St. Francis High School Class of 2021

Graduates in the Class of 2021: 161

Honors with Distinction: John Andrzejewski, Margaret Breyne, Gabriela Castaneda, Katelin Chaparro, Alyssa Coladipietro, Henry Davis, Michael D'Orazio, Owen Frausto, John Gerdeman, Gabriella Hernandez, Katherine Lemke, Cameron Marr, Tanya Masnyk, Eddie Mayor, Zachary Mulhearn, Evan Senall, Samantha Szewczyk

High Honors: Aiden Benson, Alexander Carlson, Jordyn Dumpit, Lourdes Ferrer-Ortiz, Cole Hansen, Olivia Hojnicki, Matthew Kenny, Allison Ludovice, Calvin Piemonte, Meghan Ward, Andrew Yatzkan

Honors: David Arellanes, Benjamin Bettag, Tera Carlson, Jeffrey Clark, Kaitlyn Crowell, Margaret Culver, Hannah Davis, Sydney Kasprak, Samuel King, Kassandra Krygier, Noah Kuchler, John Lilly, Sarah MacQueen, Rahee Manek, Elli Mueller, Madeline Oliphant, Gianni Petrillo, Daniel Popelka, Luisa Posada, Josephine Schlosser, Abby Singh, Alondra Zepeda

Senior/Graduation Speakers: Katherine Lemke, Alyssa Coladipietro

Class Officers:

• Executive Board President: Eddie Mayor

• Executive Board Officers: Alyssa Coladipietro, Owen Frausto, Josephine Schlosser

• Senior Class President: Matthew Kenny

• Senior Class Officers: Gabriella DeFeo, John Gerdeman, Evan Senall

Academic achievements:

• IHSA All-State Academic Team - Katherine Lemke; Honorable Mention - Andrew Yatzkan

• United States Air Force Academy Appointment - Gabriela Castaneda

• D. A. R Good Citizen Award - Gabriela Castaneda; S.A.R. Good Citizen Award - Peyton Richard

• American Legion Good Citizen Award Medal Winners: Katelin Chaparro, Evan Senall; Honorable Mention: Kaitlyn Crowell, Owen Frausto

• Pax Christi of Illinois & Diocese of Joliet Instrument of Peace Award: Gabriella DeFeo

• College Entrance Exam Excellence Award (ACT score of 36): John Andrzejewski

• Wheaton Good Citizen Award: Lily Karmis and Calvin Piemonte

• Heisman High School Award: Michael D'Orazio

• National Hispanic Recognition Program: Owen Frausto and Luisa Posada

• National Merit Scholarship Commended Students: Margaret Breyne, Owen Frausto, Katherine Lemke, Zachary Mulhearn, Andrew Yatzkan

• National Merit Scholarship Finalists: John Andrzejewski, Aiden Benson

Extracurricular achievements:

• Gianni Petrillo earned 2nd place in the science Breakthrough Prize Foundation Challenge. Gianni submitted video on the topic of dark matter.

• Math team finished second overall in regionals; Junior/Senior 8-person team finished first; Individuals: Katherine Lemke (5th place precalculus); Owen Frausto (5th place precalculus); At state, team finished fourth overall.

• Illinois Music Educators Association District 9 Honors: Kaitlyn Crowell and Caroline Derango (honors choir); Tyler Schmitz (honors jazz band)

Gigi Singh won the Illinois 6th District Congressional Art Competition

• IHSA Music Solo & Ensemble Contest - 2nd overall; Band Division - 2nd Place; Vocal Division - 1st Place

• Division I Superior Rating in vocal or instrumental solo: Maggie Breyne, Kaitlyn Crowell, Allison Culligan, Caroline Derango, Lourdes Ferrer-Ortiz, Owen Frausto, Olivia Heller, Matthew Kenny, Nate Keough, Maddie Kowalski, Sarah Kruse, Gwen Lavigne, Tanya Masnyk, Mary-Faith Murray, Ethan Naling, Garret Pohl, Chase Riggs, Gaby Rodriguez, Tyler Schmitz

Division I Superior Rating in vocal or instrumental ensemble: Tera Carlson, Kaitlyn Crowell, Caroline Derango, Owen Frausto, Olivia Heller, Matthew Kenny, Nate Keough, Maddie Kowalski, Sarah Kruse, Gwen Lavigne, Tanya Masnyk, Garrett Pohl, Chase Riggs, Tyler Schmitz, Ally Smith.

