Eighth-Grade Closing Exercises

The ceremony featured musical performances throughout the evening. Carla de Cos and Maddie Fleming opened with a performance, followed by Zoey Morris, and Lexi Polis and Maddie Fleming closed out the program before the final remarks.

Student speakers Evita Encarnacion-Bognar and Gillian Chen, who first met at new student orientation in sixth grade, reflected on the role mistakes play in growth. "Sanford provides an environment to take risks without judgment from coaches, faculty, and peers because we know that no matter what happens, there will always be someone there to support us," they told the Class of 2030. "If you're going to fall, fall forward."

Eddie Macleod described middle school as a bridge between childhood and young adulthood. "Sanford Middle School has provided the exact structure of support we needed as we journeyed toward upper school," he said. "We were encouraged to self-advocate, work together, find our own voices, and push outside our comfort zone."

Sanford alumnus Chris Keiser '19 closed with a reminder to stay present. "Don't let those grades, those goals, those aspirations for your perfect future blind you from what's right in front of you," he told the Class of 2030, before sending the graduates off with a performance of "Godlight" by Noah Kahan.

Head of Middle School Emily Amendum dismissed the graduates with a charge to carry Sanford's values forward: "You are Sanford made. Use what you've learned here. Trust the voice you've found here and go live humanely."

Art Award – Logan Cross

Band Award – Henry Gopez

Chorus Award – Sam Goodall

Theater Award – Carla de Cos

English Award – Caden Miller

French Award – Zoey Morris

Latin Award – Betsy Novitsky

Mathematics Award – Lilliana Xu

Science Award – Phoebe Burke

Spanish Award – Gillian Chen

Social Studies Award, Service Award – Zoe Haupt

Girls' Athletic Award – Anaya Antonelli

Boys' Athletic Award, Citizenship Award – James Brant

Citizenship Award – Hadleigh Shaw

Academic Achievement Award – Evita Encarnacion-Bognar

Sanford Award – Cate Corron