Celebrating the Class of 2021

The year-end festivities began when the seniors finished up their last day of classes just before the Memorial Day holiday weekend and continued with Senior Week, chock-full of events celebrating the Class of 2021. 

Over the course of two days, 21 seniors presented their Independent Study projects, sharing their inspiration, challenges, successes, and outcomes. Each Tabor student who chose to work on an independent project did so because of their passion for a particular topic, ranging from producing an album of songs to refurbishing a jet-ski to coding and app development. Some students chose assignments like obtaining a USCG-issued captain’s license and studying whether algae gets consumed by oysters in Sippican Harbor (6 oysters can eat 16 million algae cells in 2 hours!). Other students chose to focus on topics that they’ve been curious about for years like vlogging and creating sustainable fashion.

With that hard work behind them, it was time to focus on fun with Senior Color Wars! The senior class was divided into four teams playing tug-of-war contests, volleyball, kickball, and spikeball matches. Bubble soccer and cornhole added to the friendly and spirited competition. It was a picture-perfect day and our senior Seawolves had a blast!

We then turned our attention back to academics with our annual Prize Day ceremony. Although the entire student body couldn’t congregate in one location, we came together in two parts thanks to video feeds in both Hoyt Auditorium and Wickenden Chapel, and Tabor was able to acknowledge and recognize the exceptional achievement by our students across many areas of the school. Prizes were awarded for achievement and excellence in the classrooms, on the fields and on the water, on stage or in the studio, in the community and more. We hope the winners enjoyed their moments, cherish their awards, and most importantly, are proud of the feeling of accomplishment they have earned. After the challenges of this year, the Tabor community was excited to celebrate our annual prize winners!

The festivities then continued with the annual senior/faculty dinner and Baccalaureate, after which seniors were presented with gifts of ties and necklaces to be worn during Commencement. The traditional Baccalaureate ceremony in Wickenden Chapel included musical performances and readings from various seniors, as well as the Baccalaureate address from the Houlihan Faculty Award Recipient, Wes Chaput. 

Starting at 10:00AM on June 4 in the Fish Center Fieldhouse, Tabor Academy graduated 136 students from around the country and the world. The graduates hail from 16 states and 10 countries. Twenty-five were inducted into the Cum Laude Society, a recognition society for high scholastic achievement among member schools; and 14 received Naval Honors (recipients have successfully achieved experience and competence in our Nautical Science curriculum, as well as leadership and/or academic proficiency).  

Many of Tabor’s graduates invited family and friends to be on campus to partake in this momentous event. However, for those who are not able to travel to the School by the Sea, live-streaming video was shared on Tabor’s website. We had supporters cheering our seniors from around the world! The program included student musical performances as well as speeches from the student Co-Heads of School, Andrew Mottur and Julia Rood, the Interim Head of School Julie Salit, and Chair of the Board of Trustees Regina Shakin P’15, ’17, ’19. 

This year especially, Tabor’s Class of 2021 deserves many accolades for all they have overcome. Class of 2021, we wish you the best of luck as you prepare for the future and pursue your dreams. It’s a great day to be a Seawolf!

Look for end of year photos on our Tabor Academy Smug Mug page!