Brewster Celebrates the Class of 2026 Commencement

On Saturday, May 23, the graduates of Brewster Academy's Class of 2026 processed onto Brown Field as families and friends settled into their seats. One of the oldest traditions in New England prep school history was underway, and the ceremony that followed was worthy of everything this class has brought to Brewster over the past four years.

Head of School Kristy Kerin set the tone from the moment she approached the podium. "Today, we've gathered to observe a rare phenomenon in the wild," she said, "a group of Bobcats, in their natural habitat, fully grown and ready to face the world." What followed was a speech that drew every analogy it needed from a single, unlikely source: the bobcat itself.

Kerin had done her research. She walked the audience through the habits of the species with warmth and precision, noting that wild bobcats are crepuscular, or most active at dawn and dusk. Brewster Bobcats, she pointed out, are active around the clock. Wild bobcats are solitary and territorial. Brewster Bobcats are not. "You travel in packs," she said, "to Esta, Mason Court block parties, Mr. Palmer's tailgates, and trips to Seven Suns and El Cent. Your movements are not subtle. But you've created deep connections and a sense of belonging. You don't leave people behind."

The analogy was never merely playful. It carried genuine weight. She spoke of the class's diversity, noting graduates from 15 countries and 18 states, including scholars, elite athletes, award-winning poets, robotics engineers, and actors. "Researchers say no two bobcats have exactly the same markings," she said. "You've brought your diverse interests, backgrounds, talents, and beliefs to Brewster. A true clutter of hopes, dreams, and goals."

She lingered on one detail in particular. When bobcats walk, she explained, they place their hind paw directly into the track left by the front paw. A technique called direct registering. "They move with purpose. And they leave something clear behind." She asked the class to do the same. "I hope you move intentionally, kindly, humanely, and in a direction that brings you great joy. Leave a trail that reflects who you are: distinct, authentic, and unmistakably your own."

And for the parents in the audience, she saved something especially tender. Adult bobcats, she shared, have white patches on the backs of their ears that serve as a built-in beacon for their young navigating the dark. "I'm going to hold onto that," she said, "and trust that our children will always know how to find us when it matters." It was a moment that required no elaboration.

Valedictorian Address

Ms. Kerin introduced the Class of 2026 Valedictorian, Katherine Twombly ’26, a three-year student who completed nine AP courses, served as Editor-in-Chief of The Brewster Browser, earned Arts Scholar distinction, and graduated with a GPA of 4.281. This fall, Katherine will attend the College of the Holy Cross.

Katherine built her speech around the year's theme of commitment, grounding it not in abstraction but in the specific reality of the Browser newsroom: the weekly deadlines, the disagreements, the shared belief that every voice deserves space on the page. "Having this shared space gave us the opportunity to talk about serious things, like global events and politics, and whimsical things, like who was best dressed at the Met Gala," she said, "and helped show us what commitment really means."

She thanked the faculty directly. "Our teachers demonstrate their commitment to us by showing up every day and supporting us far beyond their classrooms. Their shared dedication to our community, more than anything else in our time here, helped shape each of us as people." She closed with a charge that echoed the ceremony's larger spirit: "Nothing we accomplish is ever achieved alone."

Memorial Day Acknowledgment

As has become a meaningful Commencement tradition, Ms. Kerin paused the ceremony to honor Memorial Day Weekend, inviting the audience to a moment of silence for the country's fallen military members, followed by recognition of active duty and retired service members present.

Recognition of Award Winners

The following awards were selected by the Brewster faculty and presented with the deep respect of the entire community. Each recipient was called to the stage to receive their award and cheers from the crowd.

Colin Dean: The Ronald "Buzzy" Dore Memorial Award for outstanding leadership in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities, and for being a friend to all.

Spencer Drazek: The Faculty Growth Achievement Award for the greatest improvement in general record during junior and senior years.

Romane Lanni: The Jill Carlson Memorial Award for the female graduate who exhibits outstanding athletic ability, determination, and an inquiring curiosity to learn about and experience life.

