GRADUATION

Celebrating the Class of

2021

PARTS OF THIS YEAR’S commencement were typical of past years and others were brand new in this unusual time. New was holding the graduation in a large tent on the soccer field, filled with proud, mask-donning, physically distant pods of families. The 89 members of the Class of 2021 followed Madeira’s longstanding tradition of wearing white attire and carrying 13 red roses to honor Madeira’s 13 original boarding students. Commencement speaker Rear Admiral Estella Z. Jones, B.S., D.V.M. wove those 13 roses into 13 principles to guide the graduates as they moved on from Madeira. “Setbacks set the stage for comebacks,” Jones noted. “The present is where you lay the foundation for the future and Madeira has given you the foundation upon which to build a lifetime of humanity and any goal of your choosing.”

Board Chair Gaither Smoot Deaton ’88 opened the ceremony speaking about the resilience of the Class of 2021. “You’ve had more to endure than most, and you serve as resilient role models to the classes that preceded you and to those who will follow you,” said Deaton. “You have given us your best and you have made us proud.”

Head of School Gretchen Warner noted that the Class of 2021 will be heading to 60 different colleges and advised them to “cherish and expand on what you’ve learned at Madeira, what you love, and who you’ve become.” Teachers in every subject gifted the graduates with the skills they need for life according to student speaker Salimah Hagmagid. As the Class of 2021 ventures forth to their new destinations, Hagmagid noted, “…we are eager to witness what we will continue to accomplish in the years to come.”

1ST ROW (L-R): Olivia Carnot, daughter of Brooke Stroud ’88, Audrey Leins, sister of Emily Leins ’17, KK Bennett, sister of Madeline Bennett ’16, Francesca Saenz, sister of Vanessa Saenz ’18, Salimah Hagmagid, sister of Mona Hagmagid ’16 and Amani Hagmagid ’19, Addison Callaghan, daughter of Virginia McNeer Callaghan ’84 and sister of Mary Louise Callaghan ’16 2ND ROW (L-R): Chloe Zeng, sister of Erica Zeng ’14 and Leah Zeng ’15, Alice Kondracki, daughter of Susanna B. Kondracki ’85 and niece of Lisa Lacey ’88, Carolina O’Leary, daughter of Pilar Frank O’Leary ’87, Malena Cecchi, sister of Carla Cecchi ’19, Heston Friedrichs, sister of McKenzie Freidrichs ’20, Lily Simmons, sister of Annabella Simmons ’19, Caroline Huber, sister of Danielle Huber-Inbar ’16

Congratulations!