Holy Cross Academy Names 2013 Valedictorian, Salutatorian

Amarillo—The top students of the Holy Cross Catholic Academy Class of 2013 have been announced by Darla Mueller, associate head of school for operations and instruction at Holy Cross.

Valedictorian is Sarah Wilting and Salutatorian is Maria Elena “Nena” Fierro.
Sarah Wilting is the daughter of Mike and Rozanne Wilting.  She has attended private schools since Montessori.  Wilting played golf for HCCA for seven years and went to the TAPPS State Tournament all four years of high school.  She was named a TAPPS Academic qualifier in golf as a junior.

Wilting served as the manager for the volleyball team during her senior year after playing during her freshman and sophomore years. She received the inaugural Holy Cross Discipulus Award her sophomore year.  Wilting served as a class representative for Student Council as a sophomore and junior.  She participated in the Latin Club for three years.  Wilting was co-editor of the school yearbook during her junior year and is serving as editor this year. She also volunteers at Interim Hospice.  

After graduation Wilting plans to attend Southwestern University in Georgetown and major in communication and minor in business.  She also plans to pursue a career in advertising, using her artistic creativity.

Maria Elena “Nena” Fierro is the daughter of Joe and Myrna Fierro. She has attended Catholic Schools for 13 years, beginning at Our Lady of Guadalupe School. She was a four-year member of the volleyball team, serving as captain for three years. Fierro also ran varsity track for four years and for two years was a member of the cross country team, qualifying for state her sophomore and junior years.

Fierro earned TAPPS Academic All-State honors in volleyball, cross country and track. She also participated in TAPPS Academic competition, earning third place honors in Ready Writing last month.

Fierro has been named a National Hispanic Merit Scholar and plans to attend Texas A&M University in College Station, where she intends to major in biology in hopes of becoming a doctor. She is currently considering veterinarian studies and oncology as possible medical career paths.

Outside of the classroom, Fierro has served as a student volunteer at Northwest Texas Hospital for the past two summers and has also volunteered her time at the annual Las Fiestas de Amarillo.

Baccalaureate Mass for the Class of 2013 is set for Thursday, May 30 at 7:00pm at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 4100 South Coulter. Commencement Exercises will take place the following evening, also at 7:00pm, in the St. Joseph’s School gym at 4118 South Bonham.