Marist High School held its 60th annual commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 21, 2026 sending off an accomplished class of 353 young men and women. The Class of 2026 proudly continues a legacy more than 60 years strong—one rooted in faith, excellence, and community.
The Marist band, lead by Mr. Andrew Creagh, played beautiful processional music as the graduates processed into the Marist High School Main Gym. Dean of Student Success, Mrs. Joy Lewis, was the Mistress of Ceremonies. The Co-Salutatorians, Lucy Alford and Henry Beeson, started the night off with the invocation. The class valedictorian, Hailey Dostal, addressed the class. The ceremony also featured a great speech from Principal Meg Dunneback.
The Class of 2026 held many accomplishments. Ryan Deskovich (St. Christina School), Hailey Dostal (Mount Greenwood School), Alfredo Ibarra (St. Benedict School), & Ciara Haran (Mount Greenwood School) were named National Merit Commended Students. Marist boasted 59 Illinois State Scholars, representing the top 10% of seniors in the state. Numerous students received prestigious awards and scholarships, including 2 Posse Scholar Award recipients- Hector Castillo (St. Germaine) and Sarah Shefcik (Hamlin Upper Grade School).
The College Board National Recognition Program awarded 31 seniors, four of which were awarded with first-generation recognition. There are 35 student athletes competing at the collegiate level. Olubukola Onimole (Veterans Memorial Middle School) and Hector Castillo (St. Germaine) were named Chick Evans Scholarship Recipients.
The graduates continued to build Marist’s strong academic reputation, sending out 2,764 applications to 353 colleges and universities. 99% of our graduating class will be attending a college, university or junior college. They will be on the campuses of Coastal Carolina, Fordham University, Howard University, Indiana University, Marquette University, Miami University, Penn State University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, University of Tennessee, and Washington University to name a few. Fourteen members of the class will be represented in several local trade unions.
Eight members of the Marist Class of 2026 will be enlisting in the armed forces. This marks the highest number of students joining the military in the history of Marist High School:
-Enlistment in the U.S. Air Force: Sean Jeffrey Langan (Cassell), Declan Lippner (O’Neill Middle School), Xavier Randle (Sutherland)
-Enlistment in the U.S. Army: Camille Hudler (St. Germaine)
-Enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps: Jordyn McNichols (Queen of Martyrs), Joe Lieber (Cassell)
-Enlistment in the U.S. Navy: Julietta Vences (Mount Greenwood)
-U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School: Aidan McDonnell (Palos South)
The following students were recognized as the top 20 seniors – or top 5% – of their class based on their weight GPA. Congratulations to these incredible Marist scholars:
- Lucy Alford (Palos South)
- Laylani Amaro (St. Catherine of Alexandria)
- Henry Beeson (St. Michael)
- Elizabeth Bruton (St. Linus)
- Nicholas Collias (Orland Junior High)
- Charlotte Consiglio (Central Middle School)
- Daniel Deacy (St. John Fisher)
- Ryan Deskovich (St. Christina)
- Hailey Dostal (Mount Greenwood)
- Devin Feliciano (St. Patricia)
- Sarah Gutgsell (Palos South)
- Elise Koch (St. Michael)
- Sofia McQuaid (Cardinal Joseph Bernardin)
- Emily Roman (St. Catherine of Alexandria)
- Madison Sise (Palos South)
- Annalise Tortorello (St. Catherine of Alexandria)
- Alyssa Uchman (Mount Greenwood)
The distinguished Marist Faculty Award is the highest honor that the Marist High School community can bestow upon a graduating senior. The winner of this award possesses all of the qualities we expect of a Marist student: scholastic excellence, leadership, honesty, integrity and spirituality. The award is presented to 1 male student and 1 female student. For the Class of 2026, the Faculty Award was presented to Akir Finley (Kenwood Academy) and Olu Onimole (Veterans Memorial Middle School).
The following students were nominated for the award: Nicholas Collias (Orland Junior High), Matthew Forbes (St. Michael), Patrick Ready (Palos South), Eddie Scheel (St. Michael), Adoni Vassilakis (Homer Junior High), Tessa Dowling (St. John Fisher), Ava Krueger (St. Catherine of Alexandria), Mariana Mayorga (St. Gerald), and Mia Narciso (Palos South).
