Central Catholic High School’s Class of 2022 graduated on Sunday, May 22. The Baccalaureate Mass was celebrated at Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral, and the 102nd commencement ceremony was held in the CCHS Sullivan Center.
Graduates from Holland were: Christine Bruno, Katherine Lach, Luke Mikolajczyk, Isabella Spinazze, Lucia Spinazze and Amaar Zarrieff.
Heritage Speaker for commencement was Amaar Zarrieff. Amaar was a member of the National Honor Society, Glee Club, Student Senate, the African-American Club, soccer and tennis teams and the Centric student newspaper staff. He will attend Howard University to major in film and television.
The Heritage Award was established on the 60th anniversary of the school to address the question of the heritage of Central Catholic High School and to assure that both the gentlemen and ladies of the class are represented as speakers during the commencement exercises. When a lady and a gentleman are valedictorian and salutatorian, the student holding the third spot in the ranking point scale is selected to give the Heritage Address.
Amaar also was a recipient of the Reverend James E. Steinle Senior Leadership Award. It is given in honor of a former principal of Central Catholic. Father Steinle was a person who exhibited leadership by example, as well as by words and programs, often without any formal recognition for himself.
The award recognizes seniors who have demonstrated strong qualities of leadership and service, also without receiving formal recognition. The recipient of this award is a leader without necessarily holding an office of any kind. It is the character and example of the individual that has earned them this honor.
Isabella Spinazze was awarded the Bishop’s Cross, the highest honor bestowed upon any graduate of a Catholic High School in the Diocese of Toledo. The award dates back to 1873. It is given to one boy and one girl from the graduating class.
Students who receive the Bishop’s Cross are Catholic students who clearly strive to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. They manifest an active life of Christian charity in the way they relate to and serve their neighbor.
These students are respectful, kind, virtuous, considerate, authentic, positive, have a strong moral character and prayer life, respect and a love for learning.
Isabella was president of the National Honor Society, a member of the Spiritual Commission, Homecoming Court, and Sideline Spirit, a three-year captain of the tennis team, pep rally emcee and a tutor. She will attend Hillsdale College.
Katherine Lach received a Servant Leadership Award. This honor is presented to students who, through their commitment and passion to service, excelled beyond all others. Recipients must record 100 or more hours of service and surpass the required amount of service hours during their time at Central Catholic.
Members of the Class of 2022 earned more than $4 million in college scholarship money and were accepted into 284 different colleges and universities.
