KINGSTON – Thunderous applause greeted the proud members of the graduating class of The Prout School on June 7 when they entered the Ryan Center for the school’s 43rd commencement exercises.
In addition to completing a rigorous program of academic studies, the 162 gifted graduates were involved in numerous athletic and cultural extracurricular activities, and performed thousands of hours of community service in parishes, hospitals, shelters, food pantries and other vital programs in many parts of the state.
As noted in the commencement program, the enthusiastic graduates were offered a total of more than $12,419,000 in award money in grants and scholarships over the next four years. Many members of the class will further their education at Catholic colleges and universities, including The Catholic University of America, Assumption College, and Fordham, Salve Regina and Sacred Heart universities.
The graduation exercises were video streamed live via a laptop computer to Afghanistan, where Lt. Col. Richard Kaley, a member of the Rhode Island Army National Guard, has been deployed since April. He is the father of Ethan Andrew Kaley, a member of the graduating class.
“I personally enjoyed Prout a lot,” said Kaley, adding that it was his choice, not his parents’, to attend the Catholic high school.
“He is very proud of me and all that I’ve done to get into college,” he continued, when asked about his father’s anticipation about staying up all night to watch the ceremonies that were being held thousands of miles away.
Kaley will attend Northeastern University in Boston in the fall.
Martin Larson, vice president of the student body, reflected on the “great four years” he spent at Prout.
Larson said that the lessons about life that he learned at the school were perhaps more important than the knowledge of mathematics and science that he acquired at Prout.
“The Dominican Republic mission trip was the greatest week I’ve had in my life so far,” he recalled. Larson will attend The Catholic University of America, where he plans to study English.
In her valedictory address, Brittany Ann Ricci, told her classmates that the senior retreats in which the students participated offered an opportunity “to see the sheer goodness that makes up our class.
“We all have similar doubts and fears, but, at the same token, we all have the same foundation – the same foundation of values nurtured by not only each other, but the entire Prout community,” she said. “The character we each possess, along with the support of each other will serve as a springboard off of which we can begin the next chapter of our journeys. Potential is one of God’s greatest gifts. The ability to do something truly great is at the core of each and every member of the Class of 2011.”
Ricci will continue her studies at Providence College.
Salutatorian Caitlyn Kennelly Gever, who received an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy, told her classmates “memories shape us, define us, and allow us to always look back on these past four years.”
Offering a list of events and members of the Prout community that the graduates would always remember, she told them that they wouldn’t fail to recall the wonderful friends they made at the school.
“These are the people you’ll never forget – the people who characterize every memory,” Gever observed.
Prout Principal Gary R. Delneo described the Class of 2011 as a “friendly and happy group of kids.
“They have given us so much,” he said, adding that many members of the class made valuable contributions to Prout by serving as peer ministers and leading student retreats.
Bishop Evans offered closing remarks, followed by Benediction.
He thanked the graduates’ parents for the many sacrifices that they had made to ensure that their children received a values-based Catholic education.
Noting that the graduates were both informed and formed, he told them that “it’s because of your formation that you can make a life for yourself and others.”
CLASS OF 2011
Benjamin C. Allen
Renee Jean Altimari
Isabella Mercedes Añonuevo
David Andrew Roland Louis Antonelli
Bridie Lynn Marie Arbige
Ethan Marcus Armitano
Kyle Thomas Armstrong
Walter James Aubin Jr.
