With their last high school exam finished, Pace High School’s Class of 2015 seniors began their final week as Spartans with the traditional Baccalaureate Mass held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Sunday, May 17. Pace president Reverend Paul Vuturo celebrated the mass along with the recently ordained Father Bryan Garcia, a Pace Class of 2006 alumnus.
Following the homily, each senior was presented with a baccalaureate medal by Reverend Vuturo and principal Ana Garcia. Members of the Class of 2015 brought up offertory gifts such as a school trophy, an iPad, a football, and a cross to the altar to symbolize their time spent at Pace.
As Reverend Paul and Father Bryan processed out, the choir sang the seniors’ class song “I’ll Be There For You.” Graduates then watched a slideshow with photos from their four years at Pace. Senior Gabriel Sanchez ended the event by giving the Class of 2015’s Farewell Address, thanking the faculty, staff, and parents and reminiscing with his fellow classmates of their years as Spartans.
Finally, on Friday May 22, the seniors, their families, and the Pace faculty and staff attended the 52 Annual Commencement Exercise at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium. During her Principal’s Address, Ana Garcia announced that the Class of 2015 had earned over $5 million in scholarships, worked a total of 27,511 community service hours, and been accepted to universities such as Duke University, University of Florida, Florida State University, the Savannah College of Art &
Design, Boston College, and the University of Miami, among others.
“Your four years of high school are done, but I hope the lessons you’ve learned stay with you forever,” said Garcia in her address.
Student Body president Brianna Martinez delivered the senior address by speaking almost entirely in rhyme about their high school journey and how they became a diverse and unified Pace family.
“Where ever our paths shall lead us, may we continue to be the individuals who stand out, because only those who do, change the world,” said Martinez, before concluding her speech like she ended every school day over the PA – with a school-wide prayer.
After receiving their degrees and gathering outside, the Class of 2015 threw their graduation caps into the air in unison, celebrating the culmination of their high school careers and the endless possibilities that await them in college and beyond.