First published in the June 2 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
St. Francis High School graduated 158 young men in the Class of 2022 last Saturday morning in a ceremony held on campus.
The Rev. Joseph Seraphin Dederick, the provincial of the Western American Province of the Capuchin Franciscan Order, represented Bishop José Gómez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, at the ceremony.
The Rev. Tony Marti, the school’s president; Thomas Moran, SFHS principal; and Mark Heydorff, the chairman of the Board of Directors, also officiated during the 73rd annual commencement for the local Catholic, college preparatory institution.
Vincent DiRito led the national anthem, the senior class president Jeffrey Balian welcomed those in attendance and Valedictorian Quinn Deitch gave a formal address to the audience. Deitch also received the Capuchin Award and Medal for Scholarship.
The program also recognized Salutatorian Aren Adamian for his exceptional achievement. Additionally, Chance Thomasy was presented with the Rudy Trujillo Award for Superior Academic Effort.
Community service awards were presented to Buckley DeJardin (Pro Deo et Patria for Leadership); Gabriel Gottheim (Pro Deo et Ecclesia for Leadership); Vaughn Nahapetian (Fred Purner Humanitarian Award); Ethan Thomas (Roger Barkley Award for Outstanding Character); Jeffrey Balian and Miguel Angel Medina (Archdiocesan Christian Service Award); John Murphy (Peter Brang Medal for Good Citizenship); James Lejeune (Franciscan Spirit and Life Award). In addition, Peggy Gala and Angela Konrad were honored for their service to St. Francis with the St. Clare of Assisi Award. Dr. Juan Mah y Busch, Rick Oliver and Phong Rock were also recognized for their service to the school as this year’s recipients of the St. Francis of Assisi Award.
The second annual Jim Bonds Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Maxwell Garrison. The Rev. Lawrence Caruso Memorial College Scholarship was awarded to Duncan Sprengel. The California Wellness Scholarship was awarded to Aren Adamian. The California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Scholarship was presented to Mclain Arslanian, Jeffrey Balian, Aaron Liem and Brandon Po.
Quinn Deitch was recognized as a National Merit Program Scholarship student. Gabriel Gottheim was recognized as a National Merit Program finalist. The National Honor Society Certificate of Merit was awarded to Quinn Deitch, Vaughn Nahapetian, Zachary Oliva, Sean Vargas. The National Honor Society of Sports Medicine graduated two members: Tyler Dorlarque and Maxwell Garrison.
Quinn Deitch, Francis Ferguson, Gabriel Gottheim, Zachary Oliva, Samuel Oliver, Timothy Parisi, Akio Pinedo, and Chance Thomasy were recognized as National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars.
