2014–2015

A Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service

A Year To Remember

A Message from Sara Hayes, Vice Principal and Academic Dean

Every year at Father Ryan our students are faced with a host of academic challenges,

both in class and extracurricular, and every year our students rise to those challenges, exceeding expectations and pushing the bar higher for future generations. The Class of 2015 was no exception, as they broke records, pursued passions, achieved countless successes, and fulfilled Father Ryan’s

mission of Faith, Knowledge and Service in their own unique way.

This year Father Ryan produced six National Merit honorees, one of the highest academic distinctions in the United States. Of those outstanding seniors, four of them were named Finalists and one was named a Scholar. As a class, 2015 proved to be an exceptional group, earning awards, medals and distinctions from the Model United Nations, the National Spanish and Latin exams, the National Forensic League and the Tennessee Governor’s School, to name a few. They earned scholarships for athleticism, journalism, for musical, rhetorical and artistic talents, and will be attending a host of prestigious universities, from Vanderbilt and Notre Dame to the Naval Academy and Purdue, and from Morehouse to Emory. Wherever they are headed, however, the Father Ryan family will always be proud to claim them as our own.

In its 90 years as a school, Father Ryan has seen thousands upon thousands of students pass through its halls, but every year the fresh faces bring fresh perspectives, unique talents and unprecedented achievements. The Class of 2015 was as diverse and accomplished as any of those that came previously, and through their efforts Father Ryan continues to set the national standard in Catholic education.

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Academic Achievers: The Class of 2015 Continuing in a long and celebrated Father Ryan

tradition, six seniors have been honored by the National Merit Scholarship program, four as Finalists and two as Commended Scholars. The Finalists are Father Ryan seniors Grace Quigley, Ryan Herrmann, Michael Canonico and Catherine Clements, the class Valedictorian. Ryan was also selected as a National Merit Scholar. Apart from ranking among the top scorers in the nation, these fine students can now count themselves among an impressive list of over 90 Father Ryan Alumni to be awarded the National Merit Scholarship Program’s

highest honor.

In addition to our Finalists, the senior class also produced two Commended Scholars: seniors Madie Bellante and Tori Correa, the class Salutatorian.

Sara Hayes, Vice Principal and Academic Dean at Father Ryan, had this to say about the achievement: “This year’s honorees continue a long legacy of National Merit success. The students here at Father Ryan receive an exceptional education from a committed and caring faculty. We offer a broad and diverse curriculum which allows our students to achieve consistently on the highest level in everything from our 25 AP courses to the National Merit program.”

In addition to these honors, Father Ryan’s academic achievements are showcased through the Cardinal Newman Society, the National Honor Society and the Cum Laude Society, groups that honor academic achievement and that include more than 150 Father Ryan students among their membership.

Each year Father Ryan recognizes those students who have achieved at the highest level of national tests by enrolling them in the Cardinal Newman Association. These students have scores on the ACT of 30 or higher or an SAT of 1320 or higher as of April 15, 2015.

Father Ryan’s 2015 National Merit Scholarship Finalists L-R: Grace Quigley, Ryan Herrmann, Catherine Clements and Michael Canonico.

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Tori Correa Madie Bellante

Andrew Artates

Jake Bacon

Alex Barnett

Madie Bellante

Abby Bontrager

Michael Bottei

Will Braeuner

William Burnett

Matthew Canonico

Michael Canonico

Clayton Chamness

Catherine Clements

Nolan Cole

Patrick Cole

Nikolas Coleman

Peter Connor

Tori Correa

Devin Crudele

Rebekah DeBuse

Eamonn Donnelly

Zaldy Edwards

Daria Foster

Morgan Fretwell

Lauren Frost

Michael Gilbert

Christian Grant

Ryan Herrmann

Jacob Honeck

Alec Hopkirk

Danielle Hunt

Sophia Koetters

Will Landers

Vince Mancuso

Louie Martin

Joey Masla

Katie McGuire

Henry McIntyre

Mark Newton

Cody Oliphant

Nick Pagano

Kristen Pitts

Maddie Polson

Grace Quigley

Riley Randolph

Jed Raynes

Taryn Richter

Juan José Rodriguez

Emily Rosata

Mark Roushdi

Michael Saavedra

Elisabeth Seethaler

Ryan Simmons

Connor Sloan

Travis Steinmetz

Christian Suray

Jerry Tarwater

Sam Wehby

Ben Weisel

Grace White

Jake Wille

Jake Wilson

Cameron Wright

Henry Wright

Victoria Correa SalutatorianScience and service. These have been the defining disciplines of Victoria

Correa’s high school career, and though she has excelled in every facet of her Father Ryan career—both academic and extracurricular—these are her true passions.

