Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
The High School of Saint Thomas More held its Baccalaureate and virtual Senior Honors Ceremony on Friday, May 15th, at 10 am for 57 students on STM’s Facebook page. Father Michael Pica served as celebrant and homilist. Alaina Bowie and JD Sexton received the Saint Thomas More award, the highest award presented by the school. Class of 2020 Valedictorian Julia Tangen virtually spoke to her classmates. Salutatorian Justin Smith also recorded a speech to his classmates and their families, as well as School Captain JP Hoffman.
Students were recognized at the virtual Senior Honors Ceremony on Friday, May 15th. Departmental awards, recognizing excellence in the various academic subjects, and other awards showcased and recognized the Class of 2020 for their numerous awards and scholarships related to academics and service.
The 57 graduates completed over 10,500 service hours and received over $5.5 million in merit and/or athletic scholarships; 81% of them will attend a 4 year university with 11% attending a 2 year college, 4% undecided, and 4% attending a trade school/apprenticeship program/foreign exchange program.
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*Earned College Prep Certificate
+National Honor Society
George William Atkins *
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dean’s Scholarship, Miami University
Parkland College Board of Trustees Scholarship, Parkland College
Merit Award, Saint Louis University
Dean’s Scholarship, University of Indiana Bloomington
Dean’s Scholarship, University of Kentucky
Merit Award, University of Tennessee
Illinois State Scholar
Jack Vincent Aubry *+
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Gies College of Business
Illinois State Scholar
Vincent O. Greene Scholarship
Wade Christopher Baillon *
Holy Cross Parish
Attending the University of Tennessee
STM Physical Education Department Award
Alaina Marie Bowie *
Attending Butler University
Athletic Scholarship, Butler University
Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award
STM Physical Education Department Award
The Female Saint Thomas More Award
Spencer Joseph Burgin *
Holy Cross Parish
Attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Josie Madilynn Carmien *+
St. Thomas Parish
Attending Miami University
RedHawk Excellence Scholarship, Miami University
Presidential Scholarship, Loyola University Chicago
University of Iowa National Scholar Award, University of Iowa
Bluegrass Spirit Scholarship, University of Kentucky
Illinois State Scholar
Veronica Chistaya *
Attending the University of Rochester
Dean’s Scholarship, University of Rochester
School Leadership Scholarship, Syracuse University
Ian Michael Clapper
Holy Cross Parish
Attending Parkland College
George Paul Comet *
Attending the University of Tennessee
Merit Scholarship, University of Arizona
Merit Scholarship, University of Montana
Clementine Justena Craft *+
St. Malachy Parish
Attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Dean's Choice Award, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Women of Excellence Award, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Knights of Columbus, Rantoul Council No. 4450, Maurice Graham Scholarship
Vincent O. Greene Scholarship
Taylor Joshua Crawford *
Holy Cross Parish
Attending the University of Kentucky
Merit Scholarship, Millikin University
Benjamin Nicholas Croft *
St. Malachy Parish
Attending Illinois State University
Redbird Academic Scholarship, Illinois State University
Interact Service Above Self Award
STM Drama Department Award
Sophia Elizabeth Damore *+
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dean’s Scholarship, Indiana University
Mark Twain Scholarship, University of Missouri
Robert Ted Darr Jr.
