PROVIDENCE – The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul was filled with more than 1,000 people on June 5 for the 137th graduation ceremony of LaSalle Academy.
What started as a gloomy, drizzly day turned into a spectacular evening as the sun broke through the clouds at 6:15 when the LaSalle graduates began to gather and line up for the moment they have been working toward for the past four years.
“This is an exciting night and this is a terrific class,” said Principal Don Kavanagh – sentiments echoed by Brother Michael McKenery in his address. “We’re not sure we want to let you go. You are that special,” he said.
Wearing the trademark LaSalle maroon gowns and mortar boards, more than 100 of the 333 graduates were also adorned with yellow honors sashes. The Most Rev. Bishop Ernest A. Boland, Bishop Emeritus of Multan and a 1943 LaSalle graduate, presided over the ceremony. Father Kenny, LaSalle Chaplain gave the invocation. Speakers included John Regan, chairman of the LaSalle Board of Regents, Brother Edmond Precourt, provincial of the de LaSalle Christian Brothers, Long Island New England District, Brother Michael McKenery, LaSalle president, and student speakers Akosua Mensah, who delivered the welcome address and Luke W. Lapointe who delivered the principle address.
Akousa urged her fellow grads to remember: “We have left 333 footprints on all of our hearts. Let us go forth with faith and spirit, and always let our presence remain strong.” Luke LaPointe challenged his classmates to live the prayer of St. John Baptist. “We have achieved much, in athletics, academics, arts, as teams and as individuals, because of our Catholic teachings, which are about intellect, faith and spirit. We must now go on to grow in faith and answer the call to serve.”
The teachings and examples of St. John Baptist de LaSalle were evident and strong in the class of 2008. The common thread of each of the speakers was that act of evoking response from fellow LaSallians, “St. John Baptist” and the responses rose from every corner of the Cathedral. “Pray for us.” “Live Jesus in our Hearts.” “Forever.”
Daniel Accardi
Peter Joseph Agliata
Michael Aldana
K-Lone D. Alves
Allison Pamela Andrews
Joseph Anthony Andriole, Jr.
Richard J. Angell
Ashle AnnMarie Ashby
Casey Oliver Aubin
James D. Baffoni
Kaitlin F. Bailey
Jillian Lee Balasco
Christina M. Barajas
Michael A. Barone
Tessa Marie Barone
Gregory John Barry
Tayla Rae Bartone
Jacqlyne Nicole Basile
Amanda Elizabeth Beaupre
Mitchell F. Belhumeur
William B. Beliveau
Evan D. Berger
Monica-Sabina O. Bharoocha
Pablo Ariel? Bilbao La Vieja Quintana
Paul Scott Blair, Jr.
Julie Christine Boc
Alexandra Brynn Bowen
Clarke Cote Bowling
Carissa Rose Brailsford
Kevin Daniel Brites
Kimberly Caitlin Brito
Elizabeth L. Brown
Nicholas M. Bruno
Ryan S. Bucci
Tara Lynn Buitta
Raymond M. Bundy
Ralph Buontempo
Cameron M. Burns
Judith Lena Burr
Anthony F. Caccia
John R. Calabro
Giavanna Calcagni
Carissa Nicole Cambio
Stephen Campagnone
Nicole Ashley Campano
Edward R. Campbell
Mary Lauren Capaldo
Willeen A. Capehart
Kayla Marisa Capuano
Gillian Ann Cardarelli
Lauren Cardarelli
Alexandra Ann Catanzaro
Gianna Maria Cavallaro
Kaitrin A. Christ
Justin A. Cianci
Frederik E. Clinckemaillie
Tom Clinckemaillie
Nicole Joyce Cocozza
Alana R. Colantonio
Michael Salvatore Commendatore
Melissa Ann Conca
Matthew Connole
Gabriel A. Costantino
Matthew W. Coté
Kelly Brianne Coughlin
Jasper J. Coutu
Kevin M. Cronin
Brendan Edward Curran
Marc Curtin
Lauren Ann D’Abrosca
Daria Lauren D’Ambra
Danielle M. D’Amico
David M. D’Amico, Jr.
