Voices Ringing Blog /

Mia Harrison ‘23, Nathan Snizik ’23, and Karissa Speakman '23 participated in the TEDxYouth Dayton “Illuminate” event.  These three Archbishop Carroll High School students were part of a group of ten area young people who gave speeches in the Rose Auditorium of the Dayton Art Institute on March 16, 2023.

Congratulations to our 14 members of the Class of 2023 who are continuing their athletic and academic careers at colleges and universities throughout the country next year!

Earning the title of valedictorian or salutatorian is a remarkable accomplishment.  Please join us in congratulating our top students in the Class of 2023 for their countless hours of dedication that they have dedicated to their studies.

Nathan Snizik, Valedictorian, Incarnation Catholic School

Nathan Snizik is the son of Maria (Chilia '88) and John Snizik.  Nathan is the Technical Director of the Carroll Drama Club, a co-captain for Carroll’s Cross Country and Track & Field teams, and an Eagle Scout. The highlights of his senior year have been leading his school’s senior retreat, giving a TEDxYouth talk, making his onstage debut in his school’s musical production of Back to the 80’s, and passing the torch on to the next generation of Carroll Patriots. This fall, he plans to attend The Ohio State University and double major in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) and English.

Seth Tivakaran, Valedictorian, St. Luke Catholic School

Seth Tivakaran is the son of Dr. Sheila Cheruvelil and Dr. Vijai Tivakaran. During high school, he has been Cross Country Team Captain, Track & Field Team Captain, Math Club Co-President, Spanish Club Co-President, National Honor Society Vice President, Spanish Honor Society Leader, and TSA TEAMS STEM Competition Team Captain. His greatest accomplishments have been participating in State Science Fairs, competing in State Cross Country and Track championships each year, and placing top 25 in the nation for TSA TEAMS. He will attend Case Western Reserve University to study Biology on the Pre-Medical track.

Jack Agnew, Salutatorian

Jack Agnew is the son of Christine and John ('80) Agnew.  Jack has been president of Spanish Club, Math Club, and National Honor Society, and he has served as a captain of the Cross Country and Track & Field teams. He  won the Division-II Cross Country State Championship in 2021 as a junior and led the team to a runner-up finish during his senior season. This year, Jack was voted prom king. Next year, he will attend The Ohio State University to study exercise science and compete in Cross Country and Track & Field. Following college, Jack hopes to become a sports oriented physical therapist and continue competing as a runner.

Grace Bete, Salutatorian

Grace Bete is the daughter of Lynn and Timothy Bete.  Grace will attend The Ohio State University and major in Psychology, Spanish, and Vocal Performance. While at Carroll, Grace performed in five plays and four musicals, and her most notable roles were Jo March in Little Women: The Musical and the Dowager Empress in Anastasia. She was also student music director for Carroll’s musicals her junior and senior year. Grace was captain of the track and field team, secretary of the International Thespian Society, House Captain, Spanish Club vice president, and has been Latin Club secretary and a member of the cross country team. Grace also earned the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish.

Meredith Sanders, Salutatorian, St. Luke Catholic School

Meredith Sanders is the daughter of Dianne and Philip Sanders.  Throughout high school, Meredith has been named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, a USA Lacrosse Academic All-American, and a Presidential Scholar Candidate. She has participated in Lacrosse, Tennis, International Club, Math Club, Spanish Club, Spanish Honor Society, and National Honor Society, among other activities. She has also performed over 600 hours of community service throughout her 4 years of high school by volunteering through organizations such as 4 Paws for Ability and Best Friends Assisted Therapy. Next year, Meredith will attend the University of Notre Dame double majoring in Applied Computational Mathematics and Statistics and Psychology.

Quilts sewn from scraps of t-shirts are common gifts to high school graduates, but one Archbishop Carroll High School family made one for an educator who has impacted their lives for more than a decade on and off of the Carroll stage.

The Schlegel family has been part of every Freedom Players production since the fall of 2010 – 26 shows under the direction of Toni (Hemmert) Weitz ‘86.  When Anna Schlegel ‘14 made her debut on stage in Pollyanna, her mother Tina helped out by selling tickets and flowers, hosting cast parties, and volunteering at youth summer camps for the drama club for 13 years until her youngest daughter, Tess ‘23, would end the Schlegels’ run on the Carroll stage this spring.  Moments before Tess’s last performance in the 2023 spring musical Back to the 80s, she presented a quilt to Toni with all of the shows that involved this generation of Schlegel performers and crew members, a quilt handmade by Tina.  Many other students and families who have been part of the drama club contributed to the project to help thank Toni for her dedication to the program.

