The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock
Graduations for 431 students in the state returned this month after delayed ceremonies in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this section, meet some of the bright and exceptional seniors from the six high schools in the diocese.
When Olivia Chambers walks up to the edge of the pool during a tournament, her mind zeros on her one goal -- swim fast.
"Once I get up on those blocks, I trust myself that I've practiced enough that I'm like, 'It's just time to race; all you need to do is dive in, all the rest you've already practiced so there's no need to think about anything except going fast,'” Chambers said.
The oldest daughter of More... 
MORRILTON -- At about 5 years old, Thomas Buser put on his hard hat, gloves and grabbed a hammer -- he was ready to destroy stuff.
“My dad is an electrical engineer. Because of that, I've always been around computers and things. When you get rid of an old computer, you get rid of the harddrive,” Buser said.
Hence the hammer.
Today, it’s more about fixing technology and strengthening his videography skills. Son of Bob and Susan Buser, More...
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CONWAY -- Starting in 2018, Juliana Ferrer began working toward her Gold Award in Girl Scouts, picking a topic she is passionate about and creating a sustainable project based off of it.
The result was a passion project: a 15-minute documentary about how people can help and advocate for sea turtles no matter how far they live from the ocean, along with a website for people to do their own environmental cleanups. It was completed in More...
Subiaco Academy’s Ethan Spillers is no stranger to athletic competition, excelling for the Trojans in swimming and baseball and dabbling in football and cross country.
He’s spent a lot of time in practice, the weight room and competitions representing the school he loves, even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
No athlete wins all the time, and Spillers experienced his share of competitions where the final score didn’t pan out in his favor. Yet, he is More...
TONTITOWN -- Stephen Flores took the road less traveled. For him, that decision has made all the difference.
Flores switched from public school to Ozark Catholic Academy the summer before his senior year. He left behind a high school career in football and involvement in school clubs to broaden his faith life and education. Although he was involved in Life Teen and had attended the diocesan retreat Search, he felt called to do more.
Flores enrolled at More...
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Kyrilos Sadaka has never lost sight of his Egyptian faith and heritage, even though he hasn’t lived in the country.
His decisions are made with the input of his parents and how to best honor his roots and Coptic Orthodox religion.
Kyrilos, known as Kyro (pronounced “Key-ro”), was born in Iowa as the youngest child of Dr. Sammy and Heba Sadaka, natives of Alexandria, Egypt. The 4.0 Catholic High School senior is planning to study biomedical engineering More...
Catholic High School will hold its graduation May 28 on the school’s Roy Davis Field. The master of ceremonies will be senior Adam Lorio. The speakers will be seniors Jackson Meyer Coleman and Lucas Neil Bozeman.
The valedictorian is Adam Lorio. The salutatorian is Walker Ashworth Cunningham, son of Baker and Ashley Cunningham. He has not chosen a major when he attends the University of Texas at Austin this fall.
Other graduates are:
Jack Henry Adams
Nathan Charles Adams
Michael More...
The Mount St. Mary Academy graduation was held May 24 at Robinson Auditorium in Little Rock. Msgr. Lawrence Frederick, chaplain and physics instructor, was the speaker.
The valedictorian was Chloe Gourde. The salutatorian was Brynne Johnson, daughter of Chris and Meredith Johnson. She will attend the University of Arkansas and study biology and psychology with a pre-medical track.
Other graduates are:
Sarah Isabel Alvarez
Anna Parks Arnold
Kaitlin Marie Arnold
Ava Ciana Atwood
Sydney Elizabeth Austen
Grace Marie Barnett
Olivia Marie Barrett
Olivia Faith Basham
Valerie More...
Graduation was held May 16 in Ruff Auditorium at Sacred Heart School. Pastor Msgr. Jack Harris was the speaker.
The valedictorians are Elizabeth M. Aquilar, Sydney T. Briggler, Noah L. Koch, Leah E. Moore and Shelby P. Pettingill.
The salutatorians are Laney N. Osborn and Baylee M. Sparks. Osborn, daughter of Randy Osborn, will be studying general education at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton. Sparks, daughter of Todd and Wendy Sparks, will attend the More...
The first graduation for Ozark Catholic Academy was held May 22 in the Jones Center Auditorium in Springdale. Stephen Minnis, president of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., was the speaker.
Co-valedictorians were Matthew Moix and Becka Buron. Salutatorian was Mary Helen Schaefer, daughter of George and Alesia Schaefer. She will study biology at St. Louis University.
Other graduates are:
Arely Arevalo
Adriana Battershell
Olivia Burtis
Jonathan Cass
Madelyn Eveld
Stephen Flores
Tania Mares
Isaac McClinton
Therese Rocha
More...
St. Joseph High School held its graduation May 16 in the church. The speakers were valedictorian Caleb Mallett and salutatorian Eva Palmer.
Palmer, daughter of Dustin and Veronica Palmer, will be studying biology at the University of Central Arkansas.
Other graduates are:
Abigail Elizabeth Bailey
Jacob Christopher Bailey
Matthew Westmeier Bowen
Matthew Tyler Brorman
Luke Joseph Bruich
Brayan Josue Bonilla Canas
Cynthia Castro
Gabriel Cobain Chalk
Rebecca Lynn Chamoun
Katherine Scott Dumboski
Juliana Marie Ferrer
Cole David Garner
Emma Grace Gastineau
Nathaniel David Gomez
Payton Reese Grant
David Allen Green
Austin Conner Groff
Lillian Kate More...
Subiaco Academy held its graduation ceremony in the Subiaco Abbey Inner Court May 15. U.S. Sen. John Boozman was the speaker.
The valedictorian was Andrew Quoc-Thang Bui. Max Anhalt Linares, son of Laura and Victor Linares of Fayetteville, was the salutatorian. He will attend Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., and pursue at double major in music and architecture
Other graduates are:
Adam Ackel
Kevin Allen
Bryan Bond
Austin Bowman
M. Chandler Burroughs
Anthony Castillo
Hunter Criswell
Leon Dang
Gunner Didion
Anthony Do
Joshua Eads
Aidan Everett
Jackson Frederick
B. Clay Huber
P. More...
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