136th Commencement Speeches

I’m Taylor Hennum, co-president of the class of 2020 with my friend and fellow co-president Evan Zorman 

It has been a distinct honor and a true pleasure to be able to represent and hear from each and every member of our community.  As a class, I can comfortably say we wouldn’t be here today without the support of our family and friends. We are especially indebted to the hard works of, Ms. Friel, our Class Dean,  Dr. Zaccara, Ms. Atkins and Ms. McCardle in College Counseling, 

and Mr. Ross and the Dining Hall staff.

 

This year has been far from normal, graduation and senior spring are expected by most VA students.  Like many others I thought I would graduate on the south lawn this year, I thought those pages of my life had already been written.  But life is full of unexpected turns and it is about how you deal with each one.  But this trimester has been more valuable than it may have been in person.  We have learned to deal with the unexpected and make the best despite difficult situations.  But even through online school, I like to think our community has grown stronger through this experience.  It has put things in a new perspective, one where we miss and value our friends, teachers, our beautiful campus, and in-person interactions.  Try to keep that perspective as we move on from this experience and we may grow from it.  

Thank you, Taylor. You’d think with a name like Zorman you’d be hearing from me last, but here I am.  If you can recall back to the start of the year Taylor and I asked you to go out and try new things. The class of 2020 is the most capable, dynamic, and forward-thinking group of people I can say I’m a part of. Right now as we step into a future filled with unknowns it can be easy to become rigid and to fall into distress. Many of us are leaving roles and titles that we’ve worked hard for and have become comfortable filling. We have had the comfort to develop our character, our ethics, and fulfill our responsibilities while nestled safely on the top of a hill in Saxtons River surrounded by miles of rolling green mountains and an unfaltering supply of people to support us. We are forever to be determined by our actions, and like those before us, we must stay strong together and emerge into a world that we are proud to call our own. Thank you and congratulations to the Vermont Academy class of 2020.

In separate news, we are also thrilled to announce that we are planning on donating a gift to VA with our senior class funds.

Hey everyone! I miss you all! First, a pat on the back for us, we made it…we graduated! I know that this graduation isn’t quite what we had imagined and it doesn’t feel so surreal when you’re sitting in your backyard in sweatpants, but it makes me a lot happier to know that the years we spent at VA more than makeup for it. Since day one, the Class of 2020 has been special. I can think of countless times these people have made me laugh, cry, or want to pull my hair out in frustration. I’m sure my fellow classmates could conjure up similar memories and I know that our teachers can.  It has truly been a magical four years. 

With so much free time, I’ve recently been struck by the realization that high school was some of the best days of my life, my fond memories to hold on to when I’m older. Even more than that, it’s hit me that graduating is one of our biggest accomplishments yet. It is the culmination of years of hard work, fun, and endless craziness. For parents, coaches, teachers, and others that have helped us along this journey, thank you, we needed it. Graduates, I am so proud of each and every one of us. I know that we will carry our time at VA with us as we go on to do great things. 

“Where we’re going, you won’t need any pants!” I used to laugh at this line a lot from Avatar: The Last Airbender when I was younger. In the show, it just refers to going swimming, and I used to think it would never apply to me outside of that context.

But then COVID hit, and soon pants indeed became irrelevant. We showcased a wide array of pajamas over Zoom from bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens, which replaced dress code and

Fuller as our learning environment of choice. In some ways, it was a welcome respite from the

long days we were accustomed to at VA since you didn’t have to hike up three flights of stairs to

get to math class. I'd be the first to admit that I’ve enjoyed the ‘Zoom Academy’ lifestyle. Many of

my teachers and peers adapted incredibly well to the new format and put in more effort to make

sure that we were making the most of online learning. Every day for the last two months I’ve

been thankful that at least we’re receiving a quality online education at a time when students

worldwide have lost access to a vital part of their lives.

Though it hasn’t been the spring we wanted, there’s been some good to come out of this

pandemic. People everywhere have gotten a lot better at personal hygiene, learned to bake, and

have started seeing grocery shopping as either one of the most freeing experiences ever or

incredibly awful. These, of course, are also all things that you learn at VA. You would be hard-

pressed to find any student who hasn’t gone to the market just to get off of campus, heard a dorm

parent sit them down and explain that yes, you do need to clean your room, or been rather jealous

of the smells of fresh bread emanating from multiple kitchens on campus and wanted to try

baking as a result. It took a pandemic for most people to learn these things, but we’ve been lucky

enough to just do it in school.

