HarveyMagazineCommencement2026

CLASS OF 2026

Curious. Kind. Ready.

contents

HARVEY

MAGAZINE // commencement 2026

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Commencement 2026

Beneath sunny skies on a beautiful June morning, the 84 members of The Harvey School Class of 2026 celebrated Commencement surrounded by family, friends, faculty, and staff. Their inspiring journey culminated in a heartfelt ceremony that marked the beginning of exciting new chapters ahead.

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Senior Breakfast & Presentation

On their last day of school, The Class of 2026 came together for the annual Senior Breakfast and Presentation, featuring two Harvey alums sharing their college and career experiences, and culminating with The Cavalier Yearbook dedication.

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Senior Awards & Honors

Members of the Class of 2026 received special recognition for their outstanding achievements in academics, the arts, athletics, leadership, citizenship, and school commitment.

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8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony

On the final evening of the school year, 21 members of Harvey’s Class of 2030 took center stage for the 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony. Surrounded by family, friends, and teachers, they celebrated their achievements and were inspired by a 2016 alumnus as they looked ahead to the exciting journey of Upper School.

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Commencement Dinner

The Class of 2026 gathered with family, faculty, and staff for the annual Commencement Dinner, an evening filled with reflection, gratitude, and celebration. This cherished tradition offers a meaningful opportunity to honor the graduates before they embark on their next chapter.

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A Year in Sports

With championships, league honors, and athletic recognition, our student-athletes proved their excellence on and off the field, ice, and courts during our fall, winter, and spring seasons.

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The Harvey School

260 Jay Street, Katonah, NY 10536 harveyschool.org // (914) 232-3161

HEAD OF SCHOOL

William J. Knauer

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Karen Grazia

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Sarah Parker

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Greg János ’98

CONTRIBUTORS

Meg Booth, Dr. Brendan Byrne, Rohan Cassells ’16, Chris Del Campo, John DePalma ’01, Mary Kate Fitzgerald, Ricky Forde, Michael Goodkind ’14, William Knauer, Ray Lacen, Phil Lazzaro, Steve Liu ’26, Joanne Lombardi, Daniel Schonning ’12, Denise Smith, Sara Strnad ’26, Mollie Weisberger ’26, GK Williams ’00

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Gabe Palacio Photography

Julie Ades Richter Photography

DESIGN

Good Design, LLC, gooddesignusa.com

PRINTING

J. S. McCarthy Printers, jsmccarthy.com

MISSION STATEMENT

Our purpose is to prepare and inspire students to become independent, adventurous thinkers and engaged, compassionate citizens in courageous pursuit of knowledge and truth.

CORE VALUES

» Passion for learning

» Respect

» Integrity

» Determination

» Excellence

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS

The Harvey School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other schooladministered programs. magazine

Savor This Moment

CLASS OF 2026 COMMENCEMENT

UNDER BRILLIANT BLUE SKIES on the morning of June 4, The Harvey School celebrated a milestone years in the making. Before an audience of proud family members, friends, faculty, and staff, the 84 members of the Class of 2026 crossed the stage in the Fenstermacher Athletic Center and officially became Harvey graduates.

The ceremony opened with the stirring notes of “Earl of Mansfield,” performed by Pipe Major Jonathan Henken, as seniors processed into the venue with smiles that reflected both accomplishment and anticipation. The moment marked the culmination of years of hard work, growth, and discovery — and the beginning of exciting new chapters.

In his Commencement address, Head of School Bill Knauer encouraged graduates to pause and appreciate all they had achieved while offering a thoughtful reminder about the futile pursuit of perfection.

He challenged students to focus less on perfection and more on recognizing and creating goodness in the world around them.

“Today is a time to celebrate your accomplishments,” he said. “To reflect on all you’ve achieved, and to savor this moment.”

Mr. Knauer encouraged The Class of 2026 to orient themselves toward the good. “Look for it, create it, and appreciate it. Let go of the pressure to find a perfect world, and step confidently into one that is full of good, if you’ll only take the time to notice.”

Commencement speaker Daniel Schonning ’12, a poet and professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, offered graduates a heartfelt collection of wishes for the future. Encouraging them to embrace both success and struggle, certainty and doubt, he urged them to become active creators of meaningful lives.

“I wish for you the joy of learning new things and being mediocre at them,” he said. “I wish for you passion and wonder. I wish for you failure and redemption. I wish for you doubt. I wish for you forgiveness. Manage to build a life in the miraculous made place of ‘now.’”

Valedictorian Sara Strnad reflected on the people who helped shape the graduates’ journey, reminding her classmates that none of them had reached this day alone.

“High school wasn’t a solo mission,” she said. “You are never alone, and those close relationships will grant us courage to face the future.”

She concluded with a message of confidence and self-determination: “Success cannot be defined by anyone but yourself. We, the Class of 2026, are ready for all that is to come.”

Music also played a meaningful role in the ceremony. The Upper School Chorus, directed by William Norman, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner,” while the Chamber Chorus delivered a moving rendition of “Landslide,” arranged by senior Delilah Hickson-Bilotta. Head of Upper School Phil Lazzaro then recognized seniors for achievements in academics, athletics, and the arts before diplomas were awarded.

Finally, the moment arrived. The graduates stood together, moved their tassels from right to left, and officially joined the ranks of Harvey alumni. As caps soared into the air, cheers erupted throughout the arena.

One final tradition remained. Faculty members lined the sidewalk outside, applauding as the graduates passed between them. The simple yet powerful gesture served as a fitting tribute to the relationships that define a Harvey education and a poignant reminder that, while their time as students had come to an end, they would always remain part of the Harvey community.

Congratulations, Class of 2026. Your next chapter awaits.

Opposite. Newly graduated Class of 2026 throw their caps up into the air in celebration. // Inset Circle. Steve Liu displays excitement upon winning the Citizenship Award. // 1. Summer Jarbath beams as she processes into the Fenstermacher Athletic Center. // 2. Mollie Weisberger and Elena Pagan are all smiles. // 3. Micah Berni and Jesse Baron give a thumbs up before commencement.

Toward The Good ORIENT YOURSELVES

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Inset Circle. Robbie Mejia and Cameron Powell-Spruils display their diplomas. // 1. Fin Furgang, Sonia Espitia, Mikayla Neave, and Alexa Cole // 2. Luca Nishimura and Samantha Novarro // 3. Head of School William J. Knauer // 4. Parker Rusman and Jake Rubin // 5. The Lazzaro family celebrates graduate Maeve Lazzaro

WELCOME FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND FACULTY. Thank you for being here to celebrate this important milestone in the lives of our seniors.

Good morning, Class of 2026. Before we begin, I’d like to offer some recognition and thanks: To our long-time Board of Trustees chair Eileen Walker and our co-chair Jerri-Lynn Galgano, and other members of our Board, including senior parent, Les Berni — thank you for your support. To Barry Fenstermacher, former head of The Harvey School for 30 years and the person for whom this room is named — we’re grateful for your lasting impact. To all of you — families, friends, and loved ones — thank you for your trust and partnership. And, most importantly, to our faculty and staff — thank you for creating a place where students can thrive, take risks, and become their best selves.

Seniors — it is a pleasure to be part of this important day with you. Today is a time to celebrate your accomplishments, to reflect on all you’ve achieved, and to savor this moment. But it is also a time to look forward, to imagine what comes next. As you think about what lies ahead, I want to share some thoughts about the path in front of you.

I recently read a brief piece in the New York Times by author and columnist Melissa Kirsch titled, “What’s good?” Her article got me thinking a lot about the concept of “good,”

By Head of School William J. Knauer

and I went down a bit of a rabbit hole that ended up in these remarks today. We are living in an era of remarkable abundance — of choices, information, and options. Everywhere we look, we are told to hunt for the absolute “best.” We chase the best college, best career path, the best city, the best apartment, the best partner, ultimately the perfect version of our future. But as you stand on the threshold of your next chapter, I want to offer you a piece of advice that sounds entirely backward: Striving for “the best” isn’t always, well, the best.

Decades ago, a cognitive psychologist and Nobel laureate in economics named Herbert Simon studied how people make choices. He realized that with too many options, the human brain gets overwhelmed. So he coined a new word: “Satisficing.” It’s a mix of satisfy and suffice. His theory was simple: instead of exhausting yourself looking for a flawless choice that doesn’t exist, you establish a standard of what is “good enough,” pick the option that meets it, and move forward. Often, enough IS enough.

But today, choosing “good enough” can feel like you’re settling, like you’re throwing in the towel. (Pulling out his phone.) We all carry these powerful devices in our pockets that essentially beckon us into a world of infinite comparison. Social media feeds us a non-stop, curated highlight reel of everyone else’s

home, relationship, vacation, and success. It constantly whispers that a better option is waiting just out of sight, which then produces a feeling that tends to ruin the moment right in front of us now. How can we truly be happy if we don’t have THAT?!

There’s a folksy saying that offers a refreshing perspective on perfection: “A man riding by on a fast horse would never notice.”

It’s a reminder that the tiny imperfections we stress over really don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. When we agonize over every minor detail, we drain the energy we need for the things that actually matter. It’s why President Obama famously wore only gray or blue suits; he wanted to eliminate the daily fatigue of trivial decisions. By clearing the small choices off your plate, you protect your focus for your true passions, your chosen work, and the people you love.

Please understand, this is NOT a call to abandon your drive or drop your pursuit of excellence. Not by any means. Rather, it’s a strategy for happiness, balance, even sanity. The secret to a fulfilling life isn’t finding the perfect outcome; sometimes it’s about being willing to stop searching and start living. When you commit fully to a choice, instead of constantly looking over your shoulder at what you might be missing, you free up an incredible amount of mental space to actually enjoy your life. Maybe that’s the secret to happiness.

Shifting your focus away from the elusive “best” also brings another benefit. Gratitude. There is a wonderful play currently on Broadway called Every Brilliant Thing, which centers on a character (until recently played by Daniel Radcliffe) who makes a list of every single thing worth living for. The play has been described as “an openhearted show about naming and noticing the good.”

That is the shift in perspective I wish for you. Once you intentionally take a moment to recognize what is good — not flawless, not top-ranked, just genuinely good — you start discovering those moments everywhere. And you open yourself up to gratitude for the world and for people around you. As Melissa Kirsch beautifully noted in the essay I mentioned earlier: “Best invites an argument; good is just a suggestion. Good is generous.”

It will always be easier to look at the world and complain about what is broken, what is missing, or what you wish you could change. Don’t get me wrong; you shouldn’t stop fighting to make things better. Ever. But to be content and centered, to feel genuine gratitude, you have to balance that struggle by taking inventory of the reasons you are all incredibly lucky to be sitting here today.

For the past few years, Harvey has been your home — a place where you have learned both to work hard and embrace community. As you prepare to leave here, I encourage you to set a “good-enough” standard for the little things. Save your energy for the big things that lie ahead.

To our families — thank you for being the steady foundation, the base of what is good and true in these graduates’ lives. To our teachers and staff — thank you for helping these students navigate their choices, and for guiding them in their courageous pursuit of knowledge and truth. And to you, Class of 2026, orient yourselves toward the good. Look for it, create it, and appreciate it. Let go of the pressure to find a perfect world, and step confidently into one that is full of good — if you’ll only take the time to notice.

We are proud of you. We are excited for you. And we look forward to hearing about all of your future adventures. Go be good — and be happy.

The secret to a fulfilling life isn’t finding the perfect outcome; sometimes it’s about being willing to stop searching and start living.

1. Valedictorian Sara Strnad // 2. Sara Strnad with her mother // 3. New graduate Micah Berni celebrates with family including mom and trustee Leslie Berni and brother Asher Berni ’22. // 4. Evan Vasile, Langston Townsend-Brown, and Vishal Thadani // 5. O’Neil Ellis stands in recognition of a senior award. // 6. Sara Strnad, Summer Jarbath, Maeve Lazzaro, and Peyton Forde // 7. Ziyi Wu celebrates with her family. // 8. Emmett Cahill, Jordan Collins, and Wyatt Bland // 9. Ryan Dey receives a congratulatory hug.

Success

CANNOT BE DEFINED BY ANYONE BUT YOURSELF

VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH

By Sara Strnad ’26

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME, Mr. Knauer, Mr. Lazzaro, board members, faculty, parents, friends, and, of course, the Class of 2026. Just over a decade ago, a group of kindergarteners prepared for their first day of school. With starry eyes, lunch boxes shoved in backpacks, light-up sneakers stomped to a bus stop, and moms and dads wrapped their kids in big bear hugs. Flash forward, 13 years later, I am excited to congratulate my peers, the Class of 2026, on graduating high school. All of the successes, failures, late-night study sessions, or sports games have shaped us from that first day of elementary school until this very moment. Together, we traversed challenging periods of growth, self-discovery, and maybe the worst of all: history tests with Mr. Morse. Yet, on the other end of it all, I have come to develop a deep appreciation for the journey that has led each of us to this ceremony today. Our journeys are not solely shaped by experiences, but by hundreds of other influences that constantly surround us. Our parents, friends, social media, and teachers each leave a mark on us, even if we think it is invisible. So while it is true that our journeys have been characterized by hard work, immense successes, and sometimes painful failures, we must also remember those who guided us through both the highs and lows. Each of us sitting in these chairs represents not just our own merit, but the care and dedication that others have provided to us.

