Special WFS '26 Commencement Recap

Commencement Weekend 2026

Rain may have altered Woodberry’s commencement weekend's logistics, but it couldn't dampen the spirit of the Forest. At its heart, commencement is a celebration of what makes Woodberry so special: the profound growth of the graduating class, the bond of their brotherhood, and the fierce devotion of a community that spans far beyond campus. We are incredibly grateful to the families, friends, faculty, staff, and alumni who gathered to honor and celebrate the class of 2026.

The weekend kicked off on Friday afternoon in St. Andrew's Chapel with the dedication of the senior parents’ and grandparents’ gift to the school, the Class of 2026 Endowment in Service of Staff and Faculty. Headmaster Byron Hulsey ’86 P’22 thanked families for their transformative generosity before introducing Drama Director and English Faculty member Tracy Robertson, who illustrated everyday moments of connection between students, faculty, and staff that will be supported by the new fund.

Outside the chapel, a newly planted sycamore tree now stands as a living tribute to the class of 2026, complemented by a commemorative plaque listing the entire graduating class to be installed in the Dunnington Reading Room of the William H. White, Jr. Library.

Later that evening, the community gathered in the Barbee Center for Amici Night, an evening defined by the trademark resilience and good humor of the class of 2026, who effortlessly made the alternative venue feel entirely right for the occasion. Retiring faculty member Paul Erb delivered an authentic Commencement Address in which he focused on “away” — the complexity of what it means that both he and the graduates will be going away after their life-changing experiences in the Woodberry community. Following the commencement address, Assistant Headmaster for Academic Affairs Abbie Mills conferred academic and extracurricular awards, and Athletic Director Matt Blundin P’20 ’25 recognized athletic excellence in award presentations to the seniors.

Following the awards, committee co-chair Knox Morrison ’94 P’26 announced the Senior Parent and Grandparent Gift — the Class of 2026 Endowment in Service of Staff and Faculty — celebrating an incredible 100 percent participation rate and a collective commitment of more than $800,000. Senior Prefect Chase Copeland ’26 then delivered remarks thanking the school's faculty, staff, and families before taking a nostalgic look back at their journey at the Forest, creatively framing his memories as a series of curated exhibits for a hypothetical class of 2026 archive museum.

To close the evening, the 2025–2026 Dozen took the stage for their final performance as a group, featuring a moving performance of “Oh Shenandoah” arranged by Paul Erb's late father.

While Saturday's rain required Woodberry’s 137th commencement exercises to also move to the Barbee Center, the spirit of the occasion remained uncompromised. Valedictorian Charles Horner ’26 set a thoughtful tone for the morning, delivering a poetic address that mapped the trials and triumphs of the Woodberry experience onto Tolkien's The Hobbit. Dr. Hulsey then bestowed awards to exemplary graduates, faculty, and staff.

The ceremony continued with a celebration of lifelong service to the school. Board Chair Owen Thomas ’79 presented the Distinguished Service Award to retiring Senior Master Robert Kendall P’03 ’12 and former Trustee Carter Hotchkiss ’75 P’08, and the J. Carter Walker Award to former Board Chair Sumner Finch ’75 P’11.

Dr. Hulsey and Mr. Thomas then awarded degrees to the accomplished members of the class of 2026. Following a stirring final chorus of “Amici” to close the ceremonies, the rain paused long enough for the new graduates to assemble on the steps of The Residence for one last class photo together.

We've uploaded photos from Senior Week, Amici Night, and Commencement 2026 to the albums below: