A distinguished roster, graduates of our schools are leading our society into the 21st century. They have taken their Catholic faith, their excellent academic training, their honor and their pride into their homes and workplaces. Our students today carry on the spirit of even the earliest of their predecessors in their deepening spiritual life, their academic growth, their athletic competitions, and their social and emotional development. They cherish the traditions that have been passed on to them by the generations whose pictures and memories fill our Alumni Hall.

The Peoria area can be proud of their clear and early understanding of the value of educating young women. Bishop Spalding left no doubt of his support for the work of the Sisters of St. Joseph. "If we leave half the race in ignorance, how shall we hope to lift the other half into the light of truth and love? Let woman's mental power increase, let her influence grow...." The convent school begun in 1863 quickly became too small, and the Sisters opened the Academy of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in 1874.

In 1898, Spalding Institute was opened for the education of young men across Madison Street. Bishop Spalding, founder of the Diocese of Peoria, intended to name the school he founded St. Mary's Academy. Too humble to name the school for himself, he finally allowed the name to be bestowed in honor of his brother, the Reverend Ben J. Spalding, who had died at an early age. Spalding Institute educated generations of young men, instilling pride into families whose fathers and grandfathers built a powerhouse of academics and athletics. As students increased, the school's facilities grew. By 1953, the Spalding Gymnasium was open for the use of the Catholic youth of Peoria and the Catholic Youth Center became the cornerstone of students' social lives.

Through the years, the academic departments of the Academy and Spalding shared faculty and facilities. In 1973, the two schools joined under one administrative and academic structure. The new school, the Academy/Spalding, offered students even greater opportunities for spiritual, academic, cultural and personal development.

In the 1960's, Peoria was growing. New parishes were developing, families were growing and a burgeoning Catholic population needed more classrooms for the high school education of their children. Under the leadership of Bishop John B. Franz, Bergan High School opened in north suburban Peoria, named for the Most Reverend Gerald T. Bergan, a distinguished son of Peoria and Archbishop of Omaha, Nebraska. In the early years, Bergan offered separate classes for young men and women who shared the Chapel, the Commons, and library. Soon after, however, classes were joined, and young men and women attended classes together for the first time in the history of Peoria Catholic high school education.

In 1988, under the leadership of Bishop Edward O'Rourke and Coadjutor Bishop John Myers, the Peoria Area Pastors Board made the difficult decision to merge the Academy/Spalding and Bergan High School into a single school to be named Peoria Notre Dame in honor of the Blessed Mother. The great loyalty of graduates for their alma maters had to be carried to a new school which would serve the needs of future students.

In just a few months, faculties of Academy/Spalding and Bergan forged a unified curriculum; athletic departments joined staffs and programs to build team pride; students formed new friendships and wore new colors. Graduates of the Academy, Spalding, Bergan and Academy/Spalding longed for the days of old and wondered if the pride they shared and the traditions they established would be remembered at the "new" Peoria Notre Dame.

And now, more than ten classes have graduated from Peoria Notre Dame. Memories of the "old days" and the "old schools" remain strong and dear. Graduates, now parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, fill the stands at athletic competitions and the seats at honors programs and graduations. Traditions are celebrated as before. Graduates of all Peoria area Catholic High Schools can be proud of the young people who carry on their pride in their Catholic education. Today's students work hard. They are growing in their faith in Christ. They are maturing emotionally. They are continuing their intellectual development at colleges and universities. They are bettering their communities through the service they perform. They are taking their places in a global society that the seven pioneering Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Bishop Spalding, Bishop Franz and the generations of families who have sacrificed to provide Catholic education in the Peoria area could never have predicted. While graduates have met the staggering hardships and astounding growth of the 20th century, young people today face challenges and opportunities we cannot imagine. But we need not fear for them. They are gifted by God and armed with Catholic education. They will hand on the heritage they receive to their children as all of you have handed it on to them. With great respect and affection, the students of Peoria Notre Dame salute our alumni.