Inspiration strikes Juan Diego's Class of 2010

IC photo by Marie Mischel

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The Juan Diego Catholic High School commencement was held May 22.

DRAPER - Faith, strength and change were just a few issues that inspired Juan Diego Catholic High School seniors during the school's 10th year.

The Class of 2010's theme was ‘Inspire,' and their year-long project was to build a school for students in Kenya, Africa. Throughout the year, the students sponsored various fundraisers and raised $25,000 toward the $46,000 needed for the African school.

"Our theme of ‘inspire' worked so well because we, as seniors, cared about it deeply and were committed to make it present in every facet of our lives during our time at Juan Diego," said Clare Bailey, a student body officer, during the commencement May 22.

The senior class also was inspired to give a gift of a scholarship to the school, donating $4,000 toward the fund with the hope that future classes also would contribute to providing a Juan Diego education for worthy students.

Competition for the honors of Class of 2010 valedictorian and salutatorian was intense, said Dr. Galey Colosimo, Juan Diego principal. The 26 seniors who comprised the top 10 percent of their class earned only 58 B grades during their four years at the school; their other grades were either As or A-'s.

"No matter how hard a professor tries, they cannot force a student to learn if that student does not want to," said Nicolas Bertagnolli, the class valedictorian. "They can educate to their heart's content, but the responsibility falls on us, as students, to learn. All too often today, students expect to learn simply from diffusion; that by being in the same room as the professor they can gain an understanding of the subject without putting in any effort."

But knowledge is a lifelong and personal pursuit, Bertagnolli said. "No one can force us to learn or understand.... We must be the ones who take the initiative to learn, not because our grades or our school requires it, but because we want this understanding to better ourselves. Our futures will be filled with many challenges, and we must ... develop new and unusual ways of dealing with these problems. Nearly every year at school my math teacher has told me, ‘When you hear hoof beats, think of horses, not zebras.' Phooey, I say, when you hear hoof beats, think of zebras, not horses, for nothing great was ever accomplished by following standard convention."

Camaraderie was the theme of salutatorian Joseph Salemi's address. "True friends know when to help and when to let you struggle. Without them, I'm not sure any of us would have kept showing up to school every Monday," he said, thanking not only his classmates but also parents, "for pulling us out of bed every morning and for motivating us to keep doing our best. I would also like to thank our teachers, for not just preparing us for college, but for life. And for not just teaching what the College Board dictates, but for stimulating our minds and for challenging us to be better individuals."

As he heads to the University of Michigan in the fall, he will, in a sense, bring his classmates with him, Salemi said. "I'm bringing your will to work, and your will to win, your determination to achieve a goal and the way you never take things too seriously, either. You guys have taught me a lot these past four years, like how to make 16-sheet paper airplanes, and not to take a government class with Bryce. But most importantly, you taught me why Soaring Eagle isn't plural, and for this I'm thankful."

During the commencement ceremony, awards that honor the life of the Juan Diego community were presented. Winners of these awards follow.

St. Thomas Aquinas award - Nicolas Bertagnolli

St. Teresa of Avila Award - Camry Martinez

St. Cecilia Award - Clare Bailey

St. Sebastian Award - Frankie Sutera

Other award recipients were:

Katherine Drexel Award - Nicolas Bertagnolli

St. Joseph the Worker Award - Paul Stratford

St. Francis of Assisi Award - Camry Martinez

Juan Diego Boy Award - Joseph Salemi

Juan Diego Girl Award - Madison Harper