Graduation 2008
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| Fr. Fesniak, teachers, students, and graduates on the front steps of Transfiguration Catholic Church after the graduation Mass. |
Graduation is a large step in any young person’s life, and St. Louis de Montfort Academy makes sure that it does not go unnoticed. There was a beautiful ceremony in the local Catholic Church, with a special Mass, accompanied by hymns of thanksgiving, sung with great solemnity, and wonderfully inspiring and informative speeches given by guest speakers and my classmate: Mr. Thomas Appleby.
Read Mr. John Horvat's graduation address
This would be plenty enough for me, but more was yet to come. On the trim Academy grounds, Mr. Gregory Escaro, our music instructor, organized an impressive presentation of the Academy band, composed of various brass instruments, fifes, bagpipes, and last but not least, my personal favorite: the colonial snare drums. During the entertainment, family and friends enjoyed a delectable lunch of steak, sausage, potato salad and beer prepared by Messrs. Paul and Gabriel Shibler.
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| Mr. Thomas Appleby and Mr. Robert Womack greeting students after the graduation ceremony. |
But the last, fading notes of the band did not signify the end. There was still the general awards ceremony. Most graduations have something similar to this: the highest math score, the greatest history score, or best speller, all of which are good. But St. Louis de Montfort Academy goes beyond the normal type of awards. The Academy recognizes students for their exceptional behavior, qualities, or virtues, such as: obedience, following the house rules, punctuality, and even penmanship. All of the festivities are rounded off with a final rosary in front of the large wooden cross.
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| Parents and friends joined the celebrations at the Academy with a wonderful meal. |
The many crosses and difficulties I encountered these past three years at the Academy seemed insurmountable. It seemed like forever until I would be one of those walking up to receive that diploma ennobled with the Academy seal. Thanks to Our Lady, now I have, and I can look back on all of the things that I had previously overlooked and took for granted.
As a student at the Academy I was afforded many opportunities: traveling to distant countries; cooking whole meals for large groups; leading young men in games, exercise, and work; not to mention all of the spiritual advancements and countless other amazing opportunities. All of those experiences, along with the solid Catholic instructions that I received, instilled in me a strong sense of moral responsibility and duty. Now, on graduation day, I express my graditude to the Academy for these and the many other blessings I received.
