On the evening of Monday, June 4th, 2018, the 104 members of St. Mary Academy - Bay View's Class of 2018 donned white robes, gloves and caps, and were awarded their diplomas at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence, RI. This marks the 142nd commencement ceremony since the Academy opened in 1874.

Valedictorian Isabella Lanna (pictured below) shared many reflections on her time at Bay View, highlighting the interconnected sisterhood of the Class of 2018.

I knew I had found people who loved and cared about me. I knew I had found a place where I had friends, people who would be there for each other. Moreover, it's this unity and bond that is so significant about our class."

She went on to add, "with the talented, distinguished, and compassionate group of women I am proud to call friends sitting before me now, I can say for sure that we certainly have a great future ahead of us [...] I hope in fifty years we'll talk of how St. Mary Academy - Bay View has made us better friends, better sisters, and better daughters."

In addition to her academic achievements, Isabella has generously shared her time and talents in the service of others - not only as a peer tutor at Bay View, but also as a research assistant for a Brown University medical student, and as an intern in the Clerk's Office at the Supreme Court of Rhode Island.

Isabella's record of outstanding achievements includes membership in the Rhode Island Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, and the National Honor Society. She has also been awarded the Brown University Book Award, Honorable Mention in the National Spanish Exam Level 4, and the Gold Award National Spanish Exam for Levels 2 and 3. At Senior Awards Night on Wednesday, May 30th, Isabella was also given the World Languages Ethos Award and The Sister Marie Andre Guay Award for her dedication and positive attitude towards academics. Isabella will attend the College of the Holy Cross in the fall.

Sister Marybeth Beretta, President of St. Mary Academy - Bay View (pictured above), followed Isabella in addressing the Class of 2018 with inspiring remarks for the journey beyond Bay View. Encouraging the graduates to consider their moment in history, Sister Marybeth spoke of the power of their potential as women educated in the Mercy tradition - women for which a needy world is waiting.

My hope is that you define [your education] as one that not only prepared you academically, but also fostered in you the Mercy values of compassion, justice, social responsibility, civic-mindedness, and integrity - that your education planted seeds in you capable of changing the world, if you continue to water them. [...] Take your place as women who speak with a voice of compassion and concern for others, who are moved to action to address and heal the inequities in our society."

Members of the Class of 2018 have enrolled in an impressive array of colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and Australia, including Cornell University, Baylor University, New York University, Syracuse University, Berklee College of Music, Boston University, University of Southern California, Villanova University, University of Wisconsin, Tulane University, Providence College and Salve Regina University. This year the class earned a total of $11,019,136.00 in merit scholarships for colleges and universities (for four years).

Natalie Noland (pictured above) was awarded the most prestigious honor given by Bay View to a graduating senior: the Catherine McAuley Woman of the Year Award, a title named after the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. The award description is as follows:

The recipient is a woman of singular character and impeccable integrity who leaves an indelible imprint on the fabric of the Bay View community. She reflects the unselfish values of Catherine by improving the quality of life of those with whom she comes in contact; by her welcoming attitude towards others and her understanding of her responsibility to service. She also possesses a firm commitment to her academic pursuits, as well as a deep, intellectual curiosity. She is a well-balanced, firmly-grounded young woman with a strong moral fiber combined with a passion for the continued pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.

Natalie is a standout in the classroom, on the field and behind the scenes. She has unselfishly shared her time and talents with nearly every facet of St. Mary Academy - Bay View.

In academics, athletics, technical theatre, Student Council, and through a variety of community service commitments with the Autism Project, MADD's Youth Advisory Board, and the North Kingstown Pet Refuge, Natalie has embodied the characteristics of Mother Catherine McAuley.

According to Ms. Amanda Juriansz (Warwick, RI), Natalie's college counselor, "the endeavors [Natalie] pursues are the result of pure interest and passion. She is not a student who collects extracurricular activities to fill a resume. She is a genuine woman of influence. She has a personality that draws others to her."

In the fall, Natalie will continue to share her time and talents studying at Northeastern University.

Many additional awards were distributed at the Senior Awards Night for high accomplishment in each subject matter, along with a variety of character awards. Rebekah Pendrak (pictured below with Upper School Principal Colleen Gribbin) was recognized for being a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, a 2018 U.S. Presidential Scholarship Semifinalist, and earning the Academy's Salt of the Earth Award and the Sister Margaret Murphy Award for Loyalty and Dedication.

Thank you, Class of 2018 for so many wonderful memories and experiences. May God bless you in all of your future endeavors!

We Are Bay View!