Commencement

On Sunday, May 29, the Class of 2022 took their first steps as members of the Western Reserve Academy alumni community. Behind them now are memories of Reserve Green and Morning Meetings, Back to School Bashes and Send Off to Summers, the toll of the Victory Bell and equally celebratory ring of a Knight Fine Arts Center applause. Though it's everything these seniors and post-graduates have been working toward, it's bittersweet for the faculty and staff members who have so cherished their time here. But, as always, this melancholy is eclipsed by pride, joy and wonder at what lies ahead for these Pioneers.

The Class of 2022 graduated on a beautiful day with sunshine and blue skies providing a gorgeous backdrop for the ceremony. We returned to our traditional setting of the front of the Chapel, with rows and rows of family, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the school facing the historic structure. If there was a theme to the event, it was best described by Head of School Suzanne Walker Buck — "While today is a day of joy, it is also one of art. By art I mean both the celebration of creativity and the celebration of voice."

She then invited the first of our two Arts who spoke at the ceremony, Commencement Student Speaker Arthur Johnson '22.

Elected by his peers, Johnson first thanked his classmates for trusting him to speak on their behalf. What followed was a wise and compelling study of their collective time at Reserve, the already fond memories of seemingly unimportant moments, like video game marathons and late-night talks with dormmates.

Funny, thoughtful and astute, his speech contained an admirable directive to his classmates to remember to focus not only on their future selves, their dreams, their goals, but also to revel in the present.

"Wake up each day, passionate about the life you are living, not the one you hope to or might live, for that is never a guarantee," said Johnson. "The dots that form the paths of our lives can only be connected retrospectively, so forage new paths and invent new opportunities without the burden of expectation on your shoulders... Once you begin to relish the life that is presently upon you, I can guarantee that, when the time has come to connect the dots, to look back, you will be, at the very least, fulfilled and contented by the knowledge that you did not forget, in striving to live a better life, to cherish the life you do live. My wish for each of you–each of us, because it goes for me, too– is that, hopefully, by experiencing and appreciating the present beauty of just simply living, some form of happiness and success will come our way."

Buck then returned to the stage for faculty recognition and student awards. The Robert S. Weiss Memorial Award, voted upon by the entire senior class, is bestowed to a recipient whose dedication, academic integrity and support of student interest in the arts, athletics and what might be termed "real life" carries on the tradition established by Bob Weiss. The applause was deafening as Science Chair and Director of Community Outreach & Global Engagement Wanda Boesch was asked to come forward and be recognized for this honor.

The student awards followed, recognizing various seniors for their strength in character, intellect, integrity and more. A description of each Commencement award is available to read here, and the following students were recognized:

• Bicknell Prize | David J. King
• John W. Hallowell Award | Isabella M. Folio
• Harlan Wood Award
  • Ella S. Bump
  • Arthur A. Johnson
• Robinson Prize | Omar M. White-Evans
• Friendship Trophy | Benjamin H. Sindell
• Turnbull Endeavor Award | Sophia G. Shaheen
• Marie Fiedler Award | Jimena S. Oliva
• Angus Frew Award | Daniel T. F. Hoffman

Buck then introduced the selected Commencement Speaker, Art. C. Chang '81, an innovator, an entrepreneur, a 2021 New York City mayoral candidate, a son of Korean immigrants, a proud husband and father — to name just a few of his many roles and accomplishments.

Like Johnson, Chang brought attention to the importance of perspective and our relationship with time.

"Everyone talks about endings," he said. "That's actually the easy part. But few prepare you for new beginnings. And you are about to have one. You may have decided to become a doctor, a lawyer, an architect. And your path might be as straight as an arrow. But very few are. Instead, you are likely to change, and change again. And to do that, you will need to know how to begin, and begin again, and again, and again.

He called on the new graduates to learn to be malleable, to expect change, and to find inner strength and resilience in the face of adversity — and Chang has faced a tremendous amount of adversity. He shared his experience of growing up in an abusive household, of being raised by love that was conditional, the rough start of navigating Reserve as a Korean student without the same means and outward appearance as many of his classmates. As he explained early in his speech, his path had many turns and setbacks, but his journey toward success is a truly inspiring one.

