Carmel Catholic High School Class of 2022
Graduates in Class of 2022: 287
Graduation ceremony: Saturday, May 27, Carmel Catholic High School's Baker Stadium
Valedictorian: Isabella Marie Pagano
Salutatorian: Jennifer Marie Bukowski
Graduation Speaker: Mr. Phil Donner, Faculty, Theology Department, Senior Class Moderator
National Merit Scholars: Victoria Rose Nagode and Isabella Marie Pagano
National Merit Finalist: Joseph James Burke
National Merit Semifinalist: Wrigley C. Kordt
National Merit Commended Students: Lauren Elizabeth Jenkins, Dominick Francis Magnone, Samuel Connor Rouleau
Illinois State Scholars: Joseph James Burke, Lauren Elizabeth Jenkins, Dominick Francis Magnone, Samuel Connor Rouleau, Lee Attar, Alexandra D. Augusto, Emma Rose Baynes, Chloe Mae Belanski, Jeremy Michael Bobber, Nina Angeline Borkowski, Jonathan P. Buckley, Ryan Francis Buckley, Jennifer Marie Bukowski, Joseph James Burke, Eleanor Maria Cappelle, Faith R. Chapman, George Dimitri Couvall, Allyson Crow, Thomas M. Diesen, Mia Luz Figueroa, Theresa Carolyn Galuska, Melissa Grace George, Marie Michele Giambrone, Nolan Edwin Graham, Ava Grace Grasso, Cole Emmett Harrison, Matthew William Herron, Ryan Joseph Hogan, Brianna Mae Huner, Katie Olivia Ingram, Madeline Elizabeth Ives, Lauren Elizabeth Jenkins, Wrigley C. Kordt, Colleen Ann Connolly Kowalski, Drew Steven Langer, McKenna Larsen, John Neumann Levering, Dominick Francis Magnone, Connor Thomas Manning, Erik Michael Miller, James Franklin Molnar, Alexandra Toledo Monroe, Umar Mukhetdinov, Alyssa Marie Mullally, Julia Murray, Anna Maria Nagode, Victoria Rose Nagode, Luke Nalewajk, Christian Julian Hilary Antoine Noble, Grace Catherine O'Malley, Isabella Marie Pagano, Alexander William Pelfresne, Madeline Mary Pfister, Spiros Alexander Pissios, Mary Geraldine Powers, Kyle James Pulido, Erin Madison Pye, Nathan James Rastovac, Lukas Konrad Reissenweber, Emma Marie Roberts, Regina Patricia Robles, Samuel Connor Rouleau, Colleen Molly Ryan, Maya Francesca Sarkis, Kyle V. Snyder, Ella Spera, Robert Matthew Szamocki, Nathan William Terselic, Leah D. Ulbrich, Michael Anthony Villanueva, Nathan R. Winandy, Sarah Anne Wiseman, Sabrina M Yousif, Lucy M. Zhou, Luke Jeffrey Zimmer, Madeline Joyce Zitella.
Extracurricular achievements:
• The Academic Challenge in Engineering and Science (ACES) Varsity team earned a 4th place position at sectionals with a high enough score to qualify the entire varsity team to go to state.
• NYAN Robotics team won state championship in March.
• Advice Beyond the Classroom business team won state competition in April 2022.
Athletic achievements:
• The girls' basketball team earned their first state championship in school history.
• Carmel girls' gymnastics team finishes 5th in state, Clare Keane '22 places 2nd on beam and bars.
• The girls' track team qualified for the indoor state track meet in March
Theater productions:
• Fall Play - "Puffs"
• Street Scenes Student Show "Street Scenes Celebrates Carmel's 60th"
• Spring Musical - "Sister Act"
What was new in 2021-22: Carmel Catholic named a five-time National Blue Ribbon School in September 2021; New therapy dog on campus, named Corey; Brandsma Chapel renovation completed in spring 2022; New outdoor Garden of the Holy Spirit provides a spot for student programs, opened fall 2021; In September 2021, a new five-year strategic plan centered on enhancing the student experience and improving the quality of Carmel Catholic education was announced. The plan will create an even stronger, student-centered school.
What challenges did the Class of 2022 face as they returned to in-person school full time, and how did they overcome them: Our students are very resilient, but they have been impacted in many ways by the last few years. Without a doubt, students missed the in-person social interactions the most. They also lost a lot of structure. Most of our students are back to their lively, happy selves. Some are still processing or hurting, and we are doing everything we can to support them.
Principal's reflections on the Class of 2022: This year's graduating class really only had one "normal" year of their high school career. Their freshman year looked like a typical year. Their sophomore year was disrupted by the initial COVID shutdown. Their junior year was still quite limited, although much of it was in-person. And even this year was still not quite back to normal, with masks in use for the first semester and some caution guiding activities.
Aside from that one freshman year, their whole high school experience was disrupted. As a result, the graduating class of 2022 is one of the most resilient I have seen. They are able to overcome, to seize hope, and to work together.
My hope for this graduating class is that their character, shaped by the turmoil of the past few years, will carry them forward with strength and an extra appreciation for unity. Knowing how they carried each other through this, and seeing the societal division, they learned important lessons about handling strife through unity.
- Principal Jason Huther