Last week, we celebrated the Class of 2023 at St. Mary's 138th Commencement. Congratulations to the 63 deserving graduates. This impressive class earned acceptance to 157 universities and will move on to 45 different colleges and universities in 23 states. Read below to see where these young women are headed.
During the ceremony, we heard words of reflection from Valedictorian Hannah Kerlan and Class President Erin Roy. We also awarded some of St. Mary’s most prestigious awards (see below for a list of award winners). It was bittersweet to say goodbye to this hard-working group of young women who have exhibited compassion, resiliency, and creativity throughout their time at St. Mary’s.
When asked to reflect on her time at St. Mary’s, Cathedral Award recipient Eva Ogbeide said, “The best thing about this school is that I am surrounded by people who push me to be the best version of myself. We are all so close and supportive of one another. I have never asked for help and not received it.” Eva is headed to the University of Miami with plans to study health science.
We are incredibly proud of our newest alumnae and cannot wait to see what they do next!
Graduation Awards
Hazelhurst Gold Cross Award: Anna Douglas Piper
Tabor Novak Award: Grace Jones
Spirit of St. Mary's Award: Fia Arbelaez and Hayden Hedges
Mary M. Davis Loyalty Award: Michelle Jun
Ellen Feild Todd ’81 Award: Leah Balkaran
Cathedral Award: Eva Ogbeide
Class of 2023
Maggie Akers
Middle Tennessee State University
Fia Arbelaez
Yale University
Emerson Baer
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Leah Balkaran
Washington and Lee University
Stella Blen
University of Wisconsin
Margo Burbank
Chapman University
Allie Burkhart
Colorado State University
Madison Burt
Louisiana State University
Georgia Carls
Loyola Marymount University
Aislinn Choo
Savannah College of Art and Design
Grace Ciaramitaro
Vanderbilt University
Katie Craft
University of Mississippi
Oakley Day
Butler University
Grayson Finks
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Mela Ford
University of Southern California
Payton Gallik
University of Mississippi
Naisha Gaur
Dickinson College
Riley Gilmore
University of Mississippi
Annie Gowen
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Kayla Gurley
The University of Alabama
Cameron Hart
Emory University
Hayden Hedges
Sewanee: The University of the South
Keyona Hooker
Drexel University
Haniyah Ismail
Rhodes College
Ava Jalenak
Auburn University
Sofia Jalenak
Washington University in St. Louis
Grace Jones
Wake Forest University
Michelle Jun
Brown University
Kaela Keith
Birmingham-Southern College
Hannah Kerlan
Vanderbilt University
Alexandra Lafferty
Auburn University
Charlie LaMountain
Warren Wilson College
Rachel Larkins
University of Puget Sound
Emery Lindy
Cornell University
Meghana Madasu
The University of Alabama
Arden Miller
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Ellie Monaghan
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Caroline O'Brien
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Eva Ogbeide
University of Miami
Sara Ottinger
University of Maryland
Shifa Panjwani
University of Pennsylvania
Anna Douglas Piper
University of Virginia
Kate Prillaman
Indiana University
Angela Roberts
Tufts University
Erika Ross
Auburn University
Erin Roy
Loyola Marymount University
Elaina Santos
Samford University
Ruth Ann Seale
Louisiana State University
Gracie Shy
University of Mississippi
Camille Smith
Saint Louis University
Gabby Smith
Southern Methodist University
Mia Soefker
Appalachian State University
Reese Suddarth
Illinois Wesleyan University
Darla Suitt
Goucher College
Ainslee Taylor
High Point University
Amaya Taylor
Goucher College
Lea Thomas
University of Arizona
Julia Van Hoozer
Sewanee: The University of the South
