Welcome to the New Alumni of the Class of 2020

This year, for the first time in the 56-year history of the school's Graduation ceremony, the Class of 2020 received their diplomas under clear skies on a lovely May evening. The previous 55 such ceremonies had been held indoors and, since 2007, they been conducted in the school's Competition Gym. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2020, originally scheduled for Sunday morning, May 24 in the Competition Gym, was delayed until Friday night, May 29 and held in Crusader Stadium.

Aside from the move outdoors and to the evening, some specially arranged seating to maintain social distancing, participants wearing masks, and a few other details, the ceremony went off pretty much as it has for more than half century.

As in all past years, at the conclusion of the ceremony another group of students - this time 252 - had transitioned to become the newest members of the school’s alumni. Also as previous graduates have, the Class of 2020 now moves on to colleges across the country and around the world. All places where their Jesuit education has prepared them to succeed.

Regardless of the unusual circumstances that culminated their education at Strake Jesuit, the Class of 2020 maintained the tradition of outstanding performance of previous classes. This includes their performances on standardized tests and earning the recognition of universities and colleges. Alexander Carlson, Nathaniel Fernandes, John Kuryla, and James Maher scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. The class average on the SAT was 1380 while the national average is 1060 and their collective average on the ACT was 29 compared to the national average of 21. This group of graduates earned over 380 scholarships and grants totaling over $20 million.The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognized 25 members of the class including five National Merit Scholarship winners and 20 National Merit Commended Students. Six other seniors were selected as National Hispanic Scholars.

In preparation for their transition to college, members of the Class of 2020 completed 1,612 college applications. Overall seniors were accepted into 186 colleges and will be attending 80 colleges in 27 states as well as in Argentina and Canada. Almost a third of the class, 31%, will be attending private institutions with ten members attending Jesuit colleges and universities and an additional seven attending five other Catholic universities.
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