Daphney Daniel
Thomas J. Darnowski
Megan E. Davison
Travis James DeCosta
Kayla M. DeCristofano
Angela Marie Degaitas
Stephanie Ines De La Rosa
Brenton DelGrande
Madison T. DellaGrotta
Caitlin Jessica DelSesto
Raquel A. Denizard
Matthew J. Denneny
David J. De Santis
Sean A. Devin
Nicholas A. Devonis
Michael A. DiCenso
Melinda E. Diffily
Kelsey R. Dillon
Christopher R. Dionne
Sarah E. DiSarro
Zachary A. Duda
Melanie D. Duhamel
Daniel Durfee
Kara J. Durfee
Torey J. Engell
Patrick G. Erban
Mary M. Erklauer
Natalie M. Faella
Alexandra I. Fairbrothers
Meaghan E. Falvo
Ryan Feeney
Anthony M. Ferri
Victoria Olivia Ferruccio
Jessica Rose Feula
Valerie Feula
Cameron Lee Fitzhugh
James Flaherty
Brittany A. Florenz
Ryan Michael Fonseca
Nicholas Lee Forgue
Barbara Fox
Sarah Kathleen Francazio
Karen F. Galligan
Elinora R. Gallogly
Jessica Renée Gandy
Arthur Gately
Moriah Gaulin
Marlaina Philomena Gemma
Amanda Dawn Gianfrancesco
Anthony Giacomo Gianfrancesco
Kathryn A. Giardino
Stephanie M. Gilkenson
Lisa Marie Giudici
Melanie M. Goes
Elizabeth T. Golec
Alex D. Gomez
Megan E. Gonsalves
Shannon Marie Gorman
Allison Quinn Green
Chelsey L. Grenier
Carl P. Grimo
Jay J. Guilmette
Michael Patrick Gumbley
Julia Kathleen Hadden
Shannon Bridget Hagerty
Nicholas Matthew Haidemenos
Mardea Augustina Halley
Jonathan Dezi Halmi
Kelsey Patricia Hayden
Carolina Herrera
Kathleen Ann Herring
Michelle L. Hevey
Narván Raschad Hilliard
Kathleen Anne Hilton
Andrew P. Hogan
Kevin J. Hogan
Laura Anne Holmstedt
Mary F. Holt
Brent J. Hopkins
Taylor A. Horton
Anthony E. Iacono
Ryan H. Isaacson
Michael T. Isherwood
Alisa May Izzo
Joshua Janes
Sacha S. Kaufer
Karleen M. Kelly
Lily Melina Kendall
Patrick J. Kesack
Lily A. Kessinger
Jacques Eddy Laguerre
Susan Elizabeth Lambert
Luke William Lapointe
Christina Corrine Alice Lapolla
Mark A. Laurito
Brian F. Lavey
James A. Lawless
Brian A. Lemoine
Giana Rose Leone
Jenny Sydney Isabella Ley
Alyssa Karol Limperis
Timothy William Lipka
Stephanie Ann Lisa
Alan Cole Loiselle, Jr.
