On Saturday, May 23, Webb’s community of parents, students, faculty, grandparents, siblings and friends gathered on the Upper Field for the School’s 156th Commencement Exercises. Similar to their Senior Sunrise tradition last August, the 68 members of the Class of 2026 were once again met with cloudy skies on Commencement Day — a constant reminder that life’s most meaningful moments are not defined by perfect weather, but by the people we share them with.
The Baccalaureate
Webb’s Commencement Exercises began with the Baccalaureate, a moment to pause and reflect before the excitement and celebration of Graduation. Webb’s 14th Head of School, Dr. Polly Parker, opened the service with a prayer, asking that the day’s milestone signify not just an ending for the Senior class, but “a beginning shaped by wisdom, humility and a desire to live with integrity.”
“We hope that you recognize that true success is measured not only by achievement, but also by the goodness you bring into the world,” she said.
With that message in mind, the Baccalaureate continued with a reading from Honor Council President Austin Patrick Bilbro ’26, followed by a sermon led by Middle School Head Mallory Garcia, who likewise gave the Benediction. In honor of the School’s beloved mascot, Garcia focused her sermon on none other than “Feet.”
After quoting Paul in Romans 10:15 — “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” — Garcia went on:
“As you leave your days at Webb behind you, your feet are beautiful because of what they carry. Like those before you, you will walk new paths, go new places and meet new people, but….you carry kindness in a world that can be harsh. You carry integrity in a world that often compromises. You carry hope in moments when others feel lost. You carry good news.”
The morning also featured a class photo in front of the Junior Room, and brunch for families in the Barton Athletic Center.
The Graduation
Guided forward by the beautiful sounds of The Webb School Graduation Orchestra, this year’s faculty, staff and Seniors processed into the big white tent amid applause from hundreds of supporters.
Following the Invocation from Director of Technology Raymond Pryor, Dr. Parker officially welcomed all in attendance. Reflecting on her first year as Head of School at Webb, Dr. Parker noted one word that has surfaced consistently, around the globe, this academic year: gratitude.
She encouraged the graduates to carry gratitude with them into their next chapter. “It strengthens our ability to navigate adversity, deepens our connections with others, and allows us to fully appreciate both the ordinary and extraordinary moments that define our lives,” she said. “Let your values guide you, just as they have guided you to this moment.”
In his address, Webb’s 2026 Commencement Speaker, Dr. Manish Sethi ’96, offered five pieces of advice to the graduating class, “advice I wish someone had told me, sitting where you are now,” said Dr. Sethi, who graduated nearly 30 years ago to the day.
From embracing unpredictability and being a person of integrity to investing in others, leading with purpose, and growing from failure, Dr. Sethi encouraged the Class of 2026 to approach life with courage, humility and a commitment to making a meaningful impact on the world. “The people who thrive in life are usually not the people with the perfect plan,” he assured them. “Be around [those] who inspire you to grow.”
As is customary each year at Graduation, the School next took a moment to recognize its Old Guard and Ancient Guard members, students who have grown with Webb since as early as the sixth grade. They are:
| Old Guard Began their Webb Journeys in the Eighth Grade |
Ancient Guard Joined Webb in the Sixth or Seventh Grade |
| Gavyn Claire Anderson Grayson Steele Anderson Sophia Bain Iakov Bardin Gunnar Reed Boles Taylor Lovejoy Church Logan DiPietro Ryan Patrick Edwards Owen Carter Fogle Preston Hall Wenxuan Jia Mary Katherine Mosier Landon Charles O’Neal Joseph Weston Pitner Cheré Nicole Potts |
Ella Rose Allen Austin Patrick Bilbro Katelyn Chance Aiden Brewer Ellis James William Jefferson Farrar, Jr. Catherine Ruth French Connor Kilgore Carter Macon Lampley Samuel C. Ledbetter Christyn Gracie Logan Alora Pearce Wyatt Weiser Petroka John Thomas Simmons Amelie Isobel Taucare Kalina Malaithong Thephavong Amorri Nicole Wilkins |
Additional recognition was given to this year’s Special Award recipients, beginning with the David Newton McQuiddy Award to the teacher whose integrity is outstanding, who is loyal to Webb and its ideals, who is dedicated to exceptional teaching, and who encourages sound character development and academic excellence.
Since joining Webb 20 years ago, the 2026 recipient, Math Faculty Jeff Mitchell, has shaped countless lives, solved innumerable math problems, and coached students to success in sports and in life. He is well known for leading others with his trademark patience and encouragement.
Webb's 2026 Senior Award Recipients Included:
Excellence in Community Service
Aiden Brewer Ellis – 204 hours
Lien Phan – 214.5 hours
Wyatt Weiser Petroka – 214.5 hours
Cheré Nicole Potts – 216.5 hours
Tallan Dean Crosslin – 258 hours
Amorri Nicole Wilkins – 376.5 hours
Outstanding Boarder Award
Reuben Edgecomb
Honor Council Awards
Charlotte Maise Toy, Sergeant-at-Arms
Trynna Atwood, Secretary
Grayson Steele Anderson, Vice President
Austin Patrick Bilbro, President
The Dale Hyatt Memorial Award
Ryan Patrick Edwards
Mary Katherine Mosier
John Freeman Athletic Award
Reuben Edgecomb
Tayler Lovejoy Church
The Senior Achievement Scholar-Athlete Award
Amelie Isobel Taucare
Landon Charles O’Neal
The John Hardin Highest Scholastic Average Award
Mary Katherine Mosier
The Anna Landis Hightower Award
Wyatt Weiser Petroka
Webb Follin Award
Mary Katherine Mosier
The Shevlin Brooks Bigger Science Award
Grayson Steel Anderson
Henry Harrell Mathematics Memorial Award
Wyatt Weiser Petroka
The John Freeman Academic Achievement Award
Steven William Ennis
Albert Duling Incentive Award
Jessie Nicole Felder
Joseph Peters Meersman Jr. Award
Catherine Ruth French
John Lewis Morgan Award
Grayson Steel Anderson
Before receiving their diplomas, Bibles and holy books from Dr. Parker and Board of Trustees Chair Farrar Vaughan ’95, the Senior class also heard from fellow classmate Trynna Atwood '26. “Society marks this day as the capstone to our metamorphosis. I disagree. After all, no one wants to peak in high school,” said Atwood.
“I believe we should not spend this day looking backward down the mountain at childhood, but upwards to the new heights we can climb, and even more importantly, inwards to who we are becoming,” she said. “I hope all of us go out and make our place in the world, but do it while being uniquely ourselves and uniquely genuine. The people who change the world aren’t the ones who fit in perfectly, but the ones who stand out extraordinarily.”
Congratulations to The Webb School Class of 2026. May you continue to be extraordinary.
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Ella Rose Allen Wenxuan Jia
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Connor Kilgore Alora Pearce Wyatt Weiser Petroka Lien Phan Liya Genevieve Von Strolley Phillipps Joseph Weston Pitner Chere’ Nicole Potts Matheus Poubel João Pedro Menzel Almeida Prado Isabella Prater Ziyang Qin Kipras Redeckas John Micah Robison Ian E Z Rolle John Thomas Simmons Kylie Catherine Singer Gurnoor Singh Vacher Cooper Lee Sprouse Amelie Isobel Taucare Kalina Malaithong Thephavong Charlotte Maisie Toy Amorri Nicole Wilkins Emmanuel Williams-Angmor Jiaming Wu Yifan Yang Jialu Yu |