Monsignor Daniel Kutys, Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Moderator of the Curia, will be the main celebrant during a Liturgy of the Word preceding the 38th Annual Academic Honors Convocation at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. This event honors graduating seniors from 33 Archdiocesan and private Catholic high schools for their academic excellence. Thursday, May 18, 2017 6:15 p.m. (Procession) 6:30 p.m. (Liturgy of the Word) Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul 18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Philadelphia, PA 19103 The students, who are ranked in the top 3% of their senior class, will be honored for their academic success and dedication to their studies. This year 155 students are included in the elite group according to their cumulative ranking at the end of the first semester of their senior year. For the first time in its 38-year history the Academic Honors Convocation will be streamed in real-time utilizing Facebook Live via the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools Facebook page at www.facebook.com/archphilaschools.
“The Class of 2017 distinguished scholars, their families, and loved ones have much to celebrate as they draw closer to high school graduation. The Archdiocesan Academic Honors Convocation, a time honored tradition, gives us in the Office of Catholic Education as well as their teachers and administrators the opportunity to commend and honor them on their hard work and diligence in the beautiful setting of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. As all of our seniors throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia prepare for their Baccalaureate Masses and Commencement Exercises we offer them prayerful best wishes for a happy and successful future,” said Sister Maureen McDermott, IHM, Ph.D., Superintendent for Secondary Schools.
Killeen McCans, a senior from Cardinal O’Hara High School is this year’s student speaker. Killeen will address those in attendance after all students have received their medals. She was chosen from among seven student honorees who submitted essays and auditioned this year. Killeen is a Neumann Scholar and a Notre Dame Summer Scholar. She participates in a number of extracurricular activities including the “Danny Hammond Dance Marathon,” National Honor Society, Varsity Soccer, and Community Service Corps. She will attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall. Mr. Christopher Mominey, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary for Catholic Education, will deliver closing remarks. The 2017 All Catholic Chorus will provide the liturgical music, under the direction of the conductor, Mrs. Marge Campbell and accompanied by organist, Mrs. Cheryl Manfredonia. Those individuals with asterisks after their names are in the Connelly Foundation Neumann Scholars Program. Initiated in 1995, this scholarship program identifies academically talented eighth grade students through an independently administered competitive examination and provides four year scholarships to attend any Archdiocesan high school.
2017 ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA ACADEMIC SCHOLARS
(Schools are categorized below according to county)
BUCKS COUNTY
Erin E. Lalli
Andrew S. Flinn
Erin L. Nguyen
Anastasia M. Ballasy
Julie M. Dwyer
Kathryn E. Ratner
Ryan J. Miller
Jessica L. Conroy
Conwell-Egan Catholic High School
Mikayla M. Griffin
Declan C. Carolan*
Stephen A. Siladji
Cassidy L. Hayden
Matthew E. Costanzo
Carlo G. Duffy
Conor J. Gibbons
Luke T. Profy
Mark A. Vigliotti
Villa Joseph Marie High School
Kerri M. Czekner
Jennifer E. Wagner
Samantha L. Arbiz
CHESTER COUNTY
Anthony Fonash
Kathryn McGonagle
Eileen Mostyn*
Megan Muller*
Matthew Downing
Julia Szabla*
Luke Swiatek*
Michael J. Bonfiglio
Zachary DeStefano
Sean Ward
Tyler Pizzico
Marcus Nowlan
Villa Maria Academy High School
Jessica R. Perry
Hope W. Reynolds
Allison H. Van Grinsven
DELAWARE COUNTY
Academy of Notre Dame de Namur
Julia Walton
Jane Overend
Merry Gu
Kathleen O’Connor
Archbishop Carroll High School
Isabelle M. Rullo*
David J. Fohner
Katherine A. Hageney
Gabrielle P. Lyons
Zachary A. Campbell
Kevin A. Patzuk
Madison E. Bristowe
Frances Claire Schueren
Mary Killeen McCans*
Gavin Inglis*
Emily Ann Markley
William John Issertell
Edward Justus Issertell
Schola Eburuoh
Mary Cecilia Sheehan
Country Day School of the Sacred Heart
Elizabeth Clare McLaughlin
Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School
Riley M. Dolan
Emily R. Rockenbach
Elysia A. Konecny
Casey L. Rafferty
Jing L. Zheng
John F. Tercha
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Catherine T. Nguyen*
Marie Abegail Estampa
Andrew Q. Pham*
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
Alyssa A. Gesek
Julia M. Coakley
Madison P. Regan
Andrew Morris Danielson*
Kerry Marie Silidker
Brenna Elizabeth Sweeney*
Ashleigh Ellen Falcione
Connor Patrick Thomson
Samuel Bauer Altier
Colin Thomas Beveridge
John Thomas Galbreath
Lucas John Gregory
Christopher James Hladczuk
Liam John Kelley
David Thomas Kennedy
Alexander F. Sislo
Kyle Paul Tokiwa
Kristen B. Beckett
Nicole R. DiAntonio
Thérèse B. Mills
Daniela T. Sciulli
Meredith Mayes
Theresa Worthington
Margaret Lynch
Ava Self
James Murphy*
Benjamin Ferris*
Ryan M. DiLeva
Kristen Mahoney
Matthew Lohr
Jake C. Maya
Andrew P. Gray
Natalie Kucowski
Madelyn Riehman
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
Sammantha Chiu
Jack G. Sliwa*
Karen Herrera
Jacqueline J. Burke
Cara F. DiMarcantonio*
Sean G. Zarzatian
Katie Rose Hancin
Madison Morales
Mary Grace Berchick
Myrani Figueroa
Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School
Angie Ortiz
Axelle Onadja
Father Judge High School for Boys
John R. Carley*
Connor W. McQuillan
Brendan M. Mallon
Brian J. Giampietro
Andrew G. Hearn
Adam R. Nork
Dylan A. Ulshafer
John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School
Leslie M. Yip
Minh C. Nguyen
Katerina I. Evangelou
Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls
Erin Collins*
Thao P. Nguyen
Laura S. Porretta
Julianna N. Vivino
Mercy Career & Technical High School
Nghi Tran
Jennifer Rocio Sinchi
Veronica J. Bloom
Sofia H. Capece
Rebecca J. Masgai
Roman Catholic High School for Boys
Nicholas Steven Bishop
Edward R. Dunbar
Sean P. Brown
Luke Peter Hrushanyk*
Justin Francis Convery
Luke Michael McParland
Bryan Lee
Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls
Delaney M. Donaghy
Kaylee M. Krapp*
Megan M. Lodes*
Katie N. Ortiz
Franchesca M. Torres
Saints John Neumann-Maria Goretti Catholic High School
Jamin Chen
Alexandra M. Arrigale
Lucinda C. Mileto
Julianna M. Scarduzio
Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School
Daniel L. Leonard
Jason P. Miles, Jr.
William T. Mitchell
Thomas E. White
Jack N. Yocom
Aidan P. O’Connor
Declan B. Mirabella
West Catholic Preparatory High School
Bemenet Girma
Alexis Wiley
Brianna Wilson
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Contact:
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747 (office)