By Dr. John Stegeman, Head of Upper School

Eastside Preparatory School’s Graduation ceremony for the Class of 2024 was celebrated on June 14 at Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center with seniors, families, faculty, and staff in attendance. What follows are excerpts from speeches given during the ceremony.

Mehrane Mokdad, President, Board of Trustees

I am reminded of the renowned writer and futurist Alvin Toffler who once remarked that “the illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” How fitting this message is in today’s ever-changing world. Unlearning is just as powerful as learning itself. But unlearning doesn’t mean forgetting what you learned. Unlearning is a conscious letting go of old notions that are invalid…of obsolete beliefs that are holding us back…before making way for fresh ideas and new perspectives.

The world shifts—so keep pace with that. None of us know how the world will be transformed in the next twenty or even ten years. So, what should we do? What skills should we build? Here’s the simple yet powerful answer—adaptability, resilience, and a commitment to constant relearning. This trifecta will be the key to your future success!

Class of 2024, as you embark on your next journey, embrace this art of reinventing yourselves.

Welcome new challenges. Stay attuned to knowledge relevant to your success. Find mentors for both support and challenge. Engage with individuals who offer diverse perspectives and who contest your ways of thinking. Finally, let empathy be your guiding partner. Always choose truth, compassion, and integrity as you face the choices ahead. The world needs your talents, fresh perspectives, and relentless courage. Go forth and make the world a better place!

Dr. John Stegeman, Head of Upper School

It may be surprising for students to hear that teachers often feel that they learn more from students than students learn from them. These things have certainly been true for me. It’s also true that the things I learn and value most these days aren’t about history anymore. I’ve come to recognize the content of our classes, while valuable for its own sake, is even more valuable in the way it serves as a vehicle for deeper, more enduring lessons about life and the human experience.

Each year that goes by, we create a new experience. That means that while we learn and teach one another some things that might be similar, they’re also fundamentally one of a kind. Here are the top five things I learned from, and with, the Class of 2024:

We learned how to attend school remotely. This may not seem like that big of a deal on this side of the pandemic, but we had never done it before, and boy, did we learn a lot about what works and what doesn’t.

We learned how to build, share, and preserve the distinctive culture of Eastside Preparatory School when so many of the interpersonal ways that we relate to one another were removed.

The essence of community is not a location. It is the feeling of connection that we have with one another, and many times this is directly proportional to the amount of adversity a group of humans overcomes together.

This next lesson is a bit less sentimental, but no less significant. I’ve talked with Mr. Gummere about this, and confirmed that it has been a continuous struggle since the inception of EPS to prevent the seniors from destroying the school during the senior prank, and I’m happy to report that I finally found a solution—we just needed to add a Commandant to the EPS staff, and I’m happy to report that Mr. Hockert’s title for next year will adjust accordingly.

This last lesson is one I must admit I had never encountered in all my time as an independent school leader—how to stop seniors, most of them adults who can drive, vote, and serve our country, from pouring the contents of their water bottles onto one another. In the end, the lesson I learned is that this task is impossible—the best thing to do is to contain the problem and try to stay dry.

So…congratulations, Class of 2024. I will miss you. I respect you, and I have learned so much from you!

Josie Kranick, Student Speaker

At Eastside Prep, the power of being seen and understood has been transformative for me. The bond between students, teachers, and the wider community is genuine and strong. I have always felt acknowledged and supported, regardless of my age. EPS recognizes the fluidity of our growth and provides guidance and inspiration from both staff and peers.

I have had pivotal personal life lessons at EPS. As a fifth grader, I felt paralyzed, scared to ask for help, and did not know where to start. That changed when I learned how my brain works and how to embrace the necessary awkwardness we all must experience, no matter how fleeting, when we learn something new. I learned to trust the people around me who could help me, and I became more confident and willing to take risks, which meant greater learning. I have witnessed similar evolution and growth in my classmates.

Class of 2024, we have been given so many tools at EPS that we are well-equipped to make positive changes in the years ahead. I encourage you to be compassionate and inclusive and always stand up for what you believe in. I know the obstacles are ahead of us, but I hope you aim to meet them with kindness and laughter.

