†† CATHOLIC EDUCATION
s of 2017
St. John Paul II High School valedictorian Erika Suniga (left) and salutatorian Camille McCutchon. Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic
psychology and minor in business. She hopes to one day obtain her doctorate and open up a private practice in psychology. “I’m extremely grateful for all I’ve had, so I’d like to minister to third world countries,” Steen said. “I also love kids, so they would be my main focus.” She has organized school projects like “Jeans for Jesus,” which collected jeans for homeless teenagers and will also serve as director for a retreat at her home parish over the summer, before she leaves for College Station. “We feel truly blessed to have such an amazing daughter. The two most important things in Sheridan’s life are her faith and her school work. Her accomplishments have been a result of her strong drive to excel, hard work and dedication,” said her mother Michelle Steen.
Erika Suniga, Valedictorian, St. John Paul II High School Erika Suniga dreamed of becoming a ballerina, chef and professional dancer as a child. “And that was probably all in one year,” Suniga said with a laugh. The 17-year-old graduated at the top of her class at St. John Paul II High School. It took a life-changing illness to shift the direction of her future career. “I was really sick for about six months during middle school and it opened my eyes to the life-saving work of medical professionals.
I’d like to become an emergency room doctor someday,” she said. Suniga wants to travel the world, assisting third world countries as a doctor and eventually open an orphanage. “My grandma was an orphan. Young minds are shaped so easily and sometimes these kids don’t know there are people out there that care for them. I want them to know about God and realize they are loved,” she said. Her mother, Monika Suniga Graham, noted her daughter inspires those around her without even realizing it. “She has the fortitude and courage to push through her fears and take a stand on what she believes,” Suniga Graham said. “She inspires me to dream more, learn more and become more. She is one of God’s many blessings and I thank God everyday for sharing her with me.” The valedictorian for St. John Paul II will attend the University of Texas in Austin, majoring in biology.
Camille McCutchon, Salutatorian, St. John Paul II High School Camille McCutchon had been applying to various colleges since last fall. Each time she obtained a copy of her transcript, she would take a peek at her ranking. When she found out she was her school’s salutatorian this year, she was genuinely surprised. “I was under the impression I was still third, so it was quite a June 2017 | South Texas Catholic 19