DiplomasinHand,DreamsAhead
OnWednesdayevening,May28,TheMaryLouisAcademycommunity gatheredtocelebrateamomentousoccasion:ourEightyNinthYear CommencementExercises,honoringtheincredibleachievementsoftheClass of2025.
Withfamily,friends,faculty,andstafffillingtheauditoriumatQueensboroughCommunityCollege, theeveningbeganwithaheartfeltInvocationdeliveredbySeniorClassDean,SylwiaSchober P‘27.Whatfollowedwasabeautiful,upliftingceremonythatreflectedthestrength,unity,and spiritofthisremarkablegraduatingclass.
PowerfulwordsweresharedbyourSalutatorianandValedictorian,whosespeechescaptured theresilience,growth,anddeepfriendshipsthathavedefinedtheirtimeatTMLA.Wewere especiallyhonoredtowelcomebackDr.MaureenGannon’82asourAlumna CommencementSpeaker.Dr.Gannonofferedinspiringreflectionsandheartfeltadviceasthe graduatespreparedtotaketheirnextstepsbeyondTMLA.
TheGleeClubgaveamovingperformanceof"Unwritten,"capturingtheemotionand excitementofthemoment.Asthelyricsremindus,"Liveyourlifewitharmswideopen,todayis whereyourbookbegins..."afittinganthemforaclassreadytowritethenextchapteroftheirstory.
WewereproudtowelcomeKatherineChan’04,ChairpersonofourBoardofTrustees,who joinedusfortheformalConferralofDiplomas.Togetherwithouradministratorsanddepartment chairpeople,shehelpedpresenteachgraduatewiththeirdiplomaandspecialhonors,recognizing notonlyacademicsuccess,butalsoleadership,service,andcharacter.
WewerealsojoinedbySisterKarenBurke,CSJ,Ed.D.,representingoursponsoring body,theSistersofSt.JosephofBrentwood.Asaneducationalcommunityrootedintheir mission,westrivetoembodythevaluesofunity,inclusivelove,andservicetothedearneighborin allthatwedo.
Itwasamemorableeveningfilledwithjoy,reflection,andpride.TheClassof2025hasleftan indeliblemarkonTMLA,andwecannotwaittoseetheextraordinaryimpacttheywillmakein theworld.
PleasereadonforthefulltextofourfeaturedCommencementspeeches,highlightsoftheClassof 2025,andalookatthisyear’slegacymembers.
Naomi S. Goya
Valedictorian
Attending Fordham University
ReadNaomi’sSpeech
January Alana Jernigan Salutatorian
Attending Vanderbilt University
ReadJanuary’sSpeech
CommencementSpeaker Spotlight
WewerehonoredtowelcomeDr.MaureenGannon, TMLAClassof1982,asour2025Commencement
Speaker.ShewaswarmlyintroducedbyMarthaRezin '72,ChairofourScienceDepartment,whopraised Maureen’sdeepscientificpassion,generousspirit,and longstandingcommitmenttoTheMaryLouisAcademy.
AprouddaughterofQueens,Maureenhasbuilta distinguishedcareerresearchingtheregenerationof insulin-producingcells,workthatholdspromisefor transformingthetreatmentofdiabetes.Herdedication toscienceismatchedbyhercommitmenttomentorship andeducation,asshecontinuestoinspireandguidethe nextgenerationofscientists.
Maureen’sjourneytookherfromthehallsofTMLAtoprestigiousinstitutionsincluding VanderbiltUniversity,wheresheleadsfacultydevelopmentandadvancescriticalresearch. Beyondacademia,shebalancesarichlifewithfamily,art,music,andevenIrishstep dancing.
Herreturntocampus—shortlyaftercelebratingherownson’scollegegraduation—wasamoving reminderoftheenduringconnectionbetweenTMLAanditsalumnae,andofthepowerof curiosity,perseverance,andlifelonglearning.
ReadMaureen’sSpeech
Class of 2025 At a Glance
100% College acceptance and enrollment, including top-tier schools such as Harvard, Cornell, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, NYU, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Florida, Northeastern, Stony Brook and Penn State
86% earned the Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation
75% took AP courses; 90% enrolled in Honors courses
Over $36 million in merit scholarships awarded More than 100,000 hours of community service completed
View our Commencement Exercises Booklet for a full listing of the schools our graduates were accepted to, where they will be attending, and the scholarships and awards they received!
HonortheJourneyoftheClassof’25 withaGifttoTMLA
AswecelebratetheremarkableyoungwomenwhomakeuptheClassof 2025,weinviteyoutojoinusinhonoringtheirachievementsina meaningfulway.
EachgraduateleavesTheMaryLouisAcademywithnotonlyastrongacademicfoundation butalsoadeepsenseofpurpose,compassion,andleadershiprootedinthemissionofthe SistersofSt.Joseph.TheirtimeatTMLAhasshapedthemintothoughtful,capable,and courageousindividuals,readytomakeameaningfuldifferenceintheworld.
Incelebrationoftheirjourney,wouldyouconsidermakingagiftof$89.25—adollarfor eachyearthatTMLAhasbeendedicatedtoacademicexcellenceinpartnershipwithour students,andasymbolicnodtotheClassof’25?Yoursupporthelpsensurethatfuture generationsofTMLAstudentswillcontinuetoreceivethesameexceptionaleducation, empoweringmission,andsupportivecommunity.
Everygift,nomattertheamount,isavoteofconfidenceinthefutureof TMLA—andatributetothelegacythisclassleavesbehind.
