80.0°,
Partly Cloudy Hard work pays off for Holy Name’s top grads
Two weeks ago, it was anyone’s guess as to who finish as the top graduates of Holy Name of Mary School’s class of 2013.
Eighth-graders were called to the school yard on May 31 to hear from Principal Richard McMahon’s. He announced that Daniel Bosko was named the valedictorian and Monica Ferrall was salutatorian. Graduation ceremonies were held on June 7.
“I was very happy, partly surprised,” Bosko said about receiving the top honor. “Overall I felt pretty good about myself.”
For Bosko and Ferrall, the competition was tougher than in years past. They are the top two of 48 graduates, Holy Name’s largest graduating class in decades. Bosko has been attending the school since pre-K; Ferrall arrived in third grade.
In the fall, Bosko will attend Holy Cross High School in Flushing. He said he likes that it is a small school where he can receive personalized attention. Additionally, Bosko plays clarinet and bass clarinet, and noted that Holy Cross has a strong music program. He plans to join the freshman band and jazz ensemble.
Ferrall will go to Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, joining her older brother. She said she likes the school’s strong academic program and wants to challenge herself. And with about 2,000 enrolled, she looks forward to meeting new people and becoming involved in extra-curricular activities. Ferrall also hopes to join the swim team.
Bosko will have five classmates join him at Holy Cross and Ferrall will be one of eight members of her class at Kellenberg.
The two students have been very involved in academics and extra-curricular activities while at Holy Name. For the past four years, they have both participated in the science fair. Bosko placed first in sixth and seventh grade, and Ferrall won first place this year.
Bosko said he enjoyed the science fairs because it allowed him to expand his horizons. In sixth grade, he built a hover craft. “I was able to explore things I like,” he said.
He was president of the Student Council and a member of the National Junior Honor Society. Recently, he completed a service project for the church by collecting food, condiments and paper goods for needy families for Memorial Day. Bosko has also tutored second grade students, and is a Boy Scout.
Ferrall was the National Junior Honor Society’s historian and has starred in two school musicals, “The Wizard of Oz” and “Broadway on Grove.” For the church, she is an alter server and lector, and is part of the choir. She is also a Girl Scout and last year collected food for the Ronald McDonald House.
Both students were chosen to the invitation-only honor band, which consists of students from Catholic schools across Long Island.
Bosko said one of his best school memories was last year’s trip to Philadelphia where he got to see many historical sites such as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Ferrall remembers fondly this year’s trip to the city in which she got to see the Statue of Liberty and “Phantom of the Opera.”
As he prepares to leave the familiar hallways of Holy Name, Bosko remembers fondly the people who have made a difference in his life including his principal, teachers and classmates. He said he values the faith-based education he received.
Ferrall said she can’t speak highly enough about the teachers at Holy Name. “They’ve helped mold me into the person I am today,” she said. “They’ve pushed me so I can try harder and harder.”
In two years, the names Bosko and Ferrall will be seen again on the graduation program, when their younger sisters finish up at Holy Name.
