Whitby School 50th Commencement Ceremonies

Whitby school held its 50th graduation ceremony at the school Thursday, June 7.

The graduation ceremony was marked by a sense of accomplishment and reflection by both students and faculty. The highlight of the ceremony was the individual student addresses, recounting their many experiences and memories of Whitby. A recurrent theme in the student addresses was the sense of community and the enduring friendships they have made as well as how they have all grown and flourished during their time as Whitby students.

The graduates noted they would miss Whitby but expressed how the school’s integrated Montessori and International Baccalaureate program prepared them to meet the upcoming challenges of high school.

The graduates were: Robert Lewis, Kaitlyn Modzelewski, Benjamin Lavine, Rianne Smit, Joshua Socher, Claudia Cowley, Tyler Chapman, Lucia Iannone, Carl Jean-Pierre, Austin Pierce, Stefan Marshall, Jenna Marsella, Semyon Fedotov, Jacqueline Steinman, Henry Lewis, Miranda Kaiser, Hugh O., Joseph Kijewski

The schools the graduates will be attending include: Phillips Andover Academy, King, Iona Preparatory School, Hopkins School, Greenwich High School, Archbishop Stepinac High School, Green Farms Academy, Mamaroneck High School, Del Mar School (CA) and Waldheim (Netherlands).

Prior to their diplomas being conferred by Barbara Brent and Nely Miguel, interim co-heads of school, and Patricia Franklin, chair of the Whitby Board of Trustees, the students were serenaded by the sibling chorus singing “Friends” by Elton John.  

In keeping with the tradition of having a Whitby alumnus as commencement speaker, this year featured Sonia Sotire Malloy, Class of 1986. Ms. Sotire Malloy is a retail industry marketer and entrepreneur and was named small businessperson of the year in 2009 by the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. She currently owns the stores Splurge and Splurge Kids in Greenwich. Even though Sonia graduated from Whitby 26 years ago, when she walked onto campus she felt a sense of being at home and told graduates the friendships they make at Whitby will last a lifetime. She also stressed how her academic and personal experiences at Whitby gave her the tools to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams.

Before the funny and sometimes tearful Class of 2012 video, the graduates presented the school with two beautiful teak benches for the Whitby playing fields so as alumni, they can return to campus and cheer on the Whitby Wildcats.

Founded in 1958, Whitby is a premier, co-educational independent school for children 18 months through 8th grade. As an innovative leader in education, Whitby is the only school in America accredited by both the American Montessori Society and the highly regarded International Baccalaureate. Whitby's dynamic approach to education readies students to engage, discover and achieve in today’s global community.

For more information visit  www.whitbyschool.org, or call 203-869-8464.