Graduations set for 11 Catholic high schools in archdiocese

Bishop Christopher J. Coyne congratulates Jasmine Oliver during the 2011 graduation ceremony for Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School graduates in Indianapolis. (Submitted photo) Click for a larger version.

By John Shaughnessy

As another school year comes to a close, 1,374 students are preparing to graduate this spring at Catholic high schools across the archdiocese.

For the graduates and their families, it will be a time of looking back and looking forward with a mixture of pride, relief, nostalgia and celebration.

It will also be a time to appreciate the impact of a Catholic education as 97 percent of the graduates will enter college.

“We’re proud of the Class of 2012,” said Harry Plummer, executive director of the archdiocese’s office of Catholic education and faith formation. “Their academic accomplishments and their service to their communities in which they received their education are well documented and greatly appreciated. We expect to hear great things from them as they enter the next stage in their lives.”

The Catholic high school graduates in the archdiocese join more than 130,000 graduates at Catholic high schools across the country, Plummer noted.

“Their confidence and ability, combined with their willingness to bring the light of faith into our American culture, is a sign of hope in these challenging times,” he said.

Here is a listing of graduation information for the 11 Catholic high schools—seven archdiocesan and four private—in the archdiocese.

 

Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 178 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on May 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be on May 20 at 2:30 p.m. at the school.

The valedictorian is Christopher Shrack, the son of Thomas and Jennifer Shrack of Christ the King Parish in Indianapolis.

The salutatorian is Rebecca Hilton, the daughter of Gary and Karen Hilton of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented by Annette “Mickey” Lentz, chancellor.

 

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 202 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on June 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be on June 3 at 4:30 p.m. at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented by Plummer.

 

Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 124 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on May 31 at 7 p.m. at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in Indianapolis.

The graduation ceremony will be on June 1 at 7 p.m. at the school.

The valedictorian is Laura Wilhelm, the daughter of Frank and Paula Wilhelm of St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis.

The salutatorian is Kelsey Blake, the daughter of Todd and Mary Blake of St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented by Kathy Mears, assistant superintendent of Catholic schools.

 

Cathedral High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 316 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on May 19 at 10 a.m. at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be on May 20 at 1 p.m. at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis.

There are four valedictorians—Maria DeSanto, the daughter of John and Elizabeth DeSanto of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis; Grace Hendrickson, the daughter of Mark and Kathleen Hendrickson of St. Simon the Apostle Parish; Connor Rulman, the son of

Briton Rivers-Rulman and Bruce Rulman of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Carmel, Ind., in the Lafayette Diocese, and Eileen Smart, the daughter of Brian and Tracy Smart of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis.

There are two salutatorians—Stephen Berlage, the son of Victor and Bernice Berlage of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Indianapolis, and Clare Welch, the daughter of Robert and Susan Welch of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented by Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, apostolic administrator.

 

Father Michael Shawe Memorial Jr./Sr. High School in Madison has a graduating class of 18 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on June 1 at 7 p.m. at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be on June 3 at 2 p.m. at the school.

Three students are in contention for the honors of valedictorian and salutatorian as the school year draws to a close. They are Doug Totten, the son of Mark and Nancy Totten; Michael Muessel, the son of John and Sally Muessel of Prince of Peace Parish in Madison, and Ashley Josephsen, the daughter of Rich and Tammy Josephsen.

The archdiocese will be represented by Mears.

 

Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 79 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on May 24 at 7 p.m. at St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (Little Flower) Church in Indianapolis.

The graduation ceremony will be on May 25 at 7 p.m. at the school.

The valedictorian is Jonathan Higgins, the son of Jeffrey and Judith Higgins of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Indianapolis.

The salutatorian is John Kennedy, the son of John and Cris Kennedy of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

The archdiocese will be represented by Lentz.

 

Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception in Oldenburg has a graduating class of 43 seniors.

The graduation ceremony will be on May 27 at 1 p.m. at the chapel of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg.

Five students are in contention for the honors of valedictorian and salutatorian as the school year draws to a close—Meredith Goodall, the daughter of Samuel and Janet Goodall; Dana Maslar, the daughter of Darryl and Laura Maslar; Ann Kuntz, the daughter of William and Geraldine Kuntz of St. Louis Parish in Batesville; Jordan Hyland, the son of Kevin Hyland and Marianne Weir of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Aurora; and Alex Abrams, the son of William and Mary Abrams of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Aurora.

The archdiocese was represented at the school’s Senior Liturgy on May 17 by Plummer.

 

Our Lady of Providence Jr./Sr. High School in Clarksville has a graduating class of 102 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on June 1 at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in New Albany.

The graduation ceremony will be on June 3 at 5 p.m. at the school.

The valedictorian is Candace Popp, the daughter of Ralph and Patty Popp of St. Joseph Parish in Clark County.

The salutatorian is Chloe Beach, the daughter of Chris and Barbara Beach of St. Mary-of-the-Knobs Parish in Floyd County.

The archdiocese will be represented by G. Joseph Peters, associate executive director of Catholic education.

 

Providence Cristo Rey High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 13 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on June 9 at 10:30 a.m. followed by the graduation ceremony at the school.

The valedictorian is Jadde McClendon, the daughter of Ricki McClendon and Patricia Rainey.

The salutatorian is Joya Robertson, the daughter of Derrick Johnson and Sylvia Robertson.

The archdiocese will be represented by Bishop Coyne.

 

Roncalli High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 279 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on May 25 at 6 p.m. at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be on May 26 at 9 a.m. at the school.

The valedictorian is Bryan Rainey, the son of Bill Rainey and Joan Rainey of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis.

The salutatorian is Coleen Gaughan, the daughter of Thomas and Sandra Gaughan of St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented by Mears.

 

Seton Catholic Jr./Sr. High School in Richmond has a graduating class of 20 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on June 1 at 6 p.m. at St. Andrew Church in Richmond.

The graduation ceremony will be on June 3 at 2 p.m. at the school.

The valedictorian is Harold Smith, the son of Donna Smith.

The co-salutatorians are Meghan Cooper, the daughter of Jeffrey Cooper and Rebecca Thompson of St. Andrew Parish in Richmond, and Lauren Klaine, the daughter of Brian and Kristy Klaine of St. Andrew Parish.

The archdiocese will be represented by Rob Rash, assistant superintendent of Catholic schools. †