On May 17, Battle Ground Academy (BGA) celebrated its 137th Commencement, honoring the graduation of 92 students. Valedictorian Colton Kephart, who will attend Vanderbilt University, and salutatorian Elliotte Thomas, bound for the University of Southern California, were recognized for their academic achievements. Head of School Will Kesler praised the class for their growth and readiness to make a positive impact in society. Notably, 88% of the graduates received merit-based aid, amounting to over $11.1 million in scholarships, translating to approximately $121,000 per student. Furthermore, 84% of the graduates were admitted to their top-choice colleges, with 98% accepted at least by one of their top three choices. The graduates will matriculate to 154 institutions across 23 states, as well as in Italy and Spain, with 61% attending out-of-state schools. Several awards were presented, including the Pinkerton Watch to Lola Padula for overall excellence and the Paul Guffee ‘61 Memorial Award to Nate Fleming for leadership in athletics.