Deerfield-Windsor School graduates 60 Sunday

ALBANY — Sixty graduates walked across the stage Sunday afternoon at the Henry Gym at Deerfield-Windsor School as the school’s class of 2015 took the next step in their academic careers.

The program included a prelude from the Albany Symphony Brass Quintet, followed by the traditional processional and “Pomp and Circumstance.” There was an introduction of school officials, honor graduates and Beta Club graduates, followed by a presentation by the senior class.

The presentation was the planting of a tree to represent the class’ roots at Deerfield.

The valedictorian was Steven Feng — the Dougherty County STAR student for the year — and the salutatorian was Abigail Pearce Simmons. Simmons presented her salutatory “Why I Hate Metaphors,” after which Feng gave his valedictory “Beating the Odds.” Deerfield Headmaster Dave Davies gave remarks before conducting a presentation of recognitions with Middle and Upper School Director Robert Geoffrey Sudderth.

Simmons made reference to such metaphors as “a blade of grass in a field,” “like a pine tree” and “like a balloon” to make the case that none of those would adequately describe or define the group of 60 that she is in.

One of the things they could be more accurately compared to would be a stop sign, she said.

“We have the best interest of others at heart, because we want people to get to their destination safety. … They may not listen, and that’s OK, because we know they will pay for it later,” she said. “Our potential for the future is incomprehensible … we are only getting started.”

Feng, the son of a college mathematics professor who also was the region’s STAR student for the year, opened the remarks he had spent the last week or two preparing by listing some of the things his classmates have survived, including biology class, two presidential administrations and the Ebola outbreak, to demonstrate how they have not allowed themselves to be defined by data points.

“This graduating class is not only fair-mannered, but also good looking, so we have beaten the odds already,” he quipped.

He went on to say that every Deerfield class has made an impact one way or another, and that they have remained multi-faceted in those contributions.

As the next chapter opens for his peers, he encouraged them not to be influenced by the opinions of others.

“Believing the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence (to move forward). … If you haven’t found it (purpose) keep looking and don’t settle,” he said.

During his remarks, Davies turned the podium away from the audience so that he could address the graduating class directly to tell them to not forget how “richly blessed” they are, and the support system that has made them so.

With that, comes a special obligation, the headmaster said.

The graduates, he said, have “an obligation” that can’t be addressed “with a thank-you note.”

“You have an obligation to use your education to make this world a better place,” Davies said.

Among the several other recognitions given at the ceremony included to Katherine Ariana Jack for being named the National Merit Scholar, Joshua Austin Cain for receiving the Graham Lowe Award and William Marvin Sewell IV for his receipt of the W.T. Henry Knight of Valor Award.

Allen Samuel Lowe, math teacher and track coach at the school, gave a faculty challenge before Davies, Sudderth and Deerfield Board of Trustees Chair Tony B. Sammons awarded the diplomas. Benediction was offered by Sewell before the recessional to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”

This year’s class included 11 Beta Club graduates and 29 four-year honor graduates. Among the Beta Club and honor graduates included Margaret Elisabeth DuVall, the school’s student council president. This year’s class, Davies said, will bring the Deerfield alumni ranks to 2,457.

This year’s senior class at Deerfield logged in more than 6,750 volunteer hours. Officials at Deerfield said the average SAT score was 1647, and all 60 have been accepted to college. Twenty of the graduates were listed on the commencement program as having been enrolled in Deerfield since kindergarten or first grade, and six are children of Deerfield alumni.

Of the six children of alumni, four have been Deerfield students since kindergarten or first grade, the program said.

Among the 60 graduates, there is over $2.5 million in scholarship funding accounted for, officials with the school said.