Collegiate Celebrates Class of 2021 Commencement

Collegiate School’s 106th Commencement was held this morning, and the Class of 2021, smiling through the ceremony with gratitude and humility, said an affectionate farewell amongst family and friends.
Today’s Commencement — with the 136 Seniors and their families spread out on the field by the Lower School, a setting that served as a symbol of the life of learning the Class of 2021 has enjoyed as Cougars — celebrated a time of triumph for both the graduates and the School.

After welcoming everyone to the ceremony, John Martin ’78, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, thanked the entire community for their support in helping Collegiate thrive through extraordinary circumstances. Mr. Martin discussed our shared values that last a lifetime. He saluted the Seniors and reminded them of the tremendous family of alumni they join upon graduating. 

“You will become part of a community that’s spread across 32 countries — from Australia to South Africa — and 49 states,” he said. “Please join your fellow alumni who stay in touch with Collegiate and with each other.” 

When Penny Evins, Head of School, came to the podium to deliver her remarks, she paused and looked out at the gathering before her. 

“It is truly healing and heartwarming to see each of you in person today,” she said. “Let us take this in!”

Mrs. Evins said that this year has been, by all measures, unique and exceptional, and that much of the credit goes to the Class of 2021. “You are the torch carriers of our School,” she told them. “You kept the light shining and never failed to provide fuel as we found our way together.” 

And although the Seniors are moving on from North Mooreland Road to bright futures, Mrs. Evins told the students that they will always have a home here at Collegiate, one that will be there to help guide them forward. “You are Cougars for life,” she said. 

Mrs. Evins then shared some of the precious advice and good wishes given to the Seniors by Kindergartners in their book Life After Collegiate

The two 2021 valedictorians, Kylee Sanderson and Chase Conquest, were next to speak.
 
Kylee Sanderson discussed the importance of confronting disappointment, the multitude of emotions she felt for this momentous life achievement and the Collegiate community that she knows will steady her as she embarks on her college career. 
 
“When I look back fondly on memories of my time here,” she said, “I realize many of the most important lessons I’ve learned have been gifted to me at Collegiate outside the classroom.” Lessons, for example, such as the ones Upper School history teacher Brian Justice taught her about empathy and fellowship. Or the wisdom Esperanze Soria-Nieto, an Upper School Spanish teacher, imparted to her about the importance of “speaking vehemently about something, and living with a passion and purpose.” Miss Sanderson expressed her gratitude for all of the Collegiate educators that helped her become the student she is today. “So many of you teachers, I feel as if I can trust with anything, and I know that I’m not alone in that notion,” she said. “Thank you so much.” 
 
Valedictorian Chase Conquest followed Miss Sanderson, opening with a prompt given to him his Junior year in Mr. Oden’s Honors Biology class.
 
Ultimately, the questions explored in Mr. Oden’s class became more important than the answers themselves. The seeds of intellectual exploration, Mr. Conquest said, were sewn here at Collegiate. “The hope of an education, then, is not that we will graduate knowing all the answers,” he said. “It’s that, having studied the methods that led us to the truths we now know, we will be able to ask our own questions — questions whose answers remain a mystery, and whose implications drive change we are passionate about.” 
 
Before awarding diplomas to the graduates, Patrick Loach, Head of the Upper School, offered brief remarks on the tremendous spirit embodied by the Class of 2021. 

“We just have great kids here,” he said. “Come back and visit us.” 

Class of 2021 Graduation Honors Recipients were:

Greenbaum Award - Valedictorians: Kylee Jordan Sanderson and Charles (Chase) Fairfax Conquest
E. Angus Powell Award: Henry Thomas Mountcastle
Rosemary Award: Cameron Anita Ruh
Dr. Martha E. Kolbe Award: James Crossland Kulp
Louise Mattern Coleman Award: Alice Rose Mendelson
Charles F. Wiltshire Citizenship Award: Charles (Chase) Fairfax Conquest
Johnel Tate Poffenberger Award: Taly Anne Leibowitz
 
On the eve of Commencement, Mayme Donohue ’03, who serves on the Board of Trustees, spoke to Seniors at Baccalaureate. Ms. Donohue challenged the graduates to approach any future adversities they might encounter with the same level of compassionate citizenship they’ve demonstrated throughout their time at Collegiate. We are all on “Team Human,” she reminded the students, which is a team whose players are dedicated to the service of the community. That commitment has grown within the Class of 2021 throughout their time here at Collegiate, and now, with diplomas in hand, they are ready to lead and serve in the greater world.

View video recording of the Commencement ceremony - click here

Highlight video from Graduation day - click here

Senior Tribute video - click here

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