It was a beautiful evening on Thursday, June 1, 2023, when the families of our graduating seniors gathered at St. Luke’s Church in Whitestone to celebrate the Class of 2023.
For many of our students, attending mass at St. Luke’s seemed fitting, as so many of them were former students at St. Luke’s School or it was their family’s local parish. It was another opportunity for all families to come together before the commencement ceremony was held that weekend.
Our celebrant was Father John Costello, Pastor of St. Luke Church, a member of the Class of 1981, and a current member of our Board of Directors. It is our tradition to bestow our highest honor, the Knight of the Year award, at the annual baccalaureate ceremony.The Knight of the Year is an honor bestowed upon a graduating senior that embodies the characteristics of a Holy Cross student and is an individual of virtue and faith that embodies the Gospel values through prayer and experiences of their Christian faith. This individual is a thoughtful scholar, a leader and is committed to moral and ethical behavior while being committed to service.
This year’s Knight of the Year was accepted to Holy Cross from St. Luke’s School in Whitestone and is an active parishioner at St. Luke’s.
This energetic scholar has poured their heart into our school community and served in leadership roles on our student council every year. This student was an active part of many clubs including GEM, the Girls Empowerment Movement, our Culinary Club, and our World Language Club. As a leader within Campus Ministry, she helped plan prayer services for our school and has been an advocate for Autism Awareness and volunteers at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital.
This year’s Knight of the Year was Briana Tola.
Upon receiving her award, Briana addressed her fellow graduates and spoke about their time together at Holy Cross.
She said:
“We have been taught to respect ourselves, our peers, our teachers, and our wider community. By treating others with empathy, kindness, and dignity, we have created an environment where everyone feels valued and supported . . . Our school has emphasized the significance of integrity in all aspects of our lives. We have been encouraged to take responsibility for our actions, to uphold moral values, and to always strive for excellence.”Briana Tola ’23 being presented with the Knight of the Year award by Mr. Edward Burns ’84 at our Baccalaureate Mass. In the Fall, Briana will be attending St. John’s University on scholarship, with a declared major in Elementary Education.Briana Tola ’23, the Knight of the Year, addressing her classmates upon receiving our most prestigious honor at the Baccalaureate Mass on June 1, 2023.Baccalaureate Mass Photo Gallery
