On November 15 at the Minnesota State High School League Swim and Dive State Championship Meet, Izzy Westling claimed the state title in the 100-yard freestyle with an outstanding time of 51.75 seconds. In addition to her first-place finish, Izzy also earned second place in the 200-yard individual medley.

In 2024, Izzy swam two individual sprint events, placing 6th in the 50 Free and 3d in the 100 Free earning All State honors in both events.

Izzy wasn’t just a standout in individual events—she also teamed up with Lilah Mohs ’27 for the 200-yard medley relay at the MSHSL state meet, held at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Regan Douvier ’28 served as the team’s alternate. Known as one of the most competitive events in Minnesota high school swimming, the relay featured some of the fastest swimmers in the state. The team finished 14th out of 23 teams, an impressive achievement.

Saint John’s Prep swimmers compete as part of a community co-op team with St. Cloud Apollo and St. Cloud Cathedral, giving student-athletes the opportunity to participate in high school swimming and diving at the state level.

We’re incredibly proud of these scholar-athletes and their dedication. Way to go, Johnnies!
Learn more about our programs at .

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Saint John’s Prep is proud to present the impressive list of colleges and universities that our outstanding Class of 2025 will attend in the fall of 2025. This comprehensive list showcases the diverse range of academic interests and ambitions within our graduating class, reflecting their hard work, dedication, and the strong foundation they’ve built during their time at Prep.

We celebrate each student’s unique journey and look forward to seeing the incredible contributions they will make in their chosen institutions and beyond.

Below is a comprehensive list of colleges and universities for the Saint John’s Prep Class of 2025.

Boston College
Carleton College
Colgate University
College of Saint Scholastica
Colorado School of Mines
Concordia College, Moorhead
Concordia University, Saint Paul
Creighton University
DePaul University
Gustavus Adolphus College
Harvard University
Iowa State University
Macalester College
Minneapolis College of Art & Design: MCAD
North Dakota State College of Science
Ohio State
Penn State University
Red Lake Nation College
Saint John’s University
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of Saint Thomas
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Virginia Military Institute
Yale University

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During our commencement ceremony each year, Principal Dr. Christine Glomski and Head of School Jon McGee award several senior awards to individual graduates. These outstanding young people have shown exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and contributions to the school community. The members of the Class of 2025 graduated from Saint John’s Preparatory School on May 23 in the Saint John’s Abbey Church in Collegeville, Minnesota.

The following graduates received the senior awards:

The Leadership Award goes to the senior who has shown leadership during their time at Saint John’s Prep. This year’s recipient is Natalie Kayser. She is the daughter of Sherry and Jason Krebsbach, and Chad Kayser of St. Cloud. She will attend the Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa next semester.

The Benedictine Spirit Award recognizes a student who strives to make the Benedictine values a part of his or her daily life, and subsequently, a part of all our lives. The 2025 Benedictine Spirit Award recipient is Brett Penk, the son of Stacy and Derek Penk of Watkins. He will attend Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut in the fall.

The Citizenship Award goes to the senior who has consistently promoted respect for, and the building up of, the Saint John’s Preparatory School community. This year’s recipient is Sylvie Bechtold, the daughter of Kay and Gary Bechtold of St. Joseph.  She will attend Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska next year.

The 2025 All-Around Student Award goes to the senior who is seen as having made the greatest contribution to the Prep School in a variety of ways, academic, extracurricular, social and spiritual. This year’s recipient is Elizabeth St. Hilaire, the daughter of Alexandra and Thomas St. Hilaire of St. Cloud. She will attend Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts next fall.

sjprep.net

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Saint John’s Prep is proud to congratulate two seniors who have committed to compete in athletics at the collegiate level. Miranda Meyer ’25 and Louise Ruzanic ’25 announced their decisions in an official signing ceremony in front of their coaches, parents, and classmates.

Prep Athletic and Activities Director Bryan Backes acknowledged these seniors’ commitment to their teams and sports. “The commitment of these athletes to reach their highest potential has been remarkable! We’re very proud of their accomplishments and grateful for their leadership.”

Miranda Meyer will join the swim and dive team at . She will be a diver for the Cobbers. At Saint John’s Prep, Miranda has competed on the swim and dive, basketball, and track teams. Miranda is the daughter of Marv and Rita Meyer of Meire Grove.

Louise Ruzanic is becoming a Carleton Knight. She has committed to compete in both track & field and cross country for . At Saint John’s Prep, Louise has competed on the cross country, basketball, and track teams. Lousie is the daughter of Rachel ’95 and Ted Ruzanic.

Congratulations Johnnies!

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Saint John’s Prep is proud to announce students who are graduating with honors on May 23, 2025. These students are the highest academic achievers of the Class of 2025. To graduate with an honors diploma from Saint John’s Prep, students must achieve a minimum of three academic distinctions, completing an interdisciplinary senior capstone project, and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher. Students pursue areas of academic distinctions by completing advanced research, essays, and projects in their preferred fields of study.

The Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement ceremony will occur on May 23 at 3:00pm at the Saint John’s Abbey Church in Collegeville, Minnesota. St. Cloud Diocese Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C. will preside and Saint John’s Abbot Douglas Mullin, OSB will concelebrate. Graduates selected Biology teacher Sarah Paselato give the faculty address and Liam Spychala of Albany to give the senior address.

Scroll down to learn more about our honors graduates, their college plans, and capstone project topics.

The 2025 Honors Students in alphabetical order are:

Sylvie Bechtold is the daughter of Kay and Gary Bechtold of Saint Joseph, Minnesota. She is graduating with distinctions in Science, Visual Arts, and English. Sylvie will attend Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and major in Studio Arts and Biology. Sylvie’s capstone project explored this question: “In what ways did the intertwined studies of art and anatomy during the Italian Renaissance contribute to advancements in both fields, and what influence is still present in these subjects today?”

