Catholic High School graduates

LITTLE ROCK

Published: May 24, 2023

Arkansas Catholic staff

Valedictorian

• Nicholas Andrew Tarini, 18

Parish: Christ the King Church

Parents: Michael and Kiernan Tarini

College and major: University of Notre Dame and entering undergraduate seminary for the Congregation of Holy Cross, majoring in philosophy and theology

What goals do you want to pursue after college? Since I’m going into seminary with the intention of becoming a priest, I don’t have many goals other than to serve God to the best of my ability in whatever way he wants.

What is your proudest accomplishment to date? I would say my proudest accomplishment would be getting accepted into Notre Dame. It's a hard school to get into, and I am both proud and thankful that everything I have done in high school has helped me get accepted.

How will your faith be a part of your future? As a seminarian, the next few years of my life will be a period of continued discernment, Mass, praying and living in community with the priests, brothers and other seminarians of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Following seminary, if God is willing, then I will live out my faith life as a religious priest.

Scholarships: Congregation of Holy Cross, Flora Bittner Croft Scholarship

High school honors and awards: Editor-in-chief of the Rocket Times, president of Mu Alpha Theta, co-captain of the cross country team, Father Leo T. Sweeny Outstanding Christian Athlete Award, Congressman French Hill Educational Achievement Award, Arkansas Times Academic All-Star, Arkansas Scholastic Honor Student, ASPA Newspaper Editor of the Year second place runner-up, ASPA Yearbook Writer of the Year, and two-time 6A Soccer Academic All-Conference, REACH, National Honors Society, soccer team and Quiz Bowl.

Catholic High held its graduation May 19 in the school gym. Senior John Nicholas Verdaris was chosen as the master of ceremonies. Speakers were seniors George Porter Callahan and Nicholas Andrew Tarini.

The valedictorian was Tarini. The salutatorian was Verdaris, son of the Rev. Nicholas and Maria Verdaris. He is studying chemical engineering at the University of Arkansas.

Other graduates are:

Christopher Matthew Adams
Ridge Andrew Agar
Reese Lee Amberg
Keaton Paul Armstrong
Preston Bryant Baker
Luke James Beall
George Hayes Bishop
Alex Keith Bobbitt
Evan Mackenzie Booe
Samuel Phillip Bowman
Aidan William Branton
Miles Lennon Browning
Joseph Edward Bulmanski
Benjamin Riley Burkhead
George Porter Callahan
Jonathan Brooks Callahan
Cole Alexander Cameron
Carson Layne Chwalinski
Zackary Colton Clark
Jacob Christopher Coffield
Robert Lawrence Cole III
Eli Martin Coleman
Caleb Christopher Collins
Uziel Reta Cortez
Clark Emerson Cyr
Owen Mitchell Davis
William Christopher Davis
Jonathan Matthew Deen
Gavin Joseph Deeter
Owen Andrew Deeter
Andrew Scott Dillman
Elijah Thomas Dobing
Ian Michael Draeger
Kyle Andrew Eakin
Colton Bram Eichler
Kelechi William Ekeanyanwu
Jacob Glenn Ellis
Michael Patrick Elser
Michael Theodore Esbaner
State James Evers
Beau Santo Ezzi
Alex Flores
Chase Alton Flynn
Colin Allyn Foley
Christopher Patrick Foley Jr.
Elias Jonathan Found
Owen Charles Fraley
Nathan Andrew Freeman
James Paul Freyaldenhoven
Nathan Joseph Ghidotti
Abel Eduardo Giron
Hayden Christopher Grimes
Nicholas Joseph Gunderman
Peter Duc Ha
Jackson Nathaniel Hall
Evan Charles Hargett
John Nicholas Harton
Madre Lanier Hill Jr.
Zachary Jacob Hinkle
Jett Richard Holbert
Carter Rex Izard
Jacob Gardner Jansen
Brooks Staton Johnson
Brennan David Jones
Caden Mark Jones
Garrett Michael Jones
Essa Rami Kassissieh
Joseph Martin Kollar
James Ivy Lasley IV
Luke Wirges Lensing
Seth Michael Long
Robert Ross Maginn
Roberto Joseph Maldonado III
Miles McMinn Marlow
Scott Anthony Massa
Riley Craig Mathiowetz
Kaleb Scott McCain
Tyler Tiffee McDuffie
Morgan David McGeorge
Evan Matthew McKinley
Clark Preston McKinnis
John Theodore McNally
Alex Fernando Mendez
Daniel Mendez
Andrew Hayden Mercer Jr.
Jordan DeWayne Mitchell
Andrew Joseph Moore
John Morgan
Aidan Smith Moses
Eric Murillo
James Bennett Murphy
Lucas Edward Newman
Andrew Loc Nguyen
Noah Benjamin Nolder
Garrett Thomas O'Connor
Reuben C.J. Onyekwelu
Cole James Pace
Harrison Walker Pace
Thomas Andrew Parker
Nathan Sean Peacock
Daniel John Pownall
Alexander McCormick Principe
Ethan Andrew Pruss
Reece David Ransom
Maxx Christian Rathman
Thomas Gregory Reynolds
Evan Corbett Richard
Kevin DeJesus Rivera
Luke John Robbins
Ridge Silas Roberts
Ryan William Robertson
Ryan Christopher Roset
Nathaniel Michael Rousseau
Samuel George Sanders
David Glenn Sheppard
Samuel Cooper Shroyer
Parson Huxley Simmons
Luke James Siria
Chase Alan Small
Ethan Cole Smith
William Francis Stager
Connor James Stahl
Jonathan Raymond Sterba
Davin Scott Strange
Christopher Edward Suffern
William Ryce Thomas
Connor Matthew Thompson
Titus Nathan Thompson
Adam Matthew Thornton
Andrew Maris Travis
Lucas Benjamin Vachon
Owen Baxley Waller
Mason Allen Walsh
Slater Joseph Watkins
William Andrew Weeks
Enqi Wei
Brayden Patrick Weidner
Whit Grayson Wilcox
Spartagus Love Wolfe
Anthony Nicholas Wood
William Chandler Woodell
Phillip Alexander Zawislak
Adam Michael Zimmer