Montgomery Catholic Celebrates the Class of 2020

On the evening of Tuesday, June 23, 2020, the 145th graduating class of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School gathered in the PICE Knights Arena at the MCPS Middle and High School Campus. Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi, Superintendent of Education Gwendolyn Byrd, Montgomery Catholic President Anne Ceasar, and High School Principal Justin Castanza were joined by Reverend Fathers Patrick Gilbreath, Den Irwin, Nicholas Napolitano, Alex Valladares, and Wayne Youngman, along with seminarian Joseph Schultz, as the special guests of the class.

Due to government-issued social distancing guidelines and face mask mandates, the graduates were seated with appropriate distance from each other, and each was given a special face mask to wear during the ceremony that matched their graduation regalia. Family seating was extremely limited, but the entire ceremony was broadcast on Facebook Live, enabling friends and family to take part in the festivities from their homes.

Salutatorian Sofia Grace Izer and Valedictorian Clare Josephine Wilson addressed their fellow graduates, special guests, family, and friends after the class received their diplomas from Archbishop Rodi. In closing, Montgomery Catholic teacher Kerri Moore led the class of 2020 and alumni in singing the Montgomery Catholic Alma Mater, "Catholic, Our Refuge."

Before the conclusion of the ceremony, Castanza, who will be assuming the role of Montgomery Catholic President upon Ceasar's retirement from the position this summer, had one last surprise. After listing Ceasar's accomplishments throughout her career as an educator and as President, Castanza unveiled the Anne Ceasar Endowed Scholarship, a fund that will support students in need at Montgomery Catholic, and furthering her legacy of helping families in our community.

The 80 members of the Class of 2019 have earned $6.4 million in scholarship offers from 23 colleges and universities across the United States. The top 20 percent of the class achieved an average ACT composite score of 31 and an average GPA of 4.28. Additionally, 18 of the 80 graduates started school at Montgomery Catholic in kindergarten, most of whom are graduating with honors, including valedictorian Clare Wilson.  Our graduates include a National Merit Scholarship Winner, an AP Scholar with Distinction, an AP Scholar with Honor, 30 members of National Honor Society, seven collegiate athletes, a future member of the armed forces and a future firefighter, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference ambassadors, a state champion wrestler, a Great American Marching Band member, state champion cross country runners, members of the VEX Robotics World Championship team, three football players of the year, volleyball player of the year, male basketball player of the year, wrestler of the year, All-American cheerleaders, and members of the all-district and all-state honor bands. Their achievements have energized our Montgomery Catholic family, and they have left a new school spirit for future classes to be proud of.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020!                          

Archie Aldreaus Alexander-Green, Lorissa Theanna Algarin, John Raymond Allen, Mark Benjamin James Austin Jr., Ryan Joseph Christus Avery, Megan Brydie Bourke, Donisha Keira Boyd, Justin Oneal Bufford, Sarah Rose Burden, Jackson Strange Burt, Morris Cassady Carmichael, Tanner Kelly Carter, Olivia Miriam Cheriyan, Robert Andrew Crawford, Ethan Andrew Darwin, Ansley Elaine Dean, Nathan Michael Downes, Lainie Nicole Doyle, Anna Michael DuBois, Patrick Michael Flores, Jason Louis Flowers, Jalen Lesle Fountain, Darrell Devon Gibson, Victoria Rose Hall, Ashley Nicole Hayes, Michael McCloskey Hodges Jr., Calob Lawrence Hopson, Theodore Karl Hornsby, Christian Bane Ivey, Sofia Grace Izer, Savannah Denay Johnson, Josephine Nicole Jolley, Madison McKenzie Kille, Austin Chase Little, Michael Justin Mason, Jayla MaKensee Milam, Melanie Estefania Montes, Sean Michael Moore, Denalie Dawn Mosakowski, Arthur Lee Murray IV, Robert Scott Nation, Katherine Danneker O'Connor, Charles Edward O'Donnell, Cornelius Jaquan Owens, Zack Edward Pappanastos, Jackson Anthony Penso, Katherine Rose Vide Perkins, Lorren Christian Pharrams, Daniel Cole Pierce, Meaghan Colleen Pineda, Hayden Elisabeth Pritchett, John Darrell Register, Garrett Raymond Rentfro, Darian Alexander Riley, Mary Jane Roberts, Michael James Russo, Anna Elizabeth Sadie, Landry Lawrence Samuels, Eliza Grace Scott, Emma Louise Secor, India Nekia Shields, Rhodes Addison Singleton, Elizabeth May Speirs, Jarrod Alexander Stokes, Kinley Jordan Tadlock, Mary Avery Tucker, Anjelica Maria Valencia, Christopher Edward Valencia, MaryEllen Grace Vazquez, Minh Tan Vo, Chad Vincent Waite, Lynniece Nicole Walker, Ja'Michael Tyrone Washington, Alexis Danielle Weber, Chloe Noel Weber, Jack McDowell Weber, Orlando Terrell Whatley Jr., Clare Josephine Wilson, Caroline McClendon Wright and Colby Alan Zaleski

