Marist High School held its 51st annual commencement exercises Thursday, May 18, 2017, sending off an accomplished class of 401 young men and women to make Jesus Christ known and loved, while pursuing higher education and life.

At the heart of their Marist experience was spiritual growth. Members of the class participated in retreats and liturgy planning. Three groups participated in mission trips to Louisiana and South Carolina. Students also planned and executed countless service projects and fundraisers, including spearheading the Relay for Life which raised $55,000 for the American Cancer Society, and running a yearlong tutoring program for local grade school students. Also, more than 100 members of the class were enrolled in the senior service program, providing community service Monday through Friday to more than 18 area organizations, including Little Company of Mary Hospital, Elim Christian Services, and several nearby Catholic grammar schools. Another 143 seniors provided daily academic support to students through the peer leadership program.
These students made an excellent academic reputation for themselves at Marist. They sent out more than 2,000 college applications, and were accepted to colleges and universities across the country. Graduates will be on the campuses of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, University of Chicago, Yale University, University of Illinois, Marquette, Loyola, and St. Louis University, to name a few. They were awarded more than $45 million in scholarship monies, including three Chick Evans Scholarships. There were two National Merit Finalists and three National Merit Commended students and 61 Illinois State Scholars. Marist seniors were leaders on the math team, which finished fifth in state overall and as the top Catholic school. The language department offered exchange programs with international Marist schools, allowing students to host students from and travel to Spain, Italy, and France. Seniors also were pioneers in the school’s business curriculum, culminating in three student companies receiving funding. Numerous students were named ACT scholars, Advanced Placement Scholars, and received prestigious awards and scholarships.
Athletically, individuals and teams were strong performers. Individuals and teams garnered conference, local, regional and state success. Forty-two graduates have committed to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level with programs coast to coast.
After the bell rang each day, these seniors participated in clubs and activities, sharing their leadership and expertise with the school community. The speech team advanced to the National Catholic Forensic League Grand Tournament in Kentucky. Members of the school newspaper advanced and placed in the IHSA journalism finals. Student council members planned a variety of events and activities throughout the year. The theater guild produced a fall drama and spring musical to the delight of audiences. The band and chorus performed at various sites around Disney World and New York City, respectively.
Ninety-nine percent of the class will attend college in the fall. Four students will join the military, while a few will enter the workforce immediately. If the class’s accomplishments at Marist are any indication of their future success, the end of this chapter is just the beginning for them.
Check out a recap video from graduation.
First |
Last |
Award |
Grade School |
Jack |
Golden |
Valedictorian |
OLHMS |
Maryclare |
Leonard |
Salutatorian |
Cardinal Bernardin |
Becca |
Valek |
Salutatorian |
St. Barnabas |
Becca |
Valek |
National Merit Finalist |
St. Barnabas |
Monica |
Viz |
National Merit Finalist |
SS. Cyril & Methodius |
Brendan |
Boyle |
National Merit Commended Student |
