Holy Innocents' Class of 2015 Honored at Baccalaureate

During the Upper School Honors and Awards Ceremony on May 11, Principal Christ Durst described this year’s Holy Innocents’ seniors as having a spirit of joyfulness—a joyfulness that they embraced during a challenging year. At baccalaureate in the Cathedral of St. Philip May 16, salutatorian Brandon Jackson advised his classmates not only to continue to choose joy in life but also to look for serendipity.

“By definition, serendipity means fortunate happenstance… little strokes of good luck that can brighten your day,” explained Jackson. “To me, it means that life holds surprises. Perhaps it is the pleasant surprise of running into old friends when feeling down, or finding ten dollars in your pocket that you forgot was there. Those little experiences tend to impact our lives the most.”

Jackson, who will continue his studies at the University of Virginia this fall, went on to say that serendipity reminds him to be grateful for the positive moments in life, and, when facing challenges, to take comfort in the spontaneous smile of a friend, a supportive teacher, or the offer of help from a classmate.

He then urged classmates to be aware of such random occurrences and moments of good fortune, and appreciate them. “Resolve to make the life in our years count, appreciate the gifts of serendipity, and always choose joy.”

Head of School Paul Barton noted that “a phenomenal collection of divine gifts” made up the Class of 2015. “Contained within the hearts, minds, and souls of these graduates are artists and athletes, mathematicians and musicians, journalists, directors, actors and actresses, scientists and singers, historians, writers, thinkers and theologians, dreamers and doers, introverts and extroverts, poets and politicians, social beings and social activists.

“We send you forth,” Barton said, “knowing that God will always bless you and keep you in the palm of His Hand.”

Four awards were presented during the Friday night baccalaureate.

Kylie Thurber was given the Chaplain’s Award, which is presented to someone who has “given witness and expression to the school’s mission and ministry as an Episcopal school.”

This year’s Rector’s Award for perseverance, dedication, and commitment to excellence was presented to Ashton Meertins.

The Bishop’s Award was given to Kira Donaldson.This award traditionally goes to a member of the graduating class who has “demonstrated, through devoted service to the school community and to the community at large, God’s call to strive for justice and peace among all people and to respect the dignity of every human being.”

And this year’s recipient of the Headmaster’s Award was Mary McKeithen Hailey. The award is given to a member of the class who, with broad interests and with participation in a wide range of activities and pursuits, has made an outstanding contribution to the life and work of Holy Innocents’.

The Class of 2015 was “piped” into the sanctuary by talented bagpiper Sarah Minnear ’12, in what has become a Holy Innocents’ tradition.