Head of School Melissa Soderberg used the Billy Joel song “Vienna” to relate her message to graduates at Columbus Academy’s 113th Commencement on June 1.

“For a 49-year-old song, it really has a surprisingly timely message,” she noted. “What I’m curious about, however, is what does Vienna represent on a grander scale when we think about slowing down and appreciating the life you have – practicing living it well as opposed to always calculating for ambition.”

Krish Bakhru ’26, president of the senior class, also provided a welcome to the ceremony on behalf of the 88 graduates. “No matter when we arrived on this campus,” he stated, “I think we all shared the same feeling at first… nervous, uncertain and completely unaware of how much this place would shape us. But today we leave confident, resilient and ready for what’s next.”

In the Valedictory Address, Chris Hill ’26 shared his hope that he and his classmates don’t lose the ability to appreciate the ordinary moments while they’re living them because those are the moments that matter most.

“Looking back, our greatest memories were the ones spent together: the crazy lunch table conversations or the routines we assumed that would always be there,” stated Chris, this year’s recipient of the Andrew William Cary Cup. “And one day, without realizing it, these ordinary moments became memories… And this is what high school has taught me – the people beside you shape the experience more than the achievements or the experience itself.”

During his Commencement Address, alumnus and current Academy parent Michael Corey ’01 made a huge announcement about the “next gig” for departing faculty members John Exline ’64 and John Wuorinen ’80… one that included exclusive shirts made by Michael’s former classmate Ryan Vesler ’01.

“You two aren’t retiring, you’re retiring from Academy,” Michael said to the pair of Academy legends before walking off the dais to present them with “Exline Wuorinen ’28” campaign t-shirts.

He concluded his speech with a tribute to beloved educators Phil Currier and Tim Leet, whose passings shook the Academy community 31 years apart from each other.

“Whatever path you choose as you embark on the next chapter of your life, may you lean into it with all that you have,” stated Michael, using a favorite Currier catchphrase. “The world will be better because of it. The world will be better because of each of you.”

On a picture-perfect day, the outdoor ceremony held on the Academy quad concluded with the upper school choirs singing “We Are One” followed by a performance of the Alma Mater by the choir, band and orchestra.

Faculty and staff then recessed to the playing of bagpipes followed by the new graduates, who gathered in the Lazarus Courtyard to celebrate with their families and friends in attendance.

COLUMBUS ACADEMY CLASS OF 2026

* Lifers are graduates who have been continuously enrolled since the first grade
+ Cum Laude Society inductees are selected on the basis of scholarship and character

Nousha Fatemeh Afaghi

Adam Scott Aikins*+

Tyler Lee Akpofure

Graham McFadden Alexander*

Scott Alpert*

Jackson Lee Amato+

Brian Deladem Ankamah*

Hanna Theresa Arnold

Krish Bakhru*

Mila Eleni Balaloski*

Harper Louise Boninsegna-Mullins

Miranda Lark Bradner-Young+

Elizabeth Grace Brown

William Douglas Bundy, Jr.*

Hasan Armiya Campion

Dane Park Chaky+

Nolen L. Chambers

Ian H. Chang+

Nala Chebli

Victoria Alexis Chirita

Chase William Crane*

Jaxon Crowl*

Alaina Brock Navin Dadlani

Marcel Joseph Daneault III*

Gabriel Alexander Davis-Ray

R. Hayes Donaldson*

Dominic M. Dunkle

Sebastian Henry Friedrich Edwards

Madelyn Rose Esposito*

Eros Forbes*

Allison McGlone Frickel*

Taylor Marie Gillett

Dilin Anil Gokhale*

Christopher James Hill+

Cody Austin Hock*

Mason Hong

Grant Christian Landis*

Hyunyoung Lee+

Lucy Hannah Lee

Cooper S. Leibas

James Tian-You Lo*

Nason Lo

Alicia Helene Lonser+

Saurav Malik

Nathan B. Maroo*

Nicholas James Martin*

Emma Alana Matros*

Nolan William Meyers*

Aubree Elizabeth Mifsud*

Michael Theodore Milenkovski*

Chazlance Jonathan Equipado Moore

Caroline Elizabeth Morris*

Gelila Zoe Nelson*

Mmesoma Chizoba Nwoke*

Marceline Nonireese F. Ordonez*

Alexandra L. Phieffer*+

Henry D. Pizzotti

Jonathan Scholz Proctor*+

Ryan Rajan*

Dillan Venu Reddy*+

Leila Yasmine Rimmel*+

Jameson Wendell Ross

Charles James Rubey*

Henry Patrick Schehl

Maren Grace Seitchik

Dipannita Sen

Jessica R. Shnayder

Jason F. Singleton*

Blaine Benight Smith*

Joshua Mark Sneeringer*

Lauren McMenamy Stevens*+

Parker Anderson Stoner*

Rachael Marin Sutherland+

Ella Tang+

Eesha Rao Tanneru

Bittania Teferi*

Lily Tostevin

Jayden Tsao

Aashi Niraj Varia

Alison Yang Wang

Lara Nicola Wood

Jack Michael Woods

Patrick John Woods

Sophia KeHan Wu+

Abigail Ruixuan Xiao+

Lynn Yoon

Zyhni Zeng

Angela Zhang+

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