Graduation 2019

from Mount Magazine - summer 2019

by Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Mount Expands Mission-Based Exchange Program

CLASS OF2019

“On the education of women largely depends the future of society”

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Helena Volpe Valedictory Speech for the Class of 2019

We always encounter people, places and objects that give us an indescribable, intangible, yet

compelling feeling of wonder. God invokes these muses to spark our curiosity and grant to us the valor to venture into treacherous unknown. For each of us, the use is different; maybe we wondered as children on long car rides, “Why does the moon follow me wherever I go?” Maybe, as we walked the Mount hallways, we asked ourselves, “Who invented the penny loafer?” For Sister Kathleen, this source of inspiration was the egg. In a blog post titled “Wonder and Mystery,” she writes, “An example of what I wonder about is the egg! Who had the thought, ‘That looks good; let’s eat it’? Better yet, how long did it take before we said, ‘Let’s fry it’?” The moon, the penny loafer, and an egg may not seem to have much in common, but they empower us to use our God-given talent to wonder about things and their origins.

As a class, we are fortunate to have been afforded a Mount Saint Joseph Academy education that fosters wonder and challenges us to discover answers. With our curiosity about the moon, we looked to our science teachers and learned about the Earth’s distance from planetary objects. With our curiosity about the penny loafer, we looked at our history teachers and learned about the rise of consumerism in the 1950s. Although Sister may have never learned who decided to fry the egg, she remained curious. As Mount students, our desire to discover never ends; we always strive for “the more” – setting our gaze on the highest accomplishments and acts of service. We start clubs, lead as team captains, create breathtaking art, become employees, engage diligently in our studies, and enthusiastically effect change in our communities. Like Sister Kathleen and all those who walked the halls before us, we are attracted to wonder and do not hesitate in the formidable face of mystery.

Long before the Mount’s opening in 1858, the Sisters of Saint Joseph found their inspiration in another humble object: lace. The diverse threads that weave us together symbolize the design of God’s love: sometimes smooth, other times choppy, but always everlasting. The founders dreamed that their vision of unity would spread beyond Le Puy, to encompass the leaders of tomorrow. Today, we as Mount students are the living proof of their mission. Today, we are the bountiful fruit of the Sisters’ labor. Today, we have fulfilled their ambitious dream.

As we celebrate and commemorate our four years at the Mount, we ponder on perhaps a greater level. Our small seeds of wonder about everyday concepts have harvested into mystery about college and adulthood. These seeds, planted when we walked our first steps into the Mount, have been watered by courage, tended by conviction and gathered by compassion. We are not the same freshmen who, with trepidation, began high school four years ago, nor are we the same sophomores or juniors who endured countless trials and errors discerning our place in the world. We have faced adversity, overcome obstacles and evolved to be better, stronger and more driven individuals. Although the future is intimidating, the Mount has given us invaluable tools to conquer our dreams.

We must remember that along our Mount journey, we never walked alone. We express gratitude first to God for gifting each of us with the ability to wonder and surmount our highest peaks. We give great thanks to our parents and families, who have supported our decisions and witnessing our personal growth at the Mount. To our faculty and administration, we thank you for teaching us indispensable educational life lessons, which will guide us through the sometimes dark and perplexing pathways of life. We thank and honor Sister Kathleen, who blessed us with her presence and guidance for four remarkable years. Her spirit inspires us to live out the Mount’s mission. Finally, we recognize our fellow classmates, our sisters, with whom we have shared pride and unity on Founders’ Day, struggles on exam days, laughs on Charity Day, and nostalgia today, graduation day.

Further along in her blog post, Sister Kathleen writes about a Sister of Saint Joseph who prompted her to wonder about her own future, question her vocation, and serve her divine purpose as President of the Mount. I encourage each of you to look to your sisters to your right and your left, and ask yourself, “Do I make them wonder? Do they see or feel something inspiring when I am with them? How can I inspire those around me to serve the dear neighbor?”

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Today is the oldest you’ve been and the youngest you’ll ever be again.” As we, the Class of 2019, come together today, we hold both the wisdom garnered from years of experience and the freedom to carve a new path. This path, by the grace of God, led us to the Mount and to this church today and will lead us into the world as founders of progress and agents of transformation. This task may sound daunting, but we have a gift that a precious few will experience in their lifetimes: an education rooted in unity, reconciliation and sisterhood. Oh, and some eggs and penny loafers are also in the mix. The words, “On the education of women largely depends the future of society” have been ingrained into our hearts and our minds for four years. Today the Mount Saint Joseph Class of 2019 adds, “On the legacy of wonder largely depends the education of women.”

14 Summer 2019

Gr aduation

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16 Summer 2019

MOUNT ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY CLASS OF 2019!

