UNIS Graduation Ceremony 2026

Excellencies, parents, friends, faculty, and staff, and of course, students.
Good afternoon and welcome.
We are about to begin the ceremony.
Thank you for joining us to celebrate the Eunice class of 2026.
Yes.
To document this momentous occasion, professional photographers and videographers are on site to capture all the moments of the ceremony.
Photos and video will be available for you in the coming weeks.
Please remain in your seats and do not block the aisles at any time.
We want to ensure the safety and success of this joyful moment and request that you refrain from blocking the graduates as they enter and leave.
And please keep the graduate seating area clear so that the graduates may proceed.
During the ceremony, please feel free to use the wide earpieces found next to your seat to better hear the addresses and remarks.
The UN kindly asks that you use these while you are at the GA and please do not take them there as a souvenir when you go home.
Please take a moment to silen your phones.
Now, without further ado, I would ask that you please stand for the professional march and remain standing until the students have been seated.
Please join me in welcoming the faculty of the United Nations International School.
Please join me in welcoming the class of 2026.
I Graduates and esteemed guests, please be seated.
Excellencies, Madam Director of the Board of Trustees, Madam Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and armed conflict.
Madam apologies.
Members of the Board of Trustees, Executive Director doctor Dan Brenner, family, parents, honored guests, and students.
Welcome to the graduation ceremony of the class of 2026.
My name is Francisco Valamoran Paco, and as tutorial House principal of the United Nations International School, it is my honor to serve as the master of ceremonies in this prestigious venue.
It is a privilege for us to celebrate our students' accomplishments and to confer upon them their diplomas of graduation in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the UN officials for continuing this tradition.
Before proceeding, I would like to ask you to join me in acknowledging the outstanding, world class faculty who have guided and inspired your children.
The achievements of this class truly reflect the expertise and passion of their teachers.
Faculty, we thank you.
I would also like to thank the Unions Tutorial House win Ensemble directed by Mr.
Gary Capenz, Mr.
C, who just performed for us and acknowledged Michelle Bertrand, our Director of events, as well as Vera Tatel, Daniella Musmani, Vera Tatel, Daniella Musmani, and Scarlet Spaga and all those who have helped and played key roles in the organization of this event.
Thank you to all of you.
Graduates, as your principal, I can say today with confidence that you are more than ready to embark on the next phase of your life.
Your journey, of course, could not have happened without the tremendous love and support of your families who have encouraged and brought you to this moment.
Join me in acknowledging with your applause, your parents, friends and family members assembled here today to witness your graduation.
And it is now my pleasure to introduce our Executive Director, doctor Dan Brenner.
Before I start, would you join me in saying thank you to Paco for a terrific year.
Formally, I'll start as I always start, which is with a good afternoon.
Normally, I start with a good morning, but today it's good afternoon.
Excellencies special guest, special representative of the Secretary-General for Children and armed conflicts, Vanessa Frazier.
Board of Trustees, distinguished guests, families, colleagues, and most importantly, this remarkable class of 2026.
On behalf of the board chair, miss Izumi Nakamitsu and the special representative of the Secretary-General, Lisa Bodenheim, I would like to welcome you all to this year's US graduation for the class of 2026.
So I thought I'd start a little bit differently than typical, at least of me.
And that is, as I started to think about what I was going to say, it became clear to me that I should ask experts as to how to counsel graduating students from high school and what their thoughts would be.
Rather than share with you their words, I thought I would take a moment and share with you a very short video of their recommendations to you.
Bear with me as we start the video Um, wake up, take a breath, go to school, bring your with you.
Be kind, make some new friends.
Get out your braveness and courage.
Tell the Pantula Listen me the kid.
Don't get upset and cry about you miss Mommy or daddy act as they have to do.
And they do it without even making us a scared face her mother or father.
So, I guess, no matter where you are, you can always call your parents, or you can come and check in with us, and we'll be there for you as well.
Standing here in this historic General Assembly Hall, we are reminded that this room was built on a powerful belief that even in the aftermath of profound global adversity, humanity can choose cooperation over division, hope over fear, and courage over resignation.
It is therefore a fitting place to speak about the truth I hope you carry with you long after you leave today.
That truth, which is frequently quoted, states, We are not defined how we act when life is easy.
We are defined by how we respond when it is not.
During your years at Eunice, you have experienced academic achievements, artistic triumphs, athletic victories, friendships formed across cultures and continents.
These moments matter, and they deserve celebration.
But they are not the moments that will ultimately define you.
Your character will be revealed in quieter, harder moments, moments that may already be familiar to some of you.
When email arrives, and it's a rejection letter from the college you dreamed of.
When someone you love becomes ill, when friendships strain, relationships end or plans unravel.
When the world outside feels more complicated, less fair, and more uncertain than the one you excuse me, behind today, adversity has a way of asking a simple but profound question.
Who are you really? The mission of UNIC has never been merely to educate minds.
It has been to develop principled, compassionate, and engaged citizens, individuals capable of seeking truth, understanding multiple perspectives, and acting with integrity, even when doing so is difficult.
Here, you learn more than subjects.
You learned a process to listen before judging, to question before concluding, to empathize, before reacting.
These habits are not academic exercises.
They are tools to discover moral truths.
Because adversity does not just test us, it clarifies who we are.
It reveals whether we respond with bitterness or growth, withdrawal or engagement, silence or advocacy.
The world you enter now is more complex than the one you experienced within the supportive walls of Eunice.
Outside this community, problems rarely come with clear answers or shared assumptions.
You will encounter disagreement, injustice, and uncertainty.
In those moments, the question will not be, what did I achieve? It will be, what do I stand for? As units graduate sitting before me today, you have already shown you can stand tall across cultures, languages, and perspectives and choose understanding over division.
That is the spirit of the school, and it is the spirit of this general assembly hall.
