Congratulations, Class of 2026!
On Saturday, May 30, St. Andrew's Episcopal School graduated the class of 2026, welcoming our newest class of alumni.
It was an extra-special day for the class, as they became the first class to graduate in Highlander Hall. Students, families, friends, and faculty were proud to gather in honor of the achievements of the newest alumni.
The class of 2026 selected Mr. Messner and Ben G. ‘26 to be their faculty and senior speakers, respectively. Mr. Messner spoke to the graduates about cherishing the little moments that made up your memories of St. Andrew’s. After an informal polling of faculty and staff, none of them remembered their high school commencement speeches… or even the speaker! What they remembered from high school was the laughter, the friendships, the teachers and coaches who made an impact: “Mr. Fleming remembers getting caught playing The Floor Is Lava in the computer lab. Mrs. Albach remembers her 8th grade teacher, Mr. Bernard, who opened the world of science to her. Mr. Pass remembers his favorite teacher Coach Walters, playing chess at lunch, and racing his friends under the bleachers during gym class.”
Mr. Messner invited the class of 2026 to share their own little moments that they thought would stay with them forever.
“Listening to music and sitting on the blue chairs during lunch, doing handstands on the Nazro Green, and forgetting to eat the cracker at communion.”
“During finals once, the school hired a petting zoo and the kangaroo escaped the pen and I saw it by the arts wing, staring at the modern art.”
“My new friend and I missed the bus home, so we ended up taking the late bus with the entire middle school boys’ football team.”
Mr. Messner continued: “What I say to you today will eventually be forgotten. Maybe you’ll remember I was the one who stood up here. Most of you probably won’t. But I can guarantee, based on everyone I interviewed and my own experience, that the memories and the friendships you’ve made here at St. Andrew’s will last a lifetime. We spend so much time worrying about the Big Moments, the ceremonies, the grades, the college letters. But life remembers the Small Moments that happen with the people around us, while we’re busy focusing on the big ones.”
Ben G. ‘26, selected by his peers, talked about the opportunities in their futures, opportunities that will come with risks to weigh as the class of 2026 decides who they want to become. He spoke of St. Andrew’s as a place of support, where students are bolstered by faculty and staff “who have already made the jump into a life we’re standing at the edge of.”
“At St. Andrew’s, we’ve learned what it is to jump at an opportunity, while also knowing that we’ll land in a place with a huge amount of padding…the real safety net that this place provides is its community. This is a place where friends and peers gather at your shows, concerts, and games to cheer you on. It’s a place of constant growth where we each push each other to be better. It’s a place where the adults push you out of your comfort zone and give you their hand for support when you inevitably stumble. It’s beautiful that we have that support and it’s scary to lose. But now, it’s time to take our shot, to jump off the cliff, and to do that, we have to leave.”
Ben acknowledged the fear that came with this realization, but encouraged his classmates to reframe it: not into a fear of failure, but a fear of not taking a risk that might turn into something amazing.
As the ceremony drew to a close, students proudly received their diplomas, symbolizing the culmination of years of hard work and growth. The Class of 2026 is a special one – passionate, creative, and proactive. We can’t wait to see the adventures and achievements in their futures.
Class of 2026, you always have a home at St. Andrew’s.
