The piper, Mr. Jesse Ofgang, led the procession of honorees into the tent on Stockton Field, while the eighth grade marshals, James Vazquez and William Soja, directed graduates to their seats.
The Reverend Andrew A. Kryzak ’98, priest-in-charge of St. John’s Church in Stamford, Connecticut, gave the invocation followed by the traditional singing of America the Beautiful, led by Ms. Joanna Seaton and accompanied by Donald Sosin.
Head of School Jody Reilly Soja gave her opening remarks. She spoke of her particular bond with this class, having been her “pod” after re-entering school during the pandemic, sharing a challenging but also joyful time together. She spoke of how this class resonated with the history of the school, the beginnings of which were also fraught with challenging world events. Through it all, the community on campus was strong, facing challenges with resilience and levity. “You have filled this space with love,” Ms. Soja said. “You support and trust each other and you are each others’ biggest cheerleaders.”
Ms. Soja added that the graduating class has been witness to extraordinary changes at IMS: in just the last three years – the OWL, the new tennis courts, Centennial Turf field, and the Morehead Athletic Center.