Regina Dominican High School’s 51st Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Ceremony took place May 28 in the O’Shaughnessy Theater on the school’s campus. The 93 graduating seniors and their families gathered to witness the conferring of diplomas and celebrate the accomplishments of the class of 2011. The Reverend Andrew M. Wawrzyn of Saint Peter Catholic Parish in Skokie was the celebrant of the Baccalaureate Mass.
President Sister Mary Margaret Pachucki opened the Commencement Ceremony by addressing the graduates and their parents. She told the Class of 2011, “Each of you is a beautiful thread woven carefully into the tapestry of the Regina Dominican School Community. Your spirit will always remain with us. Always remember wherever you go and whatever you do, you are Regina Dominican.”
Following these remarks, Pachucki presented the Honorable Virginia Cowhey Kendall Class of 1980 with the Alumna Medal. Judge Kendall was chosen to receive this honor because she embodies the core values and beliefs of Regina Dominican High School and the Adrian Dominican Sisters which flow from the Dominican pillars of prayer, study, community and service. Kendall earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Writing at Northwestern University and received a law degree from Loyola University in Chicago. In January 2006, she was appointed to the federal bench as Judge in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois. She is an adjunct professor at Loyola University School of Law and Northwestern University Law School. Throughout her professional career, Kendall has been a strong voice, both nationally and internationally, for the rights of women and the vulnerable of our society. She served on the Regina Dominican Board of Directors from 1989 to 1992.
Kendall then delivered the Commencement Address and gave the Class of 2011 four key pieces of advice: “When your plans don’t go as expected, get over it and move on, do not let others define you, think of others as often as you can, and be kind to each other.” Kendall explained to the class that they will try and fail, but it is how they respond to life’s difficulties with grace, determination, and faith, that matter most. Kendall reminded the graduates, “if we took the expected path, there would be no leaders.”
Regina Dominican’s Graduation Address was given by Ann Kielian of Chicago who will be attending Loyola University in the fall. Kielian touched upon memories from the senior’s past four years and urged the girls to take a look around and remember the time they shared together.
A Convocation ceremony took place on May 26, where students were awarded with honors and recognition for their achievements at Regina Dominican High School. Fourteen students were recognized as Illinois State Scholars and nineteen were recognized as Presidential Scholars. Grace Koch of Evanston was recognized as being named a National Merit Finalist and Eleanor Reynolds of Lake Forest was named a National Merit Commended Scholar.
Award recipients from the ceremony included Victoria Kane of Glenview (Kay and George Penman Sullivan Award for Catholic Action); Karina Kedo of Lake Forest (The Maureen Brannen Scholarship Award, W.W. Grainger Scholarship, Prudential Spirit of
Community Award); Ellen Sanders of Chicago (Saint Catherine of Siena Leadership Award); Jane Fox of Winnetka (Roseanne Harrington Award, United States Army ROTC National Scholarship); Aileen Campanaro of Chicago (United States Army Scholar Athlete Award); Sarah Monick of Chicago (The Glenview State Bank, Paul Jones Memorial Scholarship); Theresa McDermott of Arlington Heights (Wilmette Optimist Club Volunteer of the Year Award); Madeline Rock of Lake Forest (Regina Dominican Service Award); Catherine McClintic of Winnetka (Senior Spirit Award); Aileen Campanaro of Chicago (Outstanding Senior Athlete); Bridget Golembiewski of Chicago (Speech and Debate Outstanding Achievement Award); Grace Koch of Evanston (Principal’s Award).
The following seniors were recognized as Regina Medalists: EunHee Lee of Evanston (art), Sarah Monick of Chicago (biology), Jessica Jankiewicz of Chicago (chemistry), Kimberly Jauregui of Chicago (coral), Kerry Collins of Northbrook (drama), Aileen Campanaro of Chicago (English), Aamina Khan of Skokie (French), Grace Koch of Evanston (Latin and social studies), Bridget Golembiewski of Chicago (mathematics), Jiyoon Jeong of Skokie (orchestra), Eleanor Reynolds of Lake Forest (physics), Karina Kedo of Lake Forest (Spanish), and Ann Kielian of Chicago (theology).
