EAST PROVIDENCE — The Providence Country Day School celebrated the 32 members in the senior Class of 2023 during commencement held Wednesday, June 14.

The sun shone bright on the graduates, who were recognized for their academic, artistic and athletic achievements, their leadership skills, their service to the community, their enduring spirit in the face of adversity and their personal growth over their time at PCD.

“You are an inspired and inspiring class of students, who I am so proud to know,” said Head of School Kevin Folan. “In a short little while you will no longer be Country Day students; you will become PCD alumni, who show up, who play the game, who find laughter and joy, and who acknowledge setbacks and create the opportunity to learn from these moments.”

Said Head of Upper School Jennifer Aitken, this year’s commencement keynote speaker, “As you leave PCD and head off to explore the world and further your education, stick your neck out once in a while,” she encouraged. “These last few years have, at times, made us all want to pull our heads in and hide in our shells. It’s time to take some risks.”

Referencing her own graduate work studying animal behavior, Aitken added, “If you seek out what you need to take care of yourself like the gorillas, and wear your armor like the giant tortoise, you will be prepared to face whatever comes your way, and sticking your neck out and taking those risks could turn into great and fantastic adventures that will change your life.”

At the end of the ceremony, Associate Head of School Mark McLaughlin gave the graduates their charge, with advice from the senior class advisors, to “take every opportunity to show up not only for things — classes, jobs, or meetings with professors — but also for your friends and loved ones.“

The message continued, “standards matter, and may you always hold yourselves to high ones, whether in matters like MLA formatting or the ways in which you live your life and deal with others,” and concluded with, “be brave, take risks (the good kind, please), be kind to yourselves and others,” “give your choices careful consideration,” and “strive, get in the arena, keep that gauntlet thrown down, and play the game.”

The PCD Class of 2023 graduates were:
Lilly Elizabeth Allcock - Assumption University
Hudson Fitzpatrick Bartlett-Dunn - Connecticut College
Isaac Bates - University of Rhode Island
Charles Douglas Battel - Wentworth Institute of Technology
Jessica Ann Beaulieu - Rollins College
Viviane Amelie Cares - George Mason University
Caroline Maria-Anna Demetrakas - The George Washington University
Anna Maria Floru - Providence College
Thomas Franke - Miami University
Blake W. Fuller - Postgraduate Year
Benjamin Daniel Glaser - Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Livia Rose Greenberg - Rhode Island College
Drew David Robert Harris - York College - United Kingdom
Ama Rose Koran - American University
Ella Katherine LaFrenier - The George Washington University
Rainie Yutong Li - University of California - San Diego
Jonathan Daniel Oliveira - University of Massachusetts - Boston
Ripley Valentine Pereira - Endicott College
Ella Poe - Wheaton College - Massachusetts
Isabelle Filipa Rego - University of Rhode Island
Reed Dean Rowan - Bryant University
Flavia Schofield - Concordia University
Sophia Bella Sodhi - Boston University
Serenna Leah Sousa - Boston College
Finley Rejane Stock-Guild - University of Miami
Jordan Talley - Brown University
Zane Walker Paquin Tyszkowski - Connecticut College
Vivian Vieira - University of Rhode Island
Evan Christopher Waite - Interim Year
Salem Saleh Yassine - Merrimack College
Jameson Michael Young - Quinnipiac University
Katrina Zysk - Loyola University - Maryland