Montgomery Catholic Key Club Members Give Back to the Community

One of the mottos of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is “Faith. Excellence. Service. This is Catholic.” The Key Club, a community service club at the Montgomery Catholic High School Campus, takes this commitment very seriously and dedicates countless hours to helping local organizations and events. Before the transition to distance learning in the spring, the Key Club volunteered over 1,000 hours of community service by helping the Camp Chandler Halloween Carnival, the Alabama National Fair, fundraisers for Spina Bifida, Alzheimer's Research, Arthritis Foundation, and Life on Wheels, VEX Robotics Competitions, school concession stands, Montgomery Zoo Boo, Montgomery Area Council on Aging, Christmas Clearinghouse, and the Rooftop Friends Joy of Giving Respite Event.

While all members of the Key Club work hard and are dedicated to community service, several students went above and beyond the call of duty and served for 50 or more hours this year. These students are Matthew Barranco, Mary Carley, Maria Cervantes, David Dean, Daniel Gacha, Emma Garrison, Angeles Gonzalez-Ansaldi, Ines Gonzalez-Ansaldi, Alex Hines, Cecilia Hoffpauir, Sofia Izer, Savannah Johnson, Myles Jordan, Katie Perkins, Darian Riley, Kinley Tadlock, Ja'Michael Washington, and Clare Wilson. We are so proud of all of the students in the Key Club and their tireless commitment to faith, excellence and service.

Montgomery Catholic Students Selected for Summer Leadership Programs

Several Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School students were selected to attend prestigious summer leadership conferences around the state and around the country. Due to social distancing guidelines in response to Covid-19, many summer programs were postponed, moved to a virtual venue, or canceled. Nevertheless, we are proud to recognize the outstanding students who were chosen to represent Montgomery Catholic.

Juniors Catherine Aaron, Cecelia Crawford, Will Noell, and Patrick Ryan were selected as Ambassadors for HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership) at Troy University. HOBY is the nation’s foremost Youth Leadership Seminar that over 10,000 deserving high school students from across the country attend each year.  Their mission is to inspire and develop the global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation.  Montgomery Catholic is proud to nominate students each year who attend the conference and looks forward to encouraging these future leaders to make an impact on our community.

Senior John Niemi was selected to attend the American Legion Alabama Boys State convention and Senior Ellie Pool was selected to attend the American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State convention at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.  Alabama Boys State and Girls State are leadership and government training programs and are among the highest honors granted to high school senior boys and girls. Students from around the state are chosen based on their demonstration of leadership, hard work, strong morals and motivation in school and community activities. These programs enable students to try their hands at politics and community service.

Senior Mary Carley was selected for the 33rd Alabama Governor's School at Samford University. This annual conference brings together around 90 gifted Alabama High School seniors to learn about various professions and majors and provides a variety of academic, creative and leadership experiences to attendees.

Senior Ines Gonzalez-Ansaldi was selected to represent Montgomery Catholic at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Lowell, MA. The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country interested in these careers, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.