Marharyta "Margo" Morozova: The Mabel Cate Tarr Award for outstanding contribution to scholarship and citizenship.

Katherine Twombly: The David Sirchis School Service Award for the student who, in terms of spirit, dedication, and service, has done the most for the Brewster community.

Maia Pasco and Mikey Anger: The Arthur J. Mason Foundation Awards for graduates who display outstanding sportsmanship on the playing fields, in the halls, in the classrooms, and in the community.

Estelle Good: The Burtis F. Vaughan Award for the graduate who has most successfully combined scholastic and athletic excellence with the personal qualities of sympathy, sincerity, appreciation, and awareness.

CJ Clarke: The Faculty Service Award for the student who makes the greatest commitment to community service, driven not by obligation but by an inner motivation to be of value to others.

Harper Dolce: The Laura Cooper Lifer Award, presented to a four-year Brewster student who embodies kindness, gratitude, and deep commitment to others. Harper was recognized for her role in founding Girls' JV Hockey and her tireless leadership of Morgan's Message mental health awareness efforts, including sharing that message with more than 150 students during Equity Week.

Luke Smolan: The Arthur M. Hurlin Award, one of Brewster's highest honors, for the graduate who has done the most for the welfare, good name, and progress of Brewster. As a senior prefect, Luke was recognized for his poise, integrity, community leadership, and the countless visible and behind-the-scenes ways he served this community throughout his senior year.

Keynote Address: Marsha Ivins

Ms. Kerin introduced the day's keynote speaker with characteristic precision. "Not many commencement speakers have orbited the Earth. Ours has done it hundreds of times in five missions to space."

Marsha Ivins spent 37 years with NASA as both an engineer and astronaut, logging more than 1,300 hours in orbit across five Space Shuttle missions. The story she told was one of persistence in the face of sustained, institutional resistance. She was told she could not pursue engineering because she was a girl. She did. She was told she would never be selected as an astronaut because she lacked an advanced degree. She applied anyway, was rejected twice, and was ultimately selected in 1984. "If it doesn't make sense, don't take ‘no, you can't’ as a final answer," she told the class.

She was equally clear about knowing when to accept a no, noting that some doors were simply not open to her at the time, and that fighting winds whose direction you cannot change is rarely worth the energy. What mattered was finding the path that existed and committing to it fully.

She closed with a thought that felt at home in a community that prides itself on what it builds together. "Truly incredible things can happen when you work as a team. What 'we' can do is way more significant than what 'I' can do."

Yearbook Dedication and Retirement Recognition

The Class of 2026 dedicated their yearbook, the Winnipesaukean, to longtime history teacher and Team Leader TJ Palmer, who read the names of graduates as their diplomas were awarded. A devoted member of the Brewster community since 1987, Mr. Palmer is retiring after 39 extraordinary years, during which he brought history to life in the classroom, coached, served as a dorm parent, and became a beloved fixture of campus life for generations of Bobcats and their families.

Ms. Kerin also recognized four additional retirees: Database Administrator Wes Matchett and Housekeeping Shift Supervisor Ron Dunbar, both with 16 years of service; Jimmy Mongovan, a 26-year member of the Facilities team; and longtime Director of College Counseling Laura Duffy, who served Brewster as an English teacher, College Office leader, and key administrator for 31 years. In her honor, the threshold of the College Office has been symbolically named to recognize the generations of students she helped step forward into their next chapter.

Awarding of Diplomas and Closing

Each graduate crossed the stage, received their diploma from Ms. Kerin, and returned to their seat to the sound of their community cheering them forward. Class Marshals directed the class in the moving of tassels from right to left.

Ms. Kerin closed with a quote she also shared last year, one from John Wesley: "Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can."

Following the Benediction from Reverend Adams and the recessional led by Travis Cote, caps flew into the air above Brown Field.

Brown Field emptied. The trails ahead of the Class of 2026 are entirely their own.

Enjoy the full recording of Commencement 2026 here and view photos here.