News Post

St. Joseph’s Academy honored the class of 2022 at the 56th annual Honors Convocation, held May 20 in the Academy Student Center. The evening event was sponsored by the faculty and alumnae of SJA.

President Jan Rhorer Breen welcomed the soon-to-be graduates and their parents, saying the 292-member graduating class was the largest in school history. She applauded their resilience and strength as they overcame the challenges created by COVID. “They embraced every moment with sanctity, joy and action,” she said. “The members of the class of 2022 have cared for their dear neighbor, cheered for each other, forgiven one another, prayed for each other, explored new frontiers and challenged themselves and others to achieve, to dream, to serve.” 

Faculty member Emily Peavy introduced the graduating class as they were escorted across the stage. Senior Alexis Napoli offered the opening prayer. 

Amy Andrews, president-elect of the SJA Alumnae Association and a 2006 graduate of SJA, inducted the members of the class of 2022 – the Academy’s 145th graduating class – into the Alumnae Association and said the red roses they received from the association symbolized their union with 10,765 women who graduated before them. “May your new endeavors always be inspired by sanctity, filled with joy and guided by faith-filled actions,” she said. 

Dean of Women Erika Angarita announced the senior class favorites: Ava Riche, most athletic; Olivia Mack, most likely to succeed; Anna Webre, most school spirit; Alana Buckley, most talented; Elise Jones, best personality; Hannah Broome, most witty; Burgin Rome, most friendly; Crystal Olson, most studious; and Virginia Rader, best all around. 

Principal Stacia Andricain called forth the 113 seniors who went above and beyond the required number of service hours during each of their four years at SJA. They were Katherine Appleton, Cate Arms, Caroline Aycock, Avery Claire Bateman, Rebecca Bateman, Claire Blanchard, Caroline Boone, Rebecca Bordelon, Katherine Boyce, Julia Brinson, Allie Brooks, Evie Bryant, Jacie Budd, Caroline Cagle, Katie Calegan, Mallory Caro, Emily Carpenter, Megan Cloutier, Mia Colbert, CC Cook, Peggy Marie Cotton, Camille Counce, Chloe D'Angelo, Kate Dauzat, Haylee Deshotel, Sydney DeSoto, Vivian Dille, Camille Domangue, Aries Dove, Ava Dunn, Nina Embaugh, McCall Emonet, Blair Entremont, Samantha Evans, Grace Fabre, Reese Favaloro, Camille Ferachi, Presley Fernandez, Gracie Franzo, Gifford Greer, Anne Scott Guglielmo, Gabby Guichard, Demia Harrison, Alexis Harvey, Alexia Hasenbeck, Madison Heath, Blake Hester, Lucy Hodges, Olivia Hotstream, Sophie Huffine, Camden Hull, Sophia Jatho, Chloé Khuri, Lindsey Landry, Daniela Latil, Lexi Lauff, Katherine Leake, Alyssa LeBlanc, Ava Lemoine, Hailee Lemoine, Lilly Leonard, Ashleigh Lewy, Ellen Livingston, Katie Luckett, Rebecca Magri, McCall Matt, Sadie McManus, Macen Melancon, Estelle Mensman, Heaven Morgan, Anna Musso, Alexis Napoli, Izzy Naquin, Ashlyn Neucere, Christine Ngo, Lucille Oatley, Nicole Opdyke, Emily Ordeneaux, Claire Perrault, Morgan Perry, Jossie Petite, Claire Pizzalato, Anna Plauche, Delaney Poiencot, Ellie Pryor, Lucy Richardson, Ava Riche, Gracen Rinaudo, Helena Robertson, Mia Roppolo, Grace Rowley, Caroline Ruth, Kaitlyn Savoie, Kaitlyn Schumacher, Claire Simmons, Jordan Simoneaux, Emily Soignet, Peyton Soignet, Sarah Stenhouse, Kinley Strickland, Elle Sullivan, Grace Toler, Bella Toncrey, Caroline Tucker, Ansley Upton, Ava Ventress, Annabel Warrington, Anna Webre, Ava Welborn, Millie Claire Weston, Riley White, Allie C Young and Paula Zapata.

Also recognized were the students chosen by their classmates and faculty to crown Mary at the annual May Crowning ceremony earlier this spring: Ella Kate Aucoin, Alana Buckley, Evelyn Carley, Grace Anne Crifasi, Blake Hester, Emma Lauret, Lilly Leonard, Virginia Rader, Burgin Rome and Caroline Ruth.

