8th Grade Graduation

The St. Joseph Hill Academy (SJHA) Elementary School 8th Grade Graduation took place on the morning of Friday June 11, 2021 outdoors on Hill’s campus. Sixty-five graduates processed up the Hill from the Golden Doors through an audience of their immediate family members and SJHA faculty, staff, and administration. The Class of 2021 are now off to an array of renowned high schools and, impressively, received $1,550,000 in academic scholarships.

The Graduation Ceremony began with a prayer shared by SJHA President Sister Mary Coffelt, FDC. Mr. Larry Hansen, SJHA Elementary School Principal, welcomed the graduates and families gathered that morning and reminded them they were there to “celebrate the friendships you have made, the victories you have shared, the obstacles you have overcome... as a family... as a community.” In a moving moment, Mr. Hansen asked the graduates’ parents to stand and told them “you, dear graduates, are their proudest achievements.”

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this class faced a particularly challenging 8th grade year and yet they, “remained light-hearted, fun, and charismatic,” according to Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell, SJHA Assistant Principal. Mr. Matthew Acanfora, SJHA Dean of Students, also noted this 8th Grade Class was, “one of the most compassionate groups I’ve seen in a long time.” 

SJHA Class of 2021 Salutatorian, Matthew Gassoso took a few moments to look back at the time this class had together, some of them since they were in preschool, with memories from each grade. He closed his recount of their years at Hill with the 8th grade class motto: “we didn’t realize we were making memories; we just knew we were having fun.”

Graduates and families also heard from Class of 2021 Valedictorian, Dean Masi. He began his remarks with a special thank you to all the SJHA teachers and coaches for how they “opened and enriched our minds, gave us confidence to face any challenge, instilled character and integrity in us, and emphasized the importance of faith in our lives.”

A common theme throughout the morning was the acknowledgement that this group of 65 graduates were prepared and ready to begin their high school journey thanks to St. Joseph Hill. Dean noted, “although the paths we choose will undoubtedly be very different, we all share the common goal: to grow academically and spiritually and to help improve the lives of those less fortunate.”

An awards ceremony followed the presentation of the diplomas to the graduates acknowledging exceptional students for their academic and spiritual accomplishments. You can view each award presented here from the live stream.

Mr. Hansen left the graduates with this piece of advice, “use the gifts that God has given you, the talents, the skills, the ideas and let the love that he has for you pour forth into the world to make it a better place to live in each and every day. Learn to live each day with a full heart, clear eyes and an open mind.”