Sacred Heart Graduates Celebrate Passion, Service

sacred-heart-gradclass2016
Sacred Heart GradClass2016
Sacred Heart Commencement, Class of 2016. Photo credit: Sal Rotondo

 

By Chéye Roberson

Sentinel Correspondent

 

With a view of vast treetops in the background, The Convent of the Sacred Heart held its 167th Commencement last Friday, witnessing a new class of young women close the chapter on their high school lives.  

“This is the first class I ever taught here—nine years ago,” said Lynn Maldonado, a third grade teacher at the private school on King Street. “I felt like a mother. It really brought a tear to my eye. I’m really proud.”

The commencement speech was given by Dr. Jennifer Raymond Dresden, an assistant teaching professor and associate director of the program on democracy and governance at Georgetown University.

The ceremony had two valedictorians, Sofia Barbosa and Avery Juan, each of whom delivered a speech. Juan was among the students in Maldonado’s first class as a teacher at Sacred Heart.

During her speech, Juan spoke of what made the Class of 2016 special.

“Every member of the class of 2016 is talented, creative, and passionate. Each one of us aims every day to think beyond the self and to help those around us,” said Juan.

Barbosa, who travels annually to Mexico City to work with the community, plans to study biomedical engineering in the future. She spoke about the importance of having a system of support, taking as an analogy the wind that fills a sail.

“We need something that will guide and push us toward our goals,” said Barbosa. “That ‘wind’ can manifest itself in many ways. It can be found in the people that surround us: our friends, family, classmates, and teachers. I also think that this push, this strength, can come from within ourselves.”

Kathleen Falia, director of public relations and communications for Sacred Heart, said that volunteerism and charity work, like the efforts Barbosa has made in Mexico City, are important parts of character building.

“It’s a big deal, because part of our mission here at Sacred Heart is to create young women to become leaders, and part of that is done by creating community service projects,” said Falia.

Parents who serve as members of the board of trustees for the school had the honor of handing out diplomas to their daughters. The recently elected chair of the board, Christopher Ryan, presented his daughter Agatha with her diploma.

“I’m enormously proud,” said Ryan. “She’s been here at Sacred Heart for 15 years, and it’s been a transformational experience.”

Ryan’s term as board of trustees chair will begin on July 1. He said he looks forward to “serving the school and providing energy and effort to continuing the tradition of educating and preparing them for the world ahead.”

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