Damien Henderson Speaks about the Class of 2023’s Class Gift

Senior class donates over $12,000 to benefit future generations of Berkeley students

Emma Colitz, Section Editor|June 9, 2023

Damien Henderson ’23 gave the student gift speech at this year’s commencement ceremony, and he used his speech to outline the importance of service and generosity. When asked how he received the honor, Henderson mentioned his “classmates elected [him] to speak at graduation for the presentation of the class gift.” In his speech, Henderson mentioned the class of 2023’s extensive efforts to give back to the community around them. Now, the class of 2023 can also give back to their Berkeley family through their gift of $12,378.56 to the Endowed Alumni Scholarship Fund. Henderson also acknowledged the senior class’s hopes to leave behind a long-lasting legacy of generosity and service that extends beyond the class gift. Henderson asked his peers to look back on the many different aspects of their time at Berkeley in his speech. “My favorite parts of being a Berkeley student were the memories that we as peers have made throughout the years on the athletic fields, at school events and outside of school in general,” he said. To conclude his remarks, Henderson said that the class of 2023’s gift to Berkeley will go on to support the general Tampa community because future Berkeley students will go out into the world and make a positive difference within it.

Damien Henderson ’23 gave the student gift speech at this year’s commencement ceremony, and he used his speech to outline the importance of service and generosity. When asked how he received the honor, Henderson mentioned his “classmates elected [him] to speak at graduation for the presentation of the class gift.”

 

PAYING IT FORWARD: Damien Henderson ’23 presents Headmaster Seivold with the senior class’s student endowment donation. (Photo Credit: Conor Reid ’24)

In his speech, Henderson mentioned the class of 2023’s extensive efforts to give back to the community around them. Now, the class of 2023 can also give back to their Berkeley family through their gift of $12,378.56 to the Endowed Alumni Scholarship Fund. Henderson also acknowledged the senior class’s hopes to leave behind a long-lasting legacy of generosity and service that extends beyond the class gift.

 

Henderson asked his peers to look back on the many different aspects of their time at Berkeley in his speech. “My favorite parts of being a Berkeley student were the memories that we as peers have made throughout the years on the athletic fields, at school events and outside of school in general,” he said. 

 

To conclude his remarks, Henderson said that the class of 2023’s gift to Berkeley will go on to support the general Tampa community because future Berkeley students will go out into the world and make a positive difference within it.

 

Read the full speech here:

Commencement Address – Jason Barsema ’03