CLASS OF 2021 BACCALAUREATE AND COMMENCEMENT
Congratulations to the Class of 2021! We appreciated the opportunity to recognize our seniors during last week's end-of-year events. We invite you to watch the recordings of the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Ceremony (the actual ceremony begins at the 1:38 mark). To view photos, please visit @bishopblanchet on social media.
COMMENCEMENT AWARDS
We presented our highest awards to our graduates at commencement. Congratulations to the award winners and nominees from the Class of 2021.
Academic Awards:
To be named as a Valedictorian or Salutatorian, the student must meet the following criteria: Have taken four years of math, three years of international language and science, at least one AP or Honors course during grades 11 and 12, and exhibited exemplary conduct throughout their tenure at the school.
The Honor of Salutatorian is given to the student who has earned the second highest cumulative grade point average for seven semesters of high school studies.
The two Salutatorians for the class of 2021 have each earned a cumulative GPA of 3.998: Laura Beard and Gavin LaMotte.
The Honor of Valedictorian is given to the student who has earned the highest cumulative grade point average for seven semesters of high school studies. The Valedictorians for the class of 2021 have earned a cumulative GPA of 4.0.
This year we have seven Valedictorians: Wyatt Adams, Frances Kent, Anais Martin, Michael Martin, Mason McVey, Emma Northey and Eliza Wells.
St. Thomas the Apostle Award
The St. Thomas the Apostle Award recognizes Bishop Blanchet students who have integrated faith into their lives through actions and words in daily encounters with others. St. Thomas the Apostle, or Doubting Thomas, showed us a relatable side of faith. Just as Thomas followed Jesus, asked questions, and, ultimately dedicated his life to sharing his faith with others, so, too, have the winners of this award.
Nominees and Recipients (in bold): Clare Fesalbon, Peter Kearney, Dominic Kelly, Emme Leonard, Matthew Sanders and Sarah Van Hollebeke
St. Thomas Aquinas Award
The St. Thomas Aquinas Award, recognizes students who have demonstrated intellectual curiosity and resilience in the pursuit of academic excellence. The award is named in honor and recognition of St. Thomas Aquinas’ contributions to scholarship, faith and teaching. St. Thomas Aquinas was a Dominican priest who lived in Italy during the Middle Ages. He was a model student, just like our award winners.
Nominees and Recipients (in bold): Wyatt Adams, Sarah Hatlen, Gavin LaMotte, Michael Martin, Mason McVey and Eliza Wells
St. Thomas More Leadership Award
The St. Thomas More Leadership Award recognizes excellence in leadership and enthusiastic service to the school through leadership and participation in school programs, organizations, and activities. This award evokes the strength of conviction and servant leadership that St. Thomas More exhibited as he put the good of others before himself and led with authenticity during his time.
Nominees and Recipients (in bold): Laura Beard, Casey Cook, Meg Cunningham, Patrick Kane, Tyler Korman and Mae Skokan
Maury Sheridan Performing Arts Award
The Maury Sheridan Award is presented each year to two students who best exemplify talent, leadership, dedication and a consistent work ethic in the Performing Arts. The award is named after Dr. Maury Sheridan, who started the performing arts program at Bishop Blanchet High School in the 1960s and served as a teacher, as well as director of the choir and performing arts through 1974. Maury Sheridan’s passing this April was felt by the entire Blanchet community, and he leaves behind a legacy of excellence in the Performing Arts that we are proud to carry on. To be considered for this award, students must have been actively involved in the Performing Arts for all four years of their high school career at Bishop Blanchet, as well as demonstrated high academic achievement.
Nominees and Recipients (in bold): Emma Craig, Clare Fesalbon, Margarita Hillón, Frances Kent, Sierra Waltier and Eliza Wells
Ed Thenell Student Athlete Award
Each year the Athletic Department selects one senior girl and one senior boy to receive the Ed Thenell Scholar Athlete Award. The award is given to those two seniors who have best balanced the two very different disciplines of academics and athletics. The award is named in honor of Ed Thenell, a great teacher and coach here at Blanchet during the 1960’s and 1970’s until his untimely death in 1972. Ed was a firm believer in the importance of committing one’s best effort both in the classroom and on the athletic arena; this award honors that belief.
Nominees and Recipients (in bold): Laura Beard, Olivia Freeman, Colin Graves, Patrick Kane, Frances Kent and Tyler Korman
Patrick J. Miranda One True Brave Award
The Patrick J. Miranda One True Brave Award recognizes the senior who most demonstrates compassion, consideration, and respect for self and others in the community. This award is named in honor of Pat Miranda, a Bishop Blanchet alumnus who served the Blanchet community for many years as a coach, counselor, teacher and administrator. The student chosen for this award has exhibited strong character and Christian leadership skills, modeled respect for others and encouraged others in the community to get involved.
Recipient: Frances Kent
PARENT ASSOCIATION CO-CHAIRS
Many thanks go to our outgoing Parent Association Co-Chairs Sherri Johnson and Jen Bergman. Their leadership and creative energy over the past three years has helped guide and sustain the Parents Association events alive and well during their tenure, which included a global pandemic and remote learning! We cannot thank them enough for their dedication to the BBHS Parent Association.
We are grateful to the incoming Co-Chairs, Beth Jaculewicz and Jill Navonne, and look forward to working with them as they assume the leadership role of the PA!
PARENT ASSOCIATION CLASS REPS
Thank you to the Class Reps and the many parents that assisted in all the PA-sponsored events this year. The Faculty/Staff Appreciation lunches were a huge treat! With the support of the Class Reps with the lunches and many other events, we were able to have a great year for the BBHS community.
LAST BLAST
Thank you to the Last Blast Co-Chairs Kari Hatlan, Nicole Korman and Ann Martin, for planning a wonderful event for our graduates. They jumped in and got to work as soon as the health and safety guidelines allowed us to move forward! We are very grateful to them and all of the parents who helped.
