The Impact of a Family-Centered Community

To culminate their high school experiences at graduation and Baccalaureate mass, St. Philip Catholic Central High School's valedictorian and salutatorian were filled with moving words on how valuable their years of Catholic education have been. 

Andrew Forche, the valedictorian of the class of 2018, placed a strong emphasis on how his class at St. Philip was a part of his family. He spoke on how the meaning of the word family extends much farther than just immediate family. He considers his classmates, classmate's parents, teachers, coaches, and St. Philip clergy to be part of his family. In a graduating class consisting of twenty-six people, he was able to leave high school with deep connections to his entire class. Everyone in the St. Philip community had a lasting impact on him and he "will never be this close to twenty-five people ever again."  

The salutatorian of the class of 2018, Tyler Fuller, took a slightly different approach in talking about a very similar topic to Andy. Tyler expressed how he had "to have all the pieces," including his parents, classmates, and teachers, "to complete the puzzle" and be successful in life. He spoke about learning about his faith in school and from his parents, and how that was something he appreciated greatly. Like Andrew, Tyler described his class as "like a family." They shared in the good times and the bad times together, and through his classmates, Tyler learned "what it means to be brothers and sisters."  

Within the graduation speeches of the valedictorian and salutatorian of St. Philp's class of 2018, they displayed the positive effect that learning within a tight-knit community had on their education. Surrounded by supportive adults and peers, they were able to flourish and grow into successful individuals, well prepared for the future. Andrew Forche and Tyler Fuller highlighted how their graduating class was an essential part of their family, in addition to the teachers, parents, and other influential adults in their lives. They explained in their speeches how grateful they are for the environment they grew up in with all their classmates, and how they will never forget the amazing memories they shared in with their second family at St. Philip Catholic Central High School. 

Click here to read the speeches in their entirety.