Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Class of 2025 Announced
Barb Dawson • May 6, 2025
Congratulations to Matthew Silveyra and Conor Kaefer.
Montini Catholic in Lombard announced their 2025 Valedictorian and Salutatorian on Thursday, May 1st at the Lasallian college preparatory high school's 28th Annual Academic Awards Banquet held at Montini Catholic.
Matthew Silveyra of Carol Stream earned Valedictorian honors and Conor Kaefer of Lombard earned Salutatorian accolades.
Both young men have been very academically accomplished students throughout their four years at Montini Catholic, with each receiving the President's Award for Academic Excellence and Illinois State Scholar honors during their senior year. Earlier in the school year, both Matthew and Conor were named Advanced Placement Scholars with Distinction (scoring a 3.5 or higher on all AP Exams taken) and both earned National Merit Commended Student honors. Conor was also named a National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist.
Both seniors are members of Montini's National Honor Society (NHS) with Conor serving as President and Matthew, Treasurer of the 2024-25 chapter. Both also dedicate their service to fellow students as NHS Peer Tutors. Matthew and Conor are members of the Spanish Honor Society and Matthew earned a Commendation Toward Biliteracy Award this spring. Both men achieved admission into Montini Catholic's Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society - Matthew is President and Conor is Vice President of the society. Both are also members of Montini's Math Team, helping her Broncos secure their impressive 6th Place State finish this spring. Matthew is a member of Montini's Robotics team and Conor was a member up until his senior year. Both Matthew and Conor traveled to Dallas, Texas last spring to represent Montini at the VEX Worlds Robotics Championship.
Conor, a graduate of Sacred Heart Catholic grade school in Lombard, earned Academic All Conference honors and the IHSA Scholastic Recognition Award for his participation in Cross Country and Track and Field. He also serves his fellow students as a Peer Minister and is a member of the Spanish Club, History Club and Lasallian Youth. Matthew, a graduate of St. Isidore Parish School in Bloomingdale, is also a member of the Spanish Club. He also is or has been a member of Montini's Chess Club, Flight Club, Computer Club and History Club during his time at Montini.
Matthew will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University in the fall and Conor will be majoring in Mathematics at Marquette University.
Montini Catholic will honor Matthew and Conor at their 56th Annual commencement Mass and celebration on Sunday, May 18th at their Field House.
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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."

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