This year’s crop of Mount St Agnes Academy graduates have been praised for their resilience after completing high school during the Covid pandemic.

Of the 36, nine will study at Bermuda College, 14 will study at universities in Canada, six in the United States and three in the United Kingdom.

The remaining students are awaiting acceptance at their selected universities, choosing to take a gap year before attending university, or have elected to go straight into the workforce.

Members of the Class of 22 also won $69,000 in scholarship funds among them, with several students receiving multi-year scholarships.

Adriano Rymon-Lipinski, the class valedictorian, received honours with distinction and certificates of excellence in multiple subjects. He will attend the University of Toronto in the autumn.

He said: “Many of us have known each other since kindergarten, others have joined along the way, but we have all grown together and become part of this extraordinary MSA family.

“We have built a very special bond throughout our school days, school sports, activities, and school traditions.”

Several students received entrance scholarships from their universities, which included University of Western Ontario, University of Toronto, University of Guelph, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Baylor University. One student also received a four-year scholarship from Hofstra University.

Anna Faria-Machado, the school’s principal, said: “The Class of 2022 has been exemplary in terms of achieving high grades and earning well-deserved scholarships for the students’ continued education.

“We are very proud of our graduates. Whether they are attending a four-year university abroad, attending Bermuda College, starting their careers or taking a gap year before making their next move, I am assured that MSA has helped these students to be confident, make lifelong friendships, develop a lasting love of learning and be successful in all facets of their lives in the future.

“The MSA family is extremely proud of the achievements of the Class of 2022. These resilient students have completed high school amid a pandemic, and with tremendous success. Despite the challenges and disruptions throughout the last two years, they have persevered. We wish them continued success and happiness in their futures.”

The graduates’ career plans span a variety of professions, including kinesiology, IT, sports management, hospitality, medicine, business, criminal justice, animation, emergency services, marketing, psychology, neuroscience, engineering and early childhood education.

To learn more about student life at MSA, click here.