The Mount St. Mary Academy Class of 2023 received their diplomas and officially graduated from high school during this year’s Commencement Ceremony on Monday, May 22, 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, admitted to nearly 100 colleges and universities, collectively received over $15.7 million in scholarship offerings and will be attending 35 different institutions of higher education across 16 states and two continents this fall. Additionally, this year’s graduating class completed nearly 10,000 hours of community service for the greater Little Rock community during its junior and senior years.
Msgr. Lawrence Frederick, affectionately known as Fr. Fred, delivered the commencement address. He encouraged the graduates to remain faithful and be mindful of their relationship with Jesus as they enter this next chapter of their lives because it would be the most important relationship.
Fr. Fred was introduced by Fourth Honor Graduate Caroline Dean. Fifth Honor Graduates Madeline Dalton, Kathryn Morris and Eliza Spellins offered the invocation, and Third Honor Graduate Anna Alyse Patterson presented the class essay. The valedictory address was given by First Honor Graduates Megan Denery and Erin Strickland.
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor presented the diplomas as MSM Head of School Sara Jones and MSM Assistant Principal 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 Donna Chachere ’83, MSM Academy Board of Directors president-elect. The evening concluded with graduates singing the alma mater together one final time as a class.
View photos from this year’s Commencement Ceremony at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAEY2E.
Congratulations, Class of 2023! We celebrate you and look forward to seeing all you continue to accomplish as women of wisdom, compassion and integrity.