The senior class of St. Aloysius High School closed out graduation season in Vicksburg Tuesday night with commencement services at the Ardis T. Williams Sr. Auditorium, where 38 students took their first steps into the next chapter of their lives.

After thanking his teachers and mentors, 2024 Salutatorian Walker Lambiotte focused his address on his fellow classmates.

 “It is safe to say we left a mark on this school,” he said. “I Know you have all heard this before from your teachers, your parents, or whomever, but I doubt you’ve heard it from one of your own. You truly are an amazing group of people, one that I couldn’t be prouder to be a small part of. I have never felt more pride in a group going out into the world on their own— this class. I was having a conversation the other day about all the strengths of our class when it occurred to me that I could not name a single person — a single graduate here tonight – that is not fully capable or prepared for whatever they want to do in life. You are just that amazing.”

Valedictorian Grace Kenlee Windham shared many of the accomplishments and achievements attained by her class, but said it was not the recognitions and distinctions earned that “truly” made them special. Instead, she said, it was their “unique and distinctive traits and talents” that all worked together to make them who they were.

“And more importantly,” she said, the class accepted and loved each other “just the way they were.”

Windham went on to say that she hoped her class would remember this last year of high school as a good one.

“Class of 2024, our accomplishments are not what make our senior year or our time at St. Aloysius so special, though they sure did help. It was the memories we made along the way and we definitely made some good ones.”

The Class of 2024 garnered acceptance into a total of 26 colleges and universities from around country and includes Addison Evelyn Averett, Jonathon Daniel Busby, Katelyn Adel Clark, Nancy Jean Clement, Steven Truett Clement, Zachary Allen Cowart, Hampton Higgins Derivaux, Aiden Ford Dickerson, Blair Lillian Farrell, Brady Raines Harrell, Christian Josephine Harris, Natalie Christine Hendon, Sarah Elizabeth Johnston, William Connor Johnston, Walker Armstrong Lambiotte, Lucas Frasier Larson, Laiken Suzanne Leist, Kennedy Lea May, Sawyer Grace McCain, Campbell London McCoy, Madelynn Claire McSherry, Linley Loviza Miles, Land Holden Oglesby, Lillian Phaire Perniciaro, James Robert Powell, Damien Monroe Reeves, Grace Alice Sams, Barrett James Shows, Korey Oniell Sims Jr., Clara Rose Smith, Canada Lake Stewart, Ryan Justin Sykes, Caleb John Tucker, Harley Grace Vinzant, Lauren Ashley Walters, Benjamin Travis Webb, Cynthia Mae-Erica Wheeldon, and Grace Kenlee Windham.