Ursuline High School will graduate the Class of 2017 at its 109 th Annual Commencement Exercises held at Stambaugh Auditorium on Sunday, May 28, at 4:00 P.M. The speaker will be Vera Herbert (U ’07), a writer on the hit NBC show, This Is Us. Vera is a graduate from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking. She won a Writers Guild Award for best episodic drama for the episode “The Trip,” which was viewed by over 10 million people in the United States. Vera has been a writer for the MTV show, Awkward. Mr. Randy Rair, Assistant Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Youngstown, will be a special guest. Mr. Matthew D. Sammartino, Principal, will award diplomas to the graduates. The Ursuline Administrative Team: Rev. Richard Murphy (President), Sr. Regina Rogers, OSU (Assistant Principal) and Miss Margaret Matune (Assistant Principal) will each have a role in the ceremony.
Academic Excellence Awards were presented to the top graduates of the Ursuline Class of 2017. Marie Bond and Aaron Coates are the Co-Valedictorians with grade point averages of 4.52 on a 4.0 scale. Patrick Conway will be honored as the Salutatorian with a grade point averages of 4.42 on a 4.0 scale.
Marie Bond is the daughter of Barbara and Jeffrey Bond. She attended Saint Patrick School (Hubbard) and is a member of Saint Dominic and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica Parishes. Marie was a four-year member of the Varsity Tennis Team and Team Captain. She was a member of the Spanish Club serving as both President and Committee Chairperson of La Fiesta. Marie was a member of both Students of Stewardship and Student Council serving as a member of the Executive Board in both organizations. She was the pianist for El Fuego (the liturgical choir), a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Liturgy Committee and the Interact Club. She was an announcer for the Irish Digest, and a reporter for the Irish Times (school newspaper). Marie regularly tutored at Casa Madre and went on the school Mission Trip to Nicaragua in 2016. She is a member of the National Honor Society, a National Merit Finalist, the recipient of the Lisa Higgins Hussman Achievement Award and the Prom Queen. Marie is a liturgical lector at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Dominic’s. She has done research at YSU on electromagnetically-induced transparency noise correlation spectroscopy with Dr. Crescimanno, PhD. Marie has been part of Keep Smart (park leader), YSU Summer Honors Institute, YMCA Bright Futures Leadership Development Program, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, DOY Cecilia Project, Notre Dame Vision, Steubenville Youth Conference and the National Catholic Youth Conference. She will attend the University of Notre Dame and intends to major in Civil and Environmental Engineering. She hopes to pursue a career as a Global Development Engineer.
Aaron Coates is the son of Mary Ann and Mike Coates Jr. He attended Saint Rose School and is a member of the parish. He has served a co-editor of both the Irish Times (newspaper) and the Ursulinian (yearbook). Aaron is a Student Council Executive Board Member and Captain of the National Ocean Science Bowl Team. He is a member of Students of Stewardship, the National Honor Society and is a Student Ambassador. Aaron is National Merit Scholar and a recipient of both the Father Michael J. Chonko-Dr. Janet E. Del Bene Chemistry Award as well as the Higgins Hussman Scholarship. He has participated in physics research at Youngstown State University and is the Trial Secretary for the Youngstown All-Breed Training Center. Aaron will attend Northwestern University to major in Economics. He hopes to pursue a career in Management Consulting.
Patrick Conway is the son of John and Kathy Conway. He attended Saint Christine School and is a member of the parish. Patrick is a four-year letter winner of the Soccer Team and served as Team Captain. He is a member of the Student Council Executive Board, a Student Ambassador, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Interact Club and Students of Stewardship. He is a Eucharistic Minister and Peer Tutor. He tutors at Casa Madre and participated in the Mission Trip to Nicaragua in 2016. Patrick has volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank and participated in travel soccer. He had the highest Grade Point Average of all soccer players in the District and the second highest average in the State. Patrick will attend the University of Notre Dame and major in Engineering.
Perfect Attendance Awards will be given to Patrick Thomas and Eric Allen.
The Awards Assembly was held on Thursday, May 25 at 8:00 AM. Members of the Class of 2017 were formally presented to the Principal, faculty, and student body at this assembly. Students in grades 9 through 11 were recognized at the Awards Assembly for their academic achievements and service to the school. All parents were invited to attend. A special reception in honor of the parents of the graduating seniors was held immediately following the ceremony in the cafeteria. The Baccalaureate Liturgy was celebrated at St. Columba Cathedral on Friday, May 26 at 6:30 PM. Rev. Richard Murphy, President of Ursuline, will be the celebrant joined by pastors of area Catholic parishes. Homilist will be Msgr. Kenneth Miller (U ’64). Following the Baccalaureate Liturgy, the graduates were guests of the faculty and administration at the annual Senior Dinner Dance.