highlights of 2022–23 Bishop Noll Institute made history during the 2022–23 school year. The school welcomed its largest enrollment of students in more than 20 years including 186 freshmen and 550 total students. Ayanna Wash, the Class of 2023 valedictorian, was proud to learn she was Noll’s first Black valedictorian. The Class of 2023, Noll’s 100th graduating class, also broke records, earning $23.2 million in college scholarship offers. A growing student population meant a need for additional teachers with new faces Aibel Joseph, Maria Elena Patino, Jeff Smolinski and Elizabeth Unzueta joining the faculty, along with alumni Jose Arteaga ’13, Kennedy Castro ’16 and Louis Santellano ’99 returning to their alma mater as teachers. Anna Cervantes joined the athletic department as athletic assistant. The administration welcomed new leaders, including Matthew Pysh as campus minister, Carmen Ontiveros as director of admissions, Lisa Melendez as assistant principal and Michael Roggenkamp as director of student services. The advancement department said farewell to director of advancement Mary Ellen O’Neill, who retired after 11 years in the role, and welcomed Ryan Julian, who had taught and coached at Bishop Noll for six years.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS Bishop Noll continued to excel in academics, offering an advanced curriculum that included 10 AP/DC classes and more than a dozen honors courses. Twenty-four seniors received the graduates with distinction ranking, achieving a GPA of 4.0 and above. The school also continued its commitment to be the only STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Math) high school in Northwest Indiana. Students studied and explored the fields of STEM in the $1.45 million STREAM Lab, opened in 2020. Other building improvements included updated science labs and air purification systems that also provided cool air. EXCELLING IN EXTRACURRICULARS The Marching Warriors kicked off the new year with adventure and education by performing at the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida. The students learned through professional music clinics and won several awards for their performances. Students chose from more than 20 extracurriculars including academic teams such as Speech and Science Olympiad and groups like Band, Color Guard, National Honor Society and Art Club. Participation soared in several of the school’s clubs including Guitar Club, Women’s Empowerment Club, the Black Student Union and the Hispanic Student Union. Noll’s Drama Department showcased student talents on stage and behind the scenes with productions of “Eurydice” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”
