A lovely spring day greeted the Saint Raphael Academy Class of 2022 as they became our newest class of 115 alumni at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.

The 95th commencement exercises were more of a return to normalcy after two years of pandemic restrictions and mandates. Masks were optional in the cathedral, and Saints were happy to show their smiles on their special day. Family and friends were in force in the pews, sporting phones and cameras to record the occasion.

After a beautiful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” sung by senior Oluwatosin Okele, Academy Chaplain Rev. Ryan Simas gave the opening prayer, followed by opening remarks by Vice Principal of Academics Judy Baxter.

Salutatorian Ella Olea gave her speech and recognized the support she and the Class of 2022 received from the Saints community.

“Our parents, teachers, administrators, coaches, counselors and the entire Saints community supported us in the passions that we enjoyed. They pushed us to excel. They were there when we failed to live up to our expectations and reminded us that we are worthy and capable of pushing through.”

Each of the 115 members of the class then stepped up to receive their diplomas, some names eliciting cheers from family and friends. Senior Josh Farrell was the epitome of multitasking—competing in the state track and field championships and then rushing to graduation. While he missed his place in the alphabetical recitation of graduates, he did make it to the cathedral before the last diploma was handed out.

Amrit Kohli, the Class of 2022 valedictorian, spoke about the impact our school theme, “we rise by lifting others” had on him and how the class lived out that motto, through acts of kindness and service. He encouraged the class to continue these acts. “Lifting others will continue to make us better individuals and makes our world a better place,” he said.

Principal Dan Richard spoke next and noted that the class had been through some trials. “The pandemic abruptly altered our plans, but all of you persevered and made adjustments to become successful. Here is my big takeaway for today – all of you throughout your life will be affected by unseen obstacles and challenges. … When these moments of change occur in life, you must be able to weather the storm and persevere,” he said.

Father Simas gave the final blessing and Mrs. Baxter dismissed the class for the last time. The Class of 2022 cheered triumphantly as the organ played the recessional.

Graduation followed the Baccalaureate mass and senior dinner from the evening before. Many students were awarded scholarships (a complete list follows) and accolades.
View the senior slideshow and the graduation ceremony!

AWARD WINNERS—CLASS OF 2022

GENERAL EXCELLENCE…………………………………………………………………………NEXT IN MERIT
Amrit Kohli………………………………………………………………………………………………..Ella Olea

EXCELLENCE IN THEOLOGY…….. …………………………………………………….…………. .. David Wilson
Next in Merit……………….………………………………………………………….…..……..…… …. Oluwatosin Okele
EXCELLENCE IN ENGLISH….……………………..……………………….…………………..………………..….Ella Olea
Next in Merit…….………………………………………………………………….………..…………. Jenny You
EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS………………..…………………………………….…………..………..Joshua Farrell
Next in Merit…………..………………………………………………….……………………….……… Oluwatosin Okele
EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE………………………………………………………..….….…….. Amrit Kohli
Next in Merit……………………………………………………………….…………………………. Jenny You
EXCELLENCE IN SPANISH……………………………………………..……………………. .Joshua Farrell
Next in Merit………….………………………………………………………………… Blessy Monte de Ramos
EXCELLENCE IN FRENCH…………………………………………………..……… Shannon Maude Jeanty
EXCELLENCE IN SOCIAL STUDIES………………….……………………………….… Oluwatosin Okele
Next in Merit…………………………………………………………………………………… …David Wilson
EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS………………………………………………….……………. Abigail Medeiros
Next in Merit……………………………………………………………………………….…… James Coolman
EXCELLENCE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION…………………………..…………………… Miles DeMacedo
Next in Merit…………………………………………………………….…………………………….. Ella Olea

DISTINGUISHED AWARDS

EDITH PECK PHILLIPS MEMORIAL AWARD…………………………………….…… Victoria Adegboyega
MARGARET McGEOUGH MEMORIAL AWARD……………………………….………………….. Valeria Uribe
LEONA ROGERS MEMORIAL AWARD……………………………….……………….……………Jasmine Colon
RITA PRATT MEMORIAL AWARD…………………………………………………. Lauryn Thibault & Ella Olea
HENRY A. BARRY ’31 MEMORIAL AWARD……………………………….………………….Andre DePina-Gray
DALTON-HULME ’64 MEMORIAL AWARD……………………………….……………….……… Dylan Depot
C. DONA MAYNARD ’29 AWARD…………………………………………………….………… Elizabeth Murphy
JOSEPH T. McHALE ’62 AWARD………………………………..………..……………………………David Wilson
COLONEL JAMES A. MacDOUGALD ’46 MEMORIAL AWARD…………………………….Patrick MacDonald
DENNIS M. LYNCH, JR. ’74 MEMORIAL AWARD…………………………………………… Miles DeMacedo
DOREEN A. TOMLINSON ’80 MEMORIAL AWARD………………………………….………… Meghan Cabral
SHAWN M. NASSANEY ’94 MEMORIAL AWARD………………………………….………………. Joshua Farrell
GARY JACK ’74 MEMORIAL AWARD……………………………………………..……………….Larisa Ventura
PRINCIPAL’S LEADERSHIP AWARD……………………………..………….…………………….. Amrit Kohli
SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE AWARD…………………………………….……….……. .Vincent Emery
FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AWARD…………….………………….………………….… Brooke Potter
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LEADERSHIP AWARD…………………..………………………….. Jason Yany
THOMAS E. BURGESS ’29 MEMORIAL AWARD…..…………………………………………….. Nathan Pires
SENATOR PELL MEDAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY……………………………………….….Oluwatosin Okele
SIGNUM FIDEI AWARD………………………………………………………Lauryn Thibault & Elizabeth Murphy
OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARDS……………………………………….. Victoria Adeboyega, Meghan Cabral,
James Coolman, Samuel DaCunha, Dylan Depot, Joshua Farrell, Shannon Jeanty, Amrit Kohli,
Diana Lopes, Morgan McCann, Elizabeth Murphy, Ella Olea, Allajah Perryman, Kyle Pierce,
Brooke Potter, Kylee Sutcliffe, Lauryn Thibault, Molly Thurston, Simon Treanor, David Wilson,
Jason Yany, Rebeca Zuleta
SAINTS ANGEL AWARDS….……………………… Meghan Cabral, Michael D’Orazio, Napoleon DeBarros,
Isaiah Delgado, Dylan Depot, Nicholas Force, Haley Kennedy, Diana Lopes, Morgan McCann,
Ariel O’Brien, Chukwuebuka Osondu, Ashley Prew, Henrique Ross, Lauryn Thibault,
Simon Treanor, Larisa Ventura, Christina Wilk, Jadyn Woodard

PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARDS…………………………………………….. Diana Lopes & Christina Wilk