Archdiocesan Summa Scholars Share Lessons in Leadership, Purpose and Joy

Story and Photos by Shelley Wolf

Jared Campbell, a senior at Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford, will be graduating soon and heading to college to study computer science and engineering. Looking back over his high school days, he says the teacher who influenced him the most was the one who helped him foster greater self-confidence.

Campbell’s freshman Spanish teacher, Kristina Gillespie, made him feel included, he said, and encouraged him to overcome his hesitancy in trying to speak a new language.

“I have learned to communicate with my peers and take initiative because she believed in me,” he told his fellow students, teachers and family at the 2024 Archdiocesan Summa Scholars Award Ceremony and Reception, which was held recently at the Pastoral Center in Bloomfield.

Campbell was one of 36 students from seven Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford honored for their scholastic achievement. They represent the top 5% of their graduating class.

Each scholar received a medal from Father Michael Whyte, archdiocesan vicar of Catholic Education and Formation, and thanked a teacher who contributed to their academic or personal growth.

This year, Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne, the new Archbishop of Hartford, was on hand to congratulate the scholars. He shared his own story of a teacher who pushed him to excel:

“When I was in seminary formation, one of my formators said I ‘was cruising through seminary.’ My second year report said, ‘Chris is not applying himself academically.’ I said, ‘What do you mean? I got all A’s?’ My formator repeated, ‘You’re just cruising.’ I asked, ‘What does that mean?’ So my adviser forced me to take extra courses.”

That extra push, Archbishop Coyne said, led him to get his Ph.D. and eventually teach in a seminary.

During the Summa Scholars event, each student told similar stories of growing in self-confidence, leadership skills, purpose and joy.

Brianna Wood from St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol shared her special connection with her pre-calculus teacher, Mary Clarke. “Mrs. Clarke saw math the same way I do,” she said, “as an intricate puzzle that can connect in an infinite amount of unique ways.”

Wood credited Clarke for inviting her to lead the Data Analytics Team. “She told me she saw a spark within me and wanted to give me the chance to use my light to inspire others,” Wood said. Under Clarke’s guidance, the team won numerous awards and Wood created an award-winning TED talk, “How I Learned to Lead by Making My Own Definition of Leadership.”

Petr Melnikov from East Catholic High School in Manchester said he was unsure of where he was headed, but that all changed when he met his Advanced Placement history teacher, Ryan Healey. Healey’s passion for the subject inspired the student to consider teaching history himself someday.

“He introduced me to the tradition of learning about our past so we can apply it to our future,” Melnikov said. “Thank you for helping me to realize a love I never knew I had, and thank you for helping me discover my future career.”

Lindsay Truong, another Summa Scholar from Northwest Catholic, thanked her music teacher, Brett Simms. “Mr. Simms has shown me that music is so much more than how I do, but it is the act of doing it, and the enjoyment I get out of playing with my peers and just being present in the moment,” Truong said.

“Through these experiences, I’ve learned that music is a symbol of perseverance, camaraderie, but most importantly, passion. Today while I readily recognize the accomplishments of the mind, teachers like Mr. Simms teach us not to forget the soul.”

The following students were designated as 2024 Summa Scholars:

St. Paul Catholic High School, Bristol:

Adria Brahaj

Anna Guzda

Gabriela Quirk

Samantha Sein

Brianna Wood

Sacred Heart Academy, Hamden:

Anna Marie Fagan

Swetha Jacob

Quinn Michels

Madison Rossetti

East Catholic High School, Manchester:

Adam Eskin

Grace Kiser

Petr Melnikov

Marion Patsalides

Matthew Shattuck

Anjolie Troung

Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Laurelton Hall, Milford:

Artemisia Deeds

Emma Hoffman

Caitlin Keogh

Alexi Paranal

Holy Cross High School, Waterbury:

Celine Assahoua

Catherine Balabat

Abigail Cummings

Jennifer Fernandes

Michael Gauthier

Lily Vescera

Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford:

Jared Campbell

Joseph Kalamarides

Ava Rotundo

Susanna Schaub

Lindsay Truong

Notre Dame High School, West Haven:

Nicolas Bauer

Pablo Bravo-Cancino

Jason Dong

Lukas Perrelli

Matthew Prato

Ryan Sevigny

For more information about Catholic schools in the archdiocese, visit catholicedaohct.org.