Personally, I could never be here without my family, or Mr. Kelly. “Thank you” will never be able to contain my gratitude, but mom and dad, I am so lucky to have parents that always set the right example. I have a million priceless memories, but I will never forget the warm hike through thick leafy trees where my dad lectured me so heavily about integrity, that you made me admit to something I didn’t do. But the lesson stuck! In other moments, I learned to work hard, have fun, and remember that nothing is worth compromising my morals. I would like to think the only thing they still want me to do is shut up when they ask me to, but we’ll see about that.

And Mr. Kelly, who is not just a teacher, but an infinitely patient mentor throughout the past ten years of my life. From rock climbing and basketball with Casey, to robotics, physics, and calculus, you have instilled in me not just fact-based knowledge, but invaluable lessons in attention to detail, failure, and perseverance. I definitely remember being a week away from my first robotics tournament in 10th grade, only to have you convince me to scrap half the robot and rebuild. I won’t deny I had a minor heart attack, but it taught me more than just build quality. You sacrificed innumerable evenings and weekends that you could have spent with your family or golfing, to instead help me and countless other students pursue our passions and develop into mature young adults.

We are wiser, well-informed, and independent young adults. Yet most importantly, we have support systems, goals, and a sense of self. We, the Class of 2026, are ready for all to come.

And, of course, Mr. Lazzaro, and my many passionate teachers who have made so many amazing things possible for me and all of our student body throughout our time at Harvey. The energy and lessons you brought to the classroom will not be forgotten.

Yet my message here is greater than just a thank you. Today, allow yourself to be in awe of the incredible people in your corner. High school wasn’t a solo mission, and although exciting, college isn’t any easier. However, the loved ones in our lives do not simply disappear when we move out. Sometimes you need to call home for occasions besides begging for money to get DoorDash, or maybe you want to sit on the phone with a friend, silently, knowing someone is there for you the moment you open your mouth. Your strongest supporters won’t be shaken by distance or change, and maintaining the relationships we have forged our whole lives is a crucial point of stability in times of development. Support circles may look different as we grow, but the care is the same. Find the people who aren’t afraid to get in the weeds to help you through your struggles. You are never alone, and those close relationships will grant us courage to face the future.

Additionally, success cannot be defined by anyone but yourself. Society has decided that measures of success are what we can compare ourselves by: wealth, status, or milestones. Yet when you follow society’s cookie-cutter

subscription to success, you trap yourself. You run the rat race with millions of other people, and convince yourself that just one more degree, promotion, or a nice house will make you feel achievement. Thus, as we go forward, it is important to set our own goals. Ones that fit each of our unique interests, passions, and personalities.

Defining success on your own terms keeps passion fresh, and will give you a chance to breathe, while still doggedly pursuing your dreams. It also preserves your character. It is far too easy to lose yourself in a chase for success. Keep what is important to you close to your heart. For me, that has always been my friends and family, yet as classes got tougher, late nights got longer, and focus became sharper, I became insulated. One night, I glanced at my call log, only to realize I hadn’t called my grandma, who I used to call all the time, in weeks. Or I would sit down at my lunch table only to find out I was the last one to hear about one of my friend’s new milestones, or group plans for that weekend. Quickly, I learned that I had to define my goals for myself, not just in alignment with school, sports, work, and robotics, but to prioritize what I enjoyed, and the people who supported me when I needed it most. Redefining my goals, and what success meant to me was refreshing and reinvigorated my passions, instead of letting them consume me.

At Harvey, we’ve discovered our interests — the subjects that make going to class feel like fun. Whether it was math, music, robotics, theater, or a sport, we have absorbed these experiences, and planned our next steps for college and beyond. However, what we must keep in mind is not just these goals, but how exactly we plan to achieve them.

So, in a way, we’re kind of like those kindergarteners again — headed into something unfamiliar, exciting, and a little scary all at once. But we’re also different. We are wiser, well-informed, and independent young adults. Yet most importantly, we have support systems, goals, and a sense of self. We, the Class of 2026, are ready for all to come. And as I have been told so many times before, “May we never lose the drive to pursue the things we love. No matter how bumpy the road is.”

Congratulations, and thank you.

Inset Circle. Lena Boyce with mom. // 1. Evangeline Gambetta, Chloe Siddons, and Mackenzie Kirby // 2. Robbie Mejia is celebrated by his family, including new trustee Melissa Angelillo. // 3. O’Neil Ellis surrounded by wellwishing family members and friends. // 4. Connor Hardy, Brandon Hall, and Louis Haft // 5. Luca Nishimura with her parents. // 6. Piotr Pawel Pajewski with his parents. // 7. Summer Jarbath with her family. // 8. Tory Janush receiving award recognition. // 9. Emmett Cahill with his family.

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

By

IN THE MIRACULOUS MADE PLACE OFNow

Daniel Schonning ’12,

Professor

at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Poet

THANK YOU to Headmaster Knauer and Coach Lazzaro for having me; thanks to all the Harvey School faculty and staff, to the many proud families here today, and above all thank you to the esteemed graduates — what a singular delight to be here with you, to celebrate you and see you off to this next phase of your lives. I speak to you now having been in your seat some fourteen years ago, so I know firsthand that you have many pressing things on your mind — shortly, you’ll have tearful goodbyes with your friends and mentors, you might take one last look at the rugby pitch or the ice rink or the arts building — perhaps most pressingly, you have to choose just the right moment to call ahead for a Cluckin’ Russian at Cameron’s Deli. And so today, I’m grateful and humbled to be included in this event marking this next great leap forward in your lives. That I’m here in front of you is as unlikely as it is lovely. I came to The Harvey School a bit implausibly: I transferred here after failing my sophomore year at a Connecticut public high school — a tough home life meant that I was barely showing up to class my first two years, so brought home mostly D’s and F’s. To add to the improbability, my single mom — who was working two jobs and raising three kids alone — had next to nothing to pay towards tuition. But thanks to The Harvey School’s willingness to take a risk on me, thanks to the good will of a man named Bill Porter, I was admitted. And the doors unlocked by this school were many, but none so lasting and influential as the premise on which this

place seems to be built, the premise that I suspect has led many of you here, and one that I’m edified to see summarized nicely by the school’s website: “Be who you are. Become who you want to be.”

What we become — that is, what we make of ourselves — is precisely the question I’d like to think on with you today, and the thing that we are privileged to spend our lives answering.

For me, one answer came among the cookies and juice boxes of Mrs. Mahony’s “Poetry Club” (which, I should note, was only her second most popular afterschool program in my time at Harvey, after “Badminton and Bocce,” of which I was also a card-carrying member). In “Poetry Club” I decided I would be a poet — and today, I’d still like to be one. But I’m sorry to report that, outside of Harvey, there are fewer cookies and juice boxes than promised.

But I speak now not just to convince you all to give up your bright futures to write poems (which, of course, you should), not just in praise of Mrs. Mahony’s influence on the world (which, of course, is as good as good gets), not

just in praise of poetry, but more truly I speak in praise of “POESIS.” “POESIS” is poetry’s Greek root, which means “to make” — for a poet, one makes with language. But each of you is and will be a maker. You make an essay, a painting, a film, a sculpture, a house. You make friendship, community. You make trouble — hopefully, good trouble. Not to brag, but I helped make that baby (my fivemonth-old daughter, Simone, is off-stage) — and one day you might make a family, too. If you’ve taken Mr. Kelly’s class, you’ll make a bloodthirsty robot. Every moment is a made thing, every moment is a vessel that you get to build and then live inside.

But that work of “making” is, I’m sorry to report, fraught.

Ezra Pound was one of the most extraordinary poets to ever set pen to paper; yet he made so much of his life’s work in utter and catastrophic error — he was a fascist, a virulent anti-Semite, and someone who had placed his full hopes in a future promised by the buffoonish Benito Mussolini. At the close of WWII, Pound, his wife (and his mistress)

1. Daniel Schonning ’12 addresses the graduating class. // 2. Fin Furgang surrounded by family and friends. // 3. James Gittleman and Ryan Geagan // 4. The Kelly family celebrates their graduate, Casey Kelly. // 5. The Class of 2026 being congratulated by the faculty following graduation. // Inset Circle. Langston TownsendBrown and his mom. // 6. Mollie Weisberger, Pamela-Skye Watson, and Tessa Walsh // 7. Rizlane Mall and her family. // 8. The Harvey Upper School Chorus sings “The Star-Spangled Banner.” // 9. Joy Chen stands to be recognized as an award recipient. // 10. Cameron Powell-Spruils and Piotr Pawel Pajewski

What we become — that is, what we make of ourselves — is precisely the question I’d like to think on with you today, and the thing that we are privileged to spend our lives answering.

were in the Italian countryside, hiding out in an estate not far from where Pound conducted an anti-Allies radio program, espousing these views for all of Europe to hear. There, he was arrested by Allied mercenaries and thrown into a detention center — which, for him, was a bare metal gorilla cage in sight of the leaning tower of Pisa. It was there, exposed to the elements and drawing only from memory, that Pound wrote his magnum opus in English, Italian, German, Mandarin, Greek, Latin, and Arabic; he recalled verbatim myriad poems, speeches, quotes, and whole economic systems to variously revere and eviscerate. Some of it, he wrote on toilet paper. The finished product we would come to call The Pisan Cantos. After many months in Italy he was transferred home to the US and spared execution, instead being admitted to St. Elizabeth’s Government Hospital for the Insane — decades later, while still a patient, he concluded those cantos with several fragments, themselves unfinished. Canto 120 reads:

“I have tried to write Paradise

Do not move

Let the wind speak that is paradise.

Let the Gods forgive what I have made

Let those I love try to forgive what I have made.”

That work of making might be the very consequence of our lives — for better or worse. How many people were convinced of Pound’s heinous worldview, faced with his genius? Pound reminds us that the more extraordinary the maker, the more terrible the consequence — and you, brilliant graduates of The Harvey School, are setting out into the world with responsibility yet greater than your peers. In this moment, on which we might look back and see history hinge, your own genius will decide which way it moves.

With stakes like these, one can understand taking great caution in that work of “making.” I’m sure I don’t need to tell you all as much, but as a culture, we might be more ambivalent than ever towards our own power in this respect. It seems at every turn, someone new tries to tell us we’ve been wasting our time: ‘Aren’t you tired of cooking?’ they ask us — here’s a sickly green meal substitute. ‘Aren’t you tired of writing?’ they ask us — here’s an LLM. ‘Aren’t you tired of working out?’ or ‘Making friends?’ or ‘Studying?’ or ‘Waiting?’ So often we’re tempted to choose what’s fast over what’s fulfilling, choose the artificial over the artisanal, and in this we can’t be too hard on ourselves for sometimes saying ‘yes.’ But today, as your futures are as malleable and multitudinous as they’ll ever be, it feels imperative that each of you remembers — in every small exchange that we make in the name of efficiency or certainty, we risk losing a vital part of ourselves. You are not a unit of production; you

are not a number on a spreadsheet. You are a person, a mind, a soul, a maker.

At Hobart and William Smith, I work every day with students on the other side of this door at which you find yourselves now knocking — students who are newly away from home, determined to white-knuckle their way towards certainty — students with a five-year plan to leap efficiently and fully into what’s “next.” They’re pre-med, pre-law, pre-Julliard, pre-pre-pre-State Senators. And that ambition is lovely and vital and good — but so, too, is the fact that so much of what we do (thank goodness) doesn’t live in our twenty-word LinkedIn bio, can’t and won’t be summarized. It lives in the long weekend we take to try our hand at baking croissants (not for the faint of heart). It lives in our time at Jum’ah, at Temple, at Church — at our community center feeding our neighbors. It doesn’t happen a month from now when we get that promotion, a year from now when we’ve saved up enough vacation days — it happens in that most plastic space of possibility, in the infinite “now.” You are made and you are in-the-making, right now — so whatever you do, don’t wait. I close with one last anecdote that I’ve carried with me now for nearly fourteen years. When I graduated from Harvey, Coach Lazzaro was kind enough to gift me a copy of Bullfinch’s Mythology. In it, the archetypal poet is Orpheus — he’s not the one who made the lyre, not the god of poetry, not a god at all, but a paradigm for the human maker about whom we’re speaking now. I trust that most of you know the broad strokes of Orpheus’s myth: He loves a woman named Eurydice, who dies. Orpheus is so overcome that he seeks a way to

1. Elena Pagan // 2. The Forde family with Class of 2026 graduate Peyton Forde and sister McKensi Forde ’24. // 3. Tessa Walsh with her family. // 4. Sophia Collum smiles with her family around her. // 5. Scarlett Rodriquez and Carissa Rocco // Inset Circle. Logan Kreisberg is all smiles with his parents. // 6. Wyatt Bland ’26 with his family, including new trustee and dad William Bland, and brother Will Bland ’25. //

7. Lucy LaGattuta, Steve Liu, Logan Kreisberg, and Harry Kreeger // 8. Head of School William Knauer with wife Eileen and daughter Emiliana ’23. // 9. Chloe Eisenberg surrounded by her family and former coach Greg János ’98.

retrieve her from Hades — and, just when he nearly succeeds in doing so, his doubt lets her slip away for good. That’s the myth’s beginning and end, but it’s the much-ignored middle that’s captured my imagination all this time.