Since this is still graduation, I’ll end with a few thank you-s. Thank you to our teachers, who still

managed to teach us despite some disruptions, whether it was wifi or their children. Thank you to

our families, who put up with all of our “but I’m in class!” excuses and supported us both on-

campus and at home. And thank you to everyone doing their part to stop the spread of COVID;

it’ll be thanks to you if we can go to our respective campuses this fall.

Zhixia “Edward” Liang epitomizes excellence in everything he does. From his impeccable dress to his classroom success, Edward is an unstoppable force. Edward and I started our journey together during his freshman year in Algebra 2. This year he graduates having completed an independent study in Multivariable Calculus. The math department chair, Russell Mayhew says that this class “only works for the most disciplined and determined students.” Mr. Mayhew says that Edward “takes great pride in a job well done but is not so proud that he is unwilling to ask for help.” Edward is ambitious and driven but prideful he is not. His humble nature is exemplified in his participation with our robotics team. Edward quietly played key roles in ensuring the VA WiredCats made it to the state finals but not one to boast, he always acknowledged the team efforts before his own.

Edward’s constant drive towards excellence and his humility makes him a perfect candidate for this award but I believe that Edward’s strength is where he truly shines. Edward’s strength is quiet and easily missed for it is the strength of his character. His never-ending pursuit to be true to himself at an age where peer pressure is at its peak. I have never seen Edward be anything but authentically him. If his principles require him to take the road less traveled, he will blaze that path without hesitation or compromise.

While Edward has always remained true to his core self, he has also been patient with us when we have forced him out of his comfort zone. Edward, every time I asked you to stand in front of the class to explain a problem or I forced you to play games in advisory, I knew it went against your quiet and serious nature. Thank you for handling every challenge Vermont Academy presented you with humility, poise, and respect. Congratulations Edward, you deserve this recognition.

Four years ago, this quiet young student named Corey Dunn decided to try something new. He played Emanuel Goldstein in our production of 1984 appearing only on-screen in brief scratchy dystopian snatches. It was a safe role of a newcomer to the stage. The following year, he was a dead ancestor in The Addams Family, another safe place to be - a literal ghost on the stage! But in the next trimester, he found himself center stage as a semifinalist in Poetry Out Loud. He was terrified and, like many of you who have been in his shoes, didn’t want to do it. He was so nervous about speaking on stage that I worried about repercussions from his parents if I pushed him.  I forced him anyway and watched his father watch him as the student humbly took the stage, shoulders slumped, hoping to disappear.  He began with a sigh “When you are old and grey and full of sleep . . .” and I believed every word that followed, that he was a tired soul near the end. 

His poetry recitation was the highest-scoring of the night. His junior year he played a shrinking man holding on to hope in Almost, Maine, and a jilted cyber-lover in Begets. This year we saw him as the personification of Amazon superstore, and for much of the year, he labored with a potential one-man show. He has been a four-year member of the vocal ensemble and this year he put aside his cross country skis to try dance for the first time. He has been loyal and curious in his pursuit of the performing arts. The bigger the challenge, the more he dug in.  For example, because his role in Begets was his first principle, he memorized all of his lines over March break while on a service-learning trip to Belize. He began rehearsals off-book.  Corey creates characters that make us laugh, cry, and remember. In dance, he takes risks, committing to expressive movements, and becoming fearlessly vulnerable on stage. In voice, he practices and listens, working towards harmonies and building his range. As we have enjoyed his performance over the past four years, he has learned a great deal about himself and what he has to offer. Corey’s accomplishments on his personal journey and the self-confidence he’s developed over the past four years are worthy of praise and recognition. The winner of this year’s Charles Jackson Award is Corey Dunn.

It’s literally impossible not to smile and light up when someone mentions this year’s recipient. With no trace of hyperbole, I will tell you that Miao Lin, or “Jerry” as we’ve all come to know him at Vermont Academy is the absolute kindest, most caring, most thoughtful young man I… well most of us… have ever met. If there are angels living among us, Jerry Lin is one of them.

As Ms. Friel put it, teaching Jerry is like teaching the smartest, most hard-working beam of light! Regardless of the situation, he uses his energy to lift his classmates up. I will miss seeing him bop down Long Walk, smiling every step of the way.

Mr. Sotskov, who coached Jerry all four years, describes him as the most reliable and caring team member… always volunteering to help a struggler on the running course, or on the ski track… always coming up with just the right words for someone who’s been having a hard time emotionally or getting along with teammates… Jerry doesn’t need to be asked about giving a hand to others, it’s just in his nature.

