A DAY OF CELEBRATION AND REMEMBRANCE

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April 29, 2026

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

Community gathers in faith, remembrance and recognition as seniors close their Notre Dame Prep journey.

On Tuesday, April 28, the feast day of St. Peter Chanel, a Marist priest, missionary and first martyr of Oceania, the community of Notre Dame Preparatory School gathered in prayer and celebration, marking the final week of regular classes for the Class of 2026.

The all-school Mass, celebrated by Padre Juan Gonzalez, s.m., reflected both the Marist identity of the school and the significance of the moment for graduating seniors. It also provided an opportunity for remembrance, as the community honored alumnus Issa Fram NDP’05, who passed away earlier this year.

A school community remembers

In a note to faculty and staff prior to Mass, Head of School Andy Guest reflected on the deep roots of the Fram family within the school community. Across two generations, the family has remained closely connected to Notre Dame Prep, with multiple alumni and current students.

“At the beginning of Mass, and during the prayers of the faithful, we will be remembering Issa Fram,” Guest wrote, noting that several members of the Fram family were expected to attend, including alumni Moses NDP’03, Sarah Fram Boueiri NDP’05, Vera Dabish NDP’05, Georgi NDP’07, Shadi NDP’07 and Talal NDP’11.

The moment of remembrance underscored the enduring bonds formed within the school community — connections that extend well beyond graduation.

Recognizing excellence in athletics

Following Mass, the school’s athletic department continued a longstanding tradition by announcing its top annual honors, recognizing dedication, achievement and balance between academics and athletics.

The “Dirty Dozen Award” honors student-athletes who complete 12 consecutive seasons of athletics in good standing at the freshman, junior varsity or varsity levels in sports sponsored by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

This year’s recipients were:

• Lucas Bigelow
• Nicklaus Creek
• Lucas DiGrande
• Adrian Fernandez
• Owen Fulsher
• David Lanfear
• Drake Roa
• Audrey Simon
• Ellie Whalen
• Blake Whidden

The Scholar Athlete of the Year Award is presented to one male and one female senior who demonstrate excellence both academically and athletically, requiring a minimum 3.6 GPA and participation in at least two sports during senior year.

This year’s honorees were:

• Maren Studt
• Henry Ewles

The Athlete of the Year Award recognizes one male and one female senior who exemplify athletic achievement while embodying the school’s mission as a Christian person, upright citizen and academic scholar. Recipients must maintain at least a 3.2 GPA and compete in multiple sports.

This year’s recipients were:

• Ellie Whalen
• Drake Roa

In addition, 14 members of the Class of 2026 were recognized for continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level, a reflection of both individual accomplishment and the strength of the school’s athletic programs.

A celebratory final walk through the halls

After the awards presentation, seniors participated in one of the school’s most anticipated traditions: the “clap-out.”

Led by the Notre Dame Prep marching band, members of the Class of 2026 processed through the gymnasium and hallways as students from the lower, middle and upper schools lined the corridors, applauding them. The moment served as both a celebration and a symbolic passing of the torch.

Time to reflect

The day concluded on the William Kozyra Alumni Field, where seniors gathered informally to take photos, share memories and spend time together.

For many, the moment carried particular significance. Some members of the Class of 2026 have been part of the Notre Dame Prep community since kindergarten or before, making the day not just an end, but the culmination of many years of shared experiences.

In faith, in friendship and in achievement, the final week of classes offered a fitting tribute to a class preparing to take its next steps — grounded in the traditions and values that have shaped their time at Notre Dame Prep.

 

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.