Congratulations, Class of 2017!
We proudly congratulate the 116 graduates of the class of 2017 who are inspiring greatness for a better world.
This year’s class included 22 peer leaders, 24 Cum Laude inductees, a National Merit Scholar, a U.S. Presidential Scholar, a record number of lifers (29), and exceptional scholars, artists and athletes of character. They logged nearly 10,000 hours of community service around the globe over the past four years and received more than 540 college acceptances worldwide.
On Friday, June 2, 2017, Head of School Gary Krahn, Ph.D., welcomed the crowd to the 53rd commencement ceremony with “let’s get rowdy,” inducing another round of applause for the graduates. He also recognized the family, friends, faculty, staff, board members and all other members of the LJCDS community for contributing to the success of the students. “They are talented young adults who are prepared to make a difference wherever their journey may take them,” says Dr. Krahn. “Our confidence in them is not based on what they have accomplished, it’s based upon who they have become.”
Reflecting on his time at LJCDS, Student Council President Remy Reya told his classmates, “We can do great things and be great people while still accepting that there is a lot that we will never, ever know, even with an LJCDS education. That said, we should never stop seeking wisdom from those people around us. We can often learn more about ourselves by engaging in conversation with others than we ever could through mere introspection. We are incredibly lucky to have so many people in this community who are willing to help us find ourselves by sharing their experience. That is why we should be thankful for the last four years, that is why we should be thankful for each other and that is why we should be thankful for this moment.”
Remy then introduced commencement speaker Irwin M. Jacobs, Sc.D., founding chairman of Qualcomm and CEO emeritus of Qualcomm, who reminisced about his own graduating class of 1950. Dr. Jacobs' high school counselor told him there was no future in science and engineering, so he started Cornell University studying the hotel business. Luckily, Dr. Jacobs realized he needed to follow his true interest and switched majors to engineering, graduating with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Cornell and went on to earn his master’s and doctorate at MIT. He challenged the students to think about new technology, including more advanced robots and self-driving autos, and the challenges that it will bring to humanity. With their LJCDS education, Dr. Jacobs believes the students can tackle issues such as job loss from new technology, income inequality, homelessness, climate control and keeping the peace.
Three awards were presented during commencement. Rachael Mow and Liam Hosey earned the Trustees’ Award, tying in achieving the highest cumulative grade point average. Arielle Algaze received the Head of School Award for earning the second highest cumulative grade point average. And last but not least, Posy Stoller and Remy Reya were presented with the Faculty Prize, awarded to two seniors who, through effort and character, scholarship, arts and athletics, have best demonstrated the ideas and spirit of La Jolla Country Day School.
After Dr. Krahn and Board of Trustees President Mike Dee presented diplomas, the class of 2017 led the audience in singing the alma mater and proceeded to the Upper School quad for the tradition of ringing the bell.
Congratulations to our youngest alumni!
Read more about the 2017 Commencement, including award winners, lifer profiles, matriculation list and a photo slideshow.
La Jolla Country Day School
9490 Genesee Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
858-453-3440
© 2024 La Jolla Country Day School
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La Jolla, CA 92037
858-453-3440
© 2024 La Jolla Country Day School
Privacy Policy
COVID-19 Prevention Plan
