As commencement approaches, seniors balance senior projects and graduation traditions with the anticipation and stress of life after high school. The weeks leading up to June 7 mark both the bittersweet end of senior year and the beginning of what comes next.

“We don’t have a lot of time left, and that’s kind of the last time we’re all going to see each other in that organized fashion. So [we’re] just making sure that we can enjoy [graduation] and be a class for one last time,” Senior Leah Passe said.

BEHIND THE SCENCES

Behind the scenes, graduation requires months of preparation from faculty, staff, parent and student leaders. Stacy Tepp, assistant principal for student life, gave input on all of the extensive planning that occurs to ensure the event runs smoothly.

“There’s different pockets of planning… It’s kind of everybody, and we sit around a table and go through a checklist, and then those pockets meet individually to do different things,” Tepp said.

The Senior Class Leadership Council also plays a significant role in planning commencement, with the seniors meeting during Elected/Selected X-Period times to contribute ideas. The council assists in picking out the student speakers.

SENIOR SPEAKERS

Commencement speakers to represent graduates of the class of 2026 are Sonia Kharbanda and Bokii Mullataa. Valedictory speakers are Rowan Moore and Carys Hsiung.

Passe spoke to the process of selecting senior speakers. “Mostly, I think it’s watching the videos that people submit who are interested in being the student speaker, and then SCLC as a group votes on those people who submitted those videos,” she said.

Additionally, the tradition of selecting a dedicated faculty speaker for the main ceremony began in 2023, with history teacher Ben Bollinger-Danielson serving as the first official faculty speaker for the Class of 2023.

“There’s this emphasis on the community itself and hearing from people who know us in the community,” Passe said.

WHAT TO WEAR

A large focus of the commencement ceremony is tradition, which graduation attire reflects. Seniors wear formal clothing, with many students choosing white outfits, generally dresses, while others follow more traditional dress expectations such as navy blazers and formal wear.

While still trying to preserve the traditional blue and white colors, administrators have adjusted the dress code to be more inclusive of different shades of blue and khaki off- white. In the past, Summit School graduates wore white dresses, and that tradition has continued but with more leniency.

TRADITIONS

Floral arrangement traditions have similarly shifted, but have not been eliminated entirely. “There used to be a bouquet that female students would carry, and that went away … now everyone gets a single yellow rose,” Tepp said.

Following graduation, some seniors acquire cigars, which originated as an off-campus act of rebellion to avoid school rules. Over time, the custom gradually moved onto campus grounds and became a lasting part of commencement culture, and have historically been used to demonstrate maturity and independence.

After months of tireless planning, commencement traditions symbolize the graduating class’s transition into life beyond high school and adulthood while creating a sense of unity and celebration.
Commencement for the class of 2026 will take place at 4 p.m. June 7.