DETERMINED DENTIST

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September 6, 2021

For information on enrollment and registration at Notre Dame, please visit the admissions section of our website here.

Alum from the most recent NDP graduating class says he's already well entrenched in college after a "phenomenal experience" in high school.

When 2021 Notre Dame Prep grad Andrew Marsheh was deciding on his next academic journey during his last year of high school, he looked at lots of the top colleges and universities in the country and applied to more than a few of them. But it was the University of Dayton that ended up at the top of his list.

He said there were three very good reasons why, including the fact that it's ranked in the top-five colleges for pre-dentistry, his chosen major. Another reason ties back to his high school alma mater.

"I loved the idea of continuing my Catholic and Marianist-based education in an institution like the University of Dayton," he said. "My faith life had greatly evolved at Notre Dame Prep, especially through the past year or so, with the help of some wonderful NDP staff, such as Mrs. Zuccaro, and through various activities, including the amazing Kairos retreats."

The final reason for Dayton came down to numbers.

"I ultimately decided on the University of Dayton because of the large scholarships that I was awarded from the school," said the NDP valedictorian. "Along with a few other smaller scholarships, I was awarded the highest merit scholarship that the university offers, which definitely had an influence on my decision."

Marsheh added that at the end of the day, he thought Dayton was the right fit and even though he's only a few weeks into his first term on campus, he's pretty sure it was the right decision. 

"My peers constantly ask me why I turned down an acceptance to some other great schools, such as the University of Michigan, for Dayton and I always explain to them that U-D was just the right fit."

That right fit ultimately will lead him to dental school and a career as a dentist, and "possibly picking up a specialty in dental surgery or orthodontics."

Even though he's only a few months removed from Notre Dame Prep, Marsheh, who attended Holy Family Regional School for grade school, said he still likes to reflect on his time at NDP.

"First, from an academic perspective, Notre Dame was a phenomenal experience as the classes are taught by teachers who are interested in the subjects and really care about their students," he said. 

"From an extracurricular perspective, NDP also was a great experience for me personally. Whether it was founding a club, Spikeball Club, with Tommy Joppich or dedicating time to the sports I loved, such as soccer and lacrosse, my extracurricular life at NDP always was enjoyable and immersive."

He reiterated how much faith had become such a huge part of his life at NDP.

"I cannot thank campus ministry and Mrs. Zuccaro enough," he said. "They truly had a life-changing impact on me."

Marsheh also said he'd be more than happy to pass along the good news of Notre Dame to anyone considering the school.

"I would tell students who are thinking of attending my alma mater that NDP is a great place to grow as a person, not only in their academics but, more importantly, in their character and faith."

For information on enrollment and registration at Notre Dame, please visit the admissions section of our website here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.