Sacred Heart Academy Highlights Number Two and Number Three Students

From Sacred Heart Academy: Alysse Mastriano, daughter of Dominick and Jennifer Mastriano of East Haven, is the 2017 Salutatorian of Sacred Heart Academy (Hamden) Class of 2017. She will attend Boston College in the fall, where she was accepted with the BC Scholarship. She intends to major in nursing and minor in psychology and hopes to eventually attend medical school. As the second ranked student, Alysse delivered the Salutatory Address at Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 27 at the Academy.

Alysse has been a member of multiple honor societies throughout her four years at Sacred Heart. In sophomore year, she was inducted to the National Spanish Honor Society and the National Science Honor Society and as a junior to the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta—National Math Honor Society. Alysse received the Harvard Book Award as a junior and this spring, she was recognized as a Summa Scholar by the Archdiocese of Hartford.

Alysse served as president of Math League and as a COR Team leader, and has volunteered at Saint Ann Soup Kitchen and Pantry and the Clelian Adult Center.

In addition to her academic accomplishments, Alysse was a four-year varsity field hockey and lacrosse player. She was named an All-SCC Scholar-Athlete all four years for having earned a varsity letter in her respective sports and a GPA of 4.0 or higher.

Outside of school, Alysse has danced for 15 years, where she spends much of her time teaching the younger students.

Catherine Valloso, 18, graduated from Sacred Heart Academy third in the class and as such delivered the Graduates’ Prayer during Commencement Exercised on May 27. Catherine will attend Fairfield University where she plans to major in International Studies and minor in Business Law, Regulation, and Ethics. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Leslie Valloso of East Haven.

During her time at Sacred Heart, Catherine was inducted to the National Honor Society as well as the Science, Spanish, and Math National Honor Societies. She served as president of Book Club and treasurer of SHAdes of SHA, the Academy’s Diversity Club. In 2015 and 2016, Catherine earned gold on the National Spanish Exam and in 2017, silver. She was awarded with the Gettysburg Book Award as a junior. This spring, she was named a Summa Scholar by the Archdiocese of Hartford. An excellent visual artist, Catherine won first place in pastels in the Shoreline Arts Association Future Choices Art Competition and just recently, first place in the Congressional Arts competition and thus will have her art displayed at the United States Capitol for one year.

Outside of school, Catherine participated in a summer internship with Apostle Immigrant Services in New Haven, a non-profit organization designed to aid local immigrants. She has volunteered for several other organizations and at school events, but primarily at her local nursing home. Outside of school, Catherine has studied piano, ballet, and art for many years.

Excited to begin her education at Fairfield University, Catherine shares her thoughts on her time at the Academy, “Sacred Heart has taught me so much…not only of the value of academics in one’s life but of the value of relationships and memories made in high school. It will be difficult to let the years spent here become memories, but as they do, they surely will be good ones.”

Thumbnail photo caption: Alysse Mastriano

Photo caption: Catherine Valloso

Photos courtesy of Sacred Heart Academy