On June 4, Mater Christi School celebrated the graduation of 29 eighth grade students with a newly imagined outdoor ceremony on the playing fields. Following all protocols and precautions, the middle school team pulled off a memorable ceremony that honored the graduates and their families who have demonstrated amazing resilience in the past few months.
The celebrations began with a car parade of all attendees led by the Burlington Fire Department, Burlington Police Department, and Mr. T’s Jeep which carried Mrs. Rock, Father Lino, Mr. Moore, and Mr. Loescher. Faculty and staff lined up in front of the middle school building to honor the students and their families. The festivities continued until sundown culminating with a treat from Lake Champlain Chocolate’s ice cream truck.
Congratulations to our students and best wishes for their continued success in high school and beyond!
The Instrumental Music Achievement Award 
Lauren McCabe
This award is presented to graduating 8th grade band members. The recipient must maintain a high degree of proficiency with an instrument through practice and rehearsal. The recipient must demonstrate the highest levels of dedication, loyalty, character, and discipline to the band program while achieving high musical standards required of middle school instrumental music.
The Vocal Music Achievement Award 
Grace Marroquin
This award is presented to students who have shown a great deal of talent in these areas and willingly share their gift of music with others.
The Distinguished Drama Award
Moorea Lambert
Natalia Stever
The Drama Award recognizes 8th grade students who have exhibited outstanding dedication, passion and performances in Mater Christi School theatrical productions.
The Frederick M. Peyser Award and Art Achievement Awards
Zoe Need
The recipient of the Frederick M. Peyser Award displayed not only creative ability and potential in a variety of art mediums but has, more importantly, exhibited a positive attitude and work ethic in the classroom.
The D.A.R. Good Citizenship Award
Clara Hershey
The Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award is presented to an 8th grade student who has managed to balance well his or her spiritual, academic, sports and family lives. He/she has exhibited the qualities on which the Society of the D.A.R. is based: Honor, Service, Courage, Leadership, and Patriotism.
John J. Hartnett Award
Noah Rubman
Teddy Loescher
The Hartnett Award is given annually to one or two students who exhibit outstanding performance in the areas of academics, school spirit, and sports. The plaque commemorating this award is on
display in the lobby of the middle school.
The Joseph McNeil Memorial Award
Milo Gardner
Isabel Bloom
The Joseph McNeil Memorial Award is given to students who have shown team spirit and performed outstandingly in Mater Christi School’s sports programs. These students consistently demonstrate a love and respect for sporting during physical education classes and in extracurricular activities. The recipients’ names are engraved on a plaque which is permanently displayed in the middle school lobby and they receive a certificate of this accomplishment.
The Ryan Collins Memorial Award
Eve Neider
Lauren McCabe
The Ryan Collins Memorial fund was established to acknowledge deserving youth in their love of science. Designed to honor Ryan’s independent adventurous spirit, the fund was established to pay tribute to a young man who was a science enthusiast at Mater Christi School. The fund enables the school to give an award each year to a graduating student from Mater Christi in recognition of his or her interest in the field of science.
The Emily Lyman Creative Writing Award
Griffin Holzman
The Emily Lyman Creative Writing Award was established by the Lyman Family in memory of Emily who died in 2012 as she began her freshman year in high school. Emily attended Mater Christi School throughout her elementary years.
The Kristen Lauré Charlebois Memorial Literacy Award
Lydia Beaulieu
Eddy Johns
This award was instituted in memory of Kristen Charlebois who attended Mater Christi School throughout her elementary education years and who died while a sophomore at Rice High School. She is remembered for many wonderful qualities and talents including her great love of reading.
Mater Christi School gives the Kristen Lauren Charlebois Award to one or two eighth graders who exhibit the same devotion to reading. The students’ names are engraved on the plaque which is displayed in the school lobby.
Jhamille Renton Award
Kayleigh McCullen
Bibi Frechette
The Jhamille Renton plaque hangs permanently in the school lobby and small copies are given to the recipients. Recipients of this award exhibit Jhamille’s qualities of loving others, especially small children, have a ready smile, are hope-filled, and love life. Jhamille died while in 8th grade at Mater Christi in 1991.
The President’s Award for Educational Excellence
Bibi Frechette
Moorea Lambert
Teddy Loescher
Eve Neider
Lydia Beaulieu
This award recognizes academic excellence in the classroom. To be eligible, students must have maintained a Grade Point Average of 95 or higher in all academic classes from Grade 6-Trimester 2 of Grade 8, and, on standardized tests, scored in the 85th percentile or higher in reading and/or math in Grade 7.
The President’s Award for Educational Achievement
Clara Hershey
Grace Marroquin
Eliza Cabot
Isabel Bloom
Griffin Holzman
Emilie Buttolph
Colin Shea
Wolfy Louchheim
Morgan Kenny
Jacob Chan
Kevin Howrigan
Sierra Martin
Bella Blondin
Jake Dougherty
Laurence Sheridan
Patrick Swayer
This award recognizes students that show outstanding educational growth, improvement, commitment or intellectual development in their academic subjects
The Mater Christi School Principal’s Award 
Caroline Walsh
The Mater Christi Principal’s Award is presented to students who demonstrate an understanding of the Mercy tradition through their constant respect for everyone both within the Mater Christi School community and also in the wider community.
The Catherine McAuley Award
Grace Marroquin
Emilie Buttolph
This award is presented by the Vermont Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters of Mercy celebrated their 125 years in the State of Vermont in 2000. On that occasion, they chose to inaugurate the Catherine McAuley Award. The award is in the form of a large plaque on which are engraved the names of the recipients. The recipients are 8th graders who exemplify Catherine McAuley’s ability to recognize ways in which God gifted her and her courage and generosity in using these gifts for others.