Academic Awards Given Recently at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School honored their top high school students at the annual Academic Awards Ceremony held in the Dolly Barranco Activity Center, May 5, 2014. 

Many honors were bestowed including the most outstanding student in each subject area.  These students are David Bender, Agnes Armstrong, Tess von Gal and Madeleine O’Mara in English; Jordan Steele, Lisa Hong, Marissa Dogan, Derek Kelly, Guillermo  Ravelo in Math; Katie Slear, Katie McDaniel, Leo Petters and Madeleine O’Mara in Science, Cheyenne Hayes, Nadine Moussalli, Mary Janet McLaughlin and Anne Marie Dean in Social Studies, David Bender, Nadine Moussalli, Mary Janet McLaughlin and James Sherman  in Theology, Mel Koontz in Spanish, Patrick O’Mara in Latin. Beth Vaughan was named most outstanding student in Band and Somlee Baek most outstanding student in Visual Arts. 

The Montgomery Catholic Math Department honored students that participated in the American Mathematics Competition and received the top scores. They are: freshmen Ivy Boch, David Bender and Lisa Hong; sophomore Mel Koontz, junior Leo Petters, senior Guillermo Ravelo.

The Science Department honored students that participated and placed in Science Olympiad in 2014. They are: Kristina Vanella, Guillermo Ravelo, Leo Petters, Patrick O’Mara, Allie Micher, Patrick McGinn, Katie McDaniel, Lisa Hong, Frank Gonzalez, Marissa Dogan, Adam Bristol and David Bender.

The senior members of the Loretto chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) were recognized during the ceremony, they are  Madeleine O'Mara (President), Sara Elizabeth Parker (Vice President), Anne Marie Dean (Treasurer), Ashley Barranco (Secretary), Tara Bourke, Coleman Dixon, Mallory Ellis, Brett Foxworth, Andrea Hayes, John Haynes,  Migyn Kim, Samantha Kocan, Daniel LoBello, Alexandra Micher, Anna Mills, Michael Moussalli, Ryan Norris, Guillermo Ravelo, Abigail Rohde, James Sherman, Howard Vaughan and Kirstin Wood.

Montgomery Catholic's Key Club members accumulated over 2,500 service hours in the Montgomery community this year.  There were twenty-five students who gave over 50 hours of their time during this school year.  They were Seniors: Chloe Campbell, Alex Castanza, Brett Foxworth, Rolanda Harrison,

Andrea Hayes, John Haynes, Ryan Hill, Migyn Kim, Daniel LoBello, Ryan Norris, Sydney O’Connor,

Saraelizabeth Parker, James Sherman, Anthony Thomas, Chase Williams. 9th-11th Grade: Millie Capouano, Claire Fischer, Jacob Hulcher, Reggie Jackson, Derek Kelly, Aubrey Lenn, Kaitlyn Martin,

Bryan Rodopoulos, Megan Stembridge, and Jasiele Thornton. The Kiwanis Club recognized Montgomery Catholic’s Key Cub for being the most active club of any of the high schools in the Montgomery Area.

Mr. Chad Barwick, high school principal,
awarded the Montgomery Catholic Leader of the Year
award to Alex Castanza

Students with the highest grade point average for each high school grade level were also recognized.  The most outstanding freshmen, all four with a grade point average of 4.21 are: Ivy Bach, David Bender, Audrey Kim and Jordan Steele.  The most outstanding sophomore is Patrick O’Mara.  The most outstanding junior is Leo Petters.  The most outstanding senior and the Valedictorian for the class of 2014 is Madeleine O'Mara with a 4.35 GPA. 

Honor roll certificates for both the A and A/B honor rolls were given to those students who attained A or A/B honor roll throughout the school year for each grade level.  The Joe Arban Perfect Attendance Award was given to Blake Johnson, Stan Magdon, Antwan Parker and Ashley Sulzby  for their perfect attendance this year.

Mrs. Anne Ceasar, president, awarded
the Montgomery Catholic Ideal Graduate Award
to James Sherman.

The evening culminated with two of the highest awards given at Montgomery Catholic: Leader of the Year and the Ideal Graduate.  Mr. Chad Barwick, high school principal, awarded the Montgomery Catholic Leader of the Year award to Alex Castanza.  Alex has served the school in numerous leadership positions in school, his parish and in the community. 

Mrs. Anne Ceasar, president, awarded the Montgomery Catholic Ideal Graduate Award to the student who embodies the overall qualities and talents of an ideal graduate.  This year James Sherman was named as the Ideal Graduate at Montgomery Catholic.  

Gaylon & Mary McAlpine Named Harbin Distinguished Service Award Winners

Gaylon and Mary McAlpine were honored by Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School on May 5, as the 2014 Charlie Harbin Distinguished Service Award winners for their service to the school.  The Charlie Harbin Distinguished Service Award was established by the Harbin family and is awarded by the school to recognize those selfless individuals who have significantly served Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School and exemplified its values in their lives.

Montgomery Catholic's president, Mrs. Anne Ceasar, presented the McAlpine's with an engraved clock, kicking off the 2014 Montgomery Catholic   High School Campus Academic Awards. Gaylon and Mary McAlpine were always there when Montgomery Catholic needed a helping hand . With seven years of dedication and service to Montgomery Catholic they have spent countless hours in lifting the school community up.

The McAlpine's have given to Montgomery Catholic over the years in numerous ways, always with dedication.  Whether it was serving as a member or president of the Booster’s Club, heading the Rodeo Volunteer team, being a member and president of the High School Advisory Council, or serving on the Advisory Board, and heading up the policy and planning committee. The school could always count on them.

