The 133 members of Menlo School’s Class of 2017 received their diplomas on Thursday, June 8, at 9:30 am, in an outdoor ceremony that included welcoming remarks from Director of Upper School John Schafer. 

This year’s commencement speakers included Nick Casey ’01, the Andes Bureau Chief of the New York Times, and Menlo math teacher Lauren Lax. Menlo graduate Nick Casey ’01 is the Andes Bureau Chief of the New York Times based in South America. Reporting from more than 20 countries in Latin America and the Middle East, his reporting career has taken him from the front lines of war in the Gaza Strip to a rebel enclave deep in the mountains of Colombia. He was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for his work last year in Venezuela and won the George Polk Award for Foreign Reporting. Before the New York Times, Casey worked for the Wall Street Journal. Listen to Mr. Casey’s talk here.

Senior Class President Avery King of Menlo Park also offered her thoughts on graduation. Menlo School’s Chorus and Chamber Orchestra will provide music.

To close the commencement exercises, Menlo School Board Chair Rob Chandra assisted John Schafer and Head of School Than Healy in conferring high school degrees upon the members of the Class of 2017.