Alumni
2025 Commencement Speaker Announced
The end of the school year is fast approaching and with that, excitement is in the air as The Webb Schools prepares to celebrate the graduating Class of 2025. We are thrilled to announce John Scalzi ’87 as this year’s commencement speaker.
A celebrated author and influential voice in modern science fiction, John’s journey began at Webb, where he first discovered his passion for writing. Described by The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction as “standing at the core of the American science fiction tradition,” John has penned multiple New York Times bestsellers and award-winning novels, including the Old Man’s War series, Redshirts (winner of the 2013 Hugo Award for Best Novel), The Kaiju Preservation Society (winner of the 2023 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel), and Starter Villain (a finalist for the 2024 Hugo Award). His works have been published in over 30 languages and are currently in development for film and television. Additionally, five of his short stories have been adapted for Netflix’s Emmy-winning animated series Love, Death + Robots.
Beyond fiction, John’s diverse writing career has spanned journalism, film criticism, and nonfiction. His early days at Webb’s Blue & Gold newspaper laid the foundation for a career that has included nationally syndicated columns, bestselling essay collections, and serving as president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. In 2023, he was honored with the prestigious Robert A. Heinlein Award for his contributions to science fiction literature and space exploration themes. He has also explored new creative avenues, releasing two electronic music EPs in 2024.
John has remained deeply connected to Webb—returning for reunions, engaging with students, and sharing his insights on storytelling and creativity. In recognition of his outstanding literary achievements and commitment to the Webb community, he was awarded the Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award in 2022.
We are very excited to have John return to Webb for this year’s commencement and look forward to hearing his words of wisdom as we celebrate the Class of 2025!
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Beyond fiction, John’s diverse writing career has spanned journalism, film criticism, and nonfiction. His early days at Webb’s Blue & Gold newspaper laid the foundation for a career that has included nationally syndicated columns, bestselling essay collections, and serving as president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. In 2023, he was honored with the prestigious Robert A. Heinlein Award for his contributions to science fiction literature and space exploration themes. He has also explored new creative avenues, releasing two electronic music EPs in 2024.
John has remained deeply connected to Webb—returning for reunions, engaging with students, and sharing his insights on storytelling and creativity. In recognition of his outstanding literary achievements and commitment to the Webb community, he was awarded the Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award in 2022.
We are very excited to have John return to Webb for this year’s commencement and look forward to hearing his words of wisdom as we celebrate the Class of 2025!
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