St. Francis High School: Celebrating the Class of 2023



St. Francis High School Valedictorians (pictured left to right), Jake Grigorian, Cole Seley, and Oliver Wardhana.

It is our distinct honor to announce that one hundred and fifty-five Golden Knights from the Class of 2023 graduated on Saturday morning, May 27th, on the campus of St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge, California. Surrounded by their families and friends on a beautiful spring day, these young men received their diplomas and officially joined the ranks of the St. Francis Alumni Community.

Fr. Joseph Seraphin Dederick, OFM Cap., the Provincial of the Western American Province of the Capuchin Franciscan Order, represented his Excellency Bishop José Gómez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, at the ceremony. Fr. Tony Marti, OFM Cap., the School President, Mr. Tom Moran, the School Principal, Mr. Mark Heydorff, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Fr. Matt Elshoff, OFM Cap., Pastor of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, also officiated during the Seventy-Fourth Annual Commencement Exercises for the local Catholic, college preparatory institution. Mrs. Tracy Traver, the Dean of Studies, served as master of ceremonies for this special celebration.

Noe Barraza led the National Anthem, Fr. Tony Marti gave the invocation, Matthew Martellino, the Senior Class President, welcomed those in attendance, and Fr. Tony Marti presented the scholastic awards. Valedictorians Jake Grigorian, Cole Seley, and Oliver Wardhana gave the valedictory address to the audience, Fr. Tony Marti presented the diplomas, and Mr. Tom Moran delivered his address to the graduates. Fr. Joseph Seraphin Dederick offered the final blessing, and Sebastian Gardea and Enrique Valles led the singing of the Alma Mater.

Jake Grigorian, Cole Seley, and Oliver Wardhana received the Capuchin Award and Medal for Scholarship. The program also recognized Salutatorian Jason Liu for his exceptional achievement.

Additionally, Deaglan Johnson was presented with the Rudy Trujillo Award for Superior Academic Effort. This year, to perpetually honor Tom Moran’s legacy, Fr. Tony established the Tom Moran Award for Virtue and Integrity. This award will be presented annually at graduation to a young man who, in the opinion of the school’s President and Administrative Team, embodies the Franciscan Virtues, particularly gratitude, humility, and integrity. This year the Tom Moran Award for Virtue and Integrity was presented to Eric Bender. We were also honored to have United States Air Force Colonel (Ret.) Steve Staso in attendance to present John Hyll with his appointment to the United States Air Force Academy.

This year we recognized 16 legacy graduates, those 2nd generation Golden Knights whose fathers also graduated from St. Francis. These legacy graduates includes: Anthony Baghdassarian (Mr. Gevik Baghdassarian ’95), Ambrose Boysen (Dr. Colby Boysen ’93), Jonah Cisneros (Mr. Jeremy Cisneros ’95), Logan Collazo (Christopher Cabot ’87), Sean Krappman (Mr. Gregory Krappman ’88), Matthew Kruse (Mr. John Kruse ’88), Robert Layman (Mr. Robert Layman ’00), Matthew Martellino (Mr. Carl Martellino ’83), Thomas Mitchell (Mr. Christopher Mitchell ’76), Cole Shepard (Mr. Timothy Shepard ’92), Aiden Silva (Mr. Richard Silva ’93), Xavier Smith (Mr. Jason Smith ’89), Aston Trejo (Mr. Joseph F. Trejo ’01), Grant Valentine (Mr. Mark Valentine ’88), and Blake Welsh (Mr. Nicholas J. Welsh ’84). In addition, we also recognized another 3rd generation Golden Knight, Brian Boyer (Mr. Edward Boyer ’59 and Mr. Jeff Boyer ’86).

St. Francis Certificates of Distinction were awarded to graduates in the following categories: Athletics – Jason Alietti; Social Studies – Emilio Binda; Computer Science – Nicholas Ferry; Athletics – Clint Geryak; Science – Andrew Giesler; Science – Riley Grannis; World Language -Cole Jackson; Mass Media – Deaglan Johnson; Social Studies – Francis Larkin; Athletics – Jackson Mosley; Science – Benjamin Pena; Social Studies – Mario Pichardo; World Language – Dylan Pimental; Publications – Alexander Varela.

The school faculty also presented Capuchin Medals for Excellence in various subject areas to the following individuals: Religion – Eric Bender; Psychology – Edyn Cepielik-Weeks; Chorus -Sebastian Gardea; Art – Clint Geryak; Biology, English, & US History – Jake Grigorian; World History – Austen Haussler; Mass Media – Spenser Hindman; Spanish – Zachery Hipolito; Graphic Design – Nicholas Johnson; Human Geography – Jason Liu; Athletics – Hayden Owen; Kinesiology – Luis Ramirez; Drumline & Mathematics – Cole Seley; Latin & US Government -Donovan Sofio; Theater – Joseph Van De Yacht; Economics – Carlos Vega; Chemistry, Computer Science, & Physics – Oliver Wardhana.

Community service awards were presented to the following individuals: George Tupy (Pro Deo et Patria for Leadership); George Cupp (Pro Deo et Ecclesia for Leadership); Eric Bender (Fred Purner Humanitarian Award); Nicola Notaro (Roger Barkley Award for Outstanding Character); Ryan Oyama and Julian Vences (Archdiocesan Christian Service Award); James Clapp (Peter Brang Medal for Good Citizenship); Christopher Geryak (Franciscan Spirit and Life Award). In addition, Mrs. Tina Alietti, Mrs. Jennifer Bender, and Mrs. Valerie Van De Yacht were honored for their service to St. Francis with the St. Clare of Assisi Award. Mr. Trevor Jackson was also recognized for his service to the school as this year’s recipient of the St. Francis of Assisi Award.

The third-annual Jim Bonds Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Jack Jacobs. The Fr. Lawrence Caruso Memorial College Scholarship was awarded to Andrew Giesler and Jackson Mosley. The California Wellness Scholarship was awarded to Francis Larkin. Forty-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. Sixty-one of the graduating seniors were recognized as California Scholarship Federation Sealbearers. The California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Scholarship was presented to Clint Geryak, Cole Jackson, Nicholas Smith, and Oliver Wardhana.

Jason Liu was recognized as a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Eighty-four students graduated as members of the National Honor Society. The National Honor Society Certificate of Merit was awarded to Jake Grigorian, Zachery Hipolito, Matthew Kruse, and Mario Pichardo. Nicholas Ferry, Jake Grigorian, Zhenglin Jin, Jason Liu, and Cole Seley graduated as Mu Alpha Theta members. The National Honor Society of Sports Medicine graduated four members; Matthew Caceres, Andrew Giesler, Ryan Oyama, and Aston Trejo.

Christian Correa, David Ibarra, Harry Kaminski, Sean Krappman, Anthony Novoa, Benjamin Pena, Andres Sijo, Alexander Varela, Carlos Vega, and Julian Vences were recognized as National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars. Nicholas Neuweg was recognized as a National Indigenous Recognition Program Scholar. Forty-two graduates were recognized as members of the National English Honor Society. Thirty-eight graduates were recognized as members of Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica.

At the time of graduation, students from St. Francis High School’s graduating Class of 2023 have received 339 scholarships, awards, and/or grants to colleges and universities throughout the United States. These scholarships and awards equate to a total amount of $15,935,621 offered towards the recipients’ educational costs.

St. Francis would like to congratulate all 155 graduates and wish them success and happiness as they journey onward toward lives of purpose marked by service to others. Below are the Names of the St. Francis graduates from the Class of 2023:

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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