The Michigan Catholic is proud to congratulate the thousands of area students graduating from the Archdiocese of Detroit’s 24 high schools in 2016. In a special way, we also honor those students whose academic achievements earned them recognition as valedictorians, salutatorians and other top honors from their respective schools. We pray for these students, who are listed throughout this section, as well as their peers and classmates, and ask God to bless all of their future endeavors for the sake of His glory.
Academy of the Sacred Heart
Valedictorian Tara Cuckovich
Parents Leon and Lisa Cuckovich
Parish St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion
College University of Michigan, undecided
Salutatorian Lisa Kamsickas
Parents Michael and Margaret Kamsickas
Parish St. Regis, Bloomfield Hills
College University of Michigan, undecided
Austin Catholic High School
Valedictorian Maria McPhail
Parents Scott and Maricela McPhail
Parish St. Francis of Assisi-St. Maximilian Kolbe, Ray Township
College University of Detroit Mercy
Salutatorian Madalyn Warren
Parents Gary and Amy Warren
Parish St. Francis of Assisi-St. Maximilian Kolbe, Ray Township
College Aquinas College
Our Lady of the Lakes High School
Valedictorian Marissa Casolari
Parents Kenneth and Carol Casolari
Parish Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College Oakland University, creative writing
Valedictorian Mikayla Casolari
Parents Kenneth and Carol Casolari
Parish Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College Oakland University, undecided
Valedictorian Tessa Fornari
Parents Thomas and Janet Fornari
Parish Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College University of Nebraska, electrical engineering with minor in music technology
University of Detroit High School
Valedictorian Benjamin Boudreau
Parents Daniel and Yvette Boudreau
Parish St. Joan of Arc, St. Clair Shores
College Hope College
Valedictorian Alden Kane
Parents Daniel and Ghaida Kane
Parish St. Fabian, Farmington Hills
College Wayne State University
Valedictorian Thomas Lennon
Parents Edward Lennon and Mary Ellen Brennan
Parish Holy Name, Birmingham
College Washington University (St. Louis)
Valedictorian Amir Mashni
Parents Muna Abdelnour and Essa Mashni
Church St. Mary Orthodox, Livonia
College University of Michigan
Valedictorian Cedric Mutebi
Parents Joseph and Lucy Mutebi
Parish Christ the King, Detroit
College University of Notre Dame
Valedictorian Ryan Nazareno
Parents Edward and Debbie Nazareno
Parish St. Joseph, Trenton
College Michigan State University
Valedictorian Joseph Paletta
Parents Dwain Dennis and Terese Paletta
College University of Michigan
Valedictorian Joshua Perez-Cruet
Parents Miguelangelo Perez-Cruet and Donna Roggenbuck
Parish St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College Yale University
Valedictorian Alexander Rai
Parents Sonia Lee and Sajay Rai
College University of Notre Dame
Valedictorian James Rivard
Parents John Rivard and Mary Beall
Parish St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish, Auburn Hills
College University of Michigan
Bishop Foley High School
Valedictorian Tonimarie Catalan
Parents Antonio and Marissa Catalan
Parish St. Anne, Warren
College University of Michigan, biochemistry/biology/psychology
Valedictorian Michaela Lewalski
Parents Philip and Michele Lewalski
Parish Guardian Angels, Clawson
College Wayne State University, criminal justice
Cabrini High School
Valedictorian Jillian Fenton
Parents John and Julie Fenton
Church Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Livonia
College University of Hartford, prosthetics and orthotics
Salutatorian Timothy Allen
Parents David and Holly Allen
Parish St. Anselm, Dearborn Heights
College University of Michigan-Dearborn, epidemiology
Detroit Cristo Rey High School
Valedictorian Maria Jimenez
Parent Elizabeth Ferreira
Parish Holy Redeemer, Detroit
College Oakland University, psychology
Valedictorian Christopher Lara
Parent Rosario Romero
Parish Holy Redeemer, Detroit
College Loyola University (Chicago), nursing
Detroit Catholic Central High School
Valedictorian Ean Maloney
Parents Joseph and Kerry Maloney
Parish Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth
College University of Notre Dame, mathematics
Salutatorian Sebastian Miner
