Ursuline News

Sophomore Serviam Ceremony

By Lauren Zulick '25, Communications Intern

Members of the Class of 2026 attended Sophomore Serviam on January 24, 2024. The class pledged to live in the spirit of St. Angela Merici and to have a lifelong commitment to Serviam (Latin for 'I will serve').

During this past semester, the Class of 2026 earned over 13,000 service hours - a number accumulated by service opportunities around the Dallas area and within Ursuline.

"My favorite form of service is the Serviam Fair because it helps me feel connected to service through Ursuline with my friends," said Maya Stewart '26. 

Sophomore Serviam Mass Celebrant Father Alfonse Nazzaro provided words of wisdom and inspiration to the class.

"Walk with God," he said. "Whatever you do, wherever you are, ask God to be a part of your life...accept the challenge."

Also during the ceremony, the Beth Rayfield Memorial Challenge Award, or the Serviam Award, is awarded by the Ursuline Mothers Club to a sophomore student who embodies the principles of Serviam (Latin for 'I will serve'). The award is made based on a written student reflection and individual record of service.

This year, the award went to Sydnie Metrano, who went on a week-long service-learning trip to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Oglala Lakota Nation in 2023. She was inspired to serve not just her immediate community but other regions thousands of miles away from home.

Her essay stated, "As a 15-year-old, I traveled over 1,000 miles to one of the most desolate parts of the United States and worked on construction projects, despite having no experience building things or using power tools. I am now even more confident that I can take on different and bigger challenges to positively impact others."

Read Sydnie's essay.