Once Orpheus has found the entrance to the underworld and is on his way to Hades, the poet plucks his lyre and sings his transcendent, mournful song. In so doing he soothes Cerberus, the three-headed dog; he parts the waters of the rivers Styx and then Lethe; he brings tears to the furies’ unfeeling eyes.

Then the poet walks past Sisyphus, who is doomed to lift his boulder up the mountain again and again and again. Under the spell of Orpheus’s song, even the great stone pauses to listen, allowing — just once, in all his afterlife — Sisyphus to rest.

Then the poet walks past Tantalus — who, until then, has spent his eternity standing in a pool of chin-high water, below a tree whose fruits hover overhead. Tantalus can’t drink without the water receding from him, can’t eat without the trees’ branches lifting out of reach. But as the poet sings and plays his lyre — just once, in all his afterlife — the water is so transfixed that it stills and Tantalus may drink; the trees are so enchanted that — just once — Tantalus eats of the fruit.

In your long lives, you may find yourselves at times, like I have, feeling tired as Sisyphus, hungry as Tantalus, sorrowful as Orpheus. And in these moments — and in all others — I wish for you courage. I wish for you the courage to risk sincerity, to risk earnestness, to risk vulnerability. I wish for you the immense courage needed to burn the hell out of some croissants. I wish for you cookies and juice boxes, badminton and bocce. I wish for you the joy of learning new things and being mediocre at them. I wish for you a world of challenges and rewards. I wish for you a well of love for one another, especially those-most-other than yourselves — the stranger, the immigrant, the folks not lucky enough to have a Harvey of their own. I wish for you passion and wonder. I wish for you failure and redemption. I wish for you doubt. I wish for you forgiveness. Above all, I wish for you those moments of “POESIS” that, for a time, might stop the boulder from rolling; that, for a time, mean you can at last eat and drink; moments of making that so transfix you in their gaze that you forget the eternity waiting on either side and instead, with the work of your hands and mind, manage to build a life in the miraculous made place of “now.”

Congratulations, again, to The Harvey School’s brilliant class of 2026.

Daniel Schonning ’12 is a Professor of the Practice in English and Creative Writing at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where he also serves as Director of the WHS Debate Team. Daniel’s debut poetry collection, titled As When Walking, was published in 2025 by University of Chicago Press as part of their Phoenix Poets Series. His writing has appeared in POETRY Magazine, Orion Magazine, the Yale Review, and the anthology Best New Poets 2024.

1. Jesse Baron is recognized for a senior award. // 2. Rizlane Mall, Maeve Lazzaro, and Talya Langer // 3. Pamela-Skye Watson proudly shows her diploma encircled by her family.

Harvey

Survivors

These Class of 2026 seniors attended Harvey all seven years — Grades 6 through 12. We affectionately call them — Harvey Survivors.

Micah Berni

Sophia Collum

Talya Langer

Conrad Breede

Ryan Dey

Maeve Lazzaro

Jordan Collins

Sonia Espitia

Cameron Powell-Spruils

Awards & Honors

highest award is presented by the Carter family in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Swift Carter, founders of The Harvey School, and their son, Herbert Swift Carter, Jr., Class of 1919. Given to the student who is voted by the faculty to have contributed the most to the spirit and aims of the school: Maeve Lazzaro

// Created and endowed by Mrs. Lindsley Loring in memory of her husband, the award is inscribed annually with the name of the student who is voted by the faculty to have shown the greatest loyalty in their school relations during the year: Mollie Weisberger

Achievement

//

by Mr. and Mrs. Calvin A. Thompson, parents of Alexis ’82 and Thaddeus ’87, and inscribed annually with the name of the student who is voted by the faculty to have made the greatest all-around improvement: Brandon Hall

John L. Loeb, Jr. ’44 Scholarship Cup // Given and endowed by Mr. Loeb to the school’s leading scholar: Sara Strnad

Head of School’s Prize // Created and endowed by the Board of Trustees, the award is inscribed annually with the name of the student who, in the view of the Head of School, has put forth the greatest effort in any aspect of their life at school: Amani Carty & James Gittleman

The Head of Upper School’s Award // Given annually to the student, who, in the view of the Head of Upper School, has supported the aims and mission of The Harvey School: Micah Berni & Sophia Collum

Founders Honor Cup // The Upper School’s

Lindsley Loring Loyalty Award

Thompson

Award

Given

Citizenship Award // Endowed by the Harvey Parent Association: Steve Liu & Piotr Pawel Pajewski

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Technology Prize // For excellence in technology: Wyatt Bland & Henry He

Science Prize // Cici Feng (Life Sciences) & Sara Strnad (Physical Sciences)

Mathematics Prize // For excellence in mathematics: Cici Feng

Harry A. Dawe History Prize // History Prize for excellence in history is named in honor of Mr. Dawe who served as headmaster of The Harvey School for 15 years: Steve Liu, Eli Klagsbrun (European History Award), Joy Chen (Macroeconomics Award)

English Prize // For excellence in English: Eli Klagsbrun & Maeve Lazzaro

Edward Micola Model United Nations Award // In honor of Edward V. Micola ’92, given to the student who has displayed the most dedication, energy, and expertise at Model UN competitions: Lena Boyce & Logan Kreisberg

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Dance Prize // For outstanding contributions in dance: Conrad Breede & Samantha Novarro (Choreography)

Art Prize // For excellence in art: Ashley Hildebrandt

Ronald W. Duncan Music Awards // Given for excellence in the field of music in honor of former piano teacher Ronald W. Duncan: Logan Kreisberg (Choral), Delilah Hickson-Bilotta (Choral), Sara Strnad (Instrumental)

Spanish Prize // For excellence in Spanish: Ryan Geagan & Tory Janush

Journalism Prize // For excellence in journalism: Logan Kreisberg

Japanese Prize // For excellence in Japanese: Jordan Falk & Brandon Hall

John A. Shea Latin Prize // Endowed by an anonymous donor in honor of Mr. Shea’s 80th birthday in recognition of his 22 years of service to the school: Caleigh Flink

E. Bradley Richardson Scholar-Athlete Award // Named after a former head of school, voted by faculty as outstanding scholar-athlete of the senior class: Wyatt Bland

Cavalier Award

The Cavalier Award, underwritten by the Harvey Parent Association, is given to the students and faculty who best embody the values code of The Harvey School. They are individuals who demonstrate a passion for learning, respect and treat everyone with dignity and appreciation, have a deep sense of integrity, have a dynamic balance in lifestyle choices, find joy in learning and life, and strive for excellence.

This year’s winners are 2026 graduates Summer Jarbath and Thomas Schiwek; eighth grader Ella Adler; and faculty recipient Nicole Tantillo.

The David Muntner Theatre Tech Award // For outstanding contributions in theater: Jesse Baron

Scholar-Artist Award // Voted by faculty as outstanding scholar-artist of the senior class: Cici Feng

Keenan Wynn ’31 Prize for Excellence in Drama // Lena Boyce & Jacob Harkins

Boys Athletic Prize // Presented to outstanding senior male athlete: O’Neil Ellis

Girls Athletic Prize // Presented to outstanding senior female athlete: Peyton Forde & Casey Kelly

NEVER BE AFRAID TO CHANGE

Directions

COMMENCEMENT DINNER STUDENT SPEECH

By Mollie Weisberger ’26

I’ve come to realize when people refer to Harvey as a community, it’s not just words; we truly are one big community.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE! For anyone who doesn’t know me, I’m Mollie. I have been here since freshman year and my older brother, Jacob, was a Harvey Survivor. I would like to start by saying thank you to Mr. Lazzaro for asking me to speak tonight; I am extremely honored! And to my friends, I wanted to tell you I was doing this, but Mr. Lazzaro swore me to secrecy, so surprise!

Now let’s get into it, and don’t worry I’ll make this short, I want to eat my dinner. First, congrats to my classmates and friends. Whether you’re a Harvey Survivor, came freshman year, or even this year, we made it. And we did it together! Two days from now, we become high school graduates, each heading our separate way. However, one thing will never change, we will always be DISCONNECTED through our Yondr pouches.

As I’ve been reflecting on my time here, I’ve come to realize when people refer to Harvey as a community, it’s not just words; we truly are one big community. Every class always thinks theirs is the best, but when I think about our grade, it goes deeper than that. Whether you’re into the arts, athletics, robotics, or anything else at Harvey, we share a mutual respect for each other and always celebrate our successes. One of the things I believe separates our class from the others is how relatable younger grades have found us to be, and how welcoming we have been to the freshmen class. I mean, maybe it’s because we never sent them to the pool when they asked for directions to

the art center, but that’s not the point. On a serious note, it has always been a stereotype that freshmen are scared to approach the seniors. I certainly was, especially because my brother told me he would lock me in a locker. But that’s not the case with us. At Harvey, intermingling between the grades is encouraged and I think we have taken that to the next level. Not only have we made them feel welcome, we have befriended them as well. Speaking of not giving freshmen wrong directions, despite how funny it may be, I think most of us had a certain road map of how we thought high school might go, but in reality, there is no way of knowing what high school, and the future for that matter, has in store for us. To quote the famous philosopher… Bugs Bunny, “I should have made the left at Albuquerque.” (That might resonate more with our parents, but it’s relevant today as well.)

The ironic thing is, high school taught us that nobody really has a perfect map. Sometimes the wrong turn becomes the story you end up loving most. Take me for example, I came in as a freshman thinking only about soccer, and now I am leaving with a greater love for track and field. I know this is the case for many of us. We came in thinking one thing or being set on what our favorite subject might be, but completely switched directions. Four years is a long time and change is inevitable. This doesn’t just end with high school. As many of us head off to college thinking we know exactly what we plan on doing, there may come a time

where we feel we should have made the left at Albuquerque. With this said, I encourage all of us to continue to keep an open mind about our futures and never be afraid to change direction. Earlier I touched on community, but I truly think it goes beyond that. Harvey is more like a family. I know we all have our close friends, but that doesn’t mean we don’t all get along. I mean, we really do get along, ok, maybe not during Senior Assassin, but other than that, we get along. I have always felt our grade is one of the closer grades, and honestly believe I would be comfortable sitting in a room and talking with every single person, regardless of how long we have known each other or how close we are. This really is the definition of what it means to be a family and Harvey truly does encapsulate this, from all of the meaningful conversations to the funny moments we share. Speaking of funny moments, in the immortal words of Michael Scott from The Office, “I love inside jokes. I’d love to be a part of one someday.” One of the best parts of high school was all the random conversations and jokes

that made no sense to anyone else. Years from now, those weird little moments might just end up being the things we remember most and end up telling our kids.

The funny thing about graduation is that we spent years wanting this day to come, always being jealous that the seniors end a week early… and then suddenly, now that we are those seniors, wishing things could stay the same just a little longer. I have truly loved and treasured my time at Harvey, and will miss so much about this place. But I’m also excited for the journey ahead.

So, to wrap things up…after my family has been a part of the Harvey family for 10 years, I have the honor of saying, Weisbergers…OUT!!

1. Mollie Weisberger giving her Commencement Dinner speech. // 2. Jordan Collins and Wyatt Bland share a happy moment. // 3. Summer Jarbath, Sara Strnad, Casey Kelly, Peyton Forde, Conrad Breede, and Mollie Weisberger // 4. Chloe Anmuth, Eden Modell, and O’Neil Ellis // Inset Circle. Ruggero Franchetti and Henry He // 5. Commencement Dinner was a happy occasion for the graduates, their families, faculty, and administration.

Senior Awards

Val’s Pal’s Foundation Scholarship // O’Neil Ellis

Bonnelli Family Arts Scholarship // Joy Chen

The New York State Comptroller’s Student Achievement Award // Caleigh Flink & Jordan Falk

Civic Ambassador Award from the Office of the New York State Attorney General // Talya Langer

Triple “C” Award from the Office of the New York State Attorney General: Courage, Commitment, Character // Summer Jarbath & Evan Vasile

BE TRUE TO You

COMMENCEMENT DINNER FACULTY SPEAKER

By Ricky Forde, Upper School Dean of Students

GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE. I have to share with you that I have finally recovered after 14 days post-prom! It was a painful and slow recovery. I want to thank my ghost writers for writing this speech for me! I had nothing to do with it. Mr. Lazzaro, whatever is on this paper… it was not me! You chose this.

Alright, everyone, it’s story time!

Four years ago, when I came to The Harvey School as a shy and quiet freshman, I was absolutely nervous. Nervous about making new friends, worried if I would fit in with this new Harvey community. I remember seeing the new freshman class; they all looked like Saturday morning cartoon characters. Parents, you all know the cartoon characters I’m talking about. There were some with bright bold eyes like the Powerpuff Girls, or with great fashion sense like Ed, Edd, and Eddy, and there were others, unlike myself, that had a perfectly shaped head; their heads didn’t match their bodies like Hey Arnold, or like Caillou. You might be thinking he looked a lot like Caillou, but in my unique big brain, I felt I looked more like Johnny Bravo with a full head of hair! Seeing them, I didn’t feel so bad. But on a more serious note, this freshman class that I had a four-year journey with; some of you I had less than 4 years with, but I’m stuffing you all in the same backpack! Either way, this group meant something to me. You know how I knew this group of kids was real chill?

Hold on, let me side track for a second.

Seniors y’all know I like to run fun games, coming from my old place of employment, that’s all I did, so I did what I did best. (What would that be, senior class?) (they answer) NO “Don’t take everything in life so seriously.”