*HONORS **DISTINGUISHED HONORS +NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Summer Rain Adamson The University of Alabama

Sarah Christine Alessandrini*+ Syracuse University

Kylie Elizabeth Barton**+ Villanova University

Sofia Bernal The University of Iowa

Maura Bier Pennsylvania State University

Harriett Claire Blatney*+ University of South Carolina

Erica Lynn Brocato University of South Carolina

Claire O’Neill Broderick*+ Villanova University

Teleri Rose Broomhead**+ The University of Scranton

Taylor Ann Chandler Pennsylvania State University

Katherine Elizabeth Christen*+ University of Delaware

Grace Elizabeth Christie University of Pittsburgh

Elizabeth Anne Christine Salisbury University

Laurel Anne Chung*+ Temple University

Megan Ciasullo**+ Pennsylvania State University Finalist, National Merit Scholarship Program

Mary Kathleen Ciolko*+ University of Miami

Mary Kate Cleary*+ Saint Joseph’s University

Lauren Nicole Cunningham Marymount University

Katarina Ford Davey Syracuse University

Caitlin Elizabeth Dessen* Fashion Institute of Technology

Olivia M. Diesel West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Cara Marie DiGregorio Temple University

Lily M. Doyle**+ University of Notre Dame

Molly Elizabeth Duffy**+ Clemson University

Molly Eileen Eckert Clemson University

Katherine Lee Edling**+ Clemson University

Catherine Marie Esslinger Neumann University

Sofia Nicole Farrell+ Manhattan School of Music

Gabriella Ford**+ University of Virginia Finalist, National Merit Scholarship Program Diocesan Academic Honors Convocation

Kathryn Rebekah Fuchs The Catholic University of America

Cristina Norabeth Glenn*+ Temple University

Ryan Marie Good**+ University of Pittsburgh

Hailey Alexa Goodyear Loyola University Maryland

Riley Gorman*+ Temple University

Alexis Grafenstine The University of Alabama

Katherine Ann Greed**+ University of Notre Dame Archdiocesan Scholar

Philomena Marie Guiliano Carnegie Mellon University

Maya Grace Hoffman*+ University of Pittsburgh

Nora Catherine Hogan**+ Fordham University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program

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Pictured, from left: Angel Lyons, Ed Lyons, Dennis Durkin, Audrey Durkin, Dr. Judith Caviston (Principal), and Patricia Brabson.

2019 Fournier Medal Recipient:

S. Kathleen Brabson, SSJ

Mother Saint John Fournier, the founder of Mount Saint Joseph Academy, was a woman of high ideals, courage, and commitment. The Fournier Medal is awarded each year at commencement to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of Mother Saint John through distinguished service and loyalty to the Mount. This year’s Fournier Medal was awarded posthumously to S. Kathleen Brabson, SSJ, who served as President of Mount Saint Joseph Academy from 2005 until her death in 2019.

S. Kathleen was thoroughly devoted to the Mount. She put the needs of the students before anything else. She worked tirelessly to advance the mission and charism of the SSJs imbued in the Mount education. She gave selflessly, devoting her time and focus to the good of the Academy.

As a leader, she was determined and focused while exhibiting grace and compassion. We are pleased to honor S. Kathleen’s legacy and all she did to poise the Mount as a leading private independent Catholic high school for young women.

Accepting the medal on S. Kathleen’s behalf were her sisters, Audrey Durkin, Angel Lyons, and Patricia Brabson.

18 Summer 2019

Asha Juanita Houston DePaul University

Tamar Hovsepian Fordham University

Lily Christina Howard**+ Georgetown University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program

Giavanna Marie Hunt** Drexel University

Caitlin Rose Iadonisi* University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Anjolina Marie Johnson Thomas Jefferson University

Bridget Grace Joyce+ University of Delaware

Madeline Jane Kerr Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Lauren Kiefner Clemson University

Mari Kniezewski*+ Colgate University

Julianna Lynn Kratz Fairfield University

Krista Kushnerick*+ Pennsylvania State University

Nadine Alyssa Lampe**+ University of Southern California Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program

Amanda Rose Lamphere**+ The University of Scranton Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program

Sarah Marie Leary** Wake Forest University

Emily Lauren Lubinski*+ University of Pittsburgh

Lucia Grace Macoretta+ Loyola University Chicago

Clare P. Maguire The University of Scranton

Brianna Noreen Mahon**+ Boston College Archdiocesan Scholar

Julia Bryn Manchester Saint Joseph’s University

Elizabeth Mary Maransky**+ Georgetown University

Clara M. Marty**+ University of Pennsylvania

McKenna Grace Mathews Xavier University

Meghan Amanda McCabe**+ Lehigh University

Maeve Murphy McCarthy The Catholic University of America

Maura Knox McDonald+ Temple University

MollyKate McDonough* Saint Joseph’s University

Megan McGettigan The University of Tampa

Maureen Grace McGreevey The Catholic University of America

Eileen Mary McKenna*+ The George Washington University

Shayne Alexandra McKernan*+ Pennsylvania State University

Bryn Morgan McLaughlin Pennsylvania State University

Aydin McPhilemy The George Washington University

Julia Brooke Meehan Pennsylvania State University

Elisabeth Diane Meister High Point University

Isabelle Elizabeth Mina Pennsylvania State University

Mary Missett Fairfield University

Molly Elizabeth Mook** Villanova University

Kailyn Elizabeth Muhl*+ Pennsylvania State University

Riley Marie Mulligan Drexel University

Madeline Elizabeth Niekelski**+ University of Notre Dame

Brigid Mary O’Neill**+ California Polytechnic State University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Diocesan Academic Honors Convocation

Elizabeth Anne Patton James Madison University

Temeiah Corey Peete La Salle University

Kathleen Marie Peter Pennsylvania State University

Kiara Naomi Pile Fordham University

Áine Mary Playdon**+ Temple University

Cecilia Kim Priolo Université Laval, Quebec

Allison Marie Prue*+ Purdue University

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