On Thursday, June 1st, 15 students graduated from San Miguel Academy of Newburgh in the school’s 13th annual commencement ceremony. Board members, family members, and many special friends of San Miguel Academy joined together to celebrate the Class of 2023. It was the final all-boys class in the history of San Miguel Academy, which began admitting girls in 2020.
The valedictory speech was given by Gustavo Laureano, who was also awarded the Grit and Grace award, one of the School’s two highest awards, for leading by example and being a role model to others. Salutatorian Victory James was awarded the San Miguel Student Creed award: “When faced with a mountain, I will not quit. I will keep on striving until I climb over, find a pass-through, tunnel underneath, or simply stay and turn the mountain into a gold mine, with God’s help!”
Featured guests Arshay Cooper, of the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, and Collin Johnson, #15 Wide Receiver for the NY Giants, addressed the graduates and awarded medals to each graduate.
The mission of San Miguel Academy and its umbrella organization, San Miguel Program, is to break the cycle of poverty through education. San Miguel Program makes a 12-year commitment to each student beginning in 5th grade, seeing them through to the job market. The generous support of many individual donors, foundations, and organizations enables San Miguel Program to serve its middle school students as well as its graduates who continue to strive for academic and personal success.
