St. Francis High School Graduating Class of 2004

A group of 158 young men were graduated on June 5 on the campus of St. Francis High School in La Cañada.

Fr. Antonio Marti, O.F.M.Cap., the Provincial of the Western American Province of the Capuchin Franciscan Order, represented his Eminence Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles at the graduation. Fr. Matthew Elshoff, O.F.M.Cap., the school president, and Thomas Moran, the school principal, also officiated at the 55th commencement ceremony of the local Catholic, college-preparatory institution.

Addressing the gathering was valedictorian Sarkis Kavarian of Glendale and senior class representative Adolph Delgado of San Gabriel. Kavarian received the Capuchin Award and Medal for Scholarship. Receiving Bank of America Achievement plaques were salutatorian Benjamin Yim and Raffi Kotoyan for science and mathematics and Kavarian in liberal arts.

Bank of America certificates were awarded to graduates in the following categories: Art, David Israelsson; English, Ryan Fleming; Fine Arts, Michael Cruz-Herrera and Elan Lopez; Foreign Language, Mario Garcia and Manuel Amao; Mass Media, Harout Bouldoukian; Mathematics, Alexander Davis; Publications, Kyle-Cameron Lewis; Religious Studies, Parth Shah; Science, Alexander Davis; and Social Studies, Aram Sethian.

The school faculty also presented medals for excellence in subject areas to the following individuals: Art, Brice Linane; Athletics, Scott Burton; Biology, Alexander Davis; Chemistry, Parth Shah; Chorus, Justin Gopiao; Economics, Matthew Arnold; English, Sarkis Kavarian; European History, Benjaniin Yim; Kinesiology, Ryan Bronk; Latin, Rodrigo Berrios; Mass Media, Vincent Richards, Jr.; Mathematics, Benjamin Yim; Physics, Branden Izumi; Publications, Carlos Tobon; Religion, Paul Di Pietro; Spanish, Carlos Tobon; Theater, Harout Bouldoukian; U.S. Government, Sarkis Kavarian; and U.S. history, Michael Powell.

At the Baccalaureate Mass on June 4, Community Service Awards were presented to Paul Di Pietro (Pro Deo et Patria for Leadership); Stephen McGee (Pro Deo et Ecclesia for Leadership); Michael Cruz-Herrera (Fred Pumer Humanitarian Award); Gabriel Perez (Roger Barkley Award for Outstanding Character); Rodrigo Berrios (Archdiocesan Christian service Award); and Christopher Findlay (Medal for Good Citizenship). In addition, Kathy LaRussa and Teresita McGee-Maupin were honored for their service to St. Francis with the Claire of Assisi award.