Riverside Prep’s Class of 2026 honored during two days of ceremonies

Riverside Preparatory Academy celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2026 on Saturday, May 16, concluding two days of Commencement ceremonies on the Academy’s historic campus.

 

The weekend began Friday evening, May 15, with a military parade at Maginnis Field, followed by the Silver Taps ceremony on McLendon Quadrangle. During the ceremony, the names of alumni who died during the past year were read, and Echo Taps — where a second bugler “echoes” the first — is played to honor their memory.

 

Commencement events concluded Saturday morning with the Academy’s 115th annual graduation ceremony, also held on McLendon Quadrangle. Graduates heard a commencement address from BG (Ret.) Stephen M. Rutner, a 1981 Riverside graduate.

 

In his remarks, President Robert Brittain Daniel, J.D., cited Rutner’s distinguished military career, professional accomplishments and personal success, as well as his longstanding commitment to giving back to his community. Daniel noted Rutner’s years of service to Riverside as an annual donor and told graduates there was a lesson to be learned from his example.

 

“The measure of a life is not only what we accomplish for ourselves, but what we choose to give back to others,” Daniel said. “Leadership is not merely about rank or recognition. It is about stewardship. It is about remembering those who invested in you and deciding, in turn, to invest in those who come after you.”

 

The Academy recognized its top scholars during Friday night’s ceremonies. Valedictorian Bryan Pham of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and salutatorian Konstantin Kolotov of Darien, Connecticut, were honored for their academic achievements.

 

Additional honors were announced throughout the weekend. John Cavalieri of Woolwich Township, New Jersey, who served as battalion commander this year, received the Sandy Beaver Medal of General Excellence, named for longtime Riverside leader Sandy Beaver. Ky Le of Vietnam received the Outstanding International Cadet award. Naveen Majumder of Alpharetta, Georgia, was awarded the RMA Exceptional Scholarship Medal.

 

Rutner used his speech to encourage graduates to embrace their passions in life, to maintain the structure they learned at Riverside and to cherish the friendships they’ve made.

 

“I spent 35 years in some form of this uniform, and I will tell you, no matter what job you have, there are bad days, and in the Army they can be holistically bad,” Rutner said. “But even on those worst days, I knew I was really doing something I was passionate about. It was important, I had a direction, and I don’t regret one minute of those 35 years.”

 

The Class of 2026 continues Riverside’s tradition of academic excellence. Nearly 100 colleges and universities offered admissions to Riverside graduates, and nearly $2 million in scholarships was offered. One graduate received a four-year ROTC scholarship at Boston College. 

 

Members of Riverside Prep’s Class of 2026 are: