JSerra Graduates Look Back—and Forward

Wearing leis made of everything from flowers to dollars bills to candy, the class of 2012 walked into the school’s pavilion for the last time as students and boldly walked out as graduates.

Not long ago their parents were staring down at them as newborns in swaddling blankets, thinking, “What do I do with that?” Principal Eric Stroupe said.

Now the seniors are off to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Gonzaga University, Auburn, Illinois, Georgia Institute of Technology, Notre Dame and many others.

“We have much to be proud about,” Stroupe said. “We are heartened by the good men and women they have become.”

Twelve students achieved a grade point average above 4.5, and valedictorian Tommy Allen took top academic honors with a 4.68, taking 10 honors classes and nine Advanced Placements.

Allen began his address with the story of two fish. One swims up and asks the other, “How’s the water?” The other responds: “What the heck is water?”

The application: “The most obvious reality is sometimes the hardest one to see,” Allen said.

The JSerra students are beyond blessed, and for the students’ time on campus, Allen gave thanks to everyone from the pastoral staff for deepening their faith to the maintenance crew for keeping everything running.

“Ours are not ordinary lives, so let’s be sure to notice the water around us,” he added.

Stroupe said Allen excelled at all things academic, even Latin, earning a scholarship to study Greek and Latin in Cambridge, England in his sophomore year.

He admitted that made Allen sound like a bookworm.

“But that’s not Tommy,” Stroupe said. Allen also excelled in baseball, cross-country and track and field, worked as a volunteer at the and always helped out his fellow students.

“You have made JSerra a better place,” Stroupe said to Allen.

Senior Jacquie Harkins was announced as the recipient of the JSerra Award, the only designation kept secret until the ceremony.

Stroupe explained that the JSerra Award goes to the student who most fulfills the JSerra mission by being one’s best version of oneself and having a strong moral and spiritual compass.

On behalf of Harkins’ teachers, Stroupe sang her praises. Her volleyball coach noted that Harkins wanted to serve as prayer captain because she recognized it was prayer that “pumps up the girls” and gave her a chance to “give everything back to God.”

“That’s not what a typical 18-year-old says,” Stroupe said.

Although Harkins was involved in many clubs and charities, her favorite activity was just hanging out at the , a retirement home, Stroupe said.

“The elderly have a lot of wisdom to offer if only we took the time,” Stroupe said, quoting Harkins. “Those are not the words of a 21st century teenager.”

When it was time to hand out the diplomas, the excitement in the Pavilion built. Air horns blasted, signs popped up and down, “woo-hoos” were shouted.

Boys in ties—some in bow ties—and girls in heels—some four to five inches high—navigated their way to the stage for their moment in the spotlight.

Some other achievements from JSerra this year:

• The Class of 2012 is JSerra’s largest in its nine years, with 257 graduates
• Seven graduates received the seal on their diplomas 
• senior Daniele Perazzo from Germany graduated with honors and will attend Berkeley. He speaks four languages
• Salutatorian Samuel Miller is JSerra’s first student admitted into Stanford University. It's his first choice and has confirmed his acceptance.
• Seniors donated more than 35,000 hours of community service

After throwing their caps in the air, there was nothing left to do except get hugs from family members and friends.

“We’re done! How excited are you?” yelled one friend to another.