West Hartford’s Northwest Catholic High School held its commencement ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Joseph on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Submitted by James Drzewiecki, Northwest Catholic

Northwest Catholic High School celebrated its 61st commencement exercises on Wednesday, May 21, honoring the Class of 2025 as they prepared to take the next step into their futures.

The ceremony, filled with reflection, recognition, and a sense of shared faith, brought together graduates, their families, and the Northwest Catholic community to mark this significant milestone.

In his opening remarks, Northwest Catholic President Mr. Michael J. Clark reflected on the importance of community and faith in the graduates’ journey.

“This is a very good evening, in which we come together to honor and give praise to the class of 2025,” said Clark. “This is a time to celebrate things that are always and everywhere good: faith, scholarship, dedication, and friendship, to name a few. And very dearly, we celebrate those things together this evening.”

Clark also emphasized the importance of the community that supported the graduates throughout their high school years.

Clark pointed out that while each diploma given today represents one individual, there are countless unnamed hands and hearts that have generously nurtured, encouraged, and inspired these graduates along the way.

“I thank you for allowing Northwest Catholic the privilege to lead and serve and shape and accompany your loved ones graduating this evening,” he said.

Valerie Mara, Ed.S, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, spoke next, emphasizing the personal growth the graduates had achieved throughout their time at Northwest Catholic.

“The choices that you have made to get where you are today, how you have sought excellence in yourselves and in others to see yourselves and to see others – that’s no small feat,” she said.

She also offered advice for the future, acknowledging that the road ahead may be filled with moments of doubt or anxiety.

“Where you are is where you are meant to be, there is no accident to that. There are going to be times that your mind plays tricks on you along the way as you get ready for college. There are going to be feelings, perhaps, of self-doubt, perhaps of feeling overwhelmed or anxious. Don’t feed those emotions,” Mara advised.

She stated that our faith will guide us, and that is a powerful thing.

Salutatorian Aidan Thomas Smith shared his own experiences of personal growth and the challenges he faced throughout high school.

“I learned to manage my time, balance responsibilities, and meet challenges head-on, and I’ll be honest, there were times where I was stressed,” he said. “But growth doesn’t happen without that.”

For Smith, the most significant part of his high school journey wasn’t academic success, but the sense of community he found at Northwest Catholic.

“What shaped me even more than the assignments or grades is the community I found here. Because this isn’t a place you go at it alone,” he explained. “My proudest moments here have not been academic – they’ve been about leading and being a part of something greater than myself.”

The evening’s keynote speaker, Michele Cavanagh Burris, a 1981 alumna and Vice President at Fordham University, reflected on her own experiences at Northwest Catholic.

“Many years ago, I stood where you are now, with my high school friends and teachers, ready to embark on the next stage of my life,” she shared.

She encouraged the graduates to continue serving others as they transition into college and beyond.

“Please continue to serve and walk with others in college, in your community, and in our world. Always looking to care for the other, never looking to pull the ladder up behind you,” Burris urged.

Valedictorian William O’Dowd spoke before diplomas were handed out and gave an inspiring message about the lasting impact of the guidance and support provided by his teachers.

“At Northwest, the teachers worked diligently day in and day out to give us every tool we need to make the hard choices when we exit those doors,” he said. “The best news for us is that when we leave those doors and are confronted each day by countless choices, we don’t have to make those choices alone.”

As the evening came to a close, the Class of 2025 was ready to embark on the next chapter of their lives. With the lessons of faith, community, and service instilled in them, the graduates are now prepared to face the challenges ahead and continue making a positive impact on the world.

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