You will not always control what happens to you, none of us can, but you will always control how you respond.
You can choose resilience over discouragement.
You can choose compassion over indifference.
You can choose to advocate quietly or boldly for a world that is more just, more peaceful, and more humane.
And when adversity comes as it inevitably will, I hope you remember that your response is not just a reaction.
It is a declaration of who you are becoming.
Class of 2026, leave knowing that you are greatest achievements are still ahead of you, not because life will be easy, but because you now carry the values, the perspective, and the courage to meet difficulty with purpose.
May you go forward not simply to succeed, but to serve, not simply to adapt to the world, but to improve it, and not simply to endure adversity, but to transform it into something meaningful.
Congratulations, Class of 2026.
The world is waiting for you to make a difference.
Thank you.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce the unit's board chair.
Under Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu.
Miss Nakamitu assumed her I'm sorry, assumed her position as Under Secretary-General Representative for Disarmament Affairs on May one, 2017.
Prior to taking this post, miss Nakamitsu served as the assistant administrator for the Crisis Response Unit at the United Nations Development Program since 2014.
Miss Nakamitsu holds a Master's of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Law from Waseda University in Tokyo.
She is married and has two daughters, and what makes her so special as the board chair is that she has two graduates from Eunice.
Please welcome Tsui Nakamitsu.
Thank you very much, Dan.
Let me also take this opportunity to thank you for your outstanding leadership of United Nations International School.
I must say your tireless commitment to the school and your leadership has lifted both the spirit and statue of United Nations International School and your energy and enthusiasm are truly contagious.
Thank you.
Now, dear Eunice Class of 2026, congratulations.
It is truly heartwarming for me to congratulate you both as a proud parents, as Dan mentioned, of two Unis graduates, but also in my capacity as chair of the Unis Board of Trustees.
It is also an honor to welcome you all and your families to this United Nations General Assembly Hall.
This room has such historic significance.
The General Assembly is the main policy organ of the United Nations, comprising all 193 United Nations member states.
Many important decisions affecting the entire world has been negotiated and adopted here in this room.
And exactly one week ago, actually quite late at night, I was at the podium at this very room for the closure of the 11th review conference of the parties to the treaty on the non proliferation of nuclear weapons, a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament.
This September, heads of state and government from around the world will gather here again for the annual general debate to address pressing global issues, and to reaffirm commitments to the United Nations Charter.
Now, today, we live in a world full of difficult challenges, wars and conflict, humanitarian crisis, erosion of respect for basic human rights, climate crisis, and persistent injustices and inequality.
But that is why multilateral cooperation and international rule of law are important than ever.
The United Nations exists to uphold these fundamental principles and values and also strengthen them that are critical for we the peoples.
The United Nations is, of course, truly at the heart of Eunice.
The mission of the school, the curriculum, culture, the aspiration of students, all of you all are imbued with the spirit of the United Nations, and that is what makes it such a unique school.
And I would like to repeat what Dan said, the world is waiting for you to make it a better place.
Now, today, I am pleased to introduce our keynote speaker, miss Vanessa Frazier, the United Nations Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Sectar General for Children and armed conflict.
Vanessa herself, a proud Eunice parent and a strong supporter of the school, as well as a good friend to many of you in this room from her time as permanent representative of Malta to the United Nations, and she will deliver the commencement address this afternoon.
Vanessa, I invite you to the podium.
Let's see.
Thank you, Izumi.
Here it is.
Thank you very much.
You Gina Kaitsu, Aji Banim, Director Brenna, faculty, families, and most importantly, class of 2026.
It is a true pleasure to be with you today to celebrate this important milestone.
Thank you for the kind invitation and for allowing me to share a moment as I know you, your families, and your teachers will remember for years to come.
Graduation speeches often begin with certainty, with promises about the future, opportunity, and what comes next.
It is true that you are entering adulthood at a time of rapid change, conflict, technological transformation, and profound global challenges.
But what matters is not whether the world is perfect when you enter it.
What matters is the kind of person you choose to become in it.
I have had the joy of watching both my children graduate from Eunice.
As a parent, I can tell you that this school prepares you well for the world beyond it.
Eunice teaches students to see themselves as citizens of the world.
Do not doubt your own ability to create change.
Each of you can choose to become someone who makes the world better.
If you all make that choice, your collective impact will be real.
Every generation before you has also inherited moments of uncertainty.
Gosh, I remember my own graduation clearly, even if it was over 40 years ago, let's not talk about it.
The excitement, the pride, and, if I'm honest, a little fear about what would come next.
I could not have predicted the path I would have followed or the experiences I would later have in diplomacy and international service.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving in different diplomatic roles and most recently, as a special representative of the Secretary-General for Children and arms conflict.
Through my work, I have met children living in some of the hardest circumstances imaginable.
I have heard stories most people will never hear.
I have met children who have lost their homes, been displaced, and endured things no children should ever face.
Yet, I have also met children who continue to laugh, learn, care for one another, and imagine futures greater than their circumstances.
These experiences have shaped the lessons I wish to share with you today.
When I left home for university, I still remember the first letter my mother sent me.
She reminded me of the values I had been raised with and urged me to seize every opportunity.
That taught me the first lesson I would like to share with you.
Success comes from recognizing an opportunity and having the courage to take it.
Do not look a gift horse in the mouth, jump on his back and ride it.
But my mother also reminded me that ambition should never come at the expense of others.
Honesty, kindness, and respect were central in my home and also in my life as a judoka.
Because you may not know, it is a sport I have practiced for gosh, four decades and is really a fundamental part of who I am.
Judo is not just a sport, it is a way of life.
Its principles teach us to use our mental and physical energy wisely in pursuit of our goals, whatever they may be.
To reach these goals, we must cultivate good habits, love what is right, and reject what is harmful.
