FACEBOOK @FLORIDACATHOLIC June 26-July 2, 2020
FLORIDA Catholic
VENICE DIOCESE
BOB REDDY
of the Florida Catholic staff
SARASOTA Each year the four Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Venice send into the world some of the best prepared students. The class of 2020, which includes Bishop Verot in Fort Myers, Cardinal Mooney in Sarasota, Donahue Academy in Ave Maria, and St. John Neumann in Naples, has gradu- ates who are going forth having received an excellent education based of Gospel values. Among the graduating class, 97% have plans to go to college, earning a combined $46.5 million in scholarship offers, all while dedicating thousands of hours of service in the community. The class of 2020 will likely be best re- membered because its final semester was upturned by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. An enforced quarantine and sub- sequent distance learning, as well as missing key events in their final months of school, did not dampen the excitement as they pre- pare for the next phase in their lives. It should come as no surprise that at each school the students were nurtured in a sup- porting and spiritual environment to be- come life-long learners. The pandemic did little to change that fact as some of the top graduates recently reflected upon their high school experiences and how well-prepared they are for college and beyond. Alberto Macia, St. John Neumann Vale- dictorian, explained how the academics prepared him to be competitive for college applications and set him up for success. However, it is so much more than academ- ics," the Cornell University-bound student said. "The faculty really cares about each student. The atmosphere is fun and really like a family. Some of my classmates have been my friends since I was 3 years old. They are more than classmates; they are family." Summa Cum Laude Bishop Verot gradu- ate Connor Shovlin, who is a National Merit Scholarship finalist and will be attending Duke University in the fall, said he is very prepared for college. "Verot delivers a supe- rior quality education and has a great com- munity and environment in which to learn. I have been very impressed with the support that Verot provides to its students. All of the teachers are passionate about their subject and about teaching." Donahue Catholic Academy Valedic- torian Quentin Fairchild is heading to the University of Notre Dame and credits his school with providing each student the op- portunity to do something great. "Catholic schools are able to speak about God in a way that public schools are not. Moreover, they are free to speak their minds, and that really manifests itself in great ways at Donahue." Graham Linehan, Cardinal Mooney Valedictorian, who is headed to the Uni- versity of Florida Honors College, called his school a close-knit community. When asked what he would tell of prospective student, he said: "If you are looking for a specific per- sonal experience, I would go for it... these schools are innovative and adaptive." The 13 years of Catholic education (St. Ann Catholic School and Neumann) pro- vided to Salutatorian Ryan O'Connor "truly instilled values I am thankful to have in my life." The future University of Florida stu- dent continued: "By having a school deeply rooted in the Catholic Faith, I have been taught morals and principles that are hard to find in any other school community." Bishop Verot Summa Cum Laude gradu- ate Spencer Ebenger is attending Vanderbilt University in the fall and while in school founded a non-profit to help improve lit- eracy in rural areas as well as in Jamaica. He explained that Verot is a community of people who are there for each other. "It's bigger than one person and has that extra personal touch. Everyone cares about each other. There is no censorship of other reli- gions; there is an open dialogue. The culture is one big family. The people are there for you. They were there for me and (going) was easily the best decision of my young life." Anna Klemeyer, Cardinal Mooney salu- tatorian, who recently reported to the U.S. Naval Academy, said she attended Mooney because her parents wanted her to go to a school with morality involved in the school culture. She also found the family atmo- sphere helped her succeed. "I will always cherish the relationships I built here, with not only my classmates, but the amazing faculty that help all students whether it be with math homework or supporting them in a time of need." The most valuable lesson Abbey Lawe, Salutatorian at Donahue, gained from her education was to learn how to think, not just what to think. Continuing her educa- tion at Providence College, she said Dona- hue was "more than just a school, it really was a community of teachers and students who so wanted us to succeed- allowed us to feel known, supported and loved by our teachers and classmates." These top graduates reflect well upon the entire Class of 2020 and serve as an example of the excellence found in the students of Bishop Verot, Cardinal Mooney, Donahue and St. John Neumann.
Best Best and and brightest brightest of the Diocesan Class of 2020 of the Diocesan Class of 2020
P NS AND HONORS FOR THE DIOCESE'S TOP GRADUATES
St. John Neumann
Alberto Macia, Valedictorian Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, mechanical engineering Clubs/sports: National Honors Society, Peer Ministry, House Captain, Beta Club, baseball for four years and football for senior year. Ryan O'Connor, Salutatorian University of Florida, Gainesville, biomechanical engineering Clubs/sports: National Honors Society, Beta Club, four years of football.
Bishop Verot
Spencer Ebenger, Summa Cum Laude Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, economics Clubs/sports: National Honors Society, Model UN, Mock Trial, Spanish Club, Mu Alpha Theta Club, COSA (future health professionals). Connor Shovlin, Summa Cum Laude Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, biomechanical engineering and computer science Clubs/sports: National Honors Society, Math Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society, STEM Team, Academic Quiz Bowl, tutor, Verot Scholars Academy, National Merit Scholarship Finalist.
Donahue Academy
Quentin Fairchild, Valedictorian University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, history and political science Clubs/sports: National Honors Society, Student Life, Model UN (founding member), Shakespeare in Performance, four-years basketball, three-years cross country. Abbey Lawe, Salutatorian Providence (Rhode Island) College, finance Clubs/sports: National Honors Society, Student Life, Model UN (founding member), Shakespeare in Performance, Yearbook Club, tutor, four-years-basketball.
Cardinal Mooney
Graham Linehan, Valedictorian University of Florida Honors College, Gainesville, international studies Clubs/sports: National Honors Society, Junior Class President, Academic Olympics, Spanish Club, co-founder of Italian Club, four-year tennis player. Anna Klemeyer, Salutatorian U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, cyber operations Clubs/sports: National Honors Society, Academic Olympics, four-year volleyball player.
Graham Linehan Anna Klemeyer Quentin Fairchild Abbey Lawe Spencer Ebenger Connor Shovlin Alberto Macia Ryan O'Connor
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