Voices Ringing Blog /

Michael Blackford ‘28, Gonzaga House member and St. Luke School alumnus, with Mrs. Samantha (Miegl) Doggett ’06

Diligent, hardworking, and brilliant, Michael Blackford brings meaningful insights to any class discussion, demonstrates integrity, and extends empathy to those around him; in other words, Michael is the true embodiment of what it means to be a Carroll Patriot and an asset to our community.

-Mrs. Samantha (Miegl) Doggett '06

Favorite Restaurant:

All the Best Deli

Favorite Movie:

Pride and Prejudice

Place you'd love to travel:

I would love to travel to Sweden to try the food and to study their society and the geography.

Who would play you in a movie?

Colin Firth

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in the Carroll Cross Country team and St. Lukes Latte Ministry.

What's your favorite part about being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a Carroll student is that I have all the resources I need there to be a successful person.

How should school help you succeed?

School should help me succeed by building up my knowledge and confidence.

What's your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to be a successful, minimalist, peaceful, and virtuous adult.

What's a lesson you learned when overcoming a difficult obstacle?

A lesson I’ve learned when it comes to surmounting difficult obstacles is to be entirely focused on getting the job done to the best of my ability. I ignore all discomfort, distractions, and any predictions of the outcome. It is all about whether or not I give everything in the process.

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend my free time drawing, playing the piano, studying military history, and working out.

Entering high school can seem unfamiliar and overwhelming for most new students and their families. For Patriot families that don’t speak English as their first language, the whole experience-filling out paperwork, learning new routines, and meeting the rigorous expectations- can be daunting. Thankfully, students like Yuridia Hernandez-Gomez ‘24 have made themselves available to serve the Spanish-speaking community at Archbishop Carroll by providing translation services, both on campus and in the greater Dayton area.

For Yuri, translating is second nature to her everyday life. “Since I can remember, I’ve been translating,” she recalled. When a kindergarten teacher told Yuri’s mother that Yuri would likely never learn English if only Spanish was spoken at home, Yuri’s mother, a native Spanish-speaker, found ways to immerse her daughter in English-speaking situations where she would be able to hear and speak English. “My mom did everything she could so that I could be bilingual,” said Hernandez-Gomez.

Since those early days, Yuri has been translating for her parents and helping her family, originally from Mexico, through the ins and outs of life in the United States. Yuri is also proud to help her sister, Kathelin ‘26, navigate high school so that she does not have to face the steep learning curve that Yuri did.  Yuri also has been providing that assistance to other Hispanic families in the Carroll community.

“She is the glue for our native Spanish-speaking families at Carroll,” said Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion Mrs. Tara Ashworth. On many occasions, families will mention how Yuri assisted them with filling out forms, directed them where to go, and guided them through the next steps that come with the high school experience to Ashworth.

Yuri credits Ashworth for welcoming and assisting her and her family in those early years at Carroll. Now, Yuri pays it forward by offering her assistance in both Spanish and English for incoming Hispanic students and families at orientations, open houses, and other schoolwide functions. “I know what it’s like,” Yuri said, “I used to be running around having to translate for my family.”

When she is not wearing her translator hat, Yuri is still very much helping other students through her various leadership positions. She is a proud Gonzaga House Captain, and she has enjoyed planning schoolwide events. She also fondly recalled her time as a PATS Retreat leader. Like her service to the Hispanic community, she really enjoyed helping her timid peers open up and grow deeper in their relationship with Christ during their time on retreat.

This past May, Yuri was able to receive her Seal of Biliteracy, a medal awarded to students who have achieved a level of mastery in both Spanish and English. “To some people, it’s just a medal,” said Yuri. “To come from a Hispanic family, it means everything.  They had nothing, and they gave me everything.”

Following graduation, Yuri will attend Wright State University to study nursing, a path she also says is inspired by her experience translating. “I’ve translated at the hospitals for people I don’t know,” Yuri said. Like her time serving as a translator at Carroll, she has helped Spanish-speaking patients ask questions to medical professionals, fill out paperwork, and help people find where they need to go in a hospital. Because of this, she felt the call to be a nurse who could communicate with patients in both Spanish and English.

Yuri has made it her mission to work with students, parents, and now hospital patients who are apprehensive and overwhelmed by the language barriers and help provide peace and empowerment to navigate through the English-speaking situations. Looking back on how far she has come in her own English language mastery, she is very proud to share these accomplishments with her family, specifically her parents.

