Our School

Holy Cross High School celebrated its 53rd Graduation Ceremony on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Diplomas and special awards were distributed to the Class of 2024. Heartfelt speeches and parting words were shared by Board members, administrators, students and special guests including the Hon. Paul Pernerewski ’79, Mayor of the City of Waterbury.

“You are loved,” said Dr. Thomas C. Pellegrino, President, Holy Cross High School. “When I say you are loved, I mean agape – unconditional love, the highest form of love, sacrificing love, giving love. It is Jesus’s love for all of us…It’s a love that all of us here have for all of you. Agape love is seeing the face of Christ in every person you encounter.”   

Mayor Paul Pernerewski ’79 addressed the graduates as a proud beneficiary of Holy Cross High School’s Catholic education program. He referred to this form of education as being important for the families of the city of Waterbury and the region.

“The world needs you,” said Mayor Pernerewski. “It needs good people, Plain and simple.  It needs good decision makers, good friends, good neighbors, and good citizens.  Drawing on your experience here, know that the world needs people like you who have been challenged to figure out who they are, what they value, what they believe in, and most importantly, what they can do for others.  That is you, the Class of 2024.”  

Atty. Jack P. Senich ’84, Chair of the Board of Directors of Holy Cross High School, extended his congratulations to the graduating seniors. “You have made this school and everyone gathered here today extremely proud,” he said. “As a parent, as well as a proud graduate of Holy Cross, I can tell you that moments like today are special for everyone, but you made them special for us.  I encourage you to remember that Holy Cross is and will always be your family.”  

In her graduation speech, Emily Delgado ’24 took her classmates down memory lane. She remembered how the class’s freshmen year was molded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sophomore year was marked by the return to “normalcy” while she labeled the junior year as “stressful”.

“(The Class of 2024) has helped lead the Holy Cross community to a better and brighter future through our academic and athletic achievements and musical and theatrical successes,” said Emily. “We have proven that we can accomplish greatness in the future paths that lie ahead of all of us… Whether you are going to college, getting a job, attending trade school, or joining the military, and so on, my advice to you is you cannot let the fear of making mistakes pull you back from your pursuit of success. Don’t wait to live your life to the fullest.”

Principal, Thomas Pompei addressed the crowd after the diplomas were distributed. “I thank you all for the invaluable gift to be able to share in your children’s lives for the last four years. Every day, I get to come to work in hallowed halls, filled with the children of loving, devoted families…Class of 2024, I am grateful, beyond words, to be a guest one of your paths. Thank you all for being an unflappable source of hope and faith for the future hearts and minds who will care for God’s wondererous world in the days to come.”

Watch the full ceremony: 

Several individuals were honored/recognized during the Baccalaureate Mass held on Saturday, June 1. They were acknowledged once more at Graduation. This includes:

• Abigail Cummings ’24 and Michael Gauthier ’24 received the Valedictorian and Salutatorian Award for maintaining the highest and second-highest grade point average, respectively.
• Celine Assahoua ’24 was the recipient of The Sister Margaret Bannon, CND Service Award, presented annually to the senior girl who has demonstrated outstanding service to the school community.
• Michael Gauthier ’24 was the recipient of The Holy Cross Fathers’ Club Award, given each year to the senior boy who has demonstrated the most service to the school community.
• Marshall Melita ’24 was the recipient of The Holy Cross Mothers’ Club Award, presented annually to the senior boy who has demonstrated the most academic improvement from freshman to senior year.
• Jailynn Poll ’24 was the recipient of The Monsignor Flanagan Award, presented each year to the female student who has improved the most academically from freshman to senior year.

The graduating class of 2024 includes: Kaitlyn Elizabeth Alagno, Sean Pierre Albert, Sierra Nicole Arroyo, Liana Marie Ash, Celine Marie Assahoua, Peter Mark Atkins, Madison Grace Aucoin, Scott Austin, Catherine Obaob Balatbat, Kyla Rose Barrett, Marcella Rodrigues Batistim, Makenna Nicole Bedard, Paul V. Berthel, Lariyah A. Booker, Abigail Brink, Jacob Michael Brodeur, Logan Brown, Wicharporn “CC” Bunlue, Maite E. Caguana Guaman, Chase Calabrese, Marques Campbell, Jr., Anthony Carella, Tyler Scott Carolan, Fabrizio Cassetta, Hailey Rose Christiano, Maria Isabella Codianni. Landon Anthony Coelho. Marcello Rocco James Cornacchia, Abigail B.I. Cummings, Joel Darko, Emily Beatriz Delgado, Mirella Noelle DeLong, Samuel Anthony DePietro, Aoife M. Devaney, Justin David DiGiovanna, Jailynn E. DiPasquale, Molly Rose Dunn, Willie Bryan Elliott III, Frederick Steven Espinoza-Ortiz, Mateo D. Farris, Jennifer Fernandes, Wesley D. Gagnon, Ellie Morgan Gardner, Michael A. Gauthier, Aiden Robert Gilbert, Sadie Elise Girgasky, Joey B. Godin, Matthew Gove, Dylan Carmelo Gray, Mahmoud Hafez, Christopher Anthony Hamel, Jr., Rachel Elizabeth Healey, Aiden Hebb, Julianna N. Hodak, Jasmine M. Howard, Benjamin Joseph Iannantuoni, David Jannetty, Sophie Marie Jensen, Jason Walsh Juraska, Grace E. Kaoud, Ryan Ochieng Kodi, Daniel Kollcinaku, Michael Koosa, Madison Saleen Laurent, Antonia Jane Leary, Michael Vincent Lombardi, Owen Massimo MacDonald, Lucca Magaraci, Brendan Alexander Matos, Juliana Lissette McClary, Drew William McGarrity, Sarah Medeiros, Keara Medina, Marshall L. Melita, Aurora Marie Miller, Patrick John Minicucci, Myles Joseph Mitnick, Milana Montini, Nicholas M. Nelson, Rami Gerald Nonez, Osahon Obasuyi, Isabella Elsa Oliver, Ariara Esperanza Pacheco, Everett Walter Partin IV, Nadia Angelina Pelosi, Juve Kora Perez, Aidan Peterson, Shayla Danielle Petty, Minh Hieu Pham, Olivia Poidomani, Jaylynn R. Poll, Layla Belle Pompei, Jeremiah D. Price, Coleman James Promotico, Ava Michelle Purcaro, Daniela Maria Rosales, Anthony Emanuel Samele, David Anthony Santa Maria, Alexander Santos, Luke Thomas Schrade, Lauren Scully, Connor Landon Scully, Jadon Ray Segnatelli, Spencer Amahd Skipwith, De’Myia Southerland, Andrew M. Stack, Jade Ling Qiu Strumski, Ian Sullivan, Bianca Oliveira Taveira, John Milo Torrance IV, Brianna Nicole Trosky, Lily X. Vescera, Kaia Ariel Villa, Ayanna Desiree Walker, Elias Brunoli Wall, Jayson W. Wilson