Collegiate Holds its 26th Convocation

Like a light post our traditions allow us to better see who we are and where we’re going. The calendar turns and a new year begins, and we change and grow with the year, but the annual return to a beloved event allows us to recalibrate ourselves by both looking back reflectively and forward confidently. We are centered by a collective spirit of a moment, grounded in our diligent actions and traditions. 

So as Collegiate’s collective spirit — passionate, loud, emblazoned with green-and-gold — emanated from the student body that gathered on Grover Jones Field for Convocation, the 26th in the School’s history, Collegiate officially kicked off the new academic year, together, continuing a tradition that began back in 1999, and now persists with Head of School Jeff Mancabelli, the tradition’s newest steward. 

This year’s event began with Lower Schoolers Addie Thomas ’33 and Rhett Holzbach ’33 discussing their shared excitement for the upcoming school year and introducing Upper School SCA co-president Caroline Crawford ’25, who spoke about what makes Collegiate such a vibrant, supportive community. Coming to North Mooreland Road in 5th Grade along with her two older sisters, Caroline experienced the jitters that naturally come with new beginnings. But the quality of character she found at Collegiate quickly eased her trepidation.“Within the first few weeks of being a Cougar, I saw the core value of community in action by the teachers who cared for me,” she explained. “I continued to notice how faculty and students cared for one another. What is truly important to understand about our community is that its strength comes from each individual on this field.”

A warm, supportive community is a value Collegiate has upheld since its founding, Caroline reminded the audience, quoting the second verse of “Hail Collegiate!,” which was written in 1918. In closing, she urged everyone in the community to uplift one another. One small act can have great influence. “Every morning is a new time to make another person feel valued and appreciated,” she said.

Following performances from the Upper School jazz band, orchestra, and chorus, who played a rendition of the late and beloved teacher and robotics coach Dan Bartels’s song “Stand in the Sun,” Middle School Council co-chairs Amelia Haske ’29 and Ted Geyer ’29 took the stage to deliver remarks about Collegiate. 

When Amelia thinks about the School, she always returns to the idea of community. She’s attended many different schools throughout her childhood, but she’s never found such a vibrant atmosphere of individuals like she has on North Mooreland Road. “Coming to a new school after moving to Richmond from Zambia scared me, and I wasn’t really open to new people. However, it didn’t take long for that to change,” she reflected. “I was immediately welcomed to Collegiate with warm smiles and new friends. Whether it was people inviting me to events or asking me to hang out, it didn’t take long to feel like I was part of the community. I hope to foster that same sense of belonging throughout the coming year — a community where everyone is accepted and acknowledged no matter their interests or passions.”

During Ted’s remarks, he challenged those in the audience to radiate kindness in everything they do. “In the year ahead, I want to encourage and challenge each of you to make everyone on our campus feel welcome,” he told the crowd. “This can be done by simple acts like smiling at someone in the hallway, holding a door for someone, getting to know a cafeteria worker’s name, or asking how someone's day went.”

SCA co-president Shaan Agarwal ’25  addressed the audience next and began by painting a small portrait of the School that encodes the spirit of Collegiate. “Every day, hundreds of high school students walk into McFall Hall at the exact same time for lunch,” he began. “For those who bring your lunch and have not experienced the lunch line yet, students are required to scan their fingers before entering the lines. A couple years ago, I found myself struggling to get my finger to scan.” But Renee Lewis, a Collegiate employee that monitors the lunch lines, supported Shaan each time he struggled, taking his name down, which he was surprised she learned so quickly, and saying, with a smile, “I’ve got you.” 

That’s all it took; this simple reminder that he is supported and known. “It is small acts of kindness and compassion like this that make this school so great,” Shaan said. These small acts, practiced daily by everyone at Collegiate, elevate a student’s education. “Remember, even small acts of kindness go a long way.”

Mancabelli, presiding over his first Convocation, faced the student body from the podium below the field’s bleachers and began his speech with these five words, which were offered to him by Kindergartener Teddy Dickinson ’37: “Hello. I love you. Bye.”

Although Mancabelli expanded on those five words, speaking of consciously embracing the educational journey rather than the destination that lies ahead for students, the essence of his message could be found in Teddy’s simple yet profound sentiment. 

“We are excited to witness all that you will accomplish as we begin this new educational journey,” Mancabelli told the students in the audience. “However, I would like to take the opportunity to offer some advice. Remember, it’s not about reaching the end of this academic journey, but it’s more about what we will learn, how you will grow, and what you will discover along the way.”

“Embrace the journey with minds that seek and hearts that serve,” he said. “Approach every day with curiosity and courage and never underestimate the impact you have on one another by showing random acts of kindness and bringing a positive spirit to everything that you do.”

To complete the day of traditions, Mancabelli concluded Convocation with this charge for the Seniors as they embark on a new year together: “Seniors, you are the leaders of the Upper School and the role models for the entire student body. Your actions and decisions set a tone for everyone in this community, and I am so proud of what you have done thus far since the beginning of school. This year, you will delve into global and local issues through your Capstone classes, whether that’s exploring health, ethics, local history, or other critical topics. Your efforts will not only shape your own futures, but also influence our entire community.”