Celebrating the Class of 2021 Commencement and College Choices

from SPA Magazine Fall 2021

Class Notes

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2021 COMMENCEMENT 2021

On June 6, 2021, SPA celebrated the 112 members of the Class of 2021 in a joyous Commencement ceremony in the Huss Auditorium. Thanks to guidance released by the Minnesota Department of Health in April allowing for in-person gatherings, it was the first time since March 2020 that the community had been able to celebrate a milestone event in person.

Due to the heat advisory in place on Commencement day, the ceremony was held indoors, with the graduates’ families in the auditorium and overflow guests watching the proceedings in viewing areas around the Randolph Campus. Highlights of the ceremony included the Commencement address by departing Upper School Principal Max Delgado and Senior Speakers Rashmi Raveendran ’21 and Nikolas Liepins ’21. Masks were required during the ceremony for all graduates and guests; the graduates had the option of removing their masks to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.

After the ceremony, the graduates and their guests celebrated with an outdoor reception in the Lilly Courtyard.

Commencement speaker Max Delgado addresses the Class of 2021.

Head of School Bryn Roberts fist-bumps Aman Rahman during the presentation of diplomas. Nikolas Liepins (left) and Rashmi Raveendran were selected by their classmates to be this year’s Senior Class Speakers.

Jackson Small Lizzie Kristal

2021 BOWL RECIPIENTS

Anthony Chen received the 2021 Faculty Bowl, awarded to that senior who has shown unusual breadth and depth of intellectual interest and outstanding commitment to academic excellence. Nikolas Liepins received the 2021 Alumni/ae Bowl, which is presented to an individual elected by the faculty from nominations made by the senior class. It is given each year to that member of the class deemed to be most outstanding in many areas of school life. Gabriella Thompson and John Hall were the recipients of the 2021 Head of School Bowl, awarded to those members of the senior class who have been recognized by their peers and teachers for significant contributions to the school. The Class of 2021 seated on the Huss Center stage.