The Class of 2015 had nine valedictorians, from left: Harrison Bond, Garth Cook, Jr., Daniel Edmund, Jr., Patrick Fine, Mark James, Jr., Michael McMahon, Jr., Frederick Schmidt, Jr., Anthony Smith, and Steven Stradley (who gave the valedictory address).

View the Class of 2015 Commencement Photo Gallery

Diplomas were awarded to 275 members of Jesuit High School’s Class of 2015 by school president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. at Commencement Exercises on Friday evening, May 22 at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner.

The Blue Jay Parents’ Club Award for excellence in scholarship was awarded to nine seniors who are designated as the co-valedictorians of their class, having graduated with the highest grade point average for four years at Jesuit: Harrison A. Bond, Garth W. Cook, Daniel R. Edmund, Patrick D. Fine, Mark C. James, Michael W. McMahon, Frederick E. Schmidt, Anthony J. Smith, and Steven H. Stradley (who delivered the valedictory address).

Three Blue Jays were the recipients of prestigious awards that have been announced the night of graduation for many decades. The honorees are first nominated by Jesuit’s faculty, whose members then vote for the ultimate recipient. This year, the three major awards were presented to the following:

• Dillon M. Knight received the Reverend Father President’s Spiritual Leadership Award, which is presented to the senior who has exerted the greatest spiritual influence on others by living a life exemplifying his Catholic faith.

• Michael W. McMahon received The Julia Ferguson McEnerny Memorial Trophy, Donated by Will Gibbons McEnerny of the Class of 1914, an award established 101 years ago to honor one graduating senior who has a good scholastic record, actively participated in co-curricular activities, and possesses those qualities which symbolize “the most representative student of Jesuit High School.”
  

  The recipients of three major awards voted on by the faculty of Jesuit were, from left, Dillon Knight, who received the Reverend Father President’’s Spiritual Leadership Award; Bryan Jones, who received the Very Reverend Father Pedro Arrupe Award; and Michael McMahon, who received The Julia Ferguson McEnerny Memorial Trophy, Donated by Will Gibbons McEnerny of the Class of 1914.

• Bryan M.D. Jones was the recipient of the Very Reverend Father Pedro Arrupe Award, which recognizes the senior who has exemplified the spirit of being a man for others by his participation and excellence in service.

Nine Valedictorians Heading to Nine Different Universities

Harrison A. Bond, the son of Bridget and Walter Bond ’85 of New Orleans, will attend Vanderbilt University (Honors Program) and major in business.

Garth W. Cook, Jr., the son of Krystil Borouso Lawton of Metairie and Garth Cook, Sr. ’83 of Baton Rouge, and the stepson of Joseph Lawton ’72 of Metairie, will attend Johns Hopkins University and major in biology.

Daniel R. Edmund, Jr., the son of Rebecca and Daniel Edmund of Metairie, will attend Louisiana State University and major in biological engineering.

Patrick D. Fine, the son of Mary Beth and Paul Fine of New Orleans, will attend the University of Notre Dame and major in accounting.

Mark C. James, Jr., the son of Alison and Mark James, Sr., of Metairie, will attend Clemson University (Honors Program) and major in electrical engineering.

Michael W. McMahon, Jr., the son of Amy and Michael McMahon ’85 of River Ridge, will attend the University of Alabama (Honors Program) and major in pre-med/kinesiology.

Frederick E. Schmidt, Jr., the son of Shannon and F. Evans Schmidt ’84 of New Orleans, will attend Washington and Lee University and major in pre-med.

Anthony J. Smith, the son of Monique and John Smith of Kenner, will attend Boston College (Honors Program) and major in English.

Steven H. Stradley, the son of Sharon and Steven Stradley of Harahan, will attend Tulane University (Honors Program) and major in chemical engineering.

Steven Stradley delivered the valedictory address.

Stradley had the privilege of delivering the valedictory address in which he reminded his classmates that they will always be united by a bond that will not be undone by either time or distance. “No one knows what kind of world tomorrow will bring,” said Stradley, “but one thing is certain: no matter what the future holds, our time together at Jesuit High School has given us the means to experience it fully and deeply. In return, Jesuit asks only one thing of us: that we continue to be good men and to live for the greater glory of God.”

In his own Commencement address, Fr. McGinn told the graduates that they should refrain from changing the world until they change themselves. “Your ambition to do great things must start with your accepting the challenge to change yourself,” he said. “Your personal progress depends on how you control the disorder in your life. Remember that human progress is not possible apart from the grace of God.”

