The three VASA leaders took turns delivering one speech. “For a moment,” said Odnoga, “think of Vermont Academy as a bubble. Inside the bubble is VA, a place of 13 different countries; inside the bubble is a place for everyone to learn to the best of their ability with an open mind and an unbiased approach. We listen to the similarities and differences between cultures, we bond through academia, sports, arts, music, and theater. We not only become better students, athletes, musicians, and actors, we become better people.”

Song continued, “Now, Class of 2018, we stand on this campus, about to embark on the first step of the rest of our lives with no bubble, no protection. So, what do we have? We have our family, friends, and mentors, but most importantly, we have the education, the wits, and the life experiences that we gained to carry us through.”

William Svensson was the class’s salutatorian, and Karl-Antoine Girard was valedictorian. In his address, Girard said, “From Asia to South America, from Europe to the West Coast, from New York to Saxtons River, Vermont, we can definitely infer that we have diversity in our friend groups. If you told me three years ago that my OCD French Canadian personality would room one year with an awesome guy from New Delhi, India, I would have told you that you were totally crazy. Each and every one of us has grown tremendously, and it is largely because of you. Faculty members, thank you for endlessly sharing with us your knowledge, your life experiences, and your precious time.”

In her Commencement address, Dr. Jennifer L. Zaccara, Vermont Academy’s head of school, spoke about the nature and contradictions of time. “Have you ever wanted to stop time?” she asked. “To put a moment or an experience ‘on hold?’ We cannot, because time is moving--it may crawl or flee or fly or creep. We may say it seems to stand still only when we are reflecting on something sublime or recording a memory forever, consciously, and in the moment--but it is moving, in process.”

She urged graduates to continue to return to Vermont Academy throughout their lives. She said, “Let Vermont Academy, graduates, be an anchor in your life, a place that the Spanish call a querencia, a “wanting place,” a place to which one returns to contemplate, to be at peace, to reflect before a life change or turn, to be yourself, and to be accepted and valued for who you are.”

View photos of graduation:
Album 1
Album 2

Check out more albums of Vermont Academy photos on Flickr

Awards

Brian Anderson
Tomas Deveault
Ian Fenn
Karl-Antoine Girard
Kathryn Gorman
Ava Hill
James Kuesel
Qilong Lai
Peiru Li
Henry Mayer
Caitlyn McDermott
Blake McDonald
Sebastijan Skoko
Kihoon Song
William Svensson
Tao Zheng

“As a scholar, leader, an athlete, and artist, Kexin exemplifies Grant Frazer’s dignified humility, constant drive toward excellence and quiet strength.” --Laura Frey, chair of the World Language department

“No matter what the task, no matter how she is feeling, Ava gives her all. Her enthusiasm for learning and dedication to excellence are authentic and infectious.” --Amy Lanterman, Learning Skills instructor

“Teachers describe Harry as ‘a delight,’ a ‘ray of sunshine,’ and ‘an incredibly special person with infectious enthusiasm.’” —Meg O’Connor, theater director

“I don’t think you could put Kihoon in a box with a neat and tidy label because his contributions defy friend groups and cliques. Kihoon is an athlete who has helped win a state championship. He’s a jazz musician, he’s a leader, he’s an international student, he is a scholar. This award is for the student who glues us together.” --Ali O’Brien, English teacher

“People respect Holly because she’s cool, and I don’t use that word lightly… It’s cliché, but really, there’s nothing cooler than a kid who doesn’t know just how cool she is. Holly is cool because she knows who she is, and in knowing who she is, she can focus on the pursuit of making others feel good about who THEY are.” --Amanda Hodgson, English teacher and class dean

“Allison Buckley, you have impacted this community in multiple ways for multiple years. Your love for VA can be seen every day in your willingness to go above and beyond for those around you.” --Karen Henry, history teacher and Learning Skills instructor

“Caitlyn is an intellectually curious student, and rather than simply trying to earn a high grade, she carefully considers each issue on a deeper level, inspiring her instructors and classmates to do the same.” --Christy Catsos, history teacher

“She continues to impress me with her endurance. I do not just mean athletic endurance, but her endurance in school, friendships, and life as well.” --Joe Echanis, chair of the Science Department, quoting a fellow VA teacher

“I have been in awe of Karl Antoine Girard’s strong work ethic, his desire to learn and willingness to continually be better. Ask any one of his teachers and they will all speak to his love of learning before they mention his near perfect grades and the countless academic honors he has earned.” --David Hodgson, Interim Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

*Cum Laude, +National Honor Society

The following seniors and postgraduates were honored at this year’s Commencement ceremony:

Hayley Elizabeth Adams, Warragul, Australia
Jai Adlakha, New Delhi, India
*Brian S. Anderson, Chester, Vermont
+Benjamin Robert Asack, Somerville, Massachusetts
Kofi Asante, Jr., Bronx New York
Chloé Aurard, Villard De Lans, France
Trevor E. Brink, Lyndonville, Vermont
Allison "Buck" Buckley, Brattleboro, Vermont
Logan T. Cota, Bellows Falls, Vermont
Tomas J. Deveault, Trois-Rivieres, Canada
+Dariel Rose Echanis, Saxtons River, Vermont
Allysun Brooks Erunski, Chesterfield, New Hampshire
Quinn Doyle Evans, Stonington, Connecticut
Ian Gordon Fenn, Brattleboro, Vermont
Robert F. Ferreira, Salem, New Hampshire
Jeremy Michael Fleming, Chester, Vermont
*+Karl-Antoine Girard, Sherbrooke, Canada
Nathaniel Jacob Gordon, Norwalk, Connecticut
Kathryn Ann Gorman, Canton, Connecticut
Nadya Anna Grisczenkow, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
*Conor Paul Harrington, Walpole, New Hampshire
Ethan Edward Hart, Chester, Vermont
*+Ava Lauren Hill, Andover, Vermont
Andrew H. Hoblitzelle, Watertown, Massachusetts
Frank H. Jiang, Highpoint, North Carolina
+Niklas E. Johnson, Marlboro, Vermont
Kyung Joon Kim, Andover, Massachusetts
Lauren R. Koval, Hanover, New Hampshire
*+James Ellsworth Kuesel, Greenwich, Connecticut
Qilong "Miks" Lai, Shanghai, China
Eleanor S. LaRussa-Taubold, Rochester, New York
+Harie Lee, Seoul, South Korea
Jiwoo Lee, Seoul, South Korea
*+Peiru Li, Beijing, China
Yujie "Juno" Li, Huzhou, China
Jonathan C. Lyons, Stamford, Connecticut
*+Henry Albert William Mayer, Waban, Massachusetts
*Caitlyn Corrigan McDermott, Charlestown, Massachusetts
Blake A. McDonald, Santa Clarita, California
Brandon S. McDonald, Santa Clarita, California
Holly N. Meredith, Saratoga Springs, New York
Calvin Moise, Saint-Eustache, Canada
Daniel Patrick Murray, Charlestown, Massachusetts
Michael Patrick Nolan, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
Lotti Odnoga, Gyor,Hungary
Nikolai Aleksander Orekhov, Old Forge, New York
Samuel Taylor Paul, Woodstock, Connecticut
Madison Erika Paydos, Simsbury, Connecticut
William Dzi-Hong Persina, New York, New York
+Yu "Ryan" Qiu, Beijing, China
Kevin Charles Quirk, Belmont, Massachusetts
Kyra Diane Rideout, Hinsdale, New Hampshire
Sydney M. Royce, New Rochelle, New York
Jordan Louis Savad, New York, New York
Daniel Luc Schreier, Santa Monica, California
Thornton Thomas Scott, Glen Cove, New York
Oluwasimisola Shittu, Burlington, Canada
Blanka Škodová, Sternberk, Czech Republic
Sebastijan Satchell Skoko, Sharon, Massachusetts
Ricky Nathanael Smith, Wildwood, Montana
Kihoon Song, Seoul, South Korea
Hunter J. Sutherland, West Des Moines, Iowa
*+William Ellery Kalsek Svensson, Saxtons River, Vermont
Michael Tokarski, Suffern, New York
Zhicheng Wang, Shenzhen, China
Drew Lester Wilkinson, Marion, Massachusetts
*+Kexin Xu, Jining, China
Yijia "Knightly" Zhai, Beijing, China
*Tao "Jenny" Zheng, Beijing, China