They joined Montgomery Catholic in 2005 and immediately volunteered to be a room parent and a team parent for a variety of athletic teams and did so for years, drove on countless field trips, and helped with field day, served on the High School Parent-Teacher Council (PTC), became members of  several Search, Selection and Strategic Committees, acted as the football & basketball statistician and worked numerous campus clean up days. Retired from the Army, the McAlpine's are members of Holy Spirit parish and parents of two Montgomery Catholic Alumni, Cecily '08 and Jacob '12. Their grandson will continue the Montgomery Catholic tradition by joining the Class of 2028 when he starts K4 at Montgomery Catholic's Holy Spirit campus in the fall.

Gaylon and Mary McAlpine selflessly served Montgomery Catholic for seven years. They left their positive mark on our school and helped shape it for the better. Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School was honored to present them as the 2014 Harbin Distinguished Service Award winners.

Montgomery Catholic Names Daniel Veres as Athletic Director

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School has named Daniel Veres as the school’s new Athletic Director effective June 2. Veres will oversee all athletic programs.

“We are excited to welcome Daniel back to Montgomery Catholic as our new Athletic Director,” said Anne Ceasar, President of Montgomery Catholic.

“Daniel brings with him not only a strong background in college athletics as a player and coach but an understanding of our school mission, as a parent and third generation Knight,” said Ceasar.

Veres comes to Montgomery Catholic after nine years with Auburn Montgomery’s University Outreach.

"I am looking forward to coming back to my Alma mater as the new Athletic Director.  There was a strong pull for me to return to Montgomery Catholic to support the community that helped shape my athletic career." said Veres.

"We have challenges to overcome, but we are building a great foundation for successful programs at all levels. I want our athletic program to make a positive impact on our students. The goal is to be successful. Success for our sports teams, but also in teaching our athletes that there is more to success than wins and losses. It takes hard work and discipline to achieve your goals, not just in athletics, but in life. Our success will be in having athletes that turn out to be responsible, accountable young adults who will be prepared and successful in college and beyond."

An alumnus of the Montgomery Catholic class of 1993, Veres played baseball, basketball and golf for the Knights and was a Jimmy Hitchcock nominee. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Spring Hill College where he played baseball. Veres has served as an assistant baseball coach for two seasons at Spring Hill College, and as an assistant to the Faulkner University men’s golf team. He and his wife, Jennifer are parishioners at Holy Spirit Catholic Church and have two children, Evie and John Henry.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is a regional Catholic K4-12 college preparatory program. Founded in 1873, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is an integral part of the Catholic Church's mission to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As an adult community, we share in the responsibility to prepare students for college and beyond while helping them grow to become persons of faith, virtue and wisdom. 

Montgomery Catholic's Varsity Softball Team Advances to the State Tournament

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Varsity Softball team went to the Regional Softball Tournament in Gulf Shores, Alabama,  May 9 -10, 2014 and came home as 3A South Region Champs.

The Lady Knights faced Cottage Hill Christian (Mobile, Ala.) on Friday taking their first win, 6-0 in the double elimination tournament. The second game vs. Slocomb was played at 8:00 p.m. on Friday and ended in a 4-3 victory for the Knights. Montgomery Catholic went into Saturday play on top and took the win from Geneva 3-2 sweeping the tournament.

The Montgomery Catholic Knights (25-11) head to the State Tournament, for the second straight year, at Lagoon Park in Montgomery, May 15-17. They will face Northside from Northport on Thursday, May 15 at 9:00 a.m. on Field 5.

Congratulations to our Varsity Softball team! Region Champs and State Bound!

The lady Knight pictured after sweeping the AHSAA 3A Regional Tournament in Gulf Shores. The Montgomery Catholic Varsity Softball team is coached by Head Coach Britt Taylor and Assistant Coaches Abby Beesley and Michael Walden. Team members are:  Agnes Armstrong, Emily Barranco, Carrie Belsterling, Jessie Clark, Ali Harper, Sydney O'Connor, Emily Rayborn, Ansley, Taylor, Hadley Taylor, Aleigha Walden and Kirstin Wood.

Go Knights!

Montgomery Catholic Seniors Commit to Play at the Next Level

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School held signing ceremonies for our spring student-athletes inside the Library on the high school campus last week. The Knights celebrated the signing of Miles Rice (Point University) on Wednesday, May 7, and  John Haynes and Abby Rohde both committed to attend Huntingdon College on Thursday, May 8.

Miles Rice, a 3A area 4 all tournament selection, will play college basketball at Point University in West Point Georgia. Miles led the team in rebounds per game and was second on the team in points scored per game and blocked shots. Rice was also selected MVP for the LAMP basketball team his Sophomore season.  Miles Rice received the coaches award at Montgomery Catholic this past season. Rice is the son of Arketa and James Rice of Montgomery.

John Haynes will join the Huntingdon College wrestling team next year. He has received the ALFA Corporate Partnership Grant for his academic achievements. He has attended MCPS for four years, played football for four years and baseball for one year, wrestled for three years, and a member of the track & field team for four years.  John has been the captain of the football and wrestling team and received the MCPS Coaches award in wrestling.  Haynes is the son of Leigh and Chris Haynes of Montgomery.

Abby Rohde will join the Huntingdon College Volleyball team next year. She received a the President A.A. Lipscomb Academic Scholarship. Rohde has attended MCPS since kindergarten.  She has played volleyball since the fifth grade including three years on the Knights varsity volleyball team. Rohde received the Coaches award, she was named MVP for the Montgomery Catholic Knights and she was a member of the Junior Olympics team.  Rohde is the daughter of Brenda and Chuck Rohde.

Haynes, Rice and Rohde join Anthony Thomas (Basketball, Faulkner State University) Sydney O'Connor (softball at the University of Mobile), James Sherman (football at Texas State) and Kirstin Wood (softball at Martin Methodist College) who will continue their athletic careers in the fall at the college level.