Commencement Weekend 2021

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

Letterman’s Banquet

Cadet Colin Bonaccorsi 2023 attended the Letterman’s Banquet with his parents, Thomas and Catherine Bonaccorsi. Athletic Director Mike Fink recognized Donnie Austin 2021 and all senior athletes with a special gift.

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

Music Performance

Cadet Caitlynn Curtis 2021 performs with The Pipes and Drums of SJNA. Cadet Eva Lopatniuk- Lopez 2026 and Cadet Sofia Tung 2022 perform with the SJNA Band.

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

Class Stone Ceremony

Cadets Mariano Casares Kelleher 2021, Alvaro Obeso Canale 2021, John Carlos Kinsella 2021, and Carlos Aguilar Tarriba 2021 pose for a photo during the Class Stone Ceremony. The 2021 Class Stone Xin Lin 2021 was named as the Senior most likely to lead a blameless life. Along with President Lima, he is pictured with his mother, who was traditionally awarded the White Rose.

The SJNMA Color Guard takes to the field for the Formal Parade Honoring Old Boys and Alumni.

MG Paul Lima congratulates Cadet Gustavo Guerrero Guinea 2021 on his promotion to Cadet Master Sergeant. Cadet Alvaro Obeso Canale 2021 receives the Harry and Fran Vorys Perseverance Medal (S1943). He is pictured with MG Paul Lima and former Senior Army Instructor LTC James Kebisek H2008. First Captain Eric Baker 2021 leads the senior class onto the parade field to unite with alumni.

Cadet Isabella Griffin 2021 receives the Marilyn Blake Memorial Cup for being a true friend to her fellow cadets and doing her best academically. Joshua Repsumer 2021 at the formal parade

Commencement Weekend

2021

Cadet Arden Prevo 2023 solemnly leads the Final Formation of the Corps and Students / Senior Walk. Seniors bid a fond farewell to their classmates.

SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021

Commencement Exercises

The 2021 Senior Class proudly processes through the Senior gate for commencement exercises. SJNA Board Member John Leone H2021 gives the commencement address.

Cadet Yuxuan Zhou 2021 gives the valedictorian speech. MG Lima presents a diploma to Cadet John Carlos Kinsella 2021. Austin Slaybaugh 2021 receives his diploma from MG Lima.

Cadet Armando Toledo Quevedo 2021, Cadet Mariano Casares Kelleher 2021, and First Captain Eric Baker 2021

Be sure to visit www.sjna.smugmug.com to view and download your favorite photos at no charge!

Class of 2021 College Choices

(AS OF MAY 2021)

Carlos Aguilar Tarriba – Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey Donald Austin – Southwest Minnesota State University Philip Austin – Southwest Minnesota State University Eric Baker – The Citadel

Haydn Bensch – Arizona State University Victor Brownmiller – Azusa Pacific University Mariano Casares Kelleher – St. Edward’s University Genaro Castilla Ponce – Hult International Business School

Hyunbin Choi – University of California, Davis Caitlynn Curtis – Gap Year Daniel Fairfield – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Joshua Geibl – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Waukesha

Isabella Griffin – The Citadel

Gustavo Guerrero Guinea – Universidad Panamericana Guadalajara Brenden Held – Purdue University Jackson Hitchcock – Michigan State University Lachlan Horwitz – United States Marine Corps John Carlos Kinsella – Undecided

Xin Lin – Syracuse University Sylas Littrell – Waukesha County Technical College Joseph Łopatniuk-Lopez – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Austin Mair – Waukesha County Technical College Jeremy Mulcahy – Undecided Álvaro Obeso Canale – Universidad Panamericana Guadalajara Autumn Passaretti – Undecided

Gavin Perry – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Brandin Podziemski – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign James Regas – Texas Christian University Joshua Repsumer – Evangel University Joshua Rex – National Guard of the United States

Connor Roggensack – Marquette University Isabella Shipley – Ivy Tech Community College Briana Simpson – Concordia University Austin Slaybaugh – Gap Year Brennan Timm – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Armando Toledo Quevedo – University of Houston Abhiram Vallabhaneni – Loyola University Daisun Wagner – Arizona State University Weiyu Xu – James Cook University Yuxuan Zhou – University of Pittsburgh Daniel Fairfield, President Mariano Casares Kelleher, Vice President James Regas, Treasurer Carlos Aguilar Tarriba, Secretary Austin Slaybaugh, LA Representative

