DETROIT — As the 2022 academic year draws to a close, Detroit Catholic is proud to congratulate and honor this year's graduates from the 23 Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit. We pray these students will honor God with their collegiate and life pursuits, and we send them off with our best wishes for success and achievement.
In a special way, we also congratulate those students who stand out among their peers and valedictorians and salutatorians for the 2022 academic year. For their achievements both inside and outside the classroom, these students are honored by their respective schools and represent the brightest young minds our Catholic schools have to offer.
Please join us in honoring this year's top students.
Different schools have different criteria for selecting valedictorians and salutatorians. Some schools select multiple valedictorians and salutatorians, while others limit selections to the top two candidates. Detroit Catholic’s list is based on individual schools’ criteria.
Academy of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills
Valedictorian: Charlotte Carozza
Parents: Mary Elizabeth Carozza and Regis Carozza
Parish: St. Thomas More, Troy
College & Major: University of Michigan (physics)
Valedictorian: Isabelle Burg
Parents: Carol and James Burg
Parish: St. Andrew, Rochester
College & Major: Vanderbilt University (biomedical engineering)
Salutatorian: Chloe Antakli
Parents: Denise Antakli and J. John Antakli
Parish: St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College & Major: University of Michigan (economics)
Salutatorian: Marisa Nafso
Parents: Yvette Tabangay-Nafso and Amir Nafso
Parish: St. Owen, Bloomfield Hills
College & Major: Washington University St. Louis (pre-medicine)
Austin Catholic High School, Chesterfield Township
Valedictorian: Alexis N. Jarvis
Parents: Michael and Analia Jarvis
Parish: SS. John and Paul, Washington Township
College & Major: Rochester Institute of Technology (industrial design)
Salutatorian: Lukas P. Bruni
Parents: Mark and Paul Bruni
Parish: St. Lawrence, Utica
College & Major: Michigan State University (neuroscience)
Bishop Foley High School, Madison Heights
Valedictorian: Claire Kaptur
Parents: Kevin and Michelle Kaptur
Parish: St. Joan of Arc, St. Clair Shores
College & Major: Purdue University (chemical engineering)
Salutatorian: Brendan McGlinchey
Parents: Kevin and Mary McGlinchey
Parish: St. Mary, Royal Oak
College & Major: University of Michigan (biomedical engineering)
Brother Rice High School, Bloomfield Hills
Valedictorian: Romas Mitrius
Parents: Aleks and Ilona Mitrius
Parish: Divine Providence Lithuanian Catholic Church, Southfield
College & Major: University of Notre Dame (biology)
Valedictorian: Christian Stipho
Parents: Thair and Nadia Stipho
Parish: St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church, West Bloomfield
College & Major: University of Michigan (pre-med, neurosurgical)
Salutatorian: Matthew Baer
Parents: Robert and Sung Baer
Parish: St. Owen, Bloomfield Hills
College & Major: University of Michigan (Ross School of Business)
Cabrini High School, Allen Park
Valedictorian: Joseph Coleman
Parents: Stephanie Coleman and Ray Coleman
Parish: St. Joseph, Dexter
College & Major: University of Michigan (ecology, evolution, biodiversity)
Salutatorian: Samantha Graf
Parents: Christine Graf and Michael Graf
Parish: St. Thomas Aquinas
College & Major: University of Michigan (history, music and history of law)
Cardinal Mooney High School, Marine City
Valedictorian: Dresden Scott
Parents: Jeff and Anna Scott
Parish: Our Lady on the River, Marine City (St. Catherine)
College & Major: University of Detroit Mercy (architecture)
Salutatorian: Elizabeth Cantley-Wilhelm
Parents: Stephen Wilhelm and the late Sandra Cantley-Wilhelm
Parish: St. Mary, Port Huron
College & Major: Michigan Technological University (computer science)
Cristo Rey High School, Detroit
Valedictorian: Yaritza Ramirez
Parents: Saira Ramirez and Jose Rodriguez
Parish: Most Holy Redeemer, Detroit
College & Major: University of Michigan (engineering)
Salutatorian: Zoe Leaks
Parents: Ricardia Berry-Leaks and Raymond Leaks
College & Major: Michigan State University (nursing)
Salutatorian: Eric Perez
Parents: Maria Pelcastre and Gustavo Perez
Parish: Most Holy Redeemer, Detroit
College & Major: University of Detroit Mercy (computer hardware engineering)
De La Salle Collegiate High School, Warren
Valedictorian: Dominic Ragona
Parents: Paul Raymo and Renee Ragona
Parish: St. Martin de Porres, Warren
College & Major: Loyola University-Chicago (pre-medicine/biochemistry)
Salutatorian: John Emmons Jr.
