Congratulations to MKA's Class of 2018!

Montclair Kimberley Academy graduated 109 seniors, during its Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, June 10 at 3:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Montclair.

Faculty and Trustees led the procession of the Class of 2018 graduates, and Head of Upper School Dr. David Flocco gave the welcome address, noting that: "The Class of 2018's legacy is, without question, one of high achievement. During your time at MKA, yours was a class of high-octane energy, passion, and commitment for doing well in whatever you chose to do. Your class is proof of what happens when sheer talent meets good old-fashioned hard work (with the latter being the most important ingredient)." He left the students with the thought that, "As you go from this place and continue to achieve great things with your myriad talents, don't forget that a good life should not simply be pursued, but also enjoyed. Our true value is measured not in what we achieve, but the path we took to get there."

Senior Nico Espinosa Dice reflected back on his time at MKA, saying: "This is high school: a fast moving series of ups and downs of varying magnitude. Yet, through it all, I was fortunate to know many great people; students and faculty who showed me the meaning of friendship, the value in humility, and the power of leadership. People who showed me that leadership is a selfless act, and that while good leaders may create good followers, it is the job of great leaders to create even greater leaders."

Senior Sarah Willis then spoke to the future: "One of the greatest tools MKA gives us is the willingness to trust – to put our faith in others, whether it be peers or mentors – something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. Perhaps more importantly, this school has pushed us to put that faith in ourselves." Sarah continued, "MKA has thoroughly prepared us for this next stage of our lives...but we are not leaving MKA, or each other, not really; because for the rest of our lives, parts of this school will live within us."

Headmaster Thomas W. Nammack, was the last speaker to address the Class saying: "I want you to consider yourselves to be irreplaceable, indispensable, based on an identity that is entirely about what you do – that you are what you do. ...And what does it mean to be indispensable? It means that there are things that only you can do for your family, for your school, for your community. It is a great and clarifying question."

He then joined President of the Board of Trustees Kathleen M. Logan in awarding the diplomas, together with faculty members and Trustees, who as parents of seniors, participated in the tradition of awarding their own children their diplomas.

Student Body President Kerri McGuire and Senior Class President Keenan McAuliffe officially concluded the ceremony by ringing the Montclair Academy bell, which dates back almost a century.

The Class of 2018 is matriculating to the following 65 schools:

American University (2), Amherst College (2), Bard College, Bentley University, Boston College (2), Bowdoin College, Brown University (2), Bucknell University (2), University of California-Los Angeles, University of Chicago, Colby College (2), Colgate University, University of Colorado at Boulder (2), Colorado College, Columbia University (2), Connecticut College, Davidson College (2), Drew University, Drexel University, Duke University (2), Durham University, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Franklin and Marshall College, The George Washington University (4), Hamilton College, Harvard University, Harvey Mudd College, Johns Hopkins University (3), Lafayette College (5), Lehigh University, McGill University, Michigan State University (2), University of Michigan, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, The College of New Jersey, New York University (3), Northeastern University (2), Northwestern University, Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music; Pennsylvania State University (2), University of Pennsylvania (3), Princeton University, Rhodes College, University of Richmond, Rutgers University (2), Sacred Heart University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Skidmore College (5), University of Southern California (3), Southwestern University, Syracuse University (3), The New School, Tulane University (3), Union College, University of St. Andrews, Vanderbilt University, University of Vermont (2), Villanova University (2), Wake Forest University (3), Washington University in St. Louis (2) Wesleyan University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Yale University (3)

You can watch the ceremony via MKATV here (begins at 14:36).