On May 30, 2025, the Montrose community gathered under the commencement tent to celebrate the Class of 2025 as they marked the culmination of their Montrose journey. Surrounded by family, faculty, and friends, the Class of 2025 graduates participated in a ceremony filled with the school’s most cherished traditions.
As part of the celebration, each senior donned the iconic Montrose red shoes and carried a bouquet of red roses. These roses were similar to the same rose each girl received upon her acceptance to the school in sixth grade. These traditions bookended the graduates’ Montrose experience and served as a reminder of how far they had come.
Senior Class President Celia Cahill Farella welcomed the audience and introduced Mr. Bill Noonan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who spoke to the graduates about the legacy of Montrose, noting that his own father was one of the school’s founders. Mr. Noonan reflected on the graduates’ accomplishments and the values that would guide them far beyond the Miracle Field.
A special tribute followed for Head of School Mrs. Katie Elrod, who is celebrating 25 years of dedicated service to Montrose. Faculty, students, and trustees praised Mrs. Elrod for her wise leadership, her constant commitment to Montrose’s mission, and her genuine care for every student. Known for her belief in the unique potential of each young woman and their call to greatness, Mrs. Elrod’s impact was felt throughout the ceremony.
Mrs. Elrod then took the podium herself, offering remarks that talked about the growth of the Class of 2025 and challenged them to go forth with courage and character, using the lessons they had learned from their time at Montrose. One of the most special moments came when Mrs. Elrod offered personalized tributes to each graduate before they received their diploma, expressing the unique gifts, talents, and virtues that had characterized them during their time at Montrose. These individual tributes captured the holistic spirit of the class and demonstrated how each student of the Class of 2025 will be known and loved at Montrose.
For her speech, Salutatorian Abby Scollins transported the audience on a vivid tour of Montrose. She talked about the funny and heartfelt moments, as well as sisterhood, that defined her class. As Abby put it, “The truth is, it’s not the physical rooms nor the eye-catching red sweaters that unite us. These material things are truly just reminders of the much more valuable immaterial: the memories made, lessons learned, and sisterhood forever shared.”
Commencement Speaker Dr. Michelle Sterk Barrett P’23, Director of the J.D. Power Center for Liberal Arts in the World at the College of the Holy Cross, inspired the graduates with words of encouragement, calling on them to use their Montrose education to make a genuine difference in the world and harness the value of service.
Valedictorian Elena Sereiva closed the student speeches by talking about the transformation of knowledge into wisdom. She urged her classmates to trust in what they had learned and to step forward in their future paths, saying, “Remember: your knowledge is more vast than the night sky. What matters now is how you use it.”
Following a final benediction by Fr. John, faculty members formed a receiving line to congratulate each graduate before the day concluded with the traditional cap toss on Miracle Field.
To the Class of 2025: thank you for everything you’ve brought to Montrose. We’ll miss you, but we can’t wait to see what’s ahead!
By Sanya Nadeem ‘26, Editor-in-Chief and Politics & Opinions Editor
26snadeem@montroseschool.org
