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Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton held its 127th commencement ceremony with a graduating class of 160 students on the evening of Thursday, May 22.
The Class of 2025 will attend at least 84 different schools; 59 students will study in California, 99 will study out of state, and two will study out of the country. Two graduates will serve the U.S., one enrolling in the U.S. Air Force Academy and another in the U.S. Naval Academy, according to a school press release.
This year, the school’s athletics program will be sending 23 athletes to play at the intercollegiate level across 14 different sports. For 19 consecutive years, the school has sent 15 or more students to play for college teams.
The commencement ceremony was held on the school’s football field, and diplomas were presented to students by school officials: Marnie Marcin, chair of the Board of Trustees; Richard A. Dioli, director of schools; Jorge Reyes, assistant principal; and Jason Armstrong, assistant president for athletics.
Principal Jennie Witcomb, Valedictorian Alexis Verner, Salutatorian Megan Newby, and faculty speaker Dan Kennedy gave speeches.
“I’ve been here for the past 13 years of my life, and, if I could, I wouldn’t go back and pick a different school,” said Verner in his speech. “I wouldn’t shorten my time here by a single year because I am so grateful for the opportunity to be in a class with all of you.”
Sacred Heart Preparatory also held its traditional honors convocation and graduation mass on Wednesday, May 21, to award select students with “Blue Ribbons,” a century-old school tradition. Ribbons are the highest honor the school gives, awarded to students nominated by faculty.
This year, 14 graduating seniors received ribbons for reflecting outstanding achievements in academics and fulfilling the school’s guiding goals and missions:
- Ella Abrams, Elizabeth-Kate Butcher, and John Plaschke received a light blue ribbon for Goal I: A personal and active faith in God
- Vishnu Kagolanu, Samantha Pyle, and Kate Ragatz were recognized for Goal II: A deep respect for intellectual values
- Heidi Benitez Nolasco and Chris Almazan Razo were awarded for Goal III: A social awareness that impels to action
- Ginger O’ Grady, McKinley Palmer, and Grace Rocha were honored for Goal IV: The building of community as a Christian value
- James Gremett and Lucy Newton received the award for Goal V: Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom
- Colette Kling and Megan Newby received Dark Blue Ribbons for embodiment of the values implicit in a Sacred Heart education
Twenty-six students from the graduating class have attended Sacred Heart Schools since preschool. As they crossed the stage on Thursday evening, they closed a 13-year chapter of their lives at Sacred Heart.
Following commencement, the Class of 2025 will pursue a wide range of different fields in STEM, visual and performing arts, humanities, business and more.
Check out this year’s list of Sacred Heart Preparatory graduates.
For all of our graduation coverage, go to our central graduation page.
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