One hundred and seventy-eight young men from the Class of 2021 graduated on Friday evening, May 28, in a joint baccalaureate Mass and graduation ceremony hosted by St. Francis High School under the lights in Jim Bonds Stadium on Friedman Field in La Cañada Flintridge.

Fr. Joseph Seraphin Dederick, OFM Cap., the Provincial of the Western American Province of the Capuchin Franciscan Order, represented his Excellency Bishop José Gómez, archbishop of Los Angeles, at the ceremony. Fr. Tony Marti, OFM Cap., the school president, Thomas Moran, the school principal, and Mark Heydorff, the chairman of the Board of Directors, also officiated during the 72^nd Annual Commencement Exercises for the local Catholic, college preparatory institution.

Joseph Adams and Janssen Van De Yacht led the national anthem, Michael McGrath, the senior class president, welcomed those in attendance, and valedictorian Justin Chung gave a formal address to the audience. Chung also received the Capuchin Award and Medal for Scholarship. The program also recognized Salutatorian Joseph Ferry Jr. for his exceptional achievement. Additionally, Matthew Gurlekian was presented with the Rudy Trujillo Award for superior academic effort.

At the time of graduation, students from St. Francis High School’s graduating Class of 2021 have received 393 scholarships, awards, and/or grants to colleges and universities throughout the United States. These scholarships and awards equate to a total amount of $22,324,266 offered towards the recipients’ educational costs.

St. Francis certificates of distinction were awarded to graduates in the following categories: Computer Science – Matteo Perona; English – Adam Schroeder; Fine Arts – Griffin Cortez; Foreign Language – Nicholas Buenavidez; Mathematics – Matthew Phegley; Media – Robert Alietti; Media – Evan Jernegan; Religion – Christopher Johnson; Science – Alden Hauser; Science – Kyle Lewin; Science – Peter Rassam; Science – Angelo-Joseph Yu; Social Studies – Edmund Tuck; Social Studies – Noah McMahon.

The school faculty also presented Capuchin Medals for Excellence in various subject areas to the following individuals: Art – Erik Wagner; Athletics – Evan Jernegan; Biology – Parker Chang; Chemistry – Joseph Ferry Jr.; Chorus – Joseph Adams; Computer Science – Daniel Gerst; Drumline – Miles Straw; Economics – Adam Schroeder; English – Aryan Noori; Graphic Design – Izak Arce; Human Geography – Oliver Madillian; Kinesiology – Nicholas Simonian; Latin – Adam Schroeder; Mass Media – Nathan Martinez; Mathematics – Justin Chung; Physics – Allister Quizon; Psychology – Kyle Matsuno; Religion – Cole Bender; Spanish – Ethan Monroe; Theater – Janssen Van De Yacht; US Government – Blake Rivera; US History – Cobhan Kale; World History – Joseph Ferry Jr.

Community service awards were presented to the following individuals: Robert Alietti (Pro Deo et Patria for Leadership); Reese Cuevas (Pro Deo et Ecclesia for Leadership); Alexander Finch (Fred Purner Humanitarian Award); Michael Lund (Roger Barkley Award for Outstanding Character); Kyle Oyama and Luke Sugiyama (Archdiocesan Christian Service Award); Connor Macho (Peter Brang Medal for Good Citizenship); James Galang (Franciscan Spirit and Life Award). In addition, Allison Davitt and Gigi Quizon were honored for their service to St. Francis with the St. Clare of Assisi Award. Dr. James Eshom was also recognized for his service to the school as this year’s recipients of the St. Francis of Assisi Award.

The first-annual Jim Bonds Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Daniel Peters. The Fr. Lawrence Caruso Memorial College Scholarship was awarded to Izak Arce. The California Wellness Scholarship was awarded to Kyle Lewin. Fifty-eight graduates received the special St. Francis High School Honors Diploma, an award given for Christian service, high academic achievement, and taking at least one Advanced Placement course during their senior year at the school. Fifty-seven of the graduating seniors were recognized as California Scholarship Federation Sealbearers. The California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Scholarship was presented to Justin Chung, Alden Hauser, and Kyle Oyama.

Joseph Adams, Zachary Bechthold, Parker Chang, Joseph Ferry Jr., Charles Lahey, and Miles Straw were recognized as National Merit Program Commended Students. Seventy-nine students graduated as members of the National Honor Society and 12 graduated as Mu Alpha Theta members. The National Honor Society Certificate of Merit was awarded to Joseph Adams, Nicholas Buenavidez, Kyle Matsuno, Nicholas Simonian, and Edmund Tuck. The National Honor Society of Sports Medicine graduated two members: Marcell Camacho and Nicholas Simonian.

