One-hundred eighty-three students received diplomas from St. Mary’s Dominican High School during the May 19 graduation ceremony held at 10:00 a.m. on campus. Sr. Suzanne Brauer, O.P., Delegate for the Corporation Member of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, delivered the opening prayer. Mrs. Wendy Grubb, Chair of the Guidance Department, presented graduates. President Dr. Cynthia A. Thomas and Vice President, Principal Mrs. Carolyn Favre awarded the diplomas.
St. Mary’s Dominican High School Class of 2018 received numerous honors and awards. In the class, 85 students merited the distinction of honor graduate, earning GPAs of 3.5 or higher. One of the highest academic honors a high school student can receive is National Merit recognition for outstanding academic ability as determined by the student’s scores on the PSAT administered in October of her junior year. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognized seven students this year. The National Merit Scholarship Program named, Audrey Gail Buck and Rebecca Elizabeth D’Antonio, Commended Students. Caroline Francis Bickerton, Lillian Adele Cerise, Emma Margaret Duckworth, Annie McManus Smith, and Abigail Karen Bridgen Webb and were recognized as 2018 National Merit Finalists.
As of May 15, graduates earned admission into 107 different colleges and universities throughout the country. One-hundred and seventeen received 375 scholarships and awards totaling more than $14.1 million dollars. Sixty-one qualified for advanced placement college credit through spring testing and AP programs, earning 557 credit hours. Twenty-two students earned 132 hours of math credit through dual enrollment with LSU. Additional college credits will be awarded in July based on the results of AP exams taken each May by students. The Class of 2018 completed 31,993 hours of community service.
Salutatorian Caroline Marie Troendle received the Salutatory Award for achieving the second highest cumulative grade point average in her program of studies. Troendle, daughter of Lisa M. Troendle and John B. Troendle, will attend Louisiana State University that offered her a Flagship Scholars Resident Award. She was a member of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta.
Valedictorians were Caroline Francis Bickerton, Audrey Gail Buck, Lillian Adele Cerise, Rebecca Elizabeth D’Antonio, Annie McManus Smith, and Abigail Karen Brigden Webb. They received the Valedictory Award, presented to the honor graduates who have achieved the highest cumulative grade point average in their program of studies.
Bickerton, daughter of Charlotte Ann Lagarde Bickerton and Dean A. Bickerton, will attend University of Notre Dame. Recognized as a National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist, she received the St. Mary’s Dominican College Corporation Scholarship to the Catholic college of her choice. She was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and Latin Honor Society.
Buck, daughter of Jamie Hughes Buck and Kenneth Buck, will attend Tulane University. A National Merit Scholarship Program Commended student, she received the Distinguished Scholars Award from Tulane. She held membership in Latin Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and National Honor Society.
Cerise, daughter of Irene Gonzalez Cerise and John P. Cerise, will attend Yale University. A National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist, she received the Entergy Community Power Scholarship to the college of her choice. She was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and Latin Honor Society.
D’Antonio, daughter of Dr. M. Christine D’Antonio and Dr. Mike D’Anontio, will attend Louisiana State University. LSU awarded the National Merit Scholarship Program Commended student the Flagship Scholars Resident Award and the Pegues Scholarship. She was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, and Latin Honor Society.
Smith, daughter of Nicole Montgnet Smith and Gene R. Smith, will attend Johns Hopkins University. She is a National Program Merit Scholarship Program Finalist. Membership included Tri-M Music Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta.
Webb, daughter of Beth Bridgen-Webb and Tom Webb, is a National Merit Program Finalist. She will attend Rice University that awarded her the Anne Jones Brice Memorial Scholarship. She was a member of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta.
The Mother Mary Magdalen O’Farrell, O.P. Service Award was presented to Brooklyn M. Comeaux. The award recognizes a student’s outstanding, dedicated service to St. Mary’s Dominican High School. Dominican life and growth are mirrored in her reflection of the school’s philosophy by belief in God and respect for the dignity of all human beings.
The Sr. Mary Ambrose Reggio, O.P. Alumnae Award was presented to Katherine G. Mouton, selected by her classmates for representing Dominican Spirit. Dominican’s motto, “To Praise, to Bless, to Preach,” is an integral part of the honorees’ lives, as is their commit to truth, Veritas.
The American Legion Award, sponsored by the Henry Thomas Ross Post No. 137, was awarded to Cole M. Pittman, who was selected by administration, faculty, staff and students for reflecting the qualities of courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship, and service.
Six graduates, Lillian A. Cerise, Emily C. Douglass, Alison J. Dupré, Tia A. Peck, Cole M. Pittman, and Alex D. Williams, were selected by leadership, administration and faculty to receive the Veritas Award, the most prestigious award presented to a St. Mary’s Dominican High School graduating senior. The recipient of this award demonstrates exemplary understanding of the Dominican Charism, Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare, to Praise, to Bless, to Preach. Following the example of St. Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Dominican Order, the Veritas Award recipient faithfully strives to seek Veritas, Truth through prayer, study, community and service. She preaches the Truth of the Gospel through the example of her life and calls forth the best in others.
