St. Mary’s Springs Academy (SMSA) is pleased to announce the Valedictorian, Victoria Fabricius, and the Salutatorian, Matthew Padillo, for the graduating class of 2023! As valedictorian, Victoria obtained a cumulative GPA of 4.21. “This was no small feat,” she shared, as sacrifices were made to accomplish this long-held dream. While other students might have gone out on any given Friday night, Victoria often opted to stay home and put in extra hours to secure the best grade possible on the next weeks’ tests. Despite missing out on social opportunities, Victoria’s school spirit was not diminished in her determination for the academic top spot. She did not miss a single football game this past season, played four years of basketball in high school, while also cheering on her classmates every season. Victoria’s tireless dedication to the pursuit of academic excellence has also earned her the 2023 Herb Kohl Student Excellence Scholarship. As a recipient of this scholarship, and due to her exceptional academic career, leadership, citizenship, and school and community involvement, Victoria received a $10,000 award (four-year, $2,500 scholarship). The Herb Kohl scholarship is awarded annually to graduating high school seniors who exemplify hard work, achievements, and service. Victoria certainly possesses all of these qualities and will be able to put forth these same attributes next year as she attends Marquette University, pursuing a career in dentistry as a Biology major. Victoria’schoice of an exemplary Catholic University is no surprise, as her immediate and extended family have a tradition of sending their children to Catholic schools. SMSA has provided Victoria with more than an academic education, it has also provided her with the opportunity to pursue her faith. She has been a passionate member of SMSA’s campus ministry and could be found in the school’s beautiful chapel every Friday morning for Mass. When asked about the impact faith has had on her academic career, she responded, “I feel that without my faith, I would not be the student I am today. When tests were particularly difficult I knew that a couple of hours studying would be better spent in prayer, because at the end of the day, God is what I have to fall back on.” St. Mary’s Springs Academy has proved to be an excellent choice, having helped her to flourish her twelve years.
Matthew was named salutatorian after maintaining a cumulative GPA of 4.18 throughout his four years of high school. Matthew started at SMSA as a freshman, having gone to public school before attending SMSA. It is this unique perspective that has caused him to share that one of his favorite aspects of going to a private Catholic school is the smaller class sizes. He attributes much of his academic success to this intimate atmosphere of learning. When asked what this achievement means to him, Matthew stated, “It means a lot both to myself and my family. I am the only person in my family to receive academic honors in the U.S. I’m proud that it’s something I can show off and will never forget the skills obtained to surmount such adversity.” Matthew was the first in his family to be born in the United States, after his family migrated from the Philippines. The determination of his parents was passed onto him, and shines through in his humble nature. Matthew acknowledges that many sacrifices were made in order to obtain this significant academic goal. He spoke of the many hours spent studying, stating that when looking for him, his family and friends knew to look in his bedroom, because he would be there working on an
assignment, physics lab, or scholarship paper. Matthew acknowledged that although his sacrifices were numerous, he worked diligently to make his schedule fit in other activities. He understood the importance of maintaining healthy relationships. Matthew’s classmates and teachers are confident that as he continues his education at Marquette University to major in Biomedical Engineering, he will hold strong to his ties at St. Mary’s Springs Academy. As Matthew and Victoria both prepare to embark on their next journey at Marquette University, they both summed up their favorite memories from high school with two words: Jazz Night. Jazz Night annually celebrates the top musicians in the high school, with Victoria and Matthew leading the pack in both Vocal Jazz and Jazz Band. As they continue toward the next phase of their lives, they also have similar words of encouragement for future scholars: Do not take this time for granted and remember to spend time living, not only being alive. The best memories you make in high school will not be reflected in your grades, but rather relationships that come from your time spent on The Ledge. Congratulations to Victoria and Matthew, along with the entire Class of 2023, as you cross the stage on June 4th, you will conclude your time as a student on The Ledge, but remain important members of the St. Mary’s Springs Academy community as Ledgers for Life!
