Academic All Stars Honored at Annual Banquet
52 Seniors Celebrated! • May 12, 2023

52 Seniors Celebrated!

Montini Catholic High School in Lombard rolled out the red carpet on Thursday, May 11th to honor members from their Class of 2023 as Academic All Stars. Each year the Lasallian college preparatory school invites seniors who have excelled academically throughout their high school years to a celebratory banquet in their honor. This year's event was held at Bobak's Signature Events in Woodridge.

A total of 52 seniors achieved the honor of being named a Montini Catholic Academic All Star which involves attaining a 3.95+ GPA and/or being named an Illinois State Scholar.

Congratulations to:


Jhett Acuna (Glendale Heights) St. Matthew School graduate
Maya Alikpala (Lombard) St. Mary of Gostyn School graduate
Angela Banov (Lombard) Glenn Westlake School graduate
Brighid Barratt (Lombard) Sacred Heart School graduate
Alexa Bauman (Lombard) Glenn Westlake School graduate
Shannon Blacher (Burr Ridge) Hinsdale Middle School graduate
Megan Blim (Bolingbrook) Brooks Middle School graduate
Nathan Camba (Burr Ridge) Pleasantdale Middle School graduate
Emma Canty (Hinsdale) St. Joseph School graduate
Carissa Collier (Lombard) St. Dominic School graduate
Sofia Corona Orozco (Aurora) St. James the Apostle School graduate
Michael Crowley Jr. (Downers Grove) O'Neill Middle School graduate
Luke Cushing (Downers Grove) O'Neill Middle School graduate
Thomas Cyze (Willowbrook) Holy Trinity School graduate
Annabella D'Anca (Wheaton) St. Michael School graduate
Nadyarelis Delgado (Melrose Park) Roosevelt Middle School graduate
John DiSimone (Bensenville) Blackhawk Middle School graduate
Matthew DiSimone (Bensenville) Blackhawk Middle School graduate
Adam Garza (Forest Park) Forest Park Middle School graduate
Mary Catherine Gaughan (Downers Grove) St. Mary of Gostyn graduate
Katherine Gertsen (Plainfield) Bethany Lutheran School graduate
Ava Rose Giannini (Wood Dale) Immaculate Conception graduate
Willa Gramann (Burr Ridge) St. Isaac Jogues graduate
Eleanor Helm (Arlington Heights) F.E. Peacock Middle School graduate
Luke Hemmersmeier (Elmhurst) Visitation graduate
Maren Hoovel (Glen Ellyn) Hadley Junior High graduate
Gabrielle Husmillo (Roselle) St. Walter School graduate
Hailey Larcker (Naperville) Scullen Middle School graduate
Isaiah Lusk (Westchester) Westchester Middle School graduate
Mario May (Western Springs) St. John of the Cross School graduate
Randi Moraga (Wood Dale) St. Pius X Parish School graduate
Andrew Miller (Lisle) St. Joseph School graduate
Thira Minauskas (Lombard) Sacred Heart School graduate
Amanda Mrazek (Lombard) Glenn Westlake School graduate
Carla Osorio Palomino (Carol Stream) St. Pius X Parish School graduate
Luke Pacelli (Downers Grove) St. Joseph School graduate
William Prater (Naperville) Jefferson Junior High graduate
Samuel Ruddy (Downers Grove) St. Mary of Gostyn graduate
Natalia Sandoval (Westchester) Westchester Middle School graduate
Sara Severin (Downers Grove) St. Joseph School graduate
Alexander Silveyra (Carol Stream) St. Isidore School graduate
John Sipchen (Downers Grove) St. Joseph School graduate
Kenneth Sledzinski (Westmont) Holy Trinity School graduate
Kevin Snyder (Downers Grove) O'Neill Middle School graduate
Joseph Spaccapaniccia (Bolingbrook) Jane Addams Middle School graduate
Francesca Spizzirri (Oak Brook) Immaculate Conception graduate
Grace Tierney (Downers Grove) St. Mary of Gostyn graduate
Lillian Townsend (Lombard) Sacred Heart graduate
Dominick Trippiedi (Naperville) St. Raphael School graduate
Jacob Velazquez (Downers Grove) O'Neill Middle School graduate
Peter Vreeland (Lombard) Sandburg Middle School graduate

Michael Wind (Downers Grove) St. Joseph School graduate


So far, Montini Catholic's Class of 2023 has earned over $16,000,000 in academic scholarship offers.  "You have worked hard, sacrificed other pursuits and avoided the many distractions that surround you to put your studies first," said Principal Kevin Beirne. "You have set and exceeded goals and earned this night and all that it means for your future, I am heartened by the doors you have opened for yourselves."


The dinner was attended by recipients and their families.

Image Above: . Front Row (sitting)l to r:  Katheine Gertsen, Maren Hoovel, Kiki Gaughan, Megan Blim, Amanda Mrazek, Sofia Corona Orozco, Carissa Collier, Sara Severin, Nadyarelis Delgado, Gabrielle Husmillo, Maya Alikpala and Lillian Townsend; . Second Row l to r: Thira Minauskas, Jhett Acuna, Jacob Velazquez, Michael Wind, Luke Cushing, Andrew Miller, Kevin Snyder, Dominick Trippiedi, Mario May, Peter Vreeland, Eleanor Helm and Nathan Camba; Third Row l to r:  Natalia Sandoval, GraceTierney, Emma Canty, Shannon Blacher, Joseph Spaccapaniccia, John DiSimone, Sam Ruddy, John Sipchen, Hailey Larcker, Anna D'Anca and Brighid Barratt; . Back Row: Angela Banov, Isaiah Lusk, Michael Crowley, Matthew DiSimone, Will Prater, Francesca Spizzirri, Thomas Cyze, Kenneth Sledzinski and Alexander Silveyra;


Academic All Stars not pictured: Luke Hemmersmeier, Ava Rose Giannini, Randi Moraga, Alexa Bauman, Adam Garza, Willa Gramann, Luke Pacelli, Carla Osorio Palomini,


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Freshmen Welcomed at First Step Social

By Barb Dawson • June 19, 2025
New friends were made and high school anxieties calmed on Thursday, 12th at Montini Catholic High School's First Step Social welcoming their Class of 2029. Montini Catholic's First Step Social is the first opportunity for Montini's newest freshmen to begin building class spirit and to get to know their fellow classmates and future friends. The informal event, facilitated by the school's Admissions team, included several small group games, led by members of Montini's Peer Ministry Team, intended to break the ice and get freshmen excited about their high school years. Parents were also invited to attend and gathered in a separate location in order to meet up with current parent ambassadors, ask questions and gain more insight in preparation for the next four years. Students and parents were treated to burgers and hotdogs via Tailgate Caterers in Lombard. "It was very exciting to have so many new Broncos and their parents on Montini Catholic's campus for our First Step Social," said Admissions Coordinator Sara McGady. "The goal of this event is to provide our new freshmen with a sense of familiarity when they walk through our doors again in August. We also wanted to give our new parents a chance to ask questions and meet fellow parents as they start their new journey as high school parents."

