Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception is a Franciscan Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school committed to academic excellence, social responsibility, leadership and personal and spiritual growth for our students who will excel in our ever-changing world.
Photo Credits: Metz Photos, Rich Fowler; Brush and Palette Frame Shop, Susan Meer Gigrich ‘87, David Lohmueller, and Elizabeth Schulte ‘17
Letter from the President
“I’m most grateful for the confidence I gained at OA… I am ready to go out into the world and see what I can do to make a difference.”
Each year, I meet with our graduating seniors during their final week of school to gather their reflections on their OA journey. This time with them is always one of my highlights of the school year. Their stories, insights, and honest feedback offer a meaningful window into how our mission is truly lived — and how it can grow. I loved the quote above from one of our graduates. It perfectly captures the spirit of what we hope every OA student experiences.
This is what we celebrate—not just at graduation, but throughout each day at OA. Our students inspire us daily with their curiosity, energy, compassion, and faith. They remind us that education is not only about achievement, but also about discovering purpose and walking forward in hope and confidence.
The 2024–25 school year brought many moments of joy, growth, and grace — from milestones in the classroom to triumphs on the field, and from the stage to service opportunities. As always, I am deeply grateful to our faculty, staff, Sisters, families, and friends who guide and support our mission with steadfast dedication.
Looking ahead, we are excited to launch Go Beyond 4.0 and Mission Mondays, two bold initiatives beginning this August that reimagine academic excellence, student engagement, and faith formation in new and meaningful ways. Stay connected to our social media to see how innovative and cutting edge this program truly will be.
Our campus continues to be full of energy with youth summer camps and preparations for the year ahead. You’ll see glimpses of that throughout this magazine.
Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and belief in the mission of OA.
We can’t wait for our exciting future!
With gratitude,
Annette Hunger President
P.S. We hope to see many of you back in Oldenburg for Freudenfest, July 18–19 — it is always a fun weekend to celebrate community and tradition!
YEAR IN REVIEW
Academics
• Class of 2025 earned over $6.3 million in college scholarships
• 77% of students earned Indiana Academic Honors Diploma
• 49% of students earned Indiana College Core 30
• 17 of our students athletes were Academic All State Honorees
• 1 Dearborn County Lilly Scholarship Finalist
• OA Academic Team advanced to State at Purdue in English and Social Studies
• English Academic team placed 2nd place/state runner-up at State Meet
• Social Studies Academic team placed 2nd place/state runner-up at State Meet
• Academic Team Listed in Top 10 in our Division
• 2 students earned top honors in Voice of Democracy Writing Competition
• Juniors and Seniors registered for 327 courses through Ivy Tech during the 2024-2025 school year.
• Oldenburg Academy students took AP exams in 12 different AP courses.
College-to-career readiness
• 100% of seniors participated in a semester-long internship program
• 20 different partnering businesses/organizations participated in our internship program
• Two teams advanced to the finals of the Southeast Indiana D.I.C.E. business pitch challenge
• Three teams of seniors advanced to the regionals in the statewide high school business pitch competition, Innovate WithIN.
• Business class students attended the Emerge: Young Business Professionals Summit, a professional business conference focused on entrepreneurship for high school students
• Entire junior class participated in the RISE Leadership project; Lead from Where You Are Program, immersing themselves in a day of dynamic leadership training and personal development.