"I have come to believe that the more different you are, the richer you are," said Chang. "The more difficult your path has already been, the more tools you will gain. So strive to be uncomfortable. To have new beginnings. To forge new paths. Hold your standards high! Don't give up! Always move forward! And don't forget, once in a while, to celebrate yourself. You can do this and you will pay it forward. After all, you are the Class of 2022!"

As applause quieted, the ceremony continued the presentation of diplomas by WRA's Co-president of the Board of Trustees, Nathaniel E. Leonard '82. It was a perfect blend of formal and fun as Pioneers crossed the stage as official graduates, grinning at the hoot and hollering of their loved ones. Some were even joined by fellow Pioneer family members who happily bestowed the diploma, extending another branch of their Reserve family tree.

Once more, Buck took to the stage to close the momentous occasion.

"The mission of Western Reserve Academy is to prepare students to blaze trails in learning and in life," she shared. "Through your intellectual pursuits, your professional prowess, the kindness you extend to others, and the relationships you nourish, you will pioneer greatness. I can't wait to see all that you will do."

Congratulations to the entire Class of 2022. You did it!

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READ MORE ABOUT THE CLASS OF 2022

Like any proud parent, Western Reserve Academy is thrilled to celebrate the exceptional Class of 2022. So many adventures await these talented young Pioneers, and we are eager to share where they are headed.

See the full matriculation list.

See the full acceptance list.

Their college destinations are taking them across the globe. With National Decision Day (May 1) behind us, we officially know that the members of the Class of 2022 have committed to an impressive list of 84 colleges and universities. These students, who among them hail from 17 different states and 12 countries, will be attending schools in 23 states and 2 countries.

Among them, you'll find creative artists, recruited athletes, ambitious leaders, compassionate volunteers, national scholars and more. Specifically, we can share that 11 students received National Merit Scholarship recognition, including one National Merit Scholarship Winner, one College Scholarship Winner and nine Commended students.

More than 90 merit scholarships have been awarded to this class, including: Presidential Scholar, Boston University; Liberty Scholar, Drexel University, Morrill Scholar: The Ohio State University; Bonner Scholarship, Rhodes College; Founders Scholarship, Connecticut College; and 1783 Scholarship, Dickinson College.

Five class members have shared plans to pursue their talents in the fine and performing arts as musicians, film makers, studio artists. And 29 Pioneers have committed to play collegiate sports across Division I, II and III programs. Baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and wrestling are represented in this list, and we look forward to cheering both our artists and our athletes from afar.

This year, our College Counseling Office took on the task of totaling the amount of scholarships received by our students. This information can only be shared voluntarily from the applicant, and with a little over 50% of the Class of 2022 reporting so far, we can share that this class has received more than $9.5 million in scholarships.

On a beautiful day of blue skies and sunshine, the Class of 2021 graduated from Western Reserve Academy and officially began the next chapter of their academic story. It was a new experience for the WRA community, and we turned tradition a little on its head, still holding ceremonies outdoors but on the vast green stretch of the Morgan Hall Fields, a place with rich memories of soccer matches won and fireworks set off — indeed, a perfect place for celebration.

After receiving their white rose boutonnieres and bouquets, the Class of 2021 gathered on Chapel Street, chattering excitedly and huddling together for last-minute selfies before the formal procession, steered by the Akron and District Pipe Band, WRA Trustees and faculty.

The Class of 2021's Student Body Co-President Hunter Amos was this year's selected student speaker. If she was at all nervous to address her peers and the school community on the Commencement stage, it didn't show, and the Harvard-bound graduate shared poignant, passionate remarks, reflecting on her and her peers' time at Reserve.

"I say this in my own experience, don't live on a predetermined track formed by the expectations of your family, friends or society around you," said Amos. "The first step in believing in yourself is just to look inside and recognize that you are unique, you are pensive, you get frustrated, you barely passed chemistry, you are an asset. And that feeling should lead you to belong. All those in the audience outfitted in green in white will receive their diplomas today not only as a sign that you managed to pass the JWE and finesse your way through calc, but also because you have committed yourself to an idea and made a successful push to get there."

