ATLANTA—The Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Atlanta honored their 2023 valedictorians and salutatorians at graduation ceremonies around the region in May. 

Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell

The 2023 valedictorian at Blessed Trinity High School is Sara Ballesteros, daughter of Eliana Perez and Diego Ballesteros. The family worships at St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell. Ballesteros plans to attend Georgia Institute of Technology to study industrial and systems engineering. 

Blessed Trinity’s salutatorian is Bryce Hanna, son of Zoe and Elie Hanna. The Hannas attend St. John Chrysostom Melkite Catholic Church in Atlanta. He plans to attend Georgia Institute of Technology to study engineering. 

Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School

Cristo Rey’s valedictorian is Sergio Chavez, son of Rosaelia Villanueva-Sevilla and Sergio Chavez-Cruz. Chavez plans to attend Georgia Institue of Technology and become a software developer. 

The school’s salutatorian is Bae Reh, the son of Tee Moh and Nga Reh. They are parishioners of Corpus Christi Church, Stone Mountain. He will attend The University of Notre Dame to study computer science.  

Holy Spirit Preparatory School, Atlanta 

The valedictorian at Holy Spirit Prep is Riordan Gatwood, daughter of Jubal and Dorothy Gatwood. The family worships at Holy Spirit Church. Gatwood plans to attend Georgia Institute of Technology to study biochemistry. 

The salutatorian is Emil Sacco IV, son of Ruth and Emil Sacco. They are parishioners of Holy Spirit Church. He will attend Georgia Institute of Technology to major in industrial engineering. 

Marist School, Atlanta

Will Doster is valedictorian of Marist School. He is the son of Mindy and Curtis Doster. They are parishioners at Holy Spirit Church. He will be enrolled at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying chemical engineering. 

The salutatorian is Lauren Guhl. She is the daughter of Joan and Mike Guhl. The family worships at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Brookhaven. Guhl will attend Georgia Institute of Technology to study computer science. 

Monsignor Donovan High School, Athens 

The valedictorian for Msgr. Donovan High School is Kenneth Nguyen, son of Khiem and Thuyvy Nguyen. The family attends St. Joseph Church in Athens. He will attend Georgia Institue of Technology.

The salutatorian is Emmet Norrell. His parents are James and Assumpta Norrell. The family worships at St. Catherine Laboure Church in Jefferson. Norrell plans to attend Georgia Institute of Technology

Notre Dame Academy, Duluth 

The academy’s valedictorian is Alexis Kissiedu, daughter of Susie and Felix Kissiedu. They attend Victory World Church. Kissiedu will study business at the University of Pennsylvania. 

The salutatorian is Angela Odera Okugo, daughter of Nneka and Anthony Obinna Okugo. She is Catholic and plans to attend Vanderbilt University to study biochemical engineering.  

Pinecrest Academy, Cumming 

The valedictorian for Pinecrest is Jackson Warren McCray. He is the son of Jennifer and Edward McCray. He will be attending the United States Military Academy West Point and will study mechanical engineering.

The salutatorian is Ethan Dominic Esclamado, son of Edgar and Delsa Esclamado. They are members at St. Brendan the Navigator Church, Cumming. Esclamado will major in computer science at Bucknell University, where he will also play tennis. 

St. Mary’s Academy, Fayetteville 

The valedictorian of St. Mary’s is Eva Launay-Fallasse. Her parents are Cynthia and Franck Launay-Fallasse. The family attends Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City. Launay-Fallasse will attend Georgia Institute of Technology to study biochemistry and will be part of the honors program.

Alexa Ibarra-Chavez is the salutatorian. She is the daughter of Alma Chavez-Lopez and Victor Ibarra-Bermejo. They worship at Holy Trinity Church. Ibarra-Chavez will attend Georgia Institute of Technology to study biology. 

St. Pius X High School, Atlanta 

The valedictorian of St. Pius X is Catie Schwartz, daughter of Stephen and Ann Schwartz. They are members of Oak Grove Methodist Church. Schwartz will attend Emory University and major in biology. 

The salutatorian is Grace Tran. Her parents are Sean Tran and Thuy Bui. They are parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Tran will attend the University of Georgia to study biology. 

Public School Honorees

Both top graduates of Washington Wilkes Comprehensive High School are members of St. Joseph Church in Washington. 

The valedictorian of the public high school is Froilan Trix Sunga, son of Fernando Jr. and Lerna Sunga. He was also named the Outstanding Catholic Youth of the parish by the Council of Catholic Women. 

The school’s salutatorian is Phillip Teleron Villagorda. His parents are Frande and Cynthia Villagorda.