Parents Ross and Kelly Miner
Parish Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth
College University of Notre Dame, computer science
Divine Child High School
Valedictorian James Bird
Parents Larry and Vickie Bird
Parish Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth
College Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Salutatorian Ryan Teevens
Parents Jerome and Lori Teevens
Parish St. John Neumann, Canton
College Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Gabriel Richard High School
Valedictorian Joanna Gerberding
Parents Timothy and Margaret Gerberding
Parish Our Lady of the Scapular, Wyandotte
College University of Michigan, Spanish
Salutatorian Hailey Gosen
Parents John and Fran Gosen
Parish St. Roch, Flat Rock
College Honors College at Michigan State University, zoology/pre-veterinary medicine
St. Catherine of Siena Academy
Valedictorian Alexandra Wyeth
Parents Kathleen and John Wyeth
Parish St. Mary Magdalene, Melvindale
College Hope College, biology
Valedictorian Alexandria Bopp
Parents Gwen and Gerald Bopp
Parish St. Patrick, Brighton
College University of Michigan, English
Ladywood High School
Valedictorian Catherine Kenzie
Parents Earl and Sandra Kenzie
Parish St. Thomas a’Becket, Canton
College University of Michigan
Valedictorian Sarah Wilson
Parents David and Kathryn Wilson
Parish Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth
College University of Michigan
Salutatorian Tiffany Chen
Parents Jun and Ying Lan Chen
Parish St. Michael the Archangel, Livonia
College University of Michigan
Loyola High School
Valedictorian Treveon Vaughn
Parents Gary and Teann Vaughn
College Michigan State University, athletic training
Salutatorian Ernest Adams
Parents Ernest Adams and June Dillard
College Lansing Community College, computer engineering
Marian High School
Valedictorian Sera Stevens
Parents Derek Stevens and Theresa Rizer
Parish St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College Georgetown University, finance and management
Salutatorian Alexandra Mertz
Parents Darrin and Jacqueline Mertz
Parish St. Regis, Bloomfield Hills
College University of Notre Dame, environmental engineering
Mercy High School
Valedictorian Taylor Lombard
Parents Jennifer Romain and Daryl Lombard
Parish St. James, Novi
College Hope College, pre-med/biology
Salutatorian Lucy Devine
Parents Julie and Tim Devine
College Harvard University, undecided
Notre Dame Preparatory High School
Valedictorian Julia Ebben
Parents Steven and Jacqueline Ebben
Parish Christ the Redeemer, Lake Orion
Valedictorian Julia Pagnucco
Parents David and Maureen Pagnucco
Parish St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College University of Michigan
Valedictorian Marisa Meyer
Parents Robert and Kathleen Meyer
College University of Michigan
Valedictorian Zenon Lewyckyj
Parents Peter and Natalie Lewyckyj
Parish Immaculate Conception, Lapeer
College University of Michigan
Valedictorian Joseph Isaac
Parents Bakhus and Donna Isaac
Parish St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion
College University of Michigan
Valedictorian Julia Warsecke
Parents Joseph and Kara Warsecke
Parish St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion
College University of Michigan
Valedictorian Sabrina Isham
Parents Leonard Isham and Christine Isham
Parish St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College University of California, Los Angeles
Valedictorian Allison Kavanagh
Parents Dennis and Elizabeth Kavanagh
College University of Michigan
Valedictory Court
Nicholas Wasik • Matthew Wall • Sydney Pauls • Lauren Kavanagh • Peter Miklas • Ian Cairns • Mary Boltri • Julie Boniface
De La Salle Collegiate High School
Valedictorian Casey Hempel
Parents Harold and Elizabeth Hempel
Parish St. Lawrence, Utica
College University of Michigan, mechanical engineering
Salutatorian Alexander Yeiser
Parents Russ and Renee Yeiser
Parish Immaculate Conception, Ira Township
College U.S. Naval Academy, chemistry
Salutatorian Austin Piontkowski
Parents Kevin and Jackie Piontkowski
Parish St. Lawrence, Utica
College University of Michigan, biology
Everest Collegiate High School
Valedictorian Jorge Dominguez
Parents Jorge and Susana Dominguez
Parish Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College Kettering University, mechanical/industrial engineering
