Graduations set for 12 Catholic high schools in the archdiocese

Principal John Atha of Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis presents a diploma to Arden Burch during the school’s 2012 graduation. (Submitted photo)

By John Shaughnessy

As another school year comes to a close, 1,415 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.

“Graduating more than 1,400 students in our Catholic high schools this spring is a very humbling and rewarding experience for all of us in Catholic school education,” says Harry Plummer, executive director of Catholic education and faith formation for the archdiocese. “We’re confident that the Class of 2013 is prepared for success and ready to bring into this world a living and active faith.”

Here is a listing of graduation-related information for the 12 Catholic high schools—seven archdiocesan and five private—in the archdiocese.

Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 196 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 6:30 p.m. on May 17 at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be at 2:30 p.m. on May 19 at the school.

The class co-valedictorians are Deegan Atha, the son of John and Mary Ellen Atha of St. Maria Goretti Parish in Westfield, Ind., in the Lafayette Diocese; and Mark DeNardin, the son of Scott and Kimberly DeNardin of Christ the King Parish in Indianapolis.

The class salutatorian is Marissa Collier, the daughter of Christopher and Celeste Collier of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin.
 

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 209 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on June 2 at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be at 4:30 p.m. on June 2 at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Gina Fleming, assistant superintendent of Catholic schools for the archdiocese.
 

Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School has a graduating class of 134 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 7 p.m. on May 30 at St. Monica Church in Indianapolis.

The graduation ceremony will be at 7 p.m. on May 31 at the school.

The class valedictorian is Mary Ann Harrison, the daughter of Todd and Catherine Harrison of St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis.

The salutatorian is Joseph Sweeney, the son of Pat and Alice Sweeney of St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Archbishop Tobin.
 

Cathedral High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 294 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 10 a.m. on May 18 at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be at 1 p.m. on May 19 at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis.

There are five class valedictorians: Chris Jones, the son of Mark and Mary Jones of Holy Spirit Parish in Indianapolis; Caley Caito, the daughter of Matthew and Kerry Caito of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Indianapolis; Anna Huntine, the daughter of Michael and Jill Huntine of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis; Alexander Rohe, the son of Mark and Suzan Rohe; and Abigail Schopper, the daughter of Mark and Mary Schopper of St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg.

There are four class salutatorians: Grace Bennett, the daughter of Ken and Margaret Bennett of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Indianapolis; Seamus Brennan, the son of Arthur and Christina Brennan of Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Parish in Indianapolis; Kendall Burgett, the daughter of Richard Burgett and Malinda Mundy-Burgett; and Madison Oeff, the daughter of Kevin and Brenda Oeff of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis.

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

Father Michael Shawe Memorial Jr./Sr. High School in Madison has a graduating class of 39 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 7 p.m. on May 31 at the school.

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

Two students are in contention for valedictorian and salutatorian honors as the school year draws to a close: Laura Hesse, the daughter of Steve and Lisa Hesse of Prince of Peace Parish in Madison; and JaLynn Copeland, the daughter of Mort and Cathy Copeland of Prince of Peace Parish in Madison.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Bishop Christopher J. Coyne.
 

Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 74 students.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 7 p.m. on May 23 at St. Philip Neri Church in Indianapolis.

The graduation ceremony will be at 7 p.m. on May 24 at the school.

The class co-valedictorians are: Emma Flick, daughter of Donald and Lisa Flick of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Indianapolis; and Raymond Riley, the son of John Riley and Jan Riley of Holy Spirit Parish in Indianapolis.

The class salutatorian is Elizabeth Griffin, the daughter of Kevin and Maureen Griffin of Holy Spirit Parish in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Rob Rash, assistant superintendent of Catholic schools for the archdiocese.
 

Lumen Christi High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of six seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 5:45 p.m. on May 24 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Indianapolis. The graduation ceremony will immediately follow the Baccalaureate Mass in the church.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Plummer.
 

Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception in Oldenburg has a graduating class of 69 seniors.

The graduation ceremony will be at 1 p.m. on June 2 at the Chapel of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg.

Two students are in contention for valedictorian and salutatorian honors as the school year draws to a close: Laurel Kelnhofer, the daughter of Robert and Elinor Kelnhofer of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Aurora; and Natalie Pottschmidt, the daughter of Todd and Carolyn Pottschmidt of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Parish in Bright.

The archdiocese will be represented by Plummer during a Mass and luncheon at the school on May 17.
 

Our Lady of Providence Jr./Sr. High School in Clarksville has a graduating class of 98 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 2 p.m. on June 2 at St. Mary-of-the-Knobs Church in Floyd County.

The graduation ceremony will be at 5 p.m. on June 9 at the school.

There are three class valedictorians: Erin Duncan, the daughter of Jerry and Elaine Duncan of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in New Albany; Reed Fansler, the son of Eric and Kellie Fansler of Holy Family Parish in New Albany; and Weston Spalding, the son of Jim and Cathy Spalding of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in New Albany.

The class salutatorian is Kathleen Wiles, the daughter of Thomas and Ann Wiles of Holy Family Parish in New Albany.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Fleming.
 

Providence Cristo Rey High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 15 seniors.

The graduation ceremony will be at 7 p.m. on June 6 at the school.

The class valedictorian is D’Onna Robinson, the granddaughter of Donna Brown, who is also her guardian.

The class salutatorian is Alisa Schaefer, the daughter of Bobbie Schaefer and Kenneth Schaefer. Her guardian is Margo Mayfield.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Fleming.
 

Roncalli High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 265 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 6 p.m. on May 24 at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be at 9 a.m. on May 25 at the school.

The class valedictorian is David Stephen Page, the son of David and Santina Page of St. Roch Parish in Indianapolis.

The class salutatorian is Christopher Michael Brown, the son of Richard and Elisabetta Brown of Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Beech Grove.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Bishop Coyne.
 

Seton Catholic Jr./Sr. High School in Richmond has a graduating class of 16 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 7 p.m. on May 31 at St. Andrew Church in Richmond.

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

The class valedictorian is Johnathon Remo Hornak, the son of Drs. Steve and Angie Hornak of Holy Family Parish in Richmond.

The salutatorian is Katelyn Elizabeth Thuman, the daughter of Michael and Karen Thuman of Holy Family Parish.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Rash. †