St. Mary Academy – Bay View celebrates its 147th Commencement

East Providence, RI – On Monday evening, June 5, St. Mary Academy – Bay View graduated its Class of 2023 at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. Each of the 49 graduates have been accepted to college, earning more than $12 million in collective scholarships. The Class of 2023 will be pursuing higher education at 42 different colleges and universities across the country.

Valedictorian and Class President Ciara Mercado - Alvarez (Seekonk, MA) addressed the crowd of students, families, faculty, staff, alumnae, and members of the Board of Trustees with a reflection on lessons learned at Bay View. "As our time at Bay View has passed, we have discovered more about who we are and the type of people we desire to become. In the spirit of a Mercy education, we have been encouraged to embrace a commitment to agape– self-giving, unconditional love–inside and outside of the classroom. We have learned that our identities will be tied not to our grades or popularity but to the memories of loving one another through service and mentorship; memories that are the architects of our future, one in which I am certain each and every one of us will make an indelible impact on our communities.”

In addition to her many academic achievements, Ciara is the recipient of the Colleen Gribbin Award, the Harvard Book Prize and the Herbert and Claiborne Pell History Medal. She's a four-year athlete on the state-champion volleyball team and will be attending Brown University in the fall. “I see people who will change the future, not only because of their knowledge and skills, but because of their hearts–doctors who will advocate for more equitable healthcare, politicians who will reform our justice system, engineers who will solve complex problems to address the needs of their communities, performers who will bring life and light into this world, teachers and coaches who will inspire a love of learning and growth. Our potential is limitless.”

Other graduates from our area are:

• Ella Wasylow Rehoboth
• Maggie McKitchen Seekonk
• Brianna Quintana Riverside/EP
• Kaitlin Schaad Riverside/EP
• Lindsey Williams Riverside/EP
• Olivia Coelho Rumford/EP