Ursuline's 2014 graduates consider classmates family

YOUNGSTOWN

For many students graduating from Ursuline High School, commencement day was bittersweet.

The 104 graduating seniors, who are claiming more than $9 million in scholarships, walked down the aisles of Stambaugh Auditorium Saturday with people who felt like family.

“I’m going to miss my friends,” said Dana Creatore of Boardman. “We’re like a big family. It’s going to be sad to see everyone go. We’re going to lose touch with a lot of people.”

The 19-year-old participated in softball, volleyball, Italian Club and more during her four years at Ursuline.

But she’ll remember the people.

“What I’ll remember the most is how close of a family we are, and how important we are to one another, and how we will always have each other’s backs,” she said.

Her classmate, Ryan Peplowski of Liberty, agreed the class is like a family.

“I’m excited, a little bit nervous, a little bit sad, too,” the 18-year-old said. “There’s some emotion here, leaving my friends. We are a family. Some of us have come from St. Rose all the way up to Ursuline. We’ve been together for 12, 13 years.”

The small class size allowed him to get to know everyone, he said.

“Ursuline truly is a family,” he added.

Read more about the class and the advice they got from a former graduate, Youngstown Mayor John McNally.