Shortly after her sister was announced as St. Rose’s salutatorian during the annual Catholic Schools Week mass, Maura Cahill was named valedictorian of the class of 2016. The title of valedictorian is awarded to the senior who possesses the highest cumulative GPA of the graduating class. The word “valedictorian” derives from the Latin word “vale,” meaning “farewell,” because the valedictorian is responsible for giving the farewell address at his or her class’s graduation. Maura says she was “greatly honored” to have received this distinction in front of her classmates, teachers, and the Bishop.
Maura’s high GPA is in part due to a rigorous class schedule that began her freshman year. Maura was a part of St. Rose’s inaugural freshmen AP World History class, which she describes as her favorite class at St. Rose because “Mrs. Bordelon really introduced the topics in a fun and exciting way…and it allowed me to get a better view of human nature.” Maura went on to become one of the first sophomores to take AP European History her sophomore year, and would later successfully complete five additional AP courses and several more honors courses her junior and senior years.
In addition to excelling in the classroom, Maura also takes part in several extracurricular activities at St. Rose. Maura has been a part of Encore!, Helping Hands, and Art Club all four years; and the National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, and History Club for two years. Additionally, Maura volunteers every weekend at the Sunnyside Manor nursing home, and was a student director in this year’s spring musical, Singin’ In the Rain. She was also chosen as a representative from St. Rose to attend the 2015 New Jersey Girls’ State, a week-long mock government program held at Georgian Court University.
Maura is excited to continue her education at Dartmouth College next year, an Ivy League university. She plans to major in English, describing the English language as an “art.” Although she has made the most of the opportunities presented to her at St. Rose, she says she will still miss her friends, teachers, and Gail after she graduates. Maura advises underclassmen not to “be afraid to try new things and put yourself out there,” in order to maximize success.
To hear Maura’s valedictorian speech, be sure to attend the St. Rose class of 2016’s graduation on June 7th at 6pm in the MAC at Monmouth University. Tickets are $10 and can be bought in the main office. Congratulations again to valedictorian Maura Cahill!
By Megan Brown ’16