“All of this makes my family proud because I was told I was never going to do it, and I’ve done more than that now.”

Maren Tipton-Delisle '24, Gonzaga House member and St. Luke School alumna, with Mrs. Jill Kilby

Maren is an outstanding leader and student. She has been a huge asset throughout her time at Carroll with House Council activities.  She is always willing to go the extra mile to help any way she can!

-Mrs. Jill Kilby

Favorite Restaurant:

Taco Bell

Favorite Movie:

10 Things I Hate about You

Who would play you in a movie:

Maddie Ziegler

Place you'd love to travel:

Greece

What activities do you participate in:

I am a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Spanish Club, and I am a captain for Gonzaga House. I also run the Class of 2024 Instagram. I am a captain of the Girls' Lacrosse team and played volleyball in the fall.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll:

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is attending sporting events, dressing up in theme, and cheering on our team.

What should school “do” for you:

In my opinion, school should prepare students for their future and give them a safe, supportive environment to learn.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle:

My dad is in the U.S. Navy and is currently stationed in the United Kingdom. Living my day-to-day life with him overseas has taught me to become more independent and work hard in every aspect of my life. It has also taught me to cherish every moment I am able to spend with my family.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to become a dermatologist and open my own practice.

How do you like spending your free time?

In my free time, I like to go to Starbucks and walk around Target. 

Grace Brown '25, St. Anthony School Alumna and Gonzaga House Member, with Mrs. Melissa Leaman

At St. Pat's Fest, Grace really went above and beyond.  She stepped into a role that normally was for an adult on Saturday and was here for almost all day cleaning up on Sunday.  She was willing to jump in and do whatever was asked of her without complaint, and I am very thankful for her.

-Mrs. Melissa Leaman

Favorite Restaurant

Cheddars

Favorite Movie

Billy Madison

Who would play you in a movie?

Reese Witherspoon

Place you'd love to travel:

Paris

What activities do you participate in?

I am a football manager and a wrestling stat

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

Seeing the teacher's happy faces and seeing my friends and making new friends.

What should school “do” for you?

Help educate me and help me pass school and pass and get into a good college.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

To keep my head and do not let people tear me down.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To become a lawyer and buy my mom a good house to live in.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like to play with my uncle's dog and help my grandma cook and bake. I also love to sleep.

Sky Londergan ‘25, Gonzaga House and St. Luke School alum, with Ms. Gretchen Obergefell ’19

Sky shows exemplary character both in the classroom and behind the stage. Sky gets right to work sweeping the bleachers, moving chairs, cleaning up trash, putting supplies away, and looks around and finds what needs to be completed and does it without having to ask an adult leader what needs to be done. Most people would note that all of this help is way above and beyond the job description of “stage manager,” extending responsibilities outside the stage itself by cleaning up the gym and cafeteria after performances.

Favorite Restaurant:

All the Best Deli

Favorite Movie:

Coraline

Who would play you in a movie?:

Mr. Bobinsky

Place you'd love to travel:

Utah

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in Drama Club, Muse Machine, and Latin Club

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part about being a student at Carroll are the after school opportunities, Drama Club, and the willingness of the teachers to share stories and life advice with students.

What Should school “do” for you?

School should teach students how to problem solve and create strong educational foundations that students can use to make intelligent choices in their day to day lives. Along with that, school should offer well-rounded opportunities that encourage students to do something that fits their needs and interests.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A lesson I’ve learned after overcoming a difficult obstacle is that as long as you take away something and learn how you can improve it next time, every obstacle is a great opportunity. After every difficult obstacle, you have to go back and pick out something you can improve on, and then execute that into the next thing you do.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to be dedicated and enjoy what I pursue after high school.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like spending my free time at stage crew, hanging out with friends, and listening to music.
 

Grace Simpson '24, Gonzaga House and St. Luke School Alumna, with Mrs. Mary Ollier

Grace sat down with a fellow student who is new to Carroll and helped her navigate some important parts of our class, including logging into her textbook, finding the daily agenda, and completing and turning in assignments. Grace's kindness and compassion were a great example of our welcoming Patriot spirit! 

-Mrs. Mary Ollier

Favorite Restaurant:

Olive Garden

Favorite Movie:

Nimona

Who would you like to play in a movie?

Nimona

Place you'd love to travel:

Colorado

Activities you participate in:

I am in marching band, sewing club, and Write-On.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is being in the band.

