On Saturday, June 2, the 157th Commencement Exercises of Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School were held for the Class of 2018. A class of 93 young women graduated from the all-girls Catholic academy, joined by an audience of more than 650 family, friends, the Gwynedd Board of Trustees, school administrators, and faculty.
Following a beautiful procession led by Alumnae Association President, Mrs. Bethanne Mascio Connolly ’03 and the rising school President, Stephanie Ierardi ’19, the ceremonies began with an Invocation by Maura Toner ’18 and Salutatory Address by Alexandra Small ’18.
Commencement Speaker Sister Cathe Shoulberg, RSM ’65
Diplomas and awards were presented to the graduates by the school President and the Principal, Mrs. Denise Marbach ’72 and Miss Mary E. Kirby, respectively. The Commencement Speaker was Sister Cathe Shoulberg, RSM ’65 who is an Alumna of Gwynedd, a member of the school’s Board of Trustees, and Principal of St. Helena School, Blue Bell. Sr. Cathe addressed the graduates with loving wisdom and encouragement.
…Your families, teachers and friends, truly believe in you and your ability to change our world. You are strong, intelligent, loving and generous and full of the Spirit of Mercy. In the words of Pope Francis, “Mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instills in us the courage to look to the future with hope.”
In the movie Wonder, you hear, “The best way to measure how much you’ve grown isn’t by inches or the number of laps you can now run around the track (or the new, state of the art turf field), or even your grade point average– though those things are important, to be sure. It’s what you’ve done with your time, how you’ve chosen to spend your days, and whom you’ve touched this year. That, to me, is the greatest measure of success.” And you have achieved that.
Valedictorian Elizabeth Hasson ’18
Poetically, Sister Cathe’s address was followed by her former student and Class of 2018 Valedictorian Elizabeth Hasson ’18, who poignantly cited a speech given by former First Lady and former Gwynedd guest, Barbara Bush, from an address to Wellsley graduates where she urged them to “…believe in something that is larger than yourself…” Hasson passionately spoke to her Gwynedd classmates and members of the “sisterhood” which they have formed over the past 4 years, and eloquently delivered an inspirational valedictory address.
“Looking around this stage today, I see the something larger that Barbara Bush spoke of in 1990. I see what it means to be part of a group of people that represents so much more than just one person.”
Hasson encouraged her sisters,
“If this school has taught us one thing, it is to go out there, be bold, and show mercy to every single person along the way. That is exactly what we will do…We leave here today as Gwynedd girls, and that most certainly is a badge of honor we will wear long after this ceremony ends.”
AroundAmbler.com had a chance to catch up with Elizabeth after Saturday’s graduation. She shared:
It was such a great honor to give the valedictory speech at graduation. More than anything else, I wanted to show people the kind of impact that this school has had on me, as well as all of the students that walk through these halls. I wanted to shed light on the bond and sense of community that you can only find at Gwynedd.
100% of the Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School graduates are continuing on to study at 4-year colleges and universities. More than 97% of the class received scholarships to schools of their choosing, which translates into more than $16 million in awards.
*All photos courtesy of Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School