
After a year of changes and challenges, the 14 graduates of the 2021 kindergarten class at St. Jude celebrated their graduation in a big, virtual way.
Teachers and staff at the hospital worked together to create a virtual celebration to honor the graduates. Last year, the St. Jude School Program by Chili’s was unable to hold its traditional graduation ceremony on campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the school’s staff created an event to honor both their students’ achievements and their resilience.
“We had to cancel our graduation last year, which broke our hearts,” said K–6 school program teacher Michaela Shurden. “We did not want that to happen again this year. We were going to figure out a way to make it happen. This is an important milestone for our patients.”
Teachers mailed each graduate a cap and gown, diploma and a yard sign to recognize their achievement. All items were donated by Varsity Brands.
Each student’s family had the special task of sending in a short video. Dressed in their caps and gowns, the students shared their favorite things about kindergarten, and what they want to be when they grow up. The hospital’s Biomedical Communications video team compiled the clips and produced the video.
Shurden and her colleague Kaci Richardson shared messages along with principal Randy Thompson and school head Laurie Leigh. Special speakers included St. Jude President and CEO James R. Downing, MD, and ALSAC President and CEO Richard C. Shadyac Jr.
“We were disappointed last year, as everyone was, in terms of not doing graduations,” Leigh said. “We were happy to be able to share this with the kindergarteners and give them the opportunity to make their videos and to have this event.”
Read more inspiring stories
-
Mother and daughter nurses continue to flourish at St. Jude
Mother and daughter nurses continue to flourish at St. Jude
-
Mother admires daughter’s journey from St. Jude patient to employee
Mother and daughter bond over their time from patient family to employees at St. Jude.
-
Pawt of the family: New facility dog repawts for duty at St. Jude
Read about Rose, the newest member of the Paws at Play program at St. Jude.
-
Plan in Progress: St. Jude celebrates first year of telehealth services in Tupelo
St. Jude is celebrating a successful first year of providing telehealth services for children with chronic hematological diseases in North Mississippi. Read the story.
-
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
To mark National Hispanic Heritage Month, St. Jude is honoring some of our dedicated Hispanic employees. Learn more about their work.
-
Doggone cute: St. Jude is paw-leased to welcome employees Snuggle and CC
Read about Snuggle and CC, the two newest facility dogs who are enhancing the patient experience at St. Jude.
-
Being A Father is Everything for St. Jude Patient Dad Chris
When Chris' son Calvin got a devastating diagnosis, it was the lifesaving mission of St. Jude that helped ensure his family remained intact.
-
A St. Jude volunteer “meet cute” leads to engagement
Jordan Watson and Kelly Quiroz met at St. Jude while volunteering and recently got engaged to marry.
-
Father’s Day: St. Jude employees share stories of inspiration
To commemorate Father's Day, read four stories of four St. Jude employees who have the unique experience of calling their fathers colleagues.
-
St. Jude kindergarten graduation celebrates aspiring teachers, ballerinas…ninjas
Students in the St. Jude School Program hit a milestone by celebrating their Kindergarten graduation.
-
‘A success on all fronts’
Read how St. Jude volunteers opened the door to health care career possibilities for local eighth graders during an expo at Agricenter International.
-
St. Jude School Program celebrates annual high school commencement
See how St. Jude is honoring 15 students as part of its annual high school commencement. The students completed high school this year while undergoing treatment and managing the ongoing pandemic. Each graduate received a unique St. Jude class ring, hats tassels and other gifts.
-
St. Jude celebrates Mother’s Day with inspirational stories
St. Jude employees take pride in their work and many times, they inspire family members to join the mission. This Mother’s Day, we highlight a few family members who have followed in their mothers’ footsteps.
-
Mentorship is a Two-Way Street
In observance of Women's History Month, Andrea Stubbs discusses the importance of mentorship and support throughout her career.
-
Austin Springer, PhD, receives highest employee honor for pandemic response efforts
For pandemic response efforts in 2021, Human Resources employee receives highest honor bestowed upon St. Jude employees.
Careers
At St. Jude, your career makes a difference. We offer outstanding opportunities in the basic and translational sciences, clinical research, patient care and many other areas for talented individuals.