What should school “do” for you?

School should prepare me for life's challenges.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I learned that I can't let grief hold me back from doing things I need to do.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to work in a greenhouse and study plants.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like to spend my free time reading and playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Tyler Schmalstig '23, Gonzaga House and Immaculate Conception School alumnus, with Mr. Ben Swick

Tyler is hardworking, kind, models our Catholic values, shows perseverance and willingness to try new things outside of his comfort zone, and serves as a leader for our whole house.

-Mr. Ben Swick
 

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

The community, especially all of the wonderful teachers.

What should school “do” for you?

School should make me feel like I am around my friends, learning things, and having a decent amount of fun while doing it. Even though everyday can't be fun, it is always a great day to be a Patriot!

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I was failing a class, so I learned I have to do my homework in order to be successful in school.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

I want to become a very successful comic book artist live a comfortable and fulfilling life while doing so.

How do you enjoy spending your free time?

I enjoy making art, and playing card games and video games.

Cam Brown '23, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Jill Kilby

Cameron leads by example.  He has stepped up in leadership on a number of occasions, especially during PATS Retreats which he has led twice this school year.  Cameron is kind and cares about people.  He has a quick smile and a big heart.  He is a great example of what a Carroll Patriot should be, and we are blessed to have him here.

What activities do you participate in?

I play lacrosse and run track here at Carroll.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part about being student at Carroll is the community. The teachers here are caring and understanding, and you can tell they really care about you.

What should school “do” for you?

I think school should be a place where you grow spiritually and mentally. It should be a place that nurtures and helps you grow.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

The biggest lesson I have learned is to ask for help.  When I first came to Carroll, the workload was a big adjustment, and I struggled but found that there’s a community of people that want you to succeed. As a young man, it is hard to ask for help sometimes but there are always people there to help guide you.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in my life is to work in a career field I truly love and start a family someday.

How do you like spending your free time?

I enjoying hanging out with my friends, listening to music, and taking a nap when I can.

Sophia Sassenberg '26, Gonzaga House, with Mr. Cody Byrd

The Archbishop Carroll Profile of a Patriot states, "A Patriot knows curiosity and enthusiasm can only enlarge the scope of the mind." Sophia Sassenberg brings the best of these qualities into every classroom she enters. Sophia is kind and respectful and has shown a fun and inquisitive approach to education during her freshman year. Sophia came to Carroll as a stand-out performer in the band, and through her curiosity and enthusiasm, she has elevated herself as a true stand-out Patriot.

-My. Cody Byrd

What activities do you participate in?

I do Marching Band, Communications for Freshman Class Council, Spanish Club, Pep Band, and Balloon Club.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the experience. I am able to meet new people all the time, I have made great friends, and enjoy all of my classes. I have learned so much already, and I am so glad I have the opportunity to attend Carroll for my high school experience.

What should school “do” for you?

I believe that school should prepare me for my future and further education. So far, I believe that Carroll is doing exactly that.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

An obstacle I overcame was my fear of social interactions. Before sixth grade, I was one of the quietest, most reserved kids you would ever meet. I was scared of making mistakes or being made fun of, so I just stayed quiet. Then in sixth grade, I became friends with the people that made me who I am now. Making new friends brought me out of my shell, and I am so thankful for all of the people who have come to know and love me, especially the people who knew me before I became who I am. This experience taught me that you shouldn't worry about what other people think of you, you just need to find the right group of people who love and support you no matter what.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To lead a successful life.

How do you like spending your free time?

In my free time, I play the clarinet, hang out with my sister, listen to music, watch Netflix, pet my cat, Angler, and learn new instruments.

Meredith Sanders '23, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Martha Saurine

Meredith did a really great job initiating the therapy dog session for final exams in December and helping plan a baby shower for Mrs Merkle.  She follows through with everything she promises and has been great to work with.

-Mrs. Martha Saurine

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in Lacrosse, Tennis, International Club, Math Club, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Spanish Club, House Council, and Ohio Math League.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is having teachers who support me outside of the classroom by attending sporting and fine arts events.

What should school “do” for you?

School should be a safe place where you can explore who and what you want to be without judgment.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I learned the importance of not letting others define who you are, and above all, I learned that you need to do what makes you happy.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream is to conquer the lesson above: to be at peace with myself and not value others' opinions so much that I lose focus on my own. I also dream of being a judge on a cooking show, like Chopped, even though I lack culinary expertise.

