Oluwafeyikemi Olatunji Announced Valedictorian of Class of 2025

We are proud to announce Oluwafeyikemi (Feyi) Olatunji as the Valedictorian for the Class of 2025. A dynamic leader and dedicated scholar, Feyi has served on Carondelet’s Associated Student Body (ASB) council for all four years and currently leads as ASB President. She is a proud member of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation, and beyond her academic excellence, she has made her mark as a multi-sport athlete, participating in rugby, soccer, and tennis. Her commitment to excellence and service has earned her numerous accolades, including the Leader of Heart Award her junior year, the Science Department Award, the Harvard University Book prize, the Dr. David Padgett Award of Contribution to Environmental Health, and the National African American Recognition Award.

“Becoming Valedictorian has been a whirlwind experience,” says Feyi. “To actually find out I was chosen, I received the news from a fellow candidate who texted me congratulations. At that moment, I looked at my mom and said, ‘I think I did it!’ To which she said, ‘You did it?’ ‘I did.’ We hugged and cried, and I think it is one of my favorite memories.”

Feyi and her family proudly trace their roots to Nigeria, and her upbringing has been shaped by a rich blend of Nigerian and American values. She began her academic journey at Seven Hills School, where she attended from preschool through 8th grade, before continuing her education at Carondelet.

“Carondelet has shaped me as a student by making me unafraid to take on challenges and ask for help,” says Feyi. “Carondelet provides an extensive amount of activities and opportunities to experience new perspectives and try new things with insurmountable support from the Sisterhood.” One of Feyi’s most memorable experiences at Carondelet was attending Kairos as a junior to then serve as a leader for the first group of retreatants her senior year. “By leading Kairos 100, I found it very special,” says Feyi. “It felt like I grew years between the time I went on Kairos as a junior to the time I led it as a senior. By leading it, I was able to explore new adult sides of myself and create deeper bonds with people I had known for four years.”

“One lesson I’ve learned is the value of loving the dear neighbor and living a life of service,” Feyi shares. “The statement of ‘loving the dear neighbor’ has been foundational in my education at Carondelet, and it has been sort of a motto that helps me to love with intention and purpose. It is something I will carry with me forever.”

“I imagine my education will help me become a voice for those who often go unheard,” Feyi says. “I feel the need to prioritize understanding others and showing love for them. Through my education at Carondelet, I have learned a lot about empathy, critical thinking, and standing up for justice. All in all, I hope to make an impact with all that I have learned.” Feyi will be attending UCLA and plans to study pre-med with a major in Biology.