Catholic Schools' awards for excellence
By Lois Rutigliano
OWENSBORO, Ky. - Most Reverend John J. McRaith presented an Award for Excellence to one student from each diocese at an Awards Banquet and Dinner held at Brescia University on March 17,2002.
The awards were presented to recognize and encourage the continuation of a Catholic education from pre-school through college. Each student selected best exhibited the qualities of a Catholic school student based on the education mission of the Diocese of Owensboro. Each one was awarded a Brescia University scholarship.
Preceding the Awards Banquet Bishop McRaith presided at a Liturgy celebration assisted by Rev. John Vaughan, Rev. Leonard Alvey, Rev.Gerald Calhoun, and Rev. Larry Hostetter, in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, Brescia University.
St. Angela Merici School students, under the direction of Virginia Blandford, provided the music for the Liturgy celebration. The St. Angela singers were Paul Boone, Theresa Castlen, Matthew Cissell, Blake Hayden, Taylor Hamilton, Kelley Hires, Zachary Smith and Caitlyn Snyder.
One of the recipients of the Awards for Excellence was Katherine Shoulta, a fifth grade student at St. John Elementary School, Paducah, Ky. Katherine comes from a long line of excellence achievers. Her brother Matthew received the award last year and their uncle is Fr. John Vaughan, pastor of St. Stephen Cathedral. Other recipients of the award were Cory O’Neal, 6
th grade, Bishop Cotton School; Kaitlyn Lewis, 6th grade, Catherine Spalding School; Brittany Woodall, 6th grade, Holy Angels School, Owensboro; Kevin Steel, 8th grade, Holy Name School, Henderson; Beth Johnson, 8th grade, Mary Carrico Memorial School, Knottsville; Brittney Owens, 8th grade, Owensboro Catholic Middle School; Kyle Mattingly, 6th grade, St. Angela Merici School, Owensboro; Nick Cash, 6th grade, St, Joseph Catholic School, Mayfield; Ryan Fowler, 8th grade, St. Ann Interparochial School, Morganfield; Christian Villarreal, 8th grade, St. Joseph Interparochial School, Bowling Green; Blake Averill, 5th grade, St, Mary Elementary School, Paducah; Angela Roof, 8th grade, St. Mary Middle School Paducah; Ben Morris, 8th grade, St. Mary of the Woods, Whitesville; Joshua Thomas, 8th grade, St. Paul Elementary School, Leitchfield; Devin Lancaster, 8th grade, Sts. Peter and Paul School Hopkinsville; Kimberly Rose,8th grade, St. Romuald School, Hardinsburg; Brandon Barnard, 12th grade, Owensboro Catholic High School; Jennifer Dickey, 12th grade, St. Mary High School, Paducah; and Eric Howe, 9th grade, Trinity High School, Whitesville.