Holy Cross Academy Class of 2019

ONEIDA CASTLE, N.Y. >> While the challenges of adulthood loom ahead for the Holy Cross Academy Class of 2019, their years at the school have prepared them for what lies ahead.

“Some of you may be thinking, ‘aren’t the challenges I faced as a seventh or eighth grader going to be vastly different and easier than the challenges I will face as an adult pursuing a career or raising a family?” asked Valedictorian Edward DeZalia as he addressed his fellow classmates during the 18th baccalaureate Mass and graduation ceremony on Friday, June 14, at Holy Family Church in Verona.

“I know many of us while writing a five-page paper the night before it’s due would certainly prefer the challenge we faced a few years earlier of making a poster instead,” he continued. “But while the challenges we faced may seem easy to us now, at the time we would not have felt the same way. None of us 10 years ago could have imagined passing trig, or biology, or global, but we did. We succeeded because we learned from and grew because of our challenges.

“Every difficulty you have faced so far has been an experience to learn from and guide you in the future,” DeZalia said. “Yes, the challenges of the future will be more difficult than the ones you have already faced. However, as their difficulty increases, so will your ability to face them.”

The Class of 2019 is “one of the most organized, motivated groups, with an abiding faith,” said Principal Terri Maciag. That class includes DeZalia, Salutatorian Allison Winn, Alex Bolton, Daniel Casey, Keith Crawford, Caroline Denney, Daniel Hatch, Josef Jícha, Garrett Johnson, Eunsoo Kang, and Ashley Wilhelm.

“There will be times when you do not achieve your goals,” DeZalia assured his fellow graduates. “There will be times when your plans fall apart. The important thing, however, is to persevere and to remember that the only true failure is giving, because as Vince Lombardi once said, ‘It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up’.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Holy Cross Academy Class of 2019.

SUBMITTED PHOTO At right, Holy Cross Academy Salutatorian Allison Winn takes part in the 18th annual baccalaureate and graduation for Holy Cross Academy on Friday, June 14, 2019, at the Holy Family Church in Verona.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Holy Cross Academy Class of 2019graduates Garrett Johnson and Josef Jicha take part in the 18th annual baccalaureate and graduation for Holy Cross Academy on Friday, June 14, 2019, at the Holy Family Church in Verona.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Father Donald Karlen and Deacon James Chappell celebrate Mass at the 18th annual baccalaureate and graduation for Holy Cross Academy on Friday, June 14, 2019, at the Holy Family Church in Verona.