Mt. Greenwood |
Kyle |
Kelly |
National Merit Commended Student |
St. Damian |
Shannon |
Landers |
National Merit Commended Student |
Independence |
Keagan |
Lenz |
Br. Pat Magee Award |
St. Germaine |
Becca |
Valek |
Br. Pat Magee Award |
St. Barnabas |
Luke |
Bullington |
Br. Vito Aresto Award |
St Christina |
Isabella |
Flores |
Br. Vito Aresto Award |
St. Catherine |
Keagan |
Lenz |
Chick Evans Scholarship |
St. Germaine |
Mackenize |
Lim |
Chick Evans Scholarship |
St. Damian |
Michael |
Martino |
Chick Evans Scholarship |
St. Michael |
Shane |
Brannigan |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Baseball |
Century Jr High |
Robert |
Hawkinson |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Basketball |
Hickory Creek Middle School |
Alexandra |
Cipriani |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Bowling |
St. Christina |
Karina |
Journet-Brizuela |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Bowling |
St. Nicholas |
Maria |
Arreola |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Cross Country |
Kerr Middle School |
Roisin |
McMahon |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Cross Country |
OLHMS |
Hope |
Orsi |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Cross Country |
St. John Fisher |
Monica |
Viz |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Cross Country |
SS. Cyril & Methodius |
Claire |
Murphy |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Cross Country/Track |
Cardinal Bernardin |
Maryclare |
Leonard |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Cross Country/Track |
Cardinal Bernardin |
Jack |
Berglind |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Football and Volleyball |
Mt. Greenwood |
Kyle |
Kelly |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Golf |
St. Damian |
Jeffrey |
Reidy |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Golf and Volleyball |
Independence |
John |
Kruse |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Soccer |
Incarnation |
David |
Rafacz |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Soccer |
Simmons |
Jillian |
Zwierz |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Soccer |
St. Alexander |
Matt |
Brannigan |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Soccer and Football |
Keller |
Zachary |
Meeker |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Tennis |
Palos South |
Anthony |
DeFelippis |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Track and Field |
Cardinal Bernardin |
Madeline |
Dunterman |
ESCC Academic All-Conference, Volleyball |
Finley Jr High |
Jack |
Roche |
Jack Callahan Spirit Award |
St. Catherine |
Kaitlyn |
Bowe |
Kevin Dowling Scholarship |
Morgan Park Academy |
Jack |
Golden |
Kevin Lehnert Award |
OLHMS |
Justin |
Brown |
Paul Simmons Jr. Foundation Award |
Memorial Jr High |
Maria |
Arreola |
Perfect Attendance |
Kerr Middle School |
MiKaela |
Dismukes |
Perfect Attendance |
Wendell Green School |
Ciara |
Johnson |
Perfect Attendance |
St. Bede |
Renee |
Nealis |
Perfect Attendance |
St. Cajetan |
Michael |
Principe |
Perfect Attendance |
St. Al/St. Pat |
Gavin |
Wollenberg |
Perfect Attendance |
St. Al/St. Pat |
Faculty Award Winner |
Maryclare Leonard |
David O'Neil |
Faculty Award Nominee |
Emily Bober |
Matthew Finn |
Faculty Award Nominee |
Gabriella Marino |
John Golden |
Faculty Award Nominee |
Elizabeth Travnik |
Bryson Lewis |
Faculty Award Nominee |
Rebecca Valek |
John Roche |
Faculty Award Nominee |
Monica Viz |
|
Medal of Excellence |
English |
Rebecca Valek |
Next in Merit |
English |
Alexis Kolp |
Medal of Excellence |
Fine Arts |
Christopher Murphy |
Next in Merit |
Fine Arts |
Emily Bober |
Medal of Excellence |
Mathematics |
Rebecca Valek |
Next in Merit |
Mathematics |
Michael Mallon |
