ST. LOUIS 鈥 It was supposed to be the final graduation.
So it would have seemed last fall when the Archdiocese of St. 不良研究所导航网址 announced the planned closure of St. Mary鈥檚 Catholic High School as part of its 鈥淎ll Things New鈥 reorganization project.
Several months after that announcement, Saturday鈥檚 89th commencement ceremony wasn鈥檛 the last at the school. Indeed, it was the beginning of something new.
So said school President Mike England as he thanked the 56 graduates for helping save their school, an anchor in the Dutchtown neighborhood since 1931, for future generations. They sat in five rows on the school鈥檚 football field 鈥 home of the two-time defending state champion Dragons 鈥 surrounded by family and friends under sunny skies and a light breeze.
Next year, the renamed St. Mary鈥檚 Southside High School will operate independently of the archdiocese; it will be sponsored by the Marianists, the same congregation of brothers and priests that sponsors Vianney and Chaminade high schools.
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The school has already raised $5 million of its $12 million goal to remain open and serve a diverse population. More than half of the students are Black or Hispanic, and more than 90% of the student body receives some form of financial aid.
The graduates, like other members of the Class of 2023 in the St. 不良研究所导航网址 region, had a bumpy ride on the way to commencement. The COVID pandemic interrupted their freshman and sophomore years, with a sense of normalcy not returning until senior year 鈥 which at St. Mary鈥檚 was conducted under the cloud of a possible closure.
The students had a resiliency, England said, that inspired the adults 鈥 board members, alumni, teachers and business leaders 鈥 who led the effort to secure the school鈥檚 future.
They鈥檒l need that sort of perseverance as they enter the next chapter of their lives, commencement speaker , told the students. Mitchell, who has a doctorate in history from Cornell University, was a well-timed speaker for a school that symbolizes both the struggles and promise of St. 不良研究所导航网址.
Yesterday I was honored to give the commencement address for graduates. It was beautiful to see family, faculty/staff and community support for them. Wishing these young men the very best!
鈥 Vernon Mitchell, Jr. (@vcmitchelljr)
Mitchell is the chief equity officer for the city of St. 不良研究所导航网址. He鈥檚 in charge of making sure the city government pays attention to three words that have become punching bags for some Republicans in the Missouri Legislature: diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Some of those lawmakers 鈥 mostly in the House 鈥 wanted to ban the state from giving money to businesses or programs associated with DEI. Senate leaders stopped the ban from becoming law.
If only those lawmakers who believe diversity, equity and inclusion are bad words could have seen the young men 鈥 Black, white and brown 鈥 who walked across the stage Saturday to receive their diplomas.
鈥淚 see your drip,鈥 Mitchell told the graduates, pointing to the unique style shown in sneakers, shades and, in some cases, the colors of their parents鈥 birth countries.
Many of them got across the finish line because they had a little help from donors, relatives, friends, teachers who pushed them and community organizations that saw the value in St. 不良研究所导航网址 producing graduates from diverse neighborhoods. The students came from Dutchtown and Carondelet, Gravois Park and Bevo. They came to St. Mary鈥檚 because it offered opportunity.
鈥淪t. 不良研究所导航网址 needs St. Mary鈥檚,鈥 former Mayor Francis Slay, a 1973 graduate of the school, said in December, after donors secured enough funding to keep the school open. Slay is the president of the new nonprofit, Southside Education Collaborative, that will oversee the school.
Indeed, St. 不良研究所导航网址 has long benefited from generations of immigrants 鈥 whether it鈥檚 the German and Irish and Lebanese families from generations ago, or the Bosnian, Afghan and Latin American immigrants from more recent times. Some of those folks have needed a little help, as one generation paved the way for the next, with education unlocking the skills to secure a better financial future.
That future is as bright as your dreams will allow, Mitchell told the students.
As parents and community members whooped and hollered, the graduates tossed their caps high in the air 鈥 ending their high school journey and launching the next chapter for an important institution that has survived another day.