The Messenger - Summer 2012

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INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY CLASS OF 2012

Elementary Level Kindergarten Graduation The Kindergarten Class of 2012, in their red caps and gowns, proceeded down the aisle of the Incarnate Word Convent Chapel on Tuesday, May 20, 2012, to commemorate their graduation. With proud families and friends in attendance, the students were recognized with a Mass celebrated by Father Dan Estes, Our Lady of Corpus Christi. After Mass, everyone gathered for a reception in the Dougherty Center. Our best wishes and prayers for a bright future are extended to the graduating 2012 kindergarten class.

Incarnate Word Academy Kindergarten Class of 2012

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1. Taylor Flinchum 2. Alan Richardson 3. Luna Salazar with her mother, Corina 4. Gillian Lippincott & Arianna Cass 5. Mia Rodriguez & Kaden Ertzner 6. Andy Kretsinger 7. Diego Roberts 8. Campbell Thomas with brother & parents, Ryan & Holly

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Visit iwacc.org/eventgallery to view more photos from the graduation ceremony.

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Elementary Level Fifth Grade Graduation A graduation Mass for the 2012 Traditional and Montessori Fifth Grade Classes was celebrated by Father Paul Hesse, Pastor of St. Pius X Catholic Church, on Thursday, May 24, 2012, in the Incarnate Word Convent Chapel. Students actively participated in the liturgy: Grace Bell, student council president, acted as the greeter; Katelyn Ashley, student council vice-president, was the reader; Andrew Ficenec led the Responsorial Psalm; Santiago Mendizibal read the petitions; Nicholas Stark and Jessie Cruz acted as gift bearers; and Daniel Diejomaoh read the Communion reflection. After receiving their diplomas, the graduates and their families enjoyed a reception hosted by the fourth grade parents.

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[ 1. Andrew Ficenec 2. Kensey McCain, Robert Moffit, Daniel Rock, & Theresa Salazar 3. Gabriella Barrera with her parents, Randy & Cindy, & sister Breanna

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4. Daniel Diejomaoh with his mother, Kitay & family 5. Dylan Spillar with his mother, Jennifer 6. Madeline Villa with her parents, Francisco & Mary Lou

Visit iwacc.org/eventgallery to view more photos from the graduation ceremony.

Incarnate Word Academy 5th Grade Class of 2012 THE MESSENGER

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INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY CLASS of 2012

High School Twelfth Grade Graduation “As the Class of 2012 continues into the future, we will view the pictures of ourselves taken tonight not just as a milestone frozen in time, but also as documentation of our potential—a potential not yet fulfilled.” These words, taken from the salutatory address given by Julia Baker on Friday, May 25, 2012, resounded the predominant mood that was felt in the sanctuary of the Corpus Christi Cathedral as the sixty-two graduates transitioned from one phase of their lives into the next. The celebration began with a baccalaureate Mass. This year the setting held a special significance with the Diocese of Corpus Christi also celebrating its centennial. The Most Reverend Wm. Michael Mulvey, S.T.L., D.D., along with several local priests, celebrated the liturgy.

The commencement ceremony began immediately following the Mass. Incarnate Word Sisters - Sr. Judith Marie Saenz, Sr. Raquel Newman, and Sr. Rosa Ortiz - presented the graduates, while Bishop Mulvey, President Charles D. Imbergamo, and High School Principal Jose Torres conferred the diplomas. Mr. Torres presented the 2012 Valedictorian and Salutatorian to the congregation. This year’s Valedictorian, Matthew Matl, encouraged his classmates “to continue to achieve [their] life goals and not to let success become more important than faith.” He also emphasized that “as long as we have God, family, and friends to fall back on, we will make it through whatever comes our way.”

The Class of 2012 embodies the philosophy that we at Incarnate Word Academy have facilitated—a Christian wholeness in each person and a Christian unity among all while creating a Catholic faith community.

The commencement concluded with Mr. Torres asking the graduates to face the audience and to move their tassels from right to left.

The graduates processed out of the Cathedral, passing inbetween lines formed by high school faculty and staff waiting to congratulate them. One last photo was taken of the graduates throwing up their caps into the air as a sign of jubilance. We wish the Class of 2012 many blessings in their future endeavors.

