Photo Credits: Susan Meer Gigrich ‘87, David Lohmueller, Anna Hudepohl ‘22, and Elizabeth Schulte Denton ‘17, and Rich Fowler; Brush and Palette Frame Shop
Oldenburg Academy Mission Statement
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.
A Year in Review
e 2025–2026 school year was one marked by growth, accomplishment, and a sense of community at Oldenburg Academy. e Class of 2026 earned over $3.2 million in college scholarships, with the majority of seniors graduating with the Indiana Academic Honors Diploma and completing the Indiana College Core 30. Across classrooms, students challenged themselves through AP coursework, dual credit opportunities, and meaningful academic competitions, earning recognition at both the state and national level.
Beyond academics, the year was de ned by students using their gifts in ways that extend far beyond the classroom—through art, music, athletics, leadership, and service. Whether competing at the state level, performing on stage, serving in the community, or stepping into leadership opportunities with local partners, OA students continued to show what it means to lead with purpose. We invite you to ip through these pages and explore the moments, stories, and memories that shaped this year at Oldenburg Academy!
ACADEMICS
Class of 2026 earned over $3.2 million in college scholarships
82% of students earned Indiana Academic Honors Diploma
54% of students earned Indiana College Core 30
12 of our student athletes were named Academic All State Honorees
ree OA seniors were named Lilly Scholarship Finalists
e OA Academic Team (Fine Arts and Interdisciplinary) advanced to State at Purdue University
3 students earned top honors in Voice of Democracy Writing Competition
Juniors and Seniors registered for courses through Ivy Tech during the 2025-2026 school year.
Oldenburg Academy students took AP exams in 12 different AP courses.
COLLEGE TO CAREER
100% juniors participated in a semester-long fellowship program through our Mission Monday™ program.
26 different partnering businesses/ organizations participated in our internship and fellowship programs.
Two teams of seniors advanced to the regionals in the STARTed UP Regional Competition (formerly Innovate Within), one of the nation’s largest student business pitch contests.
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.
14 OA music students earned gold medals in the Indiana State Music Association (ISSMA).
54 students received awards in BAAC competition in 2-D and 3-D Art, eater, AP Art, Instrumental, Photography, Digital Art, and Fiction & Poetry.
Two students earned top honors in VFW Patriotic Art Contest.
e drama department performed two shows during the 2025-26 school year - Alice in Wonderland and Anastasia: e Musical.
Academy Singers and the OA orchestra participated in Holidays Under the Spires and held two concerts during the school year.
FINE ARTS
ATHLETICS
e boys soccer team were the 2025-2026 sectional champions.
e girls soccer team were the 2025-2026 sectional champions and regional finalists.
e girls soccer team had an undefeated season.
e girls basketball and volleyball teams were ranked top 10 in 1A for the entire year.
e cross country team had five runners advance to regionals.
One swimmer, Nash King, won a sectional championship and advanced to the State Finals, finishing 3rd and 5th in his events.
We had three regional qualifiers for track.
We had one sectional champion, regional champion, and state qualifier in track, Rachel Suttmann ‘26.
We had 12 academic all state honorees during the 2025-2026 school year.
OASIS Athletic Boosters sponsor two booths at Freudenfest and organize a 5K-many parents and students volunteer.
SERVICE
26 OA students & two staff members 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.
OA students and faculty donated needed items to Safe Passage and the Batesville Pregnancy Center.
OA students and staff donated to the NHS collection of items for the Batesville Food Pantry.
Close to a dozen OA students attended the Summer Catholic Youth Conference in June 2025.
Sophomores took part in a service retreat.
Students, faculty, and parents participated in the NHS Blood Drive.
21 class of 2026 graduates earned the Centennial Service Award by completing over 100 hours of service.
One class of 2026 graduate earned the Franciscan Service Award by completing over 500 hours of service.
Eight students were commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
Senior religion classes visited with the Sisters who are in St. Clare Hall.
