118th Commencement
On Friday, May 23, Berkshire bid a fond farewell to its 118th graduating class. Watch the video below for highlights from this special day!
For a list of Prize Night and graduation award winners and to see where the members of the Class of 2025 are headed this fall, check out "The Green and Gray: Special Commencement Issue" below.
Commencement Speakers
Michkael McKenzie '25 was selected by his classmates as this year's recipient of the Weil Family Prize for Public Speaking. His speech centered on the notion that "it takes a village to raise a child" and how that is true both in his own childhood and at Berkshire through the importance of community.
We’ve always had people by our side—the ones who stayed up late with us when no one else did. Who sat beside us when the room felt empty. Who read our essays one more time when we couldn’t bear to look at them again. The ones who believed in us—even when we didn’t believe in ourselves." –Michkael McKenzie '25
Members of the graduating class bestowed the Aliis Non Sibi award to Associate Head of School and chemistry teacher Peter Quilty. The award recognizes a faculty member who lives up to the motto: "For others, not themselves."
The Commencement address was given by Dartmouth President Dr. Sian Beilock. She shared three tips with the Class of 2025 surrounding the journeys they will embark on in the fall.
Berkshire has already helped you to become multiple authentic selves. College will require you to know how to access your different identities when you need them." –Dr. Sian Beilock
Senior Families
Photos from Highpoint Pictures will be available soon!
All professional photos taken at graduation by Highpoint Pictures will be posted soon on their website for viewing and ordering. Please keep an eye on your email for a notice when the photos are ready!
Please contact Highpoint Pictures directly with any questions at (914) 738-5500 or staff@highpointpictures.com.
Senior Dinner
On May 20, the Class of 2025 celebrated their time under the Mountain with their advisors and the faculty at the annual Senior Dinner in the new Campus Center. Bray Wilcock '12 was the speaker for the evening.
And what an exciting moment; finishing up your time under the Mountain. Closing this beautiful chapter and about to start a new one. Embrace it all. You are truly on the edge of setting off on your next grand adventure." –Bray Wilcock '12
Once a Bear, always a Bear! 🐻
A Berkshire Tradition: The Senior Send-Off
Senior Socials
Thanks to the incredible generosity of parents of the senior class who came together to meet the December Senior Parent Challenge, the Class of 2025 enjoyed a series of Senior Socials this spring.
The first event kicked off with a sneak preview of the Campus Center—before its official March opening—complete with sundaes from Modern Milk Bar. Since then, seniors have enjoyed sushi from The East, tacos and churros from the Taco Loco truck (plus a little hacky sack fun!), a delicious spread from Charlie’s Bistro Bus and coffee and bagels during Senior Week.
Thank you to our senior parents for making these special moments possible for the Class of 2025 during their final months under the Mountain!
A Published Bear!
Recent graduate Troy Monte '25 had an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal as part of their "Future View" series, which poses fundamental questions about the world at large and solicits responses from current students.
In his article, "A Hollow World," the Bucknell-bound sixth former discusses an increase in loneliness in young adults and its connection to their search for faith.
Economics and Philanthropy Class Donates to Local Organization
In the spring trimester, Mr. Cohen’s Economics and Philanthropy class explored the history and evolving role of worldwide philanthropy by exploring the responsibilities, strategies, and impact of donors, nonprofits, and foundations. For the culminating project, students researched and evaluated Berkshire County-based nonprofit organizations that serve the many complex needs of the Berkshires.
After pitching their favorites through peer review and deliberation, this year’s class selected The Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires in Pittsfield, Mass., to receive the substantial financial grant.
The funding will support the organization’s drop-in program designed for children in third grade and above, which provides a safe, supervised space offering homework help, mentoring, meals, and opportunities to swim, use the gymnasium and Teen Center, and engage with their peers.
Advanced Research and Independent Study Exhibition
At the annual Advanced Research and Independent Study Exhibition (ARISE) showcase, students in Advanced Humanities Research, Advanced Environmental Science Research and Advanced Math/Science Research presented the topics of their yearlong research.
From artificial intelligence image generation to a prolonged study of language use in Canada, these Bears shared the results of their research projects in math, science, and the humanities.
Spring Shorts 2025
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Spring Shorts for their outstanding performances in six short plays!
Spring Athletic Awards
Congratulations to all our spring athletes for their performance and dedication this season. A special shoutout to Sophia Busa '26 and Will Mulder ‘26 for taking home the Jeanette A. Shaw Trophy and the Frank Beattie Trophy respectively—the highest awards bestowed upon our fifth-form student-athletes who best exemplify proficiency and sportsmanship in interscholastic athletics.
At the Spring Athletic Awards, Athletic Director Dan Driscoll shared a few of the monumental accomplishments this spring such as:
Making History at New Englands!
