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Parish Episcopal School SUMMER 2020

CLASS OF 2020 Commencement Edition

Farewell - Shivani Kulkarni

“Be free, my children – fly, fly away!” -Todd Abronowitz, US Faculty They’re the seven words by which I, along with many others, have been emboldened, without fail, at the end of every advisory and every chemistry class for the last four years. . . . This quote is the kind of utterance you would, maybe, expect to hear at a major milestone in someone’s life – say, a graduation. But the fact that I, along with everyone else in this class who has had Mr. Abronowitz as a teacher or advisor, have heard it with such regularity has taught me that there isn’t ever one right time when we’re finally able to leap from the nest, take a risk and make a difference. Instead, we can do all of those things, all the time. . . . We’ve been encouraged to do those things. Knowing we will always have a home base, a nest of support, in the Parish community, we, as a class, have pursued and continue to pursue our passions relentlessly and regularly. . . And it has meant, amidst the whole chaos of today’s circumstances both in our world and our country, our continued sense of unity and persistence as a class, despite changing realities and a 2020 that none of us envisioned. . . . Now, it’s finally time to fly adventurously, to venture away from our nest, to see what the world has in store for us, to use what we’ve learned here at Parish to become resilient and independent individuals who value each other and stand up for what we believe in. . . . But, Class of 2020, never forget that somewhere, at some point, it will be our responsibility to encourage another little bird to pursue its passions. Let’s be free, my friends, and fly, fly away into the next chapter of our lives.

Graduation Speeches 1-3 Class of 2020 4 -7 All Acceptances, Matriculations & Scholarships 8-9 Highlights from Commencement Season 10-11 More About the Class of 2020 12-13

Senior Dinner Speech - Ananya Ganeriwalla

WORDS OF WISDOM

Senior Dinner Blessing - Grant Phillips

Graduation Invocation - Matthew White

Dear Lord, Thank you for this special day and the wonderful ceremony that is about to begin. As your children begin to leave Parish and start their new lives, watch over each and every one of them so they will never be alone, even in the darkest of times. Watch and care for everyone, that they may remain safe and cared for, for all of their lives. Also, Lord, bless them with hope so they may extend their arms to the future with eager and open hearts. Help them to acquire the knowledge and skills they have learned from Parish Episcopal School into their daily lives. Inspire them to live a life of passion and joy. And, Lord, please pervade in us the love of hard work and purpose over ephemeral gains. We also pray that our lives will be full of service, love, peace and happiness. Thank you for the guidance and care you have given us from birth until this very day as we begin our futures tomorrow, and may you be with us forever more. All of this we ask in your holy name we pray, Amen.

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I would like to start by thanking: God for this incredible milestone that we as a class have reached this day; parents for their endless guidance and encouragement; and the admin and school for providing the necessary resources and knowledge to propel us toward the new beginnings. Without the endless support of the beforenamed, we would not be the grown men and women we are today. And, I believe I speak for all 113 seniors behind me in expressing our deepest gratitude for the sacrifices that everyone has made to get us here. Secondly, we ask for God’s blessing on this momentous transition in our lives from high-schoolers to young adults finding our foothold in our respective communities. Through our hardships in these trying times, we look to Him for protection over not just ourselves but all the people of the world. His power is grand. His knowledge is far more than we could ever comprehend. His plan is beyond our human perception and, therefore, we put our trust in Him to lead us to prosperity. Amen.

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. . . The game of Monopoly (yup, that board game sprawled on your coffee table) is fundamentally the worst game to ever be invented. . . . But one day, amidst searching never ending pieces of Monopoly, I came across another game, one that didn’t mess with my already-determined retirement plan: the game of Life. But you see, if you’ve ever played Life, the beginning of the game asks you to choose between two paths: college or career. . . . It failed to account for the decisions and memories and experiences that shaped our journeys to this stage. The game of Life leaves out the years that teach us why life is worth living. . . . So, I ask that over the next years, we channel our youth: to find joy in the little things and to embrace uncertainty. I ask that we continue to ask questions and offer puzzled expressions. I ask that we maintain our high-school friendships and engage in meaningful conversation. I ask that we never disguise our authentic, childhood self. In the game of Life, a dice with six dots determines your fate. It asks you to choose between college and career, and everything afterward. But in this life, our life, we pave our own path. So, let’s make good choices, honor what we’ve been taught, and simply live. We don’t need boardwalks in Miami to retire, class of 2020. Monopoly is and forever will be overrated.

