KINGSTON – Filled with joy, hope and a great sense of accomplishment, members of The Prout School’s Class of 2012 were lauded for their community service and solid Christian values during the school’s 44th commencement exercises held last Tuesday night at the Ryan Center at the University of Rhode Island.
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Ninety-nine percent of the graduates will pursue higher education in the fall; one student will travel to Thailand for a year and another, Christopher Colardo, has enlisted in the United States Navy.
Valedictorian Mary-Catherine Stockman told her classmates to follow the Dalai Lama’s advice and to always help others.
“As individuals of integrity, we must embrace interaction and interdependency, helping whenever possible even when it does not seem as though there would be a great difference,” Stockman said.
Stockman, who will attend Texas Christian University in the fall to study kinesiology, also told the graduates to “set and achieve goals” and that “no goal is too silly or too impossible.
“Each and every one of us, at some point or another, will have an obstacle before us, trying to prevent us from reaching our goals,” she continued. “These hurdles, however, will be overcome as long as we are persistent. Each and every one of us has the potential to make our dreams become a reality.”
Lauren O’Malley, who will attend the University of Connecticut, and Heather Pasquazzi, who will study at Emerson College, tied academically and served as class co-salutatorians.
O’Malley told the graduates to look back on their experiences and to be grateful for the times they enjoyed while at Prout.
“Opportunities to meet new people, whether it be through classes, sports teams, art or theater; opportunities to learn from not only incredible teachers and staff, but also from one another; opportunities to explore our faith, and opportunities to truly develop into the people we are today and into the Class of 2012.”
During the past four years, the graduates performed community service in a variety of parishes and local nonprofits, including St. Clare Home in Newport, Meals on Wheels and the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission. Many of the students assisted in religious education programs in their parishes and served as peer ministers at the school.
Pasquazzi amused her classmates with an inspiring message in the form of a poem.
“Remember, the motto of our little state is ‘hope,’ no matter how small you may feel, those feelings of inadequacy are not real, from the smallest state can come the biggest dreams, so rip those insecurities from their seams, let your voices be heard, let your voices scream, because you are invaluable, invincible, invariably more than you seem.”
John Tafone, a parishioner of St. Pius X Parish, Westerly, who will attend The Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C., to study music education and musical composition, said that his four years at Prout opened many doors, helped him grow intellectually and deepened his spiritual life.
“Every moment presented me with new opportunities and challenges,” Tafone said. He emphasized that promoting strong Christian values and faith are important components of a Prout education.
“We began our freshman year with a Mass, and ended with a Mass yesterday,” he said.
Emma Hirst, a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Wakefield, said the school’s focus on service and prayer helped shape her life.
“It helped me to build my faith and incorporate it into how I live my life every day,” said Hirst, who will study at the University of Vermont.
The commencement marked the final Prout graduation for retiring Principal Gary Delneo.
“Eight years has really flown by,” Delneo said, as he prepared the graduates to march into arena.
“Prout has just been a wonderful culmination of my educational career,” he observed, adding that he enjoyed a 44 yearlong career as a teacher and administrator, 33 of which were spent ministering in Catholic schools.
“Prout is just a great educational and Catholic environment.”
Bishop Robert C. Evans presented the diplomas and offered the Benediction; Father Joseph R. Upton, school chaplain and assistant pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Wakefield, delivered the invocation.
