KAPA‘A — Fourteen of the 15 St. Catherine School eighth-grade students were celebrated Saturday during the school’s in-person Mass and graduation held at St. Catherine Church.
“Payton Walker could not be here with us because of health reasons,” said St. Catherine School Principal DJ Adams. “In his stead, Emma McCartney will receive his honors.”
Due to rules and guidelines established by the COVID-19 pandemic, the audience of parents and family was limited to less than 100 people, a capacity that is less than half of the church, said the Rev. Anthony Rapozo, pastor.
The pandemic conditions that closed the school to in-person learning created reasons to celebrate the students’ best finish in the worst finish, Adams said, making note of awards being presented to Ella Ersoy, Jerycho “Kepa” Sarsona and McCartney for perfect attendance during the 2019-20 pandemic school year.
McCartney was also presented the “almost new” Sandra Mendonca Perfect Attendance Award by Lawrence Mendonca for having attending school with no absences from her entry into kindergarten through graduation from the eighth grade.
“Sandy had perfect attendance at St. Catherine School from 1983 through 1992,” Adams said. “Sandy left our planet far too early, but she lives today in this award to a special student who is only the second student to get this award since the school started in 1946.”
Graduates include
Martian Binonwangan, Chase Capelli, Julia Durocher, Ella Ersoy, Jordyn Estenzo-Fernandez, Tristan “Rozz” Fiorovich, Kiera Johnson-Zielazinski, Katherine Lambden, Emma McCartney, John Paul Mueller, Jerycho Sarsona, Evalei Shimabukuro, Maya Ventura, Payton Walker and Kyle Yamashita.
Major awards distributed included Language Arts, Ventura; Social Studies, Science and Catholic Doctrine, Binonwangan; Mathematics, Durocher.
New awards were given to Ersoy, Mucia; Binonwangan, Most Creative Innovator; Ventura, Dedication to Craftsmanship; Fiorovich, Inherently Skillful; Yamashita, Spirit of Effort and Growth; Durocher, Most Outstanding.
Special recognition awards went to McCartney, Service; Estenzo-Fernandez, Perseverance; Fiorovich, Insightful; McCartney and Binonwangan, Leadership; Walker, Kindness.
Valedictorians are Binonwangan, Durocher and Ventura.
Those making the Principal’s List with grade-point averages of 3.6 and better are Binonwangan, Durocher, Ersoy, Estenzo-Fernandez, Johnson-Zielazinski, McCartney and Ventura.
On the fourth-quarter Honor Roll with GPAs of 3.3 and higher were Capelli and Shimabukuro.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
