On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Catholic Central High School held an all-school assembly to celebrate and honor the achievements of its Academic Teams.

The assembly kicked off with Matteo Silvestri ‘25, DECA President, who shared updates about the club's growth and upcoming events. Silvestri highlighted that DECA is now the largest and fastest-growing student organization at Catholic Central.

He introduced the topics covered by DECA, including business and entrepreneurship challenges like the stock market competition, and discussed the upcoming DECA tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina. Silvestri also introduced DECA’s student executive board members and invited interested students to join the club.

Next, student officers from HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) talked about the organization's mission and recent activities. They shared that HOSA members recently crafted rosaries for Ascension Hospital and hosted a guest speaker—a nurse who discussed the role of nursing in modern healthcare.

The students also announced the upcoming HOSA regional championship and introduced Peter Sanin ‘25, as the 2024-2025 Michigan HOSA President.

The Robotics Team followed with a video presentation showcasing their 2024 robot. Joseph Harrison ‘26 shared that this year has been the most successful in the team’s history. The team’s season kicks off in January, with their sights set on competing at the World Championships in the spring.

Head Coach Joe Lemieux also emphasized that Robotics isn’t just about building robots. He discussed how team members engage in a variety of non-technical activities, including creating videos, practicing finance, graphic design, animation, and managing the team’s website and social media accounts. Lemieux encouraged students interested in those areas to consider joining the Robotics team, regardless of their background or experience in STEM fields.

Ryon Schmidt ‘25 spoke on behalf of Model United Nations (Model UN), highlighting the team’s mission to prepare students for global citizenship. He discussed some of the key issues the team debates and addresses, including climate change, cybersecurity, and global food security. Schmidt urged students to join the team and be part of a community dedicated to tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Peter Sanin ‘25, also a Model UN member, stated, “Joining Model UN was the best decision I’ve ever made. If you want to change the world, Model UN might be right for you.”

The final presentation of the assembly was by Head Coach Christopher Gismondi ‘00, who spoke about the Catholic Central Academic Team.

Gismondi thanked the administration, particularly Athletic Director Aaron Babicz ‘93, for their ongoing support of the Academic Team. He announced that the team won the National Championship in 2022, thanks to their dedication, teamwork, and commitment.

This year, the Academic Team currently ranks 7th in the nation. Gismondi emphasized that while intelligence is important, it’s the perseverance and hard work that truly define the success of the team. He also introduced this year's roster.