Class of 2020 graduate Theo Hornsby was selected to attend the Boston University Tanglewood Institute for music. Run by the BU College of Fine Arts and affiliated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Music Center, this prestigious program features world-class instructors for workshops and one-on-one instruction that enrich and inspire talented young musicians from around the country.

Montgomery Catholic Announces Interim Principal and Vice Principal of Academic Affairs for Middle & High School Campus

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is pleased to announce that Eileen Aaron will serve as Interim Principal for the Middle and High School Campus for the 2020-2021 academic year. She will be joined by Laura Reilly as Vice Principal of Academic Affairs. Together, they will serve as the Middle and High School Campus leadership team that includes current Middle School Assistant Principal Julie Wood.

Eileen Aaron

Eileen Aaron is a familiar face to Montgomery Catholic.  She is mother to three graduates and two current students, Resource Teacher at the middle and high school, and loving wife to math department faculty member Rick Aaron.

“To say the Aaron family are dedicated to Montgomery Catholic is an understatement,” said incoming Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School President Justin Castanza. “I am thrilled that Eileen will be leading our school. She brings incredible professionalism, unwavering passion, and inspiring faith.” 

Aaron received her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in English from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, and a graduate degree in School Psychology from the University of Akron.  Throughout her career, she has served as a licensed specialist in School Psychology and counselor at Montgomery’s COPE Pregnancy Center. Aaron has worked as a Resource Teacher at Montgomery Catholic since 2016.  

“My husband and I love the culture and mission of Montgomery Catholic and I am honored to serve in this capacity,” said Aaron, on being named Interim Principal. “I’m excited about the leadership team we have established and the faculty and staff we have in place. I am confident that if we continue to seek the will of God we will continue to do great things at Montgomery Catholic.”

New to the faculty and administration, but not new to the Montgomery Catholic family, is Vice Principal of Academic Affairs Laura Reilly.  A Montgomery native and Montgomery Catholic graduate, Ms. Reilly will be returning home after spending more than ten years living abroad, where she served as a teacher and administrator in international schools worldwide.  

Laura Reilly

“It is both an honor and a privilege to be named Middle and High School Vice Principal,” said Reilly. “I look forward to coming home to Montgomery and joining a school community infused with faith and values.” 

Reilly received undergraduate degrees in History and Secondary Education at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. She has completed graduate work at The Citadel, Charleston Southern University, Clemson University, and Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey.  In addition to earning teaching certifications in History, AP US History, and IB Psychology, Reilly is also a National Board Certified Social Studies instructor for grades 6 through 12 and holds a Leadership Certificate from Harvard EdX - Leaders in Learning.  Reilly’s career has taken her from the Charleston County School of the Arts in South Carolina to international schools in Malaysia, Israel, Turkey, and Uganda, where she served in a variety of roles, including classroom instructor, principal, school director, and head of school. Her most recent position has been as High School Principal at the American Institute of Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico.

“Laura will be a tremendous addition to our vibrant community of educators,” Castanza said. “Her vivacious personality will be contagious for our faculty and students, and she brings a level of professional experience that will propel our program to even greater heights. I am excited to see Eileen and Laura take on the leadership of our middle and high school to continue our mission to instill faith, virtue, and wisdom in our students.”

“Creating outstanding learning experiences, a culture of faith, virtue, and wisdom, personal development, and preparing students to be leaders for our rapidly changing world reflect my educational philosophy and speak to the heart of who I am as an educator,” added Reilly. “I look forward to serving the Montgomery Catholic community, getting to know each of you, and joining such a dynamic and welcoming team. The purpose of education is to develop greatness in human beings, and together, we will guide our students and allow them the opportunities to reach their individual potential.”

Aaron and Reilly will assume their roles as Interim Principal and Vice Principal of Academic Affairs following the transition of Castanza, who is currently the Middle and High School Principal, into the role of Montgomery Catholic President. Castanza will succeed Anne Ceasar, who is retiring in July after serving the school for 16 years.