Josh
Braelyn Drew
Adela
DOMINICAN GRADUATE
What does a graduate from Dominican High School look like? An incredible performer? A gifted athlete?
A brilliant scientist? A champion of their faith? The true answer is: at Dominican, a student can become whatever they want to be. One thing that each and every Dominican student has in common is opportunity.
The opportunity to try new things.
The opportunity to be a leader.
The opportunity to connect with a community that will show its undying support. Opportunities that only a place like Dominican can provide.
So, what does the portrait of a Dominican graduate look like? It looks like whatever you can imagine.
Adela, Amira, Braelyn, Drew, Josh and Michael are part of the most recent members of the Dominican community who have experienced how four years at Dominican can change a person into something they never could have foreseen. Here is their experience in their own words.
Amira
Michael
(aka Blase)
Portrait
of a
Gregarious Perceptive Science-Oriented Hardworking
Adela Luna
Grade School: St. Robert (Shorewood, WI) College/University: Marquette University Intended Major: Elementary Education
Dominican has always been a part of my family. My mom went here as well as my cousins. They all loved the school and highly suggested it for me. I also fell in love with Dominican’s Theatre program at a young age after participating as a young performer in
“State Fair” and then in the Summer Theatre Camp for five years. So, it was an easy choice for me when deciding which high school to attend.
I knew going to a smaller school would have its advantages, but I didn’t realize how much it would make a difference. The smaller student body creates a strong sense of community.
After four years, I feel like I have a second family here. The teachers, staff and even upperclassmen always encouraged everyone to get involved. Someone is always looking
out for you here to make sure you are on the right track and becoming the best version of yourself.
I was given so many opportunities at
Dominican: KAIROS!, a lead role in a musical, student council, varsity volleyball, and now I get to work here during the summer as a Theatre Camp leader!
Through my time and endless opportunities at Dominican, I have become more
conscientious about our society and learned that the way you treat people can make a big difference. I also learned the importance of time management and how hard work makes all the difference. I have grown immensely in my faith and feel like it has given me the platform to make a difference in people’s lives.
Josh Egede
Grade School: Blessed Sacrament Catholic School (South Carolina)
College/University: University of Chicago Intended Major: Biology (Pre-Med)
Before my family officially moved to Wisconsin from South Carolina, my parents and I visited several Catholic schools in the Milwaukee area. Once we finished our tour of Dominican, I knew this would be the place for me. One thing I quickly realized is, Dominican’s smaller size is one of its strongest qualities. It is a tight-knit community. The students know each other and the teachers know each student by name and by talent. It was very easy to acclimatize and find a groove in the welcoming environment that is Dominican.
This school encourages its students to choose from a multitude of clubs and extracurricular activities. I quickly discovered that students here can always find a niche and group that really fits them and students are able to mix in between groups and interact with people from various backgrounds and experiences due to the small class sizes and
freedom to choose different activities. After joining the Dominican community as a junior, I was able to land a position on Senior Student Council after just one year at the school! It was one of the greatest opportunities of my high school career. On top of that, I was able to play basketball for two seasons, both filled with priceless memories. Although it is cliché, you can be anything you want to be at Dominican if you come with an open mind and are willing to work hard.
In my opinion, being a Dominican student means three words: community, growth, and empowerment.
Here, students experience a loving and passionate community that allows them to thrive and mature into people ready for the world stage.
You can be anything you want to be at Dominican if you come with an open mind and are willing to work hard.
I love Dominican and although I feel prepared for my next steps in life, I am not ready to leave this amazing community behind!
Faithful
Singer
Outgoing
Compassionate
Michael (Blase) Vartanian
Driven Self-Assured Leader Friend
Grade School: St. Monica (Whitefish Bay, WI) College/University: Marquette University Intended Major: Business Finance
In 2005 my oldest brother Peter skeptically walked through the front doors of Dominican High School on the first day of his freshman year - terrified and unsure. Quickly, his doubt and uncertainty faded as he experienced the full embrace of the Dominican experience - notably the compassion, care, and warmth of the school community. It is this “Dominican experience” that helped my parents choose
Dominican for me and my three older siblings. The school is a one-of-a-kind community that shapes the very lives of its students, not just their schoolwork.
The opportunities I had to express myself and bridge meaningful connections with other people happened every day at Dominican and was a step towards self- assurance, happiness, and overall fulfillment in life.
Dominican retreats were some of the opportunities
I enjoyed most over my four years. I was able to lead the Freshman Retreat and Kairos XXII - both of which changed the way I view my surroundings and interact with other people. Leadership opportunities, like those on retreats, are abundant at Dominican, which are not only essential for building character but developing the necessary skills to survive in the real world.