A native of New Orleans, Victoria and her family transplanted to Nashville in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and she attended St. Henry grade school before enrolling at Father Ryan. As one of the Irish she proved exceptional, even among such a talented 2015 class. Already a National Merit Commended Scholar, which places her among the top high school students

nationwide, Victoria was awarded on Academic Night the Colonna Club Award as well as induction into the Cardinal Newman Association. She has been just as involved during her Irish tenure as one might expect from a Salutatorian, displaying a range of interests as captain of the girls’ lacrosse team, Student Ambassador, and secretary for the Multi-Cultural Student Union.

Her most memorable service opportunity, however, has been her Senior Service, in which she volunteered as a teaching assistant at Harris Hillman School. Harris Hillman is a school for children with special needs, and Victoria, who helped the kids both to learn and play, found her time there the most rewarding of her high school career. The best part, she said, was getting to see the children “just be kids,” having fun and growing despite their challenges.

Father Ryan has proven fundamental in reinforcing Victoria’s sense of vocation inside the classroom as well, as it was in her Anatomy and Biology classes that she discovered a deep fascination with the nervous system and how the mind functions. Victoria plans to explore that fascination in her college studies this fall. She will attend Oxford College of Emory University in Georgia, where she will double major in Neuroscience and Spanish, disciplines which combine her personal interests with her proud Colombian heritage. Besides the variety of academic opportunities offered, Victoria says she picked the program because of its focus on leadership and service, skills she hopes to utilize one day as a doctor.

Victoria has always known her chosen path would involve the sciences, and with a lineage that boasts several generations of doctors and nurses on both sides of the family, one might say she is genetically predisposed to a medical career. It is a profession that seems tailor-made for Victoria, and though she is keeping her options open regarding her future specialization, no matter what she chooses, she is sure to be helping people for a long time to come.

Valedictorian And Salutatorian Lead Talented Class

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Catherine Clements ValedictorianA great education is like a well-tended garden—give it your time, your care,

your sweat, your love, and it will reward you ten-fold. And it is an apt metaphor for the 2015 Valedictorian, who, in addition to growing herself during her four years at Father Ryan, brought more growth to the campus with her creation of the Gardening Club. The harvest—of both her education and her produce—has been strong.

A St. Matthew parishioner and graduate, Catherine is no stranger to a great Catholic education, but at Father Ryan she has flourished. Her academic record boasts commendation as a National Merit Finalist, a weighted GPA of 4.8 and nine Advanced Placement courses covering the full range of subjects, from English Literature and U.S. History to Physics and Calculus. On Father Ryan’s Academic

Night, in addition to being honored as Valedictorian, Catherine also collected the Academic Medal for AP Psychology, as well as the distinction of Cardinal Newman Association scholar.

It is outside the classroom, however, where Catherine has cultivated her true passions. She is an avid hiker and an 11-year veteran of Camp Marymount’s summer program, where she has worked as a camp counselor the past two years. She also served her senior year as president of the Environmental Awareness Club, and says she looks forward all year long to the annual Creek Clean-up led on-campus by Father Ryan teacher Mr. Durand.

As an environmentalist, Catherine has a true passion for all things green. Her junior year Catherine started the Gardening Club at Father Ryan, which manages its own year-round plot on campus and comprises more than twenty active members. They grow a little bit of everything, from oats and peas to tomatoes, squash and even pumpkins. For Catherine the club was a labor of love, and though she will soon have to leave it behind, her hope is that one day the club will be able to produce a large enough crop that they can begin donating to local homeless shelters.

Catherine has undoubtedly made Father Ryan a greener, more eco-friendly place during her time here, but her environmental aspirations are set to outgrow the Irish grounds. This fall she will be attending Purdue University, where she plans to major in environmental engineering, and if her track record is any indication, Catherine is soon to be pushing the boundaries of the science and breaking ground on the technologies that will power and sustain our planet’s future.

After all, you reap what you sow.

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A t Father ryan we have always taken a special pride in our perForming arts, and oFFer the second highest number oF Fine arts electives in the mid-state. look no Further than the irish marching band, one oF the best and most celebrated groups in the country,

and you will see just how exceptional all our Fine arts programs are, and how talented and dedicated the Father ryan students are who participate in them.

