Sandy Spring Friends School seniors head to 43 colleges after 64th commencement

Sandy Spring Friends School celebrated its 64th commencement on June 6, sending 63 graduates from the Class of 2026 to 43 colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad. The class posted Ivy League and merit scholarship wins, National Merit recognition and at least 100 hours of community service apiece.

Why it matters: - Sandy Spring Friends School’s Class of 2026 is headed to a wide range of selective colleges, showing the reach of the school’s college counseling program. - The graduating class combined academic placement, merit aid and service, giving a full picture of the school’s stated focus on academics, arts, athletics and civic engagement.

What happened: - Sandy Spring Friends School celebrated its 64th commencement on June 6, 2026, honoring 63 graduates. - The ceremony included song, speeches and reflective silence tied to the school’s Quaker Meeting for Worship tradition. - The class will attend 43 colleges and universities across the United States and abroad. - Graduates are headed to schools including Princeton University, Northwestern University, Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, Oberlin College, Carleton College, Howard University, Spelman College, Vassar College, Wake Forest University and Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland.

The details: - Two students received full-tuition endowed merit scholarships, one to Grinnell College and one to Ohio Wesleyan University. - One student earned James Monroe Scholar designation at the College of William & Mary. - Five students received National Merit Scholarship recognition, including one Finalist and four Commended students. - Six students plan to study engineering. - Five students will enroll in pre-professional visual arts programs. - Two students will take a gap year before starting college. - Every member of the Class of 2026 completed at least 100 hours of community service in high school. - Seven graduates exceeded 300 hours of community service. - The school said its college counseling team begins working with students in junior year and offers one-on-one counseling, family consultations, workshops, panel discussions and information sessions. - Chris Miller leads the College Counseling Department, with support from College Counseling Support Specialist Johanna Modak.

Between the lines: - The outcomes reinforce Sandy Spring Friends School’s pitch that its personalized, inquiry-based model can help students find a strong institutional fit. - The college list and scholarship results suggest the school is placing graduates into both highly selective universities and specialized programs. - Miller said his goal is for students and parents to see him as a partner in the “unmitigated success of the child.”

What's next: - The full Class of 2026 college matriculation list is available at SSFS. - Sandy Spring Friends School will continue counseling future classes through its junior-year-to-senior-year college advising process. - The school will keep promoting its Quaker-based model rooted in integrity, equality, community, simplicity and peace.

The bottom line: - Sandy Spring Friends School is using this year’s commencement results to showcase both student outcomes and the strength of its college counseling pipeline.