On Tuesday, May 29, all AHA students, faculty, and staff celebrated the closure of the 2025-26 school year. The all-school Mass took place in the gym. The seniors in the Class of 2026 wore their caps and gowns to the special occasion.

After Mass, students from grades 9, 10, and 11, as well as faculty and staff, were honored in various categories, listed below.

Congratulations to the following individuals on their awards and achievements!

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The academically top-ranking student in grades 9-11 for achieving the highest cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale at the end of Trimester II. 

• Ninth Grade:  Max English and Demi McCollar
• Tenth Grade: Julia Parish
• Eleventh Grade: Jacob Ritz

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The College Board recognizes the following junior as an  “AP Scholar” for averaging a score of 3.0 or higher on three or more AP exams taken in the Spring of 2025 when she was a sophomore: Ava Willette

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The Literary Merit Club is open to all students who want to read and discuss books outside of the English classroom. Students receive recognition for their participation on their transcripts.

• Honorable Mention (for students who have read 5 books): Emma Danberry 
• Bronze Award (for students who have read 10 books:  Allison Lima
• Gold Award (for students who have read 20 books):  Olivia Tri

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2026 Minnesota Girls State Representatives:
Ani Murray Pezzella, Ella Poidinger

2026 Minnesota Boys State Representatives:

Isaak DePoint, Gabriel Zhina Carpio, Ephram Zer

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2026 HOBY Leadership Seminar representative: Melissa Biltz

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The High Point Book Award is given to a sophomore who demonstrates high academic achievement and commitment in and outside of the classroom.  This year’s award is given to: Nelli Amigon 

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The Harvard Book Award is given to an outstanding member of the junior class who demonstrates excellence in scholarship and high character, as well as achievement in other non-academic areas: Jacob Ritz.    

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In recognition of outstanding personal character and intellectual promise, the Yale Book Award is given to Nolan Pelzel.

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The Dartmouth Book Award is given to a member of the junior class who demonstrates strong personal character and scholarship and who has made a positive contribution to the school community: Katie Jung.

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In recognition of outstanding personal character, involvement in extracurricular activities, and intellectual promise, the Miami University of Ohio Book Award is given to Leo Poehling.

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The St. Michael's Book Award is given to two juniors for outstanding leadership, service, and character within the National Honor Society: Joseph Walsh and Ava Willette.

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The Brandeis Book Award for Social Action and Civic Engagement is presented to an outstanding junior who demonstrates a commitment to civic engagement, community service, political activism, social justice, or volunteer work: Caroline Krings.

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The WPI Innovation Award is given to a junior who demonstrates outstanding potential in a STEM field, has enrolled in honors or advanced coursework in STEM disciplines, exhibits curiosity, collaboration, and leadership, as well as participation in STEM extracurricular activities: Andrew Carlson.

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The Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, in recognition of outstanding achievement and superior intellectual promise in the field of science, is presented to Diep "Doris" Nguyen.

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The Simmons Award Junior Book Award is given to a student in the junior class who demonstrates exceptional leadership, a strong commitment to social justice and/or climate action, a dedication to community service, and a consistent record of kindness to others: Katelyn Lewis.

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The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal is given to a junior who has demonstrated potential for success in a challenging academic setting, excels in math and science courses, and has exhibited significant involvement in extracurricular activities: Leonardo Medrano-Ayala.

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The George Eastman Young Leaders Award is given to a junior who has demonstrated strong leadership experience at school and in the community, has strong grades in rigorous courses, and extensive involvement in extracurricular activities: Beckett Lind.

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The Clarkson University Leadership and Achievement Award recognizes a high school junior who demonstrates strong leadership qualities, positively impacts their school and local community, and has a proven academic record: Emma Danberry.

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The Rochester Institute of Technology Women in STEM Award recognizes outstanding female high school juniors who have distinguished themselves academically, are active and involved members of their school and community, and demonstrate high achievement, ability, and interest in science or math: Audrey Opitz.

