SGHS Graduation

On Friday, May 29, 2026, Saint Gertrude celebrated its 103rd Commencement honoring the Class of Red and White. At graduation, attendees heard speeches from Valedictorian Charlotte Sykes, Salutatorian Rose Borchert, and this year’s commencement speaker, Lori Hanky Haas ’76.

BSoR President Jesse Grapes recognized the Golden Jubilarians from the Class of 1976, whose colors are Burgundy and Gold. Each Golden Jubilarian present was awarded an honorary diploma by SGHS Head of School Amy Roussy Pickral '95.  

Class President, Teagan Semisch, presented a gift to the school from the Class of Red and White, and Song Contest leader, Mercy Grapes, led the graduates in the Saint Gertrude tradition of singing a song from this year's Song Contest.

The Class of Red and White consists of 56 Gators who were accepted into 86 different colleges and universities and are matriculating to 26 of them. We are so proud of you--as women of God, as women of Saint Gertrude, as women who will go out and change the world.

Lori Hanky Haas is a lifelong Richmonder and member of the Class of 1976. Lori's family has been a part of the Benedictine family for generations: her father, uncles, brothers, sons, and nephews all graduated from Benedictine. Lori's five sisters, numerous nieces, and her daughter graduated from SGHS. Lori's daughter Emily is a member of the Class of 2005.

After graduating from SGHS and attending Virginia Tech, Lori embarked on a real estate career before marrying and raising her three children. After her daughter Emily was shot and injured at the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, Lori began a career in gun violence prevention working in Virginia and across the country. Lori is currently the Advocacy Manager at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, where she works on programs and policy using a public health approach to finding solutions to reduce gun violence.