Woodlands Academy graduation: 'This is not goodbye'
Members of Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart's Class of 2019 received their diplomas June 6 during the all-girls college-preparatory day-and-boarding high school's 160th Graduation Ceremony.
In his opening remarks, history/social science teacher and senior class advisor Peter Cashman described the transformation that he and other Woodlands Academy faculty/staff members have witnessed. "When you entered this building four years ago you came as children. You are leaving as adults. Adult members of your family, your community, your nations and the world."
But Cashman was quick to add, "This is not goodbye. Come back and visit. Come and tell us how college is. Share with us your adventures your success. You will always have a home at the Sacred Heart."
Student speaker Elise Albertson, of Winnetka, described the transformation she experienced while at Woodlands. "If it were not for the growth that this welcoming environment inspired in me, I would never be able to stand up here and speak to you all - so thank you for giving me this chance."
Albertson, who will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign in the fall, was chosen by her fellow classmates to speak on their behalf at graduation. "I think we all learn each year just a bit more about how special Woodlands truly is. And to some degree, that's why it's so sad to go. But I know that our experience here is never truly over. We are forever children of the Sacred Heart and we'll always have the lessons we learned in this loving community to guide us in our adventures to come," she said.
Albertson's connection to Sacred Heart education in Lake Forest runs deep. Her grandmother attended Barat College while her mother and five aunts are all Woodlands Academy alumnae.
On the day before they graduated, several seniors were honored with the school's top awards in recognition of outstanding achievements during their four years at Woodlands Academy.
They include Mary Clare Scalise, of Glencoe, who received the 2018-19 Woodlands Award, the highest student honor that can be attained at the school. Based on the votes of faculty and students, this award recognizes outstanding service, leadership, character and scholastic development.
The Distinction in Studies Award was presented to Elise Albertson for maintaining the highest scholastic average during her four years of high school. She is the Class of 2019 valedictorian.
The second-highest grade point average after four years of high school was achieved by Paige Bartusiak, of Lake Forest, who is this year's salutatorian.
Other honorees included 2019 Global Scholars Paige Bartusiak; Kathryn Bettuzzi, of Park Ridge; Abigail Hurtgen, of Winnetka; and Christa Ingabire, of Rwanda, whose diplomas and transcripts will include the designation of "Global Scholar" in recognition of their successful completion of this Center for Global Studies program.
The achievements of this year's 27-member senior class also include heading off to college this fall having earned a total of 50 scholarships totaling more than $1 million.
Woodlands Academy's comprehensive College Counseling program is an important reason why -year after year - 100 percent of its graduates are accepted into college, including some of the most prestigious schools in the country, as well as the impressive scholarship successes this year's total represents. The program features Woodlands' unique College Skills class in which the instructor guides students through the college process both junior and senior years in a classroom setting. It's a prime example of how Woodlands Academy provides all the support students and their parents need in the competitive college-selection process.
Founded in 1858, Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic college preparatory day and boarding high school for young women. It's part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries. A nonprofit, Woodlands Academy's identity is rooted in Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's desire to inspire young hearts and minds to excel, to lead lives of integrity and to serve. For more information about Woodlands Academy, please visit www.woodlandsacademy.org