Westminster School Celebrates Class of 2026

Even as light showers passed over Williams Hill during Westminster School’s 138th graduation ceremony, the celebration of the Class of 2026 was full of energy, gratitude, and joy as audiences gathered in person on Commencement Lawn or watched the livestream of the ceremony online.

Head of School Elaine White opened the ceremony with congratulations for the Class of 2026, a welcome to families and friends, and “gratitude for those who have made this day possible with their love, support, and guidance.” With the ceremony held on Memorial Day Weekend, active military and veterans were recognized and thanked “for placing the needs of our country before your own and ensuring us the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful day.”

Mimi Salman ’26 Speaks as Salutatorian
  
Dean of Students Paul Kendall introduced Head Prefect Mimi Salman, praising her breadth of involvement, leadership, and contagious enthusiasm, noting, “Mimi truly reflects the very best of Westminster’s core values.”

Salman’s energetic speech included themes of home, unity, and gratitude. She began by telling the audience, “It took my five countries, five schools, three continents, and an almost finished high school career to land at Westminster. And in my two years here, I have never felt more seen, appreciated, and cared for.” She expressed her gratitude for the faculty, her advisor, Betsy Heckman, her classmates, and her family.

To her classmates, Salman said, “No matter how far away we fly, or how much we achieve, I am confident we can all look back at Williams Hill and call it home. We've carried each other through this place in ways nobody outside this lawn will ever quite understand. I believe our class will be remembered for our unity as a form, our collective leadership in all aspects of the school, and our dedicated hunger for excellence.”

Awarding Faculty Prizes
 
Dean of Faculty Lee Huguley P’19, ’26, ’29 introduced the presentation of several prestigious awards to faculty members. Shawn Desjardins was awarded the Swayze Prize for his outstanding contributions to the life of the school. Bethany Rodrigues ’96, P’23, ’27, ’29 received the O’Brien Prize, which recognizes a faculty member who has been selfless and generous with time and care in the nurture and support of students.

Student Award Presentation

Several students were recognized with awards for excellence in academics, leadership, and character.
 
The Butler Bowl is awarded to a Third Former who demonstrates the traits of character and leadership: Terry Deng ’29

The Adams Bowl is presented to a Fourth Former who best embodies the qualities of Richard and Barbara Adams, who devoted more than 40 years of service to the school. Barbara served on the faculty from 1995–2011, and Dick served on the faculty from 1970–2013: Sofia Eleuteri ’28

The Wilbraham Bowl is given to a Fifth Former who best embodies the qualities of Geoffrey Wilbraham, who gave distinguished service to Westminster from 1958–1994: Teagan Lynch ’27

Richard K. LeBlond, II Honor Award is given to a Sixth Former who exemplifies dedication to academics and loyalty to the school: Pippa Jiranek ’26

Paul Winship Alumni Book Prize is awarded to the Sixth Former who has made an unusual commitment in breadth and depth to school programs and activities: Simon Stambaugh ’26 and Hannah Maltby ’26

The Outstanding Scholar Award is presented to that Westminster Sixth Former who, in the opinion of the faculty, is the outstanding scholar of the class. Caroline Breslav ’26

Keyes Bowl, recognized as the school’s most prestigious commencement award, is presented to a Sixth Former who displays loyalty, courage, leadership, and humility: Taleah Leonard ’26

Outstanding Scholar Address by Caroline Breslav ’26

Outstanding Scholar Caroline Breslav ’26 spoke about how her love of reading stood in contrast to her dislike of English class and her being a “concrete thinker who takes things too literally.” That said, Breslav humorously admitted she was going to use a metaphor to frame her address, “Let’s say Westminster is a library with each of us being the books inside. Just like a book, each person’s story is filled with ups and downs. At Westminster, we were taught to read more of each person’s story.” She encouraged her classmates, “Think about all the people who have loved you into your now, into YOUR story,” including teachers, coaches, friends, and family. “Take this time to reflect and thank them for the impact they had on your life,” said Breslav. 
 
“As we think about driving down the hill one last time with our high school chapter ending, don’t worry that things will never be the same again. Instead, think back on all the wonderful memories that you’ve made while you were here. We will never be all together again, and our lives will take different paths. We will grow apart and change as we come across new experiences,” said Breslav.

Wrapping up her address with a return to her reluctant metaphor, Breslav shared, “We’ve turned to a blank page in our books. But in reality, Westminster isn’t a library, and we are not books. This is a school, and we are people, so go into the world and live your life authentically,” reminding her classmates and the audience that “Westminster, and all of us here today, are always a part of your history.”

Commencement Speaker Draggan Mihailovich P’22, ’25, ’25

Executive Editor of CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Draggan Mihailovich P’22, ’25, ’25, delivered an entertaining and heartfelt Commencement address, which featured his family’s firsthand experiences of arriving at—and departing from—Williams Hill, as well as words of advice for the graduating class.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina with a degree in journalism, Mihailovich joined “60 Minutes” in 1998 and was named executive editor in 2025. His investigative reporting, profiles, and international coverage have earned seven Emmy Awards and three Edward R. Murrow Awards, making Mihailovich one of the most respected producers in broadcast journalism. He and his wife, Hope, are the proud parents of three Westminster graduates, Ben ’22, Jillian ’25, and Alex ’25.

“I want to impart—as AI cannot—the feelings this school evokes,” began Mihailovich, as he shared the story of the day his family dropped off his oldest child, Ben, at Westminster. Mihailovich was struggling with what his son’s leaving would mean to their family’s dynamic. “To me, boarding school was where you sent your kids when you didn’t want to deal with them anymore. I didn’t want Ben to leave, but this was his wish, and we honored it,” he said. As he and Hope saw Ben flourishing that first fall, and then later their younger children both chose to attend Westminster and made their parents “real empty nesters earlier than expected,” Mihailovich recognized that their children blossomed on Williams Hill and that their time at Westminster had not weakened their family ties. Instead, Mihailovich said, “We seem to cherish the time we have together more than ever.”

Mihailovich then transitioned into “the advice column in my speech” and imparted, “Life doesn’t come in the form of a pre-arranged script. Success is often determined by how you improvise and rebound when forced off course.” He offered that curiosity and common sense are “underrated traits that I find relevant and highly advantageous for college, the job market, or life in general.”

He concluded his address with the hope that graduates would remember “the teacher who gave you confidence when you had none, the coach who devoted extra hours to help you with your swing or your shot, the dorm parent whose door was always open to you.” And knowing that leaving Williams Hill can be an emotional trek for graduates and families, he reassured the Class of 2026 that when they return to Westminster in the years to come, “You’ll see the proverbial porch light will be on. And you’ll recognize this school will always be your home.”

Awarding of Diplomas, Benediction, and Diploma Passing
 
Head of School White and Board Chair Renée Lynch Carrel ’84, P’19, ’21, presented diplomas while families and friends celebrated the mention of every graduate’s name. The ceremony concluded with a benediction from Elizabeth Morton ’26, president of the John Hay Society. She read Alberto Rios’ poem, “A House Called Tomorrow,” which ends with the following lines: “Be good, then better. Write books. Cure disease. / Make us proud. Make yourself proud. / And those who came before you? When you hear thunder, / Hear it as their applause.”

Following tradition, graduates recessed from the tent and passed their diplomas in a circle on the Sixth Form Lawn until they each received their own. Then, one by one, they stepped out of the circle—signifying their official transition from Sixth Formers to Westminster’s newest alumni.

Visit this link to see a full gallery of images from Commencement.