The class of 2025 concluded their high school journey with a graduation ceremony at Mountain Winery on May 22.

Students received their diplomas and celebrated the end of their high school careers by flipping the tassel on their caps and throwing them in the air. Graduation marked the end of four years at Harker for the class of 2025, from being the first on campus at the end of the pandemic in ninth grade to creating final bittersweet memories as seniors.

Mother of Felix Chen (‘25) Fiona Griffiths hoped the graduates will hold on to their high school memories to guide them on new chapters in their lives.

“I’m so excited for what he’s going to do, and I know we’re going to miss him a lot, but I also know he’s going to have a great time and learn lots of new things,” Griffiths said. “I wish the years went slower, and I’ll miss things that seem really routine, like picking up and dropping off, because you just end up having conversations.”

Head of upper school Paul Barsky introduced Senior Mission Award recipient Emily Mitnick (‘25), whom the majority of faculty voted for because of her academic excellence, kindness, athleticism and leadership.

In her address, Emily spoke about how her initially binary view of leadership and success evolved during high school. After encountering a cadet at West Point who made time to offer her advice despite long working hours, Emily realized that she wanted to pursue a future in the military, where she hopes to achieve a success that means not just pursuing individual goals but leading team members with empathy.

“I’ve come to realize that ‘good enough’ is not something you achieve but something you carry deep within yourself,” Emily said. “Let’s rewrite the impossibly vague standard of being ‘good enough’ to a standard of being kind, selfless, and giving of our time and energy to others. Instead of asking, ‘am I good enough,’ let’s ask, ‘am I being good to the people around me who need me?’”

Co-founder and CEO of PeerAI Anita Modi (‘04) delivered the keynote address. She shared five pieces of guidance for the graduating class, advising them to look beyond failures to continue taking steps towards eventual goals. Modi highlighted the importance of cherishing Harker connections and memories that will persist beyond high school.

“Class of 2025, you started high school in a pandemic, and you not only survived, you thrived,” Modi said. “You prove that even in uncertainty, you could create something meaningful. Hold on to the friendships that have carried through study sessions, the curiosity that has driven you to build companies and create art and most of all, that confidence that you already have deep inside.”

Seniors processed down the stairs and filed in front of the stage as the orchestra played “Pomp & Circumstance” by Edward Elgar. All upper school vocal groups participated in the graduation chorus, singing a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” conducted by Luke Zeng (‘25) and arranged by retiring vocal music teacher Susan Nace. Nace also conducted the second choral performance to “Measure Me, Sky” by Jonathan Reid.

Capriccio member Harrison Chen (‘25) reflected on the pride and nostalgia he felt during the ceremony as well as afterwards as he congratulated his classmates.

“When I wake up tomorrow and everything’s over, it’s gonna hit me then,” Harrison said. “A lot of people teared up during the song because it’s very sentimental. When I’m singing, and I hear everyone around me, it’s a lot of emotions, but I’m glad I got to sing with everyone one last time. Harker choir has meant a lot to me, and I’ve learned so much because of all the wonderful teachers and people.”

Head of school Brian Yager closed the ceremony with a farewell to the graduating class, reflecting on the framed collages of each senior and the memories displayed in each photo. Before handing out the diplomas, he encouraged the seniors to pursue their interests and wished them luck on both the successes and failures of their journeys ahead. To close off the ceremony, doves flew from cages, and the graduating class threw their caps into the air.