Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Celebrates the 140th Graduating Class: The Class of 2015

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's 140th Commencement Exercises took place in an outdoor ceremony on the grounds of the Athletic Complex at the Vaughn Road Campus on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi, Superintendent of Education Gwendolyn Byrd, Montgomery Catholic President Anne Ceasar, and High School Principal Chad Barwick were joined by Monsignor Charles Troncale, Father Patrick Driscoll '84,   Father Pat Arensberg, Deacon Jim Labadie,  and Father Alex Valladares as the special guests of the class. Salutatorian Ann Herrod Faulkner and Valedictorian Leo Alfred Petters addressed their fellow graduates, special guests, family and friends after the class received their diplomas from Archbishop Rodi. The class of 2015 along with Alumni sang the Montgomery Catholic Alma Mater "Catholic, Our Refuge" led by Kerri Moore before heading to the in-zone to salute the school one final time.

Members of the junior and sophomore class hosted the graduates and their families at a reception in the Dolly Barranco Activity Center following the ceremony.

Congratulations to the Class of 2015!

Megan Carrigan Aaron, Joseph Gaten Armstrong*, Nikki Marilag Back, Seullee  Baek, 
Carolyn Paige Barranco*, Nicholas Andrew Beverly, Millie Rose Capouano, Maria-Vittoria  Celli, Jarrett Russell Chesnutt, Maegan Brooke Cobb, Courtney Michelle Cool , Cammie Danielle Cornett, Marissa Lee Craig, Tiffany Hue Do, Ian Kyle Nichols, Carolina Elizabeth Edwards, Andrew Christopher Ellis*, Ann Herrod Faulkner*, Rachel Julia Fekete, Brianna Marie Foley*, Sherman Delnor Grant, Lindsey Robina Eliza Guin*, Cameron Thomas Harris, 
Harry Charles Harris, David Byrne Barber, Brandon Lee Barker, Miguel Salvador Barragan, Jacob Benjamin Hulcher*, Reginald Jamal Jackson, Tyrique Deamond Jones, Zachary Chadwick Jones, Ashley Lynne Karst*, Derek Lowe Kelly*, Ashley Yoonzee Kim*, Charles William Lawrence, Casey Lauren Lyerly, Stanley Donald Magdon, Kaitlyn Genea Martin, Taylor Jawan McCurdy, Traylon Jamal McCurdy, Mary Janet McLaughlin*, Drake Ernest Newell, Phu (Peter) Thien Nguyen, Olivia Rene` Nobles*, Alex  Nyairo,  Andrew Russell Oates, Elizabeth Marie Overton, Leo Alfred Petters*, Charcille Louise Randall, Katie Marie Reeves, Bryan Francis Rodopoulos, William Young Russell,  Marla Sofia Sanchez, Carlye Dawn Schmidt, Caitlin Dougherty Smith, Foster Reese Smith*, Jessica Edith Smith, Robert Neil Smith, Julia Anne Starr, Thomas Craig Stokes, James Mercer Stone, Thomas Clay Stratton, Ashley Taylor Sulzby, Allyson Tyler Taylor*, William Michael Thacker, Jasiele Olivia Thornton, James Andrew Tolar, Lindsey Renee Tynan*, Jennifer Ann Tyner, Emily Jane Walker, James Madison Walker, Hunter Nicole Walski, Sarah Margaret Benson Ward, Rebecca Diane White, Tucker Gaines Wilkinson, Carolyn Marie Woodling, and Delohn Nathaniel Wyatt. 

*National Honor Society

Photo courtesy of Total Image.

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.

Crunches for Crunches!

