McConnell Scholar
Kyle Hilbrecht, a senior at St. Xavier High School, has been chosen as one of 10 Kentucky high school seniors to receive a scholarship to the University of Louisville’s McConnell Scholars Program. This is a full four-year scholarship which includes a five-week, all-expenses paid trip to China and Washington, D.C.
Hilbrecht participated in a two-day interview process to be selected from a pool of 150 applicants.
The McConnell Center, which awards the scholarships, was established in 1991 by U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and the University of Louisville. According to the U of L website, McConnell, a 1964 graduate of the university, founded the Center based on his belief that “Kentucky’s future depends on inspiring talented, motivated leaders.”
Youth leaders
Zach Brumback, a sophomore at Trinity High School, has been chosen to attend the National Young Leaders Conference sponsored by George Mason University. The conference will be held in Washington, D.C., June 15 to 21.
College athletics
The following Trinity High School seniors recently committed to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level: Tre Ivory (basketball), Austin Peay University; Chandler Lichtefeld (swimming), Emory University; Charlie Tancula (soccer), Transylvania University; and Wes Tolsdorf (tennis), Rhodes College.
Letter of intent
Ryan Askin, a senior at St. Xavier High School, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at Centre College.
Choral honors
The Assumption High School Advanced Choir earned a distinguished rating at the Kentucky Music Educators Association’s State Choral Festival held earlier this month at the University of Louisville. The Distinguished rating is the highest rating a choir can receive. The Advance Choir is directed by Jackie Metry.
Painting award
Hollie Collins, a senior at Assumption High School, won a first place painting award in the Kentucky Art Educators Association’s All-State Competition on April 26 at the Mellwood Arts Center.
Derby festival art
Numerous students in the Archdiocese of Louisville won awards at the Kentucky Derby Festival Art Contest Awards ceremony April 29. The winning student artwork will be on display at the Mellwood Arts Center from May through July. The winners from the archdiocese are:
- Division C (grades 4 to 5) — Maddie Ford, Notre Dame Academy, received an honorable mention.
- Division D (grades 6 to 8) — Savannah Bloom, St. Stephen Martyr School, received an honorable mention.
- Division E (grades 9 to 12) — Chelsea Beinlein, Mercy Academy, earned second place. Kaitlin Banta, Mercy Academy, received an honorable mention.
- Division F (grades K to 12 computer art) — Justin Wikulec, St. Michael School, won first place. Sydney Rivette, St. Michael, came in second place. And, Meredith Barnes, St. Agnes School, received third place.
Service project
Twenty middle school students from St. Aloysius School in Pewee Valley, Ky., participated in a field trip and service project May 14. The students collected furniture, housewares, hygiene items, cleaning supplies and paper products for a Nepali refugee family of four that will be arriving in the U.S. through the Catholic Charities’ Migration and Refugee Services program.
The students, with the help of the school’s counselor, Jessica Shain, worked for months to collect everything the family would need once they arrived in Louisville. St. Aloysius worked in conjunction with the Parishes Organized to Welcome Refugee (POWR) program.
Eagle Scout
Phillip Sandman, a sophomore at Trinity High School, has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Sandman is a member of Troop 327 at St. Albert the Great Church.
For his Eagle Scout Leadership Project, Sandman renovated the entrance garden at the Creasy Mahan Nature Preserve in Oldham County. He and his team of volunteers removed stones and weeds from the garden. They also spread and leveled several truckloads of soil to allow for proper drainage, a news release from the school said.
Sandman also built a natural stone, raised garden bed that is next to the entrance at St. Albert the Great Church.
