Welcome to the May Junior Irish News, which is full of end-of-the-year accolades and events. We have a great deal to celebrate as we prepare to bid farewell to the Class of 2026, our 100th graduating class!
It is a historic moment for our school and a much-anticipated one for the 204 seniors. We are proud of the many ways this remarkable class has added to Father Ryan’s Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service.
Oh, The Places They Are Going!
The Class of 2026’s post-Father Ryan steps are impressive. Check out where our graduates are going this fall. A few highlights:
Our students are attending a variety of schools, including Duke, Emory, the United States Naval Academy, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and as far as London and Madrid. University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) remains the most popular college for our Seniors. Even as UTK becomes more selective, Father Ryan students are doing very well in UTK’s admissions process. This year, UTK received 65,000+ applications and a 64% admit rate for instate students. But Father Ryan students in the Class of 2026 had an admit rate of 74%.
Did You Know?
The Class of 2026 was accepted to 202 individual colleges and universities?
Father Ryan College Counseling has a new partnership with a test prep company to provide free practice ACT or SAT tests to our juniors?
Father Ryan offers 35 arts courses, the most of any Middle Tennessee high school?
Nearly 25% of all female students at Father Ryan participate in the Dance Program?
Since 2021, 95 students have been inducted into the Fr. Charles Strobel Service Society (formerly the St. Vincent de Paul Society)?
Four of our seniors are headed to Vanderbilt, the most in one year since 2015.
Seniors were admited to 202 individual colleges and universities and received $35M+ in scholarships.
Cum Laude Society Induction
Last week, we inducted 17 juniors and 17 seniors into the Hibernian Cum Laude Society. Modeled after Phi Beta Kappa at the collegiate level, the Cum Laude Society recognizes academic excellence, justice, and honor among top-performing juniors and seniors based on GPA, nationally normed test scores, and the strength of their curriculum.
This year:
Senior inductees maintained a cumulative GPA of 96.2885 or higher, and Junior inductees a cumulative GPA of 96.7500 or above.
Inductees have taken or are enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement course
Inductees have an SAT score of 1240 or higher or an ACT score of 26 or higher.
Thanks to our Cum Laude speaker, Dan Schlacter '97, who received an honorary Cum Laude membership. Dan is Vice President of Jarradd, Inc., a healthcare communications consulting firm. He is an active Father Ryan alumnus and member of the Nashville Health Care Council’s Leadership Health Care program and the University of Tennessee Board of Governors.
Hayes Scholars' Spring Happenings
Part of the Hayes Scholars academic enrichment program for top students is an annual visit to Vanderbilt with our College Counseling Department. This summer, the Hayes Scholars will travel to Boston to visit Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, and Northeastern, and to participate in a hands-on MIT Museum workshop called “Exoplanet Mystery.”
Charlie Becker '24 Skills Camp
On Sunday, May 17, Charlie Becker '24, wide receiver for the 2025 Indiana University
National Champs, hosts his first-ever Father Ryan football camp for grades 4-12. We are looking forward to having him back on campus!
Register Here
Irish Athletic Honors
Several student-athletes were honored in April by the Tennessean:
Gage Hart '28 and Zachary Fonnesbeck '27 named to the Tennessean’s 2026 All-Midstate Hockey team.
The Hayes Scholars also enjoyed our first Hayes Scholars Academic Recognition Night on April 22, celebrating academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and the inaugural Hayes Scholars graduating class, the Class of 2026, who received the first-ever Hayes Scholars graduation stoles at the event. Download the Hayes Scholars Program PDF.
Father Ryan Hosts the Nashville Case Studies Program
On April 25, Father Ryan’s College Counseling department hosted the Nashville Case Studies program. More than 200 10th- and 11th-graders and their parents from Father Ryan, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Ensworth, Franklin Road Academy, and Harpeth Hall participated. Students participated in a mock admissions committee and attended a college fair featuring 21 colleges. Learn more about Father Ryan’s comprehensive College Counseling Program.
100th Anniversary Community Day of Service
Coach of the Year: Pat Simpson '74.
Maddie Graham ‘26, was named to the TSWA 2026 DIIAA Girls Basketball All-State team.
Irish Record Breakers
The Girls 6400m Relay team of Grace Richter ‘29, Lydia Brunner ‘27, Bennie Bonadies ‘26, and Maggie Slattery ’26 broke the Doug Hall Relays record and Father Ryan record of 22:25 set in 2007 with their time of 21:27.42.
The Girls 4x400m Relay team of Maggie Slattery '26, Stella Doherty '28, Leah Burton '27, and Caroline Perri '26 broke the school record with a time of 4:05.32 at the Nashville City Championships Meet last week (previous record set in 1998).
The Girls 800m Relay team of Stella Doherty ‘28, Leah Burton ‘27, Trevi Irvine ‘27, and Caroline Perri ‘26 broke the 26year-old Father Ryan record of 1:47.7 with their new record of 1:45. Maggie Slattery ‘26 and Ryder Ortner ‘26 were both named Outstanding Performers at the meet.
