Bay View Academy Celebrates Its 141st Commencement

East Providence, RI – On the evening of Monday, June 5th, the 110 members of Bay View Academy’s Class of 2017 donned white robes, gloves and caps and received their diplomas at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence, RI. This marks the 141st commencement ceremony since the Academy opened in 1874.

Bay View Interim President Barbara Haynes (East Providence), called on the Class of 2017 “to take great care of yourself, be grateful for the blessings in your life, be merciful and just, and with Grace do all that you can to make the world a better place by loving one another, teaching, inventing, engineering, defending, protecting, creating, and always living Mercy.” She closed her remarks by sharing the words of Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, “May God bless and protect you and make you the instrument of His glory.”

Members of the Class of 2017 have enrolled in an impressive array of colleges and universities including West Point Military Academy, University of California Berkeley, University of Notre Dame, Bucknell University, Wellesley College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Brown University. The class earned a total of $9,026,620.00 in merit scholarships for colleges and universities (for four years).

Jessica McDonald (East Greenwich, RI) was the Valedictorian of the Class of 2017 and Tiffany Brooks (Cranston) was awarded the most prestigious honor given by Bay View to a graduating senior: the Catherine McAuley Woman of the Year Award. The award is named after the founder of the Sisters of Mercy and is described as:

A woman of singular character and impeccable integrity who leaves an indelible imprint on the fabric of the Bay View community. She reflects the unselfish values of Catherine by improving the quality of life of those with whom she comes in contact; by her welcoming attitude towards others and her understanding of her responsibility to service. She also possesses a firm commitment to her academic pursuits, as well as a deep, intellectual curiosity. She is a well-balanced, firmly-grounded young woman with a strong moral fiber combined with a passion for the continued pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.

The following list represents St. Mary Academy - Bay View’s graduating Class of 2016, including the academic and character awards bestowed at the senior awards ceremony, “Parents Night,” and at the Athletic Banquet, as well as indicators of membership in the Rhode Island Honor Society and the National Honor Society.

The Members of the Class of 2017 from East Providence
✝ National Honor Society
* Rhode Island Honor Society

Faith Nicole Allen ✝*, Excellence in Performing Arts; Alexia Madison Botelho, Spirit of Scholarship Award - Science; Hannah Elizabeth Cabral ✝*, Salt of the Earth Award, Excellence in Technical Theater; Olivia Jacqueline Dumon ✝*; Olympia Venise Good *, Sister M. Faith Harding Bengal Spirit Award; Cassandra Helen Harvey *, Technical Theater Special Recognition Award, Excellence in Technical Theater; Evynn Nichelle Johnson-Burris *; CyAnne Leah Mitchell ✝*, Coach Albin Moser Excellence in Crew, Scholastic Art Award Honorable Mention - Drawing; Emily Ann Powers *
Maria Fernanda Pessa Scavassin *; Sydnee Lynn Shorter ✝*, John Patrick Connolly Award for Forensic Science; Leah Elizabeth Sirmalis; Summer Louise Small *, Senior All-State Women’s Chorus; Joohyun Sung ✝*