“I was very surprised,” Toni said.  “I’ve seen these blankets being made for kids over the years, and to see how it holds all those special memories. To be given that as an adult for a club that is so important to me from a family that is so important to me, it was just really touching.  Knowing that other students donated to do this for me makes it even more special.”

Anna, Nick ‘15, Maria ‘18, Sam ‘21, and Tess all can recall countless memories from rehearsal and performances, both on stage and behind the scenes, that the blanket symbolizes.  Backstage traditions and small behind the scenes moments remain with Anna.  Nick can recall the view of watching the show from the sound board.  Maria enjoyed making the leap from stage crew in the fall to shining under the lights in spring each year.  Sam looked forward to Toni’s inspirational speeches in the greenroom before every performance.  Like her oldest sister, Tess loved the little moments behind the curtain during the shows. For Tina and her husband Dave ‘88, the theater program at Carroll became like a second family to all of the Schlegels.

“One of the gifts of this program is the bond between Toni and the kids and also between the friendships that they form through these activities,” Tina said.  “I always thought this activity was like high school sporting events. If they’re on the volleyball team, you go to every volleyball game. If they’re in a show, you go to every performance, and if you’re here, you might as well help out.”

Toni also counts the Schlegels as an extension of her family at Carroll.

“It’s really neat when I have a family where all of the kids are involved in the way that the Schlegels have been. There are only a handful of families like that, and five kids is probably the most. It’s just really special to be able to share those moments with all of them and their parents and see the parents that I know I can count on, like Tina and Dave, to do the cast party. It’s great to have families I can count on and to watch the kids grow with my own kids.”
 

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.

Hayden Everding ‘23, St. Mary’s House & Holy Angels School Alumnus, with Mr. Dennis Brun '85

Hayden is disciplined, leads by example, and is well-rounded.   He has demonstrated leadership by obtaining the Star Rank in Boy Scouts, helping to lead our Music Ministry at school and as a Family Room leader, his achievements in Track and Cross Country, and his achievement in the classroom.   Each time I taught Hayden, he has taken his coursework seriously, participated in class, and was a model student for his peers to observe and follow.  He’s not afraid to speak up or take initiative.   When Hayden says he’s going to do something, you can count on him to do it.

-Mr. Dennis Brun '85
 

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in Cross Country, Mass Choir, Track and Field, and Jazz Combo.

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

I enjoy the wide variety of extracurricular opportunities.

What should school “do” for you?

It should allow you to immerse yourself in whatever your things are; arts, sports, academics, and more. You should be able to tailor your own experience.

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

Sometimes, you need to focus only on the task at hand to overcome an obstacle. You have to push all the doubts and other possibilities out of your mind and just do what you can at that moment. 

What’s your biggest dream in life?

A job in the music industry. I would like to be a recording engineer, as I love music and science. I would be living "the dream" if my job somehow involves music.

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared in the Winter 2023 edition of Reflections.  Click here to read the entire magazine.

Mia Harrison ‘23 has her sights set on working in the US State Department using diplomacy to change the world. This year, she revived a club at Archbishop Carroll High School to help her make that dream come true.

Starting a new chapter of the Model United Nations at Carroll was a project she began as a freshman but had to put on hold as the Covid-19 pandemic changed everything about how schools and group events like the Model UN summit operated in Ohio and around the world. Now as a senior, Mia was able to bring that group to life at Carroll with the help of Social Studies teacher Mrs. Courtney (Griffith) Thompson ‘16.

“As long as you have the support and structure in place or a teacher who is enthusiastic about putting it in place, it’s easier than you might think to start
a club like this at Carroll,” Harrison said. “Mrs. Thompson was energetic about getting us involved.”

Harrison and Thompson met about once a month over the summer to lay the groundwork for the rest of the club members and work through logistical
hurdles to register for the conference scheduled for December 2022. Once the school year began, they met two or three times a month with the other 14 club members to prepare resolutions for the countries they chose to represent at the conference: Nicaragua, Fiji, and Nigeria.

The three geographically and politically diverse nations offered the students an opportunity to focus on a specific problem facing those countries and work within the UN’s 17 goals to solve it. The group representing Fiji proposed building more hydroelectric dams to help grow tourism while preserving the country’s natural resources and beauty. The delegation for Nigeria chose to build resource centers for the country’s citizens. For Nicaragua, the delegation led by Mia, the students proposed that the UN oversee the country’s elections to ensure a fair outcome and protect citizens who express dissent over the current regime’s policies.

All three groups presented their country’s resolution. Out of 150 resolutions prepared by students across Ohio, the Nicaraguan delegation was one of 35 to pass the preliminary security council for presentation to the General Assembly for debate to become official UN policy.

“I was ecstatic to be able to present in that room,” Harrison said. “Your bill is read, and other members of the conference either attempt to destroy or support it. I had been waiting to do this my entire high school career, and it finally happened. I felt blessed and grateful that we put this together.”

Although the bill did not become policy, Mia and the rest of the students were grateful for a true cross-curricular experience. After learning about injustices in Central America during Spanish and religion classes, researching their nations and writing resolutions showed the students where the UN Goals and Catholic Social Teaching overlap.

“When you look at the seven components of Catholic Social Teaching, you see that they align very closely with the UN Goals,” Harrison said. “What the goals of the UN and Catholic Church are trying to do are similar to what a lot of people want the world to be like, and Carroll lets it be known that we are working towards those goals.”

Mia Harrison was recognized as an Outstanding Leader at the conference and Maria Camacho '23 was recognized as the runner-up in an essay contest for her response to a prompt about world peace.

Chalsie Fedkow ‘23, Trinity House & St. Helen School Alumna, with Mr. Jim Murray and Mrs. Melissa (Balsom) Fisher ’83

Chalsie is a Trinity Captain and has led the Family Room very well – she plans well and executes those plans to her fullest.  Chalsie also has a Cricut and has made many things this year for Trinity House.  She would not accept money and did it for service hours.  She made posters for the Trinity Cheer in the fall as well as t-shirts and coasters for Christmas presents for the Trinity faculty and staff.

-Mrs. Melissa (Balsom) Fisher '83
 

What activities do you participate in?

I am a Captain for Trinity House. 

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

My favorite part of being a Carroll student is being able to be a Captain for Trinity House, show other students the Carroll spirit, and inspire them to be there best during their Carroll experience.  The whole community here at Archbishop Carroll High School is a blessing to me.

What should school “do” for you?

What I think school should do for me is make sure everyone here feels welcomed at all times and prepare me for my future in life and education.

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

The end of my junior year here at Carroll was a very difficult obstacle for me because I was stressed out a lot with worry about my next step of my high school career.  It’s a big step in our life, but the teachers and counselors here at Carroll helped calmed me down and showed me what each step was like for college.  I was very worried to apply to my dream college, but they told me not to worry because Carroll prepares you very well and can help you get into all of your dream colleges if you strive for it. So, the start of my senior year here at Carroll was not overwhelming because I was accepted into my dream college thanks to the faculty here at Carroll.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to attend Sinclair Community College and get a bachelor’s degree in interior design, then move on to finding a job as an interior designer.

Editor's Note: This story appears in the Winter 2023 edition of Reflections.  Click here to read the entire publication online.

I have always had an interest in the way our world works. Since I was a little kid, I would read and watch videos about all kinds of random, but strangely fascinating things, such as where the trash goes, what happens to my money after I buy something, or how race cars can go so fast. I was always curious to learn about things and find out how they affected me, or even how I can affect them. So, as I got older and gained a greater understanding and appreciation of the world, it was natural I became interested in politics and how our government works.

What really had me counting down the days until the 2022 Midterms was how dependent our government is on the participation of the people: me.  I would be able to impact real issues that directly make a difference in many people’s lives. I soon realized that in order to make a positive impact, I would need to make informed decisions in who I choose to vote for.  I would need to understand all the facts surrounding an issue and have the ability to argue for myself with credible evidence. When I came to this realization I still felt I had a lot to learn. This is where Archbishop Carroll High School comes in.

I took two classes that I believe did more than enough to make me an informed voter. The first, AP U.S History, I took my sophomore year. While much of the time it was a rigorous, tiring class that made me consider visiting the guidance counselor’s office, I know with hindsight that in reality, it is one of the best things I could have done. It provided so much context and knowledge about many of the issues we face today. It’s impossible to understand current events without understanding the events of the past, and APUSH absolutely helped me to do that. The passion of my teacher, Mr. [Erik] Ramsey ‘93 also fueled my enthusiasm to learn more.

