At Holy Cross High School’s 45th Commencement Exercises on Sunday, June 5, 2016, 127 members of the Class of 2016 marched into the Timothy J. McDonald Gymnasium amidst an enthusiastic audience of parents, families, teachers and friends. Diplomas and special awards were distributed. Heartfelt speeches and parting words were shared by Board members, administrators, students and special guests.
In her Congratulatory Address, Principal Margaret Leger described Graduation Day as a concrete example of all that Holy Cross strives to be. “Holy Cross is a combination of individuals who have created a foundation of growth, a springboard of strength to jumpstart your next stage in life on which you embark today,” said Mrs. Leger. “Wherever you are headed, I am confident that some part of Holy Cross will be tagging along with you.”
“As you reflect on your time spent here at Holy Cross, take a moment, visualize all that you have achieved, and appreciate just how far you have come,” said Jeffrey Fryer ’87, President of the Holy Cross Board of Directors. “In the end, it is not just about your class rank or the grade you earned. It’s about everything you experienced here in your four years as a Crusader.”
The Honorable Neil M. O’Leary, 46th Mayor of the City of Waterbury charged the graduating class to "never forget the sacrifices that your families have made in sending you to one of the finest high schools in the country." He also encouraged them that, upon the end of the educational journey, to “be involved in whatever community you reside in. We need you.”
“I have every confidence that as you travel the roads of life you will navigate them confidently and morally,” said President Frank H. Samuelson ’73 in his Congratulatory Remarks. “Your Holy Cross education and experience will be those guide posts when the road of life isn’t an easy one and a beacon of hope, fortitude and light when the road of life presents challenges.”
Megan Dreher ’16 addressed her classmates in the annual Commencement Speech. “Coming to school and knowing that there will always be someone there for you, whether it be a student or faculty member, is one of the more comforting feelings about attending Holy Cross,” said Megan. “It is evident that every student matters. Faculty members care for students as if we are their own children. It is comforting to know that they are so personally invested in our lives. That is why Holy Cross feels like home.”
Rebecca Anderson ’16 and Katherine Carroll ’16 received the Valedictorian and Salutatorian Award for maintaining the highest and second-highest grade point average, respectively.
“These ceremonies have marked the end of four years of growth and study for us all,” said Rebecca. “We must now look on towards the years to come and use what we have learned to achieve our goals for the future.”
“It was the best four years of my life,” said Katherine. “Our class really came together as a family. I just feel positivity when I walk through the halls every day.”
Other students were honored during the ceremony including:
- Caitlin Gobstein, recipient of The Sister Margaret Bannon, CND Service Award, presented annually to the senior girl who has demonstrated outstanding service to the school community.
- Drew DaSilva, recipient of The Holy Cross Fathers’ Club Award, given each year to the senior boy who has demonstrated the most service to the school community.
- Stephen Forino, recipient of The Holy Cross Mothers’ Club Award, presented annually to the senior boy who has demonstrated the most academic improvement from freshman to senior year.
- Morgan Conway, recipient of The Monsignor Flanagan Award, presented each year to the female student who has improved the most academically from freshman to senior year.
The graduates of the Class of 2016 include: Arianna Mary Agati, Kevin James Alves, Rebecca Lynn Anderson, Jordan Tanner Andreozzi, Dontae Kensworth Atkins, Stephanie Carla Barbieri, Lindsay Elizabeth Barton, Jennifer Alexandra Bastos, Newton Anthony Bates, Michelle Theresa Beauvais, John B. Belval, Michael Domenic Bernard, Taylor Nicole Berthelson, John Thomas Bowler, Jacquelyn Fay Brouillette, Jonathan E. Connor Buscarello, Emily Rose Buza, Austin Stephen Callaway, Michael Joseph Caporaso, Allison Elizabeth Carasone, Brooke Taylor Carnemolla, Katherine Victoria Carroll, Anna Marie Castles, Stephanie Chen, Christopher P Cianciolo Jr., Caitlin Ashley Cipriano, Cameron Curtis Coelho, Dillon J Collins, Alyssa M. Comeau, Morgan Jeanne Conway, Matthew P Corona, Elizabeth Catherine Crabtree, Brianna Marie Cracco, Tyler A Cremin, Jonathan T. Cretella, Sean Cunniff, Bradd Richard Cyr, Claire Elizabeth D'Alessandro, Gianfranco D'Amelio, Julia C. Danielowski, Drew E. DaSilva, Crystal Tashieanna Davis, Raelynn Demirs, Gabriella Sophia-Rose DiSapio, Mackenzie Alexandra Dolishny, Megan Elizabeth Dreher, Lauren Jean Dwyer, Andrew B. Dzinski, Shontayza Monét Ferreira-Leach, Lauren Nicole Ferry, Olga Natalie Fiala, Charles W. Fogie, Stephen Alfred Forino, Christopher L Frappier, Haydon Edward Frisbie, Scott Gao, Jordan Lee Gilmore, Taylor Elizabeth Gilmore, Caitlin Marie Gobstein, Mick Bernard Godin, Emilee Rose Gosselin, Colin Robert Gribbin, Kaitlyn Rose Grimshaw, Rachel Cecilia Hamel, Eren Lee Han, Sean Patrick Harnish, Caroline Ann Henry, Olivia Anne Hickey, Ted Huang, Sarah Elizabeth Innes, Gabrielle Ann Jones, Susanne L. Kulpa, Nicholas William Lomando, Kayla Marie Lombardi, Christopher L. Longino, Olivia Katherine Longo, Timothy O'Donnell Lynch, Francesca Noelle Macchio, Benjamin Alexander Mahler, Dominic Alexander Mancini, Melanie Rose Mancini, Donald Paul Mangini, Jr., Zachary Michael Mason, Alexander Manuel Fonseca Matos, Alyssa Ann McCowan, Imanni Lynne Mebane, Catherine Angeline Melchionne, Katherine Elizabeth Michaud, Zachary P. Monti, Julia Rose Morrone, Jonathan Alonso Mowatt, Sabelle Andreya Nath, Jeffrey Michael Nobrega, Liam Anthony Palilla, Alex Joseph Pelletier, Dylan Andrew Pelletier, Elisa Peng, Mary Persaud, Ryan Donald Pierce, Jeremy Ryan Pires, Gregory Lawrence Pomerleau, Malia J. Rascoe, Dean D. Riccuito, Kylie Elizabeth Rice, Colten John Roberts, Hailey M. Roosa, Adam John Rudzavice, Ariana Delynn Salvatore, Caroline Anne Sanicola, Adriana Savage, Domenic Campagna Setaro, RaShana M. Siders, Adrianna F. Solhjoo, Connor James Solnik, Justin S. Strielkauskas, Christopher Robert Stupak, JoVina Enza Taylor, Christie Marie Teixeira, Victoria Elizabeth Theresa Torto, Dyllan L. Tyson, Aaron Michael Velazquez, Hannah Pauline Vitarelli, Julia Louise Walters, Mason Stuart Wickline, Justin Jordan Witherspoon, Emma L. Woermer and Zhang Mucheng