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Copyright©2008. Congregation of Saint Joseph. |
St. Joseph's Academy Class of 2012 Graduates
St. Joseph’s Academy celebrated the 2012 Baccalaureate Mass and 135th Commencement Exercises on May 20 at the Baton Rouge River Center. The 216 members of the class of 2012 met all standards for graduation as prescribed by the Academy and were awarded a diploma.
“As you join the sisterhood of St. Joseph’s Academy’s 8,262 alums making a difference in the world, I encourage you to lead in love,” said Sister Adele Lambert, CSJ, President.
SJA Principal Linda Fryoux Harvison welcomed the large crowd and noted SJA’s strong foundation of friends and alumnae around the world. She recognized the class of 1962, whose members are commemorating the 50th anniversary of their graduation year, and welcomed class representatives Stella Dabadie Guidroz, grandmother of Taylor Deranger (class of 2012), and Judy Hamilton Yuslum.
Lector Mathilde Silverberg welcomed Bishop Robert W. Muench, who celebrated the baccalaureate mass, SJA Chaplain Father Jack Nutter and other members of the clergy in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
Following mass, salutatorian Morgan DeCuir reflected on the freedoms afforded SJA students as they are molded into well-rounded young women. “Whenever we are not forced to accomplish a pre-set goal, we learn how to achieve our aspirations on our own, and our creativity grows,” she said. “When we were younger, our teachers, parents and coaches needed to remind us of our responsibilities, but St. Joseph’s has helped us develop our own personal motivations that we need to be successful women. ... The community of Academy alumnae is living proof that these methods are successful. As we complete our journey, I can honestly say that the past four years have been the best of my life, and I will never forget the memories that I have shared with my fellow flamingos.”
Caroline Morganti delivered the valedictory address, reflecting on the many skills learned and memories created during the past four years at the Academy. She thanked the parents, siblings, family members and friends of herself and her classmates for their support, and she thanked the Academy, “especially the teachers who have inspired my classmates and me to strive for excellence inside and outside of the classroom. Everyone at St. Joseph’s Academy taught us to be lifelong learners today so that we may be leaders tomorrow.”
She looked ahead to the new-found freedoms she and her classmates will experience. “In the next four years, you will choose a major, new friends and a future career,” she said. “…You will choose how to confront personal and academic challenges, and you will choose, hopefully, to continue to grow into a young woman who loves and serves the dear neighbor.”
Sister Adele congratulated the graduates and said she desires that each of them will become gospel women, women for others. “As you join the sisterhood of St. Joseph’s Academy’s 8,262 alums making a difference in the world, I encourage you to lead in love,” she said. “Commit yourself to make your home, your city, your world a better place. … Continue to take time to listen to that quiet voice in your heart, the call to greatness: loving, trusting others, taking risks. Pray every day to our God, who loves us unconditionally. Go with our love and great affection and with the promise of Jesus to be with you, class of 2012. Congratulations.”
Please join us in congratulating these young women and hold them in prayer as they begin this new chapter in their lives.
-Story by Mindy Brodhead Averitt
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