St. Michael’s Holds Seventy-fourth Commencement

Ken Ayars, Chief of the Division of Agriculture in the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, was the commencement speaker. A member of the St. Michael’s class of 1974, Ayars oversees the programs responsible for a broad range of agriculture-related functions, with the common mission of sustaining and promoting state agricultural industry. His advice to the graduating class was to stay true to themselves, and to always remember the values St. Michael’s instilled in them. Ayars was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Following a brief personal tribute to each graduate by Mr. Slade, he and Board President Bethany Di Napoli of Newport handed out the diplomas.

The graduates, along with the schools they will be attending next year, are: John Scott Andrade (St. George’s) and Amanda Catherine Barker (Wheeler) of Newport, Allie Christina Bradshaw (Prout) of West Kingston, Isabella Courtland Casey (Tatnall School) of Newport, Andrew Vincent Crocker (Prout) of Saunderstown, Luca Alexander Di Napoli (Moses Brown) of Newport, Jack Dill Finn (St. George’s) and Anne Frances Glassie (Miss Porter’s) of Middletown, Benjamin Ellis Hodosh (Rocky Hill) of Jamestown, Laura Elizabeth Husak (Prout) of Saunderstown, Jasmine Lan Jacklin (Rocky Hill), Oliver Flynn Jantz (Portsmouth Abbey), Mary Secret Jenkins (Miss Porter’s), Benjamin F. Lanowy (Rocky Hill), Morgan Yost Little (St. Paul’s), Sierra Elizabeth Love (Rogers High School), and Michael Frederick Ludwig (Portsmouth Abbey) of Newport, Arthur Kent MacKeith (Moses Brown) of Bristol, Corran Thomas Moore (Avon Old Farms) and Madeleine Ward O’Shea (Portsmouth Abbey) of Newport, Anastasia H. Paterson (Moses Brown) of Tiverton, John Michael Pelosi (Bishop Hendricken) of Saunderstown, Morgan Amelia Rice (Middletown High School) of Middletown, Nathaniel C L Rollo (Providence Country Day) of Portsmouth, Peter James Staples (Moses Brown) and Piers Sebastian Sullivan (Prout) of Newport, and Stephen Witt Tarantino (Rocky Hill) of Jamestown.

Four of the graduates were honored for their contributions to the school. The William F. Whitehouse Cup, awarded annually to the student who has maintained the highest academic scholarship for the year, went to Anastasia Paterson. The James Green Memorial Cup, for the Middle School boy who best exemplifies the spirit and ideals of the school, went to Michael Ludwig. Madeleine O’Shea was the recipient of the Stanley C. Hughes Memorial Medal, awarded to the Middle School girl who best exemplifies the spirit and ideals of the school. The Alan F. Flynn, Jr. Flag, which is awarded to the student who, in the opinion of the Head of School, has assumed a position of responsibility and trust within the school and carried out those responsibilities while maintaining a commitment to academic achievement, was presented to Isabella Casey.

Three individuals were also recognized for their efforts made on behalf of St. Michael’s. Tamara Farrick and Roselle McConnell, both of Newport, received the Clarissa Palmer Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes those who give selflessly of time and talent to St. Michael’s, moving the school in a positive direction. Rachel McCall of Middletown was presented the Andrew Christensen Award, which is given to the individual who has given to the school selflessly and wholeheartedly. McCall served as president of the Parent Association for two years.