School of the Holy Child
On June 9, Holy Child congratulated and cheered the 57 members of the Class of 2018.
Student Government President Jamie Brusco and Senior Class President Natalia Nuñez addressed the class. Ms. Brusco said, “This September, we will start a new chapter, and whether we are close to home or far, we will all experience brand new things…But the most important thing that will never change from this moment on, is that we will forever have each other, our memories together, our rings, and this beautiful school supporting us in the many things we go on to do in our lives.” Ms. Nuñez added: “Our graduates will go as far as Dublin and as close to home as the Bronx. No matter where you all go, always remember Holy Child — both the people and the place — as your home away from home.”
Head of School Melissa Dan assured graduates that they should trust their instincts. “Our global world is increasingly unpredictable. The social and political landscape is evolving, and technology changes rapidly and impacts every facet of life. We are all called upon to approach life with an ever-expanding toolbox of skills. To be creative and collaborate. To think differently and make informed decisions. Know that when the way gets complicated, as it always will, you can trust your Holy Child education and all of us here who are rooting for you.”
The Commencement Speaker was Brittany Williams, a member of the class of 2006 and a graduate of Harvard Business School. She earned a B.S. in Systems and Information Engineering from the University of Virginia, where she received a full merit scholarship. At UVA, she was a Lawn Resident — an honor awarded to fourth-year students based on academic achievement, leadership, and commitment. She is also the founder & CEO of a graduate and undergraduate admissions consulting company. This summer she will join Intel’s Virtual Reality, Esports, and Gaming team.
Ms. Williams offered two pieces of advice: “Just say yes! And create your own definition of success.” She added, “Success is finding true happiness in the relationships that I cultivate. Success is leaving a legacy. But don’t conform to my definitions of success, I want you to feel comfortable creating your own definition of success and standing by it.”
Ms. Dan and Thomas Girard, Board Chair, conferred four special awards as well as the diplomas.
<<Caroline Beit>> received the Holy Child Award for earning the highest average based on the highest general academic average for four years.
The Cornelia Connelly Award, for outstanding service and leadership in school and community, was presented to <<Hannah Cleary>>.
<<Natalia Nuñez>> received The Sister Mary Basil Award, given by the graduating class to the one among them who has consistently shown Christ-like compassion, generosity, and concern for others.
Dede Ross, former board chair, presented the award in her name to <<Katie Caffrey>>, a senior who has enriched the lives of all at Holy Child through her honesty, humility, quiet perseverance, and sense of humor.
Captions:
#22 Special Award winners Natalia Nunez, Katie Caffrey, Hannah Cleary, and Caroline Beit
#2- Class of 2018 “Lifers” (graduates who came to Holy Child in the fifth grade) pictured, back row: Natalie Williams, Cece Hylton, and Olivia Califano; front row: Amelia Boyle, Sandra King, Taylor John, and Hannah Cleary
#12- Former Board Chair Dede Ross, Head of School Melissa Dan, Commencement Speaker Brittany Williams ‘06, and Board Chair Thomas Girard
The Class of 2018
Caroline Beit
Kira Bigelow
Amelia Boyle
Jamie Brusco
Ginny Cacsire
Katie Caffrey
Olivia Califano
Hannah Cleary
Mychala Coughlin
Ryan Delane
Alexandra DeStaebler
Georgia Fitzgerald
Sophia Flissler
Victoria Gaffney
Schuyler Gardner
Victoria Hanley
Phoebe Horne
Julia Howe
Lily Hurley
Cece Hylton
Leigh Jacobsen
Taylor John
Cate Kaplan
Sandra King
Sophie Laino
Kyra Lang
Alexa Lantin
Arlyn Levine
Olivia Linnartz
Annette LiPuma
Sally Long
Molly Mackie
Audrey Maglich
Caroline McGee
Frankie Molen
Payton Mullin
Natalia Nuñez
Charlotte Okon
Jacqueline Pace
Emily Pellegrino
Claudia Pineda
Tessa Quivelli
Gabby Rivera
Cristina Rocco
Anne Ryan
Lauren Scully
Molly Semprevivo
Francesca Serraino
Katie Shultis
Hanna Stier
Julia Tyler
Alessia Valentino
Alanna Walsh
Madison Warne
Alysa Wells
Natalie Williams
Sarah Yearwood
COLLEGE CHOICES
Bard College (2)
Boston College (2)
Boston University
Bridgewater College
Bucknell University
Catholic University of America
Colby College
College of the Holy Cross (3)
Columbia University/Trinity College Dublin
Denison University
Duke University
Elon University
Fairfield University
Fordham University
Georgetown University
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Lafayette College (2)
Loyola College, Maryland
Merrimack College
Mount Holyoke College
New York University
Pennsylvania State University (3)
Purdue University
Rutgers University
Skidmore College
State University of New York, Brockport
St. Lawrence University
Stony Brook University
Syracuse University
Temple University
Trinity College, CT
Tulane University
United States Military Academy*
University of Dayton
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Richmond (2)
University of Rochester
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Villanova University (3)
Wake Forest University
Yale University*
*matriculation in 2019
