The Upper School hosted the annual Baccalaureate ceremony today at 6:30 p.m. in the Quad to honor the class of 2015, and officially pass on their roles as the oldest students on campus to this year’s junior class.

Upper School Director of Learning, Innovation and Design, Daniel Hudkins, shared his thoughts on the annual occurrence of this event.

“We have three big academic rituals. Matriculation, when things are beginning, graduation, when things end, but Baccalaureate is my favorite,” he said. “Baccalaureate is goodbye to the community. Graduation is for the grandparents.”

The ceremony commenced with Head of Academic Affairs Jennifer Gargano’s introduction of the Upper School choir group Cantilena, which sang ‘For Good’, a number from the hit musical, Wicked, as a tribute to their seniors.

Cantilena member Zahra Budhwani (10) expressed her support for her fellow seniors as well as the song.

“We all became really close in Cantilena this year,” she said. “We’re going to miss the seniors a lot, and we thought this would be a really good choice of a song.”

Following a performance by the orchestra, both the class of 2016 and the class of 2015 entered the quad to take their seats.

ASB president and member of the class of 2016, Michael Zhao (11) reflected on how much he will miss this year’s seniors.

“As you get older, especially as a junior, you become closer and closer with the graduating senior class,” Michael said. “So many of my friends are leaving, and I probably will never see most of them again because they are all going to different places around the globe. It’s really sad, but I’m also really happy for them. They all work so hard and deserve this. It’s exciting to think that we’ll be in their shoes in one year.”

Head of Upper School Butch Keller said his goodbyes to the class of 2015, and introduced this year’s faculty speaker, Upper School mathematics teacher Mary Mortlock.

Mortlock’s speech emphasized the importance of not being swayed by other’s opinions, as well as encouraged the seniors to look back at childhood years while looking forward to the years ahead.

“Be thankful for the past, and be grateful for the future,” she said. “Most importantly, be thankful for family.”

Mortlock’s speech received a standing ovation, and was followed by student speaker Ethan Ma (12), who donned a banana suit in honor of his tradition of wearing the suit every year since the fifth grade.

Ethan discussed the importance of living in the present.

“You should not depend on the future to request fulfillment, or risk becoming lost in the feeble shadow of reality, where happiness is an elusive jackrabbit,” Ethan said. “But wait, be still; with time, it will come to nibble the grass between your toes.”

His speech was received with another standing ovation, along with cheers and laughter from the entire audience.

The Baccalaureate ceremony concluded with closing remarks by Head of School Christopher Nikoloff, who then invited parents to view senior collages in the gym. Graduation will be held at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga this Saturday at 9 a.m.

Gallery • 9 Photos

Ria Gandhi

Ishanya Anthapur (12) and Sahiti Avula (12) sing as part of Cantilena. The class of 2015 was honored at this year’s Baccalaureate ceremony, and passed on their roles to the junior class.