By Paula Day

Holly Moccia and George McElrath received the Archbishop’s Award at St. Pius X High School graduation May 23.

Monsignor Edward Dillon, administrator of the archdiocese, presented the awards during the commencement exercise in Symphony Hall of the Woodruff Arts Center in which 210 graduates received diplomas.

Miss Moccia is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Moccia of Our Lady of the Assumption parish in Atlanta. McElrath is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank McElrath of Sts. Peter and Paul in Decatur.

Sister Sharon Euart, RSM, received the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Sister Euart was the first woman to be named an associate general secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the United States Conference. A nephew, Patrick Euart, was among the graduates.

In her address of acceptance, Sister Euart reminded the graduates that they participate in a long tradition embodying the founding vision of Bishop Francis E. Hyland, the first bishop of the Atlanta archdiocese and the “spirit of the many priests, Religious, lay men and women whose hope and dedication have inspired hundreds of students over the past 35 years.”

These teachers “prepared us for the future, influenced our way of thinking, taught us to be compassionate and generous, helped us to make choices always conscious of life’s purpose, and left us with lessons of love, loyalty, faith and courage, which last a lifetime,” Sister Euart said.

At a May 21 honors assembly John Vrionis, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Vrionis of St. Andrew’s parish in north Fulton County, was named senior class star student and Dr. Wright Vermilya, star teacher. Mrs. Janet Marsden was named Teacher of the Year.

Randy Prophater, son of Ellen Prophater, and Amy Chrimes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chrimes of Transfiguration parish, received Mikel Begmann Memorial Scholarships, given in memory of the St. Pius X teacher who died of cancer in 1992.

Other honorees were Ed Marston, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Marston of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Atlanta, named Georgia Scholar and Kelley Guinn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Guinn of Christ the King, Atlanta, who received the Principal’s Award. Jon Vrionis and Aimee Piacentino received the Cornelius L. Maloney awards. Miss Piacentino is the daughter of Anthony and Leona Piacentino of Corpus Christi parish in Stone Mountain. The Atlanta Journal Cup, presented to the best all-round senior, went to Ken Mulrane, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Mulrane of St. Jude the Apostle Church in Sandy Springs.

Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Medals were awarded to Heide Muecke, daughter of Mary Muecke of St. Jude’s, and Michael Ray, son of Helen Ray of St. Pius X parish in Conyers. The Carter L. Stout Service Award went to Ben Montello, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Montello of Holy Cross parish in Tucker. John Mills was named outstanding male athlete; Tara Delaney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Delaney of St. John Neumann parish in Lilburn, was recognized as outstanding female athlete.