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2015 Prize Day at Duchesne

By Andie Chilson, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, School Buzz Editor | June 9, 2015

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(From left) Juniors Jackie Brant and Laura Knittig each accept an award in academic excellence.

Clad in the traditional plaid skirts and navy wool vests, upper school students filed into the auditorium to finish out the 2015 school year with the celebration of Duchesne’s most esteemed students and faculty.

The ceremony began with academic recognition, starting with the freshmen and finishing with the soon-to-be high school graduates. The upper school choir contributed their musical talents to the celebration under the expert direction of music department head, Ms. Manley.

Following the choir’s performance was recognition of the class of 2015’s valedictorian, Amy Nguyen, and salutatorian, Audrey Novak. After extensive praise for their academic feats by Head of Upper School, Dr. Cramp, salutatorian Audrey Novak approached the podium and proceeded to capture the audience with a startlingly raw, honest, and refreshingly genuine mid-ceremony speech.

Junior Ashley Antony accepts an award for academic excellence in high school.

Prize Day came to a close with the presentation of the True Child Award. The True Child Award recognizes an individual who, over the course of her four years in high school, has been a true embodiment of the Sacred Heart, exemplifying such qualities as honesty, drive, compassion, and selflessness. This year’s recipient of the True Child Award was, most deservingly, lifelong child of the Sacred Heart, Teresa Haney.

Senior Gabriella Miggins gave a closing speech which acknowledged the seniors’ hard wrought journey and spoke to the next exciting chapter of their lives on which they are about to embark. A number of teachers and faculty who had watched the senior class grow into soon-to-be high school graduates were brought to tears by Gabriella’s touching words and honest sentiment.

From touching discourse to prideful smiles, this final celebration and union of students and faculty proved the perfect way to say goodbye to friends and peers and transition into the coming summer months.