Da Vinci Celebrates 530 Graduates and the Power of Purpose, Resilience, and Community
Earlier this month, family and friends gathered in celebration as Da Vinci Schools hosted six graduation ceremonies and an 8th grade promotion. More than 7,500 attendees came together to honor 530 graduating seniors from Da Vinci Communications, Connect, Design, RISE, and Science, along with 78 8th grade students from Da Vinci Connect. Wiseburn Middle School also celebrated its 8th grade graduates in a separate ceremony held in the WDV Gym.
Each ceremony was filled with pride, joy, and excitement as student speakers delivered heartfelt reflections on their educational journeys. Through stories of growth, discovery, and resilience, students spoke about the strong sense of care, belonging, and support they experienced at Da Vinci, and how those connections empowered them to take risks, pursue their passions, and embrace new opportunities.
Da Vinci Graduations: Watch recorded commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2026
Common themes echoed throughout the ceremonies: finding purpose, building meaningful relationships, overcoming adversity, caring for one’s physical and mental well-being, and leading with courage, empathy, kindness, and patience. Students also shared personal stories of advocating for themselves, navigating challenges, and supporting one another through uncertainty, including concerns affecting their communities.
Perhaps most inspiring were the reflections on personal transformation. Several graduates shared that they were stronger, more confident, and more resilient than when they first arrived at Da Vinci. One Da Vinci RISE graduate captured that sentiment powerfully, sharing, “RISE helped me find the person I had been searching for my whole life.”
The ceremonies served as a reminder that while graduates leave Da Vinci with academic knowledge and college and career-ready skills, they also leave with a deeper understanding of themselves, a strong sense of community, and the confidence to make a positive impact on the world around them.
> See related article: Celebrating the Class of 2026