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Commencement Welcome - Noah Love

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. . . These bundles of lumber would sink to the bottom of rivers, mold into the silt, and become lost in time. However, a hundred years later this lost wood is being rediscovered at the bottom of U.S. rivers. The time spent underwater has aged and refined the wood with a beautiful grain. It is now called sinker wood, and is incredibly valuable and used in luxury furniture, homes and guitars. What was once forgotten and considered expendable has turned into something precious. . . . right now our class of 2020 feels a little like this sinker wood. Life was vibrant and exciting as we were all getting ready for the fun that comes along with our final months at Parish. Then BAM! Life changes instantly before our eyes. Everything gets canceled. Our spirits sink to the bottom. We feel passed over. We feel forgotten. However, while we might feel this disappointment now, what I know about this class to be true is you can knock us down but we will always, always get back up. We came into this world during 9/11. We are headed off into the world during a worldwide pandemic. But in between we had Parish. We had us. We learned. We laughed. We cried. We won. We lost. This class of 2020 has been hardened and refined. We are a class of strength, resiliency and determination. If ever there was a class that was ready to go into the crazy world we see right now, it is us. So don’t feel forgotten. Don’t feel lost. Feel confident. Feel strong. Feel ready. Because we are!

Graduation Student Address – Chase Barclay

Four years ago, we embarked on our Upper School journeys, beginning what felt like a daunting freshman year where a trip to Bridgeport was the first step in uniting our class. As a freshman, I never would have thought that running around a carpeted gym and jumping on people’s backs, putting beads on strings and writing a letter to my senior self would become some of the most foundational moments of my Upper School experience. As we returned to campus, we knew that our class was prepared: ready to unify, ready to collaborate, ready to support one another, and ready to pour our blood, sweat and tears into creating a Parish legacy. Perhaps, we were also preparing for the possibility of bumps in the road. Little did we know, our Parish futures would be filled with unexpected pit stops: pilot and flimmersion schedules, two Spirit Week victories, online learning and even being kicked out of the Senior Lounge a couple of times – well, I guess we kinda saw that one coming. . . . my parting message for all of us is to make an impact: in the journey of a friend, family member or someone you do not know. Do something small. Do something big. Do something when no one is watching. Become a voice for hope. Become an advocate. It is impactful. It matters. We must all play a role in others’ journeys, whether as a role model, friend, travel companion or something else entirely. But, our goal should be the same: to make our adventures and those of others better. We must support one another as we move forward, taking the lessons we have learned in wisdom, honor and service, and applying them in our everyday lives. . . . Our Parish journey is complete and dare I say we have a legacy that will be second to none. We are strong. We are resilient. We are the Parish Episcopal School’s Class of 2020.

Introduction of Faculty Speaker – Eli Sellers

. . . For some students, an interesting curriculum and well-intentioned teachers are enough to keep them motivated. Though others, myself included, are a little less intrigued and need extra attention to stay on course. If you would have asked my parents during my first trimester as a freshman if I was going to graduate, their answer probably would have been "no" and that they were already looking into sending me to boot camp. Mrs. Shreve not only completely changed my parents' outlook on my situation, but my own feelings about my future . . . She always made sure that everyone was accounted for and taken care of, and hardly ever missed the chance to let us know that we were her “sunshines.” These simple but meaningful actions allowed us to blossom from greasy preteens to borderline young adults who at least know what the word responsibility means. . . . I think I speak for all of us when I say that Mrs. Shreve is one of the key people who have impacted us to become better and fuller versions of ourselves . . . We love you Mrs. Shreve and you will forever hold a special place in all of our hearts. It is my great pleasure to introduce, Mrs. Jill Shreve as the Faculty Speaker for the Class of 2020.

