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When they had slipped and slid to their hearts’ content, both the men and women donned their finest attire for the evening. The gentlemen lined up in front of the ladies’ residence hall and offered their arms en route to the banquet, where they drank sparkling apple cider and feasted on salmon, tortellini, and rice pilaf.

The academic director of the Summer Program, Brian Dragoo, rose to say a few words about what the students have accomplished in these past two weeks. “You’ve recognized the importance of making careful and precise statements, with crucial qualifications and distinctions. You’ve read some Great Books and learned to discuss them in a disciplined but honest way,” he said. “And you’ve probably been pretty surprised at the depth and beauty available to us through reading and discussing these books.” The students cheered in gratitude for Mr. Dragoo, as well as for the tutors, prefects, and admissions counselors who made the last two weeks possible. 

During Adoration, the programmers recited the Rosary, Fr. Sebastian and Fr. Kelly offered Confession, and Head Mean's Prefect Anthony Santine (CA’25) directed the choir in chanting and singing hymns. The programmers elevated their hearts and minds to God as the chant permeated their souls, giving thanks for all the blessings He had showered upon them for the past two weeks. “We should all be grateful to have something that is so hard to say goodbye to,” commented Theresa R. “I don’t want to say goodbye and I don’t want to leave, but I am also blessed that God gave me this gift which I love so much. I feel like I made friends with everyone. It’s changed my life, and I have to thank God for that.”

Following Benediction, the students headed over to St. Cecilia Hall for some entertainment prior to the dance, as is also customary during the school year. The prefects sang and acted out “Big Iron” by Marty Robins, and the audience greeted the performance with a thunderous applause. A few students who had performed in Sunday’s Open Mic Night, shared their talents with the crowd again, playing classical music and singing an Irish song, “Spancil Hill.” For the grand finale, some of the male prefects staged a hilarious spoof, dancing and lip-syncing as a Shakespearean boy band, “The Renaissance Boys.”

Then, it was time to begin the much-anticipated dance! Students snacked on fruit, chips, and churros, dancing under strings of lights on St. Gladys Hall patio. The high schoolers celebrated late into the night with a number of different dances, including waltz, a snowball dance, a Virginia reel, line dancing, and of course, swing dance. Finally able to put their dance moves to good use, they pulled one another onto the floor, twirling, dipping, and stepping to the beat. Later in the evening, the prefects offered the students the challenge to step up to a dance competition, from which Justin M. and prefect Mariana Favarota (CA’26) reigned victorious.

At the close of the night, the students returned to the auditorium for a slideshow. They watched and whooped as they relived the memories of the last two weeks through the photos, grateful for the beautiful memories they made with their friends. Students reflected on their time together, grateful for all the good times but sad to see them come to an end. As they hugged and began their goodbyes, some were teary eyed to think of leaving new friends who now feel like old friends.  

Back in the residence halls, many were still loath to say goodnight and see the program conclude. “I feel like I’m at home," said Paula B. “I don’t want it to end!” The high schoolers stayed up far into the night, talking, laughing, signing sweatshirts, and roasting marshmallows on a campfire. Some did not go to bed at all, in spite of early-morning departures and goodbyes — of which we will have photos and more on the last Summer Program Blog post later today!