On May 21 and 22, our community gathered to celebrate the Class of 2026 at NEIA’s third Commencement. Across two days of cherished traditions, joyful reflection, and inspiring words, we honored 15 remarkable graduates as they prepared to take their next steps. Their years of growth and hard work were reflected in more than $6.5 million in merit-based scholarships to their chosen colleges and universities.
The celebration opened with the Celebration of the Graduates Dinner, an alumni favorite year after year. Graduates’ families, teachers, and staff filled the Space, and our 11th graders served dinner. The evening’s most memorable moment was a heartfelt journey through each senior’s time at NEIA. One by one, students reflected on their years here, and a faculty member followed with memories and stories from their time here, speaking to each graduate’s growth, accomplishments, and contributions to our community. Between speeches, childhood photos appeared on screen, adding nostalgia and a little surprise as guests guessed which speaker was coming next.
The following morning, Co-Founder and Head of School Raymond Chang, joined by Co-Founders and Trustees Jane Du and Jean Jones, welcomed graduates, families, faculty, friends, and 11th grade class to the Graduation ceremony. Erika Lundberg, Class of 2026, opened the ceremony with a speech of gratitude that set the tone for the morning.
Erika Lundberg (‘26)
We were honored to have Professor Julie Battilana deliver this year’s keynote address. The only dual-tenured professor at Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School, Professor Battilana offered our graduates a framework she called the three Ls: learn, love, and lend a hand. She urged them to keep learning and questioning, using new tools like AI to deepen their thinking rather than replace it; to love by, by building meaningful relationships and earning the trust of the people and communities around them; and to lend a hand, putting their skills and influence in service of others. On that last point, she offered a pointed reminder: real help means listening to the people you aim to support and sharing power with them, not making decisions on their behalf.
“Any time I see people who use their power to enable others, to make a positive difference in their lives—those moments and those people shine for me. They keep me going. And when I look at all of you today, I see that same potential: I see your shining lights, ready to enter the world and make a positive difference.“
Professor Julie Battilana (Harvard Business School & Harvard Kennedy School)
The ceremony then belonged to the graduates themselves. Student speakers Raveena Stephen and Jeff Cheng, elected by their peers and the NEIA staff, took the stage to share reflections that balanced humor with heartfelt thanks to the people who shaped their journey.
Jeff closed with a challenge that landed deeply with this classmates, calling on the Class of 2026 to keep growing and to defy easy expectations:
“I hope we disappoint the people who thought they already knew exactly who we were going to become. And I hope we disappoint the version of ourselves that only wanted to be liked… because if nobody is ever surprised by who you become, maybe you didn’t change enough.”
Jeff Cheng (‘26)
Raveena Stephen (‘26)
Congratulations to the Class of 2026. We could not be prouder of all you have accomplished, and we cannot wait to see how you shape the world.