Two-Oh, Two-Six: Choate Celebrates 136th Commencement

The sun shone down upon Christian Street, and the sounds of the Manchester Pipe Band floated through the air as the clock ticked past 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 31. Friends and family of the Class of 2026 rose to their feet as more than 200 sixth formers made their way from the Carl C. Icahn Center for Science to the front of the Great Lawn. Laughter danced through the air, and smiles painted the faces of graduates far and wide as Faculty Marshal James P. Davidson offered his trademark wit and a bit of wisdom that can only be acquired after 50 years of service.

"Diversity is certainly one of our strengths, and it is well represented in the names of the cultures and languages that our students come from, with meanings such as the sun, the moon, snow, good fortune, little bear, and certainly some names jumped out to me," the longtime faculty member said. They made me feel lucky. They feel as if I'd met an angel, that I'd seen the divine, been granted grace and wisdom. And I think our alumni body will be very lucky to be receiving an Oscar today, but I know the names that will be most important will be those that are read as you all cross the stage, and it truly is a wonderful day, not just for us in Wallingford, but we should know that we don't need to go to Mr. D's or Sweet Cream or Dairy Queen to have a great Sunday."

Davidson's remarks were followed by one of the School's newest graduates, Thandiwe Taylor ’26. While Taylor has not been at Choate for half of a century, she and Davidson hold something in common — their love of the Choate experience. Commanding the stage, the Class of 2026 President delivered a heartfelt reflection on her high school experience. Months away from starting college, she has come to view Choate as a place that taught her love is “not conditional,” but something actively nurtured in everyday moments, whether in advisors’ homes, classrooms, or on the sidelines. Framing senior year as a “series of lasts,” she urged her classmates to resist living for endings and instead “nurture the now” by making shared spaces joyful, welcoming, and authentic. She closed with a hopeful charge: embrace real challenges, savor simple joys, and “do something powerful” with the one life they are given, trusting that “spring always arrives.”

That spirit of purpose and the heartwarming reflective tone that Taylor displayed throughout her speech carried into 2025-2026 Student Council President Zaki Shamsi’s introduction of Commencement speaker Amy Brooks. Pairing stories about his childhood dream of becoming a Boston Celtic with words of admiration for Brooks’s path from Stanford athlete to a leader shaping the global reach of the NBA, he framed her career as a model of using talent not just for personal success, but to expand opportunity for others.

Likewise, Brooks also has a deep love for basketball. The NBA President of Global Development traced her love of the game to childhood encouragement and reflected on her time at Stanford, where embracing even the smallest role helped define her work ethic and trajectory. Speaking about her professional life, she emphasized that qualities like teamwork, effort, and humility matter more than raw intelligence, especially in a world increasingly shaped by technology. Pointing to the NBA’s global growth, she underscored the power of collaboration and trust. As she concluded her message to the Class of 2026, she left them with three instructions: pursue what inspires you, lead with humility to create opportunity not just for yourself, but for others, and take pride in every role you acquire in work, and in life.

"Be great at what you’re asked to do. Be ready, no matter how small or insignificant you think it may be. It may lead to wonderful things in the future," she told the crowd.

Brooks's keynote remarks were the final pieces of advice offered before the grand finale — prizes and diplomas. Head of School Dr. Alex Curtis, Dean of Students Will Gilyard ’98, and Dean of Faculty Katie Levesque made their way to the podium to deliver the final prizes of the 2025-2026 academic year to the following students:

• David T. Layman, Jr. Prize: Friday Acuna and Riham Yassin ’26
  • Honorable Mentions: Molly Crawford, Isabel Gargamelli, and Maya Salisbury ’26
• Rassweiler and Choate Award: Isabelle Jiao and Harper Marsden-Uren ’26
  • Honorable Mentions: Lily Honney and Alex Zhao ’26
• School Seal Prize: Annie Cady and Thandiwe Taylor ’26
  • Honorable Mentions: Paul Stearns and Dominique Welcome ’26

"The world you are entering does not need more detached spectators standing safely at the edges of things. It needs people willing to build communities, sustain institutions, create beauty, pursue truth, serve others, and take seriously the responsibilities that come with opportunity," Dr. Curtis said moments before awarding diplomas. "That responsibility now belongs to you. My hope is that you carry forward not only the opportunities this school has given you, but the sense of obligation, curiosity, generosity, and seriousness of purpose that Kennedy believed schools like Choate exist to cultivate. Congratulations, Choate Rosemary Hall Class of 2026."

Having received their final pieces of advice from Dr. Curtis as sixth formers, 245 Wild Boars joined the ranks of the School's alumni, walking across the stage and accepting their diplomas one by one. Greeted by applause from family, friends, and faculty, each graduate marked the culmination of years of work, growth, and shared experience. As the ceremony drew to a close and crowds began to migrate up the hill near Brownell for lunch, the Class of 2026 departed the Great Lawn not only with diplomas in hand but with a lasting connection to Choate and to one another. This isn't a goodbye to Choate forever, but simply a goodbye for now, because before they know it, they'll receive an email inviting them back to campus for their five-year reunion. 

View a full replay of Choate Rosemary Hall's 136th Commencement.

View a digital copy of The Choate News: Commencement 2026 — Special Edition.

Photo Credit: Joseph M. Avena is a Digital Content Producer at Choate Rosemary Hall, bringing expertise in content creation and community engagement.

Editorial Credit: Ryan Shepard '14 is the Manager of Editorial Services at Choate Rosemary Hall, bringing 10+ years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and content strategy.