Fr. McGinn also encouraged the graduates to remember how Jesuit lived up to its promises and “how you and your friends have kept your promises. At each stage of your life stay faithful, honor your commitments, so that in the end you can say, ‘I am leaving here a better man.’”

275 Graduates in Jesuit’s Class of 2015

Receiving the Accelerated Program Diploma with the special commendation of Summa Cum Laude: Christopher A. Ainsworth, Andrew V. Amedee, William T. Arnold, Daniel P. Augustin, William P. Baudouin, Jr., Michael L. Belanger, David H. Boh, Harrison A. Bond, Eric W. Bussey, Patrick R. Cecola, Matthew D. Cedro, Rishab M. Chimmanamada,

A lot of eyes in the audience fall on the front rows.

Kyle K. Chin, Alessandro M. Cocito, Robert J. Comeaux III, Kevin M. Conrad, Jr., Garth W. Cook, Jr., Henry H. Creel, Raymond A. Daigle, Benjamin M. D’Antonio, Harrison R. Daste, John F. Doherty, Eviston G. Duhon, Daniel R. Edmund, Jr., Thomas N. Eggleston, Joel P. Epling,

Daniel D. Farrelly, Patrick D. Fine, Trent P. Forshag, Tyler S. Fox, Jonathan C. Giardina, Mark B. Graffagnini, Joshua C. Hudak, Mark C. James, Jr., Blake A. Jaubert, Thomas A. Kehoe III, Richard J. Kernion III, James F. Laborde, Jr., Trevor C. Laborde, Patrick G. LaCour,

John M. LaForge, Daniel J. Langteau, Christian P. Maher, Mark C. Maher, Michael W. McMahon, Jr., Nicholas A. Militello, Asad Mussarat, Mason C. Page, Michael R. Riddick, Tyler J. Robins, Daniel C. Sagona, Frederick E. Schmidt, Jr., Matthew J. Sentilles, Christopher W. Simmons,

Patrick R. Simonson, Anthony J. Smith, Brandon M. Sprague, Samuel T. Stallings, Steven H. Stradley, Matthew J. Stuckey, Gregory G. Suhor, Joshua J. Talbot, Collin J. Thibodeaux, William S. Tittle, Garrett T. Tobin, Patrick S. Torsch, Francis G. Weller, Robert J. Zazulak, and Samuel J. Zelden.

Receiving the Accelerated Program Diploma with the special commendation of Magna Cum Laude: Jacob W. Alterman, Reed S. Barkate, Robert T. Burgess, Jack T. Burk, Anthony J. Celano, Wyatt A. Comeaux, Alexander M. DePascual, John P. Faherty, Evan M. Flynn, Jason C. Forcier, David W. Gaines, Ethan M. Garner,

Bradley M. Gaudet, Conner D. Hartupee, Justin M. Helm, Colin M. Hery, Logan J. Hornung, Matthew P. Junot, Dillon M. Knight, Walter J. LeBlanc III, Jonathan M. Legier, Brett P. Lorio, Glenn M. Lorio, William J. McMahon, Christopher L. Mills, Joshua R. Orellana, Benjamin M. Parks,

Austin M. Pfister, Gerald F. Plough, Jr., Patrick J. Rappold, Nicholas A. Reilly, Carey R.R. Roberts, Dominick O. Ros, Jacob R. Rovira, Matthew J. Sevin, Zachary S. Snow, Tim Tabthong, Robert A. Vanlangendonck, Gregory D. Wallis, Bailey O. Weilbaecher, Jonathan M. Whelan, and Matthew B. Wolf.

Receiving the Accelerated Program Diploma with the special commendation of Cum Laude: Benjamin M. Ainsworth, Miles C. Beech, Jon K. Bosch, John F. Bradford III, Evan M. Carrie, Samuel B. Clutter, Jourdan N. Crane, Joshua M. de Boisblanc, Douglas L. Dillon, Jr., Joshua J. Duhon, Robert B. Fisher III, Timothy W. Lafranca, Jr., Jason J. LaHatte,

Clayton A. LoCoco, Nicholas D. Lorusso II, Joshua M. Mackles, John Andrew Marzullo, Jr., Freeman R. Matthews III, William M. Melito, Dylan C. Mire, Christopher H.J. Skinner, Charles G. Smith III, and Gerard R. Spencer.

