With a flourish of tent flaps whipping in strong wind, and warm sun breaking through clouds as the class of 2025 approached the lawn, we celebrated 91 students who began their Brooks careers masked, post-COVID, during a fittingly moving Commencement Weekend.

“They are ready for whatever is to come in their lives, and we want all of them to know and feel both our pride in what they are and our excitement about what they will still be,” said Head of School John Packard during our 94th Prize Day to a rapt and, at times, tearful audience assembled under the graduation tent on the lawn overlooking Lake Cochichewick.

“There are so many gifts, talents and passions seated before me,” he continued. “So many who have added in their own way to this community. How fortunate those yet to know them as we do will be over the years ahead.”

Brooks celebrated these impressive graduates — representing 12 states and eight countries — on May 31 with a Donning of the Stoles and Symbols Ceremony, Lawn Ceremony and “Boo-Hoo” Service, followed by Prize Day festivities on June 1.

See photos of the festivities, watch speeches and view the full list of award winners on our Celebrating Commencement page.

The Donning of the Stoles and Symbols Ceremony kicked off the first weekend event on Saturday morning in the Frank D. Ashburn Chapel (Two days prior, parents and guardians of the class of 2025 gathered with graduates for the annual Sixth-Form Parent Dinner and Slideshow).

“Each of you is stepping forward, solid and strong, into a world that is waiting for your voice, your vision, your courage and your creativity,” guest speaker Nina DeJesus Bowman ’85 said during her talk at the ceremony, which recognizes sixth-formers who’ve been active members of affinity groups and acknowledges their courage, leadership and cultural pride.

The celebrated groups included Alianza Latina; the Asian Student Alliance; Black Student Union; Gender and Sexuality Alliance; International Student Association; Jewish Student Organization; Sisters in Spirit; Students with Interracial Lives; and Women Supporting Women.

“Recognize that whatever age you are, you have something to offer and you don't have to wait to share it,” advised Bowman, co-founder and managing partner of The Mariswood Group, who is also a contributing author to The Harvard Business Review.

Three hours later, those talents and skills were celebrated in detail during Lawn Ceremony.

Chair of the Arts Department Babs Wheelden presented nine awards to students for their achievement in the arts, and Director of Athletics Andrea Heinze bestowed awards on eight student athletes, before Dean of Academic Affairs Currie Joya Huntington presented 22 students with academic prizes and John Packard awarded an additional 15 with school prizes.

“Through capstone presentations, amazing final projects and so many honors earned and bestowed this weekend, we learned of the exceptional academic strength in this class of 2025,” the head of school said praising the graduates during the weekend. “They are ready to take on college classrooms by storm.”

And on June 1 with a cheers-filled farewell, the sixth formers officially graduated and began that next chapter, taking some advice along with them.

“Be that close friend in the front row of the Chapel for communities and people yet to know you,” Packard urged the class during Prize Day, when graduates were awarded their diplomas, after he gave a pair of faculty honors to English Teacher Ian Speliotis ’14 and History Teacher Laila McCain (as well as conferred faculty emerita on former Learning Center Director Moira Goodman P'15, P'17, P'18, P'23) and three Prize Day awards.

“Believe in your ability and capacity to impact your community in ways that will ripple,” he said. “You know what Brooks School looks and feels like at its best because you have lived it. Bring that with you and what a difference you will make.”