As the 2022-2023 school year comes to an end, Upper Arlington Schools students, staff and families will be celebrating important milestones for those moving on to their next step — whether it’s middle school, high school, college, career or the military.
Upper Arlington Schools’ 99th annual commencement ceremony will cap off the celebrations for the approximately 420 members of the Class of 2023, as they walk across the state at the Schottenstein Center to accept their diplomas and officially join the ranks of Golden Bear alumni. The commencement ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 28. A livestream of the ceremony will be offered thanks to WOSU at this link.
“This is an incredible accomplishment, and it takes a great deal of determination and dedication to get to this moment,” said Upper Arlington High School Principal Andrew Theado. “The Class of 2023 truly reflects our vision of uniquely accomplished students prepared to serve, lead and succeed — with accomplishments in service and leadership and, of course, the success that they have ahead of them as they begin their next chapter in life.”
Serve
The Class of 2023 has shown a remarkable commitment to service that goes above and beyond the school-based service and service-learning projects that they have engaged in throughout their time in the Upper Arlington Schools. Thirty-six students were recently recognized with the national President’s Volunteer Service Award for individually contributing 50 or more hours of service to the community. Three of those students each dedicated a remarkable 250 hours, or more, to community service in the past year.
Lead
The members of the Class of 2023 have been leaders in all aspects of the academic experience in the Upper Arlington Schools. Of the Class of 2023 graduates, there are 13 National Merit Semifinalists and 16 Commended Scholars, and 85 members of the prestigious Cum Laude Society, the highest academic recognition a high school student can achieve on a national level.
Outside of the school day, these students have won regional and state recognition in athletics, the visual and performing arts, computer science and robotics, journalism and news media, and more. They are the next generation’s budding scientists, inventors and innovators, and legal minds.
Succeed
After graduation, the members of the Class of 2023 are headed off for college, the military and some other destinations, too. They will be attending more than 100 colleges and universities across the country, and some are making different plans, whether it’s for a gap year, career or another path. Two graduates have committed to serving our country in the military and ROTC programs, and 20 have committed to continuing their athletic and academic pursuits at the college level.
“It’s no surprise these graduates have big plans for the future. Their long list of achievements speaks for itself,” Theado said. “We wish these students the best and are so excited to continue to watch them grow as they go on to their next step in life.”