Congratulations to the
Class of 2020!
After four years of hard work and achievement, we say goodbye to our 94th graduating class...the Class of 2020. This class was filled with scholars, athletes, artists and servants whose talents and successes in the classrooms and throughout our community will take them to new heights.

The Class of 2020 leaves us amid extremely unusual and adverse circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic altered the course of their senior year and derailed nearly all of the usual end-of-year plans and events. Despite this challenge, however, the Class of 2020 have remained grounded in their faith, selfless and poised.

We are so proud of the Class of 2020 for the hard work they have put in over the last four years, and for the immense grace they have shown over the last few months.

Class of 2020 Parade - May 16, 2020

Class of 2020 Graduates

Acceptance and Matriculation Map

Father Ryan High School graduates have performed on stages, made life-saving discoveries, become business executives and entrepreneurs and defended our freedom in service to our country. They have attended the nation’s finest colleges and universities. They have built a lasting legacy, and one we will remember. And it all started with Father Ryan. They are known. They are loved.

The Class of 2020 is no exception. This Class submitted 1,002 applications to 203 unique colleges and universities. Members of the class were admitted to 164 unique institutions.

Scholarships received to date total more than $21 million, averaging more than $99,350 per graduate, and awards are still coming in. And 93% of seniors in the Class of 2020 are eligible for Tennessee Lottery Scholarships (HOPE or GAMS).

Below is an interactive map of all the schools members of the Class of 2020 will be attending in the fall. Each crest represents a different university, and the number of Irish attending that institution can be found by clicking on the crest. 



Meet the 2020 Valedictorian: Rachel Knapp

We are pleased to announce our Valedictorian for the Class of 2020 is Rachel Knapp.

While enrolled at Father Ryan, Rachel has taken 10 AP courses. She has been inducted into the National Honor Society, Cum Laude Society, Mu Alpha Theta, La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, Father James A. Black Honor Society, Cardinal Newman Society, and St. Vincent de Paul Service Society.

Rachel has been recognized as the Father James A. Black Award of Excellence Finalist and Award Winner her freshman year. Her athletic awards include Coach’s Award her junior and sophomore year and Newcomer of the Year award her freshman year. She has been recognized for having the highest grade in her subject areas more than five times and being on the Academic Dean’s List.

List of 1 items.

  • Click Here to Read More About Rachel

    Rachel has held several leadership roles including President of the National Honor Society, President of Cum Laude Society, and Captain of Cross Country, Swim, and Track Teams. She has served as SEARCH leader, Retreat Leader, and on the Relay For Life Committee.  

    At Father Ryan, Rachel has been a member of the Cross Country, Swim, and Track Teams. She has been involved in the Irish Service Corps, Student Ambassador, Student Ministry Team, Respect Life Club, and is a minister of Holy Communion.
    Outside of Father Ryan, Rachel has volunteered at Smithson-Craighead Academy and Vacation Bible School at St. Matthew Catholic Church. Rachel is involved at St. Matthew as a Hospitality Minister and in the Youth Group where they have traveled on a Servio Deo Mission trip to Mississippi. She has also traveled to Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina for the Alternative Spring Break trip sponsored by Father Ryan. Rachel has worked as a babysitter, lifeguard and summer nanny.

    Rachel has been accepted at Miami University-Oxford where she received the RedHawk Excellence Scholarship and the Federal TEACH Grant. She was also accepted in the University Academic Scholars program at Miami University-Oxford.  Saint Louis University awarded her the Vice President Tuition Scholarship and the Catholic High School Award. She was accepted at University of Notre Dame and offered the University Scholarship. University of Tennessee awarded her the UT Volunteer and HOPE Scholarships.  She has also received the S.T.A.R. Scholarship for the PEO International Sisterhood Organization.
     
    Rachel plans to attend the University of Notre Dame and major in Mathematics.
     
    Rachel, we are so very, very proud of you. Congratulations!
     

Meet the 2020 Salutatorian: Danny Farone

We are pleased to announce our Salutatorian for the Class of 2020 is Daniel Farone.

While enrolled at Father Ryan, Daniel has taken 10 AP courses. He has been inducted into the Father James A. Black Honor Society, La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, National Honor Society, Cum Laude Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, St. Vincent de Paul Service Society, and Cardinal Newman Society.

Daniel has received nine medals in the Regional Science Olympiad including 1st in Disease Detectives and has won 2nd place in the Science Olympiad State Competition in Herpetology for two years. He has received several medals for highest class average in his subject areas and has been recognized on the Academic Dean’s and Principal’s List. 

