WOW! WHAT A CLASS!

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May 25, 2023

For information on enrollment and registration at Notre Dame, an independent, Catholic, International Baccalaureate school, please visit the admissions section of our website here.

Notre Dame Prep graduates an outstanding senior class that finishes with an overall GPA of 3.9197 and an average of nearly $50,000 each in academic, merit-based college scholarships. 

On May 21, the Class of 2023 graduated from Notre Dame Preparatory School after four most-interesting years at this most prestigious International Baccalaureate school located in Pontiac. These 138 seniors finished with a flourish after successfully negotiating a pandemic-influenced couple of years that featured at times face masks, virtual learning, social distancing, gallons of hand sanitizer, canceled sport seasons and quarantines. 

And not only is the school’s 29th graduating class leaving behind a very proud faculty and staff and arguably the state’s top Catholic high school, they are leaving behind a number of impressive data points as a group.

According to figures released this week by Notre Dame Prep’s counseling department, to date this year’s class of graduating seniors earned more than $6.7 million — or an average of nearly $50,000 per graduate — in academic merit-based scholarships from colleges and universities, a number that likely will go up as the graduates continue to receive scholarship offers throughout the summer.

In addition, the Class of 2023 averaged 26.1 on the ACT with 30 seniors scoring a 30 or above on the test. Also, Notre Dame Prep’s graduating class finished the year with an overall grade-point-average (GPA) of 3.9197 (weighted).

Twenty-three graduates fill out this year’s valedictory court for the class, which also featured 23 candidates for the prestigious International Baccalaureate diploma. A total of 138 of the finest colleges and universities across the country have accepted Class of 2023 graduates so far, including the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), the University of Notre Dame, Cornell, Georgetown, Savannah College of Art and Design, Purdue, Oakland University and the College for Creative Studies.

This year's class also was highlighted by 23 acceptances to the University of Michigan. 

And finally, perhaps most important, each of this year’s graduating seniors spent increasingly significant amounts of time on leadership-level projects as part of their service requirements — once again proving that besides turning out “academic scholars,” Notre Dame Prep continues to graduate truly “Christian people" and "upright citizens.”

More information and highlights are below.

2023 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
Harold P. Rice School Mission Award: Thomas T. Belej
Donna M. Kotzan School Mission Award: Allison H. Voto
Chorus: Meghan E. Ferrara
Computer Science: Jackson Krieger
Catherine M. Bembas English Award: Thomas T. Belej
Instrumental Music: John P. Milback
Mandarin Chinese: Luke Scheer
Mark P. McCaskey Mathematics: Thomas T. Belej
Physical Education: Owen O. Thieme
Religion: Allison H. Voto
Robotics: Peyton L. Beckman
Sylvia H. Mulrenin Science: Mia J. Daher
Social Studies: Natalie K. Burg
Ellen A. Tessada Spanish Award: Mia J. Daher
Yearbook: Taylor M. Myers
Kirby R. Smith Art Award: Madeline E. Lawrence
Norman C. Kotarski Theatre Award: Madeline E. Lawrence
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Award: Thomas D. Marvin
Athletes of the Year: Alexandra R. Williams, Robert P. Strimpel
Scholar-Athletes of the Year: Sydney M. Schulte, Zachery T. Conroy

CLASS OF 2023 OUTSTANDING SERVICE
This award is given to students who take leadership roles in school clubs, mentor other students, or are always willing to help without fanfare no matter what the need at school or in the wider community.

Thomas T. Belej, Thomas P. Fletcher, Teegan C. McLeod, Jamal D. Cannon, Madison J. Fraser, Grace I. Munaco, Mia J. Daher, Sydney M. Hinds, Max D. Thornton, Aimee G. Doneth, Luke W. Hogan and Alexandra R. Williams

CLASS OF 2023 SPIRIT OF THE FIGHTING IRISH
This special award is given to students who are truly “green” as they are positive, spirited, involved and ambassadors of our school.

Jack R. Anderson, Thomas P. Fletcher, Jacob R. Lanham, Thomas T. Belej, Madison J. Fraser, John P. Milback, Jamal D. Cannon, Paul J. Frost, Allison H. Voto, Mia J. Daher, Luke W. Hogan and Alexandra R. Williams

CLASS OF 2023 DIRTY DOZEN AWARD WINNER
To earn this award, a student-athlete at NDP must complete 12 consecutive seasons of athletics in good standing at the varsity, JV or freshman level. This includes all sports in which the MHSAA sponsors a championship.

Paul G. Valentino III: Tennis, Ski, Lacrosse

CLASS OF 2023 COLLEGE ATTENDANCES
The Notre Dame Prep counseling department recently put together a list (below) of the colleges and universities where the Class of 2023 will be attending school in the fall.

For information on enrollment and registration at Notre Dame, an independent, Catholic, International Baccalaureate school, please visit the admissions section of our website here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

Follow Notre Dame on Twitter at @NDPMA.

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.