269 Graduate From Mother McAuley

CHICAGO, IL -- More than 250 young women crossed the stage and graduated from Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School on Sunday, making up one of the most successful senior classes in the history of the school.

The 269 graduates included two National Merit Commended Scholars, three Chick Evans Scholarship recipients, 25 collegiate athletic commitments and 40 Illinois State Scholars, according to a news release from the school. Merit-based scholarships totaled more than $37 million for the Class of 2017, which officially became part of the McAuley history books after the commencement held at the Shannon Center on the campus of Saint Xavier University.

Notre Dame-bound Valedictorian Alyssa La Bella, from Oak Lawn, summed up the feeling of gratitude present in the newest McAuley alumni class.

“As one journey ends and another begins, we give thanks for the life lessons, confidence, relationships, and excellent education received at Mother McAuley,” she said in her speech at commencement. “These lessons have prepared us to be fun, loving, and articulate McAuley women who seek out the challenges that lie ahead knowing we have a McAuley support system behind us for the rest of our lives.”

The distinction of salutatorian was shared by Kaitlyn O’Connell of Evergreen Park and Faith Primozic of Orland Park.

The commencement speaker was 1980 Mother McAuley ALumni Deborah Curran Grisko, the president and executive director of Almost Home Kids.

Other speakers were selected by the student body. They were Annabella Barry of Palos Heights and English teacher Mary McCormick.

Photo: “Student Speakers:” (from left to right) Valedictorian Alyssa La Bella, salutatorians Faith Primozic and Kaitlyn O’Connell, student speaker Annabella Barry / Provided