PROVIDENCE — The setting in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul was a glorious one as 333 La Salle Academy seniors, clad in maroon robes with white trim took their places of honor during their graduation On June 6.
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Samuel L. Davey, a La Salle graduating senior who addressed the large audience that packed the pews at the cathedral, said his fellow graduates showed "remarkable dedication" to the Catholic faith and their studies.
Davey, a member of the Rhode Island and National Honor Societies, also said he had never experienced a community like the one he encountered at La Salle and called for the parents and relatives in attendance to be recognized for supporting his fellow classmates.
Gianna A. Notarianni, a graduating senior who also addressed the gathering, said La Salle helped her class learn to find God in their everyday lives.
"And they helped us realize that without [God], nothing is possible," said Notarianni, also a member of the National and Rhode Island Honor Societies.
The evening was a "surreal experience," said Eric C. Fortier, as he proudly clutched his La Salle diploma in his hand.
"I'm going to miss my friends, the great teaching staff and the whole La Salle community," said Fortier, 18, a Coventry resident and Rhode Island Honor Society member who plans to study biochemistry at Philadelphia University.
Like many of his fellow La Salle Academy graduates, Fortier reflected on how his four years at the Catholic high school founded by the De La Salle Christian Brothers formed him into a well-rounded student.
"They taught me how to be a respectful young man," Fortier said while trying to connect with his family outside the cathedral following the graduation ceremony.
Lauren A. Forti, 18, of Lincoln, a Rhode Island Honor Society member, could relate. She will be moving on to college in upstate New York to study game design.
"The teachers here really care about the kids," Forti said. "They help you appreciate the importance of having integrity in your work and taking a lot of pride in what you do."
La Salle chaplain Father Michael Najim offered the invocation and Providence Auxiliary Bishop Robert C. Evans offered the benediction.
Brother Thomas Gerrow, F.S.C., said he had great affection for the Class of 2013 in that it was the first class that he had the honor to award diplomas for since becoming La Salle president. He reminded the graduates that true happiness is found in the integration of a person's spiritual and daily lives.
Chad A. Verdi, Jr., 18, of East Greenwich, said he learned that lesson in his time at La Salle.
"La Salle was like a second home. It's a great school with great teachers. I'm going to miss them and all my friends," said Verdi, who will attend the University of Denver this fall.
Ricardo A. Castillo, 18, of Providence, will attend the College of Mount St. Vincent in New York to study business management.
"I'm relieved to be stepping into the real world," said Castillo, adding that La Salle teachers taught him the importance of "never falling behind" in work.
"And always stay on top of your schedule," Castillo said.
Lindsey Clark, 18, of North Smithfield, said she felt a sense of accomplishment in graduating from La Salle. She plans to study marketing at Community College of Rhode Island and then transfer to a four-year school.
"It was a challenge to get through some of the classes. The teachers could be really hard," said Clark, who noted that the school also instilled values and taught her to be a "good person."
Notarianni, one of the students who spoke to the gathering during the ceremony, said La Salle would always be there for the graduates even as they are now alumni.
"We will all miss the academy," Notarianni said, "but we will always have our home at 612 Academy Avenue."
LaSalle Academy Class of 2013
Ben M. Abbatematteo
Sarah Nicole Achille
Rachael Elisabeth Adler
Temidayo J. Akinjisola
Asher Akinola
Alexa Cristina Amalfitano
Corinne Kelsey Amaral
Nimindu B. Ambalangodage
Marco Amendola
Martha Andrade
Ivana Maria Andrews
Megan Rose Andriole
Franklin Thomas Angevine
Kimberly Jean Ascoli
Brian C. Aucoin
Benjamin Michael Averill
Christopher Ballirano
Martin K. Bannerman, Jr.
Saage W. Baptista
Amanda Rose Bartolini
Sarah-Rose Beatrice
Katie A. Benoit
Scott A. Benson
Joseph A. Bernardo, Jr.
