Rwandan Student Found Sanctuary in Dayton Catholic Schools

You never know where God will lead you. For Fanuel Uwishimwe, it was a journey from Kigali, Rwanda, to the football field at Carroll High School, from which he was graduated in May.
He made the journey from the East-Central African country to Dayton with family members in 2009 at the age of five. “My dad was already in the United States working, trying to make enough money for the rest of us to come here,” Uwishimwe explained.
Because he was so young at the time, his memories of life in Rwanda are limited, but his parents have shared stories about the ethnic strife, civil war, and genocide that ultimately left the country in shambles in 1994. “They’ve told me about alarms going off, barricading themselves in the house, trying to flee to another country, hoping things would get better,” he said. “We’re lucky to be here after all of that happened. If things had gone differently, my parents could have been killed.”
Twelve student athletes from the Class of 2021 continuing their careers in college

Congratulations to our twelve student-athletes who are continuing their academic and athletic careers in college next year! We asked these Patriots to tell the Carroll community about their future plans!
Kevin Agnew
Sport: Cross Country
College: The Ohio State University
Planned Major: Electrical Engineering
Favorite Carroll Memory: The 2019 Chocolate Milk Mile
Where do you see yourself in ten years?: Working as an electrical engineer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Conner Bailey
Sport: Soccer
Elementary School/Parish: St. Peter
College: University of South Carolina
Planned Major: Biomedical Engineering
Favorite Carroll Memory: Eating at El Toro with the boys after our games
Where do you see yourself in ten years?: Working as an orthopedic surgeon or doing lab research
Steven Chapman
Sport: Baseball
Elementary School/Parish: St. Peter
College: Ohio Dominican University
Planned Major: Sports Management
Favorite Carroll Memory: Beating Alter junior year in football and beating CJ senior year in football
Where do you see yourself in ten years?: Playing professional baseball
Delaney Conger
Sport: Volleyball
Elementary School/Parish: St. Helen
College: Capital University
Planned Major: Psychology
Favorite Carroll Memory: Fight for a Cure 2019 Volleyball Game
Where do you see yourself in ten years?: I hope to have earned a Doctorate in Psychology and working as a child psychologist in my own firm. Along with this, I want to be married and hopefully starting a family.
Ellie Erich
Sport: Rowing
Elementary School/Parish: St. Brigid
College: The Ohio State University
Planned Major: Integrated Language Arts Education
Favorite Carroll Memory: Our 4x800 relay place 4th at indoor state championships
Where do you see yourself in ten years?: Teaching English and finishing graduate school
Ava Lickliter
Sport: Basketball
College: Wheeling University
Planned Major: Special Education
Favorite Carroll Memory: Going to state in basketball three years in a row and all the house competitions (specifically the lip syncs)
Where do you see yourself in ten years?: Coaching basketball at the collegiate level
Jacob Maurer
Sport: Baseball
College: Lafayette College
Planned Major: Biology
Favorite Carroll Memory: A walk-off win against Fairmont in the tournament and then beating Beavercreek two days later in the sectional finals.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?: Playing in Major League Baseball with a degree from Lafayette College
Brandon Osterholt
Sport: Soccer
College: University of Indianapolis
Planned Major: Business
Favorite Carroll Memory: Going out to eat after soccer games with the team
Where do you see yourself in ten years?: Having tremendous success in my business career
Conner Osterholt
Sport: Soccer
College: Wright State University
Planned Major: Business
Favorite Carroll Memory: Going out to eat with the soccer team after wins
Where do you see yourself in ten years?: Playing professional soccer or investing in real estate
Julia Quinn
Sport: Swimming
College: Florida Atlantic University
Planned Major in College: Finance and accounting
Favorite Carroll Memory: Senior year prom
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?: Having a job I love and traveling a lot!
Takierra Robinson
Sport: Basketball
Elementary School/Parish: Ascension
College: Kentucky Christian University
Planned Major in College: Nursing
Favorite Carroll Memory: Playing in the basketball tournament
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?: Working and building a house
Fanuel Uwishimwe
Sport: Football and Track
Elementary School/Parish: Ascension
College: Otterbein University
Planned Major in College: Sports Management
Favorite Carroll Memory: Pep rallies and House Events
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?: Working as a successful businessman
Two Carroll Seniors Earn National Merit Scholarship Finalist Distinction

