Graduation 2002: Woodside Priory Graduation 2002: Woodside Priory (June 12, 2002)

Woodside Priory School celebrated its graduation of the Class of 2002 on May 25 with the procession led by bagpipers, the graduates in blue or white caps and gowns, and the gowned faculty. The outdoor ceremony began and concluded with a reception for graduates and guests in the gym.

Dr. William Hurlbut, a Stanford University faculty member, specialist in bioethics and father of three Priory graduates, was invited by the class to be the commencement speaker. He is involved with the Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation on a project formulating policy on chemical and biological warfare and with NASA on projects in astrobiology.

Dr. Hurlbut is also one of 17 scientists serving on President Bush's Advisory Council on Bioethics. Issues such as cloning and stem cell research are "both promising and troublesome" and he personally is very torn when he ponders them, he told the class.

"I urge you, don't approach college years as professional career training, but as an opportunity to extend and expand your understanding," said Dr. Hurlbut. "I hope you will gain wisdom -- how crucial wisdom is. What you learn will be of great value to others."

Student speakers were Esmeralda Barriga and Kayti Sullivan. Taylor Eigsti played "Jazz Reflections" for his classmates.

The school's highest award, the Saint Benedict Award for the student who in the opinion of the faculty attempts to personify the ideals presented in the Rule of Saint Benedict, was presented to Esmeralda Barriga of Woodside.

More students receiving special awards included: Harvey Jones, valedictorian, Science and Technology Department prize, English Department prize, and the Bank of America award for excellence in science and mathematics; Taylor Eigsti, salutatorian and Bank of America award for outstanding achievement in the liberal arts; Angela Sibal, Theology Department award and the Father Benignus F. Barat Citizenship Award; Jeffrey Ka, Mathematics Department award and Dean's Award for demonstrating true joy of learning; Alvin Lam, Fine Arts Department award; Josh Rado, Performing Arts Department award; Elizabeth Dellheim, Social Studies Department award; Anna Lind-Guzik, Modern Languages Department award; Pablo Avalos, Dean of Students Community Service Award; Jill Simons and Gabor Meszaros, Headmaster's Award for leadership and service.

Woodside Priory School's graduates included:

A-D Brandon Amdahl, Henry Arredondo, Pablo Avalos, Beta Barez, Esmeralda Barriga, Jessica Behrendt (with Dean's Honors), Eric Bixler, Peter Bodik, Brandon Carse, Francesca Centofanti (with Dean's Honors), Anjuli Curia, Elizabeth Dellheim

E-K Taylor Eigsti (with Headmaster's Honors), Lindsay Hagan, Kylie Hepper, Maria Hernandez, Joshua Horowitz, Ryan Horton, William Huang, Harvey Jones (with Headmaster's Honors), Sze-Kit (Jeffrey) Ka (with Dean's Honors), James Klimowski

L-P Alvin Lam (with Dean's Honors), Trent Larsen, Nai-Kuan (Will) Lee, Anna Lind-Guzik (with Headmaster's Honors), Chao-Jui (Ray) Liu, Evan McKinney, Gabor Meszaros, Claudia Meyer, Alexander Mills, Robert Moore, Jr., Cassandra Perret, Julia Petrasova

R-W Joshua Rado, Patrick Romero, Anthony Schoch, Angela Sibal, Jill Simons, Sarah (Chrissy) Spanoghe (with Dean's Honors), Katherine (Kayti) Sullivan, Jayna Sutherland, Neil Tong, Pedro Torres; Sarah Trask, Thomas Tsong-Husan Tsai (with Dean's Honors), Erik Valentine, and Alicia Wittmeyer (with Dean's Honors).