As the Class of 2023 completes their educational journey here at Ravenscroft — with members of the Class of 1973, the school’s first graduating class now celebrating their 50th reunion, processing with them at Commencement — school leaders are pleased to unveil Ravenscroft’s Portrait of a Graduate, a series of remarkable statements that articulate what it means to be a graduate of the institution.

Born of a visioning exercise with faculty and staff last fall, the Portrait of a Graduate draws on the aspirational work of Lead From Here, the school’s one-of-a-kind citizen leadership framework, and captures the personal, academic and leadership outcomes of students’ growth and experiences at the school. 

The statements read:

I am a Ravenscroft graduate.

I EMBRACE.

I embrace who I am with the knowledge and confidence that my personal growth and learning are a journey, not a destination.

I VALUE.

I value and honor diverse perspectives, striving to foster meaningful and authentic cross-cultural and global relationships. 

I SEEK.

I seek opportunities that spark my intellectual curiosity, challenging me to think critically and solve problems creatively. 

I LEAD.

I lead with purpose, advocating for myself and others, endeavoring to effect positive change for all I serve.

Penny Abrahams ’93, a member of the Ravenscroft Board of Trustees and a consultant with Independent School Management, led the visioning exercise alongside Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs Justin Brandon. She expressed her pride in what has come out of the day’s work.

“As a consultant, I have a unique opportunity to witness the full landscape of independent schools and how they bring their missions to life through not only words but actions. Facilitating the Portrait of the Graduate visioning exercise with Ravenscroft’s faculty and staff confirmed for me what I already suspected — that the school is leading the conversation nationally about how to empower students with the skills and competencies necessary to thrive well beyond their time in a K-12 environment,” she said. “As an alumna, Board member and parent of an alum, this process, the people and the ultimate product reminded me why I chose Ravenscroft for my child and continue to stay involved. 

“The school’s leadership, faculty and staff are all singularly focused on creating a learning community that thoughtfully develops leaders — a commitment that I believe Ravenscroft’s Portrait of the Graduate statements beautifully encapsulate.”

Brandon agreed.

“We live our mission and values every single day on our campus,” he said. “These statements further solidify the things we already do and believe. The Portrait of a Graduate is part of the DNA of a Ravenscroft student.”

Learn more about the Portrait of a Graduate on our website.

In addition, Ravenscroft Magazine’s special senior-class coverage, Cap & Gown, features five members of the Class of 2023 reflecting on their most important Ravenscroft experiences through the lens of these statements.

“As I end my time at Ravenscroft, I realize the importance of these statements,” Brianna Donigan ’23, one of the profiled seniors, said. “The ‘I Embrace’ statement, in particular, really resonates with me. I truly believe that I’ve embraced who I am and who I’m becoming because of my experiences at Ravenscroft.”