Speakers at the recent commencement ceremony for the Academy of the Holy Cross's class of 2022 emphasized faith, family and the importance of Catholic schools welcoming students with disabilties, and their talks also referenced the singer Pitbull and actor Tom Cruise. Holy Cross is a Catholic high school for young women based in Kensington, Maryland. The 104 students received their diplomas on June 6 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

 The commencement exercises began with an invocation by Christine Nguyen, the Student Council Executive Board president, followed by remarks by Kathleen Prebble, the president of The Academy of the Holy Cross. 

Anna Avila, the salutatorian of the class of 2022 at Holy Cross, followed Prebble. While a student at Holy Cross, Avila collected many accolades and was involved in several student organizations. She was a Madaleva Scholar, a member of the National Honors Society, Science National Honor Society, and Environmental Club. Avila served as co-captain of the robotics team and ran in cross country – receiving the school’s 2022 Outstanding High School Runner recognition. 

Avila praised the faculty and staff, as well as her instructors, for their contributions to her class’s experience at Holy Cross.

“Teachers, thank you for not only teaching the information from the pages in the book, but for all the wisdom, life lessons, and funny stories you shared, you inspired us to connect with people,” Avila said.

Avila is a member of St. Peter’s Parish in Olney, Maryland. She plans on studying biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University in the fall, where she will also run cross country and track. 

Following Avila was Adrianna Monzon-Osorio, the valedictorian. Monzon-Osorio was a Madaleva Scholar and took honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment courses while studying at Holy Cross. Her extra-curriculars included serving as co-president of the Spanish Club, captain of the Holy Cross soccer team as well as her club soccer team, and captain of the Holy Cross bocce team. 

She first addressed the audience in Spanish, thanking the families and friends of her class, thanking them for their guidance throughout the last few years, and acknowledging the sacrifices that were made for their education.

Monzon-Osorio discussed how the pandemic upended their sophomore year high school experience, the impetus that led to virtual and hybrid classes for the rest of their studies at Holy Cross at that time. 

“But instead of dwelling on all of the things that we missed, I wanted to look at it the way, with inspiration in mind of the worldwide sensation, Mr. 305, who once said, ‘Turn a negative into a positive,’” Monzon-Osorio said, in reference to Pitbull’s song “Give Me Everything.” 

Despite the setbacks of the pandemic, Monzon-Osorio discussed how her class adapted quickly and tried to maintain a “normal school year.”

“We got to experience Senior Sunrise, Senior Nights, dance concerts, and so much more,” Monzon-Osorio said. “We survived every skirt check, every uniform violation, every first-period tardy, with or without a demerit.” 

In 2021, Monzon-Osorio received the Congressman Jamie Raskin Latina Excellence Award and the Randolph College Book Award. She is a member of Resurrection Parish in Burtonsville, Maryland. She will attend Georgetown University in the fall, studying biology with a focus on global health and a minor in Spanish. At the end of her speech, Monzon-Osorio shared her hopes for her classmates

“First, I hope you choose friends who believe in you more than you believe in yourself. Who you surround yourself with will make all the difference about who you become in the future,” Monzon-Osorio said. Her second piece of advice was not to be so quick to say no to opportunities. 

Her final piece of advice was another aphorism from Pitbull, “Live life, and don’t let life live you,” continuing, “I hope you all go out and make the best memories and do the things you’ve always wanted to do, don’t stress yourself out too much because, in the end, you’re not going to remember that paper you stayed up to write or that exam you studied for, but instead the people and experiences you had, so make sure you go out into the world and ‘dale.’” Dale, in Spanish, means to go ahead.

The Academy of the Holy Cross offers the Moreau Options Program, named after Blessed Basile Moreau, the Congregation of the Holy Cross. The school’s website describes the curriculum as “a student-centered, inclusive education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” 

Catholic Coalition for Special Education founder and president Francesca Pellegrino gave the commencement address to the Holy Cross seniors. Her organization funded the creation of the Moreau Options Program which is currently in its eighth year. 

However, special education has been important to Pellegrino for much longer, following the birth of her son, Alex, who was born with a disability. 

“It really turned my life inside out and upside down and I suffered a crisis of faith, and with the support of my husband and his unwavering faith, I have managed to come out so much stronger, I really wanted my son to have a Catholic education but it just wasn’t meant to be,” she said.

However, Pellegrino did not let that stop her – as she asked around, she found that other parents were struggling to find a space where their children could receive a faith-based education that also catered to their individual needs. 

“I discovered that there were many parents that were interested in their children with disabilities having a Catholic education because they wanted to be able to send all of their children to the same school. Rather than being angry or dejected, I decided to put my energy into something positive,” Pellegrino said. 

Although there are many education options available for students with disabilities, Pellegrino said a Catholic education was important to her. 

“The faith component, the rigorous education (is important), because I believe that when children with and without disabilities are educated together, everybody benefits, so it’s not just about the children with disabilities, it’s about all of their classmates as well because they are shaped by the experience, and as adults, they will be better equipped,” Pellegrino said. 

Pellegrino shared her advice to parents who have just found out their child will be born with a disability.

“Your child with a disability is going to teach you so much more than you could ever teach them, and that has certainly been my experience with my son, my son has strengthened my faith, he’s brought me closer to God and he has taught me to recognize the face of God in our brothers and sisters with disabilities,” Pellegrino said. “Children with disabilities bring many gifts and many blessings. Yes there are challenges but there are so many surprising rewards.” 

During her commencement address, Pellegrino referenced actor Tom Cruise – who has had a bump in popularity due to his current movie sequel, Top Gun: Maverick.

“Finding your calling is one of the keys to happiness in life,” Pellegrino said. 

“Tom Cruise was raised Catholic and he struggled with dyslexia throughout school and found success in drama club,” Pellegrino said, standing at the basilica’s lectern. She went on to explain that at one point, Cruise even attended a Franciscan seminary for two years.

“But it wasn’t meant to be and he left the seminary to become an actor and the rest is history, he truly found his calling, so this is how I managed to weave Tom Cruise and me into the same speech, in the same sentence, and I’m sure it’s the one and only time that will ever happen,” Pellegrino joked about the actor, who is now a member of the Church of Scientology. 

She likened how trajectories in life can take surprising turns, as she recounted that her initial trip to the United States from England, where she was raised, was only supposed to last less than a year for an internship. 

“I had no particular intention to stay here for the rest of my life, it was just supposed to be a nine-month adventure – but then I met my husband and 40 years later, I’m still here,” Pellegrino said. 

Pellegrino told the graduates to embrace setbacks that life throws at them, such as the pandemic, which despite the adjustments in their education and extra-curriculars, they are still leaving Holy Cross with fond memories. 

At the end of the event, Claire Deusen received the Cardinal's Award, Catherine Rizzo and Isabella Pla received the Sister Grace Award, Mercy Asamoah and Megan Steele received the St. André Bessette Citizenship Award, Raquel Bowman and Marina Buziak received the Spes Unica Award, and Christine Nguyen received the Sisters of the Holy Cross Award.

Closing remarks were given by John Sullivan, the academy’s principal.

“Thank you for these past four years, you definitely left your mark on Holy Cross and you will be greatly missed, please stay in touch until we meet again and safe travels,” Sullivan said.