Chase Collegiate celebrates local graduates

WATERBURY » The Chase Commencement Ceremony, which took place on Friday, June 9, embodied the school’s rich traditions and celebrated its commitment to academic excellence and lifelong learning.

The 34 graduating seniors, clad in the traditional white, gathered on the South Lawn for the 149th Commencement Ceremony of the historic Waterbury school.

In the Senior Address, Drew Barbeau of Cheshire described invaluable lessons learned at Chase.

“We have learned the importance of making good choices, the meaning of true friends, and how to get up, dust ourselves off, stare a tough time in the face and say, ‘Come get me’ after getting knocked down,” he said.

For the Commencement Address, the school tapped Dr. Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, ‘05, a staff psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and instructor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School.

She urged the graduates to retain their honesty and authenticity.

“Wherever your path takes you, please remember to be the genuine, tell-it-like-it-is people you were when I asked you

about your challenges and hopes...Who you are will expand and blossom in incredible ways over the years, but in some ways you will still be the people

you are right now on the South Porch. And that’s a good thing,” she said.

Chase Collegiate School is a co-educational, independent day school that

educates children from Prekindergarten through grade 12. For more information, call 203-236-9500 or visit www.chasecollegiate.org.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury celebrated graduation in June. Local graduates, from left, included John D’Aversa, Jr., of Northfield, Kaylee Kisselburgh of Thomaston and Gregory Nashe of Harwinton.