On Saturday, June 8th, Lacordaire Academy, an independent Catholic day school in Upper Montclair, held its 103rd commencement ceremony. Graduates from the all-girls Upper School will attend American University, Boston University, Caldwell University, Drexel University, Indiana University – Bloomington, Johnson and Wales University, Mount Holyoke College, Northeastern University, Rutgers University (2 students), Syracuse University (2 students), University of Connecticut, University of Michigan, and University of Vermont.
Valedictorian Stephanie Mutuku ’24, who will major in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University this fall, spoke to her classmates: “Despite how vastly different I am now from who I was in my Freshman year, I am still connected to that 14-year old girl. I hope you have realized that who you are presently is not separate from who you were when you started your journey here, or who you surrounded yourself with when you got here. I see how the Lacordaire experience has shaped each of us in its own unique ways, and how we have transformed each others’ perspectives on life as a whole.”
Salutatorian Milanya Navani ’24 began her speech with a short prayer from her Hindu religion. She then shared: “Although Lacordaire is a Catholic Institution, I am so honored that this school acknowledges all of our beliefs.” Navani then addressed her teachers, saying “At Lacordaire, our education was tailored to our interests and we were able to explore concepts that went beyond the curriculum. From service trips to engaging in conversations about current events, you have helped us thrive and grow into individual thinkers that can enter any situation with an open mind. You have created future leaders who will hopefully change hearts and minds in the world around us.”
Lacordaire alumna Elizabeth Shehata ‘17 was this year’s commencement speaker. Shehata, currently a fourth-year medical school student with plans to specialize in psychiatry, shared her personal experiences of success and setbacks. “In your journey ahead, you will face obstacles and setbacks,” Shehata noted. “But it is your ability to bounce back that will define your success. Try, and if it doesn’t work, try again. Understand that no one can truly lift you up and provide you with a deep sense of strength besides yourself. Embrace discontentment and unhappiness as catalysts for growth, but remember – motivation driven by dissatisfaction is fleeting. When that fades away, it is your inner strength and determination that will keep you moving forward.”
Shehata encouraged the graduating students to seek out challenging experiences in order to achieve personal growth.
“Remember, something is only impossible…until you do it.”