Parents: John and Jennifer Emmons
Parish: St. Andrew, Rochester
College & Major: Miami University (Ohio) (business)
Detroit Catholic Central High School, Novi
Valedictorian: Joshua Bisdorf
Parents: Angela and Jeremy Bisdorf
Parish: Our Lady of Victory, Northville
College & Major: University of Michigan (computer science engineering)
Valedictorian: Antonio Bush
Parents: Deirdre Bush and Alejandro Valdivia
College & Major: University of Chicago (undecided)
Valedictorian: Andrew Ciarelli
Parents: Joan and Gary Ciarelli
Parish: St. Mary, Milford
College & Major: DePaul University (marketing)
Valedictorian: Colin Harris
Parents: Michelle and Brian Harris
Parish: Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington
College & Major: University of Michigan (computer science)
Valedictorian: Jonah Hurley
Parents: Steven and JoAnn Hurley
Parish: St. Thomas a'Becket, Canton
College & Major: University of Michigan (undecided)
Valedictorian: Ryan Jansen
Parents: Cathleen and Joseph Jansen
Parish: Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth
College & Major: University of Michigan (undecided)
Valedictorian: Drew Laroo
Parents: Christopher and Stephanie Laroo
Parish: St. Thomas a'Becket, Canton
College & Major: University of Michigan (biology)
Valedictorian: Ryan Luke
Parents: Chris and Laura Luke
Parish: St. Mary, Our Lady of the Snows, Milford
College & Major: University of Michigan (undecided)
Valedictorian: Cole Nogawa
Parents: Catherine Collins and Yukikazu Nogawa
College & Major: University of Michigan (psychology/pre-medicine focus)
Valedictorian: Neil Zhu
Parents: Jinshuo Zhu and Lisa Xu
College & Major: Swarthmore College (computer science)
Divine Child High School, Dearborn
Valedictorian: Lauren Garcellano
Parents: Jocelyn and Mark Garcellano
Parish: St. Pius X, Southgate
College & Major: College for Creative Studies (illustration)
Salutatorian: Sophia Mijat
Parents: Andrea and Jeffery Mijat
Parish: Church of the Divine Child, Dearborn
College & Major: Stanford University (communications)
Salutatorian: Grace Hensley Alford
Parents: Sharon and Daniel Hensley Alford
Parish: Sacred Heart, Dearborn
College & Major: North Carolina State University (textile engineering)
Everest Collegiate High School & Academy, Clarkston
Valedictorian: Lucía De Nigris
Parents: José and María Angelina De Nigris
Parish: St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion
College & Major: University of Michigan (psychology)
Valedictorian: Nathaniel Beggs
Parents: William and Karen Beggs
Parish: St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion
College & Major: Princeton University (public policy and international affairs)
Salutatorian: Avery Herrgott
Parents: Robert and Jenny Herrgott
Parish: St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion
College & Major: Michigan State University (environmental engineering)
Salutatorian: Sawyer Arbogast
Parents: Jonathon and Laura Arbogast
Parish: St. Rita, Holly
College & Major: University of Kentucky (aerospace engineering)
Gabriel Richard High School, Riverview
Valedictorian: Alexander Bidari
Parents: Thomas and Geraldine Bidari
College & Major: University of Michigan (cognitive science)
Salutatorian: Juliana Beecham
Parents: Winifred Beecham and Owusua Wosornu
College & Major: University of Michigan (computer science)
Loyola High School, Detroit
Valedictorian: TyShawn Braxton
Parents: April Braxton and Chibuike Nwosu
College & Major: Michigan State University (pre-veterinary medicine)
Salutatorian: Jacob Sangster
Parents: Humphrey and Michelle Sangster
College & Major: University of Michigan-Dearborn (undecided)
Marian High School, Bloomfield Hills
Valedictorian: Charlotte Mustion
Parents: Holly and Glenn Mustion
Parish: St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College & Major: University of Michigan (Ross School of Business)
Valedictorian: Kayleigh Kewson
Parents: Danny and Hamsa Kewson
Parish: St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church, West Bloomfield
College & Major: University of Michigan (chemistry)
Valedictorian: Lauren Holt
Parents: Karen and Brian Holt
Parish: St. Irenaeus, Rochester
College & Major: Yale University (biology)
Mercy High School, Farmington Hills
Valedictorian: Julia Rea
Parents: Teresa and David Rea
Parish: Holy Name, Birmingham