• OA students offered admission to the Notre Dame Summer Scholars Program
• Boys soccer sectional champions
• Girls soccer sectional champions
• Cross country had 5 runners advance to regional
• Girls basketball sectional champions
• 2 swimmers advanced to the State Finals
• 1 swimmer won a sectional championship
• 4 regional qualifiers for track
• 1 sectional and regional champion
• 1 state qualifier in track Rachel Suttmann
• 15 academic all state honorees
Fine arts
• 9 OA Music Students earned gold medals in the Indiana State Music Association (ISSMA)
• Student artwork chosen for display at Archdiocese of Indianapolis Gala and the BAAC Auction
• 3 students earned awards in the Scholastic Art and Writing contest for 2025
• BAAC - 16 Student Awards in 2-D and 3-D Art
• BAAC - 3 Student Awards in AP Art
• BAAC - 12 Student Awards in High School Play and Musical
• BAAC - 4 Student Awards in Instrumental
• BAAC - 3 Student Awards in Photography
• BAAC - 2 Student Awards in Digital Art
• BAAC - 9 Student Awards in Fiction and Poetry
• 3 Students earned top honors in VFW Patriotic Art Contest
• 65 OA students, 3 staff members, and 2 parents participated in the Indianapolis Mass and March for Life and Youth Rally with the Archbishop and other guest speakers
• OA students and families donate to the OA Blessing Box located outside of the Batesville Food Pantry (which is stocked once a week)
• OA students and faculty donated needed items to Safe Passage and the Batesville Pregnancy Center (diapers, wipes, baby items)
• OA students and staff donated to the NHS collection of items for the Batesville Food Pantry
• Sophomore retreat service completed (Oldenburg Academy, Holy Family Church, St. Peter’s Church, St. Louis, St. Nicholas, and St. Joseph’s Catholic Shop)
• Students, Faculty, and parents participated in the NHS Blood Drive
• 23 class of 2025 graduates earned the Centennial Service Award by completing over 100 hours of service
• Art students created Easter candles for All Saints Parish
• 11 students commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
• 5 class of 2025 graduates earned the Franciscan Service Award by completing over 500 hours of service
• 2 OA students attended Marian University’s Missionary Discipleship Retreat
• 5 OA students attended the IGNITE leadership retreat on OA’s campus (leaders’ retreat before the high school youth conference, INTENSE)
• Senior religion classes visited with the Sisters who are in St. Clare Hall
• Hurricane Relief Collection-OA students/staff/families raised $900 to send to a Catholic Church in North Carolina to help area residents.
• Academy Singers and orchestra participate in Holidays Under the Spires
• OASIS Athletic Boosters sponsor two booths at Freudenfest and organize a 5K-many parents and students volunteer
Field Day
OA Field Day was a fun and memorable event, even with all activities moved indoors due to rain. Students enjoyed friendly competition with games like Wiffle Ball, Corn Hole, and Pickleball, while others took part in board games, cross making, and sweet treats like floats. The day wrapped up with a delicious lunch for everyone. It was the perfect way to celebrate the end of the school year—a time to relax, have fun, and enjoy the OA community one last time before summer break!
Underclass Awards Day
In May, the hard work of our students throughout the year was celebrated with an awards ceremony. Congratulations to all of our students and faculty for a great year!
To view the awards/scholarships received by OA students, visit https://www.oldenburgacademy.org/oa-news.
Senior Mass & Awards Luncheon
To honor the seniors, there was an awards luncheon held for them and their parents, during which, many were recognized for earning scholarships and all of the seniors were introduced as the newest Oldenburg Academy Alumni. Additionally, Senior Mass was celebrated in the Sisters’ Chapel. Father Michael Keucher shared a wonderful Homily with the students and Dr. Brian Disney, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, spoke to the seniors. At the end of Mass, the Sisters sang the Blessing of St. Clare to the seniors as they prepared to embark on their next journey.
To view the awards/scholarships received by OA seniors, visit https://www.oldenburgacademy.org/oa-news
Congratulations Class of 2025!
Cheers to the beginning of their next adventure! We cannot wait to see what life has in store for this outstanding class!
Salvatore Bamonte
Hayden Blair
Sarah Bruce Bryce Crain
Elisabeth Cranert
Gabriella Cullen
Penelope Cullen
Matthew geisen-sanchez
Grant Goldsmith
Ava Henry Jacob Hilbert
Sullivan Hill
Zachary Hoff
Elana Hollingsworth
Albert Hudepohl
Cale Johannigman
Lillian Kastl
Addisyn Lambert James Lattire
ninah Lewis
Christian Mack Isabella Maxwell
Caroline Niese
Annabelle Nunlist
Carson Ruter
Emily Schebler Santiago Schutte
Lawsen Simpson
Ainsley Sipples
Jacob Stenger
Levi Stonebraker
Jacob Voegele
Maria Voegele
Isaiah Waggoner
Henry Wanstrath
Arabella Webb Jill Witkemper
Josephine Wolfe
Dominic Yane
“Hello and welcome faculty, family and friends, and of course, most importantly, the Oldenburg Academy class of 2025. I would like to thank everyone who made today possible. To our parents, thank you for your endless support, the opportunities you’ve given us, and the faith and guidance that brought us here. To our extended families thank you for showing up and cheering us on at concerts, games, and countless events throughout the years. To the faculty, thank you for constantly challenging and pushing us and inspiring us throughout the last four years. And of course a thank you to each of you, the class of 2025, who have become some of the closest friends and family that we have. Without each and everyone of you there is no way any one of us would be where we are today.