Again, we broke tradition but with gusto and great pleasure by bringing in a WRA faculty member as the featured Commencement speaker. H. Arthur Bellow Jr. '56 Chair and History Department faculty member Diccon Ong '81 has, in fact, spoken at Commencement before at his own graduation in 1981 as the selected student speaker. A few decades later, he made the walk again and took to the podium to address the school community with great care.

"Life is a gift," said Ong. "You have just one, as far as we know, so make the most of it. And remember you and you alone can be the only true judge of whether or not the life you have been gifted has been well-spent... Speaking of gifts, your education at WRA has certainly been one of those. It was only made possible through the generosity of countless people... There is an important liability balancing out the assets you have acquired from your time at Reserve. The time will no doubt come when you will encounter others, whether they be family, friends, colleagues, neighbors or mere strangers, who you will perceive are in need of some kind of help or assistance. If you are in a position to lend them a hand, it would be an affront to all those who have ever played a role in helping you on your journey through life for you to withhold that support. If nothing else I've said here today remains in your memory... I hope you will remember this."

The awarding of the diplomas was a moving sight made all the brighter in the moments when fellow family graduates took the stage to personally hand over the diploma and embrace their newly graduated Pioneer with pride and joy.

At the closing of the ceremony, Buck once again took to the podium,

"Today is a most joyous occasion," she said. "And as you might know, I believe in the transcendent power of joy. Contrary to what you might think, joy is not the antithesis of adversity, it is instead a compliment to or a by-product of such a force. Sometimes it is within the difficult sojourn that we learn what matters to us most. At such times of challenge we are required to work with greater determination, endure more than we thought possible, and gather the resolve to embrace a new day... Joy is a fire lit by emotion and experience. It is illuminated through gratitude and magnified when shared. Recognize, create and honor joy. Allow for joy to be an expression of your truth and a beacon of your light."

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, WRA faculty and staff, Buck commended each and every one of the members of the Class of 2021 for their tenacity, good will and the excellence with which they conducted themselves in this unconventional year.

"The members of the Class of 2021 hold a special place in my heart," said Buck. "We survived this year together, and you are the first class I have officially graduated from Reserve. This is most meaningful to me. I appreciate all that you are and do. I look forward to hearing of your success in all that it is to come. And I can't wait to welcome you back to campus as alumni. Know that Reserve will always be here as your second home. In addition, Mr. Buck and I extend an open invitation to you to spend time with us at Pierce House. You are forever part of our WRA family."

The ceremony closed as it always does, with the singing of the alma mater, affection clear in the raised voices as they closed the song with "Dear Old Reserve" before breaking into all of the loud applause and cheers well earned after a four year journey through these brick paths. A packed lunch prepared by Chef Eddie Mundy and his team was waiting for pick up and picnics sprouted up all around campus as our Class of 2021 basked in their first official hours as WRA alumni members.

We will dearly miss this spirited and ever-surprising class, but we know in our hearts that like all of our beloved graduates, they will come home to Reserve again. We look forward to staying in touch to hear about all of their achievements, ventures and feats and to seeing them at all of their future Reunion Weekends. Congratulations to our graduates. You did it!

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The Class of 2021 gained acceptances to more than 230 schools across 20 states, Washington D.C., Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom and Australia. Notably, 66% of the class received acceptance to a Top 50 College or University, and we are proud to share this class includes two Jack Kent Cooke Scholars, three Quest Bridge Finalists, one Morehead-Cain finalist and two four-year, full tuition John B. Ervin Scholarship recipients. Nine student-athletes have committed to playing in college, two are National Merit Finalists and eight are Commended Students.

