George School Class of 2012 Recognized for 'Generosity of Spirit'

Despite heavy rains and a delayed start, the 136 members of ’s class of 2012 had high spirits Sunday as the 118th commencement ceremony was held.

Family, friends and community members joined the members of the class of 2012 for a ceremony that highlighted their generosity of spirit and sense of community.

Traditionally held outdoors, the ceremony was delayed by about an hour as parents of graduates joined George School staff members in preparing the sports center to host the ceremony, which needed to be relocated due to heavy rain and thunder, school officials said.

With students coming from 10 different countries and 12 states, the graduates represent a wide variety of religions, races, political perspectives, and socioeconomic backgrounds, according to George School officials.

According to a George School press release, nearly 100 percent of the graduates plan to go on to college next year, while a few plan to take a gap year before moving on to higher education.

“This class has had incredible opportunities here at George School and they’ve done incredible things with those opportunities,” Head of School Nancy Starmer said in her commencement remarks.  “They are talented, creative, reflective, fun, responsible and appreciative young people.  As I listened to them and to their teachers over the course of the year, however, one quality kept coming to the fore, and that is that this is a class that understands the value of gratitude and appreciation.”

Click here to view the school's Commencement Week photo gallery.