This article was posted by Donna Evans. It was written by Andrew Burghdorf.
One hundred and forty-one young men from the Class of 2013 graduated Saturday on the campus of St. Francis High School.
Zachary Taylor Montes, the senior class vice president, welcomed the crowd at the 64th commencement ceremony, and Tri-Valedictorians Joseph Donald Kieffer III, Niles Andrew Wilson, and David Young Yoo gave a formal, joint address to the audience. Each Valedictorian also received the Capuchin Award and Medal for Scholarship.
Certificates of Excellence were awarded to graduates in the following categories: Computer Science, Nicholas Paige Schwaigerlehner; English, Zachary Taylor Montes; Fine Arts, John Kenneth Parker; Foreign Language, Alex Ka-Shing Lam; Leadership, Zachary Taylor Montes; Mass Media, Alexander Spalding Hagen; Mathematics, Alex Ka-Shing Lam; Science, Joseph Edward DiPane; Social Studies, Ricardo Alejandro De La Torre, Carl Francis Demolder.
The school faculty also presented Capuchin Medals for excellence in subject areas to the following individuals: Art, Hunter Richard Martinez; Athletics, Jared Charles Lebowitz; Biology, Matt Evan Orellana Finkelberg; Chemistry, Alex Ka-Shing Lam; Chorus, Christopher Lee Sercel; Computer Science, Caleb David Simmeth; Drumline, Miles Francis Montelibano; Economics, Matt Jason Villafuerte Llamas; English, Joseph Donald Kieffer III; European History, David Young Yoo; Human Geography, Thomas Charles Scheper; Kinesiology, Brett Steven Homer; Latin, Niles Andrew Wilson; Mass Media, Luke Michael Diehl; Mathematics, Darren Scott Kunitake; Physics, Christopher Lee Sercel; Religion, Niles Andrew Wilson; Spanish, Joseph Donald Kieffer III; Theater, Thomas Mason Duffy; United States Government, Matthew William Singelyn; United States History, David Young Yoo.
At the Baccalaureate Mass on Friday, Community Service Awards were presented to Niles Andrew Wilson (Pro Deo et Patria for Leadership); Daniel James Monarrez (Pro Deo et Ecclesia for Leadership); Joseph Arturo Velladao (Fred Purner Humanitarian Award); Christopher Bucknell Alle (Roger Barkley Award for Outstanding Character); Daniel James Monarrez (Archdiocesan Christian Service Award); Matthew Robert Kubly, Jordan Christopher Lynch (Medal for Good Citizenship); and Niles Andrew Wilson (Franciscan Spirit and Life Award). In addition, Mrs. Kim Kunitake, Mrs. Beatrice Harendza-Harinxma, and Mrs. Lisa Singelyn were honored for their service to St. Francis with the Claire of Assisi Award.
The Fr. Lawrence Caruso Memorial College Scholarship was awarded to Zachary Taylor Montes. Thirty-five of the graduates received a St. Francis Honors Diploma, an award given for Christian Service, high academic achievement and for taking at least one of the Advanced Placement courses during their senior year at the school. Seventeen of the graduating seniors became Life Members in the California Scholarship Federation. National Merit Scholarship Commended Students are Luke Yamahiro Hatanaka, Joseph Donald Kieffer III, Alex Ka-Shing Lam, and Christopher Lee Sercel. National Merit Scholarship Finalists were Caleb David Simmeth and David Young Yoo.
Thirty-six students graduated as members of the National Honor Society and eight graduated as Mu Alpha Theta Members. The NHS Certificate of Merit was awarded to Matthew William Singelyn. The National Honor Society of Sports Medicine graduated six members. The National Hispanic Recognition Program recognized Zachary Taylor Montes, Emilio Uranga III, Saul Castro Vargas, and Robert William Weddle.
At the time of graduation, St. Francis High School’s selected students of the graduating Class of 2013 received 162 scholarships, awards and honors to colleges and universities throughout the United States.
Fr. Matthew Elshoff, 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 graduation. Fr. Antonio Marti, OFM Cap., the school President, and Mr. Thomas Moran, the school Principal, and Mr. Mark Heydorff, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, also officiated at the ceremony.
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