Resilient Class of 2022 Graduates Under Sunny Skies
June 15, 2022, unfolded over the Horace Mann School campus with blue skies and sunshine as dazzling as the day's celebratory event: graduation for the 180 members of the Class of 2022. The occasion represented an impressive achievement in itself, for the graduates had arrived at this day despite having a significant portion of their high school years compromised by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speakers included presider and Class of 2022 Grade Dean Dr. Glenn Wallach, Board of Trustees Chair Laurence Grafstein, and Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly. Acknowledging that these graduates had "lost much" of the typical high school experience because of COVID-19, Dr. Kelly commended them for not allowing the loss to define them. He exhorted the graduates to leave HM with kindness in their hearts and urged them to choose experience over material things.
Upper Division Head Dr. Jessica Levenstein introduced class valedictorian Teddy Ganea ’22, chosen to represent the class by the graduates themselves. Ganea traced the class's history of enthusiastic exploration and of learning together that "each answer created two questions." He spoke about the deep friendships, constant collaboration, and the humbling of coming to understand that with "our species at the tipping point ... we cannot stand by" but must instead become "those leading edges that last."
The Concert Glee Club and senior members of the Upper Division choirs performed moving renditions of Viva La Vida and Slipping Through my Fingers, with Timothy Ho conducting and Dr. Amir Khosrowpour accompanying on piano.
At the conclusion of the celebration, all present rose to sing the Alma Mater, the newly minted alumni swaying to and fro with arms locked and smiles beaming.