Class of 2015 Receives Diplomas

During graduation exercises on June 10 at Christ Church, Form VI boys, parents and the entire Browning community gathered to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2015. Headmaster Clement, President of the Board of Trustees Jim Chanos and Upper School Head Jim Reynolds presented diplomas to each member of the graduating class. Mr. Clement remarked upon the accomplishments of every Form VI Browning boy during his years at the School. Basil Chalabi, Class of 2015 President, also offered parting remarks and best wishes to his fellow graduates. He was pleased to note that the senior class reached 100% participation in their class gift effort, raising a total of $2,274.05. These funds are allocated toward restoring the conference table in the Cook Room.

Guest speaker was 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee P’15, a Liberian peace activist, trained social worker and women’s rights advocate. Ms. Gbowee offered inspirational and uplifting stories to the graduating class, imbued with wisdom, humor and a zest for life. She is founder and president of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, founder of the Liberia Reconciliation Initiative, and co-founder and former executive director of Women Peace and Security Network Africa.

Ms. Gbowee’s leadership of the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace, which brought together Christian and Muslim women in a non-violent movement that played a pivotal role in ending Liberia’s civil war in 2003, is chronicled in her memoir, “Mighty Be Our Powers,” and in the documentary, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” produced by Abigail Disney. In addition, Ms. Gbowee is the Newsweek Daily Beast’s Africa columnist. She holds a master’s degree in conflict transformation from Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Va.) and a doctor of laws from Rhodes University in South Africa and University of Alberta in Canada. Ms. Gbowee was honored as a flag-bearer for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She is the mother of six children, including Arthur Mensah ’15.

Congratulations to the entire graduating class and their families!