Field Day
As the school year drew to a close, students and staff took time to step away from their normal routines and enjoy a day centered on community, reflection, and fun. Field Day provided plenty of opportunities for students to connect with one another through activities such as yard Jenga, ultimate frisbee, cornhole, wiffle ball, spikeball, and sidewalk chalk art. A highlight of the day was the popular Carbonation Station, where students customized their own “dirty sodas” while enjoying time with friends.
e day also included a special visit from seminarian Hayden Merkel of Dearborn County Parishes, who shared his personal faith journey and encouraged students to seek purpose and meaning in their everyday lives. He spent additional time visiting with students and even joined in several Field Day activities. Students also gathered for the final Adopt-A-Sis celebration of the year, sharing breakfast, conversation, and laughter with the Sisters as relationships continued to grow. Together, these moments reflected the heart of the OA community—where faith, friendships, traditions, and shared experiences help shape students both inside and outside the classroom.
Underclass Awards Day
Earlier this spring, Oldenburg Academy gathered for its annual Underclass Awards Ceremony to recognize the accomplishments of students who demonstrated excellence throughout the school year. Awards were presented in a variety of areas, celebrating academic achievement, leadership, service, and dedication both inside and outside the classroom. e ceremony served as an opportunity to honor the hard work and perseverance of students while highlighting the many ways they contribute to the OA community. Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients on their achievements and a successful school year. We look forward to seeing all they continue to accomplish in the years ahead.
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.
To view more about the accomplishments of our seniors, visit https://www.oldenburgacademy.org/oa-news
“Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for putting up with our shenanigans during class. Thank you for teaching and forcing us to expand our knowledge and world view. Thank you most of all for just being there.
~ Class of 2026
A NOTE FROM THE CLASS OF 2026
Written by Eleanor Eaglin, Class of 2026 Salutatorian
To all our wonderful teachers,
When Mr. Hartman first came to me to ask me to write this letter my initial response was “make somebody else do it, I’m done with school”, but upon further introspection, I realized that over these past four years, the best experiences I have had at this school have been due to the dedicated teachers we have. So I figured the very least I could do is write a letter on behalf of the class of 2026 to express our gratitude. ough I may not have had all of the teachers at this school during my four years, I have had many of them and I can say with absolute certainty that Oldenburg Academy has the best teachers of anywhere in the country. e dedication that each of them put into every single student is admirable and quite frankly inspiring. I have never seen or heard of any teachers in any other schools that take the time to make sure that every student has a chance to succeed and surpass the expectations that may have been held for them. e late hours and long nights that go into lesson planning, grading, and thinking of ways to best benefit the students make them some of the most considerate and passionate teachers there are. e many different field trips they implement to help our understanding of the material we learn in class helps give a unique perspective on different ways to solve problems and different future careers we might have never considered. I know the APES class in particular have loved our field trips, especially when we make new friends on them, like Larry from the wastewater treatment facility, or like Josie’s cows. However, it’s not just the countless time they put into ensuring student success via grades, but rather the experiences they give the students that make them world class teachers.