Samuel A. Bibeault
Nicholas A. Birtles
Liam P. Blank
Mark Anthony Bocchini
Reid K. Boehm
Matthew Joseph Botieri
Victoria Barrett Bouchard
Brendon Robert Bovill
Shawn Brailsford
Jonathan James Brasil
Kyle Patrick Brassil
Miranda Leigh Breault
Sophia Fei Mao Breggia
Eric Stephen Brown
Jairan H. Brown
Michaela Louise Burns
Joseph Robert Byrd
Peter Matthew Campellone
John Carlos Capellan
Alyssa Emily Capuano
Anthony James Cardillo
Emily Erin Carranza
Taryn L. Carreiro
Nicholas Carroll
Christopher J. Casey
Ricardo A. Castillo
Michael Ryan Catarina
Brittany Margaret Cavaco
Zachary Thomas Chapasko
Robert Andrew Checani
Adam Paul Chelminski
Taylor Jean Chelo
Becky Chen
Drew Alexander Chretien
Lindsey Clark
Michael David Clark
Victoria Cheryl Colapietro
Grace Jeanette Cole
Sara Marie Colgan
Maya Collier
Antonio E. Conte
Nicholas Bryan Coppola
Max Richard Couto
Robert Coutu
Samuel Ari Cowan
Alexander J. Croce
Kaleigh Marie Crowell
Elena Benedicta Curran
Hannah N. Curran
William D’Amico
Rachel Catherine Daniel
Elizabeth Marie DaPonte
Mitchell R. DaSilva
Samuel Louis Davey
McKenzie Elizabeth Davis
Alexandra J. De La Zerda
Alysha M. DeCrescenzo
Nicolas Gian DeFruscio
Ariana A. DeFusco
Joseph Michael DeLeo
Jason Michael Delisle
Maxine Marie DeLuise
Jeffrey Alexander DiIorio
Jacquelynn Mae DiMuccio
Jeffrey Alexander DiRocco
Kevin Matthew Divver
Ashley A. Donnelly
Andrew Michael Dunn
Priscilla Caroleina Dunphy
Curtis Earl Dyer
Emily Ann Dzilenski
Kevin William Ennis
Emma Susan Fague
Brooke Alexandra Fairbrothers
Nicholas James Farren
Nicole Elizabeth Fayne
Jonathan R. Feenstra
Yesennia Isabel Fernandez
Rachael E. Fleming
Jose S. Flores
Joshua A. Foglia
Amber Lynn Folan
Sydney Victoria Formicola
Lauren Alexandra Forti
Eric Christopher Fortier
Taylor M. Fortune
Patrick Reilly Foster
Anthony Francis
Kaitlynn Marie Franco
Brooke E. Friday
Christian Garcia
Matthew P. Gardiner
Caleb M. Gardner
John M. Georges
Seth Austin Gergel
Alexandria Gervelis
Mario G. Gianfrancesco, Jr.
Timothy R. Giblin
Catherine Elizabeth Glavin
Jake Helm Guglielmetti
Zaryah Joyce-Ann Guyton
Emily Margaret Hamilton
Briana Lynn Hanson
Mark Jacob Harpootian
Erin Mary Harrington
Kelsey Elizabeth Harrold
Abbey Lyn Haynes
Patrick Joseph Healey
William David Hendrix
Haig S. Hengen
André Herrera
Richard Paul Herzig
Kirstyn Lee Hopkins
Corey James Hourahan
Alexander James Howard
Karoline Elizabeth Inman
Louis P. Izzo
Alyssa Lee Jacavone
Matthew John Jacavone
Kaitlyn Flynn Jackson
Alexis Nicole Jacober
Evelyn Marie Jansen
Blake D. Jardin
Christopher Robert Jeffrey
Grace Elizabeth Jeffrey
Sojeong Jun
Erin Christian Kane
Cedric Nicolas Kenney
Jason P. Khang
Tiana Renee Kibbe
Christopher Frederick Kilsey
Elizabeth Morgan King
Ryan A. Kirtlink
Yevgeniy Konstantinovich Klinovskiy
Rachel Cook Koller
Lauren Ashley Kowalski
Andrew Robert Mathew Roy LaCroix
Romer A. Lagrange
David Leo Laliberte
India Clarke Lamboy
Zaire E.D. Lambright
Amy Kathryn Landi
John M. Laurie
Amy Rose Lavigne
Robin Diamond Lee
Victoria Madeleine Lee
Steven David Lefebvre
Linda Lin
Alyssa Marie Loffredo
Marco Nicola Lomazzo
Benjamin R. Long
Thomas John Long
Richard H. Lonks
Diana Lourenco
