Academics

Class of 2023

    • College Tshirt Day 2023

Class of 2023

The Class of 2023 is composed of an extremely talented and successful group of young women who have added so much to life at St. Cecilia Academy. They have spent countless hours working with College Counseling, submitting numerous applications, test scores, and recommendation letters. The hard work has paid off as this year’s 61-member class received more than $12.2 million dollars in merit awards, averaging more than $214,000 in aid per student. Scholarships were awarded for academic merit, leadership, service, and the arts. We are excited to present the Class of 2023 to the world.

This year, our graduates were accepted to 120 different colleges and universities in almost every state, including Alaska and Washington D.C. Six of them are listed in the Top 50 colleges and universities in the US News & World Report, with another nine in the Top 100! They will attend 36 schools in eighteen different states, including Colorado, California, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, and Mississippi. They will head in the direction of The University of Alabama, Baylor University, University of Notre Dame, Boston College, Pepperdine University, Samford, and The University of Tennessee. They will attend both private and public universities and attend liberal arts and Catholic colleges. They will pursue majors and minors in the fields of Neuroscience, Commercial Illustration, Criminal Justice, Architectural Engineering, and International Business and Finance. The most popular prospective major is Biology, with six graduates pursuing it.

Graduates will attend...

Ana Beron - Maryland Institute College of Art
Isabella Bigoness - Pepperdine University
Hannah Bodoh - Warren Wilson College
Annie Boyd - Xavier University
Gabrielle Brault - University of South Carolina - Columbia
Andrina Bridges - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Megan Cain - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Claudia Castro-Espejel - University of Memphis
Katherine Cheney - Samford University
Hallie Cook - University of San Diego
Kathryn Cygan - University of Alabama
Clare Dalske - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Rima Daniel - Xavier University 
Olivia DeMarco - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Ciara Doherty - University of New Hampshire
Megan Dreher - University of Alabama
Mary Jane Endom - University of Arkansas
Jessica Epstein - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Jordan Epstein - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Sicily Estopinal, Baylor University
Lexington Gardner - University of Alabama
Libby Gilliland - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Madden Hansen - University of Dayton
Emery Hart - Depauw Universtiy
Avery Howard - Professional Apprenticeship
Madeline Kopf - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Ally Lazo - Franciscan University of Steubenville
Cecilia Green - University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Carleigh Hanbury - Providence College
Katlyn Lowe - Belmont University
Maia Lowen - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Lanecia Matthews - Tennessee State University
Grace McMillen - Western Kentucky University
Naomi Nicole Mejia - Nossi College of Art
Katherine Mohlenkamp - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Olivia Mosesmann - Boston College
Zoe Mulloy - University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Sophia Nimmo, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Naomi Numbers - University of Louisville
Maylin Ortiz-Andrade - Belmont University
Bailey Patterson - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Stella Perazzini, West Point Preparatory School
Rowan Pollard - Sewanee, The University of the South
Marianne Pulous - University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Amelia Pyburn, University of Alabama
Asiyah Pykosh - The Ohio State University
Jazira Ramierz - University of Tennesse, Martin
Lucy Sheridan - San Diego State University
Abigail Smith - University of Notre Dame
Sienna Stewart - University of Alabama
Lainey Sulak - Hope College
Jane Thomas - Warren Wilson College
Adaeze Umeukeje - Pennsylvania State University
Emily Warner - Belmont University
Brianna Williams - Academy of Art University
Audra Wood - University of Colorado, Boulder
Maysen Young - Mississippi State University

Valedictorian Olivia Mosesmann

Valedictorian Olivia Mosesmann, St. Joseph School, Class of 2019, is a young woman whose gifts are on display inside and outside the classroom. She excels in both STEM and Humanities subjects. Her teachers consistently describe her as a "model student" and "innately curious" due to her work ethic and intellectual humility. Her love of learning manifests in how she applies herself to her studies and engages her teachers and peers. Observing this student's impact on her peers, one teacher has shared, "She always elevates the class." But her impact does not end there. This year the Senior class voted Livy as the Most Likely to Succeed. Outside of class, Livy has served on the student council, is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honors Society, and has been the treasurer and president of Mu Alpha Theta. Last summer, she interned with a non-profit in Washington, DC, where she saw firsthand how her love of math could be used to impact others' lives positively. This combined passion for crunching numbers and helping others guide this year's Valedictorian North, where she will attend Boston College's Carroll School of Management and major in Finance.

Salutatorian Abigail Smith

Salutatorian, Abigail Ann Smith, Overbrook Catholic School, Class of 2019. Abigail will leave our school, taking a full honors and A.P. classes schedule. She has earned an impressive GPA but also finds time to participate in many school activities. She has been a mainstay in the SCA Theater Guild, where she can be spotted both on stage dancing and acting and behind stage applying make-up and adjusting costumes. Last year, Abigail was not only Dance Captain for our production of Cinderella, but she also received a Spotlight Nomination for Ensemble Actress—one of five nominations across Middle Tennessee. She has lent her voice to the St. Cecilia Chorus and her dance skills as a volunteer instructor and choreographer for the Season's Dance Company. She is the current chapter President of the National Honors Society and frequently tutors younger students in Latin. Abigail was voted Most Studious by her class of seniors. Her joyful investment of time and talent will no doubt continue when she moves to South Bend to begin college at the University of Notre Dame, where she plans to major in Biochemistry.

St. Cecilia Girl Olivia DeMarco

The 2023 St. Cecilia Girl, the highest honor St. Cecilia Academy confers on a senior by a vote of their junior and senior peers, is Olivia DeMarco, Grassland Middle School, Class of 2019. The St. Cecilia Girl also receives the Lisa Elcan Bruner Memorial Scholarship. Lisa Elcan graduated from St. Cecilia in 1973 when she was named St. Cecilia Girl. Lisa died in 1993, and her family began a scholarship fund in her honor because of Lisa's love and dedication to St. Cecilia. Lisa's sister, Mary Elcan May '79, presented the award to Olivia. Olivia radiates what Galatians chapter five describes as the "fruit of the Spirit": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. During her four years at St. Cecilia, she has become a young woman admired by her peers and teachers.
Olivia has proven to be an outstanding leader in our community—not by being the biggest voice but by her natural ability to befriend anyone and her sincere commitment to serving others. Moreover, she is full of surprises. Despite her generally quiet demeanor, she has led the rosary, sang in the chorus, read and cantered at Mass, welcomed guests as an Ambassador, and cheered on her teammates. She is passionate about the performing arts and has led the Theatre Guild, serving as Parliamentarian for two years and Committee Chair. This year Olivia brought that passion to the stage, including her recent performances as Beth in Little Women and Mrs. Whatsit in A Wrinkle in Time. Her contagious enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to our school community have inspired those around her. She sees the best in everyone, and for this reason, she is loved by all. Olivia was elected this year's Spirit Week Queen and was voted Most Friendly by her senior class. This fall, our SCA Girl will attend the University of Tennessee - Knoxville, majoring in elementary education with a minor in Spanish.

162nd Commencement