Hilltop

Commencement

Agents of Change

When John Kluge ’66 departed from KUA in 1966, he wanted to hit the road, charge into the rest of his life, and not look back. As students, he and his friends reveled in their time on The Hilltop, but also caught glimpses of the world outside—the Vietnam War, draft protests, civil-rights marches, birth control, and the generation gap—while gathered around a small TV in the Snack Bar.

“It seemed a world in turmoil, going crazy, indeed wild waves to navigate,” the Commencement speaker told the 107 graduates at the Academy’s 207th graduation ceremony on May 26. “The world you are entering is proving to be equally complicated, equally challenging.”

After spending time away from New Hampshire, Kluge was drawn back to the Academy to teach English. Like the Class of 2023, he closed this chapter of his KUA experience, retiring at the end of this academic year. His time as a teacher offered myriad insights into the life of today’s teenagers, confirming that their lived experience is not wholly unlike his own.

Class Speaker Evan Crandlemire ’23 confirmed his observations in his address. “Uncertainty has reigned supreme over the last four years with the global pandemic and increased political polarization and tensions,” said Crandlemire, who will attend the University of Connecticut. “Though here in Meriden we are blessed with seclusion, these issues were very much present on our campus, and for many of us, caused hardship. Some didn’t make it through these trying times and couldn’t make it to today, which shows the strength, resilience, and potential that comprises the graduating class of 2023.”

Despite these acknowledged challenges and hardships, Crandlemire and each of the other speakers at Commencement spoke sincerely to how the heavy weight of the world was lightened by their KUA experience. “Back in that great turmoil of the ’60s, I think that what I had learned at KUA kept me moving forward,” said Kluge. “I kept reading books, I held tight to my friends, and I remembered those meaningful moments from my years here.”

Head of School Tyler Lewis highlighted how members of the Class of 2023 found joy in these same experiences. “This class reveled in their friendships. Rooted in strong family connections, they built relationships—deep, meaningful bonds—and gave of themselves freely, discovering humility and that true satisfaction came in shining the light on the efforts of their peers.”

Those friendships were further solidified this year as the class also navigated the loss of one its own, Burke Ryder ’23, who passed away in November after a battle with cancer. Ryder posthumously received the Class of 1920 Award, a recognition given by seniors to one classmate who they believe represents Kimball Union values and personifies how they would like their class to be remembered.

As Crandlemire pointed out, strength, resilience, and potential will be the traits forever tied to the graduating class.

“In the turmoil of our time, I know that you can see and think and speak with clarity,” said Kluge. “I know that you care and that you can be agents of change.” K

107 Graduates in the Class of 2023

1

KUA

2 Valedictorians

26 Graduates completing Arts, Global, and STEM Scholar programs

15

Hours Scribner Fauver

’12 spends practicing the pronunciation of names to read at Commencement

“This class reveled in their friendships … discovering humility and that true satisfaction came in shining the light on the efforts of their peers.”