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BREADCRUMB

A CLASS LIKE NO OTHER

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May 23, 2024

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

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. 

Notre Dame Prep's Class of 2024 graduated Sunday, May 19, 2024, after a Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement, the school's 30th. (More photos below.)


Four years ago — actually May 17, 2020 — on what would have been the day of the Class of 2020's Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement, Notre Dame Preparatory School hosted a "socially distanced" parade on the school's Pontiac campus. 

Those seniors, truly a special class of students and their families, who remained in their vehicles, were led into the school main parking lot by an NDP school bus and fire trucks from three different municipalities where they were congratulated by NDP teachers and staff who passed out t-shirts and carnations.

The graduating Class of 2024, also truly a special class, started their freshman year during COVID-19.

Now, after a high school career that began during a worldwide crisis, this year's remarkable class graduated and finally completed their own unique, "mostly" normal academic journey through this prestigious International Baccalaureate school. 

Andy Guest, Notre Dame Prep's head of school, in remarks conveyed during Sunday's commencement, said the day marked a momentous occasion in the graduates' lives as they gathered to celebrate the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and perseverance. 

Notre Dame Prep's Head of School Andy Guest delivers remarks to the Class of 2024 on May 19, 2024.


"Life has a way of testing our resolve," he told the seniors and their families and friends. "But remember that within every setback lies an opportunity for growth and resilience. Embrace difficulties as steppingstones to success, and never be afraid to take risks. It is through adversity that we discover our true potential and forge our character. Trust in your abilities, and never let fear hold you back from pursuing your dreams." 

Those seniors, in fact, passed their resolve test and finished with a flourish, and not only is the school’s 30th graduating class leaving behind a very proud faculty and staff and arguably the state’s top academic Catholic high school, they are leaving behind a number of impressive data points as a group.

According to figures released this week by Notre Dame Prep’s counseling department, to date this year’s senior class earned more than $4.8 million in academic merit-based scholarships from colleges and universities, a number that will go up as the graduates continue to receive and report scholarship offers throughout the summer.

In addition, the Class of 2024 averaged 26 on the ACT with 35 seniors scoring a 30 or above on the test and finished the year with an overall grade-point-average (GPA) of 3.8512.

Twenty-three graduates filled out this year’s valedictory court for the class, which also featured nine candidates for the prestigious International Baccalaureate diploma. 


A total of 124 of the finest colleges and universities across the country have accepted Class of 2024 graduates so far, including the University of Michigan, the University of Notre Dame, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Case Western, Johns Hopkins, Northeastern University, Pepperdine and UNC Chapel Hill among others.

This year's class also was highlighted by 25 acceptances to the University of Michigan with seven accepted into the Ross School of Business. 

And finally, perhaps most important, each of this year’s graduating seniors spent increasingly significant amounts of time on leadership-level projects as part of their service requirements — once again proving that besides turning out academic scholars, Notre Dame Prep continues to graduate truly Christian people and upright citizens.

"It is my absolute honor to stand before you as the head of school and deliver this commencement address — a speech that not only commemorates the past, but also embraces the endless possibilities that lie ahead," Guest also told the graduates. "I would like all of you to know that you are all special. And you are special because you were all created in the image and likeness of God. And God doesn’t create anything without a purpose. Each and everyone of you is unique and each and everyone of you has a purpose." 


More information and highlights for the Class of 2024 are below.

2024 VALEDICTORY COURT
Sophia C. Bahu
Addison F. Bellows
Diego E. Betancourt
Jeffrey Z. Guo
Julie M. Gurne
Zoe N. Hoke
Joseph Joulakh 
Michael J. Kenny
Macie D. Krankel
Katherine E. Leuchtmann
Alexander J. Light
Joseph J. Liparoto
Anthony N. Mina
George A. Moussa
Alaina B. Polsinelli 
José Miguel Turrubiartes Tapia
Mariana L. Ricci 
Aryana C. Ryerson
Beck C. Silver
Thomas D. St. Andre
Nolan B. Tompkins
Ryan P. Wells
Jazelle Yaldo
 
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA PROGRAM CANDIDATES
Addison F. Bellows
Diego E. Betancourt
Gavin M. De Young
Michael J. Kenny
Isaac Y. Konja
Alexander J. Light
Sophia S. Pauwels
Christian M. Piechocki
Ryan P. Wells
 
