Lazaro leads 29 graduates from Mount Carmel School

Mount Carmel School welcomed 29 graduates to the “AlumKnight” family last Saturday at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral.

This year’s graduating students are the 51st generation of Knights, the school’s mascot, to graduate from Mount Carmel. School president Galvin Deleon Guerrero said this is a testament to over 63 years of faith, excellence, and success at MCS.

Senior student Maria Fe Andrea M. Lazaro was hailed as the class valedictorian. Lazaro, who will be studying Biology and English at the University of Washington, told her fellow graduates to express their gratitude to their parents, educators, family, and friends for their support.

“They’re a huge part of our high school life,” she said in her address.

Lazaro recognized her peers’ passion to pursue their lifelong dreams. “The one thing that I will always remember from this class is the passion you all have. Whether it be soccer, basketball, dancing, theater, art—you never fail to do what you love to do.”

She reminded her classmates to never lose sight of their true identity, purpose, and passion.

“I implore you to keep doing what you’re passionate about and truly make a difference: keep playing soccer, pursue basketball, dance, stage more plays, and make art. In 10 or 20 years or so when we’re significantly better-looking, I hope to see you as passionate, if not more, than how you are now,” she said. “Do what you love and love what you do.”

Class salutatorian Peter Thomas Aldan Babauta shared Lazaro’s sentiment. Babauta, who will be attending Boise State University, called on his classmates to “smile more at life.”

The school’s administration and board also presented several other accolades to the graduates.

National Honor Society president Darvhan-Augustine Villas Moses was awarded the Bishop Thomas A. Camacho Christian Service Award, which is given to a student for his commitment to Gospel values and Christian traditions.

Student Council vice president William Jesse Deleon Guerrero Camacho received the President’s Award for Meritorious Achievement for his commitment to having good moral character, service, leadership, and scholarship.

Maria Fe Andrea M. Lazaro earned several subject awards as well as the Governor’s Leadership Award and a Bank of Guam $2,000 scholarship, which recognized her involvement in school and the community.

Four students received the Loyalty Award: Peter Babauta, Alfonso Jose L. Evangelista, Darvhan-Augustine V. Moses, and Raymond Kenji A. Yamagata. Recipients of this award attended Mount Carmel for 12 consecutive years.

One graduate, Enrico Dominic T. Del Rosario, told Saipan Tribune: “I feel really happy and accomplished in my academic career and I’m ready to take up the next challenge in life. I’m glad I got to graduate with a bunch of amazing people and I couldn’t do it without my friends, family and teachers.”

This year’s keynote speaker, Rep. Edwin Propst, told the graduates to prioritize family in their lives and to return to the islands to serve the community. He also reminded the graduates to not be obsessed with materialistic ideals, and instead invest in their health and happiness.

“There are those in this life who equate success with wealth and power. In their eyes, many of us, most especially myself, would not be considered successful. But I view success very differently. I see success as loving and enjoying what you are doing. I see success as treating others with love and respect,” he said. “…It is your heart, your hard work, your humility, and your general disposition and your ability to rise above life’s trials and tribulations that are the real measures of success.

In his closing remarks, school president Deleon Guerrero thanked the graduates’ parents for investing their time and faith in what the school offers and expressed his hope for students to continue to living a life grounded in faith as they pursue higher education.