Congratulations to the Class of 2011!

On Friday, June 10, 2011, Cranbrook Schools graduated the largest senior class in its history – more than 200 students – in two packed ceremonies at Christ Church Cranbrook. Although Cranbrook has no religious affiliation, it is customary to hold graduation at the church, originally a part of the Cranbrook community built by George and Ellen Booth. And although Cranbrook is co-educational in high school, it is also customary to graduate boys and girls in separate ceremonies: a tradition that survives from the days when they were educated separately.

The boys’ keynote speaker was Robert Vogel, class of 1956, who has dedicated most of his professional life to fostering economic development for some of the worlds’ poorest populations. The girls’ speaker was the Honorable Carole L. Brookins, class of 1961, who, among her other achievements, served from 2001 to 2005 as the United States Executive Director of the World Bank. Both speakers received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Cranbrook’s alumni organization this year, and both focused on the long-lasting and positive effects that the faculty at Cranbrook Schools had on their lives.

Delivering the senior farewell from the class of 2011 were, for the boys, Lukas WinklerPrins, and, for the girls, Julia Bleznak.

In addition to being noteworthy for its size, the class of 2011 posted one of the strongest college placement records in recent memory. As national college competitiveness remains near record highs, of the 255 colleges and universities that the seniors applied to, 222 offered admissions to the applicants (87%). Seniors received 201 total admissions to the Most Competitive schools in the country (as defined by Barron’s 2011) including all eight Ivy League schools.

Congratulations to the entire Class of 2011!