Benchmark School Graduates Class of 2015 and Honors Its 2015 Outstanding Alumnus

Twenty eight students took to the stage in Benchmark School’s A. Palmer West Performing Arts Center on June 10 to celebrate their achievements and mark their 8th grade graduation from Benchmark School.

The event was highlighted with an address from Head of School Robb Gaskins, the awarding of diplomas, and a rose ceremony during which students gave roses to their parents in appreciation of their support. The graduates also received an inspirational commencement speech from the School’s 2015 Outstanding Alumnus recipient, Stephen Chase, a 2006 Benchmark School graduate.

Having the ‘Outstanding Alumnus’ give the commencement address at the graduation ceremony is a Benchmark tradition, as it provides both the graduates and younger middle school students in attendance an opportunity to see what someone in their shoes can achieve with continued hard work and dedication. Chase, the School’s 2015 recipient, entered Benchmark School in 2000. After six years at Benchmark, he went on to graduate from Devon Preparatory School in 2010 and Trinity College in 2014, where he majored in anthropology. He currently works for The Karma Agency, an independent strategic communications firm in Philadelphia, and has begun looking into graduate schools to study either business or anthropology. He has also been an active volunteer at Benchmark School, most recently helping to lead the efforts in expanding the School’s Alumni Association.

“I learned so much at my time at Benchmark, like how to communicate effectively, advocate for myself, and have confidence in myself, and I often accomplished things that I did not think were going to be possible,” Chase told the Class of 2015. He went on to tell the graduates about his sense of persistence—to get through high school, to get into his dream college, and to then graduate from his dream college in four years. “I wanted to continually push myself outside of my comfort zone, which is something all of you will do come September [when you go to high school]. It is going to be an opportunity for you to learn as much as you can, explore, try and fail, and fall flat on your face, but you’ll get yourself up, learn from those mistakes, and move on and be stronger,” he said. “Being at Benchmark taught me how to work hard and be kind and, in turn, things have fallen into place for me.”

Benchmark’s graduates will move on to independent, parochial, and public schools including The Shipley School, The Haverford School, Merion-Mercy Academy, Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, Lower Merion High School, Great Valley High School, and Strath Haven High School, to name a few.

About Benchmark School: Benchmark School, located at 2107 N. Providence Road, Media, Pa., is an independent, not-for-profit day school serving students in grades 1-8. Founded in 1970, the school is committed to helping bright students who have yet to reach their academic potential become confident and strategic thinkers, learners, and problem solvers who meet with success in school and life. For more information about Benchmark School, please call 610-565-3741 or visit BenchmarkSchool.org.