We are all gathered here to celebrate all of the accomplishments of the last few years. We have all grown as people, from nervous freshmen to the group of confident young adults in front of me right now. We have spent countless hours together, playing sports, hanging out, and of course all of the hours we spent in the walls of this school. We have been challenged by our classes, and we have been able to get through the hours of homework and studying, even though a lot of it seemed impossible in the moment. We have had the opportunity to grow together as a class, and even though we have lost and gained a few members throughout the years, we have still been able to continue to grow together. While we have all been given amazing opportunities to grow academically in our years here, most importantly we have been able to grow in our faith.Without the faith that I have had the opportunity to grow here, there is no way I would be where I am today.”
“OA has allowed us to be able to strengthen our faith, further our education, and form new friendships.”
To read Ava’s full speech, visit oldenburgacademy.org/oa-news/ class-of-2025-salutatorian-speech-ava-henry
Valedictorian
Annabelle Nunlist
“Good afternoon Oldenburg Academy teachers, staff, family and friends, and especially the class of 2025. I would like to begin this speech by congratulating the entire class of 2025 and acknowledge how hard each person in this room has worked to get where we are today. I know from my own experience, high school has been nowhere near easy. I’ve stayed up extremely late, studying for a test the next day, working on an 8 page essay due by my next class, or finishing a last minute assignment that I forgot about. Let alone, balancing sports, clubs, practices, and even jobs. I’ve worked extremely hard to get to this position, and I know that every single one of you can say the same thing.
I have received many congratulations on receiving Valedictorian, but I feel most of that is owed to God; I’ve only been able to achieve everything with His help. I know that if He wasn’t at work during every single test, assignment, and everything in between, I would have given up long ago. Therefore, I give all the credit to God, as He’s the reason I’m standing up here today, and the reason all of us have made it this far.
Most of us came from different schools and backgrounds, which I thought was going to make it difficult to find friends; however… it seems that our class has formed a family or small community, with each person playing their own unique role. Never forget the friendships you’ve formed and the relationships you’ve found here.”
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned through it all, it’s that everything will happen in God’s timing, as long as we put our faith in Him.”
To read Annabelle’s full speech, visit oldenburgacademy.org/oanews/class-of-2025-valedictorian-speech-annabelle-nunlist
2025 Summer Camps
Earlier this summer, OA welcomed students to campus for a series of summer camps put on by the OA faculty/staff, including art, service, volleyball, dance, archery, girls basketball, boys basketball, and cheerleading. Coming up in July, there will be a boys/girls soccer camp! There are still spots, so sign up today at oldenburgacademy. org/summer-camps
The OA Service Camp took place last week, and we were thrilled to welcome 14 middle school students (6th–8th grade) from the area. Each day was filled with hands-on service projects and joyful teamwork. We were blessed with a truly delightful group of cheerful and hardworking young volunteers! Here’s a snapshot of their service throughout the week:
Twice Blessed: Campers organized and sorted donated items, pulled weeds, and swept both the front and back entrances.
Greensburg Bread of Life: They peeled potatoes, stocked pantry shelves, and cleaned the organization’s service vans.
St. Andrew’s Health Campus: Campers brought joy to residents by delivering artwork, praying the rosary together, and playing games. St. Anthony Parish: The group cleaned the outdoor Stations of the Cross and statues, and helped maintain the grounds by pulling weeds.
Alumni Updates
We had a great alumni showing at the OASIS Golf Outing this year! Thank you to everyone who came out to support OA!
Alex Bamonte ‘19, current Project Engineer at O’ROURKE was honored with the prestigious Construction Woman of the Year by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)! Out of an impressive field of finalists, Alex was recognized for excellence, leadership and innovation in the construction industry. In her position, Alex played a key role in the Cincinnati Convention Center redevelopment project -most notably leading the effort to develop and implement the historical salvage cataloging system for the Albee Arch, preserving a piece of Cincinnati’s architectural legacy. Congratulations Alex!
