TYNGSBOROUGH, Mass. – Describing her fellow graduates as “beautiful, intelligent and witty,” Mikayla Amoling, the senior class president at Academy of Notre Dame, told her classmates to think of their diploma not just as a piece of paper, but as recognition for their years of hard work.

“Our class has grown as one,” she told the audience, at the academy’s graduation ceremony held Sunday on the school’s campus. The Academy of Notre Dame, an all-girls Catholic high school, sent 57 young women off to their college or university of choice. All of the graduates will be attending college in the fall. As they received their diplomas, each student’s college was announced.

Amoling, from Lowell, Mass., will be attending Boston University in the fall. She said that while the group of girls had become close during their time together, it was time to say good-bye and look toward the future.

“Today should not be a day of sadness .?.?. but a day of happiness, with a little weight lifted off your shoulders,” Amoling said.

Deidre Baker, of Chelmsford, Mass., was the class valedictorian. During her speech, she said the principles of faith and ethics instilled in the students at Notre Dame will help guide them in the future.

“Without question, the challenges facing our generation are quite formidable,” she said, “but I am certain that each of us will succeed in our chosen endeavors.”

In addition to finishing at the top of her class, Baker was recognized as the highest-achieving student in theology, English, math, science and French. She will be attending Lehigh University.

The salutatorian was Katarina Struckmann, of Hollis. Also recognized for achievement in Spanish, Struckmann will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

As is tradition at the school, the graduates did not don the traditional cap and gown, instead wearing white dresses with wreaths of flowers atop their heads. A large group of friends and family gathered for the ceremony, snapping pictures as the graduates walked in pairs down the front steps of the school to their seats.

Sister Kathryn Lawrence McGuiggan gave the invocation Sunday. She told the graduates they are on the cusp of a new life and encouraged them to deepen their relationship with God.

“The whirlwind movement of the Holy Spirit is calling you,” she said.

Also receiving awards Sunday were Alison Chan, of Merrimack, for achievement in music and Mary Gray, of Andover, Mass., for achievement in social studies. Chan will attend Central Connecticut State University, and Gray will attend Emory University.

Jillian Francis, of Methuen, Mass., was honored with the St. Julie Award, which is given each year to a student who best exemplifies the principals of the school. She will attend Elms College.

Molly Grant, a 2005 Academy of Notre Dame graduate, gave the commencement speech. Grant is an honors graduate of American University and in the fall, will enter the Teach For America program. Grant will be working at an underprivileged school in Baltimore.

Grant said educational inequity has become a passion of hers, and encouraged the graduates to find their own passion.

“You’re now a citizen of the world,” she said.

John Oblak, interim president of the school, told the students that this is only the first step in their educational careers.

“You will continue to be lifelong learners,” he said.

Michael Brindley can be reached at 594-6426 or mbrindley@nashuatelegraph.com.