Pomp and circumstance: 1,321 students to graduate at Catholic high schools in archdiocese

Criterion staff report

This spring, Catholic high schools in the archdiocese will graduate 1,321 students.

Here is a listing of graduation-related information for the 10 Catholic high schools—seven archdiocesan and three private—in the archdiocese that will have graduating classes this year.

The 11th Catholic high school in the archdiocese—Providence Cristo Rey High School in Indianapolis—is in its first year of existence and won’t have any graduates this year.

Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 183 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on May 28 at 6 p.m. at the high school.

The graduation ceremony will be on May 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the high school.

The class valedictorian is Molly McGonigal, the daughter of Joseph and Denise McGonigal of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis.

The class salutatorian is Kathleen McKiernan, the daughter of Philip and Holiday McKiernan of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general, and Annette “Mickey” Lentz, executive director of Catholic education and faith formation.

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 192 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on May 18 at 5 p.m. at the school.

The graduation ceremony will be on May 29 at 8 p.m. at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Ken Ogorek, director of catechesis.

Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 92 students.

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

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

The class valedictorian is Ben Ivers, the son of William and Elizabeth Ivers of St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis.

The class salutatorian is Kateri Fites, the daughter of Jeff and Robin Fites of St. Susanna Parish in Plainfield.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Msgr. Schaedel and Kathy Mears, associate director of Catholic schools and learning resources.

Cathedral High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 314 seniors.

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

The graduation ceremony will be on May 18 at 1 p.m. at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis.

The class valedictorians are Elizabeth Flood, the daughter of Michael and Catherine Flood of St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg, and Victoria Schopper, the daughter of Mark and Mary Schopper of St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg.

Four students are class salutatorians: Brian Bowman, the son of Andy and Patricia Bowman of Holy Spirit Parish in Fishers, Ind., in the Lafayette diocese; Erin Mershon, the daughter of John Mershon and Ann Cutler of Carmel, Ind.; Sarah Smith, the daughter of Richard and Leisa Smith of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis; and Kevin Roberts, the son of Timothy and Kathleen Roberts of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Peggy Elson, associate director of schools and director of the Teaching Advancement Program for the archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Education.

Father Michael Shawe Memorial Jr./Sr. High School in Madison has a graduating class of 16 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on May 30 at 7 p.m. at the Father Hilary Meny Gymnasium at the school.

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

The class valedictorian is Darren Lainhart, the son of Ronald and Kim Lainhart of St. Mary Parish in North Vernon.

The class salutatorian is Sydney Davis, the daughter of Roxann Davis of Hanover.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Lentz.

Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 68 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on May 21 at 7 p.m. at St. Philip Neri Church in Indianapolis.

The graduation ceremony will be on May 23 at 7 p.m. at Scecina’s gymnasium.

The class valedictorian is Shanna Pierle, the daughter of Chris and Barbara Pierle of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Indianapolis.

The class salutatorian is John Okerson, the son of James and Maureen Okerson of Holy Spirit Parish in Indianapolis.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Msgr. Schaedel and Lentz.

Oldenburg Academy in Oldenburg has a graduating class of 53 seniors.

The Senior Mass will be on May 16 at 1:30 p.m. at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Oldenburg. The archdiocese will be represented by G. Joseph Peters, associate executive director of Catholic education.

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

Our Lady of Providence Jr./Sr. High School in Clarksville has a graduating class of 125 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on May 18 at 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in New Albany.

The graduation ceremony will be on May 24 at 10 a.m. at the Larkin Center Gymnasium at the school.

The class valedictorian is Leah Ernstberger, the daughter of Mindy and Jerry Ernstberger of Holy Family Parish in New Albany.

The class salutatorian is Brandon Roberson, the son of Brian and Velvet Roberson of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in New Albany.

The archdiocese will be represented by Lentz.

Roncalli High School in Indianapolis has a graduating class of 274 seniors.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be on May 30 at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of the Greenwood Church in Greenwood.

The graduation ceremony will be on May 31 at 10 a.m. at the high school.

The class valedictorian is Kelsey Stack, the daughter of Jane and Michael Stack of Holy Cross Parish in Indianapolis.

The class salutatorian is Morgan Dumm, the daughter of Philip and Nanette Dumm of SS. Francis and Clare of Assisi Parish in Greenwood.

The archdiocese will be represented at the graduation by Msgr. Schaedel and Ronald Costello, superintendent of Catholic schools.

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

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

The graduation ceremony will be on May 30 at 7 p.m. at Holy Family Church in Richmond.

The class valedictorian is Mallory Strohmier, the daughter of Jeff and Laura Strohmier of New Parish, Ohio.

The class salutatorian is Wendell Smith, the son of Donna Smith of St. Andrew Parish in Richmond.

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