STAMFORD- Superintendent of Diocesan Schools Dr. Steven Cheeseman brought good news to Trinity High School Commencement Ceremony and to the entire high school community this evening when he announced that Trinity would remain open and move forward with plans for the future.
The auditorium erupted in joy and celebration when Dr. Cheeseman stepped to the microphone at the beginning of the ceremony and announced that he had spoken to Bishop Frank Caggiano on the way to Stamford and had good news.
“I’m happy to say that the Bishop asked me to announce that this will not be the last graduation ceremony at Trinity.,” Dr. Cheeseman said, as the hall filled with cheers.
Dr. Cheeseman and Bishop Frank J. Caggiano met with parents on May 23 and urged them to register their students as soon as possible to help the diocese plan for the new school year in the face of declining enrollment and a growing deficit for operations. The positive response of parents in the past week led to the Bishop’s decision to continue the rebuilding effort.
During the ceremony, Jessica Connolly and Olivia were recognized as the school’s 2019 Valedictorian and Salutatorian respectively.
In attaining the highest academic record among her class, Jessica Connolly delivered the Valedictorian’s address. She earned the highest average in Religion, Honors Biology, and Honors World Studies all four years of high school. She was a member of the National Honor Society her Junior and Senior years. Jessica was a member of the Trinity varsity tennis team for the past three years. She also played volleyball her Freshmen and Sophomore years.
Outside of school, Jessica has danced competitively for over 12 years at the Pender Keady Academy of Irish Dance where she qualified for the World Championships seven times between 2012-2118. She will be attending Villanova University in the fall as a Business Major.
Olivia Jania, Salutatorian at Trinity this year, was awarded Honors with Distinction every quarter of her high school career (Fall 2015-May 2019). She had the highest average and award in Economics and Service. Olivia played volleyball all four years of high school, was a member of the National Honor Society, an Ambassador and Student Council VP her senior year.
Olivia was nominated to be one of the “Top Teens to Watch” in Moffly Media’s 2019 annual student edition. She will be attending Villanova University this fall.
Patricia E. Brady, Head of School for Trinity Catholic and The Catholic Academy of Stamford said of the pair, “Jessica and Olivia worked diligently to achieve their best while at Trinity. They are leaders and accomplished students who know what they want in life and pursue it.”
“We are proud of Jessica and Olivia’s accomplishments here at Trinity,” states Principal Scott Smith. “They represent the very best of the Trinity Class of 2019 and we are proud of what they will accomplish in their future.”
Trinity Catholic High School is one of five diocesan high schools. The 40-acre campus will also include the Catholic Academy of Stamford upper school (grades 6-8), which is scheduled to move into a newly renovated space in the Trinity building this fall 2019-20 school year.
The Cardinal Kung Academy, launched last Fall, is a division of Trinity Catholic High School. Its mission is to support parents in their role as primary educators of their children, by providing a Catholic classical honors-track college-preparatory high school education at a reasonable cost.
Last month Bishop Caggiano announced a new scholarship opportunity to make Catholic high school education at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford more affordable and available to more families in lower Fairfield County.
The new Bishop’s Scholarship Initiative for 2019 will award a total of $12,000 ($3,000 for each of four years) to any Catholic student who is currently an 8th-grade student in good standing at one of the five Catholic elementary and middle schools in the area.
An additional scholarship of up to $8,000 ($2,000 for each of 4 years) is available to any student who qualifies for the incoming 9th-grade scholarship and has a sibling currently enrolled in any diocese of Bridgeport Catholic elementary or high school.
Trinity is the only diocesan-sponsored Catholic high school in the greater Stamford area. While most students are from Stamford, it also draws students from Norwalk, New Canaan and Westchester County.
UPDATED 5/31/2019 3:20pm:
Statement from Bishop Caggiano
(Trinity Catholic High School is located at 926 Newfield Ave, Stamford, Conn. 06905
Phone: 203.322.3401. Online: www.trinitycatholic.org.)