Valedictorian Rebecca Luttinen
Parents Lindsey and Kelly Luttinen
Parish St. Owen, Bloomfield Hills
College Lehigh University, international relations
Salutatorian Tyler Rozwadowski
Parents Jeffrey and Stacey Rozwadowski
Parish Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College Michigan State University, computer science engineering
Salutatorian Paulina Czarnecki
Parents Dr. Robert and Dr. Jolanta Czarnecki
Parish Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College University of Michigan, mathematics
Salutatorian Morgan Quinn
Parents Richard and Jacquiline Quinn
Parish Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College Oakland University, pre-pharmacy
Shrine Catholic High School
Summa Cum Laude Leah Fast
Parents Rita Fast-Albers and Todd Fast
Parish St. Mary, Royal Oak
College University of Notre Dame, engineering
Summa Cum Laude Andrew Jaeger
Parents Patricia and David Jaeger
Parish National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College University of Michigan, pharmacy
Summa Cum Laude Cecilia Jones
Parents Maryanne and Jeffrey Jones
Parish St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College University of Detroit Mercy, physician assistant
Summa Cum Laude Clara Lichtenberg
Parents Anne and John Lichtenberg
Parish National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College University of Michigan, nursing
Summa Cum Laude Phoenix Nash
Parents Regina Nash
College University of Notre Dame, bio-chemistry
Summa Cum Laude Andrew Scott
Parents Amy Scott
Parish National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College Michigan State University, engineering
Summa Cum Laude Brandon Whitmore
Parents Julie and Steve Whitmore
Parish National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
College University of Michigan, business
Summa Cum Laude Morgan Williams
Parents Bobby Smith and Marcus Williams
College University of Michigan, pre-medicine
Brother Rice High School
Valedictorian Evan Dennis
Parents Luisa Partipilo and Blaine Dennis
Parish St. Owen, Bloomfield Hills
College University of Michigan, undecided
Valedictorian Hugh Flynn
Parents Debra and Michael Flynn
Parish St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College University of Notre Dame, undecided
Salutatorian Riley North
Parents Gwen and Doug North
Parish St. Regis, Bloomfield Hills
College University of Notre Dame, business
Cardinal Mooney Catholic Prep High School
Valedictorian Rae Peterson
Parents Greg and Mary Grace Peterson
Parish St. Edward on the Lake, Lakeport
College University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business
Salutatorian Annemarie F. Heitz
Parents David and Melanie Heitz
Parish Our Lady on the River, Marine City
College Oakland University Honors College, pre-law
Salutatorian Rebecca Schultz
Parents Alan and Julianne Schultz
Parish Our Lady on the River, Marine City
College Wayne State University Med-Direct Program Medical School
St. Mary Catholic Central High School
Valedictorian Katherine Goda
Parents Steve and Aimee Goda
Parish St. Mary, Monroe
College University of Michigan, undecided
Salutatorian Marianne Khattar
Parents Hanan Khattar and Alfred Khattar (deceased)
Parish Christ the Good Shepherd, Lincoln Park
College University of Michigan-Dearborn, pre-medical studies
St. Mary’s Preparatory High School
Valedictorian Joseph Verkerke
Parents Jerry and Janice Verkerke
Parish Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth
College Plans to play junior hockey
Salutatorian Scott Kowalski
Parents Peter and Shirley Kowalski
College University of Michigan
Regina High School
Valedictorian Teresa Diehl
Parents John and Cathy Diehl
Parish Our Lady of Hope, St. Clair Shores
College Wayne State University, exercise science
Valedictorian Mayme Philbrick
Parents Michael and Susan Philbrick
Parish St. Joan of Arc, St. Clair Shores
College University of Michigan, chemical engineering and French language
Valedictorian Julia Roarty
Parents Charles and Deborah Roarty
Parish St. Clare of Montefalco, Grosse Pointe Park
College University of Michigan, chemical engineering
Valedictorian Monica VanBerkum
Parents Mark and Michaele VanBerkum
Parish St. Paul on the Lake, Grosse Pointe Farms
College University of Notre Dame, undecided
