Students who were freshmen when COVID hit ready for next step in their journeys
By Dan McWilliams
Notre Dame High School’s 147th commencement took place May 13 before a full house at the football stadium.
Head of school Deacon Hicks Armor presided as 99 seniors in the class of 2023 picked up their diplomas.
“It’s great to see a full crowd. I appreciate all the families being here for this,” Deacon Armor, a Notre Dame alumnus, said in his welcoming remarks.
Bishop Richard F. Stika led the opening prayer and offered remarks at the start of the ceremony. Members of the NDHS band under the direction of Marcie Smith played the National Anthem. Joining Deacon Armor and the bishop onstage were Dr. Sedonna Prater, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the diocese; Father Christopher Manning, Notre Dame chaplain; Jamie Goodhard, assistant head of school; and John Mullin, dean of students.
The bishop noted that Deacon Armor did not share his high school graduation year in his welcoming remarks but that “I graduated from high school in St. Louis in 1975. Back then, at Bishop DuBourg, we had a class song. Do you have a class song? Ours was ‘We May Never Pass This Way Again.’ I think it was Seals and Crofts.
“You will never pass this way again as a student of Notre Dame but rather as a graduate of Notre Dame. From this day and days to come, you will disperse and travel to many different places, institutions, schools, jobs. What has allowed you to hit this new opening of a door in your life is what has occurred in these four years, maybe three or two, depending on how long you’ve been here, that even though you will not pass this way again, I pray that you will have memories of gratitude to staff and teachers, volunteers and benefactors, to all those who shared with you what they have been given by God. In the name of your family and friends who have gathered together with you this day, we just thank God for the good things that have occurred, despite COVID—they are many.
“As I look into the future of Notre Dame High School, I see great promises. Because of benefactors, buildings are going to be upgraded. Benefactors have shared their gifts financially. And maybe someday we’ll do something with this athletic field. But that comes later. Know that you are always welcome to come back and stay for a while as you move on in life. Congratulations.”
Before introducing those on stage, Deacon Armor noticed the great number of family mem bers of graduates who filled the stands.
“I want to especially welcome the parents, grandparents, and siblings of our graduates,” he said. “Family is an important part of Notre Dame. It’s a hallmark. It’s what we are.”
Mrs. Goodhard presented salutatorian Andrew Fillauer, son of Michael and Jennifer Fillauer, who gave the address of remembrance, and valedictorian Benjamin Jungels, son of Matthew Jungels and Mary Jungels and Andrea and Jeff Dailey, who delivered the address of farewell. Andrew will attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and study mechanical engineering, and Benjamin, who received a naval ROTC scholarship, will attend Princeton University and major in aerospace engineering.
Several special awards were presented by Deacon Armor and others.
The Jim Phifer Spirit of Notre Dame Award is named for the class of 1949 member who went on to become the first lay principal in NDHS history and still holds the mark of longest-serving principal at 19 years.
“In addition to his years of service, all who came to know him know that no one could have loved Notre Dame or her students more than he did,” Deacon Armor said. “This award is presented annually to two students who reflect his spirit and love for our school.”
The Phifer Award was given to Olivia Mildenberger and Dylan Vintrov.
Father Manning presented the Bishop James D. Niedergeses Award, named for the man who was bishop of Nashville at the time the Diocese of Knoxville was created in 1988 and who served for many years as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Chattanooga. He was elevated to bishop in 1975 from his assignment as pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Chattanooga.
“If you’re not familiar, he was an incredible human being,” Father Manning said. “His outreach as our bishop was immeasurable, felt even to today, but Notre Dame has long chosen to honor him for the work he did while assigned in Chattanooga as priest and pastor.
“In a time period when equal treatment of and by races wasn’t anywhere near an everyday way of life, he stood for justice and service and living life as our Creator intended. This city—and our school—will always miss him. Our recipient is a student who has tried to accomplish those very same things: simply serving others, a smile, a hello.”
The Bishop Niedergeses Award went to Chloe Wesson.
Mr. Mullin presented the Bubber Byrne Award, named in memory of James Patrick “Bubber” Byrne of the class of 1936, a Notre Dame football player who passed away from a blood disease in the fall of his senior year.
“The award is based on the traits of sportsmanship, character, leadership, participation in varsity sports, and personal accomplishment in athletics,” Mr. Mullin said.
The Bubber Byrne Award was given to Kenny Hammond Jr., a standout athlete in three sports. Kenny was a three-year starter in football, a two-time NDHS offensive player of the year, and a Division II-East all-region football team member. He was a three-year Fighting Irish basketball player, starting at point guard the last two seasons, and a driving force behind two district championships who helped lead the team to a state runner-up finish last season. In track he has been a state qualifier in the long jump, triple jump, and 800-meter relay, with a fifth-place finish in the state triple jump as a junior and a second-place finish in the event as a senior.
Deacon Armor presented the female General Excellence Award to Briley Bacher and the male General Excellence Award to D.J. Brown.
Mrs. Jungels of the Notre Dame Home & School Association presented the Heart of Notre Dame Award to Chuck Newell, selected by his fellow faculty members for outstanding contributions to school and students, and the Heart of Irish Award to faculty member Melissa Wolff in an honor selected by students.
The presentation of diplomas followed.
In his closing remarks, Deacon Armor told the seniors to “never, ever, ever forget your roots.”
“As your parents will tell you tearfully when you leave for college, this always will be your home,” he continued. “You have a place to come back to. You may not want to do it too soon, but by the fall with the football games, there’s a whole lot of people who will want to see you, so don’t stay away.”
The head of school also thanked Bishop Stika, Dr. Prater, the HASA, parents, and faculty, with a special thank-you to Mrs. Goodhard.
Deacon Armor saluted the graduates last.
“For the time you have been here at Notre Dame, you have been taught academics, sportsmanship, spirituality, morality, and leadership,” he said. “Dr. Prater has always said the goal of the diocesan schools is to form saints, scholars, and leaders. The faculty have done their part, so now it’s your turn.”
Deacon Armor then asked the graduates to turn around, and they cheered their parents in the stands. Father Manning, who celebrated the baccalaureate Mass at Notre Dame, with Deacon Armor assisting, on May 12, led the closing prayer and blessing at the commencement.
Bishop Stika concluded the ceremony with one sentence: “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the class of 2023,” which was followed by the traditional hat toss by the graduates.
