Under the dappled shade of sugar maples, 121 seniors assembled on the grass outside of the Homestead on the morning of Sunday, May 26, in preparation for the march that would lead them, first, under the tent on the Quadrangle and then to the stage, where they received their Williston Northampton School diplomas.
Head of School Robert W. Hill III introduced keynote speaker Pierce Freelon ’02. Freelon recently made a run for mayor in his home city of Durham, NC. He founded a youth-oriented maker space called Blackspace. He fronts the hip-hop band The Beast. Freelon encouraged graduates to see their future as a blank canvas, and to paint something beautiful. (Read his full remarks here).
Senior speaker Harrison Winrow ’18 reflected on the Williston community that encouraged him to try new things, and that supported him when he became ill. His words—by turns surprising, funny, and poignant—expressed the essence of a Williston experience. (Read his full remarks here).
Mr. Hill congratulated recipients of Academic Awards, presented the previous day (see the list here). A new group of Cum Laude Society inductees were welcomed to the stage (read more here).
Following the program, faculty formed their traditional receiving line and said teary good-byes to the once-seniors—now members of the graduated class of 2018.
See photos of the event here.
Watch a video of the event here.