The annual Baccalaureate ceremony features an alumnus parent selected to offer an inspirational speech officially welcoming the graduating class into the alumni family. This year, Tweed Eckhard Cline ’85, mother of Carson Eckhard ’17, Sykes Eckhard ’17 and Skip Eckhard ’25, spoke about the importance of recognizing inspiring members of the Berkeley faculty and using your privilege and unique opportunities to make a change in your community.
During Eckhard’s time at Berkeley, she took advantage of the many opportunities the community offers, serving as a Guide and an active member of Thespians and Model United Nations. She was a well-rounded athlete, participating in cross country, soccer and swimming during her Berkeley years.
After Berkeley, Eckhard went on to continue her education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History. Today, she has her own business as a residential interior decorator. Eckhard also serves as a long-time member of and a steadfast volunteer for the Berkeley community; she has been a member of the Berkeley Board of Trustees since 2019.
When asked by Headmaster Joseph Seivold to give the Baccalaureate address, Eckhard spent time reflecting on her final months as a Berkeley student and consulted her daughters for help.
“ I spent a lot of time thinking about my senior year at Berkeley – the many things that remain the same, and the countless changes to the campus, curriculum and the outside world. I asked my daughters, Carson (’17) and Sykes (’17), to help me with the overall messaging and perspective in an attempt to make it enjoyable and relatable to the class of 2025,” said Eckhard.
Eckhard opened her speech by addressing the class of 2025, commenting on how the last moments of their senior year sped up as they approached their graduation. She continued to discuss the importance of thanking and recognizing inspiring members of the Berkeley faculty. Malcom Stewart, Eckhard’s cross-country coach, was an enormous inspiration to her and made an endless positive difference in the lives of many Berkeley students before he went on to become a Deputy Solicitor General for the Department of Justice.
“As you prepare to leave Berkeley, I hope each of you will think about members of the faculty who have had a big impact on your high school experience, and take a moment to say thank you,” she said.
Eckhard continued to list three important points describing lessons she has learned. First, she said, don’t spend your life chasing the next big accomplishment; instead, relish the small moments. Second, she reminded the new graduates to lean on their support system in college, where challenges are abundant. Eckhard also said to never assume the door is always closed, meaning to never be afraid to put yourself out there or assume you aren’t good enough.
“You have more power to do good than you realize. By some twist of fate, you have been afforded the privilege of a Berkeley education and access to unique opportunities that have prepared you to meaningfully impact this world for the better,” she said.
Eckhard concluded her speech with some statistics in order to highlight the unpredictable and volatile nature of life.
“The bottom line is this: life is unpredictable and often uncontrollable. How you respond to this uncomfortable but immutable fact will ultimately contour the details of your life. You have been given the tools to confront challenges, make change and contribute to a better tomorrow,” she said.
In an interview with The Fanfare, Eckhard stated that speaking to the class of 2025 during such a pivotal moment in their lives was both liberating and inspiring. Eckhard said, “I truly believe this generation has the intelligence, creativity and ingenuity to improve our world. I wanted every graduate to leave that service with the message, ‘You’ve got this!’”
To read the full speech, click here.
To read the full interview with Eckhard, click here.
