25 minute read
The Class of 2022
Annabelle Oman … Be kind to yourself Miranda Gao … Face real-world problems by confronting the situation bravely Lauren Carey … Talk to everyone—you never know who could surprise you Jina Lee … I have come to realize that this is the life I wanted Eli Wiener … I have had five roommates at Suffield—each has brought a unique piece to life Connor Smith … Dive headfirst into everything this school has to offer Grace Kotchen … Time flies—never rush your time at Suffield Ryan Jacobson … Meet as many people as you can and participate as much as possible
Max Henderson … Even when times seem dark and hard, things can and do get better Frank Roberts … Be present in everything you do Cormac Sullivan … Interact with your advisor as much as possible Alex Chen … There is no limit on human potential and opportunity Fiona Johnson … Thank you Suffield for being a home that I can count on Zeina Lee … It is really important to express true gratitude Izzy Choi … My Suffield career truly began when I first entered the music center Hannah Cote … Some of the simplest tasks that we do on a daily basis are a privilege
Dylan Achatz … Life is full of choices that define you Matt Shiffman … I am so thankful to have you guys in my life Zeno Dancanet … I will forever be impacted by her Giselle Ciriaco … I truly would not be where I am if it weren’t for you Gabriella Nuñez … I plan to continue the Nuñez Super Bowl tradition Kaitlyn Suller … Go outside your comfort zone Cooper Choate … Watch where you’re walking Bennett Simpson … Stay for dinner
Devon Carty … Suffield has become so much more for me than just a place to learn Steph Karmitz … Thank you Suffield for becoming my home away from home Karrah Hayes … Remember to cultivate your gardens Catherine McCarthy … Not a swimmer, just a girl who swims Maeve Moylan … Every day you make me smile, by just being yourself Sophia Tosone … Suffield allowed me to grow as an individual, influenced by my mom’s support Jason Yuan … Suffield has been an incredibly special place for me Katya Yurkovskaya … A catastrophic mistake a Suffield student can make is not making friends
Frankie Pisco … Time flies—you look back at who you’ve become with nothing but happiness Suleni Sabio-Arzu Brown … Dreams cannot be achieved, only goals can Nate Schoen … Photography is a way for me to illustrate my thoughts and emotions Calla Woodworth … My life came with a blanket of security from a world of biases and bigotry Libbie Foster … I’ve found what was missing in my life Nina Artioli … It’s always great to try something new and make friends as you go Paige Hostetter … Suffield has been a unique and unforgettable experience Paige August … Through my songs, I express my emotions Hailey Suller … We dive headfirst despite the fear and the danger
Theo Bass … My life for the past four years can closely relate to a roller coaster ride Thomas Bowers … Always keep a positive attitude Will Kainen … Make sure to cherish your friends Nico Menéndez-Featherston … Don’t be caught being the fourth of four—be the one of one Jack Morse … Most importantly, I learned the importance of non-conformity Connor Slade … My dad has defined and shaped me Samantha Sollinger … The staff at Suffield are essential to our community Avery Rappaport … I am grateful for every opportunity you have given me
Damien Crain … The importance of having a positive atmosphere Jae Park … We only have around 25,915 days to spend on this earth Lauren Burton … I write songs to help get my thoughts out Bella Lutton … Cailey is ready for nearly anything Hannah Van Dyke … It’s the simplest things in life that are so important Alex Shorin … Home is where you feel needed and safe Damien Trites … I have developed a large interest in musical composition and sound design Jack Lynam … I have learned to never underestimate the power of time
Cole Vandevanter … The sense of community established here allows for growth and success Jake Wolinski … Your biggest rival can also be your best friend Sophia Molander … We have been matching our outfits to a theme of the day for over a year Manoush Pajouh … We draw inspiration from the various sources around us Ashley Parrow … Olive Garden holds a pretty big piece of my heart Hope Selvitelli … Traveling inspired me to step out of my comfort zone Fedor Vlasov … Living in a democracy has really opened my eyes Tessa Heick … Don’t take yourself too seriously Ava Cieplinski … The ocean has always been my place of solitude & escape from the world Juliana Colaccino … I learned how to be good alone Lorcán Doull … The foundation of any community is based off of true, authentic connection Nailah Estrada … Gracias por todo Campbell White … I have made amazing memories here that I will forever remember Clementine Ceria … I am playful with language because I appreciate it Ford Cary … My high school experience has been the most developmental phase of my life
