Kingswood Oxford's Class of '15 Graduates on Picture-Perfect Day

The 91 members of the Class of ‘15 graduated from Kingswood Oxford on a picture-perfect May 22 -- the first outdoor Commencement since 2011.

“The senior class has waited patiently for four years to have its graduation outside on the Senior Green,” said Head of School Dennis Bisgaard. “In fact, this is the first time it has happened since they entered the Upper School! Class of 2015, I am glad your wish came true. Today is the perfect day.”

Allison Balcezak of Granby was among the 91 graduates.

For a complete list of graduates and a list of the colleges and universities to which they were accepted, visit www.kingswoodoxford.org.

In keeping with KO tradition, the seniors chose a faculty member – Math teacher and Form 3 Dean William Gilyard -- to deliver the commencement address.

Having come to KO the same year the seniors did, Gilyard said he felt a particular connection to the Class of ‘15. “I’ve taught just about all of them, coached many of them, and I was an advisor,” he said.

In his remarks to this remarkably successful group, he chose to focus on failure -- pointing out that taking risks and making mistakes are the keys to self-discovery.

“Failure can give you the opportunity to examine the gap between who you are now and who your authentic self can be,” he said.

About half the class (46 students) graduated with honors.

Though KO does not name a valedictorian, Robert Scappaticci of Bristol received the “Dux Prize,” awarded to the senior with the highest GPA for the year, during the Prize Assembly on May 19.

The class included a National Merit Scholar, Julianne DeAngelo of Weatogue, and nine National Merit Commended students. Ten graduates had relatives who are also KO alums.

And, the Class of ‘15 includes eight students who plan to play sports in college, including two -- Sharrieff Grice and Melissa Lord -- who are headed to Div. 1 programs.

In his final charge to the new alumni, Bisgaard encouraged the group to continue on the paths they’d begun at KO.

“Do your part to make this a better world, to reach out and lend a helping hand, to do a random act of kindness, and to use your power to be a change agent for the common good,” he said. “I know you will succeed individually, but true success, I believe, is to do good and bring along as many individuals as you can in that success.”

Bright futures: Their surprise swag – KO sunglasses – came in handy for Kingswood Oxford’s 91 seniors when they assembled on the steps of Alumni Hall for their traditional class photo.

– photo by Michelle M. Murphy