Students, Faculty, and Alumni Association Recognize Outstanding Seniors
Families and faculty members came together to celebrate the Brentwood School Class of 2023 during the Senior Celebration held in the pavilion on Thursday, June 1, as reported on The Brentwood School’s website and Facebook page. The event featured an evening of dinner, speeches, and special recognitions, highlighting the achievements and kindness exhibited by the graduating class.
The ceremony commenced with opening remarks from the Head of the School, Dr. Mike Riera, followed by Jeffrey Ehrenpreis ’95, the president of the Alumni Association, who presented the association’s Senior Awards to Ezra Frech and Casey Rosen.
Valedictorian Huck Agar-Johnson took the stage and delivered a heartfelt speech that emphasized gratitude, connection, and the positive nature of the Class of 2023. Huck acknowledged the strength of the community, not only in the lasting friendships forged but also in the small moments of connection shared daily. He spoke about the impact of simple acts of kindness, such as a smile in the hallway, a quick laugh with a peer, or an unexpected compliment from a classmate, which contribute to the unique spirit of Brentwood.
The evening took an exciting turn when Mr. Pope, the Senior Class Dean, fulfilled a promise to the seniors during their freshman year. Having grown his hair over the years, he pledged to let students cut it if the class remained committed to one another and had a great year. After remarks from Mr. Pope and Senior Class Dean Jessica Mirch, several students joined him on stage, taking turns shearing off sections of his long locks. In a gesture of generosity, Mr. Pope will donate his cut-off hair to Locks of Love.
Ms. Mirch, while introducing the hair-cutting spectacle with humor, also expressed her deep connection to the graduating class. She reminisced about the moments shared with the Class of 2023, from watching their dance performances to supporting them at school events. Ms. Mirch acknowledged the lessons she had learned from them, emphasizing the importance of patience, flexibility, and finding joy in both successes and mistakes.
Four seniors – Fallon Garcia, Jacob Glazer, Georg Rahumaa, and Casey Rosen – had the opportunity to deliver remarks throughout the celebration. They were randomly chosen from a pool of volunteers who stepped forward to share their thoughts.
One of the evening’s highlights was the speech by math teacher Billy Kaplan ’04, who was selected by the students as the faculty speaker. Using the 1985 movie “Back to the Future” as a metaphor, Kaplan encouraged the graduates to embrace open-mindedness and be willing to adapt their plans, even if they differed from their original expectations.