As responsible incoming college students, you all know that there is a time and a place for everything. A time to lock in and get your work done, a time to be serious, a time to cry, but most importantly, you need to carve out a space in your life for some good, clean, wholesome laughter! Anyway, you know how I knew this freshman class was real chill. It was our first pep rally I hosted. I have to be honest, that senior class four years ago was out of this world, super intense, but that shy, quiet group of freshmen had some swag! I can’t remember if they ended up winning or losing the gradelevel game. But they were all down to do whatever it takes to win. They were loud and full of energy! I told my wife within the first few weeks of being at Harvey, that freshman class is pretty dope, minus the few dead branches we had to remove from the tree.

So, when I started at Harvey in September of 2022, no one knew I had two daughters. I call them my lightning and thunder. Not taking anything away from McKensi, my oldest daughter, Peyton was the dash of paprika that group needed, that added a bit more spice to the mix. The connections that were instantaneously made during my few months on campus were really great to see.

Moving into our sophomore year of high school, we were still considered the older, younger siblings (we were Tweenagers). Still trying to figure things out, learning to navigate friendships and still trying to be too cool for school and not make it look weird! That’s all I got for sophomore year.

Junior year was a vibe! We had older sibling status. We figured it out, we weren’t the

Go out into the world and write your own narrative. You have powerful determination and inner strength.

Inset

Circle. Tory Janush and Rayah Bernzweig // 1. Senior parents Elena Paraskevas-Thadani and Glenda Rosado-Bland present the Senior Class Gift to Head of Upper School Phil Lazzaro // 2. Upper School Dean of Students and Yearbook Dedication recipient Ricky Forde addresses the Class of 2026 at Commencement Dinner.

youngest or the oldest on campus now. We finally grew into our big bold eyes, and our big heads weren’t that big anymore, because our bodies finally caught up.

year

I’ve seen a lot of you stumble together, trip and even fall together, but what made this group unique is that you guys got back up again and kept it pushing together! I’ve seen many of you lose friends and make new connections.

Our junior year pep rally was epic, the way you guys dominated

in the grade level table surfing game was next to perfect. In our junior year, I’ve seen so many of you gain so much confidence, you became leaders, advocates, and had each other’s backs. You all weren’t best friends, but at the end of the day when it came down to it, you were all about your grade!

We finally did it Y’all… We’re seniors! Getting ready for college. It’s time to spread our wings and soar. (Remember it’s a story guys. I’m not going anywhere.)

You’re now the ones that all the kids admire and look up to. You all have a

The Cavalier 2026 Dedicated to Harvey’s Own Superhero

the heartfelt dedication to Upper School Dean of Students Ricky Forde, delivered by senior Amani Carty on behalf of the Class of 2026.

When asked “What job would you do if money didn’t matter?”, without hesitation Mr. Forde said, “Woodworking.” Now, it takes a really strong person to look at a plain block of wood and picture what it could become; to see potential where others see nothing, and patiently create it into something amazing and unique. In many ways, this mindset is what makes Mr. Forde the perfect dean of students. He looks at students the way a craftsman looks at wood, seeing not what they are, but what they can become. Over the past four years, as he has grown into his role as the dean of students alongside the Class of 2026. He has shaped us all into understanding, hardworking, humorous, and open-minded young people ready to reach for the stars and take on the world.

Mr. Forde teaches us that solutions often appear the moment we stop looking at the problem the same way. Through posting rebus puzzles on the whiteboard outside his office, he proves to us that there is never just one way to look at a challenge. Sometimes you have to squint your eyes, take a step back, talk things out, read things from right to left, or even upside down to uncover the true meaning. And in many ways, that’s a lesson about life itself. Not everything is always what it first appears to be. But once you

truly see it, once you understand what was there all along, you can’t unsee it. And that’s how he sees everyone who walks down the Harvey halls.

Mr. Forde believes in every student regardless of background, appearance, or story. He is our advocate, our listener, and, above all, the one who always shows up. Whether it’s receiving his first technical foul after 25 years of coaching during his very first year with the girls varsity basketball team, or sacrificing his lunch so students can release their energy in the gym, or dreaming up elaborate games to fill assemblies or House with laughter, no matter the day, Mr. Forde goes above and beyond. Not for recognition, but because he cares.

His dedication shapes the people around him as much as the moments they share, reflecting the strength and perseverance he carries in his own life. As an immigrant searching for better opportunities, Mr. Forde understands what it means to start over, to face uncertainty, and to keep going despite obstacles. Even after seven eye surgeries, he continues to show up every single day with strength and gratitude.

M r. Forde says his favorite superperson/superhero is “Thanos” or “The Flash,” but he proves that real power

Every

the senior class dedicates The Cavalier yearbook to a member of the Harvey faculty. Here is

unique connection that I haven’t seen in a very long time.

So I want to say thank you, thank you for accepting my humor, thank you for allowing me to listen, and especially thank you for allowing me to be your advocate.

I’m going to leave you with this. There’s a line from a famous lyricist and poet that I would like to share with you. Thanos, from Avengers: Infinity War. “The hardest choices require the strongest wills.”

So go out into the world and write your own narrative. Don’t let anyone take your

laughter and joy away! Seniors, to be happy, do what you believe is necessary in very hard situations; you have powerful determination and inner strength. You have the ability to stick to a decision even when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular. Don’t ever give in to fear, guilt, or pressure from others! Block the outside noise, create your own magic and Be True To You!

Don’t worry I won’t start over with a new freshman class. I’ll still be here as a Class of 2026 super senior!

isn’t measured in speed or with the six Infinity Stones. His power has always been something far greater, found within his humor, his kindness, and his rare and radiant energy that makes every space brighter the moment he enters it. Mr. Forde is pure magic. He is Harvey’s superhero. The Harvey experience simply wouldn’t be the same without him. And like all superheroes, he carries his own unmistakable signature. Superman has the “S” across his chest. Batman has the spotlight in the sky. Mr. Forde’s mark may be more subtle, but it is every bit as bold, bright, and unforgettable. His crazy socks. So small, yet they reflect his personality, spark conversations, and remind us that it’s OK to stand out, to laugh, and to not take life too seriously.

Mr. Forde’s impact on each one of us is undeniable, and it will last long after graduation. As the Class of 2026 dedicates this yearbook, we honor someone who has grown alongside us and who is graduating with us in spirit. As we reach for the stars, we carry the lessons he has engraved into us; lessons of joy, resilience, perspective, and humanity. No matter where life takes us, we will always remember Mr. Forde the same way: advocating for students, building community, and doing it all in his crazy socks.

Mr. Forde believes in every student … He is our advocate, our listener, and, above all, the one who always shows up.

1. Senior Amani Carty presents The Cavalier Yearbook to Ricky Forde // Inset Circle. Eli Klagsbrun ’26 and Olivia Crucitti ’26 // 2. Ruggero Franchetti ’26 with John DePalma ’01 // 3. Talya Langer ’26 with her parents

CLASS OF 2026: ADDING THEIR NAMES

to the Legacy

Top. The Class of 2026 proudly display their college shirts representing their destination this coming fall. // 1. Caleigh Flink, Scarlett Rodriquez, Jordan Falk, Pamela-Skye Watson, Carissa Rocco, Langston Townsend-Brown, Lena Boyce, and Heather Schutzer // 2. Sara Strnad and Patrick Cuneo are bound for the University of Notre Dame. // Inset Circle. Henry He and Ryan Dey are headed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

THE HARVEY ALUMNI AND COLLEGE

COUNSELING OFFICES once again joined forces to send off the Class of 2026 on their final day on campus before commencement festivities begin.

To mark the occasion, both offices continued their tradition of hosting a delicious Senior Breakfast, but not before seniors stopped by The Commons to sign the pennant of the college or university they will attend this fall. There is always something especially sentimental about turning over each pennant, seeing the names of Harvey alumni who came before them, and then adding their own names to that legacy.

From there, the seniors headed to the Quad for the traditional college shirt class photo, proudly representing their future schools in college shirts and sweatshirts as they gathered in front of The Walker Center for the Arts.

After the photo, the Class of 2026 gathered inside Lasdon Theater for the Senior Presentation, featuring remarks from Harvey alumni speakers GK Williams ’00 and Michael Goodkind ’14, along with Senior Speaker Steve Lui ’26. On the pages that follow, we share their words to the Class of 2026.

Our Graduates Are Ready to Make Their Mark!

Class of 2026 Matriculations

Academy of Aviation

American International College

American University

Bentley University

Berklee College of Music

Boston University

Case Western Reserve University

Champlain College

Colorado College

Connecticut College

Connecticut State Community College

Cornell University

Davidson College

Drexel University

Elon University

Fordham University

High Point University

Hobart and William

Smith Colleges

Indiana University

60 different colleges & universities where our grads will attend

Ithaca College

Kenyon College

Lafayette College

Lehigh University

Loyola University Maryland

Muhlenberg College

Muskingum University

New York University

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Penn State University

Providence College

Quinnipiac University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rutgers University

Seton Hall University

Skidmore College

Syracuse University

SUNY Albany

SUNY Binghamton

SUNY Oneonta

Susquehanna University

Temple University

Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio

UCAM Universidad Católica

San Antonio de Murcia

University of California

San Diego

University of Connecticut

University of Maryland

University of Miami

University of Michigan

University of Mississippi

University of Notre Dame

University of Rhode Island

University of Richmond

University of Rochester

University of St. Andrews

University of Vermont

University of Washington Seattle

Villanova University

Wellesley College

Wesleyan University

Western New England University

20 different states where our grads will attend college 17 entirely new schools for Harvey students

2 different countries in which our grads will study

5 classmates will be playing collegiate sports

WE CREATE MEMORIES Together

SENIOR SPEECH

By Steve Liu ’26

1. Steve Liu delivers his Senior Speech with charm and wit. // Inset Circle. Olivia Crucitti is bound for Ithaca College. // 2. Micah Berni is headed to the University of Vermont. // 3. Tory Janush is bound for the University of Albany and Jesse Baron will attend NYU. // 4. Muhlenberg College is fortunate to have Jacob Harkins attending this fall. // 5. Elena Pagan is bound to Seton Hall while Rayah Bernzweig will attend the University of Indiana.

“女士们先生们，我亲爱的哈维同学们， 大家早上好” AM I RIGHT, GUYS? Well, that is how I feel when I first walk into this school. What I was saying is ladies and gentlemen, fellow members of The Harvey School, good morning. Well, this is it, the end of our high school experience. I know we all have waited for this day for so long, yet it came so fast. In just a blink of an eye, we have reached this day, the day when we will say goodbye to our high school. I do not know about you guys, but I would never ever have imagined standing here and delivering this speech, even in my wildest dreams. If I must find one word to describe The Harvey School, I think that word must be “opportunity.” Nowhere in the United States of America can a young timid and shy Mr. Nobody, in just a short four years, become Mr. President. Because of all of you and the rest of the student body, my team and I have been honored with a humble heart to serve the great students. I think it is fair to say that we did bring some changes. Because of you guys, we were able to put Oreos in the vending machine. Because of you guys, The Harvey School is better than it was four years ago. Together we truly made a difference. Thank you, guys. Thank you for your support.

I am so lucky to have met all you guys. Every single one of you welcomed me with open arms, and my experience at Harvey would not have been the same without you guys. The great faculty and students are the backbone of the school, a legacy that has lasted since 1916. These teachers dedicate themselves to

educating the next generation of American leaders and even world leaders. They have taught me not just how to solve quadratic equations or recite Shakespeare, but how to be a responsible, open-minded, and resilient person. I believe you all have met that teacher that is significant to you. I especially want to express my gratitude toward Mr. Price, who always supported me regardless of my terrible art skill, who always encouraged me to follow my heart in creating art, who helped me find my interest toward art. When I left China, my last art teacher described my art skill by saying, “You can’t even draw a straight line with a ruler.” But Mr Price believed none of that and he saw both the struggle for me and the potential in me. Because of him I regained confidence and found joy in art.

I also want to thank Mr. Morse, one of the best history teachers I ever met. That one year in APUSH was one of the most difficult yet rewarding and fulfilling years in my life. We did not only learn about history, but we also learned about the world we live in. He has such enthusiasm in teaching the class. He always brings the most random yet interesting historic facts. Thanks to him I will always remember the cause of the American Revolution, the creation of the League of Nations and the poor dog that died in Shay’s Rebellion. I will always remember that. I will always remember the time we spent explaining current events, the time we spent together writing DBQs, and the time we spent together in class. His passion for history and thirst for truth moved me and

inspired me to continue my study of history at university. He is more than a teacher, but a friend for life.

Friends and family are the most important part of my life. I could not imagine myself without them. They guide me to overcome the treacherous storm of hardship. Words alone cannot express how much gratitude I have for my host family. They are the most wonderful, humble, beautiful and genuine people I have ever met. Each and every one of them has taught me a valuable lesson about love, caring, and responsibility. I truly treasure every single second we spent together: shopping, cooking and eating salmon. I think I must be the luckiest person alive to meet them, especially Maya, who invited me into her family during my most confused and vulnerable years, and Alex Giangrasso who is optimistic, kind and cheerful. He is a saint and angel and the purest of all of them, the synonym for kindness. I thank God I met them. Whenever I encounter difficulties, their image surfaces in my mind, encouraging me to keep moving forward. They are my most precious treasure. Thanks to them, I have a home that is always open to me in this foreign land.

