Perkiomen School held its 146th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 29 on Zeller Field on its campus in Pennsburg, Pa. Degrees for 78 graduates were conferred, some joining the ceremony online, with most in person.

Three students graduated with Artificial Intelligence Distinction, 10 with Entrepreneurial Distinction, and six graduates received Medical Distinction, demonstrating a commitment to participation in Perkiomen School’s Institutes, resulting in a rigorous application of their liberal arts education.

To earn distinction in the Institutes, students must complete a capstone or research project combined with external experiences and specified coursework.

Special recognition was given to those students who are members of the Cum Laude society. Founded in 1906, the Cum Laude Society is dedicated to honoring scholastic achievement in secondary schools.

The founders of the society modeled Cum Laude after Phi Beta Kappa and in the years since its founding, Cum Laude has grown to 382 chapters, approximately two dozen of which are located in public schools and the rest in Independent schools.

Perkiomen School welcomed alumnus Larry Jackson, Ph,D, Class of 1995 to serve as Commencement Speaker.

At Perkiomen School, Jackson was active in theater and music, wrestled, served as editor of the literary magazine, and was Student Body President.

After Perkiomen, Jackson received a bachelor’s degree in American studies from Skidmore College and went on to earn master’s degrees in liberal studies and philosophy and a doctorate in philosophy from The New School for Social Research in New York City.

Currently, Jackson is a Dean and Lecturer at Columbia University, where he oversees and teaches in the Columbia College Core Curriculum, the oldest and most renowned general education program in the United States.

Prior to Columbia, Larry held academic positions at The New School, New York University, and the City University of New York. Jackson’s writing has appeared in numerous academic journals and publications, and he lectures regularly on education and philosophy.

While speaking to the graduates, Jackson referenced author James Baldwin’s 1963 address to New York City teachers following the assassination of Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, stating:

“The purpose of education…. is to create in people the ability to look at the world for themselves, to make their own decisions. Education is not just about acquiring knowledge, then. It is, above all, about learning how to be yourself. Here is the difficult irony, though. This ability to look at the world for yourself and to make your own decisions does not mean knowing all the answers, but rather, in Baldwin’s formulation, asking questions of the universe and — this is key — learning to live with those questions.”

Jackson concluded: “The measure of your education will not be the answers that you can offer, but the questions that you will ask. The mark of your maturity will not be the certainty of what you know, but the confidence to admit your own ignorance. Only with such a spirit of inquiry will you be able to take up the task of addressing the pressing problems of today and creating a world that is more just, more equal, and more free.”

“We were honored to welcome Larry back to Pennsburg as our commencement speaker,” said Head of School Mark A. Devey. “An alumnus with strong roots in education, and an accomplished lecturer, Larry delivered meaningful wisdom to the class of 2021.”

Ruby Peeler, of East Greenville, Pa., was named Valedictorian, concluding her time at Perkiomen School with a weighted GPA of 4.53.

As the recipient of a full scholarship for the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program, Peeler has deferred her acceptance to the University of California, Berkley, and will spend next year studying abroad in South Korea.

In her address, Peeler encouraged graduates to create their own light, rather than relying on someone else to find a spark and ignite something in them. She shared, “Go forth out into the world. Appreciate its beauty. And when things get tough, light a candle. Lead the way.”

Perkiomen School is a coed, college preparatory, boarding, and day school for grades 6-12, including post-graduate. Learn more about Perkiomen School.