Will Seitzemeir ‘26 scored his 100th career goal earlier this season and set a new Father Ryan Boys Lacrosse scoring record with 123 goals! He reached this milestone on April 23 with 8 goals in the Irish’s 1511 victory against Knoxville Catholic, bringing his new record to 123 goals! He will be
On April 11, Father Ryan High School students, faculty/staff, alumni, and parents served across campus and throughout Nashville as part of our 100th Anniversary Community Day of Service to commemorate Father Ryan’s 100 years. We made blessing bags, collected socks for Room in the Inn, wrote cards to residents of the Mary Queen of Angels Assisted Living facility, and made wreaths for burials attended by Father Ryan’s St. Joseph of Arimathea Society. We cooked and served breakfast and lunch at Catholic Charities Loaves and Fishes, helped clean up Camp Marymount, and framed walls for Pope Leo Village with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville.
Students Joining the Catholic Church
This spring, nine students joined the Catholic Church after a year-long journey of discernment. Bishop Spalding presided over the Mass and the Sacraments of Initiation. May Christ’s light guide you as you deepen your faith, Andrew Erickson ’28, Zachary Fonnesbeck ’27, Carter McHale ’26, Brendon Morrison ’27, Macy Jane Rose ’29, Ava Rudolph ’27, Emily Tripp ’26, Campbell Wallace ’26, and Jake Zimmerman ’28.
Father Ryan is open to all faiths. Conversion to the Catholic Church is not the goal of our faith-filled program; we support and guide any student who wishes to deepen their relationship with Christ through Catholicism. Read more about Faith and Service at Father Ryan
Father Charles Strobel '61 Service Society Inductees
Congratulations to the 19 newest members of the Father Charles Strobel '61 Service Society! Inductees must serve 120 hours in their community through the Corporal Works of Mercy, with at least 40 hours spent with one
playing at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Congratulations, Coaches!
With 50+ years as a player, coach, and leader, Soccer Coach Robin Dieterich '73 is a pivotal figure in Tennessee high school soccer. In April, the Tennessee High School Soccer Coaches Association selected him as one of five individuals inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Head Baseball Coach Mike Mascari '96 has retired after 18 seasons and 250+ career wins. Coach Mascari will continue as Chair of the Science Department. Fun fact: when he played for the Irish, he helped to lead the team to its first Regional appearance in 11 years.
Into the Woods and Happily Ever After!
Bravo, Purple Masque Players, for incredible performances of Into the Woods! The talented cast and crew brought fairy tales to life for packed houses. So wonderful to see so many Junior Irish in the audience!
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organization to demonstrate commitment and understanding of that organization and its challenges.
And the Winner is...Oak House!
Oak House won the 2025-2026 House Cup Competition! Throughout the year, our six Houses compete for the annual House Cup through fun games, challenges, and service competitions, such as collecting the most canned goods for the annual House Canned Food Drive. Congratulations, Oak House!
Irish Insights: Why Arts Education Matters: A Parent’s Guide to Academic Success, Leadership, and Character
Award for Father Ryan
The cover for the 2024 edition of The Emerald, the Father Ryan yearbook, was chosen for the second consecutive year for inclusion in the Jostens' Look Book 2026, a “best-of-the-best" annual of creative themes, covers, designs, stories, and photography selected from outstanding yearbooks printed by Jostens.
Spring Junior Irish Night
Thank you to the families who came out to watch our baseball and rugby teams play during our Spring Junior Irish Night. We love having our Junior Irish cheering on the sidelines!
Mark your calendars for Friday, August 28, 2026, for our Junior Irish Night to kick off Irish Football at the first home game of the season! There will be carnival games, Father Ryan tshirts for Junior Irish, and much more. Details and registration will be available in August.
Join Us for Junior Irish Events!
Camp Ryan begins May 26. Are you registered? Visit
In April, our talented artists shared their God-given gifts through dance, music, theater, and visual arts exhibits. Our Irish Insights blog highlights our impressive arts faculty and the critical role the literary, performing, and visual arts have on academics, character, and community. Discover just how creative the Irish are and how our offerings infuse and inspire success.
Read the Blog
Irish Artists & Athletes Level Up!
Last week, talented Class of 2026 student artists signed to continue their artistic careers in college. Congratulations to:
Ellie Quillosa: Marching Band, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Ella Jane Francescon: Acting, New York University Tisch School of the Arts
Sophie Mullins: Musical Theater, East Tennessee State University
*Pictured with Savannah Nimitz '26, who signed to play Rugby at the United States Naval Academy at the same ceremony.*
Student-athletes continue to sign to play at the collegiate level. Congratulations to these Irish athletes:
Catherine Crawford '26, Cheerleading - University of West Georgia
Michael Fisch '26, Boys Basketball - Rhodes College
Caroline Perri '26, Track & Field - University of Notre Dame
Clark Steffen '26, Triathlon - University of Arizona
Chas Tulloss '26, Football - Western Kentucky University
AND our own Parker Petersen '21 has signed an NFL UDFA contract with the Carolina Panthers!
fatherryan.org/camps today. Sessions are almost full!
Save the Date:
Junior Irish Night: Friday, August 28
Preview Day: Sunday, October 25
Interested in a summer tour?
Contact Erin (Baltz) Riggs '00, Director of Enrollment, at riggse@fatherryanorg.
View All Junior Irish Events
Girls Rugby 15's Crowned Back-to-Back State Champions
Way to go, Girls Rugby 15’s squad, on winning back-to-back State Championships last weekend! Catherine Vance ‘27 was named the MVP.
Want to learn more about Junior Irish opportunities?
Visit our Junior Irish webpage to learn more about how you can get your child involved with Father Ryan today! Junior Irish Webpage
