LAKE CHARLES – Reverend Monsignor Daniel A. Torres, Vicar General of the Diocese of Lake Charles, was the featured speaker of the 2017 commencement ceremonies of St. Louis Catholic High School at which 159 seniors of the school graduated May 16 in Burton Coliseum. Of those seniors, 59 were honors graduates, the highest in the school’s history.
Reverend Nathan Long, Rector of the school, gave the Invocation and concluded the ceremonies with Benediction.
The 2017 St. Louis Awards went to Emily Rose Dempsey and Andre Joseph Ange at the May 10 Baccalaureate Mass celebrated in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The awards, made possible the Lake Charles Serra Club, go to the students who have shown Love of God and Neighbor, Strong Moral Character, Desire to Serve Community, Courage to stand up for Christian Principles, a Daily Christian Lifestyle, and Proper Use of God-Given gifts and are chosen by a vote of their peers and approval by members of the faculty.
The Salutatorian and Valedictorian of the Class of 2017, Noah Michael McNally and Samuel David Bruchhaus, respectively, gave addresses to their classmates and those attending.
McNally spoke of how he and his classmates lived a legacy of love at St. Louis and how welcomed he felt when he came to the school for the first time three years ago. He also spoke of lyrics to a song by U2 and Bono that was written to honor Nelson Mandela and was included in the biography film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. In repeating some of the lyrics, McNally spoke of ‘ordinary love’
Bruchhaus challenged his classmates to “go out and turn the do’s into done’s and that the only way to fail is to not try.”
Monsignor Torres used a scripture verse from the sixth chapter of the Book of Sirach in his remarks to the students: Graduates of 2017 - We hear the sacred words from Sirach 6:14, "Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter; whoever finds one finds a treasure. As you go forth into the world, allow Jesus Christ to be that faithful friend guiding you. As you go forth, allow Jesus Christ to be the sturdy shelter in your life to find refuge and peace. As you go forth, allow Jesus Christ to be the treasure in your life so that your words and actions will always emulate the spirit of charity and love. If you can succeed in letting Jesus Christ be your ultimate faithful friend, your Lord and Savior, and your God---how blessed all your days will be.”
Members of the Senior Class of 2017 were Kassem Abu-Shamat, John Ammons, Andre Ange, Jaina Ange, Meghan Antoine, Joseph Bang, Ryan Bartek, Parker Belaire, Mary Bell, Luke Benoit, Daniel Best, Katherine Booth, Emma Bouillion, Gabriel Bourgeois, Jacob Bourgeois, Ashley Bowler, Brianna Broussard, Ian Bruce, Samuel Bruchhaus, Andree Buisson, Kaitlin Burguieres, Luke Burnham, Anna Bushnell, Caroline Cagle, Amanda Casiday, Juan Felipe Castillo, Kaitlyn Chaffin, Ellen Clements, William Clements, Sarah Corbello, Steven Corbello, Sarah Cormier, Gentry Crain, Kennedy Darbonne, Emily Dempsey, Frederick Dempsey, Michael Dempsey, Cristina DeSantos, Hunter Dore, Sophia Dore, Zachary Dowling, Bailey Dubus, Mark Ebersole, Charles Ehlers, Zachary Eisner, Anthony-Beau Faul, Marcus Ferguson, and Alayah Fontenot.
Also, Cameron Fontenot, Zachary Fontenot, Bryan Gabb, Anthony Gagliano, Bailey Galicia, Emile Garry, Luke Gaskin, Lauren Gayle, Kyle Godeaux, Julian Gonzales, Isabella Griffith, Noel Grove, Corinne Grubb, Madelyn Guidry, Logan Guillory, Samuel Hacker, Sophie Hacker, Kennedy Hebert, Olivia Hebert, Emily Hedlesky, William Heinen, Grace Helms, Alyssa Hoag, Peyton Huval, Alexander Ieyoub, Matthew Ieyoub, Amanda James, Erika Jarrell, Jarrod Jennies, Ethan Johnson, Ellen Johnston, Mark Johnston, Ameera Kattash, Dylan Kay, Grant Kelly, Sarah Kohrs, Kara Kramer, Thomas Kratz, John Kuehn, Maggie Kuehn, Kale Labauve, Gregory Laborde, Kayla Lambert, John Lavergne, Patrick Lavergne, Madeline Lechtenberg, Mary Leger, Tiffany Lowery, Wyatt Mallett, Will Malone, Dejah Malveaux, Tatiana Manthey, Abigail Martin, and Dasia May.
Also, Claudia Mayo, Cooper Mayo, Matthew McCracken, Christopher McGill, Noah McNally, Logan Meaux, Stephanie Menou, Julie Mere, Shajia Mitchell, Gabriela Moran, William Navarre, Caroline Neck, Madison Oertling, Andie Ottenweller, Jacob Ottenweller, Grace Owen, Emilee Papadimitriou, Mary Paul, Anthony Pulido, Bryce Rachal, Evan Rasbeary, Alec Reddoch, Jacob Reeves, William Richard, Dean Riviere, Quinton Roan, Lucy Ryder, Reagan Saltzman, Madelynn Sanders, Annie Schindler, Kaden Sharpe, August Simien, Nicholas Simien, Emily Snider, Bethany Soileau, Tabitha Sonnier, Brandon Soram, Sara Stewart, Madeline Stine, Lawrence Sweet, Emily Tassin, Grant Tassin, Ashlyn Theriot, Zachary Thierry Taylor-Therese Tran, Everlynn Truong, James Vanchiere, George Villaume, Julie Vincent, Heather Vogel, Clara Wade, Jenna Watkins, Jasmine Weber, Brandon Whittington, Londyn Worley, McKenzie Wyninger, and Chloe Zareck.