In addition to the valedictorians and salutatorian, those graduating summa cum laude (4.0 and above) were Bridget Marie Adam, Cameron Denise Berger, Melissa Eugenia Berner, Renée Elizabeth Breaux, Catherine Curry Cabes, Victoria Tuyet-Ye Cheung, Alison Emily delCorral, Emma Margaret Duckworth, Sara Nicole Gautreaux, Joan Mara Gosciniak, Addison Nicole Hall, Anna Mabel Hansen, Caroline Grace Hensley, Emily Dawn Johnson, Claire Nicole Karcher, Rebecca Renée Koenig, Ann Marcelle Lafranca, Alexis Nicole Lang, Mackenzie Elizabeth LaPlace, Kristen Michele Larche, Victoria Sanyang Liu, Katie Elisabeth Mayer, Madelyn Jane McGovern, Maygan Marie Miguez, Sophie de Lauréal Ondrusek, Tia Angele Peck, Elise Arden Peyroux, Isabelle Serena Poche’, Katherine Quealy Schaumburg, Abigail Therese Slattery, Nia Siobhan Smith, Kristen Alyssa Tholen, Anne deLivaudais Zelden.
Graduating magna cum laude (3.75-3.99) were Julia Sarrat Bogart, Halle Grace Briede, Allison Claire Briuglio, Nina Grace Casanova, Brooklyn Marie Comeaux, Paige Caroline Dawson, Alison Jewel Dupré, Susan Meade Endom, Madeline Marie Foret, Victoria Angela Gagliano, Catherine Montgomery Glorioso, Alexa Grace Gonzalez, Alexandra Ligia Gutierrez, Jeanine Mohamed Halum, Brooke Hannah Loupe, Chloe Joanna Helene Mendy, Sabrina Quynh Huong Nguyen, Claire Elizabeth Padilla, Cole Massett Pittman, Savanah Clara Rodrigue, Amelia Jeanne Vallette, Jessica Christy Wallesverd.
Graduating cum laude (3.50-3.74) were Adelyn Nicole Becker, Sarah Jenell Becnel, Katherine Monique Belleau, Isabella Lee Brocato, Olivia Camille Busby, Clara Isabel Garcia, Nia Jacenta Hudson, Abigail Christine Kibler, Kelly Ann Kramer, Christina Aline LeBlanc, Madison Lucille Manale, Cassidy Marie Monfra, Abbey Taylor Monzon, Katherine Grace Mouton, Sylvia Catherine Mullen, Payton Marie Nunez, Hannah Elizabeth Paradis, Claire Marcelle Perez, Chrysta Jenée Porter, Kirby Elizabeth Sheridan, Alexis Ja’Juan Stackhouse, Mackenzie Lynn Stansberry, Sarah Clare Wild.
Also graduating were Grace Elizabeth Babin, Jenna Eileen Baltz, Ally Nicole Barteet, Mayne Elizabeth Becnel, Carmen Maria Bell, Katherine Grace Bickford, Calley Robin Blue, René Angela Bourdais, Haiden Elizabeth Bowling, Megan Caroline Brannon, Grace Caroline Brown, Sarah Alexis Buras, Amanda Graciela Burgos, Emily Ann Callia, Anne Marie Camardelle, Alana Marie Castillo, Alexis Marie Ceravola, Cecelia Anne Chaney, Kelsey Gabrielle Clement, Caroline Ann Colomb, Grayson Elizabeth Cooley, Katherine Elizabeth Page Curtis, Riley Bannon Daul, Brooke Ashley Davis, Cassidy Caryn delCastillo, Molly Kate Derbes, Claire Andree’ Dinwiddie, Emily Catherine Douglass, Sophia Alexandra Edmundson, Madelyne Elizabeth Evans, Samantha Madison Ferry, Briaunna Jamie-Leigh Galey, Meghan Ashley Gaubert, Nicole Brooke Girau, Robyn Catherine Giraud, Bridget DeAnne Glueck, Emily Elvera Gomez, Cameron Reha Gordon Hassenboehler, Abigail Marie Hassinger, Abigail Elizabeth Haydel, Dana Rose Heck, Asia Julia Hentkowski, Sophie Renee Herbert, Katherine Adelai Hill, Alexis Myra Hinrichs, Lucy Crane Hood, Isabella Leigh Hotard, Caitlyn Victoria Huff, Hayli Mariah Hunter, Erynn deLane Johnson, Codee Dominque Jones, Cassidy Barbara King, Alexandra Juliette Krouse, Alyssa Marie Lastrapes, Brenna Evan Lauga, Shalaye’ Armani Lawrence, Haylie Anne Lloyd, Aliyah Claire Lombard, Emily Ann Maddie, In’ziya D’Lorrin Magee, Bria Lynn Martin, Makenzie Angelle Martinez, Hailey Marie Mathieu, Amari Rashon McDonald, Hannah Andrea McGowan, Alani Alexis Miller, Madison Victoria Moore, Alexandra Kate Morris, Hailey Brijette Morris, Sandra Claire Murphy, Annalyse Victoria Lidia Nelson, Lauren Ashley Normand, Emilia Victoria Onstott, Bailey Rose O’Quin, Heather Ann Ordoyne, Victoria Helen-Rose Pecot, Elisa Mirian Perriott, Elisabeth Mikes Piglia, Jolie Alena Pugh, Abigail Hope Richeson, Alexandra Elizabeth Rosenbohm, Meghan Bachemin Rotolo, Sydney Althea Scott, Lindsey Elizabeth Sellers, Emily Bonnette Sidora, Caitlin Elizabeth Smith, Kayla Marisa Florestine Steele, Meghan Rebecca Subervielle, Molly Elizabeth Tassin, Angela Kim Tran, Abriana Renee Travis, Amanda Louise Viloria, Miriam Elaine Waguespack, Rebecca Ellen Wennemann, Delanie Patricia Wheeler, Alex Donielle Williams, Hannah Marguerite Wright, Allison Claire Yrle.