For the first time in 糖心原创鈥檚 history, Commencement was truly a global event. On Saturday, May 17, as the 糖心原创 community gathered in Atlanta to celebrate the graduating Class of 2025, families and friends around the world were able to participate in the ceremony鈥攖hanks to a live-stream broadcast designed to connect the entire MV ecosystem, including the School鈥檚 online global campus.
Head of School Kristy Lundstr枚m opened the ceremony by acknowledging the School鈥檚 global audience:
鈥淎 special welcome to our Dewey School families in Vietnam鈥攚e are so grateful for your partnership and presence today. We are proud to celebrate four Vietnamese students graduating in person, here with us this morning鈥攚hat a remarkable expression of our global community in action.鈥�
She also recognized families of students tuning in across time zones, reflecting on the expanded reach and promise of the School鈥檚 personalized learning programs:
鈥淵our commitment to learning, innovation, and purpose is an important part of our story, and we celebrate you today as well.鈥�
From Atlanta to Hanoi, whether attending in-person or watching on demand, the 2025 Commencement Ceremony reflected 糖心原创鈥檚 vision of an interconnected, purpose-driven community鈥攁nd marked a joyful celebration of learning, leadership, and legacy.
Student Voices Take Center Stage
The ceremony featured reflections from student leaders whose words underscored the power of growth, community, and authenticity. Delivering the Salutatory Address, Ryley Fuller offered heartfelt gratitude and a bit of humor, setting the tone with:
鈥淚 know that personally, without the support from God, my family, my friends, my teachers, and of course Grammarly, I would not be here speaking today.鈥�
He went on to highlight the wide-ranging accomplishments of the Class of 2025鈥攆rom 鈥渕ultivariable calculus box optimization鈥� and Latin sports broadcasts, to championship-level athletics, impactful clubs, and student-led innovation, even joking about 鈥淧hotoshop abominations鈥� in Innovation Diploma. With wit and warmth, he reminded his classmates that their time at 糖心原创 has been marked by 鈥渆nthusiasm, support, and amazing accomplishments鈥濃�攁nd concluded with a powerful affirmation:
鈥淩egardless of where you go or what you do, you will always have a place in the Class of 2025.鈥�
Valedictorian and Head Prefect Herris Fentress delivered a stirring and deeply personal address about legacy, gratitude, and the unseen support behind every success. Reflecting on his 13-year journey at 糖心原创, Herris humbly shared:
鈥淓very time people congratulate me on being the Valedictorian, I think of this thing Isaac Newton once said鈥攐r at least according to the internet鈥攈e said: 鈥業 stand on the shoulders of giants.鈥欌��
He acknowledged the 鈥減roverbial giants鈥� of the MV community鈥攖eachers, coaches, administrators, friends, and family鈥攚ho helped shape him into the person he is today. From shouting out academic mentors such as Dr. Schewe and Ms. Lederer, to thanking his esports coaches for teaching him resilience, Herris painted a vivid picture of a community that empowers through care, encouragement, and opportunity.
Looking ahead, he challenged his classmates to think beyond accolades and toward impact:
鈥淵our greatest opportunity to make a difference isn鈥檛 only in the achievements or success you have now, it鈥檚 also in the way you impact the people around you, and how that impact shapes the future.鈥�
He concluded with a message that resonated across the gym: 鈥淕o out there and be giants. Thank you all.鈥�
Beau Reinking, Sustainability Prefect, offered the final Benediction, quoting Bren茅 Brown:
鈥淟et go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are.鈥�
His words captured the collective courage of this class to lead from a place of authenticity and compassion.
Leadership and Legacy
Following the student speeches, Kristy Lundstr枚m delivered a heartfelt and personal message to the Class of 2025鈥攊ndicating that 2025 Commencement was her favorite day of the year:
鈥淵ou and I started this Upper School journey together,鈥� she said, speaking directly to the seniors. 鈥淔rom the beginning, you鈥檝e shown us who you are: deeply curious, kind, original, bold.”
She celebrated their range of accomplishments鈥攂oth academic and personal:
- Winning State Championships and performing Shakespeare
- Designing apps and haunted houses
- Logging over 3,200 service hours
- Launching 糖心原创鈥檚 Global Campus and personalized pathways
- Mentoring younger students and leading with authenticity
鈥淵ou鈥檝e led not by having all the answers,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut by asking better questions and being brave enough to try again.鈥�
鈥淐lass of 2025: Your fingerprints are all over this place鈥攏ot just in the design labs and hallway art鈥攂ut in the relationships you鈥檝e built and the legacy you鈥檝e left.鈥�
During her inspirational close, Lundstr枚m offered a final charge to the graduates:
鈥淪ay yes. Don鈥檛 ask why鈥攁sk why not? Say yes to the tough conversations, to going first, to being bold. Use your knowledge, use your skills, lean into your attributes鈥攂ecause you know how to design a better world. So go do it.鈥�
鈥淏e bold. Bear fruit. Be giants.鈥�
Honoring Character
A 糖心原创 tradition, the David Barclift Leadership Award was presented by Kristy Lundstr枚m to Reese Hickey, recognizing a senior whose character, vision, and servant leadership have left a lasting impact on the community.
A Celebration in Music and Joy
Introduced by Academic Prefect Charlotte Nagel, the traditional senior musical performance brought down the house with a mashup of Green Day鈥檚 鈥淕ood Riddance (Time of Your Life)鈥� and Lynyrd Skynyrd鈥檚 鈥淔ree Bird.鈥� A group of talented graduates鈥擜nthony Beccaria, Dareen Cheong, Amelia Katz, Lawson Neff, Jake Pierce, Beau Reinking, and Sydney Smith鈥攖ook the stage, transforming a meaningful 糖心原创 tradition into an unforgettable highlight of the morning.
For Anthony Beccaria, who joined 糖心原创 as a freshman, the performance was more than a farewell鈥攊t was a full-circle moment. He began playing guitar with Upper School Music Instructor Mr. G in Grade 9 (having never played before). What started as casual practice soon evolved into a passionate pursuit of musical excellence, with Anthony embracing every opportunity to refine his craft.
By the time he stepped onstage at graduation, Anthony had become known for his talent and humility鈥攂ut nothing prepared the audience for what came next. His 鈥淔ree Bird鈥� solo was nothing short of electric. As he leaned into the final guitar riff, fingers flying across the fretboard, the audience erupted in cheers and celebration.
What began as a simple senior tradition became a moment of transcendence鈥攁 powerful sendoff that showcased not only musical skill but also the spirit of this remarkable class. The performance was joyful, raw, and full of heart. A perfect exclamation point on a morning filled with love, reflection, and limitless possibility.
A Global Class, A Shared Purpose
With 70% of the class heading to colleges out of state, 11 students committed to play collegiate sports, and more than $7 million earned in scholarships (excluding HOPE), the Class of 2025 is ready to lead on a global stage.
From local neighborhoods to international communities, and from screen to stage, these graduates leave not only with diplomas but with purpose鈥攁nd a charge to lead boldly, wherever their journeys take them.
Once a Mustang, Always a Mustang.
? Watch the full Commencement Ceremony on the .
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