The National African American Recognition Scholar was awarded to Ryan Ramos, Joseph Adams, Kyle Oyama; Ryan Ramos, and Edmund Tuck were recognized as National Hispanic Recognition Scholars. Eleven graduates were recognized as members of the National English Honor Society. Thirty-three graduates were recognized as members of Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica.

The 2021 St. Francis High School graduating class:

Adam Elliott Acosta, Summa Cum Laude

Joseph Conrad Fisher Adams, Summa Cum Laude

Pietro Anthony Adduci

Robert John Alietti, Magna Cum Laude

Colin Nicholas Andriuzzo, Summa Cum Laude

Liam Philip Anton, Magna Cum Laude

Izak Alan Arce, Summa Cum Laude

Sean Christopher Artura, Summa Cum Laude

Henry Phillip Atienza, Magna Cum Laude

John Richard Attwood, Cum Laude

Alexander Habib Balian, Summa Cum Laude

Cody Edward Basso, Cum Laude

Connor Stanley Basso, Cum Laude

Zachary Allan Bechthold, Summa Cum Laude

Cole Thomas Bender, Summa Cum Laude

Robert John Benjamin

Joseph Philip Blain

Henry Thomas Boldes

Daniel Armando Bolivar, Cum Laude

Alexander Joseph Boschetti, Magna Cum Laude

Samuel James Bougdanos, Cum Laude

Nicholas Marcello Buenavidez, Summa Cum Laude

Matthew John Buntich, Cum Laude

Jack Edward Burns

Michael Calvo

Gregory Michael Camacho Ii

Marcell Joseph Camacho, Cum Laude

Jose Rene Cervantes, Cum Laude

Parker Huai Chang, Summa Cum Laude

Dani Ramen Chmait, Cum Laude

Andrew Colin Choi, Summa Cum Laude

Justin D. Chung, Summa Cum Laude

Matthew Valentino Ciranna, Summa Cum Laude

Adam Michael Comi

Griffin Scott Cortez

Jack Patrick Costa, Cum Laude

Luke Harris Crawshaw, Cum Laude

Nathan Joel Cruz, Cum Laude

Reese Andrew Cuevas, Summa Cum Laude

Jackson Cole Cummings, Cum Laude

Brendan Michael Davitt, Summa Cum Laude

Connor John Davitt, Magna Cum Laude

Grayson Dilbeck, Cum Laude

Brandon Anthony Dizon, Cum Laude

Matthew Douglas Doerfler

Sean Christian Douglas, Cum Laude

Ryan William Durfee

Jacob Philippe Elnabout, Magna Cum Laude

Brandon Masaru Eshom, Cum Laude

Jacob Fermanian

Joseph Zachary Ferry Jr., Summa Cum Laude

Alexander Clarence Finch, Cum Laude

Arash Fotoohi

Douglas Richard Frey, Summa Cum Laude

Ryan Clayton Frick, Summa Cum Laude

James Austin Galang, Magna Cum Laude

Matthew Andres Galaz, Cum Laude

Nicholas Andrew Gallo

Luke Patrick Garrity, Cum Laude

Anthony Mark Garry, Cum Laude

Sean Patrick Gates, Cum Laude

Nicholas Mark Geraci

Daniel Abraham Gerst, Summa Cum Laude

Jack Thomas Gonzalez

Mariano Gonzalez, Iii, Magna Cum Laude

Matthew Khacig Gurlekian

Diego Armando Gutierrez, Magna Cum Laude

Jacob Alex Guzman, Cum Laude

Toussaint Alvin Hale

Miller Zhongkai Hause, Summa Cum Laude

Alden Joseph Hauser, Summa Cum Laude

Eduardo Hernandez, Summa Cum Laude

Tomas Antonio Hernandez Zapata, Cum Laude

Justin David Hindi, Cum Laude

Thomas Jason Holtz, Magna Cum Laude

Anthony Hamlet Hovsepian, Magna Cum Laude

Miles Bryant Huerto, Cum Laude

Marcus Anthony Ingles Rivera

Thomas Anthony Italia, Cum Laude

Evan Prescott Jernegan, Magna Cum Laude

Edward T. Jin, Magna Cum Laude

Andrew Thomas Johnson, Cum Laude

Christopher Garret Johnson, Cum Laude