How do you like spending your free time?

When I have free time, I like playing video games with my family, volunteering at 4 Paws for Ability, and playing the violin.

Charlie Sproles '24, Gonzaga House, with Mr. Chris Ochs

Charli brought to me a $20 bill that she found on the floor in Family Room.  We traced it back to the person who was sitting in the seat the previous period and returned the money to its rightful owner.  She could have put that $20 bill in her pocket, and I suspect no one else would have ever known.  Her honesty and integrity are a good example for students at Carroll.

-Mr. Chris Ochs

What activities do you participate in?

I am Vice President of National Art Honor Society, I participate in Media 4 Carroll, and I am a student ambassador.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the people. I love getting to know all the people in my classes and I enjoy being around the teachers and staff here as well.

What should school “do” for you?

School should help students grow academically and socially. It should also give students a chance to try out different things and figure out what they want to do as a career. 

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I learned to always value my family and close friends first, because they know me so well and they have my best interest at heart. 

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to be happy and to have enough resources to be able to travel around the world – a fleet of all my dream cars would be nice as well. 

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend my free time working at Dairy Queen in Huber Heights, hanging out with my friends, going on Target runs, and listening to music.

Matt is a senior in Gonzaga Family Room 209 and has more than stepped up as a leader and support to our Captain, Michael McHugh.  He has taken charge of the celebration of birthdays, initiated the family football fantasy draft, and has been an overall wonderful example as to how all seniors in every Family Room can get involved and have a positive influence.  Thank you Matt for all of your hard work and dedication to making everyone in our Family Room feel special and included!"

-Mrs. Abby (Wiles) Merkle '11

Matt Conley ‘23, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Abby (Wiles) Merkle ’11

What activities do you participate in?

I'm a member of the Pop Culture Club.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I really enjoy the sense of community between the students and staff.

What should school “do” for you?

School should help prepare you for adulthood.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Community and the support it can provide is important.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream is to live in Ireland one day.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like to listen to music and play guitar.

At Duke University, students do not officially declare a major until their sophomore year, which would only give Jason Dong ‘18 a short year to decide the course the remainder of his college experience would take. Thankfully, he had his academic and extracurricular experiences at Archbishop Carroll High School to prepare him for his future. “When I was at Carroll, there were a lot of opportunities for me to explore what I wanted to do,” Jason recalled. He knew he wanted to go into either biochemistry, bioengineering, or electrical engineering, and he was able to explore all three throughout his time at Carroll.

When it came time to officially declare his major, he chose two. He would pursue electrical engineering and computer science, as well taking on a minor in history.

At a prestigious institution as Duke, taking on two majors and a minor would be no easy task. But, Dong felt very prepared, especially after navigating AP-level courses while running cross country. The discipline to run daily, in addition to taking rigorous courses, taught him valuable lessons necessary for success as a Blue Devil. Patriot Cross Country Coach John Agnew ‘80, an electrical engineer himself, also encouraged Jason to pursue engineering by providing him with valuable information about the profession.

With such little time for a social life, Jason found great friendships and belonging in the STEM community at Carroll. He had great connections with his teachers and his tight-knit group of classmates. Dong recalled that they led him to be more sociable and confident in himself. With those friends, he joined the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) competition team and was able to explore the bioengineering side of the STEM field.

Little did he know that the two years he spent as a part of Carroll’s newly-formed House System would provide valuable tools to prepare him for life on campus in Durham, North Carolina. “At the time Carroll did the House System, I didn’t fully understand the concept. It makes a lot of sense leading into college,” said Dong, especially at Duke, where the university was beginning to incorporate their own version of the House System into community residence life while he was an undergraduate.

Jason was able to live on campus his freshman year; however, the COVID pandemic complicated two years of his time at Duke. He spent a good portion of sophomore year and all of his junior year back home while both virtually taking classes and working as a Teaching Assistant for the Intro to Coding and Digital Electronics courses. “I’m very thankful that I had my last two semesters on campus, in person, at Duke” Jason said, as he was able to attend hall of fame Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game against their bitter rivals at the University of North Carolina and reunite with his friends for other university events.

Since Duke this past spring, Jason has accepted a position as a software engineer for Goldman Sachs. He plans on taking either the GRE or GMAT while working in New York to work towards earning a masters degree in computer science or getting an MBA.