Matthew Zinser ‘18 and Sarah Preston Zinser ‘19 welcomed baby Isaiah in September.
Zoe Brown ‘16 graduated from Brown University this spring and just recently began in a MSN/DNP program specializing in nurse midwifery at Columbia.
Liam Mungcal ‘17 and Josie Wesseler-Mungcal ‘17 were married April 26, 2025. They were celebrated by a number of OA alumni including, Sophie Wesseler ‘20, Donovan Wesseler ‘26, Gabrielle Mungcal, ‘14, Luke Wukusik ‘15, Curt Eckstein ‘17, Gabe Frey ‘17, Sam Hutchinson ‘17, Amanda Cranert Hutchinson ‘17, Ben Kahles ‘17, and Elizabeth Schulte ‘17.
$26,000 C RAFFLE
$100 PER TICKET
ONE: $15,000 WINNER*
TWO: $1,000 WINNERS
FIVE: $500 WINNERS
FIVE: $100 EARLY BIRD WINNERS
June 2, 2025
*Subject to all tax withholdings
CONTACT
THE OA ADVANCEMENT OFFICE FOR TICKET INFORMATION
PHONE I 812.933.0737
WEBSITE I oldenburgacademy.org
Participants must be 18 years of age or older.
Drawing will be held on Saturday, July 19th at Freudenfest 2025
*Must present ticket stub to claim prize
# 002071
0@ D ► @oldenburgacademy -162585
Volunteers are always appreciated! If you are interested in volunteering to help with the planning/setup of the event, please contact Debbie Holtel Lamping ‘73 in the OA Advancement O ce at dlamping@oldenburgacademy.org.
A few hours of your time can really make a di erence!
oldenburgacademy.org
Alumni Homecoming
Saturday, October 11, 2025 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Alumni are invited to bring their family or a friend/guest to join in the festivities of this adult-only event!
Is your class having an Anniversary this year? If your graduation year ends with a 5 or 0, we are honoring your class with photo composites and group pictures. Come see how the campus has changed and grown. Make your class reunion special by attending OA Homecoming this year!
More details will be shared closer to the date of the event!
Make a Nomination for the annual Alumni Awards!
It’s not too early to start working on nominations for the Distinguished Alum Award, VHE Award, and Exceptional Alumni of the Arts Award! Nominations are due in July of 2025. Nomination forms can be accessed by scanning the QR code or visit oldenburgacademy.org/alumni-awards
Ways to support OA!
1 2 3 4
Be a Career Guest Speaker
We are looking for alumni or friends in the OA community who are interested in speaking to OA students about his/her career and exposing fellow Twisters to all of the amazing things they have the ability to do a er graduation!
If interested, fill out our form by scanning the QR code or visiting h ps://www. oldenburgacademy. org/alumni-association#stay.connected
Volunteer in the Twister Cafe
We can always use extra helping hands in the cafe during the school year.
If you are interested in serving lunch and assisting in the cafe, please contact Mrs.
Angie Voegele in the cafe: avoegele@oldenburgacademy.org
Purchase Ra e Tickets and A end Our Events
Each year, OA holds their Cash Ra e and Lucky Buck Ra es as well as a number of fun events including the OASIS Hog Roast (November 2, 2024) and Dinner Auction (February 22, 2025). We would love for you to join in the fun! Purchase a ticket(s) and help support OA students by contacting these respective people:
Debbie Lamping | Lucky Bucks and Cash Ra e: dlamping@oldenburgacademy.org
Patrick Kolks | OASIS: pkolks@oldenburgacademy.org
Your support is what helps make it possible for OA to continue its mission of academic excellence, social responsibility, leadership and personal growth for our students.
We are so very grateful for any gi you are willing to share.
To give today, scan the QR code or visit h ps://www.oldenburgacademy.org/ ways-to-give#give
Doors open at 6:00 PM; Dinner at 6:30 PM (first number pulled at 7:00 PM)
$100 Per Ticket (includes 2 people and their dinners)
VIP Table | $500
(Includes 4 tickets (8 people), reserved seating, special gi s, first through the bu et line)
November 1, 2025
Activities include the famous Dessert Auction, Split-the-Pot, Heads or Tails and lots of laughs!
All proceeds benefit OASIS Athletic Boosters License #002071