Andricain announced the winners of SJA’s four major athletic awards. Grace Anne Crifasi received the SJA Scholar-Athlete Award for academic excellence and athletic success. Morgan Perry received the Sister Ursula Harelson Award, given to an outstanding student and dedicated athlete who is hard-working, selfless, competitive yet humble. Riley White was named the recipient of the Sherri Troxclair Award for courage, determination and perseverance in overcoming obstacles while excelling in sports and making major contributions to the school community. Ava Riche was named the SJA Outstanding Athlete for excellence in sports and for being both a strong leader and role model for her peers. 

Dean of Curriculum and Instruction Aimee Urdiales announced the recipients of the Distinguished Quality Awards for 2021-2022. Caroline Ruth received the Medaille Outstanding Classmate Award as the outstanding member of the class of 2022. Burgin Rome received the Downtown Kiwanis Courtesy Award, voted on by the senior class and given to the senior who is considerate and respectful of others’ thoughts and feelings. Anna Webre was given the American Legion Award, voted by her classmates on the principles of courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service to God and the community. The award was presented by Anna Sanders, commander of the American Legion Post #38.

Evelyn Carley was awarded the Knights of Columbus Patriotic Award, given to a senior who exemplifies the qualities of hard work in academics, love of God and country and patriotic actions in her daily life. The award was presented by Dave Goldsmith, admiral, Bishop Ott Assembly of the Knights of Columbus. Jemma Isabel Wood received the Breaking Barriers Grant, established by Laureen Callo ’83 and given to a senior planning to attend an out-of-state school and pursue a major that has not been traditional for women. The award is given to a senior with a demonstrated record of academic and co-curricular achievement and a commitment to service.

Recipients of SJA’s special memorial awards were announced. Izzy Naquin was named the winner of the Kirstin Elizabeth “Libby” Honoré Memorial Award, given to a graduating senior demonstrating the qualities and spirit of Libby: compassionate, fun loving, hardworking and scholarly. The award was presented by Libby’s parents, Byron and Nicole Honoré.
    
Anna Grace McLemore received the Allison Grace Honeycutt Memorial Award, given to a senior known for her gentle, caring manner and free-spirited approach to life and who loves working with young children. The award was presented by Allison’s parents, Blayne and Valerie (Plaisance ’79) Honeycutt. 

Grace Fabre was the recipient of the Courtney Myshrall Memorial Award, given to a senior who is kindhearted, nonjudgmental and whose outgoing nature and joy for life touch those around her. The award was established by Courtney’s parents, Steve and Sharon (Schexnayder ’69) Myshrall. Sharon, along with grandchildren Camille, Keller, Dylan and Eli, presented the award.

Virginia Rader received the Jeannette Svendson Memorial Award, given to a senior who exemplifies love and kindness, who is always positive and who is filled with appreciation for life. Jeffery Svendson, one of Jeannette’s brothers, presented the award. 

Grace Toler received the Frank and Maria Bologna Award, given to the senior selected by the faculty as the hardest-working student. The award is given each year by Re Bologna DiVincenti, class of 1971, and her husband, David, daughter and son-in-law of Frank and Cookie Bologna. Re presented the award.

Reagan Angers received the Cyrus A. Greco Service Award in recognition of her generous service to the school, her classmates, community and the faculty. The award is given in memory of the father of two Academy alumnae, Mary Catherine “Toots” Greco Villere ’68 and Carmela Greco ’69.

Angarita recognized the 92 seniors who will be awarded the Seal of Biliteracy. These students successfully completed a level four foreign language course and earned qualifying scores on the English and reading sections of the ACT. In French, they were Sarah Adler, Caroline Aycock, Avery Claire Bateman, Cate Booksh, Caroline Boone, Emma Britton, Madeleine Brown, Caroline Cagle, Mia Colbert, Camille Domangue, Samantha Evans, Camille Ferachi, Alexia Hasenbeck, Kate Hebert, Gabriella Hendrick, Blake Hester, Lucy Hodges, Madeline Joffrion, Hannah Jones, Chloé Khuri, Daniela Latil, Emma Lauret, Katherine Leake, Hailee Lemoine, Sarah Lindrew, Mary Melancon, Kendyll Monceaux, Camille Morrison, Izzy Naquin, Crystal Olson, Ellie Prados, Kamryn Reed, Frances Rhodes, Burgin Rome, Kaitlyn Savoie, Katie Schroeder, Kaitlyn Schumacher, Camille Smith, Anna Webre and Ava Welborn. In Latin, they were Isabel Bacas, Mallory Caro, CC Cook, Haylee Deshotel, Aries Dove, Grace Fabre, Julie Guilbeau, Katherine Guttzeit, Carolyn Herman, Katie Luckett, Emily Ordeneaux, Haley Pittenger, Ellie Pryor, Regina Raemsch and Helena Robertson. In Spanish, they were Reagan Angers, Katherine Appleton, Cate Arms, Rebecca Bordelon, Katherine Boyce, Madelyn Canezaro, Evelyn Carley, Amelia Cochran, Grace Anne Crifasi, Camila Cuadra, Lucy DeBosier, Alexis deQueiroz, Vivian Dille, Nina Embaugh, Havilland Forbes, Gracie Franzo, Gabby Guichard, Sophia Guillory, Ava Kadi, Madeleine LeBoeuf, Ava Lemoine, Lilly Leonard, Ashlyn Neucere, Isabel Ngo, Lily Reeves, Lucy Richardson, Mia Roppolo, Alexandra Rossi, Caroline Ruth, Jordan Simoneaux, Carsyn Smith, Elle Sullivan, Sophia Tierney, Aubrey Turner, Millie Claire Weston, Jemma Isabel Wood and Paula Zapata.

