Schools

Ninety Eight Seniors Receive Diplomas at John Burroughs' 87th Graduation

Rain mostly holds off on chilly night in the Grove on the school's campus.

Girls in splendid white dresses; boys in white tuxedos, it made for quite a regal scene at the 87th annual John Burroughs graduation ceremonies Thursday night. The event, like it has always been was held in "the Grove" on the campus near the home of Head of School Andy Abbott.

Even a threat of rain failed to move the gathering indoors.

A formal reception was held on the lawn at Abbott's home following the graduation ceremonies. Arms linked, the 98 members marched down the center aisle taking their places with fellow members in the class of 2012.

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Longest serving faculty member Eric Hanson of the mathematics department delivered the invocation and benediction.

Mary Beth Soffer, president of the Board of Trustees offered the official greetings to the class.

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In recent years, Burroughs has dispensed with the tradition of lining up outside speakers and rather, having class leaders deliver the addresses. Seniors were invited to present blind addresses, and a panel of faculty members selected two from the class of 2012 to deliver those messages.

The two selected to speak to the gathering were Samuel McHugh Schnabel and Isabelle Danforth Stillman. Schnabel delivered his message with the crack of thunder in the background. Stillman's moving address went on despitre a few raindrops.

Abbott, representing the school presented the diplomas to the graduates one by one in random order.

The St. Louis Brass Ensemble provided the musical entertainment for the event.

Then, the graduates gathered for a brief reception on the head of school's lawn, and most families, friends and relatives headed to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Clayton for dinner, followed by a graduates-only party in the foyer of the ballroom.

The threat of rain could not deter this wonderful celebration.

Here are the scenes from John Burroughs graduation, 2012.


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