Finally, I want to give thanks to my friends and my fellow classmates, every single one of you. Thank you for always being there with me and helping me. We read together. We write together. We sing together. We perform together, and, most importantly, we create memories together — memories that never fade away. I always assumed that the time spent walking the dog with my host family was as commonplace as breathing; I always felt that science class dragged on forever, and

I always believed that my high school life and everything that I was familiar with would last forever. Yet, the people around you, the life you know so well, and the place that you are so familiar with, they can all vanish in the blink of an eye. In that moment, the school and its students cease to be merely part of the ordinary daily routine, transforming instead into cherished memories of friendship and camaraderie. I hope that when we look back, we will discover that all the frustrations, sadness, joy, and delight of these days have become nothing more than footnotes in the story of our life. Perhaps then, we will marvel — with a touch of wistfulness — at just how much beauty we once possessed. My fellow friends, don’t be sad it has ended. Be happy we created all of this together. Look at your friends and classmates once more, hug them, and remember them in your heart. We may not see each other again, but the memories we created will never fade away. There is a quote I wish to deliver to every single one of you. I wish this can encourage you as it encourages me: “Only if you have been in the deepest valley, can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.”

Lastly, I hope that in the future, when we look back upon our experience and struggle in high school, we can proudly say that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.”

I truly hope all the best for every single one of you and may odds be ever in your favor. Thank you and God bless you.

Don’t be sad it has ended. Be happy we created all of this together.

Stay Joyful,

STAY CURIOUS, STAY SELF-AWARE

SENIOR PRESENTATION ALUMNI SPEAKER

By GK Williams ’00, Multi-talented host, on-air personality,

emcee/announcer, actor, and voiceover artist

I NEED YOU TO THANK YOUR FAVORITE FACULTY HERE. Just make sure to give all your people their flowers. There are people here that have made your time here better. Trust me, it goes a longer way than you think to say thank you.

A little bit of my story. I’m a dual-citizen. I’m a proud Jamaican-Chinese New Yorker. Both my parents emigrated here from Jamaica and my grandmother was very instrumental in my older sister coming to Harvey for high school. Some of the faculty here had the honor and pleasure of knowing my grandmother. Whatever grandma wants, grandma’s gonna get. So when Grandma said, “You’re going to Harvey,” I said, “Yep, I am.”

Through the power of love and the people who got me here — I had a Hall of Fame basketball career here, I’m in the Harvey Theater Hall of Fame, I won the Speech Contest here. I earned my master’s degree at Syracuse Newhouse School. I am an actor, host, voiceover artist, and public speaker professionally for over 20 years and counting, and I’ve done hundreds of commercials across the globe. I’ve appeared in multiple shows, on multiple platforms, Netflix, NBC, Peacock, Disney, ABC, ESPN, Hulu, others. I’ve been the name and face of multiple brands, and being an ambitious New Yorker, I’ve done standup comedy and improv. I narrate audio books and educational materials for kids and even the blind, but my favorite gig every year is I’m the announcer at

the finish line of the New York Marathon and this November should be my 11th time. And I’m still growing. The best part is trying to help people feel good, trying to make people happy.

Now when I came to Harvey, my older sister graduated two years before I got here and my sister was very popular and she was very well liked. Now I was not. But I knew I had to uphold my sister’s legacy. I had to win Best-Dressed and I had to be good at basketball. I started figuring out stuff I’m good at. Why is that important? Because if you’re tangibly good at something, you get results. You develop confidence, you develop self-respect. Just that ball, on the court, became my safe space. I did play all four years of college basketball, and I still play now.

Ms. Mahony is the person who gave me a non-sports after-school option outside of basketball. Turns out, I like performing. Turns out, I’m pretty comfortable on a microphone, on camera, in the spotlight, and my first experiences doing that were with her. And doing it my way, making people feel good, making people laugh. She gave me a creative outlet for that. She gave me the freedom to express myself creatively. But what I didn’t know was that she really gave me some of my career origins. I didn’t think I was going to be doing what I am doing.

That’s the biggest superpower that teachers have. I feel like she believed in me. She believed that I had a talent and that my talent was good. And because she believed in me, I could believe in myself. So even though I had no acting experience, I’d get up on that stage and I felt comfortable. Because I felt like she had my back.

Practically every life quote cliché has some truth to it. Whether it’s networking, whether it’s dating, be prepared to tell people who you are as concise and as attractive as you can. In other words, what makes you interesting? Just have an authentic answer. So if you have an interview, a date, research their story beforehand so you have interesting questions to ask them. And then you can have a genuine conversation. That’s what people remember. That’s what resonates. Then you won’t feel this pressure to try and make yourself interesting because the things that you’re going to tell them about yourself are going to come within the organic flow of conversation.

The people you love care about your interests and passions as much as you do, but the other people, you have to win them over. Find a way to make yourself interesting.

This is the biggest lesson I want to give you all and I think Harvey teaches this very well. It’s important to find people who see you and understand you rather than people who just agree with you and tolerate you. You’re going to be in different schools, different interests, you’re going to be in different circles, different people, you’re going to be evolving and growing. Just know that not everybody is going to be on the ride with you, the whole ride, and that’s OK. Just appreciate the ones who are. Find people who make you laugh. And even more important, find people you can make laugh. They say “laughter is the best medicine.”

Sometimes life hits you and knocks you upside down, and you have to take it. Fear of failure is normal, but if you’re scared to fail, how are you going to succeed? So shoot your shots. Everybody misses. Every person you know and look up to, they’ve all missed more shots than they’ve made. The only way to win is to shoot. When you get opportunities, make sure you use those opportunities more than they use you. As long as your intent is not to harm people, go get it. Live your best life. Stay joyful, stay curious, stay self-aware as you can in college and throughout this crazy thing called life. Keep daydreaming out loud, keep learning how to dance, keep wanting to get better, and keep giving flowers to your people while you can still smell them.

It’s important to find people who see you and understand you rather than people who just agree with you and tolerate you.

1. GK Williams ’00 shares some words of wisdom with The Class of 2026. // 2. Our graduates are headed to so many great colleges and universities this fall. // 3. Evan Vasile is bound for the University of Mississippi or “Ole’ Miss.” // Inset Circle. Pamela-Skye Watson will attend NYU this fall. // 4. Delilah Hickson-Bilotta signs the Berklee College of Music pennant. //

5. Marc Bueno will attend UCAM Universidad in Spain.

LIFE DOESN’T HAPPEN TO YOU;

Life Happens for You

SENIOR PRESENTATION ALUMNI SPEAKER

By Michael Goodkind ’14, Owner of Goodkind Entertainment and

In-Arena Host for the Utah Jazz NBA

Team

1. Michael Goodkind ’14 shares his experiences after graduating Harvey with The Class of 2026. // 2. Delilah Hickson-Bilotta, Rizlane Mall, Samantha Novarro, Lena Boyce, Lucy LaGattuta, Jacob Harkins, and Steve Liu // 3. Jordan Falk is bound for the University of Michigan. // 4. Brandon Hall will attend Champlain College and Ryan Geagan is bound for Cornell University. // 5.Maeve Lazzaro is headed south to Davidson College. // 6. Piotr Pawel Pajewski will attend Hobart and William Smith Colleges. // 7. Rowan Fischer is bound for Rutgers University

CLASS OF 2026, I’m the Class of 2014 from Harvey. It’s exciting for me to be here. I actually speak to a lot of high school classes in Utah, which are a lot different from this. Good to be back at Harvey, good to be back in my hometown, Katonah, New York, so I’m grateful to be here.

You guys are all 18 years old and about to embark on the most unpredictable time of your life. These next four years are going to be very different. Right now you have 83 classmates. When I graduated, we were the biggest class. We had 75 kids, 12 years ago, so obviously it’s grown. There are 84 of you now.

You’re about to enter the most unpredictable time of your life and that is completely OK. Enjoy it, embrace it, because, I would say the next 10-year window of your life is not going to be as you all might have scripted. I will just say that right now, and I’ll say it lightly, but you will see that you’ve probably planned for how you want the next 10-12 years of your life to go, and it ain’t going to go that way.

As much as you want it to go that way, it’s not going to go that way. And that’s the best thing about it. When I graduated from Harvey, I had a full-on plan as to how I wanted things to go, where I wanted to be, where I wanted

to end up — the LA Dodgers, FOX Sports, the Houston Rockets — I never expected to end up with any of those organizations, absolutely not. And I did.

Now with the Dodgers, I’m not going to put it lightly, I wasn’t a broadcaster for the LA Dodgers, I wasn’t Joe Davis. I was a tour guide. I literally gave tours of Dodger Stadium. It was challenging to be a 22-year-old giving tours at Dodger Stadium for minimum wage, but I did it, I bit the bullet and at the end of the day, it was a great resume builder and it got me into where I am now.

Along the way there are baby steps to where you are going, what you end up doing when you’re 28, 30 years old. Let’s go back to my Harvey days a little bit. Expect the unexpected. When I was here at Harvey, in my sophomore year I wanted to start a broadcasting program here. I had this vision to start a broadcasting program here at Harvey and I basically walked down to Homecoming in 2012 with a camera and a microphone and I called the entire game. It was horrible and in that day we had a website called MSG Varsity. I uploaded all our stuff to MSG Varsity and by my senior year, we had a TV class. Mr. Kelly ran it, and it was pretty epic. Mr. Kelly started this whole TV class after we started this broadcasting program here and honestly he couldn’t have done it without Harvey. They kind of leaned into my weirdness and what I wanted to do — no one else here really wanted to broadcast and we did. Mr. Kelly was obviously a huge part of that.

After my senior year, I went off to college and everything was expected, everything was predictable. Graduated, went to Boston University in my sophomore year. I made my goal to be a broadcaster for the Boston University basketball team. I met the right

people, got into the right spaces, and little did I know, in my sophomore year I was broadcasting every single game for BU Basketball for student radio. Awesome opportunity! So I went from Harvey to sitting courtside at Boston University. Pretty cool. It’s dog-eat-dog out there. There were people that did not like me, and because I had people that did not like me, they wanted to knock me down. By my junior year, I was no longer broadcasting every single basketball game because the guy ahead of me didn’t want me to do them. Knocked me down.

So when life does knock you down, and I guarantee to a tee that it will knock you down, you are going to get knocked down multiple times in the next four years, next 10 years, next 12 years, next 20 years. It doesn’t stop. But the key that I realized in the last 12 years is, the key in this life when you do get knocked down — how do you respond to that hit? You see guys in the NFL all the time, get destroyed, and then they get up for the next play and somehow run 15 yards. It’s the same in life; it’s a microcosm.

You’re going to get knocked down, things are not necessarily going to go the way that you planned them. It’s unfortunate. I have a plan for the next 15 years of what I want my life to look like. It probably won’t go that way. It’s the same thing for you guys.

So when I eventually graduated college, I was an intern for a news station out in Boston. I wanted to move to Los Angeles, my uncle just moved there, so I literally got on a plane when I graduated from BU and flew up to Los Angeles, and I said I want to work for the LA Dodgers.

So I had emailed them probably like a 100 times and I hadn’t gotten a response, which happens. Pretty much every time you email,

So it’s all about the decisions you make. Life’s not going to go the way that you planned it.

1. Wyatt Bland is heading to Villanova University // 2. It’s Northwestern University for Logan Kreisberg and Elon University for Maya Taub. // 3. Alexandros Christidis will attend Lehigh University. // 4. Jake Karamehmedovic is bound for the University of Miami. // 5. Three Harvey grads are heading to Syracuse University: Ashley Hildebrandt, Alexa Cole, and Jake Rubin. // 6. Sara Strnad is off to the University of Notre Dame and it’s RPI for Ryan Dey. // 7. Carissa Rocco signs the SUNY Oneonta pennant.

you’re not going to get a response. So one day I decided I’m going to walk into Dodger Stadium and I’m going to get a job there. I’m going to work for the LA Dodgers. I got into my car and I drove to Dodger Stadium and I met the photographer for the team; he was the photographer for the tours. I was like ‘Here’s my resume, I want to work here.’ This guy looked at me like ‘what are you talking about?’ I had a folder full of resumes I was walking around with. I said ‘I want to work for the Dodgers. I used to give tours in Boston.’ The next thing I know, the head of security of Dodger Stadium comes up, grabs me by the arm, and pulls me into the stadium. I think I’m about to get arrested. He walks me through the entire ball park and toward the end, takes me into this big office. I walk in and he says, this is the guy you want to talk to. He said, “I heard you gave tours at Fenway Park. It’s funny because we’re looking for a new tour guide.” Three weeks later, I was working for the Dodgers giving tours of the stadium. They pretty much hired me on the spot. The decisions you make — sometimes you do have to go in the door. And back in college, I spoke to the GM for the Dodgers. He was a good mentor for me. What he said to me was, you have to get into the dance to dance with the girl you want to. You’ve got to get your foot in the door somehow. So I worked for the Dodgers for two seasons. In 2018 the Dodgers went to the World Series. I got to give tours, I got to be in the building, and 2019 comes along and I get to meet the broadcaster for the Dodgers,

Joe Davis when I went out on a tour. I put my hand out and said, ‘“Joe, I’m Michael Goodkind.” I met him, a super nice guy, and I said I want to do more here. And Joe and I met for lunch that off-season and Joe got me the opportunity of my life. I got to the side field to do a full pregame show for the LA Dodgers in 2019 a year later. It all starts with getting in the door giving tours.

