Michael Bachmann and family
Stepinac High School has named Matthew Halas as valedictorian and Stephen Buckley as salutatorian for the Class of 2020. Halas who will attend Wesleyan University, and Buckley who will study at Georgia Tech, were both members of Stepinac’s groundbreaking Honors Academy, a three-year small personalized learning program for academically top= achieving students. The two also earned the prestigious Harvard Book Award for their achievements in academics, extracurricular activities and community service.
Because the pandemic necessitated the cancellation of Stepinac’s 70th Commencement originally scheduled for May 24, the all-boys school decided to honor the Class of 2020 with a series of special live and virtual events in the coming weeks.
On Thursday June 18th, a pre-recorded Baccalaureate Graduation Mass, celebrated by Stepinac President Rev. Thomas Collins (Class of ’79), will be released via LocalLive.com. During the ceremony, Principal Paul Carty will announce the names of the student graduation award winners including Halas and Buckley.
A live event will follow on Thursday June 25th — a student car parade on the school campus which will be decorated for the festive occasion. The students will drive under a huge arch of red, white and blue balloons. The graduates will have the opportunity to decorate their cars as well. During the procession, the students—dressed in their caps and gowns–will stop and step out of their cars and have photos taken with their parents/guardians. The faculty will again be invited to cheer the graduates.
A virtual celebration of the graduates will be presented on the school website (stepinac.org) on Tuesday, June 30th. Each graduate will be featured along with their graduation awards. A highlight will be photos and videos of the Class of 2020’s moments from the school year. Valedictory and salutatory addresses by Halas and Buckley, respectively, will be included along with other special presentations.
Father Collins noted: “Given the extraordinary challenges they faced during the spring semester, it is fitting we recognize the Class of 2020 in several special ways. Like the entire Stepinac community, the graduates proved to be a strong, resilient and determined counter-force to the pandemic.” Paul Carty added: “We congratulate them on their achievements at Stepinac and wish them well as they follow in the steps of our alumni in pursuing post-secondary success at college and in their future careers.”
At Iona Preparatory School Seniors Michael Bachmann and Nicholas Cannistraci have earned recognition as the Class of 2020 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Brother Thomas R. Leto, Ed.D., President of Iona Prep, marked the announcement today with a special visit to each of the student’s homes to congratulate them in person and thank them for their
Leto said it was a pleasure to see Bachmann and Cannistraci excel in their academic work and extracurricular activities, even during the pandemic.
“At Iona Prep, our students are taught to lead, advocate and pursue excellence in all endeavors. We are extremely proud of Michael and Nicholas for their contributions throughout their entire four years as Gaels. They truly embody the Iona Prep Man and we look forward to seeing them succeed in their future endeavors.”
Bachmann (GPA 100.7125) resides in Redding, Conn., and was recognized as an Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar with Distinction. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the school yearbook; President of the Iona Prep Players group where he performed in more than nine shows; and a Speech & Debate (Forensics) Captain, qualifying for State Finals during his Sophomore and Junior Years. He also co-founded Gaels-for-Life, an organization that is dedicated to fostering love and respect for life in all stages around campus. Come the fall, he will be continuing his education journey at Hillsdale College in Michigan.
Cannistraci (GPA 100.7071) resides in New Rochelle and has received many accolades and honors during his four years, including being a member of the Mandarin Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, National Honor Society and an AP Scholar with Distinction. He facilitated class retreats for grades 7-10 and showcased Iona Prep to the surrounding communities. He was one of eight students selected to the Translational Molecular Imaging Institute at Mount Sinai for a 6-week summer program for graduate, college and high school students at the Icahn School of Medicine with a focus on neurological and psychiatric disorders and computer programming skills. In addition to setting the academic bar high for his peers, Cannistraci also cleared many as the pole vault team captain and Westchester County All-Star Honorable Mention the past two years. He was accepted early decision to the University of Pennsylvania.
Valedictorian Bachmann and Salutatorian Cannistraci will address the senior Class of 2020, either virtually or in person, during a graduation ceremony tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 27.