Incarnate Word Academy Class of 2012 Dylan Peter Alaniz Patrick Ryan Allman Alexandra Maria Armstrong Julia Katharine Baker, Salutatorian Lacee Larrissa Beal Parixit Kanti Bhakta Alyssa Lauren Biggins Brianna Lawren Bostick Samantha Brozo Emma Carina Camarena Marissa Justine Carreon Amris Ray Chacon Yeun Jae Chang Camilla Nicole Childs Danielle Faith Compian Frederick William Cook

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Garrett Taylor Cox Hannah Maree Dodson John Patrick Dunne Catherine Jane Fergie Shelby Garrett Fincher Laurel Ann Flanigan Mary Ellen Flood Brett Ryan Garcia Gabriela Ysel Garcia Robert Garza, II Evelyn Irene Gayle Amelia Marie Gonzalez Trevor John Gonzalez Sarah Elizabeth Green Hannah Louise Grunwald Sarah Hall

Cody Hammond Alexandra Marie Harrel Raquel Michelle Kasprzyk Corey Michael Kerr Cameron Hunt Knox Maria Therese Kroeger Lauren Elise Kuffel Clara Elizabeth Marti Matthew Charles Matl, Valedictorian Matthew Edward McClung Danielle Nichole Mladenka Joseph Joshua Jude Morrison Miles Franklin Novack Zachary Dalton Pekar Teresa Marie Perez Thomas Joseph Pesek

Karissa Rangel Christina Rachel Rivas Maria Jose Rivera Christina Renee Robertson Adrian Xavier Rodriguez Bita Salamat Regina Alexandria Salinas Samantha Michelle Skurka Clara Isabel Añorga Tamez Victoria Elizabeth Torres Miranda Mora Treviño Ted Leon Turner, III Corina Leticia Villarreal Seung Joo Yang

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1. Cameron Knox, Bita Salamat, & Parixit Bhakta 2. High School Principal Jose Torres, Bishop Michael Mulvey, Corina VIllarreal & President Charles D. Imbergamo 3. Garrett Cox 4. Graduates tossing their caps 5. Matthew Matl, Valedictorian 6. Hannah Grunwald & Sarah Green 7. Camilla Childs & Haley Chang 8. Shelby Fincher, Hannah Dobson, John Dunne, Garrett Cox, & Fritz Cook 9. Bita Salamat & Alexandra Armstrong

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Visit iwacc.org/eventgallery to view more photos from the graduation ceremony.

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INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY CLASS of 2012

Middle Level Eighth Grade Graduation This year’s eighth grade graduation Mass and ceremony was held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. The Mass was celebrated by Monsignor Roger Smith, who presented an inspirational homily. After the homily, Middle Level Principal Adolfo Garza presented each of the students with their Certificate of Completion. The graduates then presented red roses to parents as a symbol of their love and gratitude.

Prior to the final blessing from Monsignor Smith, the teachers and staff prayed a blessing upon the graduates, whose fond memories include the Diocesan Mass at the Corpus Christi Cathedral in August; the one-day Fall Retreat at Camp Zephyr in early September; the on-campus Advent Retreat in early December; the play “The Passion as Seen by Mary,” performed by eighth graders, in April; the threeday camping trip the class took to Camp Zephyr, and, above all, their graduation ceremony.

Incarnate Word Academy 8th Grade Class of 2012

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_ ^ 1. Mikayla Burton 2. Andrea Puyol with her parents, Dora and Franz, & brother 3. Logan Campbell 4. Mamiko Hosoe & Alec House 5. Victoria Shull with her parents, Walter & Vicky 6. Janel Soliz & Miranda Soliz 7. Amanda Madrid (center) with her sister Kristine, & mother, Miriam 8. Mario Serrano, Blaine Moore, Alec House, Armando Cisneros, Brandon Camacho, & Pablo Mendizibal 9. Hunter Garza (center) & his parents, Melinda & Robert 10. Cassandra Huff, Kate Pekar, Haven Cruz & Ellie Martin 11. Reema Bhakta with her parents, Paresh & Asha

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Visit iwacc.org/eventgallery to view more photos from the graduation ceremony.

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Congratulations Class of 2012!

Blessing for all Graduates Before you were even formed, God knew you. While in your mother’s womb, God named you. At your birth, God’s breath filled you with life. Today we celebrate what you have become at this moment in time. And so we pray, God of our beginnings. We thank You for the gifts of these graduates; their excitement, their awesome wonder and curiosity, their open speech and encouraging words. Their contributions have blessed and challenged us, and we have become a richer and more diverse community because of them. As they step forward into the world that awaits, comfort their fears with the full knowledge of Your divine presence. Strengthen their resolve to walk in the footsteps of Jesus as modern-day disciples in a world that needs their spirit. Guide their feet as they move through life, protecting them from the pitfalls of darkness while they help to lead future generations into the warmth and promise of Your light. We ask this blessing upon each of them. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN

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