Sacred Heart holds its 76th commencement

On Sunday, June 1, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy held its 76th Annual Commencement Ceremony. Its graduating class, clad in traditional white gowns and holding red rose bouquets, stood on their beautiful hillside yard to hear classmates, clergy members and alumni speak about leaving high school and the journey ahead.

Bishop Joseph M. Sartoris was in attendance and imparted a blessing at the ceremony for the Class of 2008.

The salutatory was given by senior class president Noor Al-Sharif, who shared her memories of the school, teachers and students of Sacred Heart Academy and what it meant to her to attend. This was followed by a speech from Valedictorian Daniela Bernstein. The speech was followed by a performance of “Allegro Brilliante” by the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Ensemble.

In addition to present students who were asked to speak, every year an alumni is asked back to give the Commencement Address. This year it was Gloria Diaz Ventura, Class of 1996. She graduated from Berkeley in 2000, and founded ACCION, a nonprofit organization that prepares low income Latino students and parents for college. She now holds an admissions position at Stanford. She gave an address about the excitement of moving on and the responsibility of making the world a better place.

The mistress of ceremonies was Principal Celeste Marie Botello, and the diplomas were presented to the graduates by Sister Carolyn McCormack, president of the school. Members of the Vocal Technique Classes performed Mozart’s Laudate Dominum, with soloist and 2008 graduate Jessica Paulson.

Awards presented were: the Veritas Award to Erin Scharre; General Excellence award to Daniela Bernstein, National Merit Finalist Scholar to Amanda O’Toole; scholarship medals went to Jacqueline Moreno, Noor Al-Sharif, Erin Scharre, Molly Underwood and Amanda O’Toole; the Siena Award went to Katherine Gates and Veline Mojarro; Pro Deo et Patria Award to Rebecca Lovano; Bank of America Awards Highest Honors in fine arts were presented to Lauren Rideau; liberal arts to Daniela Bernstein; and science and mathematics to Kimberly Chung; leadership medals were awarded to Erin Scharre, Michelle Wu, Julia Brandauer, Kimberly Chung and Gi-Eun Kim; service medals were awarded to Daniela Bernstein, Adriana Hoang, Rebecca Lovano, Jordan Dawn and Elizabeth Greer; the Archdiocesan Service Award Recipient was Nicolina Salvo; the Tolog Award was awarded to Marissa Abelhouzen; the Significant Achievement in English by an International Student Award went to Yoo-Young Kim; and the Visual and Performing Arts Award went to Lauren Rideau.