It appears that Olivia Culpo’s 2010 classmates at Bay View Academy came back to the East Providence campus last night to leave her a message in chalk.

Culpo was crowned Miss Universe last night in Las Vegas.

Drawings and words of encouragement decorated the parking lot this morning, said Lia McAlpine, alumni and external relations director. Notes said: “Our Best Friend is Miss Universe,” “We Love Olivia!” and “It’s Olivia’s Universe!” 

One of the crosswalk icons has even been turned into a pageant queen, complete with a dress and tiara, McAlpine said.

It goes without saying that Bay View Academy students, staff, faculty and alumnae are thrilled that Culpo is now Miss Universe, she said.  The Academy’s Facebook pages are filled with messages of enthusiastic congratulations, well-wishes and Bay View pride, many alluding to the school’s “I am Bay View” slogan:

• Miss Universe is Bay View!!!!!!
• WOW!!! Miss Universe is a BVA alum! I could not be prouder of my Alma Mater right now!! Invest in a girl & invest in the universe!!!!
• BVA girls can rule the world!
• I'm a Bay View Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Congratulations to Olivia!! That is awesome that one of our "sisters" is miss universe.
• Bay View graduates can accomplish ANYTHING! Girl Power

Culpo attended Bay View Academy from 8th through 12th grade.  Her older sister, Aurora, graduated in 2007 and her younger sister, Sophie, is a sophomore, said McAlpine.

Bay View's president, Vittoria Pacifico-DeBenedictis, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of Olivia!  In the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut, tragedy, this last week has been filled with sorrow and a great deal of reflection and prayer, so it is very reassuring to have some good news coming out of a school. 

"Olivia is a wonderful role model for our Bay View girls, from Pre-K through grade 12, and she is a great example of the type of self-confident, caring, and poised leader who graduates from Bay View.”