Saint Mary College in Notre Dame, IN announces Co-Valedictorians for Class 2010

March 1, 2010 (Notre Dame, Ind)—Saint Mary’s College has the pleasure of announcing two valedictorians for Class of 2010: Audrey Marrah, a biology major, and Carly O’Connor, an English literature major. The students not only share the same grade point average (4.0), they share the same hometown (Kokomo, Ind.), the same home parish (St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church) and graduated from the same high school (Northwestern High School). If that’s not enough in common, they also call each other best friend.

“I knew Audrey would be valedictorian. The fact that I made it too is what surprised me,” said O’Connor. “We both realized in the fall of our junior year that this was a real possibility and we were truly hoping that we would be able to share this honor together.”

The women will graduate with 379 of their peers at noon on Saturday, May 15, 2010 on Le Mans Green and co-deliver this year’s valedictory speech.  As fate would have it, the two Honorary Degree recipients for the 2010 Commencement reflect the majors of the valedictorians. Marine biologist Sylvia Earle will deliver the 2010 Commencement address and receive an honorary doctor of humanities degree from the College. Saint Mary’s will also recognize Lois Lowry, author of young adult fiction books, with an honorary doctor of humanities degree.

Marrah and O’Connor have attended school together since kindergarten. They’ve been best friends since 8th grade and were roommates for three semesters at Saint Mary’s. After graduation, they will move forward on their different career paths.

Marrah plans to do international service work after college in Guyana in South America or in the African nations of Uganda or South Africa. She may later apply to medical school. While at Saint Mary’s she has served in various capacities in Campus Ministry, helped plan the April 2009 Quest Project Conference through the Center for Spirituality, did service work in the South Bend community, served on the committee for Dance Marathon (a student fundraiser for a Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis), and worked as a teaching assistant in the biology department.

O’Connor plans to attend graduate school to study theology. She has applied to the University of Notre Dame and the Pontifical John Paul II Institute at The Catholic University of America. She hopes to someday work in family life ministry for a diocese or non-profit organization. During her years at the College she has participated in the Right to Life club, the Four:7 Catholic Fellowship and the Edith Stein Conference (both at the University of Notre Dame), worked as a tutor in the Writing Center, worked as a resident advisor (RA) and studied abroad in Seville, Spain.Both women say they are happy they chose to attend Saint Mary’s College. “The support and encouragement I have received from the faculty has been fantastic, and I’ve developed close friendships with so many amazing and inspiring women,” O’Connor said. “It is a very warm and inviting environment where everyone is dedicated to helping you do your best and achieve your goals,” Marrah said. “I have also enjoyed being on an all-women’s campus because it provides a strong sense of community, and I feel a strong bond to my fellow Saint Mary’s women. At Saint Mary’s I have not only been challenged to grow intellectually, but I have also been inspired to grow in all aspects of my life.”

More on the Class of 2010: The Class of 2010 represents 253 towns/cities in 34 states, but Marrah and O’Connor are the only ones from Kokomo. There is also a student from Chengdu, China and one from Kingshill, U.S. Virgin Islands. The last time the College had co-valedictorians was 2007.

About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women’s institution offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study. Saint Mary’s College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the nation’s top 100 liberal arts colleges in U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 annual survey. Founded in 1844, Saint Mary’s is a pioneer in the education of women, and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

Contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary’s College
Notre Dame, Ind.
(574) 284-4579
Contact: