Elgin Academy held its 169th graduation ceremony Friday night, presenting diplomas to students for the last time in its storied 185-year history.
The class of summer 2024 had 11 graduates, many of them “lifers” who started at the historic school as kindergarten students. They completed their graduation requirements a year early so they could receive an Elgin Academy diploma before it closes this month.
“I’m really happy to be here. I’m trying not to tear up,” graduate Braeden Ceci said. “(Elgin Academy will) forever be part of my memories.”
His mother, Suzy Ceci, taught English at the school for 17 years. Her family, including husband Brian and Braeden’s sister Alexia, a member of the class of 2017, were in the audience for the ceremony, which she called “bittersweet.”
“This is really sad, but in some ways it’s a good feeling that he got to graduate this year,” Suzy Ceci said.
Alumni Olivia Gouge and Anne Matusiak, both part of the class of 2023, came out to cheer their friends and say goodbye to the school for a final time.
“I think it’s nice they are putting together the whole graduation,” Gouge said. “It seems like they had all the graduation traditions, which is a good way to end.”
The commencement ceremony had a finality to it as the school’s closure loomed over the emotional celebration. Academy officials announced in November that the 2023-24 school year would be its last and confirmed this week that the school is being sold to a group that plans to open Burhan Academy, an Islamic K-12 school, in a deal that’s to close by month’s end.
The class of summer 2024 went above and beyond in the past year as they dealt with the challenge of finishing their degrees before the upcoming school closure, Doug Sept, assistant head for academic affairs, said in his graduation remarks.
“They learned to live beyond adversity, a trait that will serve them well in the future,” he said.
Quoting philosopher Heraclitus, Sept said, “The only constant in life is change.”
“The moment we are born, change is part of our lives,” he said. “It is woven into the fabric of our existence, shaping our experiences, our choices and our journeys. The world around the graduates changed in remarkable ways in terms of technology, social norms and world events, including the coronavirus pandemic, but the graduates adapted.
“It can be daunting, and it can be uncomfortable, but it is also where the magic happens. It is in those moments of change that we discover our true potential and our capacity for greatness.”
Jennifer Sampson, class of 1988 and an Academy middle school teacher, gave the commencement address.
Elgin Academy has been an idyllic world for students, Sampson said. It isn’t the real world, but “you can now go live in the real world as a product of this place’s idealism. In a world that encourages you to fear, be courageous to love others. In a world that encourages self-interest, be strong enough to help others.
“You, our final graduating class, have been made ready, as only a campus full of idealists and dreamers can make you. And you are ready,” she said.
Valedictorian Quinten Padula said, “What set EA apart from other schools was that it was more than just a school. It was a true community.”
“Hilltoppers forever,” said Paul Druzinsky, interim head of school, in his closing remarks just before the graduates, their families and guests sang the “Elgin Academy Hymn” one last time.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.