Seniors Celebrate Year With Academic Awards

St. Joseph’s Catholic School celebrated the 2025-2026 high school year on Friday, May 8 with the presentation of High School Academic Awards, as well as High School Teacher of the Year. The winners were as follows:

2026 Redemptoris Custos Award: Annette Catherine Plyler
This award is given annually to the senior who excels in scholarship, Christian leadership and service, and who best exemplifies the virtues of St. Joseph and the principles upon which the school was founded. This is the highest honor a student may receive at St. Joseph’s Catholic School. Members of the Senior Class may nominate any senior whom they feel is deserving of this award. Names are then submitted to the Headmaster, with the recipient being selected by faculty vote. Redemptoris Custos is the Latin title for St. Joseph, meaning Guardian of the Redeemer. The recipient delivers the farewell address at graduation.

2026 Father Fox Award: Elasayd Grace Okuley
This award, named in honor of Father Fox, the first priest to celebrate Mass regularly at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, is given annually to the senior who epitomizes the qualities of Christian charity and compassion. Members of the Senior Class may nominate any senior whom they feel is deserving of this award. Names are then submitted to the Headmaster, with the recipient being selected by faculty vote. The recipient delivers the salutatory address at graduation.

2026 Outstanding Christian Athlete Award: Carter Matthew Bears
This award is presented to the graduating student-athlete who best embraces the mission and philosophy of St. Joseph’s Catholic School, both on and off the playing field. Members of the Senior Class may nominate any senior athlete whom they feel is deserving of this award. Names are then submitted to the Athletic Director, with the recipient being selected by coaches’ vote. The recipient reads the first reading at Baccalaureate Mass.

2026 Head of School's Scholar Award: Jonathan Patrick Kissel
The Headmaster’s Scholar Award is presented to the senior who holds the highest cumulative GPA at the end of the first semester in the current graduating class.

English Department Award: Tiffany Florence Helmer
Visual Art Department Award: Emily Marshall Parrick
Instrumental Music Department Award: Charles Penn Sanders
Theatre Department Award: Abigail Ann VanderLinde
Choral Music Department Award: Abigail Ann VanderLinde
French Department Award: Annette Catherine Plyler
Spanish Department Award: Beatrice Jane Hamilton
History Department Award: Samuel Thomas Kane
Mathematics Department Award: Jeremiah David Adams
Science Department Award: Caroline Grace Clayton
Theology Department Award: Jonathan Patrick Kissel
Computer Science Department Award: Sydney Teresa Conroy

2026 St. Joseph’s Catholic School Senior Class Teacher of the Year: Ms. Kate Harrison
This award is presented annually to a High School faculty member who demonstrates commitment and dedication to St. Joseph’s Catholic School, while exemplifying the spirit of teaching in all walks of life. The St. Joseph’s High School Excellence in Teaching Award recipient is selected by vote of the Senior Class.

PHOTO GALLERY