Holy Cross High School’s Valedictorian, Nicholas Simone
The Class of 2017 is proud to announce Nicholas Simone as our Valedictorian! Graduating with a weighted grade point average of nearly 105, the highest in the class, Nicholas came to Holy Cross on a scholarship from Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy of Bayside, Queens!
Just like our Salutatorian, Nicholas was very dedicated to the task that our rigorous honors program set before him. Through assignments, projects, programs, he rose to each and every challenge—surpassing objective and goals.
His academic coursework included classes in College English, A/P Biology, A/P Calculus, A/P U.S. History, A/P World History, and A/P Government. In addition, Nicholas was an active member of the National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, and our prestigious Science Research Program. He was also the recipient of the Johns Hopkins Book Award in his junior year here at Holy Cross.
Since he was on the honor roll for every marking period of his academic career, he was one in a select group of seniors awarded a Green & Gold academic medal. In May, at our Academic Awards Convocation, he received the New York Community Bank Top Scholar Award. Nicholas also received the New York State Scholarship for Academic Excellence, The United States President’s Education Award, and was a member of the Tablet’s All Scholastic Team for 2017. He was a service volunteer at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy’s afterschool program and provided academic support to students in our National Honor Society’s mentoring and tutoring program. Furthermore, Nicholas’ athletic career included Varsity Ice Hockey, and, as a freshman, he played on the Junior Varsity Baseball Team.
Some of the prestigious and notable higher education institutions that Nicholas has been accepted to include, Villanova University, Syracuse University, Stony Brook University, Northeastern University, Bucknell University, and Fordham University. This fall, he will be attending Boston University majoring in Biomedical Engineering on scholarship.
Holy Cross High School’s Salutatorian, Demetrios Pandazis
This year’s Salutatorian came to Holy Cross High School on a scholarship from Intermediate School 141 in Astoria! Demetrios is diligent, hardworking, and has pursued a strict honors program. He accepted and surpassed every academic challenge sent his way each year. His academic coursework included classes in College English, A/P Calculus, A/P U.S. History, A/P World History, and A/P Government. In addition, he was an active member of the National Honor Society. In May, at our Academic Awards Convocation, he received the New York Community Bank Top Scholar Award. Because he too was on the honor roll for every marking period of his academic career here at Holy Cross, he was also one in a select, small group of students who received the Green & Gold academic medal. Demetrios also was a recipient of the New York State Scholarship for Academic Excellence and the President’s Education Award. In terms of altruistic measures, he was a service volunteer at the St. Tatianna Orthodox Church and was a member of the Science Fiction and Gaming Clubs.
Demetrios has been accepted to New York University, Stony Brook University, Baruch College, Brooklyn College, Hunter College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Queens College, and New York Institute of Technology. This fall, he will be attending City College of New York majoring in Engineering.
Holy Cross High School’s Man of the Year, Daniel Bosko
This year’s Man of the Year is Daniel Bosko!
The Holy Cross Man of the Year Award is presented to a graduating senior who, in the estimation of the staff and faculty, best exemplified the ideals of Holy Cross High School. He strives to live the Christian life in the context of the school community and carries out what he learns and experiences beyond the walls of the institution, and into the community at large. The Man of the Year is a man of integrity and spirituality, demonstrates leadership and responsibility, and is thoughtfully dedicated to his academics. He also serves as a positive representative of the school for his peers.
This year’s Holy Cross Man, Daniel Bosko, has demonstrated active leadership by example in the Jazz and Concert Band through instruction, musical arrangements, and recruitment. He is respected by fellow students and faculty, is an active member of Campus Ministry, and has provided unwavering, positive support and service to the school and the greater community.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE THREE HOLY CROSS MEN!
Among the highest academic awards presented each year by Holy Cross High School is the Scholastic Excellence Award. This particular award is presented to those graduating scholars who have been named on the Principal’s List for 16 consecutive quarters. It is an award that takes a serious, consistent amount of academic discipline and structure, which is why it holds such prestige.
The Class of 2017 Scholars of the Year Listing
Adam Abad
Daniel Bosko, 2017 Man of the Year
Joseph Brienza
Kyle Burnell
Laurence “Teddy” Byrne
Thomas DiPasquale
Connor Hayes
Thomas Karas
Andy Ko
Chris Koilparampil
Guillermo Martinez
Patrick Muller
Jason Noriega
Demetrios Pandazis, 2017 Salutatorian
Nelson Peck
Ryan Schwab
Nicholas Simone, 2017 Valedictorian
Christian Valdez