The WAB community celebrated our Class of 2020's graduation this weekend around the globe in our first-ever virtual ceremony.
The event featured traditional elements like student performances, awarding of diplomas, and a rose toss. But the unprecedented circumstances of the current time made for some extra special moments online, as the camera showed each family's celebrations around the globe when the graduate's name was called.
"While I’m sad not to be at the historic Confucius Temple, this Class of 2020 will have something one-of-a-kind and special to their class and this unique situation," said High School Principal Melanie Vrba. "I am so proud of what the members of this graduating class have accomplished and the legacy they will leave behind as they move on to do great things.
If you missed the celebrations or the ceremony, you can still take part by visiting our new interactive WAB Graduation website here. You can watch recordings of the ceremony, see graduation photos, and leave customized messages!
While the Class of 2020 kept alive so many WAB traditions, there is more than just their virtual graduation ceremony that makes the Class of 2020 unique.
"In this class, you will find the musician, the architect, the economist, the engineer, the artist, the writer, the mathematician, the dancer, the chemist, and the actor that you would find in some high schools around the world," WAB's High School Counselors Michelle Chow-Liu and Anibal Bogliacinni said about the graduates.. "However, it is the depth and preparation that the class of 2020 have at WAB that has made a lasting impression. In more than 25 years of helping and assisting students with university admissions, we have never encountered such a distinct and varied class as the WAB's Class of 2020."
The Class of 2020 will continue the tradition of its former students, as many are set to continue their studies at prestigious and specialized university programs around the world. Explore their admissions by using the interactive map to the right or and the university list linked below.
WAB's 2020 Confucius Scholar, Alicia Liu, addressed her classmates at the graduation ceremony from her home. Set to begin her studies of English Literature and Human Social Political Sciences next year at the University of Cambridge. Alicia says she is excited to meet new friends, study internationally, and discover a more clear career path. She credits the support she received from teachers and the way that people at WAB helped her learn to take ownership of her life. It will be these important lessons that she believes will support her through the coming years.
"The level of freedom at WAB taught me that everything in life is up to me and prepared me to make good choices," Alicia said. "Everyday at WAB, we make tons of small choices. These small choices accumulate to make a huge difference. WAB also taught me how to react when things don't meet expectations, and how to fail gracefully. WAB is a home that I know I can fall back on. Thinking of this will always give me the courage to step forward."