St. Malachy Parish
Attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Sophia Ann Dowling
St. Patrick Parish, Urbana
Joining the United States Air Force
GI Bill
Tuition Assistance, GI Bill
Connor Joseph Doyle
St. Matthew Parish
Gap Year - Participating in the Junior Hockey League
Reece Allen During
St. Malachy Parish
Attending Parkland Pathway to Illinois
Knights of Columbus, Rantoul Council No. 4450, Maurice Graham Scholarship
Austin William Ford *
St. Patrick Parish, Urbana
Attending the University of Oregon
Minds Move Mountains Scholarship, University of Oregon
MSU Non-Resident Scholarship, Michigan State University
KY Promise Scholarship, University of Kentucky
BCDI Green Family Scholarship
William N. Drohan Memorial Scholarship
St. Patrick Parish Vincent O. Greene Senior Scholarship
Father Charles Martell Scholarship
Joshua Paul Franklin
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Alabama
Redbird Academic Scholarship, Illinois State University
Abigail Grace Goad *
St. Patrick Parish, Urbana
Attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Father Charles Martell Scholarship
Kiwanis Club of Champaign-Urbana, Verrolton “Vic” Shaul Scholarship
St. Patrick Parish Vincent O. Greene Senior Scholarship
Interact Service Above Self Award
Abigail Katherine Guido *+
St. Matthew Parish
Attending Illinois State University
Gustafson Scholarship, Illinois State University
Redbird Academic Scholarship, Illinois State University
National Scholars Award, University of Iowa
Interact Service Above Self Award
Rebecca Diane Hege *+
Holy Cross Parish
Attending Illinois State University
Aim High Scholarship, Illinois State University
Redbird Academic Scholarship, Illinois State University
Academic Scholarship, Bradley University
Dean’s Scholarship, Elmhurst College
Frances Anne Hendrickson *
St. Matthew Parish
Attending Loyola University Chicago
Merit Scholarship, Loyola University Chicago
Athletic Scholarship, Loyola University Chicago
Luke Gunnar Herzog
St. Patrick Parish, Urbana
Attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale, School of Aviation
STM Vincent O. Greene Senior Scholarship
Daniel Joseph Hettinger
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Colorado School of Mines Scholarship, Colorado School of Mines
Dean’s Scholarship, Indiana University
Parkland College Board of Trustees Scholarship, Parkland College
Dean’s Scholarship, University of Alabama
Honors College Scholarship, University of Illinois at Chicago
Illinois State Scholar
John Paul Hoffman *+
Holy Cross Parish
Attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Gies College of Business
Dean’s Scholarship, Indiana University
Parkland College Board of Trustees Scholarship, Parkland College
Volunteer Scholarship, University of Tennessee
Illini Prairie Conference Scholar Male Athlete Award
Illinois State Scholar
STM Family School Captain
Hunter Alexander Howell
Attending McKendree University
Athletic Scholarship, McKendree University
Parker Joseph Jackson
Holy Cross Parish
Attending Judson University
Athletic Scholarship, Judson University
Opportunity Scholarship, Judson University
Nelson Alexander Jimenez *+
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
James Scholar, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
President’s Scholarship, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dean’s Gold Scholarship, Baylor University
Catholic High School Award, Saint Louis University
Dean’s Scholarship, Saint Louis University
Provost Scholarship, Southern Methodist University
STM Social Studies Department Award
Christy Anne Kirkham *
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Kentucky
University Scholarship, Bradley University
Lauren Sydney Kwapis *
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Missouri
Interact Service Above Self Award
Tyronn Taijae Bartel Lee
Attending Olivet Nazarene University
One to One Champaign Urbana Scholarship
Callahan Joseph Leibach *+
St. Matthew Parish
Attending Parkland Pathway to Illinois
Aim High Scholarship, Illinois State University
Legacy Scholarship, Illinois State University
Redbird Scholarship, Illinois State University
Sydney Ann McMahon *+
Holy Cross Parish
Attending Parkland College
Benedictine Award, Benedictine College
Franciscan Award, Franciscan University
Provost Scholarship, Franciscan University
Vincent O. Greene Scholarship
STM Art Department Award
Samantha Nicole Miller *+
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Iowa
National Scholars Award, University of Iowa
Legacy and Sibling Scholarship, Bradley University
Presidential Excellence Scholarship, Bradley University
Dean’s Scholarship, Indiana University
Bluegrass Spirit Scholarship, University of Kentucky
