Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy held two traditional ceremonies the first weekend of June to celebrate the close of four years at FSHA for the 96 seniors in the class of 2011.

The first ceremony was the  Baccalaureate, held on Saturday, June 4 on the Senior Lawn. Tologs, dressed in white caps and gowns, and their parents enjoyed a final liturgy celebrated by Msgr. Antonio Cacciapuoti from St. Bede the Venerable church. Principal Sister Celeste Botello, O.P. presented each senior with the Sacred Heart medal honoring St. Catherine of Sienna. The medals, attached to red ribbons, are traditionally worn at graduation.

The second ceremony, held on Sunday, June 5, was graduation itself on Crane Field overlooking the San Gabriel Mountains. The young women, wearing matching long, white gowns and carrying bouquets of red roses, received their diplomas from FSHA President Sister Carolyn McCormack, O.P.

Giving the salutatorian address was Robbie Dela Cruz, who will be attending Stanford in the fall. The valedictory address was given by co-valedictorians Alyssa De Oca, who will be attending UC Berkeley, and Stephanie Ramsden, who will be attending USC.

The commencement address was given by Gloria Borges Pelmeri, an FSHA alumna from the class of 2000. Pelmeri, a graduate of Duke University and Stanford Law School, inspired both laughter and tears as she spoke of her journey from stage-four cancer diagnosis to remission, crediting her time at FSHA with giving her the confidence and fighting spirit to deal with her disease.

Several awards were presented during the ceremony including the Veritas Award, the highest award given by the school, which went to Robbie Dela Cruz and Alanna Pires. Other awards included the Sienna Award to Kristine Locker, the General Excellence Award to Alyssa De Oca, the Tolog Award to Serena Morris and the award for significant academic achievement by an international student to Heri Kwon.

  FSHA, JUNE 23, Leonard Coutin, YOUTH