Both Carroll High School seniors who were named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists in September 2020 have earned the distinction of National Merit Scholarship Finalist for the Class of 2021. The College Board selected Cameron Neidhard (Riverside resident, St. Helen School alumnus) and Josephine Rose (Xenia resident, St. Luke School alumna) based on their outstanding scores on the 2019 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualification Test.
According to the College Board, approximately 1.5 million students take the PSAT in their junior year of high school. Of these juniors, about 16,000 students (approximately 1%) qualify as Semifinalists. This group is narrowed down to 15,000 who become Finalists. Of this group, about 8,000 are awarded scholarships.
“We are so proud that our two previously announced Semifinalists Cameron Neidhard and Josie Rose have now been named Finalists for the National Merit Scholarship award," Dean of Academics Jill Kilby said. “To have two students place in the top 1% in a single year is a great accomplishment. Their achievement is a testament to their hard work, supportive families, and excellent preparation from teachers not only in high school, but in grade school as well!”
Cameron plans to pursue a degree in either biomedical engineering or neuroscience to become a neurosurgeon. His advice to younger students is, “Make sure to utilize every opportunity that comes your way, even if the chances for success are against you. With that, you can learn quite a lot even if you do not succeed.”
Josie plans to study physics in college and research elementary particles. Her advice to younger students is, “Make peace with yourself that you can’t always do everything 1oo percent and embrace being bad at new things. The more you try to impress people, the less you really impress them.”
Dating back to the Class of 2011, 24 Carroll High School students have earned the distinction of National Merit Scholarship Finalist.
Regional champ Agnew, boys' cross country head to state championships

The Carroll Cross Country teams competed in the Division II Regional Championships on October 31st at Troy. Lead by individual champion Kevin Agnew '21, the Patriot men finished as Regional Runners-up, only ten points behind champion Waynesville. There were a total of 13 teams in the race with the top four teams earning a spot in the State Cross Country Championships. This was the 5th time in team history finishing as Regional Runner-Up and 8th time finishing in the top 2 spots. This was also the 15th year out of the last 18 that the men’s team has qualified to the State Championships in Division II. It’s the 16th men’s state qualifying team in Carroll Cross Country history and 22nd overall.
The Patriot men had an outstanding team race with all 7 runners contributing to the team’s overall win. Agnew's first place finish (15:50) earned him the individual championship for the second year in a row! Kevin also earned All-Region honors and was an Individual State Qualifier! Kevin is the 3rd Individual Regional Champion in school history (Kevin has won twice and Andrew Trick '09, is the other). Jack Agnew '23 finished in 7th place (16:35) to earn All-Region honors and was an Individual State Qualifier. Rounding out the top 7 were: Drew Maxwell '21 (20th-17:14), Logan Arnold '24 (22nd-17:15), Seth Tivakaran '23 (30th-17:32), Hayden Everding '23 (50th-17:58), and Nathan Schiffler '23 (79th-18:47). The alternates for the Patriots were Michael Duckro '22, Jared Sargent '24, Christian Anguiano '21, Adam Cross '22, and Patrick Sableski '22.
The Carroll women also competed in the Regional Championships and tied for 5th place out of 11 teams. The top 3 teams earned a spot to the State Cross Country Championships, and the Patriots were only 28 points from qualifying with their best team race of the season. They were led by Grace Braun '23 who finished in 15th (20:15) and three spots from being an individual state qualifier! The rest of the top 7 for the ladies were Maggie Poor '24 (21st-20:34), Sarah Ochs '22 (36th-21:13), Sophie Mock '21 (45th-21:26), Nataly Duenas-Diaz '21(55th-21:56), Trinity Raber '21 (70th-22:44), and Madi Werner '21 (77th-23:20). The alternates for Carroll were Abby Noss '23, Hannah Wagner '23, and Nora Sableski '24.
Special shout out to our seniors! This was Kevin's 4th time competing at the Regional Championships and 2nd time qualifying to State. This was Drew’s 3rd time competing at the Regional Championships and 2nd time being on a State qualifying team. Trinity has competed at the Regional Championships all 4 years! This was Nataly, Sophie, and Madi’s first time competing at the Regional Championships. Full results from the Regional Championships can be found at: http://live.finishtiming.com/meets/202000440/events.
The Carroll men will compete in the D-II State Cross Country Championships this Saturday (November 7) at Fortress Obetz Stadium near Columbus at 12:00 p.m. You can watch a livestream of the event at ohsaa.org by clicking on the “Watch Games Live / Watch Now” NFHS button. Live results of the races can be found at http://live.finishtiming.com/meets/202000401/events.
Two Carroll seniors named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

We are very proud of these outstanding scholars. There are 1.5 million students that take the PSAT test each year. To have multiple students place in the top 1% in a single year is extraordinary. Their achievement is a testament to their hard work, supportive families, and excellent preparation from teachers not only in high school, but in grade school as well. I have no doubt that Josie and Cameron will be highly successful in any path they choose in life.
-Principal Matthew Sableski '91
Carroll High School seniors Josie Rose and Cameron Neidhard earned distinction as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, adding to the list of Patriot scholars who have placed among the nation’s top students. This test determines NMS honorees in addition to preparing high school students for college entrance tests and demonstrating their college readiness.
- These students gained this recognition by achieving at least a 215 selection index on the College Board’s 2019 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualification Test. The highest possible selection index is 228.
- Carroll High School has the most NMS Semifinalists of any Catholic high school in Montgomery County.
- A total of 681 students from 188 high schools in Ohio were named NMS Semifinalists.
- 14 Carroll High School students have been recognized in the NMS competition as Semifinalists or Commended Scholars since 2017.
Carroll earns Ohio Academy of Science's highest STEM Education honor at virtual science fair