Year–End Senior Awards

Carlos Aguilar Tarriba – Elizabeth Ross Smythe Medal, Roger Stangeland St. John’s Class of 1947 Medal, Bold Leader Medal Eric Baker – Doctor Delafield Trustee’s Medal, Most Respected Senior, General Douglas MacArthur Foundation Medal

Mariano Casares Kelleher – President’s Medal in Honor of Gen. Douglas MacArthur Daniel Fairfield – Zelma Garriot Morris Medal

Isabella Griffin – Marilyn Blake Memorial Cup Brenden Held – Association of Military Colleges & Schools of the United States Medal

Lachlan Horwitz – Marion Graves Senior Speech Award Xin Lin – The Order of the White Rose

Alvaro Obeso Canale – Harry & Fran Vorys Perseverance Medal

Brandin Podziemski – Head of Innovation and Design Exemplary Leadership in Government James Regas – Col. Frank W. Mouso Medal, Alexander Roth Senior Leadership, James T. Regas Senior Medal Briana Simpson – Director of the Leadership Academy Compliance Award Austin Slaybaugh – Dean of Student Life’s Student of Distinction Award

Armando Toledo Quevedo – Priscilla Rose Medal Daisun Wagner – Salutatorian Yuxuan Zhou – Valedictorian

Bravo Company – The Schroeder-Stangeland Cup

Senior Athletic Awards

Carlos Aguilar Tarriba – Dolly Grey Medal Winner (Top Scholar Athlete), MVP Soccer, 1st Team All-Conference Soccer, 3-Sport Letter Winner (Soccer, Swimming, Tennis) Donald Austin – MVP Football, Midwest Classic All-Conference Recognition, 2nd Team AllConference Baseball, Played in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Senior All-Star Game

Philip Austin – 2nd Team All-Conference Football, Played in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Senior All-Star Game

Haydn Bensch – Midwest Classic Scholar Athlete, HM All-Conference Basketball

Mariano Casares Kelleher – MVP Silver Rifles Alvaro Obeso Canale – 3-Sport Letter Winner (Soccer, Swimming, Tennis) Brandin Podziemski – Pattee Brothers Medal (Top Athlete), MVP Basketball; 1st Team All-Conference Basketball; Midwest Player of the Year Basketball (3 years in a row); 1st Team All-State; (7) High School Records Broken: Three-Point Shots Made in a Single Game (9), Three-Point Shots Made in a Season (108), Three-Point Shots Made in a Career (274), Most Points Scored in a Single Game (50), Most Points Scored in a Single Season (974), Most Two-Point Shots Made in a Season (245), Most Points Scored in a Career (2154); Only Basketball Player in State history to Surpass 2000 Points While Playing Varsity for Only Three Years; Earned Top Award in the State When Named Mr. Basketball of the State of Wisconsin; Earned Gatorade Player of the Year Award in Wisconsin; Selected for the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Senior All-Star Basketball Game

Joshua Rex – 3-Sport Letter Winner (Raiders, Silver Rifles, Track) Connor Roggensack – 3-Sport Letter Winner (Golf, Raiders, Wrestling) Brennan Timm – 2nd Team All-Conference Football, 1st Team All-Conference Basketball, 2nd Team All-State, 1000-Point Club Basketball, Played in the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Senior All-Star Basketball Game

Daisun Wagner – WIAA Scholar Athlete, 3-Sport Letter Winner (Basketball, Golf, Soccer)

137th Corps of Cadets Leadership Eric Baker, Battalion Commander

Battalion Staff Mariano Casares Kelleher, Executive Officer Xin Lin, Adjutant S-1 Isabella Griffin, Enrollment Officer S-2 James Regas, Operations Officer S-3 Brenden Held, Logistics Officer S-4 Yuxuan Zhou, Academic Officer S-5

Company Commanders Daniel Fairfield, Alpha Armando Toledo Quevedo, Bravo

Leadership Academy Student Government

Brandin Podziemski, Director of Committee Affairs

Prefect Student Cabinet Positions Briana Simpson, Residential Life - Smythe, Health and Wellness, Leadership Academy Organization of Student Activities, Honor Council