Sean Clarke … This year was a good year for me both personally and athletically Paul Fuller … A strong bond was formed with our teammates and the PGs on our team Colby Spencer … Suffield had a very welcoming energy Benedikt Vollert … What is it that makes you imperfect, that makes you human? Yugo Lee … We became really close this year through our crazy experiences Josh Mingo … Never, please never, lie to yourself Henry Shiftan … Great friends bring out the most important parts of ourselves
Caroline Greco … Six people have molded me into who I am Ella Miller … I learned core values that will benefit me for a lifetime Hannah Skalski … I can do anything through hard work and determination Jackson Kent … I found myself grateful for the experience Jaiden Willems … Growth is the process of evolving into who you are becoming Jonah Ball … Your roommates determine how your school year is going to go Henry White … Counting your losses as lessons will always change the outcome of your future
Matt Balise … When you get your butt knocked down, get up and keep going Harrison Cahn … An essential part of the human condition is sharing and spreading joy Henry Chiocchi … I have had the opportunity to mature and learn important life lessons Michael Greystone … It always comes back to the camaraderie Declan McNamara … Suffield helped me become a better student, athlete, and friend Tyler Milne … The work you put into something will equal the reward that you receive Max Schwartz … Success is failure turned inside out Christian Williams Jones … The ones who leave the greatest impact are family
Finn Donelan … I had the unique opportunity to have a fresh start with a new group of people Jack Fletcher … I found that looking at my own personal progress over time made me proud Harrison Hochberg … Anyone can be as good as they want to be as long as they work hard Alijah Lovelace … Growth involves patience, wisdom, and the potential to be flexible Tyler McLaughlin Darcy … You were the spark that ignited the flame in me Paul Quinlan … Make the most of every day and cherish your time at Suffield Ben Reimer … My experiences as a sportswriter have shaped me as a writer, and self-advocate Erik Winikur … I learned to find the balance between firm and fun Mansfield Owsley … That summer, I learned about humility
Noel Batista … Suffield taught me to think deeper, be independent, and to prioritize hard work Spencer Dessart … Don’t be afraid to be yourself Frankie Ferrentino … It’s not how you start that matters but how you end Uno Sanguansin … Find your own second family here Zander Desnoes … I value my advisor and the friends I’ve made at Suffield Kelsie Nemeth … I hope you forever continue to be you Vasundhra Vasanthan … No matter how small, an act of kindness never goes to waste Luke Violich-Czinczoll … There are special people here Ben Warner … I live for that next adventure Brynn Bergin … Confidence in yourself allows you to find the right path Aurora Prescott … I don’t think a simple thank you would be enough
Tyler Cooper … Always be honest to yourself and others Trent Hieber … I collect coins and like to write Sander Abell … I’m grateful for the opportunities my parents have worked so hard to afford me Trey Bischoping … For as long as I can remember, I’ve been trying to be like my dad Oliver Roberts … Dogs will love you more than they love themselves Harper Reuss … I have learned to love myself and appreciate the happy moments in life Chloe Ku … You are all very important people to me
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Camille Abatjoglou … It is okay that I am not perfect Rylie DeSabato … Home is not a place, but a feeling
suffieldacademy.org/chapel
50th Night
One of Suffield’s great traditions, 50th Night serves as a time to reflect on and appreciate the remarkable journeys of each graduating senior as they head into their final weeks before Commencement.
Prom [2022]
Senior Celebration Day
123 seniors graduated in the Class of 2022. They will head to more than 80 different colleges and universities. Their college choices reflect the depth and breadth of talents, interests, and ambitions found in this impressive graduating class. There is an interesting range of schools—from small liberal arts colleges to large research universities to art or engineering schools and international universities. Below are some examples.
