“Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity.
Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
Dear Graduates of the Class of 2020
Congratulations. In spite of the churning, stormy ocean of your young adulthood and the COVID pandemic - you kept going. You showed up (usually). You fought to get where you are. Your dedication and accomplishments are what we are celebrating.
Now, that you have conquered college, I pray that the world will open up for you in wonderful and blessed ways. Yes, the “real world” is even bigger and will include many more opportunities that you can ever imagine. No, it won’t be all smooth sailing and success doesn’t mean having it all together at 22.
The JPCatholic faculty and administration celebrate and wish you all the best as you begin this next phase in your life. We pray life will indeed bring you many great blessings, particularly the blessings of a supportive spouse and children, a rewarding and successful career, good health, and financial wellbeing. We encourage you to stay connected with JPCatholic. Alumni strengthen the university and greatly benefit our future students. The path you blaze will make us proud.
Inspired by St Paul, I pray that you can always boast of your afflictions in life – they produce endurance, endurance proven character, and proven character hope - and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
May you always stay close to Jesus, seek His truth, and face life with optimism.
Dr. Derry Connolly, President and Founder
The Founders' Award for Impacting Culture
The Founders' Award for Impacting Culture is given annually to the graduating senior whose work most exemplifies the original vision of the founders of the University, who boldly set out to impact culture for Christ. This award recognizes the student whose work shows significant cultural engagement on and off-campus on critical issues of our time.
Sam Hendrian
Note from Dr. Derry Connolly:
Presenting you with JPCatholic’s prestigious Founders' Award for Impacting Culture recognizes your significant impact on our campus community during your time here. Your nomination was broadly supported by many in our faculty. You are truly an inspirational witness to Jesus Christ.
The Cinematic Artist Award
The Cinematic Artist Award is given annually to the graduating film student whose work has consistently demonstrated the hand of God providing an extraordinary talent, and an individual's profound commitment to accepting God's gift and working tirelessly to master his or her film craft.
Clare Schmidt
Note from Dr. Derry Connolly:
Presenting you with JPCatholic’s Cinematic Artist Award recognizes your extraordinary God given talent as a storyteller and your tireless commitment both inside and outside the classroom to master your craft. Congratulations.
The Visual Artist Award
The Visual Artist Award is given annually to the graduating Animation or Gaming student whose work has consistently demonstrated the hand of God providing an extraordinary talent, and an individual's profound commitment to accepting God's gift and working tirelessly to master his or her animation or gaming craft.
Evie Watkins
Note from Dr. Derry Connolly:
Presenting you with JPCatholic’s Visual Artist Award recognizes your extraordinary God given talent as a visual artist and your consistent hard work over the past 3-years to nurture your creativity and to master your craft. Congratulations.
The Performing Artist Award
The Performing Artist Award is given annually to the graduating Acting student whose work has consistently demonstrated the hand of God providing an extraordinary talent, and an individual's profound commitment to accepting God's gift and working tirelessly to master his or her acting craft.
Elisa Litke
Note from Dr. Derry Connolly:
Presenting you with JPCatholic’s Performing Artist Award recognizes your extraordinary God given acting talent and your tireless practice and performance to master your craft as an actor, while greatly entertaining our whole community. Congratulations.
Humanities Award
The Humanities Award is given to the graduating student whose engagement with intellectual and artistic traditions of the Christian West has resulted in superior academic achievement, refinement of character, and breadth of thought.
Josh Peck
Note from Dr. Derry Connolly:
Presenting you with JPCatholic’s Humanities Award recognizes your extraordinary God given intellectual talents and your use of them to develop and publish your “Out of the Cave” journal. Your hard work and commitment provided an opportunity for many students to publish their works, and your Journal significantly enriches our community.
Valedictorian
This is given to the graduating student who has the highest academic achievents of the class.
Shayla Millman
Note from Dr. Derry Connolly:
Shayla, as JPCatholic’s Class of 2020 valedictorian, please accept my sincere congratulations on your significant accomplishment. Being class valedictorian affirms all of your hard work and discipline. This, combined with your innate intellectual abilities, placed you as the top academic performer among your peers. Well done!
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS
Rebecca Jo Knebelsberger
Cum Laude
Gillian Grace Gould
Cum Laude
Megan Frame
Summa Cum Laude
Emphasis in Sales & Marketing
Eva Raquel Mangels
Emphasis in Leadership & Management
Amy Joanna Ayala
Emphasis in Entrepreneurship
Lucas Hamilton
Cum Laude
BACHELOR OF ARTS in HUMANITIES
Emphasis in Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Brian Alexander Nunez
Emphasis in Philosophy & Theology
Ulysses Perez
Cum Laude
Marisabel Pedroza
Summa Cum Laude
Joshua Peck
Summa Cum Laude
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE in BUSINESS
Emphasis in Leadership & Management
&
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE in COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA
Emphasis in Producing
Matthew James Middendorf
Summa Cum Laude
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE in COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA
Maria Boas
Anna Livia Brady
Magna Cum Laude
Karen Nadine Case
Summa Cum Laude
Michael Del Moral
Madison Donaghy
Mikaila Jodoin
Michael A. Lopez
Kelly Oberg
Clare M. Schmidt
Summa Cum Laude
Timothy Mitchell Shurtliff
Summa Cum Laude
Kevin Paul Reeve Stutzke
Cum Laude
Luke Pulver
Interdisciplinary
Michelle Regello
Summa Cum Laude
Emphasis in Acting
Dominic Phillip Boucher
Magna Cum Laude
Rhian Harris
Kit Gracie Krmpotich
Cum Laude
Elisa Camille Litke
Cum Laude
Katherine Marie McDonald
Cum Laude
Elizabeth Miriam Negri
Summa Cum Laude
Anna Beatrice Welter
Cum Laude
Emphasis in Acting & Production
Azara Marie Seek
Emphasis in Animation
Rachael Jane Finnegan
Claire Martinique Kelly
Austin Edoige Matte
Katherine Juliana McKay
Evelyn Mae Watkins
Emphasis in Game Development
Eduardo Alejandro Aviles
Pahlevon Connor Janfada
John McMahon
Emphasis in Post-Production
Riley Lauren Brown
Matthew Raymund Cacho
Cristian Carlos Vega
Shayla Elizabeth Millman
Summa Cum Laude & Valedictorian
Emphasis in Screenwriting
Christina Rios Chaiban
Summa Cum Laude
Gemma Catherine Therese Hotovy
Summa Cum Laude
Emphasis in Production
Michael B. Back
Cum Laude
Thomas Barrows
Ryan James Cain
Magna Cum Laude
Samuel Joseph Carts
Anna Deubell
Magna Cum Laude
Karina Angelica Diaz
Cum Laude
Madison Donaghy
Magna Cum Laude
Jacob Alexander Germain
Summa Cum Laude
Samuel Richard Hendrian
Trevor Lysander Jones
Magna Cum Laude
Andrew Joseph Koltuniuk
Magna Cum Laude
Kaitlyn Beverly Krikorian
Summa Cum Laude
Margaret Orsinger
Summa Cum Laude
John Paul Anthony Poirier
Magna Cum Laude
Benjamin James Tobias Siemens
Emphasis in New Evangelization
Sarai Alondra Alvarez
Cassidy Fuentes Van Vooren
Cum Laude
Jacques Marie Claparols
Michael Jerome Matthews
Moises Mora
Trinity Marie Baines
Summa Cum Laude
Andrew Stephen Ausi
We'll be adding in more names when additional seniors finish this December!