Each semester, students at Montgomery Catholic’s Holy Spirit Campus are challenged to reach a physical education goal with a great incentive for motivation.  In March, Coach Ken Klinger challenged the students to complete 2,000 crunches by May 15 and if they did, the students would be treated to a Nestle “Crunch” bar party! Six students reached the goal with a collective 12,660 crunches completed in just two months! The top student was Emily Klinger, 5^th grade, with 2,550 crunches; Cameryn Cool, 6^th grade, with 2,050 crunches; Andrew Zumwalt, 1^st grade, with 2,030 crunches; his sister Addie Zumwalt, 3^rdgrade, also with 2,030 crunches; and a tie with 2,000 crunches were 4^th graders Ivan Klemen and Max Barranco.  The students celebrated their hard work with Nestle Crunch Ice Cream bars in the gymnasium.

Pictured above:  Montgomery Catholic’s Ken Klinger with the top crunch student at the Crunch Party on May 15.  Andrew Zumwalt, Addie Zumwalt, Max Barranco, Ivan Klemen, Emily Klinger, Cameryn Cool, and Coach Ken Klinger.

Enjoying Nestle Crunch Ice Cream Bars are the top “crunchers” at Montgomery Catholic’s Holy Spirit Campus: (Row 1) Andrew Zumwalt, Max Barranco, Addie Zumwalt. (Row 2) Ivan Klemen, Cameryn Cool, and Emily Klinger with Coach Ken Klinger.

Submitted by: Mary Kelley

Montgomery Catholic Honors Senior Athletes

Mr. Mike Lutzenkirchen pictured with Montgomery Catholic Senior
athletes, Robert, Jessica and Reese Smith.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School hosted their annual Senior Mass and Sports Banquet for all of the Senior athletes on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Mass began at 6:30 p.m, Senior athletes and their parents were invited to the Holy Spirit parish hall afterwards for dinner. Dinner began at 7:15 p.m. and each athlete was recognized for their contribution to Montgomery Catholic’s athletic teams by Athletic Director Daniel Veres.

Rev. Patrick Driscoll, Pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Church offered the Invocation. Athletic Director Daniel Veres recognized each athlete. Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School President, Anne Ceasar introduced the banquets surprise speaker, Mr. Mike Lutzenkirchen.

Mike Lutzenkirchen is Executive Director of the Lutzie43 Foundation, which he established in honor of his son Phillip, who was killed in a tragic car accident on June 29, 2014. The Lutzie 43 Foundation mission aims to develop the character of young athletes and their coaches focusing on leadership, charity, compassion, mentorship, hard work, honesty, and faith.

T.J. Stokes meets Mike Lutsenkirchen
at Montgomery Catholic's Senior Sports
Banquet on April 29.

Montgomery Catholic was pleased to welcome Mr. Lutzenkirchen to speak to the Senior athletes, his message was inspiring and memorable.  As he remembered his son and the positive impact he had on others through service, he reminded the Seniors the importance of making good choices, wearing a seat belt and not drinking and driving. The audience was moved by his son's story and his openness in sharing how his family is dealing with his loss.

Founded in 1873, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is a K4 through 12 college preparatory school with two elementary (K4-6) campuses at St. Bede and Holy Spirit and the Middle (7-8) and High School (9-12) Campus on Vaughn Road.

Mission: 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 High School Academic Awards Ceremony Held May 4

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School honored their top high school students at the annual Academic Awards Ceremony held in the Dolly Barranco Activity Center, May 4, 2015.

Many honors were bestowed including the most outstanding student in each subject area.  These students are Anna Nutting, Tamrah Tucker, Marissa Dogan and Olivia Nobles in English, Leo Petters, Derrick Kelly, Lisa Hong, Lita Blackburn and Henry Petters in Math, Anna Nutting, Ivy Bach, Marissa Dogan and Ann Faulkner in Science, Cloe Newell, Ivy Bach, Andrew Lynch and Ashley Karst in Social Studies, Thomas Lynch, Michael Barber, Nadine Moussalli in Theology, Katie Fisher and Emily Walker in Spanish, Luke Craig in Latin. William Russell was named most outstanding student in Band.

