Class of 2026 Commencement

On May 16, 2026, Shorecrest Preparatory School celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2026. Of the 73 graduates, nearly a third of the group chose to personalize their learning through Shorecrest signature programs including 7 Global Scholars, 17 in the STEAM Signature Program and a variety of independent studies. Six Chargers are student-athletes committed to play at the college level and many are award-winning Thespians, journalists and artists. 12 students were recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and 35 were recognized by the College Board.

Family and friends filled the Janet Root Theatre as trustees, faculty, and the Class of 2026 processed on stage. The ceremony opened with a heartfelt welcome from Head of School, Nancy Spencer, who introduced the Class of 2026 Salutatorian, Jasper Hallock-Wishner ‘26. Although Jasper got giggles from his classmates for comparing their next stage of life to a game of Minecraft, his message actually focused on the support they had all received from Shorecrest faculty, their family members, and each other.

"Thank you to those who have supported us each and every step of the way," he said. "We couldn’t have done it without you."

After a musical presentation of the Shorecrest Alma Mater by members of the Upper School Vocal Ensemble, Erich Schneider, Head of Upper School, recognized the 16 students from the Class of 2026 who are Shorecrest “Lifers” -- they attended Shorecrest for 12 years or more. 

Homecoming Queen Kaelie Dieter '26 was asked to share a few words at Commencement, and she focused on Shorecrest pushing students outside their comfort zones and helping Chargers learn to grow from failure. 

"Failure is not a bad thing," Kaelie reflected. "It simply means that the outcome wasn't what we desired, but it does not mean that the journey was for nothing. Every time we fail we are given a new opportunity to learn and grow. These moments, when we feel like we are at our lowest, are the moments when we become strong; they force us to dream bigger. ... I hope that you begin to crave those moments when things don't go your way, because that's when the true growth happens. I hope you never stop wanting to learn, even when the lessons are hard."

The ceremony also featured Honored Community Speaker and English Faculty member Kristie Dowling. She had the audience laughing when she compared life to a set of IKEA furniture instructions, which may seem bleak - but actually includes a call for help and support from friends who may be able to help with the instructions. Her help with life's instructions for the Class of 2026 included being vulnerable, and four pathways to finding peace. 

"Seriously, how to find peace is probably the most important lesson we need in this fast-paced world, Mrs. Dowling urged. "Especially this group of students. As freshmen, their academic rigor was the talk of the teachers. As sophomores, The Chronicle wrote an article about them entitled, 'College-Crazed Sophomores.' They lost their homes in two hurricanes and still kept up their GPA’s. As seniors they’ve wowed us with their epic college acceptances. They don’t need help in terms of their ambition or hard work or grit. Instead, they probably need to relax a little."

Her secrets to finding peace are: gratitude, forgiveness, surrender and humility. She said gratitude is realizing that the universe is actually (weirdly) taking care of us, and about focusing on what you’ve been given instead of limitations. Forgiveness opens our hearts. It teaches us to focus on others and gets us to feel pain and then let it go in order to find peace. Surrender includes learning to pause, to relax, and to accept what is in front of us. And finally humility teaches us to put others before ourselves.

Simi Damani '26 gave a student reflection recognizing her late entry into the grade - just three years ago. She reminded her classmates that in a few months they will all be "the new kid." She took a moment to assuage their fears. 

"Don't worry class of 2026, I can confidently say that when you step into the unknown you grow. And more often than not, everything works out like it's supposed to."

It is a tradition at Shorecrest to name an Outstanding Senior each year. This member of the graduating class returns in ten years to speak at Commencement. Head Dean Stacy Alexander named Braden Stone '26 the Outstanding Senior of the Class of 2026. (On Monday he came back to campus to have a photo taken with the second graders to whom he will speak at their Commencement in 10 years.)

Braden is a Shorecrest Lifer whose impact has been felt across campus: in the classroom, on the field, through student leadership, in The Chronicle student newspaper, with the Jewish Student Union - and beyond. A true sports enthusiast, he dedicated time to serve Hitt the Mitt, providing mentorship to players ages 8-14, while simultaneously serving as President of the Shorecrest Sports Broadcasting Club and competing on the Varsity Baseball team. Faculty describe Braden as the “motor” behind many facets of student life; a student who leads with integrity, generosity and purpose.