Angarita recognized outstanding students in each subject area. They were Maddy Bergeron, art achievement; Sarah Lindrew, art service; Crystal Olson, band achievement; Haley Pittenger, band service and Latin; Emma Littleton, chorus achievement; Ava Welborn, chorus service; Amelia Bradford, dance achievement; Anna Chapman, dance service; Cate Arms, English; Evie Bryant, family and consumer science achievement; Elise Jones, family and consumer science service; Camille Domangue, French and theology; Paula Zapata, Spanish; Grace Toler, health and physical education; Evelyn Carley, mathematics; Anna Grace McLemore, media arts achievement; Camden Hull, media arts service; Emma Lauret, science; Carolyn Herman, social studies; Lucy Richardson, technology achievement; Sarah Stenhouse, technology service; Christine Ngo, theater achievement; and Olivia Mack, theater service. 

Also recognized were the 40 students who earned second academics for maintaining a 3.0-3.499 cumulative grade point average throughout their SJA years. They were Avery Aucoin, Emma Rose Bordelon, Amelia Bradford, Katharine Broussard, Anna Virginia Broyles, Evie Bryant, Jacie Budd, Katie Calegan, Lilly Cambias, Kharsyn Campagna, Emily Carpenter, Claire Cunningham, Chloe D'Angelo, Bailey Day, Kennedy Dicharry, Mary Kate Durham, Blair Entremont, Ainslie Goulas, Julie Guilbeau, Camden Hull, Sophia Jatho, Olivia Kauffman, Alyssa LeBlanc, Isabella Lemoine, Ashleigh Lewy, Mary Bennett Marchand, McCall Matt, Brenyn Mayeux, Lucille Oatley, Nicole Opdyke, Claire Pizzalato, Frances Rhodes, Peyton Richard, Gracen Rinaudo, Anna Roppolo, Caroline Scrantz, Emily Soignet, Olivia Turner, Anna Webre and Amelia Westerfield.

Urdiales called forth the 113 students who earned first academics for maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 during their high school years. They were Sarah Adler, Andee Alexander, Ryleigh Allen, Riley André, Katherine Appleton, Vivian Ardoin, Kaylie Ash, Ella Kate Aucoin, Caroline Aycock, Avery Claire Bateman, Rebecca Bateman, Ann Marie Benoit, Ella Boudreaux, Katherine Boyce, Julia Brinson, Allie Brooks, Madeleine Brown, Alexandra Campbell, Lauren Carter, Annaliese Clark, Megan Cloutier, Mia Colbert, Peggy Cotton, Caroline Cottrell, Camila Cuadra, Kate Dauzat, Maddie Davis, Haylee Deshotel, Nina Embaugh, McCall Emonet, Samantha Evans, Jolee Fair, Camille Ferachi, Presley Fernandez, Havilland Forbes, Claire Gautreaux, Maloree Gibson, Claire Graves, Anne Scott Guglielmo, Gabby Guichard, Katherine Guttzeit, Hollan Hatzis, Madison Heath, Kate Hebert, Gabriella Hendrick, Lucy Hodges, Brooklyn Hoffmann, Clair Hubbard, Sophie Huffine, Elise Jones, Natalie Kaiser, Caroline Keller, Catherine Kellerman, Ella LaFleur, Gillian LaFleur, Lindsey Landry, Lexi Lauff, Katherine Leake, Ryn LeBleu, Ava Lemoine, Hailee Lemoine, Lilly Leonard, Sarah Lindrew, Emma Littleton, Ellen Livingston, Olivia Mack, Harper Mathes, Mackenzie McCormick, Jennifer McCoy, Tre McGuire, Anna Grace McLemore, Macen Melancon, Mary Melancon, Estelle Mensman, Abby Mire, Madison Morel, Camille Morrison, Anna Musso, Izzy Naquin, Christine Ngo, Helen Nguyen, Jossie Petite, Annie Pizzolato, Makenna Quick, Virginia Rader, Lilly Reeves, Helena Robertson, Burgin Rome, Grace Romero, Lillian Roussel, Grace Rowley, Alex Sanford, Katie Schroeder, Kaitlyn Schumacher, Peyton Soignet, Amelia Southard, Dorothy Strange, Kinley Strickland, Anya Stuart, Elle Sullivan, McCall Terrell, Sophia Tierney, Grace Toler, Caroline Tucker, Mary Elliott Turner, Ansley Upton, Adrianne Van Duzee, Ava Ventress, Laurel Viguerie, Annabel Warrington, Avery Watts, Ava Welborn and Kristian Williams.