Jason’s mother told her son that she knew Archbishop Carroll High School would provide Jason with a valuable education in a faith-filled community. However, neither she nor Jason could have guessed that being a part of not one, but two, House System community developments would play such a significant role in his professional advancement. Jason hopes that his past experiences and current career endeavors will allow him the opportunity to someday shape a professional community of his own as the project manager of a startup in the future.
 

Pamela Olivas ‘22 (left) and Kelly Dong ’22 with Mrs. Linda Edwards

They are both our Yearbook Editors this year and have done an amazing job with our book and their role as leaders in the Yearbook class.  I'm very impressed with both of them.

-Mrs. Linda Edwards

Kelly Dong, Gonzaga House

What activities do you participate in?

I am an Editor in Yearbook Club, President of National Honor Society, and an Officer for Spanish club. Additionally, I am involved in Ohio Math League, Spanish Honor Society, and I’m a research intern at Wright Patterson Air Force Base under mentor Dr. John Harrell.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

The teachers are my favorite part about being at Carroll. Shoutout to Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Ollier, Dr. O’Malley, Ms. Caserta, Mrs. Fuhr, Mr. Ochs, Mayor Williams, and so many others. 

What should school “do” for you?

School should give you a little of an idea of what you want to do in life. Whether that be traveling, entering into a trade school, taking a break, or entering into college, school should support and inspire you to take your next few steps.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Although I was born in the US, I lived in China for the first four years of my life with my grandparents. When I came to the US, I barely knew any English going into preschool. Because of the language barrier, I was scared of talking. Therefore, through this, I have learned to ask the questions you have and to talk to the people you’ve always wanted to talk to; after all, there’s no guarantee that you’ll ever see anyone from your high school ever again.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life has always been to become an oncologist (a cancer doctor) and to get a dog. Part of my dream is coming true because my family is getting a toy poodle in a few weeks!

How do you like spending your free time?

In my free time, I like to read, cook, and bake. Currently, I’ve baked a dozen different chocolate chip cookie recipes in search of the perfect cookie.

Pamela Olivas, Charity House

What activities do you participate in?

I am part of the marching band, Chamber Strings, Drama club, and I am a yearbook editor.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I love getting involved with various activities at Carroll and spending time with friends.

What should school “do” for you?

I believe school should teach us to be responsible and good people before we go out into the world.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I learned that sometimes it is okay when things don’t go the way you planned, it is better to learn from it and adapt.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

I would love working to make my community better and helping as many people as I can. 

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend my free time playing my viola and hanging out with friends.

Meredith Sanders '23, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Tara Ashworth

Meredith is a patient, kind, and helpful tutor who goes the extra mile to check back in to see if other students need extra help.  She is one of the presidents of the International Club and constantly goes above the requirements by making sure her leadership position expectations are not only met but exceeded.

-Mrs. Tara Ashworth

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in Lacrosse, Tennis, International Club, Math Club, Class Council, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Spanish Club, and Ohio Math League.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I enjoy being able to say that I have gone to school here longer than most of the seniors because I took math here in 7th and 8th grade.

What should school “do” for you?

School should prepare you not only for the next chapter of your life, but for the whole rest of the novel.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I learned the importance of not letting others define who you are, and above all, I learned that you need to do what makes you happy.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

Although I have a lot of goals for myself, my biggest dream in life is to find all of my dog’s brothers and sisters and hold a huge family reunion for them in a large yard with lots of squeaky toys and peanut butter.

How do you like spending your free time?

When I have free time, I like playing video games with my family (specifically any Mario game) and volunteering at 4 Paws for Ability.

Micah Kilby '22, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Mindy Monell

Micah has shown great leadership and direction this year as Family Room 312 captain. Because of her willingness to listen to everyone;s ideas, she has created an environment of inclusion.  All members feel valued and encouraged to participate in Family Room and House activities.

-Mrs. Mindy Monell

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Lacrosse.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is being surrounded by my classmates every day and learning to be a leader in and outside of school.

What should school “do” for you?

School should give you a foundation to make good decisions in life while also preparing you for college and all of life’s obstacles.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A lesson I learned when I overcame a difficult obstacle is, 'This too shall pass.'

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to become a physician and help others every day. 

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend my free time out on the field with my teammates and going to coffee shops around town. 

Lucia Igitego '22, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Jenny (Frankenberg) Hentrich '87 

What activities do you participate in?

I am an outfielder for the Softball team, have also been part of the cooking club since freshman year, as well as a member of Femme club.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I love the community and how close everyone is. I also love how all the faculty care about the students and will go out of their way to make sure we have a great day.

