Doane Academy Celebrates its 189th Commencement
Among the Class of 2026, Shane Bobroski was recognized as this year’s lone school “lifer,” an honor reserved for a graduating senior who has attended Doane Academy continuously since pre-kindergarten or kindergarten.
Doane Academy then bestowed the two major awards presented at each commencement ceremony:
The Ivy Leaf Award (Recognizing academic enthusiasm): Presented to Ceren Firat by last year’s recipient, Leah Seche.
The Doane Cup (Recognizing strong, ethical leadership): Presented to Jacob Powell by last year’s recipient, Mackenzie Morton.
Ismael Camara provided the Senior Perspective, reflecting on his transformation from a reluctant student to a grateful graduate, emphasizing that deep relationships with faculty and peers made the school his home. He also highlighted the unique individual contributions that each of his classmates made to the story of the Class of 2026.
He closed by advising the junior class to cherish their time, stating, "My advice for the next class of incoming seniors is to live in the moment because it won't be there for that much longer."
Valedictorian Arnav Ganti spoke of how he learned the importance of gratitude during his time at Doane, and listed why he was grateful to many teachers and mentors at Doane who guided and shaped his experiences and learning here. As he closed he imparted, “As we celebrate our transition, I invite you to consider who has helped you along the way. Gratitude allows us to reflect on our experiences and shape our mind for the future. So go out fearlessly knowing that you have the support of all the people that got you here, Right Onward!
This year's Commencement Speaker, Timothy G. Sadar, a beloved former math teacher, Lower School Head, and then Assistant Headmaster, delivered a resonant keynote address. He reminded the graduates that "learning academics or learning life skills is not linear—there are steps forward and there are steps backward—but ideally, the overall trend has a positive slope." He imparted five core life skills to weather life's inevitable twists and turns: have a solid moral foundation, be a lifelong learner, understand oneself as being part of something bigger, be a good listener, and choose friends wisely.
Encouraging the graduates to rely on the foundation built during their time at Doane, Mr. Sadar closed by looking forward to their futures:
"Where it takes them and what adventures they will face they do not know, but they do so with the knowledge that they are well-prepared for that uncertain journey."
With their diplomas in hand, and the continuing support of the tight-knit Doane community behind them, the 23 members of the graduating class each look forward to the next chapter of their lives.