REMARKS FROM GEORGIA S. ZAISER

So, at age 91, my mother lived through war, raised her own large family, finally received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at age 58, and cared for my father with dementia for almost a decade. Her perspective on life (as she knows her time is somewhat limited) is refreshing and insightful.

Today, I share with you some of her best advice I have collected over the years as a daughter, mother, teacher, sister, wife, and friend.

1. Take a risk.

It was my mom who supported (more than I did) my son’s wish to attend boarding school. She said to let him take a risk to see how it played out. You never want to regret a missed opportunity. Try new things, make new friends, and get out of your comfort zone. Seize the moment to do something different, you may surprise yourself.

2. Be kind.

My mother’s kindness never wavers. She had plenty of reasons to be hateful and bitter, but her belief that kindness matters over all else has been a grounding force in her life (and mine). Think before you speak, act, post, or share. Do something kind each day for someone. It is good for the heart and mind.

3. Stay positive and be grateful.

Through the depths of despair during World War II and the extended illness of my father, my mother learned how to look to the future, make plans, and set goals. Take time to think about your mindset each day. What is your mindset? Your actions and attitudes impact all of those around you. Remember now how fortunate we are and that the possibilities are endless as you leave this school for your next adventure.

These three key pieces of advice will help guide you to be your best self. Take them with you and keep them at the forefront of your mind. Graduates, your strength of character continues to develop and form throughout your young adulthood. Over time and through various experiences at school and home, it will be shaped and molded. Every day at Far Hills, we teach lessons about acting with integrity and speaking with honesty, and being a kind and responsible community member. Our Five Pillars have cemented the foundation of your Far Hills education. Be careful not to focus your energy solely on grades, standardized test scores, and athletic and artistic measures of achievement. Because more and more, you will realize that character truly matters.

So as you leave your Far Hills “home,” remember to speak with honesty, think with sincerity, and act with integrity. Don’t forget to take risks, be kind, and stay positive. This, Class of 2022, will serve you well in high school and beyond. As Yia Yia would say in Greek, ke-ah-no-te-rah—meaning, go higher. Congratulations to the Class of 2022. We are so very proud of each and every one of you and know you will soar to new heights in the next chapter of your life!

Cheers to our graduates, and thank you.

Georgia S. Zaiser Head of School

THE STORY OF THE CLASS OF 2022

FAREWELL ADDRESS BY CASPAR VON HOLLEN

As I look back on my nine years at Far Hills, I realize there are too many memories to put into words. If all of my memories of school were written down, the book would be thousands of pages long. Like with any story, there is a beginning, a middle, and an end, and I’d like to take you through the story of the Class of 2022.

In the beginning, there was Lower School. There were large projects at the end of each year, field trips, and friends. Our days were filled with art, spelling, math, time at the playground, snacks, and music. Our Lower School years were also a time to enjoy questioning the world and exploring continents, states, animals, plants, and the world around us. It felt like it would go on forever, and we hoped it would. Even then, we knew Far Hills was a special place.

Then came the shift to Upper School, the middle of our story. In Grades 5 through 7, Adventure Trips were a blur of whale watching, museums, ice cream, bonfires, handball in cabins, tetherball, Field Day, the pond project, Frost Valley, and a broken-down bus resulting in lunch at a diner on the side of a highway. Though COVID interrupted the usual flow, Far Hills remained open, and we bonded with our cohorts—playing games and eating lunch together, watching entire television shows, and just bonding in a way that may never have been possible without the cohort experience. Our friends and teachers made these years memorable, and though it still felt that this time would last forever, it also seems to have passed by so quickly.

And then came this past year, the end. Our final year here at Far Hills. At first, it felt like any other year—the same subjects, but maybe a bit more responsibility. Dances, clubs, sports, hikes, service projects, our class trip, Expo, and final exams all stood out this year. Our friends made sure that there were plenty of moments of laughter throughout the year, and our teachers kept us focused on our goals while taking time to appreciate who each of us is as a person. And now, here we are at Graduation. But is this really the end of our Far Hills story?

Our memories of this place, these people, and each other will never be forgotten. Our time here and those we are connected with will forever be important to us. Being a Far Hills student has shaped our lives in ways that we might not appreciate until later in life. This is a special place, and we take pieces of Far Hills with us as we head off to our high schools. Though we are going away to schools both near and far, our memories and the characters shaped by our years at Far Hills are coming with us.

So even though this is Graduation and the end of our time as students on this campus, I don’t think this is the end of the story— I think it’s the beginning of a new chapter. One in which we embrace what it means to carry Far Hills with us. We acknowledge that our characters, motivations, and passions have all been influenced by our time at Far Hills and will now go with us to our high schools, where we will write new stories.

"We acknowledge that our characters, motivations, and passions have all been influenced by our time at Far Hills and will now go with us to our high schools, where we will write new stories."

Thank you to all of those people who made our journey possible and that supported us to this day:

To the faculty and staff for their careful guidance through our academics, their laughter, and of course, their patience with us throughout the years—thank you.

To our parents and families for their support, for their love, and for their nonstop driving to events on campus—thank you.

To our friends and classmates, for all the small and large moments that we take with us and the countless hours of fun we have had together—thank you.

Congratulations to the Class of 2022. May we always remember our Falcon spirit and the wonderful memories we had together. Thank you.

Ifayola “Ifa” Adewole Luke Antoneck Michael Antonelli Benjamin “Ben” Adamo

Colin Brucker

The Class of 2022 is made up of students who are resilient, determined, and hard-working. Not only are they dedicated to their academics, but they’re also committed to creating long-standing relationships with their peers and the community. These students have made their mark individually, but also together as a class. They have proven to be leaders to both the Upper and Lower Schools, singing on the stage, running on the fields, and volunteering in various philanthropic efforts that benefit our many community partners. Each student has uncovered their passions and put forth their best effort to be well-rounded students. The entire Falcon community can’t wait to watch as they succeed at their secondary schools and in life.

Gemma Cafasso

Eleanor “Ellie” Cusimano

James “Jimmy” Gibbons Hannah Castiglione

Blake Evans

Gavin Godfrey-Ryan Philip John Cichlar

Charles “Charlie” Fernandez

Theodore “Theo” Grippo Jackson Croce

Zachary “Zach” Freed

Avery Hansen