Four seniors at the three Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Nashville have been named National Merit semifinalists, honoring them as among the top students in the nation and qualifying them for a variety of college scholarships.
Twelve students were recognized as commended students.
The semifinalists are:
- Elizabeth Adler of St. Cecilia Academy. Adler is involved in several leadership roles at St. Cecilia, including vice president of the Theatre Guild, National Honor Society secretary, Student Council representative, Camp SCA, Mary’s Meals, and French Club. She is also a school ambassador, representing St. Cecilia at campus and community events. She also attended Governor’s School for the Humanities. She is a graduate of St. Matthew School in Franklin and is a parishioner at St. Matthew Church. She is the daughter of Ann and Nicholas Adler.
- Xavier Burval of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School in Hendersonville. During his four years at Pope Prep, Burval has taken 11 Advanced Placement courses as well as been a member of National Honor Society, the math club, the robotics club, pep band, jazz band, and the Boy Scouts of America where he is a current Eagle Scout with Troop 75. Burval attended St. Joseph School in Madison before coming to Pope Prep and is a parishioner at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Hendersonville. He is the son of Daniel Burval and Roxanne Valentino.
- Joseph Collins of Pope Prep. Collins has taken 13 Advanced Placement courses during his high school career at Pope Prep as well as been a member of the Knights jazz ensemble, the youth handbell ensemble, and the tennis team. Collins attended St. John Vianney School in Gallatin before coming to Pope Prep and is a parishioner at St. John Vianney Church. He is the son of Mike and Jo Ann Collins.
- Evan Jaeger of Father Ryan High School. Jaeger is taking four Advanced Placement courses as a senior and took two more as a junior. A member of Oak House, he serves as his Mentor Group chaplain, is a head peer mentor, president of the Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, and a member of the National Honor Society, Cum Laude, the French Clu1“b, the Chess Club, the Multicultural Student Union, the Music Ministry Team, and the Student Ministry Team. Jaeger has also been a member of the Father Ryan swim and dive team. He was home-schooled before attending Father Ryan and is a parishioner at St. Matthew Church in Franklin. Jaeger is the son of Dr. Matt and Fran Jaeger.
Commended students include:
- Victoria Baltz of Father Ryan. A graduate of St. Bernard Academy and a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltz is taking four AP courses as a senior and completed four more as a sophomore and junior. She is a member of Elliston House, the cross country and track teams, the Relay For Life committee, and the Social Justice Club. Additionally, she is a minister of holy Communion and a student ambassador. She is involved in the Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, the National Honor Society, Cum Laude, and the Multicultural Student Union. She is the daughter of Chris and Jill Baltz.
- Allison Cliffel of St. Cecilia. Cliffel is a member of the National Honor Society, the St. Cecilia bowling team, the Sodality Club, the Adventure Club, Mary’s Meals, Best Buddies, and a Camp SCA helper and Vacation Bible School leader. Cliffel is a graduate of St. Henry School and attends St. Henry Church with her parents, Deb and Dave Cliffel.
- Marie-Synclaire Gbadedo of Pope Prep. Gbadedo has taken 12 Advanced Placement courses while at Pope Prep, and she has been active in National Honor Society, the math club, Mu Alpha Theta, and the ACT prep club. She has served as the captain for the basketball cheer team for the past two years. Before attending Pope Prep, Gbadebo attended Ruby Major Elementary School and Holy Rosary Academy. Gbadebo is a parishioner at St. Stephen Catholic Community in Old Hickory and is the daughter of Louisa Gbadedo.
- Nathan Jones of Pope Prep. Jones has taken nine Advanced Placement courses during his four years at Pope Prep. He serves as a Pope Ambassador, is a member of the National Honor Society, and has been a member of the cross country, bowling, soccer, and tennis teams. Before attending Pope Prep, Jones attended White House Middle School. He is an active member of the Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church and is the son of Bryan and Melanie Jones.
- Sarah Joseph of Pope Prep. While at Pope Prep, Joseph has taken 11 Advanced Placement courses and is the president of the National Honor Society and the House of Leo. She is a four-year member of the choir where she serves as president, and a three-year member of Pope Prep’s a cappella group, Voices UKnighted. Before attending Pope Prep, she attended St. Joseph School and St. John Vianney School. Joseph is a parishioner at St. John Vianney Church and is the daughter of Mathews and Asha Joseph.
- Maggie Niesen of St. Cecilia. Niesen actively participates in leadership roles and several clubs at St. Cecilia, including president of the senior class, vice president of the Service Club, Student Government, Theatre Guild, Spanish Club, Mu Alpha Theta, and Camp SCA, and is a member of the SCA Ambassadors. Niesen is a Christ the King School graduate who attends Chris the King Church and is the daughter of Sandra and Scott Niesen.
- Matthew Shorey of Father Ryan. Shorey is taking three AP courses as a senior and completed four additional AP courses as a sophomore and junior. He is a member of Immaculata House, the Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, the National Honor Society, and the baseball team. Shorey is a Holy Rosary Academy graduate and a parishioner at St. Stephen Catholic Community. He is the son of Glenn Shorey and Jennifer Finger.
- Grace Sizemore of Father Ryan. Sizemore is taking two Advanced Placement courses as a senior and completed three AP courses as a sophomore and junior. She is a member of Elliston House, the American Sign Language Club, Gadfly, Purple Masque Players, the Ministers of Holy Communion, and the Peer Mentor Program. Additionally, she is a part of the Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, the National Honor Society, Cum Laude, the Science Olympiad team, the Speech and Debate team, and the girls lacrosse team. She graduated from St. Henry School and is a parishioner at St. Henry Church. She is the daughter of Dr. Chris and Janie Sizemore.
- Lauryn Stewart of Pope Prep. During her four years at Pope Prep, Stewart has taken 11 Advanced Placement courses while serving as a Pope Ambassador and being a member of the math club, Lambda Iota Theta, and the basketball cheer team. Stewart attended St. Pius X Classical Academy before coming to Pope Prep. She is the daughter of Leslie and Lynn Stewart.
- Will Thompson of Father Ryan. Thompson is taking three Advanced Placement courses as a senior and completed four as a sophomore and junior. He is a member of Immaculata House, the Chess Club, the Multicultural Student Union, the Environmental Awareness Club, and the Rocket Club. Additionally, he is a member of the cross country and track teams. Before attending Father Ryan, Thompson attended Brentwood Middle School. He is the son of Greg and Brooke Thompson.
- Luke Waites of Pope Prep. Waites has taken eight Advanced Placement courses during his four years at Pope Prep. He has been active in Youth in Government, Model United Nations, archery, and boxing. He is currently studying Japanese in hopes of attending the University of Tokyo. Before attending Pope Prep, he went to Sumner Academy in Gallatin. He is a member of St. Joseph of Arimathea Episcopal Church and is the son of Kyle and Joline Waites.
- Alyssa Willard of Pope Prep. During her four years at Pope Prep, Willard has taken nine Advanced Placement courses, is a member of the swim team, and is a member of the National Honor Society. Before attending Pope Prep, Alyssa attended Queen of Peace Catholic Academy, St. Joseph School, and Holy Rosary Academy. She is a parishioner at Our Lady of the Lake Church and is the daughter of Zachary and Heather Willard.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition among high school students for recognition and college scholarships that began in 1955. Students qualify for the program based on their scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which they take as juniors.
Of the 1.3 million students who take the test, 16,000, representing the highest-scoring entrants in each state. will qualify as semifinalists and will be eligible for a variety of college scholarships.
Another 34,000 students will qualify as commended students in recognition of their outstanding academic promise.