Arizona State University American University of Paris Babson College Bates College Boston College Bryant University Bucknell University California State University, Bakersfield Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Catholic University of America Chatham University Clemson University Colby College College of the Holy Cross Colorado College Cornell University Denison University Dickinson College Duquesne University Elon University Emerson College Fairfield University Fordham University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Southern University Hamilton College High Point University Howard University IE University Indiana University, Bloomington Lehigh University Loyola Marymount University Marquette University Merrimack College Middlebury College New York University Northeastern University Occidental College Pitzer College Providence College Santa Clara University Skidmore College Springfield College St. Lawrence University Syracuse University Texas Christian University The American University of Paris Trinity College Tufts University Tulane University of Louisiana United States Naval Academy University of California, Los Angeles University of Colorado, Boulder University of Denver University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Massachusetts, Lowell University of Miami University of Michigan University of Pennsylvania University of Richmond University of Rochester University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of Virginia, Main Campus University of Wisconsin, Madison Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University Wake Forest University Western University Williams College
the Class of 2022 Baccalaureate
Suffield Academy’s 189th Commencement for the Class of 2022 was preceded by a dinner for seniors and their parents and a Baccalaureate service. Following are excerpts from the evening’s speakers.
Charlie Cahn, Head of School
As I mentioned at the opening of this gathering, a vital item we have tried to emphasize at Suffield—and we hope you will take with you as you move forward—is to err on the side of kindness. For better or worse, regret and failure come with human existence—feelings of our being less than we want as people—but being encouraging and kind make up for many of these regrets. “There is overwhelming evidence,” Nathaniel Branden said, “that the higher the level of self-esteem, the more likely one will be to treat others with respect, kindness, and generosity.” We hope that despite the immense challenges of the past few years, your time at Suffield has helped you feel great about yourself and where you are headed. Confidence and optimism will help you treat others with respect and kindness.
Giselle Ciriaco ’22
There are two key things that you can do in this world that are essential to a full and happy life: you can learn and you can love. What did you learn while you were here?
I learned that Government and Politics may not be a strong suit for me. I learned there is an artistic side to me that I did not know existed. I also learned that it is okay to ask for help when you need it, whether that is academically or emotionally. Learning is so embedded in our lives that we rarely consider what it means. It is the process of gaining new skills, knowledge, understanding, and values. It is something you can do by yourself or with other people. You did not have to learn anything extreme during your time here. You may have learned in an academic building, you may have learned who you truly are, you may have learned how to forgive. Not a day went by without you learning something new. Continue to learn because the more you learn both in and out of a classroom, the more you will grow as a person. Our time here may be up, but that does not mean the support ends. As we roll down this unfamiliar road just remember that Suffield Academy will always be a home to you.
Matthew Fava, Co-Class Advisor
This is your last night together as students at Suffield Academy and it can be emotional. Whether you have been here for one, four, or even eighteen years, you have likely made everlasting memories and forged life-long relationships. It is truly bittersweet.
Embrace those emotions. Tell the people in this room how much they mean to you. Express your gratitude in ways you never have. Then, at tomorrow’s graduation, you celebrate. After all the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, you finally get to ring the bell. As you move on to incredible institutions of higher learning there will be much to learn about yourself and the world around you outside of the classroom. So, to paraphrase Mark Twain, study hard but make sure you do not allow your academics to get in the way of your education.
Beth & Volker Krasemann, Faculty Members
It is a great pleasure for us to speak tonight. In a way, this is our senior speech—well, senior citizen speech. Between the two of us we taught or coached just about every one of you in history and—can I get a collective groan—physics. Just like you, we will be leaving Suffield in a few days. Just like you, we will say goodbye to friends and to a place that we called home. For you it was a second home, but for us it was our home. We spent 20 years here, saw Suffield grow immensely, and did our small part to contribute. We raised our children here. They attended Suffield Academy to learn from our great colleagues and graduated one and three years ago.
So, I imagine that many of you, like us, have competing emotions right now. We feel sadness, excitement, fear, anticipation, and some anxiety.
