The White Mountain School is pleased to announce the recent graduation of 36 students in the Class of 2023, who were recognized on Saturday, May 20, at White Mountain’s 137th Commencement held on-campus.
Despite a forecast of rain, it was a beautiful spring day, creating the perfect backdrop for the 300 family members and friends attending the celebration of our graduating class.
“Seniors, I have learned from your teachers that you are known and loved for the many ways you cultivate kindness, curiosity, and delight in this community–and beyond,” said Chair of the Board of Trustees, Alana Kumbier. “Your leadership has taken many forms, and we are grateful for the ways you have shown courage, navigated challenges, embodied compassion, and fostered the well-being of this community. You have worked hard to become the people you want to be in the world, and to help each other, and your fellow students and teachers, to do the same… We are all so proud of you, and we know you will continue to shape your communities in profoundly positive ways.”
This year’s Commencement Address and Senior Commencement Address for the Class of 2023 were delivered by Bianca Lora ’13 and Isabel Garcia ’23, respectively. Bianca spoke about her time at the school in 2013 until now, where she has made her way back to Boston. In her address she shared moments of her path, when she “let herself adjust and start over as many times as she needed to.” Bianca directed the remainder of her address to the seniors, guiding them with this thought: “Each day presents us with a choice. We can choose to show up, unapologetically, as the multidimensional version of ourselves or we can shrink into whomever our fears, self-limiting beliefs and old habits make us out to be. It is in making the vulnerable choice daily to show up authentically that we can attract the community, opportunities, and life that goes beyond our wildest dreams.”
Isabel, or ‘Isa’ as she is belovedly known on campus, shared moving reflections on her four-year journey here at the White Mountain School. In continuing her tradition of Fun Fact Friday (even though it was Saturday), she asked, “ Did you know that under this tent is the last time the class of 2023 will be gathered together as students and the first time that the class of 2023 will be gathered as alumni? To my fellow classmates, no matter how far you go or how close you stay, one thing is certain, you are ready to take on the world.”
Midway through the ceremony the White Mountain school was able to present seven awards. Many exceptional graduates were recognized during this segment, including one graduate from Brazil, Ana de Oliveira, who received the Courage Prize, an award presented to the student to exemplify perseverance, citizenship and leadership in all aspects of the school. Pyper Williams, Humanities Faculty, Alumna Class of 2018, and Ana’s Advisor, said in her presentation that Ana “has maintained a deep sense of community and has learned to lean on her friends and supporters, even from thousands of miles away. She is a deeply independent leader who inspires others to embrace their own courage and strive for success.”
The ceremony ended with many smiles, laughter, hugs, and flowing tears, as graduates closed this chapter and began to look towards their next endeavor. Families and friends were welcomed to join in a luncheon, before all students departed campus for the summer.
With seven graduates being local day students, the remaining 29 represented eleven states and five countries, including places like Cambridge, MA, San Francisco, CA, Vietnam and Japan. Post-White Mountain, many students have decided to enroll in college or university this fall. Others are preparing to take a gap year, during which they will live intentionally through travel and cultural exchange, service-learning, internships or externships, or postgraduate education.
The White Mountain School Graduating Class of 2023:
Macy Adams Littleton, NH
Joshua Barry Coral Gables, FL
Rayelinn Bromley Littleton, NH
Nicholas Creed New York, NY
Sadie Crout Woodbridge, CT
Ana de Oliveira São Paulo, Brazil
Elena Dolige McLean, VA
Massiel Estevez Bronx, NY
Elijah Fischer Rockville, MD
Bryan Flores Red Bank, NJ
Stefan Gagnier Charlotte, NC
Harry Galiardo Summit, NJ
Yang ‘David’ Gao Shanghai, China
Isabel Garcia Lawrence, MA
Ella Gaulin Littleton, NH
Alexis Hancock Long Beach, CA
Alexander Heuberger Brookline, MA
Xiaoye ‘Kimi’ Huang Shanghai, China
Henry Kurtzman Madison, NJ
Jamie Laster Wilmington, DE
Whistle Leach Rollinsford, NH
Xinyi ‘Cindy’ Li Shanghai, China
Christine Martin Monroe, NH
Jamie Mazimba Lusaka, Zambia
Adrik Mordan West New York, NY
Liv Panos White Plains, NY
Kim Pelissier Greenville, NC
Khue ‘Kami’ Pham Saigon, Vietnam
Vega Pierce Boston, MA
Nathan Scott San Francisco, CA
Justin Shaw Bethlehem, NH
Gillian Stroker Littleton, NH
Jacob Taylor Eliot, ME
Sadie Thomas Cambridge, MA
Yusei Usui Tokyo, Japan
Leah Weeden Lincoln, NH
For more information about this exceptional class of students, along with more photos of our end-of-year events celebrating the Class of 2023, please visit the White Mountain School Class of 2023 page. For more information about The White Mountain School, please visit whitemountain.org.