My Sunshines! I'm so thankful to finally get to celebrate you, Class of 2020! Each one of you is so special to me. . . .

. . . in this moment, as we all pause together, considering and celebrating what every single person in this space has done over many years to create this moment, I’m going to offer this final lesson to you using the pedagogical method I always do. . . . I’m going to ask you to reflect on and come up with an answer to a final prompt. It’s a single-tasked prompt. No complicated instructions or rubric to accompany it. And there is no 7:45 a.m. due date on turnitin.com for your response. How are you going to live? Notice: the question isn’t asking, “What are you going to do with your life?” It’s also not asking, “Where are you going to go?” It’s not even asking, “Why do you want to go there?” Notice the question’s looking for an adverb as an answer. . . . There’s lots to pick from, so take time to choose one. And, be sure to pick one – otherwise one will pick you. . . . As you form your answer, your conviction, your thesis – be clear and explicit when you state it. . . . what kind of evidence are you going to use to bolster this thesis you’re wanting to advance?. . . you have to anticipate counterarguments to your adverb, so don’t forget a concession and rebuttal. . . . you need a thoughtful, powerful conclusion to your argument. . . . You need to situate your argument in the greater discourse taking place, and prove that your assertion has merit and should be considered. . . . Finally, once you’ve got your answer rendered: don’t forget it. You’ll want to use it to govern every decision you make. With that in mind, let’s revisit the question one more time: how are you going to live? You may begin.

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[Students] have asked me for years, “What do you think, Mrs. Shreve?” . . . I’ve consistently told students, “I’m not here to teach you what to think. I’m here to teach you how to think.” And I won’t approach this final moment with you, class of 2020, any differently.

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US Faculty Commencement Address – Jill Shreve

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introducing the class of 2020

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Aaron Christopher Overton, Jr. Aaron Grey Tidmore Adam Norman Redd Alana Ilise Grissom Alejandro Garcia Alexandra Nicole Pechersky Alexandra W Song Craig Aliyah Nechelle Johnson Ananya Ganeriwalla Andrew Kingman Kaleigh Andrew Thorne Merrick Anna Catherine Hunt Anna Clarence Payne Anna Katharine Sullivan Anna Stokes Mikeska Ashleigh Rae Albert Ashley Katrina Awad Audra Ainsley Velma Grays Avina Bansal Azeem Arif Ranmal Blaire Madison Wartell Blake Davidson Burris Blake Elliott Willis Blake Mitchell Elliott Bradley Brauman Fetter Brooke Isabel Shulman Brooke Nicole Burnecke Cameron Mitchell Svec Carla Nicole Hoefken Cauren Monyé Lynch Charles Hamilton Daggett II Charles Placido Vettoretti Chase Woodrow Barclay Christina Grace McCarty Claire Suzanne Hensarling Clark Perry Mayer Claudia Andrea Held Colby John Blatnik Cruz Alfonso Gonzalez

Dalia Amira Charif Dustin Allen Henderson Eleanor Anne Chapman Elijah Monroe Sellers Elizabeth Jane Walsh Elizabeth Marie Mondragon Ethan Mayo Krampitz Eugene Kim Lee Evan Isaiah Greene Gabriel Michael Walls Glenn William Buckleair Grace Elizabeth Ritter Grant Ashley Phillips Grant Robert McCarty Gus Rocket Solis Hannah Michaela Buskin Jack Edward Herz Jack McLulland Lawson IV Jackson Lee Hezekiah Harris Jacob Aaron Leifer James Faulkner Dodson James Grant Carrington Jared Thomas Miller Joel Adam Zimmerman John Anson Stoughton Buttles Josephine Rubin Zucker Josue Isaac Muñoz Kaleb Za’Margus Culp Kamryn Adrian Martinez Karter Alexandra Olson Katherine Grace Lawson Katherine Lily Liddell Keller Ronald Welton Kerri Erin Rosenthal Laurel Elaine Brown Lauren Elisabeth Chappell Lawrence Somtom Lim Luke Patrick Bridges Margaret Christina Bienko