I was horrible. They put me on camera, I froze up completely, and I didn’t know what to say. Somehow I got myself through a 20-minute broadcast which I was absolutely terrified to do. I had to do it twice that season and then in 2020, expect the unexpected, COVID-19 happens. I’m out of a job completely. The Dodgers are not giving tours. I ended up moving back home to New York, came back home for a month and a half, and then I say I want to drive down to Miami. So I drove down to Miami, Florida and worked for my dad for a year. But it just so happened, I had a friend from Harvey who had a connection to the owner of the Houston Rockets, and I got a showing with the Houston Rockets. The Houston Rockets said, “Wow, he has tape with the LA Dodgers. They hired me. Made that good decision to go with the LA Dodgers, met Joe Davis, one thing led to another, and that got me with the Houston Rockets.

When I was hired by the Rockets, I really wanted to be the in-arena host for them, that’s what they hired me to do for the Jazz, but when I got there, they had another position for me. They had a change of regime — expect the unexpected. I was literally going around handing out pamphlets for artists that were coming to Toyota Center and I was delivering cookies to radio stations to help market the artists that were going to Toyota Center. You want to talk about feeling bad about yourself. I felt horrible. I was hired to be an arena host for the team, the voice of the arena, be their in-arena host and personality, and I’m out there handing out cookies to radio stations in Houston, Texas. How low can you go?

Life doesn’t go the way that you planned it. So you have to make decisions. One day I finally decided I’m done with this. I hate this. I’m out. So I started looking for jobs and the Utah Jazz had the exact job I wanted at that

time. I said, Utah could be cool, so I threw my hat into the ring, didn’t think I’d hear back, and I didn’t. About two weeks later I had this inkling I should follow up with the Utah Jazz, so I found out who the hiring manager was, I took action, I reached out to him. I emailed him, but didn’t hear back. A couple of weeks later I’m on the highway and a car cuts in front of me with a Utah license plate, in Texas, and I said, that’s my sign to follow up.

So I did. He emails me back and said to call him. It just so happens at that exact time that I called him, they were literally about to give the job to somebody else. I sent him my reel and he saw that I had the Houston Rockets and the LA Dodgers on my reel. Everybody else who had applied was a local Utah person. He said, oh this guy is different. So he said, “We want to meet you. Would you come out here in August for an audition?”

I went for an audition for the Utah Jazz and got hired by the Utah Jazz. So it’s all about the decisions you make. Life’s not going to go the way that you planned it. I went to the Houston Rockets thinking I’d be their in-arena host and I’m handing out pamphlets and delivering cookies, but I had that one opportunity to get on camera with the Houston Rockets. The Utah Jazz see that and I’m in.

Same with the LA Dodgers. I wanted to be an entry level marketing guy and I’m giving tours. But giving tours led me to Joe Davis which led me to on the field which led me to the Houston Rockets. It’s all about the decisions you make and the unpredictability is going to happen.

You have one way and life gives you another.

This past year I started my own media company in Utah, in November, and we’ve kind of taken off a bit. We broadcast local high school sports in Utah. My partner was one of the stars for the University of Utah, played six years professionally, played in the G-league for two seasons, he’s my partner and we’re trying to own the Utah high school sports scene.

The last thing I’ll leave you with — in life, there’s short-term pleasure. You want to go to that party — short-term pleasure. Dopamine. Little hits of dopamine. There’s always those short-term pleasures. Short-term pleasures don’t lead to long-term contentment. Unfortunately, a lot of times long-term contentment comes from short-term mispleasures and misfortunes. You get laid off from jobs and you get let go. Life doesn’t happen to you, life happens for you. So all those things that happened that were so unfortunate, the rough breaks you get, usually turn into very, very solid fortunes in this life.

8TH GRADE

Moving Up Ceremony

EVERY SCHOOL YEAR is filled with moments that shape a student’s journey, and for Harvey’s eighth grade Class of 2030, one of the most memorable came on the evening of May 29. As the final school day of the academic year came to a close, 21 members of Harvey’s eighth grade class took their next step forward. Gathered with family, friends, faculty, and staff in Lasdon Theater at The Walker Center for the Arts, the eighth graders were celebrated and honored for their achievements during our annual 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony, marking the end of middle school and the beginning of their high school years.

One by one, the eighth graders walked into Lasdon Theater for the last time as middle schoolers to “Pomp and Circumstance,” performed by William Norman and Jean Vilkelis. Dr. Brendan Byrne, head of middle school, took the stage to welcome families to this celebratory evening.

“Middle school is a fascinating stage in the educational journey,” Dr. Byrne said. “I want to thank our teachers and staff who were always present to inspire students toward achievement, but there to support them during the setbacks as well. Though middle school can be an awkward, challenging time, when students enroll in The Harvey School, we expect them to be engaged in the classroom and involved in programs and activities beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Byrne. “This group of eighth graders has embraced and often exceeded that expectation.”

Head of School Bill Knauer also addressed the Class of 2030. “Choose to act with integrity, treat others with kindness, and maintain a strong work ethic. Do that and it’s likely a good reputation will follow naturally,” said Mr. Knauer. “Only you can decide how hard you work, how you treat people, and what you stand for. Control what you can. Do that, and I have no doubt that you will find much success and happiness in upper school and beyond,” he said.

Top. The Harvey Class of 2030. // 1. Dr. Brendan Byrne welcomes students, families, faculty, and staff to the 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony. // 2. Nate Buckley, Reed Zarkowsky, Ben Fierro-Wolf, and Hunter Rogers have some fun.

Harvey alumnus Rohan Cassells ’16 was invited to give the Moving Up Address, and he fondly recalled his years at Harvey. “I reminisce on these moments to point out that graduating from middle school has brought its share of impactful moments, times of celebration, unique experiences and hopefully memories that will last a lifetime,” Rohan said. “Walk into each day with a goal to not only get better, but to make someone else’s day better while doing so,” he said. (Read Rohan’s speech in its entirety on page 38).

Members of the Middle School Chorus and graduating eighth graders — Ella Adler, May Dong, Maximilian Knoess, Carmen Perez, Gabriel Quigley, Morgan Serebin, and Alana Telford performed a choral piece accompanied by Mr. Norman. Then Dr. Byrne returned to the podium to award certificates and announce awards (see full list of Middle School awards on page 41) . Well done, Class of 2030!

Harvey 8th Grade Class of 2030

Noah Adams

Ella Adler

Emmanuel Boben

Nate Buckley

Ruby Cayer

Leah Djukic

May Dong

Ben Fierro-Wolf

Phoenix Goldstein

Sebastian Goldstein

Brydie Groff

Maximilian Knoess

Carmen Perez

Blake Pylypshyn

Gabriel Quigley

Jack Rivett

Hunter Rogers

Millie Rosenman

Morgan Serebin

Alana Telford

Reed Zarkowsky

Personally, I am most proud of the community service initiatives that many of our eighth graders were involved in throughout the school year. I am hopeful that you continue participating in service for many years to come.

—DR. BRENDAN BYRNE

1

SHOW THE WORLD Who You Are

8TH GRADE MOVING-UP CEREMONY ADDRESS

By Rohan Cassells ’16, Director of Placement and Assistant Director of Programs, REACH Prep

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

Be assured that your unique traits, quirks, and habits are a part of what makes you who you are. There is only one you in the world. Let that give you the confidence to be your authentic self and embrace any challenge that comes your way.

How are we doing, Harvey Class of 2030? You guys look sharp, you look ready, and destined for greatness. We are all very proud of you for the hard work that has gone into getting to this moment. Can we just give them another round of applause?

I want to thank everyone for being here today. I want to thank the Head of School, Mr. Knauer, for your service to the Harvey community over these past ten years. I wish you the best of luck in your next endeavors.

I want to thank the Head of Middle School, Dr. Byrne, who was my Head of Middle School and substitute English teacher for a couple of weeks in 7th grade as well. Thank you for the opportunity.

I want to acknowledge the department chairs, faculty, staff, and family in attendance.

Eighth grade class, can you join me in giving a round of applause to your parents, teachers, and staff?

It takes a village to raise a child, and their presence here tonight means they have invested in your future. I want you to always show gratitude toward them for that.

I want to take you back in time to November 2009. Mr. Byrne, at the time, stands on his signature hallway chair, signaling the Middle School hallway meeting is about to begin. At the time, only being about fivefoot-three, you could not always see clearly in crowds, so you had to find your angle to see who was speaking. Before he begins his

regular announcements, he takes a moment to announce that the previous night, the New York Yankees had just won their 27th championship over the Philadelphia Phillies. I thought to myself, I go to a new school and the Yankees win the World Series? Surely we are going to win it again next year! Seventeen years later, we are still waiting on number 28, but we will get there someday.

Fast forward now to the spring of 2010, when the 6th grade Spring Music class had just finished their studies on The Magic Flute, Mozart’s final opera. We ended the class by watching the Royal Opera House rendition of The Magic Flute at our music teacher, Ms. Daley’s, house, where she graciously provided cookies and apple juice. Before we left that day, she pulled me aside and said, “I have something for you.” Knowing I was a baseball fan, she brought out an entire binder of vintage baseball cards and told me it was mine to keep. I still have those cards to this day — her parting gift before she retired at the end of that school year.

Fast forward to the fall of 2010. Having grown two inches over the summer and having ditched my traditional low Caesar haircut for a bolder look, a mohawk, Mr. Ketner, my Pre-Algebra teacher at the time, looks at me and says, “No, that’s not just a mohawk, that’s a ‘Rohawk’!” And thus, was born an alter ego, “The Rohawk.” I carried that nickname for the next three years, and it became a major influence in my social media handles from there on out.

Fast forward to the fall of 2011. After years of anticipation, I look up and see a singular support beam planted in what used to be an empty, unused plot of ground. That beam would become one of the pillars of the Fenstermacher Athletic Center, a place where I would spend many hours putting up shots and working on my game.

Fast forward once more to May 2012. Having grown three more inches and back to my traditional low Caesar cut, I sat where you all are sitting now, at what we used to call “Middle School Prize Night,” feeling excited, a little nervous, but expectant for what was next.

I reminisce on these moments to point out that graduating from middle school has brought its share of impactful moments, times of celebration, unique experiences, and hopefully memories that will last a lifetime.

Your journey from 6th through 8th grade has come with many twists and turns. From the wins and losses of each sports season that passes by, to countless conversations with friends at lunch and activities period, to moments of both frustration and enlightenment in the classroom.

You have also probably experienced a lot of change. Maybe some of you entered middle school as one of the shortest in the class and are now one of the tallest. Maybe some of you had never played organized sports and are now a three-sport athlete. Maybe you have seen a favorite teacher leave, or friendship circles shift, or even noticed changes in the world

around you. Change can be unsettling at times, but it also means your perspective is growing, YOU are growing — old enough to form more sophisticated thoughts, opinions, and ideas. And with each period of change you experience, you are now more equipped to respond well the next time change comes.

I hope the past three years in middle school have brought you joyful and lasting memories. If so, hold onto those moments, because when high school’s challenging moments come, and they will come, remember that life is not just about getting a high GPA, making the varsity team, or getting into your top college. It is also about those small in-between moments, like sharing a laugh with a friend, remembering the feeling of holding a new instrument for the first time, or trying your hand at pottery.

And for those who have perhaps less favorable memories, moments where you did not fit in, a time where you did not get the grade you wanted, or where you missed the game-winning shot, do not let those weigh you down. Shake them off. It will be okay! I promise you, more wins will come your way. The fact that you are here today, a few minutes away from hearing your name called, means that you are an overcomer.

In middle school, I was the kid who talked to himself to help process thoughts, who made basketball PowerPoints in his free time, and who was the youngest in the class, so much so that I was a candidate to cut the cake at Founder’s Day two years in a row! But I did not let being the

1. Rohan Cassells ’16 gives a heartfelt speech to the rising ninth graders. // 2. Jack Rivett, Morgan Serebin, Alana Telford, and Ella Adler // 3. Blake Pylypshyn with his family //

4. Ella Adler and Brydie Groff // 5. Nate Buckley with his father.

youngest in the school stop me from showing up each day and making the most of the wonderful place that is The Harvey School.

Be assured that your unique traits, quirks, and habits are a part of what makes you who you are. There is only one you in the world. Let that give you the confidence to be your authentic self and embrace any challenge that comes your way.

One thing I have learned about moving up is that each mountaintop you reach is the valley of another mountain yet to be climbed. You are now the oldest group in the Middle School but come next fall you will be the youngest group in the Upper School. That can be intimidating, but it should also be exciting. There are concepts you have not learned yet, new friends you have not met yet, and some new countries you have not traveled to yet. Moving up to high school means more freedom, but it also means more responsibility; to be a better brother, sister, son, daughter, neighbor, friend, student, and teammate. There will be a fresh batch of 6th graders who will look up to you to set an example of what it means to show up and give your best every day.

Getting the chance to move up to high school is a privilege that many kids around the world do not have, so take ownership of your education. Listen carefully in each class and take good notes; teachers are not going to be writing as much on the board. They trust that you are old enough to determine what is worth writing down. If you think

you know the answer to a question in class, raise your hand with confidence. And even if you are wrong, so what? The students who get the most out of their education are those who engage with it the most.

