The voice actor was the guest speaker at Sagrado’s 2022 Awards Ceremony.
By Integrated Communications
Voice actor and Sagrado Corazón University alumnus, Antonio Fornaris, addressed the graduates of the 2022 Solidarios Class yesterday as a guest speaker at the Awards Ceremony.
Antonio graduated from Sagrado in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies: Telecommunications, Journalism, and Business Administration. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in Recording Arts at Full Sail University.
Today, he is a broadcaster, poet, and sound engineer. His works include advertising campaigns for companies such as AT&T, Amgen, Honda, Popeye’s, and Hard Rock Café, among others. He is also the voice of TU94.9, a radio station in Miami; The Enrique Santos Show, and SiriusXM (in Spanish).
Thanks to his talent and determination, he won a Grammy Award for a production for musical group Black Guayaba. In addition to being nominated for the Voice Arts Awards (SOVAS) seven times, he has won three awards as director and audio producer.
There is no doubt that Antonio Fornaris is a source of pride to Sagrado, and has the ideal aptitudes and career to advise our graduates.
Here is his message:
“What is an achievement, if not the sum of all those small actions carried out towards the realization of a dream? An achievement is our intention come true, our purpose embodied, performed with tenacity and enthusiasm and lots of willpower.
What is an achievement, but evidence that our failures are not in vain, that the difference we want to see in the world is possible? Achievements are like an oasis hidden among the dunes of uncertainty, doubt, and rejection; and we are that pilgrim who never gave up. There is a phrase attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi that says: ‘Start by doing what is necessary; then, what is possible; and suddenly, you will be doing the impossible.’ We know well that nothing is impossible!
An achievement is our good faith rewarded, and today we gather here (at the Emilio S. Belaval Theater) to celebrate and honor the effort, the sacrifice, and the journey that brought us to this Awards Ceremony at our Alma Mater, Sagrado Corazón University.
I send my love, respect, and admiration to all the students, faculty, administration, family, friends, and everyone present here. It is an honor for me to address you, since, not long ago, only about 20 years, I was sitting right there where you are. They say that time is relative, until life begins to take its toll and you start feeling all achy.
It was right here, in the theater, where I was awarded the Portico Medal, which, to this day, remains at the top of the awards I have received along the way. It was unforgettable too, because it was the first time my parents heard me declaim in front of an audience.
The serendipity of receiving such a valuable honor could not have come at a better time in my life. They were very difficult and challenging times, those in which we feel out of breath, where we do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. But even so, we continue, faithful to our intuition, conscience, and intention.
Receiving the Portico Medal for my social work was that oasis, that breath of fresh air I was missing, the confirmation that my compass always pointed in the right direction. Many times we will find ourselves surrounded by darkness and without a light to guide us. It is at that moment that we hold on to our faith and realize that the light we have always sought has never left us, it has always been within us. Let’s be that light, let’s be agents of change. Hitting rock bottom is the best way to propel ourselves up. Remember: life amps up the pressure just when we are going to make a momentous change. It is its way of testing us to see if we are ready for what’s coming next.
Congratulations to all the graduates honored today. This is just beginning. Life is the process of getting to know ourselves by getting to know life. May today serve as validation and reference for the rest of your lives.
God bless everyone here with the gifts of the spirit. May your lives be a celebration motivated by gratitude, love, honesty, kindness, and generosity. May you continue to enjoy health and youth. May you live in abundance and prosperity. Live boldly, be tenacious. May awareness, discipline, consistency, and commitment never be lacking in your daily practice. In life, as in art, an artist can only reveal what was always there to begin with. The artist owns only the process, because when the work is finished, it ceases to be an individual act and become part of the world, part of a collective consciousness. This is how it has been for me: ‘From so much walking, the wayfarer made his way and fulfilled his destiny so that others would do the same…’ May your lives become your masterpiece.
During a meditation, this phrase came to my mind: ‘Keep your sight in front of your eyes,’ as a reminder to always be present, in the here-and-now, because there is nothing else. Everything else is a memory or a promise. As Soren Kierkegaard would say: ‘Life can only be understood looking backwards, but it has to be lived moving forward.’
Before concluding, I dedicate this poem to you:
Keep your sight in front of your eyes,
moving stillness,
peace in uncertainty,
the fulcrum of balance.
Trust in your arms,
lull the anguish and
et her sleep.
The past does not define you.
Your legs are strong,
you made the mountain your home,
now rest on her lap.
Tomorrow, you will be the breeze that
sighs the truth to others,
but today, you have to live.
I remember going up the hill to go to Sagrado every morning and coming across this phrase: ‘To whomever gave me wisdom, I will give glory…’ Glory to you, glory to us, glory to this institution, and glory to Puerto Rico! Glory be to God!”
Fornaris was joined by student Sarelis Torres, who sung an invocation titled “Fidelity,” by Christine D’Clario; and the Sagrado Choir performed the piece Campanitas de Cristal (“Crystal Bells”), by Rafael Hernández, as well as the university’s anthem. In addition, Madeline Ortiz, Dean of Student Affairs; Anuchka Ramos, Vice President of Academic Affairs; and Gilberto Marxuach-Torrós, president of Sagrado; offered messages.
