News Post

St. Joseph’s Academy juniors received their class rings during the 2025 Ring Ceremony, held May 2 in the Academy Student Center. Members of the class of 2026 and their families gathered for the traditional event, which commemorates the juniors’ three years at SJA and marks the point at which they make the transition to their senior year.

Dean of Women Christina Richardson welcomed the large gathering. She said SJA school rings are rich in symbolism and serve to bind their recipients as a class, with the generations of Academy graduates who came before them and with those who will follow in their footsteps.

Richardson introduced guest alumna speaker Dr. Aniko Nowakowski, a 2016 Academy graduate. While at SJA, she served as class president, founded the Hygiene for Hope initiative, sang in the choir and participated in science fair. She attended LSU, where she majored in biology, and earned her medical degree at LSU New Orleans, where she served as the homeless clinic director, vice president of Student Health and Wellness and vice president of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. She is also a lay associate of the Congregation of St. Joseph. She is currently a first-year internal medicine resident at Tulane University.

Dr. Nowakowski offered the juniors several pieces of advice, including to be mindful of the future but not at the expense of the present moment; focus on the next “yes” that God is asking you to make and give that “yes” with all your heart and with full enthusiasm; rely on your community; don’t take yourself too seriously; and remember to never get so busy chasing accomplishment and prestige that you forget to truly see your family, friends, coworkers and patients.

She said that belonging is the key to feeling fully alive and told the juniors to look around the room. “This sacred SJA sisterhood is your divine weapon,” she said. “It is your job to lift each other up and to help each other become the women that you were created to be. Sisterhood is not defined by shared blood but by shared trust, shared dreams, shared strength and, for all of us, a shared alma mater. It’s being each other’s loudest cheerleaders, honest mirrors and strongest shoulders. It’s late-night talks that turn into sunrise, laughing until our stomachs hurt and holding space when words fall short. Our quirks, our flaws, our fire, it is in this diversity that our unity becomes even more powerful. A sister sees your strength even when you’ve forgotten it yourself. She reminds you who you are when the world tries to tell you otherwise.”

Gretchen Payne read from St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Louisa deBlieux read a message entitled Journey Through Life. Leading the prayers of the faithful were Clare Valluzzo, Reese Landry, Greysen Millet, Camille Cotton and Linley Denstel.

Sarah Guidroz, junior class president, presented the class accomplishments, reflecting on the challenges and successes to date. “When we accept our rings tonight, let us think of the transformation we’ve had from freshman year, and let us embrace the year ahead of us,” she said. “Let’s build on the foundation we’ve created so far. Let’s cherish these moments, live day by day and truly enjoy every minute we have left at this home away from home. Create memories, get to know all of your classmates and take advantage of all the great opportunities here at SJA.”

Jane Templet explained the rich symbolism of the school ring, which is offered in two designs: the traditional black onyx and the red barrel stone. Sister Joan Laplace, a member of the SJA board of directors, blessed the rings, and Dean of Academics Aubrey DeJohn called forth each junior to receive her ring Richardson.

Jenna Braud led the closing prayer, and Adeline Bonner invited the juniors to participate in the traditional turning of the rings. Emily Neumann and Elizabeth Williams led the singing of the Alma Mater.

Danielle Laird directed the freshman and sophomore members of the choir, and Brad Buras was the pianist.

Junior class co-moderators Katie Comeaux and Jeanne Boudreaux were the Ring Ceremony coordinators.