May 21, 2016 | Class of 2016 Commencement
Graduation was our time to celebrate the amazing 252 members of the Class of 2016 and their many achievements. Our graduates collectively earned more than $ 32 million in one-time and renewable scholarships. More than 90 % of our new graduates are attending four-year universities; of those, 55 % are attending public institutions and 44 % will be attending private colleges. The Class of 2016 Valedictorian was Emily Bloom, the Salutatorian was Jessica Leatherby, and the Graduates’ Prayer was given by Bridget Eileen Foy.
An Excerpt from Emily Bloom’ s Valedictory Address
“ Because of these last four years at St. Francis we can stay balanced. Our SF traditions can be our anchor in an ever-changing world. And we have 75 years of them to guide us! This is not to say that we won’ t make new traditions, and learn new values and lessons. We will.
That’ s life. That’ s beautiful. BUT the values that we learned here, those are life long, those are central to who we are. So we must make the decision to carry them with us throughout our lives.
So my friends. Here we are. Four years later... We have this foundation, this experience, this GIFT of St. Francis High School that prepared us to take on the world as the best forms of ourselves. So when life gets shaky, come back to our St. Francis values. Think back to the love that we learned on Kairos. Share the compassion we gained through service to affect change in your communities. Depend on your faith and your friendships. Follow your passion wherever it takes you.
We are confident, beautiful and intelligent women who do all things with humility, service and love. As long as we hang on to this as our anchor, we won’ t ever fall.”
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