Watching a son or daughter accept their high school diploma is often a proud moment for a parent.

It can be extra special for the family to be on stage together.

Six Sewickley Academy grads had that opportunity at this year’s commencement on June 6.

All of the parents involved had some connection to the academy, either as a member of the board of trustees or on staff.

Brooke Busatto received her diploma from her father, Brad, an officer-at-large on the board of trustees.

“It feels great,” she said. “I’ve been here for 14 years now. I feel very accomplished. It was a lot of hard work, but it flew by. It was really special (to get the diploma from my dad). I watched him give my sister (Kate) her diploma in 2016. It was special that it was my turn.”

Brooke said one of her fondest memories at the academy was her first-grade play. She was a kangaroo and acted with two of her best friends at the time.

Brad Busatto, a Sewickley Academy alum, said he could not be more proud of his daughters and the education provided by his alma mater.

“I never dreamed of giving either one of my daughters a diploma, but the fact that I was able to give both of them (diplomas) is a real honor,” Busatto.

“They both are hard-working girls with good character and great personalities. I’m so proud of them. As a graduate of the academy, it’s that much more special that I walked across that same stage and got my diploma in 1988.

“It’s such a good foundation of academics, character development, strategic thinking. The cherry on top is the relationships that I made here.”

Jason Phillip Chen received his diploma from his mother, world language teacher Jing Zhou.

“It’s a great moment for me,” Zhou said. “It’s an honor to be able to present a diploma to my son. My role is a very interesting role. I’m happy I have the opportunity to watch him grow.

“It’s a very unique experience. Jason started his school (at) pre-K. He’s a lifer. I think the school provided a very good education to him, propelled him very well.

“I’ve been working here for 15 years. As a parent, I want my son to receive the best education. As a faculty member, I will provide the same level of education to my students.”

Jason, one of the tallest members of the class, was all smiles after the ceremony.

“It made it feel like it was an accomplishment of both of us,” he said. “Stuff that we’ve both done, getting through the years together. I think it’s a tight-knit community (at the academy). Being able to have relationships with everyone, being close with all my teachers. I know everybody in my grade.”

Jason said his favorite memory at the academy will be graduation. His sister, Elim Chen, also graduated from the academy in 2002.

Head of Schools Ashley Brown Birtwell said the parent/student diploma presentation is a proud academy tradition, and could not recall if there was a larger such group at previous commencements.

“I cannot speak to the relative number, but it certainly is a special tradition that we love to be able to offer,” Birtwell said. “It’s an honor for our special guests to be able to confer their diplomas, and I know the family members look forward to it.”

Henry Latte received his diploma from his mother, Alicia Lattee, English department head and coordinator of Lower School curriculum and instruction.

Emma Katherine Quisenberry received her diploma from her grandfather, Tom Hewitt, board of trustee emeritus.

Katherine Grace Varghese received her diploma from her mother, Sarah Varghese, visitor center coordinator.

Chiara Lee Zeitler received her diploma from her father, Dennis Zeitler, board of trustees chairman.

Birtwell said this class was packed with a lot of all-around good people who have done an outstanding job academically, athletically and in the community. It is her first time in her four years at the academy that she saw a standing ovation at graduation.

A majority of graduates will be heading off to college, including Stanford, Duke, Dartmouth and the University of Michigan.

The Senior School string orchestra played “Pomp and Circumstance” as the 45 graduates made their way down the aisle of Rea Auditorium and onto the stage, which was accented with white and red flowers next to the diplomas.

The young men wore Navy blue or black sport coats along with white button-up shirts and red ties while the young women wore white dresses and other white formal attire.

Senior School president Severin Harmon led attendees in a flag salute and delivered a speech that highlighted activities from kindergarten through middle school and recent years.

He said there were epic kickball games, gazebo soccer and his classmates made it through the covid pandemic with “minimal scratches and dents and our sanity mostly intact.”

Guest speaker was Leslie Braksick, veteran CEO coach, entrepreneur, consultant, author, educator, philanthropist and mother of two academy graduates.

Braksick talked about having to make the most out of life when things do not go as planned.

Several awards, whose recipients were not formally identified on the program, were announced during the ceremony to tremendous applause.

They included the Academy Award to Rocco Andrew Colditz, the Cavalier Cup to Harmon and the Head of School’s Award to Sebastian Alexander Tan.

The academy hosted an indoor reception after the ceremony due to inclement weather.

Graduate list

Kurt Armutat

Marie Bigi

Ethan Buranovsky

Brooke Busatto

Jason Chen

Jonathan Cheng

Rocco Colditz

Andrew Colletti

Bailey Criswell

Cooper D’Antonio

Landon Dishart

Hallie Dong

Nolan Donnelly

Robert Fogle Jr.

Quinton Gibbs-Green

Grace Gibson

Severin Harmon

Celia Helbling

Amina Josephs

Karan Kad

Dov Abrahim Kanner

Avni Kathju

Minji Kim

Jaydon Kurian

Henry Latte

Laurie Lau

Chase Martin

Caleb McAdams

Skylar Nocito

Emma Quisenberry

Lauren Retzlaff

Jade Rychel

Christa Sims

Maria Sirianni

Quincy Sirko

Will Straka

Sebastian Tan

Aurora Taylor

Rayna Thakkar

Katherine Varghese

Josie Whitcraft

Persaya Williams

Jack Xu

Chiara Zeitler

David Zuluaga

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