Catholic Standard - Catholic Standard

ADW Class of 2019

Each year, the Catholic Standard newspaper highlights just a few of the many outstanding graduates from Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools.

In this series

Gonzaga student learns from the past to seek a better future

When Daniel Podratsky was young, he learned to appreciate history through listening to his veteran grandfather’s stories about the Korean and Vietnam Wars and visiting battle...

Inspired by her parents’ faith and hard work, Carroll senior looking forward to college

“Honor your father and your father” is the fourth commandment, and it’s also the mindset that has guided Gabriela Merlos at Archbishop Carroll High School in...

After starring in sports and academics at Carroll, Primus hopes to make world ‘a better place’

For Hudson Primus II, graduating this spring from Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington – where he has been a star athlete and accomplished student – and...

Holy Cross senior combines passion for dance and love of science

When senior Olivia Young auditioned for the Adrenaline Dance Team at the Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, Maryland, when she was a freshman, she admitted she was...

Georgetown Prep senior says his school taught him to foster a ‘culture of love’

During the summer of Gedeon Poukouta-Livit’s junior year of high school, he traveled to his home continent of Africa to participate in service work on the Ivory Coast and in...

For Visitation Senior, ‘Little Virtues’ guided her academics and activities

St. Francis de Sales, the co-founder of the Sisters of the Visitation, highlighted the power of “Little Virtues” such as humility, simplicity, gentleness, and...

At 130th commencement exercises, CUA graduates urged to transform the world with love

True Christian love will transform the world, a leading Catholic journalist told more than 1,600 “future politicians, artists, physicians, architects, lawyers, business men...

Workplace, cultural and faith experiences shaped Cristo Rey senior Grace Ouabo

As Grace Ouabo is about to graduate with her fellow students in the class of 2019 at Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School in Takoma Park, Maryland, she especially appreciates the...

Cristo Rey senior earns Ivy League distinction, and his career goal is to help fellow immigrants

About five years ago, César Cisneros and his mother and sister fled their native El Salvador to the United States. “We were forced to come to this country,” he said, noting the...

Love of reading helped spur award-winning outreach by Good Counsel senior and classmates

It’s probably fitting that Alexia Ayuk’s best friend gave her a book for her birthday, because three years ago, Ayuk and three of her classmates at Our Lady of Good...

Seniors at Don Bosco Cristo Rey encouraged to ‘take a step forward,’ allowing God to guide them

During the May 29 Baccalaureate Mass for the graduating students of Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, held in the Crypt Church at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the...

Service and science motivate DeMatha senior

When Connor Cerezo-Allen was young, he would take apart and study the electronics in his house and put them back together again. This year, Cerezo-Allen studied engineering...

Holy Child senior to attend CUA with scholarship to pursue passion for faith and art

When Josie Ziemski began attending the Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Maryland, for middle school, she had already been playing the piano for several years, and was...

Senior says attending Avalon School strengthened his faith

For John Paul “JP” Alicea, a senior at The Avalon School, attending the past two World Youth Days – Panama in 2019 and Krakow, Poland in 2016 – have been...

Senior says her love of literature was fostered at Brookewood

Brookewood School senior Noelia Gonzalez said her great love for literature and writing was so well nurtured during high school that she will spend the next four years majoring in...

Community at Bishop McNamara helped graduating senior learn ‘you’re not alone’

In the fall, Carlos Saravia will be continuing the Holy Cross education that he began at Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland, by participating in the Driscoll...

St. John’s senior ran half-marathon in Holy Land to support hospital in Bethlehem

When she ran on the cross country team at St. John's College High School in Washington, senior Cecilia Bowe completed races of about three miles. But this spring, she decided to...

Stone Ridge senior refurbished parish’s chapel, hopes it will help people connect to God

Annie Kelly, a senior at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, attends daily Mass several mornings a week at Our Lady of Visitation Parish in Darnestown, Maryland....

At St. Anselm’s, student starred in golf and drew strength from prayer

St. Anselm’s Abbey School graduating senior Carlo Pizzano’s nearly lifelong interest in golf has landed him a scholarship to Loyola University Maryland,...

Her education at St. Vincent Pallotti expanded student’s worldview and shaped her career plans

Colleen Blasko, a graduating senior at St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, Maryland, is ready to face the world – literally.Noting that she has an interest in world...

At St. Mary’s Ryken, student found strong academics and new faith

For St. Mary’s Ryken High School graduating senior Evan Domonkos, his four years at the Xaverian Brothers-sponsored school in Leonardtown, Maryland, not only provided...

Latina Scholar at Elizabeth Seton High School grateful for ‘all the opportunities I’ve had’

Four years ago, Elena Visoso, who graduates this year from Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Maryland, was one of 20 young Hispanic students chosen for the new Latina...

With doctorate degree in pharmacy, St. Camillus parishioner hopes to improve access to healthcare

After graduating with his doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore on May 16, Yves Gomes, a parishioner of St. Camillus in Silver Spring, is hoping to use...