Congratulations to all of our 2024 graduates!
The following students have received the distinction of valedictorian and salutatorian at their respective schools:
BENEDICTINE COLLEGE PREPARATORY
Valedictorian: Clint Ellison, the son of Toby and Melinda Ellison of Powhatan, has a 4.77 GPA. He is the Battalion Commander and a member of the National Honor Society. Clint is also a member of the cross country and track and field teams. Clint will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy next year to begin his undergraduate studies.
Salutatorian: Cristian Lugo, the son of Rafael and Wendy Lugo of Manakin Sabot, has a 4.59 GPA. He is the Battalion Provost Officer and a member of the National Honor Society. Cristian is also a member of the soccer and tennis teams. Christian will attend Virginia Tech next year to begin his undergraduate studies.
BLESSED SACRAMENT HUGUENOT CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Valedictorian: Callista Kurek, the daughter of Stan and Terri Kurek, has been an active member of the National Honor Society (NHS), serving as NHS secretary, and as a student ambassador. A Jefferson Book Award winner and longtime ballet dancer, Callista will be attending the University of Tennessee in the fall and plans to major in communications on a pre-med track.
Salutatorian: Elizabeth Rose Norwood, the daughter of Steve and Wendy Norwood, has been a part of the swim and golf teams, the National Honor Society, stage crew and the student ambassador program. Elizabeth plans to attend James Madison University in the fall and major in biology.
CARDINAL NEWMAN ACADEMY
Valedictorian: Thérèse Lagarde, the daughter of Jay and Shannon Lagarde, is the founder and president of Cardinal Newman’s Students for Life club, and a member of the yearbook and basketball teams. She will be the sixth member of her family to attend Christendom College, where she was awarded the Padre Pio full-tuition scholarship and plans to major in literature.
Salutatorian: Evalyn Boyer, the daughter of Michelle and Charles Boyer of New Kent, was an active member of the Cardinal Newman Student Council and Students for Life, and a member of the volleyball and basketball teams. She was awarded the diocesan Walter Gannon scholarship and will attend Marymount University in the fall, majoring in fashion design.
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Valedictorian: Noah Avis, the son of Robert and Jennifer Avis of Chesapeake, is a National Merit Finalist and four-year class president. Noah is an all-conference soccer player and member of the Tidewater conference champion lacrosse team. He was also captain of the forensics team and a third-place state finisher in impromptu speaking. Noah plans to study mechanical and aerospace engineering at Princeton University in the fall.
Salutatorian: Josh Rohrer, the son of Wade and Lisa Rohrer of Virginia Beach, is president of the Meehan Chapter of the National Honor Society. Josh was a retreat leader, altar server, and vice president of the Students for Life Club. He plans to attend the University of Georgia in the fall to study accounting.
CRISTO REY RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL
Valedictorian: Sarah Costa completed Cristo Rey’s most rigorous course of studies and consistently demonstrated her commitment to excel academically. As a student worker at Cristo Rey Richmond, she held internships at the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, James River Insurance Company and Riverfront Investment Group. Sarah was selected as a QuestBridge scholar and will attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall.
Salutatorian: Alexandria Louis’ academic journey has been marked by dedication, passion, and curiosity. As a student worker at Cristo Rey Richmond, she held internships at the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Capital Partners and CrossOver Healthcare Ministries. Alexandria was selected as a QuestBridge scholar and will attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall.
PENINSULA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Valedictorian: William (Billy) Driscoll, the son of Peter and Jennifer Driscoll, has a 4.8 GPA and is a Senior Patrol Leader for Boy Scout Troop 242. As team captain of the cross country and track and field teams, he was selected to the all-state team five times. Billy was president of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Salutatorian: Sydney McClellan earned a 4.7 GPA and was a member of six national honor societies. Sydney participated in many school plays and productions, is the founder and editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, the PC Gazette, and is secretary of the forensics team. Sydney will attend the University of Virginia.
ROANOKE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Valedictorian: Elizabeth Patel is the daughter of Sara Plante and Nick Patel. She has been actively involved in Key Club and student government throughout her upper school years, holding an executive position each year. She is involved at her parish, Our Lady of Nazareth, Roanoke, as an altar server and youth discipleship leader. Ellie will major in biochemistry at the University of Virginia.
Salutatorian: Micaela O’Herron is the daughter of Jennifer and Matthew O’Herron. Mickie has excelled both academically and athletically, including being named as team captain. She has broken school records and earned all-conference and state accolades in girls’ basketball, track and field, and cross country. Mickie will attend James Madison University in the fall.
