2008 commencement celebrated at private schools

Seniors at St. Francis High School and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy can sit back, relax and start their summer vacation. St. Francis held their commencement ceremony on May 24, Sacred Heart on June 1.

At St. Francis, 168 young men accepted their high school diplomas in front of family and friends at the 59th commencement ceremony. Valedictorian Joseph Vitorio Renzullo and senior class representative Bryan D. Hang gave formal addresses to the audience.

In addition to family and friends, Rev. Antonio Marti, the Provincial of the Western American Province of the Capuchin Franciscan Order, attended as a representative for Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles.

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy celebrated its 76th commencement ceremony with the graduates dressed in their traditional white gowns, and all holding bouquets of red roses.

The salutatory was given by senior class president Noor Al-Sharif which was followed by a speech from Valedictorian Daniela Bernstein.

As is tradition at the school, an alumni was invited back to give the Commencement Address.

This year Gloria Diaz Ventura from the Class of 1996 was invited back. She graduated from Bereley in 2000, and founded ACCION, a nonprofit organization that prepares low income Latino students and parents for college.