Video by Keith Brown and Hayley Curtiss
The valedictorian for the first class graduating as Cabrini University has been decided. Senior Natalie Trerotola will be honored as the 2017 class valedictorian. Trerotola is a Pre‐K‐4 education major with a concentration in special education Pre‐K‐8. The recipient is chosen by the Academic Review Board for having the highest academic achievement of the class among other criteria. The student chosen for the honor is the one who delivers the valedictory speech at the commencement ceremony.
Trerotola was awarded the class plate, given to the student with the highest GPA of the class, both her sophomore and junior years. Trerotola also made the President’s List every semester (for a 3.9 GPA or higher) and is a member of four different honor societies: Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society, Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society and Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. Trerotola serves as Student Ambassador for the Admissions Office and treasurer of the group Cabrini Friends of Exceptional Children (CFEC).
“To be valedictorian means the world to me. I actually didn’t even consider it a couple years ago when I came here. My goal was to maintain a high GPA, and ever since that first semester it felt good to get a 4.0, so I continued, continued, and then junior year someone said to me you’re probably going to be valedictorian and I was like ‘what,'” Trerotola said. “Didn’t even consider it. As it got closer I was like ‘wow, this is really cool.’ It feels good to be able to maintain this and reach my goals, and all of those things. I didn’t want to get my hopes up too much, but it’s really cool to have that. It’s time to celebrate!”
“When I got the email I had to contain myself and it was almost impossible! I was shaking, literally shaking, and I called my mom like ‘You’re never gonna believe it!’ I texted my whole family… it was a big deal.”
Trerotola has completed four different education field experiences over her time at Cabrini and is currently completing the second half of senior year field experience at the Elwyn Davidson School by working with eight high-functioning students on the autism spectrum who struggle with severe emotional disturbances.
Through her time at Cabrini, Trerotola has bought into the school’s focus on education of the heart as well as social justice and the common good. Trerotola was looking for a school with a good education program when she graduated from high school and has found a home at Cabrini.
“When I was looking at schools, I was actually looking for schools with a really good education program. I had a few schools in mind, but when it came down to it and I toured Cabrini, I definitely chose Cabrini for the education program,” Trerotola said.
“One major thing that Cabrini does is, they set up a really good community, and all the professors that’ve helped me, especially within the education program, have really made me feel at home, have really made me feel like I can accomplish things, and they’ve always pushed me to the greatest of my ability, and they’ve always made me go above and beyond and take that extra step. It clearly has paid off, but it’s just been really great.”
Trerotola believes that finding balance is the key to her success.
“My biggest advice is to just keep pushing yourself; there’s really no downfall to pushing yourself because it pays off at the end of the day… find a happy medium while in the process of reaching your goals.”
