View the full Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony here.

On an evening filled with tradition and pride, families, faculty, and friends rose to welcome the 97 members of King School’s Class of 2025 as they filed into their Commencement Ceremony, accompanied by a live performance of “Pomp and Circumstance.” The celebration, on May 30 at the North Field Tent, honored academic achievement, personal growth, and the values that define the King experience.

Head of School Carol Maoz opened the ceremony by reflecting on the spirit that shaped the year and the lasting influence of the graduating class.

“This year’s schoolwide theme, ‘making connections,’ was a promise, and you kept it,” Maoz said. “You built connections across ideas, differences, and communities. You listened, learned, and led with empathy. In you, we see the very best of King.” 

She spoke with admiration about the students’ imprint on King and their impact beyond campus.

“This class has been defined by its commitment to service, its genuine care for others, and the strength of its community,” she said. “You’ve left your mark on King, yes, but more importantly, you've impacted the world around you.”

Building on those reflections, Mi-Sun Freeman P’22, ’29, Chair of the Board of Trustees, praised the graduates for their maturity and leadership.

“You’ve navigated a school year during a national election, with all the tensions, opinions, and noise that come with it,” Freeman said. “But at King, we witnessed something extraordinary. We saw civil discourse, real listening, conversations that didn’t aim to win, but to understand. In classrooms, clubs, and community gatherings, you demonstrated the kind of maturity and respect that we urgently need in the world beyond our campus.”

Freeman also noted the seniors’ engagement with the rapidly changing world.

“You’ve also stood at the forefront of emerging technologies,” she said. “Artificial intelligence isn’t just something you read about; it’s something you’ve used, with thoughtfulness, with responsibility, and with integrity. You’ve asked hard questions. You’ve explored its possibilities and its limits, and you’ve done so with the ethical framework that King strives to instill.”

The theme of thoughtful action continued with valedictorian Kiran Rao, who spoke about the power of purpose.

“Effort is only meaningful when intention is behind it,” he said. “Intention is a promise that we can make to ourselves every single day. It is a commitment to staying present even when distraction is right there, to actually be there, to show up.”

Looking ahead, Kiran encouraged classmates to meet each new day with courage and care, to speak up and take risks.

“May we always be brave enough to find what we love,” Kiran said. “And in doing so, may we learn how to live with intention, passion, and our whole hearts.”

Before the commencement address, Marnie Sadlowsky, Head of Upper School and Associate Head of School for Strategic Programs, presented Certificates of Distinction to 39 students in recognition of their outstanding academic and community contributions.

The commencement speaker was William Schpero KLHT’06, an assistant professor of health policy and economics at Weill Cornell Medical College. He blended humor, humility, and personal reflection to challenge graduates to rethink conventional ideas of success. 

Drawing upon his journey from aspiring physician to economist, Schpero invited students to question, explore, and grow, sharing three lessons he wished he had known earlier: that uncertainty is a feature to be embraced, that seeking out intellectual discomfort leads to growth, and that “achievement is not fulfillment.” He encouraged the graduates to invest in others and find meaning through purpose and making a positive impact, however small.

“As you move forward, I hope you seek out questions more than answers, discomfort more than ease, and truth more than certainty,” Schpero concluded.

The day’s messages of purpose, connection, and resilience came into sharp focus through the words of Senior Speaker Alexander Zaken. In his heartfelt address, Alex reflected on the class’s shared experiences; the pain of losing Adam Boaz, a beloved teacher and mentor; and the growth that resulted from such loss. 

“We’ve all felt disappointment here,” Alex said. “We’ve all stumbled. But we didn’t stay down. We grew. We came back stronger. And we carry those experiences with us — not as regrets, but as reminders of how much we’ve already overcome.” 

Referring to a poem by Boaz, Alex praised the closeness and support of his friends and peers who, in a moment of deep sadness, became a “family.” “Thank you for being the people who’ve restored my gratitude,” he said. “I’ll carry that with me for the rest of my life.”

The ceremony was beautifully framed by moments of reflection and tradition, from the invocation by the Rev. Mark Lingle to the performance of the national anthem by the King Chamber Choir and the closing benediction. 

With diplomas in hand and caps in the air, the Class of 2025 exited the ceremony ringing their bells, sending chimes echoing across campus and marking the beginning of their journey forward: connected, resilient, and ready to lead with purpose.