Cobhan James Kale, Summa Cum Laude

Andrew James Karamian, Magna Cum Laude

Henry Emerson Keeney, Cum Laude

Daniel Kong, Summa Cum Laude

Alexander Elias Kroe, Magna Cum Laude

Andrew Lawrence Kruse, Cum Laude

Travis Joseph Kubon, Summa Cum Laude

Sebastian Lacayo

Charles Richard Lahey, Summa Cum Laude

Aidan Charles Lee, Cum Laude

Daniel Urbano Lemus, Cum Laude

Kyle Richard Lewin, Summa Cum Laude

Nicholas Jaosean Lin, Summa Cum Laude

Ethan Lo

Michael John Lund, Summa Cum Laude

Nathan Paul Gonzales Luza, Cum Laude

Connor Michael Macho, Summa Cum Laude

Oliver Cristof Madilian, Summa Cum Laude

William Michael Magro, Magna Cum Laude

Joshua Michael Malone, Magna Cum Laude

Jonathan Paul Martin, Magna Cum Laude

Lars Rankin Martin, Summa Cum Laude

Alec Phillip Martinez

Mark James Martinez, Cum Laude

Nathan M. Martinez, Summa Cum Laude

Kyle Kazuki Matsuno, Magna Cum Laude

Michael Patrick McGrath, Cum Laude

Robert Kyle McKinney

Noah Andrew Mcmahon, Summa Cum Laude

Franck Simen Mentaze, Cum Laude

Ryan Jacob Miller, Magna Cum Laude

Connor Lynch Mitchell

Ethan Tyler Monroe, Cum Laude

David Michael Montoto, Summa Cum Laude

Harrison Anthony Morales, Summa Cum Laude

Samuel Munguia Ponce, Magna Cum Laude

Brayden Hardy Murphy

Luke Anselm Murphy Dimen

Noah Fong Neuweg, Magna Cum Laude

Adam Van Ngo, Magna Cum Laude

Aryan Joseph Noori, Summa Cum Laude

Boyd Austin Oliver, Summa Cum Laude

Miguel Andres Ortiz, Cum Laude

Kyle Oyama, Summa Cum Laude

Sebastian Bruce Padgett, Magna Cum Laude

Gabriel Stephen Paz, Summa Cum Laude

Mason Paul Pereira, Magna Cum Laude

Ethan John Perez, Cum Laude

Noah Jonathan Perez

Matteo Camillo Marco Perona, Summa Cum Laude

Daniel Joseph Peters, Cum Laude

Aidan Joseph Peterson

Henry Gordon Peutet, Cum Laude

Matthew Alexander Phegley, Summa Cum Laude

Jason Matthew Po, Summa Cum Laude

Mark Thomas Polenzani, Summa Cum Laude

Ryan Alden Purdy, Magna Cum Laude

Kai Andrew James Purdy-Burton

Allister Gian Quizon, Summa Cum Laude

Ryan Xavier Ramos, Summa Cum Laude

Peter Raymond Rassam, Magna Cum Laude

Bryson Kennard Reeves, Cum Laude

Blake Martin Rivera, Summa Cum Laude

Ryan Michael Rizzo, Summa Cum Laude

Jack Cameron Robinson, Cum Laude

Francisco Antonio Robles

Martin Sebastian Rogers

Oumar Saalihu Rouamba

Sean Patrick Salazar, Cum Laude

Ethan Ross Sanders, Cum Laude

Gianmatteo Baltazar Sarti, Cum Laude

Adam Daniel Schroeder, Summa Cum Laude

Nicholas Simonian, Magna Cum Laude

Alec W. Slim, Summa Cum Laude

Jarett Martin Smith, Summa Cum Laude

Charles Ryan Stewart

Colin Michael Stolpe, Magna Cum Laude

Miles Owen Straw, Summa Cum Laude

Luke Toshitada Perez Sugiyama, Magna Cum Laude

Benjamin Wright Taylor, Summa Cum Laude

James Daniel Terrazas

Edmund Thomas Pinedo Tuck, Summa Cum Laude

Janssen Dean Van De Yacht, Magna Cum Laude

Logan Harrison Van Hoek, Magna Cum Laude

Adrian Vrsalovich

Erik Paul Wagner

Ian Christian Walker, Cum Laude

Markel Wallace

Jude Alexander Barclay Waters

John Robert Wilson, Cum Laude

Griffin Fortuna Windheuser, Magna Cum Laude

Xian T.H. Wong-Guest, Cum Laude

Tianxi Xia, Summa Cum Laude

Angelo-Joseph Frias Yu, Summa Cum Laude

Youssef Ahmed Zerroug, Summa Cum Laude