TRADITIONS
Senior Moms and Dads Honored at Special Luncheon By Debbie Cohen
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n May the upper school’s gym was transformed into an elegantly set, festive luncheon honoring the parents of this year’s graduating class, featuring speeches, photo collages and delicious food.
This annual event has grown substantially over the years, from its 2004 roots as a simple moms’ potluck lunch; as of last year dads are also included. Tables displayed colorful photo montages and quotes from the seniors on what they used to think they wanted to be when they grew up.
Photos by Eric Marten
Admiring the collages was participant Kari Wolff, mother of senior Drew Goldstein. Wolff said her son had been attending Harker since seventh grade and soon will be heading off to Duke University. Thanks to Harker, however, she said she has little concern about how well prepared he is for the rigors of university life, because, “Harker is as good as college!” She added that when her son arrived at Harker in middle school he quickly connected with peers who are sure to remain friends for life. Following the luncheon, all the moms and dads in attendance received a memento of the emotional occasion which kicked off graduation week celebrations. Wolff said the event would have been more bittersweet had it not been for the fact that she has another son (Arthur, grade 9) at the upper school, giving her “a few more years of being a Harker parent.”
Students Cement their Harker Histories at Brick Ceremony By Zach Jones
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Students who placed bricks at this year’s ceremony are Michael Amick, Kiran Arimilli, Priscilla Auyeung, Neeraj Baid, Pranav Bheda, Deniz Eren Celik, Rohan Chandra, Jenny Chen, Michael Hao Cheng, Siobhan Cox, Madeleine The tradition stretches back to 2002 when Dawson, Tiphaine Delepine, parents of the very first high school class Sylvie Dobrota, John Patrick came up with the idea of laying bricks printed Doherty, Michelle Douglas, Molly with the students’ names and graduation Ellenberg, Rebecca Fang, Jasmine years in the walkway at Graduates’ Grove. Gill, Drew Goldstein, Varun Gudapati, Sonia Priya Hashim, “I think it’s a great tradition,” said Nirmal Baid, Patricia Huang, Samantha father of graduate Neeraj Baid. “The students Hoffman, Jacob Hoffman, Cristina are leaving their legacy. And they’re kind of Jerney, Amanda Kalb, David leaving a motivation behind for future students Lindars, Rebecca Liu, Meera and their parents to contribute to Harker Madhavan, Simar Mangat, because this is building their future.” Baid Maverick McNealy, Catalina said he’ll place another brick when daughter, Mihailide, Shivani Mitra, Nikhil Nilisha, grade 4, graduates. Panu, Laura Pedrotti, Shelby Rorabaugh, Alison Rugar, Maya Sita Arimilli said that the brick will preserve the memory of her son Kiran’s time at Harker. Sathaye, Pooja Shah, Arhum Siddiqui, Sonia Sidhu, Alan “It will always be here,” she said. “That feels Soetikno, Hansa Srinivasan, Christopher Sund, Kevin Susai, Lynda Tang, Alice Tsui, Sarina Vij, Emily Wang, amazing.” She, too, will honor her daughter Amy Wardenburg, Molly Wolfe and Justin Yang. Shalini, grade 9, upon her graduation. 10
H A R K E R Q U A R T E R LY
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Photos by Kyle Cavallaro
he upper school campus’ Graduates’ Grove bristled with activity on May 23 as a record 51 members of the Class of 2013 had bricks placed in the walkway at this year’s brick ceremony.