Interact Service Above Self Award
Jason Earl Palmberg
St. Matthew Parish
Attending Parkland College
Jessica Marie Palmberg
St. Matthew Parish
Attending Parkland College
Lukas Marlo Palomar *+
St. Malachy Parish
Attending Parkland Pathway to Illinois
STM Theology Department Award
Ryan Peter Pinto *+
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University Scholarship, Case Western Reserve University
President's Merit SCholarship, California Northstate University
Dean’s Scholarship, Nova Southeastern University
Provost’s Fellow Award, The University of Illinois at Chicago
Illinois State Scholar
STM Science Department Award
Corey John Pollard *
St. Matthew Parish
Attending Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Merit Award, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Merit Award, Baylor University
Merit Award, Missouri Science and Technology College
Merit Award, University of Tennessee
Illinois State Scholar
Emery Dean Rulon *
Undecided
Morgan Charleen Saunders *
St. Patrick Parish, Urbana
Attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ahmad Jamal Sawwan *
Attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Noelle Evelyn Schacht *+
St. Patrick Parish, Urbana
Attending Butler University
Academic Scholarship, Butler University
Heritage Award, Butler University
Dean’s Scholarship, Augustana College
Parkland College Board of Trustees Scholarship, Parkland College
Merit Award, Xavier University
Illini Prairie Conference Scholar Female Athlete Award
News Gazette Correspondent
Illinois State Scholar
Father Charles Martell Scholarship
Illinois Coaches Association Scholarship
St. Patrick Parish Vincent O. Greene Senior Scholarship
STM English Department Award
STM Spanish Department Award
Regina Elizabeth Schmitt
St. Matthew Parish
Attending Parkland College
Joseph Charles Sellett *+
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Gies College of Business
General Academic Merit Scholarship, Belmont University
University Scholarship, Case Western Reserve University
Dean’s Scholarship, Columbia College Chicago
Père Marquette Scholarship, Marquette University
Presidential Scholarship, Loyola University Chicago
Catholic High School Award, Saint Louis University
Vice President’s Scholarship, Saint Louis University
Mark Twain Non-Resident Tuition Waiver, University of Missouri
Advantage Award, University of Northern Iowa
Presidential Scholarship, University of Vermont
Illinois State Scholar
STM Latin Department Award
John Darwin Sexton *
Holy Cross Parish
Attending Lindsey Wilson College
Eagle Scout Scholarship, Lindsey Wilson College
Sons of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award
The Male Saint Thomas More Award
Eivory James Shellman *
Undecided
Heejae Shin
Attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Study Abroad Award, Michigan State University
Global Ambassador Scholarship, Michigan State University
Ignatian Scholarship, Saint Louis University
Jordan Elizabeth Smith *
St. Matthew Parish
Attending Bradley University
Dean's Excellence Scholarship, Bradley University
Ball State Scholars Award, Ball State University
University Scholarship, Illinois State University
Justin Adam Smith *+
St. Patrick Parish, Urbana
Attending the University of Southern California
Parkland College Board of Trustees Scholarship, Parkland College
Housing Grant, Xavier University
Muskie Grant, Xavier University
Trustees Scholarship, Xavier University
Father Charles Martell Scholarship
Jerry McArthur Scholarship
Vincent O. Greene Scholarship
Illinois State Scholar
Salutatorian
Julia Grace Tangen *+
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Presidential Scholarship, Loyola University Chicago
Dean’s Scholarship, Indiana University
Parkland College Board of Trustees Scholarship, Parkland College
Presidential Scholarship, University of Minnesota
Illinois State Scholar
Valedictorian
Alexandra Katherine Trame
St. Matthew Parish
Attending the University of Alabama
Athletic Scholarship, University of Alabama
Athletic Scholarship, Bradley University
Athletic Scholarship, Illinois State University
Athletic Scholarship, Rutgers University
Athletic Scholarship, Saint Louis University
Mikala Rae Turner *+
St. Thomas Parish
Attending Olivet Nazarene University
Friends of Olivet Scholarship, Olivet Nazarene University
Leadership Scholarship, Olivet Nazarene University
Visit Grant, Olivet Nazarene University
High Achieving Merit Award, Eastern Illinois University
Merit Bonus Award, Eatern Illinois University
Interact Service Above Self Award
Margaret Jane Vavrik *+
St. Matthew Parish
Attending Parkland College
Interact Service Above Self Award
Yishi Wang
Undecided
STM Math Department Award
Yunhui Yang
Attending Emerson College