2024 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
Harold P. Rice School Mission Award: Michael J. Kenny
Donna M. Kotzan School Mission Award: Anastacia E. Wachowiak
Chorus: Carmen P. Thomas
Computer Science: Seamus P. Maher
Catherine M. Bembas English Award: Beck C. Silver
Instrumental Music: George A. Moussa
Mandarin Chinese: Alexis M. Carlisle
Mark P. McCaskey Mathematics: Beck C. Silver
Physical Education: Julia M. Gurne
Religion: Chanel R. Issa
Robotics: José Miguel Turrubiartes Tapia
Sylvia H. Mulrenin Science: George A. Moussa
David E. Osiecki Social Studies: Addison F. Bellows
Ellen A. Tessada Spanish Award: Sophia S. Pauwels
Yearbook: Romy M. Dybowski
Kirby R. Smith Art Award: Peyton B. Von Bernthal
Norman C. Kotarski Theater Award: Romy M. Dybowski
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Award: Ryan P. Wells
Athletes of the Year: Bree E. Blakeslee, Jacob L. Tuttle
Scholar-Athletes of the Year: Emily K. Szalach, Nolan B. Tompkins
 
CLASS OF 2024 OUTSTANDING SERVICE
This award is given to students who take leadership roles in school clubs, mentor other students, or are always willing to help without fanfare no matter what the need at school or in the wider community.
 
Addison F. Bellows, Rita N. Hajjar, Chanel R. Issa, Joseph Joulakh, Michael J. Kenny, Lily M. Mojares, George A. Moussa, Beck C. Silver and Grace E. Simon
 
CLASS OF 2024 SPIRIT OF THE FIGHTING IRISH
This special award is given to students who are truly “green” as they are positive, spirited, involved and ambassadors of our school.
 
Addison F. Bellows, Morgan L. Bissett, Nathan C. Bloom, Joseph Joulakh, Michael J. Kenny, George A. Moussa, Alaina B. Polsinelli, Beck C. Silver, Grace E. Simon, Jacob L. Tuttle, Anastacia E. Wachowiak and Jazelle Yaldo
 
CLASS OF 2024 DIRTY DOZEN AWARD WINNERS
To earn this award, a student-athlete at NDP must complete 12 consecutive seasons of athletics in good standing at the varsity, JV or freshman level. This includes all sports in which the MHSAA sponsors a championship.
 
Addison F. Bellows: Cross Country, Basketball, Soccer, Tennis
Morgan L. Bissett: Cross Country, Basketball, Softball, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field
Alaina L. Byrne: Sideline Cheer, Competitive Cheer, Tennis, Track and Field, Lacrosse
Nathan J. Kalil: Soccer, Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball
Bradon J. Prater: Football, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Wrestling, Track and Field, Lacrosse
Grace E. Simon: Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Swimming, Tennis
Emily K. Szalach: Golf, Basketball, Soccer, Lacrosse
Nolan B. Tompkins: Cross Country, Football, Basketball, Tennis, Lacrosse 
Caterina D. Zaleski: Swimming, Basketball, Softball, Bowling, Track and Field
 

 

 
CLASS OF 2024 COLLEGE ATTENDANCES
The Notre Dame Prep counseling department recently put together a list (below) of the colleges and universities where the Class of 2024 will be attending school in the fall.
 
Alma College
Arizona State University
Bowling Green State University
Butler University
Culinary Institute of America
Duke University
Florida Atlantic University
Grand Valley State University
Hope College
Lake Erie College
Lawrence Technological University
Liberty University
Loyola University Chicago
Madonna University
Marquette University
Miami University-Oxford
Michigan State University
Michigan Technological University
Northwood University
Oakland University
Pennsylvania State University
Purdue University
Rowan University
Saginaw Valley State University
Savannah College of Art and Design
Southern Adventist University
The Ohio State University
The University of Alabama
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Dayton
University of Kentucky
University of MiamiL
University of Michigan
University of Michigan-Flint
University of Mississippi
University of Notre Dame
Wake Forest University
Wayne State University
West Liberty University
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.ndpma.org.