Greenhill Graduates Class of 2026 at 76th Annual Commencement
Congratulations to the Class of 2026, who graduated at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Greenhill School graduated the Class of 2026 at the 76th Annual Commencement ceremony held at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 4:00 pm. Head of Upper School Trevor Worcester welcomed the graduating class and families to the commencement ceremony.
Kendall Johnson delivered an In Appreciation address: “Greenhill has been filled with people who guided us, grounded us, challenged us, and celebrated us through every version of ourselves... To every group and individual that has propelled us forward and empowered us throughout our journey at Greenhill, on behalf of the class of 2026, thank you. We are deeply grateful for every lesson, every moment of encouragement, and every ounce of love that has carried us through these years.”
Myra Puri gave a senior address: “Human worth is not a direct gift of observation. It is an immutable constant preceding all material existence. You do not require visibility to be valid, and you do not become valued for what you have done or accomplished. The only truth is this: your worth is a fact. Long before any of us were students, athletes, artists, leaders, or anything else, we were already worthy. From now on, we will not wait to be deemed worthy. We have been, and always will be, worthy, valued, and loved.”
Benjy Beckman delivered the second senior address: “We are a collection of mismatched individuals. We do not all look the same, think the same, or want the same things, but somewhere along the way we developed a very big heart, a shared ambition, and a collective success, and in a way that feels rare, we genuinely love each other… Every graduating senior carries their own private moments, some large, some small. Together they created a sense of belonging, a shared identity, and a feeling that we are a part of Greenhill and Greenhill is a part of us.”
Head of School Lee Hark, Board of Trustees Chair Lori Whitten, and Senior Class Dean and Upper School Spanish Teacher Cristina Gonzáles awarded diplomas to the students as they walked across the stage.
To conclude the ceremony, Mr. Hark delivered his charge to the Class of 2026: “I hope you find purpose in your lives. I hope you find it young and I hope you find it often. And I hope that when you do, you recognize it. Not because it looks impressive, but because it makes you stop counting. Class of 2026, you leave here prepared. Your years in this community have seen to that. What no school can give you is purpose. That is yours to find and keep finding for the rest of your life. You're not finished; you're not a resume; you're not the job you’ll get, or lose, or love, or quit. You are becoming. Go become.”
Senior Award Winners
On Thursday, May 21, Head of School Lee Hark announced the following award winners at the Upper School Honors Assembly. All quotes are from his introductions. Congratulations to our senior award winners!
| Valedictorian: Rory Liu |
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| The Valedictorian is the graduating senior who has earned the highest cumulative Upper School grade point average. "Rory has been described as having an 'inimitable work ethic.' True to form, she has enrolled in and successfully completed 7 AP courses and post-AP courses, achieving an A or A+ in all those high-level courses. Across the various disciplines, themes appear. One faculty member noted Rory's 'curiosity and a seriousness of purpose.' Not only did that approach propel her to unseen heights in academic classes, but it also translated into stellar work on teams. Also, an Executive Editor on The Evergreen, Mr. Jones praises Rory as part of a 'Hall of Fame' team. And then there’s the four years of Policy Debate, achieving championships on both the state and national levels. As one faculty member wrote, 'Rory's courage and perseverance — particularly in the demanding world of national debate — highlight a student who consistently embraces challenges and strives for excellence.'" |
| Salutatorian: Justin Wu |
| The Salutatorian is the graduating senior who has earned the second-highest cumulative Upper School grade point average. "'Optimism and focus.' 'Intellectual curiosity.' 'Exceptional argumentative and analytical thinking.' Time and time again, Justin has earned the praise of faculty with both his approach to, and stellar achievement in, every class he has taken. Over the course of Upper School, Justin has successfully completed 7 AP and post-AP courses, earning an A+ in all of them. Though math and science were his jam, Justin's reach into all aspects of school life was evident. Beyond the traditional classroom, he participated in our Chamber Orchestra and Robotics program and was a leader on our Math Team and Honor Council. Justin's work on The Evergreen over four years culminated with his leadership as Executive Editor and praise from Mr. Jones for bringing 'excellence and integrity to every aspect of our shared work.' Justin is seamlessly achieving excellence in all disciplines." |
| Estelle Dickens Service to Greenhill Award: Ruby Garza |
