The 131 members of the Class of 2010 attended special events to mark their graduation from the Academy. On Friday, May 21, students, faculty and staff gathered for the final time this school year. The Cap and Gown ceremony celebrates the accomplishments of the entire student community, with special recognition of those in the Senior class. AHC’s Student Council Executive Board President and Senior Class President addressed the assembly, sharing personal remembrances of both the past four years and this past year’s school-wide accomplishments. On Sunday, May 23, the Class of 2010, faculty and staff, and family members attended the Baccalaureate Mass at Holy Redeemer church in Kensington, Md. Planned by members of the Senior class and AHC’s Campus Ministry, the Mass included a banner made especially for the occasion by four Class of 2010 Tartans, a Presentation of Gifts which included mementos carried by 37 Senior leaders of co-curricular activities and a “Prayer of the Graduate” written for the Mass by a Senior. The festivities culminated in the Commencement ceremony held on Monday, May 24 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. The graduates were joined by 25 members of the Class of 1960 who celebrated their 50th graduation anniversary earlier that day. Speeches included Salutatory and Valedictory addresses and a special keynote by former faculty and past parent Edith Marinucci. Her moving words included a “Graduates Beatitudes” and suggestions for how to achieve them. Three special surprise awards were presented during the program with cheers of affirmation from the awardees’ classmates. Following the conferring of diplomas, the Senior Class President gave a class tribute which included a special thank you to the graduates’ parents for choosing to send their daughters to the Academy.
First Kensington Campus Graduates Celebrate Their 50th Anniversary
“We spent four years as seniors!” remarked one AHC alumna who attended a 50th Anniversary luncheon to honor the Class of 1960. The 25 Ladies of the Academy traveled from near and far to come back together to reminisce and catch up. This class is the first to graduate from the Kensington campus which opened in 1956. At that time the students who were already attending the Academy’s Upton Street campus remained, with the Class of 1959 being the final graduates from the Washington, DC location. The Tartans from 1960 were on their own as Freshmen and added younger classmates each year afterwards. For some of the alumnae it was their first visit back “home” in 50 years. “Do they still sing the alma mater?” asked one who fondly recalled the tradition. AHC President/CEO Claire Helm gave a short report about present-day statistics including information about the Class of 2010. Alumnae asked Dr. Helm questions about the class sizes, scholarships and the IB programme. Following a group photo, the alumnae traveled to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to participate in the Commencement ceremony. As the Class of 1960 processed to the front rows, the Class of 2010 and all present applauded.
