St. Martin’s Grad Olivia Paola Earns Valedictorian
at Archbishop Spalding
Georgetown-Bound Student Compiled a 4.61 Grade Point Average
ANNAPOLIS – St. Martin’s Lutheran School of Annapolis graduate Olivia Paola recently earned Archbishop Spalding High School’s valedictorian for the Class of 2021. A 2017 graduate of St. Martin’s, Olivia will attend Georgetown University in the Fall.
Olivia attended St. Martin’s from pre-kindergarten all the way through eighth grade. She credits teachers Ms. Glava, Senora Fitch and Mrs. Belt for preparing her for high school.
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“My ten years at St. Martin’s were extremely formative and rewarding,” Olivia said. “Its tight-knit community allowed me to form strong relationships with friends and teachers that remained intact throughout my high school years.”
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Olivia played basketball and lacrosse as a St. Martin’s student. She also participated in the Random Acts of Kindness Club (RAK), a student organization that performs service projects in the area. According to Olivia, it was these activities paired with St. Martin’s academics that helped her once she arrived at Archbishop Spalding.
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“Not only did St. Martin’s provide a joyful environment, but it also provided me with a strong academic foundation that served me well during high school,” Olivia said. “The combination of a strong curriculum and devoted teachers created an incredible academic environment similar to that of the high school level.”
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In her eighth-grade yearbook, Olivia stated that she wanted “to travel the world and become a surgeon.” Thus far she has already visited eight countries. In terms of becoming a surgeon, Olivia will major in Healthcare Management & Policy at Georgetown in the Fall. Additionally, she will follow the Pre-Med track.
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“Olivia certainly has the intellectual abilities to earn the title of valedictorian, but it is her work ethic that got her there,” said St. Martin’s Head of School, Patrick Kiley, a 1993 graduate of Archbishop Spalding. “We are proud of Olivia’s high school achievements and wish her continued success. We are honored to be a part of her story.”
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Founded in 1963, St. Martin’s Lutheran School educates students in grades pre-kindergarten 3 through the eighth grade. The school, located at the corner of Forest Drive and Spa Road in Annapolis, is home to 125 students. St. Martin’s mantra is: “Learning Today & Leading Tomorrow.”
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Are you a former St. Martin's student? We would love to hear from you! Please visit our Alumni page: https://www.stmartinsonline.org/alumni