At the graduation ceremony, seniors were awarded Medals for Excellence and Next in Merit. The following is the list of recipients:
- The MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN ENGLISH is presented to Grace O’Malley (Most Holy Redeemer) NEXT IN MERIT goes to Elizabeth Bruton (St. Linus)
- The MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINE ARTS is presented to Amy Tenison (Mount Greenwood) NEXT IN MERIT goes to Mia Narciso (Palos South)
- The MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS is presented to Hailey Dostal (Mount Greenwood) NEXT IN MERIT goes to Ryan Deskovich (St. Christina)
- The MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN PERFORMING ARTS is presented to Carly Fox (Palos South) NEXT IN MERIT goes to Daniel Deacy (St. John Fisher)
- The MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES is presented to Dahoud Alhabash (Prairie Junior High) NEXT IN MERIT goes to Sophia Landers (Central Middle School)
- The MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE is presented to Hailey Dostal (Mount Greenwood) NEXT IN MERIT goes to Ryan Deskovich (St. Christina)
- The MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN SOCIAL STUDIES is presented to Mia Narciso (Palos South) NEXT IN MERIT goes to Alyssa Uchman (St. Patricia)
- The MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN TECHNOLOGY is presented to Ryan Deskovich (St. Christina) NEXT IN MERIT goes to Francesco Levato
- The MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN WORLD LANGUAGE is presented to Charlotte Consiglio (Central Middle School) NEXT IN MERIT goes to Ilona Kudirka (St. Michael)
At Marist, faith is the center of our school. Members of the Class of 2026 lived that mission—leading retreats, attending mission trips, planning liturgies, and serving others through countless projects. Through the senior service program, students volunteered daily at more than 14 community organizations. Eighty-one percent of the Class of 2026 attended a four day Kairos retreat. Marist Youth clocked out 1,700 service hours, over 400+ service sites, and had 38 participants in leadership conferences- many of them seniors. A group of students traveled to Washington D.C. for the Amor Vitae Pilgrimage to take part in the annual March for Life.
After the bell rang each day, these seniors participated in clubs and activities, sharing their leadership and expertise with the school community. Marist seniors were leaders on the math team, which finished fourth in state overall and 1st in Catholic Schools in Illinois. From gallery-worthy visual art to sold-out performances of Little Women and 42nd Street, the Class of 2026 made their presence known. Mia Narciso made history as the first female Speech State Champion in Marist history, and the first titleholder since 1987. Mia won the IHSA State Championship in Original Oratory. Journalism students earned recognition in nine categories at the Scholastic Press Association of Chicago Awards, including Excellence in Overall Website for MHS Media, highlighting the strength of the school’s media and broadcasting programs. Marist students took learning beyond the classroom over Spring Break 2026, traveling to Argentina, across Europe, and to Walt Disney World for unforgettable cultural, academic, and performance experiences.
