St. Paul Catholic High School Announces Hybrid Graduation

Press release from the St. Paul Catholic High School:

May 28, 2020

Bristol, CT – Graduation exercises for the St. Paul Catholic High School Class of 2020 will be held like none other before. The 51st Commencement exercises will be an historic hybrid graduation. As a result of COVID-19, the Archdiocese of Hartford released guidelines for the high schools to celebrate the Class of 2020. The ceremony will be pre-recorded and shared at the original time of graduation which is Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Also taking place on Tuesday morning and afternoon, is a drive by parade on campus. Each graduate will come in a car with his/her family at a specified time, and after driving through numerous stations, will be presented any awards he/she may be receiving and then walk across a stage on the front lawn of the school to receive his/her diploma. St. Paul has made it a priority to follow all social distancing guidelines during this celebration.

Mr. Cary Dupont ’72, President/Chief Administrator said in a letter to the Class of 2020, “We’ve been forced the last two months to let go of things beyond our control like the daily

inconveniences of COVID-19, instead, we’ve had to refocus our efforts on the opportunities we have been given to create new possibilities for solutions to the challenges this virus has thrown at us. This hybrid graduation is a great example of that. Given the circumstances, we are excited to be able to celebrate our graduates and present their diplomas in person as they walk across the stage.”

The graduation will be pre-recorded at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford with the Most Rev. Juan Miguel Betancourt, SEMV, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Hartford delivering the invocation and the Most Rev. Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop, Archdiocese of Hartford sharing a special message to the Class of 2020.

The St. Paul Catholic High School Class of 2020 valedictorian and salutatorian will also present their commencement speeches which will be shared with their class, friends and family during Tuesday evenings virtual commencement exercises.

The Valedictorian and Salutatorian were announced last week during a virtual St. Paul Academic Awards Night. Thomas Pauloz ‘20 has been named Valedictorian of St. Paul Catholic High School Class of 2020. Thomas has chosen to attend Boston College in August where he will study Business Marketing.

He is the son of Sally and Richard Pauloz of Bristol.

Recently, Thomas received an Archdiocesan Summa Scholar award presented by the Archdiocese of Hartford for his academic achievements. He is Senior Class President, a member of the National Honor Society, Student Government, Performing Arts and a co-leader of the SPTV channel. Thomas was also named a Commended Student in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program.

He has managed to balance his academics, extracurricular activities and leadership responsibilities throughout his four years at St. Paul.

His favorite moment at St. Paul Catholic High School was serving and leading his class as Class President his Junior and Senior years. Thomas said “What I will miss most at St. Paul is coming to school each day knowing that at any moment there would be amazing opportunities from the supportive family here – anything is possible.”

Seokhyun Hong ‘20 was named Salutatorian of the Class of 2020.

Seokhyun is an International student from South Korea and his host family Tammy and Louis Bacho will see their son Matthew and Seokhyun graduate together. Seokhyn recently received an Archdiocesan Summa Scholar award presented by the Archdiocese of Hartford for his academic achievements. He was a member of the Mission Club, Data Analytics team, Spanish Honors Society and the National Honor Society.

When Seokhyun was asked what his favorite moment at St. Paul was he said, “Religion classes”! “My growth in personal holiness was fostered here. I developed skills in serving others, especially those in need. I have completed more than 600 service hours here at St. Paul and having faith made my life completely different.”

When asked what he will miss most about high school he said, “I will miss the St. Paul family that welcomed me with respect, care, and encouragement”.

Seokhyun will attend the University of Southern California, and major in Applied and Computational Math.

This press release was produced by the St. Paul Catholic High School. The views expressed here are the author's own.