What should school “do” for you?

School should make you into the best person you can be. It should be the final step to finally becoming a mature adult and an outstanding person.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Last fall, I took night classes to obtain my State Tested Nursing Assistant license. After a few months, I graduated from the classes and went on to take my state test. Through this experience, I learned that anything is possible with hard work and effort.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

I hope to start my own company sometime in the future. With this company I hope to be financially comfortable enough to adopt at least 3 kids and also start a program to better help the children in the foster care system.

How do you like spending your free time?

I enjoy writing music, and sometimes, I start writing books but never finish. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and volunteering with them.

Paxton Clark '23, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Diane (McNelly) Keller '83

Paxton is a hardworking student who works hard in all he does.  Paxton always has a great attitude and engages in class discussions.

-Mrs. Diane (McNelly) Keller '83

What activities do you participate in?

Soccer, Food Bank volunteer

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I love going to Family Room and Football games.

What should school “do” for you?

School should provide a quality education and opportunity for all students while allowing and enabling us to strengthen and grow our faith.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A difficult obstacle that I had to overcome recently was breaking my wrist.  I had to learn how to adapt to life while only using one hand. Although my wrist will heal, It made me rethink how people with permanent physical disabilities do not have it easy and how our world needs to be more accessible for the disabled.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to travel the world and find happiness.

How do you like spending your free time?

I enjoy spending my free time playing soccer and hanging out with friends and family.

Sam Wittmann '22, Gonzaga House, with Mr. Greg Derus

I nominated Sam for Student of the Week due to his work on next year's handbook cover. I asked him to brainstorm some ideas on what he would like to do with the project, and what he created was nothing short of fantastic.  He took a simple idea and used his amazing artistic talent to produce a wonderful depiction of the community and life at Carroll.

-Mr. Greg Derus

What activities do you participate in?

Rowing for Dayton Boat Club, National Art Honor Society, and Spanish National Honor Society

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

Growing close with the community and watching others and myself grow to be stronger and more passionate every day.

What should school “do” for you?

School should give me the opportunity to experiment with the things I love to do so that I can use my gifts to better the lives of everyone around me.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Hard work always pays off. Never be afraid to work hard because there is always something that can be learned.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

Live life to the fullest while following God every step of the way

How do you like spending your free time?

Fishing, rowing, drawing, football, hanging with friends, and any activity outdoors

Fritz Ruetschle '24, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Diane (McNelly) Keller '83

If you know Fritz, you know he is a hardworking student.  Every day, he enters my room with a positive attitude, and he frequently provides additional content to the lesson.

-Mrs. Diane (McNelly) Keller '83

What activities do you participate in?

Swimming and volleyball

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

The things I enjoy most about being a student at Carroll are the people and activities that I can do and plan on trying.

What should school “do” for you?

School should keep me active in the community and give me many options to choose for extracurricular activities. It also pushes me to drive forward during tough times like this and keep working.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

If you come into a project with a good attitude, you will come out with an amazing project and maybe a new friend.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

Travel to Europe and live there for a year

How do you like spending your free time?

I work at Saint Luke Church on weekends and hang out with friends when I can.  I also try to go to the pool a lot and swim

Sarah Ruetschle '21, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Katie Baker

Sarah is amazing all around, but she has been especially great this year. I have her in two classes, and she is always willing to help out wherever she is needed. She jumps in to help the lower level Latin students and volunteers for tutoring even though she has completed all her required hours already. She checks in with me every day at the end of the day to see if she can help me with anything. As an academic team captain, she pretty much runs our practices and keeps everyone on task and organized. I would be lost without Sarah! 

-Mrs. Katie Baker

What activities do you participate in?

National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, Academic Team, Latin Club, Harry Potter Club, Swimming

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the relationships I have formed with other students and teachers and what I have learned from them. 

What should school “do” for you?

School should provide a good education and welcoming community environment that prepares you for a successful and productive future.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I've learned how to adapt and be flexible in all situations and to persevere even when things get difficult.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to be financially and socially successful and be content with my life.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like to spend my free time reading.

Matt Kemper '24, Gonzaga House, with Mr. Byrd

Matt's attitude in class is among the best I've ever encountered. He is a social studies mind, loves learning, and enjoys being challenged. His enthusiasm for the subject matter brings out the best in his peers, as well. Matt earned an A in my class in the first semester, as well as many others.   He is an awesome Patriot, and we are blessed to have him!

