St. Francis’ 124 Golden Knights from the Class of 2024 graduated on Saturday, May 25 on the campus of St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge. Surrounded by their families and friends, these young men received their diplomas and officially joined the ranks of the St. Francis alumni community. These graduates have achieved an important balance between excellence and goodness by embracing a tradition that enriches the mind and heart.

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, (Mrs.) Tracy Traver, the school principal, and Mark Heydorff ’70, the chairman of the board of directors, also officiated during the 75^th annual commencement exercises for the local Catholic, college preparatory institution. Ted Carroll, vice principal of Academics, and Patrick Davitt ’11, the dean of Studies, served as the masters of ceremonies for the celebration.

Sergio Gonzalez led the national anthem, Fr. Tony Marti gave the invocation, Landon Castillo, the senior class president, welcomed those in attendance, and Fr. Tony Marti presented the scholastic awards. Valedictorian Holden Deitch gave the valedictory address, Fr. Marti presented the diplomas, and Traver delivered her address to the graduates. Fr. Dederick offered the final blessing and Joaquin Garcia and Peter Knight led the singing of the alma mater.

Deitch received the Capuchin Award and Medal for Scholarship. The program also recognized Salutatorian Arek Yacoubian for his exceptional achievement. Additionally, Noah McElroy was presented with the Rudy Trujillo Award for Superior Academic Effort. The Tom Moran Award for Virtue and Integrity was presented to William “Brody” Ruyle.

This year nine legacy graduates were recognized, those second generation Golden Knights whose fathers also graduated from St. Francis.

St. Francis Certificates of Distinction were awarded; the school faculty also presented Capuchin Medals for Excellence in various subject areas.

Community Service Awards were also presented.

In addition, Cissie Andrews and Cushon Bell were honored for their service to St. Francis with the St. Clare of Assisi Award. Walter Calmette was also recognized for his service to the school as this year’s recipient of the St. Francis of Assisi Award.

The inaugural Allen Lund Good and Faithful Servant Award was presented to Jayden Siques. This award celebrates the legacy of our founding Board Chairman, Allen Lund, who lived a life of servant leadership and modeled perseverance and grit. Allen founded the Allen Lund Company in 1976 and became known as a business visionary, extraordinary listener and problem solver. He believed in the value of a Catholic Franciscan education, leading the board for 19 years and actively engaged with numerous Catholic organizations. This award honors a senior who has demonstrated and modeled values and attributes that Allen personified.

Kennedy Mitchell-Egbo was awarded the inaugural Black Student Union Academic Excellence and Community Engagement Scholarship Award. This scholarship award, the vision of a mother of a current Black student and selected by school administration, recognizes a graduating senior who has demonstrated the Franciscan virtues and exhibited his commitment to higher education. This award supports and encourages the awardee in his pursuit of academic endeavors and as a beacon of light for equity.

The fifth-annual Jim Bonds Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Preston Jernegan. The Fr. Lawrence Caruso Memorial College Scholarship was awarded to Luke Metcalf. The California Wellness Scholarship was awarded to Isaac Buntarja. Forty graduates received the special St. Francis High School Honors Diploma, an award given for Christian service, high academic achievement and completion of at least one advanced placement course during their senior year at the school. Fifty-nine of the graduating seniors were recognized as California Scholarship Federation Sealbearers. The California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Scholarship was presented to Nicholas Hagobian, Charles Hynes, Peter Lindberg, Michael McCarthy and Jayden Siques.

Isaac Buntarja, Aidan Henriques, Nathan Kim and Luke Metcalf received National Merit Program Commendation. Fifty-eight students graduated as members of the National Honor Society. The National Honor Society Certificate of Merit was awarded to Adrian Aguilar, Holden Deitch, Joaquin Garcia, Jeremiah Su and Andrew Tchakmakjian. Kenneth Carpenter, Lucas Favretto, Aidan Henriques, Nathan Kim, and Jeremiah Su graduated as Mu Alpha Theta members. The National Honor Society of Sports Medicine graduated five members: David Alveno, Landon Castillo, Richard Cucullu, Steffone Owino, and Nicolas Salgado.

Adrian Aguilar, Adrian Arteaga, Tyler Cofre, Holden Deitch, Joaquin Garcia, Noah Geihm, Jasper Jones, Augustine Martinez, Noah McElroy, Kalani Quiroz, Adam Sandoval, Michael Vidrio and Aidan Villalobos were recognized as National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars. Noah McElroy and Kennedy Mitchell-Egbo were recognized as a National African American Recognition Program Scholars. Thirty-five graduates were recognized as members of the National English Honor Society. Twenty-eight graduates were recognized as members of Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica.

At the time of graduation, students from St. Francis High School’s graduating Class of 2024 have received 285 scholarships, awards and/or grants to colleges and universities throughout the United States. These scholarships and awards equate to a total amount of $14,543,147 offered towards the recipients’ educational costs.