From inside jokes that are still quoted each day, to fond memories that we’ll reminisce upon in 20 years, having a close connection with the students is a major reason why you’ll never find better teachers at any other schools. e best days I have had at this school have been due to the teachers, even if they had not planned it. I can still remember a time freshman year when Mr. Alig made Norah and I move this huge table from one side of his classroom to the other and then move it back immediately for no reason other than to mess with both of us, and his past students that he was attempting to keep out of the classroom. Ms. Yane has started hundreds of inside jokes with her students, ranging from outlandish stories from her youth, to words she struggles to pronounce that make her classroom feel like a safe space to express your thoughts without fear of harsh criticism. Mr. Jensen enjoys punishing his students with absurd amounts of homework which drives the students a little insane, but his generally jovial demeanor makes up for such demanding work in a way that makes his classes feel less scary than they look on the outside. ese small things that they might not ever consider to be pivotal moments in a high schoolers career are the things that we’ll always remember about our teachers. ese little moments are what really bridge the gap between student and teacher and they’re the reason that the teachers at this school are so beloved. I could go on and on about specific reasons why I love each teacher but I’d rather not bore you, so I’ll start to wrap things up. e dedication that our teachers have to helping students actually learn new things, the connections they make with the students, and the devotion they have toward making sure that each student is feeling ok day in and day out makes them stand out from all other teachers. I, personally, can name a myriad of times where my teachers have taken the time to help me get out of a slump and I know my fellow classmates can say the same thing because that is what the teachers here do. ey recognize the slightest change in a student’s demeanor and immediately attempt to fix it, while remaining undeniably supportive and understanding. Every teacher is able to make a meaningful connection with their students that help propel us forward and prepare us to navigate the overwhelming yet beautiful world that lies ahead. So to all of our wonderful teachers we want to say thank you. ank you for supporting us, thank you for putting up with our shenanigans during class, thank you for teaching and forcing us to expand our knowledge and world view, but thank you most of all for just being there. For being a safe harbor for us to come to when we’re confused or need advice. ank you for being the incredible educators and human beings that you are.
Sincerely, the graduating class of 2026
VALEDICTORIAN ASHLEY HUNTER
“Hi, I’m Ashley, and I’m excited to speak today. I don’t particularly have much to say, but the best valedictorian speeches are short anyway.
I’m going to start with thanking all the relatives, friends, faculty and staff, and anyone else who is here today in support of the Class of 2026.
We are so grateful for your profound love and support for each of us, simply manifested in your presence here today.
Moreover, congratulations to the senior class. Over the course of these past four years, I am thankful to have gotten to know each of you. Each one of you has unique talents, interests, and many more defining characteristics that make you extraordinary individuals.
However, you all share one thing in common: the potential to be great. I will admit that in the past four years, I have tried various opportunities that I found were not for me. Whether it was a job that didn’t suit me, a relationship that began to conflict with my own ideals, or an activity that I simply accepted I was not good at, I am glad that I invested time and effort into those opportunities.
ey helped me learn more about myself. is next part of our lives is a critical point in which we learn about ourselves and what we want for our futures. Whether you go into a trade, a new field of study, or a new job, embrace that it is new and different from opportunities you’ve had previously.”
...Continued
“The greatest possible disservice you can do to yourself is to live with the mentality that you have one goal and it will never change.”
CO-SALUTATORIAN ELEANOR EAGLIN
“Somewhere around three years ago or so, I found myself sitting at my dining room table with my brother and his then-girlfriend, Mary, talking about school—the extracurriculars, the grades, the class rankings, basically everything that I looked up to Mary for but hadn’t really achieved myself.
As I watched her excitedly rambling on about her plans and upcoming activities, I thought about how I didn’t really have a plan for myself or any idea about where my life would go over the upcoming years. I continued to ponder this revelation over the next couple of days, and one morning on the way to school I thought to myself that it would be completely awesome if I was able to rise to the top of my class and maybe even become valedictorian or salutatorian someday.
I knew at that moment that I finally had a goal to work toward, but I was immediately discouraged because I thought there were so many other deserving people in my class who would surely do better than me and that I could never rank so highly.
As you can see, I’m standing here today because I pushed myself further than I ever thought I could go.
e reason I wanted to share all of that with you today is because, for one, I promised myself that if I ever was giving a speech at graduation that I would give Mary a shoutout for inspiring me, but also because what I want my fellow graduating classmates to walk out of here today with is the reminder that they can do anything they put their minds to.”
... Continued
“You have every capability of achieving your goals, and you are enough just because you are you.”
To read Eleanor’s full speech, visit oldenburgacademy.org/oa-news
CO-SALUTATORIAN LILLIAN VANDERPOHL
“Good afternoon, families, faculty, peers, and Class of 2026. I am truly so grateful and honored to be giving this speech here today. I’m going to try my best to keep this short, but I truly do not know how to sum up the past four years of my life into one short speech.
