Westminster School Celebrates Class of 2020

Westminster School celebrated the graduation of 102 students in the Class of 2020 May 23 in a video tribute that included messages from Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts Jr., Head of School Bill Philip, senior class dean Grant Gritzmacher and student body president Megan Rittenhouse.

The class includes students from 12 countries, 16 states and 24 Connecticut cities and towns.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the school’s traditional commencement ceremony could not take place on campus, so the celebration took the form of a video program that was shared with members of the school community.

Head of School Philip told members of the class, “Your place in Westminster School history is truly indelible.” He talked about how their leadership led the way across a wide range of school activities and how, as the school moved through the winter term, a “bell” began to ring and that bell was the spread worldwide of the coronavirus. “Finally, that bell was clanging so loudly in our midst that school closed for the spring term, a devastating development for all of us, all of you, Class of 2020, faculty, other students, families, anyone who cares about Westminster School,” he said. “At that moment, you responded with incredible grit and grace.” He added that members of the class reacted with an awareness that they were not alone and that others were disappointed and some suffering far worse than they, saying, “an awareness that you could still extend your leadership to the school community even from a distance.”

Chief Justice Roberts, who is a parent of a 2020 Westminster School graduate, recorded a video message for the celebration at the Supreme Court extending congratulations to the class. “I wish we were gathered at Westminster on a perfect day in May rather than connected by one-way video,” he said. “Graduates, do not let the extraordinary events of the past few months obscure your genuine accomplishments or cause you to overlook how fortunate you have been. You have enjoyed a special opportunity to learn, to develop talents and skills, and to grow as a member of a caring community.” He spoke about how the pandemic has or will affect practically everyone in the world in one way or another.

“Members of the Class of 2020, this graduation season is not what you anticipated,” he continued. “I am not talking about missed ceremonies or parties. I am talking about the level of uncertainty you face at this important time of transition. I think the pandemic is the world’s way of saying to mankind, ‘You are not in charge.’” He added, “The pandemic has pierced our illusion of certainty and control.”

In closing, he urged the graduates to focus on humility, compassion and courage. “Not the boundless courage of the heroic health care workers but enough courage to live free in an uncertain world, recognizing that, pandemic or no, this is your moment, your time to begin leaving your mark on the world,” he said. “With a little humility, a little compassion and a little courage, I think you will do just fine.”

The senior class dean, Grant Gritzmacher, told the graduates: “Although the rug was pulled from beneath you this spring and you were deprived of so many traditions, performances and events to which we attach such meaning, you persevered. ... In the future, you will face many challenges, some perhaps even greater than this, hard as that may be to imagine. May you always respond with the same patience, dignity, empathy and purpose that you have shown here.”

Student body president Megan Rittenhouse, a senior from Tampa, Fla., delivered her remarks from home. While mentioning how difficult it was to accept not being able to experience final high school traditions, she said, “It makes this year and our class unlike any other and shows our strength and all of the amazing things that we have gained from our time together.” She also shared how it caused her to reflect on the things about school life she and others might have taken for granted. “I couldn’t stop replaying different scenarios in my head and thinking if only I had appreciated that more while I had it,” she recounted. “But as I write this and really think about it, we had to reflect on those things to be able to also realize all that this experience has done for us.”

The video concluded with a slideshow of the graduates and messages of gratitude from members of the class.