Dr. Jerome C. Foss, the Endowed Professor of Catholic Thought and Culture at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., spoke at the Subiaco Academy graduation May 17. The valedictorian was Connor Wasielewski. The salutatorian was Evan Joseph Everett, son of Beth Everett and the late Dennis Everett of Van Buren. He will attend Oklahoma State University to study pre-medicine.
Other graduates are:
Luis Araujo
Sergio Arredondo
Jackson Dart
Griffin Frederick
Drew Gehrig
John George
Aden Grady
Jacob Grist
Hudson Kersh
Sebastian Kersh
Jude Thang Khual-Ngaihte
Jaden Le
Stone Lee
Marvin Menjivar
Colby Munroe
Hunter Patterson
Neil Owen Pennington
Joshua Post
Hudson Pruitt
Gabriel Rodriguez-Mensing
Aaron Roker
Darian Rolle
Jonathan Sam
Nikolai Saunders
Jason Thomas Smith
Tyler Stevens
Andrew Sweeting
Gilbert Tarmo
Valedictorian
Connor Edward Wasielewski, 18
Parish: Our Lady of the Lake, Branson, Mo.
Parents: Tamara and Don Wasielewski
College and major: University of Michigan, aerospace engineering and possibly double major in space sciences.
What goals do you want to pursue after college? I plan to begin an entry-level job at Boeing or Lockheed Martin, and if I am lucky, SpaceX or NASA. My other plan includes possibly transferring to MIT or staying at UMICH for my master’s and doctorate and be called Dr. Wasielewski by the time I turn 30 and then join NASA or SpaceX at the peak of space exploration.
What is your proudest accomplishment to date? As I’ve grown, I have learned that failure is a part of the journey to success. In January, I lost the election to become the Order of the Arrow lodge chief for the state of Arkansas by a couple of votes. The Order of the Arrow is the honor society of Boy Scouts, and lodge chief is closely related to the president of a centralized location, and in this case, I would have been the president of the honor society of Boy Scouts for nearly the entire state of Arkansas. I was devastated, and it was further amplified by the fact that I lost to one of my best friends… Even though I lost, I am most proud that the influence that I made on my lodge and friends will become a domino in a chain effect to help knock down dominoes that other scouters lay in the future.
How will faith be a part of your future? While here, my faith has taught me that it is never fair to solely judge someone based on their appearance or beliefs. I believe that it is wrong to think of anyone as inferior, even if they happen to be different in race, skin color or sexual orientation. In the end, we are all still human beings that were born from women and raised to become the best versions of ourselves and of our parents.
Scholarships: Victors Award Scholarship: $60,000, four-year renewable scholarship; Engineering Department Aid Scholarship: $60,000, four-year renewable scholarship
High school honors and awards: Excellence in Mathematics; Top of Class in AP History, Church History and AP Chemistry, Quiz Bowl Most Valuable Player, Quiz Bowl All-State, Eagle Scout