When we learn to distinguish right from wrong, we also learn that conflict often leads to mutual harm while harmony leads to mutual gain.
Judo also teaches that some things cannot be done alone.
We need one another.
The strength in one person can complement another and through mutual support, we achieve shared success.
I cannot overestimate the importance of teamwork.
No one is an island.
I have always believed that you never know what is around the corner unless you peek.
But if you hold someone's hand whilst you do it, the unknown feels less frightening.
You cannot do this alone.
Besides, it is always much more fun to succeed or fail with other people.
If you fail, you can blame it on them.
Judo taught me another important lesson, the so called white belt mentality.
In Judo, we learned that the color of your belt is not what matters.
It is simply there to keep your uniform in place.
A black belt can still learn from a white belt.
I carry that lesson into my career by listening to and respecting everyone's advice and suggestions, regardless of their rank in our organization, which brings me to another piece of advice.
Even when you are smart and capable, you are still allowed to say, I don't know.
Never be afraid to ask when you do not understand something.
As for goes, you win some, you lose some, but please do not fall into the trap of thinking that a cause or a struggle is only worthwhile if you win.
Believe that the effort you invest in something that truly matters to you is its own reward.
Treat failure as a lesson, treat everyone you meet along the way as a teacher.
Which leads me to my next lesson, speak up for yourself and ground your voice and knowledge.
Be sure to base your opinions on facts rather than deriving facts from opinion.
That is especially important in today's world, which is so heavily influenced by social media and misinformation.
But I do not want you to think that I'm advocating that life is only about setting goals and fighting for your place in the world.
On the contrary, refuse to live a life without joy.
Keep in mind the words of Maya Angelou who said, Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breaths away.
Remember that your character and values matter more than your certificates and qualifications, and in developing them, always strive for excellence.
Remember, too, that while you may be recognized for individual achievements, none of you reached this moment alone.
Someone gave you strength, helped you, nurtured you, and held you up, a committed teacher, a patient, parent, an understanding coach, or a considerate friend.
They helped bring you here, and I hope that reminds you of how powerful it is to belong to something larger than yourself.
Never underestimate the importance of seeing the humanity in others.
In today's world, it is easy to reduce people to categories, headlines, opinions, positions, or sides.
But when we do that, we lose something essential.
Behind every label is a person with a story you do not yet know.
In my work, I have learned that indifference is often more dangerous than disagreement.
Disagreement means people are still engaged.
Indifference means that they have stopped trying to understand.
One of the most important responsibilities you carry as graduates of this school is to resist that indifference, remain curious about people, remain open to perspectives that are not your own, and remember that dignity does not depend on geography, language, or circumstance.
If you add to all of this virtues of kindness, empathy, patience, and honor, you will grow into wise and strong leaders.
Keep these qualities close and you will not only help change the world, but you will have fun doing it.
Thomas Edison once said, If we all did what we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.
The most important lesson I can share with you today is this, do not lose your sense of hope.
In a world that often feels unsettled, it is easy to become cynical, to believe that problems are too large, change is too slow or individual actions do not matter.
But I have seen too much in my work to believe that.
I have seen resilience where it was least expected.
I have seen communities rebuild after unimaginable loss, and I have seen young people, even in the hardest circumstances, continue to imagine something better.
Hope is not naive.
It is a choice and often a discipline, something you return to even when it is difficult.
As you leave Eunice and you begin the next chapter of your lives, each of you will take different paths.
Some of you will go into science, law, diplomacy, the arts, business, public service, whatever.
Others may still be discovering what you want to do.
That uncertainty is not something to fear.
Your path will be shaped not only by the career you choose, but by the kind of person you choose to become.
Your education at Eunice has prepared you not only academically, but also to engage in a deeply interconnected world, a world that needs empathy as much as intelligence.
Finally, no matter how rich, famous, or successful you become, remember, from time to time to take off your watch, to turn over your smartphone and instead of watching time, spend it well.
For the true measure of wealth is not only how much money you have, but how much free time you have and how and with whom you choose to spend it.
Class of 2026, your generation will shape the future in ways none of us can.
Congratulations to you all and congratulations on all you have accomplished.
I wish you courage for the journey ahead and confidence in the difference each one of you can make.
Thank you.
Thank you again to US Frazier for her inspirational and very kind words.
Good evening, everyone.
My name is James Vu.
I am a member of the Eunice class of 2026, and I have also been a cellist in the brilliant Toth House Carata Strings ensemble for the past four years.
To play this ensemble has been a true privilege and its lessons extend far beyond just learning to play an instrument itself.
In an ensemble such as this, collaboration is of the utmost importance.
Lessons such as learning to work with an ever changing lineup of musicians will have certainly prepared us to better navigate the real world.
Today, we will be performing over the Rainbow by Harold Arwin, accompanied by excellent pianist and singer Prashan Kucera, under the direction of our two fantastic conducts, Mr.
Ptcio Diaz and Mr.
William who have worked themselves a Chubb Ok.
So without further ado, please welcome the Cara Strings ensemble.
I And then once Sky dreams that you take dream come Someday I wish star awaken aware the clouds afar behind me the trouble smell like many shrubs away above the chimney toss that you find me 00 R happy little bluebirds the rainbow O.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Well, that's going to be a very difficult act to follow, but I'll try my best.
Please give me another round of applause for the camarada, please.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, family, faculty, friends, and most importantly, the graduating class of 2026.
Oh.
For those of you who do not know me, my name is Arms Petochi and I've had the privilege of being the Student Council President, where I, much like many leaders have do a lot of delegating.
But before I get into my speech, I think it's important to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that got me and so many of you here today.
Nobody watched me wake up at 4:00 A.M.
To work on my As.
Nobody watched me spend nights during predicted papers for the IB.
Nobody saw me grinding IB question banks just to get a seven.
