• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
The Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Catholic Schools Class of 2018 Distinctive Scholars give thumbs up during a group photo prior to the April 10 convocation at The Catholic High School of Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

60 scholars honored at archdiocesan convocation

April 11, 2018
By Emily Rosenthal Alster
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools

 

Bishop Adam J. Parker confers Distinctive Scholar Medal upon Cristo Rey Jesuit High School senior, Richard Ortega-Ramirez, during the April 10 convocation at The Catholic High School of Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Top-performing seniors from each Catholic high school within the Archdiocese of Baltimore were honored for academic achievement at the 26th annual Distinctive Scholars Convocation April 10.

The 60 students were invited to The Catholic High School in Baltimore to participate in a vespers service and the presentation of certificates and medals.

“Unique, individual, exclusive, special. These are the words in the dictionary that are used to define the word ‘distinctive,’ and these are the words we use to celebrate you and your achievements tonight,” said James B. Sellinger, chancellor of education for the archdiocese. “Among us tonight are future leaders who one day will seize the opportunity to touch lives.”

Three students from each of the 19 Catholic high schools were selected to receive the distinction. An additional three students in Catholic schools, who would have graduated from The Seton Keough High School in Baltimore, which closed at the end of the 2016-17 year, were selected for special recognition.

Camille Lewis Brown, left, associate superintendent for school leadership and community programs for Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools, congratulates St. Maria Goretti High School senior Aroub Yousuf following the April 10 Distinctive Scholars Convocation at The Catholic High School of Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“God has given you different gifts, but he’s given all of us the gift of the Holy Spirit … to know his will, to discern his will, and to do it always,” Auxiliary Bishop Adam J. Parker said in his reflection. “My friends, if you remember nothing else from this evening, please remember that you have been given this gift, and you’re called to use the gift to be his disciples, and to go and make disciples.”

To view more photos, visit our Smugmug gallery here.

The 2017-18 Distinctive Scholars:

Archbishop Curley High School, Baltimore: Robert Commodari, Michael Klos, Robert Wolle

Archbishop Spalding High School, Severn: Kent Hardart, Wyatt Smith, Celestina Tolosa

Bishop Walsh School, Cumberland: Michael Falter, Jiayu “Jenny” Jin, Edin Li

Calvert Hall College High School, Baltimore: L. Dominic Escobal, Brendan Lee, Spencer Peltz

The Catholic High School of Baltimore: Saoirse Bodnar, Elizabeth Vonderhorst, Johanna Vonderhorst

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Baltimore: Cecy Granados, Richard Ortega-Ramirez, Ariana Tovar

St. Frances Academy, Baltimore: Nia Clouden, Taneara Moore, Davon Williams

Institute of Notre Dame, Baltimore: Ryann Cooper*, Chika Nwakama, Emma Page, Margaret Whitescarver

The John Carroll School, Bel Air: Amelia Bothwell, Ashlee Kothenbeutel, Alyssa Kraus

St. John’s Catholic Prep, Buckeystown: Annette Bernier, Curtis Nishimoto, Thomas Nishimoto

Loyola Blakefield, Towson: Jon Pejo, Gregory Peterson, Jacob Shomali

St. Maria Goretti High School, Hagerstown: Emma Behta, Julianna Swarner, Aroub Yousuf

St. Mary’s High School, Annapolis: Anna Grim, James Hayburn, Alexis Kruger

Maryvale Preparatory School, Lutherville: Erin Coyne, Waverly Diggs*, Isabella Mawry, Elisa Rodriguez

Mercy High School, Baltimore: Jordan Garner, Morgan Pettebone, Amanda Pugh

Mount de Sales Academy, Catonsville: Rebekah Balick, Erin Kosloski, Julia Middleton*, Monica Wallace

Mount St. Joseph High School, Baltimore: Andrew Chafos, Mark Oliver, Craig Rodgers

Notre Dame Preparatory School, Towson: Christa Campbell, Cecile McGarvey, Kathleen Miller

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Essex: Colin Bonner, M. Timothy Le, Michael Lyons

*Special Recognition Scholar from The Seton Keough High School

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Emily Rosenthal Alster

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Loyola University Maryland receives $10 million gift

  • Christopher Demmon memorial New Emmitsburg school chapel honors son who overcame cancer

  • Pope Leo XIV A steady light: Pope Leo XIV’s top five moments of 2025

  • Archbishop Curley’s 1975 soccer squad defied the odds – and Cold War barriers 

  • Papal commission votes against ordaining women deacons

| Latest Local News |

Saved by an angel? Baltimore Catholics recall life‑changing moments

No, Grandma is not an angel

Christopher Demmon memorial

New Emmitsburg school chapel honors son who overcame cancer

Loyola University Maryland receives $10 million gift

Archbishop Curley’s 1975 soccer squad defied the odds – and Cold War barriers 

| Latest World News |

National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak places her hand on Indigenous and cultural artifacts

Indigenous artifacts from Vatican welcomed home to Canada in Montreal ceremony

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan delivers his homily

NY archdiocese to negotiate settlements in abuse claims, will raise $300 million to fund them

Worshippers attend an evening Mass

From Nigeria to Belarus, 2025 marks a grim year for religious freedom

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy greets Pope Leo

Dialogue, diplomacy can lead to just, lasting peace in Ukraine, pope says

Palestinians attending a Christmas tree lighting in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

Bethlehem celebrates first Christmas tree lighting since war as pilgrims slowly return

| Catholic Review Radio |

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Saved by an angel? Baltimore Catholics recall life‑changing moments
  • No, Grandma is not an angel
  • Indigenous artifacts from Vatican welcomed home to Canada in Montreal ceremony
  • Vatican yearbook goes online
  • NY archdiocese to negotiate settlements in abuse claims, will raise $300 million to fund them
  • Question Corner: When can Catholics sing the Advent hymn ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel?’
  • Rome and the Church in the U.S.
  • Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon
  • New Emmitsburg school chapel honors son who overcame cancer

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED