Editor’s note: The Diocese of Palm Beach honors its Catholic high school graduates, particularly the valedictorians and salutatorians, with senior spotlights. In the last of three articles shining a light on excellence in Catholic education, the Florida Catholic spoke with the top seniors at Saint John Paul II Academy.
BOCA RATON | Talk with a typical valedictorian and most often he or she will tell you with certainty their life plan. “I’m going to such-and-such university and major in whatchamacallit toward a career as this.”
But their singular focus on success can become blurred by the realities of life. Stuff happens, and sometimes you have to roll with it.
That’s why it was refreshing that valedictorian Logan Billington and salutatorian Maura Evans of Saint John Paul II Academy, when speaking about their future selves, revealed some understanding of what often happens to organized plans.
Explaining that he will attend the University of Virginia, Billington added, “I always like to say, ‘You want to make God laugh, make a plan.’ That’s my plan. I’m going to major in mathematics. My plan as of now is, after that, go to law school and become a lawyer because my grandfather’s a lawyer, and I’m also inspired by his work and who he was as a man. But once again, that’s a plan. We’ll see where God takes me.”
Evans, listing her agenda of entering the University of Notre Dame and majoring in psychology on a pre-med track, then training to be a physician, said, “I really want to be a doctor, but kind of like what Logan said, you never know God’s plan for you.”
Both students spoke affectionately about their activities on and off the Boca Raton campus, with Billington saying that he came to appreciate the Catholic school’s community service requirement. He and Evans volunteered with the Miracle League of Palm Beach County, which provides special facilities for children with disabilities to play baseball.
“There’s no outs, it’s only home runs. We help them have a jolly old time. I think Saint John Paul really introducing the concept of community service and making the community better than what you found it, that’s big for me,” Billington said. Evans, the daughter of Brian and Tara Evans, fulfilled her service requirement by serving as a Florida Senate page in Tallahassee and learning about the legislative process.
Acting in an independent film called “The Dark Hammock” is a source of pride for Billington, the son of Ashley and Jodi Billington. The comedy/drama/mystery/thriller was “accepted to 20 film festivals ranging from places like Madrid to Florence, Italy, to Marina del Rey, California, to Stillwater, Oklahoma. And we even won seven awards, like best thriller or best action family feature,” he said.
After attending Lake Worth Christian School for prekindergarten through fifth grade, then St. Vincent Ferrer in Delray Beach for sixth through eighth, Evans will continue her faith-based education at Notre Dame. Being a leader on a Kairos retreat for Saint John Paul students was an important highlight during high school, she said.
“Being in a Catholic school made my relationship with Christ stronger. And having a community of people, friends, teachers, faculty, they all just want to uplift you and bring you closer to God,” Evans said, adding, “I really feel being at a Catholic school helped me definitely grow my connection with Christ, like everyone needs.”
The top graduates gave generous kudos to their favorite teachers. Encouragement from Spanish teacher Stella D’Agostino led Billington to proficiency in the language during three years of classes. “Not only educationally has she helped me, but also just in general being very caring, very kind,” he said.
Evans credited chemistry teacher Ryan Haag for instilling a love of science and being a “great spiritual leader.” “He cares so much about being a teacher. You know how there’s a difference between people who do it for the job and the people who do it because they love it? He loves his job, and he really, really cares about every single one of us,” she said.
Grateful for the last four years, Billington and Evans talked about the loving community that is at Saint John Paul II. “Of course, being val and sal, we put a lot of work into studying, but it really is the teachers who help us thrive, and not only the teachers, but also our friends and faculty,” he said.
Looking back, during one of her last days on campus, Evans expressed some sadness about moving on after graduation. “I’m going to miss so many people. The whole campus, all the teachers, my friends,” she said. “It’s just a really special place, and I feel like our class has a special connection, and you can’t really get that anywhere else.”
To learn more about Saint John Paul II Academy, visit https://www.sjpii.net or call 561-314-2100. Follow the school on Facebook and Instagram. Stay updated on the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools at www.diocesepbschools.org, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @diocesepbschools.
