Closing Exercises

Upper School Closing Exercises took place on June 9, 2021.

Congratulations to our eighth graders, who joined the ranks of Allen-Stevenson alumni during their Closing Exercises. The boys were led to Closing Exercises by a bagpiper while being cheered on by our supportive and enthusiastic community members. The latter lined Park Avenue in Awards were presented to the following boys during the Closing Exercises:

droves with cowbells and pom-poms to celebrate our graduates as they prepared to embark on their next adventures in life.

The featured speaker for the morning was alumnus Stephen Judson ’76, partner and managing member of Prides Crossing Executive Communication, LLC and a frequent speaker and panelist on business, communications, and the arts, along with being a trained classical musician. Desmond Cole Fortiter et Recte Award

Jose Valentin ’21

The Robby Zuckert Honor

Charlie Getman ’21

Charles E. Horman Award

William Jokela ’21

Alumni Medal

Ajai Singh ’21 Julian Cohen gave a moving Eighth Grade Farewell Speech and Head of School David Trower announced the winner of this year’s George Kellner Great Teacher Award: the entirety of Allen-Stevenson’s Faculty and Staff. During a year like no other, our faculty and staff have gone above and beyond, giving their absolute best to make this year a success.

We are incredibly proud of what our boys have accomplished during this unprecedented year. They have proved themselves to be compassionate, resilient, adaptable, and extremely resourceful young men.

Scan the QR code to watch the US Closing Exercises

“When I was your age, I could not have told you much about what my adult life would look like. But the seeds for many aspects of my life were planted when I was a student here, and I will always be grateful to Allen-Stevenson for having opened those doors for me. […] This school has introduced each of you to new experiences and new ideas. You have learned something about your likes and dislikes. And you have learned about what you are good at and what you find difficult. None of what comes next for you is set in stone. You will have opportunities in the future to change your mind.

Yet you will find, time and again, that the lessons you learned here will play some part in the decisions you make in the future. And you will always have reason to be glad that you attended Allen-Stevenson, a school which gave you an idea of how broad and complex the world really is ... and of the possibilities open to you as you chart your course through it.” —Stephen Judson ’76

Stephen Judson ’76

Stephen H. Judson is partner and managing member of Prides Crossing Executive Communication, LLC, a firm specializing in business and marketing communications. He is Founder and Principal of Judson Management Group, Inc. which is focused on brand consulting and advisory work, is a Managing Member of Judson Realty, LLC, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Eleven S.A. Previously, he served as a Vice President at Columbia Artists Management, Inc. and has been published in The New York Times on high-end marketing strategies. He is a frequent speaker and panelist on business, communications, and the arts. A trained classical musician, he attended Boston University School for the Arts. While in college, he worked for two years at the Boston Symphony Orchestra as personal assistant to Music Director, Seiji Ozawa. “Realize it or not, preparing you for life and your success in the future is a guarantee at AllenStevenson. Whether you learned it in class, in the hallways, or on the field, I can assure you that you will use it in the real world.” — Julian Cohen ’21