Dean of Academics Aubrey DeJohn announced the 28 students receiving the Principal’s Award for earning all As for semester grades in every class taken over four years. Recipients were Natalie Alfieri, Cate Arms, Caroline Cagle, Evelyn Carley, CC Cook, Grace Anne Crifasi, Camille Domangue, Bella Grier, Alexia Hasenbeck, Carolyn Herman, Blake Hester, Chloé Khuri, Emma Lauret, Sadie McManus, Molley Mitchell, Kendyll Monceaux, Izzy Naquin, Isabel Ngo, Haley Pittenger, Ellie Pryor, Regina Raemsch, Mia Roppolo, Jordan Simoneaux, Carsyn Smith, Amelia Southard, Sarah Stenhouse, Mary Elliott Turner and Maeve Zelden.

Eighty-seven students were awarded an honors diplomas for maintaining a minimum 3.8 cumulative GPA while taking at least 11 honors or advanced placement courses during the past four years. They were Natalie Alfieri, Reagan Angers, Cate Arms, Jillian Augustine, Isabel Bacas, Gabriela Barbin, Maddy Bergeron, Cate Booksh, Caroline Boone, Rebecca Bordelon, Emma Britton, Caroline Cagle, Madelyn Canezaro, Evelyn Carley, Mallory Caro, Anna Chapman, Amelia Cochran, CC Cook, Camille Counce, Grace Anne Crifasi, Lucy DeBosier, Alexis deQueiroz, Sydney DeSoto, Vivian Dille, Karah DiVincenti, Camille Domangue, Maddie Doran, Aries Dove, Ava Dunn, Grace Fabre, Gracie Franzo, Maddie Kate Gardiner, Meghan Gauldin, Bella Grier, Sophia Guillory, Alexis Harvey, Alexia Hasenbeck, Carolyn Herman, Blake Hester, Olivia Hotstream, Amielle Jenkins, Madeline Joffrion, Ava Kadi, Chloé Khuri, Daniela Latil, Emma Lauret, Madeleine LeBoeuf, Katie Luckett, Rebecca Magri, Sadie McManus, Anna Miller, Molley Mitchell, Kendyll Monceaux, Alexis Napoli, Ashlyn Neucere, Isabel Ngo, Sommer Nguyen, Crystal Olson, Emily Ordeneaux, Claire Perrault, Bella Perrault, Morgan Perry, Haley Pittenger, Anna Plauche, Ellie Prados, Ellie Pryor, Frances Purgerson, Regina Raemsch, Lucy Richardson, Mia Roppolo, Caroline Ruth, Kaitlyn Savoie, Claire Simmons, Jordan Simoneaux, Camille Smith, Carsyn Smith, Sarah Stenhouse, Reed Talley, Bella Toncrey, Aubrey Turner, Elizabeth Usher, Ellie Waguespack, Millie Claire Weston, Riley White, Jemma Isabel Wood, Paula Zapata and Maeve Zelden.

Also announced were the honors diploma students who are the highest academic achievers based on the criteria set forth in the SJA handbook. The salutatorian for this year is Isabel Bacas. Recognized as the valedictorian for the class of 2022 is Regina Raemsch.  

Andricain congratulated the graduating seniors for being leaders who inspire the future with their talent, creative spirit and love of the dear neighbor. “We have watched you grow in the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph to become women for others,” she said. “Cherish the life-long relationships you have formed at SJA, but always remember that God lives in the center of your lives and continue to nurture your relationship with Him.”

Elise Jones offered the closing prayer, and Emma Littleton ended the evening with the singing of the Alma Mater. 

The red roses presented to the graduates by the Alumnae Association each year are donated by Liz Batchelor McKowen, class of 1972, in memory of her parents, Alymer Price Batchelor and Audrey Batchelor.

Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director

Photos by Jennifer M. Fontaine