The Ohio Academy of Science awarded Carroll High School the Harold C. Shaw Memorial Award, its highest honor, for the second time in three years at its Virtual State Science Day.
Carroll High School's group of 19 student researchers presented their STEM research projects virtually to comply with social distance and health orders instead of the traditional, in-person format. That didn’t stop 16 students from adjusting their presentations to earn the highest rating of superior. The three other students earned the second-highest rating of excellent, meeting the OAS’s criteria for the Shaw Award. Schools must send at least four students to present research, and 80% of those projects must earn a Superior rating. All projects must score at least an excellent rating, and all students who register for the event must present his/her research.
Carroll was the only high school in the Dayton region to earn the Shaw Award in 2020, and this is the second time Carroll has earned the award since 2018. 13 Patriots earned special awards in their research categories for outstanding projects.
State Science Day Participants and Special Award Winners
Jack Agnew '23 - “The Effect of Antenna Length on SDS-B”: Superior Award
Kevin Agnew '21 - “LED Pacing System for Runners”: Superior Award (Believe in Ohio STEM Entrepreneurship 1st Place Award and $200; Statistical Analysis 1st Place Award)
Grace Bete '23 - “The Effect of CaCO3 on the Dissolution of Ibuprofen”: Superior Award
Sophia Carter '21 - “Effectiveness of Steam vs. Chemical Cleaning”: Superior Award (Governor’s Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in Biotechnology and Biomedical Technologies 4th Place Award and $250 Scholarship; The Ohio State University College of Engineering $1,000 Scholarship renewable for 3 years)
Vivian Dao '22 - “Optimal Thermal Insulation Using Aerogels”: Superior Award (Outstanding Physics Project 3rd Place Award and $50)
Kelly Dong '22 - “Salinity Mitigation Using Straw Mulch on Pisium sativum”: Superior Award
Ellie Erich '21 - “The Effect of Sound Waves on Glycine max: Phase 2”: Superior Award (Ohio Soybean Bioscience 3rd Place Award and $250)
Hayden Everding '23 - “Harmonics in Harmonicas”: Superior Award
Cameron Neidhard '21 - “Developing an Application to Measure Stroop Interference in Bilinguals”: Superior Award (Believe in Ohio STEM Entrepreneurship Honorable Mention Award and $25 gift card)
Josh Orlett '21 - “Effect of Various Aggregates on Concrete Strength”: Superior Award (Excellence Award for Civil Engineering Projects Honorable Mention Award; Outstanding Civil/Environmental Engineering 2nd Place Award and $150)
Trinity Raber '21 - “The Effect of Various Food Textures on Eisenia foetida Castings”: -Superior Award (Believe in Ohio STEM Entrepreneurship Honorable Mention Award and $25 gift card; Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Outstanding Naturalist Award)
Josie Rose '21 - “Negative Effects of Plastic Leachate on Spirulina major”: Superior Award (Governor’s Award for Excellence in Environmental Protection Research 3rd Place Award and $100; Stone Laboratory Scholarship)
Meredith Sanders '23 - “Desalination of Salt Water Using Halophytic Rhizophora mangle”: Superior Award (American Water Works 3rd Place Award and $100)
Karissa Speakman '23 - “The Effect of Roofing Material on Rainwater Collection”: Superior Award
Caroline Wittman '21 - “The Effect of Water Conductivity on Prey- Catching Behavior in Apteronotus albifrons”: Superior Award (Milt Austin Aquatic Science 1st Place Award and $150; Veterinary Medicine 3rd Place Award and $150)
Katie Wittman '21 - “Use of Hydrophytes to Phytoremediate Fertilizer Contaminated Water”: Superior Award (Governor’s Award for Excellence in Environmental Protection Research 2nd Place Award and $100; Soil and Water Conservation 2nd Place Award and $100)
Caden Bistrek '23 - “The Effectiveness of Headgear in Soccer”: Excellent Award
Anthony Gabriele '21 - “Designing a Programming System in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder”: Excellent Award (Believe in Ohio STEM Entrepreneurship 1st Place Award and $200)
Seth Tivakaran '23 - “The Effect of Different Food Substances on Lactate Build-up”: Excellent Award (Osteopathic Medical 2nd Place Award and $100)