PROUT CLASS OF 2012
Alexis Rae Abilheira
Abbie Elizabeth Allenson
Dana Anderson
Lauren Elizabeth Avarista
Mackenzie Avedisian
Derrick Joseph Barlow
Bronwyn Helana Barta
Meghan Mae Baxter
Paul Joseph Bellafiore
Christopher M. Berard
Dean Edward Bogda
Nicole Colleen Bongiovanni
Joseph Xavier Bove
Amelia Edith Bradley
Albert Archer Brandon
Anthony Joseph Butera
Alyssa C. Campbell
Lauren W. Cann
Joseph Anthony Cappuccio
Jake Thomas Carney
Casey Rose Cavanaugh
Timothy Christenson
Steven M. Cicero
Bridget Elizabeth Cienki
Grace Clancy
Alexander Edward Clifford
Christopher Robert Colardo
Sara Lynn Connors
Steven Robert Conte
Tara Lynn Costa
Christopher Martin Cox
Ryan Michael Cripps
Jillian D’Angelo
Kayla Daudelin
James F. Doyal
Julianne Nicole Dulude
Cassidy Jane Duncan
Danielle Reneé Dussault
Sarah Elisabeth Duxbury
Nathan Robert Farrar
Sasha Tess Faust
David Jon Feole
Lizandra Elisse Fiske
Casey Veronica Fitzpatrick
Adam William Flynn
Anya E. Fox
Ryan A. Furcolo
Margaret Catherine Gagnon
Marcus A. Galvin
Tyler A. Gauch
Nicole L. Gauvin
Matthew R. Gerlach
Alexandra Rose Giacobbi
Patrick Conor Gill
Chloé Elyzabeth Gomes
Chandler Rose Thompson Grills
Jennifer L. Grundy
Connor James Hagerty
Emma R. Hirst
Andrew M. Hogan
Taylor Lynn Holihen
Matteson R. Holtman
Andrew R. Horsfield
Cameron R. Johnson
Candice Lee Kalil
Erin Marguerite Kissinger
Jessica Anne Komari
Christopher M. Kopelcheck
Christopher A. Koretski ^
Haley S. Ladd
Noel M. Laflamme
Jacqueline T. LaForce
Erin Elizabeth Larghi
Sarah Patricia Lavallee
Danielle Marie Lawrence
Julia Noelle Leffray
Hunter Matthew Lemoi
Maria H. Leone
Alexa M. Levesque
Audrey Gauman Lucas
Shawn Jean Lunn
Bryce Joseph MacAndrew
Aria Alaina Maggiacomo
Garrett Magiera
Sarah M. Marasco
Joseph J. Masse
Sean Joseph Matuszak
Kelsey Erin McDonald
Shelagh Greene McGowan
Kelly Joan McKeon
Brittany Marie Medeiros
Adrianna Elyse Meyer
Alexander Emmanuel Mihailides
Elyse Katherine Miller
Julia Rose Miller
Kelsey Lynn Mooney
Vincenzo I. Moretti
Zane Joseph Morgan
Kaitlyn Elizabeth Murphy
Mackenzie Jane Muto
Brendan D. Natal
Kristen Nicole Notarantonio
Ryan November
Julie A. O’Brien
Lauren O’Malley
Katherine Ann Owens
Katelyn Renee Parente
Heather Lynn Pasquazzi
Ana Rose Pearson
Crystal Peralta
Gabriella Rose Pezzelli
Kathryn Liana Pfeiffer
Emma David Pollard
Aaron C. Propst
Sara Franziska Rauwolf
Samantha Marie Rawlinson
Casey Marie Regan
Christopher James Reilly
Michaela Ray Richards
Tessa Margaret Roever
Rebecca Noelle Rogers
Alexander James Rossi
Jeffrey Allan Rothstein
Courtney Bevier Roy
Catherine Ryan Rubin
Rebecca Lee Rubin
Samuel Devereux Rudd
Zachary Thomas Rusiloski
Ryan R. Saber
Shane Quernheim Sandoval
Anthony Lee Santiago
Emmett Joseph Michael Schlenz
Blair Lee Schneider
Edwin Gabries Sheehan
Jillian Leigh Simpson
Christopher James Small
Katreen Alexander Sorokina
Emily Ann Sprague
David R. St. Amant
Veronica L. St. Onge
Elise C. Staulo
Sarah M. Staulo
Mary-Catherine R. Stockman
Donald Storti
Matthew M. Sullivan
Cynthia H. Sun
John Anthony Tafone
Catherine Thow
Mary K. Toracinta
Anne K. Underhill
James P. Underhill
Marshall T. Vigneault
Ashley Susan Villa
Thomas-Anthony R. Viscione
Emma Elizabeth Wallace
Rachel Wells
Samantha Wilcox
Matthew Wong
Audrey Wostal
Aidan Wright