 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
St. Monica Spreads Talent Throughout the Metroplex
They may wear different uniforms as the 2009 - 2010 school year opens, but the St. Monica graduating class of 2009 will never forget the close community of their parish school. This fall, these ninety-five former classmates will bring their talents to thirteen high schools throughout the metroplex, but as Father Stephen Bierschenk reminded them during their graduation, their nine years together means that "St. Monica will always be home." While fifty-six of the graduates selected schools in North Dallas, choosing Jesuit, Ursuline, Hockaday, and the Episcopal School Dallas; more than thirty others will venture further afield going to Bishop Dunne, Bishop Lynch, Cistercian Preparatory, John Paul II and North Hills Preparatory. Four students were chosen to pursue their passions for the visual and performing arts at nationally recognized Booker T. Washington High School, while three students chose public high schools in their neighborhoods. Pat Dulac, St. Monica principal, commented, "I was very pleased with the acceptance rates of our students into high schools. I suspect that about 95% were able to go to their first choice of high schools and I know 100% were able to go to their first or second choice." John Paul II freshmen, Austin Buch and Abby Guerra, credit their preparedness to their teachers, "Great teachers influenced the love of learning and enforced the value of discipline and respect. You walk out of eighth grade with everything you need for high school." Leaving an impressive academic legacy at St. Monica, the class of 2009 will embark on new goals and challenges as they face life in high school. Well prepared to achieve, this talented group had a record number of students selected for participation in the Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP) with thirteen attaining state recognition. Forty percent of the class met the demanding standards for induction into the National Junior Honor Society and forty-four graduates earned the President's Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, receiving a certificate signed by President Barack Obama for their achievements at St. Monica. Even with a rigorous academic program this class found time to give back to the community. Each student belonged to a community service team that spent the eighth grade year, serving such self-selected charities as the North Dallas Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, PlayPumps International and Buckner Baptist Children's Home; many continue to serve these worthy causes. When on the field of play this class set school and Dallas Parochial League records in a variety of sports. Salutatorian and Jesuit freshman Matt Tulli's fondest memories are those spent with his classmates "winning the Dallas Parochial League's basketball championship as well as the class trip to Austin." Receiving over $33,000 worth of merit based high school scholarships generously donated by the school, members of the St. Monica community and the high schools the students will attend, the class of 2009 has a firm foundation to achieve success in their chosen schools and make a lasting contribution to their communities. Sydney Malin, a freshman at Ursuline, said, "I know that my experience at St. Monica has prepared me for the challenges in my future." Scholarship recipients were as follows:
Lisa Danzer, Barbara Malin, Karen Young contributed to this article.
|