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Caitlyn Woodside is another Father Ryan artist who

has been honored nationally. The senior team captain

of the Father Ryan Dancers, she was selected by the

Universal Dance Association as an All-American and

invited to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day

Parade in New York City. When she is not dancing,

Caitlyn volunteers at Nashville General Hospital with the

“Friends in General” program. At Academic Night she

was recognized with the Honor Roll Award, given only to students who achieve the academic Honor Roll every

quarter of their Father Ryan tenure, and Caitlyn will soon be attending the University of Tennessee, enrolling in the

school’s pre-med program.

Caroline Kudelko, also known by her stage name of Caroline Kole, has taken her musical

talents beyond the Irish campus and into the bright lights of Country Music. After signing

with Starstruck Records, Caroline went on a two-year

international tour with her music idol, Reba McEntire,

opening for the Country Music star around the world. In

2013 she released her first self-titled studio album, and her

first single, “Money to Me,” was featured nationwide on

Sirius XM, where Caroline was named a “Highway Find”

artist. Caroline is excited to take her solo act to the next level after graduation,

and we know it will not be long before her singles are filling the radio airwaves

and drawing audiences to the Opry and beyond.

Cultivating this kind of talent is not easy—you might think these four would have a tough time keeping up

with their academics. However, Maddie, William, Caitlyn and Caroline are exemplary students, as well. All four

are members of Father Ryan’s chapter of the National Honor Society, and manage a host of other academic and

extracurricular pursuits outside of the performing arts. Even Father Ryan’s country star-to-be, Caroline, manages to

balance all the rigors of a Father Ryan education with her budding music career, and she manages it with style. These

performers are just as comfortable in the classroom as they are in front of a crowd, and that confidence is sure to

translate well for them as they move on from Father Ryan to lives full of high flying and high notes.

As impressive as the programs are, however, there is still room to celebrate a few individual

performers. Take Maddie Sampson, a member of both the choral and musical theatre programs

at Father Ryan, and one of our most decorated singers in years. In the fall Maddie was selected as

a member of both the Mid-State Soprano-Soprano Alto-Alto (SSAA) and All-State mixed (SATB)

choruses, the highest choral honor in the state of Tennessee. She was

also selected by the National Association for Music Education as a

member of the 2013 All-National Honor Choir Ensemble. Maddie

is the first Father Ryan student to be selected for this performance,

and one of only ten that year from Tennessee. Her musical theatre career at Father Ryan

has been just as impressive, as she has starred in several Father Ryan productions, and

was recently awarded the Musical Theatre Academic Medal for her contributions to

the program, as well as the Bertie Strobel Choral Award at Academic Night. She will be

attending Birmingham-Southern College upon graduation, and has received the Vicki

Wonders Foltz Memorial Scholarship from the Metro Nashville Chorus.

William Burnett is another student who has made the Irish proud

through his primetime performances. A member of Father Ryan’s award-winning Drumline,

William was selected along with one other Father Ryan student, Connor Moran, to assist the

Great American Marching Band with a “surprise element” at the opening of the 2013 Macy’s

Thanksgiving Day Parade. That followed the 2012 Macy’s trip where Burnett, Moran and the rest

of the Father Ryan band hit Herald Square with a show

that featured post-apocalyptic costumes, band members

jumping over one another and a few seconds of free-form

break dancing, followed by a trip to Far Rockaway to

perform for the citizens of the town so hard hit by Superstorm Sandy. An

inductee into Father Ryan’s Cardinal Newman Association and recipient

of the Michael Mayer Award at Academic Night, William will attend the

University of Tennessee, Knoxville this fall.

Caitlyn Woodside

William Burnett

Maddie Sampson

Caroline Kudelko

On Stage Or In Class, Senior Stars Shine Bright

Michael CanonicoMichael is what some might call a “Renaissance man.” An academic standout, he has nine AP credits to his name and has been inducted into the Latin Honor Society, Father Black Honor Society and National

Honor Society. Michael still finds time for a wealth of extracurriculars, however, even under the constraints of such an incredible workload. He has served as a leader in CYO Youth Leadership Workshop, a Student Ambassador, and a member of Student Council. He is also involved in track, the Blair School of Music Concert Piano, cross-country, and the Latin Club. But it is not all about him—Michael volunteers at the Hands on Nashville Youth Volunteer Corps, the Room in the Inn program, Hillcrest Methodist Church, and the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Michael will attend the University of Notre Dame this fall.

Grace WhiteThe United States is a country founded on many high principles, first among them the freedom of speech, and Father Ryan senior Grace White has proven herself one of the Constitution’s most persuasive

young advocates. In February, Grace won a $2,000 scholarship from the Sertoma Club of Nashville’s Freedom Essay Scholarship program, which promotes critical thinking in Nashville’s youth about the various legal, moral and philosophical issues that affect the freedoms that are enjoyed in America. Grace was one of four winners out of dozens of applicants across Middle Tennessee. She will take her constitutional interests to the University of Georgia this fall.

Juan José RodriguezIf the pen is indeed mightier than the sword, then Juan José Rodriguez should be one to watch. He reports on Irish athletics for Behind the Crest, Father Ryan’s student-led sports broadcasting club, of which

Juan José is a founding member. He has worked across the sporting spectrum, covering everything from game recaps to character pieces on Irish athletes, and through his articles, Juan José displays a natural journalistic talent far beyond his years—so far beyond, in fact, that he has received a sports journalism scholarship from Vanderbilt University. Juan José’s talents extend beyond the keyboard, however; he is a member of the National Honor Society, the president of the Spanish Club, and a leader of the Multi-Cultural Student Union. This fall he will be taking his many talents to the University of Notre Dame.

Cameron TownsDedication. Skill. Passion. These are the attributes required of a three-sport high school athlete, and Cameron Towns has them. In fact, he has had them his entire high school career, competing in football, basketball and baseball

all four years at Father Ryan. It takes a special kind of student to manage such athletic rigors and still keep up with his school work, but Cameron “letters” in that as well, as an inducted member of the National Honor Society. Cameron will be furthering both his education and his athletic career this fall at Butler University, where he has signed to play football.

Khadija KirmaniExpanding horizons—that seems to be the vision of Khadija Kirmani. In her four years at Father Ryan, she has run the extracurricular gambit, from the Irish Service Corps to the International Cuisine Club, from serving as a Father

Ryan Student Ambassador to volunteering with the Special Olympics and competing with the bowling team in the State Tournament. Academically, Khadija is a member of the National Honor Society, the Father Black Honor Society and the Spanish Club. To paraphrase Walt Whitman, she contains multitudes, and it is a reference Khadija would likely appreciate, as she also assists with the Gadfly, Father Ryan’s creative writing and arts publication. This fall Khadija will be pursuing her many interests at Lipscomb University.

Ryan HerrmannAs an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America, Ryan has come to exemplify each and every one of the values and ideals set forth by the Boy Scouts—academic excellence, self-confidence, ethics, leadership,

citizenship—and these attributes have served him well throughout his Father Ryan career. A National Merit Scholar, Ryan is a stand-out even among the Class of 2015’s Top Ten. Back-to-back perfect scores on the Math section of the SAT and an AP Calculus BC Academic Medal stand as testament to his academic prowess, while a Silver Medal on the National Latin I Exam, induction to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and state commendation as part of the Speech and Debate Team showcase his skills and interests outside the classroom. Just to earn the distinction of Eagle Scout speaks to the kind of character Ryan Herrmann has, but his résumé boasts much more than a few dozen merit badges. The accolades are not likely to stop when Ryan matriculates to Worcester Polytechnic Institute this fall.

Ben WeiselWe’ve all heard it before… “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” Well whichever it is, Ben Weisel is probably going to get there before anyone else. Like so many Father Ryan standouts, Ben is the personification of a scholar-

athlete, balancing the rigors of athletic and academic performance with seeming ease. On Academic Night he took home not one but two Academic Medals in AP Statistics and AP Microeconomics, and as an Irish track star has earned and received athletic scholarship offers to Belmont University, Butler University, Mount Saint Mary’s University and Saint Louis University. In the end Ben chose Belmont as his collegiate destination, and he will begin his journey there this fall, likely at a dead sprint.

Arielle MbulupeyaSocial Justice—it is often a buzz word in the tumultuous socio-economic climate that is today’s America, but at Father Ryan students turn the words into practice every day. Arielle Mbulupeya is one such practitioner.

A member of Father Ryan’s Social Justice Club, Arielle has spent time as a volunteer at both the Safe Haven Family Shelter and the downtown Nashville Room in the Inn, where she serves as a waitress to the homeless men and women who look to Room in the Inn’s charity just to survive. Any waitress would tell you that it is a hard enough job when you are paid for it, but in the true spirit of Faith, Knowledge and Service, Arielle committed her time and energy to serving the most humble in our society, dispensing a compassionate kind of justice one tray, and one smile, at a time. Arielle will be attending Auburn University in the fall.