But the accomplishments of the Class of 2021 cannot be measured purely by quantity and stats, and we honor the compassion and character they demonstrated each day. We are proud of every Pioneer and applaud the variety of paths this class will take. Here are just a few special highlights:

• Student-athlete Markus Ilver committed to play at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with the Badgers' 9th ranked team in college basketball.
• Accomplished birder Helena Souffrant is spreading her wings at Bowdoin College in Maine.
• Environmentalist and activist Elizabeth Krapf will continue her path of curiosity at American University in Washington D.C.
• Mariah Davis and William Brannon both plan to attend Howard University — a historically Black university.
• This year there are a growing number of students pursuing passions they nourished at Reserve, such as Cancer Immunology student Carl Zhang, who heads to Stanford in the fall to pursue Biomedical Engineering.
• Others will continue pursuing independent passions found through their WRA Compass Projects, like Chuan Shuo Chen who is chasing his dream of studying Avionics at Washington University in St. Louis.

Just as 2020 was truly a year like no other, the Class of 2020 was, and continues to be, a class like no other. With hundreds of acceptances, the class members chose to attend 80 different schools across 24 states, the United Kingdom and Germany. Take a look at the Class of 2020's college acceptance list.

"What an honor it was to spend my first year at WRA with this group of graduates," said Head of School Suzanne Walker Buck. "I feel personally indebted to them for the incredible welcome they extended to my family and me. I am inspired by that which they have accomplished in the face of great challenges. My colleagues and I can't wait to celebrate these amazing Pioneers and to share our joy for all that they will accomplish. We are thrilled to name them alumni of Western Reserve Academy."

Quantitative superlatives for the class are abundant:

• 100% of students will matriculate to 4-year colleges and universities.
• 84% were admitted to "most competitive" or "highly competitive" schools as ranked by Barron's.
• 35 students accepted and will attend their Early Decision college. An additional 31 will attend colleges where they applied as an Early Action applicant.
• 13 students-athletes committed to playing at the collegiate level.
• The Class of 2020 included 5 National Merit Finalists and 12 Commended students, an outstanding percentage considering the small class size.
• 12 acceptances to five Ivy League institutions.
• Six Senior Cancer Immunology and Pathobiology students plan to continue their research in college.

COVID-19 prevented us from hosting an in-person Commencement, but the Class of 2020 was honored in new and inventive ways. Faculty, staff and members of the Board of Trustees paid visits to home-bound Pioneers, delivering special graduations boxes packed with special items, gifts and their diploma.

The school also filmed a graduation video, featuring elected class speakers Noah Frato-Sweeney '20 and Henry Ong '20, Jeff Schaffer '87 (writer, director and executive producer of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld and Dave), a senior banner sign off and more. Watch the full video below.

Western Reserve Academy hosted its 184th Commencement on Sunday, May 26, 2019. The unpredictable Ohio weather forced the celebration into the Murdough Athletic Center, but the gray skies did not damper the celebratory mood. Congratulations to our Class of 2019 and their proud families.

Another memorable moment in the celebration was when the Co-Presidents of the WRA Board of Trustees, Timothy R. Warner '69 and Andrew R. Midler '79, made a special presentation. Associate Head of School Kate Mueller was awarded an honorary diploma and welcomed officially as a member of the Class of 2019.

• Read Zohaib Malik's '19 speech
• Read the speech by Christopher D. Burner '80, Head of School
• Learn more about our accomplished Class of 2019

See a list of awards bestowed during Commencement and at the annual tradition of Senior Celebration, which took place on Saturday in the Chapel.

Senior Celebration Photo Slideshow

Commencement Photo Slideshow

News

• University of Akron President Matthew J. Wilson selected as the 2018 Commencement Speaker
• Seniors Francisco Blanco and Charlie Kolodziej to speak at Commencement Weekend
• Western Reserve Academy holds 183rd Commencement
• Western Reserve Academy graduates 101 seniors

Commencement 2018 Photo Slideshow

Senior Celebration Photo Slideshow

Class of 2018 Facts

• 100 percent of 101 graduates will matriculate to four-year colleges and universities
• 80 percent of graduates accepted to institutions deemed "Most Selective" or "Highly Selective" by Barron's
• 6 graduates will attend Ivy League schools
• 10 graduates will attend an international school
• $7.6 million in merit scholarships received
• View the full 2018 matriculation and accomplishments list here
• Head of School Commencement Address