Judge Memorial CHS Class of 2017
SALT LAKE CITY — The Judge Memorial Catholic High School commencement for the Class of 2017 took place on May 21 at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City.
The Class of 2017’s 151 students cumulatively received more than $15 million in scholarships and renewable grants to the colleges and universities of their choice.
In his remarks, Principal Patrick Lambert emphasized that the ceremony was a validation of the students’ hard work and efforts. He recalled all the events that were part of the senior class’ graduation activates, particularly the psychology fair.
“There was a project that grabbed my attention, the project that focused on the impact of Instagram” and how people use the social media site to seek validation, said Lambert. Using this analogy, Lambert told the students that if were looking for validation at the graduation, they were getting it.
“Validation is the affirmation that your viewpoint is worthy and accurate. … Now, students, look around and see how many people like and absolutely love you; look at the number of teachers that have supported you spiritually, socially, physically; look at your parents and relatives; look at the friend next to you. … Let this be your validation. We are here because we love you, we are here because we support you. Let this be your validation that you are beautiful inside and outside, let this be your validation,” he said, and challenged the graduates to look past instant gratification.
“Be leaders,” he urged. “Being caring community members means you have genuine relationships with those around you. Being a leader means to be present for those around us.”
The Class of 2017 Valedictory Address was presented by Victoria Stevens, who was awarded a National Merit Scholarship and accepted to Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Yale and Princeton. She has chosen to attend Yale and major in mathematics.
In her speech, Stevens encouraged her peers to find and hold on to their passions for the rest of their lives.
“Success becomes something that is measured by purpose and meaning. Successful people have a passion. … They are disciplined, they have a purpose. It doesn’t always come as easy as we thought it would be,” said Stevens, who also received High Honors and First Honors recognition.
Being persistent is important, she reminded her classmates.
“We’ve been successful so far,” she said. “We have accomplished some tasks because we have been kept on track by other people – the teachers, counselors. … Now that we are making this transition our relationships will be more crucial than ever to keep on track.”
Stevens told her peers that whether they are with people or alone, they should keep the discipline and values they learned and practiced at Judge.
“We need to learn to be disciplined with our time and thoughtful about how much we spend on building relationships. Indeed, it might be just that [building mature relationships] is what separates a proper adult from a child that never grows up,” she concluded.
The Salutatorian Address was delivered by Erin Morgan, who received the University of Utah Eccles Scholarship. Graduating with High Honors and First Honors recognition, she also was one of the recipients of the Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City Award for Outstanding Scholar-Participant in Athletics.
In her remarks Morgan remembered when she was a first-grader and she got a Judge Bulldog sash as a Christmas present, and she wore it with great pride, thinking that one day she would become part of Judge Memorial.
“Now that these four years have passed, we survived taking our shirts every day, going up and down stairs, four years of homework, musical rehearsals, community service. … All of that taught us different abilities,” she said.
Morgan also mentioned the core values shared by all her classmates.
“We have talented, bright, hard-working, passionate classmates whose dedication and perseverance resulted in raising money for dear causes, in many hours of service locally, nationally and internationally … showing always kindness and integrity,” she said.
With the quote “Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now” from “Hamilton: An American Musical,” Morgan told her classmates that as they leave high school and enter the real world, “we have a chance to make a change.”
With commitment, compassion and courage to challenge the status of the world, “we have the opportunity to build a society in which we want to live,” she said. “I urge you all to be passionate about this. … Act with kindness and integrity. Congratulations, Class of 2017! Go change the world.”
The Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis, Bishop of Salt Lake City, offered congratulatory remarks to the graduating seniors.
“This is a special moment of joy for you. It is a combination of validation for your hard work, sacrifices, hours of studies, struggles with your exams and homework,” said Bishop Solis, adding that he prayed so that their hearts would be filled with gratitude toward their parents and to all the people who made a difference in their lives.
“Never forget that everything that happens is due to God’s grace,” Bishop Solis said.
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