Salutatorian | Outstanding Christian Service Award | AP Scholar | Campus Ministry Leader
University of California, Berkeley: Physics
As Salutatorian of the Class of 2025, Elianna Figueroa leaves Mater Dei having distinguished herself as a scholar, servant leader, and person of deep faith. With more than 400 hours of service and a 4.45 GPA, she is a shining example of what it means to live a life rooted in Honor, Glory, and Love.
A graduate of St. Joseph Catholic Middle School in Santa Ana, Elianna followed in the footsteps of her older siblings and chose Mater Dei for its strong sense of Catholic identity and welcoming community. “I wanted to be part of something meaningful,” she says, “and I saw that firsthand through my family’s experience here.”
Elianna found her place in Campus Ministry, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and retreat leader throughout all four years. “Giving students the Body of Christ for the first time was a quiet but powerful moment,” she recalls. “It solidified my faith, my purpose, and my place at Mater Dei.” Elianna was selected by her peers to crown our Patronness at the 2025 Marian Mass.
Outside the chapel, Elianna also supported her peers as a Math Club tutor and as team manager for Girls Basketball, all while excelling in a rigorous academic course load. She was named an AP Scholar and completed her senior year with a deep interest in the sciences—sparked by a transformative experience in AP Physics.
That passion will carry her to the University of California, Berkeley, where she will major in Physics and is considering a minor in Mathematics. “Physics challenged me more than any other class,” Elianna says. “But I loved learning to think differently, to ask questions, and to persevere.”
Elianna’s journey has been grounded in her faith and a desire to serve. Most of her 400+ service hours came through leading retreats for Mater Dei students and local Catholic middle schools—particularly her own alma mater. “Even small acts of compassion can have a big impact,” she says. “That’s what kept me coming back to serve.”
As she prepares for Berkeley, Elianna says she’ll miss the peaceful moments in the Grotto and the everyday familiarity of walking around campus. Her one word for Mater Dei? “Transformative.”