HonoringOurLegacyFamilies: CelebratingGenerationsofMaryLouisWomen
AtTheMaryLouisAcademy,familyisattheheartofourcommunity.Whena graduatingseniorhasafamilymemberwhoisalsoaTMLAalumna,weproudly celebratethisspecialconnectionthroughacherishedtradition.
Aseachlegacygraduatestepsoffthestageafterreceivingherdiploma,heralumna familymemberisinvitedtogreetherwithawarmembrace—welcomingherintothe AlumnaeAssociation.Thisbeautifulmomenthonorstheenduringbondbetween generationsofMaryLouiswomenandhighlightsthelastinglegacythatfamiliesbring toourschoolcommunity.
WearethrilledtospotlightmembersoftheClassof2025whocontinuethisproud traditionoflegacyandleadership.
Audrey Lennon Adamonis '25
welcomed by her mother
Allison Giacalone Adamonis '94
Madison Elizabeth Barry '25
welcomed by her aunt
Kristen Sardis Barry '99
Lyndsay Brianna Benson '25
welcomed by her mother
Lydia Alfred Benson '81
Tanya Bissoondial '25
welcomed by her sister
Sabrina Ann Bissoondial '21
Maeve Theresa Carlin '25
welcomed by her mother Christine O'Hagan Carlin '88 and her aunt
Ann O'Hagan Cordes '84
Elizabeth Carty '25
welcomed by her sister Jacqueline Carty '21
Hema David '25
welcomed by her sister Sneha David '24
Grace De Ieso '25
welcomed by her mother
Elizabeth Cropper De Ieso '01 and her aunt
Kathleen Cropper Klein '03
Isabella DeGrotta '25
welcomed by her sister Alivia DeGrotta '20
Arianna Delgado '25
welcomed by her mother
Jennifer Chavez '03 and her aunt
Kaitlyn Chavez '18
Gianna Rose Eriquez '25
welcomed by her mother
Gina Marie Miraglia Eriquez '92
Naomi S. Goya '25
welcomed by her sister Chiyoko Goya '21
Gemma Violet Hill '25
welcomed by her grandmother Sharon Horan Drastal '60
Hannah Presley Rose LaMalfa '25
welcomed by her mother Michele Ciotti '90
Emilia Lelea '25
welcomed by her sister Sofia Lelea '22
Vivian Elizabeth Lemke '25
welcomed by her mother Angela Lee '93
Jayanna Jadia Magnus '25
welcomed by her sisters
Jahira Magnus '19
Sahira Magnus '19
Tahira Magnus '24
Triona Maeve McEntee '25
welcomed by her sister Marina McEntee '21
Avery E. Morgan '25
welcomed by her mother
Tara Dunphy Morgan '91
Eleni Marie Perez '25
welcomed by her godmother
Mitsy Ducheine '04
Abigail Jocelyn Roy '25
welcomed by her sisters
Camryn Roy '17
Samantha Roy '21
Michelle Soja '25
welcomed by her aunt
Marta Soja '86
Ariana Tolentino '25
welcomed by her mother
Annalisa D'Introno Tolentino '94
Bridget Austin Whitsett '25
welcomed by her mother
Eileen Harvey Whitsett '96
EmpoweringDreams,AchievingExcellence
TheAspireProgramatTheMaryLouisAcademycontinuestodeliveronitspromise: bridgingthegapbetweenpotentialandpossibility.
Weareproudtoannouncethatthisyear’sthreeAspireScholarsareheadedtosomeof thenation’smostprestigiousinstitutions—schoolstheydreamedof,workedtoward, andcannowattendthanksinparttothesupportandguidanceofAspire.
Lucy An-Lee
Harvard University
January Jernigan
Vanderbilt University
Natalie Moran
University
Through strategic college planning, financial aid navigation, and scholarship support, Aspiremakesitpossibleforstudentswithextraordinary potential andfinancial needto access life-changing opportunities. This year’s scholars are proof that with the right support,nothingisoutofreach.
ClickheretoviewthefulllistofAspireschoolsandlearnmoreabouttheprogram>
Athlete,Leader,Inspiration: Sam'sLastingLight
Duringourcommencementceremony,weweredeeply honoredtorememberSamanthaHarrisinaspecial way.HerparentsjoinedustocelebrateherTMLA legacyalongsideherclassmates,sharingamoment thattrulyreflectedthestrongspiritandclose-knit communitysheinspired.
Earlierlastmonth,wehadtheprivilegeofretiring Sam’sjerseynumbers,#1forSoftballand#6for Volleyball,honoringheroutstandingcontributionsas adedicatedtwo-sportathlete.
Sam’s resilience and wisdom continue to inspire us all. Her enduring message reminds us that while we cannot control what happens to us, we can choose how we respond; a legacy of strength that will forever shine within our community.
As we celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2025, from the inspiring speeches of our Valedictorian and Salutatorian to the powerful reflections shared by our esteemed Commencement Speaker, our hearts are full of pride and hope. We also honor our Legacy Alumnae, whose multigenerational ties enrich our community, and remember those who have gone before us, whose spirit continues to inspire us all. We remain deeply committed to nurturing the talents and dreams of every student.
We invite you once again to join us in honoring this extraordinary class by making a gift in their name. Your generosity ensures that the mission of The Mary Louis Academy will continue to thrive, empowering future generations of young women to lead with purpose and compassion.
Empower Tomorrow’s Graduates