Spartanburg Day School

Spartanburg Day School will celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2026 during its 63rd Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 22, at 9 a.m. on Stone Family Court. 

A reception hosted by the Parents’ Community will immediately follow the ceremony in the Susan A. Bridges Dining Commons.

The Class of 2026 includes 42 seniors who will continue their academic journeys at 30 different colleges and universities across the country.

This year’s commencement speaker will be Spartanburg Day School alumnus Matthew Poliakoff, a 2016 graduate who is now an attorney and law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

After graduating from Spartanburg Day School, Poliakoff attended the University of Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction in History and Public Policy. Following his undergraduate studies, he worked as a paralegal for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division.

Poliakoff later attended Duke University School of Law, graduating in 2025. During law school, he interned with two United States Attorney’s Offices and the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps with the 82nd Airborne Division. He is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia.

“We are honored to welcome Matthew back to campus as this year’s commencement speaker,” said Head of School Dave Skeen. “Matthew’s journey since graduating from Spartanburg Day School has been remarkable, and we are excited for our seniors to hear from someone whose experiences have taken him from this campus to some of the nation’s top academic and professional institutions. As we celebrate the Class of 2026 and all they have accomplished, we look forward to the perspective Matthew will share as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives.”