It’s no secret that Central Catholic High School prides itself on the academic proficiency of its student body. Central Catholic has, and continues to, produce men of great knowledge, wisdom, and character, regardless of differences in background, and these attributes were recognized during this year’s 2019 Underclassmen Awards Assembly, which was held in the Central Catholic gymnasium, moderated by Ms. Marcha, the Vice Principal of Academics.

As we approach the end of the school year, we annually honor the academic achievements of the Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior students during this school year, which have both furthered the reputation of Central Catholic and contributed to the student and his communities’ well-being and understanding. Filled with parents, extended family, friends, faculty, and students, the ceremony in the gym began with an invocation led by Marianist Fr. Sean Downing. After the invocation, the first students to be recognized were those of the Academic Societies and organizations. The Academic Societies consist of the National Honors Society, The Spanish National Honors Society, and the Academic Team. Those members of the Academic team who attended or placed in at least five meets received awards on Tuesday commemorating their efforts. Sophomore Jacob De Tovar was awarded on stage for attending his five meets but was also recognized as Most Valuable Sophomore on the Academic team. Commenting on what being designated as the Most Valuable Sophomore means to him, De Tovar said, “It means that when it comes to academic prowess, I have shown that I have the skills to achieve beyond those who do not.”

The next awards to be given out were the Leadership Awards. The students who received these particular awards have demonstrated outstanding conduct, along with a manner in which each student should embody throughout their years at Central Catholic. Among those who received awards last night was Diego Lopez. Commenting on his emotions upon receiving the award, Diego said, “I feel honored to have received this meaningful award, yet I feel even more privileged to have helped advance the culture and tradition of Central Catholic.”

The school recognized all those Underclassmen who had achieved Summa Cum Laude, a GPA of 4.3 and up, on stage, while also mentioning those who had achieved Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude. Next was the Dux Esto awards. Dux Esto, which means “Be a leader”, is given to a particular student from each class that has exhibited a high academic standard and strong leadership qualities in the classroom. Also given was the Math Awareness Championship Trophy. Students accumulated points for their division based on their placing in competitions, with the junior class being recognized at the ceremony for most points won. To accept the trophy on stage on behalf of the juniors were Aztlan Alvarado and Nicholas Tey.  

While not a traditional academic program, Central Catholic recognized all those students who participated in Marianist LIFE. According to Ms. Marcha, Marianist LIFE is a “national faith formation program for high school students rooted in Catholic and Marianist tradition. Based on the founder’s vision for building a community of communities to change the world, Marianist LIFE provides Marianist and non-Marianist institutions opportunities for communities of faith to form, grow, and flourish.” Those recognized were Diego Gonzales, Joseph Dilley, Jacob Ybarra, Patricio Lopez, and Cormac McKenna.

Like many schools across the country, Central Catholic participates in the National Spanish Examinations, the largest standardized tests of their kind in the United States, with over 146,000 students participating in 2019. Overall, Central Catholic accumulated 1 gold, 3 silver, and 16 bronze medals along with 48 honorable mentions, all of which were awarded to students at the Underclassmen Awards Ceremony. Not only does Central participate in the NSE, but also in the National Latin Exam (NLE), which gives students the opportunity to earn certificates, medals, and even qualifications for scholarships. Six Latin students were awarded a Certificate of Merit for their performance on the NLE.

Despite Central Catholic’s overall academic successfulness, it doesn’t take awards and certificates to measure the achievements of our students. Rather, their academic prowess can be demonstrated in their character, faith, and interactions with others and their community, which it can be said is the most gratifying award of all.