Saint Monica Alumna and Former U.S. Ambassador Nathalie Rayes to Deliver 2025 Commencement Address
![Saint Monica Alumna and Former U.S. Ambassador Nathalie Rayes to Deliver 2025 Commencement Address]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1748624449/stmonicachsorg/t8bkpkkhziqh1gkopgee/newspost21.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1748624449/stmonicachsorg/t8bkpkkhziqh1gkopgee/newspost21.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1748624449/stmonicachsorg/t8bkpkkhziqh1gkopgee/newspost21.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1748624449/stmonicachsorg/t8bkpkkhziqh1gkopgee/newspost21.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1748624449/stmonicachsorg/t8bkpkkhziqh1gkopgee/newspost21.jpg","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Alumna and Former U.S. Ambassador Nathalie Rayes to Deliver 2025 Commencement Address
Saint Monica Preparatory is proud to welcome back Nathalie Rayes ‘92, the former U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, to deliver the keynote address at our 2025 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m.
The following week, Rayes also has the honor of returning to her university alma mater, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, to deliver commencement addresses at both its undergraduate and graduate ceremonies.
Rayes returns to Saint Monica with a message of resilience, leadership and purpose. Her career spans public service, private sector leadership, nonprofit advocacy and diplomacy—embodying the values we aim to instill in every student. In her address, Rayes shares lessons from her own non-linear path—from working in local government to becoming Vice President of Public Affairs at Grupo Salinas, leading the Latino Victory organization, and ultimately serving as U.S. Ambassador to Croatia. She encourages graduates to embrace uncertainty, follow their instincts, and stay connected to the communities that shape them.
“Returning to Saint Monica’s is deeply meaningful,” said Rayes. “This school helped shape the person I became. My hope is that every graduate leaves with the confidence to show up, take chances, and grow into the next version of themselves—with heart, with purpose and with conviction.” Nathalie Rayes was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia on December 11, 2023.
“We are honored to welcome Nathalie Rayes back to Saint Monica Preparatory,” shared Principal James Spellman. “Her journey from these classrooms to representing the United States abroad exemplifies the power of faith, determination and service.”
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Saint Monica Preparatory was honored again by The Argonaut readers this month as the Reader Recommended Best Elementary and Middle School in its annual "Best of the Westside" edition. View the full Best of the Westside issue here. This follows our Best Private High School recognition by HomeTown News last month.
We loved hosting over 200 families at our TK-12 Open House this past weekend. Our campus was buzzing as SMPREP student tour guides showed off our welcoming classrooms and facilities, including our beautiful new state-of-the-art STEM laboratories. SMPREP application deadlines for the 2026-2027 school year are approaching: December 15 is the priority deadline for grades TK-8 and January 15 is the deadline for grades 9-12.
![Record Number of AP Capstone Diploma Awards]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1761762790/stmonicachsorg/vo67a3coihgchvgdvaae/newspost8.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1761762790/stmonicachsorg/vo67a3coihgchvgdvaae/newspost8.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1761762790/stmonicachsorg/vo67a3coihgchvgdvaae/newspost8.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1761762790/stmonicachsorg/vo67a3coihgchvgdvaae/newspost8.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1761762790/stmonicachsorg/vo67a3coihgchvgdvaae/newspost8.png","width":1280}])
The College Board announced that nine Saint Monica Preparatory students earned the AP Capstone Diploma last year, based on the scores released from the 2025 AP Exam administration. An additional 18 SMPREP students received the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. Congratulations, Mariners!
Dr. Janelle Peters, SMPREP English Teacher, designed our school's multi-year AP curriculum herself and is proud of our students for this outstanding achievement. They represent SMPREP and its project-based learning experience among the only 27,650 students who earned the AP Capstone Diploma and the 12,430 students who earned the Certificate at participating schools worldwide.
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Mr. Roland Labana, CTO of Altafid and SMPREP's STEM Academy Dean/Computer Science teacher, hosted a LA Tech Week session at SMPREP last week with the help of his Engineering students. The workshop, "AI Tools for Building Apps with Lightning Speed," took place in our new Engineering classroom and was full of a variety of ideas for new apps — from how to report potholes and other road issues, to a study guide for the HSPT with AI-generated quizzes, to researching different car models by searching reviews.
His takeaway from the event, which he thought fit in well with other Tech Week events he attended: "Things are moving super fast and all of us, if we want to survive, have to know about these tools."