Following the traditional "Then and Now" slideshow, Student Speaker Ollie Feder '25 said, “What makes Dalton, Dalton is…the feeling…that we are part of something bigger, part of a real community, where everyone is valued and appreciated.” “The genuine passion that Daltonians, faculty, and even parents have for everything they do makes it feel like you’re not just playing a sport, or acting in a play, or dancing in Dance Theater Workshop, but that you’re part of something more important.” “Despite all of the amazing academic and extracurricular achievements,” Ollie concluded that what matters most are the friendships and being part of this community forever. 

Nate Sloan, Dalton Class of 2004, an Assistant Professor of Musicology at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, was the Commencement Speaker. In the audience were his parents, veteran Dalton teachers Randi Sloan (Dance) and Bob Sloan (Theater), who retired at the end of the school year after decades of mentoring and inspiring performing arts students. Nate “shared some life advice in the form of what we used to call a mix tape, and today is better known as a playlist, from three musical genres: classical, pop, and jazz.” He explained: “In classical music, it’s the importance of technique; whatever you choose to do, do it to the highest degree. Pop music is flamboyant, rule-bending, and subversive. Pop gives us the value of audacity, of flouting convention, of being authentically yourself. Jazz is the music of improvisation. Improvisation teaches us to adapt, to make the best of a given situation — perhaps the most essential life skill of all.” 

The Senior Graduation Music Ensemble, led by Music Department Chairs Liz Cruz and Bill Solomon, performed the song “We Are Young” to enthusiastic applause. 

Head of School José M. De Jesús spoke about the power of connection and collaboration. José told members of the Class of 2025 that, “Connection, bonding, working as a collective, are not nice to haves, they are a must-have to a productive and long life.” He provided examples of students achieving their goals by working together — including the girls' basketball team winning four state championships, engineering students successfully building sophisticated robots, and choreographers creating a showstopping piece for Dance Theater Workshop. José observed that it is impossible to do great things without connection and collaboration. “And great things I know you will do because my dear Class of 2025, I've been a witness to your greatness!”

After receiving their diplomas, members of the Class of 2025 then moved their mortarboard tassels from right to left, sang "The Dalton School Song," and jubilantly tossed their caps, officially becoming Dalton Alumni.