The Archdiocese of Seattle’s Catholic high schools are sending 1,446 graduates — 756 women and 690 men — out into the world this spring. Most of these graduating seniors will continue their educations next fall at scores of different colleges and universities. On behalf of the entire archdiocese, Northwest Catholic and participating high schools of Western Washington are proud to honor the members of the class of 2014 for their achievements.

Archbishop Murphy High School

The 24th graduating class at Archbishop Murphy High School will have 108 graduates, 49 men and 59 women. A senior awards assembly will be held May 27 at 9:30 a.m. Father Armando Guzman will celebrate the baccalaureate Mass on Thursday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Bothell. A reception will follow. The commencement exercises will be held on Friday, June 6, at Everett Community College.

The valedictorians are Alison Maher and Jessica Turner and the salutatorian is Sean Goldfinch.

Bellarmine Preparatory School

The 2014 graduating class at Bellarmine Preparatory School includes 248 students, 119 men and 129 women. It will be the school’s 86th graduating class. Jesuit Father John Fuchs will be the celebrant and homilist at the baccalaureate Mass on Tuesday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m. Daniel O’Connor will speak at the commencement exercises on Sunday, June 1, at 11 a.m. at the Tacoma Dome.

The valedictorians are Molly Bordeaux of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Tacoma, Maria Cesarini of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Brennan Hartley, Erin McCune of St. Theresa Parish in Federal Way and Jacquline Pecaro of St. Nicholas Parish in Gig Harbor. Salutatorians are Patrick Kaerstner of All Saints Parish in Puyallup and Jordan Thurston. Ninety-nine percent of graduates will go on to 77 colleges.

Bishop Blanchet High School

Bishop Blanchet High School’s 57th graduating class has 243 members, 145 men and 98 women. A senior awards ceremony will be held May 28. A baccalaureate Mass will be celebrated Friday, June 6, at 9:30 a.m. in the school gym. Archbishop J. Peter Sartain will celebrate and give the homily. The commencement exercises will be held that evening at 6 p.m. in the gym. Retiring teacher Terry Wilkinson will speak.

The valedictorian is Madison Caley of St. Thomas More Parish in Lynnwood. The salutatorian is Trevor Farthing of Holy Family Parish in Kirkland. Ninety-eight percent of graduates have decided to go on to college.

Eastside Catholic High School

The class of 2014 at Eastside Catholic High School includes 127 graduates, 77 men and 50 women. It will be the school’s 32nd graduating class. A senior awards ceremony will be held May 21. Father William Heric celebrate and give the homily at the baccalaureate Mass on Thursday, June 5, at 7 p.m. at Mary, Queen of Peace Church in Sammamish. The commencement exercises will be on Sunday, June 8, at 1 p.m. at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. John Clayton and Father Bryan Dolejsi will speak.

The valedictorians are John Charters of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Woodinville, Emma Fraley of Mary, Queen of Peace Parish, Lisa Kusakabe of St. Jude Parish in Redmond, Mary Brady of St. Jude Parish and John Snyder of St. Louise de Marillac Parish in Bellevue. The salutatorians are Aly Sonnen of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Bradley Strode of Sacred Heart Parish in Bellevue, Madeline Kusters of St. Jude Parish in Redmond and Chris Sommerville. Ninety-nine percent of the class will be attending 52 different colleges.

Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

The 106th graduating class at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart will include 48 women. On Monday, June 2, at 9 a.m., a baccalaureate Mass will be celebrated in the Sacred Heart Chapel on campus. Father Bryan Dolejsi will be the celebrant and homilist. A senior awards ceremony will follow. A surprise alumna will be the speaker at the commencement exercises on Tuesday, June 3, at 5 p.m. at St. Madeleine Sophie Church in Bellevue.

Shailly Pandey and Mackenzie Strafford are the valedictorians. One hundred percent of the class will go on to 40 different colleges.

Holy Names Academy

The 2014 graduating class is the 134th for Holy Names Academy, and it includes 159 women. Seniors were recognized during an all-school assembly April 30. A baccalaureate Mass will be held Thursday, May 22, at 1:15 p.m. at St. James Cathedral. Father Michael G. Ryan will be the celebrant and homilist. The commencement exercises will be held Sunday, May 25, at 7 p.m. at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. The speaker will be alumna Holy Names Sister Kathleen Hilton, professor emeritus and former dean of graduate studies and associate vice chancellor at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke. Valedictorians Madison McIlwain and Theresa Edwards of St. Patrick Parish in Seattle will also speak.

The school has 16 valedictorians and 12 salutatorians. All 159 graduates will be attending college.

John F. Kennedy Catholic High School

John F. Kennedy Catholic High School’s 45th graduating class is composed of 201 students, 100 men and 101 women. Father Bryan Dolejsi will celebrate and give the homily at a baccalaureate Mass on Friday, June 6, at 9:30 a.m. in the school gym, and senior Brandon Root will give a reflection. A senior awards breakfast will follow. Commencement exercises will occur that evening at 6 p.m. in the gym. Faculty member Angela Hunter will speak.

The valedictorian is Michael Barbarossa of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Federal Way. The salutatorian is Amy Moore of St. Bernadette Parish in Seattle. Ninety-eight percent of the class will go on to 65 different colleges.

O’Dea High School

The class of 2014 at O’Dea High School includes 90 men. It is the school’s 89th graduating class. The baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises will be held Wednesday, May 28, at 7 p.m. in St. James Cathedral. Father Michael G. Ryan will be the celebrant and homilist. A reception will follow in the school gym.

The valedictorian is Alexander James Shuey. The salutatorian is Alexander Peter Kures of Holy Family Parish in Kirkland.

Pope John Paul II High School

Pope John Paul II High School’s second graduating class includes 17 students, seven men and 10 woman. Father Patrick McDermott will be the celebrant and homilist at a baccalaureate Mass on Thursday, June 5, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Martin’s Abbey Church. Commencement exercises will be held on Saturday, June 7, at 10 a.m. at the Westside Chapel of St. Michael Parish in Olympia. J.T. Batstone will be the speaker.

The valedictorian is Marissa Allin of St. Michael Parish. The salutatorian is Mary Armstrong. Eighty-eight percent of the graduates are going on to eight different colleges.

Seattle Preparatory School

Seattle Preparatory School is graduating 172 seniors this year, 84 men and 88 women. A senior award ceremony will be held May 16. A baccalaureate Mass will be celebrated on Monday, May 26, at 7 p.m. at St. James Cathedral. Jesuit Father Paul Fitterer will celebrate; faculty member David Lester will offer a reflection, and Catherine Chang will be the student speaker. A reception will follow. Commencement exercises will be held on Tuesday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. The commencement speaker will be Kent P. Hickey, the school’s president. Graduating seniors Mark Harris and Mary Ann Santucci have been chosen to speak by their peers.

Gabriel Dunatov and Ellen Harris will receive the Academic Award for highest grade point average.

Seton Catholic High School

Seton Catholic High School’s third graduating class is made up of 33 students, 19 men and 14 women. A senior awards ceremony will be held May 28. Father Gerald Woodman will celebrate and give the homily at a baccalaureate Mass on Sunday, June 1, at 5 p.m. at St. Joseph Church in Vancouver. Commencement exercises will occur on Saturday, June 1, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Church in Vancouver.

Julianna Vidales of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and the Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater in Vancouver is the valedictorian. Brynna Freitag is the salutatorian. One hundred percent of the class is going on to college.

Northwest Catholic - May 2014