SAINT GERTRUDE HIGH SCHOOL
Valedictorian: Gabby Barrafato is a quiet and humble leader, and a high achieving scholar. A three-season athlete in field hockey, and winter and spring track, she leads by example in Model Judiciary and as president of Saint Gertrude’s Honor Council. Gabby will be attending the University of Virginia in the fall.
Salutatorian: Aubrey Cuevas is a scholar and artist. She is involved in all aspects of the Saint Gertrude community and challenges herself in and out of the classroom. A talented and prolific artist, she balances her rigorous academic schedule with her participation in soccer and track, along with robotics and art club. Aubrey will be attending Virginia Tech in the fall.
WALSINGHAM ACADEMY
Valedictorian: Natalia Hanks is the founder of the STEM & Applied Mathematics Club. She enjoys lab sciences and has participated in the Math Modeling Competition. She is also an accomplished athlete. Natalia plans to pursue a degree in chemical engineering at Imperial College London.
Salutatorian: Sallie Brooks was named a National Merit Finalist this year. Sallie has been very engaged in the fine arts at Walsingham, performing in a number of school musicals and in District Choir. She is active in her parish, where she is the lead catechist for kindergartners at St. Bede, Williamsburg. Sallie will attend University of Virginia, where she will pursue a degree in biochemistry.
Walter Gannon Diocesan Scholarship
The Walter Gannon Diocesan Scholarship is made possible by a gift from Walter Gannon to the diocese. His mission is to provide accessible education to today’s most capable students. The scholarship is a one-time award toward academic costs for the first year of college. Each school’s administrator determines the recipient based on their academic level, concern for others, and economic need.
The following students have received the Walter Gannon Diocesan Scholarship:
BENEDICTINE COLLEGE PREPARATORY
Jacob Janus: Jacob, the son of Scott and Jennifer Janus of Powhatan, has a 4.17 GPA. He is the current Battalion Judge Advocate General and is a member of the National Honor Society. Jacob is also a member of the soccer and rugby teams. He will attend University of Mississippi for his undergraduate studies.
BLESSED SACRAMENT HUGUENOT CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Makayla Gregory: Makayla, the daughter of Michael and Theresa Gregory, was the football and basketball manager, and assistant director for the drama department. She was part of the National Honor Society, the soccer and basketball teams, and the student ambassador program. Makayla earned the Arabella Brower Scholarship. She will attend Louisiana State University for sports administration.
CARDINAL NEWMAN ACADEMY
Evalyn Boyer: Evalyn, the daughter of Michelle and Charles Boyer of New Kent, was an active member of the Cardinal Newman Student Council and Students for Life, and a member of the volleyball and basketball teams. She was awarded the diocesan Walter Gannon scholarship and will attend Marymount University in the fall, majoring in fashion design.
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Grace Vaughan: Grace was a member of four honor societies and has a 4.345 GPA. She was on the varsity basketball team since she was a freshman, helping the squad to four Tidewater Conference championships and back-to-back state semi-finalist appearances. She was a student ambassador and basketball camp instructor. She will attend Virginia Tech, studying biological science.
CRISTO REY RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL
Jamair Hawkins: Jamair has consistently been a top performing student. As a student worker, he worked at Eagle Construction and St. Mary’s Hospital. He works two jobs outside of school at Chick-Fil-A and Cava. Jamair will be the first person in his extended family to attend college. He will study nursing at Villanova University in the fall.
PENINSULA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Audrey Wienhoff: Audrey served faithfully as an usher at her parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Newport News, each Sunday, and contributed to the Mass Music Ministry. She also served as a leader for the parish’s Edge middle school program. She was captain of the soccer team, and will continue playing soccer at Franciscan University in the fall.
ROANOKE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Micaela O’Herron: Micaela is the daughter of Jennifer and Matthew O’Herron. Mickie has excelled both academically and athletically, including being named as team captain. She has broken school records and earned all-conference and state accolades in girls’ basketball, track and field, and cross country. Mickie will attend James Madison University in the fall.
SAINT GERTRUDE HIGH SCHOOL
Elizabeth Saunders: Elizabeth is a quiet and thoughtful leader both on the field and in the classroom. she is a two-season varsity athlete in field hockey and lacrosse. She exemplifies what it means to be a true servant leader in the Saint Gertrude community. Elizabeth will be attending the College of Charleston in the fall.
WALSINGHAM ACADEMY
Helen Pei: Helen has served the community in a variety of ways through the Key Club and National Honor Society. She played on several athletic teams, but most of her free time was devoted to her love of playing the cello in the community orchestra. Helen will attend James Madison University this fall to major in elementary education.