Graduates celebrate 'spirit of St. Bernard'

by Dustin Racioppi

Published on 6/11/2007 by The Norwich Bulletin

Khoi Ton/Norwich Bulletin St. Bernard graduate Patricia Costa, center, poses with the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich, left, after receiving her diploma Sunday from Headmaster William P. McKenna, right, during commencement exercises in Uncasville. ST. BERNARD SCHOOL CLASS OF 2007 The following is the list of members of the class of 2007 at St. Bernard High School in Uncasville: Michael P. Aldrich, Jillian Elizabeth Antonino, Timothy J. Baillargeon, Carolyn Elizabeth Barriere, Erin Mary Bartholomew, Kevin Michael Bentley, Raquel Ashley Blonshine**+, Peter A. Bove, Kyle James Brahm, Hope McCarthy Howley-Brigham, Kevin R. Burke, Kaitlin Marie Butler, Axel Roberto Calle, Kathryn Mary Carta, Patricia Marie Costa, Alyssa Kaithlyn Curcio, Jeffrey David Daley*, Christopher Paul DeLucia*+, Neil Cyr DeVoe*, Daniel McQueen Eagan, Suzanne Marie Evola, Fernando Luis Franceschi, Raegan-Lauren Garside, Bradley Clifford Gehan, Robin Geier, Robert E. Gingerella III, Lily Blackwell Grant, Rachel Elizabeth Greene, Charles Brendan Halloran, Stephen A. Hamel**, Meredith Lynn Hamler, Anne Elizabeth Jensen, Brittany Michelle Jullarine-Quinn, Yu Sun Jung, Morgan Christopher Kainz, Sean Patrick Keefe, Jacob Edward Kniska, Mari Teresa Lallier, Alfred Martinez-Vernell Lane, KeunHyung Lee, Emerald Deanne Littlejohn**+, Grant Charles Livingston Jr., Noah Isaac Michael Lussier, Peter Leon Machnik, Jillian Kate Mador***+, Julie Rose Malerba, Felicia S. McGarry, Ryan Christopher Menner*, Justine Marie Miller, Joseph William Minton, Emily Margaret Nassetta**+, Karen Evangeline Navarre, Patrick Edward Naylor, Ellen Marie Nixon, Benjamin Peter Nossek, Michael Charles Pettini, Molly Catherine Pitluck***+, Michael A. Pounch, David Robert Pugsley, Kathleen Ann Rapp, Katherine Noel Raunig*+, Kaitlyn Michele Roesler, Samantha Lacey Rose**+, Emma Marie Savitsky*, Joseph Salvatore Shifrin*, Faraz Ahmed Siddiqui, Geoffrey Frederic Smith, Konrad J. Stawicki, Amanda Elizabeth Stazick, Timothy Peter Tartaris, Joseph Richard Thibeault, Ian P. Thiel, Nathan R. Tobaygo, Tyler Jon Turgeon, Amanda Lucia Vallario, Corinne Marie Wargo, Andrew David West, Michael Christopher Whalen**+, Kaitlin Marie Wieczorek, Anastasia Elizabeth Wishka*, Wesley Charles Wollschlager, Zachary Jeffrey G. Young. • Summa Cum Laude • Magna Cum Laude • Cum Laude (Laude designation through third quarter) + Thomas Dooley Chapter of the National Honor Society

MONTVILLE -- Since they were 5 years old, Kathryn Carta of Waterford, Kaitlin Butler and Jillian Mador, both of New London, have been the best of friends throughout their years of schooling, starting at St. Joseph School in New London and ending Sunday at St. Bernard School in Uncasville.

Eighty-one graduates received diplomas Sunday at the 49th commencement at St. Bernard, and emotions were high not only among the trio of friends, but also among family and faculty members.

"I hate it already that I can't see them every day," Butler said.

Before their send-off in the school's auditorium, Carta, Butler and Mador revisited their favorite pastime -- sitting around a piano singing songs. The girls insisted the end of high school is not the end of their friendship, but a milestone that will be remembered for the rest of their lives. This is one of the many lessons they have learned at St. Bernard.

A school steeped in tradition, St. Bernard has three elements that make it a special school, according to Vice Principal James Venditto, who also happens to be an alumnus.

First and foremost, he said, is the academic quality that is offered at the school.

Second is the spiritual factor, the foundation of St. Bernard.

"We can mention God here," he said. "You can get things here that aren't offered at public school."

Last, Venditto says it has a great discipline program, preparing young men and women to be upstanding citizens.

Those elements, along with others, are what drew Venditto to return to his alma mater.

"It's just the overall spirit of St. Bernard -- very close relationships," he said.

Daniel McQueen Eagan of Norwich found transferring from Norwich Free Academy to St. Bernard School has given him a great opportunity. At St. Bernard, he became the star catcher on the baseball team and hopes to pursue baseball at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.

"We just felt it would be a better fit for him, and it was," said Daniel's mother, Sue Eagan.

Class orator Michael Whalen of New London couldn't deny his love for the school and the people who have been a part of his journey.

"I love the teachers, even though they gave me homework that made me not love them all that much," he said.

Yet, he said, just like family, his bond with those at St. Bernard has been irreplaceable.

"It gives you another leg to stand on," Whalen said.

And just like Venditto, Whalen, Carts, Butler and Mador will be back at St. Bernard, whether for a brief visit or a job interview.

"This is not just about school," Whalen said. "It's about family."