Our School

We recently sat down with Aryanna Carter and Cameron Sivilla, Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Class of 2022, respectively. They shared some of their Crusader experiences and the impact that Holy Cross High School had on their lives.

How did it feel to earn this great recognition?
Aryanna:  It feels really good. It shows that my hard work paid off. During my freshman year, I was more concerned with just doing my work. When the rankings came in, I saw that I was number one.  After that, I wanted to keep my ranking.

Why did you decide to come to Holy Cross High School?
Cameron: I attended a different school for my freshman year, but I felt I wasn’t being pushed enough. I was looking for a change. My father is a Holy Cross alum. He told me about the school, so I thought I would check it out. I took the admissions tour and realized this is where I need to be. Everyone was so easy to talk to. People were very personable. You can see that people love it here.

What was your academic experience like at Holy Cross?
Aryanna: I really enjoyed it. The teachers are really in tune with students and the workload. I always felt like I could ask for help. This year, Spanish with Ms. O’Connell was the highlight of my day. Talking with her is very easy

How were you able to balance your school work with your extra-curricular activities?
Cameron: School came first. It’s that simple. I utilized Community Period to study and do some homework. I was also active on the soccer team. Having that extra time during the day really helped me with time management.

Where are you going to college? What did you plan to study?
Aryanna: I will study Psychology at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. The human mind and behavior always fascinated me. I decided in my junior year that this will be my major.

Cameron: I am going to North Carolina State University to major in Industrial Engineering.The facilities are fantastic. It has one of the top 25 engineering programs in the country.

What are you taking away from your Holy Cross experience?
Aryanna:  I was won over by the Holy Cross community.  Initially, I was focused on just doing my work and not making any friends. That all changed during the ice breakers at Orientation. I immediately saw that I was going to enjoy being around my classmates. I learned how to be more open to socializing and participating in diverse experiences.  That’s something I want to take to UCONN.

Cameron: You get out of it what you put in to it. If you utilize what your school has to offer and put in the work, you see the rewards.

What has Holy Cross High School meant to you?
Aryanna: Holy Cross means lifelong friendships with students and faculty.

Cameron: Holy Cross has meant everything to me. It’s been a great experience. I am very glad I made that change in my freshmen year. I was pushed to my fullest extent. I know how to balance academics, athletics and my social life. I was also glad to have a religious experience here.  Praying every morning makes you appreciate what you have.