Sunday afternoon, 115 Owensboro Catholic High School seniors lined up at the Owensboro Sportscenter one last time before becoming graduates.
Lyndsey Hobelmann is the valedictorian and Emily Halman is the salutatorian for the OCHS class of 2019.
With 3.5 million dollars in scholarship offers, the class celebrated their accomplishments and traditions.
Honors Graduate Genarose Jones is a member of the National Honors Society, varsity girls soccer and track teams. She will be attending Georgetown College in the fall on academic and athletic scholarships. While she said she is interested in studying physical therapy, she is still undecided on her major and is considering coming back to OCHS to teach one day.
“Owensboro Catholic High School has become like a second home to me; I can see myself coming back one day to teach,” Jones said. “Because of the family like atmosphere and traditions, it has been very tough to say goodbye.”
Jones said the OCHS senior traditions made her year memorable. The senior retreat at Gaspar River where the students spend three days growing their faith with classmates bonded the group.
Another is the passing down of the spirit flag.
“I received the flag as a junior, and in turn had to pass it down to an upcoming senior who will lead the student section with Catholic High pride,” Jones said. “This happens every year at the Spring Fling pep rally.”
At the first mass of their senior year, called Senior Ring Mass, students bless their rings and other items while celebrating mass.
The seniors also have a senior dance called Snowball that includes a mass and a dinner that is served by senior parents.
During the last week, the seniors have several dress-up themed days that include an off-campus prayer day where they reflect on the past four years and pray together for each other and the future, Jones said.
“Then the last day of our school year traditionally we decorate our skirts with our future plans after high school, and pack Sharpies to sign our uniform shirts,” Jones said. “This day is very exciting, emotional and bittersweet as Mr. Settle [OCHS principal] gives his last morning greeting with you as you walk into school with his selfie stick out. Almost all seniors get a picture with him.”
Jones received several awards at Honors Night, including one for outstanding senior female athlete, which she said she was extremely honored to receive because there were several classmates deserving of this award.
This high school graduation article is presented by Independence Bank.
