Congratulations to Central Catholic Class of 2026!!!
Central Catholic High School’s Class of 2026 graduated on Monday, May 18. The Baccalaureate Mass was celebrated at Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral, and the 106th commencement ceremony was held in the Sullivan Center.
The class earned many honors and distinctions. Here are some highlights of our top students:
The Bishop’s Cross
The highest honor bestowed upon any graduate of a Catholic High School in the Diocese of Toledo is the Bishop's Cross, which dates back to the year 1873. It is given to one boy and one girl from the graduating class. Students who receive the Bishop’s Cross are Catholic students who clearly strive to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. They manifest an active life of Christian charity in the way they relate to and serve their neighbor. These students are respectful, kind, virtuous, considerate, authentic, positive, have a strong moral character and prayer life, respect, and a love for learning.
The Bishop’s Cross recipients from the Central Catholic Class of 2026 are Lauren Bishop and John Rudski.
Lauren Bishop was a member of the National Honor Society, Insignis Society, Campus Ministry Core Team, Sideline Spirit Core Team, and the IrishTHON Core Team. She was an Irish Ambassador, Eucharistic Minister, retreat leader, Kairos leader, and captain of the girls’ tennis team. She received awards for outstanding scholarship and achievement in theology, science, social studies, and servant leadership. Lauren will be attending the University of Toledo to major in early childhood education.
John Rudski was president of the National Honor Society, Student Council vice president, and an Irish Ambassador. He was a member of the Insignis Society, Campus Ministry Core Team, Sideline Spirit Core Team, IrishThon Core Team, and the boys’ tennis team. He also did mixing and sound design for the fall play and spring musical. He received awards for outstanding scholarship and achievement in theology, social studies, Spanish, and servant leadership. John will attend the University of Notre Dame where he will major in global affairs.
Valedictorian - Destiny Graciani
Destiny was a member of the National Honor Society, Insignis Society, Student Senate, Campus Ministry Core Team, Ambassadors For Life Club, Spanish Club, Quiz Bowl, Drama Club, and the musical tech crew. She was also an Irish Ambassador, a Summer Success program leader, and a retreat leader. She received awards for outstanding scholarship and achievement in theology, math, science, social studies, and Spanish. Destiny will attend the University of Toledo and major in biology.
Salutatorian - Logan Miller
Logan was a member of the National Honor Society, Insignis Society, National Art Honor Society, Student Council, and Campus Ministry. He also served as a Kairos Retreat Leader and an Irish Ambassador, and he played football and tennis. He received awards for outstanding scholarship and achievement in theology, social studies, and science, and from Youth Leadership Toledo and Youth in Philanthropy Encouraging Excellence. Logan will attend Otterbein University where he will major in psychology and play football.
Heritage Speaker - Ryan Dempsey
The Heritage Award is given to the third ranking member of the class, and the recipient speaks about the heritage of Central Catholic High School at the commencement ceremony. Ryan was a member of the National Honor Society, Insignis Society, IrishTHON Core Team, the football team, and the baseball team. He was also an Irish Ambassador and a Kairos Retreat leader. He received awards for outstanding scholarship and achievement in theology, math, and social studies. Ryan will attend the University of Toledo to major in finance.
Servant Leadership Awards are presented to the students who have submitted the most service hours in the Class of 2026 during their four years at Central Catholic. Joel Drees and Destiny Graciani are this year’s recipients.
The Reverend James E. Steinle Senior Leadership Award is given in honor of a former principal of Central Catholic and recognizes seniors who have demonstrated strong qualities of leadership and service without receiving formal recognition. The recipient of this award is a leader without necessarily holding an office of any kind, and it is the character and example of the individual that has earned him or her this honor. This year’s recipients are Nevaeh Wahl and Aiden Westfall.
The Donnelly Christian Discipleship Award is presented to students who exemplify the life of a Disciple of Jesus Christ - seeking to know, love, and serve God and our neighbor. The award is named in honor of Central Catholic alumni, the Most Reverend Robert Donnelly (Class of 1949) and Reverend Martin Donnelly (Class of 1956). Sabriah Greer and Nolan Hernandez are this year’s recipients.
The Governor’s Merit Scholarship is a statewide honor awarded to Ohio’s highest-achieving high school seniors. This recognition is given to students who rank in the top 5% of their graduating class, highlighting their outstanding academic performance, dedication, and commitment to excellence. In addition to recognizing their achievement, recipients are awarded a renewable scholarship to support their continued education at an Ohio college or university. This year, Central Catholic is proud to recognize nine seniors who have earned this prestigious distinction: Isabella Acevedo, Lauren Bishop, Reagan Bluhm, Ryan Dempsey, Joel Drees, Destiny Graciani, Logan Miller, John Rudski, and Madison Schmakel.
The St. Cecelia Award recognizes the overall outstanding Glee Club member whose musical talent and dedication has positively impacted the entire organization. This year’s recipient is Aiden Westfall.
The St. Genesius Award recognizes the Glee Club student who has consistently produced exceptional artistic and entertaining performances that have advanced and showcased the accomplishments of the Glee Club. This year’s recipient is Reagan Bluhm.
The John Philip Sousa Award is the most prestigious award for high school band students, and recipients are added to the national database and become part of the historical record for the award. The recipient demonstrates superior commitment and musicianship to our band program. Micheal Wood Jr. is this year’s recipient.
The String Orchestra Award is the highest honor for a member of the high school orchestra and recognizes excellence in playing, contributing in a positive way to the ensemble, and demonstrating leadership skills. Above all, this student has displayed a genuine, positive attitude for four years. This year the award goes to Hannah Anteau.
The Genesis Award is the highest award presented by the art department and honors a senior who has exhibited excellence in the visual arts by demonstrating a consistently high level of technical skill and dedication to academic achievement in all art classes. Logan Miller is this year’s recipient.
The Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Awards are given to a senior male and a senior female who have displayed exemplary sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity. This year’s recipients are Logan Miller and Madison Schmakel.
The OHSAA Scholar Athlete Award is given to the senior boy and girl with the highest grade-point average who have received a minimum of four varsity letters in all sports combined. This year’s recipients are Reagan Bluhm and Ryan Dempsey.
The Margaret Mary Volz Award and the Tom McHugh Award are presented to the one female and one male student-athlete who have lettered in at least two sports this year, maintained at least a 2.0 grade-point average after seven semesters, maintained a good discipline record, and are the top-ranking student-athlete according to the awards criteria as established by the Athletic Committee of the CCHS Board of Directors. This year’s recipients are Makenzie Coleman and Preston Fryzel.