Nobody saw how much of my social life I sacrificed for the IB, probably due to the fact that for those of you who know me, know that I never did any of those things.
In true Armist fashion, I also finished writing this speech the day it was due, much like almost every homework assignment I've ever submitted here at Eunice.
But here we are.
I spent the last two weeks trying to figure out what I would say to you guys here today.
I was so scared of making a fool in front of everyone, but someone recently reminded me that speaking today here is an honor.
Yes, speaking at the General Assembly is a huge honor that I'll definitely flex later in life.
But the true honor is getting to speak to all of you today because so many of you have changed my life in ways you'll never know.
But before I tell my life lesson, I want to thank the people who helped get us here today, our teachers, our administration, and my friends for all the memories we've shared along the way.
FPL.
Yeah.
Ramen Gang, Week Without walls, and the group chats that should probably never see the light of day ever again.
But most importantly, I want to thank my family.
I want to thank my family that's not here today, but I know is at home supporting.
I also want to thank my family that is here today.
Thank you guys for being here.
I want to thank my grandfather for teaching me what perseverance is and showing me what strength looks like.
I want to thank my dad for always standing by me even during my many, many questionable choices.
I want to thank my mom for sacrificing everything for my brother and I and for always being the person I can lean on when life feels overwhelming.
Lastly, I want to thank my brother Axel.
We've had a very normal brother brother relationship, as an older brother and younger brother do.
We've gone through many fights over our 18 years together, some of which turned into arguments where he wished we weren't brothers.
But in the end, I'm able to stand here proudly and say, Axel, you are my role model, you are my best friend, and you are the person I would choose in any lifetime to be next to.
From what many of you may have just picked up on and what many people already know about me is that family is the most important thing to me because I've learned that family is the one constant in this world.
No matter how successful you become, none of it means anything unless you have people beside you, people to support you, people to guide you, and people to pick you up when life gets difficult.
When I first came to UniS, I thought of it just as a school, a place I would come and learn and eventually leave behind.
I told so many of you recently that I was sad to be graduating today, that I was so ready for the next chapter of my life.
But like I usually am, I was wrong.
Standing here today, I realized that somewhere along the way you all became my family too.
We may not share the same blood, but we do share memories.
We share our highs and our lows, many more lows since exam started, but we went through it together.
That's all that matters.
I know many of us are scared right now, scared of leaving this chapter behind and stepping into the unknown.
But if you take away anything from what I or anyone else says today, let it be this, do not fear the unknown.
Fear only stops you from becoming the person you are capable of being.
Because when life gets difficult and it will, the one constant will always be the family, the people who believe in you when you stop believing yourself, the people who remind you who you are when life gets overwhelming, the people who help you stand back up when you feel like you can't do it alone.
Thanks to Eunice, I can proudly say that my family has gotten a whole lot bigger.
I want to end with a quote I recently heard.
It goes like this, perfection is a state we will never reach.
Therefore, growth is everlasting.
To say be better than you were yesterday is really to say, never stop chasing growth.
School is one of the first places where we got to experience that growth, and for that, I will always be grateful for what Eunice has given me.
Eunice gave memories, it gave me lessons, it gave me friendships.
Most importantly, it gave me a family.
And because of that, I'm no longer scared of growth, and I hope neither are you guys, because I know that no matter what the future holds, I'll always have my family by my side.
So to the class of 2026, thank you for being my family.
I'm unbelievably proud of every single one of you and I truly cannot wait to see all you accomplish in the future.
Thank you.
All right, miss Dave.
Ah, that was much needed.
It now gives me great pleasure to introduce the student elected faculty speaker, miss Sarah Dowd.
Miss Dowd is not only an incredible science teacher, but she is also the cutout campus coordinator, the class of 26th grade level and cast coordinator, and I've had the pleasure of working with her this year as our Student Council faculty advisor.
Please give a warm welcome to miss Dowd.
Thank you to Aramis we have all got used to calling him now, Mr.
President, and you still should for sharing his wit and wisdom and the importance of family.
I'm honored to follow such an impactful speech from somebody who was so wonderful to work with.
The last time you were all staring at me this intently, Francesca was about to hit me in the face with a pie.
I asked we weren't allowed to recreate it today.
If somebody had told me in September of 2022 about all of the adventures and side quests, I would go on with the 132 of you, 133 if we include Wilder.
I don't know if I would have believed them.
I should have known from the first night of T one camp that you would always keep things interesting.
Walking back through the woods at midnight on my own and only being able to hear Lutrita's cackle of a laugh ring through the woods was definitely a moment that altered my brain chemistry.
I guess we now know four years later that it was for good.
Ever since those first moments, I've had a persistent feeling.
I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I knew it was good and I knew it continued to grow.
You have so many qualities that are admirable.
You're creative.
The guys at club getaway said they had never seen a group so enthusiastic to do karaoke that sung so badly, but was caso.
I have the privilege of having some of your artwork hanging in my home.
You've shared your poetry, your filmmaking, your clothing designs, your cooking, your baking, your candy gram dance routines, and your music.
I can't wait to see Imogthbu win its first Grammy.
You put real thought into the ridiculous questions I ask you if Eunice was a Muppets movie, who would be the sole remaining human that stays behind and interact with the Muppets like Michael Cain in the Muppets Christmas Carool? I'm still accepting answers if you want to think about it.
But most importantly, I have never seen proposals with such a high production value and flower budget.
You persevere, whether it's your IB exams, finding yourself as the sick seed and making it to the finals anyway, or you Nick trying to eat 30 Momos and one sitting in the pile.
Special shout out to my TOK class who persevered through an absolute roller coaster of my first time teaching TK.
If you take one thing away from our class, I hope it's that you know that knowledge is not something that should be spared for those that some deem worthy or hidden behind paywalls.
