Delone Catholic Class of 2024 Graduates; Offered more than $12.4 million in scholarships

"The experiences I had here at Delone Catholic, in the classroom, on stage, and with the friends I have made, taught me one very important lesson: I needed to be willing to step out of my comfort zone and face life’s challenges head-on."  ~ Mary A. Murry, Valedictorian of the Delone Catholic Class of 2024

In a joyful culmination of four years of accomplishment and aspiration, Delone Catholic High School held commencement exercises for the Class of 2024 on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Lawrence B. “Sonny” Sheppard, Jr. Memorial Gymnasium. Bishop Timothy C. Senior, Twelfth Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, conferred the diplomas. 

The Class of 2024 Valedictorian is Mary Agnes Murry, daughter of Dr. Gregory and Kathryn Murry of Hanover, Pa. A member of the National Speech and Debate Honor Society, Mary excelled as co-captain of the Speech and Debate team. She has also starred in several school theater productions, most recently as Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin, Jr. Mary plans to pursue higher education at Mount St. Mary’s University, Md.

Addressing her classmates, Murry encouraged her fellow graduates, "As we leave high school and go forward in life, let's choose to face the challenges in life head-on and without fear. Because each challenge you face will only help you grow. And God will always be with you, guiding you, and leading you safely through every challenge that arises." 

The Class of 2024 Salutatorian is Riley Morgan Slee, daughter of James M. '91 and Denise J. (Keating) '94 Slee II of Hanover, Pa. While at Delone Catholic, Riley has served in several leadership roles, including Student Council Class President and co-captain of the Speech and Debate Team. Riley’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments earned her membership in the National Honor Society, the National English Honor Society, the Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, and the National Speech and Debate Honor Society. Riley has also starred in several school theater productions, most notably as Nana in You Can’t Take It With You. Riley plans to study fashion design at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. 

In her speech, Slee advised her classmates to adopt an optimistic attitude. “Focus on as many positives as possible because if you don’t, you’ll just drown in the negatives.” 

In the immediate future, 89 percent of the Class of 2024 will pursue further education at colleges and trade schools, five percent will enter the military, and six percent will enter the workforce after graduation. 12 percent of the class participated in internships during high school, while another 1 percent finished vocational training programs. Together, the Class of 2024 performed more than 9,683 hours of service to school, church, and community. 

Earlier this week, the Class of 2024 and their families gathered for a Baccalaureate Mass on Thursday, May 16, at 5:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hanover, Pa.  Rev. C. Anthony Miller '71, the principal celebrant, was joined by many of the priests and deacons of the Adams Deanery. Rev. Samuel Miller, the school’s chaplain, gave the homily, thanking the Class of 2024 for “setting the tone” with the underclassmen that caring for one’s spiritual well-being is important. Rev. Miller reminded the graduates that with God's help, “You are capable of great things.” The evening concluded with a celebration for families and guests in the parking lot of the church.

The Senior Awards Ceremony was held on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 9:15 a.m. in the Lawrence B. (Sonny) Sheppard, Jr. Memorial Gymnasium, with several guests on hand to present scholarships and awards, many of which are available exclusively to graduates of Delone Catholic High School. 

Of note, Sebastian Fielding earned the Catholic Faith Award, the school’s highest honor. Campus Minister, Mrs. Kate Phenicie, wrote in her nomination, “Sebastian maintains a consistency in his faith life that is to be admired.  He is well-grounded as a disciple but is able to live this out with a sense of humor and realism. He asks questions to find out more about things he doesn’t know, but also has a deep respect for the Church.”

A Snapshot of the Class of 2024

• 80% of the Class of 2024 will attend a four-year college or university.
• 7% will attend a two-year college.
• 2% will attend a trade school.
• 5% will serve in the military.
• 6% will move on to the workforce.
• 25% of the Class of 2024 will attend one of Delone Catholic’s nearly 30 partner colleges and universities, having earned guaranteed admission and a merit scholarship.
• Colleges, universities, and other organizations have offered the Class of 2024 more than $12,467,620 in scholarships.
• 62% of the Class of 2024 have been offered scholarships. 
• 66% of the Class of 2024 graduate with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• 51% of the Class of 2024 took one or more Advanced Placement® courses.
• 12% of the Class of 2024 completed an internship during high school.
• 1% of the Class of 2024 completed a vocational program during high school.
• 70% of the Class of 2024 were inducted into at least one academic honor society.*
• The Class of 2024 has reported more than 9,683 hours of service to school, church, and community.
• The Class of 2024 has brought four plays and two musicals to the stage: Bethel Park Falls, Seussical: The Musical, Clue, Romeo and Juliet, You Can’t Take it with You, and Disney’s Aladdin, Jr.
• The Class of 2024's athletic achievements include several District 3 titles and YAIAA division championships. As members of the baseball, golf, boys’ and girls’ soccer, and girls’ tennis teams, they advanced further into district and state playoff action than any of those teams had in school history. 

*Includes: National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Société Honoraire De Français, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, National Speech and Debate Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society
 

Class of 2024 Leadership

• 2024 Student Council Executive Officers: President Kathryn Keller, Vice President Lily Baker, Secretary Victoria Staub, Treasurer Adam Lawrence, Class Representative Emma Bunty
• Class of 2024 Officers: President Riley Slee, Vice President Sophia Warehime, Secretary Francis Strunk, Treasurer Aidan Wittmer, Class Representative Domonic Giraffa 
• Peer Ministers: Emma Bunty, Lillian Dessecker, Sebastian Fielding, Mary Fisher, Seth Hilfiger, Mary Murry, Colby Noel, Caroline Payne, Taylor Noel, Victoria Staub, Shana Zinn
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lillian Dessecker, Sebastian Fielding, Colby Noel, Caroline Payne, Victoria Staub, Shana Zinn 
• Kairos Core Team: Emma Bunty, Lillian Dessecker, Sebastian Fielding, Seth Hilfiger, Adam Lawrence, Colby Noel, Victoria Staub, Shana Zinn
• National Honor Society Officers & Chairpersons: President Emma Bunty, Vice President Nicolas Pierce, Secretary Caroline Payne, Treasurer Sebastian Fielding, Character Committee Chairperson Colby Noel, Leadership Committee Chairperson Victoria Staub, Scholarship Committee Chairperson Lily Baker, Service Committee Chairperson Sophia Warehime
• Mu Alpha Theta National Math Honor Society Officers: President Brady Dettinburn, Vice President Brielle Baughman, Secretary Kathryn Keller, Treasurer Sebastian Fielding
• National English Honor Society Officers: President Sophia Warehime, Vice President Lily Baker 
• Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society Officers: President Emma Bunty, Vice President Sebastian Fielding, Secretary Colby Noel, Treasurer Lily Baker
• Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica Officers: Treasurer Sebastian Fielding
• Tri-M National Music Honor Society Officers: President Emma Bunty
• Interact Club Officers: Co-Presidents Lily Shriner and Arielle Snyder, Vice President Madison O'Brien, Secretary Nicole Gingrich, Treasurer Gracie Wildasin, Community Outreach Coordinator Joey Chirillo
• International Club Officers: President Matthew Leon Abanto
• STEM Club Officers: President Mia Corbett, Vice President Makenzie Smith

Read on for more information about the Delone Catholic Class of 2024. 

• Members of the Class of 2024
• Class of 2024 Commencement Livestream Recording
• Class of 2024 Senior Awards Listing
• Class of 2024 Senior Awards Livestream Recording
• Class of 2024 College Acceptances