The academy graduated its 208th senior class on the morning of May 27 with friends, families, relatives and teachers all in attendance to watch the 189 graduating seniors receive their diplomas.

As reported in the Greenfield Recorder by Anita Fritz, “On a perfect day, hundreds gathered under a large tent behind the school's administrative building. The Deerfield pipers led the processional as young women dressed in white, each carrying a long-stemmed yellow rose, and young men dressed in navy blazers, walked their last walk as academy students.

The two student speakers were followed by keynote speaker William H. White, mayor of Houston and father of one of the graduating seniors. He told students they've each had an extraordinary opportunity at the academy and each has achieved a lot. 'But, no matter how important your job ends up being in life or how important the responsibility is that you are given, never think that means you are more important than any other person,' he said.

He urged the students not to measure success by how much they've accumulated, but rather by how much they give. 'Take a real interest in people, not just out of politeness or duty,' he said. 'Your proudest moment should not be your own personal accomplishments or how much money you have in the bank, but how you have helped others,' Mayor White added, just before students received their diplomas.