“I urge you to celebrate your triumphs and reflect on your journey up to here. And also, remember this instant in moments of impossibility because, on that hill where the Sacred Heart of Jesus is, there will always be a community ready to receive you,” said Ramos.
Marxuach-Torrós added: “Never forget what brought you here. Also, do not forget the satisfaction and joy that your achievements brought you.”
The awards
The 2022 Awards Ceremony served to recognize graduates in the following categories: Portico Medal, Highest Academic Achievement, Second highest GPA, Academic Distinction and Academic Excellence Awards, and Sacro Corde Scholar Medal – Alumni.
1. Portico Medal
For Leadership
Gabriela Santiago
Rubén A. Burgos Cruz
Thayma Sánchez
For Effort and Self-Improvement
Lyangie Martínez Rivera
Naomi Rivera Rivera
For Personal Development
Rafael Camacho Figueroa
For Citizenship, Leadership and Effort and Self-Improvement
Adriana A. Gotay Flores
Jesús Ortiz Lorenzo
2. Highest Academic Achievement
Business Development
Pamela González Betancourt
General Business Administration
Carlos Rivera-Bustamante
General Education
Camila M. Rodríguez Estrada
Justice Systems
Ronnie García Rosado
Nursing
Elenora L. Capannelli Speranza
Social Work
Valeria Ortiz
Anna L. Díaz Neil
Yamalis González Cotto
Animation, Visualization, and 3D Interactivity
Javier A. Vázquez Cuevas
Photography
Valerie G. Aponte Montañez
Natalia N. Rodríguez González
Music
Leobadis González Rodríguez
Alejandra Pérez Quevedo
Natalie D. Sánchez Vélez
Theater
Angeliana Sánchez Marrero
Tourism
Brayan J. García Vázquez
General Communication
Natalie Marcano-Torres
International Studies
Kelly A. Leal Esquinca
Journalism
Stephanie Torres-Ruiz
Digital Production
Adrianna N. Bonilla González
Arianys K. Casiano Ortiz
Alejandra González Cardona
Sara E. Menéndez Cruz
Shakelly Pastrana Solo
Soraya M. Quiñones Romero
Omaryliz Rodríguez Negrón
Advertising
Alejandra M. Cuevas Pedraza
Glorimarie Matías Rivera
Marina A. Soto Fernández
Public Relations
Miriam A. Oquendo Del Valle
Nicole O. Quesada Díaz
3. Second Highest GPA
Department of Business Administration
Kir A. Laracuente Santos, Accounting
General Education Unit
Ana S. Martínez Robles, General Education
School of Health and Sciences
Ivis M. Peña Feliciano, Biology
School of Arts, Design, and Creative Industries
Agustin Salcedo Rodríguez, Music
Ferré Rangel School of Communication
Kimberly N. Class Duarte, Digital Production
Keissa L. Hernández Vargas, General Studies
Yaira S. Torres Rivera, Digital Production
Agustín Salcedo Rodríguez, Digital Production
4. Academic Distinction and Academic Excellence Awards
Department of Business Administration
Adriel Peña Rodríguez, Marketing
Edmarie N. Santini Ortiz, Marketing
General Education Unit
Alondra Yañez González, Justice Systems
School of Health and Sciences
Christian A. Nieves Santos, Biology
Yuleeandra J. Arbulu Cordero, General Natural Sciences
Yamilka Ayala Molina, Nursing Distance Learning
Freddy Carvajal Devia, Nursing Distance Learning
Suset M. Cobiellas Fajardo, Nursing Distance Learning
Gina Douglas, Nursing Distance Learning
Yunelsi Duany Rodríguez, Nursing Distance Learning
Dailen Jiménez Fernández, Nursing Distance Learning
Yanelys Trejo, Nursing Distance Learning
Lemuel R. Concepción Díaz, Chemistry
Joshua Nieves Reyes, Chemistry
School of Arts, Design, and Creative Industries
Natalie M. Fourquet Cruet, Dance
Denilys N. Santana Díaz, Dance
Isabella A. Santini Sanjurjo, Photography
Gabriel Torres Román, Music
Ferré Rangel School of Communication
Valeria A. Ayala Vallejo, General Communication
Natalie Marcano Torres, General Communication
Shannia P. Vélez Fonseca, General Communication
Alexandra M. Acosta Vilanova, Journalism
Angerys Leoto Pabón, Journalism
Verónica Ramírez González, Journalism
Thayma J. Sánchez Gómez, Journalism
Alondra Negrón Quintana, General Production
Yanmarie Soan Santiago Colón, General Production
Sarelis M. Torres Sanoguet, General Production
Ana S. Bermúdez La Torre, Public Relations
Erika P. Rosado Pérez, Public Relations
Jada E. Solomón Aldarondo, Public Relations
5. Sacred Corde Scholar Medal – Alumni
Alexandra Acosta Vilanova
Lark Yanez González
Andrea V. Goveo Ramos
Angerys Leoto Pabón
Fabián Marrero Sulsona
Keissa L. Hernández Vargas
Lumarhi J. Rivera Lozada
Natalie Marcano-Torres
Nathalia L. Bretón Estrella
Sarelis M. Torres Sanoguet
Sagrado will hold its Eighty-Third Commencement Ceremony this Sunday, June 12, on campus.