- Mr. Cody Byrd

What activities do you participate in?

I am on the cross country and track teams.

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

Everyone is so nice and encouraging.

What should school “do” for you?

School should give you the skills and atmosphere to find your vocation.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

If you haven't heard from a friend in a while, see how they are because they might just need someone to brighten up their day.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My dream is to become a YouTuber and content creator.

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend my free time playing video games, making videos, and editing photos.

All throughout the week, the Gonzaga House Captains were teaming up with the Mercy House Captains to finish preparations for the upcoming house event, a spin-off of the Match Game since the competition was on Valentine’s Day.  The competition was a success for Gonzaga, not only because we won, but there was overwhelming positive feedback from all houses about the event as well.

Joe Lansangan ‘21 said, “the experience was indubitably extravagant.”  He thought it was cool to see his classmate, Catherine Berent '21, as a participant in the hot seat and Family Room Captain, Amelia Harlow '20, on stage as an MC.

Breaking our two-year streak of not having won a House Event was relieving.  It renewed faith in our house and inspired many to attend Marquee events such as that weekend’s basketball game.  Sam Scheu ‘21 described how she felt after winning the House Competition.  “I thought we were doing pretty well considering our House got many of the right answers.  When Mr. Sableski announced that there was a tie for second, I expected to be one of the Houses that were tied, but to my surprise, we won!  My friends and I were so happy.”

The House Competition wasn’t the only exciting thing that happened last week.  While the snow day on Thursday canceled many of Gonzaga’s Family Room parties, it did not stop some Family Rooms from sharing candy and handing out Valentines.  Meredith Sanders ‘23 expressed her appreciation for her Family Room Captain, Luke Wittmann '20, who hand-wrote kind messages for everyone in Family Room 209.  Overall, it was a great week for our house.

As the day of the cheer competition drew nearer, Gonzaga Family Room 312 was busily preparing for the first house event of the school year. Members of our family room joined the rest of the house to practice the cheer on Tuesday, and we sounded really good. On Thursday, Donna Lawhorn ‘21, Casey Walsh ‘22 and other members of Family Room 312 finished painting the signs for our cheer which spelled out “G-O-N-Z-A-G-A”. The buzz around the competition continued to grow on Friday, and when we met in our family room that afternoon, we put on face paint, glitter, and hair ribbons, provided by our dean and family room teacher Ms. O’Malley, to show our Gonzaga spirit.

We got out to the field for the competition with the rest of our house. We were the first house to perform and were super hyped. I encouraged all of our Family Room to cheer as loud and enthusiastically as they could because everyone participating was going to make our cheer one hundred times better. Family Room 312 took my words to heart and rocked it along with the rest of Gonzaga.

After performing, I talked to members of our family room Chris Ruetschle ‘23 and Izzy Ramby ‘21. Chris told me that getting loud and involved for the cheer made the competition much more enjoyable, especially since everyone was cheering together and no one felt singled out or embarrassed. Izzy said that our cheer sounded very strong and organized and definitely in the running for first place.  

Gonzaga claimed fifth place for the cheer competition. Although we hoped for a higher finish in the standings, I can attest that our family room had fun with this competition. Everyone got involved, and we got to know each other better through working together and practicing with each other. Family Room 312 also agreed that the cheer competition was a great way to set the tone for the football game that night.

Mr. Carl Soucek and Camdyn Marsh '20

Camdyn Marsh '20, Gonzaga House

What activities do you participate in?

Marching Band, Gonzaga House Captain, Frisbee Club

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I enjoy how friendly everyone is. It feels easy to start a conversation with anyone.

What should school “do” for you?

It should provide you with a good base of knowledge to continue into higher education. Additionally, it should help you find friends and groups of friends.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A good lesson I learned after joining band was that things are never as bad as they seem. Even if things are difficult at the time, you still get to reap the rewards later.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream is to be a professional video game player, but if that doesn’t work out, I want to be a physical therapist.

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend my free time playing video games, practicing mellophone, watching movies, hanging out with my friends, and planning activities for my Family Room.

"Camdyn is a tremendous student.   He has taken on the role of brass captain for the Marching Patriots this year and always sets a great example for other students. He's punctual, professional, and positive in his approach to what we do. He shows other students that he cares about their success, and he offers to help when others are in need." - Mr. Carl Soucek