On the verge of Commencement, the Class of 2026 spent their final days on the Hilltop immersed in the traditions, celebrations, and moments of reflection that define Senior Week. From prom and the Closing Sundial Ceremony to whitewater rafting, Baccalaureate, and the Senior Awards Dinner, the week marked both an ending and the beginning of something new.

Wednesday brought the final official day of classes and a wave of anticipation as seniors prepared for prom. Inspired by the glamour and spirit of the Roaring Twenties. Students gathered outside the Bricks and Clark Chapel for photos before heading to The Mansion at Bald Hill. With music spun by DJ And2, Saleem Ahmed ’03, the evening was filled with lively dancing, vintage flair, and celebration.

Thursday offered seniors a chance to slow down with an official senior skip day spent sleeping in, packing, and soaking in their last full days on campus. That evening, the class gathered on the Proctor Sundial for the Closing Sundial Ceremony. After sharing one final sit-down dinner together, the seniors led the community into Clark Chapel for the last time as students. Inside, they listened to heartfelt remarks from Head of School Heather Willis Daly and Form Dean Louisa Gebelein Jones P ’04. As they exited the Chapel to applause — and more than a few tears — seniors lingered on the Sundial for photos.

On Friday, the class traveled to the Deerfield River in Charlemont, Massachusetts, for the annual Senior Trip with Crab Apple Whitewater. Between runs through the Class I, II, and III rapids, students paddled hard, jumped into the water, and embraced the inevitable splashes — with a few even taking an unexpected swim. Back on the Hilltop, they traded river gear for dry clothes and gathered at Campbell House, the Head of School’s residence, for the Senior Form Dinner.

Commencement Weekend began as families arrived on the Hilltop to celebrate alongside their students. At Baccalaureate and the Senior Awards Dinner, the community gathered for readings, music, and recognition of the achievements of the Class of 2026. In her remarks, Daly reflected on a monologue from On the Verge by Eric Overmyer, a play about explorers searching for their place in the world. She shared the words of one character gazing into the night sky:

“Billions of new worlds waiting to be discovered. Explored and illuminated. Within and without... My face is bathed in light. I stand on the precipice. The air is rare. Bracing. Before me stretch dark distances. Clusters of light. What next? I have no idea. Many mysteries to come. I am on the verge.”

“On the verge of your Commencement, we send you out with our love as you venture forth from Pomfret ready to discover and explore the new worlds ahead of you,” Daly told the Class of 2026. “We know that you are ready, and we look forward to your future journeys back to the Hilltop to tell us all about your adventures.”

More than twenty students received twenty-eight academic awards. Thirteen seniors were inducted into the Cum Laude Society, joining six others inducted last fall — all honored for their academic distinction and strength of character. Faculty Award of Distinction recipients Kelly Jimin Park, Rafael Reyes, Owen Schmidt, Angie Sobalvarro Castillo, and Anthony “TJ” Swinson received special recognition for their lasting contributions to the Pomfret Community. Their leadership, drive, scholarship, integrity, creativity, and courage have made Pomfret a better place and strengthened our community in noteworthy ways.

By the end of the week, the Class of 2026 found themselves exactly where Daly described — on the verge. Their final days on the Hilltop celebrated the friendships, accomplishments, and traditions that shaped their time at Pomfret while pointing them toward the adventures and discoveries still to come.

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