Commencement
‘Watching You Make It Work Anyway’: Lawrenceville confers diplomas on a class that learned remotely while holding each other close.
2020!
“WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO LAWRENCEVILLE’S FIRSTEVER, HISTORICAL, UNUSUAL … YES, YOU GUESSED IT — VIRTUAL — CONFERRING OF DIPLOMAS!” With those words, the Rev. Sue Anne Steffey Morrow H’12, director of spiritual and religious life, welcomed online viewers around the world to an event unique in the 210-year history of the School. With the spring term conducted virtually and with learners spread across sixteen time zones due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the logical, if unfamiliar, conclusion to the academic year for the valiant Class of 2020. The prerecorded ceremony, which effectively functioned as the School’s Commencement exercises, was uploaded to YouTube and made accessible to the Lawrenceville community on the morning of May 31. With one of the two Abbott Dining Hall fireplace mantels at his back, elegantly carved to honor the Fifth Form, Head of School Stephen S. Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21 delivered his remarks. He gratefully acknowledged 18
those members of the class who will continue their education at United States service academies next year: Brandon Agron and Jasmine Barco at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Tim Johnson at the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School prior to enrolling at West Point, and Nicholas Clark and Ashley Warren at the U.S. Naval Academy. Murray then announced the recipients of two of the School’s highest honors. Makayla Boxley received the Edward Sutliffe Brainard Prize, awarded annually by the faculty to the Fifth Form student whom they hold in the highest esteem, and Samika Hariharan claimed the Trustees’ Cup, presented annually by the head of school on behalf of the Board of Trustees to the student who has most influenced the School for good. Speaking from home, Michael Chae ’86, president of the Lawrenceville Board of Trustees, then authorized Murray to confer diplomas to the Class of 2020. “We’ve watched your impressive achievements over the past four years with great pride, and never more so than during the past three months,” Chae said in praise of the graduates. “Your remarkable resilience and leadership during this time will always
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