By Kate Santini ‘27
Editor-in-Chief
A ceremony welcoming 43 inductees from the class of 2027 into Holy Cross’ Alpha Sigma Nu chapter, a highly competitive Jesuit honors society recognizing students for their scholarship and service, kicked off this year’s “Family Weekend.”
Those inducted make up roughly 5% of the senior class and are carefully selected from a pool of applicants in the top 15% of the class.
“The ceremony was a wonderful celebration, and it was great to see all of the families come together. All of our parents have put so much time and effort into making us the people we are today, and it was nice to thank them for all of their support,” inductee Amelia Ciarleglio ‘27 said.
“My Mom, Dad, Mimi and Poppy all came to the ceremony, which was so kind of them! I owe everything to them. It was great to hear everyone’s accomplishments,” she adds. “I am so grateful that I get to go to school with such intelligent and service-oriented people.”
In addition to the students, two professors, Professor Alex Hindman from the Political Science Department and Professor Justin McAlister from the Biology Department, were elected by the society’s members as honorary inductees.
Students reported having selected them for their admirable commitment to their work, students, and research. Like the student inductees, each professor was awarded a certificate from the College’s President Vincent Rougeau and had a short biography read for them, noting their various accomplishments.
“As a teacher, few things are more meaningful than being recognized by students for the work we do together, and it is especially meaningful when that recognition comes from such an accomplished group,” Hindman said. “I was struck by just how impressive [the inductees] are, not simply as students, but in the breadth of their leadership, service, and involvement in the Holy Cross community.”
Father Brent Howitt Otto, S.J., a professor in the History Department who specializes in modern South Asia and an Alpha Sigma Nu scholar himself, gave the keynote address.
“You’ve learned to work hard intellectually in seeking wisdom; to struggle, at times, to build the kinds of relationships that are not superficial, but loyal, faithful, and holy,” Fr. Otto said in his address. “Practice those disciplines. Hold to those values. And importantly: invite others to join you in them.”
He concluded the ceremony with the statement that “years from now, wherever life has taken you, may you be able to look back on this hill and recognize that what was begun here is still unfolding.”
Sophia Vail ‘27 and Kate Santini ‘27, both Alpha Sigma Nu inductees
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