At Dominican I learned independence, self- sufficiency, attention to detail, and care for my surroundings. More than being a student, Dominican formed me as a person so that I may embrace each day of my life. I look to build others up as well as to promote successes outside of myself because of Dominican.
Everyday at Dominican was a step towards self-assurance, happiness, and overall fulfillment in life.
Amira Elsafy
Grade School: Whitefish Bay Middle School College/University: UW-Madison
Intended Major: Theatre and Business
I chose Dominican for two reasons. One, the theatre program. And two, I knew that at Dominican I would be a person, not a number.
After four years at this school, I was not wrong.
Dominican is a family, my family. The teachers care about all of their students and look out for you even when they don’t have to. The family atmosphere is clear throughout the school, and everyone is given so many opportunities to succeed and find their identity.
Right away as an underclassman, I was given the chance to have a lead role in a theatre production. I feel at other schools, even students with incredible talent don’t get the opportunity to shine, especially right away. With my amazing experiences in theatre, I continued to seek out leadership roles at Dominican through student
council and retreats. My experiences specifically with the Kairos retreat as a junior and then as a leader as a senior stand out as something that I will take with me for the rest of my life.
Through my large variety of experiences and working with so many different people, I became aware and gained worldly views. I learned to be considerate and mindful of other people’s situations. I learned the value of dedication and perseverance. I was almost always overwhelmed, but Dominican gave me every opportunity to accommodate my schedule to have a balanced life and get SLEEP!
It was all worth it. Dominican was the best decision of my life.
Dominican was the best decision of my life.
Actor
Leader
Faithful
Conscientious
Drew Dlugopolski
Grade School: St. Joseph Parish School (Grafton, WI) College/University: UW-Madison
Intended Major: Kinesiology
Dominican’s atmosphere is different than any other school. Its location allows for an environment where students come from many different backgrounds. I have friends from the south, east, west, and north sides of Milwaukee. I have friends from the North Shore and everything in between. But, no matter their background, one thing that the majority of Dominican students share in common is compassion. They understand that everyone holds unique talents and everyone isn’t meant to be alike. At the end of the day, I am really proud to have the friends that I have.
I believe the Dominican environment has prepared me to succeed in the world. At some point in your life you will have to work and get along with someone that is not like you and does not have nearly the same experiences as you, and I was able to do that here.
Ultimately, Dominican has provided me a vast amount of opportunities. I was able to play several sports, instead of being pressured to play just one. I joined the Knight Life Team and participated in school liturgies.
I have had friends from public schools tell me they wish they would have attended Dominican.
This surprised me because, at first, I had wanted to attend their school. Additionally, I have friends that transferred to Dominican from surrounding private schools. Specifically, they said that there was just something
different about Dominican’s atmosphere; it felt like a family.
Through my four years, all of my experiences have taught me that being a Dominican student means being a good person. Although I am not friends with all of my classmates, I know that they are genuine. In a time of need, I know that I would be able to trust any of them.
At some point in your life you will have to work and get along with someone that is not like you and does not have nearly the same experiences as you.
I was able to do that here.
Braelyn Jordan
Grade School: Hartford University School (Milwaukee, WI) College/University: Marian University
Intended Major: Nursing
At Dominican, I was given opportunity. I was given the chance to immerse myself in the school’s community.
I participated in volleyball and the dance team all four years, and was the team captain for the volleyball team and dance team for three years. I was a member of the Knight Life Team, which gave me the chance to share my unique Dominican experience with grade school students. I was given the chance to participate in softball; a sport I had never played before. This opportunity gave me the chance to connect with my peers because a group of us tried something we have never done before and went through it together.
I have realized that Dominican empowers its students.
This school provides the ability to and encouragement
of everyone to participate in something, no matter what it is, no matter if you have done it before. And, no matter what, Dominican supports its students and gives the opportunity to try without the fear of failure. The teachers and faculty make connections with students, support them in class and even attend students’ games, performances and events.
Being a Dominican student means being open minded and hardworking. Open-mindedness allows you to appreciate your peers and engage in the Dominican community. If you are open-minded and hardworking, you will be able to experience the love and support of the Dominican community to its fullest.
If you are open-minded and hardworking, you will be able to
experience the love and support of the Dominican community to its fullest.
Confident Volleyball Dance Team Team Leader
Open Minded
Athlete
Determined
Critical Thinker
Theatre
Athlete
Mindful Outgoing
Confident
Caring Creative Faithful
Considerate
Leader
Resilient
Open-minded
Techie
Driven
DETERMINED
Compassionate Science
Hardworking
Conscientious