Medal of Excellence |
Performing Arts |
Elizabeth Travnik |
Next in Merit |
Performing Arts |
Bridget Ryan |
Medal of Excellence |
Religious Studies |
Gabriella Marino |
Next in Merit |
Religious Studies |
Emily Bober |
Medal of Excellence |
Science |
Victoria Krummick |
Next in Merit |
Science |
Rebecca Valek |
Medal of Excellence |
Social Studies |
Claire Stillman |
Next in Merit |
Social Studies |
Ricardo Suarez |
Medal of Excellence |
Technology |
Maryclare Leonard |
Next in Merit |
Technology |
Christopher Murphy |
Medal of Excellence |
World Language |
Liam Duignan |
Next in Merit |
World Language |
Maria Arreola |
First |
Last |
BLOCK M AWARD |
Grade School |
Ed |
Kawczysnki |
Academic Team |
Hamlin Jr High |
Vita |
Ionadi |
Anime Club |
OLHMS |
Mackenize |
Lim |
Art Club |
St. Damian |
Griffin |
Kemp |
Band |
Sutherland |
Matt |
Donahue |
Baseball |
Independence |
Emily |
Bober |
Bass Fishing |
St. Christina |
Griffin |
Kemp |
Billiards |
Sutherland |
Robert |
Hawkinson |
Boys Basketball |
Hickory Creek Middle School |
Nicholas |
Bigott |
Boys Bowling |
St. Christina |
Matt |
Wagner |
Boys Cross Country |
St. Alexander |
Perry |
Chong |
Boys Golf |
Bridgeport Catholic |
David |
O'Neil |
Boys Lacrosse |
St. Damian |
Christian |
Cunningham |
Boys Soccer |
Incarnation |
Andrew |
Reif |
Boys Tennis |
Park School |
Lenell |
Navarre |
Boys Track & Field |
St. Kieran |
Mike |
Coogan |
Boys Volleyball |
St. Alexander |
Keagan |
Lenz |
Br. Pat Magee Award |
St. Germaine |
Becca |
Valek |
Br. Pat Magee Award |
St. Barnabas |
Luke |
Bullington |
Br. Vito Aresto Award |
St Christina |
Isabella |
Flores |
Br. Vito Aresto Award |
St. Catherine |
Meagan |
Stoffle |
Cheerleading |
St. Michael |
Brendan |
Boyle |
Chess Team |
Mt. Greenwood |
Caelah |
Borkovec |
Chorus |
St. Barnabas |
Clare |
Pitlick |
Cooking Club |
St. Christina |
Katherine |
Maloney |
Debate Team |
Independence |
Becca |
Valek |
Drama Club |
St. Barnabas |
Jennifer |
Moore |
Ecology Club |
St. Barnabas |
Griffin |
Kemp |
Fencing Club |
Sutherland |
David |
O'Neil |
Fine Arts & Literary Club |
St. Damian |
Matt |
Finn |
Football |
St. Michael |
Mychaela |
Paetow |
French Club |
Independence |
Leyla |
Razo |
French National Honor Society |
Morgan Park Academy |
Claire |
Austin |
Girls Basketball |
St Christina |
Abigail |
Conrad |
Girls Bowling |
St Michael |
Maryclare |
Leonard |
Girls Cross Country |
Cardinal Bernardin |
Margaret |
Mahoney |
Girls Golf |
St. Cajetan |
Sarah |
Thompson |
Girls Lacrosse |
St. John Fisher |
Cara |
Donegan |
Girls Soccer |
St. Michael |
Kaitlyn |
Bowe |
Girls Tennis |
Morgan Park Academy |
Bria |
Davis |
Girls Track & Field |
St. Ethelreda |
Megan |
Krasowski |
Girls Volleyball |
St. Catherine |
Zachary |
Meeker |
Hockey |
Palos South |
Megan |
Costello |
Liturgy Committee |
Prairie Jr High |
Caelah |
Borkovec |
Marist Youth |
St. Barnabas |
Becca |
Valek |
Math Team |
St. Barnabas |
David |
O'Neil |
Model UN |
St. Damian |
Dana |
Kelly |
National Honor Society |
Arbor Park Middle School |
Caitlyn |
Lange |
One Book, One Marist |
St. Michael |
Rachael |
Dorsch |
Poms |
Prairie Jr High |
Victoria |
Carreon |
Pro-Life Club |
St. Bede |
Brendan |
Watson |
Rugby |
St. Catherine |
Marina |
Mosquera |
Sentinel |
St. Nicholas |
Alexis |
Rogers |
Softball |
St. Damian |
Sarah |
Thompson |
Spanish Club |
St. John Fisher |
Katya |
Macias |
Spanish National Honor Society |
Independence |
Jake |
Listowski |
Stage Crew |
OLHMS |
Jack |
Carmody |
Student Ambassadors |
St. Catherine |
Tom |
Englehart |
Student Council |
Palos South |
Leah |
Hood |
Swimming |
Southwest Chicago Christian |
Elijah |
Morris |
Technology Club |
St. Barnabas |
Diata |
Drayton |
Wrestling |
Prairie Hills |
Ellie |
Marino |
Yearbook |
Cardinal Bernardin |