7 minute read
Farewell, Class of 2020
While the end of their John Carroll career was arguably the most unique one in our history, the Class of 2020 transitioned to alumni with grace and strength as a class. Even with their school year cut short, they still contributed a combined 16,954 service hours and 54% took one or more AP courses. We were able to celebrate their great accomplishments through a virtual awards ceremony, giving recognition to this well-deserving class. Senior Retreat happened online, and our graduates heard the wise words from Dean of Students Mr. Sean Ireton, “Listen to your heart. Use common sense. Trust yourself, but always allow room to grow and change your mind. You are a work in progress. It’s not about the things that you want to have, but what you want to give.” Administration visited every senior at home, checking in on them (socially distanced, of course!) and delivering their caps and gowns, yearbooks and senior banners. The Alumni Association followed up by delivering a special gift to each senior.
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Ultimately, we were able to host an outdoor, socially distanced graduation and officially celebrate the class of 2020, to the delight of 152 Patriot families.
We are so proud of our graduates who are now attending 83 colleges in 25 different states, and we cannot wait to hear about their next adventures!
Seniors reminisce on an unforgettable end to their John Carroll experience: The love at the heart of every John Carroll tradition was — Katie Yurechko ’20 One of the hardest things for me to accept is that
Despite what this pandemic has done to the world, I strongly believe that we will get through this together. — Michael Chipi ’20
I feel that the administration dealt with this setback our high school career is going to end. I learned to
very well and in a very professional manner. They were appreciate the good things in life and never take
very quick to update us with new information when anything for granted. I learned how much I love John
they got it. Carroll and how much I don’t want to leave.
This Senior Project, and this whole year, has been very different, but I am glad that John Carroll has made the best of it and has made sure we remained a family. — Sara Hammons ’20 so entirely evident. So while the end of our senior year is like none other, so too are these memories. They are ours to last a lifetime, our stories to share and hold.
— Jesse Norwood ’20 — Sam Mink ’20
Senior year is going to end. I am sure that it is not a perfect end for seniors this year, but it must be a most special and unforgettable one. — Lei Huang ’20
Congratulations, Black & Gold Award Winners!
The 2020 Black and Gold recipients were Katie Yurechko and Michael Chipi.
KATIE YURECHKO
MICHAEL CHIPI As captain of the Forensics Team, Katie has brought home numerous gold and silver medals and earned a place in three National Tournaments — a first for JC! Katie was founder and president of JC’s Friends R Family club dedicated to raising awareness for mental health, and served as a Peer Minister, Peer Tutor and member of the Patriot Hospitality Group. Katie was named an Archdiocese of Baltimore Distinctive Scholar and National Merit Scholar and earned membership in the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Archbishop John Carroll Service Honor Society. Katie will attend Washington & Lee University.
Hailing from Nairobi, Kenya, Michael served as a mentor to fellow international students and helped prospective students and their families to feel at home at John Carroll as a member of the Patriot Hospitality Group. Michael was also a leader on campus, serving as Senior Class Vice President, Co-President of the Romero Service Club and as a member of the Archbishop John Carroll Service Honor Society. An All-Conference runner for the Patriots, Michael plans to join the Cross Country and Track and Field teams when he arrives at Mount St. Mary’s University.
I want to shift my attention from the uncertainty of the future to the comfort of the warming memories I’ve acquired from the past four years. My John Carroll experience was not tarnished by this pandemic but made even more rich. The class of 2020 will come out stronger than ever before and I’m extremely proud to be a part of this community. — Nickolas Mucha ’20
Overcoming such struggles due to the pandemic also could be a meaningful experience that we are now able to acknowledge the true value of our peaceful daily life at John Carroll. I believe it is better to view the situation we face positively rather than being in despair. — Justin Kim ’20 I simply continue to relive
It may not be the best ending, my favorite moments at
but it is memorable. John Carroll.
— Evan Exter ’20 — Jared Jefferson ’20
Shelly Ritondo, Valedictorian, Class of 1985 and her daughter, Katie Yurechko, Valedictorian, Class of 2020
Shelly Ritondo, Ph.D. and her daughter, Katie Yurechko, are the first mother-daughter duo to both be named valedictorian of their respective classes. Both were actively involved during their time at John Carroll, dedicating hours not only to their studies but also to service, extracurricular activities and lifelong friendships. Shelly encourages all Patriots to “get fully engaged” during their time at John Carroll, a sentiment that Katie took to heart and echoes, saying, “Try things you never thought you would, and do everything with humility and compassion. Coupled with the opportunities available to you at John Carroll, that will prepare you to be exactly what the world needs: the very best version of yourself.”
Proud of the legacy of John Carroll, Shelly says, “John Carroll is a great school that keeps getting better. We are honored to be part of a legacy that adds educated Catholics to the population of this troubled world.” Katie adds, “My family and I will forever hold John Carroll close to our hearts. Being part of a legacy of stewardship and love is an honor, and we look forward to seeing how John Carroll continues to grow in the years to come.”
Congratulations, Shelly & Katie!
SCHOOL NEWS
Board of Trustee Changes
Effective July 1, John Carroll is delighted to welcome Lt. General (Ret.) Mark Ramsay ’77 P’04 as Chair of the Board of Trustees. General Ramsay, the 2007 recipient of the Reverend Charles K. Riepe Alumni Award, has served on the Board of Trustees since 2016, lending his expertise to the Institutional Advancement Committee and the Executive Committee as well as the Trusteeship, Finance and Strategic Planning Committees. Visit johncarroll.org/boardchair to hear a special message from the new chair.
We would also be remiss if we didn’t extend a very special thank you to Betsy Campion P’92 ’94 for her service as Board Chair from 2016 – 2020. We are very fortunate that she will remain involved with John Carroll as a Trustee. LT . GENERAL (RE T.) MARK RAMSAY
Welcome
This fall, we welcomed 203 new students to John Carroll! Of the 180 members of the class of 2024, 19 are Carroll Scholars.
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3 ARLINGTON CEMETERY VISIT | Seniors continued their Holocaust studies during a class trip to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. They also visited Arlington Cemetery, where they got the chance to see the Changing of the Guard, a very moving ceremony.
HARFORD COUNTY’S BEST | The John Carroll School was voted Harford County’s Best Private School AGAIN for 2019! We could not have earned this honor without our families, faculty and staff who make the JC community so special! A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for us. We are blessed to have such an incredible Patriot family!
COLLEGE BOARD’S AP COMPUTER SCIENCE FEMALE DIVERSITY AWARD John Carroll has earned the College Board’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for attaining female student representation in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) in 2019! John Carroll is one of only 639 schools to be recognized for achieving this important result in AP CSP. 4
5 This honor acknowledges the outstanding work the school is doing to engage more female students in computer science.
JUNIOR RING DAY | The Junior class received their rings on March 11, as the first executive orders from the governor were announced. While the ceremony could only include the juniors themselves, due to the new restrictions, parents were able to tune in and view it live, the first of many such events.
MORNING STAR POW WOW 20 TH
ANNIVERSARY |
Then-Harford County Director of Administration Billy Boniface ’82 and former County Council President Dick Slutzky were on hand at the Morning Star Pow Wow to present John Carroll with a proclamation celebrating the pow wow’s twentieth anniversary. The Morning Star Pow Wow, organized by long-time faculty member Mr. Gary Scholl, is held annually to raise awareness of Native American culture and benefit St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, Montana.
