Class of 2010 graduates

Posted by: Debbie Bowley on Mon, 07 June 2010 16:10:30

With the members of the Class of 2010 carrying traditional yellow roses and dressed in white caps and gowns, the school’s graduation took place in the Lauralton Hall gymnasium on June 6, 2010.  President Antoinette Iadarola, Ph.D. gave the opening and closing remarks and presented the diplomas along with Eileen Dooling, RSM and Principal Ann Pratson. Sister Eileen, President of the Sisters of Mercy of the Northeast, gave an inspirational talk telling the graduates to listen to their hearts and to know the world around them. Among the 104 young women who received graduation diplomas were Valedictorian Lia Bonacci, Salutatorian Emily Ruggeri and Catherine McAuley Award winner Amanda Rodrigues. Remarks by both Lia and Emily were meaningful and touching.

Valedictorian Lia Bonacci is the daughter of Mary Ann and Perseo Bonacci of Shelton. Lia is a leader who has garnered many academic awards through the years including two prestigious Medals: French and Science; as well as awards for excellence in the study of all subjects over the years - Social Studies, French, English Language and Literature, Math, Art and Science, including the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award for demonstrated excellence. The list continues - she also recently received the Claire Shannon Richards Memorial Award for excelling in math and for service to school and community and a strong commitment to family and church. Lia, a 2009 Governor Scholar Semi-finalist, also received the Harvard Book Award for an outstanding member of the class who combines excellence in scholarship and achievement in other fields. This year Lia is a recipient of the President Obama Recognition of Educational Excellence. A highly motivated student, Lia has faithfully achieved high honor roll status and is an outstanding member of the National Honor Society and the French National Honor Society. She has undertaken the most competitive academic track offered at Lauralton Hall.

“Lia is friendly, positive, respectful and respected. Art is a passion and Lia has given up her free periods to pursue all the art courses offered here,” states Guidance Counselor Sue Fracker. She is co-president of the French Club, enjoys fencing and is a member of the school ski team.  Ms. Bonacci is a Peer Tutor and has done volunteer work with the CT Special Olympics and the Sterling House Community Center. She has also volunteered at Lauralton’s Summer Academy and Science Olympics. In her own community, she has helped to organize a canned goods drive to benefit the food pantry.  Math and science are her favorite subjects and she sees herself in the future “developing solutions to life’s problems.” 

Lia has been awarded a one-time undergraduate research fellowship and plans to major in biomedical engineering. She will attend the Honors College at the University of Connecticut as a Presidential Scholar.

“Lia is simply the crème de la crème, not just academically, but in everything she has given to our school community as a leader, helper, friend and role model,” said Principal Ann Pratson. “We are proud to have her leading this class.”
 
Salutatorian Emily Ruggeri of Orange is the daughter of Cynthia and Paul Ruggeri. Emily has received many accolades such as being an AP Scholar, a recipient of the Princeton Book Award and Rensselaer Medal, Lauralton Hall Mathematics Department Medal for 2010, the Connecticut High School Scholar Athlete Award, as well as being a member of the national Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. “She upholds the tenets of excellence in scholarship, leadership and commitment to service.  She is responsible, trustworthy and respectful. She truly leads by example and is dedicated to all she does, from her academics to community service,” states Lauralton Hall Guidance Counselor, Janet Barney. 

Mrs. Barney continues, “She simply adores learning, especially science and has received high honors every quarter since freshman year.” President of the Key Club, Emily is quick to help others and has volunteered at Milford Hospital, Vacation Bible School, Grace Baptist Church, summer camp, Relay for Life, peer tutoring, Science Olympics and Summer Academy, as well as many other school events. She is a committed and caring young woman who received the Frances Warde Service Award for completing more than 100 volunteer hours in one school year.  A respected leader on campus, Emily has been a four year varsity member of the field hockey team and was elected captain in her junior year by her teammates.

Emily plans to further her love of the sciences next year at Cornell University in the College of Engineering.

“Emily is a real scholar and enthusiastic about learning,” Miss Pratson said. “She is intelligent and diligent - a mature student who has her priorities in order and works hard to achieve her goals.”
 
Catherine McAuley Award winner Amanda Rodrigues is the daughter of John and Anna Rodrigues of Monroe. Amanda will attend Harvard University in the fall. While at Lauralton, she participated in LH Cares, Campus Ministry, Key Club, Spanish Club, musicals, Advanced Vocal Ensemble, Concert Choir and was Student Council Vice President. Amanda was also a Hugh O’Brian representative, a camp counselor and a religious education teacher, as well as a member of the National and Spanish honor societies. Amanda has been very active in community services with involvement in a mission trip to Peru, cancer walks and many school events.

Achieving honors throughout her years at Lauralton, Amanda’s awards have included the Sister Mary O’Neil Mercy Character Award, the Woman of Mercy Award, the Dartmouth College Book Award, Excellence or Exceptional Achievement in Spanish, Music, English, Modern World History, US Government and Drama.  She was also the recipient of National Association of Secondary School Principals Citizens Award and the Frances Warde Service Award.

Described as “a leader who rises to the challenges she sets,” Amanda is “serious about learning and willing to take on any project or task,” Ann Pratson said. “Many of our younger students have looked to her as the ideal of what they can achieve. She represents the very best of our student body.”
 
Representatives of the Class of 1960, celebrating their 50th jubilee, were recognized in a time-honored Lauralton Hall ritual as members of the graduating class presented each jubilarian with a single rose and President Iadarola conferred golden diplomas and gifts.

The “Lauralton Legacy” continues as several members of the class of 2010 have legacy connections. A few of the longest ties include cousins Kerrigan Cotter,’10 of Stratford and Carol Lyddy O’Connell,’10 of Milford. Their grandmother, Carol Benson Lyddy,’43 (deceased) attended Lauralton as did Kerrigan’s mother ,Megan Lyddy Cotter,’79 and Carol’s mother, Carol Lyddy O’Connell,’76. Kerrigan’s sister, Darby Cotter, graduated in 2008, the same year as her cousin, Carol Lyddy’s sister, Alice O’Connell,’08. Kerrigan also has ten aunts who are graduates. Carol Lyddy O’Connell has one alumna cousin and seven alumnae aunts. And the tradition continues as her sister, Katie-John O’Connell, will graduate in next year in the Class of 2011.

Another Milford family with a long line of Lauralton graduates is the Casey family. Kaila Casey,’10 of Milford is joining the family tradition as she follows in the footsteps of her great-grandmother, Margaret Fagan Casey,’32 (deceased); her grandmother, Jacqueline Sconzo Casey,’72; her mother, Margaret Casey,’87; as well as two aunts, six cousins and six great aunts.

Kaila is not the only Lauralton graduate in the Class of 2010 to have had a great-grandmother graduate from Lauralton. Joining her in this honor is Margaret Boynton,’10 of New Haven. Margaret’s great-grandmother, Margaret Stuart Boynton,’26 (deceased), after whom she is named, graduated nearly eighty years before Margaret’s oldest sister, Emily, ’06. The youngest of three girls, Margaret’s second sister, Mary, is a 2008 graduate.

The links below lead to more coverage of the Lauralton graduation and the Class of 2010 college acceptance list and the department awards list are posted on the upper right side of this page.
Connecticut Post photo coverage: Lauralton Hall graduation  
Connecticut Post article: Lauralton Hall 'legacies' are all in the family
New Haven Register article: Lauralton grads finish 644 days together

The entire Lauralton community congratulates the Class of 2010 on their many accomplishments and wishes each class member an exciting and rewarding college experience.