THE YEAR IN REVIEW: TOP STORIES OF 2024

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December 18, 2024

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here. 

With the end of 2024 approaching, we reflect on the incredible achievements and unforgettable memories that were made during the past 12 months at Notre Dame Prep.

This year’s top stories bring to light the power of an NDP diploma and highlight the school's commitment to continuing its 30-year mission and legacy of excellence through news about curriculum, alumni success, student achievement and athletic accomplishments among nearly 150 stories posted in 2024.

Here are the top 24 stories of calendar-year 2024 (Jan. 1 – Dec. 18) based on viewership:  

24. 'THE DEFINITION OF PERSEVERANCE'
Notre Dame Prep senior and valedictorian graduated May 19 after an "amazing" four years that included the IB Diploma Program and a swim team that taught him many other important lessons.

 

23. FILMMAKING PHENOM
Alum who signed up for Dave Fazzini's production of Alyce is happy to be back on the NDP campus again to help out his former choir director. But Rowland Scheessele NDP'19 also is very focused on an already remarkably successful career in film production.

 

22. PERFECT SCORE FOR NDP 7TH GRADER
Current seventh grader joins only 31 other seventh graders in the U.S. with a score of 20 in the annual WordMasters competition.

 

21. IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM CANDIDATES HONORED IN CEREMONY AT NDP
A "special group" of International Baccalaureate Diploma Program candidates were honored in front of family and friends.

 

20. NOTRE DAME PREP BOLSTERS SECURITY FOOTPRINT
School supplements robust security program by investing in a full-time director of security and safety.

 

19. LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP
'Personable and genuine young man who clearly cares for those around him' is looking forward to his senior year — and the next level. He also looks forward to his class repeating as Irish Week champions.

 

18. A DREAM JOB IN CHICAGO
Siena Moccia says it was the strong academics at Notre Dame Prep that gave her a big head start in college. But it was NDP's inspiring music and art program, she noted, that set her up for a career working on the biggest and most prestigious music festivals in the world.

 

17. FLOURISHING AT NOTRE DAME PREP
Erin Connelly NDP'25, truly an upright citizen, is nominated for an award presented by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The busy senior also plans a career in pediatric medicine.

 

16. APP PASSION FOR TECH
Notre Dame Prep senior’s apps revolutionize FIRST robotics scouting and note-taking.

 

15. FOUR SIGN NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT TO PLAY SPORTS AT THE NEXT LEVEL
Four Notre Dame student-athletes are celebrated in front of classmates after committing to play athletics at the next level.

 

14. WINNER OF THIRD ANNUAL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP AWARD ANNOUNCED
The Michael J. Kotzan Creative Writing Scholarship Award, which debuted in 2022, honors 2005 Notre Dame Prep alum Kotzan and helps pave the way for future creative writers at NDP.

 

13. IRISH BOYS SOCCER MAKE SCHOOL HISTORY
Early goals lead Irish past Elks for first state title.

 

12. NOTRE DAME PREP VOLLEYBALL TEAM GETS NATIONAL HONORS FOR ACADEMICS
State record 17th year in a row for Irish program.

 

11. LONGTIME TEACHER RETIRES, LEAVES LEGACY OF DEVOTION TO HIS FAITH, TO HIS STUDENTS AND TO HIS SCHOOL
Dave Osiecki retires after nearly three decades at Notre Dame Prep. Read what his students, colleagues and friends said about this 'great student of history and an equally great son of Mary.'

 

10. RETAIL REVIVAL MOVES EAST
Alum opens new popup clothing boutique in Grosse Pointe Woods after nearly 10 years of retail success.

 

9. FOOTBALL WINS FIRST STATE TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Another relentless performance on both sides of the ball caps an outstanding season for the Irish football team as they defeat Frankenmuth, 42-7, in the MHSAA Division 5 final at Ford Field.

 

8. RESEARCH BY UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT CELEBRATED
Rising senior publishes independent peer-reviewed research in national journals, gets accolades from distinguished university economics professor.

 

7. LAX COACH SAYS NOTRE DAME PREP HAS BEEN 'TRANSFORMATIONAL'
Boys lacrosse coach finds his home at NDP and has the surging top 10-ranked Irish making waves around the state.

 

6. A CLASS LIKE NO OTHER
After a pandemic-influenced start four years ago, Notre Dame Prep graduates another outstanding senior class that finishes with a 100% college acceptance rate, an overall GPA of 3.85 and well more than $5 million (reported to date) in academic, merit-based college scholarships. 

 

5. HOW THE IB-PYP AFFECTS SCHOOL CLIMATE
Research by the International Baccalaureate looks into how the IB-PYP improves student and teacher engagement, open-mindedness, student action and community service — and even parent involvement.

 

4. ACING THE MISSION
Notre Dame Prep freshman launches local chapter of nonprofit dedicated to helping children with autism grow through the sport of tennis.

 

3. KIND, GENUINE, VERY MARIST SENIOR HEADS TO WEST LAFAYETTE
Purdue-bound senior to study biomedical science after a high school career shaped by friends and 'balance.' She also advises new NDP students to 'get involved.'

 

2. SIX FROM NOTRE DAME PREP EARN HONORS FROM NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Seniors placed among the top 50,000 students out of more than 1.5 million who entered the competition this round.

 

1. STUDENTS ON A MISSION
Notre Dame Prep students on Michigan Youth in Government team go to bat for teacher's husband with lung cancer, craft bill with potential introduction to the state legislature in Lansing.

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Check out our entire story archive here. 

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndprep.org.