Catholic high schools celebrate Class of 2009

In this special section, The Catholic Review salutes the 2,597 graduating seniors of 21 Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Congratulations to the Class of 2009!

Archbishop Curley High School, Baltimore

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 27 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. Commencement exercises were held May 29 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland for 143 graduates. William Reuter, a member of the Class of 1967 and president/CEO of Susquehanna Bancshares, was the commencement speaker. Terrence Dandridge was named Ideal Curley Man of the Year. Jared Schultz received the School Service Award and Michael Thanner received the School Spirit Award. 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 27 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 267 graduates. Dr. Michael Murphy, Spalding president, was the commencement speaker. Timothy E. Ryan was recognized as first in academic excellence and Patrick M. O’Friel was recognized as second in academic excellence. Graduates were offered more than $20.4 million in academic scholarships.

Bishop Walsh School, Cumberland

A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held May 22 at St. Mary in Cumberland for 42 graduates. The main celebrant was Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski. The welcome address was given by Marie Turnbull, and Anne Mathews delivered the farewell address. Graduates were offered more than $2.5 million in academic scholarships.

Calvert Hall College High School, Towson

A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held May 30 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 316 graduates. Father Kevin Schenning, pastor of St. Joseph, Fullerton, was the commencement speaker. Christopher Trader was the valedictorian and Timothy Cadigan III was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $8.8 million in scholarships.

The Cardinal Gibbons School, Baltimore

A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held June 6 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary for 67 graduates. Bishop William C. Newman was the celebrant. Jonathan Samuel Marshall was the valedictorian and Shane Gregory Walston was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $3.6 million in academic scholarships.

The Catholic High School of Baltimore

A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held May 26 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 69 graduates. Christine Peck was the valedictorian and Kelly Fraim was the salutatorian. President Dr. Barbara D. Nazelrod, a member of the Class of 1968, gave special recognition to the 50th Anniversary Class who were attending the graduation and Principal Keith Harmeyer addressed the graduates. Graduates were offered more than $1.4 million in college scholarships and grants.

St. Frances Academy, Baltimore

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 30 at Mount Providence and commencement exercises were held May 31 at St. Matthew in Northwood for 50 graduates. Michael E. Cryor, business consultant and political advisor, was the commencement speaker. Andrew Adekolu was the valedictorian and Shampaign Page was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered $600,000 in academic scholarships.

Institute of Notre Dame, Baltimore

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 21 at St. Matthew in Northwood and commencement exercises were held May 26 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 96 graduates. Brigadier General Allyson Solomon, a member of the Class of 1979, was the commencement speaker. Melissa Ward was the valedictorian and Katie Gessler was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $5.7 million in scholarships.

The John Carroll School, Bel Air

A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held June 7 at The John Carroll School for 184 graduates. John F. von Paris, a 1977 graduate and recipient of the Rev. Charles K. Reipe Alumni Award, was the commencement speaker. Rebecca S. K. Thompson was the valedictorian and Natalie K Shaw was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $10.3 million in academic scholarships.

St. John’s Catholic Prep, Frederick

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 21 at St. John the Evangelist in Frederick and commencement exercises were held on May 22 at St. John Regional Catholic School in Frederick for 54 graduates. Cally Daschbach was the valedictorian and Keegan Eichelman was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $2.7 million in academic and athletic scholarships.

Loyola Blakefield, Towson

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated June 6 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen and commencement exercises were held June 7 at Loyola Blakefield for 204 graduates. Michael P. Thomas gave the welcoming address and Brandon L. Floyd gave the student address. Graduates were offered more than $11 million in academic scholarships.

St. Maria Goretti High School, Hagerstown

A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held May 30 at St. Ann in Hagerstown for 45 students. Jacquelyn Gallo was the valedictorian and Natalie Ferretti was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $1.6 million in academic scholarships.

St. Mary’s High School, Annapolis

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 21 at St. Mary Church, Annapolis and commencement exercises were held that same day at Carroll Gardens, Annapolis, for 126 graduates. Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, was the commencement speaker. Ashley Barnes and Thomas Galligan were co-valedictorians. Graduates were offered more than $9.1 million in academic scholarships.

Maryvale Preparatory School, Brooklandville

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated June 4 at Maryvale and commencement exercises were held June 5 at Maryvale for 72 graduates. English Department faculty member Mark Lund was the commencement speaker. Graduating senior Molly McEvoy gave an address. Graduates were offered more than $5 million in academic scholarships and grants.

Mercy High School, Baltimore

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 31 at Mercy and commencement exercises were held June 3 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 128 graduates. Judge Ellen Santiago Barbera, a member of the Class of 1969 was the commencement speaker. Graduates received $3.9 million in scholarships.

Mount Saint Joseph High School, Irvington

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 22 at St. Louis in Clarksville and commencement exercises were held May 24 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 255 graduates. Barry Fitzpatrick, principal, and Xaverian Brother James Kelly, president, gave the commencement remarks. Mark Perez was the valedictorian. Graduates were offered more than $12 million in academic scholarships.

Mount de Sales Academy, Catonsville

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 21 at Mount de Sales Academy and commencement exercises were held May 23 at Mount de Sales Academy for 115 graduates. Kelly Elizabeth Blessing was the valedictorian, Mary Frances Petras was the salutatorian, and Maria Kristin Schuberth was the Mount de Sales Girl. Graduates were offered more than $8.9 million in scholarships.

Notre Dame Preparatory School, Towson

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 26 at Notre Dame Preparatory School and commencement exercises were held May 27 at Notre Dame Preparatory School for 134 graduates. Sister Kathleen Feeley, a School Sister of Notre Dame and professor of English at the Catholic University of Ghana in Sunyani, Ghana, was the commencement speaker. Erin Laschinger and Christine O’Keefe shared honors for general excellence. Graduates were offered more than $10.5 million in academic scholarships.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School, Essex

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 27 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and commencement exercises were held May 29 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church for 58 graduates. Father Austin Murphy, chaplain of Catholic Campus Ministry at Towson University, was the commencement speaker. Alexander Brylske was the valedictorian and Kathleen Jefferson was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $650,000 in academic scholarships.

The Seton Keough High School, Baltimore

A baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 26 at St. Joseph’s Passionist Monastery in Irvington , and graduation exercises were held May 28 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for 113 graduates. Laura Bisceglia, assistant principal of Seton Keough, was the commencement speaker. Laura Stein was the valedictorian and Lauren Bambarger was the salutatorian. Graduates were offered more than $3.2 million in scholarships.

Towson Catholic High School

A baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held May 21 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Towson for 59 graduates. Meaghan Perez and Caitlin Draayer were the valedictorians. Graduates were offered more than $3.5 million in academic scholarships.