The following year, my junior year, I took AP Government with Mr. [Chris] Sorrell ‘83. I could go on and on about the great things this class and this teacher did for me as a student, voter, and a person, but in short it helped me to apply what I had learned the year before. I learned the processes of our government, and exactly the means through which I was able to express my newly formed perspectives. I also understood the ways other people have been expressing their own perspectives and how I can join them. By the time I had completed the AP test, I felt I was ready to go to the polls and make an informed, positive impact.

After I voted for the first time, I was thrilled to finally be able to participate in something I have become so invested in. I felt that while it was one measly vote, it was an informed, educated, and passionate one. I was now a part of how our government works. The next day I went to tell Mr. Sorrell that I had voted, and he said something along the lines of, “And you’ll keep coming back.”

He’s right.

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.

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.

Lauren Morquecho '23, Mercy House, with Mrs. Mary Ollier

Lauren Morquecho is the Inter-House Captain for Mercy House.  She is particularly skilled at welcoming, encouraging, and including her fellow students in activities and events. Lauren is upbeat and positive, and she's a champion for a student who may feel unincluded or is having a tough day. On schedule pick-up day, Lauren worked with native Spanish-speaking families to help those families complete the tasks needed for the start of the school year, and on Meet the Teacher night, she led our Family Room session by describing the academic, spiritual, emotional, and community benefits of Family Room and our House System.

-Mrs. Mary Ollier

What activities do you participate in?

I am in Spanish Honors Society, Spanish Club, Innerhouse Captain for Mercy and Softball.

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

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the nurturing of the House System Family Rooms and the welcoming community.

What should school “do” for you?

It should create a positive environment for minority students as well as opportunities for them.

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

When you set your mind to something and you 100% know you can do it, do it don’t let someone else tell you that you can’t.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

For my family always to feel safe and protected.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like spending my free time playing with my little sisters or watching my nephews play their sports.

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.

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.

Hannah Wagner '23, Mercy House, with Mrs. Allie (Walsh) Spurling

Hannah has taken on the leadership role in our family room as a Junior. She has organized events and really helped bring the Family Room together. Taking on a role like that when you are younger than your peers can be intimidating, but she has done it with such grace and poise. Her leadership has inspired others to get involved as well, and I am so grateful for her!

-Mrs. Allie (Walsh) Spurling '08

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in soccer, lacrosse, cross country and indoor track. .

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

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the  community around me and our school spirit.

What should school “do” for you?

School should help me develop new skills and turn me into the best version of myself.

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

A lesson I have learned when I overcame a difficult obstacle is to always have hope, because hope improves our quality of life.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to have a job that I can truly enjoy and put my heart and soul into.

How do you like spending your free time?

In my free time, I like to hangout with my friends and go shopping with my mom and friends.

Destiny Wright '22, Baltimore House and Preston Davis '23, Mercy House with Mr. Chris Ochs

Both students went well above and beyond what was needed in their clean-up efforts in Study Hall and actually ended up cleaning the cafeteria as well as the hallway between the cafeteria and the gym.

All this was done on their own.  I did not ask them to do it.  They saw a need and a call to action and acted upon it.

To me, these efforts are symbolic of what a Patriot is and should be.

-Mr. Chris Ochs

Destiny Wright:

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in Lacrosse and Powder Puff Football, and I am a Football manager.

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

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is being part of the House System.  I also enjoy how everyone here is so welcoming and nice

What should school “do” for you?

School should be like a second home where you can get a good education and in a friendly environment.

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

Sometimes you have to get knocked down lower than you have ever been to stand up taller than you ever were.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To join the US Air Force and to own a shelter for only squirrels.

How do you like spending your free time?

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

Preston Davis:

What activities do you participate in?

I play baseball and do service projects.

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

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is how everyone works together and how we have such a good community.

What should school “do” for you?

School should help to push ourselves harder and excel in our academics so that we can be successful later in life.

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

A lesson I learned when I overcame a difficult obstacle was that no matter if you fail the first time, you should always keep trying and push yourself.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to be successful at what I end up doing for a career and to have a beachfront mansion in Longboat Key, Florida.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like spending my free time hanging out with friends, training my new dog, and trying new things.

Sam Zidar '23, Charity House, with Mrs. Nicole Druck

Sam transferred this year and has been an amazing addition to our Family Room and Carroll High School.  She is kind, always positive, and an awesome student.  She has fit into the Carroll community seamlessly and completely embraces what a Patriot student should be.

-Mrs. Nicole Druck

What activities do you participate in?

I had the opportunity to help out on the makeup crew for the fall play in addition to participating in Spanish Club and lacrosse.

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

I love the atmosphere of community and how connected everyone is.