William Bowers, Student Speaker

I am honored to speak to you today to celebrate our graduation. We made it through online classes, late-night study sessions, some incredible EBC experiences, college applications, and much more. And yet, we would not be here at this special occasion without some very special people. Thank you to our teachers, who have mentored and guided us; to our school leadership and staff, who have led and encouraged us; to our parents, guardians, and families, who have relentlessly supported us; and to our friends, who have made our high school experience endlessly memorable.

During the college application process, I’m sure we all had to answer some version of the question: “What does community mean to you?” I remember spending hours trying to find a unique and profound response. But maybe community isn’t so cryptic. Maybe community is also found in the little interactions that make our class such a vibrant group. I noticed that during our senior retreat, many gave honorable mentions to the first friends they met at EPS, while recognizing that they have shifted, changed, and been shaped by other peers as well. And some called out the nice actions of those who they wouldn’t necessarily call their closest friends. Even though some of these little experiences are sometimes overlooked, I think this is a unique way our class finds community. And perhaps Winnie the Pooh said it best: “the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

Sam Uzwack, Head of School

We are here to celebrate the accomplishments of a dynamic, caring, and forward-looking group of students. This day—and this ceremony— help us all reflect on the efforts taken to reach this milestone, as well as consider all that is possible in your next adventure. Seniors, as you consider this moment, think about all those along the way who supported you, pushed you, and guided you to become the best versions of yourselves. I’d like to recognize some of those folks right now.

First, I want to express my gratitude to our faculty and staff. One of the things that makes my job so meaningful is the opportunity to work with such a creative, caring, and dedicated group of professionals. Our faculty know their subjects inside and out and are pushing the bounds of teaching every single day. But the secret—the key—is the depth of relationships built with students. For it is through relationship that learning and potential are unlocked.

I also want to express my gratitude to our parent and guardian community. The ties that bind home to school are essential in order to provide the best possible experience for students. I am so proud of the community that we have built, in which parents/guardians feel a close connection to EPS.

I have one more expression of gratitude, and that is for our Class of 2024. Your leadership this year has made such a difference in our school community. There are too many examples of how you have helped grow our school to mention, so I’ll let you center on the ones that matter to you. Know that this is part of your legacy. This is how you have contributed to the whole. In the musical Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda states, “Legacy is planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” You also have left a cultural legacy. You have been examples for the whole student body. When you have gone the extra mile to support a friend, to help a classmate with their homework, to demonstrate compassion, to make the right choice when no one is watching…these are also seeds you’ve planted at EPS that will continue to grow long after today.

Recognizing the legacy you’ve left at EPS, I challenge you to think about how you carry those values over to your next home. How will you continue to think, act, lead, and innovate? How will you create a better world? You have demonstrated the ability to do so here. I am confident you’ll continue to make a positive impact in your next chapter.

Distinguished Service Award Winners

Adapted from speeches by Sam Uzwack, Head of School

The Distinguished Service Award is not given out annually. It is presented on occasions when there is a reason to call out to the community extraordinary service on the part of any of our members—Trustees, faculty, staff, students, or alumni. Today, and in my first year as Head of School, I am proud to present this award to three deserving community members.

Dr. Mack Hinson

Imagine for a moment that you’re the Board President at Eastside Prep. It’s a lot of work but really, how bad could it be? Except you’ve taken that role in the summer of 2019 and six months later a global pandemic hits. Kids get sent home, school shuts down, and absolutely no one is certain how or when we’ll get back to “normal.” The school makes it through that crisis and by then there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Except…the founding and iconic Head of School announces her retirement, and in short order, you’re searching for a replacement and once again wondering if things will go back to “normal.” This, in short, is the exciting Board President term of Mack Hinson, who I am certain never expected that his love for his children and desire to support their education would lead him to this.

I will forever be grateful for the mentorship Mack provided. What was clear in those moments was that all Mack cared about was what was best for the future of EPS. It was true when he joined the board, when he became Board President, and it is true today. Mack, EPS was fortunate to have your leadership during those interesting times.

Dr. Randy Reina

Back in the early days of Eastside Prep, we used to talk about folks wearing a lot of hats. That’s probably a requirement at any “start-up,” as we most definitely were. It’s possible, though, that Randy Reina has worn more hats than anyone. Randy first came to EPS as a parent. He then served on the Board from 2009 to 2014. And then just when he thought he’d escaped, he was asked to come teach a math class or two… or four. He did that for a number of years and even came out of retirement this year when we needed him to teach again.

