Year 11 and 13 students celebrated their graduation from St. Ignatius Catholic School at a packed Loyola Hall on 20 June. The graduates received certificates reflecting their completion of the IGCSE or A Level programmes. The certificates were presented by Rev. Oliver Rafferty, who was also the guest speaker this year.

Several students also received individual prizes for outstanding achievements. The Year 11 Chamber of Commerce Student of the Year Award was presented to Julian Jervis, who was an honours graduate, subject prize winner in French, and winner of the National Gallery Art Award for High School Visual Arts Achievement. Julian also took part in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, including Chess Club, Art Club, Stock Market Club, Choir, Cayman Mentoring, Duke of Edinburgh, and “The Music Man”.

Daniel Burns, who achieved the highest grade point average in the graduating class, was awarded the Ernst and Young Achievement Award for Academic Excellence 2013. Jeff Short of Ernst and Young presented him with a framed certificate and a cheque for $1,000.

In Year 11, The Paul Howard Memorial Award for Excellence in Sport was presented to Daniel Murphy. Taylor Bodden received the Carole Cameron Award for Greatest Progress. Shenelle Stewart was awarded the Home School Association Community & School Service Award for a variety of contributions in school and in the wider community. Father Paul Coutinha, pastor of St. Ignatius, presented Perfect Attendance awards to Corey Ferguson and Kaylah Johnston.

Other Year 11 subject prizes were presented to Daniel Burns (History, Mathematics, Art, English Literature), Conor O’Dea (ICT and Accounting), Austyn Burkholder (English Language and Science), Simon Watler (Religious Education), Eileen Sanchez (Spanish), Abigail Hutchinson (Geography), Zoey Robinson (Music), and Alexander Moroney (Business Studies),

In Year 13, Head Prefects Gemma Cowan and Alexandra Franklin shared the Chamber of Commerce Sixth Form Award for Contribution to the Life of the School. Gemma Cowan also won the Chamber of Commerce Sixth Form Award for Highest Academic Attainment, as well as the subject prizes in Biology, Religious Studies and English Literature. Katalina Watler was presented with the Principal’s Award for the Sixth Form Student who Best Fosters Christian Ethos.

Other Year 13 subject awards were awarded to Chantal Martin (English Literature and History), Alexandra Franklin (Spanish), Joel Durksen (Music), Antonia Aguayo (ICT), Clare-Louise McGrath (Geography), Lucy Day (Business Studies), Carys Davies (French), Corey Christian (Chemistry), and Shanika Smith (Art and Design).

In his address, Fr. Rafferty began by going over the background of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Society of Jesus, exploring the question “What is it to be a Jesuit?”. Fr. Rafferty shared that “each one of us can make a difference to the lives of those around us. In the ordinary circumstances of our lives we can contribute to the overall good of humanity or its opposite. Each one of us has the capacity to influence others and the challenge of our lives is to use our capacities in a way that helps to bring goodness, kindness and love to the people we meet”.

He concluded with a parable about Christian life and how Christians should interact with the world and challenged the graduates “to live with integrity and love”.

In his speech, Peter Embleton, Head of Secondary, commended the students on achieving the top external examination results in the school’s history. He then highlighted the many achievements of the Year 11 and 13 students in the areas of academics, sport, music, drama, community service, fundraising, and much more. He also praised Gemma Cowan and Alexandra Franklin, and all of the prefects for their various leadership roles in the school. Mr. Embleton also thanked Campbells Law Firm and KPMG for their invaluable support to our law and accounting courses.

The student addresses were given by Gemma Cowan and Alexandra Franklin (Year 13) and Julian Jervis (Year 11). The student speeches highlighted memorable moments of their years at St. Ignatius as well as thanking their parents, administration, and teaching staff for their ongoing support and guidance.

In addition to speeches and the presentation of certificates and prizes, the graduation ceremony also included musical items from the band conducted by Simon Donoghue and Ian Emerson and the Steel Band led by Michael LeMay. Following a closing prayer by Fr. Paul Coutinha and the singing of the National Song, the graduates joined staff, family and friends at the post-graduation reception in the school canteen.