College & Major: University of Notre Dame (neuroscience)
Salutatorian: Anna Rimatzki
Parents: Beth and Thomas Rimatzki
Parish: St. Kenneth, Plymouth
College & Major: University of Michigan (neuroscience)
Notre Dame Preparatory High School, Pontiac
Valedictorian: Jaimie Krankel
Parents: Richard Krankel and Lin Krankel
Parish: St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion
College & Major: University of Michigan (engineering)
Valedictorian: Maria VanDieren
Parents: Michael VanDieren and Regina VanDieren
Parish: St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College & Major: University of Michigan (pre-medicine)
Valedictorian: Marissa Ricci
Parents: James Ricci and Becky Ricci
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College & Major: Tulane University (neuroscience)
Valedictorian: Jessica Kennedy
Parents: John Kennedy and Ann Kennedy
Parish: St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College & Major: University of Michigan (mechanical engineering)
Valedictorian: Catherine-Mary Mekhael
Parents: Hany Mekhael and Josephine Iskander
College & Major: University of Michigan (biochemistry and business)
Valedictory Court: Gabriella Sarti, Lauren St. Andre, Helaina Moody, Nicholas Long, Amanda Kostiz, Jenna Okka, Rahul Reddy, David Brouns, Kaitlyn Heaman, Alina Stanczak, Taylor Rohr, Meghan Tompkins, Brooke Cousins, Theresa Fadool, Blake Silarksi, Noraa Silver, Daniel Kochanski, Ryan Lawroski, Abigail McDowell, Frank Roth, Mia Wayne, Pedro Cabral, Nicole Carson
Our Lady of the Lakes High School, Waterford
Valedictorian: Molly Johnson
Parents: Ken Johnson and Beverly Clancy-Johnson
Parish: Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College & Major: Saginaw Valley State University (nursing)
Valedictorian: Yuyue (Alina) Yuan
Parents: Jinguo Xu and Yongxin Yuan
College & Major: University of Washington (psychology)
Salutatorian: Mackenzie Morgan
Parents: Karl & Shannon Morgan
Parish: Our Lady of the Lakes
College & Major: University of Michigan (political science)
Regina High School, Warren
Valedictorian: Kayla Christine Helgren
Parents: Eric and Cheryl Helgren
Church: Knox Presbyterian Church
College & Major: University of Michigan (secondary education)
Valedictorian: Jenna Nicole Holt
Parents: Timothy and Elizabeth Holt
Parish: Immaculate Conception, Ira Township
College & Major: University of Detroit Mercy (pre-dentistry)
Valedictorian: Abigail Michelle Hornberger
Parents: Chris and Michelle Hornberger
Parish: St. Mary of the Hills, Rochester Hills
College & Major: Princeton University (economics)
Valedictorian: Mia Riley Simon
Parents: Richard and Debra Simon
Parish: St. Mary Queen of Creation, New Baltimore
College & Major: Oakland University (nursing)
Valedictorian: Charlotte McNeill Thibault
Parents: Mark and Johnese Thibault
Parish: St. Paul on the Lake, Grosse Pointe Farms
College & Major: University of Notre Dame (business)
Shrine High School, Royal Oak
Valedictorian: Martin Hannon
Parents: Katie and Martin Hannon
Parish: Christ Our Light, Troy
College & Major: Xavier University, Cincinnati (psychology)
Valedictorian: Ava Gappy
Parents: Sheila and Hans Gappy
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College & Major: Loyola University, Chicago (nursing)
Valedictorian: Katherine Kemp
Parents: Leslie and Harry Kemp
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College & Major: University of Notre Dame (business)
Valedictorian: Olivia Kruszewski
Parents: Mary Hickman-Kruszewski and Greg Kruszewski
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College & Major: Georgetown University (human science)
Valedictorian: Elena LaChance
Parents: Anne and Steven LaChance
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College & Major: University of Michigan (business)
Valedictorian: Jacquelyn LaPoint
Parents: Marianne and Steven LaPoint
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College & Major: Michigan State University (interior design)
Valedictorian: Charles Niehaus
Parents: Susan and Joseph Niehaus
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College & Major: University of Michigan (engineering)
Valedictorian: Beck Peaslee
Parents: Chestra and Brian (deceased) Peaslee
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College & Major: Purdue University (aerospace engineering)
Valedictorian: Ella Proctor
