Nine Juan Diego Catholic High School staff members have been a part of the school since its inception, 25 years ago.

They, and others, will celebrate the school’s silver jubilee 25 years to the day of the campus dedication on Sept. 26. 

In honor of the anniversary, the school is publishing a coffee table book that chronicles the extensive art on the campus, said Dave Brunetti, Juan Diego director of campus life.

The book, “Sacred Spaces—A Spiritual Portrait of the Skaggs Catholic Center,” will be unveiled the night before the anniversary, on Sept. 25. A 6 p.m. reception and 7:30 p.m. dinner and presentation will be at Juan Diego’s Labyrinth and Great Hall for alumni, friends, Skaggs family and representatives, former principals and faculty and priests of the diocese.

On Sept. 26, a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Thanksgiving for Juan Diego students as well as St. John the Baptist elementary and middle school students will be held in Juan Diego’s gymnasium. They will be joined by staff as well as former principals and faculty and dignitaries.

That evening will be the anniversary gala, with a 6 p.m. reception and 7 p.m. dinner.Juan Diego Catholic High School, which opened in 1999 and is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake, is known for its drive for excellence in academics, extracurricular clubs and activities and athletics. 

In its 25 years, Juan Diego has received many awards, including being named Best of State for private schools K-12 six of the past seven years. It also was honored in 2019 with the National Blue Ribbon School Award, the first Utah high school to receive the award since 1997.

Historically, Juan Diego’s students achieve in the top 15% of all schools in the nation in English and math and more than 98% of the school’s students graduate, with 94% enrolling in colleges and universities nationwide. 

Juan Diego was the first high school in Utah to offer the Advanced Placement Capstone program, introducing it in 2016. 

Its principal, Galey Colosimo, received the Spirit of Digital Learning Collaborative award in 2023. He was recognized for his commitment to expand digital learning opportunities not only for his students, but for all students attending private schools in the state. This past spring, he received the Leonard F. DeFiore Parental Choice Advocate Award for dedication to championing school choice legislation for Utah families. λ