Family members, teachers and other supporters of the  Class of 2011 gathered in the school's gymnasium on Thursday night for the annual commencement exercises.
The seniors made their way into the gym at 7 p.m., each wearing a crisp, white version of the standard cap and gown.
Principal Sr. Pat Dunphy wished for all of the girls to live "wisely, gratefully and fully" as they go on with their lives.
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Dunphy disbursed diplomas to each of the 145 young women after the class and the crowd were addressed by speaker Kristin Folkl-Kaburakis (St. Joe Class of 1994) and valedictorian Marie Davidson.
"Over the last four years, not only have we changed, but we've changed the history of the school and the lives of other people," said Davidson. "We are facing the end of a special time in our lives."
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Both speakers focused on the good memories of St. Joe while remaining hopeful about the future.
"Reflect on where you are and where you're headed," said Folkl-Kaburakis, a former WNBA player and current director of development with the St. Louis Sports Commission.
The rest of the students and parents also had a lot of mixed emotions about graduation.
"I'm very excited about graduating, but sad to be leaving," said graduate Lauren Lewandowski.
"Four years just flew by, but we'll always have the St. Joe family," added her mother, Laura Lewandowski.
Some of the mothers and sisters in attendance were also St. Joe alums, and shared a sense of pride in seeing the girls of the Class of 2011 graduate.
"I'm thrilled that she followed in her mother and grandmother's footsteps," said Pat Dulle, mother of Lizzy.
In addition to the valedictorian title, other awards were bestowed upon the St. Joe Class of 2011. Sarah Karchunas was the salutatorian, while Maria Latham and Michelle Marchiony were both National Merit Finalists. Marchiony was also selected to the Missouri Scholars 100, while Nicole Esser was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar. Jennifer Ford and Kathryn Geoffroy both achieved perfect attendance during their time at St. Joe. Finnley Kuban received the Sisters of St. Joseph scholarship.
St. Joseph's Academy Class of 2011
Chloe Marie Adcock, Amanda Susan Ames, Lauren Grace Baker, Monica Kathleen Benassi, Nicole Michelle Berberich, Merissa Anna Billhartz, Madylin Lita Bleyer, Mary Helen Boyle, Caroline Elise Brandt, Elizabeth Anne Burns*+', Emily Michelle Burns', Sophia Elizabeth Calcaterra, Lindsay Mary Calhoun*, Ashley Nicole Carnoali, Morgan Emma Chapman, Sofia Katarina Chkautovich, Nicolette Jordan Clynes, Rachel Elizabeth Cody', Mary Caitlin Cowlen, Kelly Adele Croghan, Mary Elizabeth Curtis, Marie Susan Davidson*+', Emily Kathleen Deason, Rachael Sara Dehner, Lori Maria Deibel, Gina Nicole Della Camera, Coleen Margaret Donovan, Colleen Elizabeth Dorsey, Elizabeth Anne Dulle, Kaitlin Mackenzie Echele*+', Fallon Nichole English, Nicole Catherine Esser*+', Danielle Alexandra Faerber', Erin Elizabeth Fagan*+', Jessica Christine Faron', Lauren Elizabeth Fernandez, Grace Patricia Fisher, Hillary Rohan Fitz, Sarah Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Lauren Emma Flynn, Victoria Megan Flynn, Jennifer Lynn Ford*', Sara Elizabeth Fox, Abigail Rose Gallagher, Elizabeth Anne Garner, Kathryn Anne Geoffroy*+', Elizabeth Anne Gloss', Kelly Elizabeth Griffin*', Madeline Marie Hanlen', Taylor Lee Hanson*', Kelsey Nicole Harris, Mary Christina Hauck, Haley Elizabeth Hearst, Elizabeth Anne Heffernan, Karina Artemisa Heizer, Alexandra Lyn Hinkebein+', Nicole Marie Hinkebein, Amanda Rose Hoffmeyer, Caroline Marion Howe+', Colleen Elizabeth Hudson, Emily Ann Hunt, Emily Marie Jaeger', Elizabeth Pamela Jenkins', Emily Elizabeth Johnson, Sarah Marie Karchunas*', Jessica Marie Kelley', Emily Ann Kendrick*', Kathleen Elizabeth Kickham, Courtney Nicole Killian, Abigail Patricia Klatch, Emily Catherine Klump*+', Juliette Benoist Knopp, Anne Katherine Kocur, Samantha Johanna Kraft, Michelle Elizabeth Kramer, Molly Kathleen Krippene*, Finnley Austin Kuban, Brittney Lynn Kuster, Maria Therese Latham', Elizabeth Mary Leifeld, Lauren Marie Lewandowski, Victoria Frances Magaletta, Alison Nicole Makowski, Michelle Agnes Marchiony*+', Elisabeth Amsler Marshall, Taylor Christine Masterson, Elizabeth Susan Mathews, Mary Kathleen McCreery, Catherine May McGrath', Madison Rae Meersman', Colleen Patricia Meier*, Krista Marie Menghini, Susan Garesché Meskill*+', Brittany Marie Millsap, Emma Elizabeth Mitchell, Laura Kathleen Modglin', Kathleen Elizabeth Moore, Sara Elizabeth Moore, Cassandra Marie Muenks', Sarah Jeanne Nelson, Felecia Marie Noguera', Shae Mullen Oca*+', Demetria Katerina Panopoulos+, Meaghan Nicole Pappas, Faye Elizabeth Pickel, Princess Robleado Pullen, Sally Keane Purcell, Kelly Marie Robertshaw', Nicole Grace Rooney, Katherine Elizabeth Ruppe', Meghan Elizabeth Ruzicka, Kathryn Rosalie Saracino, Kara Ann Schmiemeier, Jessica Ann Schweppe, Anne Elizabeth Shaughnessy, Julianne Rachel Sinak, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Skubic, Olivia Christine Slay, Taylor Kristine Smith, Bridget Nancy Sondag, Chelsea Marie Spalt, Emily Ann Spring', Paige Elizabeth Stipanovich*', Samantha Patricia Stirmlinger, Abigail Mary Stock, Kristin Nicole Stroble, Elisa Ross Sullivan*+', Marisa Helen Tangaro, Madeline Ann Taylor+', Kimberly Anne Thies, Rachel Janssen Thompson+', Sarah Nichole Trigg, Haley Kim Tunze, Meghan Elizabeth Turnure, Kasey Marie Viviani*+', Mary Kate Waibel+, Lauren Olivia-Anne Walton, Ann Caroline Weber*+', Katherine Elizabeth Weber, Stephanie Christine Wehmeier*+', Meredith Inez Wilson, Molly Seeger Wilson, Kathryn Ann Yeager', Julie Theresa Zielinski, Grace Caroline Zuniga
*Indicates Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society) members, +Beta Chi Pi (Science Honor Society), 'National Honor Society