Knights of Columbus

My faith is very much at the center of my life. I come from a faith-filled family that instilled in me a great love of God. My devotion was nurtured by my parents who are a great example of our living faith. Faith is of such great importance that they continue to make sacrifices so that myself and my two siblings can attend catholic schools. My parents planted the seed of faith and Holy Cross school and Parish became the strong roots and foundation that have enabled me to become the person I am today. Now, at Saint Thomas More High School, I continue to work on my relationship with God and strive to become the person God wants me to be.

Beyond knowledge of doctrine, the staff encouraged me to push myself. I held straight A’s throughout elementary school, participated in all extracurricular sports, was on the Roman Catholic Challenge team and was an altar server. I was taught to work hard and to always do my personal best. Lessons I continue to carry with me. Whenever I think of Holy Cross I always get a smile on my face. I have so many great memories. It has been said that you will leave Holy Cross but Holy Cross will never leave you, and I can confirm it is true.

Holy Cross School provided me with a strong foundation that truly enabled me to grow. I have continued to achieve straight A’s while participating in extracurricular activities, while also working a part-time job and being on my school’s student council.

I was accepted into the faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Simon Fraser University and hope to pursue a career in law. As I continue to fulfill my desire to love and serve the Lord and live a meaningful life, I will take with me the lessons that were instilled in me from Holy Cross. I will continue to better myself so I can better this world and leave a positive imprint and an affirmative impact.

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to be part of the Catholic faith and attend a Catholic school. It was during these times that I grew into the person I am today with the support of teachers, priests, and peers.

I learned the sense of community that I experienced as a young kid at Holy Cross Parish. I met new families and friends and attended church events like pancake breakfast and the Salmon BBQ, where I talked and played with other kids. Moreover, I would frequently visit the church on weekends with my family, specifically my grandpa and grandma, who play a huge part in my life. Without the church, I would not have the relationship I have with my grandma now because our faith is something we have in common and bonds us together.

Finally, I was able to build a strong foundation for my faith. At school, I experienced the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation. Religion class allowed me to learn more about the foundations of Catholicism. I was also the altar server for Holy Cross Parish, responsible for tasks like bringing up the water and wine and ringing the bells during Consecration, allowing me to become closer to God as I participated more in mass. Through this, I learned values such as reverence and responsibility.

Holy Cross Elementary School offered a wide variety of opportunities where I was able to find many of my passions that I still participate in and learn from today. Being a part of the basketball, volleyball, and soccer teams at Holy Cross kick-started my passion for these three sports. In high school, I was named the Grade 8 and Junior Female Athlete of the Year for my participation and leadership in all three sports. As captain of these three teams, I was able to win a Provincial Championship with the Senior Girls Soccer Team as a Grade 9. My passion for sports influenced my decision to pursue Kinesiology in post-secondary, where I can work with athletes who are injured as a physiotherapist. Moreover, playing the violin at school masses and at the talent show, which helped me share my talent and showcase my musical knowledge and experience, has allowed me to become more comfortable playing around my peers. At my high school, I am an integral member of the Senior Band, where I grew my leadership skills as a section leader.

Holy Cross prepared me for high school by allowing me to grow a strong foundation in my faith, find lifelong passions, and be part of a community where I know I will always be accepted no matter what. I had some of the most supportive teachers who taught me important values that I will carry with me as I enter post-secondary; I also built friendships that remain intact today. Holy Cross allowed me to achieve my academic goals, which will be continued as I attend UBC in the undergraduate program of kinesiology.

Congratulation to Luca Alberti and Theresa Gazzola.

Winners of the 1st Annual Knights of Columbus #5423 and Holy Cross Elementary School Scholarship.