Millbrook Celebrates 94th Commencement

Overcast skies and an uncharacteristically cold May day couldn’t dampen spirits as the community gathered for Millbrook School’s 94^th Commencement ceremony on Sunday. Family members and friends of the Class of 2025 filled campus with an atmosphere of warmth and joy.

The day began with excited VIth formers packing into the Class of 2018 meeting room to receive their traditional gifts of Millbrook ties, pendants, and flowers. Millbrook’s core value of service was on display, as faculty, family, and students alike helped tie ties and clasp necklaces. Once everyone was properly adorned, they headed outside for graduation pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

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As photographers finished snapping pictures, guests found their seats under the tent on Flagler Quad, enjoying prelude music form a string quartet. Finally, the traditional procession, led by bagpiper William G. Moriarty began, and the Class of 2025 made its way to the front of the tent to well-deserved applause.

Head of School Jonathan Downs ’98 welcomed everyone to campus and introduced Rev. Cam Hardy to open the proceedings with an invocation. “I feel like I’m graduating with you,” remarked Hardy, who is retiring at the end of the 2024–2025 school year. “It’s been such fun and a genuine privilege to walk the walk with you these last few years.” Following the invocation, the string quartet led the audience to sing two verses of “America the Beautiful” in honor of Memorial Day, and then Millbrook Trustee Carolina Wamsler stepped up to the podium.

Wamsler reminded students that they did not achieve their accomplishments by themselves. “That you are surrounded today by your parents and your families, your teachers, your dorm parents, your coaches, your friends, is quite appropriate. We rarely accomplish great things alone, and this gathering brings together the very people who have accompanied you on your Millbrook life’s journey.”

Following Wamsler’s remarks, Downs welcomed the 2025 Commencement speaker, Millbrook Trustee Frank Borges ’70 to the podium. Uncle to Class of 2025 members Peter Borges and Marcus Vega, Mr. Borges began his address by directing the graduates to stand and give their families a round of grateful applause. He then implored students to carry Millbrook’s values with them throughout the rest of their lives.

“I urge you, Class of 2025, remember what you learned at Millbrook—that doing well and doing good are not opposing goals, that character matters, that success without integrity isn’t success at all. Keep living—with intent—Non Sibi Sed Cunctis, not just in grand gestures that draw headlines but in quiet, everyday acts of decency.”

This year, students elected Haley Malmgren to speak on their behalf. She shared memories from her own time at Millbrook, as well as a compilation of her peers’ thoughts on their experiences. “We truly can accomplish anything we set our minds to,” she concluded. “We’re here for it.”

After the speeches, Downs awarded the following Commencement Awards to standout students:

Finally, each member of the Class of 2025 walked across the stage to receive their diploma and pose for a photo with Mr. Downs, and the Millbrook Singers marked the moment with an acapella rendition of Rufus Wainwright ’91’s “Millbrook.” Rev. Hardy delivered a closing prayer, and the ceremony drew to a close with a beautiful performance of “An Irish Blessing.”

The Class of 2025 then marched out of the tent to strains of “America the Beautiful" emanating from Moriarty’s bagpipe, off to the great things awaiting them in college and beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

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