The OLSH Class of 2024 celebrated their faith together one final time in the OLSH Chapel on Thursday night at the Baccalaureate Mass. On Sunday, the class donned their caps and gowns to attend the 90th annual Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School Commencement Ceremony. Friends and family packed the Angela Activities Center to support their favorite graduates.

OLSH faculty and staff led a procession of the graduates into the gym. After all graduates were at their seats, senior class president Elena Polar kicked off the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance. She later gave a speech in which she reminded her class that they will carry the life lessons they learned at OLSH with them throughout their lives, and congratulated everyone on their hard work and perseverance to overcome challenges and find success.

Salutatorian Meghan Cavender took the stage to echo Elena’s sentiment about perseverance, encouraging her classmates to take the time required to succeed at something seriously, and to push through to achieve your goals even through failure. She likened perseverance to Taekwondo, reflecting on moments when students fail to break a board within three attempts (earning a "no change" result). “You didn’t fail. You tried. This class is small, but it is mighty. That ‘no change’ result may give you pause, and even be a setback, but you will learn from it and come back stronger,” she said.

Class of 2024 Valedictorian Ellie Baker took her turn at the podium to reflect on her switch from a public to private school after her freshman year. “After just one day of school, I knew I was right where I was supposed to be. Coming to OLSH was just a small step in God’s plan for me, and I cannot imagine my life any differently,” she said. She encouraged her classmates to take in their last moments together and to use the foundation that they built at OLSH to guide them through any challenges they may face in their future endeavors.

The Concert Choir performed two beautiful selections at the ceremony: May the Road Rise up to Meet You, and You’ll Never Walk Alone with Climb Every Mountain.

Senior class moderator Mrs. Bethany Cvitkovic announced each graduate’s name as they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas.

Upon turning their tassels, Mrs. Caitlin Snatchko, Theology teacher, campus minister, and member of the OLSH Class of 2010, welcomed our new alumni and reminded them that they will always have a home at OLSH.

Sr. M. Francine Horos ‘68 led the singing of the Alma Mater before the graduates processed out of the gym to be greeted by a tunnel of faculty and staff members waiting to say goodbye. Guests gathered in the auxiliary gym and outside after the ceremony to take pictures. The day was a beautiful celebration of our newest graduates!

Class of 2024 by the Numbers:

• Came to OLSH from 30 previous schools and 23 zip codes
• Includes 6 Legacy Students who have at least one parent who graduated from OLSH
• Will attend 31 colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions in 8 states
• Has earned over $15,319,906 in documented scholarship and grant offers
• 47% will go on to study in a STEM or medical-related field
• 12 will play sports at the collegiate level