Buckley Celebrates 98th Commencement!

June 11, 2025

All the ageless signs that Buckley was ready for its 98th Commencement Exercises were present: the white tent on the Roby Young Field, the Trustees’ Bowl filled with red roses and awaiting for the name of its recipient to be announced, the graduates’ plaques displayed before being presented to the school, and the beautiful Long Island blue skies that, to date, have never failed to grace us on Graduation Day. The joy of the graduates, wearing red and blue sashes and ties, was palpable, as was the pride of their families. 

Father Panteleimon Papadopoulos, Presiding Priest of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Resurrection, gave this year’s invocation. Father Papadopoulos was introduced by graduate George Georgelis who expressed his gratitude for “Father P’s” kindness, wisdom, and example, and presented him as “a constant source of spiritual guidance and encouragement.” Father Papadopoulos asked the community “to pause and give thanks for the gift of learning, for the guidance of dedicated teachers and mentors, for the support of family and friends, and for the growth that has taken place in the hearts and minds of the young graduates.” “May they carry forward,” he added, “the values learned here: integrity, curiosity, compassion, and the courage to lead with purpose and perseverance.”

On behalf of his classmates, Enzo Fischetti presented the Teacher-of-the-Year Award, selected by the members of the graduating class, to Physical Education and Health Teacher Matt Kelly. Enzo recognized Coach Kelly as “one faculty member who got us here today; someone the graduates always look forward to seeing in the morning; someone always there to help and give advice; someone creating a space that makes students feel safe.” 

The Thomas J. Reid Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes outstanding teaching, demonstrated by concern for each student, quality of instruction, and commitment to Buckley. The 2025 Thomas J. Reid Excellence in Teaching Award was presented to Second Grade Teacher Ashley Lane.

The G. Robert Gage Award for Excellence in Teaching, named and given in memory of Mr. Bob Gage’s late father, is given annually to a faculty member in recognition of their excellence in teaching. This award is funded every year by the investment income earned on the endowment gift made by the Gage family. The 2025 recipient of The G. Robert Gage Award for Excellence in Teaching was First Grade Teacher Kim LiCalzi.

A generous endowment gift from Linda and John Powers made possible the presentation of an additional faculty award at graduation. The Powers Family Teacher Recognition Award is given annually to a faculty member in recognition of their embodiment of the school’s character and spirit, care and nurturing qualities, and excellence in teaching. This year, the Powers Family Teacher Recognition Award was presented to Lower School and Fifth Grade Science Teacher Maureen Vera.

Board Chair Chris Lee presented this year’s Trustees’ Bowl, the school’s most prized academic award, to the student who achieved the highest grade point average. The Trustees’ Bowl was presented to Rowan Subbaiah. The Scholarship Medal for the second highest academic average was awarded to Alyssa Sugiyama, while Paige Schoen earned the Certificate of Merit for the third highest average. 

Alyssa Sugiyama, Student Council President, presented the gift of the Class of 2025 to Buckley Country Day School. The Class of 2025, the class that initiated music with lunch on Fridays, raised money to purchase a new portable sound system because “music has the power to lift us up and bring people together,” Alyssa explained. Being that they managed to raise more money than needed for the sound system, they chose to allocate another $1,000 to the Head of School’s Impact Fund started by the Class of 2017 to assist Buckley Country Day School’s families with expenses above and beyond tuition. Thank you to the Class of 2025 for their thoughtfulness and for “paying it forward.”

Athletic Director Brian Boyle was selected by the graduating class to be their faculty speaker. He was introduced by Julia Rosenthal as a teacher who always knows what to say when students need advice and has made “all of us feel like his family.” Mr. Boyle shared what a privilege it had been for him “to teach the graduates, coach them, learn from them, and watch them form the kind of friendships that will stay with them for life.” “Buckley is part of who you are,” Coach Boyle said. “It’s in the way you treat others with kindness, the way you challenge yourself, the way you strive not just to do well, but to do great.” “The memories you have made here,” he concluded movingly, “are memories that remind you that this was home.”

Gia Skenderi ’19 was this year’s alumna speaker. Gia was introduced by her sister, Adrianna, the youngest and last of four Skenderi graduates. Adrianna introduced her big sister as someone who balances everything she does with grace and always finds the time to offer her support and wisdom. “Having a sister is a bond I hope everyone can experience, especially if your sister is like mine,” Adrianna proudly shared. With much gratitude and appreciation Gia spoke about all the people who stand behind you to help you come into your own, develop confidence and determination, and discover passions. “It takes family cheering you on, teachers leading the way, and friends walking beside you.” Referring to the graduates’ performance in their eighth grade play, High School Musical, Gia concluded, “it’s not just about fitting in or standing out; it’s about staying true to yourself and lifting others up along the way. Be brave enough to try new things, bold enough to be different, and kind enough to cheer for each other’s successes.”

The two student speakers selected by their peers were Victoria James and Alyssa Sugiyama. In a witty social commentary akin to a philosopher’s satire, Alyssa and Victoria chose to expose the reality of their generation’s digital, wired life and contrast it with the messiness and beauty of “the one thing that never came with a quick fix, one thing we couldn’t ask AI for; one thing that was not handed to us no matter how badly we wished it were. It’s not in any textbook. There’s no how-to video and surely no step-by-step instructions: friendship.” Replaying the ups and downs of their journey from Lower School, to Upper School, to graduation, Alyssa and Victoria highlighted the many -and often small- acts of friendship with which the graduates held each other up. Alyssa and Victoria concluded their remarks by thanking the Buckley faculty and staff “for loving us not just when we got it right, but also when we got it wrong.” They also expressed their gratitude to their families for their unconditional love and for being “their first responders and most trusted adults.” Needless to say, Alyssa and Victoria delighted their audience with their wisdom and trademark quick wit. 

Diplomas were then awarded to the members of the graduating class. Newly elected Student Council Co-Presidents Sophie Lee ’26 and Sarp Li ’26 displayed the wooden plaques carved by the graduates as they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. Simultaneously, eighth grade advisors read excerpts from comments selected by the Head of School and written by the students’ teachers over the past twelve years.  

It was with pride and joy that the entire community joined in cheering the Class of 2025 and wishing them well.  

Paige Schoen, a third-generation Buckley graduate, introduced this year’s musical offering: “Breaking Free” from High School Musical. “I could not be prouder of my peers,” Paige remarked, “for tirelessly pushing boundaries and for being altogether one of the most impressive groups of people I know. By running, climbing, and giving it our all, each and every one of us will get to that place to be all that we can be.” 

Father Papadopoulos concluded the ceremony with a beautiful blessing for the graduates and the school community. 

The 2025 graduates have now become the newest members of Buckley’s Alumni Association, and we hope that under the leadership of their class agent, Bella Chillianis, Buckley will soon have the pleasure of hosting their first reunion.

The members of the Class of 2025 will be attending: Archbishop Molloy High School, Avenues, Chaminade High School, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Dominican Academy, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Fordham Preparatory School, Friends Academy, Groton School, Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School, North Broward Preparatory School, Portledge School, Sacred Heart Academy, The Spence School, Wellington C. Mepham High School, West Islip High School, and Xavier High School.

Congratulations, Buckley Class of 2025!

Please click here for a link to photos from the ceremony and here for the video.