Mason Pieter Wilderom Matthew Campfield Taten Matthew Goodykoontz White Maxwell Brooks Ingrum Maya Sita Mukherjee Melany Gonzalez Mia Ann Turicchi Mia Cynthia Shroyer Miles Norton Cuban Nicole Chuecas Nishant Sekhar Mukherjee Noah Gabriel Richards Noah Landrum Love Patrick Maxwell Lipscomb Paul Austin Yates Rachel Victoria Neil Reece Robert Fleming Reid Hamilton Boisture Robert Vincent Monaco Ryan Nicholas Legamaro Ryan William Michlewicz Sahair Patel Samantha Adele Hoffman Sarah Brianna Johnson Sheridan Ann Merkle Shivani Makarand Kulkarni Siddhant Paul Mampilli Sohum Makarand Kulkarni Sophie Kate Guillory Tarun Chemiti Thomas Nash Killebrew Victoria Grace Billings Vincent Elisha Gaddis II Vivienne Sarah Verges William Oakes Harrington Winston Douglas Harrah

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BEST CLASS Parish Seniors 2020

Congratulations to the 114 members of our 14th graduating class on their college acceptances. In a year of uncertainty and world-wide disruption, we are very proud of our resilient graduates, who have grown in

AND SERVICE,

WISDOM, HONOR

as they set out to impact our complex global society.

Here’s to the class of 2020!

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AB20LUTE

Abilene Christian University Agnes Scott College

DePauw University Depauw Academic Merit Award | 2 DePauw University Tyler Grant | 1

Elizabeth Kiss Trailblazer Scholarship | 1

Drake University

Drake University Presidential Scholarship| 1

American University

Dean’s Scholarship | 1

Drexel University

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Arizona State University

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AJ Drexel Scholarship | 2 Drexel University Founder’s Scholarship | 1

New American University Scholar Provost’s Award | 1 Dean’s Award | 1 University Grant | 1

Duke University Eckerd College

Auburn University

Presidential Scholarship | 1

Academic Presidential Scholarship | 1

Belmont University Bowdoin College Bradley University

Academic Scholarship | 1

California Polytechnic State University California College of the Arts Centre College New Horizons Scholarship | 1 Centre Founder’s Scholarship | 1

Chapman University Academic Grant | 1

Clemson University Colorado State University Dean’s Scholarship | 1

Columbia College Chicago Concordia University Chicago Athletic Scholarship | 1

Connecticut College Cornell University

Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholars | 1

Creighton University Founders Award | 1

Dallas Baptist University DePaul University Presidential Scholarship | 1 Depaul Scholar’s Award | 1

SCHOOLS HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE INDICATE MATRICULATIONS

Vice-Presidential Scholarship | 2

Saint Mary’s College of California Merit Scholarship | 1

Michigan State University

Faith for the Future Scholarship | 1

Georgetown University Gonzaga University

Non-Resident Scholarship | 1

Sewanee: The University of the South

Graceland University Hampton University

Bucknell University Butler University

Deans’ Scholarship | 1

Saint Louis University

RedHawk Excellence Scholarship | 1

Gonzaga Dean’s Scholarship | 1

Out of State Scholarship | 1

Loyola University New Orleans Lagniappe Scholarship | 2 Dean Scholarship | 3 Lynn University

Presidential Academic Scholarship | 1

Dean Scholarship | 1

President’s Gold Scholarship | 1 Baylor Provost’s Gold Scholarship | 1 Academic Scholarship | 4

Gannon Scholars Leadership Scholarship | 1

Rutgers University at Camden Delaware Valley Scholarship | 1 Rutgers University at Camden Distinguished Acheivement Scholarship | 1

Furman University George Washington University

Emerson College Endicott College Florida Atlantic University Florida State University Fordham University

Baylor University

Loyola University Chicago

Rutgers University

Maryland Institute College of Art Massachusetts College of Art and Design Miami University

Engagement Scholarship | 1

LMU Achievement Award | 2 LMU Early Action Award | 1 LMU Scholarship | 1

Sam Houston State University Samford University San Diego State University San Jose State University Santa Clara University Savannah College of Art and Design Artistic Honors Scholarship | 1 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Seattle Pacific University

Elon University

Austin College

Loyola Marymount University

Undergraduate Merit Scholarship | 1

Harvard University Hawaii Pacific University Hendrix College Academic Scholarship| 1

High Point University Hofstra University Dean’s Scholars Award | 1

Houston Baptist University President’s Scholarship | 1

Howard University Capstone Merit Scholarship | 1

Illinois Wesleyan University Alumni Scholarship | 1

Indiana University

Dean’s Scholarship | 3

Johns Hopkins University Lawrence University Legacy Scholarship | 1 Lawrence University Light! More Light! Scholarship | 1

Lehigh University LeTourneau University Lipscomb University Merit Scholarship | 1

Louisiana State University Academic Scholar Nonresident Award | 1

Maine College of Art Marietta College Leadership Scholar | 1 Legacy Scholarship | 1 Performing Arts Scholar | 1 Merit Award | 1

Pomona College Mississippi State University New York University Oglethorpe University Oglethorpe OU Presidential Scholarship | 1 Oglethorpe University Dean Scholarship | 1

Ohio State University Oklahoma State University Non Resident Academic Achievement Scholarship | 4 College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Dean’s Award | 1 Freshman Research Scholarship | 1

Ouachita Baptist University Pace University Pacific Northwest College of Art Pennsylvania State University Pepperdine University Pratt Institute Purdue University Queens University of Charlotte Queens Academic Scholarship | 1 Rhode Island School of Design Rhodes College Ralph C. Hon Scholarship | 1

Rice University Rochester Institute of Technology RIT Performing Arts Scholar| 1 RIT Tiger Pride| 1

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Sewanee: The University of the South Ecce Quam Bonum Award | 1

Southwest Baptist University Dean Scholarship | 1 Football Performance | 1 Residency Grant | 1

Southwestern University Cody Scholar Award | 1 Academic Scholarship | 1 Mood Scholar Award | 1 Southwestern Award | 2

St. Edward’s University President’s Excellence Scholarship | 4 Dean’s Achievement Scholarship | 2 University Scholarship | 3 Red Door Award | 1

St. Lawrence University Book Award | 1

St. John’s University St. John’s Scholastic Excellence | 1

St. Mary’s University, San Antonio Presidential Scholarship | 1

St. Thomas Aquinas College Stevens Institute of Technology Stony Brook University, The State

University of New York

Friedman Scholarship | 1

The University of Texas at Dallas Syracuse University Syracuse University-Chancellors Scholarship | 1

Texas A&M University Opportunity Award | 1

Texas A&M University, Commerce Texas A&M University, Galveston Texas Christian University TCU Deans Scholarship | 1 TCU Faculty Scholarship | 3 TCU Scholarship | 1 TCU Founder’s Scholarship | 1

Texas State University Texas Tech University Merit Scholarship | 1 Dean’s Scholarship | 1

The Ohio State University National Buckeye Scholarship | 1 Provost Scholarship | 1

The University of Alabama Presidential Scholarship | 1

University of Arizona Excellence Award | 1

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The University of Tampa

Trinity University President’s Scholarship | 3 Dean’s Scholarship | 3 International Student Scholarship | 1

Tulane University Tulane Merit Scholarship | 2 Alumni Donor Award Scholarship | 1

United States Air Force Academy University of Arkansas New Arkansan Non-Resident Tuition Award | 1 Non Resident Tuition Award | 3

University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of California, San Diego University of Central Arkansas University of Central Florida University of Central Oklahoma University of Colorado University of Colorado BoulderChancellor’s Achievement Scholarship | 1

University of Denver

The University of Tennessee The University of Texas at Arlington The University of Texas at Austin

University of Florida University of Georgia

Cockrell School of Engineerin Honors Program Scholarship | 1 McCombs Scholar Canfield Business Honors Program Full Tuition Scholars | 1 College of Natural Sciences Scholarship | 1 Texas Exes Anissa M. and Reid F.

Centennial Scholarship | 1 Residence Hall Grant | 1

University of Minnesota University of Mississippi Academic Excellence Non-Resident Scholarship | 1 Provost Scholar | 1

University of Missouri Mark Twain Non-resident Tuition Scholarship | 1

University of Nevada, Reno University of Nevada-Reno Football Performance | 1

University of North Texas University of North Texas at Dallas University of Notre Dame University Scholarship | 1 Provost’s Scholarship | 1

University of Oregon

Classic Scholars Award | 1

University of Oregon Apex Scholarship | 1

University of Houston University of Iowa

University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh

KU Distinction Scholarship | 1 Freshman Achievement Scholarship | 2 Excellence Scholarship | 1

University of Kentucky

University of Richmond

Advantage Iowa Award | 1 National Scholars Award (NSA) | 1

University of Kansas

Attending 68 different schools Earned 11 million in scholarships with 65% of students receiving a scholarship

Academic Scholar Distintion Award | 2 Academic Scholar Recognition Award | 1

University of Southern California University of the Incarnate Word University of Incarnate Athletic Scholarship| 1

University of Toledo Athletic Scholarship | 1

University of Tulsa Academic Scholarship | 3

University of Utah University of Washington Purple and Gold Scholarship | 1 Valparaiso University Virginia Tech Wabash College Wabash Academic Scholarship | 2

Washington and Lee University Washington University in St. Louis Westminster College - MO Academic Scholarship | 1

Xavier University of Louisiana Xavier University of Louisian Scholarship | 1

Indepdent Scholarships 9 Beasley Foundation Technology Scholarship parish.org Church Matching Scholarship Daughters of the American Revolution Jewish Community Foundation-Saffran Family Scholarship Mary Loving Blair Family Foundation College Scholarship Minister’s Children Discount | 2 National Merit Scholarship Paul Forrest Dixon Robotics Award The Allen and Linda Meyer Award for the Outstanding Graduate | C L A S S 2 0 2 0 commencement edition

Achievement Award | 1 Alumni Association Specialty Tag Fund Scholarship | 1

Engineering Scholarship of Honor | 1

University of San Francisco University of South Carolina

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The University of Arizona

Academic Excellence Higher Recognition Scholarship | 1 Academic Distinction Scholarship | 1

University of Louisville University of Mary Hardin-Baylor University of Massachusetts- Amherst University of Miami University of Michigan

more about the class of 2020 | C L A S S 2 0 2 0 commencement edition

HONORS/ SPECIAL PROGRAMS ACCEPTANCES

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ANNA MIKESKA Trent Lott Leadership Institute & FASTrack Learning Community BLAIRE WARTELL University of Texas McCombs Canfield Business Honors Program CARLA HOEFKEN Texas A&M University Engineering Honors Program CHARLES DAGGET Oklahoma State University Honors College JAMES DODSON Texas Tech Honors College

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION RYAN MICHLEWICZ Texas A&M University Honors Program & Engineering Honors Program SARAH JOHNSON Louisiana State University Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College SOHUM KULKARNI 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholar Cornell Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholars DFW World Council Affairs 20 under 20 SHIVANI KULKARNI DFW World Council Affairs 20 under 20

SAHIR PATEL QuestBridge Finalist

Austin College GRANT MCCARTY Washington and Lee University

LUKE BRIDGES Harvard University

ANDREW MERRICK Texas A&M University

BLAKE BURRIS Air Force Academy

ROBERT MONACO Centre College

KALEB CULP University of Incarnate Word

JOSUE MUNOZ Austin College

ALEJANDRO GARCIA Austin College

AARON OVERTON JR. University of Nevada-Reno

EVAN GREENE Univeristy of North Texas

GABRIEL WALLS Southwest Baptist University

JACK LAWSON Cornell University CAUREN LYNCH University of Toledo KAMRYN MARTINEZ

Undecided 2

21 Private 41 Public

IN TEXAS 36 15 Public

OUT OF STATE 74 33 Private

NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALIST Chase Barclay Shivani Kulkarni Mason Wilderom COMMENDED SCHOLARS Avina Bansal Eleanor Chapman

