Holy Cross High School recognizes legacy graduates
It's something school officials hope will continue and want to expand.
This year's class had 24 graduates out of 75 who are members of legacy families, or families where members have attended a Catholic high school in the diocese for more than one generation. The legacy family graduates made up 32% of this year's graduating class.
School officials have recognized these families for 10 years. Jennifer Stonikinis, an English teacher at the school in Dunmore, said the school's Alumni Society, with the support of Principal Benjamin Tolerico, came up with the idea as a way to recognize the schools that created Holy Cross' identity and values, and the people that have supported Catholic education.
'There were so many high schools that are part of the makeup of Holy Cross and the parents and grandparents that proudly attended these schools should also be celebrated for their desire and sacrifices to have their children and/or grandchildren attend a Catholic school,' Stonikinis said in an email. 'We too are proud that so many families continue to choose our Holy Cross family and continue this wonderful tradition.'
Holy Cross High School was formed in July 2007 from a merger of Bishop Hannan High School in Scranton and Bishop O'Hara High School in Dunmore. The former Bishop Hannan High School itself came about from consolidations of various Catholic high schools in Scranton.
Tolerico said what is neat about legacy families is how the former schools still live on in what is now Holy Cross and the shared experience of families through generations.
He said the number of legacy families in graduating classes has gone up since it Stonikinis came up with the idea.
'I think it is something our families look forward to celebrating as the years have gone on and the word has spread of this tradition,' Tolerico said.
Olivia Strazzeri is one of the graduates who is part of a legacy family. Her father Louis Strazzeri graduated from the former Bishop Hannan in 2000. The Throop resident said having a parent that graduated from a Catholic high school played a role when she was deciding where to go to high school.
'When it came time to choose, remembering stories my dad would tell me and the great memories he had attending a Catholic high school definitely persuaded me to choose Holy Cross so I could make those memories for myself,' she said.
Olivia, who plans to attend Wilkes University studying pharmacy and Spanish, said being a part of a legacy family is meaningful.
'Holy Cross is a very familial place. Being a part of a legacy, however, makes it even more special. At any sporting event or school play, observing my father speak to his former teachers, some of whom taught me, was a really fascinating thing,' she said. 'Being a part of a generational tradition was really unique and something I try not to take for granted. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the stories teachers had of my dad in high school and it's an experience I hope to give my own children one day. I was thrilled to experience being a legacy family as the younger legacy and hope to carry on the tradition with my own children.'
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Members of the Holy Cross High School class of 2025 and their family members who graduated from a school in the Diocese of Scranton pose for a photo. The Catholic high school in Dunmore recognized 24 Legacy Families in this year's graduating class. (Submitted)
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Lou Strazzeri, left, who graduated from Bishop Hannon High School in 2000, poses for a photo with his daughter Olivia Strazzeri, who graduated this year from Holy Cross High School. The two are among 24 Legacy Families in this year's graduating class. (Submitted)
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Olivia Strazzeri, center, poses for a photo with her parents, Lou Strazzeri, who graduated from Bishop Hannon High School in 2000, and Kelly Strazzeri on her graduation day from Holy Cross High School. (Submitted)
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Members of the Holy Cross High School class of 2025 and their family members who graduated from a school in the Diocese of Scranton pose for a photo. The Catholic high school in Dunmore recognized 24 Legacy Families in this year's graduating class. (Submitted)
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Olivia said her family was happy for her when she graduated earlier this month.
'As the graduate, my hope was to always make my entire family proud, and it's something I can confidently say I think I accomplished,' she said.
Louis Strazzeri said he felt proud to provide his daughter with the same quality education he received from the diocese.
'I am proud my daughter and I are both proud graduates of the Diocese of Scranton school system,' he said.
Strazzeri said being a legacy family means he will always be a part of the Holy Cross family.
Tolerico said Stonikinis continues to look at new and creative ways to connect the past to the present. Stonikinis said she hopes to get more alumni involved with the school as it moves into its 18th year of operation.
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