What should school “do” for you?

School should be a place that enables students to grow in both academic and social spheres, while also preparing them for the future.

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

Being the youngest of seven, I have always been surrounded by my siblings. When they started leaving for college, one-by-one, it was hard for me to adjust to the new environment. Through this difficult transition, I learned the importance of enjoying the present moment and the time you have with people.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream is to attend medical school and have a career that allows me to work with children and those in need.

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend a majority of my time with my friends and family, finding new coffee shops to try, reading, and running.

Grace Norman '23, Mercy House, with Mrs. Linda Edwards

Grace is truly friendly.  I do not have her in class, but she speaks to me every day.  She has become my go-to for a shadow guide because she is just so nice.

-Mrs. Linda Edwards

What activities do you participate in?

I am currently in Spanish Club, and I am on the Girls Bowling team.

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

Honestly, my favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the community we have. I love the teachers and how they are here for you regardless if you take their class or not. I feel that the teachers love their students and know that we are human too, and that we make mistakes and mess up. I feel like this is a really important thing some schools forget.

What should school “do” for you?

I feel like school should prepare us for life outside of academics. It should prepare us for college, but also give us skills for how to deal with life, if we decide not to go to college. I feel like you should be able to take at least one (hopefully more) thing you learned and be able to apply it outside of academics in a positive way. It should also prepare you well for college.

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

That a support system of love can really be the thing you need to get through, and it is a lot easier to weather the storm when you have someone.  Also, a small act of kindness can go a long way when someone is having a bad day.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To find a job I love and surround myself with the people I love.

How do you like spending your free time?

I love to read, play games with my dogs and  spending time with my friends.

Tami James '23, St. Mary's House, with Mrs. Cecelia Grosselin

Tami knows what it means to take responsibility for her education in order to be successful in class. Despite a busy schedule of activities, Tami always structures her time so she can come in before or after school for extra help.  Tami knows she must take the initiative to ask for assistance in order to understand new concepts, review notes, or go over homework problems she missed.

-Mrs. Cecelia Grosselin

What activities do you participate in?

In school, I participate in Carroll Football and Basketball Cheer, Carroll Girl Scout Troop, and the Carroll Drama Club.  Outside of school, I participate in Dayton Academy of Gymnastics -  All-Star Cheer.

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

One of my favorite parts of being a student at Carroll is the House System. I am blessed with an amazing Family Room. Another one of my favorite parts is being able to cheer at the football and basketball games. It’s a great way of getting involved in the Carroll spirit, and it’s a great way to see everyone.

What should school “do” for you?

I believe a school should genuinely care about their students' education. The school should also create a close and caring community amongst the students, faculty, and community.

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

I learned that there is no shame in asking for help when you need it. It just shows that you care for your own educational gain, and it can even help you create a closer bond to your teachers. I also learned that not everything and everyone is perfect. Someone sitting right next to you may be struggling just like you, and by taking the time to ask your question, you may have just helped them realize that they’re not alone, and bonds are made.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream is to go to The Cheerleading Worlds competition, and win the whole Worlds competition.

How do you like spending your free time?

I love going to live performing arts shows (plays, musicals, dance exhibitions, etc). I especially LOVE going to watch ballets - my favorites are The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.

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.

Eight Carroll High School students' original pieces of art earned 11 awards in the first round of judgement in the 2021 Scholastic Art Awards.  Seniors Kevin Brun, Victoria Fowler, and Gretel Helm earned one Gold Key Award each, qualifying their pieces to the next round of the competition for a chance to have their works displayed in New York this spring at the National Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition.

Victoria Fowler '21: Otto (Paper Collage, Gold Key), Perched (Paper Collage, Honorable Mention), X Amount of Miles (Ink and Colored Pencil, Honorable Mention)

Delaney Conger '21: Bleeding Out (Marker, Silver Key), A Shattering Mind (Colored Pencil, Honorable Mention)

Kevin Brun '21: Portrait in Quarantine (Graphite, Colored Pencil, Gold Key)

Samantha Yates '23: Swimming in a Sea of Memories (Chalk Pastel, Silver Key)

Emma Williams '23: Self Portrait (Chalk Pastel, Honorable Mention)

Maya Merland '22: Lush (Acrylic Paint, Embroidery/Thread, Silver Key)

Gretel Helm '21: Upward (Acrylic Paint, Gold Key)

Sam Wittmann '22: Surface of Tension (Colored Pencil, Ink, Honorable Mention)