Year-End Celebrations and Graduations: Listen!

Students, faculty and staff marked the end of the 2005-2006 school year with graduations, award ceremonies and celebrations. Memorable words were spoken at each event and links to some of the speeches can be found below. A May 23rd luncheon was held to thank parent volunteers for their service to Hawken. Thanks and praises were bestowed upon outgoing Parents` Association Chair Vicki Koeblitz who handed the reigns over to chair-elect Kitty Schirm. Head of School Jim Berkman and Director of Development and External Relations Peter Anagnostos both thanked parents for their time, commitment and devotion, all of which are essential to the well-being of Hawken School. On May 30th, the athletic community gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and to bestow Old Board awards. Read more and listen to the banquet speeches. On Thursday June 1st the Board of Trustees honored retiring faculty members and long-time employees. Thanks were given to Faculty Emeriti Merl Davis, Nadja Deighan and Larry Nelson; Twenty-Five-Year Service Awardees Randy Dlugosz, Saeng Kamsingh and Rena Widzer and Departing Head of School Jim Berkman. Notes, stories and messages were collected at the reception and placed in memory boxes for the three retiring faculty members. During the event to Jack Breisch shared some of his favorite memories about Nadja Deighan. Board changes were also announced at the event. Kip Horsburgh will serve as Chairman, Alan Rosskamm as President and Julie Raskind as Assistant Secretary. The Board thanked retiring board members George Humphrey, Mary Bole, and Terry Goldberg for their service. Additionally, they welcomed Martin C. Schulz `82 as Alumni Association President, and Kitty C. Schirm as Parents` Association Chair. Sunday, June 4th marked the end of an era for the 115 members of the Hawken class of 2006. Class addresses were given by Samir Pendse and Nicole Pursell. Ariella Kirsch gave the valedictory address and English Department Dean Cris Harris spoke to the graduating class. The Hawken Chorale performed two musical offerings and the Hawken Concert Band performed the recessional. Hawken eighth graders said goodbye to the Lyndhurst Campus at a June 7th ceremony. Valedictorian Alisa Foti gave an address that showed a maturity beyond her years, followed by departing words by Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz.