GREENWICH — Even though the air quality was still at an unhealthy level on Thursday, Greenwich Country Day School’s commencement ceremony was held as planned underneath a tent at the Old Church Road campus.

“The smoke has cleared,” cheered Head of School Adam Rohdie at the beginning of the ceremony.

Some faculty, staff and audience members, however, wore masks to keep the smoke-infested air out of their lungs during the 2 p.m. ceremony. 

The 114 graduates sat up on a stage overlooking the audience as they awaited their diplomas, which were given to them after a few speeches and award presentations. 

Matt Dalio, a class of ’99 alumnus, was the keynote speaker. While he is the founder of Endless Networks, a group of networks, companies and more that aims to make technology available to young people worldwide, his messages to the graduates focused more on his experience growing up. 

“My dad had told me that the best friends that he had in life were the ones that he saw every so often, at least once a year for life. … That kind of lifelong friend only comes when you know someone throughout the entirety of life because when you go through every chapter of life, they understand who you are because they were there for all of it,” Dalio said, as he told the graduates about the importance of staying in touch with their GCDS friends. 

As these graduates are entering a new chapter in life, Jolie Karen, student body president, shared with them the importance of embracing change, just as they did being the first full-sized grade to graduate from GCDS’ upper school, which came as a result of GCDS and Stanwich School’s merger in 2019. 

“Never forget the power of change,” Karen said. “Never run from it. Instead, embrace it. Never stop yourself from what your true potential may hold because you aren’t used to the way something should be. Remember, you are the author of your story.” 

Thursday’s ceremony was more than the class of 2023’s commencement. It also served as the 50th anniversary of graduation of GCDS’ first Black students, Monique Lee Bahadur and David L. Waddell, alumni of the class of 1973. Both were presented with honorary GCDS high school diplomas at the ceremony. 

Bahadur was not able to make it to the ceremony, but Waddell was able to attend the ceremony to accept his diploma. 

“Ms. Bahadur and Mr. Waddell were pioneers who paved the way for future generations, something the class of 2023 knows a little about,” said Vicki Craver, board of trustees president.