Class of 2015 Celebrated at Fall Convocation

On Friday, September 19, Ranney School celebrated its 79 seniors at the annual Fall Convocation. Upper School students, faculty, administration and family members of the Class of 2015 gathered together in RSPA Panther Hall for the special event, which also served as the traditional “vesting” ceremony for seniors. “This ceremony marks the official beginning of the passage of the Class of 2015 on the road to graduation,” said Head of School Dr. John W. Griffith. “A lot will happen for them between now and then, but this is an official and symbolic ritual we go through to put the mantle of leadership on them.”

Following Dr. Griffith’s remarks, Student Council President Elizabeth Roberts ’15 (Ocean) encouraged her peers to embrace their time in the Upper School. “Ranney is our name. It represents who we are as a student body, and we represent what it does,” she said. Senior Class President Kristen Guyler ’15 (Marlboro) and Junior Class President Christopher Weiland ’16 (Brick) also addressed the audience (view video clips of the students’ speeches at right).

Class of 2014 Advisor Brian Daly presented a vest to Class of 2015 advisor Christine Cicero to begin the ceremony, as Christopher Weiland called each senior to the stage to receive their vest. Each vest is embroidered with the Ranney seal and the student’s name.

To conclude the ceremony, Assistant Head of Upper School Katie Gibson, who joined the Ranney community this summer, addressed the Class of 2015 in her first Fall Convocation, advising them to make time for their passions, their friends, their families and their community. “The choices we make as children and adolescents do impact our futures,” she said. “Our roles as educators and parents are to help you make the best possible choices. At some point, you begin to make your own choices. We can only hope that we have given you the skills and the confidence to make choices that honor who you are and take your life in the direction of where you want it to go. Our greatest achievement is to raise good, kind, thoughtful and engaged people who live their lives with integrity.” Following her speech (view the video at right), Ms. Gibson led the class in the honor pledge before they processed out of RSPA Panther Hall.

You can also listen to Head of School Dr. John W. Griffith's speech at right. Stay tuned for additional photos.