My three lessons are Newton’s three laws, and I will start with the third: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, everything you say or do has consequences—for you and for others. Of course, one cannot foresee all the consequences our actions might have, but we can resolve to choose actions that are selfless and benefit others. Reflecting makes us choose more wisely. I want to pass on these simple rules by Louise Penny for you to consider. Before answering or before speaking, you might ask yourself these three questions: [1] is it true? [2] is it kind? [3] does it need to be said? Keep these in mind, especially before posting anything on social media. In this context the third law could be rewritten to reflect this Chinese proverb: Nothing we do changes the past, but everything we do changes the future.
My second lesson is this: our understanding of history never stops. Just imagine students in 2050 reading their history textbooks. For the year 2020 alone, there may be a chapter for every month. Historians are constantly uncovering primary sources and confronting evidence to present new interpretations of past events. They must constantly ask themselves, what am I missing? Are there other ways to interpret these events? What driving questions must I ask that will cultivate greater understanding?
We are presenting the last lesson together. It is on Newton’s first law. Objects at rest stay at rest and objects in motion stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. This is called the law of inertia and should be familiar to all of you at about 7:45 in the morning, when it is time to get up. This lesson is about moving and not moving, exercising and not exercising. A full and meaningful life requires active engagement that challenges your mind, intellect, and body. d
the Class of 2022 189 th Commencement
Graduates, I know that the last four years might have felt like you have been running on a treadmill, where you imagined that the faster and longer you ran, the more you could achieve. College applications seemed to demand high grades and test scores, multiple extracurricular activities, sports excellence, volunteer work—just do, excel, achieve. A treadmill is great for exercise, but poor for making any forward progress. Uniformly, my students would tell you get off that treadmill.
Maurie McInnis P’22 x Commencement Speaker
In college, what gave them peak experiences and were fundamental to their flourishing was first, academic exploration; second, passionate commitment to a select few organizations or activities; and third, peer and mentor relationships. First, academics. Don’t play it safe. In high school, you have taken what you’ve been told to take. In college, you can learn anything and be anyone. Not everyone ends up changing their whole life plan like I did, but a broad and diverse undergraduate education prepares you not only to solve problems, but to know which problems to solve.
Second, experiences. For better or worse, you have had the importance of extracurricular activities drilled into you. However, you never, ever, ever have to apply to college again; graduate schools do not care about your extracurricular activities. So do what you want—not what looks good. Recognize that quality beats quantity. Be a human being rather than a human doing. The deeper rewards come from doing a small number of things with intention and purpose.
Third, invest extravagantly in human relationships. The last four years have given you a potent lesson about human bonding. Today’s gathering is the antithesis of quarantine and the opposite of Zoom. Class of 2022, for the last time, recognize who is with you at this moment in this place. Your teachers. Teachers don’t just teach your classes and give you tardies; they guide you through the vibrant world of education. They coach your teams, cheer from the sidelines, advise your clubs, and live with you in the dorms, tucking you in at night. They had many career choices and they chose to come to Suffield Academy and help catalyze your growth and development. Your loved ones. We are proud of you not because of your transcripts, extracurricular activities, or SAT scores. What gives us pride is that you are becoming what we hoped you’d become—mature, responsible, caring, and independent young adults.
Suffield Academy is an extraordinary school because of Mr. Cahn and the Trustees’ ambition. Their stewardship has resulted in beautiful facilities, a dedicated faculty, and that special Suffield community spirit. And especially, your fellow members of the Class of 2022. These are the individuals with whom you have navigated the choppy seas of adolescence, the people you watched walk into class late with a bagel and coffee and wished you had thought of it; with whom you shared your DoorDash order in exchange for their going to get it from the driver; and the people with whom you will always share a special bond because of two things: the way that the pandemic altered your high school experience and the inherent depth of relationships afforded by boarding school.
