Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad celebrates Class of 2025
The graduating class was recognised not only for their academic accomplishments, but also for their contributions to school life, commitment to community service and the ethical leadership they have consistently demonstrated throughout their years at the Academy. Among the Class of 2025 were five students who had been with the Academy since Grade 1 – a testament to the Academy’s long-term commitment to holistic education.
The ceremony was attended by families, students, alumni, staff and distinguished guests, and it was held at the Academy. Over 4,000 viewers from across the globe also joined the ceremony virtually as it was live-streamed, bringing together extended family members, friends and staff and alumni of the Aga Khan Schools.
Before the official proceedings began, the graduating class gathered for a final class photograph, followed by a special pinning ceremony with their advisors. A tradition seen across the Aga Khan Academies, the graduates were awarded an Academies’ pin signifying the completion of their time at the Academy as they join a growing legacy of alumni across the Academies and wider Aga Khan Schools.
The formal event opened with welcome remarks from Head of Academy Dr Jonathan Long, who reflected on the Class of 2025’s resilience, intellectual curiosity and enduring sense of community.
Dr Jonathan Long, Head of Academy, addressed the graduates with a metaphor, holding up a glass filled with matchsticks.
“Each of these simple, worthless sticks of wood has been coated with something remarkable," Dr Long said. "We have allowed you to experience a set of values and beliefs. Your task is to take what you have been given and to strike a light. Go out into the world as light in dark places, as warmth in cold places.”
Mr Shiraz Vastani, Chairman of the Aga Khan Education Service, India and a parent of a graduate from the Class of 2021 at the Academy, added a personal dimension to the occasion. He reminded the students of their role in society.
“Today, we gather to celebrate not just your academic accomplishments, but the potential you hold to contribute meaningfully to global societies,” Mr Vastani said.
The ceremony also featured a musical performance by one of the graduating students, Zanea Ali, who is a nationally and internationally recognised pianist and multi-instrumentalist. Zanea’s rendition of “Interstellar” reflected the themes of courage and hope that have defined the graduating class’s journey.
This year’s keynote address was delivered by Ms Meaghan Blight, President of Wesleyan College in the United States – the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women. The Academy’s long-standing partnership with Wesleyan College has evolved into a network-wide collaboration. Rooted in shared values of leadership, service and equity, the partnership now offers full-tuition and partial scholarships specifically for female IB students from the Aga Khan Schools. A champion of inclusive leadership and equitable access to education, Ms Blight shared inspiring reflections on the importance of courage and service in a changing world.
“When young people lead with integrity, they don’t just lift themselves up, they lift their communities, too,” Ms Blight said.
This year’s graduates earned close to 300 admission offers from top universities across 14 countries, including India. This includes the University College London, Ashoka University, the University of Toronto, FLAME University, the University of Edinburgh, Azeem Premji University, Monash University, the University of British Columbia, New York University and the University of Warwick. Additionally, the graduates were collectively awarded over $6.3 million in scholarships.
The Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad remains committed to nurturing ethical, homegrown leaders who are grounded in service, leadership and a global outlook. The Class of 2025 now embarks on the next phase of their journey, ready to make a meaningful impact across the globe.
The ceremony is available for viewing on the Academies' official YouTube channel here.
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