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F rom the lab to the Fields, From the studio to the library to the campus garden, our academic achievers can be Found everywhere you look. their interests are many and varied, but one thread still connects them — a commitment to Faith,

knowledge and service.

Celebrating Talents Across The Campus

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Exciting and opportune. The real-world experience has proven invaluable, earning the students commendations and scholarships. Juan José recently won the Fred Russell-Grantland Rice scholarship for sports writing at Vanderbilt. Donnelly, a member of the golf team, earned a PGA Management Trustee Scholarship at Coastal Carolina University, and Mark has accepted the Presidential Scholarship to attend the University of Alabama. They say, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” and these three young men are proving the maxim true by taking their interests and turning them into career-making opportunities.

In the past two years, a group of students, led by three members of the Class of 2015, have turned a love for sports, journalism and photography into a new broadcast system at the school, and in the process, they have

channeled those interests into career pursuits.

Behind the Crest was founded in the fall of 2013 by a trio of teacher-coaches and six journalistically minded students, led by seniors Donnelly Wolf, Juan José Rodriguez and Mark Newton. The club’s purpose was simple—highlight the accomplishments of Father Ryan’s student-athletes, and provide students the opportunity to learn more and participate in the fields of sports broadcasting, journalism, photography and video editing.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the work has been the response from the Father Ryan community. Through Behind the Crest’s efforts, Irish fans and alumni have been able to keep up with the school’s athletic achievements like never before. They have brought Father Ryan sports and fandom into the 21st Century, and made it that much more exciting to be Irish.

O n e o F t h e b e a u t i e s o F t h e Fat h e r rya n e x p e r i e n c e i s t h e o p p o rt u n i t y F o r Fat h e r rya n s t u d e n t s t o c r e at e n e w v e n t u r e s, e x p l o r e n e w i n t e r e s t s a n d l a u n c h n e w a c t i v i t i e s o n t h e c a m p u s. wh e n t h e s c h o o l b e g a n 90 y e a r s a g o,

t h e n u m b e r o F a c t i v i t i e s c o u l d b e c o u n t e d o n o n e h a n d.. .n o w i t ta k e s a c l a s s r o o m F u l l o F h a n d s t o c o u n t a l l t h e p r o g r a m s a Fat h e r rya n s t u d e n t c a n e x p l o r e. he r e a r e a F e w h i g h l i g h t s F r o m t h i s y e a r.

Learning—In and Out of the Classroom

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The heritage of service to our nation is a hallmark of Father Ryan and a point of pride today. We revel in the annual presentation of diplomas to our Hero Project veterans, those World War II soldiers who left school to serve and never were able to complete their educations at Father Ryan. We thank our veterans at every Veterans Day Breakfast. And we take pride in those young men and women who have been selected by one of the military academies to continue their education.

This year, Cody Oliphant became Father Ryan’s 28th military academy appointment since 2000, a remarkable record of achievement. U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper joined Cody, his family, his teachers and classmates at his signing, which fulfilled a long-time dream to enroll at the United States Naval Academy in the fall.

Earning an appointment is an indication of academic

strength, as the academies offer what is considered some of the most rigorous academic environments in higher education. Cody’s record reflects that. He has been an exceptional all-around student. Among his many accomplishments, he has won the AP Latin Academic Medal, was inducted into the Cardinal Newman Association and had a perfect score on the Reading section of the ACT. He combined that work with a commitment to service, reflected in his

induction into the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and a dedication to sports, serving as a senior leader on the Irish swimming team.

Service, whether in our community or across our nation, is woven into the fabric of Father Ryan, and we are proud and grateful to Cody for his commitment to our country.

National Standing for ForensicsSpeaking out, in class or in an event, is a valuable skill,

and the members of the Speech and Debate squad practice it often. Their work earned the school and the group Charter Membership in the National Forensic League, recognizing the program as among the best in the nation. The performance of the team this year reflected this standing. A trip to Carson-Newman in late February produced several top rankings for the Irish speakers, and senior Rebekah DeBuse was awarded the the title of “Superior Speaker” in Tennessee for her work in Congressional Debate.

Speaking in Many VoicesBoth the Latin exam and the Spanish exam brought out

the best of the Irish linguists. A record 46 students received commendations for their performance on the Latin exam, with four students earning gold medals and another 10 earning silver medals. The Spanish exam proved just as successful with a number of students placing, including one with a 6th place performance.

