Our School

Holy Cross High School celebrated its 52nd Commencement Exercises on Sunday, June 4, 2023. It was a morning of celebration, recognition and reflection on all the hard work and growth that took place over the past four years. Students proudly walked across the stage in their cap and gown, carrying a sense of accomplishment and a newfound sense of independence.

Dr. Thomas C. Pellegrino shared his personal bond with this class which began during a challenging time. During the Class of 23’s sophomore year, Holy Cross enacted a series of COVID 19 protocols. One of those protocols during that sophomore year was to have each class enter the building through a separate entrance.  Each entrance would be manned by an employee who would take the entering student’s temperatures to check for fever.  

“In taking your temperatures as you approached the door each morning during the 2020-2021 school year, I learned a little bit about you,” said Dr. Pellegrino. “True, we were both behind face masks, but over time, your habits, your patterns, what you brought with you to school, your body language, all these observable phenomena told me a number of things about you.”

Principal Thomas Pompei delivered the Congratulatory Address after the conferring of the diplomas and awards. He gave special thanks to the parents for sharing their children with the school for the last four years. “Beyond my three children, granddaughter and wife, you all are the source of my greatest joy. To the young men and women of the class of 2023 sitting in front of me and one extraordinary angel dancing and watching over us, I am grateful beyond words to have been a part of your life. Thank you for leaving Holy Cross better than the way you found it.”

Board Chair, Kevin McSherry ’75 described the graduating class as a group of exceptional students who came to Holy Cross High School during a period of transition with the arrival of (then-new) administrators, Dr. Pellegrino and Mr. Pompei. McSherry gave the graduating class the compliment for bringing in positivity and optimism.

“I congratulate you for that,” said McSherry. “I have been able to witness it either in the theater, at sporting events or within the halls…We (also) can’t forget our faculty who carried the ball through that transition.”      

“(During) these past four years of high school, we did not know what to expect, but we came out on top,” said Sergio Garre Guzman ’23, in his Commencement Address. “Now, we are ready for what is to come. High school can not last forever…Make your own rules, Crusaders, and keep living. To every person sitting here today, I wish you the best of luck. The Holy Cross High School Class of 2023 will do great things.”  

Dr. Pellegrino made a special presentation to the Class of 1973, who were in attendance at Graduation as part of their 50th Reunion Weekend. He presented each class member with a special diploma in honor of their Golden Anniversary.

Dr. John Wisneski ’73 was one of many who caught up with his classmates, many of whom he hadn’t seen in fifty years. “We followed our own journeys and passions,” he said. “We served in the military. We ran our businesses. We became lawyers, accountants, CPAs, financial consultants and physicians, like myself…We are all graduates of Holy Cross High School. It’s your responsibility now to carry on the noble legacy that tradition has brought forth. Continue to be men and women of scholarship and faith.”   

Several individuals were honored/recognized including:

• Mischa Telesford ’23 and Jenna Tracey ’23 received the Valedictorian and Salutatorian Award for maintaining the highest and second-highest grade point average, respectively.
• Cecelia Moisan ’23 was the recipient of The Sister Margaret Bannon, CND Service Award, presented annually to the senior girl who has demonstrated outstanding service to the school community.
• Joshua Holland ’23 was the recipient of The Holy Cross Fathers’ Club Award, given each year to the senior boy who has demonstrated the most service to the school community.
• Sergio Garre Guzman ’23 was the recipient of The Holy Cross Mothers’ Club Award, presented annually to the senior boy who has demonstrated the most academic improvement from freshman to senior year.
• Jada Myrthill ’23 was the recipient of The Monsignor Flanagan Award, presented each year to the female student who has improved the most academically from freshman to senior year.
• Departing Board Members, Bernie Dzinski, Jr. ’81, Phil Mongelluzzo ’90 and Monsignor Thomas A. Ginty ’76 were recognized for their years of dedication and service to the school.
• Eilyn Maldonado ’23 was posthumously recognized as a graduating member of the Class of 2023.

“This is your home,” said Dr. Pellegrino. “In much the same way that it is the home of the Class of 1973. You belong here, you made us better by your presence here, and now you go forward as the missionaries of our hopes and dreams to bring about good in this world.  You will always belong to this Holy Cross family.  One cross, two anchors, and now the amazing class of 2023.”  

The graduating class of 2022 includes: Jacob Almeida, Alec Ash, Reese Becker, Tajae Bennett, Zac Blaschke, Kaya Bonderenko, Madison Brasche, Garrett Brown, Raeanna Byrnes, Eliana Capobianco, ,Madison Capozzi, Hee Mang Carlson, Salvatore Caruso, Jenna Cavallo, Ryan Ciampi, Nicholas Codianni, Sunji Cramer, Jordan Cronan, Faith Crosby, Joseph Dane, Juliana Dane, Joseph Daniels, Sebastian Dasilva, Ryan Dattilo, Richard DeLa Cruz, Riley DelPriore, Misa DeSouza, Robert DeSouza, Angelo DiGiovancarlo, Nathan DiMatteo, Jonathan Diogostine, Dren Dobruna, Kaiden Dunn, David Eaton, Jayme Erdtmann, Anthony Favale, Zachary Ferguson, Dillon Fernandes, Leo Fiore, Derone Fordham, Kaylee Frenis, Nate Gabriel, Sergio Garre, Peter Gauthier, Ava Genovese, William Gillette, Seth Glinsky, Kamryn Gomes, Bethany Gonzalez, Hailey Gonzalez, Cailyn Gorman, Jialing Guo, Shaye Harris, Priest Hepson, Chassidy Hicks, Angela Ho, Joshua Holland, Malakai Horton, Jadan Izzi, David Kacpryzyski, Prince Kendrick, Vu Kim Ngan Le, Alexander Lee, Lang Lei, Thomas Ligi, Christina Ligouri, Hannah Lima, Arbi Lindraku, Teaghan Linhard, Carly Lombardo, Kendall Maisto, Eilyn Maldonado, Ella Mancini, Ava Mariano, Kevin Matiz, Declan McGrath, Tyra McKoy, Tyler Mike, Cecelia Moisan, Zakary Morales, Peyton Mullins, Destiny Muniz, Fiona Murphy, Kendell Murray, Sydney Murray, Jada Myrthil, Leonardo Nargi, Remigio Nargi, Lisa Franchett Ngandu, Hoang Gia Nguyen, Vu Kim Ngan Nguyen, Victoria Odonkor, Rocco Palladino, Alesia Pandiscia, Tyler Parks, Gabriela Perez, Gianna Petrokaitis, Ava Richter, Jaela Rivera, Edwin Roberts, Elena Roberts, Alex Rodriguez, Nicolas Rosales, Neil Rosen,  Ryan Ruby, Marco Ruggia, Dustin Sannasi, Kamryn Santiago, Sarah Schaneen, Paul Schiavone, Donald Shivas, Ryan Shugrue Kirby, Dario Sosa, Noah Spader, Mischa Telesford, Tyler Tenore, Jenna Tracey,Evan Tutino, Justin Vail, Tao (Martin) Wei, Ava Wheeler, Aaron Witkoski, Madilyn Wright, Majun Xie, Chenhao (Hendrick) Yang, Gianna Yannantuono & Mya Zaccagnini