Legacy Seniors Honored at Celebration of Excellence Ceremony

By Barb Dawson • June 19, 2025
Montini Catholic was proud to honor fifteen special seniors on May 16th at the Lasallian college preparatory high school's Celebration of Excellence Awards ceremony. The group represents what Montini Catholic endearingly defines as their graduating "Legacy Students" - students of alumni parents who also graduated from Montini Catholic. This year fifty-two 52 total students of alumni are carrying on their parents' legacies at Montini Catholic, a number that represents close to 10% of Montini's total student body. Each year senior legacy students are called up on stage to receive a special stole to be worn at graduation. Alumni parents are also invited to take a special portrait with their senior as a keepsake on graduation day. "We are always honored when our alumni return as Montini parents to continue our Bronco legacy," said Alumni Relations Officer William Dawes '13. "When you are at Montini Catholic, you are family, which is one of the main reasons parents choose Montini. An education at Montini is a unique experience and we love to see our legacy grow with each passing year." Montini Catholic's 2024-25 Legacy Seniors (alumni parent(s) under students' names): Katelyn (Kat) Bell ‘25 Jackson Bell ‘27 Patrick Bell ‘96 Peter Considine ‘25 Michael Considine ‘86 Annalee DeFeo ‘25 Laura (LaMontagna) DeFeo ’93 & Michael DeFeo ‘93 Nolan Ferris ‘25 Shannon (O’Connor) Ferris ‘93 James Fitzpatrick ‘25 Michael Fitzpatrick ‘88 Zoe Gangas ‘25 Nick Gangas ‘81 Sean Hubeny ‘25 Katie (Doll) Hubeny ’96 & James Hubeny ‘96 Nick Irion ‘25 and Vince Irion ‘25 Dave Irion ‘88 Vincent Knudtson ‘25 Lia (Badalamenti) Knudtson ‘89 Jamie Loftus ‘25 Christina (Connelly) Loftus ‘86 Margaret Nielsen ‘25 Maureen (O’Neill) Nielsen ‘87 Ava Sebben ‘25 Patricia (Gary) Sebben ‘90 Lily Spanos ‘25 Shannon (Herold) Spanos ‘99 Collins Whitfield ‘25 Katherine (Janko) Whitfield ‘00 Collins Whitfield ‘00 Image above: Front l to r: Lily Spanos, Ava Sebben, Margaret Nielsen, Jamie Loftus, Sean Hubeny, Zoe Gangas, Nolan Ferris, Annalee DeFeo and Kat Bell; Back row l to r: Collins Whitfield, Vincent Knudtson, Vince Irion, Nick Irion, Jimmy Fitzpatrick and Peter Considine;

Julia Gergen Earns the 2025 Jean Diane Colletti Memorial Scholarship

By Barb Dawson • June 13, 2025
Montini Catholic congratulates senior Julia Gergen on being this year's recipient of the Jean Diane Colletti Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is one of several that have been named and endowed by Montini Catholic alumni, parents and friends in order to provide financial assistance to graduates pursuing higher learning in college. The award was announced at the Lasallian college preparatory high school's annual Academic Awards Banquet (May 1st) this spring by Dr. Vince Colletti DDS '05 (son of Jean Diane Colletti) Julia was honored again on May 16th at Montini's Celebration of Excellence Award ceremony in front of the entire student body. Julia has been a very academically accomplished student throughout their four years at Montini Catholic. In May she received the President's Award for Academic Excellence, she is an Illinois State Scholar and a College Board Advanced Placement Scholar. Julia was also a member of Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society as well as Montini's National Honor Society where she served as Secretary her senior year. She enjoyed her time as a member of Montini's Math Team, and celebrated their 6th Place State finish this year. Julia also valued her experience gained from serving her fellow students as a Peer Minister through Montini's Campus Ministry program. Athletically, Julia was a valued member of Montini's Track & Field Team and celebrated securing school records her junior year in the 4x100m and 4x200m races. "Julia has been an outstanding student," said Principal Chris Tiritilli. "Her academic and athletic career here at Montini has been quite extensive and impressive. She is never seen without a smile on her face, she has been a role model to her fellow students. She truly deserves this recognition and we know she will do great things at Notre Dame!" Julia, a St. Pius X Parish School alum, and a member of St. Pius X Parish. She plans on majoring in Biological Sciences on a Pre-Med Track at the University of Notre Dame in the fall. Above: Julia Gergen '25 and Dr. Vince Colletti DDS '05 at Montini Catholic's Academic Awards Night on May 1st.
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