Learning as We Travel

The opportunity to learn happens year-round at Father Ryan, and our recent Spring Break was evidence of that. Faculty members led trips to Italy and China to show students both the countries they are studying and the languages they are learning. Trips to Spain and France continue to provide our students with the opportunities to take their classroom experiences into a whole new world.

Whether it is math and science with Mu Alpha Theta and Science Olympiad or travel abroad or a new pursuit in our own backyard, our students are finding the space to pursue their interests like never before.

Irish Continue a Legacy of Military Service, Academic Recognition

Love of Sports Creates College Opportunities

Service Calls AllAt home and abroad Father Ryan students are

having an impact on this community. From the Alternative Spring Break in South Carolina where students helped the monks at Mepkin Abbey; to the May trip to Guatemala to build shelter, offer education for children and even economic development for the village; to dedicated service to the young boys and girls at Harris-Hillman here in Nashville, the spirit of service is embedded in the Father Ryan education.

Each year, we salute those seniors—and occasionally a dedicated junior—whose commitment to service has been a part of their entire lives at Father Ryan by inducting them into the St. Vincent de Paul Society. This year’s members averaged more than 200 hours of direct service to the poor and marginalized, a remarkable commitment. This honor is special, a reflection of the work of these young men and women and a salute to the difference they continue to make.

Here are the inductees this year.

Seniors Answer Call to PriesthoodFather Ryan’s commitment to Faith, Knowledge and Service is known

by all who pass through its doors, whether as students, parents, teachers or alumni. They are the tenets around which Father Ryan builds its entire educational model.

Throughout its 90-year history, Father Ryan has graduated students who have pursued their faith through a vocation to the priesthood, often in large numbers. The Class of 1942 had eight members become priests, including long-serving priests and teachers here with familiar names

such as Fr. Bevington, Msgr. Thoni, and Fr. Hostettler. Several recent grads, including Luke Wilgenbusch ’11 and Rhodes Bolster ’11, are in the seminary now. It is a strong part of the school’s legacy.

That is why we are particularly proud that two more Father Ryan students are entering seminary studies. Jackson Du Bois and Quinn Robinson serve as welcome reminders that the faith tradition at Father Ryan is still a robust and integral aspect of the Irish experience.

Both seniors had several options for continuing their education at the collegiate level, but when it came time to choose their life’s course, they both chose Pontifical College Josephinum, where they will enroll as seminarians in the fall. The call to priesthood is a difficult path, but these two young men have answered that call, and they are set to follow in the footsteps of a host of faithful Father Ryan alumni who have gone before them, including the Diocese of Nashville’s current Bishop, the Most Reverend David R. Choby ’65. After all, Father Ryan strives to set the standard in Catholic education, and that means not only tending the flock, but training the shepherds.

Graduates Continue Catholic Education

Father Ryan’s emphasis on Faith, Knowledge and Service parallels the qualities that Catholic colleges and universities are looking for in their students. This year’s seniors have been accepted to and many are attending the following Catholic colleges:

Ave Maria UniversityBellarmine UniversityBelmont Abbey CollegeCatholic University of AmericaChristian Brothers UniversityDePaul UniversityFordham UniversityFranciscan University of SteubenvilleHoly Cross CollegeJohn Carroll UniversityLoyola Marymount UniversityLoyola University ChicagoLoyola University New OrleansMarquette UniversityMount St. Mary’s UniversityPontifical College JosephinumSaint Anselm CollegeSaint Leo UniversitySaint Louis UniversitySaint Mary’s CollegeSaint Xavier UniversitySpring Hill CollegeThomas More CollegeUniversity of DallasUniversity of DaytonUniversity of Notre DameUniversity of San DiegoVillanova UniversityXavier University

St. Vincent de Paul SocietyMadie Bellante

Maddy Brocato

Brittany Butler

Deming Callahan

Mary Clarke Carter

Bailey Dahl

Rebekah DeBuse

Ally Fuchs

Ryan Herrmann

Ashley Lang

Lexie Nangle

Cody Oliphant

Grace Quigley

Mary Caitlin Spining

Gina Schmid*

Cecilia Von Mann

Grace White

Donnelly Wolf

Relay for Life Leads National Effort

Father Ryan’s commitment to setting the national standard in Catholic education was once again on display during the annual Relay For Life event last fall.

