Prepared for Life: Ugarte Family

A Family Prepared For Life

By Stephanie R. Leader

After the four years at Delone Catholic High School come to an end, our students are prepared for life as they go forth to be “Doers of the Word.” Delone Catholic students are challenged to know Jesus Christ and take Him with them as they distinguish their callings in life and excel in whatever they are called to do.

The six siblings of the Ugarte family: Roberto, Isabela Greenholt, Antonio, Armando, Mateo, and Eduardo, all graduated from Delone Catholic from 2011-2021. Each has shared their talents to better the world in their fields. Through their adventures, their faith and Catholic identity have guided them in education and the workforce.

The eldest of the Ugarte siblings, Roberto ’11, has been called to study and practice law. A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University, he went on to obtain his Juris Doctor degree. He is now a lawyer licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, and soon Maryland.

Antonio ’15 attended the Catholic University of America where he obtained a degree in architecture, followed by a Master of Architecture degree concentrating in sacred space and cultural studies, and is now pursuing professional licensure while working as an architectural designer in the Washington D.C., area.

Isabela ’13 was called to the healthcare profession. She knew since high school that she was passionate about working in medicine. She attended Loyola University in Baltimore, Md. where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Upon graduation, she found that she wanted to attend the physician assistant program at Salus University, and now lives and works in Adams County

Younger brothers Armando ’17, Mateo ’19, and Eduardo ’21 have also been called to serve in the medical field. Armando graduated from Loyola with his degree in biology and has worked as a medical assistant at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Md. He intends to start medical school in the fall of 2022 at the Edward Via School of Osteopathic Medicine. Mateo is currently attending Villanova University where he is pursuing a degree in biology on the pre-med track, and Eduardo is also attending Loyola, where he studies biology on the pre-health track.

Like many high school graduates, the path each family member wanted to take was not always clear-cut, but dedication to learning afforded them all a sense of direction. “The funny thing about goals is that they are constantly changing,” Antonio said. Antonio’s architectural career has taken him to many unexpected places, internationally to multiple countries, and has had his work reviewed by many worldrenowned architects. For Roberto, he was unsure where life might take him after graduation. Once becoming established in his law career, he remained close to his hometown of Hanover, where he was able to connect with many local professionals, including several Delone Catholic alumni.

For Isabela, she credits Delone Catholic for how she was prepared for effective leadership and learning the value of service in the community. “The things I learned, admittedly failed at, and practiced daily at Delone prepared me for college, my career, and my family life today,” she said. “Delone Catholic taught me time management skills, critical thinking skills, practicing self-discipline, and the importance of practicing my faith.”

Mateo agrees that the time management skills he learned while attending Delone Catholic prepared him for higher education. “Having teachers who challenged me in high school was vital to developing good work habits and learning how to balance school with life,” he said.

Antonio believes that the open class discussions and debates prepared him for the interactions to come in higher education. “Delone gave me the foundation and principles upon which to build a higher education,” he said. He noted that he was given the tools needed to think critically, question subject matter, and not be afraid to raise a discussion.

All six of the Ugarte siblings have similar advice for recent or soon-to-be graduates of Delone Catholic. Do not take for granted your education, get as involved as you can, and be thankful that God gave you the gift of Catholic schooling. “Ultimately, don’t forget to enjoy the time you have and make as many memories as possible; you’ll never get this time back,” Eduardo said.

As Roberto, Isabela, Antonio, Armando, Mateo, and Eduardo are each prepared for life, they always remember to fall back on their faith. “I believe my faith will be instrumental in my future career as a physician because I will use my faith every day in my words and actions in caring for others,” Armando said.

“A person’s faith is the foundation of everything they do,” Antonio said. He recalled a quote from St. Francis de Sales which he believes fully envelops Delone Catholic’s motto “Be Doers of the Word”: “Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily.”