The new and senior members of the Loretto chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) were recognized during the ceremony, they are: Agnes Armstrong, Emily Barranco, Kathleen Beesley, Michael Collins, Marissa Dogan, Eryka Ellington, Claire Fischer, Abaigeal Gilbert, Jonathan Green, Lacy Herbek, Blake Johnson, Gabriel Keating, Emily Lafreniere, Aubrey Lenn, Andrew Lynch, Katherine McDaniel, Morgan Micher, Nadine Moussalli, Patrick O’Mara, Madison Searcy, Megan Stembridge, and Logan Stevens.
The NHS Senior members are: Gaten Armstrong, Paige Barranco, Andrew Ellis, Ann Faulkner, Brianna Foley, Lindsey Guin, Jacob Hulcher, Ashley Karst, Derek Kelly, Ashley Kim, Mary Janet McLaughlin, Olivia Nobles, Leo Petters, Reese Smith, Ally Taylor and Lindsey Tynan.

Montgomery Catholic's Key Club members accumulated over 2,000 service hours to the Montgomery community this year.  There were thirteen students who gave over 50 hours of their time during this school year.  They were Agnes Armstrong, Aimee Azar, Marissa Dogan, Claire Fischer, Katie Fischer, Patrick Gregorius, Emily Jones, Devin Kelly, Leah Krompecher, Ledariane Moore, Anna Nutting, Madison Searcy
and Megan Stembridge.

Key Club Members who gave over 50 hours of service this year.

Students with the highest grade point average for each high school grade level were also recognized.  The most outstanding freshman are Katie Fisher, Cloe Newell and Henry Petters.  The most outstanding sophomore is Ivy Bach.  The most outstanding junior is Patrick O'Mara.  The most outstanding senior for the class of 2015 is Leo Petters.

Leo Petters named Class of 2015 most outstanding student.

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 Trey Magdon for having perfect attendance this year.

Montgomery Catholic's
Paige Barranco named Servant Leader of the Year;
Mary Janet McLaughlin named Leader of the Year;
and Lindsey Guin named Ideal Graduate.

The evening culminated with three of the highest awards given at Montgomery Catholic: the Sister Martha Belke Servant Leader Award, Leader of the Year and the Ideal Graduate.  Mrs Anne Ceasar, president, presented the first annual Sister Martha Belke Servant Leader award to Paige Barranco for her quiet and consistent leadership and school spirit. Paige is the daughter of Lee Anne and Rob Barranco of Montgomery.

Mr. Chad Barwick, high school principal, awarded the Montgomery Catholic Leader of the Year award to Mary Janet McLaughlin.  Mary Janet has served the school in numerous leadership positions throughout her school career including SGA and Youth in Government. She is the daughter of Kayla and Jim McLaughlin of Montgomery.

Mrs. Anne Ceasar awarded the Montgomery Catholic Ideal Graduate Award to the student who embodies the overall qualities and talents of an ideal graduate.  This year the student  named as the Ideal Graduate at Montgomery Catholic is Lindsey Guin. She is the daughter of Linda and Kevin Guin of Montgomery.

Martha Huett Named Harbin Distinguished Service Award Winner

Martha "Marty" Rupert Huett was honored by Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School on May 4, as the 2015 Charlie Harbin Distinguished Service Award winners for her 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 Marty with an engraved clock, kicking off the 2015 Montgomery Catholic  High School Campus Academic Awards. 

Marty Huett has always been available for her Alma Mater, but certainly when both of her sons attended in the mid 1990’s. 

Her service to Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School spans over 25 years.  She was a very active member of the Alumni Association where she served as the Association President for 9 years, raising $100,000 for the school's new concession stand and press box in 1999.  As a Booster Club member and volunteer she was a huge supporter of the baseball team, her oldest son’s favorite sport.  Brannon Cochran field was dedicated in his memory in 2007. She served as a gate and concession stand worker for countless numbers of games. She was an active member of the PTC, helped at campus clean up days, and acted as a room mom for many years.

