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This past Friday, our school community gathered for the annual High School Sports Banquet, an evening dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the exceptional achievements of our student-athletes and coaches. The event served as a meaningful opportunity to reflect on a year marked by dedication, perseverance, and outstanding success across our athletic programs.  Among the evening’s highlights was the recognition of two CIF Championship titles. Our football team secured a remarkable back-to-back championship, while our girls' volleyball team achieved a historic milestone by earning the program’s first CIF Championship. We were privileged to welcome former NFL kicker John Carney as our guest speaker. His address provided valuable insight and encouragement, emphasizing his three F's- Faith, Failure, Fun. The banquet also included the presentation of several distinguished individual honors. Coach Vince Asaro was named Coach of the Year in recognition of his exemplary leadership and contributions to our athletic program. In addition, the following prestigious awards were presented: St. Catherine of Siena Scholar-Athlete Award: Adley Fontaine Thomas Aquinas Scholar-Athlete Award: Gabriel Larrabure Ironman and Ironwoman Awards: Blaise McMahon & Lauren Elsner St. Sebastian Awards: Roberto Domingo & Selah Salminao Crusader of the Year, the highest honor bestowed upon our student-athletes: Asher Larkin & Malia Sampson The evening was a fitting tribute to the hard work, sportsmanship, and excellence demonstrated by our athletes and coaches throughout the year. We are proud of all that they have accomplished and look forward to continued success in the future.

Seven Honors Senior Thesis students at Saint Joseph Academy (SJA) presented their research projects to the school community from May 12 through May 15, showcasing months of independent academic work across a range of disciplines. The presentations included topics in theology, technology, and social issues. Gabriel Larrabure and Giovanni Bullara both focused on questions related to Catholic liturgy and faith practice. Larrabure examined Catholic teaching on the proper disposition for receiving the Eucharist, while Bullara presented an argument for Church renewal through a return to what he described as a more traditionally masculine liturgy. Several students explored concerns surrounding modern technology. Isaac Hernandez addressed the risks of smartphone addiction, while Rachelle Hill examined the potential harms associated with artificial intelligence. Adley Fontaine, whose thesis centered on the loneliness epidemic in the United States, also identified social media as a contributing factor. Other presentations approached broader cultural and scientific themes. Paolo Puccio argued for the importance of cultural unity in addressing social fragmentation. Closing the series, Dat Nguyen presented research exploring a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease involving compounds derived from snake venom. Faculty panelists praised both the depth of research and the quality of student presentations. Mr. Kramp, who taught Senior Thesis for the first time this year, noted the program’s impact and expressed interest in expanding it in future years. “I see nothing but good things coming from this kind of intellectual undertaking,” Kramp said. “Young people are capable of so much more than people think, and our presenters will look back on this, rightly, as a real accomplishment.”  He added that he hopes more students will devote time to thesis development in the years ahead, calling the presentations “the first of many more to come.”