Photos from the Baccalaureate and Graduation are available here
The White Mountain School, Members of the Class of 2023
Standing in the back row:
Vega Pierce, Adrik Mordan, Yang Gao, Jacob Taylor, Whistle Leach, Henry Kurtzman, Harry Galiardo, Stefan Gagnier, Bryan Flores, Yusei Usui, Justin Shaw, Nicholas Creed, Nathan Scott, Xiaoye Huang, Joshua Barry & Elijah Fischer.
Seated in the front row:
Kim Pelissier, Jamie Laster, Sadie Thomas, Isabel Garcia, Sadie Crout, Ana de Oliveira, Christine Martin, Xinyi Li, Gillian Stroker, Rayelinn Bromley, Jamie Mazimba, Elena Dolige, Macy Adams, Leah Weeden, Massiel Estevez, Khue Pham, Liv Panos, Ella Gaulin & Lexi Hancock
Not Pictured: Alexander Heuberger
Day Student Graduates
Macy Adams Littleton, NH
Rayelinn Bromley Littleton, NH
Ella Gaulin Littleton, NH
Christine Martin Monroe, NH
Justin Shaw Bethlehem, NH
Gillian Stroker Littleton, NH
Leah Weeden Lincoln, NH
[Photo Credit: Austin Pellegrino of Midnight Industries]
School Awards and Prizes
The White Mountain School held Departmental Awards on Thursday, May 18th. The following awards were presented to students who achieved high academic standing in the subjects of Outdoor Education, Philosophy & Religious Studies, Science, Sustainability, English, Mathematics, History, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Music, and World Languages. Awards were also presented to female and male-identifying students who excelled in athletics.
The Ethel W. Devin Prize for Excellence in English: Massiel Estevez ‘23
The Valpey Prize for Excellence in History: Macy Adams ‘23
The Philosophy and Religious Studies Prize: David Gao ‘23
The Richard J. Hayes Prize for Excellence in Mathematics: Kimi Huang ‘23
The Frederic L. Steele Prize for Excellence in Science: Nathan Scott ‘23
The Jack Cook Sustainability Prize: Samantha Bailey ‘24
The Alice C. Humphrey Prize for Excellence in Spanish: Isa Garcia ‘23
The Mountaineering Award: Addie Laster ‘23
The Samuel Robinson II Community Service Award: Ava Wright ‘24
Male Identifying Athletics Prize: Whistle Leach ‘23
Female Identifying Athletics Prize: Jamie Mazimba ‘23
The Hamish MacEwan Prize for Excellence in Art: Christine Martin ’23
The Caroline O. McMillian ’47 Music Award: Elijah Fischer ‘23
The following six awards and one new award were presented during Commencement.
The Courage Prize: Ana de Oliveira ‘23
Presented to the student who exemplifies perseverance, citizenship, and leadership in all aspects of the School.
The Robin McQuire Pearson Award: Massiel Estevez ‘23
Presented to the female-identifying student in the graduating class who has shown the greatest perseverance in her studies and life at White Mountain.
The Lt. Michael S. Pierce ’82 Award: Liv Panos ‘23
Presented to the student who has achieved the most in one year at White Mountain in academics, athletics, and personal maturity.
The Bishop’s Prize: Kimi Huang ‘23
Presented to the student who has the highest scholastic standing.
The Faculty Award: Addie Laster ‘23
Presented to the student who has, in the opinion of the faculty, demonstrated excellence in both attitude and performance in scholarly and athletic endeavors.
The Head’s Award: Bryan Flores ‘23
Presented to the student who best personifies the mission of The White Mountain School.
The Sirna Award for Generosity of Spirit: Paula Erskine
The Sirna Award for Generosity of Spirit is named in honor of Barbara McFadden Sirna, Class of 1963, in recognition of her 34 years of service to our board and ongoing support for our school. The Sirna Award is presented to an employee who goes above and beyond in serving our school community with a greatness of spirit, and an abundance of compassion, the cornerstone of our school mission. 2023 is the inaugural year for this award, and it goes to a member of our faculty who has served The White Mountain School for almost three decades. She is the voice of welcome for every one of our morning meetings, the regular host of ice cream socials, senior donut day, and spectacular weekend events like the holiday and beach parties. She knows and cares deeply about every student and is always willing to help out a colleague. She is synonymous with The White Mountain School and its values.