It's for everyone.
We can learn something from every interaction and experience, whether it's lighthearted like an episode of reality TV or more complex like my unwavering belief that Tupac lived out his days in secrecy in Cuba.
TESS, you welcome me with open arms and let me step into the very big shoes of JPVC Those of you who are TESS and also in my TOK class really persevered because 5 hours a week with me is a lot.
You're kind.
In the big moments in the small moments, in the public moments, in the private moments, there have been some tough moments and some tears, only some of them mine.
There are also moments that looking back now don't seem so tough.
After all, I made it through the whole semester that Louie wouldn't stop calling me bro.
After the Republic of Ireland lost to Che on penalties, Matias remind me pretty quickly that it was only men's football and I shouldn't be too upset and he was right.
I'm still trying to work through the distress of going back to camp without Dora being there to braid my hair, but I do hope to be over it by week without walls in September.
To my IB physics class who have been the dream team since day one.
If life is a bowl of ice cream, you are the sprinkles on top.
That persistent feeling that I mentioned.
I feel it today.
I felt the night of the senior talent show turned sunset roof Hoodie at the planetarium, when Team Solar Vision were working on what will be the innovation of the millennium one day in my lab and hopefully my early retirement plan.
Okay.
On days when you come to share good news, new ideas or funny stories in Chicago, being in the bleachers or on the sidelines at your games, but I was able to narrow down what it was when we were in Nepal.
I can't remember what day it was or where we were going or coming from, but it was on one of our long drives.
We were all smiling, we'd had a great day.
The playlist was perfect.
Sal will claim it was him, I will claim it was me.
I thought to myself, if this is as good as it gets, what a great life we've got.
I want to share one of my favorite Irish phrases with you.
On Rd is Anant.
What is rare is wonderful.
What we've built together over the last four years as a community is truly wonderful.
After today is over, even when the world is rough with you, which it will be, continue to be brave by sharing yourself with the world.
Don't allow the wonderful to be rare or to be fleeting.
The world needs your joy, and we have so much joy to share.
Class of 2026, it's been a dream.
Speaking of joy, I am really privileged to introduce your elected student speaker.
She claims she is known for her nonchalance, but I think we all think of her as a true cornerstone of life at Eunice, Letricia Aren.
Thank you so much, miss Dowd, for those kind words.
It has been truly a pleasure to work with you for these past few years.
That being said, good afternoon, everyone.
I would just like to say I am so honored to have been chosen to speak to all of you today.
Standing here right now feels a little surreal.
I think for so long, graduation has existed as this distant idea, something we joked about or used against our parents to let us go out, but never fully believed would actually arrive.
Now, somehow, we're here sitting in the General Assembly Hall wearing our best attire while trying to process the fact that the people we seen almost every day for years are about to become distant memories.
We'll spend the rest of our lives reliving.
And, honestly, I think what I feel most right now is gratitude for the people sitting beside us or in front of me, for teachers who believed in us even when we definitely didn't believe in ourselves, for parents and families who carried us through more than we probably realized, and for Eunice, for giving us a place that in so many ways became home.
I don't think any of us fully understood how unique this school was while we were living in.
Because of Eunice, I'll never forget what it was like being a T one and hearing my friends from different countries during the World Cup.
We definitely weren't supposed to be watching an English class or hearing French in the middle of an argument, Spanish in the hallway, and for my girls, Turkish whenever there was even a minor inconvenience.
We grew up surrounded by people with different backgrounds and somehow those differences became familiarity.
I think that changed us.
It taught us how to listen, it taught us how to learn.
But most of all, it taught us how to argue for what we believe in.
I am so sorry to every faculty member who had to enforce the only eight to a lunch table rule, check that the phones were in the underpouch or were subjected to a student's wrath after they were one point from a higher grade.
I'm guilty of most of these crimes, and I know most of you are too.
But that kind of passion and determination is exactly what I hope each of you carry into the rest of your lives.
I want everyone here to be their biggest supporter and their biggest advocate because from where I'm standing, I see a generation capable of making a huge difference.
But beyond all of that, I think what I'll remember most are the moments in between, like the cramming in the library right before the IB exams, surviving EE jail and sharing the kind of jokes that make no sense to anyone who is not a t4u student.
But most importantly, I'll remember the people who sat beside me in class for years and somewhere along the way became some of the most important people in my life.
For me, I still can't believe that April 21st marked the last time my best friend and I left my car and walked into that building together.
At the time, it felt like any other day.
Looking back now, it is a reminder that the moments we think are ordinary often become the ones we miss the most.
Maybe that's why today feels so strange.
We're saying goodbye to the hallways, the routines, and the friendships that have shaped our lives for years, and at the same time, we're stepping into a future we can't fully see.
I think many of us are excited but also a little scared.
Some of us are moving across the world while some of us are staying close to home and some of us know exactly what we want while others are still figuring it out.
That's okay.
Because if there's one thing this class has proven to me, it's that we know how to adapt.
We know how to care about people no matter the differences, and in a world that can sometimes feel divided, I think that matters more than ever.
So today, I don't just hope we leave here successful.
I hope we leave here kind.
I hope we continue to choose understanding over judgment and open arms over fear.
And most of all, I hope that years from now, no matter where we end up in the world, a part of us will always carry what we found here together.
To the class of 2026, thank you for growing up alongside me for the last ten years.
Thank you for being the reason saying goodbye is so hard.
Thank you for the memories, the friendships, the chaos, and above all, thank you for the love.
And congratulations.
We made it.
Hello, everyone.
My name is Samia Gzalev and I'm a proud member of the Class of 2026, as well as the vocal ensemble.
It is now time to enjoy our next musical piece performed by the senior chorus under the direction of Kristen Ealy and accompanied by Karen Lerner on keyboard and featuring our very own Class of 2026 vocal soloists, Evangelina Ago, Paul Koopman, Charles Krishnan, and me.
