The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock
   

High schools celebrate 2023 graduations

The Diocese of Little Rock's six Catholic high schools entered graduation season with hundreds of young people embarking on the rest of their lives. Arkansas Catholic's annual graduation section introduces readers to a graduating senior from each school who is exceptional in their life and the world. This section recognizes the top honor graduates at each school and also lists every graduating senior. Congratulations to every blessed one of you!

 

Senior class could count on Kendall Fillippino in Conway

By Aprille Hanson Spivey , Published: June 2, 2023   

CONWAY — Kendall Fillippino, 18, admits she likes “to be in charge.” It’s why the senior at St. Joseph School in Conway has willingly led several school activities and volunteered for more responsibilities than the average student — running the AV booth during school Masses, leading the school’s Cyber Cafe, co-president of her senior class and playing goalie for the girl’s soccer team senior year when they needed more players. It’s a way to give More... 

Student body president had students’ well-being in mind

By Anthony Reiter, Published: June 1, 2023   

Giovanni Vargas, a senior at Subiaco Academy, looks back on his time as a Trojan as one of the most formative times of the student body president’s young life. Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Vargas’ journey to Subiaco was unexpected. “It was a really strange series of events. Just a bunch of happy accidents, I guess,” Vargas said. After visiting Subiaco for summer camps as a child, he was given an opportunity to interview for a scholarship More... 

Summer camp prepares Autumn Moss for leadership roles

By Malea Hargett, Published: May 31, 2023   

Autumn Moss has nurtured her faith during school, on the weekends and during the summer. The Mount St. Mary Academy senior is most proud of how much she has grown as a counselor for the past three years at Brookhill Ranch. This summer she will return as a senior counselor for 10 weeks in Hot Springs Village. “It’s like my home,” the member of Christ the King Church in Little Rock said. “I love Brookhill. I started More... 

Medrano is first in family to graduate high school

By Alesia Schaefer, Published: May 30, 2023   

TONTITOWN — Not one to call attention to herself, Ceci Medrano could easily slip past you without being noticed. But she will tell you that her four years in high school have made such a difference in her life to change her trajectory. Ceci Alejandra Medrano, 17, is the oldest of three siblings and the first in her family to graduate from high school. For Medrano, that means not taking this opportunity for granted. After attending a More... 

Knights’ cheerleader is ‘red hot’ for faith, hard work

By Aprille Hanson Spivey , Published: May 29, 2023   

When senior Spencer Warren, 18, first started cheerleading at Sacred Heart School in Morrilton as a sophomore, she admitted she was “nervous to yell,” intimidated to shout out the cheers and give it her all. But three years later, loudly shouting call-back cheers like “Knights are what?” and the crowd shouting back, “Red hot!” is one of her favorite things. The faithful spirit, work ethic and joy she exudes daily is a testament to her More... 

Raised by a single mother, Flores knows value of hard work

By Malea Hargett, Published: May 26, 2023   

Catholic High School senior Alex Flores doesn’t take for granted what his mother sacrificed to ensure her son had a better life. “My mother immigrated here from Mexico when she was pregnant with me,” he said. “She left her whole family, and it was a really, really tough decision for her to do that. Her main goal was to give me a better life and give me more opportunities rather than how it was in Mexico. More... 

You made it!

Published: May 24, 2023   

Catholic High School senior Kaleb McCain celebrates after his graduation May 19, 2023 in the school gym in Little Rock. Rector Msgr. Lawrence Frederick presented diplomas to 145 graduates. More... 

Ozark Catholic Academy graduates

Arkansas Catholic staff, Published: May 24, 2023   

Ozark Catholic Academy held its graduation May 20 at The Jones Center in Springdale. The graduation speaker was Wyoming Catholic College president Glenn C. Arbery. The valedictorian was Mia Passantino. The salutatorian was John Yarnell, son of LeeAnn and Robb Yarnell. He will attend the University of Arkansas Honors College, studying business management. Other graduates are: Will Buron Grace Burney Jake Estes Gonzalo Flores Adrian Gonzalez Jackson Holmes Avery Leahy Brianna Lopez Perrin Lunsford Stefany Mendoza Abigail Perry Joseph Ramirez Ritchy Ramirez Thomas Rocha Ervin Sanchez Ceci Vega More... 

Subiaco Academy graduates

Arkansas Catholic staff, Published: May 24, 2023   

Perry Trachier, an entrepreneur from Plano, Texas, and member of the Class of 1987, delivered the commencement speech May 13 in Subiaco Abbey’s inner court. The valedictorian was Aidan Joergens Harris. The salutatorian was Lukas Gary Rainwater, son of Debbie and Marcus Rainwater. He will study nursing at Arkansas Tech University. Other graduates include: Sebastian Alarie-Lacerte Seunghwan An Luke Castro Vince Dang Luke Faust Bennett Fletcher Nevin Furr Nicholas Gehrig Korbin Hawkins Logan Hess Tanner Komp Jake Le Benjamin Lee Julian Luna Cesar Medina John Luke Mize JulioCesar Preza Denver Pruitt Christopher Ramirez Alexander Rankin Joseph Rhoads Robert Russell Joseph More... 

Sacred Heart School graduates

Published: May 24, 2023   

Sacred Heart High School held its graduation May 21 in the school auditorium. The valedictorian was Savannah Koonce. The salutatorian was Emma Dold, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Dold. She will attend Arkansas State University. Other graduates are: Gabby Berkemeyer Jacob Briggler Webber Hoelzeman Alexandra Guinn Parker Jackson Isabella Moore Payton Paladino Avery Pettingill Jack Poole Spencer Warren Emily Zimmerman More... 

Mount St. Mary Academy graduates

Arkansas Catholic staff, Published: May 24, 2023   

Mount St. Mary Academy held its graduation May 22 at Robinson Center in downtown Little Rock. Msgr. Lawrence Frederick, Mount St. Mary Academy chaplain, was the graduation speaker. Co-valedictorians were Megan Denery and Erin Strickland. The salutatorian was Anna Alyse Patterson, daughter of Cam and Kris Patterson. She is attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in neuroscience with minors in Spanish and political science. Other graduates are: Gabriella Christine Angtuaco Ella Shea Ardoin Laura Ann Auger Mackenzie More... 

Catholic High School graduates

Arkansas Catholic staff, Published: May 24, 2023   

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 More... 

St. Joseph High School graduates

Arkansas Catholic staff, Published: May 24, 2023   

Nineteen seniors graduated from St. Joseph High School May 7 at St. Joseph Church. The graduation speakers were valedictorian Presli Webb and salutatorian Chloe Skinner. Skinner, daughter of Jeremy and the late Valerie Skinner, plans to study nursing at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton. Other graduates are: Frederick Bailey Catherine Brewer Logan Bruich Charley Collins Anna Cowles Sidney Davenport Kendall Fillippino Josephine Gamble Ethan Hambuchen Keegan Hicks Jake Hill Tess Keisling Mandy Larios Mary Morgan Max Simon Marleigh Thessing Olivia Williams Harper Woosley More...