COLBY BLATNIK Oklahoma State University

CLAIRE HENSARLING Baylor University

Not Publishing 2

MELANY GONZALEZ QuestBridge Match

COLLEGE ATHLETES ASHLEIGH RAE ALBERT Lipscomb University

(In number of students)

KATIE LAWSON Washington University at St. Louis JACKSON HARRIS Hendrix College

Sohum Kulkarani

Ananya Ganeriwalla

NATIONAL HISPANIC SCHOLAR Andrew Kaleigh

FIRST-TIME ACCEPTANCES FOR PARISH California College of the Arts Concordia University Chicago Connecticut College Endicott College Graceland University Illinois Wesleyan University LeTourneau University Lipscomb University Maine College of Art Marietta College Massachusetts College of Art and Design Oglethorpe University Ouachita Baptist University Queens University of Charlotte Rutgers San Jose State Seattle Pacific University Southwest Baptist University St. Thomas Aquinas College Stony Brook University, The State University of New York

FIRST-TIME MATRICULATIONS Bowdoin College Centre College Gonzaga University Illinois Wesleyan University Lipscomb University Ouachita Baptist University Rochester Institute of Technology Southwest Baptist University Texas A&M University, Galveston University of California, Santa Cruz University of the Incarnate Word University of Toledo

WHAT IS A “LIFER?” A student who has spent 12 or more

Front Row (L to R): Katie Lawson, Dustin Henderson

years at Parish. But, more than that, a “Lifer” represents the support, comfort and challenge that is the Parish family, evident throughout the entire student body, prekindergarten through 12th grade. Over the past 14 graduating classes, Parish has had 319 Lifers.

Second Row: Mia Shroyer, Lauren Chappell, Christina McCarty, Anna Clare Payne, Anna Catherine Hunt, Victoria Billings, Lainey Brown

Fourth Row: Will Buckleair, John Buttles, Winston Harrah, Joel Zimmerman, Lawrence Lim Back Row: Matt Taten, Reid Boisture, Reece Fleming, Noah Love, Grant McCarty, Paul Yates, Jacob Leifer, Jack Lawson, Grant Phillips, Tarun Chemiti, Jackson Harris Not pictured: Matthew White, Ethan Krampitz, Clark Mayer

Baccalaureate Address – Lainey Brown

We made it. We are actually here, right now. Normally, this statement would carry enough significance; however, today this statement bears a greater meaning than any year before. . . . I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the elephant in the room. . . . The pandemic and the past couple of months are only a fraction of what we as a class have endured. Yes, it changed our way of life and put, and this is heavily understated, a damper on our senior year. . . . Now is when we don’t let our unwelcome guest take anything else away from us. . . . my charge of action, for the class of 2020 in particular, . . . I am asking that you stay on your toes, that you don’t forget what you learned at the great 4101 Sigma Road, and most importantly that you refuse to live a passive life that’s dictated by a preconceived dream of the future. . . . with the radical mindset of living every day to the fullest of its potential, it’s also important to consider that means the future is constantly unknown. I don’t say this to be haunting, I say it so that none of us get hung up on some storyline we’ve crafted in our minds. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with playing out our ideal life in our head, it’s important to have goals and dreams to motivate us and push us to reach them. But, we can’t let those ideas define who we are today. Because as nice as those dreams are to have, and as healthy as they might be to harbor, obstacles will arise. . . . Hopefully, this adversity does not come in the form of a global pandemic, but unfortunately that option is not completely off the table. . . . And as much as we let our imagination inspire, we must also not let it interfere with what’s happening right in front of us. We can’t lose sight of what else life might have in store. We owe it to ourselves not to get caught up in one storyline, but we should explore anything and everything that makes us curious or excited or even just happy. Because really, we don’t know what tomorrow brings.”

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Here we feature our 35 Lifers from the Class of 2020!

Third Row: Sheridan Merkle, Katie Liddell, Samantha Hoffman, Dalia Charif, Ella Chapman, Brooke Burnecke, Grace Ritter, Koko Olson, Alex Pechersky, Maggie Bienko

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LIFERS 2020

CLASS OF 2020 Commencement Edition 4101 Sigma Road Dallas, Texas 75244 parish.org