The Commencement Address was given by the Outstanding Senior from a decade earlier. Anne Michelle Frey ‘02, Assistant Head of Upper School and Academic Dean, introduced Peninah Benjamin ‘16, the Outstanding Senior from the Class of 2016. Graduating college at the height of COVID delayed her dream of extensive international travel, but Peninah is now making up for lost time. After her career moved her to London a few years ago, Peninah ran the 2025 London Marathon while fundraising for a diabetes research organization. She then took a sabbatical and spent five months solo-traveling in Australia and Southeast Asia.

Peninah was one of the first members of the Shorecrest Honor Council, a member of National Honor Society, pursued the rigorous Global Scholars Initiative, and had a passion for math. Retired math teacher Dave Field, who upheld notoriously high standards, recalled, "I would usually grade Peninah’s paper first as a check to make sure my solutions were correct." And she nearly missed her own graduation when Chargers Sailing moved on to state-level competition. 

In her remarks to the Class of 2026, Peninah acknowledged that they had been striving on a specific path: take these class, take the SAT or ACT, do certain activities, and finally apply to college. But once one gets to college, there is not a master plan telling them what comes next, instead each person has to figure it out little by little.

"Say yes to the things that excite you, even if you don't feel ready for them," she advised. "Looking back, some of my most important experiences all began the same way - before I felt fully ready for them. ... The more decisions I have to make the more I realize you rarely feel 100% ready to take the big leap."

The ceremony continued with a Valedictory Address by Sally Keane ‘26, in which she encouraged her classmates to make the most of every moment.

"You’ve said for months that you can’t wait to get out of here and go off to college, then, suddenly, as you’re sitting in your last advisory or eating way too much at Food Friday for the last time, there’s this feeling in your chest, and it’s somehow every feeling all at once. It’s excitement for where you’re about to go and the amazing things you’ll accomplish. It’s sadness to be so far from the friends you’ve known for years. It’s anxiety for the mountain of change and the uncertainty that comes with adulthood. It’s knowing you’ll never get to walk into the same building and see the same familiar faces glaring back at you because it’s 8am on a Monday, and no one wants to be awake yet. It’s realizing that we’ve been so eager to move on that we haven’t stopped to enjoy where we are right now.

"My hope for you all in these next few months is that you embrace that feeling instead of letting it drag you down. Embrace the good, the bad, and the uncertainty – because with each last comes a new first. ... If you work to make every day and every era of your life the 'good old days,' then you’ll never really have to leave them."

Following the Valedictory Address, Nancy Spencer, Erich Schneider and Pamela H. Greacen ’84, Chair of the Board of Trustees, awarded diplomas to each graduate; while Kara Earle Daley ’05, President of the Shorecrest Alumni Association, presented alumni pins. Shorecrest Trustees, Emeritus Trustees, current Faculty, and Alumni Parents with children in the Class of 2026 received invitations to join their graduates on stage for a hug when they received their diploma. 

It is a tradition for Shorecrest diplomas to be presented in random order to symbolize life's unexpected twists and turns. The final member of the Class of 2026 to receive a diploma was Shorecrest Lifer Ava Stanton '26, who excitedly put on the single gold mortarboard, a sign of good luck for the future.

The final remarks of the day came from Student Council President Luke Lavoie '26, who urged his classmates to remain obsessed.

"When I look back on the Class of 2026 - when we all have jobs and are trying to make it - I hope we are obsessed. ... Our grade has been obsessed with a lot of things throughout the years. We were obsessed with winning Homecoming until we, of course, came in first place back-to-back years. We were obsessed with figuring out how we were going to don outfits capturing the essence of Catalina dressing. We were obsessed with being the first in line during food Fridays. (Shout out to Mrs. Cowen and Mrs. Walton for those chicken tacos.) ... we’ve been obsessed with savoring these last moments. Before we throw our caps into the air and officially become Shorecrest Alumni, I once more encourage you all to be obsessed with staying in contact with one another."

Commencement closed with the Class of 2026 tossing their caps high into the proscenium of the beloved JRT, a final symbol of their shared journey.

A video and photos from the ceremony and each diploma photo are available at the link below. 

Meet the Class of 2026