Please enjoy My Way by Claude Francois, Jacques V, and adapted by Paul Anka.
Okay.
No.
So I think The final curtains.
Dimension.
How to go through without exception I'm Thank I know I've left behind.
I've had my view my share of music.
I Oh with tears subside.
I find Soul the O Is.
Hello, everyone.
Let's give one more round of applause to the senior chorus.
That's amazing.
My name is Hanna Hockman, and last year, I was named the 2025 Otan scholar and recipient of the Salvador Oy Memorial Scholarship.
Today, I have the privilege of bestowing that same honor on this year's recipient and presenting the Kofi Annan Award for Global Impact.
In doing so, we honor the legacies of two extraordinary Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan and Outant whose commitments to compassion, diplomacy, and global responsibility continue to inspire the values of the UNS community.
Before I do so, I want to acknowledge those who make these values real.
To our faculty and staff, thank you for pushing us to grow not just as students, but as individuals.
To our family and friends, thank you for reminding us that no achievement is ever accomplished alone.
Awards like this may recognize an individual, but they reflect the communities that shape us.
And a quick shout out to my own community, Mom and Dad.
Happy anniversary, and thank you for all that you do.
The Utant Award is the highest honor bestowed by the US faculty upon a junior whose contributions to the school embody the principles of the UN Charter.
More than an award, it reflects the values that define US at its best, respect for others, service to the community, and intellectual curiosity.
The award's namesake, Secretary-General Utant served during some of the most turbulent moments of the 20th century.
Yet throughout these challenges, he remained steadfast in his belief in diplomacy, understanding, and our shared humanity.
His legacy reminds us that leadership is not measured by power alone, but by empathy, courage, and the ability to bring people together, especially in difficult times.
Among the many students who have received this award was Salvador Ui, who was named Oton Scholar in 1982.
Mr.
Ui later returned to UNIC assistant Executive Director, dedicating himself to shaping this community through service and leadership.
He is remembered by students and colleagues alike for his kindness, generosity, and deep sense of civic responsibility.
The Salvador Ui Memorial Scholarship was established in 2020 to honor that legacy, with a $1,000 award presented annually to the Oton scholar.
It is my honor to invites Chrissy Brennan, Mr.
Ui's wife, to present this award onstage.
I am so excited to pass the torch to this year's Oton scholar.
As founder of Teen Gen Finance, she has brought financial literacy to over 100 New York City middle schoolers.
This October, she will take the TED Talk stage to discuss the economic impact the United Nations headquarters has had on New York City's local economy.
Within Eunice, she serves as Student Council president and as Secretary-General of Model UN, is organizing the first ever trilingual MUN conference.
Beyond service, she is a competitive figure skater who trains 10 hours a week and volunteers at a ing for neurodivergent youth.
A passionate student of global politics and economics, fluent in Russian and English, and proud to call herself an Uzbek New Yorker, she embodies the belief that young people deserve the tools to shape their own futures.
It is my absolute honor to present this year's Ut Award to Renee Sherapov.
Renee, come, please join me.
Good afternoon, friends, faculty and class of 2026.
I want to take a moment to thank all of the people who got me here today.
Teachers, faculty, administration, thank you for never stopping believing in me.
I want to give a special thank you to miss Angela, who has been there for me since junior school and continues to be there as I rise into T four.
Thank you to my friends and my peers for supporting me every single day.
Of course, my biggest thank you has to go to my family, my mom, my dad, my sister for teaching me every single day that I could achieve anything if I put my mind to it and to my family across borders in Germany and Uzbekistan, who can't be here today, but who support me every day from thousands of miles away.
Thank you to all of you and I love you all.
Lastly, I'd like to congratulate the class of 2026.
Best of luck to you all.
Much like Outans, Secretary-General Kofi Anand dedicated his life to peace, dignity, and global progress.
To honor Secretary-General Kofi Anand legacy and his deep ties to Eunice, I'm proud to present the Eunice Kofi Anand Award for Global Impact.
This award celebrates alumni whose work reflects the values he champions.
After thoughtful consideration by a distinguished selection committee of alumni, former faculty and staff, and members of the board of trustees, the 2026 award goes to Eunice Alumnus Arthur Ago, C of 1986.
Mr.
Ago is a civil rights attorney and former public defender with over 27 years of experience.
Since 2024, he served as Director of Strategic litigation and advocacy at the Southern Poverty Law Center, leading impact litigation, advancing racial justice across the South.
Previously, he directed the Criminal Justice Project at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights under Law, managed the Byrd Center to stop Hate, and spent nearly 20 years at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, rising to chief of the trial Division.
Mr.
Ago is also a proud Eunice uncle to class of 2026 graduate La Ago.
Please join me in welcoming Mr.
Aga to the stage.
Doctor Brenner, members of the board of trustees, under Secretaries General, and members of the selection committee, I am deeply humbled and grateful to be chosen for this award.
40 years ago, I sat in this same hall as a member of the Eunice class of 1986.
But today, I am privileged to speak to you, Class of 2026, not just as the thankful recipient of this honor, but more importantly, as the proud uncle of one of your classmates.
La, you deserve every bit of this wonderful achievement.
Class of 2026, this room has changed very little in the last 40 years.
The murals, this podium, the desks and seats where you sit are all essentially the same.
But more importantly, the mission of this venerable institution has also endured.
The United Nations remains a beacon of light guiding us towards peace, dignity and equality, and it remains an example for you, class of 2026, of what the world can be.
Despite the work and lofty goals of the United Nations, the hardships of the human experience also endure.
We as human beings still have a lot of work to do to lift one another up, to see in ourselves our common humanity and to save our planet.
We must recognize the persistent inequity that people continue to experience solely because of the color of their skin or because of the people whom they love or because they were not born on this soil.
