Fifty Academic All Stars To Be Honored on May 1st
Barb Dawson • April 22, 2025
Congratulations, seniors!

Montini Catholic High School in Lombard will roll out the red carpet on Thursday, May 1st to honor members from their Class of 2025 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. A total of fifty seniors achieved the honor this year of being named a Montini Catholic Academic All Star which involves attaining a 3.95+ GPA and/or earning Illinois State Scholar status.
Congratulations to:
Ryan Andres (Bartlett, Kenyon Woods Middle School graduate)
Payton Atkins (Downers Grove, St. Scholastica graduate)
Liliana Aumann (Bolingbrook, St. Dominic graduate)
Zachary Baka (Naperville, All Saints Catholic Academy graduate)
John Barrett (Villa Park, St. Pius X graduate)
Annika Bartell (Downers Grove, Forest Park Middle School graduate)
Maria Bednarczyk (Lombard, Sacred Heart graduate)
Joshua Brunke (Lombard, Sacred Heart graduate)
Hannah Bushati (Downers Grove, St. Joseph graduate)
Gaetano Carbonara (Downers Grove, St. Isaac Jogues graduate)
Liliana Cruz (Elmhurst, Immaculate Conception graduate)
Julian D’Anca (Wheaton, St. Michael School graduate)
Annalee DeFeo (Lombard, St. Pius X graduate)
Isabel Evenson (Lombard, St. Pius X graduate)
Peyton Farrell (Downers Grove, St. Mary of Gostyn graduate)
Jimmy Fitzpatrick (Lombard, Sacred Heart graduate)
Santino Florio (Oak Brook, Butler Junior High School graduate)
Julia Gergen (Lombard, St. Pius X graduate)
Naomy Gonzalez (Wayne, Indian Trail Junior High graduate)
Isabella Greco (Oak Brook, Butler Junior High School graduate)
Tyiance Haney (Aurora, Sacred Heart graduate)
Alexandra Hernandez (Westchester, Divine Providence graduate)
Sean Hubeny (Westmont, St. Mary of Gostyn graduate)
Isabella Jaojoco (Bolingbrook, St. Scholastica graduate)
Lauren Jaskier (Lombard, Jackson Middle School graduate)
Conor Kaefer (Lombard, Sacred Heart graduate)
Nicolette Kerstein (Naperville, Wilmot Elementary School graduate)
Audrey Kinney (Glen Ellyn, St. Petronille School graduate)
Jaxon Lane (Carol Stream, Monroe Middle School)
Ruikun Ray Li (Oak Brook, St. John of the Cross graduate)
Jamie Loftus (Lombard, St. Pius X graduate)
Margaret Nielsen (Lombard, Sacred Heart graduate)
Seoyeon Park (Lombard, International Student)
Gianna Parrilli (Westchester, Ascension Catholic School graduate)
Adrian Polazewski (Lombard, Glenn Westlake graduate)
Wyatt Prater (Naperville, Jefferson Jr. High graduate)
Christopher Reyes (Bolingbrook, St. Dominic School graduate)
Brielle Rowgalo (Wood Dale, St. Philip the Apostle graduate)
Valentina Serna (Addison, St. Isidore School graduate)
Nicholas Sheeran (Downers Grove, Herrick Middle School graduate)
Daniel Sherman (Bolingbrook, St. Scholastica graduate)
Matthew Silveyra (Carol Stream, St. Isidore graduate)
Jackson Simek (LaGrange/LaGrange Highlands graduate)
Sienna Skarda (Elmhurst, Immaculate Conception graduate)
Roberto Soto (Addison Trail, Indian Trail Jr. High graduate)
Lily Spanos (Glen Ellyn, St. Petronille graduate)
Hayden Surrette (Downers Grove, Herrick Middle School graduate)
Sierra Urban (Westchester, Westchester Middle School graduate)
Collins Whitfield III (Downers Grove, St. Joseph School graduate)
Christopher Zayed (Lombard, Glenn Westlake Middle School graduate)
Image above:
Students listed l to r in alphabetical order as listed.
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This month, Montini Catholic's Band is celebrating a National Champion (Class A) title in the National Catholic Band Association's national band competition. "We are incredibly proud," said the Lasallian college preparatory high school's Music Director Donnie Glowinski. "This is the first time in school history that Montini Catholic has earned this title." Each year, Catholic high schools from across the country are invited to submit performance recordings to be adjudicated by a panel of expert judges. "This prestigious honor is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and talent of our student musicians. Their commitment to excellence has brought great pride to our school community," added Glowinski. "Every year, we work on becoming better musicians, and every year, the band rises to the challenge. I am so unbelievably proud of the work this group has done this year and everything they have accomplished. I am really looking forward to the future to see what these students will be able to do!" In the summer of 1953 a small group of concerned band directors, led by Director of Bands Robert F. O’Brien, met on the campus of the University of Notre Dame to discuss the Catholic School Band, its particular problems, and what might be done to further its development. Fr. Theodore Hesburgh Notre Dame President, gave the welcome speech. Mr. O’Brien then proposed goals for the organization and the NCBA was born. Today, NCBA's office is located at Villanova University Office of Music Activities. The NCBA recognizes the value of music within the Catholic school community. Their mission is to establish high musical, educational and ethical standards in Catholic schools' band programs. Image Above: Montini Catholic band members front row l to r: Olivia Marin, Kayli Gergen, Maggie Cyze, Miranda Meier, Sarah Gudmundson, Camile Arnold and Abby Milas; Second row: Roberto Williamson, Margaret Palkoner, Chris Reyes, Michael Patacsil, Maddy Aguilar, Lailah Stubblefield, Simon Poulin, Raphael Patacsil, Mason Maldonado, Cristian Alcantara, Kevin Barrett and Andrew Shin; Back row: Colin Murray, Tyler Whitlock, EJ Schicker, Lucas Van Witzenburg and Oghosa Idemudia Not pictured: Julia Gergen and Eric Hu