ConGRADulations to the Class of 2024!

Lawrenceville bid farewell to the great Class of 2024 at Commencement on May 26, an occasion that culminated not only their high school years, but also a joyous week-long celebration of these outstanding students. At Commencement, Lawrentians from around the globe received their diplomas and – with smiles and a few tears – left to begin the next chapter will certainly be remarkable lives.

Graduation week events included traditional and first-time favorites. Students travelled to Philadelphia for a Phillies game, to Belmar (N.J.) beach to catch a wave, and to the junior varsity baseball field to watch the sunrise over campus. They night climbed on the Ropes Course and starred in the inaugural Larrie Cup, competing in sporting events with fellow students and faculty in honor of the School’s new mascot. They enjoyed last senior Smeeting and Check-In, the Aurelian and Faculty speakers they’d selected, and a heartwarming Hallelujah Celebration. And of course, there was food, from banquets to food trucks.

While every Fifth Former will hold different moments especially close to their hearts, five Lawrenceville events are always memory-makers:

May 21 Pinning Ceremony: The Class of 2024 was officially inducted into the School’s Alumni Association at the Lawrenceville Pinning Ceremony last week. Here, Fifth Formers were pinned with a black and red rosette by either an alum or a member of the faculty or staff who was formative in their Lawrenceville experience.

May 23 Pre-Prom & Prom: The Pre-Prom kicked off a truly magical evening for Fifth Formers who stepped out in stunning fashion before dancing the night away on a spectacular Prom cruise around the bright lights of Manhattan.

May 25: Fifth Form Prize Ceremony: Lawrentians filled the Kirby Arts Center to celebrate their classmates’ outstanding academic, athletic, artistic, service, and leadership successes.

May 25 Baccalaureate: The Class of 2024 gathered in the Edith Memorial Chapel for a service of reflection, complete with a welcome, invocation, and benediction by Lawrenceville Religious Life leaders as well as a performance by The Lawrentians, the School’s select choir. Head of School Steve Murray address the Fifth Form through Baccalaureate Address, “On Trust.”

May 26 Commencement: Finally, at 10:30 a.m., the moment everyone had been waiting for – the graduation of the Class of 2024. Two of the School’s highest awards were presented:

The Brainard Prize

The Edward Sutliffe Brainard Prize is given annually by the faculty to the Fifth Form student whom it holds in the highest esteem. The Prize was presented to Claire Jiang.

The Trustees’ Cup

The Trustees’ Cup is awarded annually by the Head of School on behalf of the Board of Trustees to that student who has most influenced the School for good. The Cup was presented to Charlie Vachris. 

Valedictorian Emily Pan ’24 shared her address, in which she discussed the importance of “those small, intimate moments of care and community.” She closed by saying:

“Thank you to the faculty, teachers, coaches, and deans, who have forever left a mark on our way of thinking and being. Thank you to the administration, dining and house staff, public safety, buildings and grounds, and alumni, who have made our four years here possible, comfortable, and safe. Thank you to families, who were always there for us regardless of whether you were a five-minute walk or a 16-hour flight away. Thank you to my closest friends — I cannot express how much you all matter to me, how much I’ll cherish our late night conversations in McPherson and our Princeton Public Library trips, our friend group dinners and even our brief conversations in the hallways. Thank you to underclassmen. And last but not least, thank you, and congratulations, to the Class of 2024!”

And with that, the students who had arrived from all over the world and nearly every U.S. state received their diplomas. With the cheers of family and friends, the Class of 2024 left together, as Lawrentians.

See more photos from 2024 Commencement on Lawrenceville’s Flickr page.

For additional information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.