Mount St. Mary Academy held its Senior Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, May 19, in the McAuley Center Gymnasium. The annual event, one of the final opportunities for the Class of 2021 to gather together before graduation, honored the individual and collective academic accomplishments of this year’s seniors.
Seventy-three percent of the Class of 2021 earned the academic status of Honor Graduate, having earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, and received a gold cord to wear at graduation. The top honor graduates awarded were: 1st honor graduate Chloe Gourde, 2nd honor graduate Brynne Johnson, 3rd honor graduate Anne Marie Coy, 4th honor graduate Sarah Cate Lay, and 5th honor graduate Sydney Austen.
Fourteen seniors were recognized for having participated in the rigorous AP Capstone program of study and received a purple and white cord to wear at graduation: Sydney Austen, Olivia Chambers, Ella Grace Connery, Anne Marie Coy, Savanna Delavan, Fran Edwards, Josie Fitz, Chloe Gourde, Tori Hughes, Brynne Johnson, Sarah Cate Lay, Abbey Moore, Mary Stevens, and Emily Van Ecko. Additionally, Anna Yanosick was recognized for her completion of the AP Seminar and Research certificate.
Laysha Cervantes received the 2021 Principal’s Award, given to an outstanding senior each year who has consistently demonstrated a Christian attitude, academic achievement, school pride and loyalty, service to others, and a total commitment to achieving her best during her time at Mount St. Mary.
Three MSM students were honored for receiving recognition by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation based on their PSAT performance their junior year. Chloe Gourde was one of just 14,000 seniors nationwide to be selected as a National Merit Finalist in 2021, which earned her a corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship from Raytheon. Additionally, Emily Roach was selected as a National Merit Commended Student, and Sydney Austen was named a recipient of the State Farm Companies Foundation Scholarship awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
A number of honors were awarded from various academic departments and organizations as well as the Flora Bittner Croft Scholarship for MSM students attending a Catholic university and the Judith Wrappe Scholarship for the senior art submission that best portrayed the theme of “We Are Stronger Than We Know.” Recipients of this year’s Flora Bittner Croft Scholarship were Emily Roach and Madeline Zachritz. Elise Smith was awarded the Judith Wrappe Scholarship.
Seventy-seven seniors, more than half the graduating class, were recognized for their fine example in maintaining the highest standards of character, leadership, service and academic excellence as members of National Honor Society. Additionally, 71% of the Class of 2021 was honored for its participation in Beta Club, a national organization that emphasizes achievement, character and service.
We celebrate the many wonderful academic accomplishments of the Class of 2021!
Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.