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Annual Brick Ceremony celebrates Class of 2026

Byline photo of Lily Peng
Byline photo of Charlene Li
by Lily Peng, Charlene Li, Yimo Xie, and Ayaan Grover
May 19, 2026
Senior Aashvi Ravi places her brick in Graduate's Grove. Each brick had the senior's name and graduation year.
Senior Aashvi Ravi places her brick in Graduate’s Grove. Each brick had the senior’s name and graduation year.
Lily Peng
Seniors and their families gather in front of Dobbins to receive their brick. "You see kids when they come here and they're 14 and they haven't quite found themselves," head of Upper School Paul Barsky said. "If you're fortunate enough, you get to see how they evolve and maybe have a little small part of that mosaic of helping make a difference."

Class of 2026 and their families convened for the annual Brick Ceremony to commemorate the seniors’ legacies in Graduates’ Grove on Friday. 

Senior class dean Meredith Cranston read aloud the names of seniors receiving bricks, which are given to families who donate $2,026 to the school’s annual fund. Director of Annual Giving Jun Wang handed seniors bricks engraved with their names and graduation year. Families posed for pictures with Head of School Brian Yager before seniors laid their bricks in Graduates’ Grove.

Seniors and their families gather in front of Dobbins to receive their brick. “You see kids when they come here and they’re 14 and they haven’t quite found themselves,” head of Upper School Paul Barsky said. “If you’re fortunate enough, you get to see how they evolve and maybe have a little small part of that mosaic of helping make a difference.” (Charlene Li)
Senior Charlotte Ludlow poses for a photo with her brick and her family. "It's very special because they read our names and we get to put our bricks down," Charlotte said.

Senior Charlotte Ludlow received a brick and found the experience surreal, prompting her to reflect on the end of her high school career.

“It feels crazy because I’ve always looked at the bricks when I was younger and looked at the names and tried to recognize people,” Charlotte said. “Now that it’s me, it serves as a form of closure. I do like that part of it, so it can help me process my ending of high school better.”

Senior Charlotte Ludlow poses for a photo with her brick and her family. “It’s very special because they read our names and we get to put our bricks down,” Charlotte said. (Charlene Li)
Parents enjoy drinks as they mingle after their children laid down their bricks. This year, 116 seniors received bricks, since their families donated at least $2,026 to the school. (Lily Peng)

Wang addressed the attendees at the beginning of the event, thanking them for their contributions to the school and emphasizing the significance of the ceremony.

“I hope years from now, when you come back visiting as alumni or alumni parents, you will remember this moment and stop at the spot and think about the experiences, the memories and the friendships you made in Harker,” Wang said. “No matter where life takes you next, we are always part of the Harker community. Congratulations again to the Class of 2026.”

 

A kitchen staff prepares drinks before the Brick Ceremony. Drink options ranged from infused coconut water to mango nectar.

The annual bricklaying tradition was established in 2002 and aims to cement the graduating class’s legacy. The Class of 2026 endowment raised over $530,000 in annual giving donations, and 116 seniors received bricks, the second-highest number in school history.

After placing bricks, families dispersed to take photographs, indulge in drinks and talk amongst themselves.

Class of 2026 and their families convened for the annual Brick Ceremony to commemorate the seniors’ legacies in Graduates’ Grove on Friday.
Lily Peng
Senior Yash Greene laughs with his friends. Brick Ceremony was only the start of graduation events, with Baccalaureate and the senior trip following.

A kitchen staff prepares drinks before the Brick Ceremony. Drink options ranged from infused coconut water to mango nectar. (Charlene Li)
Parents chat amongst themselves as they celebrate their children's incoming graduation. The bricklaying tradition was meant to honor the legacy of the graduating class.

Head of Upper School Paul Barsky described the bittersweet feelings of the graduation traditions, honoring the journey of the seniors at Harker and wishing them the best in their future paths.

“Right now we have the beginning of the end for senior families,” Barsky said. “It is now a movement away from being seniors to being alumni. We have the bricklaying ceremony, which is a way for families to show that they’re helping Harker continue to build a future, and then kids can come back and see their names on the bricks for years to come.”

Baccalaureate followed the Brick Ceremony in the Quad.

Parents chat amongst themselves as they celebrate their children’s incoming graduation. The bricklaying tradition was meant to honor the legacy of the graduating class. (Lily Peng)
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