American School of Valencia held its 32nd Annual Graduation and Award Ceremony of the Class of 2024 on Friday, May 31, 2024. For High School and the entire ASV Community, this is one of the most significant events in the academic year and represents the end of a long path of effort, determination and excellence for all of the students who pass this milestone. The event was celebrated at the Athletic Center and hosted parents of the graduates, other family members, former students, as well as faculty-staff and administrators.
As is the tradition, the ceremony began with an opening speech made by Iduna Hofkens and Clara Rico Buraglia, Salutatorians of the Class of 2024. Additional speeches were delivered by Ms. Katherine Matles, US Consular Agent in Valencia; the President of the ASV Board of Governors, Mr. Israel Garcia; Mr. Michael L. Smith, ASV Director; and Mr. Josep Vicent Frechina, MS-HS Assistant Director, who was also the master of ceremonies of the event along with Mr. Matias Benlloch (High School Assistant Principal). The closing student speech before delivering awards and diplomas was made by the Valedictorian of the Class of 2024, Claudia Arana Nava, the student earning the highest grade point average in this graduating class.
The speeches praised effort and perseverance shown by the new graduates and thanked families for trusting their children’s education to ASV. Additionally, they included a variety of anecdotes and reflections on the experiences lived from Preschool until this last year of their lives at ASV, which, in the words of Mr Frechina, “the truly important thing will be if you have found your path and if the school has equipped you with the necessary tools to do so.”
Class of 2024 Awards
The Class of 2024 is the 32nd graduating class in school history and the largest one with 73 graduates. The recipients of the Class of 2024 Awards are:
- Iduna Hofkens and Clara Rico Buraglia: Salutatorians
- Mar Frechina: Arts Award
- Héctor Escuder Sáez: Humanities Award
- Gonzalo Rebelo Rel: STEM Award
- Brea Bowen: Utopia English Award
- María Tormos Sanchis and Zlatan Čeljo: Scholar-Athlete Awards
- Olivia García Villamil: International Mindedness Award
- Alexandra Doménech: Director’s Award
- Zlatan Čeljo: Ambassador’s Award
- Claudia Arana Nava: Valedictorian
Senior Walk
On Thursday, May 30, 2024, Grade 12 students were on campus to participate in the pre-graduation events: the Senior breakfast, the rehearsal of the ceremony, and a relatively new ASV tradition, the Senior Walk. Those who purchased the 2023-2024 ASV Yearbook received their copy to enjoy this memory and get signatures from their fellow graduates.
Once again, congratulations to the Class of 2024 and best wishes in all of your future endeavors!