On Saturday, October 4, 2014, from noon until midnight Father Ryan families and students saluted cancer survivors and raised funds for the American Cancer Society. Cancer survivors from our community led the way around the track, and booths were set up for participants to relax and enjoy refreshments in-between laps. The event was capped with the traditional “Hope” luminaria ceremony.

This has been the nation’s largest student-led Relay for Life in the nation each of the last four years. Relay for Life celebrated this year with a theme of “Hope Has No

Borders,” and 800 participants raised $65,000 for the American Cancer Society. It was another example of the Irish commitment to service

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Faith and Service, The Irish Way

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Jackson Du Bois Quinn Robinson

* indicates student is a junior.

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87.9%Perfect Score30/1320$24 MillionFour sets of measurements that provide a snapshot into the academic strength at Father Ryan. Measurements of the commitment of the students and the dedication of the faculty and staff, continuing our academic tradition.

AP Success at a New Level87.9%. It is a big—and record—number for

Father Ryan. It represents the percentage of Father Ryan students that earned qualifying scores of 3 or higher on their Advanced Placement tests in the past year. The percentage and the number of tests taken—380—are the highest ever for the school. The 87.9% total continues a steadily improving trend for our students, with the total making the seventh straight year of both increased AP tests and increased qualifying score percentages.

Father Ryan now offers 25 AP courses across a wide spectrum of subjects, and many of those classes and their teachers are producing exceptional performances year after year. Bill Brunner ’77 (AP Micro and Macro), Justin Murphy ’06 (AP Statistics)

Doug Bontrager ’81 (AP Calculus) and Mike Mascari ’96 (AP Physics) are just a few of the faculty who are seeing AP results at a high level every year.

Perfect Scores and Big NumbersHigh scores on the ACT and the SAT are markers

of academic strength. So imagine what a perfect score on any of those tests indicates.

In the past year, 24 of our students produced perfect scores on one or more of the sections of these two national exams, and four students scored the highest marks on more than one of the tests: Michael Canonico on the ACT Reading and English; Nick Pagano on ACT Reading and Science and the SAT Math 2; Peter Connor in the ACT Reading, Math and Science

Academic Achievements…By the Numbers

sections; and Grace Quigley in the ACT Reading, English and Science. In addition, Ryan Herrmann hit perfection twice—on the SAT Math. The other 19 perfect scores were registered by: Jake Bacon, Alex Barnett, Will Braeuner, Matthew Canonico, Catherine Clements, Patrick Cole, Tori Correa, Eamonn Donnelly, Zaldy Edwards, Daria Foster, Lauren Frost, Alec Hopkirk, Sophia Koetters, Cody Oliphant, Juan José Rodriguez, Travis Steinmetz, Sam Wehby and Grace White.

Combine this with the 63 students who scored a 30 or above on the ACT or a combined 1320 or above on the Verbal and Math sections of the SAT—levels that place these students among the top 5% in the nation and earned them membership in the Cardinal Newman Society—and you can see the strong caliber of Father Ryan’s academic achievement.

On to CollegeThe academic accomplishments—in and out of

the classroom—for the Class of 2015 earned them both the attention and the support of colleges and universities across the country. This class has received scholarship offers in excess of $24 million and will be showcasing the school’s tradition of Faith, Knowledge and Service on campuses from east to west, north to south.

Congratulations to each of them!

Academic Year

Number of

Exams

Earning Qualified Status or

Better2009-2010 265 80%

2010-2011 286 83%

2011-2012 356 83%

2012-2013 370 83%

2013-2014 380 87.9%

Class Rank

Deciles

2014 Average

ACT

1st Decile 32

2nd Decile 30

3rd-4th Decile 27

5th-6th Decile 25

7th-8th Decile 22

9th-10th Decile 21

Juan José RodriguezCatherine Clements Valedictorian

Tori CorreaSalutatorian

Madie BellanteStudent Council President

Michael Canonico

Our students are soon to be performing on stages. Making life-saving medical discoveries. Defending our freedom in service to our country. The possibilities are countless for what graduates of the Class of 2015 will become.

Wherever they go, whatever their path, they will be known and loved.

The Class of 2015 are attending 77 colleges and universities across the country and were accepted to 186, including 29 Catholic institutions, with more than $24 million in scholarships already awarded.

