Cheshire Academy Presents Diplomas to 97 Class of 2025 Graduates

Cheshire Academy held its 231st annual commencement exercises May 31 in a festive celebration of individual journeys and the promise the future holds for its new graduates. Despite cool breezes and intermittent rain, the nation’s 11th oldest boarding school awarded 97 degrees and several awards on the campus’ Slaughter Field.  

“Be brave. Be kind. Be bold,” said Commencement Speaker and former Head of School Julie Anderson P’19,’23. “In a world that sometimes rewards expedience over integrity, let your moral compass guide you. Stand up for yourself, and just as importantly, stand up for others.”  

Other speakers echoed Anderson’s sentiments, encouraging the Class of 2025 to reach high and carry the character-building lessons they’ve learned at CA with them as they continue on to their right-fit colleges and universities. 

Valedictorian Chirag Pahilajani, of St. Ann, Jamaica, who was a peer tutor, music major, and played tennis, founded the Ethics Club on campus. He reminded his friends how their days at CA – filled with field trips to New York City, grueling study sessions, and the autumnal bounty of New England apples and pumpkins – passed in the blink of an eye. 

“You’ll want time to go faster. That’s your one mistake,” said Pahilajani, who will begin his pre-med studies at Drexel University in the fall. “Because, while so much happened, it’s already over. No moment, however good or bad or endless it felt, stayed.  

“Savor it. Make the time go slower. Look, smell, feel, taste – let it last. But whatever you do, don’t wish the time away. It goes fast enough on its own.”  

Phuong “Flora” Nguyen Quynh, an honor student and fencer from Vietnam, likened her time at CA to an empowering childhood hike in the majestic Marble Mountains near her hometown of Da Nang. 

“While hiking, you will always see people who had a head start, but there are also many who began far behind,” said Quynh, who will study at Georgia Institute of Technology. “Our time at CA has also felt like a climb. Some of us arrived with resources, confidence, and direction. Others arrived with personal challenges, new languages, and unfamiliar surroundings. 

“But one of my favorite sayings is: ‘Even if you’re just a snail, if you can make it to the top of the mountain, the view you see is just as breathtaking as what an eagle sees.’”  

The class also heard from Student Body President Jianhang “Andy” Chen, a boarding student from Shanghai, China, who will attend the University of California at San Diego. “My advice is simple: Embrace the unexpected,” he said. “The lessons you’ve learned and the warmth you’ve received will be your compass when the path ahead appears unclear, so keep them with you as you go.” 

Chen was one of many international students who have come to study at CA, which offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate® Programme, a challenging curriculum aimed at developing a capacity for inquiry, research, collaboration, and problem solving. The Class of 2025 included students from Canada, China, Czech Republic, Jamaica, Korea, Nigeria, and Vietnam, as well as 56 from Connecticut, including 14 from Cheshire.   

Of note, Cheshire Academy graduated three sets of twins in the Class of 2025: Yangtianyue ‘Ellen’ and Yangwenyue ‘Vanessa’ Han, Naomi and Adia Wolfe, and Margo and Betty Weske. 

In addition to diplomas, Cheshire Academy recognized retiring teacher James “Butch” Rogers, who has taught history on campus for 32 years, as the 2025 recipient of the D. Robert Gardiner Excellence in Teaching Award. 

Cheshire Academy bestowed several honors on members of the Class of 2025. They were: 

• The Armondo Simosa ’08 Award: Khamari Brown of Providence, RI 

• Bevan Loree Dupré ’69 Award: Gia Acosta of Prospect, CT 

• Jennifer Hawke-Petit Book Award: Kaleigh Durkin of North Branford, CT 

• Cheshire Academy Alumni Association Cup Award: Gwen Gersick-Seward of Hamden, CT 

• The Leah Stancil Award: Azaria Naccarato of Kingston, NY 

• The Barbara Vestergaard Award: Grace Moriarty of Wallingford, CT 

• The Jeffrey T. Marshall Scholarship Award: Seoyoung “Veronica” Moon of Busan, South Korea 

• The John J. White Leadership Award: Jihoo “Brielle” Kang of Seoul, South Korea 

• The Karen J. Smith Scholarship Award for Scholastic Improvement: Camryn Wagner of Wolcott, CT 

• Nicholas J. Susla ’48 Book Prize: Phuong “Flora” Nguyen Quynh of Da Nang, Vietnam 

• The Ralph Morgan Griffiths Award: Chirag Pahilajani of St. Ann, Jamaica 

• The Sheridan Plaque: Garrett Snyder of Unionville, CT 
• The Michael A Vanacore Award: Jack McCluskey of Danbury, CT  

Near the ceremony’s end, Tom Woelper, who became head of school in January, recalled some of the highlights of his first five months leading Cheshire Academy, including listening to students’ research during the Academic Expo and witnessing the joy of the annual Spring Fling, Spring Musical, and Color Run. He recognized retiring teachers Rogers, Francois “Fran” Poisson, and Robert “Chip” Boyd, as well as Poisson’s wife, Patty, a school nurse, and Boyd’s wife, Shelley, a longtime theater teacher and leader on campus.  

He also presented a Town of Cheshire citation for bravery and heroism to Music Teacher Kate Bobsein, who ran into a burning building on campus earlier this semester to make sure all CA students in the dormitory were safe.  

In closing, he told students that they will always be part of the Cheshire Academy community. 

“Know that wherever life takes you, you will always have a home here – a place worth returning to when it matters most, where your victories are celebrated and your challenges are met with unwavering support, where you have been prepared not merely for success, but for a life of meaning and purpose.”