After a school year marked by quarantines, remote learning, and a closed campus, students and their families welcomed the news two weeks ago that Choate will hold the commencement ceremony in person for the Class of 2021. The School will allow students to invite guests to Wallingford to observe the year-end tradition. However, many changes are taking place to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines revolving around masking, distancing, gathering sizes, etc.
Seats will be distanced for all individuals participating in the ceremony, and families in attendance will be assigned to their designated spots on the Great Lawn. To lower the size of gatherings, underformers will not be allowed at the event.
This year, due to personal concerns regarding Covid-19, faculty attendance is optional, which many students find disappointing. “It is really sad to think that those who have mentored us and shaped our Choate experience would not be there at our graduation,” said Naina Sharma ’21.
While not everyone in attendance will be fully vaccinated, “It will be reassuring to know that the event will be much safer for everyone because so many people are vaccinated,” said Medical Director Dr. Miriam Cohen.
This year, Trevor Noah, the host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, will be holding a Q&A session with the students through Zoom. “Given all that the Class of 2021 has endured with great resilience and grit over the past four terms, the idea of exploring a celebrity speaker was launched,” said Dean of Students Mr. Mike Velez ’00. “After some searching, the individuals involved were able to work with Mr. Noah’s management team to secure the engagement.”
Though disappointed to be leaving campus, students of the graduating class are looking forward to celebrating their Choate experiences on this final day. “The goodbyes will be bittersweet, but I know this will be a cherished memory for a long time,” said Sharma.
With all the changes the administration is taking to ensure a safe ceremony, the Commencement will mark a milestone for many students and an important transition to their post-Choate careers. Mr. Velez said, “Every member of the Class of 2021 has been profoundly changed in some way during their time at Choate and, at the same time, they have altered the essence of the School itself.”
