Academy celebrates 97th Commencement Ceremony

Valley Forge Military Academy graduated its 97th Corps of Cadets on Saturday, July 7 in the 

Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion.

Twenty one cadets were recognized with diplomas for their hard work during their time at Valley Forge. The Class of 2025 finished with a cumulative 88.6 GPA (3.3), led by Class Valedictorian Dante Szulc and Class Salutatorian Egor Porkhun. 

“I came to Valley Forge with no clue what to expect. I kept pondering, ‘Why am I here?’” Cadet Szulc said in his speech. “But I persevere. I adapted. I grew. And somewhere along the way, I realized that this place, this unexpected place became my home. … Thinking back I’m utterly shocked at how this place has shaped me in ways I never expected. To me, Valley Forge was more than just a military school, it was a community.”

Marcus Allen was the 2025 Commencement Speaker. Mr. Allen is a dynamic and accomplished executive with more than two decades of leadership spanning both the nonprofit and private sectors. As the first Black Chief Executive Officer in Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence’s 110-year history, he has redefined the organization’s impact, raising over $100 million to expand programs serving more than 200,000 children across the Greater Philadelphia region. 

Mr. Allen’s background also includes proudly serving in the Army National Guard from 1989 to 1995; experience in the corporate and philanthropic governance, currently serving as a board member of the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and the Public Health Management Corporation; and a stand out athletic career that earned him an induction into the Paine College Sports Hall of Fame and led to a professional basketball career.

“Gentlemen, this world has no shortage of critics, but what we need and what your generation must become are the men in the arena,” Mr. Allen said in his Commencement Address. “The ones who choose courage, who choose discipline, who choose faith when the road gets rough. The ones who choose the hard that builds, not the hard that breaks. You’ve been trained in honor, you’ve been forged in structure, but now it’s your character and your integrity that will lead the way.”

Class of 2025 President Mounir Sabry presented Mr. Harry Sokol with the Graduates’ Award, honoring him for his impact in the classroom during their time at The Forge.

Graduates Christopher Calix, Sean Cargill, David Marcovici, and Sean Story were all recognized for spending five years at Valley Forge. Seven other graduates spent four years at Valley Forge.

Twenty of the 21 members of the Class of 2025 will continue their education at colleges and universities, including prestigious institutions like Cornell University

“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pale in comparison to what lies inside of you,” Head of School Katie Newsom said in her farewell to the Class of 2025. “Thank you for the privilege of getting to know you and may you have every, every good fortune in the world. Make it a better place.”