For the first time in School history, a girls crew boat earned a spot in the Grand Final at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Championships, held May 24 at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, MA.
The 2V boat of Dionis Phelan ’26, Reeves Thompson ’28, Camilla Parks ’26, Phoebe Sutton-Do ’26, and cox Clem Thomson ’26 won their morning heat before taking a Bronze Medal in the championship race.
Being with them on the dock after the race and putting their medals around their necks is my new favorite Berkshire moment. I am so proud of them and so happy that they got to have this experience. They've written themselves into the Berkshire Crew history books, and no one deserves it more. I can't wait to see what they can accomplish next season!” –Girls Crew Coach Sam Ortega
Pro Vita 2026
The Pro Vita Winter Sessions trips for the 2025-26 school year have been announced!
The offerings will include a tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), a trip to The Island School in Eleuthera, Bahamas, and a cultural adventure in China. Details surrounding registration will come in the fall.
Reach out to School Travel Coordinator Amber West with any questions at awest@berkshireschool.org
Learn About Berkshire's Protest Generation: 1963-1973 on Zoom
On Tuesday, June 24th at 5:30 p.m. EST, join Archivist Bebe Bullock '86 to learn about Berkshire’s Protest Generation:1963-1973.
In 1965, newspaper headlines ushered in a new era in America: The Watts race riots, the passing of the Voting Rights Act, Malcolm X’s assassination, NASA’s first space walk, and protests on the Washington Mall to end U.S. involvement in Vietnam were all front page news.
At Berkshire, Mr. Godman had been headmaster for 14 years, and the last of the old guard teachers were retiring. The faculty was all white and almost all male, and the School was about to catch up with the outside world.
How did these social events impact life at Berkshire? How did they shape Berkshire into the school it is today? Join the Zoom to learn more at the link below!
Staff Award Winners
Congratulations to Bobbie Jo Gilligan and Craig Whiting, winners of the 2025 Staff Appreciation Award and the Timothy Fulco ’78 Service Award, respectively!
The Staff Appreciation Award is presented to a staff member who has worked at Berkshire for five years or less and who has demonstrated a unique dedication to their role, strong initiative and independent work ethic, and is a tireless supporter of their colleagues.
As Administrative Assistant in the Student Life Office, Bobbie Jo treats students with care and kindness, and works with our Berkshire families with an unwavering smile.
The Timothy Fulco ’78 Service Award recognizes a staff member’s long-term commitment to excellence, their dedication to their role and to Berkshire, and the respect accorded them by their colleagues and the community.
As Manager of the Jackman L. Stewart Athletic Center, Craig Whiting manages everything in the complicated building from the compression system for the ice, to keeping the boards in pristine condition, to supervising the Zambonis, and even plowing the parking lots before the day’s work.
For Our Bears: Let's "B" There Together!
This year’s Annual Fund goal of $3.25 million (representing 8% of our overall operating budget) is a numerical representation of our stretching—going above and beyond our tuition and expenses to deliver the most impactful Berkshire experience.
The goal is straightforward—to raise the remaining $400,000 to meet this year’s Annual Fund goal before the end of the fiscal year on Monday, June 30th.
Please consider joining the For Our Bears initiative by making your Annual Fund gift today to directly support and impact every member of the school community.
Thank You Parent Association Leaders!
Please join us in recognizing the hard work and many contributions of our Parents Association Co-Chairs, Susan Block Casdin P'26 and Nicolle O’Keefe P'22,'24,'27, and all of our devoted Form Reps and Committee Chairs.
Through their leadership, collaboration, and generosity, our Parents Association supported our faculty and staff, athletic teams, Admission efforts, Annual Fund, and above all, our students. Thank you for your time, energy, and partnership throughout this past year.
As we look forward, we are excited to announce next year’s PA leadership team:
Co-Chairs: Ashley Burr P'25,'27 and Nicolle O’Keefe P'22,'24,'27
Sixth Form: Blair Clarke P'23,'26 and Emily Reynolds P'26
Fifth Form: Laura Harris P'27,'28 and Ferebee Taube P'27
Fourth Form: Kristen Fay P'28 and Jenny Weymouth P'28
Third Form: Martha Sharp P’22,'26,'29
Go Bears––and their parents!
A gauntlet of faculty, staff, and students said farewell to retiring faculty member Paul Banevicius, recognizing him for his incredible 25 year teaching career at Berkshire.
As the long term Art Department Chair and curator of The Warren Family Gallery, Mr. Banevicius started traditions such as the annual Senior Selfies exhibit and photography trips both locally in Berkshire and Dutchess Counties and to New York City. As a parent to Merit '14 and Dalia '17, he has been a staple of Berkshire's Art Department during his tenure under the Mountain. We will miss you, Mr. Banevicius!
#GoBears