Recently, the Montgomery Catholic Alumni Association called on Marty for help, and of course she said yes! The school thanked Marty for her service and for making Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School a better place.

Marty accepted the award and addressed the students present at the awards ceremony. She explained that she "chose to send her children to Montgomery Catholic, not only for the education, but because of the close relationships and the family atmosphere". She received a standing ovation for her emotional acceptance.

Marty is Class of 1972 graduate from Montgomery Catholic. She is married to Rick Huett and retired from the Montgomery Police Department.  Her son, Joseph Cochran '02 from Birmingham escorted her to the event.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School was honored to present her as the 2015 Harbin Distinguished Service Award winners.

Montgomery Catholic Inducts New NHS Members and Honors Senior Members

The Loretto Chapter of the National Honor Society at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School inducted twenty-two new members into their society during an Induction Ceremony Monday, April 20, 2015 in Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Dolly Barranco Activity Center.

The National Honor Society (NHS), established in 1921, is a national recognition program for students who show achievement in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. High School students are selected for membership through an application process and are selected by the faculty council. Candidates must meet the chapter's requirement for scholarship, service, leadership and character in order to be selected for membership. Continued participation in service projects and upholding the ideals of the school are required to retain membership. Members must also maintain the chapter's required cumulative grade point average.

A reception hosted by the 2015 National Honor Society members for the new members and their families immediately followed the ceremony.

New members of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School National Honor Society were inducted April 20, 2015.

The newly inducted members of the Loretto Chapter of the National Honor Society at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School are Agnes Armstrong, Emily Barranco, Kathleen Beesley, Michael Collins, Marissa Dogan, Eryka Ellington, Claire Fischer, Abaigeal Gilbert, Jonathan Green, Lacy Herbek, Blake Johnson, Gabriel Keating, Emily Lafreniere, Aubrey Lenn, Andrew Lynch, Katherine McDaniel, Morgan Micher, Nadine Moussalli, Patrick O’Mara, Madison Searcy, Megan Stembridge, and Logan Stevens.

The NHS Senior members that received their stoles were: Gaten Armstrong, Paige Barranco, Andrew Ellis, Ann Faulkner, Brianna Foley, Lindsey Guin, Jacob Hulcher, Ashley Karst, Derek Kelly, Ashley Kim, Mary Janet McLaughlin, Olivia Nobles, Leo Petters, Reese Smith, Ally Taylor and
Lindsey Tynan.

Class of 2015 NHS Members

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Places in the Top at State Science Olympiad Competition

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Middle and High School Science Olympiad teams competed at the State Science Olympiad Tournament hosted by Huntingdon College on Saturday, April 11, 2015.

Students in grades 7-12 participated in over 20 events to earn their team spots in State ranking.
Montgomery Catholic's High School Science Olympiad team placed ninth overall. With individual honors going to Olivia Nobles who placed 4th in Bungee Drop, Olivia Nobles and Lisa Hong placed 3rd in Dynamic Planet, Olivia Nobles and Leo Petters placed 2nd in Geologic Mapping, Leo Petters and Henry Petters placed 2nd in It's About Time and  Leo Petters and Lindsey Guin placed 2nd in Protein Modeling.
The High School team is coached by Anatomy teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Harbin. Mrs. Harbin is assisted by her science and math colleagues Mrs. Jeanene Crenshaw, Dr. Joe Profio and Dr. Monica Hamell.

Montgomery Catholic's Middle School Science Olympiad team placed 13 overall. Individual honors went to: Emily Talbot and Erica Blackburn placed 2nd inWrite It Do It. The judges said their writing was impeccable; Katie Perkins and Scott Nation placed 3rd in Picture This; Katie Perkins and Emily Talbot placed 4th in Simple Machines. The Middle School team is coached by science teacher Mrs.Vicki Petters and math teacher Mrs. Julie Flowers.

Congratulations to both of these teams!