Laracy earns Valedictorian, Miss Presentation

By KRISTIN SHERRARD BECK ‘05

Presentation Academy

Marie Laracy is an expert juggler. While some may use rubber balls or bowling pins, she manages to keep a schedule full of high-level academics, three sports, extracurricular leadership roles and volunteer work moving and in perfect harmony. After years of hard work and dedication, she has earned the title of valedictorian for the Class of 2025.

“It’s an honor,” she said. “It feels nice to be able to represent the class and give a thank you” at graduation.

Over the course of four years, Marie took the following challenging courses for college credit: AP human geography; dual credit honors U.S. history, English IV and calculus; as well as humanities and personal finance online through Jefferson Community and Technical College. English classes have always been favorites, as well as both theology and women’s studies junior year.

“Being in an all-girls school, it felt so special to learn about [women’s] history and all of these historical events,” including Title IX and women’s suffrage, she said.

Marie was part of the Senior Independent Program, writing a book called “Putting the Fun in Run: A Girl’s Guide to the Life-Changing Sport of Running.” Initially, she wasn’t sure she wanted to take the class because she didn’t have an idea for a project she would want to spend a year working on. But after reflecting on the things that are important to her, she decided to combine her love for running and writing. She began running during COVID in 2020 and she thought about the guidance she wished she would have had if she could start all over again. “I thought, maybe I’ll write a book about how to enjoy [running] and not just to be this form of exercise that everyone does.” She published the book on Amazon, and it is available for purchase.

“I definitely grew more than I thought I was going to during the process,” she said. “… My writing skills grew, my communication skills grew, I had to find an editor, I had to talk to people, I had to do all this formatting and learn new applications. The whole SIP program is an opportunity for growth for students, and it’s something I think everyone should try and do.”

Outside of the classroom, Marie was a KHSAA Triple Threat Athlete as a member of the cross country, swim and track teams. She also led several student organizations. She was a four-year member of Student Council, serving as president, vice president, secretary and representative. She was National Honor Society treasurer, a member of the Prezettes, and a leadership team member for Student Ambassadors. She was also a member of Believe Club and St. Joseph of Arimathea, a retreat leader, and had a role in the PATH Theater production of “Annie.”

But it’s not just at Pres where Marie serves. She was a member of the Youth Ambassador Leading Louisville (Y’ALL) through Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg’s office and served on Gilda’s Club’s Youth Advisory Board, where she was named Young Volunteer of the Year for 2025. She also worked part-time at Lotsa Pasta, served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Agnes, took piano lessons and raced in the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon twice.

Marie said she has always liked being busy. “If I’m not doing something, it bothers me. I’ve always liked to have different things going on – some sports, some academics, a little balance of everything. I had a lot of people who helped me. My parents were really supportive.”

But she also acknowledged that she could not have been as involved as she was at any other school. “Pres is very unique in that the coaches are super flexible; the teachers are really helpful with your assignments and projects, so it was definitely easier to balance than it could have been at other schools. But I also love sports, I love to learn, I want to be a teacher. I like going to class. It’s fun for me. A lot of times people think it feels like a job, but it’s fun to have different aspects of your life. If you get tired of one you can go to another. If I have a lot of homework, I can go for a run. I just enjoy it.”

In addition to earning valedictorian, Marie was recognized as Miss Presentation, the highest honor given to a member of the senior class.

“Being named Miss Presentation is one of the greatest honors I have ever been given,” Marie said. “Getting to hear my teachers’ and classmates’ remarks about me was such a pleasure and brought tears to my eyes. I am so grateful for all the things Presentation Academy has gifted me with, and being named Miss Presentation just tops the cake. I will always hold Pres in my heart. Once a Pres Girl always a Pres Girl!”

Sister Amina Bejos, SCN, said, “Marie exudes the spirit of Mother Catherine Spalding with her deep desire to develop her relationship with God and fulfilling that commitment by serving the marginalized in our world. As a Pres Girl, she made everyone feel truly apart of the community.”

As she began applying to colleges, Marie said she was interested in going to a Catholic university. While she said she would have been happy going to any of the places where she applied, her dream school was Notre Dame, and after she was accepted, it was a no-brainer. She toured campus and talked with current students and fell in love with it. “It just felt right; it felt like I fit there,” she said.

Marie plans to double major in theology and Spanish and either earn a teaching certificate or go through Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program. She would love to study abroad to improve her Spanish. Right now, she wants to teach theology in either high school or middle school.

“I’ve always been a big fan of teachers in general because it’s such an underappreciated, it’s almost a vocation, anyone who works in a school really because you’re bettering the next generation,” Marie said. She said Pres prepared her for the future through the variety of projects she worked on, and she improved her public speaking and presentation skills.

“I think being in close proximity to multiple colleges was really beneficial because not everyone has the opportunity to take online JCTC classes and dual credit,” she said. “I’m graduating with a whole bunch of credits which is amazing and the fact that students have the opportunity to do that is so huge because not everyone does.”

From her first tour during COVID, Marie said Pres has always felt right, and she will miss everything from its vibe to downtown location to all of the teachers and staff who made her feel at home.

“It’s just the whole sisterhood and the traditions,” she said when asked what she will miss most. “I’m sure wherever I am I’ll be able to fit in somehow, but just the feeling that anyone can have a place, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from or where you’re going, everyone can fit, I’m going to miss that a lot. It’s a special thing; you don’t get it anywhere else.”