2020 Marian grads
Local News

Graduation 2020: Marian Catholic High School

Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights had a virtual recognition ceremony on May 18 for its 213 seniors who didn’t get the traditional graduation on May 17.

Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights had a virtual recognition ceremony on May 18 for its 213 seniors who didn’t get the traditional graduation on May 17.

The school hopes to have an in-person graduation with a formal blessing and presentation of diplomas on July 26, pending the health and safety guidelines in place at that time.

“I guess it’s pretty sad, but we’re getting through it. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for graduation in July,” said Bianca Faso, daughter of Livia and Phillip Faso of Homewood. “It’s sad to think school is over, because this isn’t how we wanted it to end.” 

Among Faso’s special memories is the service missions she did to aid the homeless in Chicago distributing blankets and food, and the Kairos retreat her junior year. 

“It was such an incredible experience that I will never forget. The time I spent on it taught me that none of us are ever alone and there is always someone in our corner no matter how we may feel. It allowed me to meet a lot of a new girls and rekindle friendships that got a little lost over the years,” she said. 

Faso will attend St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame majoring in biology. She is commiserating with her brother, Phillip, who also didn’t get a graduation celebration. He completed a bachelor’s degree and was part of Butler University’s virtual celebration.

Alec Gonzales of Flossmoor, the son of Diana and Joe Gonzales, said at the end of each final class it was sad to say goodbye to classmates and teachers through Zoom.

“God has a plan for everything and even though expectations didn’t go the way we wanted it, there’s going to be something down the road that’s going to be worth all this wait,” he said.

Gonzales, a transfer student, played baseball at Mt. Carmel and Marian Catholic High School. He signed to play baseball for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He was one of the lucky ones to be looked at by scouts. Many seniors had their spring sports seasons cut short. Gonzales has been told the campus will be open in fall. He hasn’t selected a major. 

Other Marian Catholic graduates are Oluyemi Elutilo, Fiona Keating, John Malloy and Cameron Smith of Flossmoor and Justin Haney and Ryan Swanson of Homewood.

 

News by email

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

Free weekly newsletter

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name
Most read stories this week