Realize that perfection does not exist. Every expert first started out as a beginner. Every professional first started out as a student like you.

As you are learning, ask questions, because questions lead to answers, and answers lead to information, and information leads to insight that will help you solve problems you are uniquely equipped to solve. That starts right now, whether you are returning to Harvey or going to another high school. Walk into each day with a goal to not only get better, but to make someone else’s day better while doing so.

Life is not lived on your phone. It is lived out in the world, with the people you see each day, the places you go, the questions you ask, the sounds you hear, the challenges you take on, and the opportunities you say yes to.

So in that, I challenge you to strive for excellence. If you are a big dreamer, let your work ethic match it. Your voice, your story, your perspective matters. You do not have to be the fastest on the field or the loudest in the classroom to make a difference. Believe that your unique personality, skills, and ideas can make an impact on your family, your school, your community, and in the world. Moving up means more chances to show gratitude, to do right by others, and to show the world who you are and what you can bring to the table.

Take a look around. These are some of the people who will be spending the next four years with you. Stick together; you will need each other. Some of you may never see each other again. So, before you leave tonight, find a few people and say something nice to them. Give them a hug, a high five. Ask to take a picture. I promise you will be glad you did.

You may not see it now, but as I look out at this room, I see leaders, advocates, culture setters, and a class that will always be united by the common thread of moving up together on this very day in May 2026.

Harvey 8th Grade, High School Class of 2030, your future starts today! So take it by the reins, enjoy the ride, and do not let go. Thank you.

Inset Circle. Ruby Cayer and Morgan Serebin // 1. Noah Adams with his parents // 2. William Knauer addresses the rising ninth graders.

MIDDLE SCHOOL Prizes

The Almirall Scholarship Cup // Given in 1922 by the late Juan A. Almirall, Esq. inscribes the name of the student having the highest scholastic standing for the year: Maximilian Knoess & Millie Rosenman

The Michael Stirling Duncan Memorial Cup // Given in memory of Michael Stirling ’50 inscribed each year with the name of the student who has demonstrated the greatest interest and enthusiasm for literature: Alana Telford

The Alvah Innes Memorial English Prize // Named for Alvah Innes ’32, awarded to the student who excelled in English composition: Ella Adler

Harvey Spirit Award // Presented to a student who is involved in a wide range of activities and electives during their time at Harvey: Phoenix Goldstein

The Jack Hornor Prize // Endowed by Jack’s father, John W. Hornor, Esq. in honor of his son, Jack Hornor, Class of 1929, awarded for excellence in mathematics: Brydie Groff

The Alumni Honor Cup // Recognizes the student who has contributed the most to the life and work of the school: Alana Telford

Leverett T. Smith Memorial Award // Named after our former Headmaster Leverett T. Smith, given in recognition for initiative and perseverance in the pursuit of some special interest during the school year: Hunter Rogers

Faculty Drama Prize // Ruby Cayer

Faculty Music Prize // Maximilian Knoess

The

The Robotics Award // Blake Pylypshyn

Harvey Art Prize // Gabriel Quigley

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The Aspinwall Athletic Cup // Given by Lloyd Aspinwall, Class of 1925, a member of the Board of Trustees, whose two sons attended Harvey, to the student voted best athlete: Emmanuel Boben & Morgan Serebin

Class of 1981 Award // For exemplary sportsmanship on the athletic field: Nate Buckley & Millie Rosenman

Faculty Spanish Prize // May Dong & Gabriel Quigley

Faculty History Prize // Ben Fierro-Wolf & Jack Rivett

The Hickrill Science Prize // Endowed in 1953 by Mrs. Robert Halsband and Frank Alan Weil, Class of 1944, awarded for excellence in science: Millie Rosenman

Community Service Award // Presented to the student who becomes actively involved in service outside of the campus: Noah Adams

The Baoth Wiborg Memorial Prize // Given in honor of Baoth Wiborg ’34, presented each year for excellence in Latin: Sebastian Goldstein & Reed Zarkowsky

and Mrs. Arnold Wells in 1973 to the Middle School winners of the speech contest:

The Wells Speech Award // Given by Mr.

Samantha Doughty (7th Gr)

The Matthew Preston ’65 Recitation Prize // Given to the Middle School winner of the Michael A. Lopes Annual Poetry Contest: Daphne Davidson (6th Gr)

Philip G. Cole Award // Given by Dr. and Mrs. Philip G. Cole in honor of their son Philip G. Cole, Jr. Class of 1934, to the student who has shown the greatest all-around improvement: Leah Djukic & Carmen Perez

1. The Middle School Chorus performs at the 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony. // 2. Brydie Groff processes into Lasdon Theater. // 3. Maximilian Knoess and Ruby Cayer

Sports Wrap 2025 - 2026

Championships

* 2026 Metropolitan Girls HS Rugby Champions

* 2026 Boys Varsity Baseball HVAL Champions

* 2026 Varsity Golf HVAL Team Champions

* 2026 Individual Golf HVAL Champion: Ian Quilley ’28

* 2026 Boys Varsity Basketball HVAL Champions

* 2025 Boys Varsity Soccer HVAL Champions

* 2025 Girls Varsity Soccer HVAL Champions

* 2025 Girls Individual Cross Country HVAL Champion: Ally Zimmerman ’29

ATHLETIC AWARDS PER SEASON

Fall 2025 Season

Varsity Volleyball

• 2025 HVAL Runner-up

• 2025 NEPSAC Class C Runner-up

• HVAL All-League: Samantha Roberts, Casey Kelly, Sara Strnad

• All-NEPSAC: Casey Kelly, Sara Strnad

• All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Samantha Roberts, Peyton Forde

• MVP: Casey Kelly

• MIP: Samantha Roberts

• Cavalier: Sara Strnad

• Coaches: Peyton Forde

• Sportsmanship: Samantha Roberts

Boys Varsity Soccer

• 2025 HVAL Champions

• HVAL All-League: Jack Muns, Evan Vasile, Jake Gershon, Ruggero Franchetti, Thomas Schiwek, Patrick Lonergan

• All-NEPSAC: Jack Muns, Evan Vasile

• All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Ruggero Franchetti, Jake Gershon

• NEPSAC Small School Senior Western All Star: Jack Muns

• MVP Offense: Jack Muns

• MVP Defense: Jake Gershon

• MIP: Patrick Lonergan

• Coaches Award: Evan Vasile

• Sportsmanship: Thomas Schiwek

Girls Varsity Soccer

• 2025 HVAL Champions

• HVAL All-League: Mikayla Neave, Amani Carty, Skye Watson, Mollie Weisberger, Mallon Gilligan, Rylan Gilligan

• All-NEPSAC: Amani Carty

• All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Mikayla Neave

• WNEPSSA All-Stars: Amani Carty, Mikayla Neave

• WNEPSSA Junior All-Stars: Mallon Gilligan, Rylan Gilligan

• MVP Offense: Amani Carty

• MVP Defense: Pamela-Skye Watson

• MIP: Isolda Corena

• Cavalier Spirit: Sophia Collum

• Sportsmanship: Carmen Massana Prat

Varsity Coed

Cross Country

• 2025 HVAL Individual Girls Champion: Ally Zimmerman

• HVAL All-League: Ella Adler, Lilah Groff, Sebastian Swindell, Ally Zimmerman

• All-NEPSAC: Ally Zimmerman

• All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Ella Adler, Lilah Groff

• MVP: Ally Zimmerman, Sebastian Swindell

• Most Improved/ Top Newcomer: Noah Carlevarini

• Cavalier Spirit: Ella Adler

• Leadership: Lilah Groff

• Sportsmanship: O’Neil Ellis

Varsity Football

• All-NEPSAC: Wyatt Bland

• All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Sean Jakobson

• MVP Offense: Sean Jakobson

• MVP Defense: Jordan Falk

• Coaches: Ronan O’Halloran

• Rookie of the Year: Trey Sutter

• The Sullivan Cavalier MVP Award: Wyatt Bland

• The Sean “SJ” Breen Lineman Award: Ryan Geagan

JV Volleyball

• MVP: Hannah Gorenfeld, Kaitlyn Moskowitz

• MIP: Scarlett Mackler

• Cavalier: Katie Fried

• Sportsmanship: Hannah Gorenfeld

Boys JV Soccer

• MVP: Sammy Schoenholt

• MIP: Haeseo Kang

• Coaches: Pablo Verdu

• Sportsmanship: Henry Burke

Middle School Soccer

• MVP: Logan Brockenbaugh

• MIP: Finnegan Wood

• Coaches: Millie Rosenman

• Cavalier Spirit : Elias Hajem

• Sportsmanship: Elias Hajem

Middle School

Volleyball

• All-Star: Brydie Groff

• Rising Star: May Dong

• MIP: Samantha Doughty

• Bravest Defender: Daphne Davidson

• Small But Mighty: Sabine Weiss

• Heart of the Team: Carmen Perez

• Best Effort: Ruby Cayer

• Good Sport: Catalina Dragan

• Sportsmanship: Ruby Cayer

Middle School Cross Country

• Sportsmanship: Logan Brightly

Winter 2025-2026 Season

Boys Varsity Basketball

• 2025-2026 HVAL Champions

• HVAL All-League: Wyatt Bland, Piotr Pawel Pajewski, Cameron Powell-Spruils

• All-NEPSAC: Cameron Powell-Spruils

• All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Piotr Pawel Pajewski

• MVP: Cameron Powell-Spruils

• MIP: Wyatt Bland

• Coaches: Piotr Pawel Pajewski

• Cavalier Spirit: Carter Burroughs

• Sportsmanship: Zach Roberts

Girls Varsity Basketball

• HVAL All-League:

Amani Carty, Peyton Forde, Casey Kelly

• All-NEPSAC: Peyton Forde

• All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Casey Kelly

• NEPSGBA All-Stars: Amani Carty, Peyton Forde, Casey Kelly

• MVP Offense: Peyton Forde

• MVP Defense: Amani Carty

• MIP: Casey Kelly

• Cavalier Spirit: Pamela-Skye Watson

• Sportsmanship: Pamela-Skye Watson

Varsity Indoor

Track & Field

• MVP: O’Neil Ellis, Mollie Weisberger, Ally Zimmerman

• MIP: Adam Hajem

• Top Newcomer: Chen (Beichen) Yan

• Cavalier Spirit: Elena Pagan

• Sportsmanship: Mollie Weisberger

Varsity Ice Hockey

• MVP: Dylan Cuddy

• MIP: Antonio Vanacore

• Cavalier Spirit: James Gittleman

• Corsano Cup: Linus Lindahl

• Sportsmanship: Dylan Cuddy

Boys JV Maroon Basketball

• MVP Offense: Emmanuel Boben

• MVP Defense: Brandon Litofsky

• Coaches: Nate Wagner

• Sportsmanship: Marc Bueno

Boys JV Navy Basketball

• MVP: Ilan Feldman

• MIP: Frank (Junze) Tian

• Cavalier Spirit: Sammy Schoenholt

• Sportsmanship: Hyunjun (Jun) Lee

Middle School Maroon Basketball

• MVP Offense: Logan Brockenbaugh

• MVP Defense: Wayden Ebanks

• MIP: Noah Adams

• Sportsmanship: Logan Brockenbaugh

Spring 2026 Season

Varsity Golf

• 2026 HVAL Champions

• 2026 HVAL Individual Champion: Ian Quilley

• 2026 HVAL Individual Runner-up: Brian Goldban

• HVAL All-League: Brian Goldban, Ian Quilley

• MVP: Ian Quilley

• MIP: Marlin Bieber

• Coaches: Brian Goldban

• Cavalier Spirit: Cole Lazerus

• Sportsmanship: Cole Lazerus

Boys Varsity Baseball

• 2026 HVAL Champions

• HVAL All-League: Dominick Bonserio, Jonathan Cappucci, Robbie Mejia, Ben Shaw

• All-NEPSAC: Dominick Bonserio, Robbie Mejia, Ben Shaw

• All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Jonathan Cappucci, Jordan Sheppe

