Dominican Academy

D.A.'s Evening of the Arts brought the school community together to celebrate the remarkable creativity of student artists. The evening featured performances by the Dance Club, Glee Club, and Senior Ensemble, alongside an open-call visual arts showcase that highlighted student work in illustration, watercolor, poetry, and even a short film produced in just one take.

The annual event, held on May 18, was hosted by Ms. Kate Finlayson, dance and body-mind conditioning teacher, and Ms. Gwyneth Mooney, music and drama teacher and chair of the art department.

Great work, D.A. artists and performers!

Class of 2026, this is your moment.

Today's beautiful commencement ceremony at St. Jean Baptiste Church celebrated the achievements of our graduating seniors and welcomed them into the next stage of the D.A. sisterhood—as our newest alumnae.

"Treat your faith not as a memory of high school or a blast from the past, but cherish it as a living, breathing internal compass that gives you the courage to say 'yes' to new adventures, difficult challenges, and seeing God's loving presence in the world and the people around you." - Dr. Alexandria M. Egler, Ph.D., P '10.

Congratulations, graduates!

Announcing this year’s commencement speaker for the Class of 2026: Tatiana Serafin, ’90.

An award-winning journalist and educator, Serafin earned national recognition for her coverage of the war in Ukraine and now serves as coordinator of the Journalism program at Marymount Manhattan College. There, she teaches experiential courses including Journalism in the 21st Century and Media Law and Ethics, helping students conduct thoughtful research, navigate today’s rapidly changing media landscape, and develop an informed, ethics-centered understanding of truth and responsibility.

That pursuit of truth—Veritas—has remained central to Serafin’s work throughout her career. Her acclaimed podcast The Doorstep, produced in partnership with the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, explored how global events shape everyday life. Episodes featured conversations such as “The Future of Foreign Policy is Feminist” with Kristina Lunz and “Closing the Global Gender Gap” with Eliza Reid. The podcast concluded its 99-episode run in 2024 after earning both the Sigma Delta Chi Award and a Bronze Medallion from the Society of Professional Journalists.

Today, while continuing to teach and mentor young journalists, Serafin is pursuing a Ph.D. in educational leadership at Wilkes University, where her research focuses on how students build news literacy in the age of AI.

This spring, Serafin also returned to Dominican Academy alongside fellow alumna Margaret Besheer, ’85 to lead an in-person writers seminar for D.A. students, sponsored by Student Prints.

We are honored to welcome Tatiana Serafin, ’90 back to D.A. to address the Class of 2026.

We pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

“Gone but not forgotten.”

As a community rooted in faith, service, and gratitude, Dominican Academy remembers our heroes and prays for all those who gave their lives in service to others. May their courage and sacrifice never be forgotten.

From elegant dresses and dancing the night away with friends, Senior Prom was a beautiful celebration of the memories and friendships that have defined these four years at Dominican Academy.

As graduation nears, we are grateful for moments like these that remind us just how special the Class of 2026 is.

There were highlight reels. There were final huddles. There were alumnae pop-ins and senior farewells,

D.A.’s Annual Sports Banquet celebrated the ways sports have become an integral part of the Dominican Academy experience—not only for student-athletes who compete throughout the city against fellow Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) teams, but for sports managers, Spirit Team members, as well as dedicated coaches and parents.

The banquet recognized MVPs, team captains, and most improved players from each of D.A.'s nine Varsity sports. Teams showed video montages, reflected on their wins and losses, and looked back at a year of competition that taught them lessons on teamwork, friendships, leadership, and the incredible balance D.A. students maintain as scholars and athletes. New to this year, the CHSAA recognized each player in the league who earned a 90% academic average during the quarter in which they played their sport. Each D.A. student with this grade average received a scholastic pin on her Varsity letter, and each and every D.A. team received special recognition for 75% of more team athletes with a 90%+ average.

Gwendolyn L. '26 received this year's St. Dominic Sportsmanship Award, the highest award at student-athlete at D.A. can receive, given to a student who exemplifies the best standards of leadership, sportsmanship, and team pride. Freshman Sophia R., '29, who earned team MVP for the basketball team, also received Honorable Mention from the New York State Sportswriters Association, Class A all-state awards.

Congratulations to all of our athletes on an amazing year!

Service is more than a tradition at Dominican Academy — it is one of the pillars that shape who we are.

This week, our students continued that tradition by serving communities across New York City through meaningful hands-on experiences. From packaging groceries and serving meals at local pantries to spending time with children in classrooms and supporting older adults, our students lived out the Dominican values of compassion, generosity, and community.

Whether reading stories to young children, preparing meals, or helping families in need, each act of service reflected the heart of a Dominican Academy education: using our gifts to uplift others.

From the vibrant streets of Lima to the breathtaking heights of Machu Picchu, our Dominican Academy students embraced every moment of their unforgettable journey through Peru!

33 students and 4 chaperones explored ancient history, experienced new cultures, connected with local communities, and discovered the beauty of seeing the world through a global lens. From weaving with families in Lamay and creating traditional pottery in the Sacred Valley to walking through the ruins of Machu Picchu and exploring the colorful markets of Cuzco, every experience inspired curiosity, compassion, and connection.

Most importantly, there was plenty of laughter, adventure, and memories made along the way.

At Dominican Academy, learning goes far beyond the classroom — empowering students to become thoughtful global citizens ready to engage with the world around them.