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Alumnae Spotlight
Riley Hercules ’19 is an exemplary representative of Incarnate Word Academy. She is a servant leader who takes initiative to complete tasks without being asked to do so. She is filled with joy in everything she does at IWA. Her goal is to make every event the best possible experience for her classmates and the school. During her four years, Riley has served as: student council secretary, student council representative, student ambassador, volleyball manager, and Eucharistic minister. She has also participated in theatre productions and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Never one to shy away from accepting leadership opportunities, Riley has been recognized for her efforts in this arena by receiving the Junior Class Leadership Award, the St. Louis County Outstanding Student Leader Award, and the Mission Model Award. “When receiving the Young Alumna Award, I felt overwhelmed with excitement because I truly had no idea I would be receiving it,” Riley said. “It was such an honor because I felt as though so many of my classmates deserved it just as much, if not more, than I did,” she added. In the fall, Riley will be attending St. Louis University where she will major in English. “My plan is to go on to become a high school English teacher – hopefully at IWA one day,” she said, adding, “I would also like to get my master’s degree in secondary administration and then become a dean of students or a principal.”
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THE WORD
Class of 2019 Lauren Yarusso ’19
C0-Valedictorians & Salutatorian
IWA English teacher, Cassie Foster Hackworth ’01, was chosen by the Class of 2019 to give the commencement address.
“Think of the past four years as a book. Graduation is not your resolution. It is merely your rising action and the best years are still ahead. Look back on your time at Incarnate Word Academy as the exposition of your story. The friendships you made, the places you went and the relationships that will last a lifetime, are all part of your story. You write it!” - Cassie Foster Hackworth ’01
The valedictorian ranks first in scholarship and is considered the top student of her class. The salutatorian ranks second in scholarship and is considered the second highest student in her class. Selection criteria are based primarily on cumulative GPA and the number of advanced classes taken while a student she is at Incarnate Word Academy. The Class of 2019 had two students who tied for the top honor. For the second time in as many years, “co-valedictorians” were named. Emily Schroeder and Lauren Yarusso were announced as the covaledictorians to the crowd assembled at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts during the graduation ceremony on May 20, 2019. Julia Chamberlain was announced as the salutatorian.
Emily Schroeder ’19 Co-Valedictorian, Emily Schroeder, attended St. Cletus Catholic School in St. Charles, Missouri, before becoming a Red Knight. Emily considers her successful navigation of her junior year class load as her greatest academic achievement during her four years at Incarnate Word Academy. “I was able double up in science, taking both Honors Physics and Anatomy & Physiology, and I additionally took Honors Composition 3 and Honors American History – and I survived!” she exclaimed. Although she has many fond memories from her time at IWA, Emily says that winning the Big Sit her junior year was by far the best. “It may sound cheesy, but I think that was a turning point for our class. From that day on, we all came together and built our reputation as an amazing class,” she commented. Emily will attend Saint Louis University in the fall. She plans to major in chemistry and minor in Spanish. She also plans to indulge in her love of swimming by becoming a member of the Billiken swim team.
Co-Valedictorian, Lauren Yarusso, attended St. Peter Catholic School in St. Charles, Missouri. Although Lauren considers taking AP Calculus her senior year as her greatest academic achievement, she says that being recognized as a Mission Model was perhaps her most fulfilling experience of all. “It was something I had been wanting since freshman year, and I finally was picked. I am extremely grateful that my peers and the mission committee saw me as a Woman of the Word,” she stated. Lauren shares a similar favorite memory with her co-valedictorian, Emily. She recalled, “My best memory over the four years at IWA was the Friday of spirit week junior year. That was the point at which my class worked together and got closer than we ever have before. We surprised everyone with our can donations and Big Sit win. It was one of the best days of my life!” Lauren will be attending Miami University in Ohio in the fall. Although her major area of study is undecided at the moment, she is considering architecture.
Julia Chamberlain ’19 Salutatorian, Julia Chamberlain, was a student St. Cletus Catholic School in St. Charles, Missouri, before she came to IWA. Julia believes that her greatest accomplishment over the last four years was being able to balance a rigorous academic schedule while still being involved in athletics and other activities. Her most challenging class was United States History ACP because the particular structure of the papers forced her to develop stronger writing skills. Julia considers Senior Sleepover as one of the best memories of her time at the Academy. “It was a great start to our final year at IWA,” she said. Julia also strongly advises future Red Knights get involved from the moment they set foot on campus. “Don’t wait to join new clubs or try out for sports teams. It’ the best way to meet new people and learn new things,” she said. Julia will continue her education at Purdue University, where she plans to enter the College of Pharmacy.
THE WORD
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L-R: Jill Joeckel ’19, Emily Wittenauer ’20 and Toni Lanter-Mason ’19 don festive headwear to sell 50/50 raffle tickets.
Top 5 Classes:
BY THE NUMBERS Gift that Traveled Farthest: San Francisco, CA
2,050 miles!
1
2014 (38%)
2
2007 (35%)
3
2008 (33%)
4
2016 (24%)
5
2011 (23%)
$23,568
187
Total Raised
First Time Donors
22% 46
Total Volunteers
363 Total Donors
TOTAL PARTICIPATION
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