1,266 Catholic high school students
from archdiocese
graduating this spring
By Brandon A. Evans
This year, 1,266 Catholic high school seniors in the archdiocese will graduate from six archdiocesan and three private Catholic schools during commencement ceremonies in late May and early June.
The number of graduates is an 11 percent increase over the 1,141 graduates in the Class of 2004 at the archdiocesan and private high schools.
Annette “Mickey” Lentz, executive director of Catholic education and faith formation for the archdiocese, said she is pleased that the Catholic high schools are graduating 125 more students than last year.
“Once again, we’re preparing for our high school graduations for the year 2005, getting ready to send our graduates on to their next journey in life,” Lentz said. “We’re very excited again about this opportunity to participate with these high schools in their commencement ceremonies.
“Our high schools continue to grow,” she said. “Our high schools continue to produce the very best of graduates. Our graduation rate is almost at 99 percent, and many of them—probably 60 to 65 percent—go on to college, so we’re very proud of and very pleased with our Catholic high schools here in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. We wish the graduates well as they move on into their journeys in the future.”
Father Michael Shawe Memorial Jr./Sr. High School in Madison has a graduating class of 27 seniors.
The Baccalaureate Mass starts at 7 p.m. on May 27 in the Father Hilary Meny Gymnasium. The graduation ceremony begins at 2 p.m. on May 29 in the gymnasium.
The class valedictorian is Zack Harms, the son of Dan and Christi Harms of Prince of Peace Parish in Madison.
Our Lady of Providence Jr./Sr. High School in Clarksville has 146 graduating seniors.
The Baccalaureate Mass begins at 2 p.m. on May 22. The graduation ceremony starts at 8 p.m. on May 27 in the Larkin Center Gymnasium at the school.
Two valedictorians will address the class. They are Erica Frazier, the daughter of Roy and Beth Frazier of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in New Albany, and Geoffrey Mooney, the son of Tom and Sharon Mooney of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish.
The class salutatorian is Danielle Dresner, the daughter of Dr. David and Lori Dresner of Madison.
Ronald Costello, associate executive director of Catholic education and school improvement and director of Project Exceed, will represent the archdiocese at the commencement ceremony.
Oldenburg Academy in Oldenburg has a class of 35 graduating seniors.
The Baccalaureate Mass was held at 1:30 p.m. on May 13 in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in Oldenburg. The graduation ceremony begins at 1 p.m. on May 29 in the chapel.
The class valedictorian is Amanda Mersch, the daughter of Paul and Michelle Mersch of St. Louis Parish in Batesville.
The class salutatorian is Adam Fritsch, the son of Gayle and Monica Fritsch of St. Paul Parish in New Alsace.
Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 195 seniors.
The Baccalaureate Mass begins at 6 p.m. on May 25 at the school. The graduation ceremony starts at 7:30 p.m. on May 26 at the Murat Center Theater in Indianapolis.
The class valedictorian is Meghan McGonigal, the daughter of Joseph and Denise McGonigal of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis.
The class salutatorian is Chelsea Keyes, the daughter of Jeffrey and Lauren Keyes of St. Pius X Parish.
Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general, and Lentz will represent the archdiocese at Bishop Chatard’s commencement ceremony.
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 209 seniors.
The Baccalaureate Mass begins at 5 p.m. on May 22 in the school gymnasium. The graduation ceremony starts at 8 p.m. on June 2 at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis.
The senior class selects a speaker.
Lentz and Msgr. Schaedel will represent the archdiocese at the event.
Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 84 seniors.
The Baccalaureate Mass begins at 9:30 a.m. on June 4. The graduation ceremony is the same day at 3 p.m. in the school gymnasium.
The class valedictorian is Scott Fites, the son of Scott and Robin Fites of St. Susanna Parish in Plainfield.
The class salutatorian is Kristen Maled, the daughter of Dan and Sharon Maled of St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis.
Msgr. Schaedel and Lentz will represent the archdiocese at the event.
Cathedral High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 275 seniors.
The Baccalaureate Mass starts at 10 a.m. on May 21 in the Robert V. Welch Student Activity Center at the school. The graduation ceremony begins at 1 p.m. on May 22 at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis.
Cathedral’s class valedictorian is Thomas Pollom, the son of Scott and Jane Pollom of St. Pius X Parish.
The class salutatorians are Vivian Adams, the daughter of Jerry and Ruthanne Adams of Indianapolis, and Adrienne Bolger, the daughter of William and Sarah Bolger of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis.
Lentz will represent the archdiocese at the commencement ceremony.
Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis has 70 graduating seniors this year.
The Baccalaureate Mass begins at 7 p.m. on May 25 at St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (Little Flower) Church in Indianapolis.
The graduation ceremony starts at 7 p.m. on May 27 in the school gymnasium.
The class valedictorian is Elliott Holden, the son of Michael and Rita Holden of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis.
The class salutatorian is Nathan Burks, the son of James and Debbie Burks of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (Little Flower) Parish in Indianapolis.
Lentz will represent the archdiocese at the event.
Roncalli High School in Indianapolis has 225 members of its Class of 2005.
Those seniors will take part in a Baccalaureate Mass at 6 p.m. on May 27 at Our Lady of the Greenwood Parish in Greenwood. The graduation ceremony begins at 11 a.m. on May 28 in Roncalli’s gymnasium.
The class valedictorian is Matt Pfarr, the son of Mike and Brenda Pfarr of Our Lady of the Greenwood Parish.
The class salutatorian is Anna Weber, the daughter of Thomas and Martha Weber of St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis.
Lentz and Msgr. Schaedel will represent the archdiocese at the ceremony. †