Commitment Dei 2023

May 1st is National College Decision Day, the deadline for high school seniors to accept offers of admission and place college deposits.

Since 2011, Verbum Dei Jesuit High School has celebrated this momentous occasion by hosting "Commitment Dei", a schoolwide celebration when the current senior class reveals which college or university they will be attending in the fall.

This year, Commitment Dei will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023 beginning at 1:50 PM. The event will be livestreamed here. 

We hope you will join us as we celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the Class of 2023, including senior Emmanuel Castro.

Emmanuel Castro, Class of 2023, entered Verbum Dei Jesuit High School in the Fall of 2019 from Dodson Middle School. He chose Verbum Dei Jesuit for high school because of the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) and has been an intern at Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo for the duration of his high school career. For the past two years, Emmanuel has worked in the Environmental and Health Safety department at Aerospace Corporation and credits the CWSP program with having taught him how to be more confident in himself.

On campus at Verbum Dei Jesuit, Emmanuel is a member of the JEDIS (Jesuit Educated Disciples in Service), under the direction of Ms. Karen Chambers, Campus Ministry Director. The juniors and seniors who are members of the JEDIS serve as the spiritual leaders of the student body by assisting in liturgies, Christian Service, and student retreats. Outside of Verbum Dei Jesuit, Emmanuel is a member of a competitive hip-hop dance team.

Emmanuel is also a student athlete and has been a four-year member of the Varsity Baseball team serving as captain this year. At the end of his sophomore year, Emmanuel sustained an elbow injury, resulting in 3 months of physical therapy. As a result of that experience, Emmanuel discerned a strong interest in helping others, and is seeking a career helping athletes through injury either as a trainer, physical therapist, or sports medicine physician.

To that end, Emmanuel will be attending the University of Notre Dame as a winner of the highly competitive QuestBridge Scholarship, with an intended major of either Biology or Pre-Professional Studies. The QuestBridge Match Scholarship is offered as part of an inclusive financial aid package provided by member colleges and universities to cover the cost of attendance, including all tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, and travel expenses.

As his senior year comes to an end, Emmanuel is looking forward to graduation and enjoying the summer before he starts his college career at Notre Dame. When asked what piece of advice he’d give to his 8^th grade self, Emmanuel said, “Be yourself and know that is enough. Don’t try and change for anyone.”