Donahue Academy Graduates 13 Seniors

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Published on Friday, 01 June 2012 23:14

The Rhodora J. Donahue Academy of Ave Maria has come a long way in five short years, senior class valedictorian Andrew Guernsey told graduates and their families at commencement exercises Friday in the Ave Maria Oratory.

He and his 12 classmates -- a group that included his twin brother, Joe -- played significant roles in establishing a number of "firsts" at the school: its first scholar bowl team, outreach programs to nearby Immokalee and far-away Nicaragua, a basketball team, a six-man football squad, a baseball team and membership in the National Honor Society. Right, Joe Guernsey, Michael John Dauphinais and Christine Lenardson share a moment after graduation.

"As Donahue graduates, we are called to be countercultural, faith-filled, intelligent, principled, and articulate leaders in a generation seeking direction," said Mr. Guernsey (left), who will be attending Johns Hopkins University.

"St. Catherine of Sienna said, 'If you are who you are meant to be, you will set the world on fire.' During our time here at Donahue Academy, we have been pushed to the limits of who we can be. Now it's up to us to take up the torch and light up the world, for while the labor may seem ordinary, with God's grace, the results can be extraordinary."

Class sautatorian Christine Lenardson, who will be studying biochemistry at the Universtiy of Virginia, urged her classmates to go out in the world with "passion and faith in a world that needs passion and faith." She thanked her parents, teachers, fellow graduates and "our third-grade prayer buddies," who she said were so important to the class.

The graduating class of 13 (right, with Fr. Robert Tatman looking on) was the school's largest, but Headmaster Daniel Guernsey said next year's senior class will be even larger at 24 students.

The full list of Donahue graduates:

Gabriel Alexander Allan
Michael John Dauphinais
Anne Rachel DeLiso
Julian Gonzalez
Andrew Ignatius Guernsey
Joseph James Guernsey
Nicholas Luke Jaroma
Michael John David Klein
Christine Elizabeth Leary Lenardson
Tania Altamirano Santana
Annaelle Rose Scanlan
Jacob Rielly Schneider
Christopher Y. Williams, Jr. 

 

 The Naples Daily News has more Donahue Academy graduation pictures here.