Thayer Commencement Recognizes the Class of 2026 

The 122 students in Thayer Academy’s Class of 2026 were celebrated for their numerous achievements and bright futures today (Saturday, June 6) during the Academy’s 148th Commencement exercises, but they were also urged to keep both success and the need for success in perspective. 

Aly Raisman, who knows a thing or two about success as team captain of the gold medal-winning USA Women’s gymnastics teams in 2012 and 2016 and one of the most decorated gymnasts in United States history, served as guest speaker for the graduation celebration, which took place on the front lawn of Main Campus. Raisman began her remarks by asking graduates to pause and remember their first days at Thayer when they were excited, confused, and maybe even a little frightened. She then asked them to reflect upon how far they’d come in such a short time. 

“I hope you allow yourself to feel proud of that,” Raisman told the seniors. 

Raisman then detailed her own experiences with the “What’s next?” nature of success. She recalled a time when, before she’d even had the chance to celebrate an Olympic victory with her family, people were already asking her about the next goal, the next competition, the next Olympics. 

“This neverending chase can be exhausting,” said Raisman, who added that one turning point for her occurred when someone offered some sage advice: Don’t let the Olympics be the best thing that’s ever happened in her life. 

“I felt that someone saw me separated from my accomplishment,” Raisman said of that piece of wisdom. 

Raisman made clear that she is a big believer in setting goals and achieving them. What she’s not a fan of, she said, is chasing something out of fears of what the world may or may not think of you. 

“Goals and dreams are essential,” she said, “but chasing ‘What’s next?’ is not always a sign of strength.” Later, she added: “Have the courage to live the life that feels right for you.” 

At one point Raisman encouraged the graduates not to give in to pessimism. 

“The world will give you plenty of reasons to be cynical,” she said. “Resist it.” 

And she concluded her remarks by reminding Thayer’s Class of 2026 how much they’d already achieved simply by being resilient these past four years. 

“Trust yourself not because you have all the answers,” Raisman said, “but because you’ve already proven that you can grow through the unknown.” 

Class Valedictorian Tessa Harper began her remarks by congratulating fellow classmates on their graduation. She then reminded some classmates — those who had joined Harper as members of Thayer’s inaugural fifth grade class in 2018 — that they’d now spent eight years, or almost half of their lives, at Thayer. 

Harper expressed gratitude to both Thayer and her classmates for a transformative experience before touching lightly upon some of the obstacles she and her classmates have had to face, chief among them the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent need for social distancing, Zoom classrooms, etc. Change, Harper said, is inevitable, so the key is to adapt to an uncertain and unpredictable world. 

“To the Class of 2026: the mystery of life isn’t a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced,” said Harper, quoting an iconic line from Frank Herbert’s Dune minus the shout-out to classmates. 

Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’26, ’28 welcomed the Thayer community to Commencement on what was a picture-perfect day. He urged graduates to “choose love” but not in the way that that word is used in greeting cards or television commercials. 

“Love demands discipline,” said Fortunato, adding that seniors should spend their time finding out what they truly love and pursuing that with a passion. 

Fortunato had the honor of recognizing two teachers — Upper School Visual Arts Department Head Anni Zukauskas ’94 P ’28, ’29 and Upper School English Faculty Emma Staffaroni — as recipients of the Eric M. Swain Award for Teaching Excellence. A third recipient, Middle School Science Department Head Natalie Young, was honored earlier in the week during the Middle School’s Recognition Day ceremonies. 

Chosen by the class as its senior speaker, Max Black thanked classmates for the honor and reminded them they are a class of different individuals, different personalities, and different experiences. 

“No two of us walked the same path to get here today,” said Black. 

In terms of lessons, Black recalled a time in his Thayer experience when he had to choose between a canned, insincere apology and an authentic, reflective mea culpa. He chose the latter, he said, and that made all the difference. 

“Mistakes have a way of following you through life,” he told the audience, “so stop, deal with it, and move on.” 

While Commencement rightly focused on the graduates, Gabriella Monteiro, who offered the invocation, and Jack Concannon, who offered the benediction, both used their time to place a spotlight on others deserving of attention 

“But we did not arrive here alone,” said Monteiro, thanking family members, loved ones, administrators, teachers, staff, and coaches for all of their support. 

And Concannon echoed those comments to close the day’s ceremony. 

“Without their guidance and support, we would not be where we are today,” Concannon said. 

Thayer’s 148th Commencement exercises had a new wrinkle but one that will soon become familiar. Accompanied by bagpipes, the Class of 2026 proceeded out of the brand-new gates that now adorn Thayer’s entrance along Washington Street. This year they were led by several members of the Class of 1962, whose school loyalty and generosity made the gates possible. Going forward, those gates will only be opened twice each year: once when the new ninth grade class enters Thayer and again at the end of the year when the senior class graduates. 

Van Whisnand ’62 addressed the Commencement audience and explained that he and his fellow classmates wanted gates that were just as impressive as the school they opened onto. 

“No one will ever go by those gates and wonder what’s behind them,” said Whisnand. “It’s Thayer Academy.” 

James Coughlin P ’25, ’26, chair of Thayer’s board of trustees, facilitated the conferral of diplomas. The alma mater was performed by Thayer Academy A Cappella. 

Thayer Academy’s 148th Commencement exercises included awards to the following seniors: 

— World Language Prizes: Cole Belcher (French); Tessa Harper (Latin); Caitlin Berardi (Spanish); and Jenny Wong (Chinese)

— The Leighton S. Tower History Prize: Luke Shahied 

— The Louise E. Saul Award for English: Ceili Kornhaber (Literature) and Paige Johnson (Writing) 

— The Maurice R. Seymour Prize for Mathematics: Zach Sarmanian 

— The Charles R. Mangat-Rai Prize for Computer Programming: Alaina Millian 

— The Helen Alden Breen Dramatics Award: Kai Robinson 

— The E. Ione Lockwood Music Award: Alyssa McGuirl and Liam Rogers 

— The John M. Rodancanachi Art Prize: Eliana Soares

— The Nathaniel Augustine Thayer Scholarship: Justin Le

— The Thomas J. Berry III Award: Eliana Soares 

— The Maureen E. Bucken Award: Nancy Gelina 

— The Walter & Prudence Abell Distinguished Service Awards: Ryan Dowden and Cailyn Hsu

— The Gilbert A. Booth Awards: Mikayla Barry and Ryan Lally 

— The Nancy DiNatale Taylor Award (Best Female Athlete): Dakota Adams 

— The Thayer Academy Outstanding Male Athlete Award: Neil MacKinnon 

— The Ward S. Donner Awards: Cassidy Mullin and Andrew St. Pierre 

— The Jotham B. Swell Prize: Tessa Harper 

— The Head of School Awards: Lyndsay Mingolelli and Paige Johnson