Class of 2026 Establishes it Legacy

For St. Mark’s seniors, the day of Commencement is often bittersweet, as boys celebrate the end of their journey on campus and the beginning of the next phase of their lives as Marksmen. Between Final Assembly and the graduation ceremony, the seniors and their families gather for lunch in the Great Hall, where they are welcomed into the Alumni Association. During this lunch, before they finish their time as students, the Senior Class presents a gift to St. Mark’s.

For nearly a quarter century, the Senior Legacy Gift has provided a way for classes to leave a lasting impact on campus. The Class of 2026 unanimously chose to invest in the programs and people that helped shape their own journey through St. Mark’s.

At Graduate Luncheon on May 28, the 2026 Senior Class Officers (President Andrew Zhang, Vice President Josh Goforth, Secretary Mateen Mostafavipour, and Class Representative Sebastian Gonzalez) presented the Senior Legacy Gift to Eugene McDermott Headmaster David W. Dini on behalf of their classmates.

“The faculty and staff have dedicated themselves to strengthening our School and shaping the men we have become,” said Zhang. “They have taught us to be men of character and integrity, meeting every challenge and opportunity with courage and honor.”

The centerpiece of the gift is a $25,000 commitment establishing the Class of 2026 Student Council & Class Activities Fund, a permanently endowed fund that will provide ongoing support for Student Council initiatives and school-sponsored class activities. Income from the fund will help sustain traditions such as assemblies, pep rallies, and other student-led programs that have long been hallmarks of the St. Mark’s experience.

The Class also directed $2,026 to the St. Mark’s Fund, honoring the Alumni Association’s longstanding tradition of supporting the School through annual giving. The remaining balance of the Legacy Gift will benefit the Sarah and Ross Perot, Jr. ’77 Leadership and Ethics Program, supporting St. Mark’s ongoing work in crafting the nationally recognized Character & Leadership curriculum.

For the Senior Officers, these priorities reflect the experiences that united the Class of 2026.

“Student Council and class traditions bring our community together in ways that every Marksman remembers,” said Zhang. “By establishing this endowment, we hope future students will enjoy the same experiences that helped make St. Mark’s feel like home.”

The Class also emphasized the lasting impact of Character & Leadership education on their class.

“We recognize the importance of Character & Leadership Education at St. Mark’s,” Zhang added. “Gifts like ours ensure that our School continues to lead Independent Schools in Character & Leadership Education.”

The Senior Legacy Gift represents the culmination of the Path to Manhood, transforming gratitude into action and leaving a tangible investment in future generations of Marksmen. Every Senior Legacy Gift since the tradition began in 2002 is commemorated on a breadboard outside the Senior Lounge, serving as a lasting reminder that boys leave St. Mark’s stronger than they found it.

In their letter to Mr. Dini presenting their Legacy Gift, the graduating seniors concluded by stating, “The Class of 2026 is ready to serve this community as alumni, and our work begins today.”