This year, at St. Stephen’s School, we pause to celebrate the Class of 2026—80 graduates who now stand at that threshold, ready to make their way into the world. Their journey has been shaped by curiosity, challenge, friendship, and growth, and while it is tempting to measure this moment by outcomes, it is perhaps more meaningful to reflect on who they have become along the way.
This class has learned to think critically, to question deeply, and to engage with complexity. They have navigated uncertainty, discovered their voices, and built a sense of self that will travel with them far beyond Rome. What lies ahead is not a single path, but many—each shaped by the choices they will make and the perspectives they carry with them.
The university offers they have received reflect both ambition and breadth. From Business and Economics to Politics and Law, from Engineering and the Natural Sciences to the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, their interests span disciplines and possibilities. Their destinations are equally global, with offers from institutions across Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States—including universities such as McGill University, Sciences Po, Università Bocconi, IE University, University of Exeter, Columbia University, University of California Berkeley, and Yale University, among many others.
These achievements are the result of sustained effort and perseverance. They also reflect a community of support: teachers who have guided, challenged, and advocated for their students with care and dedication, and families whose belief in education has provided a steady foundation throughout the years.
And yet, beyond the offers and acceptances, something quieter—and perhaps more lasting—remains. Education, at its best, is not simply about where one goes next, but about how one moves through the world. It is about learning to listen, to adapt, to remain open to change, and to approach the unknown with both humility and courage.
The Class of 2026 leaves St. Stephen’s not only prepared but transformed. They carry with them the habits of mind and heart that will allow them to navigate complexity, to build meaningful connections, and to contribute thoughtfully to the communities they will join.
As they step forward into this next chapter, we do so with a sense of pride and quiet confidence. Their paths will diverge, their experiences will differ, but they remain connected by a shared beginning—and by the values that have shaped their time here.
Wherever they go, they carry St. Stephen’s with them.
