Main Lines Congratulations, Class of 2023! A

At every commencement, the stage serves as a symbolic bridge, connecting a student’s academic journey to the promising future that lies ahead.

On Saturday, May 13, in Alumni Field House, the 353 members of the Class of 2023 crossed the stage with jubilance, prepared for their next chapters.

Haverford’s 185th Commencement included three graduates with triple majors, 49 with double majors, and one who completed three minors.

The Class of 2023 also included the first three students to graduate with minors in Asian American Studies—a Tri-College program that began in 2022.

Beyond the pomp and circumstance, a com- mencement is also a time of reflection—a moment to look back on the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the personal growth that has unfolded throughout the years. And it was growth that was the focus of the speech of the selected student speaker, Athena Intanate ’23.

Drawing attention to a statistic featured in Haverford’s welcome packet, Intanate said, “There’s something exceptionally fitting about an arboretum being the place where we’ve spent the past four years of our lives. There is so much growth happening, constantly.” The trees all over campus, she said, remind her that “growth requires change, requires the ability to remain steadfast, rooted, through hardship.”

Other speakers at the ceremony included Haverford College President Wendy Raymond; Alumni Association Executive Committee President Beverly Ortega Babers ’84; Bryn Mawr College President and Professor of Psychology Kimberly Wright Cassidy; and Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Talia Young, who was the class-chosen speaker.

Pivoting through adversity remained a through line in the morning’s speeches. President Raymond crowned the Class of 2023 “champions of the pivot,” explaining how this cohort of students navigated the unknown and have made an imprint on the College through their experiences of COVID-19, the 2020 student strike for racial justice, and considerations of meaningful revisions to the Honor Code.

“The divots from your pivots are everywhere at Haverford,” she said.

Since 1858, Haverford has awarded honorary degrees in recognition of those whose lives and work exemplify the College’s mission and values. This year’s recipient was Joan Cannady Countryman, an iconic figure in civil rights and education in Philadelphia and beyond. During her speech, Countryman, who told the gathering that she “always wanted a Haverford College degree,” talked about the significant Quaker influence on education

Her parting words to the Class of 2023 were ones of assurance: “I am confident that your education, rooted in Friends’ principles—especially honoring the light in every person, continuing revelation, and commitment to social justice— bodes well for generations to come.”