Columbus Bishop Ready High School graduate Gabriella “Gigi” Racanelli exemplified that service is not simply love and appreciation to others but a demonstration of God’s abundant love for all of His people.
Racanelli believes that everyone is called to serve, and service can fill an individual with immense joy, love and fulfillment.
“What Gigi has been able to accomplish is very impressive,” principal Matthew Brickner said. “Not only does she find the time to serve others, but she is involved in so many aspects of our school.
“She’s the type of student you want to keep forever. It’s bittersweet to see her graduate, but we are thankful for the example she has set for future knights, including her two younger siblings, Leo (class of 2027) and Rina (class of 2030).”
During four years at Bishop Ready, Racanelli, a member of the class of 2025, logged more than 700 service hours, with 225 of the hours completed during her senior year.
“Honestly, that 700 seems low. There are so many things Gigi could count for service hours that she doesn’t because, to her, service is just something you do. She doesn’t need the glory or recognition of it. She does it simply because she knows it’s the right thing to do,” said school guidance counselor Jennifer Gramlich, a Ready graduate.
Racanelli was involved in many service opportunities. Asked her favorite organization to volunteer with, she responded, “Miracle League!
“I have the honor of being a buddy to individuals with disabilities as we play baseball together,” she continued. “It’s really fun and something I look forward to being involved in every Saturday from mid-May through the end of July.”
The Racanelli family is known to lead with a servant’s heart, especially in their home parish, Columbus St. Margaret of Cortona. Members of the Racanelli family run a section of the parish’s weekly fish fry during Lent. Gigi’s brother and father lead parish school of religion classes on Sundays, and she lectors during Mass.
“Being able to be of service with my family is a really nice way for us to come together and forget about the grind of everyday life. It allows me to find a calm and centered version of myself. It allows me to refocus my energy,” she said.
Once, during a fish fry, she began talking with a family about faith, high school, service and life. The following Monday, the family applied for their eighth grader to attend Bishop Ready the following year.
Asked how they heard about Bishop Ready or why they applied, the family responded that they wanted their children to be like Racanelli, a girl they met at the fish fry on Friday night, and believed Bishop Ready was the environment to foster their academic and spiritual growth.
While attending Bishop Ready, Racanelli also served on student council as executive board president, National Honor Society secretary, Beta Club, a student ambassador, theater, Castle Crew, the St. Vincent de Paul club, a lector at Mass and founder of Book Club.
Racanelli was named the salutatorian for the class of 2025 and plans to attend Walsh University in North Canton, where she received a full tuition scholarship. Racanelli is set to study psychology and was accepted into the university’s pre-occupational therapy track, where she plans to earn a master’s degree.