Senior communication major Danielle Alio was announced as the valedictorian of the Class of 2012 at the Honors Convocation on Friday, April 27.
After four years and an impressive list of accomplishments, Alio was selected as this year’s valedictorian, a decision that was unexpected for her.
“It’s the greatest honor anybody can get,” Alio said. “It was unexpected, but it’s something that I always dreamed of.”
This is not the first time that Alio has received such a prestigious honor. She was named the salutatorian for the class of 2008 at Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School in Norristown, Pa.
“In high school I was salutatorian, so it’s only the best goal that I had in the dream of mine to be valedictorian.”
Alio walked through Cabrini’s doors in the fall of 2008 with an idea of what she wanted to do. Since then, she has gone on to take an impressive list of accomplishments, the likes of which would probably take up an entire Loquitur issue on their own.
Alio has had a role in four different spring musicals, as well as several roles in fall plays. She has also worked as managing editor for the Loquitur, production director for the WYBF radio station and executive producer of Cabrini’s news show, LOQation, among others.
She has also been inducted into several honors societies, including the Society for Collegiate Journalists and Alpha Psi Omega, the national theatre honors society. She has also won the communication department’s medal, something that she coveted since her freshman year.
Alio has also been on several trips around the world, including a trip to Asia last summer that she won as part of a contest.
“One of my biggest accomplishments was winning the award that sent me to Asia,” Alio said. “So I went to Taiwan and South Korea for two weeks.”
Alio’s trips outside of the campus weren’t just limited to the Eastern Hemisphere, however.
“I went to Ecuador, that was another big accomplishment,” Alio said. “I went to New Orleans over spring break. I went as the first group of students that went to New Orleans.”
Four years here at Cabrini left Alio with a lifetime of memories. Picking one favorite would be a difficult task.
“I was also Miss Cabrini 2010,” Alio said. “That’s a favorite moment: doing my talent act.”
Alio’s involvement with many on-campus activities and honors societies also left her with friendships and connections that she will keep for the rest of her life.
“I’d have to say my favorite moments were when I was with my friends and when I would hang out with my friends,” Alio said. “My life-long friends are from Cabrini.”
Like any other senior, Alio has big plans for what she wants to do with her life after Cabrini. She has held several internships and jobs, including photography for a local newspaper and producing Sid Mark’s “Sundays with Sinatra” show for Philadelphia’s WPHT talk radio station.
“It’s hard to say, because you have your dreams and your goals, and of course I’m going to try to achieve those dreams and goals,” Alio said. “I can see myself working in television as a producer. I really like doing that. I can also see myself one day hopefully owning my own production company.”
The past four years have been an interesting ride for Alio and if her college career is any indication, it should not be hard for her to be successful in the future. Being named valedictorian is truly an eminent honor and a fitting way for Alio to cap her college career.
“It’s probably the most amazing feeling that I’ve ever felt,” Alio said.