Ashlynn Kay August
Timothy Barrow
Hayley Laurel Barta
Colin Christopher Moriarty Basso
Katherine Mary Bell
Matthew Paul Bertelli
Marisa A. Bottai
Alyssa Boudreau
John Patrick Boyle
Holden Hines Bussey
Michael Joseph Byrne
Casten Ann Cappuccio
Ethan Reilly Carter
Alexa R. Casarella
Emily Ann Caswell
Katelyn Elizabeth Chadwick
Ali McGinn Chenard
Andrew Howard Chinn
Julia E. Cianciolo
Thomas Joseph Cienki
Sarah Cohen
Nicholas J. Condon
Carlye Ann Corcoran
Hannah Naomi Cordes
Christopher G. Cote-Mclaughlin
Luke R. Croce
Zachary T. DeLuca
Nicholas Anthony DiSandro
Sarah Lynn Dobson
Sophie Noel Dodd
Matthew J. Dowd
Chandler L. Dupré
Brittany Mae Durgin
Vanessa Jordan Dwyre
Jake Dyer
Douglas F. Engstrume
Shane Gary Fairbrother
Sisana Eliza Farley
Kelly Irene Fay
Eilish M. Finneran
Brendan J. Fogarty
Rachael Victoria Forest
Michael J. Fortin
Alexander E. Fournier
Victoria Justina Gallogly
Neysa Gardiner
Georgia Rose Gates
Caitlyn Kennelly Gever
Katie Elizabeth Kyung Gilligan
Ainsley Janet Gilman
Daniel Patrick Griffin
Jacob Guerin
Colleen Elizabeth Hanrahan
Kevin Christopher Haughey
Brittany Anne Hazelton
Sarah Elizabeth Iselin
Sarah Caroline Jacobs
Elizabeth Rose Jemo
Stewart James Kaczynski
Ethan Andrew Kaley
Victoria Britton Kern
Theresa Gabriel Sabastian Kineke
John Patrick King
Robert William LaChance
Nicolette Elizabeth LaFrance
Jeffrey Scott Lamendola
Anne Kathleen Langan
Martin Ross Larson
Christopher Michael Latham
Emily Katherine Latham
Christian Philip Lawber
Nicole Anne Leahey
Áine Lehane
Kimberly Casey Lesieur
Lauren Hope L'Esperance
Sarah Pearce Lord
Mia Colleen Loyola
Alexa Nicole Lucci
Hillary Ann Lussier
Tyler Austin Maar
Ian Forrest Mace
Brianna Marie Madden
Patrick James Majeika
Bethany Nicole Mancuso
Jennifer Alexandra Manni
Mia Loren Marcello
Jessica Marie Marfeo
Sean M. Marran
Hayley Jean Marshall
Ryan Christopher Matuszek
Hayley Margaret McGuirl
Jennifer Mary McGunigal
Anthony Blaise McMahon
Taryn Quinn McPherson
Ethan Joseph Melillo
Alyssa Nicole Menard
Todd Greggory Mitchell
Christopher Johnathan Mitrelis
James Iaconi Moretti
Marisa Rose Morgera
Brenda Anne Morris
James Henry Noon
Joseph Thomas Notarantonio
Colton Skye Oliver
Luke Adam Orchardo
Jordan Elizabeth Oswinkle
Marci Parente
Grace Parker
Peter Patriarca
Adrian Elizabeth Pendergast
Shannon Leigh Perry
Marin Francesca Peterson
Daniel Petock
Rose Petock
Kaitlyn Rose Poirier
Kelly Ann Polhemus
Kerry Elizabeth Quirk
Anna Rabuano
Peter Joseph Ragosta
Kimberly Rose Rameika
Brittany Ann Ricci
Sally Anne Rochford
Elizabeth Mary Rosbottom
Timothy Neville Rousseau
Catherine Elizabeth Salvadore
Elizabeth Rose Sammartino
Christopher Sanacore
Thomas Allan Schubert
Lacey Lee Segal
Casey J. Shalkowski
Margaret Alice Sheerin
Christopher R. Siravo
Lillian Mary Sogar
Spencer J. Stall
Albert William Steinhauer
Brittany Elizabeth Storti
Abigail Sucsy
Mollie B. Sullivan
Briana L. Swinson
Bryan Z. Swords
Benjamin Storey Thompson
Brittany A. Thurman
Christian Tiexiera
Andrew Torrado
Kaitlynn Ueno
Matthew Valletta
Elizabeth-Ann R. Viscione
Nathaniel Brady Walker
Elise Walsh
Haley Wilk
Richard A. Williams
Thomas Williams
Rebecca Winslow
Tiffany Rose Wolfe
Abigail Wurster
Gregory C. Zervos
