’08 graduates earn $243 M for college
By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA — Surpassing previous records, the nearly 5,000 archdiocesan high school graduates of the class of 2008 have been offered a total of $243 million in scholarships to colleges and universities.
According to the Office of Catholic Education, last year’s graduating class received $210 million in scholarships.
The class of 2008 received accolades from Richard McCarron, archdiocesan Secretary for Catholic Education and Superintendent of Schools.
“We are proud of our seniors and grateful to their families, who have worked tirelessly to provide the gift of Catholic education,” McCarron said.
“The tremendous financial support these students have been offered allows them to pursue greater academic challenges and success, and we are confident that the character development and faith formation we emphasize in our schools will guide them through the future.”
More than 94 percent of the 4,889 young men and women who graduated earlier this month from the 20 Catholic high schools operated by the Philadelphia Archdiocese will continue their education.
One of those graduates is Michael Arrigo, valedictorian of SS. John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School in South Philadelphia. He is headed to the University of Pennsylvania, where he is considering majoring in cognitive science or linguistics.
As a recipient of the Mayor’s Scholarship, most of his tuition is covered for four years, he said.
The son of Victor and Kathleen Arrigo and a 2004 alumnus of St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, Arrigo appreciates the value of a Catholic education and said he was “shocked” to receive the college tuition assistance.
From Neumann Goretti Arrigo graduated with a 4.0 grade point average and was editor of the yearbook, president of the Italian Club, secretary of the art club and a member of the National Honor Society, Mathletes, the Latin and Spanish clubs and the Community Service Corps.
“The hard work definitely does pay off in the end,” Arrigo said.
Victoria DiCamillo, the valedictorian of Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote, will attend Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
Her partial four-year scholarship will enable her to major in environmental science.
Like Arrigo, she believes that hard work pays off.
“If you ever doubt that something’s going to come of it, just wait — because something will,” she said.
DiCamillo is the daughter of Michael and Mary DiCamillo and a 2004 alumna of Our Lady Help of Christians School in Abington.
At McDevitt, she earned a 4.0 grade point average and found time for numerous activities. She was captain of the cross country and track teams, and of the Academic Bowl and Reading Olympics; vice consulate of the World Affairs Club; a student ambassador; president of the National English Honor Society; and member of the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, the Italian Club and the Community Service Corps.
Julia Walsh, Cardinal Dougherty’s valedictorian, received a full tuition scholarship to La Salle University in Philadelphia. The fact that it is a Catholic university was the determining factor in her decision to enroll in the honors program there.
She is daughter of Matthew and Patricia Walsh.
A recipient of the Christian Brothers’ academic scholarship, Walsh will major in English and may add a second major in communications.
“I feel extremely prepared” to begin college, she said. “During my time at Dougherty, I had seven AP courses. It was challenging but it was extremely rewarding.”
In addition to earning a 4.0 average at Dougherty, she also participated in many extracurricular activities. Walsh was captain of the soccer and track teams, editor of the yearbook and school newspaper, and served as treasurer of the National Honor Society and as an officer for the Community Service Corps.
She is also a product of a Catholic elementary school, graduating from Presentation B.V.M. School in Cheltenham in 2004.
For more information, visit the Web site of the Office of Catholic Education at www.KeepingFaithinMind.org.
CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.