Appalachian State UniversityAquinas CollegeArizona State UniversityAuburn UniversityAustin CollegeAustin Peay State UniversityAve Maria UniversityBaldwin Wallace UniversityBaylor UniversityBellarmine UniversityBelmont Abbey CollegeBelmont UniversityBerry CollegeBethel University-TNBirmingham-Southern CollegeBoston CollegeBoston UniversityBradley UniversityButler UniversityCampbell UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarson-Newman UniversityCase Western Reserve UniversityCentre CollegeChapman UniversityChattanooga State Technical

Community CollegeChristian Brothers UniversityClemson UniversityCoastal Carolina UniversityCollege of CharlestonColorado School of MinesColumbia College ChicagoColumbia State Community CollegeCoppin State UniversityCumberland UniversityDenison UniversityDePaul UniversityEast Tennessee State UniversityEastern Kentucky UniversityEmmanuel College

Emory UniversityEmory University–Oxford CollegeFisk UniversityFlagler CollegeFlorida Atlantic UniversityFlorida Southern CollegeFlorida State UniversityFordham University–Lincoln Center

Campus/Rose Hill CampusFranciscan University of SteubenvilleFurman UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyHanover CollegeHigh Point UniversityHinds Community CollegeHiwassee CollegeHofstra UniversityHoly Cross CollegeIndiana University at BloomingtonIndiana University–Purdue University

IndianapolisJohn Carroll UniversityJohnson & Wales University

(Charlotte)Johnson & Wales University

(North Miami)Jones County Junior CollegeKenyon CollegeLee UniversityLewis & Clark CollegeLindenwood UniversityLindsey Wilson CollegeLinfield CollegeLipscomb UniversityLouisiana State UniversityLoyola Marymount UniversityLoyola University ChicagoLoyola University New OrleansMarquette UniversityMarshall UniversityMiami University, Oxford

Middle Tennessee State UniversityMississippi CollegeMississippi Gulf Coast Community

CollegeMississippi State UniversityMorehouse CollegeMotlow State Community CollegeMount Saint Mary’s UniversityMount St. Joseph UniversityMurray State UniversityNashville State Community CollegeNorth Carolina State UniversityNortheastern UniversityNorthern Kentucky UniversityNorthwestern UniversityOglethorpe UniversityOld Dominion UniversityPennsylvania State University,

University ParkPontifical College JosephinumPurdue UniversityRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRose-Hulman Institute of TechnologySaint Anselm CollegeSaint Leo UniversitySaint Louis UniversitySaint Mary’s CollegeSaint Xavier UniversitySalem CollegeSamford UniversitySanta Clara UniversitySewanee: The University of the SouthSouthern Illinois University, CarbondaleSouthern Methodist UniversitySpring Hill CollegeSt. Norbert CollegeStetson UniversityStony Brook UniversitySyracuse UniversityTennessee State UniversityTennessee Technological University

The Blackbird AcademyThe Catholic University of AmericaThe College of WoosterThe Ohio State UniversityThe University of AlabamaThe University of Alabama at

BirminghamThe University of Alabama in HuntsvilleThe University of GeorgiaThe University of IowaThe University of MemphisThe University of North Carolina at

Chapel HillThe University of Texas, AustinThomas More CollegeTransylvania UniversityTrevecca Nazarene UniversityTri-County Technical CollegeTulane UniversityTusculum CollegeTuskegee UniversityUnion UniversityUnited States Naval AcademyUniversity of ArkansasUniversity of California, DavisUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraUniversity of California, Santa CruzUniversity of ChicagoUniversity of CincinnatiUniversity of Colorado at BoulderUniversity of DallasUniversity of DaytonUniversity of DenverUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoUniversity of KansasUniversity of KentuckyUniversity of LouisvilleUniversity of MiamiUniversity of Minnesota, Twin CitiesUniversity of Mississippi

University of Missouri ColumbiaUniversity of Nevada, Las VegasUniversity of North Carolina at

AshevilleUniversity of North Georgia–Oconee

CampusUniversity of Notre DameUniversity of PittsburghUniversity of Puget SoundUniversity of RochesterUniversity of San DiegoUniversity of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina (Honors)University of Tennessee, ChattanoogaUniversity of Tennessee, KnoxvilleUniversity of Tennessee, MartinUniversity of VirginiaUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin, WhitewaterVanderbilt UniversityVillanova UniversityVirginia TechVolunteer State Community CollegeWake Forest UniversityWashington University in St. LouisWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Kentucky UniversityWilmington CollegeWittenberg UniversityWofford CollegeWorcester Polytechnic InstituteXavier University

Whose lives are going to make other people’s lives better? The Class of 2015.

700 Norwood Drive • Nashville, TN 37204 • 615-383-4200 • www.fatherryan.org

*Schools attending in bold. ©20

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