Many of our athletic teams had successful runs in the postseason. State champions from the Class of 2026 include:
- Girls’ Volleyball
- Boys’ Basketball
Additional Awards, celebrated on Senior Awards Night include:
National Merit Scholar Program Awards
Commended Students
- Ryan A. Deskovich
- Hailey Dostal
- Ciara Haran
- Alfredo Damian Ibarra
Brother Vito Aresto Achievement Award
- Ronan Thomas Carmody
- Tessa Marjorie Dowling
ESCC Academic All-Conference Scholar-Athlete Awards
- William Joseph Bautista (Bowling/Tennis)
- Nicholas Collias (Football)
- Ryan A. Deskovich (Bowling)
- Emma Fields (Lacrosse)
- Matthew Forbes (Cross Country/Track)
- Joseph Gainer (Baseball)
- Andrew Hollinger (Tennis)
- Thomas Hollowell (Golf/Lacrosse)
- Clare Alice Johnson (Golf)
- Simon Kapusciarz (Soccer)
- Elsie Koch (Tennis)
- Joseph Lieber (Soccer)
- Hannah Tess McNeela (Soccer)
- Sofia McQuaid (Lacrosse)
- Elizabeth E. Morrissey (Flag Football)
- William Thomas Petto (Soccer)
- Emily Roman (Cross Country)
- Madison Avery Sise (Poms & Dance)
- Annalise Tortorello (Poms & Dance)
- Ava Catherine Young (Lacrosse)
IHSA All-State Academic Team
Nominees
- Matthew Forbes
- Ava Krueger
Chick Evans Scholarship
- Hector Castillo
- Olubukola Whitney Onimole
Brother Pat Magee Service Award
- Henry Joseph Beeson
- Ava Krueger
Jack Callahan ’09 Spirit Award
- Akir Finley
Coach Jack Roche ’17 Managerial Scholarship Award
- George Demetrios Kottaras
Block “M” Award Winners – Student Activities
1 Book, 1 Marist
- Phaedra Rose Hisson
Academic Team
- Elizabeth Mary Bruton
Amor Vitae Club
- Claire Alexine Vitellaro
Art Club
- Sofia Liberty O’Shea
Art National Honor Society
- Lauren Suzanne Pringle
Band
- Daniel J. Deacy
Black Student Union
- Olubukola Whitney Onimole
Broadcasting Club
- Patrick Ready
Business Club
- Mia Narciso
Chess Club
- Olubukola Whitney Onimole
Chorus
- Carly Jean Fox
E-Sports Club
- Damien Edward Larson
Fencing Club
- Liam Martin
French National Honor Society
- Hannah Tess McNeela
Green Team Ecology Club
- Olubukola Whitney Onimole
Investment Club
- Devin Feliciano
Italian National Honor Society
- Charlotte Josephine Consiglio
Latinos United
- Mariana Mayorga
Marist Youth
- Gwyneth Rose Gertonson
Math Team
- Ryan A. Deskovich
MHS Media Club
- Ava Krueger
Mock Trial
- Kyle R. Dunneback
Model UN
- Liam Martin
National Honor Society
- Laylani Alicia Amaro
Pickleball Club
- Kaitlyn Garcia
Power Lifting Club
- Aaron Marucco Aldrich
Science Club
- Ivy Lu Harris
Spanish National Honor Society
- Matthew Forbes
Speech and Acting Team
- Sarah Nwokeji
Stage Crew
- Tessa Lyn Schultz
Student Ambassadors
- Melissa Agustin
Student Council
- Nicholas Collias
Theatre Guild
- Grace Marie O’Malley
Ultimate Frisbee Club
- Kyle R. Dunneback
Yearbook
- Amy Marie Tenison
Block “M” Award Winners – Athletics
Baseball
- Charles Dunneback
Basketball – Boys
- Anthony Vassilakis
Basketball – Girls
- Olivia Maggie-Ann Cosme
Bass Fishing
- Connor O’Malley
Bowling – Boys
- Ronan Thomas Carmody
Bowling – Girls
- Sarah Kathleen Shefcik
Cheerleading
- Emilia Perez
Cross Country – Boys
- Matthew Forbes
Cross Country – Girls
- Ava Krueger
Flag Football – Girls
- Rylee Voss O’Connor
Football
- Eddie Scheel
Golf – Boys
- Thomas Hollowell
Golf – Girls
- Clare Alice Johnson
Hockey
- Gabriel E. Beltran
Lacrosse – Boys
- Finnbhar Kelly
Lacrosse – Girls
- Isabel Colón
Poms & Dance
- Madison Avery Sise
Rugby – Boys
- Thomas M. O’Brien
Rugby – Girls
- Sarah Elizabeth Parker
Soccer – Boys
- Joe Lieber
Soccer – Girls
- Addison Woodward
Softball
- Ellie Holmstrom
Swimming
- Lilliana Lara
Tennis – Boys
- Andrew Hollinger
Tennis – Girls
- Amy Marie Tenison
Track and Field – Boys
- Benjamin E. Klancnik
Track and Field – Girls
- Gianna Rose Bonafilia
Volleyball – Boys
- Nicholas Larson
Volleyball – Girls
- Savanah Weathers
Wrestling – Boys
- Thomas Fidler
Wrestling – Girls
- Sarah Elizabeth Parker
To the Class of 2026, always remember that you are: “students 4 years; brothers and sisters for life.”
