Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) graduated 112 students during its Commencement on Saturday, June 7, in an outdoor ceremony on Van Brunt Field. Faculty and Board of Trustees members led the procession of the Class of 2025, followed by a welcoming address from Dr. David C. Flocco, Head of Upper School.

In his commencement address, Dr. Flocco highlighted that this year the school celebrated 50 years since the merger of Montclair Academy and The Kimberley School. With roots dating back to 1887, this year marks the 137th class of graduates, adding to our growing alumni community. Dr. Flocco reflected on the students’ years of growth, loyalty, and ability to inspire each other and those around them. Calling out each graduate’s name, he focused on the many gifts they all hold. With pride, he noted, “When you look into that mirror, I hope you see what we see: skillful communicators and collaborators, reflective humans, lifelong learners, and ethical leaders. The MKA Learner at its finest. Individually and collectively, you are the change agents the world needs.”

Two seniors shared poignant remarks at the ceremony. Peyton Vincent drew from her experiences studying abroad in South Africa and introduced the concept of Ubuntu, a Zulu word meaning "I am because you are." With this guiding principle, she encouraged her peers to continue embracing the power of community and connection, sharing, “We are the most powerful collective in the history of this country. As we change the world, I challenge you to remember Ubuntu; to remember connection, the mosaic, the collective.” With great wit, Sadie Shapiro acknowledged the unique culture and language of MKA, celebrating the class’s ability to communicate, advocate, and connect. She emphasized, “If there’s any group of people I trust to change [the world] for the better, it’s this group. By using our words, expressing ourselves and standing up‬‭ for what we‬ believe in, being kind, caring, and working as hard as we can, we are undoubtedly making a difference.”

Head of School Nigel D. Furlonge, joined by President of the Board of Trustees Naveen Ballem '90, M.D., F.A.C.S., awarded diplomas alongside faculty members and Trustees—some of whom, as parents of seniors, took part in the special tradition of presenting diplomas to their own children.

Mr. Furlonge gave closing remarks praising the Class of 2025 for their academic, artistic, and athletic accomplishments, and emphasizing their role as a bridge that honors MKA’s legacy and stands emblematic of its future. He expressed, “Upon that hill, in those classrooms, on those stages, and on these fields, you’ve expanded your sense of the possible. You are uniquely, and spectacularly prepared to embody our school’s mission and vision of ‘leading lives of noble character, purpose, and distinction.’ Congratulations!”

Students Brooks Barrett and Rahul Madgavkar officially concluded the ceremony by ringing the historic Montclair Academy handbell.

To view photos from the ceremony, please visit www.mka.org/photogalleries. You can also watch the ceremony on YouTube.

The Class of 2025 is matriculating to the following 80 colleges and universities:
The American University of Paris, Bates College, Boston College (2), Boston University, Bucknell University, Carnegie Mellon University, Case Western Reserve University, Champlain College, Chapman University, College of Charleston, University of Chicago, Clemson University (2), Colby College, Colgate University (2), University of Colorado Boulder, Columbia University, Cornell University (3), Denison University (2), DeSales University, Duke University (2), Elon University, Emory University (2), Fordham University, George Washington University (3), Georgetown University (2), University of Hartford, Harvard University, Howard University (2), Indiana University Bloomington (2), University of Iowa, James Madison University, Johns Hopkins University, Kenyon College (2), Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Long Island University, Loyola Marymount University, Madison College, Marist University, University of Maryland, McGill University, University of Miami, University of Michigan, Middlebury College, University of Mississippi, Mount Holyoke College, The New School, New York University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Northeastern University (4), Oberlin College, University of Pittsburgh, Princeton University (3), Purdue University, Rhode Island School of Design, University of Richmond (2), Rice University (2), University of Rochester, Rutgers University-Newark, San Diego State University, Savannah College of Art and Design (2), Skidmore College, Smith College, University of South Carolina (2), Spelman College, Stanford University (2), Stevens Institute of Technology, Syracuse University (3), Temple University, The University of Texas at Austin, Tufts University (3), Tulane University (4), United States Naval Academy, Vanderbilt University, Vassar College, Wake Forest University, Washington University in St. Louis, Wesleyan University, William & Mary (2), Williams College.