WOONSOCKET— It was with great enthusiasm and school pride that the 175 young men and women of Mount Saint Charles Academy Class of 2011 graduated from their beloved school on Sunday, June 5.
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An excited graduating class proceeded into Brother Adelard Arena on the Mount Saint Charles campus accompanied by “Pomp and Circumstance,” some donned in decorated caps. Graduating senior Meagan Murphy of North Smithfield took the stage as Mistress of Ceremonies. She began the ceremony by introducing Reverend Charles Quinn, Chaplain, who gave the Invocation. President Herve Richer was next to the stage, conferring commemorative 50th anniversary diplomas to the attending members of the Class of 1961 who received 50th Anniversary Gold Diplomas. Garrett M. Hayward of Glendale, gave the salutatory address.
The graduates would not had made it this far without the constant support of those present, said Valedictorian Lauren Clem of Woonsocket. With their high school journey behind them, Clem is looking with anticipation toward the next leg of the trip, reflecting on the memories of all those who have helped her and her fellow classmates along the way.
“It is on days like this, as we take a monumental step toward the future that we look back at our childhoods and see with clarity the moments that have created the people now stepping out boldly into the world,” she said. “Why walk with hesitation toward the future? I say run with all the excitement and determination of a child going after cookie dough on a hot summer day. Throw yourself into life’s challenges, give it all you’ve got, and don’t worry about forgetting your past because it will always be right behind you lending support every step of the way.”
With his first born graduating, Mike Samborsky of North Smithfield could not have been more proud of his son, Zachary who will be attending the pre-med program at Providence College next fall.
“His experience at Mount Saint Charles has been fantastic,” he said. “ We are very proud.”
There were mixed feelings for John and Donna Boni of Bellingham, Mass., as their son, Matthew prepares to leave behind the halls of Mount Saint Charles and take on his next academic venture at College of the Holy Cross, Worcester.
“He has done so well here but it’s time to move on to what is next,” his father explained. “He loves this school.”
While most senior awards were presented on Friday evening at the Academic Convocation, the top two senior awards of the Academy were presented at the end of the graduation ceremony.
The ceremony concluded with the honoring of The All Mountie Award, which is offered to a graduating senior who has excelled academically, participated in at least one interscholastic sport, contributed significantly to the welfare of the Academy through participation in extracurricular activities, and manifested distinctive qualities of leadership. This year’s award was given to Maria G. Saia of Wrentham, Mass.
The Excelsior Award is presented in recognition of good leadership and participation in co-curricular activities, for showing good human relations and for working coordinately with others in projects of common interest. This year’s recipient is Lauren Clem.
“There are only beginnings, Clem concluded, “And the new layers we add at each turning point in our lives to the complexities of who we are. So remember what you learned in your childhood, be courageous in your choices today, and face your future without any fear of growing older or of growing up. I firmly believe that it is only by the lessons ingrained in all of us long ago that we will one day grasp those treasures known as the fruits of life.”
