The Class of 2006 Leaves Exceptional Footprints

The 118th Commencement exercises at Westminster School were a mixture of joy, friendships, celebration, and high hopes for the future. Held over Memorial Day Weekend beginning with the traditional Spring Arts Festival, Step Sing, and Awards Ceremony, the events culminated on Sunday, May 28 with the graduation of 111 members of the Class of 2006. From Westminster these young students will go on to attend some of the most selective colleges and universities.

Commencement Speaker is Former Head of Trustees
“Don’t be afraid to take risks,” challenged Commencement speaker Jack Sherwin ’57, to the Class of 2006.  “You may be disappointed if you fail, but if you don’t try you are doomed.  Failure is part of life. You’ll get over it.”
 
Sherwin, who is a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, president of Mid-Continent Ventures, Inc., president of the Cleveland Foundation, the country’s first community foundation, and serves on numerous other boards, related his personal experiences of how he failed many times in life, including not being able to walk at his own commencement in 1957; yet, he ultimately received his diploma, found his niche, and became successful. He thanked the Class of 2006 for inviting him to participate in their Commencement Service.
 
“Don’t be afraid to try something different or do something that really interests you,” stated Mr. Sherwin.  “That doesn’t give you license to be totally self-indulgent, but it does speak to the fact that if there is something that you really love to do, maybe you should follow that path  and if it takes you off the well-marked trail, leave tracks for others to follow.  Only by living life with a level of passion and – more importantly – an undyingcommitment to what you believe in … only then will you ultimately achieve some measure of satisfaction,” he concluded.

Spring Arts, Lawn Ceremony, and New Prefects
The Spring Arts Festival  began the celebratory weekend. Held in Werner Centennial Center, the festival featured Westminster dancers, musicians, and choral groups performing for parents, friends, and visitors, and even an unexpected guest squirrel. The traditional Spring Awards ceremony for academics and athletics was moved this year to Saturday afternoon, and concluded with the popular Lawn Ceremony on Saturday evening  on the Senior Lawn. The event also marked the announcement of the 2006-07 prefects, who are: Head Prefect Nick Stevens ’07, Junior Prefect Sarah Lobdell ’07, Prefect Board – Tim Gavrich ’07, Alex Gerson ’07, Leigh Armstrong ’07, Chad Horsford ’07, Joey Liberator ’07 and Andrew Skipp ’07.

The Commencement
Baccalaureate and graduation was held on Sunday morning. Along with Mr. Sherwin, speakers included 2006 Head Prefect Lane Bodian ’06, who gave the Salutatory Address, shared stories of how the Class of 2006 shared in each other’s success in a bond that forever bounds them to the Hill. “Westminster has taught us to support each other and revel in each others accomplishments,” he stated. “We are excited about what lies ahead, but sad at what we leave behind.”
 
Outstanding Scholar Alex Lavoie ’06, a 6th Former from Avon who will be attending Harvard University in the fall,  was chosen by the faculty for his attributes as a scholar, including curiosity, imagination, and thoroughness. He spoke on how the supportive community at Westminster helped him develop from a self-declared “nerd” to a better rounded individual.  “Learning here is not a self-conscious action nor is it mutually exclusive with socializing.  Other students respect my desire to work hard but also to have fun,” he said. “Perhaps the most important lesson I learned from the Westminster community, however, it is the dedication and leadership of my classmates that humbled me in a way that I have never experienced before.  Particularly in our class of 2006,  students have emerged as dependable leaders in all realms of school life,” he declared.

Passing the Diplomas
Following the official commencement service, the members of the Class of 2006  joined the ranks of the school’s alumni as they moved to the Senior Lawn for the traditional ceremony of the passing of the diplomas. Each senior receives a random diploma during the commencement services. As they form a circle on the Senior Lawn, they pass the diplomas around the circle until they receive their own, then step out of the circle signifying their graduation.

The Class of 2006
Members of the Class of 2006 at Westminster School are: Jason M. Adams, Raymond M. Allen, John M. Armstrong, Kelly E. Balavender, Danielle E. Beaudoin, Katherine R. Belfiore, Jonathan R. Bettinger, Lane A. Bodian, Frank C. Borawski, Jr., Brock C. Bosacker, Lamar A. Brathwaite, P. Kyle Brewer, Margaret E. Brown, Dwayne J. (Matt) Bullen, Christina A. Cahill, Colin H. Campbell, Russell H. Clarke, Lamarc L. Comrie, Stephen L. Cosme, Daniel P. D'Addario, Nathan A. Dee, Christopher M. DeJohn, Henry L. Dillon, Jennifer C. DiMauro, Oscar J. Dunham, Nicole S. Dworak, David C. Earl, Lauren E. Eder, Courtney M. Edwards, Huntington Eldridge III, Jackson H. Ellis, Haili B. Elwood, Casey I. Fazekas, Jesse D. Fehr, Cristina G. Fioramonti, Aric R. Forfar, Sofia J. Garnett, Andres Gomez Rueda, Devan M. Gotowka, J. Alec Gray, Serena O. Grey, Lindsay A. Griffith, Caroline L. Grymes, A. Johnson Grymes V, Neil A. Hannah, Ryan P. Higgins, Samantha C. Hinckley, G. Russell Holland, Lauren A. Jackson, Rule Johnstone, Charles J. Kambe, Justus B. Kammuller, Victoria A. Kennedy, Il Shin (Brian) Kwak, Brooke R. Lamothe, Alexander J. Lavoie, Misha Yoonhee Lee, William K. Lent, Kyra L. Lentz, Alphonso (Pete) Mack II, Montira Mahinchai, Tucker C. Mauke, Frances N. McGrath, Mason T. McPhee, Kassandra D. Meyer, Benjamin J. Meyers, Dale T. Michelson, Myles S. Miller, Tiffany D. Moopenn, Elizabeth N. Montanari, Jean Paul Morais, Elizabeth A. Moran, Brett H. Morell, Welbith K. Mota, Robyn E. Nentwig, Samuel S. Ogden, Juliet N. Okpalanma, Chinwendu E. Okwu-Lawrence, Anna D. Osborn, Choongminn (Richard) Park, Emily M. Parker, Sean M. Patterson, Katherine F. Philip, Luis E. Quero, Jr., Christopher R. Ribaudo, Emily E. Ridenour, Morgan C. Roach, Ashley M. Robinson, Alberto M. Roldan, Colin G. Russel, Cyril J. Ryan, Brian Sanford, Cameron S. Scott, Charles C. Seglem, Bryce C. Shattie, Margaret K. Shea, Joel E. Shriver, Andrew B. Shult, Andrew C. Sieber, Damali Slowe, Benjamin A. Smith, Stephen Smith, Damek V. Spacek, Bryan M. Steiner, Peter S. Stevens, Caroline M. Thibadeau, Gina M. Valles, Emily L. Verone, Jonathan G. Wolter, Minha Lea Yoon, and Alexandra L. Young.