Collegiate School Class of 2025 Celebrates Final Exercises

6/4/2021

Collegiate 8th Grade students gathered in Seal Athletic Center this morning for their final exercises as they prepare to advance to Upper School.

Head of School Penny Evins welcomed attendees and congratulated the 144 rising 9th Graders — all of whom, she said, demonstrated tremendous commitment to the Collegiate community throughout the school year.

“You as 8th Graders led the way,” she said. “With novel assembly ideas, pop up activities, outdoor lunch no matter the weather, and laser-like focus on being Responsible Cougars, you proved your metal and demonstrated compassionate hearts every step of the way.”

Mrs. Evins told the class that the educational foundation laid for them here will grow as they prepare for the Upper School.

“Do not forget to return to the people and places who grew you to this point,” she said. “They will always welcome your updates and are here to support you in your next chapters.”

Tung Trinh, Head of Middle School, also congratulated the future 9th Graders on their contributions to the Collegiate community and highlighted the energy and enthusiasm the students have shown throughout the year.

“The Class of 2025 deserves high praise for the many waves they rode, and the many waves they drove,” he said. “Our students today will surely come together to form a sum that is truly greater than their parts in the coming years. To the Class of 2025, I commend you on an unprecedented job well done.”

Following Mr. Trinh’s remarks, the two Middle School Co-Chairs, Shepard Adamson and Shaan Agarwal, addressed their classmates.

Shaan Agarwal highlighted the valuable qualities of character the Class of 2025 has exhibited throughout their time here at Collegiate. Each student in the Class of 2025, Mr. Agarwal said, personifies resilience, persistence, and ingenuity.

“Our grade showed resilience when we adapted to the changes resulting from COVID-19,” Mr. Agarwal said. “Instead of complaining about these difficulties, our grade was grateful for the opportunity to be in person, at school, and off of screens.”

The commendable values the Class of 2025 possesses have been displayed in all aspects of the students’ education, especially when working on Collegiate’s 8th Grade Capstone, Envision Richmond. Ingenuity, Mr. Agarwal said, is the ability to make change, a quality that the Capstone project encourages. “One example of ingenuity is through our Envision Richmond program here at Collegiate,” he said. “Our class recognized that we had the ability to support our local community by connecting with non-profits throughout the Richmond area. So we took action. Every single person in the 8th Grade contributed to helping reimagine the Richmond community for the better.”

Shepard Adamson talked about the natural necessity of change and the benefits that come from embracing opportunities of growth. Miss Adamson observed that transformation is a standard process of growing up, and that change is something the Class of 2025 has come to know well.

“There aren’t many classes that get the opportunity to observe and experience the impact of so many healthy transitions in a community, which are important because they allow us to gain perspective,” she said.

Miss Adamson recognized past leaders of the School and spoke of the welcome addition of Mrs. Evins and Mr. Trinh into the Collegiate community. “Having a female as our Head of School has been refreshing during these times of change,” she said. “When Mr. Trinh came around, we witnessed our Middle School Head interact with students in a playful and relatable way. Being educated through these changes demonstrates the flexibility of this grade and how we responsibly and maturely adjust and thrive in whichever environment we’re placed in.”

All this positive change, though, is only the beginning for our rising Freshman. As the Class of 2025 advances to Upper School, they will embrace more adjustments — and even more growth. “As a class composed of hardworking and optimistic individuals, we will thrive,” Adamson said.

Mr. Trinh then proceeded with the presentation of Middle School awards.

Kana Sakagami received the Fry Cup.

Peter Hartmann received the Hugh H. Addy Award.

Hazel Miller received the Sue H. Jett Award.

Palmer Forstner received the Director’s Award.

Shepard Adamson and Jai Spicer were recipients of the Citizenship Award.

Faculty presented subject area honors to the following students:

Art Award: Hazel Miller, Jai Spicer

Drama Award: Ava Boyd, Palmer Forstner

Dance Award: Mary Mason Ingold

Adeline Cowles Cox Music Award: Kana Sakagami (piano), Soham Saxena (strings), Nathan Lee (guitar)

Science Award: Mary Ann Zyglocke, Nathan Lee

Latin Award: Perry Smith, Grayson McNeeley