Honoring the ICS Class of 2023

Last Friday, we had some fun with our graduating Class of 2023 on their last day of school. We held a celebration where the students revealed the colleges and universities they will attend next year. Friday was a great day, filled with happiness and pride. This class has experienced a lot, and through it all has set standards for future senior classes, and for all of us within our school community. 

This is a class filled with scientists, artists, athletes, designers, cheerleaders, actors, poets, philanthropists, debaters, teachers, and leaders. Throughout their years at Indian Creek, they have grown together and demonstrated the qualities that we strive to develop in students.  

The Class of 2023 has epitomized the spirit of educational excellence. This is proven by their 100% college matriculation, 339 acceptances at 165 schools, and $4.5 million in scholarship awards. This spring it was our privilege to see nine impressive senior STEM project defenses.  Monday, we saw three students present college-level Voros Theses in the Humanities. Twelve of our 64 seniors have committed to play college athletics and six students have been admitted to audition/portfolio-based arts programs. This class has brought home eight team athletic conference championship titles. They have led many of our Eagles athletics teams from the C to the B-conference and made playing in conference semi-final games a standard. They have wowed audiences with their on-stage talent in seven outstanding plays and musicals, setting new standards for sell-out shows. In every arena, they have excelled. 

The Class of 2023 is resilient. During Indian Creek’s campus unification effort, this class joined the Upper School as seventh graders, and proved they can meet a challenge. They doubled-down on this reputation when the COVID-19 pandemic derailed their freshman year, continuing academics in hybrid format, persevering to put on outdoor performances, participating in masked, physically distanced athletics, and consistently showing up for outdoor school events.  

The Class of 2023 looks out for the well-being of themselves AND others.  Ask any teacher: this class is quite skilled at advocating for themselves in appropriate and effective ways. But it is their care and concern for others for which they will be remembered. Over the years, they have thrown themselves into helping others, logging over 4,800 hours of community service.  Their meaningful work through the Key Club, One Love, and other groups helped to inspire the creation of our Eagles with a Purpose class – a group focused on creating community relationships and making service a consistent part of school life.  

One of my favorite qualities of the Class of 2023 has been their enthusiasm in embracing opportunities and their willingness to try new things. This year, we’ve seen seniors audition for the school play and musical, join a club, and go out for a new sports team for the first time. We’ve enjoyed several student-led Creek Café events, featuring vocal performances by star baseball, basketball, and lacrosse players, while the leads of our theater productions double as varsity athletes or managers. They’ve set a high bar for school spirit, and knowing, appreciating, and supporting one another. This is evidenced in their back-to-back Creek Cup titles – a feat previously not heard of at the Creek. 

So, Class of 2023, before you walk across the graduation stage next week and become alumni, I would like to thank you, on behalf of the entire Indian Creek School community. You have shown all of us what it means to be a Creeker. We are proud of you.