They may be only 43 in number, but the Saint Thomas Moore Preparatory school’s Class of 2009 has racked up some pretty impressive statistics.
Every one of the graduates has been accepted to move on to colleges or universities, ranging from Delaware Technical & Community College to the U.S. Naval Academy. Nine of the grads have been selected as Outstanding Catholic High School Seniors and almost one-third are members of the National Honor Society.
They’ve also brought in scholarships and grants totaling almost $3.9 million.
Beginning their last day as high school seniors, the students paraded into the gym the morning of May 30, passing under a phalanx of lifted swords provided by a Knights of Columbus honor guard. Intent on finding their seats, many none the less quickly glanced into the nearby audience, searching for family members and loved ones.
For the first time in the school’s 10-year history, diplomas were presented by a Catholic prelate other than Bishop Michael Saltarelli, who retired in 2008. This year, the honors were done by the Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington.
The keynote speaker was senior Giiehti Christian, who reminded his fellow students that as they move into adulthood, they must rely on their faith as “our unwavering rock.”
“When times get hard, our faith will always be there,” he said. “When all seems lost, our faith will always be there. When it seems the world turns against us, our faith will always be there.
“We will always have our faith, and that is something we cannot ignore,” Christian said.
The highest-ranked member of the class, Christian followed his brother, Gardea Christian, a 2005 graduate, into STM. Gardea, now a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, spoke with obvious pride of his younger brother.
“He’s doing things I never could have done,” he said. “He’s blazing his own path. He’ll be a great success.”
Giiehti – he was named after his Liberian grandfather – plans to become a naval officer following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2013.
Some Class of 2009 grads have military or military-related careers in mind: Ryan Hawk plans to start a private research firm and become a military contractor, while Greg Shuck has his sights set on being an astronaut.
Other students have more down-to-earth plans, with Aric Charowsky looking at the pharmaceutical industry and Sean McCalister considering a law career, while Jacqueline Woinski, Megan Mahoney and Lauren Tibbets have medical vocations in mind.
Lauren’s father, Richard Tibbets, has no doubt his daughter will go far.
“She’s a bright, caring young woman, who is selfless in wanting to help others,” Tibbets said. Lauren intends to specialize in the study of pediatric cancer, he said.
Kurt Price saluted his son James’ fortitude in choosing to leave his previous school and enroll at STM during his junior year.
“I’m very proud of him,” Price said. “It took a lot of guts to leave his high school classmates.”
And graduation day was especially sweet for Lori Smiertka, whose daughter Samantha played D-1 field hockey and is one of the graduating class’ 14 National Honor Society members.
“She’s serious, very serious,” Smiertka said of her daughter, adding that she has been excited about graduating and moving on to James Madison University. Smiertka, whose son also attends Saint Thomas More, sees a bright future for her sports-minded daughter.
“In 10 years, she’ll either be coaching field hockey or teaching athletics — or both.”
In all, members of the Saint Thomas More Class of 2009 seem destined to do some great things, said Catherine Weaver, superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.
“This class has some real personality and charisma,” she said before the graduation ceremonies. “They’re wonderful, faith-filled, service-oriented leaders.”
Members of the Saint Thomas Moore Preparatory Class of 2009 are:
Meggan Elizabeth Apgar, Randy Bahia Aviado**+, Mathias C. Boddicker III**+, Lauren Ashley Burris, Michael James Carroll, Aric Joseph Charowsky, Giiehti Denmlay Charnelius Christian**+, Ashley Nicole Davidson, Christopher Charles Matthew Dawley, Taylor William Scott Doan, William David Duplechain+,
Bret Allen Fleming, Brandon Abraham Grossman, Kenneth Stayton Hall, Ryan James Hawk, Corey Daniel Hayes, Kristin Alexis Hester**+, Morgan Ann Hudson, Madison Leigh Kruer**+, Alexis Patricia Kuloszewski, Donald Wesley Lanter, Luke James Little,
Megan Elizabeth Mahoney, Sean Patrick McCalister**+, Megan Elizabeth McMullen+, Samantha Ashton McQuaide, Samantha Paige Mild+, Renee Marie Mosley**+, Lauren Elizabeth Powers, James Woodward Price, Whitley Charree Purnell,
Julia Anne Sadusky**+, Gina Marie Scarangella, Lauren Elizabeth Schimp, Aaron Thomas Selestok**+, Gregory Woodrum Shuck, Samantha Leigh Smiertka+, Derek Richard Tetzner, Amanda Marie Hudson, Lauren Ashley Tibbets, Toritse Tutemitse Tonwe, Kevin Gregory Trojan, Rebecca Gray Warrington+, Jacqueline Catherine Woinski**+
** Top 10 Catholic High School Senior
+ National Honor Society
Bret Allen Fleming, Brandon Abraham Grossman, Kenneth Stayton Hall, Ryan James Hawk, Corey Daniel Hayes, Kristin Alexis Hester**+, Morgan Ann Hudson, Madison Leigh Kruer**+, Alexis Patricia Kuloszewski, Donald Wesley Lanter, Luke James Little,
Megan Elizabeth Mahoney, Sean Patrick McCalister**+, Megan Elizabeth McMullen+, Samantha Ashton McQuaide, Samantha Paige Mild+, Renee Marie Mosley**+, Lauren Elizabeth Powers, James Woodward Price, Whitley Charree Purnell,
Julia Anne Sadusky**+, Gina Marie Scarangella, Lauren Elizabeth Schimp, Aaron Thomas Selestok**+, Gregory Woodrum Shuck, Samantha Leigh Smiertka+, Derek Richard Tetzner, Amanda Marie Hudson, Lauren Ashley Tibbets, Toritse Tutemitse Tonwe, Kevin Gregory Trojan, Rebecca Gray Warrington+, Jacqueline Catherine Woinski**+
** Top 10 Catholic High School Senior
+ National Honor Society
