2016 UPPER SCHOOL GRADUATION Processing out of the Nicholas Athletic Center to the traditional sound of bagpipes, the Class of 2016âs wide smiles spoke ďŹttingly to the ceremony that had just marked the end of their journey at BB&N. Student speaker Zachary Horwitz â16 addressed his classmates with signature humor, summing up their tenure at the School in a series of anecdotes. Although his words drew laughter, they were imbued with hard-gleaned lessons. After listing a multitude of activities and academics that had ďŹlled the graduatesâ careers, Horwitz noted, âOur memories of BB&N will consist largely of the people hereâŚand the experiences that we have enjoyed with them.â While Horwitz focused on time spent at BB&N, Keynote speaker Brian Kavoogian (founder of Charles River Realty Investors, and father of Sarah Kavoogian â16) focused his remarks on the future, more speciďŹcally how he would approach college now given the chance to do it all over. Citing college as perhaps the easiest place in the world to encounter new people, Kavoogian encouraged the graduates to meet as many different people as possible: âThere will never be a more comfortable environment to share and understand different viewpoints than on a college campus.â Kavoogian also stressed the importance of trying new things. âHave the conďŹdence to move beyond your comfort zone to pursue subject matters in which you think you might be interested⌠and feel free to change your mind,â he told students. In her remarks, Head of School Rebecca T. Upham relished one last opportunity to address what she termed a very âconnectedâ class. Referencing the graduatesâ inclination to âmove beyond personal concerns and lean toward supporting others around them,â Upham discussed what makes a community, and how essential âcivilityâ is to making a community function.
Katherine Mayer â16 and Marin Lang â16 proudly display their diplomas.
âCivility insists on fundamental respectâŚ. Without civility, communitiesâlarge and smallâfragment,â said Upham. âThat is why your teachers, advisors, and coaches have been so adamant on this point.â Upham encouraged students to carry their habits of mind and civility into the world with them: âIn these contentious times, I askâŚthat you take the civility cultivated within this School and spread it. Spread it to your communities. Spread it to your college campuses. Spread it among friends, and practice it with those you think of as adversaries.â Following the awarding of diplomas, the ceremony closed with two outstanding musical performances by the Chorale and a studentcomposed jazz band. Congratulations, Class of 2016!
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Adria Alexander â16 receives her diploma from Head of School Rebecca T. Upham.