Nazareth Academy Proudly Celebrates The Class of 2016

Submitted by Nazareth Academy.

La Grange Park, IL — On May 29, 2016 Nazareth Academy held a Graduation Mass and Commencement at Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace for the 184 graduates of the Class of 2016.

These graduates will attend 84 colleges across 23 states. They have earned $21 million in merit-based scholarships and awards.

The Class of 2016 boasts 44 Illinois State Scholars and 2 Chick Evans Scholars. The class has one appointment to the United States Air Force Academy.

Students from the Class of 2016 were accepted to over 190 colleges and universities, including such prestigious institutions as Boston College, Dartmouth College, Fordham University, Georgetown University, Northwestern University, Syracuse University, Tufts University, University of Chicago, University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt University and Washington University.

Mrs. Rosemary Caragher (La Grange), Nazareth’s Campus Minister, served as Homilist, delivering the Baccalaureate Address on behalf of the school’s faculty and staff, encouraging the Class of 2016 to go forth “with great pride and full hearts knowing that wherever you go and whoever you will meet in your futures, you take a piece of all of us with you.”

Kathleen Mazur (Western Springs), Valedictorian, gave the Graduation Address. She spoke of the time these 184 students had spent together in both challenge and triumph.

“As you remember our class, do not limit us to the Class that won back-to- back State Championships, but remember us as the class who beat cancer, the class who excelled inside and outside of the classroom, the class who lifted each other up instead of tearing each other down, the class who is willing to risk their own lives to protect the lives of others and the class who won back-to- back State Championships.”

Each student also received a medal of St. Joseph “On the Journey,” designed by Mary Southard, CSJ, Nazareth Class of 1954, for the graduates of the three Congregation of Saint Joseph sister schools. Graduation brings each class to a new journey in a world that hungers for generous leadership. The medal serves as a reminder for graduates to value their Catholic education at Nazareth Academy.

Valedictorian

The Valedictorian is Kathleen Mazur of Western Springs who will attend the University of Michigan next fall. While undertaking a rigorous Nazareth course schedule of Honors and AP classes, Katie has been on “A” Honor Roll every quarter, is a Congregation of St. Joseph Scholar, an Illinois State Scholar and a member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and an Illinois History Fair Expo State Finalist. At Nazareth she received the Physics, Chemistry, Biology and AP Biology Achievement Awards as well as the Religious Studies Achievement Award. She was involved in Class Board, Health Careers Club, Roadrunner Club and Youth Initiative. She both played and managed Girls Soccer, which finished the 2016 season in the state’s Elite Eight.

Salutatorian

The Salutatorian is Cesar De La Cerda of Hillside, who will attend Northwestern University in the fall. Cesar is an “A” Honor Roll student, a recognized AP Scholar, an Illinois State Scholar and a member of Nazareth’s Baseball team. Cesar has been inducted into the National English Honor Society, National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta math honor society.

Sr. Oliver Donlin Service Award

Sister Oliver Donlin gave 35 years of her life to Nazareth Academy as teacher and principal. Through her influence, Nazareth created the philosophy of developing the whole person, challenging each student to reach his or her potential, and then using their knowledge, skills and gifts to bring about a better world, a world of unity and peace. Each year, in her memory, the faculty and staff are asked to nominate a senior who has given outstanding service to Nazareth Academy. This is the very highest service award that can be earned by a graduating senior and the only award given out on the day of Graduation.

Congratulations to the 2016 Oliver Donlin Service Award Recipient, Sarah Reynolds of Westchester.

Much to the point of this award, Sarah has upheld Nazareth’s pillars of scholarship, service, spirit and unity and has accepted the challenge of striving to reach her potential by developing the whole person. She was a leader throughout her high school years as a member of Color Guard, Student Council and Youth Initiative. Sarah was a Service Team leader and a member of multiple academic honor societies. She participated in the life of Nazareth Academy as student ambassador in the Roadrunner Club and in the Campus Ministry program, serving as a Retreat leader for both Kairos and class retreats.

Community Awards

During an Awards presentation to graduates on May 20, several members of the Class of 2016 received recognition and scholarships from local community organizations. Nazareth congratulates the following students:

Jassiem Renfro (Broadview) and Sarah Reynolds (Westchester) received the American Legion School Award.

Gianna Lapiana (Elmhurst) received the DAR Good Citizen Award.

Daniel Hawkins (Hillside), Elizabeth Lang (Chicago), Amanda Sadowski (Chicago) and Aidan Walton (Westchester) each received the Sheriff’s Youth Service Medal of Honor.

Mary Elizabeth Franko (La Grange Park) and Brenna Fritzsche (Western Springs) received the Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Scholarship.

Gina Crisanti (Brookfield) received the Lisa Marie Santoro Foundation Scholarship.

Lelandra Randle (Westchester) received the Richport YMCA Men’s Club Service Award.

Gianna Levato (Willow Springs) received the Legacy Guild Scholarship.

Francesca Zeno (Hinsdale) received the Elizabeth Anne Rimkus Memorial Scholarship for the Arts.

2016 Athletes of the Year

Sixty students were named Nazareth Academy Scholar Athletes, meaning they participated at the Varsity level of at least one sport while maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA.

Congratulations to Nazareth’s Scholar-Athletes of the Year, Joseph Alberts (Hickory Hills) and Emma Decker (La Grange), and to Nazareth’s Athletes of the Year, Gianna Levato (Willow Springs) and Julian Love (Westchester).

Nazareth Academy, a Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory high school serving families from 55 communities and over 100 grade schools in Chicago and the western suburbs, established in 1900 and sponsored by the Congregation of St. Joseph, values scholarship, service, spirit, and unity.