I’ve recommended that you get off the treadmill and follow your curiosity academically, curate high impact experiences, and invest abundantly in relationships with peers and mentors. Not exactly earth-shattering advice, but, in my experience as a professor and administrator, far, far too seldom followed. I will conclude with an exhortation to you, Suffield Academy Class of 2022. College is a magical time when your neuroplasticity collides head on with fertile human relationships in an intellectually stimulating community. Use these abundant resources and opportunities to craft the best version of yourself. I ask you to imagine not where you want to be working or what you want to be doing, but instead who you want to be. d
Charlie Cahn x Head of School
As we close our ceremony I want to reiterate that we are proud of you and have high expectations of you as you move on. You have really done beautifully here, showing dedication to each other and to Suffield, persistence in the face of adversity, and compassion as people. We have been through a lot together, and collectively we have helped distinguish Suffield during a complicated time. We extend our gratitude and thanks to you for your ability to pivot and adapt to changing circumstances while always reflecting your devotion to growing as students and people. As you head off to the next parts of your life journeys, please try to remember a few ideas we have sought to instill in you. These are among Suffield’s most cherished core values.
First, as you know, we feel a vital way to evaluate your life is by the distance you travel, as students and as people. Hard work matters. You will find that your destiny will be more a function of effort than intellect. “Diligence,” as Ben Franklin said, “is the mother of good luck.” Second, be yourselves and be proud of who you are, and be inclusive and loving to others. The best way to be happy is to like yourself, and the easiest way to like yourself is to do things that make you proud. And third, as I mention each year and feel most strongly about—always keep in mind the immense importance of good will, and of being uplifting to others. “Three things in human life are important,” Henry James noted. “The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” d
Eli Wiener x Class of 2022 Speaker
People often forget that we were a school during the American Civil War. Take yourself back to 1863. Imagine getting asked what your post-graduation plans were back then. “You going somewhere for college?” “No, I’m joining the Union!” If you don’t believe me, ask retiring faculty Brett Vianney. He was one of those students.
We are more than just the biggest class. We just so happen to be, according to some unnamed faculty, the most “interesting.” We hail from 15 different countries and 13 different states. While we unfortunately didn’t have a student from either of the Dakotas, we still had enough difference to feel like everyone was bringing a unique perspective to the table. And why wouldn’t we? Some members of our class have accomplished amazing things. Even before graduating today, Sam Sollinger studied and got her assistant nursing license and can now legally practice in 45 of 50 states. Will Kainen has had times fast enough to make pro swim meets since junior year. I made out with Dr. McInnis’s daughter during Young Frankenstein.
From the outset, we were destined to be a class that accomplished unique feats. But let’s take a minute to reflect on why. Why are we who we are? What is it in our life that has helped us achieve so much? It’s support. Look around you. The 123 of us in this class are supported, whether we see it or not. Let’s start with the obvious. Our family and friends, seated behind you. They are responsible for you being here. And whether or not you had a good experience at Suffield, they gave you this opportunity. You now have a high school diploma, or a second one for the PGs, because of your time at Suffield. For many this has been an incredible journey, where we learned to become independent thinkers, leaders, and empathic members of society. We understand the idea of community, know the value of education, and realize just how much it costs to have front row seats at graduation. Suffield is good at this. They should be. After all, they’ve been doing it since 1833. Your parents know this. They know you will be a better person because of your time at this school. This is their support. Thank you, parents, for your support. “This has been an incredible journey, where we learned to become independent thinkers, leaders, and empathic members of society.”
Now, let’s move in front of you and behind me, to the faculty and staff of this school. Take a look at this group. Take a good look. They have been our teachers, dorm parents, coaches, directors, advisors, tablemates, and honestly our friends for our time here. If we succeeded, they were there to cheer us on and applaud our work. If we messed up, they were there to send us to detention to get us back on track. Their job is more than just teaching. They are here to support us unconditionally and they always will be. After we leave today, think about those faculty or staff members you may need in the future. For me, I know I can always call up my advisor Mr. Dugan. He will answer the phone. He told me that just the other day. He said, “Eli, I will always answer the phone. Whether it’s because you’re calling to tell me you’ve been nominated for a Tony or that you need me to bail you out of jail.”
Class of 2022, at the beginning of the year we were reminded of our school motto, “Esse Quam Videri,” which roughly translates to “seven of you will go to Tulane.” In reality, it means “to be, rather than to seem.” Let’s try and embrace our motto by actually being supportive rather than seeming supportive. d
