In this special section of The Catholic Review, we salute the 2,620 graduating seniors of 21 Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Congratulations to the Class of 2008!
Archbishop Curley High School, Baltimore
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 28 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Baltimore. Commencement exercises were held May 30 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland, for 149 graduates. Robert Jirsa, managing director for RSM McGladrey and a Curley alumnus, was the commencement speaker. Thomas Pillsbury was named Ideal Curley Man of the Year and was the valedictorian. Patrick Hairfield was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $4.5 million in college scholarships.
Archbishop Spalding High School, Severn
A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held May 22 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland, for 261 graduates. Dr. Michael E. Murphy, Archbishop Spalding president, gave the commencement address. Paul S. Inglis and Paul Devlin were recipients of the award for First in Academic Excellence, and Erin Butler was the recipient of the award for Second in Academic Excellence. Graduates were offered more than $23 million in scholarships and grants.
Bishop Walsh School, Cumberland
A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held May 23 at St. Patrick, Cumberland, for 52 graduates. Bishop W. Francis Malooly, western vicar, was the celebrant. Ray Miller gave the welcome address and Ann Czapski gave the farewell address. The graduates earned more than $2.5 million in scholarships.
Calvert Hall College High School, Towson
A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held May 31 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 260 graduates. Monsignor G. Michael Schleupner, pastor of St. Margaret, Bel Air, was the commencement speaker. Zachary Blake was the valedictorian, and David Hallman was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered $6.3 million in academic scholarships.
The Cardinal Gibbons School, Baltimore
A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held June 7 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Baltimore, for 62 graduates. Bishop Denis J. Madden, urban vicar, was the celebrant, assisted by Deacon John Ames, a faculty member. Hunter S. Truette was the valedictorian, and Conor W. Scott was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $3 million in scholarships.
The Catholic High School of Baltimore
A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held May 19 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 59 graduates. Nicole Bittner was the valedictorian, and Victoria Single was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $2.4 million in academic scholarships and grants.
St. Frances Academy, Baltimore
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 31 at Mount Providence, Catonsville, and commencement exercises were held June 1 at St. Matthew, Baltimore, for 51 graduates. Leonard Pitts, a Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist, was the commencement speaker. Shandriel Scille was the valedictorian, and Charnelle Towler was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $500,000 in academic scholarships.
Institute of Notre Dame, Baltimore
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 29 at St. Matthew and commencement exercises were held May 31 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 101 graduates. Dr. Rita Sloan Berndt of the University of Maryland School of Medicine was the commencement speaker. Maria Kroat and Melanie Rae were the valedictorians, and Lydia Zuraw was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $7.2 million in academic scholarships.
The John Carroll School, Bel Air
A baccalaureate Mass and graduation exercises were held June 1 at John Carroll for 207 graduates. R. Todd Bradley, an alumnus and recipient of this year’s Rev. Charles K. Riepe Alumni Award, was the commencement speaker. He is executive vice president of Hewlett-Packard. Christine Marie Lebron was the valedictorian, and Lauren Mariel Lhotsky was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $8.8 million in academic and athletic scholarships.
St. John’s Catholic Prep, Frederick
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 22 at St. John the Evangelist, Frederick, and commencement exercises were held May 23 at St. John Regional Catholic School, Frederick, for 69 graduates. Allison O’Boyle was the valedictorian, and Victoria Pugh was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered $3 million in scholarships.
Loyola Blakefield, Towson
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 31 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen and commencement exercises were held June 1 at Loyola Blakefield for 177 graduates. The welcoming address was given by Thomas R. McCoy, and the student address was given by Wolete M. Moko. Graduates were offered $10.1 million in academic scholarships.
St. Maria Goretti High School, Hagerstown
A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held May 24 at St. Ann, Hagerstown, for 51 graduates. Bishop W. Francis Malooly, western vicar, was the commencement speaker. Gabriella M. Schiro was the valedictorian, and Dondi Jay Ellis Jr. was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered approximately $2.96 million in scholarships.
St. Mary’s High School, Annapolis
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 22 at St. Mary’s and commencement exercises were held the same day at Carroll Gardens, Annapolis, for 129 graduates. Tim Russert, managing editor and moderator of Meet the Press, was the commencement speaker. Jennifer Jackson was the valedictorian, and Rachel Duden and Elizabeth Mulhern were salutatorians. Graduates were offered more than $7 million in scholarships.
Maryvale Preparatory School, Brooklandville
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated June 5 and commencement exercises were held June 6 at Maryvale for 58 graduates. Thomas Schaefer, retiring English faculty member, was the commencement speaker. Graduates were offered more than $2.8 million in academic scholarships.
Mercy High School, Baltimore
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated June 1 at Mercy High School and commencement exercises were held June 1 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 126 graduates. Alicia Secada-Lovio was the Outstanding Senior, while Jennifer Rudolph received the Sisters of Mercy Award and Kathryn Pniewski received the Mercy Council Award. Graduates were offered more than $4.9 million in scholarships.
Mount St. Joseph High School, Irvington
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 31 at St. Joseph’s Passionist Monastery Church, Irvington, and commencement exercises were held June 1 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 257 graduates. Barry Fitzpatrick, principal, was the commencement speaker. Kyle Wesselman was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered $13.6 million in academic scholarships.
Mount de Sales Academy, Catonsville
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 22 and commencement exercises were held May 24 at Mount de Sales Academy for 120 graduates. Emily Battinelli was the valedictorian, and Merena Gettmann was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $9.6 million in scholarships.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School, Essex
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 28 and commencement exercises were held May 30 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Essex, for 62 graduates. Laura Abbasi and Meghan Hartnett were the valedictorians, and Sydney Jeter was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $1.2 million in academic scholarships.
Notre Dame Preparatory School, Towson
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 27 and commencement exercises were held May 28 at Notre Dame Preparatory School for 161 graduates. Karen Skalitzky, an NDP graduate and author of “A Recipe for Hope: Stories of Transformation by People Struggling with Homelessness,” was the commencement speaker. Stephanie Patterson received the excellence award. Graduates were offered $3 million for first-year scholarships and $11.6 million for 4 years.
The Seton Keough High School, Baltimore
A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 19 at St. Joseph’s Passionist Monastery Church and commencement exercises were held May 20 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 140 graduates. Colleen Shea was the valedictorian, and Katie Sacker was the salutatorian. Sister Julie Fertsch, S.S.J., faculty member, was the commencement speaker. Graduates were offered $6.2 million in academic scholarships.
Towson Catholic High School, Towson
A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held May 22 at the Immaculate Conception Church, Towson, for 68 graduates. Father Matthew Buening, associate pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Columbia, was the commencement speaker. Christine Bradley was the valedictorian, and Mary Schmidt was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $2.7 million in academic scholarships.
Compiled by George P. Matysek Jr.