Delone Catholic Class of 2026 Graduates; 61% Offered Scholarships Totaling $6.5+ Million

In a joyful culmination of four years of accomplishment and aspiration, Delone Catholic High School held commencement exercises for the Class of 2026 on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Lawrence B. “Sonny” Sheppard, Jr. Memorial Gymnasium. Mr. Dan Breen, Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Secretary for Education for the Diocese of Harrisburg, conferred the diplomas. 

Breen began his remarks with one question: "What will you take with you as you leave Delone Catholic?" He recommended some takeaways. "Have confidence in God's love for you. Being of service to others nourishes you as well as them. There is value in reaching for excellence. And remember those traits you have admired in others."

Also in attendance at the graduation was Amy (Moore) Sherdel '41, a member of Delone Catholic's first graduating class. Her great-granddaughter, Jillian Sherdel, graduates with the Class of 2026.  

The Class of 2026 Valedictorian is Timothy Norbert Martz, son of Troy and Mary Martz of Hanover, Pa. 

A premier scholar and leader, Timothy is a member of the National Honor Society, the National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, and the Spanish Honor Society. His academic excellence has been recognized with the Notre Dame Club of Gettysburg Award, the St. Michael’s College Book Award, and the University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award. A gifted writer, Timothy is a published author, winner of the national "Stranger Sagas" Writing Contest, and champion of the NEHS Creative Challenge.

Deeply committed to the spiritual and artistic life of Delone Catholic, Timothy served as the President of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and a member of the Kairos Core Team. His talents were shared across the marching, jazz, and concert bands, as well as the chorus and theatre.

Timothy will attend Christendom College, majoring in Theology with a concentration in Sacred Music.

In his Valedictory Address, Martz invoked the words of Pope Benedict XVI, "Man was created for greatness… but his heart is too small for the greatness to which it is destined. It must be stretched.” Martz continued, "It’s fair to say that both our minds and hearts have been stretched in our time at Delone. Maybe our focus was more limited before, but Delone has opened us to new ideas, new people, and new ways of learning, all set to a firm moral background to help us stay on track. Our hearts have been stretched through the service we’ve given to our community, and hopefully, through a deepening of our personal relationships and our spiritual lives. To put it simply, we’ve been pushed outside of our comfort zone. And I think more often than not, it was well worth it."

The Class of 2026 Salutatorian is Ivy Mae Nieves, daughter of Sam and Leslie Nieves of Gettysburg, Pa.

Ivy is a distinguished leader and scholar-athlete, serving as Vice President of the National Honor Society, President of the National Spanish Honor Society, and Treasurer of Mu Alpha Theta. Her extensive involvement includes the Executive Board of the Student Council, the National English Honor Society, the Tri-M Music Honor Society, the Science National Honor Society, and the Interact Club. A talented communicator, she also competed on the Speech and Debate Team.

Throughout her four years, Ivy was a versatile presence in Delone Catholic athletics, competing on the basketball, softball, tennis, and volleyball teams. Ivy’s exceptional academic record earned her the title of RPI Medalist from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, alongside scholarship offers from the Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Colorado-Boulder, and the University of Delaware, among others.

Ivy will attend Penn State University – University Park to major in Aerospace Engineering.

In her speech, Nieves welcomed her classmates and encouraged them about what's ahead. Quoting Scripture, she shared, "Isaiah 40:31 reads, 'They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings, they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.' There will come many times in the next few years and within our lives where things seem hopeless, and you feel the temptation to quit, like that one math course you have to take in college or an interview for a job you need to land. However, it’s important that we keep the Lord in our lives through these moments, believing that every challenge we face is an opportunity to grow towards Him and a chance to lean on Him and His strength. As I said, the next few years probably won’t be a walk in the park. Through our faith and perseverance, we will be able to soar and run through our obstacles, as the Lord promises."

In the immediate future, 93 percent of the Class of 2026 will pursue further education at colleges and trade schools. Two percent will serve in the armed forces, and another two percent will enter the workforce after graduation. 16 percent of the class participated in internships during high school, while 5 percent finished vocational training programs. Together, the Class of 2026 performed more than 14,143 hours of service to school, church, and community.

Earlier this week, the Class of 2026 and their families gathered for a Baccalaureate Mass on Thursday, May 12, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hanover, Pa. Bishop Timothy Senior, Twelfth Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, was the principal celebrant. Bishop Senior was joined by many of the priests and deacons of the Adams Deanery. Rev. Dwight Schlaline '00, the school’s chaplain, gave the homily, inspiring graduates to become ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, as "Doers of the Word (James 1:22)."

The evening concluded with a celebration for families and guests in the church parking lot.