Parents: Annemarie and James Proctor
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College & Major: Michigan State University (business)
Valedictorian: Madeline Smith
Parents: Maureen and Paul Smith
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College & Major: University of Michigan (neuroscience)
Valedictorian: Michael Woch
Parents: Rosalie and Christopher Woch
Parish: St. John Vianney, Shelby Township
College & Major: Georgetown University (culture and politics, School of Foreign Service)
St. Catherine of Siena Academy, Wixom
Valedictorian: Sara Domencia Isgro
Parents: Frank and Kathy Isgro
Parish: Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth
College & Major: University of Michigan (biomedical science)
Valedictorian: Piper Fraker
Parents: Greg and Leigh Fraker
Parish: Our Lady of Good Counsel
College & Major: University of Michigan (biomedical engineering/pre-medicine)
Valedictorian: Saran Chowdary Nimmagadda
Parents: Bhargavi and Srinivas Nimmagadda
College & Major: University of Michigan (cellular and molecular biomedical science)
Valedictorian: Valerie Check
Parents: Ronald and Julia Check
Parish: St. Patrick Catholic Church
College & Major: Hillsdale College (major undecided)
Salutatorian: Veronica Klawender
Parents: Norman Klawender Sr. and Mary Klawender
Parish: Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington
College & Major: University of Arizona (biology and astronomy)
St. Mary Catholic Central High School, Monroe
Valedictorian: Noah Smith
Parents: Todd and Becky Smith
Parish: St. John the Baptist, Monroe
College & Major: University of Alabama (electrical engineering)
Salutatorian: Jack Palmer
Parents: Matthew and Rachel Palmer
Parish: St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Monroe
College & Major: University of Notre Dame (chemical engineering)
St. Mary’s Preparatory, Orchard Lake
Valedictorian: Gannon R. Becker
Parents: Gary and Aimee Becker
Parish: St. Patrick, White Lake
College & Major: University of Notre Dame (biological sciences)
Salutatorian: Thomas F. Randall
Parents: Ronald and Michelle Randall
Parish: Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington
College & Major: University of Michigan (pharmaceutical science, honors college)
University of Detroit Jesuit High School, Detroit
Valedictorian: Nathan Green
Parents: Monica and John Green
Parish: St. Thomas More, Troy
College & Major: Columbia University (New York) (health sciences)
Valedictorian: Thomas Leeds
Parents: Eriko and Oliver Leeds
College & Major: Harvard University (mechanical engineering)
Valedictorian: Ryan Hammett
Parents: Lyn and Patrick Hammett
Parish: Our Lady of Victory, Northville
College & Major: University of Michigan (engineering)
Valedictorian: Daniel Miller
Parents: Jennifer and Timothy Miller
Parish: SS. Peter and Paul (Jesuit), Detroit
College & Major: University of Notre Dame (biochemistry)
Valedictorian: Paul Tackett
Parents: Laura and Scott Tackett
Parish: Church of the Divine Child, Dearborn
College & Major: University of Michigan (College of Literature, Science and the Arts, undecided)
Valedictorian: Charles Englehart
Parents: Susan and Steven Englehart
Parish: Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Beverly Hills
College & Major: University of Michigan (engineering)
Valedictorian: Alec Koscielniak
Parent: Kimberly Koscielniak
Parish: Sacred Heart, Dearborn
College & Major: University of Michigan (health sciences or engineering)
Valedictorian: Nicholas Myneni
Parents: Karen Ross and Srinivas Myneni
Parish: St. Perpetua, Waterford
College & Major: Michigan Technological University (mechanical engineering)
Valedictorian: John Watha
Parents: Roni and Faiha Watha
Parish: St. Therese of Lisieux, Shelby Township
College & Major: University of Michigan (political science and international relations)
Valedictorian: Pierce Cooper
Parents: Nancy and Bradley Cooper
Parish: St. Benedict, Waterford
College & Major: University of Miami (undecided)
Valedictorian: Austin Lincoln
Parents: Janene and Todd Lincoln
Parish: St. Patrick, Brighton
College & Major: Central Michigan University (broadcast and cinema arts)
Valedictorian: James Rais
Parents: Rinan and John Rais
Parish: Holy Name, Birmingham
College & Major: University of Michigan (nursing)
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