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Celebrating Excellence: Class of 2026

6/11/2026

Bishop Diego Advancement Office

The Class of 2026 has much to celebrate as we honor some of Bishop Diego’s highest student achievements and recognitions. From academic excellence and athletic leadership to service and character, these Cardinals have distinguished themselves in remarkable ways. Join us in celebrating these students and their accomplishments.

Valedictorian: Emma Johnson
As the third of her siblings to attend Bishop, Emma has grown up attending Bishop events on and off campus. Since joining the Bishop community, she has committed to challenging herself academically, excelling in difficult AP courses. She has been recognized by the College Board with a College Board National Recognition Award and AP Scholar Award. She has also participated in other school activities including Campus Ministry, Girls’ Volleyball, Art Club, and has been a member of both National Honors Society and National Art Honors Society. In addition to academics and extracurriculars, Emma has volunteered at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and at her local parish. In her free time, Emma enjoys spending time with her friends, crocheting, baking, and reading. This fall, Emma is excited to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she will study Biology.

Salutatorian: Joe Simolon

From the classroom to the tennis courts, Joe has been a very active member of the Bishop Diego community during his four years. He has played multiple sports, holding captain positions on the tennis and cross country teams. Participating in the revival of Bishop’s Mock Trial program, Joe earned the county award for best defense attorney as part of Bishop’s third place team. Academically, he’s challenged himself with the most rigorous courses available, from AP Chemistry and Calculus BC to Ms. Williams’ AP Literature class. He was recognized by the College Board with a National Merit Commendation and is a member of several honors societies on campus, including the STEAM Society and National Art Honors Society. In his free time, he can be found going for long runs on the beach or learning new songs on the piano. Joe looks forward to studying chemical engineering at the University of Notre Dame in the fall.

Cardinal of the Year: Sarah Fellers

The Cardinal of the Year award is voted on by the senior class and is given to the student who has demonstrated the core values of Respect, Perseverance and Compassion over their four years at Bishop Diego. This student demonstrates strong school spirit, a passion for academics and a kindness recognized by their classmates. Congratulations to Sarah Fellers BDHS 2026 Cardinal of the Year!

Archdiocese of Los Angeles Christian Service Award Recipient: Galilea "Cali" Martinez

Annually, one senior from each of the Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles receives the Christian Service Award. The student is honored for their 4 years of commitment to strong service and faith in action. This year, Galilea 'Cali' Martinez was presented with the prestigious award by Archbishop Jose Gomez at a special Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels. Our regional Bishop Slawomir Szkredka was a concelebrate of the Mass. We are proud of Cali for her countless hours dedicated to encouraging systemic change in the Santa Barbara community through the Future Leaders of America organization where she has served on the council as both member and leader. Most recently, Cali has worked with the council to promote an initiative for the Youth Fund which is aimed at reallocating funds that are gathered from the cannabis industry. The goal is that these funds be moved back into healthy youth programs such as after school tutoring, drug and alcohol prevention, and free food distribution. We are incredibly proud of Cali for her leadership and service to the community in this impactful way!

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