From Future Plans to First Grade Friends: A College Reveal and a Heartfelt Senior Send-Off
In the final week of April, Carrollwood Day School buzzed with energy, reflection, and celebration as the Class of 2025 began to take their first steps toward the future. It was a week filled with milestone moments that honored years of hard work, deep friendships, and the lasting impact of a CDS education. From proudly sharing their college destinations to walking hand-in-hand with their first-grade Patriot Buddies one last time, our seniors were celebrated not only for where they’re headed, but for who they’ve become.
College Announcements
On Thursday, April 24, our Upper School community and senior families gathered in the theater for a morning bursting with promise. College Announcement Day, a beloved CDS tradition, gave the Class of 2025 their long-awaited moment in the spotlight, revealing the next chapter in their educational journeys.
Drew Guarino, Director of College Counseling, opened the celebration by honoring the incredible work of the senior class. He shared that this year’s seniors shattered records: more applications submitted, more schools applied to, and more geographic diversity. With 119 students submitting over 1,000 applications and earning an astounding amount of merit and athletic scholarships, the Class of 2025 has set a new standard at CDS, not just in numbers, but in heart and perseverance.
Then each senior walked across the stage, proudly announcing where they would be heading and what they planned to study, as the room swelled with emotion. From familiar Florida favorites like FSU and UF, to institutions up the East Coast like Princeton and Duke, and as far-reaching as Stanford and UCLA, their choices reflected not just ambition, but purpose. The diversity of their paths revealed the richness of their passions, with students preparing to pursue futures in engineering, art, business, finance, athletics, and more. Faculty and families, dressed in college spirit wear, applauded each announcement with the kind of heartfelt joy only shared milestones can bring. One especially moving moment came when a well-deserving student was surprised on stage with the prestigious Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Community Fund Scholarship, presented by none other than the legendary Gasparilla pirates themselves, adding an extra layer of celebration to an already unforgettable day.
As the morning concluded, seniors walked out of the theater not just with college decisions announced, but with a sense of clarity and momentum. They stood on the edge of something new, with the unwavering support of their school behind them.
Senior Send-Off
On Friday, April 25, the gym transformed into a celebration of connection and legacy during our annual Senior Send-Off. In one of the most beloved CDS traditions, our 12th-grade students were joined by their first-grade Patriot Buddies for a final walk together, one last memory shared before graduation day arrives.
Before the parade began, Head of School Sara Rubinstein addressed the audience, reflecting on the legacy of this graduating class. She spoke with pride of their academic achievements, their championship seasons, their creative expressions, and most of all, their unwavering character. “They’ve led with empathy and kindness,” she said, “fulfilling our motto of excellence in character. And now, we have the joy of witnessing the values they’ve lived out being passed down to their buddies.” This year's speech by Sara was especially touching as she, herself, is a senior mom for the first time ushering her son off on his next adventure.
With banners in hand and smiles on their faces, each buddy walked with their senior through the gym to thunderous applause. It was a moment that captured the heart of CDS—older students guiding younger ones, traditions passed from one class to the next, and joy found in every step.
Then came words from two CDS lifers, Brooke Bergin and Aarnav Chopra, who reflected on their journeys at CDS, which began over a decade ago. Brooke began by looking back on the day she was once the little buddy herself. “We spend so much time thinking about growing up,” she said, “but in this moment, I realize—this is our last year as kids. And our buddies have reminded us to hold onto that childlike joy.”
Aarnav followed with a heartfelt message about the true gift of community. “CDS made this brick-and-mortar school feel like home,” he said. “I’ve been a man alone in life, and a man with a community—and I’ll choose the community we’ve built at CDS every time.” His closing reminder was simple, but powerful. "We learned kindness here at CDS, and as we step into the world as global citizens, it becomes the most important tool we will carry with us."
Together, these two days served as a tribute to all that the Class of 2025 has accomplished and all that lies ahead. As they prepare to leave campus, they take with them more than just memories. They carry the lessons of character, compassion, and community that define a CDS education. Congratulations, Class of 2025. You’ve led with heart. Now, go lead the world.