Pope Saint John Paul II Quote

“Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity.
Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

Freshman Class of 2020
Freshmen Photo: Oct. 4, 2017

The Class of 2020 Through the Years

Letter from Dr. Connolly

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

Faculty’s Farewell to Seniors

Institutional
Awards

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.

Sam Hendrian

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.

Clare Schmidt

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.

Evie Watkins

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.

Elisa Litke

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.

Josh Peck

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!

Shayla Millman

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!

MESSAGES FROM STUDENTS

Seniors!!! You guys did it! I'm so proud of what you have accomplished and so thankful that I've gotten to know you over the last 2 years. I selfishly wish it could've been longer, but I'm thrilled for all of you to get out into the world and show it what you've got! It's been a blessing being a part of your classes, your projects, and your lives, and I hope we'll stay in touch moving forward. A huge congratulations to all of you!!!

Cian M

Thank you for being awesome people! I will miss you!


Clare W

You all have endlessly inspired me. I wish we had more time together but I am so so sooo happy you all are going out to change the world! Can't wait to see what you achieve!

Claire H

You did the impossible. Godspeed, and God bless.


William B

Open your heart, live and learn, and show the world what you're made of.


Trevor J

Remember you guys already have what it takes to make your goals come to fruition! Praying for y'all!


Josue H

Thanks for welcoming me and gifting me with great friends. I’m going to miss you all. Well. Some of you. I tolerate you, guys. ❤️


Ruvianne M

Clap, clap, you’re a clever-clever cookie now.


Jocely L & Milena W

It truly was a pleasure working with ya'll, BEST OF LUCK in your new chapter of life!!!!

Charley B

You all have been through so much this year, and you have excelled. I enjoyed getting to know you. You will go out there and impact culture for Christ, whether at home or in the world.

"And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace." -- Philippians 1:6-7

Stand firm in the Lord, and don't let the pandemic get you down!

Paula H

Thank you for all the memories I will be praying for you all. I hope that Almighty God will bless you with the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Timothy R

I’m going to truly, truly miss seeing and being with all my fellow students! I thank you all for your patience when I kept getting the irresistible urge to comment in class and group discussions. I do appreciate the care and understanding with which you accepted me. May God bless you and keep you all the days of your lives, and may His face shine eternally upon you and all your loved ones! Hugs!

Michelle R