While this award is not about achievement, as Jerry’s four-year advisor, I have observed him being all of these amazing things, while unfailingly earning straight As and Commendable effort marks in high-level classes... while engaging in campus citizenship that has earned him a place in both the National Honors Society and the Cum Laude Society.

During one of our last advisory meetings, as our group voted on senior superlatives, every member of our little pack nominated Jerry as “most likely to succeed.” He just blushed and kept on with the Jenga game we were playing in my living room… I took a sip of my tea, smiled, and thought to myself… It’s so true Jerry is and always will be successful because he is kind and he is grateful… for every precious person and every precious second of his life, Jerry Lin is grateful. And when he is around, it is impossible not to want to be a better person yourself.

Alex Paluszek arrived on campus at the beginning of her sophomore year ready to be a powerful, positive influence on our school culture. During the first week of classes, on my first night on duty as a dorm parent in Sturtevant, Alex asked if I would advise a club she wanted to start. Soon after, Alex and her roommate recruited for Pie Club during a legendary Community Meeting presentation, and for three years, our Sunday meetings have become a safe haven for quirky VA students who aren’t sure where they fit in. At an age when it;s not cool to be enthusiastic about things, Alex has helped create a place to be creative, thoughtful, silly, and relaxed.

Alex’s leadership has carried on to the first floor of West Hill as a trusted proctor, crew team, write club, and the National Honor Society of which she is co-president. She is a writing center tutor and literary magazine editor. In each of these endeavors, Alex is an enthusiastic leader and mentor. She doesn’t do anything half-way: not even Winter Carnival. Alex plays to win, organizing and pumping up her dorm for each competitive event. She is confident and determined, but always kind and looking to see that everyone is included.

Whether completing an ambitious capstone, supporting a struggling friend, or playing the lead role in the spring play, Alex is thoughtful, helpful, reliable, and consistently vulnerable in her wholehearted devotion in a job to be done. And like the true leader she is, Alex is committed to a vision of an ever-better Vermont Academy: even if those changes she sets in motion occur long after she has received her diploma. I know Alex will continue to use her voice and tenacity to bring people together and launch fantastic projects at Trinity.

I was a student at Vermont Academy while Mr. Long was the assistant head of school. I learned much about leadership and service while at Vermont Academy from him and others, like Jim Frey and Bob Harrington.

I learned that a good leader does so in such a way that others follow without even knowing they are following. A good leader often does so out of the service to something larger than themselves. These two seemingly separate terms of leadership and service can be expressed with “Stewardship”… Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.…and it is this term that best describes this year’s recipient, stewardship. 

This person always treated everyone and everything as if they were entrusted in her care. From the classroom through sports and activities and even in the dining hall, she was always a positive and ever-present leader for respect and service both for and with others. This person found ways to dive into their often chaotic and varied interests while making everyone feel as though this one thing was the best ever!

Lauren Eppinger is passionate about almost everything. She has touched and affected so many of our lives by making everyone feel welcomed and worthy. She has lead us all to become better through her example of not placing one group or thing above all else. Her passions are as vast as they are infectious and inspire others to try new things. From her capstone work on environmental issues through the lens of a children’s book, being ever-present at Kurn Hattin events, Pie Club, and even in creating a week-long summer design camp for girls is her call to service for us all. She is a steward to all that is Vermont Academy. Congratulations Lauren!

Before I give these awards, I want you to know that I have drawn on the words of advisors and faculty because capturing their voices as I describe the award recipients is important and the right thing to do.

Gigi Wood ’20: As we all turn toward next steps, the future is a main topic of conversation, but this student’s advisor said that she would change the subject if the future came up when she was a

freshman at Vermont Academy. As her career developed at Vermont Academy, she found that one of her passions was stretching beyond what she thought she could achieve, taking difficult classes, writing, debating, and taking the case of the underdog. She has maintained a 4.0 average for four years and has been the recipient of the Annie May Fenney award and the Wellesley Book prize. Her advisor said she is the kind of student who makes teachers over prepare for class because she would be coming in with a lot of good questions. She has played three varsity sports for four years and served as captain, and her persistence, consistency, and drive are examples to be admired and respected. Serving as a proctor for the last two years and secretary of her class, she spoke several times in front of the board, informing them of student life on campus and answering many questions from our board made up of alumni, friends of the school and parents. Her plan is to study law. It is my honor to give the Head of School award to Gigi Wood.

