This article originally appeared in the summer 2016 Harker Quarterly.

The Class of 2016 was officially welcomed into the Harker Alumni Association during an induction luncheon held in the upper school gym on May 18.

During the event, various speakers offered words of inspiration to the graduating seniors, including Chris Nikoloff, head of school, Matthew Harley, Class of 2016 dean and upper school biology teacher, and Tony Silk, upper school math teacher. Silk was the keynote speaker, offering inspiring words about his own journey, as well as on the importance of boredom as a prelude to creativity.

“The world needs you to be creative. There are problems out there that it will be up to your generation to solve,” said Silk, urging the students to put their electronic devices away, even if just for a little while. “Be bored. Be creative,” he advised. Dan Hudkins, Harker’s director of learning, innovation and design, then gave an overview of how to use the new alumni portal, allowing graduates to staying connected with each other and with Harker.

He also spoke about the Harker soci   media tools available to alumni, and the importance of networking. The seniors were introduced to their class agents, who will act as liaisons between Harker’s alumni department and the Class of 2016. And the class announced that its parting gift will be something of use (as yet to be determined) for the new gym and theater buildings.

“As a fellow graduate, I know firsthand that once you’re a Harker alum, you will always feel at home here on the Saratoga campus,” said Karri Baker ’84, director of alumni relations, noting that she would be working in tandem with the class agents to help keep all the new graduates connected to Harker.

As the event drew to a close each student received what has become a fun Harker tradition: a laundry bag along with instructions on doing one’s own laundry. They were also handed a boba tea as they exited the gym to sign yearbooks and chat with one another.