The Prout School Graduation 2018

PROVIDENCE — The Prout School’s chaplain, Father Joseph R. Upton, prayed that the school’s 116 graduates would be blessed “with humility in the face of abundance” and with “compassion for the poor” in their future lives.

Prout’s 50th commencement exercises were held at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Providence on the afternoon of Sunday, June 10.

“We made it,” said Class of 2018 salutatorian Kelby Anderson in her address to the graduates. Recalling embarrassing moments from freshman year, Anderson urged her peers to “have good fun with life, even when you fail. Disappointments and rough patches are all part of God’s plan.”

Valedictorian Markos Verissimo, a native of Brazil, expressed his love and gratitude for the United States, explaining that his father had moved the family here to give his children a solid education.

Head of School David J. Estes presented the Crusader Award to Kane Hall and the Elizabeth Prout award to both Kaitlyn Slattery and Kelby Anderson. Estes then acknowledged other students who led Prout sports team to victories and announced the retirements of English teacher Catherine Shackleton and science teacher Lynn Simeoni, Ph.D. Both teachers had served the school for 30 years.

In his closing benediction, Bishop Robert C. Evans reminded the new graduates that “Jesus described himself as the way, the truth and the life. He is our way — he has given us what to believe in.”

He exhorted graduates to always keep Christ at the center of their lives. “If Christ is the light of the world, then no matter what valley of darkness you go through he will light the way,” Bishop Evans said.