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Saying goodbye to the seniors Commencement Ceremonies for the Class of 2023

The class of 2023 held their commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 10th. Throughout the evening the students were surrounded by families, friends, and MFS faculty members.

The event took place between the Stokes Hall Courtyard, the Oval, and then, the Dining Hall Commons. The above time-lapse spans the entire evening, from socializing beforehand to the clean-up afterward.

Capturing Moments To Remember

(Photo by Dinah Megibow-Taylor '24 / MFSWordsWorth Editor-In-Chief)

Noah Rachlin, Upper School Director, and Julia de la Torre, Head of School, share what they will miss most about the Class of 2023 prior to the ceremony. (Video by Charlotte Nesevich, MFSWordsworth Associate Editor-In-Chief of Blog)

Prior to the ceremony, the class of 2023 gathered by the Peace Pole to take pictures.

(Photos by Dinah Megibow-Taylor '24 / MFSWordsworth Editor-In-Chief and Sophia Lalani '25 / MFSWordsworth Associate Editor-In-Chief of Print)

The Ceremony

(Photo by Dinah Megibow-Taylor '24 / MFSWordsWorth Editor-In-Chief)

Photo by Dinah Megibow-Taylor '24 / MFSWordsWorth Editor-In-Chief

Per MFS tradition, students walked out in pairs to meaningful songs.

"All the love you won't forget,

And all these reckless nights you won't regret.

Someday soon, your whole life's gonna change,

You'll miss the magic of these good old days."

Good Old Days, Macklemore

"There's a party goin' on right here,

A celebration to last throughout the years.

So bring your good times, and your laughter too,

We gonna celebrate your party with you."

- Celebration, Kool & The Gang

"Long live the walls we crashed through,

How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you.

Long live all the mountains we moved,

I had the time of my life, fighting dragons with you."

- Long Live, Taylor Swift

Ivy Brown, School Committee Clerk, opened the ceremony with a reading.

(Photo from MFS SmugMug)

Following Brown, Head of School Julia de la Torre began the ceremony with her own opening remarks. de la Torre noted the weather, a blessing following days of hazy skies, and the perfect temperature, which remained between 82 and 70 degrees with a light breeze.

Photos from MFS SmugMug.

The first commencement speaker was Nasir Harrison ’23, whose humor was visible throughout his speech. Harrison lightheartedly touched upon the positive aspects of COVID-19 in the graduating class, then confessed that, really, the “NPC” (non-player characters, a popular term describing those who lack interpersonal connections) interactions will be dearly missed.

(Photos by Dinah Megibow-Taylor '24 / MFSWordsWorth Editor-In-Chief)

Following Harrison, the second commencement speaker was Eva Vanterpool ’23. Vanterpool used her speech to encourage her classmates to carry two pieces of advice with them as they leave MFS: to “be you” and “do you.”

(Photos by Dinah Megibow-Taylor '24 / MFSWordsWorth Editor-In-Chief)

This year’s musical selection was the song History by One Direction. It was performed by five members of the graduating class: Julianna Banfe, Isabella Dawson, Sreehita Hajeebu, Shelby Noel, and Jenna Serotta.

(Photo from MFS SmugMug)

"You and me got a whole lot of history.

We could be the greatest team that the world has ever seen.

You and me got a whole lot of history.

So don't let it go, we can make some more, we can live forever."

- History, One Direction

The senior class chose Math Department Chair Katie LuBrant as the faculty Commencement speaker. LuBrant recalled numerous memories and told stories of experiences she had shared with the graduating class.

Finally, students received their diplomas from de la Torre and Noah Rachlin, Head of Upper School.

(Photos by Dinah Megibow - Taylor '24 / MFSWordsWorth Editor-In-Chief)

Following the ceremony, members of the graduating class remained in the oval to spend time with their families and friends before moving towards the Dining Hall Commons for the reception.

(Photo by Sophia Lalani '25 / MFSWordsWorth Associate Editor-In-Chief of Print)

(Photo by Dinah Megibow-Taylor '24 / MFSWordsWorth Editor-In-Chief)

By Charlotte Nesevich '25 / MFSWordsWorth Associate Editor-In-Chief of Blog

Photos by MFS SmugMug, Dinah Megibow-Taylor '24, and Sophia Lalani '25

Maya DeAndrea '25 also contributed to this reporting.

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