Warm and breezy conditions prevailed as Brunswick graduated 114 students in the Class of 2026 at its 124th Commencement Exercises on May 20 — hundreds of family members and friends gathered for a ceremony inside Dann Gymnasium on Edwards Campus.

Head of School Thomas W. Philip introduced the proceedings and drew thunderous applause as he tipped his hat to longtime teacher and wrestling coach Tim Ostrye, who has faced serious health challenges this year.

Philip also welcomed and recognized parents and faculty gathered for the occasion, offering that the success of these young men “obviously speaks to the love and care of so many in this room today.”

He also, of course, honored and thanked the graduates, calling Commencement a “watershed moment.” 

“Make no mistake,” he said. “This is a special day. Receiving a diploma from Brunswick is a significant achievement.

“Your efforts have brought academic renown, artistic recognition, and athletic championships,” he said. “Boys, we can learn a lot from you: That great success and talent can also be accompanied by great kindness.”

Valedictorian Pierce Crosby introduced Ivy Speaker Colin Officer, who told the crowd that he was honored to be given an opportunity to “pen our final love letter” to a school that has done so much to prepare him and his classmates for life.

In writing his speech, he considered asking AI for help, but quickly discarded that idea.

“AI could never truly capture the Brunswick experience,” he said. “Because no algorithm has ever been in Mr. Potter’s English class and felt the room go quiet when he asked: ‘what makes you freakin’ tick, man?’”

“No model has felt the electricity of an all-school assembly in Baker Theater,” he continued. “No chatbot has ever been on the receiving end of one of Coach Cuddy’s speeches.

“Brunswick taught us how to be human,” he said, as he pointed to the Vermont Campus experience, the Senior Voice tradition, and mentorship from teachers as key moments of his Brunswick experience.

“The lessons we learned here at Brunswick are, in many ways, the very antithesis of machine learning,” he said. “This school taught us to communicate, to lead with emotion, humility, laughter, and brotherhood.”

Former Brunswick parent Scott Bessent, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, served as keynote speaker.

Bessent told the crowd that just a few years ago, he himself was seated where they were sitting; he was in Dann Gymnasium for the Brunswick Annual Dinner. At the time, his son was a first-grade student, and Bessent listened as Tom Philip spoke to the community about how Brunswick worked to prepare their sons for life, without overprotecting them.

In his speech, Philip referenced an aphorism: that ships are safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.

“History attributes a similar adage to Teddy Roosevelt,” Bessent said. “If a willingness to risk comfort in pursuit of something greater was the ultimate test of American character, then Brunswick School would prepare young men to pass it. 

“Today belongs to the graduates before me,” Bessent said, also taking note of Philip’s 40-year career and his upcoming retirement: “But I must say that when this institution looks back on its history, it will record these years as some of Brunswick’s best.”

Here’s the full list of award winners: