2024 CBA graduates reflect on their high school experience

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — High school graduation signifies many things for those graduating.

“Our diplomas are a blueprint for a better world, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work,” Max Lachut, Christian Brothers Academy’s salutatorian, said.

It’s the end of one chapter and the start of a new one. The CBA grads have big plans for the future, but on their graduation day, they also reflected on their past and where they were four years ago in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are the first class to enter high school during COVID, and freshman year consisted of lunches in Callahan gym and our grade being split in half based on last name,” Valedictorian Joseph McMahon said.

The dysfunctional start to their high school experience made students appreciate their journey that much more.

“I feel like since COVID, we were all like at our houses and everything. We were really excited to get back to high school and interact with everybody,” Sydney Vaughn, a CBA graduate, said. “It just brought us together because we were more excited to be together and interact with everybody.”

Vaughn will be attending the University of Notre Dame in the fall, saying joining the Fighting Irish is family tradition.

“My dad went there, and we all have been going there for a really long time since I was little, and then I’ve always been really interested in the medical field,” Vaughn said.

For Anthony Lici, he remembers the COVID-19 pandemic as a time when he grew into himself.

“During that time, I became comfortable with myself in a way, and I began to develop myself in different ways,” Anthony Lisi, a CBA graduate, said. “That’s kind of when I found my passion to work towards getting into the military academy, so it’s been an experience but I’m happy to be here.”

Lisi will be leaving the Syracuse area in June for the United States Military Academy.

“It’s kind of a different path than the typical college experience. It’s definitely a challenge,” Lici said. “Overall, it’s a way to better myself and challenge myself as a person and develop my skills and be successful in the world.”

The graduation ceremony celebrating the future ahead for CBA students, while also remembering where they came from.

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