you, it is more crucial that you believe in yourself. My four years in college were some of the most thrilling years of my life, and I’m so excited for all of you to explore different interests and be open to discovering your true selves. But it is easy to feel like you sometimes have to suppress certain aspects of yourself in order to fit in. When I was here at
Hackley many years ago to speak to the Class of 2001, I remember expressing embarrassment that when Duke organized a Wear Blue Jeans Day on campus to support gay and lesbian students, I, as a closeted teenager, wore khakis that day in fear that anyone would think I was gay. All these years later, that still remains one of my biggest regrets. I’m hopeful, however, that things are way different in 2022 than they were in 1991. So I encourage you to enter your college or university with your whole self at the forefront. If you’re a self-professed science nerd, run with that. If you are LGBTQ+ like me, live openly and honestly. If you’re an amazing track runner and a poetry lover, be both. Be all the things. Don’t let anyone define you as one thing. And most important, as one character in my current favorite Netflix show Heartstopper says: “Don’t let anyone make you disappear.” The next four years should be your time of living out loud, whatever that means to you. Now while I’m up here, I do have a few extra random life tips that I would like to offer. When you’re talking to someone that you’ve just met, make sure you’re asking one question about them for every question they ask about you. Always keep a box of note cards and a book of stamps in your dorm room or your apartment so you can make someone’s day with a handwritten thank-you note instead of a text. And for God’s sake, never ever watch a movie on a TV channel that shows commercials. That’s just a waste of time.
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HACKLEY REVIEW COMMENCEMENT SUPPLEMENT 2022
But here is what I want to end on: When I think back to my years as a college student, what I loved the most was just the sheer number of people I was able to meet. One thing my Duke friends often remind me of all these years later is that no one ever wanted to walk across campus with me from our dorm to the food hall for dinner because I would inevitably stop and talk to a half-dozen people on the way. I’m sure that was very annoying for my friends, but it’s something I was proud of back then and still am today. I liked being the optimistic and open person who knew everyone and was able to connect different groups of people. Of course, it was easy to be social in the early ’90s because we didn’t have iPhones. And although my phone is essentially a part of my body these days, I do have to say that I’m glad I was a college student
in the pre-digital world. So if you remember one piece of advice that I offer today, please make it this one— Promise me that whenever you’re walking around your beautiful college campus, keep your phone in your pocket or in your backpack. Enjoy that moment fully as it is happening every day and stop to talk to as many people as you know. And if anyone asks you why you would ever dare to walk somewhere without carrying your phone in your hand, just say that Ryan Seacrest told you to. Congratulations to the Hackley Class of 2022. It’s only going to get better from here, and I can’t wait to see what you all achieve over the next four years and beyond.
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Congratulations to the Class of 2022! Tiya Aishwarya Arvati Francesca Auricchio Tanner James Benedetto Jason Raphael Berger Devin Crepeau Bernstein Luke Powers Best Henry Jacob Beyrich Alexander Leo Bileca Amelia Bornmann Jonathan Robert Brewster Jinlin Cai Max Nathan Calman Jason Malachi Campbell Lucas J. Caramanica Hannah Owen Carey Dionne L. Chen Corinne Therese Cheong Luke Alexander Chiasson Megan Soongshi Chin Stefan Matija Darmanovic Sydney Noelle DeFilippo Thomas Charles DeGirolami Natalie Pamela Delgado Nikhil Raghavan Dhakad Parker Quinn Diaz Catherine Clare Didden Brendan Gabriel DiStefano John Philip Esposito III Serina Rae Fasciano Nicholas Michael Garland Annabelle Jordan Gray Meredith Vester Greenberg John Maximilian Hardart
Harrison Avery Hayward Colin Alexander Ives Emma Alexis Joseph Olivia Rose Kearns David Koffler Catherine Morrison Lapey Charles Sukjoo Lee Maxwel Wilcoln Lee Michael James Lee Kamila Sophia Qashu Lim Brooke Lynne Lopez-Ryan Iheukwumere Woyinmiedor Marcus Maren Christine McCrossan Benjamin Charleston Metcalfe John Edgar Meyer Maya Grace Miller Sophie D. Miller Charlotte Kate Molinoff Ashley Brooke Morgner Joseph Bronislaw Nadol IV Phoebe Marin Naughton Wesley Charles Neidhardt Daniel Eiji Nuzum Dylan Hugh Ormsby Grace Mei Li Park Divek Patel Elliott Aaron Peterson Katerina Anna Popova Michael Richard Potanin Kaitlyn Qu Samantha Eve Rainero Gregory Robert Reich Molly Dylan Reinmann
Vanessa Restrepo Claire Emily Robertson Jared Zachary Rosenberg Emily Elizabeth Rossman Skyler Kate Safriet Jessye Nicole Salmon Calista Madison Santomero Theodore Alexander Saujet Griffin Michael Senyek Ameera H. Shaban Siddhant Sohal Shah Mayyada Omar Shair Dechhen Karmo Sherpa Eve Catherine Spencer Destiny Paige Stephen Callum Stewart-Wood Hadi Sumaida Ryan Barry Thomson Noah Ben-Or Tirschwell John Ethan Torkin Alina Hesse Watson Chelsea Nicole Weisenfeld Christian Michael Wiele Nicholas Erik Wind Marie E. Wurtz Mac A. Wyman Theo Augustus Yannuzzi Lucas Yerkes Zachariah Yusaf Mira Rai Zaslow Daniel Frank Zhang
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