Newark Academy Celebrates the Class of 2026 at Grade 8 Class Night

Newark Academy celebrated the achievements of the eighth grade class and its symbolic move to the Upper School during a graduation ceremony in the Coraci Performance Hall on Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

 

In his welcome address, Middle School Principal Tom Ashburn gave the Class of 2026 three goals for their transition to the Upper School: to be joyful in managing their lives, to find fulfillment in what they do and to seek out people you love and who love you back.

 

Head of School Donald M. Austin highlighted the students’ resiliency and adaptability through their time in the Middle School and called on them to prioritize strong relationships with friends and faculty in the Upper School, to get involved early and be patient with themselves.

 

Eighth grade speaker Naveen McNeal talked about the three things the superhero Captain America has to succeed: courage, shelter and a shield. He noted that the Class of 2026 has all of those things and can therefore be superheroes themselves in the Upper School – with their shield being the NA community. “I found my people at NA,” he said.

 

Eighth Grade Class Representative Gina Schreier closed out the ceremony by advising her peers to live in the moment and enjoy making memories as they transition into the Upper School.

 

To view the full Facebook photo album from the Grade 8 Class Night, click here.