On Friday, May 24, the students, faculty, and families of the KO community gathered to celebrate the graduation of Kingswood Oxford’s class of 2024. In his last year before retirement, English teacher David Hild delivered the commencement speech, which focused on the importance of kindness and being a part of a team.
The program began at 10:15 a.m. with the procession of trustees, administration, and faculty. Following that, the St. Patrick’s Band Pipe started their performance, and the seniors left in pairs alphabetically from Alumni Hall. Once all the seniors completed their procession and found their seats for graduation, the Upper School choir sang the school song, “Hail Kingswood Oxford!” written by former Orchestra Director Richard Chiarappa.
History teacher Ted Levine then gave the invocation, welcoming all the audience members for the special day. After this, senior Ava Cashman got up on stage to introduce the commencement speaker and her advisor, Mr. Hild.
Mr. Hild began his speech by thanking everyone for all the support when his beloved dog on campus, Cali unexpectedly passed away earlier this year. She was a bright light and devoted companion to Mr. Hild and everyone in the community. “The way she laid half in my office and half in the hallway so she could greet everyone traveling through Seaverns endeared her to so many in this community,” he said.
Mr. Hild then shared his love for storytelling, especially in the Form 3 English curriculum and at Class Night. He reflected on the canoe that has stood in his classroom for the last 20 years, and how well-known the story of it is in the Upper School. To all students who were lucky enough to have Mr. Hild as a teacher, his captivating stories are ones they don’t forget. He asked the audience to allow him to tell a story one last time. “So, allow me one last moment here next to Nicholson,” he said, “to share some stories that, I hope, will let you laugh a little and think a bit.”
Mr. Hild reflected that not only is it the graduation for the Class of 2024, it is also his 44th anniversary of graduating from KO himself. He shifted his focus to when he first came to KO back in 1975. He thanked the teachers that supported him with a transition from Sedgwick Middle School. “With their support, and that of many, many others, I loved being a student here,” he said.
He then began the story of how, after his graduation in 1980, he ended back up at KO 13 years later. Following his graduation from college, he started out working at the Horace Mann School in New York City in 1984. Despite only making $14,000 his first year teaching, he loved his job, teaching freshman English, advising juniors, and coaching football, basketball, and lacrosse. In the summer of 1985, he married his wife, Susan, and stayed at Horace Mann for three more years.
Mr. Hild then moved to the West Coast, teaching at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla, Calif. There, both his sons were born and a black lab named Ebby was added to their family. Working there, he benefited from the guidance of his colleagues, learning how to be an effective teacher and coach.
His return to KO then came into the picture. In 1993, he received a call from former Head of School Lee Levison asking him to be the head football coach. Despite having to leave behind the beach life and pristine weather, the move back across the country is one he has never regretted. “I like the New England version better; it’s grittier and I’ve always sought challenges,” he said. “It’s a lot more fun to try to do hard things well than to skate down the ‘easy street.’”
Subsequently, Mr. Hild shared some stories about positivity, kindness, and teamwork. During his first decade at KO, he was primarily a disciplinarian as head football coach and Dean of Students. With his transition to teaching, Mr. Hild became convinced that the best way to reach his students was through positivity and kindness. “Patience and empathy cannot really be taught, but if you want to be an effective teacher, coach, leader, human being,” he said, “you’ve got to be relational, you’ve got to give them your time, you’ve got to effectively communicate your caring.”
Mr. Hild reminded the audience that people will forget what you said and did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel. Sometimes, no matter how well someone communicates their support and love, others might not be in a place where they’re able to take advantage of it. Despite that, Mr. Hild shared the importance of staying true to acting with kindness. “But clear and consistent efforts to show positivity, kindness, and love almost always come to fruition,” he said. “And you’ll never be wrong, or feel lesser for trying.”
He encouraged the audience to be on a team, and not just an athletic one; a class, performing arts group, or club counts too. “Teams are built on empathy and kindness–they thrive on empathy, working for others,” he said. Whatever that team looks like to someone, Mr. Hild stressed the importance of finding your team whether through family, friends or colleagues, or some other group.
Mr. Hild shared that one of the most impactful teams he has been a part of at KO has been Team Tobati. He encouraged any teachers, who want to really get to know their students, to take part in Team Tobati, because that’s what the service trip allowed him to do. He lightheartedly shared the memory of him and his work team being put up to the task of putting on a dance performance in 2009. While none of the team was thrilled about it, they embraced the mantra of “go big, or go home” and invested themselves into practicing for the performance.
While Mr. Hild admitted the performance wasn’t top notch, they were a team and completely united. “I gained so much from this experience,” Mr. Hild said. “When you show others a willingness to care beyond self, an acknowledgment that ‘we’re in this together,’ they respond in kind. And kindness is one of the traits that matters most in this world.”
He went on to share that one of the best things about a team is the “we” not “me” mentality, or the act of simultaneously bettering yourself and others on the team. “So whatever team you’re on, frame your role around helping others more than looking out for yourself,” Mr. Hild said. “Make it your primary goal to support your teammates.”
Mr. Hild concluded his speech by encouraging students to tirelessly seek to help their teams and that the best leaders are ones that put the team’s needs before their individual needs. He will certainly have a lasting impact on the KO community and his presence will be greatly missed.
Following Mr. Hild’s empowering speech, Head of School Tom Dillow and Head of the Upper School Lisa Loeb presented the seniors with their diplomas. The seniors shook hands with Mr. Dillow and Mrs. Loeb. Then, they walked across the stage, with diplomas in hand, as audience members gave roars of support. Mr. Dillow then gave his annual and inspiring charge to the graduating class.
Following Mr. Dillow’s charge, history teacher Robert Kyff, got up on stage to give the farewell address to the seniors. After everyone’s moving speeches, the seniors proceeded in the recessional with the theme of “Pomp and Circumstance, March No. 1” to the front of Alumni Hall.
However, while having received their diplomas, seniors had not yet completed the famous KO tradition that makes them officially KO alumni. Thus, seniors did the annual tradition of shaking hands with every faculty member at the school.
The class of 2024 certainly made a lasting impact on the KO community both in and out of the classroom. Their presence will be missed, and we wish them the best on their future endeavors!
