2020 Baccalaureate Mass Honors Senior Class Virtually

On Saturday, May 23, Loyola Academy celebrated a virtual Baccalaureate Mass to honor the graduating Class of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that state of Illinois’ stay-at-home order, the Mass was broadcast from Loyola’s Chapel and viewable to the Loyola community on goramblers.org and other streaming services like Boxcast and Youtube.
Senior class president Elizabeth Smith ’20 welcomed viewers to the 2020 Baccalaureate Mass. Presiding over the liturgy was Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ; and, as is customary, the service featured music from our students and the recognition of all-school award winners introduced by Principal Charlie Heintz

The Fausone Medal—Senite Barih ’20
The Dumbach Scholars Honors Program annually presents the Fausone Medal, which recognizes one of our most inspirational students, Molly Fausone, a member of the Class of 2008. Despite a traumatic accident before her sophomore year, Molly excelled in the classroom, on sports teams, and as a key contributor to the Dumbach Scholars. The Fausone Medal winner is awarded to a member of our community who inspires us. Prior Fausone Medalists have inspired with their perseverance, their activism and their heroism.  This year’s winner represents the ideals of this award by leading with empathy, vulnerability, and a desire to understand others. The 2020 Fausone Medal recipient is Senite Barih

A special video message from the award’s namesake, Molly Fausone ’08, offered a heartfelt message of congratulations to Senite and the entire Class of 2020.
 
The 2020 Michael Rebarchak ’79 Memorial Award—Owen Zidar ’20
The Rebarchak Award is presented annually to a senior student who has modeled service to the school community. This award honors the memory of Michael Rebarchak, an outstanding member of the Class of 1979, and it recognizes the substantive yet unheralded contribution made to Loyola by a senior student who quietly makes things happen through his or her involvement in and around the school.  The 2020 Rebarchak Award winner is Owen Zidar.
 
In his address to students, Owen offered this insight: “We all have our own roles and responsibilities. We can all make a difference. To the Class of 2020, use your talents to continue to do great things.” 

After Owen’s remarks, parents were invited to participate in the ceremony from home by giving their graduate the Ignatius medal. The Ignatius medals were blessed by Fr. McGrath at Loyola prior to being sent home in a care package from Loyola at the beginning of May. This moment is an annual tradition at Loyola, and it marks that our graduates have been missioned into the world as leaders in service.

Upon the conclusion of the liturgy, a special video welcome for the Class of 2020 by notable Loyola Academy alumni was shown. Well wishers included Meredith Lavender ’96, screenwriter and producer; Alex Maragos ’09, NBC 5 news anchor; John Musker ’71, Disney animation producer;  Chris O’Donnell ’88, actor - “NCIS Los Angeles”; Danny Wirtz ’95, president of the Chicago Blackhawks among others.
 
Congratulations to the senior class and all of our 2020 award recipients including Richer Award winner Grace Couture '20, honored for her outstanding participation and leadership in non-athletic, cocurricular activities. A full list of student award winners can be found here.

The 2020 Baccalaureate Mass, and other senior highlights, can be viewed at https://www.goramblers.org/class-of-2020
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    • Blessing of St. Ignatius Medals

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