St. Francis High School: Celebrating the Graduating Class of 2019

One hundred and forty-three young men from the Class of 2019 graduated on Saturday, May 25th, on the campus of St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge, California.

Fr. Tony Marti, OFM Cap., the President of St. Francis High School, represented his Excellency Bishop José Gómez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, at the graduation. Mr. Thomas Moran, the school Principal, and Mr. Mark Heydorff ‘70, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, also officiated at the Seventieth Annual Commencement Exercises for the local Catholic, college preparatory institution.

Aedan Molina led the National Anthem, Marcus Taylor, the Senior Class President, welcomed the crowd, and Valedictorian Gregory Grigorian gave a formal address to the audience. Gregory Grigorian also received the Capuchin Award and Medal for Scholarship. The program also recognized Salutatorian Marc Morreale for his exceptional achievement. Additionally, Brandon Markarian was presented with the Rudy Trujillo Award for Academic Effort. Austin Kim, USMA ’00, the West Point Admissions Field Force Officer, was also in attendance to present Christopher Perez with his appointment to the United States Military Academy.

St. Francis Certificates of Distinction were awarded to graduates in the following categories: Social Studies – Joubin Azimi; Science – Luke Bender; Leadership – Vasisht Chaluvadi; Social Studies – Jackson Dudas; Mathematics – Michael Frost; Foreign Language – Kai Garcia; Mass Media – MacLean Ireland; Athletics – Doyle Kane; Fine Arts – Aedan Molina; Foreign Language – Brian O’Neil, Mathematics – Esteban Sanchez; Leadership – Joseph Thompson; Religion – Mitchell Valine.

The school faculty also presented Capuchin Medals for Excellence in various subject areas to the following individuals: Physics – Luke Bender; Religion – Ian Freer; Human Geography – Kai Garcia; Mass Media, US Government – Charles Gilb; Drumline – Andrew Greaves; Economics, US History – Gregory Grigorian; Chorus – Aedan Molina; Chemistry, English, Latin – Marc Morreale; Spanish, Theater – Jacob Ortiz; Biology – R. Tomas Quiroz; Kinesiology – Alexander Salvador; Computer Science – Nicholas Sercel; Art – Paul Weisner; European History – Andrew Wong; Mathematics – Curtis Yun.

At the Baccalaureate Mass on Friday, May 24th, community service awards were presented to the following individuals: Zachary Springer (Pro Deo et Patria for Leadership); Marc Morreale (Pro Deo et Ecclesia for Leadership); Luke Bender (Fred Purner Humanitarian Award); Charles Gilb (Roger Barkley Award for Outstanding Character); Kevin House and Christopher Perez (Archdiocesan Christian Service Award); Kevin House (Peter Brang Medal for Good Citizenship); Christopher Perez (Franciscan Spirit and Life Award). In addition, Mrs. Julie DeLucia, Mrs. Lisa Freer, Mrs. Charlotte Maya, Mrs. Cindy Sercel, and Mrs. Tina Thompson were honored for their service to St. Francis with the St. Clare of Assisi Award. Mr. Brew McGoldrick ’92 and Mr. Dan Molina were also recognized for their service to the school as this year’s recipients of the St. Francis of Assisi Award.

The Fr. Lawrence Caruso Memorial College Scholarship was awarded to Nicholas Boschetti. Twenty-two graduates received the special St. Francis High School Honors Diploma, an award given for Christian service, high academic achievement, and taking at least one Advanced Placement course during their senior year at the school. Twenty-seven of the graduating seniors were recognized as California Scholarship Federation Sealbearers. The California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Scholarship was presented to Gregory Grigorian, Marc Morreale, and Curtis Yun.

Luke Bender, Marc Morreale, Paul Patterson, Alexander Penzato, and Curtis Yun were recognized as National Merit Program Commended Students. Fifty-five students graduated as members of the National Honor Society and twelve graduated as Mu Alpha Theta members. The National Honor Society Certificate of Merit was awarded to Malik Gay-Banuelos, Charles Gilb, Esteban Sanchez, and Atta Toosi. The National Honor Society of Sports Medicine graduated four members.

At the time of graduation, students from St. Francis High School’s graduating Class of 2019 have received 394 scholarships and awards to colleges and universities throughout the United States. These scholarships and awards equate to $14,862,887 towards the recipients’ educational costs.

St. Francis would like to congratulate all 143 graduates and wish them success and happiness as they journey onward toward lives of purpose marked by service to others.

St. Francis High School, 200 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada, (818) 790-0325 or visit www.sfhs.net.