MORGAN PARK — Three graduates of St. Cajetan School will all be featured prominently at their upcoming high school commencements.
Connor Healy, Elizabeth Evans and Erin Coghlan all graduated in 2011 from the Catholic elementary school at 2447 W. 112th St. in Morgan Park.
Coghlan, 18, of Morgan Park, is the valedictorian at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School in Mount Greenwood. She boasts at 4.55 GPA and plans to study business at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Healy, 17, of Morgan Park, is the valedictorian at St. Rita High School in Ashburn. He earned a 4.95 GPA and will study business at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Healy is also the recipient of the full-ride Augustinian Scholarship.
Evans, 18, was elected student speaker for the graduation ceremony at Mother McAuley. Her GPA is a solid 4.22 which helped to earn her a full-tuition and housing scholarship from the Chick Evans Scholarship Program.
"We are Warrior kids," Healy said, referencing her grade school's mascot.
The St. Cajetan class of 2011 consisted of 43 students. Mother McAuley was the high school of choice for 11 of the girls. St. Rita was selected by nine of the boys.
The three students have remained friends since graduating eighth grade. This isn't at all uncommon as "Cajetan kids" often pal around well after their elementary school days, the trio said.
Coghlan, Healy and Evans also reflected on their elementary school experience on Tuesday, saying they're forever grateful for the sense of community they felt as part of the Southwest Side parish — along with the sense of humor.
This included when the St. Cajetan community rallied after the death of Liam Bonner, Evans said. The 4-year-old son of parishioners Brian and Amy Bonner died in 2007 from a brain tumor.
"You look out for your neighbor," Coghlan said.
There were also times to celebrate, like eighth-grade trips to Six Flags, Springfield and the annual ski trip.
While Evans and Healy were unsure what the future holds, Coghlan said hopes to someday raise her children in the same way — perhaps even in the same parish.
"I'll come back," she said.
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