Archdiocese of Philadelphia Honors Distinguished Scholars from Catholic Secondary Schools at the 41st Annual Academic Honors Convocation
To follow proper social distancing guidelines, there will be two Academic Honors Convocation Ceremonies.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will honor 138 distinguished scholars from 33 Archdiocesan and private Catholic secondary schools throughout the five-county region at the 41st Annual Academic Honors Convocation. To allow for social distancing guidelines this year and to provide an opportunity for each student to attend with two guests, there will be two ceremonies at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez will be the main celebrant during the Liturgy of the Word preceding each Academic Honors Convocation ceremony.
Members of the 2021 All Catholic Chorus will provide the liturgical music, under the direction of Conductor, Mr. Thomas Kuchler, Director of Performing Arts, Conwell-Egan Catholic High School in Fairless Hills (Bucks County) and accompanied by Organist, Mr. Mark Loria, Principal Organist, Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
First Academic Honors Convocation Ceremony
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Second Academic Honors Convocation Ceremony
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
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. These students are included in the elite group according to their cumulative ranking at the end of the first semester of their senior year. Both ceremonies will be streamed live at https://vimeo.com/event/553343.
Sister Maureen Lawrence McDermott, I.H.M., Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer and Superintendent of Secondary Schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education, “On behalf of my colleagues in the Office of Catholic Education and Faith in the Future, I offer prayerful best wishes and heartfelt congratulations to these members of the class of 2021 for their incredible achievements and dedication to their academic success.” Sister continued, “The Archdiocesan Academic Honors Convocation is an honored tradition that provides us, administrators and teachers, with the opportunity to commend these students and to celebrate their families for their unwavering support during their time in our secondary schools.”
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.
2021 ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA ACADEMIC SCHOLARS
First Academic Honors Convocation Ceremony
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Academy of Notre Dame de Namur
Katherine Lanzalotto
Claire Pinnie
Marilyn Isabella Langley
Archbishop John Carroll High School
Theresa Pham **
Michael Young
Cecilia Cherico **
Lucas Duong
Jacky Chen **
Diane Nguyen **
Emma Prushan **
Kathryn Wall
Gina Pellizzeri
Dana Bell
Andrew Lukashchuk **
Florence Han
Katherine Meinel
Leighann A. Kafel
Erin E. Kafel
Michael DeAngelis
Bailey L. Reid
Joseph Horan
Romolo J. Bruno
Kathryn McNally
Eamon Foley
John C. Porter **
Joseph M. Manning
Cara E. Wankmiller
Katherine E. Aaronson
Noah A. Brady
Autumn L. Bryan
Mary F. Howski **
Erin Zahner
Katelyn Tuberosa
Declan Pennese
Maureen O’ Reilly
Emma Hoffman
Patrick Burns
Meredith Hannigan
Conwell-Egan Catholic High School
Tessa Smiley **
Colton Michael Jiorle
Jahnel A. Rodriguez
Egan Jeffrey Rigney
Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School
Sahyra A. Bailey-Coleman
Jaida Clark
Mia E. Velez
Rams-Lyne Thomas
Michael J. Woodburn
Niral Bangha
Father Judge High School for Boys
Jason Fisher **
Andrew McGovern
William Liu
Andy Ha
Keith Collier
Gwynedd-Mercy Academy High School
Kelly G. Murray
Samantha Berish
Megan A. Panacek
Holy Ghost Preparatory High School
Jake M. Marek
Anthony M. Padula
Eric J. Pohl
John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School
Monica Madya
Tiffany Lim
Bernadette Mooney
Michael V. Saldutti
Mary K. Koonce
Kaitlyn Leshak **
Alexa Fretz
Second Academic Honors Convocation Ceremony
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Christian Matthew Bardsley
Lucas Sebastiano Braccia
Andrew Dolaway
Matthew Joseph Domanico
David Dillon Kimmel
Mark David McDonough
Brendan Patrick McGinn
Mason Anthony Semarini
Emmet Brennan Young
Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls
Allison Neitz
Stephanie Alampi
Faith Cruz
Malvern Preparatory School for Boys
Eric Yablonski
Riley McCarry
Christopher Ayres
Maceo Giampietro
Mercy Career and Technical High School
Solomon M. Abel
Danna K. Uruchima
Micheline M. Denn
Nancy T. Lam
Julia D. LaRosa
Xin Su
Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School
Hailey Bierling
Michael Gross
Alexander Beyrel
Katelyn Swierczek
Kevin Farren
Abigail Lance
Margaret E. Kuffner
Regina M. Princivalle
Cayla A. Higginson
Olivia A. Millevoi
Olivia M. Fennell
Angela M. Brunetti
Lianna G. Rieser
Daniel M. Martin **
Thomas T. Rutkowski **
Bridget A. Ferris
Gabrielle A. Piccirilli
Jason J. Fennell **
Liam Wenger
Roman Catholic High School for Boys
Derek T. Nguyen
Nathaniel Hunter Butler
Jason Kyle Wagner
Andrew Robert Beach
Sean Greeby **
Oisin Carthy
Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr
Emma Karn
Jennifer Michele Mayro
Jamie Barbara
Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls
Makayla Jordan Egolf
Allison Elizabeth Carley
Alyssa Morgan Egenolf
Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School
Travis Bronson Short
Peyton Nelson
Jenna Ribikauskas
Mia Antoinette Messina
Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School
Benicio T. Beatty
Krish Chawla
Luke B. DeAnnuntis
William R. Needham
Aiden Render-Katolik
Garrett A. McCloskey
Villa Joseph Marie High School
Grace M. Matwijec
Alexandra E. Venth
Katelyn Burke
Villa Maria Academy High School
Micaela B. Shackleford
Stefanie M. Janowicz
Helena Slupianek
West Catholic Preparatory High School
Tamia Johnson
Beinushi Jean-Pierre
Patience Sanders
# # #
Contact:Meredith Wilson
Media and Events Specialist
215-587-3747