Catholic Education Foundation Celebrates the Class of 2008

By Allison Bergeron, CEF Staff Member

On Sunday, February 10, 2008, the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) celebrated the graduating Class of 2008 with its Annual Senior Mass and Breakfast at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Mass was presided by Cardinal Roger Mahony. Six hundred people joined in the celebration including over 300 high school seniors supported by the Foundation and their families.A breakfast celebration took place after Mass where the Cardinal acknowledged the hard work and sacrifices the students and their parents had made over the past four years. He also commended the Foundation's Trustees, donors and staff for their commitment and passion for the mission of the CEF over its 20-year history.

CEF President Rob Smith introduced the 2008 Senior Essay Contest Winners Randall Avila of Cantwell Sacred Heart High School and Karla Mojica of Bishop Alemany High School. Randall and Karla read their essays aloud at the breakfast celebration. Both students expressed their gratitude for the gift of their Catholic education as well as the academic and spiritual journeys they had experienced over their high school careers. Each winner's school received an additional $2,000 tuition award for the 2008-2009 school year in honor of their students' winning essay.

CEF Program Director Theresa Fragoso thanked the students and parents for attending the event and presented the highest attendance awards to Cantwell Sacred Heart and St. Genevieve High Schools. Both schools each received an additional $2,000 tuition award for the 2008-2009 school year because of their great attendance at the event.

CEF Executive Director Kathy Anderson closed the event and told the students to remember three words - READY, SET, GO! She reminded them that they are ready because of their Catholic academic education; they are set because of their Catholic values and the character education they received during their high school years; and they are now responsible to go and make a difference in the world as they continue their education and take on challenges in their lives.

For more information about the Catholic Education Foundation and its programs, please visit www.cefdn.org.

Randall and his family are members of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Montebello. He went to public school prior to attending Cantwell. Randall is an active member of the parish community having served as a Sunday school assistant and confirmation peer leader. Karla Mojica attended St. Bridget of Sweden School in Van Nuys.