Celebrating THE
CLASS OF
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With masks on, seated in pods and safely distanced, the Class of 2021 and their families were nonetheless able to enjoy both Baccalaureate and Commencement exercises in a somewhat normal fashion in May. Graduates excitedly processed into Mercy’s auditorium for the final time as a class on May 23, as master of ceremonies Ms. Ann E. Drewry ’97, Principal of Student Life, welcomed everyone—those seated in the auditorium and others in the cafeteria and music room, where the event was lived streamed.
“You have been particularly tested this year, and what I have seen in your responses impressed me immeasurably—you have what it takes to be happy. I also think Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, would be very proud of you, graduates. She once said, ‘Let us pray well and never get weary of doing what is good.’ You have shown what it takes to be true Women of Mercy. Keep at it, and it will serve you well.”
Giuliana is an active and engaged volunteer, involved with organizations including the Killingworth Library Association, Police Activity League, Saint Lawrence Church, and Hands On Hartford. She also works part-time in the retail industry. Giuliana will be attending the University of Connecticut.
Connecticut Conference, Kaila was a National Merit Commended Student and a National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar. At Mercy, her many activities included serving as Vice President of Justice and Peace, Senior Peer Ministry Leader, Broadcast Journalism Club, Math Club, Ecology Club, Medical Minds Club, and Ambassadors Club. She was President of the Spanish National Honor Society, Vice-President of the Math Honor Society, an Advisor Group Representative, indoor and outdoor track and field athlete, soccer team co-captain and recognized with All-State and All-SCC honors.
When Class of 2021 Valedictorian Kaila Lujambio was called upon to deliver her message to the graduating class, it was deThe Salutatory on that special occasion was fined by hope. “We are the class of HOPE,” delivered by Giuliana Judge, daughter of she exclaimed. “As Pope Francis said this Robert Judge and Rosetta Lucatino-Judge Lenten season, ‘Hope is given to us as inspiof Killingworth. A student of remarkable ration and interior light.’ Hope is a positive intellect, Giuliana is known for being knowlmindset, an inner motivation to persevere, edgeable and eloquent, brilliant and rea willpower to produce change. Hope has sourceful, and all the while extraordinarily been our engine to move forward. Hope humble. During her high school years, she to see the good in the future, to look on earned the Harvard Book Prize, department the bright side, to see opportunity in chalhonors in AP United States History, Honors Kaila Lujambio and Giuliana Judge lenges, and to actively look for happiness Chemistry and Ceramics, and was Maxima for yourself and others. And this is exactly what we have done as the Cum Laude in the National Latin Exam for two consecutive years. She Class of 2021.” was a participant in Mercy's String Orchestra, Math National Honor Society, Latin National Honor Society/Junior Classical League and Kaila, daughter of Julio and Carolina Lujambio of Wallingford, is an co-captain of the Mock Trial Program. She is a member of the National outgoing and inspiring student leader, an elite student-athlete who is Honor Society and Mercy Ambassadors, a school club that connects highly regarded among her peers for being compassionate, industriwith new Mercy students and advocates for the school. ous and charismatic. Selected as a Scholar Athlete by the Southern
As she reflected on the changes of the past four years, Giuliana observed that “… we are responsible, compassionate, well cultivated teenagers. Thank you parents for that, and thank you administration, teachers, and staff for making Mercy High School a safe environment where we were able to grow up, to make mistakes, and to figure out who we are.” Looking to the future, she explained, “…I hope you all take these last moments in the same place with your class and with your families, to make one more high school memory together. So while you are walking across the stage today, maybe excited, maybe crying, maybe waking up from a nap (no judgement), think about everything you have accomplished, think about what our entire class has accomplished, and be proud of not only your individual success, but our collective success.” After the conferring of diplomas by the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D. D., Bishop of Norwich, Alissa DeJonge ’95 shared her presidential remarks to the Class of 2021. “My wish for each of you, is that you remember what it takes to be happy, and actively pursue that mindset. In order to be happy, you need to choose to be happy. Rarely does happiness knock at your door and present itself without you being aware,” DeJonge told the graduates.
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WOMEN OF MERCY Living Catherine’s Vision
Among her many volunteer activities, Kaila was project leader and founder of the “A Butterfly of Love” student-led community service project, which fundraised, prepared and delivered care packages to front line workers, patients and people at risk during the pandemic. She has also been a health clinic volunteer at the Migrant Farm Workers Health Clinic, where she interacted with patients, took vitals, and acted as a Spanish interpreter at numerous farms in Connecticut. She will be attending the University of Connecticut’s Special Program in Dental Medicine and has earned the prestigious Stamps Scholarship from the university and the UConn Foundation and Stamps Family Charitable Foundation. Her closing words at the graduation ceremony were inspirational to her class. “Today, I encourage each of us to continue making the world a better place. Be inspiring, be compassionate, be the best you can be. St. Thomas Aquinas taught us that ‘Hope grows when it is shared, it blooms when it is given away.’ Be beacons of hope! We have proven ourselves capable. We are the class of HOPE.”
