For 16 years, the Division of Catholic Schools has taken the opportunity to call together students for the Distinctive Scholars Convocation.
On April 29, at Mercy High School, Baltimore, three seniors (typically the top three in the class) from each of the archdiocese’s 22 high schools (with the exception of Cristo Rey which does not yet have a senior class) are selected to receive awards for their achievements.
Father John Swope, president of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Baltimore, was the master of ceremonies.
“It was a celebration and affirmation,” said Dr. Ronald J. Valenti, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, who presented the medals and certificates to the scholars, along with Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski.
He said it was important to bring students together, “in a prayerful environment that gives thanksgiving to God for the gifts they have been given and particular achievements they have accomplished.”
Often, he said, people look at schools and students with an emphasis only on athletic achievements, but for four years these seniors have had a specific intent and have accomplished a great deal of academic programs as well.
The convocation evening “recognizes, affirms, and celebrates their God-given talent,” said Dr. Valenti.
This year’s honorees – three from each of the archdiocese’s high schools – include:
Archbishop Curley High School, Baltimore:
Patrick M. Hairfield, Thomas E. Pillsbury, John Pyzik
Archbishop Spalding High School, Severn:
Robert Paul Inglis, Paul Joseph Devlin, Erin Christine Butler
Bishop Walsh School, Cumberland:
Ann Czapski, Jonathan Benjamin, Lydia Hughes
Calvert Hall College High School, Towson:
Ryan Cordell, Paul Joseph Scheel III, Tyler Wagner
The Cardinal Gibbons School, Baltimore:
Ryan R. Kelly, Timothy F. Schmidt, Hunter S. Truette
The Catholic High School of Baltimore:
Nicole Bittner, Victoria Single, Suzanne Remeikis
St. Frances Academy, Baltimore:
Shandriel Scille, Charnelle Towler, Glenn Bullock
Institute of Notre Dame, Baltimore:
Melanie Rae, Maria Kroat, Lydia Zuraw
The John Carroll School, Bel Air:
Christine Lebron, Lauren Lhotsky, Andrea McGann
St. John’s Catholic Prep, Frederick:
Victoria Pugh, Allison O’Boyle, Brian Roby
Loyola Blakefield, Towson:
Alex Ferro, Nick Gioioso, Ross Kelley
St. Maria Goretti High School, Hagerstown:
Gabriella Schiro, Dondi Ellis, Catherine Stahl
St. Mary’s High School, Annapolis:
Jennifer Alexandra Jackson, Elizabeth Ann Mulhern, Rachel Kemp Duden
Maryvale Preparatory School, Brooklandville:
Erin Cawley, Kirsten LoGrande, Bridget O’Brien
Mercy High School, Baltimore:
Breann M. Erford, Rachel L. Troch, Sarah V. Troch
Mount de Sales Academy, Catonsville:
Emily Battinelli, Merena Gettmann, Colleen Hutchison
Mount St. Joseph High School, Baltimore:
Kyle Wesselman, Mark Gossage, Patrick Gorman
Notre Dame Preparatory School, Towson:
Neethu Abraham, Catherine Hsu, Stephanie Patterson
Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School, Essex:
Laura Abbasi, Meghan Hartnett, Sydney Jeter
The Seton Keough High School, Baltimore:
Colleen Shea, Katherine Sacker, Jacquelyn Ward
Towson Catholic High School:
Christine Bradley, Mary Schmidt, Carolyn Wasilewski