The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock
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!
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... 
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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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
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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 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
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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 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...
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
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New campus ministers help students grow in their faith
Grants sustain urban farming at St. Joseph Center
Sixty men seeking to be deacons begin their formation
Grace marked Father Stan Swiderski’s 60 years as priest
St. Barbara Church welcomes renovations and new altar