Shady Side Academy officials sent 106 graduates into the world as the Class of 2026.
Academy President Bartley Griffith welcomed guests and students at commencement June 6.
Whitney Minarcheck, president of alumni council and a 2006 graduate, talked about being in the seniors’ seats 20 years ago and how much has changed and what stayed the same.
“You’re about to embark on a new constant from your Shady Side Academy experience,” Minarcheck said. “That’s the constant of the alumni community. You now share something with thousands of people around the world: your special, hard-earned, Shady Side education.
“Wherever your path takes you — whether it’s across the city, the country or the globe — you are likely to find someone with a tie to this school.”
Nicholas Marcelo Grzymkowski delivered the senior speech. He talked about what made his last four years at the academy special. Examples included family experiences, playing games and the ups and downs of education and football.
“For me, what made my experience here worth it was the community,” Grzymkowski said. He hopes the bonds formed at the academy last long after graduation.
Alison Fragale, a 1993 graduate and a best-selling author and professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, served as the guest speaker.
She encouraged graduates to take more risks and not give in to the fear of looking foolish.
Fragale told seniors that studies have shown the world does not revolve around them and not everyone is worth their time.
“Only a small percentage of the people you encounter will make an impact on your life, but you get to choose who they are, so choose wisely,” she said.
Other graduation activities
Senior Clarke Elizabeth Wickland announced the glass gift, which will be the addition of game tables in the student lounge in the future Rockwell student commons.
“We wanted something that reflected the spirit of connection and fun,” she said. A commemorative plaque will recognize the Class of 2026.
The academy’s jazz combo, under the direction of Ian Hughes, performed “Skate” by Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak as a musical interlude before the distribution of diplomas.
Piper Andrew Carlisle played a selection of traditional Scottish marches as he led the event’s processional.
The chamber choir, under the direction of Jeffrey Gross, performed before the speakers.
Head of Senior School Andrew Prince made sure parents, grandparents and other family members were recognized for supporting the students.
Griffith presented the Posner Award to Xiaoxia Xu, Chinese teacher at the Senior School. The award is presented annually to exemplary educators.
Commencement was livestreamed and posted on the academy’s YouTube page.
Congratulations, Class of 2026!
Tatum John Adams
Avani Radhika Agrawal
Ahmeena Jewel Anthony
Chad Roland Barber Jr.*
Mark Andrew Bence
Rhyley Darrah Bendel**
Morgan Udvari Bender
Paul Louis Benec
Campbell William Brown
Beau Thomas Brush
Nora Josephine Bryan
Mia Bugarija
Sol Bunimovich
Marcus Burkley Jr.
Ethan Jiayi Chen
Siyi Chen
Tony Chen
Kabeer Kapoor Chopra
Matteo Anthony Colello
Aurora Elizabeth Cunkelman
Luke Donovan David
Samuel Ian Davidheiser
Madison Jane Davies
Samraj William Delfyett
Kyle Nathan Delisma**
Alexander Nicolas Demchak
Trey Michael Donovan
Alexander Sebastian Zhu Enloe
Brian Matthew Firman
Evan Vincent Fularz
Manek Pandit Gerhardy
Brady Griffin
Nicholas Marcelo Grzymkowski
Yaseen Hamda
Nicolas Joseph Hardin
Joseph Nevi Hosteny V
Boqian Hou
Benjamin Huang
Tianhao Huang
Yuelun Huang
Jacob Tyler Huff
Ava Mary Isasky
Jacob Lehman Johnson
Jazmine Nicole Johnson
Caden Kaforey
Faaris Kamal
Samuel Jon Kamin
Mollie Evelyn Kaplan
MaNayah Jae Kelley
Rohan Singh Khera
Killian Thomas Kissane
Marley Anne Kotkiewicz
Henry Joseph Krober
Sarah Elizabeth Kushnir
Rosemary Elia Kutz-Flamenbaum
Samantha Jean Larkin
Cayah L’Nani Leavy
Ziling Li
John G. Ludden*
Alex Galfrid Mai
Mateo Maiz Villarreal
Cameron Mallory
Catherine Kilner Maxwell
Nico McBride
Ty Thompson McCaskey
Joshua McCormick
Samuel Andrew Mitry
Regan Maynard Mulderig
Abigail Glenn Mullin
Ariya Milani Nahata
Benjamin Kyle Nicholson
William Michael Nury
Laurence (Junwoo) Park
Simon Christopher Passerrello-Carnevali
Vivan Neil Poddar
John Ondrick Poggi
Virginia Allera Powers
Ava Nalini Ragoowansi
Lillian Grace Ratliff
Maria C. Ravotti
Cole Harasyn Reed
Quinn Anderson Rishor
Ashley Rothenberg
Annika Victoria Sandholm
Cassandra Ryan Sauer
Rebecca Jo Schriver
Lily Grace Shanefelter
Taylor Reese Shanefelter
Roddin Shirazian
Perkin Ryan Showalter
Diya Shrishrimal
Jacqueline Marie Sullivan
Kiran Dinesh Tevar
Karis Nichole Thomas
Liliana Rose Toma
Ella Camille Van Norman
Sophia Grace Vrcic
David Wang
Haotian Wang
Thomas Jichen Wang
Clarke Elizabeth Wickland*
Andrew Brady Williams
Evan Xiang
Tristan Xiao
Neeta Yechoor
Yuhan Zhu
* Class officer
** Student council officer