Graduation season is upon us, and Donahue Academy is proud of its seniors, who once again have achieved 100% college acceptance. Some of these accomplished seniors have received multiple offers from various schools across the country. Of the twenty-four graduates in the class of 2025, 50% of them will be attending Ave Maria University (AMU), while 70% of them will be attending Catholic colleges.
Valedictorian, Luke Velasco, will study economics at AMU, where he was awarded the Provost’s Scholarship for full tuition and fees. He is also a National Merit Corporate Scholarship winner. Salutatorian and National Merit Commended Scholar, Vivian Luzarraga, will attend Hillsdale College in Michigan, with a major in biology.
This year, one student, Connor Cameron, will be pursuing a vocation to the priesthood, and will enter St. John Vianney Seminary in the fall. Another outstanding senior, Joseph Mortensen, will be studying architecture abroad at the University of Navarra in Spain.
The class of 2025 has achieved impressive scholarship offers, totaling over $2.6 million dollars. Several students have won many local scholarships, including the Schulze Family Foundation Scholarship awarded to Isaiah Loboda ($20K over 4 years) and the Founders Fund Scholarship awarded to Gianna Campuzano ($24K over 4 years).
College and career readiness are approached at all stages of learning at Donahue Academy, and most formally at the Rhetoric Stage. Here, students have access to the Naviance college and career readiness software and attend individual and group advisory meetings to help them identify and apply to colleges which meet their needs and match their interests.
Students also participate in an annual college fair, and presentations by college representatives. Seniors are assisted in navigating the financial aid process, including scholarship eligibility and application management.
College entrance exams are taken routinely by Rhetoric Stage students. Those in Grades 9, 10, and 11 take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test (PSAT) every fall semester. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is also regularly offered at Donahue Academy. Students are also encouraged to explore alternate college entrance examinations such as the American College Test (ACT) and the Classical Learning Test (CLT).
Graduation events took place on Friday, May 30, beginning with a
Baccalaureate Mass at Ave Maria Catholic Church followed by Commencement at the school’s gymnasium. Stay tuned for the next bulletin with the senior roster and graduation pictures!
Pictured above LEFT: Valedictorian Luke Velasco with the Provost’s Scholarship presented by Adam Kinnick, Associate Vice President for Enrollment at Ave Maria University. Pictured above RIGHT: Connor Cameron with Mrs. Sharon Levesque of REALTY ONE GROUP MVP presenting the Levesque award in support of his vocation to the priesthood.
