St. Mary’s Academy graduates 51 at 126th commencement

The Louisiana Weekly Staff Reports

St. Mary’s Academy’s Class of 2011 were 51 in number at the school’s 126th graduation held May 19 at Austin Gymnasium.

Presiding over the graduation were Sr. Clare of Assisi Pierre, SSF president of St. Mary’s Academy and Sr. Eva Regina Martin, SSF, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of the Holy Family, while Fr. Fernand Cheri officiated at the Baccalaureate Mass and Dawn A. Butler, a SMA alumna and founder and editorial director of Kontagious Magazine, a Christian lifestyle publication, served as the Commencement speaker.

This year’s graduates have been accepted to more than 30 elite colleges and universities and garnered more than $1M in scholarships.

At the head of the class was Miss Courtney Slugher, the 2011 valedictorian. The daughter of Kevin Slugher and Lynn Slugher Moore, will attend Loyola University where she plans to major in Biology/Pre-Med. She was an active member of the Resurrection Choir, Pre-Alumnae, drama club, speech and debate, softball and volleyball teams. Additionally, she served as secretary of the Key Club, president of Mu Alpha Theta, president of the poetry club and drum major of the Cougar Marching Band.

Salutatorian was Chelsi Stevenson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ned Stevenson. Stevenson, who was awarded scholarships to Dillard University and Spring Hill College, will attend Louisiana State University majoring in Speech Pathology.

An active participant in several organizations, Stevenson served as president of the Student Council and as a member of the Chorus, Mu Alpha Theta, SMA Ambassadors, cheerleading squad and the school’s Resurrection Choir.

Honor graduates were Taeja Mitchell, Unja LeBlanc, Allyson Brown, Tai Alcorn, Jeannine Jackson, Nehlita Moody, Gabrielle Lewis, Jennifer Jackson, Destiny Artis, Kayla Bridgewater, Jennifer Joseph, Britini Wells, Brooke Brumfield, Domonique Duck­worth, Breione Spencer Maya Spruille, Brianne Whitaker, Stephanie Powell, Alyssa James, Amber Washington, Jimmecea Smith, Kateri Crayton, Christian Smith, Gabriella Gaspard.

Other graduates were Tierra Aubert, Lorielle Ausama, Monique Brown, Keisha Dorsey, Jasmine Dumas, Hannah Dunford, Macy James-Ezidore, Davien Gordon, Morgan Gorman, Alexis Jackson, Daryan Jackson, Anisha Johnson, Jené Jones, La’Shante Mutley, Taiylor Nash, Shanté Salvant, Mia Scherer, Maya Spruille, Monet Stykes, Eshon Trosclair, Ronisha Tyler, Brianne Verrett, Bria Whiticar, Jada Williams, and Keithtrel Williams.

This story originally published in the May 30, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.