List of 1 items.

  • Click Here to Read More About Danny

    Daniel has received the Troop 538 Clifton Braunwalder Outstanding Scout Award and has achieved the highest rank of Eagle Scout. Daniel was also a Father James A. Black Award of Excellence Finalist his freshman year.

    Daniel has held several leadership roles including SEARCH leader, Troop Guide for Boy Scout Troop 538, Science Olympiad Team Captain, Relay for Life Team Captain, Committee Member and Event Co-Chair, Leader for Freshman Night, March for Life, Junior Retreat Leader, and Vice President of the National Honor Society.

    At Father Ryan Daniel has also been involved in the Rugby Team, Peer Mentor Program, Quizbusters, Student Ministry Team and is a minister of Holy Communion.

    Outside of Father Ryan, Daniel has tutored bilingual children with the Hispanic Family Center in Murfreesboro, been an Altar Server at St. Rose of Lima, and has been a member of Boy Scout Troop 538 since 2012. Daniel has worked at Kroger as a Courtesy Clerk and in lawncare service.

    Daniel has been accepted to Xavier University and has received the Trustee Scholarship, Muskie and Early Filer Grant. Miami University-Oxford awarded him the RedHawk Excellence Scholarship and University Academic Scholar Program.  He received the Trustee Scholarship from Middle Tennessee State University and the Volunteer Scholarship from University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Daniel has also been awarded the Ned McWherter Scholarship.

    Daniel will be attending Middle Tennessee University in the Honors College where he has been selected to be one of the first majors in the inaugural Data Science Program.
     
    Daniel, we are so very, very proud of you. Congratulations!
     

Farewell to the Class of 2020

Be the Light for the Class of 2020

The following awards will be announced at the Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation Ceremony, currently scheduled for June.

Baccalaureate Awards

List of 4 items.

Graduation Awards

List of 4 items.

  • Excellence in the Arts Awards

    The Excellence in the Arts Awards has been established by the Fine Arts Department and is presented to a student or students who have demonstrated superior talent and dedication and who have attained personal achievement in the arts both in and out of school.

    This year's recipient for the Excellence in the Arts Award for Women is 
     
    This year's recipient for the Excellence in the Arts Award for Men is

  • Excellence in English Award

    The Excellence in English Award is given to the senior who has the highest scholastic average for three years’ work in the classes in this discipline.

    This year, The Excellence in English Award is presented to

  • Excellence in World Languages & Cultures Award

    The Excellence in World Languages & Cultures Award is given to the senior who has the highest scholastic average for three years’ work in the classes in this discipline.

    This year, the Excellence in World Languages & Cultures Award is presented to

  • Excellence in the Sciences Award

    The Excellence in the Sciences Award is given to the senior who has the highest scholastic average for three years’ work in the classes in this discipline.

    This year, The Excellence in the Sciences Award is presented to

List of 6 items.

  • Excellence in the Social Sciences Award

    The Excellence in the Social Sciences Award is given to the senior who has the highest scholastic average for three years’ work in the classes in this discipline.

    This year, The Excellence in the Social Sciences Award is presented to

  • Sister Mary John Math Award

    The Sister Mary John Math Award is presented to the senior who has maintained the highest average in Mathematics for a four-year period.

    This year the award is presented to

  • Scholar Athlete Awards

    The Scholar Athlete Awards are presented to a young woman and a young man who rank very high in the graduating class academically and who have also made major contributions to the school through participation as athletes.

    The recipient of the Women’s Scholar Athlete Award is

    The recipient of the Men’s Scholar Athlete Award is 

  • Monsignor Albert A. Siener Memorial Award

    The Monsignor Albert A. Siener Memorial Award is presented to the young woman who has ranked high in her religion class work, and at the same time has shown the finest practical application of religious principles and ideals in her daily life.

    This year the award is presented to

  • Bishop Alphonse J. Smith Award

    The Bishop Alphonse J. Smith Award is given in memory of Bishop Smith, founder of our school, to the young man who is ranked high in his religion class work and at the same time has shown a true application of religious principles and ideals in his daily life.

    This year the award is presented to 

  • General Excellence Awards

    The General Excellence Awards are given to the students showing, to the highest degree, all those qualities which Father Ryan High School seeks to promote in its students: excellence in the classroom, ingenuity, accomplishment in extra-curricular activities, leadership, and exemplary conduct.

    The General Excellence Award for Women is presented to 

    The General Excellence Award for Men is presented to
Father Ryan High School