Valle Catholic Graduates 35 Seniors May 13
By ERIC X. VICCARO
eviccaro@stegenherald.com
Thirty-five Valle Catholic High School students turned their tassels during their graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 13.
Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church was adorned in special blue-and-white decorations where the graduating seniors sat.
Valle Catholic principal Greg Miller related graduation to the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians, mainly focusing on Chapters 11, 12 and 13.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became man, I put away childish things.”
Words continue, with a mirror used as a prop, and “these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Miller explained to the graduating class that, “The world needs warriors.” And listen to God’s voice.
He discussed the students attending school during an unsettling “pandemic madness,” which has featured shortages ranging from sanitary products to computer chips.
Salutatorian Macy Shuh complimented Valle Catholic’s instruction team during her brief speech.
“We have argued and we have complained, but the faculty has stood by us,” Shuh noted.
She also said classmates have been there for her, with a “shoulder to cry on.”
Paraphrasing, Shuh said now is the time to push the “reset” button and begin the next journey.
Shuh will continue her education at St. Louis University, majoring in health sciences on the pre-med track.
Valedictorian Josh Hoog noted that although he took a public speaking course, he was still “nervous” at the podium.
Hoog thanked Valle Catholic faculty by name, including physics instructor Nancy Fischer, Nathan Gegg (mathematics) and Samer Zoughaib (physical education) for pushing him academically and athletically through school.
Hoog thanked his “running buddy,” classmate and fellow state track and field qualifier Jordan Bales, and his siblings, Matthew and Caleb.
Josh credited his mother, Michelle Hoog, as his go-to-person, and he asked his father, Robert, to stand up. While Robert Hoog was standing, the audience gave him a round of applause.
Hoog urged his classmates to “stand out from the crowd.” He plans on attending Missouri University of Science and Technology to study aerospace engineering.