The Senior Awards Ceremony was held on Friday morning, May 15, 2026, 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, Timothy Martz earned the James 1:22 Award, the school’s highest honor. Campus Minister Kate Phenicie wrote in her nomination, "Tim is very notably dedicated to his Catholic faith and actively fosters a personal relationship with the Lord. He is rooted in prayer and treats others with respect and kindness that flows from his desire to imitate Christ. For these reasons and more, I am honored to give him my recommendation for the James 1:22 Award."

A Snapshot of the Class of 2026

• 83% of the Class of 2026 will attend a four-year college or university.
• 7% will attend a two-year college.
• 3% will attend a trade school.
• 2% will move on to the workforce.
• 2% will serve in the military.
• 30% of the Class of 2026 will attend one of Delone Catholic’s 33 partner colleges and universities, having earned guaranteed admission and a merit scholarship.
• Colleges and universities have offered the Class of 2026 more than $6,517,500 in scholarships. 
• 61% of the Class of 2026 have been offered scholarships. 
• 61% of the Class of 2026 graduates earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher. 
• 41% of the Class of 2026 took one or more Advanced Placement® courses.
• 16% of the Class of 2026 completed an internship during high school.
• 5% of the Class of 2026 completed a vocational program during high school. 
• 67% of the Class of 2026 were inducted into at least one academic honor society.*
• The Class of 2026 has reported more than 14,143 hours of service to school, church, and community.
• The Class of 2026 has brought six plays and two musicals to the stage: Clue, Romeo and Juliet, You Can’t Take it with You, Disney’s Aladdin, Jr., Our Town, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, Murder with Tomato Sauce, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
• The Class of 2026's athletic achievements include several District III titles and YAIAA division championships. As members of the football, golf, lacrosse, boys' and girls' soccer, and girls' tennis teams, they advanced at least as far into district and state playoff action as any of those teams had in school history.

*Includes: National Honor Society, National Art 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, Science National Honor Society, National Speech and Debate Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society

Class of 2026 Leadership

• 2026 Student Council Executive Board: Jackson Arigo, Grace Hewitt, Lance Keller, Ivy Nieves, Luke Rebert
• Class of 2026 Officers: President Ezekiel Vandergrift, Vice President Jocelyn Robinson, Secretary Brielle Wittmer, Treasurer Samantha Bealmear, Class Representative Aubrey Harrington 
• Peer Ministers: Kaylie Brown, Taylor Dettinburn, Julianna Donahue, Ben Goedecker, Kali Hilfiger, Olivia Knox, Dylan Lawrence, Julia Miller, Langdon Parsley, Logan Sabaka, Keira Slonaker, Ella Smith, Brooke Strausbaugh
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:  Taylor Dettinburn, Dylan Lawrence, Julia Miller, Logan Sabaka, Keira Slonaker
• Kairos Core Team: Kaylie Brown, Taylor Dettinburn, Ben Goedecker, Dylan Lawrence, Timothy Martz, Julia Miller, Logan Sabaka, Keira Slonaker
• National Honor Society Officers & Chairpersons: President Lance Keller, Vice President Ivy Nieves, Secretary Oliva Knox, Treasurer Dylan Lawrence, Character Chair Kaylie Brown, Leadership Chair Jackson Arigo, Scholarship Chair Caylee Zortman, Service Chair Jocelyn Robinson, Chaplain Keira Slonaker
• Mu Alpha Theta National Math Honor Society Officers:  President Brielle Wittmer, Vice President Lance Keller, Secretary Jocelyn Robinson, Treasurer Ivy Nieves
• National English Honor Society Officers: President Kaylie Brown, Vice President Samantha Bealmear
• Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society Officers: President Enzo DiFatta, Vice President Joseph Suthard, Secretary Aubrey Harrington, Treasurer Keira Slonaker, Historian Langdon Parsley
• Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica Officers: Co-President Cole Davis, Co-President Ivy Nieves, Co-Secretary Camryn Groft, Co-Secretary Julia Miller, Treasurer Julianna Donahue, Historian Olivia Knox
• Tri-M National Music Honor Society Officers: President Timothy Martz, Vice President Ella Smith
• Interact Club Officers: President Olivia Knox, Vice President Jackson Arigo, Secretary Jocelyn Robinson, Treasurer Aubrey Harrington, Community Outreach Coordinator Taylor Dettinburn
• Speech and Debate Team Captains: Kali Hilfiger, Julia Miller
• STEM Club Officers: President Sarah Park, Vice President Joseph Suthard, Secretary Adam Scott, Treasurer Cierra Graen

Read on for more information about the Delone Catholic Class of 2026 

• Members of the Class of 2026
• Class of 2026 Commencement Livestream Recording
• Class of 2026 Senior Awards Livestream Recording
• Class of 2026 College Acceptances