| The Estelle Dickens Service to Greenhill Award is presented to the senior who has given the most outstanding service contribution to Greenhill School. The award commemorates the more than four decades of service given to Greenhill by beloved teacher and administrator Estelle Dickens. "Ruby exemplifies the spirit of this award through her tireless dedication, generosity, and positive impact on the entire Greenhill community. As one faculty member observed, 'What doesn’t Ruby do on campus?' She balances an extraordinary range of activities while maintaining warmth, humor, and kindness that makes the school community stronger every day. Been to a Cross Country meet? You’ll see her there leading as a captain. Visitors on campus? A go-to member of the Hill Guides. Need a mentor for younger students? She is a Link Crew leader. And in what building does she inhabit more than anything else – the MPAC. It is there that Ruby shares her extraordinary talents in the Arts: Improv, filmmaking, choir, and countless theater productions. And most of all, it is the authentic human that shines brightly, as one of her peers noted, 'Ruby is one of the kindest people I know, as well as one of the smartest. She always helps her friends be the best they can be, and she will often sacrifice time and effort to do that.' She models integrity, dedication, and care in every role she takes on." |
| Kate Cecil Award: Miles Newman |
| The Kate Cecil Award is given to the senior who renders the most outstanding service to the Dallas community. The award is named in honor of Kate Cecil, a member of the faculty for 17 years. "Miles demonstrates a passion for and stewardship of the environment. With more than 400 logged hours, Miles's dedication to service manifests in several ways under the larger umbrella of the environment. He has volunteered at a turtle hospital, caring for injured sea turtles, served in a youth program at the Dallas Zoo, completing significant training to assist larger animals like giraffes and elephants, and has volunteered with the Trinity River Audubon Society, deepening an understanding of native ecosystems while giving back to the conservation community. And then, for his Eagle project, Miles led a riparian restoration effort to restore the creek embankment on our campus to prevent soil erosion, improve water quality and flow, and support local wildlife. He consistently promotes environmental awareness and is looking to continue his focus on the environment more formally in college. One faculty member noted that Miles 'thrives at the intersection of purpose and compassion.' He is already living and modeling an authentic, purposeful life." |
| Phillip G. Foote Award: Kate Ponnambalam |
| The Phillip G. Foote Award is given to the senior who is considered by the faculty to epitomize the qualities of citizenship in the Greenhill community. These qualities are rooted in the school’s core values of excellence, integrity, compassion, and courage. The award is named for Greenhill’s second Head of School. "Kate is a respectful, talented, kind, and highly motivated student who genuinely cares for others. She embodies our core values in everything she does, and she does a lot. Kate has accomplished academic excellence with a rigorous course load. One teacher noted, 'Kate shined, bringing an enthusiastic, empathetic spirit to our class, along with a determined approach to learning.' Outside the classroom, Kate's commitment to the community is strong and vast. As a member of the Student Inclusion Council and as an officer in Black Girls Unity, she helps move our mission forward, working to create better cultural competency in our community. Kate has modeled leadership with integrity as the Senior Class President. And as a four-year member of The Evergreen, culminating her time as an Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Jones noted, 'Kate provides leadership and inspiration to the staff while cultivating a culture of excellence, respect, and accountability.' She always models great citizenship." |
| Board of Trustees Award: Nora Ahearn |
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The Board of Trustees Award is given to the senior who embodies the mission and core values of Greenhill School. |
| Senior Leadership Award: Kendall Johnson |
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The Senior Leadership Award is given to the member of the senior class who best demonstrates the qualities of leadership. |
| Bernard L. Fulton Award: Isabel Bhatia |
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The Bernard L. Fulton Award is the highest honor given in the Upper School and is presented to the senior who best embodies the mission and core values of Greenhill School. The award is named for the founder and first Head of Greenhill School. |
| Helen Fulton Award |
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The Helen Fulton Award is named in honor of Helen Fulton, founding faculty member and wife of Greenhill’s founder, Bernard Fulton. Helen Fulton was a life-long learner, exemplary citizen, and a well-rounded, balanced individual. This award is unique in that seniors nominate their peers who they believe embody these characteristics, and the winners are chosen by a faculty vote. Eleven students were chosen to receive this award.
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