St. Paul Catholic HS Announces Valedictorian and Salutatorian

From St. Paul Catholic High School: Archbishop Emeritus Henry J. Mansell, D.D., Archdiocese of Hartford, will confer diplomas at the graduation ceremony for the St. Paul Catholic High School class of 2017, on Tuesday, June 6 at 6:00 p.m. in Hartford, CT at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. St. Paul Catholic High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2017 will also give their commencement speeches to friends and families that evening.

The Valedictorian and Salutatorian were announced at St. Paul’s annual Academic Awards Night. Jordan Silva ‘17 has been named Valedictorian of St. Paul Catholic High School Class of 2017. After being accepted to four Ivy League schools, Jordan has chosen to attend Harvard in August where he will major in Biology and focus on Pre-Med. After shadowing orthopedic doctors at Bristol Hospital last summer, his ultimate goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon. He is the son of Mabeline and Jose Silva of Southington.

Jordan managed to balance his academic, club and sports responsibilities throughout his four years at St. Paul, taking a number of AP classes, serving as class President all four years, being a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, an AP Scholar, playing football, baseball, track and in his Freshman year, helping to establish, after three decades, the revitalization of a St. Paul wrestling team which was a club sport in the first year and after the second year it became recognized as a Varsity sport through the CIAC.

Recently, Jordan received the Superintendent Summa Scholar by the Archdiocese of Hartford. When asked “What he’ll miss most at St. Paul after graduating? He answered, “I'll miss the community here, it’s like a second home to me, and everyone is family.”

Ben Czuprinski was named Salutatorian of the Class of 2017.

His mother and stepfather, Gina and Fredrick West are of Plainville and his father, Todd Czuprinski is also of Plainville.

Throughout Ben’s four years at St. Paul he managed three AP courses each year, is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, a member of the 2015 winning team of the ArtScience Project on biodiversity, a member of the United Way Youth Board, and active in the St. Paul’s Mission Club. Ben was also a team member of the Cross Country and Indoor Track teams for the last three years.

He recently was recognized as a Superintendent Summa Scholar. When asked “What he’ll miss most at St. Paul after graduating? He answered, “St. Paul is such a tight-knit community and with as much time as you spend here it’s a second home. St. Paul Catholic High School says it best when you come through the doors, ‘Welcome Home’. I'll miss my friends, teams, clubs, and all the teachers who have guided and mentored me along the way these past four years.” Ben will attend Marist College in the Fall and study Psychology and Business while still keeping his options open.

Thumbnail photo caption: Valedictorian Jordan Silva

Photo caption: Salutatorian Ben Czuprinski

Photos courtesy of St. Paul Catholic High School