Graduation 2021

Familiar Traditions and New Protocols

The 124th Commencement of The Ursuline School on May 21, 2021 was a joyful occasion on Kelly Mac Field. It was in many ways a return to our traditions as well as a unification of the Class, since Blue and Gold Cohorts, in person and remote learners, all came together with their families for this memorable occasion.

Although masks were worn by Administration, the graduates, and many attendees, in a persistent reminder of certain COVID protocols, this year the graduates did not have to sit six feet apart and three family members were able to join them on the field, with extended family and friends watching from their cars or on the livestream.

Principal Rosemary Beirne welcomed those assembled and introduced the trustees on the outdoor dias. After the invocation by Msgr. Keane, the Senior members of our Honors Choir, under the direction of Ms. Wendy Harmer,

sang “The Star Spangled Banner.” Salutatorian Cecilia Visco exhorted her classmates to remember: “We are Ursuline. Our actions in approaching the fires that plague our world define what the Ursuline community will be to those who take responsibility for it going forward. Despite having had limited time in the school building, our class has made its mark on the identity of Ursuline. So, although we may have lost some time in each other’s physical presence, we never Valedictorian Claire Cregin truly lost Ursuline. So long as we have each other, this incredible class of changemaking women, we can never lose Ursuline.” In the Valedictory Address, Claire Cregin reminded the Class of “our ability to persevere in the face of any obstacle, even if it is a worldwide pandemic. . . We may bend to adapt to changes but we do not break ourselves to satisfy society’s standards. We do not change ourselves to fit into boxes

Salutatorian Cecilia Visco

Caroline & Lauren Deane Schwarz ’81 Isabelle & Maura Zottner Gallucci ’85

Lia Tunney Hailey Dorsainvil

made for us by others. We do not just flow into fields that society has deemed appropriate for women. We do not stay silent while people in our community are marginalized and treated unjustly. Rather, we stand firm in our beliefs. We stay true to our identities no matter who tells us to do otherwise. We identify problems and initiate change to improve the society we live in. We are advocates for both ourselves and others.”

Principal Beirne then called each graduate's name. Each Senior had the chance to briefly take off her mask and accept the diploma case from President Eileen Davidson. The actual diplomas were distributed after the ceremony, following COVID protocols. As the graduates descended the stairs from the stage, daughters of alumnae were greeted by their mothers., as pictured below.

In the Awards and Honors portion of the program, Assistant Principal Denise Moore announced a number of recognitions:

Global Scholars

Olivia Curtis, Genevieve Galluccio, Francesca MaldonadoVittar, Ava Pallotta, Kira Schaefer

Serviam Awards for service to the school in the spirit of St. Angela:

Mahiya Buddhavarapu, Olivia Curtis, Sophie Hennessy, Ashley Kane, Lorenda Lambert, Courtney McAloon, Tanner McIntyre, Hannah Parisi, Ava Paravati, Maeve Reynolds, Rosa Taormina, Cecilia Visco

Class of 2021 Awards

President’s Award – Lia Tunney Principal’s Award – Hailey Dorsainvil Ursuline Alumnae Key – Ava Pallotta Emily A. Clemente Memorial Award – Maria Leni Sheila Kelly Memorial Award – Ava Pallotta Katherine Johnson Memorial Scholarship Award - Hailey Dorsainvil Meg Mackay Memorial Scholarship Award - Mary Beirne Fathers’ Club Award – Skye DeRaffele Mothers’ Auxiliary Award – Lia Tunney

Jaclyn & Mariana Procopio Berardi ’88

In her commencement address, President Davidson reminded the graduates of the poet Amanda Gorman, who spoke “at the Presidential Inauguration and demonstrated the depth and resilience of young women everywhere. She inspired us with the words:

Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:

That even as we grieved, we grew

That even as we hurt, we hoped

That even as we tired, we tried.”

Mrs. Davidson concluded, “So, as you leave Ursuline today, may you forget the losses and dwell on the gains. Appreciate that you have received an exceptional education in the Ursuline tradition. You have come through the pandemic the better for it in one way - or in many ways. You have a heightened appreciation for connections and especially those made at Ursuline. You first survived and then you thrived.”

As this is the year that President Davidson is retiring, Board Chair Sheila Sohr added a few words at the ceremony’s end to again thank Eileen Davidson for her 38 years of distinguished service, to a standing ovation expressing gratitude and best wishes.

Ava Pallotta

Class of 2021 Matriculation

American University Boston College Boston University 3 Brown University Bryant University Bucknell University Case Western Reserve University 2 Clark Atlanta University Clemson University 3 College of Charleston College of the Holy Cross 4 CUNY Hunter College Drexel University Elon University Emory University Fairfield University 7 Fordham University 9 George Washington University Harvard University Hofstra University Indiana University Iona College 4 Ithaca College James Madison University Lafayette College Lehigh University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University Maryland 3 Maine College of Art Manhattan College 7 Manhattanville College Marist College 6 McGill University - Canada Middlebury College Middlesex University London - England Northeastern University 3 Northwestern University Pace University 3 Providence College 4 Quinnipiac University 2 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rice University Robert Morris University Rollins College Sacred Heart University 8 Sarah Lawrence College Scripps College Siena College Southern Methodist University St John’s University 2 SUNY Binghamton University 4 SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology SUNY State University College at Cortland SUNY State University College of Technology at Alfred SUNY University at Albany SUNY University at Buffalo 3 SUNY Westchester Community College Syracuse University 2 Temple University Texas Christian University The Catholic University of America 2 The Culinary Institute of America The Pennsylvania State University 4 The University of Alabama 3 The University of Tampa 4 Trinity College Dublin - Ireland 2 University of Colorado Boulder University of Connecticut 3 University of Delaware University of Miami 2 University of Michigan 2 University of North Carolina School of the Arts University of Notre Dame University of Pittsburgh 2 University of Rhode Island 2 University of Scranton 2 University of South Carolina 2 University of Toronto - Canada University of Vermont 3 University of Virginia University of Wisconsin Villanova University 4 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Xavier University