Senior Pageant 2025: A Cranbrook Winter Tradition

The evening also offered a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the enduring bonds that connect generations of Cranbrook alumni and families. Seventeen members of the Class of 2026 come from multi-generational Cranbrook families, a powerful testament to the trust and confidence alumni place in their school. Among them are several students who represent fourth-generation Cranbrook families, a remarkable distinction for a school not yet 100 years old. Members of the Class of 1970 were among those in attendance, joining the celebration as proud grandparents. The Strickland and Wallace families—lifelong friends—together have eight grandchildren currently enrolled at Cranbrook, four of whom are members of the Class of 2026. We look forward to celebrating with them this June when their grandchildren graduate as fourth-generation Cranbrook alumni.

Guests were welcomed with music from a string quartet before proceeding to the candlelit dining hall, where the Madrigals and MasterSingers filled the space with song. The traditional Mummer’s Play, performed by students from the Boys Middle School and directed by Ryan Ernst, delighted the audience from the head table, with Upper School Head Noël Dougherty presiding over the evening.

This year’s Pageant also honored Drew and Nancy Miller. Drew, who will retire this June after 32 years of service, has shaped Cranbrook’s admissions program with deep belief in the school’s mission and a steadfast commitment to building a diverse and vibrant student body. Together, Drew and Nancy have lived on campus for more than three decades, raising their sons Andrew ’07 and Will ’10 and becoming integral members of the Cranbrook community. Their consistent presence—at athletic events, performances, reunions, and countless school gatherings—has made them a familiar and much-loved part of campus life.

The Senior Pageant remains a powerful reminder of the traditions, relationships, and shared experiences that bind the Cranbrook community across generations.