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ATLANTA--Principal Donald T. Sasso presented the 227 members of the class of
1999 of St. Pius X High School May 22 to Msgr. Peter Dora, vicar general,
Sandra Smith, superintendent of Catholic schools, and appreciative parents,
family members and friends.
The 41st annual commencement exercises were held in Symphony Hall of the
Woodruff Arts Center where the graduates received their diplomas and awards
were given to outstanding members of the senior class and alumni.
Teresa Dau, the daughter of Van and Hong Dau of Immaculate Heart of Mary
Church, Atlanta, was valedictorian of the class and Melissa Dolgetta, the
daughter of Joseph and Christine Dolgetta of St. John Neumann Church, Lilburn,
was class salutatorian.
The Archbishop’s Award, recognizing a high degree of service to school,
parish and community, and academic success in the study of religion, was given
to Bryan Haffey, the son of George and Sharon Haffey of Holy Family Church,
Marietta and to Amy O’Neill, the daughter of Daniel and Nancy O’Neill
of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta.
The Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Kim Ryan, class of 1975, who
has worked extensively with people with disabilities, helping them train for
athletic competition and for achievement in academic and vocational arenas.
Both the valedictorian, who plans to attend Emory University, and the
salutatorian, who plans to attend Georgia Tech, received standing ovations from
their classmates when they came to the podium to speak.
Dau, who quoted Dr. Seuss, said St. Pius has given her “amazing friends
who have taught me that I can live responsibly and still have fun.”
“Yes, I am scared, but I have learned many valuable lessons that I know
will help me through life,” the valedictorian said. “Sometimes you
fail and sometimes you succeed ... God the Father has been, is and will always
be right beside you.”
Dolgetta, a varsity softball player with a 4.2 GPA, said, “St. Pius
isn’t great because it is a school, but because it is a family. There
exists a solid bond that no graduation exercises can break. We are one big
family.”
She asked her classmates to “appreciate the fact that you have been
encouraged rather than forbidden to pray for others ... Appreciate the fact
that every single day others have prayed for you.”
The Distinguished Alumni Award recipient taught in the DeKalb County school
system for 15 years working with students with orthopedic impairments and since
1994 has been a job training liaison with students with orthopedic and/or
visual impairments. She began as a student volunteering at the Elaine Clark
Center for children with disabilities and teaching special religious education
at St. Jude’s Church, Atlanta.
Ryan credited the faculty at St. Pius High School with giving her the
foundation for academic and professional success and her family for giving her
faith and a sense of discipline and ethics. She told graduates to
“determine what your dreams and goals are, write them down, persist in
your dreams and goals, have faith in God, don’t quit.”
In his remarks, Msgr. Dora noted that while St. Pius is the only
archdiocesan high school this year, two more Catholic high schools are under
construction. When those buildings are completed, he said, archdiocesan leaders
and staff of the new schools can look to St. Pius as an example.
“At St. Pius we have a model of a Catholic high school community,”
he said.
In his tribute to the class of 1999, the principal said they will be
especially remembered for their Christian spirit of goodness.
“Yours is a mark of goodness and decency and Christian concern,”
Sasso said, citing a series of examples of individual class members who
witnessed to faith, unselfishness, courage, Christian service and humility at
St. Pius.
“The world is desperate for truly good people. That is why we sending
the world you, the class of 1999,” he concluded. “You are the truly
good people that the world desperately needs. God bless you today and
always.”
An honors assembly was held the previous day at the school campus and a
baccalaureate Mass celebrated May 20 at the Church of St. Benedict, Duluth.
For their outstanding academic achievements, the valedictorian and
salutatorian each received the Cornelius L. Maloney Award, named in honor of
the priest-educator who guided the establishment of St. Pius X High School in
the 1950s.
Dolgetta also received the Journal Cup, sponsored by the Atlanta Journal
Constitution, which is given to the best all-round senior student in the
judgment of the faculty.
Two seniors were selected by the principal for special recognition of their
quiet, unsung leadership in the Christian ideals of the school. For their
strength, spirit and Christian example through love and service, Whitney Cook,
the daughter of Loren and Paula Cook of All Saints Church, Dunwoody and Michael
McCarthy, the son of Denis and Mary Ann McCarthy of St. John Neumann Church,
received the Principal’s Award.
St. Pius Citizenship Medals for outstanding and ethical leaders were given
to Jonathan Bonus, the son of Wilfredo and Erlinda Bonus of St. John Neumann
Church, and Helen Ann Markewich, the daughter of William and Helaine Markewich.
Katie Griffin, the daughter of Susan Griffin of St. John Neumann Church, was
named the outstanding female athlete. The outstanding male athlete was David
Wood, the son of David and Kathy Wood of St. John Neumann Church.
The Carter L. Stout Service Award was given to student government
co-presidents Amy Todey, the daughter of Gregory and Linda Todey of St. Thomas
Aquinas Church, Alpharetta and Creighton Deasy, the son of John and Diane Deasy
of All Saints Church, Dunwoody.
Sarah Blanton, Jonathan Bonus, Derek Chelf, Tyler Dawe, Renee Edeline,
Nichole Gleisner, Bryan Haffey, Sarah Kennedy, Helen Ann Markewich, Amanda
McMillan, Daniel O’Connell, Sheila Pope, Megan Stump, Matt Van House, Lisa
Varghese and Lindsay Winzeler were recognized as commended scholars in the
National Achievement Scholarship Program.
National Merit Scholarship finalists were Bart Bruckert, Amy O’Neill,
Katherine Prevost, Deborah Shelton and Sarah Thompson. Brian DeRosa was a
semi-finalist.
Cynthia Schafer, chairperson of the social studies department, was chosen by
a vote of the faculty as Teacher of the Year. STAR student Deborah Shelton also
selected Schafer as her STAR teacher.
“She is a classroom innovator, willing to approach teaching with an
enthusiasm and creativity which encourages students to explore subject matter
in a variety of ways,” said Sasso. “She is always there for her
students willing to take extra time after school for as long as it takes to
help encourage students to master material. She is willing to extend herself to
help her students with the personal challenges they face in their lives. She is
very much a confidante and a counselor to those students who seek her advice
and opinion.”
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