Diplomas were awarded to 26 graduates of Portsmouth Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School by principal J.D. McKenzie and school board president Richard Kielmar at a commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 19 in the school gymnasium. A Baccalaureate Mass was celebrated on Friday, May 17 at Portsmouth Holy Redeemer Church.
The Class of 2024 was offered $1.2 million in scholarships and accepted $790,850 of that total. Eighty-eight percent of Notre Dame’s graduates are pursuing higher education. Twenty-three of the 26 graduates will be attending 10 different colleges, including two outside of Ohio.
The class valedictorians were Kyndall Ford and Ella Kirby, both of Portsmouth. Ford is the daughter of Erica and Shad Ford. She has accepted an athletic scholarship to Northern Kentucky University, where she will major in biology. Kirby is the daughter of Summer and Charles Kirby. She has accepted a scholarship from Wilmington College, where she will major in psychology.
The salutatorian was Lillian Madden of Portsmouth. She is the daughter of Paul and Jaime Madden. She has accepted a scholarship from Marshall University, where she will major in medical imaging.
Graduating with honors diplomas were Grace Ashley, Wyatt Crawford, Kyndall Ford, Savanah Holtgrewe, Ella Kirby, Lillian Madden, Adam Schwamberger, Gwen Sparks, Katherine Strickland, and Alexandra Wallace.
The school presents three special awards voted upon by the faculty. The citizenship award was given to Katherine Strickland for her contribution of time and energy to civic, community and school projects. The senior service award was given to Gage McGraw for his generosity with his time toward course work and extracurricular activities.
The outstanding senior award was given to Grace Ashley for best fulfilling the roles of scholar and leader in the school and community, demonstrating outstanding character and service to others and, on a daily basis, demonstrating high Christian ideals in all of her activities.
Members of the Portsmouth Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School Class of 2024 are:
Grace Madison Ashley, AnnaBelle Madison Ball, CR Vetter Cochran, Wyatt Thomas Crawford, Jordan Alexander Davis, Jacob Matthew Edwards, Landon Matthew Emnett, Kyndall Shea Ford, Savanah Marie Holtgrewe, Ella Elizabeth Ann Kirby, Levi Orion Lewis, Lillian Mae Madden and Gage A. McGraw.
Alyra Jo Messer, Cody Gabriel Metzler, Myles Cole Sallee, Adam Ray Schwamberger, Brayden Joseph Shepherd, Brock Andrew Shepherd, Gwen Elizabeth Sparks, Katherine Jane Strickland, Savanna Vaughters, Ilan Michael Walker, Alexandra Rian Wallace, Kylee Roth Watson and Marcellus Roshun Woods Jr.