Justin Michael Lynch
Danielle J. Marie MacInnis
Lionelha Martin Macomber
David Angelo Mainville
Katherine Rose Maiorisi
Jennifer E. Mannix
Amy L. Manzo
Philip Michael Marchetti
Caitlin Louise Marino
Kristin M. Marsella
Francheska Marie Marte
Reese Nicholas Martilli
Gregory T. Martin
Jonathan J. McGinn
John L. McKenna II
Kristen N. McMahon
Allison Paula Mello
James Philip Mello
Allyson Hope Messier
Ashlynne Faith Messier
Arianna Elizabeth Miele
Nicholas G. Migliori
Humza R. Mirza
Danielle M. Mongeau
Victoria Anne Montagano
Brianna Lynn Montecalvo
Jordan Allyn Moore
Connor J. Morenzi
Sarah J. Morin
Joshua L. Morris
Isabella Ann Mosca
Michael D. Muench
Andrew M. Mulvey
Mikayla E. Murphy
Michael J. Nadeau
Gabrielle R. Naylor
Taylor Bethany Nelson
Nhi Nguyen
Elizabeth D. Nigro
Gianna A. Notarianni
Erica Gail O’Connell
Brady R. O’Donnell
Kaitlyn O’Donnell
Cody Ondrick
Leah C. O’Neill
Andrew K. Ong
Faith O. Osinaga
Annemarie Ottaviani
Joseph S. Pacheco
Katherine M. Packhem
Rachel S. Padilla
Serena Palleschi
Vasiliki N. Panteleakis
Michael S. Paquin
Jake J. Parkhouse
Daniel S. Pasto
Allison Faye Perron
Damian T. Perrotta
Gabrielle R. Pesaturo
Theodore Petrecca III
Kyle M. Pezzelli
Victoria S. Piccirillo
Biannette Pichardo
Ryan Pickering
Bianca Jody Pierre
Amanda Marie Pitocco
Hannah Mary Poirier
Thomas Alexander Pontikes
Sara Catherine Poor
Monica Lynn Prudencio
Matthew James Quinn
Mara Elizabeth Quinn
Robert Francis Quirk
Kennedy Ariana Rachiele
Andrew Avery Ragosta
Nathan Walter Ray
Erica Giovanna Rebussini
Adam Joseph Rego
Sydney Rose Resendes
Nicholas Jordan Restivo
Francesca Marie Ricci
Francesca Nicole Ricci
Sarah Jessica Ricci
Rebecca Rose Richardson
Hayley Elizabeth Roberts
Brooke Elizabeth Robison
Stephen Nicholas Rocchio
Joshua Guadalope Rodriguez
Christopher Bartholomew Rogers
Sarah Anne Rohrman
Austin Philip Rooke
Courtney Elizabeth Roque
Alyssa Ashley Rose
Christopher Robert Ryan
Luke Steven Saccoccio
Jessica Maria Salvadore
Marissa Mullins Salvati
Alexander Sao Bento
Erin Lynn Sayles
Remi Leigh Scarcella
Morgan R. Schmitt
Amanda L. Schofield
Briana Rian Scichilone
Rebecca M. Silva
Zachary S. Silva
Charlotte M. Slota
Haley M. Smith
Nicholas C. Smith
Jeni Rose Soucie
David Michael Spinella, Jr.
Alexis Lee Spino
Jennifer R. Spirito
Christina M. Stephens
Michael L. Stephens
Victoria L. Stephens
Kaela Sullivan
Karolyn J. Sundberg
Justin Peter Sweeney
Randi L. Tella
Matthew A. Terry
Christopher Alfred Testa
Jared Charles Thompson
Luke Richard Thompson
Wilnys Sherling Thompson
John Ander Thorsen
Austin M. Tingley
Danielle V. Tocco
Brianah Starr Torrens
Nicholas Toth
Samantha Marie Travelyn
Jessica R. Trupiano
Anna L. Tumber
Evan R. Turner
Victoria A. Varone
Austin Nino Vasconcelos
Gauri Vasudevan
Luis Armando Velez
Annie Maeve Venditti
Kyle A. Verbeyst
Chad A. Verdi, Jr.
David Michael Villiard
Allison Lauren Vitullo
Robert Volk
Alexandra Rose Volpe
Cameron Edward Walsh
Shane Patrick Cocco Watterson
Connor Joseph Weathers
Steven Richard West II
James Thomas Chester Whittle
Monica Elizabeth Wiant
Daniel James Wise
Jessica Lynn Woodbine
Caitlin Elizabeth Wray
Brianna Jean Yanke
Jack Colvin Young