For more photos, click here. (password available on mySAS)
For more photos, click here. (password available on mySAS)
Class of 2026 Graduation Awards
The History Award: Julia M. ‘26, Beau B. ‘26, and Audrey G. ‘26
The English Award: Annie M. ‘26, Olivia K. ‘26, and Emily W. ‘26
The Packwood Math Award: Vincent V. ‘26, Alex S. ‘26, and Sofia C. ‘26
The Science Award: Sofia R. ‘26, Alonso M. ‘26, and Colette I. ‘26
The Mandarin Language Award: Sasha B. ‘26
The Spanish Language Award: Litty D. ‘26
The Latin Language Award: Presley K. ‘26
The Religious Studies Award: Hannah S. ‘26 and Gabby B. ‘26
The Warren Dickson Instrumental Music Award: Alex S. ‘26
The Warren Dickson Vocal Music Award: Olivia K. ‘26
The Theatre Discipline Award: Ava B. ‘26
The Technical Theatre Discipline Award: Hannah S. ‘26
The Senior Photography Award: Cole E. ‘26
The Susan Kemner-Reed Visual Arts Award: Sofia R. ‘26 and Crosby A. ‘26
The Kethan Kumar Filmmaking Award: Emily W. ‘26
The Artist Award: Allegra P. ‘26 and Cate K. ‘26
The Jeff McCrary Athlete Award: Reed R. ‘26 and Mary Louise T. ‘26
The Scholar Award: Jack E. ‘26 and Presley K. ‘26
The Scott Field Bailey Servant Award: Litty D. ‘26 and Sebastián M. ‘26
The Hilary H. Carlson Award: James B. ‘26 and Alex S. ‘26
The Cornerstone Award: Jules G. ‘26 and Emily W. ‘26
The Lucy Collins Nazro Award: Ava B. ‘26 and Alonso M. ‘26
The St. Andrew Award: Bo A. ‘26 and Lillian G. ‘26
Scholar Distinction
Grace A.
Ava B.
Ciara B.
Gabby B.
Sasha B.
Ellie B.
Beau B.
Jude B.
Sophia C.
Catherine C.
Sofia C.
Madeleine C.
James D.
Litty D.
Millie D.
David D.
David D.
Grace D.
Cole E.
Jack E.
Ben G.
Andrew G.
Audrey G.
Carson H.
Lorenzo H.
Colette I.
Alexander J.
Cooper J.
Ryan K.
Cate K.
Sophia K.
Olivia K.
Presley K.
Alonso M.
Clara M.
Julia M.
Lauren M.
Sebastián M.
Conrad O.
Allegra P.
Charles P.
Aneesa R.
Marnee R.
Sofia R.
Mateo S.
Kavi S.
Hannah S.
Sydney S.
Milani S.
Andrew S.
Rohwan S-T.
Katherine S.
Alex S.
Mary Louise T.
Vincent V.
Emily W.
Graves W.
Athlete Distinction
Bo A.
Ava B.
Sofia B.
Gabby B.
Sofia C.
Laura C.
Madeleine C.
Millie D.
Sophia K.
Jude K.
Julia M.
Sebastián M.
Trevi R.
Sofia R.
Reed R.
Mateo S.
Cinco S.
Katherine S.
Alex S.
Mary Louise T.
Aiden T.
Graves W.
Artist Distinction
Grace A.
Crosby A.
Ava B.
James B.
Ciara B.
Gabby B.
Jude B.
Sophia C.
Catherine C.
Madeleine C.
Millie D.
David D.
Cole E.
Grayson E.
Ben G.
Jules G.
Kaitlyn G.
Paige H.
Cooper J.
Kaylee J.
Cate K.
Brammer K.
Olivia K.
Presley K.
Carter K.
Carl L.
Alonso M.
Julia M.
Brody M.
Harrison P.
Allegra P.
Aneesa R.
Trevi R.
Marnee R.
Sofia R.
Kavi S.
Katherine S.
Alex S.
Chucho V.
Vincent V.
Emily W.
Servant Distinction
Leena A.
Crosby A.
Bo A.
Ava B.
Ciara B.
Gabby B.
Ellie B.
Jude B.
James D.
Litty D.
Millie D.
Grace D.
Jules G.
Audrey G.
Kaylee J.
Aliyah K.
Cate K.
Brammer K.
Olivia K.
Milo M.
Annie M.
Julia M.
Brooks M.
Sebastián M.
Conrad O.
Allegra P.
Charlie P.
Trevi R.
Avery R.
Maggie R.
Marnee R.
Sofia R.
Kavi S.
Hannah S.
Milani S.
Cinco S.
Katherine S.
Alex S.
Mary Louise T.
Aiden T.
Emily W.
