The 36 members of Church Farm School’s Class of 2023 recently bade farewell to each other, the underclassmen, faculty and staff, coaches, board members, and other friends of the school who shared in jubilant Baccalaureate and Commencement services in their honor.

The Class of 2023 persisted through three years of disruptions due to COVID-19, including one year where some were fully remote. This year, with a return to normalcy, the seniors endeavored to create engaging activities for themselves and their younger “brothers,” such as new Maroon vs. Grey competitions and enthusiastically leading twice-weekly assemblies where they consistently showcased student success in the classroom, in student life, and on the athletic fields.

At Baccalaureate, the seniors received their physical blessing from Head of School The Rev. Ned Sherrill, along with a musical blessing by the CFS Choir: “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” The senior choir members also performed a Mary J. Blige song for their Griffin brothers.

During Commencement, Valedictorian David Alfaro, who will attend Williams College, said, “The path we took was never going to be easy, and we did it knowing that. We knew it meant being responsible and upholding the pillars that lay the foundation for what being a Griffin means. And for some time, I thought it meant sacrificing a part of yourself as a means to an end. Yet thanks to everyone here … the CFS community, the friends I’ve had since middle school, the teachers that believed in me and my loving family, I’m here today excited for the next chapters of our journey.”

A number of awards were also bestowed, including:

• Senior Faculty Award: Dr. Rabi Young
• Highest GPA in the Senior Class: Daniel Eafa, who will attend Columbia University
• Earl Wilkins Alumni Scholarship Award: Jake Erdmann, who will attend St. Mary’s College
• Athletic Excellence Award: Jaden Roberson, who will attend Morgan State University
• Wallington Award for Sportsmanship: Kwadwo Onyinah, who will attend Syracuse University
• Headmaster’s Watch Award: Dylan Jones, who will attend Stevenson University

Other schools the members of the Class of 2023 will matriculate to include Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, Temple University, West Chester University, Gettysburg College, Amherst College, Bucknell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, Morehouse College, and more.

Church Farm School’s mission since 1918 has been to provide high-achieving young men of good character with an outstanding private boarding and day school education at a financially accessible cost. Learn more about Church Farm School.