Siyang Wang ’20: When this four-year student arrived at Vermont Academy, he wore starched

polo shirts every day, sat up straight, and worked hard to impress his teachers. After reading his letter to himself from freshman year – part of our traditions for four-year seniors – he lamented that he had lost his competitive edge. Yet in fact, he has grown into and embraced who he is and never faltered in achievements. He goes from discussing his capstone for which he built a computer and tried to work with algorithms to determine data for agricultural productivity to advanced art where he can’t quite pick a medium, to robotics, to moonlighting on the stage as a dancer, an actor, and lover of the spotlight. He also won GOLD at the Vermont Science Fair last winter, where he showcased his work during his internship at Johns Hopkins. He says he does not identify as an athlete, but he has biked more miles for Cycle for the Cause, ran hills for cross country, and rowed in the serenity of the Connecticut River every spring on the crew team. He started as a Vermont Academy student with a uniform and a passion for profits and the bottom line, and he is graduating as someone filled with joy, light, crazy intellect, and crazier dance moves. With his passion for coding and algorithms, and his desire to make an impact for others, we will all be eager to see what path he will pursue at USC. It is my honor to present the Head of School award to Siyang Wang.

This year’s recipient is Jeff Simon. It has been an honor to witness Jeff’s growth over the past three years at VA and to see him transform into a leader in the classroom, in athletics, and in the community at large. When Jeff first arrived at VA, he wasn’t certain that it was the place for him, and it was a year of ups and downs. Since then, he has found his place and an understanding of himself.

Perhaps Jeff’s most obvious transformation was on the ice. None of us who were there will ever forget seeing Jeff score the first goal of the Boys Varsity Hockey Season this year- in his first season on the varsity team!  Though slightly less publicly, Jeff also experienced equally strong growth as a scholar. As a senior, he chose a class schedule tailored to his interests and learning style. His year was not without academic challenge, but when things got tough he balanced his priorities, used good coping skills, asked for help, and stayed true to himself. Most importantly, Jeff has grown in confidence and self-assurance, and is a loyal friend and a strong role model for his peers. Jeff Simon is a true Vermont Academy success story! I am so proud of his growth and can’t wait to see what he does next.

Four-year senior, day student proctor, tour guide extraordinaire, AP and honors-level student, 3 sport varsity athlete, 5-time NEPSAC champion, and one-time NEPSAC player of the year. She is a scholar, she is an athlete, she is a champion. And most importantly, she is a really great kid. She is Ella Bushee. 

Ella is everything I love about Vermont Academy. She is a quiet and humble leader. She doesn’t brag or boast, she doesn’t seek attention or the spotlight. She is kind and caring, but tough and gritty. She does anything that is asked of her and always with a smile. She has a quiet confidence-she knows how good she is but she’ll never tell you. She will simply work harder than anyone else.

 Like most journeys, for this graduate, it hasn’t always been easy. For all of the laughs, there have been tears. For every win, there have been losses. However, through it all, Ella Bushee keeps one thing at the center of the equation—the success of her community. Ella wants people to succeed-and she will willingly do her part to ensure they do. Ella makes the people around her better—including me. She makes no demands—she merely asks for your very best. And for the last four years, Ella Bushee has given Vermont Academy her very best. On the field, on the court, in the class ... Ella demonstrates that her heart belongs to VA. I want to thank you, Ella. 

There we are, looking straight up at a cliff of solid granite. I say with trepidation, “I’m not sure about this.” He replies with a smile, “I can do this Mr. Williams.” 500 vertical feet later, hanging on the rock face. Above, a challenging overhang to climb through. I say, “Looks tough up ahead, turn back?” He takes a breath, smiles, and states, “I believe in us, Mr. Williams.”

With silent grace, he climbs up and out of sight. This is the moment. Tears well up. As a teacher, it goes without saying that you want students to achieve their goals, define their own success, and develop into confident young adults who will give back. It’s safe to say that Taylor checks these boxes. His growth trajectory is like that rock face, heading straight up. He has been decorated with honors and achievements, culminating with an inspiring year leading the student body as co-president. His love for VA is tremendous. Students and teachers agree that Taylor makes whatever class, club, or team he is a part of, better. Spend a week on the Long Trail with Taylor, by the end you WILL be a better person. And what brought tears to my eyes that day on the rock face, was what Taylor has taught us. What you give to the world is what you get back. Until that day on the rock face, I was under the impression that I was coaching Taylor. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Thank you Taylor for being MY teacher. For fully embodying our school’s motto, “Be true to your best self.” The purity of your drive, your humility, and your joy is an inspiration to us all. For this, and oh so much more, Vermont Academy is awarding you the Barrett Medal. Congratulations Taylor Hennum!

Head of School, Dr. Jennifer Zaccara closed the ceremony. Her commencement address can be found, here. 

 

If you were unable to watch the ceremony you can find it on the Vermont Academy YouTube, here.