Featured Student Alumni

It is our pleasure to introduce St. Thomas Alumni who are current high school or college students who are excelling in school, sports, or are making a difference within the community.

If you would like to nominate a student for us to feature, or would like to submit a feature article you have written, please email the web master at kbarth@stthomasgr.org. Please include the student's name, current school and grade or year, expected graduation year, and year he or she graduated from St. Thomas. Pictures are also welcome. Articles, nominations, and or pictures may also be dropped off at the school office.

We would like to feature as many alumni as possible so encourage you to respond.

Award Winners


Andrew Stec, a 2007 Saint Thomas graduate, was one of ten statewide winners in the 2006-07 America & Me Essay contest sponsored by Farm Burea Insurance. Andrew's essay received 4th place out of 5,000 essays sent in from over 100 participating schools across the state. Congratulations, Andrew!

The following Saint Thomas alum were honored at the Catholic Central Honors Convocation held Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007.

Saint Thomas Class of 2006

Quinn Treece - Silver Mythology Exam Award
Elizabeth Faber - Brian Bush Life Award Nominee
Logan Bandlow - Bronze Presidential Service Award

Saint Thomas Class of 2005

Jordan Milanowski - Silver National Spanish Exam Award
Kevin Greene, Jordan Milanowski, Norm Pelak - Academic Letters
Megan Koorndyk - Bronze Presidential Service Award

Saint Thomas Class of 2004

Sam Boland, Maura Diamond, Madison Edwards, Katherine Faber, Bill Grant, Brittany Hamlin, Ashley Jousma, Rachel Kieras, Tricia Reynolds, Joe VanderZee - were all inducted into the National Honor Society

Madison Edwards, Katherine Faber, Bill Grant, Brittany Hamlin, Ashley Jousma, Rachel Kieras, Tricia Reynolds and Joe VanderZee - were recognized by Catholic Central as Cum Laude

Katherine Faber, Ashley Jousma, Joe VanderZee - Academic Letters

Katherine Faber - Francis Geary Scholarship Recipient
Alita Kelly - Guardian Angel Award Recipient
Rachel Kieras - David M. Seaman Award for Leadership

Maura Diamond, Katherine Faber, Joe VanderZee - Bronze Presidential Service Awards (100+ hours)
Bethany Murphy - Gold Presidential Service Award (250+ hours)

Rachel Kieras - All City - Tennis
Joe VanderZee - All City - Swimming

Saint Thomas Class of 2003, CC Class of 2007

Performing Arts Awards -
Shanna King - Musical Theater Award
Kaitlin Barth - Director's Award

Athletic Awards -
All City -
Kaitlin Barth - Bowling
Tyler Sandner - Football
Michael Williams - Tennis

All State -
Leah Williams - Ski

Service Awards -
Leah Williams - Silver Presidential Service Award (175+ hours)
Andrew Crittenden, Shanna King, Katelyn Pelak - Gold Presidential Service Award (250+ hours)

Academic Awards -
Jessica Abdou - Cert. of Success in French Exam, Cum Laude, National Honor Society
Wyatt Baldwin - All City Academic Athlete, English Dept. Poetic Voice Award, Life Sciences Dept. of Excellence Award
Kaitlin Barth - All City Academic Athlete
Andrew Crittenden - Academic Boosters Achievement Award
Mike Ens - All City Academic Athlete, Cum Laude, President's Award for Excellence in Education
Josh Huver - All City Academic Athlete, Cougar Award
Kaitlyn Pelak - All City Academic Athlete, CC Academic Award, Cum Laude, NHS, Presidential Award for Excellence in Education, Silver Spanish Exam Award, Spanish 5 Dept. of Excellence Award, AP Scholar, National Merit Scholar Finalist
Ana Prindle - All City Academic Athlete
Tricia Reynolds - National Honor Society
Tyler Sandner - All City Academic Athlete, MSA Scholar Athlete Nominee
Betsey Stec - President's Award for Excellence in Education
Leah Williams - All City Academic Athlete, CC Academic Award, Cum Laude, NHS, President's Award for Excellence in Education
Mike Williams - All City Academic Athlete, Cum Laude, President's Award for Excellence in Education


Mike Williams receiving his awards from CC Principal Steve Passinault.

Kaitlin Barth (left) and Shanna King (right), members of the Saint Thomas Class of 2003 are pictured with Saint Thomas parishioner Joe Valente. All three seniors are members of the Capella Choir at Catholic Central and were recognized with awards at Catholic Central's Spring Concert and Honor's Convocation. Joseph Valente received the "2007 Theater Award," Shanna King received the "2007 Musical Theater Award" and Kaitlin Barth received the "2007 Director's Award." Congratulations to all three!


Joseph VanderZee, Madison Edwards and Katherine Faber, all graduates of the Saint Thomas Class of 2004, are among 14 winners of the Grand Rapids Economic Club's Essay Contest. Out of the 14 winners, Joe received second place and an award of $750. Madison and Katherine were two of the 12 third place winners, each receiving awards of $150. All are currently juniors at Catholic Central High School. They represent three of the six Grand Rapids Area winners who attend CC.

Congratulations to them all!