Graduations set for Catholic high schools in archdiocese

Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin congratulates Jackson Lucas during the 2013 graduation ceremony of Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis. (Submitted photo Bishop Chatard High School Photography)

By John Shaughnessy

As another school year comes to a close, 1,311 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 an estimated 97 percent of the graduates will enter college.

“The members of our archdiocesan Class of 2014 join more than 130,000 other young men and women in graduating from our nation’s Catholic high schools at a critical time in American history,” said Harry Plummer, executive director of Catholic education and faith formation for the archdiocese.

“Many reasons to support this statement could be provided, but the one that I believe is most compelling is the benefit we will receive from the witness of their faith-filled lives at a time when it seems that efforts to drive God out of public life have never been more aggressively pursued. This brings all of us involved in their educational formation great joy and hope.”

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 156 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 6:30 p.m. on May 16 at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be at 2:30 p.m. on May 18 at the school.

The class valedictorian is Anna Elcesser, the daughter of John and Jill Elcesser of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis.

The class co-salutatorians are Claire Etchason and Emma Etchason, daughters of Edmond and Lisa Etchason of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Annette “Mickey” Lentz, chancellor.
 

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 184 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on June 1 at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be at 4:30 p.m. on June 1 at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis.

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

Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School has a graduating class of 129 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 7 p.m. on May 29 at St. Susanna Church in Plainfield.

The graduation ceremony will be at 7 p.m. on May 30 at the school.

The class valedictorian is Alexis Finnell, the daughter of Todd and Deandra Finnell of St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis.

The salutatorian is Daniel Fesenmeier, the son of Jim and Jane Fesenmeier of St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg.

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

Cathedral High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 290 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 10 a.m. on May 17 at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be at 1 p.m. on May 18 at Old National Center in Indianapolis.

There are nine class valedictorians:

Katherine Bigelow is the daughter of Kris Bigelow.

Nicolas Bratton is the son of David and Claudia Bratton of St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg.

Christopher FitzGerald is the son of Edward and Lisa FitzGerald of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Indianapolis.

Joseph Fulnecky is the son of Mark and Bonnie Fulnecky.

Matthew Gregory is the son of Kevin and Susan Gregory of St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg.

Michael Melbardis is the son of Andrew and Jean Melbardis of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis.

Melissa Robins is the daughter of Deborah Robins.

Tianna Vander Missen is the daughter of Mike and Michelle Vander Missen of St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis.

Luke Wojtalik is the son of Christopher and Ann Wojtalik of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Indianapolis.

There are two class salutatorians:

Aidan DeSanto is the son of John and Beth DeSanto of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis.

Jack Mourouzis is the son of Ted and Susan Mourouzis of St. Alphonus Liguori Parish in Zionsville, Ind., in the Lafayette Diocese.

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

Father Michael Shawe Memorial Jr./Sr. High School in Madison has a graduating class of 18 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 7 p.m. on June 6 at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be at 2 p.m. on June 8 at the school.

Two students are in contention for valedictorian and salutatorian honors as the school year draws to a close:

Christopher Boone, son of Todd and Mary Beth Boone of Prince of Peace Parish in Madison.

Catherine Grote, the daughter of Dominic and Patti Grote of Prince of Peace Parish.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Harry Plummer, executive director of Catholic education and faith formation for the archdiocese.
 

Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 82 students.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 7 p.m. on May 22 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Indianapolis.

The graduation ceremony will be at 7 p.m. on May 23 at the school.

The class valedictorian is Michael Kennedy, the son of John and Cris Kennedy of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Indianapolis.

The class salutatorian is Alex Card, the son of Christopher and Jan Card of St. Michael Parish in Greenfield.

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

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

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 5:45 p.m. on May 22 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 33 seniors.

The graduation ceremony will be at 1 p.m. on June 8 at the Chapel of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg.

Five students are in contention for valedictorian and salutatorian honors as the school year draws to a close:

Nichole Flaspohler, the daughter of Nick and Kathleen Flaspohler of St. Louis Parish in Batesville; Isaiah Frey, the son of James and Betty Frey of St. Louis Parish in Batesville; Gabrielle Mungcal, the daughter of Noel and Luna Mungcal of St. Mary Parish in Greensburg; Elizabeth Siemer, the daughter of Joe and Julie Siemer of St. Michael Parish in Brookville, and Cora Weisenbach, the daughter of Scott Weisenbach and Kim Lang of St. Michael Parish in Brookville.

The archdiocese will be represented by Plummer during a Mass and luncheon at the school on May 16.
 

Our Lady of Providence Jr./Sr. High School in Clarksville has a graduating class of 132 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 7 p.m. on May 23 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in New Albany.

The graduation ceremony will be at 5 p.m. on June 1 at the school.

The class valedictorian is Justin Nacpil, the son of Antonio Nacpil and Priscilla Villaroman of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in New Albany.

There are co-salutatorians:

Scott Hoyland is the son of Bob and Christa Hoyland of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Jeffersonville.

Charly Wolford is the daughter of Charles and Theresa Wolford of St. Joseph Parish in Clark County.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Mary McCoy, assistant superintendent of Catholic schools.
 

Providence Cristo Rey High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 16 seniors.

The graduation ceremony will be at 7 p.m. on June 10 at the school.

The class valedictorian is Jacquelyn Plata-Rosales of St. Patrick Parish in Indianapolis. Her guardian is her sister, Raquel Plata.

The class co-salutatorians are:

Victoria Crabtree is the daughter of Theresa Crabtree of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis.

Doryaun Harvey is the son of Darlene Martin.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Lentz.
 

Roncalli High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 250 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 6 p.m. on May 23 at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be at 9 a.m. on May 24 at the school.

The class valedictorian is Stephanie Marie Asdell, the daughter of Steven and Tessa Asdell of St. Barnabas Parish in Indianapolis.

There are two class salutatorians:

Emily Meryl Elliott is the daughter of Brooks and Sheila Elliott of St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis.

Cameron Scheele Smock is the son of Andrew and Suzanne Smock of St. Barnabas Parish in Indianapolis.

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

Seton Catholic Jr./Sr. High School in Richmond has a graduating class of 18 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be at 6 p.m. on May 30 at St. Andrew Church in Richmond.

The graduation ceremony will be at 2 p.m. on June 1 at the school.

There are co-valedictorians:

Kaylee Cox is the daughter of Brian and Suzanne Cox of St. Andrew Parish in Richmond.

Brady Gray is the son of Vince and Denise Gray of St. Andrew Parish.

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