This is the true and full history of this country of our great democratic experiment and more broadly of the world that we live in.
We must not forget that.
But you, as the most recent graduates of the United Nations International School, are uniquely poised to remember all of that and to change this world because your US experiences have prepared you for all of these challenges.
I know that because I was once in the same seat that you sit in today.
You speak more languages and have encountered more cultures in one another than other high school graduates around the world.
You already appreciate those who came before us who fought for civil and human rights, those who marched for a living wage for farm workers or resisted Japanese internment during World War two, or refused to give up their seats on segregated buses six decades ago.
These are the people who have inspired me throughout my career as a civil rights lawyer and public defender.
If you have not already, I know that you will find your own inspiration.
Now, I would like to speak for about the inspirations that are closer to you and whom you might have overlooked, your parents.
My parents were certainly an inspiration to me.
My mother served the United Nations for 28 years and my father showed us the world.
Last year, my son graduated from high school.
My wife and I are immeasrably proud of him, which means I know how your parents feel right now.
Their eyes are shining with the tears of that same pride and also a little bit of fear that they cannot protect you after today in the same way that they have all of your lives.
Be patient with them today.
Tomorrow, please remember the lessons that they taught you and the examples that they set.
Your parents are like my sister in law who chose a path of public service to the most vulnerable in order to make this great city a kinder place.
They are like my brother, a Eunice class of 1987, who stands up for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the face of overwhelming odds.
And they are like my wife who inspires me every day with her compassion for and aid to those who have crossed oceans and deserts to make a life in this country.
Finally, I would like to speak to you about an inspiration that might be even closer to you than your parents, your teachers.
I know that they are as proud of you as they are of their own children, nieces and nephews.
The tears in your teachers eyes hold a little less fear because with all due respect to your parents, they know exactly what you are capable of and that you don't need the protection that your parents think you need.
They know that you are ready.
Both your parents and your teachers share a strong belief that Eunice prepared you for life after high school, and they are right.
Your horizons are broader and your understanding of the world is richer and deeper than theirs ever were at your age.
Neither your parents nor your teachers know how much of an impact you will have on this planet.
But because of what you learned at Eunice, what they do know is that you will try and in that simple act of trying, you will make this a better world.
Again, congratulations to you, class of 2026 and thank you again for this great honor.
Thank you so much for those inspiring words, Mr.
Ago.
And thank you all once again and congratulations to this amazing class of 2026.
Please now join me in welcoming our Tth House principal, Mr.
Paco Barbara Moran, to the stage.
Dear class of 2026, this afternoon we gather in one of the most important venues in the world, the General Assembly of the United Nations.
In this very space, nations have come together in moments of crisis, hope, disagreement, and reconciliation.
Here, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted.
Here, world leaders have debated peacekeeping missions, sustainable development goals, the Agenda 2030, and global efforts to eradicate poverty and disease.
Here, humanity has repeatedly attempted to imagine a better world as we value in our units mission.
Today, this hall belongs to you.
Class of 2026, I would like to ask you to pause for a moment and truly take in where you are.
Look around you.
Do look around you.
For many people around the world, entering this room is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
For you, this space has become familiar over the years.
You have walked the the halls of the UN as Uni students at the Unis UN conference, ceremonies, performances, and events connected to the mission of this institution.
What a remarkable privilege this is.
Even when walking the halls of Uniice, you were connected to this very place.
Eunice is a school committed to the ideals of the United Nations dialogue, cooperation, shared understanding, and the belief that education can lead us towards a more peaceful and just world.
There is perhaps no better framework for understanding the core beliefs of Uice than the IB Learner profile, a way of moving through the world with curiosity, integrity, compassion, and courage.
As inquirers, many of you showed genuine curiosity and a willingness to explore ideas in depth.
Science students, you persevered through your lab investigations, spending so many hours working through your IAs.
I know you may be shuddering just listening to the word IA again.
Asking thoughtful questions along the way.
You approached learning not simply as a task to complete, but as an opportunity to better understand the world around you.
I don't think Marco or Colby will forget I was testing Italian cheese and broccoli for the bio internal assessment.
As communicators, this class exemplified the power of dialogue, collaboration, and connection.
We heard this from the debators and modern UN students and in the many languages spoken every day across our hallways, a reminder of the truly international community that defines US.
We saw it especially through the 50th anniversary of the Unis UN Conference, an extraordinary student led event that brought together more than 600 participants from around the world.
I would especially like to thank our co presidents Ulises and Hannah.
As well as our student council leaders, Aramis, known as Mr.
President and Smith for the leadership, openness, and partnership throughout the years, I could not have dreamt of better partners.
You reminded us that communication is not about speaking the loudest, but about building bridges between people.
Every time a student walked onto a stage or performed before an audience, they embodied the spirit of risk taker.
We saw it in our theater students and musicians who were willing to be creative, vulnerable, and present in front of others.
Maya, Sophia, Ben, Paul, Charlotte, Teo, Julia, Nicholas Strigle Bella, Leenan and Sola showed courage, discipline, and commitment in the theater productions and the theater solo performances.
As members of the win ensemble and the Carata, surges, Julie Self, Victor Efe, Idris State, Mia, Hannah, James, Leana and Nina brought talent, passion, and teamwork to every performance throughout the year.
They reminded us that taking risks is not only about trying something difficult, but also about having the confidence to share a part of yourself with others.
As balanced learners, many of you showed an extraordinary ability to manage the many demands of the AB program while representing the school in athletic competitions at the highest level.
This has been a spectacular year for US athletics.
The varsity basketball seniors, Aramis Gage, Araz, Zack, Kan William Maxie won the championship.
Our varsity volleyball team won the final only three weeks ago, thanks to the commitment, teamwork, and passion of Saliv, Nikl Vad, Tomi Teo Valente, and Alim.
