WOONSOCKET — The Brother Adelard Arena on the Mount Saint Charles campus was filled with the support of cheering family, faculty and friends ready to watch the graduates, with diplomas in hand, step boldly into the world.
Please click here for more photosThe excited graduating class of 2013 proceeded into arena on Sunday, June 9 accompanied by “Pomp and Circumstance,” with some donning decorated caps. Graduating senior Pricilla Langlais of Cranston took the stage as mistress of ceremonies.
Langlais shared that it is time to close the door to the past and open the door to the future.
“We are starting a new chapter in our lives,” she said. “Now we are turning the page and are writing the next chapter in our lives. We can all be visionaries if we wish to be. We are prepared to do the impossible, we are prepared to change the world.”
The graduate then spoke of the remarkable gifts of her fellow classmate, Matthew Pontes, sharing that it was a privilege to learn beside him.
Pontes, who was named salutatorian, said that he would never forget the dedication of the Mount Saint Charles educators who have made a profound impact on the students.
“Many of the changes which we, as their students, have undergone over the past six years have been due to their diligence and perseverance as educators and mentors, and we can attribute much of our own success to their lasting efforts,” he said. “Their presences in our lives will not be forgotten.”
Expressing his trepidation about walking out the doors as a Mount student for the final time, leaving behind all that is known, familiar and safe, Pontes added that what he and his fellow graduates can count on is the unconditional support from their families.
“I cannot begin to understand the magnitude of the sacrifice which they have made for us, surrendering their personal interests and futures in favor of ours, and we likely will not fully understand this sacrifice until we have children of our own,” he said. “Our successes are a testament to their love, and we appreciate all that they have done and continue to do.”
The day was a special one for parents as well.
With great anticipation and love, Melanie Madden of North Providence, waited to see her daughter Danielle Madden receive her diploma.
“She’s grown in so many ways,” she said. “It’s been a great experience here at Mount. It’s a wonderful school — very family oriented. She’s made some great friends.”
Madden added that her daughter, who will attend Roger Williams University in the fall, is looking forward to having new academic adventures.
“We love her and we are very proud.” She said. “I want her to know that she’s a bright shining star and deserves to fly. She will keep soaring to new heights.”
Feeling nostalgic, graduate Audrey Catalano said she was thrilled to graduate, but sad to leave the Mount Saint Charles community.
“I’m just happy,” said Catalano, who will attend Tulane University in New Orleans. “It’s bittersweet, but I’m so ready to graduate. Mount has prepared us academically, socially, and spiritually.”
The Class of 2013 has a bright future ahead of them, Campus Minister Deacon Anthony Gagliani, said during the commencement. Offering a blessing over the 165 graduates, the deacon encouraged them to trust in their Catholic faith throughout their future endeavors.
“May each graduate live a life that honors God,” he said.
In her valedictory address, Elizabeth Crosby told her fellow students that as youth of the world, they are in a unique and favorable position.
“We have the energy, the capacity for hope, and the clean slates necessary to affect change in our world, which is more accessible to us than it has been before,” she said. “We have an obligation to put aside our own preoccupations with ourselves in order to work for the betterment of our community. As I said before, we all have intrinsic worth just because we’re human. Our task now as we enter college is to find the best way to harness that worth.”
She encouraged the graduates to never let their special gifts go to waste.
“As high school concludes, we find ourselves at a bridge,” said Crosby. “On the other side is our future adulthood, and as we cross we have a choice to make. Will we get caught up with the sense of our own importance? Or will we see ourselves as important cogs in the machine of society, contributing to its growth and development for the better? Will we let our egos or our spirits dominate our inner voices? The choice is ours. We are all special. However, my assertion comes with a qualification. If we’re not careful, we can let our specialness go to waste.”
CLASS OF 2013
Matthew Alexander
Pauline Auger
Rebecca Barishian
Cory Barer
Brian Belisle
Jenna Benoit
Amanda Biernacki
Nicholas Bomm
Adam Bouley
David Bowen
Abbigale Bucchanio
Nicole Butts
Maria Caceres
Kendra Cahill
Sydney Cameron
Emily Cardosa
Alexander Carlin
Lauren Caruso
Audrey Catalano
Alexandra Cesare
Yu Chen
Geoffrey Cicatiello
Kaitlyn Conery
Haley Connors
Peter Cook
Marissa Cooper
Elizabeth Cosby
Niki Cozzolino
Ashley Curran
Kim D’Alessandrao
Mario DaFonte
Lauren Dansereau
Ellen Dark
Ryan Darrow
John Davis III
Benjamin Demers
Matthew Demers
Jake Deslandes
Jacqueline DiChristofero
Cameron DiSpirito
Anna doCurral
Jonathan Donato
Rita Donohoe
Colleen Doyle
Benjamin Drapeaux
Julianne Dugas
Francis Dupuis
Ryan Durand
Julie Eckilson
Nicholas Eddins
Amanda Ellis
Ariana Ferraro
Matthew Ficarra
Kathleen Fichtner
Jenna Fitzpatrick
Elizabeth Foley
Daniel Fontaine
Julia Foster
Miranda Fraraccio
Amanda Gagnon
Kelsey Gainor
Adam Gauvin
Emily Georgeu
Christopher Gerber
Tyler Giles
John Gilpin
Matthew Gilson
Daniel Glod
Carissa Gould
Tori Hammerschmidt
Garrett Hazebrouck
Marissa Heroux
Nicholas Hilton
Ashley Hogan
Madeline Hollis
Daniel Householder
Luke Jackson
Sinhye Jeong Nam-gu
Nathan Joyal North
Matthew Kearns
Travis Landry
Jillian Langin
Priscilla Langlais
Aaron Larivee
Rachel Leclaire
Matthew Lepine
Bailey Lessard
Alexandra Lewis
Justin Lewis
Zhe Lin
Nicholas Liotta
GongJing Luo
Jacob Maceroni
Danielle Madden
Rachel Magerman
Tara Martin
Elizabeth Martinelli
John McCarthy
John McCoy, Jr.
Hayley McDermott
Caitlyn McLoughlin
Emily Miller
Samantha Millette
Jenna Mitchell
Sarah Mombourquette
Victoria Morel
Stephanie Morelle
Lindsey Morin
James Mullaney
Clare Murphy
Emily Murphy
Shane Murphy
Angela Nelson
Kristen Nemes
Jorge Nunes
Katelyn O'Brien
Keegan O'Leary
Kaitlin O'Mealey
Kelly O'Neill
James Paganelli
Domenic Paolo
Christopher Paquin
Phyllis Pasquale
Vincent Pearl
Robert Percy, IV
Kathryn Pereira
Olin Perkins
William Perry
James Pirraglia
Quinn Pollock
Matthew Pontes
Erin Potter
Rebecca Prata
Lauren Precopio
Amy Quistberg
Austin Reed
Jack Ricci
Cassandra Roberge
Cody Rockwell
Zachary Rohrbach
Casey Ryan
Rimannu Saad
Kayla Salley
Lindsey Schneck
Kristina Shardlow
Kara Sheehan
Joseph Silcox
Alisha Sleboda
Francis Smith, III
Elyse Sparks
Krystin Tavares
Grace Teel
Anne-Marie Therrien
Kaitlyn Thibeault
Sarah Viens
Meaghan Walsh
Emily Welt
Brianna Whitney
Jillian Whitney
Kaitlyn Williams
Nicholas Wolny
Kathryn Yorke
Xiaoming Yu Qingdao
Jiayi Zhu Hangzhou