• National Honor Society hosted 30 8th grade students in leadership activities and workshops

Athletic achievements:

• Boys Cross Country Metro Suburban Conference Champions; All-Conference: Luke Orwig, Sam King

• Girls Cross Country Metro Suburban Conference third place

• Boys Golf Metro Suburban Conference second place; IHSA Regional Co-Champion and all-conference: Zach Mulhearn

• Girls Golf Metro Suburban Conference Champions; IHSA Regional Individual Champion: Katherine Lemke; All-Conference: Cameron Marr, Katherine Lemke

• Girls Tennis Metro Suburban Conference second place; All-Conference: Maggie Breyne, Tanya Masnyk

• Football Metro Suburban Conference champions; undefeated 6-0 season

• Girls Volleyball All-Conference: Olivia Hojnicki, Katelyn Sipes

• Cheer All-Conference: Sarah MacQueen

• Girls Basketball All-Conference: Kate Chaparro, 1,000-point scorer

Theater productions:

• Fall Play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - outdoor experience

• "A Christmas Carol" - drive-in movie experience with show projected on outside auditorium wall

• Broadway Revue

• Spring Musical "SpongeBob" - live with 25% audience.

• One Acts

What traditional events were adapted for the pandemic and how?

• Retreats at each grade level

• Outdoor Liturgies

• All-School Mass - 2-day event with Worship Band

• Masses by grade level and in religion classes

• Service in building: mask and Rosary making, goody bags for health care workers, cards for partners in faith and fellowship ministries

• Senior Institute Day: Senior Mass and workshops to guide students in transition to college

• Marching Band Performances - on the field; small in-person audience and Instagram Live; used special masks and Bell Covers

• Feast of Saint Francis Rock Concert - on the baseball field; small in-person audience

• Fall Choral Concert - pre-recorded

• Christmas Concert (Band and Choral) - livestreamed

• Acoustic Night - 25% capacity and livestreamed

• Marching Band Concert - livestreamed from the Music Room

• Choir Concert - recorded

• Jazz Band - prerecorded and used during Auction Live event; in-person Swing Night with limited audience

• Rock Band - performed for small gathering at the Arcada in St. Charles

• Rock/Pep Band played at boys' basketball, girls' basketball, and girls' volleyball Senior Nights and was livestreamed

• Homecoming - Traditional Homecoming Spirit Week activities incorporated socially distant safety measures, Instagram livestream of King and Queen crowning and Pep Band performance on the athletic field; "Films on the Field" event in lieu of traditional Homecoming Dance - students enjoyed a socially distant evening under the stars, watching movies on the athletic field

• Catholic Schools Week (CSW) Celebration: First ever CSW spirit week was created with themed dress days; Livestream of the annual Spartan Olympics - the friendly competition between grade levels was adapted to a game show format

• Turnabout dance was replaced with an "Out of this World" themed spirit week complete with socially distant activities and themed dress days

What were the most significant challenges faced by the Class of 2021 and how did they overcome them?

The unusual college admissions process taught students to adapt, problem solve and strengthen their abilities. Hybrid Learning enabled students to be more self-sufficient, responsible, and mature while acquiring valuable skills integral for life after high school.

Principal's reflections on the Class of 2021:

Three words come to mind when thinking of the SFHS Class of 2021 - resilience, adaptability, and joy. The Class of 2021 is a group of exceptional students. They have handled changes with grace and were grateful for the opportunities to be together this year. The Seniors learned how to walk together, support each other, and have an attitude of gratitude.