Judge Memorial Catholic High School Class of 2022
SALT LAKE CITY —The Judge Memorial Catholic High School Class of 2022 may have started a new tradition: This year, for the first time, the commencement ceremonies took place on the school’s footfall field.
The weather cooperated: a clear blue sky and a spring breeze marked the special day on which the 124 students graduated.
The commencement exercises for the JMCHS Class of 2022 were presided over by Father John Norman, pastor of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, who will be retiring in August.
This is the school’s 101st year and the Class of 2022 is Judge Memorial’s 97th graduating class, noted Patrick Lambert, principal, as he welcomed the attendees during the entrance processional that marked the beginning of the ceremony.
The national anthem was interpreted by Georgia Stockham, who will be attending the University of Texas at Austin. The invocation was by Nikki Ward, associate superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools.
The class salutatorian Kurt McLaughlin was the student body president, an honor graduate and one of the 10 graduates recognized for high achievement in AP and honors courses. He also received the Presidential Service award twice, among other achievements.
Explaining the purpose of a salutatorian speech, he said, “I was under the impression that ‘salutatorian’ has something to do with saluting, a sendoff, a goodbye … but this is the job of Michael [Silas] as valedictorian. Salutatorian comes from ‘salutare,’ which means to greet. It seems almost contradictory at a ceremony based on a farewell,” McLaughlin said.
His address was a way to honor the members of the Class of 2022 as they start a new chapter in their life, McLaughlin said, comparing their alma mater to a launch pad.
“The path ahead seems daunting, the next chapter remains unwritten, but that is the beauty of it,” he said. “It is time for us to write our own stories. ... What kind of story would you write?”
As an avid reader and writer, McLaughlin offered three tips to his fellow graduates in this endeavor.
“Tip Number One: Create a strong cast of characters,” he said. “Tip Number Two: Depict the progress of the story. Tip Number Three: Don’t write for others, write for yourselves.”
He also suggested his peers go on in life without judging people, and that they explore, step up, speak up and use all the tools they learned in their high school years.
The ceremony continued with Lambert providing a snapshot of the Class of 2022 (see sidebar).
“Colleges and universities across the country, from large public research universities to small, private, liberal arts colleges … acknowledge our excellence,” Lambert said. “There are so many honors for this extraordinary class, in fact, too many honors to mention each individually.”
The past four years were filled with challenges and victories, heartaches and joys, he said, and the graduates experienced a continually changing teaching and communications environment.
“You experienced serious adaptations in real time,” Lambert told the seniors. “High school education absolutely looks different now than what it did when you first entered the school. And throughout all of those changes, you were able to become comfortable in the uncomfortable. You were able to become partners in the problem solving. You were able to create solutions.”
Lambert asked the graduates to thank their parents and family members for their support as well as the faculty and staff that provided their education. He then prayed that they “be people of compassion and empathy” and “agents of positive change in our world.”
The presentation of the graduates and the conferral of diplomas followed. Then, after the traditional rite of changing the tassel guided by the 2022 senior core, Michael Silas gave the valedictory address.
Silas was one of the 10 high-achieving students in AP and honors courses. He received awards for academic excellence in mathematics and social studies all four years of high school, and scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT and a perfect 36 on the ACT. He was a National Merit Scholar and a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program, logged 243 hours of Christian service, and was a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team, among other pursuits.
The day was dedicated to the graduates and celebration, he said, adding that it was an understatement to say that their time together was immensely affected by an array of challenges, but “today, after pushing forward … and supporting each other through all of it, we plan our flight at the summit of Judge Memorial education.”
Highlighting that that day was about the graduates – who they are and everything that they will become – Silas reflected on the path that brought them to that point.
“I just realize how deeply my gratitude runs for everyone that has cheered me along the way,” he said, and thanked his parents, family members, teachers, administrators and counselors, friends and classmates for their support, wit and encouragement.
“Your shining light has consistently lit the path in front of me,” Silas said.
The four years of high school seemed to go by in a flash, he said.
“I remember entering an ordinary Ultimate Frisbee [game] in March 2020 with the unprecedented news that school would be moving online for two whole weeks,” he said, to the laughter of all.
He also recalled waking up to a 5.7 magnitude earthquake and watching “insane” winds shatter a basketball hoop, all while he was attending Zoom classes.
“Needless to say, the road to get here has been anything but serendipitous, but despite all of that we have reached this milestone of graduating from Judge Memorial together,” he said, noting that “milestones are an opportunity to look at the future with excitement.”
After graduating, the members of his class will “scatter across the country to see what the future has for us,” Silas said, adding that he has confidence that everyone will be successful in their future.
“No matter what obstacles stand in your path … you can and you will raise to meet them, coming out stronger on the other side,” he said to his graduating classmates.
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