TYNGSBOROUGH, Mass. – Faculty, staff,
fellow students, family, friends and alumni gathered June 1 to bid adieu to a remarkable group of young women at the 160th graduation ceremony at the Academy of Notre Dame.

“This graduating class has the highest percentage of National Honor Society Members in years,” Principal Helen Kay noted.

The lists of clubs, community service activities and sports in which these young women participated are numerous, and spoke to how well organized they must be to juggle a rigorous course load with so many extracurricular activities.

Valedictorian Mary Kate McCarthy, of Tyngsborough, and salutatorian Rebekah Paxton, of Groton, were named the
recipients of the annual Cardinal Medeiros Scholarship.

Both graduates spoke of excellent, caring teachers, spiritual growth and the bond of a sisterhood that has been formed over the last four years together.

Acting President Dr. Albert “Skip” Shannon revealed to attendees that this class earned more than $7.7 million in scholarships, with 52 of 53 graduates going on to college and one enlisting in the Air Force.