The Mount St. Mary Academy Class of 2024 received their diplomas and officially graduated from high school during this year’s Commencement Ceremony on Monday, May 20, at Robinson Center in downtown Little Rock. Per tradition, the young women wore white gowns and long gloves, and carried a single red rose, as they processed in through an audience of family members and friends and onto the stage.
The 100 graduates collectively received over $13.2 million in scholarship offerings and will be attending 23 different institutions of higher education across 11 states this fall. Additionally, this year’s graduating class completed more than 12,000 hours of community service for the greater Little Rock community during its junior and senior years.
Errin Calhoun Stanger ’94, founder and CEO of Refuge Village and former director of The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, delivered the commencement address. In keeping with the evening’s theme of “The Greatest Showman,” Mrs. Stanger encouraged the graduates to embrace the values demonstrated by some of the movie’s characters – many which mirror the Mercy Values taught during their time at Mount. “I want to push you to look for those that feel unseen,” she said. “Welcome them into your circles, care for them and be kind to them. It is your values, your character, and your attitude towards life that will define your journey.”
Mrs. Stanger was introduced by Fourth Honor Graduate Ella Burdine. Fifth Honor Graduate Clara Principe offered the invocation, and Third Honor Graduate Savannah Eanes presented the class essay, “A Million Dreams.” The valedictory addresses, “The Greatest Show” and “Rewrite the Stars” were given by First Honor Graduates Madeline McNeill and Eliza Jane Null, respectively.
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor presented the diplomas as MSM Head of School Sara Jones and MSM Assistant Head of School Robin Johnson announced each graduate, her honors, and the college she will attend. The three were joined on stage by Theresa Goshen Hall ’78, Arkansas Catholic Schools superintendent, and Anne Hiegel Mines ’82, MSM Academy Board of Directors chair. The evening concluded with graduates singing the alma mater together one final time as a class.
Congratulations, Class of 2024! We celebrate you and look forward to seeing all you continue to accomplish as women of wisdom, compassion and integrity.
