The morning of Saturday, June 3, dawned to overcast skies and a breeze in the air. Overnight it had rained casting doubt on our intention to hold the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2023 on the athletic field on the north side of our campus.
Our dedicated maintenance crew was on site early, ensuring all of our guests would have a dry seat to watch their loved one graduate, and our prayers were answered as the celebration of the Class of 2023 was able to proceed as planned.
The members of the Class of 2023 were joined by their families, loved ones, administration, faculty and staff as we came together a final time for the end of the school year to celebrate all that these young men and women have accomplished over their four years at Holy Cross.
183 graduates.
1,371 college acceptances.
$61,639,616 in academic scholarships.
91% of graduates were college scholarship recipients.
Countless memories.
During the ceremony, the academic accomplishments of the two of our graduates with the highest GPAs were highlighted and celebrated.Andrew Fazio ’23 graduated as our Salutatorian with a weighted GPA of 106.234.
Before coming to Holy Cross, Andrew attended JHS 216, the George Ryan School in Flushing.
He has proven himself to be diligent, hard-working and pursued a rigorous honors program while rising to every challenge presented each and every year with a dedication to his academic studies.
Andrew’s academic coursework included AP classes in Calculus, English Language and Composition, Environmental Science, Macroeconomics, Statistics, US History, Modern World History, and US Government and Politics. Due to his success in this AP coursework, he also earned recognition as an AP Scholar with Honors. He participated in our St. John’s College Advantage program taking college coursework in Writing, British Literature, and Theology.
Andrew was also a participant in our college-level Science Research Program through SUNY Albany.
In May, at our Academic Awards Convocation, he received the New York Community Bank top scholar award, the New York State Scholarship for Academic Excellence, and the President’s Education Award. He was on the honor roll for every marking period of his academic career and his continuous achievement on the Principal’s List earned him the Green & Gold academic medal. Andrew’s academic achievement was further recognized by his membership in the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, the Math National Honor Society.
Andrew has been accepted to Hofstra University, Penn State, Stonybrook University, & Binghamton University.
This fall he will be attending Lehigh University on Academic Scholarship, majoring in Mathematics.
This year’s Valedictorian was Damyan Dekajlo ’23, who graduated with the highest GPA of 106.576.
Damyan joined us on a scholarship from St. Kevin’s Catholic Academy.
Like Andrew, Damyan was dedicated to academic achievement in our rigorous honors program. He conquered challenges presented each year in AP coursework in Biology, English Language and Composition, Environmental Science, United States History, Modern World History, and United States Government and Politics. Due to his success in this AP coursework, Damyan earned recognition as an AP Scholar with Honors. He excelled in our St. John’s University courses in Writing, British Literature, and Theology.
In May, at our Academic Awards Convocation, he received the New York Community Bank Top Scholar award, the New York State Scholarship for Academic Excellence, and the President’s Education Award.
As Damyan was on the honor roll for every marking period of his academic career, he was one of the select group of seniors awarded a Green & Gold academic medal. He was a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, the Math National Honor Society.
Damyan was accepted to Adelphi University, Baruch College, Queens College, Hunter College, City College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Fordham University, Iona University, College of Staten Island, & College of Mount Saint Vincent.
This fall he will be attending St. John’s University on an academic scholarship, majoring in Biology.
Damyan Dekajlo ’23, addressing his fellow graduates and advising them that “…for the rest of our lives we will always represent, and always BE, Holy Cross.”
During his closing remarks, our President Mr. Mark Mongelluzzo ’92 addressed those gathered, and said:
“We call it commencement because today is a day to celebrate not the end of your days at Holy Cross, but the beginning of the next phase of your young lives.
Today is a day of celebration. Of anticipation. Of congratulation.
Because today is a day of new beginnings, it is, most of all, a day of Hope.”
As we look to these young men and women, we know their future is bright and that they are destined to make a dent in the world.
Congratulations Knights!
Ave Crux, Spes UnicaCommencement Photo Gallery
