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8 | June 7, 2018 | The wilmette beacon NEWs
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Regina Dominican graduates
‘were born to do great things’
Hilary Anderson
Freelance Reporter
Seventy young women
began the next leg of their
life journeys.
They were the members
of Regina Dominican High
School’s Class of 2018,
who graduated May 26.
A baccalaureate Mass,
said by Rev. Jason Malave,
preceded the school’s
58th commencement ceremony
at the school’s
O’Shaughnessy Theatre.
Murphy Weiland gave the
Dominican Preacher Reflection
and talked about
the Dominican four pillars
of prayer, study, service
and community and what
it meant for her and fellow
students.
“We learned it was okay
to pray anywhere, not just
in church,” Weiland said.
“We were encouraged to
think outside the box away
from our comfort zone and
to give service to others. I
personally received more
than I gave.”
She ended by saying,
“Love each other, look for
opportunities, be joyful
and helpful to others and
persevere through hardships.”
Elizabeth Schuster,
president of Regina, then
introduced the commencement
ceremony.
“You are on your journey
into the future,”
Schuster said. “There will
never be a class like 2018.
We will miss your intelligence,
kindness, laughter,
creativity, beauty and joy.
You were born to do great
things. We look forward
to hearing about them. We
are proud of you.”
Dr. Pia Chair Flanagan
Valvassori, Class of 1983,
was Regina’s alumna medalist
particularly for her
Jill Douma, of Chicago, shows her excitement at the
conclusion of the conferring of diplomas at Regina
Dominican’s commencement ceremony Saturday, May
26, at the school’s O’Shaughnessy Theatre in Wilmette.
Rhonda Holcomb/22nd Century Media
work with the homeless
and establishing what now
is a full-service health care
center for the homeless in
Orlando, Fla.
“Regina provided me a
foundation of love, support
and discipline that has
shaped my thinking and
led me down a very fulfilling
path,” Valvassori said.
“It provided me the opportunity
to serve. It gave me
the confidence to pursue
service to the homeless, do
research, be an educator
and an advocate.”
She credits Sister Nancy
Murray in particular with
providing her and classmates
opportunities to visit
some of Chicago’s many
homeless, some of them
children and listen to their
stories and dreams.
“Be a voice, not an
echo,” Valvassori said.
“Pursue your passion. Step
out of your comfort zone
and be a voice for those
who have nothing.”
The senior class elected
graduate Gillian King, of
Lake Forest, to give the
graduation address.
“Regina has meant
many things,” King said.
“It made us competent and
well-rounded and gave us
the support we needed.
We learned there is no
such thing as exclusion.
We were taught to serve
others, to never forget to
use our imaginations and
to follow our dreams. Because
of Regina, we are
attending colleges all over
the world. It has taught us
to lead our lives the way
we want while keeping the
Dominican virtues of veritas
and caritas in mind.”
Graduates then received
their diplomas and officially
were on their way
to life’s next journey for
them.
Wilmette’s Gabi Grane
plans to attend the Citadel
in North Carolina.
“I want to be a military
and exercise trainer,”
Grane said. “Many people
in my family are in the
military and I really respect
them.”
She added, “Regina
helped me become a better
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