At The Spence School’s 128th Commencement ceremony, senior speaker Avery Chu opened her address by acknowledging the challenges her generation faces. “I do not need to convince anyone that today's young people wade into a uniquely tumultuous period in our nation's history,” she said. Political polarization, climate change, and rapid technological shifts, Chu remarked, have created a complex landscape. “But… hope isn't an option. It's an obligation. And I find hope, every day, in the sixty graduates beside me.”

Chu praised her classmates for their continuous embodiment of hope through dedication: “Spence implores us to transform self and then, the world. I have been transformed by this school, by many in this crowd, and by everyone on this stage. So, with love, I say: as Spence graduates, you are uniquely equipped to transform hope into action. Go forth, and transform.” 

Maxine Burkett ’94, Professor of Law at the University of Hawaii and former White House climate official, echoed Chu’s message in her Commencement address. An expert in climate migration, adaptation, and equity, Burkett teaches courses on climate, ocean, and coastal law. She emphasized that climate change does not exist in isolation. “It’s critically important we understand climate change is not a distant or discrete issue, but the context shaping all of the work we do.” Burkett also cited biodiversity loss and artificial intelligence as key challenges this generation must navigate.

Yet Burkett’s message was hopeful: “The incredible news is that we have what we need.” This echoed Chu’s belief that hope is actionable. “We can apply ten thousand years of indigenous wisdom and crunch petabytes of data, instantaneously. We can also apply skills honed behind the red doors… We can create our preferred future, together.”

Head of School Felicia Wilks closed the ceremony with 115-year-old words from Clara Spence. “This is not the first time Spence’s graduation address has included words of encouragement to young women heading into a complicated world,” Wilks said. “In 1915, with WWI in the background, she [Clara Spence] offered these words to the graduates…

“No matter what you encounter beyond Spence,” Wilks continued, “you carry with you a strong foundation—along with the skills, the courage, and the ethical grounding—to meet each moment with thoughtfulness and integrity.”

Congratulations to the 61 members of the Class of 2025, who will be continuing their academic journey this fall in the nation’s top colleges and universities.

Read full remarks from Felicia Wilks here.

Read full remarks from Avery Chu ’25 here.

Read full remarks from Maxine Burkett ’94 here.