That doesn’t really tell you the whole story. Randy is a man of character, a teacher and a learner through and through, and a true professional. Randy has taught me so much about working with students. Knowing when to push, and when to ease off. Thinking about brand-new ways of explaining complex concepts. And how to be ever patient. Thank you, Randy, for taking on every opportunity EPS has asked of you, and helping me to become a better educator.

Dr. Elena Olsen

When you work with someone in our close-knit EPS community for fifteen years, you get to know them pretty well and on multiple levels. You don’t just work in the same building, you teach together, have meals together, travel together, and share the ups and downs. This is the case for me and Elena Olsen. For those of you who didn’t know Elena in those early years, she is much the same. She was then, and is now, “wicked smaaat,” a magnet for students, a dedicated teacher and college counselor, and a kind and generous soul.

I really got to know Elena over the years. We taught the Arches class together, which culminated in a weeklong camping trip with eight seniors to Arches National Park. It was there that I truly appreciated the power of place-based learning, which Elena has steadfastly promoted these many years. Observing as students see their studies come to life as we hiked amongst the rock formations and read novels around the fire, I felt a sense of awe…not only about the place we were in, but about the incredible educational experience Elena had conjured. Eastside Prep would not be the school it is now without all that Elena has done over the last eighteen years to guide students.

Senior Award Winners

Adapted from speeches by Dr. John Stegeman, Head of Upper School

Each year, four seniors receive awards inspired by our four mission points: Think Critically, Act Responsibly, Lead Compassionately, and Innovate Wisely.

The Critical Thinking Award is presented to the member of the graduating class whose keen appreciation for ideas and willingness to promote intellectual discussion enlivens our classrooms and hallways on a daily basis. Emma Lorimer embodies the spirit of critical thinking every day. Her love for engaged, intellectual conversations on seemingly any and every topic is matched by her generosity of spirit in those pursuits. Emma is an includer, an enthusiastic question-asker, a student who is willing to be vulnerable in offering her thoughts, and she serves as an exemplar of true scholarly curiosity to her peers. She thrives in connecting with and supporting others, and she inspires her fellow students. One of her teachers noted, Emma “carries so many of our conversations but always makes an effort to include others.” Emma receives this award for her tireless pursuit of critical thinking, and for creating a shared experience of intellectual pursuit.

The Responsible Action Award is presented to the member of the graduating class who, in both quiet, unseen actions and courageous public moments, demonstrates a consistent, sincere regard for the community. Isobel Wright consistently acts as a kind, caring, and supportive member of the community. Her teachers note that she works well with every member of a group and that she always brings a positive and encouraging attitude to class. In Isobel’s nomination, one of her classmates wrote that she “is kind and makes everyone feel welcome,” and another pointed out that she volunteers her time to “take responsibility for things.” A teacher commented, Isobel “is fearless with ideas and loves to dig into them. She will cross the room to work with a table of people she doesn’t yet know well.” Isobel receives this award for her support of classmates and dedication to upholding the values of Eastside Prep.

The Compassionate Leadership Award is presented to the member of the graduating class whose actions consistently reflect the importance of personal responsibility and compassion for others, setting an example for all to follow. In actions large and small, Griffin Greenberg has demonstrated a care for communities that might be unheard or disregarded in the broader world and even at our school. They lead with humility and true compassion—thinking about how others might be impacted and celebrating the joy and pure happiness of being true to oneself. A teacher who worked closely with them commented that “leadership isn’t always extroverted,” and that part of Griffin’s work was “tirelessly organizing and working with Middle School students at their level and creating meaningful programming.” This work is recognized by Upper School classmates too, who noted, “They devoted their entire senior year to compassionately leading our school community and set an incredible example for everyone.”

The Wise Innovation Award is presented to the member of the graduating class whose creativity, curiosity and contributions illuminate new possibilities and inspire others to similar exploration. Tyler Zhang can frequently be found designing and testing new products in the Upper School Maker Space. His work in Robotics and the Independent Curriculum have garnered the recognition and admiration of his classmates. One student commented, “When his ideas work, they’re really cool. He tries new things and they’re awesome.” Impressed by the results of an independent study, another classmate was blown away by the products of Tyler’s innovative mind “where he recreated a model of a hand by 3D printing accurate bones and attached them together with strings that mimicked actual tendons.” Tyler receives this award for pushing the envelope of possibility, in class, across the school, and beyond.