Congratulations to our newest graduates, the Class of 2026, who celebrated the final milestone in their Dwight educational journeys at Commencement last week.

Ten students among them have been part of our community since kindergarten or earlier, and are now members of what we affectionately call our “13-Year Club” — a few have actually been Dwight Lions for a whopping 16 years!

• Isabella Fakhouri
• Alberto Garcia Haddad
• Christopher Herrnstein*
• Caleb Kaufman
• Ella Knox*
• Bernard Muszynski
• Hunter Newman
• Ilan Federico Rivera
• Alma Rosengren
• William Scibilia

These “Dwight lifers” have shared a history as long-standing classmates, and before they embark down their own paths, we asked them about their favorite memories during their time at Dwight. Here’s what they had to say:

Isabella Fakhouri

My favorite Dwight memory is my experience with Mock Trial. I joined as an anxious sophomore who doubted my abilities, and I left proud of them, with a confidence that transcended the courthouse. I am beyond grateful for the mentorship I received, the friendships I built, and the leadership opportunities that pushed me to grow.

Alberto Garcia Haddad

Dodgeball with Mr. Panahi and Mr. Presti after school every Friday!

Caleb Kaufman

A favorite memory of Dwight that I will always remember is dodgeball after school every Friday. This is something that always used to make my day, and I remember looking forward to it throughout every week during school.

Ella Knox

My favorite memory of Dwight was being able to sing at the 2025 Global Concert in Shanghai with Dwight students from around the world!

Chris Herrnstein

My favorite memory was in kindergarten, playing chess with my friend Will during our snack time. We didn’t have much of an idea of what we were doing, playing rock, paper, scissors to see who went first, but it was a core memory that stuck with me.

Bernard Muszynski

One of my favorite memories that I will carry with me forever is my trip to London in grade 5. It was an amazing time where I got to hang out with all of my friends and visit a new city. All of the memories and day trips we took will stick with me forever.

Hunter Newman

Throughout Lower School, the highlight of my week would be playing dodgeball from 3 to 4 pm after school on Fridays with Mr. Presti and Mr. Panahi. Apart from the brief hiatus that was the pandemic, I have been able to stop by on some Fridays up until my last day of high school. I'll always think back to the many fun and exhilarating moments I had.

Ilan Federico Rivera

My favorite memory of Dwight was being able to celebrate my friend Tommaso. Every September 6 [since his passing], we celebrated the birthday of Tommaso, and it allowed me to reflect with my friends from Lower School up until now and spend time with each other.

Alma Rosengren

Since I started kindergarten at Dwight, there have been many memorable moments that I will never forget, such as our grade 5 class trip to London and our senior trip to Mohonk. Being part of many musical performances, including the Global Concert and Conservatory concerts, have also been wonderful experiences that I will cherish. I will also always appreciate the friends I have made, the exciting and joyful day-to-day moments, and the supportive teachers and community at Dwight.

William Scibilia

Playing dodgeball!