ANDOVER, Mass.— In Phillips Academy’s 225th commencement ceremony, filled with tradition and jubilation, 300 seniors—143 boys and 157 girls—graduated Sunday, June 8.

About 3,000 people attended the graduation exercises, which took place in front of Samuel Phillips Hall on the school’s Great Lawn. In a time-honored Andover tradition, the graduation procession of faculty and students was led by the stirring sounds of the Clan MacPherson Pipes and Drums of Lawrence, Mass. Boys wore suit coats and ties; girls wore white dresses, and each carried a red rose.

Sunday’s celebration followed a weekend of commencement events, including a senior-faculty banquet, a senior concerto concert and a candlelight baccalaureate service Saturday evening in Cochran Chapel.

In her commencement address to the graduates, Head of School Barbara Landis Chase compared living life to writing a book. “We do not always write what we set out to write,” she said. “We do not, for all our plans and hopes, always end up doing what we set out to do.”

Chase emphasized the importance of friends, families and teachers throughout life. “They are the ones who move us to write a book different from and better than the one we originally set out to write. Their voices set us off in new and promising directions,” she said.

School President Sikanyiselwe M. also spoke with eloquence to his classmates, comparing his experience of climbing a mountain in Utah last summer to reaching commencement day at Andover. "Today is the day we summit the mountain," he said.

Chase announced five major prizes awarded to outstanding members of the graduating class:

• Sara D. received the Non Sibi Award, given to the student who has honored Phillips Academy’s non sibi (not-for-self) tradition through efforts on behalf of others.
• Sarah D. received the Yale Bowl, given to the member of the senior class who has attained the highest proficiency in scholarship and athletics.
• Jeanette P. received the Faculty Prize for outstanding scholarship during the senior year.
• Katherine D. received the Madame Sarah Abbot Award, given to a young woman for strong character, leadership and outstanding scholarship.
• Sikanyiselwe M. received the Aurelian Honor Society Award for sterling character, high scholarship and forceful leadership.

The Phillips Academy Class of 2003 will matriculate at a total of 105 four-year colleges and universities. Top choices, accounting for more than a third of the class, include: Harvard, 15; Brown, 14; Cornell and University of Pennsylvania, 13 each; Georgetown and Princeton, 11 each; Yale, 9; Wesleyan, 8; University of Chicago, Columbia and Dartmouth, 7 each.

Phillips Academy, better known as Andover, is a coeducational independent boarding high school of 1,079 students, known for its extensive and rigorous academic program. A diverse community of teachers and students, the academy was founded in 1778 and is celebrating its 225th anniversary this year.