Allesandra Roberta Lomazzo
Sara A. Lonks
Lindsay A. Loporchio
Casandra Louis-Jean
Christie Maria Lurgio
Kevin M. Lynch
McCamey Paige Lynn
Jeanne Marie Mack
Robert James Maggiacomo
Emily Anna Maher
Erin Anne Mahoney
Thomas E. Mancini
Chelsea M. Marandola
Kenneth John Marandola
Christina Lynn Marcaccio
Joan Maria
Nicolas Rafael Mariscal
Amy Lee Marques
Sarah A. Marques
Kathryn E. Marquis
Gregory S. Martin
Christopher Joseph Martinelli
Christina Ann Martinez
Nicholas Walter Martirossian
Ariana Nicole Masi
Jonathan Ryan Micieli Mattingly
James Joseph McAllister III
Ellen Ann McBurney
Katherine McCabe
Maura Rose McCabe
Jaymie Elizabeth McCanna
Allison Christine McCormick
Kelsey Rose McIntyre
John Richard McKenzie
Jayson Michael McVeigh
Natasha Colby Medeiros
Benjamin Bernard Mello
Akosua Nyarko Mensah
Anjelica Kristi Mercadante
Rebecca Lauren Dash Merten
Chelsea Kathleen Miller
Sean Gaffney Minahan
Matthew David Minese
Ian Anthony Mochrie
Michael Francis Moise III
Emily Alexandra Molak
Nicholas Peter Montecalvo
Ashley Maria Moretti
Bryan Francis Moulico
Colleen Patrice Mulcahey
Amanda Rose Nacci
Cory Robert Nassaney
Robert Harold Nazarian
Faith Elizabeth Negro
Terrin Mary Nocera
Lindsay Catherine Noonan
Nicholas Christian Oliveira
Gabriel M. O’Neill
Franco Antonio Oshiro
Ashley Marie Pagliarini
Kara Pagliarini
Kayla J. Pagliarini
Gian-Michael Palmisciano
Alexia Amber Palombo
Meghann A. Papaioannou
Meghan Marie Paplauskas
Katelyn E. Paquin
Alyssa M. Peckham
Cassandra Maria Pederzani
Eric Brandon Pepin
Matthew C. Petrarca
Jenna Silvana Petrucci
Damian M. Pinheiro
Meghan Elizabeth Pinksaw
John Benedict Joyce Pleasants
David A. Porcaro
Shauna L. Potter
Gretchen E. Proulx
Lauren Elizabeth Rabbitt
Emily Elizabeth Rainho
Stefanie Jaye Raiola
Aimee Lynn Ramirez
Alexander Edward Rathbun
Jillian Ann Rebello
William Nicholas Rehak
Jeremiah Joseph Reilly
Kaitlin Marie Reilly
Emily Norma Rendine
Justin Resendes
Hannah Lea Rigney
Lillian Kathryn Robinson
Dominic Raymon Rocco, Jr.
Andrew Brady Roche
Nicholas Justin Rodrigues
Michael Loyola Rogers
Joanna Marie Romero
Neal Rooney
Pierina Rosado
Juliana Mary Rose
John Joseph Ryan
John Robert Ryan
Kathryn Murphy Ryan
Megan Flanagan Ryan
James Vincent Salafia
Holly Samantha Sanchez
Gregory S. Saucier, Jr.
Kaitlyn Nicole Sawyer
John A. Scampoli
Lauren Rose Schiappa
Alexander William Schlageter
Casey Barrett Sherry
Victoria Nicole Sigillo
Stephanie Lee Silveira
Anthony Sinapi
Alexandra Marie Skoly
Ashley Marie Smith
Matthew T. Smith
Joshua Alexander Soares
Daniel Joseph Sorger
Nicholas W. Sousa
David Robert Joseph Spagnoli
Justin James Sullivan
Mark Daniel Sullivan
Quinn E. Sullivan
Sean Edward Sutherland
Aria Vaille Suzman
Lucy T. Sweeney
Valentina Maria Szlashta
Whitney Lee Tallarico
Seth M. Tavares
Gregory J. Thibault
David R. Thibodeau, Jr.
Peter M. Thomas
Daniel R. Thompson
Ryan Sullivan Toohey
Stephanie Mikhaila Trad
Joseph David Trillo
Nicholas M. Varone
Ryan Evan Varone
Benjamin Vergez
Nicholas R. Villiard
Samuel J. Vito
Anna Lucia Vogel
Nathaniel William Walsh
Yu Edmond Wang
Christopher D. Whipple, Jr.
Matthew Tate Whiting
Brandon J. Wilbur
Darrell A. Wilkins
Emily May Wilkinson
Tara Marie Wilkinson
Jasmin Sheree Woodbury
Maxwell Tsutomu Yamada
Michael Joseph Zhu
Ryan David Zins
Stephen Michael Zukauskas