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Graduation

Baccalaureate Mass | Catignani-Drennan Fieldhouse | May 15

100th Commencement Ceremony | Belmont University Curb Event Center | May 16

53%

Seniors Took One
or More AP Courses

100%

College Acceptance Rate
of Seniors Who Applied

203

Unique College and
University Acceptances

$35M+

Scholarships Offered
to the Class of 2026

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The Class of 2026 College Matriculation 

Meet the 2026 Valedictorian:

Joaquin Panelo 

Father Ryan is pleased to announce that Joaquin Andre Panelo is the Valedictorian for the Class of 2026. While enrolled at Father Ryan, Joaquin has taken 11 AP courses and holds a current 101.0781 weighted GPA.

Joaquin has been inducted into the Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, Tri M Music Honor Society, Charles Strobel Class of 1961 Service Society, Father Black Honor Society, and is recognized as a Hayes Scholar.

Joaquin has been honored as a National Merit Finalist, received a full scholarship for the Governor’s School for Sciences and Engineering, was selected to attend the Notre Dame Leadership Seminar, received the Presidential Merit Scholarship, and was the Father Black Scholarship recipient.

Joaquin’s leadership roles include House Freshman Delegate, House Operations Coordinator, House Vice Captain and House Captain of Elliston House. He has been a band captain, captain of the Mock Trial team, and captain of the Science Olympiad team. Member of Irish Council, Cum Laude president, and National Honor Society officer

At Father Ryan, he is a member of the marching band, concert band, and percussion ensemble.  Joaquin has been involved in Science Olympiad, Relay for Life Committee, where he was head of Community Outreach, Mock Trial, and Model UN.

Outside of Father Ryan, Joaquin has been involved in Nations Ministry and Fifty Forward. Joaquin has performed with the Tennessee Youth Symphony for four seasons.

Joaquin applied to and was accepted to Duke University and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Joaquin will be studying at Duke University, where he will major in Biology on a Pre-med track.

Meet the 2026 Salutatorian:

Richard Obermeier

Father Ryan is pleased to announce that Richard Aloysius Obermeier is the Salutatorian for the Class of 2026. While enrolled at Father Ryan, Richard has taken 10 AP classes and holds a current 99.7167 weighted GPA.

Richard has been inducted into the Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, and the Father James Black Freshman Honor Society.

Richard has been honored with the AP Environmental Science and AP US History Highest Average Award and several outstanding student and principal’s list awards.  He is honored to have been on the Academic Dean’s List for every quarter. 

Richard has led his mentor group as Freshman Delegate and chaplain.

Richard has run for the Cross-Country and Track teams for all 4 years and has improved his 5K time by 5 minutes.

Outside of Father Ryan, Richard is involved in Friend’s Life, One Generation Away, and Matthew 25 - Nueva Vida Food Project. Richard currently works at the Maple Street Biscuit Company and has had a summer internship at TBH Global Wealth Management – Investment Banking Company. Richard enjoys playing bass, piano, and guitar, skateboarding, and snowboarding.

Richard applied and has been accepted to Vanderbilt University; the University of Denver, where he received an out-of-state merit scholarship; the University of South Carolina, where he received an out-of-state merit scholarship; the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he received the Volunteer Scholarship; and the University of Kentucky, where he received the Bluegrass Spirit Scholarship. 

Richard will be attending Vanderbilt University, where he will be studying Biology.

Baccalaureate Awards

Graduation Awards

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