Congratulations.
Our seniors, Alisa and Cinedin contributed to the squash team's championship victory while Maria Ferjdo While Maria Ferjdo and Stella helped lead the girls varsity basketball team in its impressive run to the varsity semifinals.
Thank you.
Your success this year showed us, all of us, what can happen when talent, resilience, discipline, teamwork, and perseverance come together.
With all these memories in mind, take a moment tonight to thank the people who helped shape your journey, your families and friends, and also the outstanding educators and staff at US who supported you every step through the way.
You leave the General Assembly today at a moment when the world faces enormous challenges, climate change, inequality, conflict, polarization, misinformation, and intolerance.
But you also leave with a powerful array of responses, the ability to think critically, communicate across cultures, and act with empathy and courage.
David Attenborough once said to a younger generation, In my lifetime, I have witnessed a terrible decline.
In yours, you could and should witness a wonderful recovery.
I hope you take these words seriously because the future is not something that simply happens to you.
It's something your generation will shape through the choices you make, the communities you build, the voices you amplify, and the values you choose to defend.
You leave the United Nations today with diplomas in your hands, but also with a very big responsibility to care, to lead, to question, to act, and to make this a better world.
If there is one thing this class of 2020, sorry, 2026 has shown us, it is that you are ready.
Class of 2026, it has been my true honor to address you today as your high school principal.
Now, I would like to invite Mr.
Akron to the restroom, and we are going to start what we've been waiting for for a long time, conferring the diplomas.
I also invite doctor Brenner and Secretary Makatsu to join us.
Uh huh.
Letitricia Aaron.
Naomi Abe.
Elise Aga.
Evangelina Tulsa Aga.
Kaysv Have Aloat Gun call a Hone.
Gelani Alameda.
Mark Theo Altair.
Nicholas Arias.
Maya Share Attas.
Sophia Rose Avan, Mohammed Kalb Ba Omar.
Smith Catherine Banks.
Nicholas Bajik.
Colby Jerome Bola.
Irina Barina.
La Bouillon.
Isabelle Brewer.
Abec Brohano Artis Bana vices.
Oscar Caprin.
Oliver Carew Jones.
Katrina Caton.
Maria Sajuo Valdez.
Graham Reginald Chau.
Surtex Daba Morola.
Cave Go.
Luce De Masco.
Mila De Polo.
Matteo De Merck.
Matias Dergy Frides.
Louis Don.
Dora Dolg.
Lena Alessi.
Miwa Dorothy Kate Faux.
Mila Feiner Earhart.
Lola Jenny Francesca Frazier Turner.
Tate Raphael Fuentes Tamy.
August Gantner.
Elianne Galbasian, Sama Gonzalev.
Zachary Harner, Valentina Hok Lagos.
Hanna Hawkman, Kishan Horsford, Ben Huston, Francesca Ilardi, Alex San.
William Hayes Johnson.
Julia Hones Lagura.
Daniel Casman.
Seen Kazucha Iris Ka.
Paul Delfino Katman Alexander Cotter, Charles Christian, Carlota Lagarig Espinosa, Elizabeth Lang, Lily Sophia Lasman.
Jacob Lojert.
Hannah Lynn.
Helena Sophia Link.
James Loe, Addo Megan, Max Alberto Marla.
Julie Manhart.
Ella Martin, Stella Dersar Kishan Matos, Charlotte McGovern.
Toby Kela Mimi.
Salf Moraga, Blond Mythen.
Sola Sofa Nkaguchi.
Sola Nanpouls Victor Ing.
Scarlet Nicole.
Alam Ngo Pfeifer Mela Dooley.
Ee Olwaip Omi Lala.
Grace Marie Ong, Ron Orhoff.
Emma Madison Pi.
Marco Akira Pang, Amaya A Park, as Patel, Anastasia Petanova, Teo Percher, Aramis Petoi Teo Puri, Mar Pizarro.
Julia Podoroski.
Tyler Valam Ramjk Thomas Rice Blanco.
Keita Palma Ibere.
Carson Thomas Robinson.
Mariana Rhode.
Ulises Rambo Pérez.
Michael Rosenberg.
Gabriela Ross.
Krish Sarvea, Maya Alexandra Sattler.
Francesca Noel Schultz.
Ty Schalger.
Josephine Swisinger, Charlie Rose Skinner.
Gage Smith, Angelina So, James Stevens.
June Mcius Straus.
Nickel Voste Strigl.
Mira Serrana.
My head Serrana.
Isabella Tulli S Tulidar Emile Tuna Vci Madeline Tindell.
Adré Joseph Aglin Ermcher.
Elma Vera Madin Velasco Ulahg.
Mikhail BJ Bd.
Teo Valente, Salome Walter.
Zoe Veda Severo.
Louis Washburger.
Zoe Weber, Rafi, Aaron White.
Jake Wilkinson, Indigo Ann Williams, Togahan Yeilds, Maximilian Edelet Zemek.
Lean Zu.
Anajah Zilde Zinedine Zuberi.
Thank you.
What a moment.
All graduates, please rise, turn, face the audience.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to present the class of 26.
And the recessional march will be performed by the Us tutorial House win ensemble directed by Gary Cap attendees.
Please allow the students followed by the faculty to leave the General Assembly first.
You will be able to join them in the delicates dining room for the reception over here.
Please remember to leave the white earpieces behind.
Do not take souvenirs home.
And make sure, please you take all your belongings with you, including cell phones.
Guests with a yellow reception ticket are invited to join the graduates in the delicates dining room.
Guests over 21 should also be wearing the pink wristband for the reception.
Guests not attending the reception, please exit the GA hall the same way that you came in.
Graduates, you may stand, please.
Thank you, everybody and congratulations to the seniors.