Eden families, teachers, and staff came together to celebrate the seven exceptional Eden School Class of 2026 graduates — Hassan, Jaiden, Michael, Navin, Sruthi, Trisha, and Yuan.
The June 24 commencement ceremony marked the end of their high school journey and the beginning of a new chapter. Before the students received their diplomas, they received awards for mastering new skills and working in the community. Behind every award were hours of practice, persistence, and patience.
“To our graduating class of 2026, today is your day. This moment represents years of hard work, determination, and perseverance,” said Chief Program Officer Dr. Rachel Tait. “Many of you spent years working through obstacles that others may never fully understand. You learned new ways to communicate, you learned to navigate your communities, you learned vocational skills and held jobs, you learned how to advocate for yourselves, you worked through fears, frustrations, and setbacks, and you kept going.”
Hassan is one of our graduates who spends more time at work than in the classroom. He works five days a week at several different jobs: Marriott, Montessori School, Romeo’s Restaurant & Pizza, Special Olympics New Jersey, and Piazza and Associates Inc. When he is in the classroom, he impresses teachers with his strong academic and spelling skills.
Jaiden has grown tremendously since he joined the Eden School a few years ago. He has mastered all his programs, and he is known throughout the school for his love of music, singing, and dancing. He is an avid outdoorsman, and not even a little rain or snow can keep him indoors.
When you hear clapping, you know Michael can’t be too far away with a smile on his face. He has attended Eden School since he was young, and teachers have had the pleasure of watching him grow into a happy young man who completes his tasks and takes pride in his work at Windsor Athletic Club and the school’s in-house mail delivery.
At first glance, Navin may seem serious. However, if you spend a little time with him, you’ll discover that he has a smile that can light up a room and a contagious belly laugh. He excels at his programs, especially assembling and cleaning. Teachers will miss his sense of humor and love of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Sruthi has been lucky to grow up and graduate with one of her best friends, Trisha. Together they share laughs and inside jokes and look out for one another. Sruthi takes great pride in her work, which is reflected in her job placements at Special Olympics New Jersey, the Plainsboro Municipal Building, Windsor Athletic Club, TASK, and the Plainsboro Preserve. When she is in the classroom, she is showing off her skills as Eden’s master puzzler.
Trisha, the other half of the girl-powered duo, is Eden’s Dr. Pepper connoisseur. She worked hard to be able to spend most of her school day at several jobs she enjoys, including Special Olympics New Jersey, the Plainsboro Municipal Building, Mercer County Library, Windsor Athletic Club, TASK, and the Plainsboro Preserve.
Yuan is a thrill seeker, always looking for his next adventure. He also has a remarkable talent for disassembling anything in the quickest and most efficient way possible.
Six of the graduates will begin attending the Eden Adult Day Program, where they will continue to master new skills, secure employment opportunities, and meet new friends. As the students and their families begin their next chapter, they will surely never forget their experiences at the Eden School.