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The University of Vermont Citizen Scholar Book Award is designed to recognize outstanding citizens in their pursuit of higher education. The recipient demonstrates both outstanding dedication to scholarship in the classroom and impressive citizenship to their community: Claire Meyer.

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Academy of Holy Angels’ faculty has chosen students who have distinguished themselves for outstanding achievement in specific academic areas. 

• Ceramics - CJ Eichten
• Illustration/Drawing - Cynthia Jin
• Painting - Quinn Rich
• Mixed Media - Carolyn Hiendl
• Photography - Cal Bartleson
• Computer Art - Ella Northrup
• Computer Science - Muchen Cai
• Industrial Technology - Melissa Biltz
• English - Cris Romero, Ashlynn Bland, Diya Ramphal, Dominic Wood
• Math - Muchen Cai, Dresden Hortsch, Quan Li, James Parish, George Sill, Olivia Tri
• Biology - Teagan Walton
• Chemistry - Nolan Pelzel
• Physics -  Dresden Hortsch
• Social Studies - Maya Unnasch, Quinn Rich, David Ha
• French - Giada Alexander
• German - Linfei Wei
• Spanish - James Parish, Maria Olson
• Chinese - Olivia Tri
• Physical Education - 9th Grade: Owen Byrnes, Emma Cody | 10th Grade/Upperclassmen: Carter Hunsaker, Earyka Thomas

The following students were recognized for their outstanding achievement in music:

• Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Di Han
• John Phillip Sousa Band Award: Isla McLellan
• Band Director’s Award:  Antonio Amigon and Joseph Doebler Austin
• Most Valuable Band Member: Isla McLellan
• Outstanding Vocalist Award: Giada Alexander
• St. Cecilia Spirit of Music Award for Outstanding Vocal Participation: Giada Alexander
• Choir Most Valuable Member Award: William White
• National Choral Award: William White and Maya Unnasch
• Choral Director’s Award: Anderson Stark and Emmett Anderson
• Unsung Hero Award: El Braun
• Most Improved Choir: Nico Juarez - Kopfman

The following students were recognized for their outstanding achievement in the theater department: 

• Starlight Technical Award - Diana Llapa, Antonio Amigon
• Starlight Acting Award - Liam Jo, Giada Alexander
• Starlight Productions Director's Choice Award - William Christen
• Bent Nail Award - Tate Kaufenberg
• Mother Seraphine Ireland Outstanding Senior in Theater Award - Maya Unnasch

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TRIA Orthopedic Center awards a yearly scholarship of $2,000 each to one male and one female student who demonstrate drive and determination in academics, citizenship, and athletics: Grace Chinokoro, Randall Rivera Torres.

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The Banovetz Memorial Scholarship was created in 1993 in memory of Dr. John Banovetz. This year, the award will be given to three juniors who exhibit high academic and co-curricular skills. Selected by the Banovetz family to receive this year’s awards are Juliana Hitchcock and Xochiti Estella Zamora-Amaro.

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The coaches have chosen one student this year for their excellence in football to receive the Tom Kelly Award. This year's recipient is: Jax Schneider.

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The AHA Community Association Staff Service & Dedication Award is given to a non-teaching staff member who encompasses living out the AHA Way in their daily role at Holy Angels. The parent association awarded the AHA Maintenance Staff this year.

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The Thomas S. Noonan Instructional Achievement Award is presented each year to teachers in a core subject area who have made significant contributions to nurture student achievement, particularly during the current school year. This year's honorees are the 9th Grade Academy Steering Committee: Keri Brenden, Josh Van de Hinz, Sarah Taffe, Katy Kieffer, and Elizabeth Moravec. 

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The Mary Norris Lunde Class of 1938 Award of Excellence is presented to a staff member making outstanding contributions to the education, faith, and well-being of AHA students. This year's honoree: Natalie Ahlm.