Notre Dame High School President Robert Curis welcomed the enthusiastic crowd of Notre Dame Shepherd students, family members, mentors and other supporters to a dinner filled with joy in the achievements of six graduating seniors, trips down memory lane and a few happy tears.

President Curis stated that commencement means beginning. While graduating is the end of the graduates’ time at Notre Dame High School, it is really the “beginning of the beginning” for these six graduates to use the tools, good habits and skills they acquired through their time at Notre Dame and through the Shepherds program. By going forward with Notre Dame’s key tenets of Character, Compassion and Confidence, the path forward won’t necessarily be trouble-free and easy, but the young men will have a roadmap to move forward successfully.

The most incredible part of the evening was when the graduates and mentors spoke to the audience about their time together, the students’ time at Notre Dame and the impact of the Shepherds’ program. Mentors talked about how proud they were of the young men’s accomplishments and what a joy it was to see their mentees grow and learn. The six graduates recounted the incredible impact of their mentors, Notre Dame and Shepherds. Students and mentors talked about their favorite times they spent together which included going out to dinner, grabbing an ice cream cone, hitting golf balls at the driving range and doing community service together. It was apparent that these simple times together wove relationships that were based on respect, fun and service. 

The joyous and emotional evening was brought to a close by Shepherds’ Executive Director, Daniel McAuliffe. “This is the most exciting day of the year for me. To be celebrating the graduating in front of the Notre Dame Shepherds’ underclassmen gives me great joy for the success of today’s graduates, and the future ones.” Addressing the underclassmen, “We include you in this celebration so you can see what you can become.” McAuliffe thanked the mentors of all the students for the important role they provide for the success of the Shepherds’ young men. Additionally, “parents and teachers are key partners in the mentoring experience.”  Shepherds’ motto is ‘Changing lives… one student at a time,’ but it is clear from the emotional speeches today, that the mentors’ lives were also beautifully impacted by witnessing these graduates grow up to be young men of Character, Compassion and Confidence.  

2019 Notre Dame West Haven High School and Shepherds Graduates

Daniel Range: UCONN Storrs where he received a scholarship; mentor Judge Thomas O’Keefe

Trevon Setzer-Smith: Manhattanville College where he will be a member of the DIII Basketball team; mentor Sean Kelly

Joshua Silva: Curry College next fall where he received a scholarship; mentors Jim Falco and Pat Somma

Jared Thayer: Western New England University in Ma; mentor by Greg Dillon

Jacob Torres: UCONN Storrs; mentor Tim Donahue

Maleek Wray: Southern Connecticut State; mentor Tim Donahue.