• MVP: Dominick Bonserio

• Most Outstanding Pitcher: Ben Shaw

• MIP: Isaiah Newman

• Cavalier Spirit: Anthony Hauser

• Sportsmanship: Isaiah Newman

Varsity Softball

• HVAL All-League: Sienna Colgan, Hannah Gorenfeld

• MVP: Hannah Gorenfeld

• MIP: Chayse Wilkerson

• Cavalier Spirit: Sienna Colgan

• Sportsmanship: Sienna Colgan

Girls Varsity Rugby

• 2026 Metropolitan High School Girls Rugby League Champions

• MVP: Casey Kelly

• Defensive Player of the Year: Summer Jarbath

• Offensive Player of the Year: Maeve Lazzaro

• Rookie of the Year: O’Launi Ebanks

• Sportsmanship: Maeve Lazzaro

Boys Varsity Rugby

• Bravery: Ruggero Franchetti, Ryan Geagan

• Discipline: Nico Mena, Rayce Volpi, Titus Welsh

• Jazz: Ruggero Franchetti, James Gittleman, Ben Lawrence-Comerford

• Ted O’Connor Alumni Award: Jordan Falk, Vishal Thadani

• Sportsmanship: Ruggero Franchetti

Girls Varsity Lacrosse

• MIP: Rizlane Mall

• Players’ Player: Tory Janush

• Scarsella Leadership Award: EmileyRose Murphy

• Sportsmanship: Rizlane Mall

Boys Varsity Lacrosse

• HVAL All-League: Wyatt Bland, Dylan Cuddy, Ryan Cuddy, Evan Vasile

• MVP Offense: Ryan Cuddy

• MVP Defense: Evan Vasile

• MIP: Daniel Gross

• Coaches: Ryan Dey

• Sportsmanship: Ryan Dey

Varsity Outdoor Track & Field

• All-NEPSAC: Pamela-Skye Watson, Ally Zimmerman

• MVP: O’Neil Ellis, Lilah Groff, Pamela-Skye Watson, Mollie Weisberger

• MIP: Evan Talenfeld

• Top Newcomer: Adam Hajem

• Cavalier Spirit: Mollie Weisberger

• Sportsmanship: Emily Bigman

Girls Varsity Tennis

• HVAL All-League: Arabella Serfilippi, Maya Taub

• MVP: Sarah Fisher

• MIP: Hanna Choi

• Cavalier Spirit: Maya Taub

• Sportsmanship: Sarah Fisher

Boys Varsity Tennis

• HVAL Championship

Singles Runner-up: Cameron Lederer

• HVAL Championship

Doubles Runners-up: Emmett Cahill, Jack Zimmerman

Top Student-Athletes

* Fall Season: Wyatt Bland ’26 & Amani Carty ’26

* Winter Season: O’Neil Ellis ’26 & Mollie Weisberger ’26

* Spring Season: Dominick Bonserio ’27 & Ally Zimmerman ’29

• HVAL All-League: Emmett Cahill, Cameron Lederer

• MVP: Cameron Lederer

• MIP: Joon (Hyunjun) Lee

• Coaches: Logan Kreisberg

• Sportsmanship: Jack Zimmerman

Girls JV Tennis

• MVP: Drew Scarfone, Ella (Lingfan) Yi

• Cavalier Spirit: Scarlett (Siyu) Zhou

• Sportsmanship: Drew Scarfone

Boys JV Tennis

• MVP: Pablo Mira

• MIP: Frank (Junze) Tian

Middle School Baseball

• MVP: Elias Hajem

• MIP: Luke Alonzo

• Coaches: Finnegan Wood

• Cavalier Spirit: Angler Keane

• Sportsmanship: Logan Brockenbaugh

Middle School Tennis

• Sportsmanship: Carmen Perez

Signed to Play COLLEGE SPORTS

Patrick Cuneo

University of Notre Dame // Men’s Soccer, D1

Chloe Eisenberg Colorado College // Women’s Lacrosse, D3

Peyton Forde

American International College (AIC) // Women’s Basketball, D2

Rizlane Mall

Muskingum University // Women’s Archery, D3

Mollie Weisberger

University of Rochester // Women’s Track & Field, D3

2026 SENIOR ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTAwards

Amani Carty // 12 Letters

Peyton Forde // 11 Letters

Pamela-Skye Watson // 12 Letters

Jordan Falk // 10 Letters

Mollie Weisberger // 12 Letters

Evan Vasile // 10 Letters

Wyatt Bland // 9 Letters

O’Neil Ellis // 9 Letters

Cameron Powell-Spruils // 9 Letters

Casey Kelly // 9 Letters

Sophia Collum // 8 Letters

Piotr Pawel Pajewski // 9 Letters

Chloe Eisenberg // 8 Letters

James Gittleman // 8 Letters

Connor Hardy // 8 Letters

Heather Schutzer // 8 Letters

Maeve Lazzaro // 8 Letters

Vishal Thadani // 8 Letters

Robbie Mejia // 8 Letters

Ryan Dey // 7 Letters

Scarlet Rodriquez // 7 Letters

Thomas Schiwek // 7 Letters

Patrick Cuneo // 6 Letters

Emmett Cahill // 6 Letters

Tory Janush // 6 Letters

Jordan Collins // 6 Letters

Harry Kreeger // 6 Letters

Talya Langer // 6 Letters

HAPPY RETIREMENT,

Denise Smith !

Assistant to the Athletic Director

AS I PREPARE TO RETIRE AND CLOSE THIS IMPORTANT CHAPTER OF MY LIFE, I look back with great appreciation and many fond memories.

There are so many of you who have made these years meaningful, from the very beginning right through my final days at Harvey, and I am deeply grateful for each of you.

It all began with Tim Stark, who first hired me. I can honestly say I had never been more grateful to receive a phone call than I was when Tim called with that opportunity. It was a pivotal moment in my life. At the time, I was raising three young children while working at IBM. The demands of that position were greater than I wanted for my family at that stage of life, and the part-time role at Harvey gave me the opportunity to spend more time with my children while continuing to pursue a new career. Ironically, that part time job turned into a full-time position and just at the right time.

Since those early days with Tim, I have had the privilege of working with several more Athletic Directors, including Mark Brandon and Patrick Kennedy, both of whom were wonderful to work with and contributed greatly to my experience at Harvey, they were missed.

During my final years, I have been so very fortunate to work alongside Ray Lacen, Denis Arnautovic, and Peter Cruz. Once again, I have been truly blessed to be part of such an amazing group. Their support, kindness, and friendship have meant so much to me. Their dedication to the Athletic Office goes above

and beyond, and it has been a pleasure and an honor to work with you. I wish the best for each of you. You’re all amazing. Thanks, guys.

While there are far too many people to thank individually, but a few others who have been a part of my Harvey journey for many years that immediately come to mind. A heartfelt thank you to Johnnie De Palma (my techie and go to for any and all info) and then there is Chris Del Campo (my go to for all sport/teams related info, shared awards document and his general sports knowledge) for always making my job a little easier. I never could have imagined how much collaborative work we would share over the years.

I truly appreciate both of you and I am very grateful to have worked alongside you all these years. One of my favorite stories about John was that he was still in HS when I started working here and that following summer, he took my daughter under his wing during camp season. She had an incredible experience and loved it here.

A big shoutout and thank you to Joanne Stroud and the Sunshine Committee (past and present), it’s been fun and I know how hard the job can be! You do a great job decorating and honoring everyone, and it is appreciated.

A big shoutout and thank you to Suchada and the entire kitchen staff! Your friendships and your delicious meals were always amazing. Again, I’m very thankful for your friendships but if I’ve missed anyone, please know it was not intentional and that you all will be missed.

Looking back, I realize that what I will cherish most are the relationships I have

built over the years. The friendships, support, laughter, and shared experiences that have made Harvey far more than just a workplace — they have made it a second home. Thank you all for being part of this journey and for helping make these past 26 years such a rewarding and memorable chapter of my life. I leave with a grateful heart and wonderful memories that I will carry with me always. I am excited to begin my next adventures and look forward to this new chapter as a full-time

grandma, retiree, traveler, gardener, beach bum, and anything else that comes along my way.

With sincere gratitude and warmest regards,

Denise Smith

P.S. I don’t think of this as goodbye. Instead, I prefer to think of it as, “I’ll see you later.” I hope our paths will cross again sometime soon.

TRIBUTE TO DENISE

By Ray Lacen, Director of Athletics

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, The Harvey School campus looked very different from the one we know today. The Walker Center for the Arts had not yet been built. The Fenstermacher Athletic Center had not yet been envisioned. And the Weil House Barn was simply a barn. Yet even as the campus has changed and grown, one of the most meaningful additions to the Harvey community was not a building at all — it was Denise Smith.

Denise first came to Harvey as a part-time employee in the business office. A few years later, through the wisdom and foresight of then-Athletic Director Tim Stark, she joined the athletic department, where she would serve for 20 remarkable years.

For more than two decades, Denise has been a constant presence in the life of this school and in the heart of Harvey Athletics. She has managed schedules, updated rosters, organized athletic awards, coordinated transportation, reserved venues for postseason dinners, placed sandwich orders for long road trips, and supported countless coaches, athletes, families, and officials every step of the way. Denise is the first face you see when you walk into the athletic office and the first voice you hear when you reach out to the department. In so many ways, Denise has been the steady hand, warm welcome, and quiet strength behind Harvey Athletics.

But what has made Denise so special cannot be measured simply by the long list of things she has done. It is the way she has done them — with grace, kindness, calm, humor, and an unwavering commitment to this community. When I first came to Harvey, Denise was someone I leaned on more times than I can count, and I soon realized I was only one of many. Coaches have relied on her in last-minute moments of need. Parents have found reassurance in her calm presence. Student-athletes, even years after graduating, still return to campus to see her. That says more than any job description ever could.

Denise has made all of our work easier, but more importantly, she has made all of us better. She has given this department not only her time and talent, but also her heart. That is her legacy. And while retirement marks the close of this chapter, the impact Denise has had on Harvey will endure far beyond it.

We will miss her deeply. We will remember her fondly. And we will remain profoundly grateful for the care, dedication, and spirit she brought to Harvey every single day.

I cannot thank Denise enough — not only for all she has done, but for who she has been to this community. Her years at Harvey have been a gift, and her legacy will remain part of this school for years to come. Denise will forever be a Cavalier!

For more than two decades, Denise has been a constant presence in the life of this school and in the heart of Harvey Athletics.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

A FOND FAREWELL TO DENISE

By Chris Del Campo, Communications Associate, Harvey Summer Camp Founder, Director Emeritus

EVERY SUCCESSFUL SPORTS TEAM, INSTITUTION, AND ORGANIZATION

She truly bled Harvey navy and maroon, cheering when our teams won and sighing when she learned that a team came up short. She is truly a Cavalier at heart!

HAS ONE — someone who tirelessly and without fanfare goes about their business working hard to help their teammates meet their goals and achieve success.

As the assistant to Harvey’s athletic director, Denise Smith played the role as the department’s unsung hero.

Having worked with her closely over the past 15 years, I have witnessed firsthand Denise’s undying dedication and genuine commitment to the job, which, at its core, involves helping the department run smoothly. She has been meticulous and masterful in keeping track of team schedules, arranging off-campus travel plans and referee assignments, logging game results and recording player stats. What I have admired most about Denise has been her efforts at making sure Harvey’s student-athletes and their coaches get the recognition they deserve for putting in the time and effort in representing Harvey on the fields, on the courts, and on the ice.

Denise and I actually go back to her early years of service to Harvey when I was director of Harvey’s summer camp and she was a camp parent, a loving mom who wanted her children to have a fun and safe summer at Harvey while she spent the day assisting in the business office and later working in the athletics office tying up loose ends from the year past and preparing for the upcoming fall season. It was during these years that I first got to know Denise, now a doting grandmother, as a warm, friendly person who genuinely cared about others.

It would not be until I joined the Harvey staff full time in 2008, and eventually as the school’s first communications director in 2012, that I began to see firsthand how much responsibility Denise had and how conscientious she was at doing her job. I have often marveled at how many tasks she could juggle at one time — all the while with her phone ringing off the hook and with coaches regularly popping into her office looking for equipment or asking questions on schedules, along with a host of other interruptions to the two, or three, or half dozen tasks she was already working on.

I think what the Harvey community should know is how much Denise genuinely cared about “getting it right” when it came to recording the achievements of each team’s student-athletes. She truly bled Harvey navy and maroon, cheering when our teams won and sighing when she learned that a team came up short. She is truly a Cavalier at heart!

We will all miss you, Denise, Harvey’s Sunshine Lady — your warmth, your friendship, your laughter. Enjoy your retirement days in South Carolina. They are truly very much deserved!

Congratulations CLASS OF 2026!

Chloe Anmuth

Jesse Baron

Micah Berni

Rayah Bernzweig

Wyatt Bland

Lena Boyce

Conrad Breede

Summer Brewster

Marc Bueno

Victoria López Cabañes

Emmett Cahill

Amani Carty

Joy (Jiayi) Chen

Alexandros Christidis

Alexa Cole

Jordan Collins

Sophia Collum

Kody Crowder

Olivia Crucitti

Patrick Cuneo

Ryan Dey

Chloe Eisenberg

O’Neil Ellis

Charles Engelhardt

Sonia Espitia

Jordan Falk

Cici (Chenxi) Feng

Rowan Fischer

Madilyn Fleisher

Caleigh Flink

Peyton Forde

Ruggero Franchetti

Campbell French

Fin Furgang

Evangeline Gambetta

Ryan Geagan

James Gittleman

Louis Haft

Brandon Hall

Connor Hardy

Jacob Harkins

Henry (Jiaxing) He

Delilah Hickson-Bilotta

Ashley Hildebrandt

Tory Janush

Summer Jarbath

Dean Jones

Jake Karamehmedovic

Casey Kelly

Mackenzie Kirby

Eli Klagsbrun

Harry Kreeger

Logan Kreisberg

Lucy LaGattuta

Talya Langer

Maeve Lazzaro

Steve (Yanyu) Liu

Rizlane Mall

Robbie Mejia

Eden Modell

Jack Muns

Mikayla Neave

Luca Nishimura

Samantha Novarro

Elena Pagan

Piotr Pawel Pajewski

Cameron Powell-Spruils

Carissa Rocco

Scarlet Rodriquez

Jake Rubin

Parker Rusman

Thomas Schiwek

Heather Schutzer

Chloe Siddons

Sara Strnad

Maya Taub

Vishal Thadani

Langston Townsend-Brown

Evan Vasile

Tessa Walsh

Pamela-Skye Watson

Mollie Weisberger

Titus Welsh

Ziyi Wu