The following have earned the Accelerated Program Diploma for having successfully completed a five-year program above and beyond the school’s ordinary requirements: Dominic J. Carmello, Benjamin J. Hess, Samuel S. Johnson, Charles C. Miller, Cameron P. Minnard, Foster H. Moreau, Noah F. Mouton, Jonathan P. Pottharst, Paul E. Riviere IV, Michael J. Simon, and Christian A. Vollman.

The following have successfully completed the College Preparatory Course with the special commendation of Summa Cum Laude: Jared S. Abrams, Stephen D. Enright III, Mitchell J. Falcon, Colin D. Foret, Mako C. Giordano, Cole S. Guillory, Seth I. Jacobs, Nicholas S. Price, Michael J. Schwing, and Hector E. Zepeda.

Applause brings out the smiles in several graduates.

The following have successfully completed the College Preparatory Course with the special commendation of Magna Cum Laude: William J. Arseneaux, Taylor B. Bendeck, William C. Blount, Jr., Benjamin S. Brim, Christopher J. Caldarera, James M. Deichmann, Ronnie A. Espinal, Alexander J. Galy, Theodore J. Garvey, Steven N. Giorlando, John A. Grieco III, Alexander R. Harris, John C. Hill, Justin M. Keeler, Peter N.J. Kim,

Michael C. Koster, Carl R. LaForge III, Robert L. Lobrano II, Brett M. Lozowski, Sean M. Lozowski, Everard T. Marks, Matthew G. Mitchell, Raymond J. Nash, Joshua M. Parfait, Garrett M. Perez, Hunter B. Robert, Andrew B. Russo, Matthew A. Stephens, Alexander M. Vinet II, Samuel B. White, William J. White, Jr., Michael J. Wingerter, Eric R. Wright, and Jacob M. Young.

The following have successfully completed the College Preparatory Course with the special commendation of Cum Laude: Blake M. Abadie, Kutauba I. AbuMousa, Zain Ahmed, Braxton D. Callais, Dominick M. Conforte, Scott M. Crabtree, Blake M. Eichhorn, Carl A. Goodgion, Nicholas S. Green, Ethan R. Hess, Matthew M. Jones, Victorino A. Lacayo, Daniel P. Leary, Peyton T. Markey, Juan M. Martinez,

David J. Moolekamp II, Nicholas A. Pajares, Angelo J. Pecoraro III, John L. Perrier, Jacob C. Pesquié, Thomas A. Pivach, Austin M. Prange, John P.G.B. Sandoz, Austin J. Schott, David A. Senentz, Michael A. Sewell, Steven J. Sibley, Paul W. Stapp, Kyle A. Szeszycki, and Anthony J. Taffaro III.

The following have successfully completed the College Preparatory Course:

Jesse J. Acosta, Ali H. Alkahby, Malcolm O. Ben, Myles J. Blunt, Connor A. Bodin, Stephen G. Brown, Stephen A. Browning, John M. Buhler, Otto B. Candies IV, Jacob A. Cassagne, Matthew S. Cassanova, Scott U. Castay, Cameron J. Coker, Bailey J. Cookmeyer, Nathaniel R. Cusimano, Jarod M. Cyprus, Dylan J. Daboval, Courtlin D. Dede, Patrick A. Dickerson, Ryan D. Dickerson,

Clay M. Duplantier, Jack R. Fitzpatrick, Marcus B. Fontenot, Khari W. Friloux, Richard T. Gallagher III, Michael E. Genovese III, Taylor C. Giorlando-Wall, Keith M. Gonzales, Jr., Maxwell M. Grosch, Cameron J.G. Guernsey, Jason L.M. Hauth, Charles A. Jackson V, Bryan M.D. Jones, Jacob P. Kelley, Kevin P. Kelley II, Emmett B. Kitchens, Paul L. Kohnke, Cole E. Lauman, Andrew X. Liang, Brody L. Martin,

Ethan M. Martinez, Ismael Nachar, Jared A. Ohle, John C. Plauche, Alexander J. Rabalais, Alex O. Rodrigue, Nicholas A. Rosenson, Peyton A. Smith, Matthew R. Subervielle, Cullen R. Swarr, Osman L. Torres, Jonathan T. Tran, Matthews F. Vargas II, Shawn C. Walsh, Jr., Emerson H. Wenzel, and Westley T. West III.

The curtain closes on the Class of 2015, setting off a thunderous and joyous celebration amongst the newest Jesuit alumni.