MIAMI | The signs of graduation are caps and gowns and tassels. But those signs are also symbols: of wisdom, faith and hope.

Graduations honor lessons learned and augur wisdom still to gain. They are tangible expressions of hope that a new generation might heal an ailing world. They reward the faith of parents in children, teachers in students and students in themselves. And as such they are reminders that with faith, anything is possible.

The 3,077 graduates in the Archdiocese of Miami’s class of 2019 certainly live up to those lofty expectations. Here are some numbers to prove it:

• 13: Catholic high schools in the archdiocese, including one virtual school.
• 523: largest graduating class, St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale.
• 12: smallest graduating class, ADOM Virtual School.
• 893: attended Catholic schools for 12 years; representing 29% of the graduates of seven schools that obtained those statistics.
• 98%: college-bound.
• 54%: earned college scholarships.
• 5%: recognized as national merit finalists, semifinalists, commended or Hispanic scholars.
• 5%: graduated from programs for exceptional learners (disability or impairments).
• $264.5 million: amount earned in college scholarships.
• 728,853: number of community service hours completed.

Congratulations, class of 2019. The world hopes for your wisdom, is buoyed by your faith.

ARCHBISHOP COLEMAN CARROLL HIGH, MIAMI

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Alexandra Brown, valedictorian, Archbishop Carroll High

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Melanie Borrego, salutatorian, Archbishop Carroll High

 

ARCHBISHOP EDWARD MCCARTHY HIGH, SOUTHWEST RANCHES

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Sophia Eberhard, co-valedictorian, Archbishop McCarthy High

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Veronica Han, co-valedictorian, Archbishop McCarthy High

 

BELEN JESUIT, MIAMI

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Guillermo Molero, valedictorian, Belen Jesuit

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Julian Zulueta, salutatorian, Belen Jesuit

 

CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH, FORT LAUDERDALE

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Samantha Braverman, valedictorian, Cardinal Gibbons

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Garnett Byrd, salutatorian, Cardinal Gibbons

 

CARROLLTON SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART, COCONUT GROVE

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Alina Suarez, co-valedictorian, Carrollton

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Olivia Osle, co-valedictorian, Carrollton

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Caroline Dowell-Esquivel, salutatorian, Carrollton

 

CHAMINADE-MADONNA COLLEGE PREP, HOLLYWOOD

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Michael Macri, valedictorian, Chaminade-Madonna

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Kayla Kent, salutatorian, Chaminade-Madonna

 

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HIGH, MIAMI

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Francesco U. Baca, co-valedictorian, Columbus

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Fernando J. Salinas, co-valedictorian, Columbus

 

IMMACULATA-LA SALLE HIGH, MIAMI

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Ashley Zelaya, valedictorian, Immaculata-La Salle

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Lillian Sanchez, salutatorian, Immaculata-La Salle

 

MSGR. EDWARD PACE HIGH, MIAMI GARDENS

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Nathan Bonet, summa cum laude, Msgr. Edward Pace

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Vanessa Perez-Robles, summa cum laude, Msgr. Edward Pace

 

OUR LADY OF LOURDES ACADEMY, MIAMI

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Carolina Paniagua, valedictorian, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy

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Victoria Hernandez, salutatorian, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy

 

ST. BRENDAN HIGH, MIAMI

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Justin T. Prats, valedictorian, St. Brendan

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Sofia Roa-Febres, salutatorian, St. Brendan

 

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS HIGH, FORT LAUDERDALE

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Margaret-Anne Huntley, valedictorian, St. Thomas Aquinas

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Michael N. Anise, salutatorian, St. Thomas Aquinas