The commencement ceremony at Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School on May 26 featured an annual tradition at the 131-year-old school: a song written by a group of graduates and sung to the graduating Class of 2012.
“Say Good-Bye,” an emotional tribute to the class, was written by graduates Imani Todd and Danielle McGuinness and sung by Danielle, Kate Lassalle-Klein, Harin Yoon, Amanda Khoo, Jaelin McCreary, Clara Castillo and Carmella Valderrama. You can view the song’s performance on the SJND Pilots YouTube channel.
The graduation also featured speeches by Valedictorian Jason Baskett, who is bound for Georgetown University, and by commencement speaker Meg Honey, formerly of the SJND faculty and now admissions director at the School of Education at St. Mary’s College. SJND Principal Simon Chiu presented the school’s major graduation awards to the following students:
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- Leadership Award: Fernando Barragan
- Spirit of Pilot Award: Nick Ratto
- Inspired by Christ Award: Nikko DeGrano
- Principal's Award: Ollie Cunningham
- Saint Joseph Notre Dame Award: Danielle McGuinness
One hundred percent of the Class of 2012 is going on to college or joining the military service, and the class has been offered $3.16 million in scholarships and awards. Graduates were accepted to the Ivy League, the top universities in California and the best private colleges in the country.
“We are proud of the Class of 2012,” said Principal Chiu. “And we wish them the best in all of their future endeavors.”
