By David Karas | Correspondent

For only being a class of 12 young women, the latest graduates of Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing, have certainly made names for themselves.

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And with 57 college acceptance letters and a combined $2.7 million in scholarship offers to the group, it would seem that others have taken notice.

“We are very proud of the class of 2014 – they are beautiful young women who will influence the world,” said Filippini Sister Lesley Draper, principal of the upper school. “This class is a superior example of school and class spirit. They have contributed positive energy and spirit.”

The accomplishments of the graduation class, as well as their contributions to the Villa community, were recognized as the graduates, their family and friends gathered for a final celebration of their journey – a Baccalaureate Mass and commencement proceedings.

Father Douglas Freer, diocesan Vicar for Catholic Education, celebrated the Mass with the young ladies and their loved ones and supporters.

“It’s a small class,” he said, adding that he had a chance to spend time with the graduates before the ceremony. Among his first questions for the class revolved around how they described themselves.

“They are like a puzzle,” he said during his homily, recounting their reply to his question. “When put together, they make a beautiful picture.”

He emphasized how each is unique in their own way, and brings complementary talents and traits to the class.

“Each one is an individual,” he said, “but they all fit together.”

Speaking on the value of their time at Villa Victoria, Father Freer said that one of the greatest gifts they have received is the mentoring and guidance of the religious sisters of the school.

“They have been dedicated to making Catholic young women,” he said, emphasizing the firm moral foundation the graduates have received, and the faith development they have experienced.

A central theme of the Mass and commencement ceremony was the strong bonds that have formed between the members of the graduating class.

Salutatorian Julia Anne Holgado, who will be attending Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in the fall, described her classmates as “works of art,” and thanked parents, faculty and others who have had a hand in helping them through the journey.

“I thank you for all your contributions to these works of art,” she said during the school’s commencement ceremony June 1.

Valedictorian Kathryn Nicole Hager, in her message to the class, spoke about how the connections between them would not fade as they moved forward.

“We will always have the Villa girl in us,” she said.

She added that, for many of them, the transition to college might require a great deal of adjustment, considering the small size of their high school class. However, she explained, they will not have to approach that challenge alone.

“You are not just Villa girls; you are my Villa girls,” she said, sharing a smile with her classmates. She also affirmed a message that her classmates seemed to agree with: “There is no such thing as a class too small.”

Leonard Shronk, whose daughter is currently a junior in the Ewing school, attended the ceremony to support the graduates – whom he has gotten to know through his daughter. He shared many of the sentiments conveyed by the graduates themselves, about how close the students at Villa become during their journey there.

“This is not the last time I will be seeing them,” he said, noting that his daughter has become close with many of the current and future graduates. “They become part of the family.”

The commencement ceremony included several traditions, including the graduates passing a white carnation to their family members in a gesture of gratitude for their support throughout the class’ Villa experience.

“They are a great group of girls,” said school librarian Jennifer Jacoppo, who was all smiles during the ceremony. “Being in such a small school, I get to see each of them shine.”

She said that, with such a small class, each young woman became a part of the institution and played a role.

“It’s a small class, so everybody takes part, everybody participates,” she said.

The ceremony closed with a message from Dr. Patricia Grove, a member of the 1963 graduating class from Villa Victoria Academy. She spoke about the short interval “between diapers and diplomas,” and devised a “top ten” list – patterned after David Letterman’s popular television segment – of messages the girls should bring with them from Villa as they go forward.

That list included encouragements for the graduates to be bold, respectful and passionate about what they do in the future, as well as the call to “be the heroin of your own story.” Grove also called the graduates to use the gifts they receive to help others, and reminded them of the influence they will have.

“The world will make way for any woman if she knows where she is going,” Grove said.