Every year, we see students reach their potential and show the world who they are as individuals. Our Lions are first and foremost students, but they are also outstanding in other aspects of their lives! We are proud of the following students who signed their letters of intent to the universities of their dreams in February 2015!
Boys Soccer:
Ether Bustos – California State University at Fullerton
Ivan Canales – University of California at Irvine
Julian Font – University of California at Irvine
Football:
Aaron Matthews – Lindenwood University
Brody Barrett – Appalachian State University
D.J. Bailey – Harvard
Nick Robinson – University of Georgia
Sam Philippi – University of Pennsylvania
Tucker Squires – University of Chicago
Girls Soccer:
Brooke Kunzelman – Air Force
Girls Volleyball:
Kayla DeMari – Hawai’i Pacific University
Congratulations! Always remember that everyone at JSerra will be rooting you on in your future endeavors. We know you will make us proud!
We have many traditions at JSerra, one being our seniors having their annual paint day at the school parking lot! Senior students have the chance to get creative and crafty for this classic tradition at JSerra.
Each senior is assigned their own parking spot and has the opportunity to paint it however they’d like. This is a special opportunity for the graduating seniors to make their mark at JSerra. It is a tradition at JSerra that has been a huge success!
We love seeing all of the unique and fun designs that students come up with! Senior Paint Day is a fun event that brings all of the students together to make senior year one to remember!
Each spot is unique, just like each Senior! What would you paint on your parking spot?
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, JSerra has had its share of accomplishments but it is the class of 2013 that has helped mark the school’s first decade as truly remarkable.
The graduates have had national record-breaking swim championships, the school’s first Trinity League Athlete of the Year, a valedictorian with a record high GPA of 4.88, never before seen at JSerra, a cross country team who has won League, CIF, and State championships three times in a row, a first in the state of California, among countless other accomplishments.
With graduates attending top Universities like Duke, USC, Berkeley, Notre Dame, and more, they have collectively received more than $12.5 million in scholarships, the highest of any graduating class at JSerra.
As President Richard Meyer quoted St. John Paul “In the design of providence there is no coincidence.” It is not by mere coincidence that this graduating class has had many successes during their four short years as Lions.
With plenty of cheers from classmates this class has demonstrated the connectedness that is cultivated by the faculty, staff, and parents within the JSerra community.
Salutatorian Vanessa Zuck, delivered her address during the Baccalaureate Mass held on Friday evening. With a smile on her face she remembered her freshman year and the big win against Santa Margarita’s football team, and rushing the field at Saddleback. Zuck also recalled wise words from a past teacher, that remain with her to this day. “Never accept what your told but to learn it for yourself.” As the class of 2013 discovers new adventures in college, Zuck reminds them of what Louis Zamperini said while visiting campus, “while it may be sad to say goodbye, what matters is that we met.”
(left to right): President Richard Meyer, Valedictorian Sachin Govil, and Vice Principal Eric Stroupe
Valedictorian Sachin Govil, reminisced about his time at JSerra during his speech said, “It’s astonishing how life comes at us instantaneously, it grabs us and takes us on our own journeys… and in the midst of it, we don’t always appreciate the time we have and the people that we share it with.”
Among those honored where Monica Patel the recipient of the JSerra Award, acknowledged for exemplifying JSerra’s mission and philosophy. The highest honor a student can receive at JSerra. Jovy Mann receiving the Msgr. Martin Award, Owen Hosseinzadeh receiving the Gillian Sabet Award, Saseen Najjar receiving the Lion Award, Ryer Baldridge acknowledged with the Leadership Award, Madison Myers-Cook received the Campus Ministry Award, Andrew Lee for the Spirit Award, and Josephine Duran receiving the Christian Service Award for her 2,500 hours donated in community service.
To view the complete photo album from Graduation please click Class of 2013.
Be sure to tag your photos with the hashtag #Classof2013 to share on Instagram.
JSerra Catholic High School’s first graduating international student Seung Hyun (Andrew) Lee, from Seoul, South Korea, has been teaching his fellow chamber singers his own arrangement of a Korean folk song for choir’s Spring Farewell Concert. Four years ago, Lee and his family searched for the right school in Southern California that would give him a unique high school experience.
“When I saw that JSerra was accepting international students I took the opportunity,” Lee said. He started his freshman year of high school at JSerra with a love for music and a prodigal talent that would impress his fellow chamber singers.
“It’s really interesting to know that someone so young can be so musically inclined,” said JSerra sophomore and first-year chamber singer, Ian von Gremp. “It’s nice to know that my friend Andrew arranged it,”
Lee became president of the chamber choir, and with his leadership taught his fellow chamber singers the ancient Korean folk song, “Arirang,” which he arranged to fit his own interpretation of its meaning.
“Andrew has always been our leader,” junior and third year chamber singer, Annie Pfost said. “Choir is like a family and Andrew is like the cool big brother.”
“Arirang,” a song handed down through many generations, was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, in December.
At last year’s Spring Concert, Renée Bondi, Christian inspiration singer and mother to JSerra chamber singer, Daniel Bondi, told Lee about her concert in Korea. She said when she sang “Arirang” for the finale, everyone there began to sing along with her. With that motivation, Lee decided to arrange “Arirang” for his high school choir.
The annual senior awards Mass recognized students for their academic, athletic, and fine arts achievements in the class of 2013.
Father Damien Giap opened the awards with a blessing over the graduating class and the award recipients. Each academic department awarded a student who embodied what it means to be a good citizen both in the classroom and in the community, and who excelled in their respective academic areas.
Award recipients included Valedictorian Sachin Govil for the Math and Science Gold Awards, Vanessa Zuck salutatorian, international student Andrew Lee for the Fine Arts Gold Award along with Kallen Zerhan for her outstanding work in the arts, Trinity Wright for both the Religion and Social Studies Gold Awards.
Each student was recognized for their dedication and accomplishments in each of the awarded areas.
Other award recipients include Carlos Solorzano Jr. for the Foreign Language Gold Award and Taylor Santore for the English Gold Award.
Receiving a standing ovation, special honoree senior Kyle Robb was inducted into the United States Naval Academy and will dedicate nine years of service to the Navy. Robb will also go through an intensive training program on the field and in the classroom, as he begins his time in the Navy.
The U.S. Marine Corp. was also in attendance to award Devon Pflueger and August Touchard for their accomplishments in athletics, Nick Cimmarusti and Julia Kenefick for their leadership, and John Shaver and Katie Jenner were awarded for their work in the arts.
Colby Lindholm and Greg Bucilla were recognized as JSerra’s Athletes of the Year, along with Rebecca Millard and Kyle Robb being named JSerra’s top scholar athletes.
With such an accomplished graduating class, the only way to cool off from a four-year run was a splash in the pool. Ending the awards, each senior took a dive in the pool before reminiscing over the senior class video and yearbook signing party to celebrate.
Congratulations to each member of the graduating class of 2013. It has been great to see each student grow and we wish you the best in all your future endeavors.
For photos from the graduation festivities click class of 2013.
JSerra Catholic High School Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.