When Mrs. Geis informed me that I was going to be giving one of the Salutatorian speeches at graduation, I did what I usually do with all of my homework and waited until the last minute.
I think I have put this off so much not because I don’t know what to say, but because it makes this moment real. All of the sayings like “I can’t wait for this to be over” and “I can’t wait to graduate” are finally here.
I think back to my freshman-year self when I looked up at the senior class and wanted to be just like them. I didn’t realize that time could go by so fast because here we are, finally graduating.
I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t take a single second of senior year for granted. But I think I speak for many of us when I say it flew by too fast. With sports, classes, and extracurriculars, I found it hard to find a moment to stop, let everything sink in, and reflect on my final moments of high school.
... Continued
“Life isn’t about grades or GPAs. It’s about the people you grow close to, the lessons you learn, and the memories you make.
It’s about finding parts of yourself that were hidden before, embracing the aspects of yourself that you are scared of, and becoming uncomfortable in order to grow.”
To read Lillian’s full speech, visit oldenburgacademy.org/oa-news
2026 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! ere are still spots, so sign up today at oldenburgacademy.org/summer-camps.
Welcome class of 2030
We are honored to have 39 new students join our Twister Family!
Please Join Us in Welcoming Our New Director of Admissions
Oldenburg Academy is pleased to welcome alumnus Abe Streator ‘22 back to campus as our new Director of Admissions. We are excited for the enthusiasm, perspective, and dedication he brings to our community and look forward to the many ways he will help future Twisters discover all that Oldenburg Academy has to offer.
ALUMNI UPDATES
It was so great to see so many alumni at the OASIS Golf Outing this year! ank you to all of our sponsors, volunteers, and friends who came out to support OA!
Jill Eckstein Hountz married Evan Hountz on November 1, 2025. She was celebrated by her sisters and fellow OA alumni, Claire Eckstein Wiltsee ‘11 and Sylvia Eckstein ‘23.
Adrienne Horan Colyer ‘18 married Austin Colyer on June 6, 2026.
Andrew DeCilles ‘11 married Brooke Hartman in Cincinnati on May 23, 2026.
Stuart Lamping ‘18 married Audrey Weigel on June 4, 2026 in Portland, Maine.
Alex Geers ‘19 and Sydney Hogg Geers ‘19 were married on May 16, 2026.
Drawing will be held on Saturday, July 18th at Freudenfest 2026
$100 per ticket
One: $15,000 Winner
Two: $1,000 Winner
Five: $500 Winners
Alumni Homecoming
Saturday, October 10, 2026
10:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Is your class having an Anniversary this year? If your graduation year ends with a 6 or 1, we are honoring your class. Walk down memory lane with your classmates, friends, and family and make your class reunion special at Homecoming!
More details will be shared closer to the date of the event!
If you are interested in helping or need a list of your classmates, please contact the OA Advancement Office at agrills@oldenburgacademy.org | 812.934.4440 ext. 238
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 2026. Nomination forms are available at oldenburgacademy.org/alumni-awards or scan the QR code.
Volunteers are always appreciated! If you are interested in volunteering to help with the planning/setup of the event, please contact Amy Grills in the OA Advancement O ce at agrills@oldenburgacademy.org.
A few hours of your time can really make a di erence!
1
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
2
Ways to support OA!
3
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 7, 2026) and Dinner Auction (February 27, 2027). We would love for you to join in the fun! Purchase a ticket(s) and help support OA students by contacting these respective people:
Jill Hollins | Lucky Bucks and Cash Ra e: jhollins@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)
Activities include the famous Dessert Auction, Split-the-Pot, Heads or Tails and lots of laughs!
All proceeds benefit OASIS Athletic Boosters License #002071
Interested in becoming a sponsor of Oldenburg Academy? Scan the QR code and contact Jill Hollins for more information 812.934.4440 ext. 297 | jhollins@oldenburgacademy.org
