St. Mary’s High School Announces Scholarships

Fifty-two graduating seniors at St. Mary’s High School have been awarded more than $7.4 million in academic scholarships this year, a significant increase over the school’s 2022 college scholarship numbers. These include elite admission to the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy, as well as the highly sought-after Daniels Fund Scholarship.

Some of the highlights of St. Mary’s scholars:

• William Trechter received a U.S. Navy ROTC scholarship, U.S. Naval Academy appointment, and U.S. Air Force Academy appointment. In total, Trechter was awarded almost $1.5 million in scholarships.

• Katie Sauley earned 23 different institutional scholarships amounting to over $1.1 million.

• Christian Ruiz was awarded the Daniels Fund Scholarship, which pays for tuition and fees up to $25,000 per year for any college in the United States.

• “We are proud of these students and their outstanding accomplishments,” says Robyn Cross, principal at St. Mary’s. “We are confident that the lessons learned here will serve them as they go on to college.”

Seniors who made the decision to play collegiate sports:

• Alex Bodnar, cross country for Luther College

• Bailey Darneal, basketball for University of Dallas

• Peyton Priddy, volleyball for St. Francis University

• Cam Richter, basketball for Bryn Mawr College

• Andrew Matticola, competitive shooting for Jacksonville University

• Jackson Neppl, track for Benedictine College

• Lyndon Gotelaere, cross country/indoor and outdoor track, Carnegie Mellon University

“The athletic program at St. Mary’s prepares students for future success,” says Thomas Darneal, athletic director. “The big thing I believe it teaches is that, in life, when you get knocked down, get yourself off the mat and keep trying,” he says. “[Sports] show a student the value of hard work, discipline, perseverance, and the ability to set goals.”

Students expressed gratitude to their teachers and coaches for getting them to the next phase in their athletic and educational careers.

Richter says, “Thank you to St. Mary’s for teaching me to come prepared to be the best person I can be, no matter the circumstances; to always persevere, even when times get tough; and to lean on others when you need them.”

The mission of St. Mary’s High School is to educate students in the Catholic tradition to be responsible, moral, critical thinkers and leaders who are well prepared for college and life. St. Mary’s was the dream of Fr. Robert Byrne in the 1880s, who, with help from the Sisters of Loretto, began teaching students in 1885.