Amanda Bolton is the daughter of Nicole and Aaron Bolton of Sartell. She is graduating with distinctions in Science, Social Studies, English, and Math. She is a National Merit Scholar.Amanda will attend the University of California Los Angeles. She plans to major in Public Health at UCLA. Amanda’s capstone project explored this question: “To what extent might human germline genome editing—considering He Jiankui’s experiment—challenge medical implications, ethical dilemmas, and social dynamics regarding genetic modification?”

Sarah Bolton is the daughter of Nicole and Aaron Bolton of Sartell. She is graduating with distinctions in Science, Math, Social Studies, and English. Sarah will attend the University of California Los Angeles. She plans to major in Public Health at UCLA. Sarah’s capstone project explored this question: “Why is there a higher prevalence of ACL tears in female athletes, and what preventative measures can be implemented to minimize this risk?”

Isabel Crue is the daughter of Kelly and Jarrett Crue of Saint Joseph. She is graduating with distinctions in Science, Performing Arts, World Languages, and English. Isabel will attend Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She will major in Biology and Chemistry. Isabel’s capstone project explored this question: “How do the lyrics of Kendrick Lamar’s album, To Pimp a Butterfly, reflect the societal issue of racial inequality?”

Annika Dauer is the daughter of Eileen and Brian Dauer of Cold Spring. She is graduating with distinctions in Social Studies, Performing Arts, and English. She will attend Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. She plans to major in Classics, Ancient History, and Archeology. Annika’s capstone project explored this question: “What does Odysseus’ role as a character in derivative works say about the societal values across time?”

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Diethelm is the daughter of Julie and Paul Diethelm of Saint Cloud. She is graduating with distinctions in Science, Social Studies, and Visual Arts. She will attend Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Lizzy will major in Psychology. Lizzy’s capstone project explored this question: “To what extent does bipolar disorder affect creativity, and how did it affect Vincent Van Gogh’s creativity and works of art?”

Jackson Glomski is the son of Christine and John Glomski of Saint Augusta. He is graduating with distinctions in Math, Science, and English. He will attend Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. He is will study Biology and Neuroscience. Jackson’s capstone project explored this question: “To what extent have the advancements made in biostatistics impacted physicians’ ability to create care plans more accurately for their patients?”

Alayna Neal is the daughter of Michelle and John Neal of Saint Cloud. She is graduating with distinctions in Science, Performing Arts, and World Languages. Alayna will attend the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. She plans to study Chemistry and Spanish. Alyana’s capstone project explored: “In what ways do poverty or societal attitudes have an impact on the healthcare treatment gap of depression in the United States and Mexico?”

Brett Penk is the son of Stacy and Derek Penk of Watkins. He is graduating with distinctions in Social Studies, Performing Arts, English, and World Languages. Brett will attend Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. He plans to major in Political Science. Brett’s capstone project explored: “How is art used as rebellious expression in China, Spain, and the United States under government oppression in the late 20th century and the early 21^st ����Գٳܰ���?”

Liam Spychala is the son of Casey and Jason Spychala of Albany. He is graduating with distinctions in Science, Performing Arts, and English. He will attend Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He plans to study Biology. Liam’s capstone project explored this question: “How do stories, like the one told through BBC’s Planet Earth II, showcase the power of storytelling in general population education on scientific subjects?”

Elizabeth St. Hilaire is the daughter of Alexandra and Thomas St. Hilaire of Saint Cloud. She is graduating with distinctions in Science, Math, Social Studies, Performing Arts, English, Visual Arts, and World Languages. Elizabeth will attend Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. She plans to study Biochemistry. Elizabeth’s capstone project explored this question: How did the rise of Wastewater-Based Surveillance during the Covid-19 pandemic change the privacy of today’s public in the United States, and is government action ethically necessary? 

Benjamin “Ben” Suo is the son of Ping Suo of Saint Cloud. He is graduating with distinctions in Math, Visual Arts, and English. Ben will attend Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is currently undecided on his field of study. Ben’s capstone project explored: “How do digital voice assistants (DVAs) influence children’s emotional, cognitive, and social development, and in what ways can early exposure to such technology shape the behavior of future generations?”

Aspire to Excellence Curriculum
Saint John’s Preparatory School offers the Aspire to Excellence curriculum. Students may pursue advanced areas of academic distinctions by conducting additional research, essays, presentations, and projects in their preferred fields of study. Students earn an honors diploma from Saint John’s Prep by achieving a minimum of three academic distinctions, completing an interdisciplinary Senior Capstone project based on a combination of research, creative work, writing, and exhibition, as well as earn a composite weighted cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher.

For more information about our school and the Aspire to Excellence curriculum, visit sjprep.net/academics/aspire-to-excellence-curriculum.

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Amanda Bolton ’25 Named National Merit Finalist

Congratulations to Amanda Bolton ’25, who has been named a National Merit Finalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program! Amanda is the daughter of Nicole and Aaron Bolton of Sartell. She is the sister of Matthew ’22 and Sarah ’25 Bolton. Amanda has attended Saint John’s Prep since sixth grade.

This fall Amanda first earned recognition as a semifinalist, placing among the top 16,000 students nationwide. Now, as one of 15,000 finalists, she is in the running for one of the prestigious National Merit Scholarships.

Earning the title of National Merit Finalist places a student among the top score earners in the country on the PSAT test, representing less than one percent of graduating seniors. Finalists must also have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, and be endorsed and recommended by their school’s principal. Amanda advanced after submitting an application which included her academic record and a listing of her participation in school and community activities.

Amanda is co-captain of the soccer and basketball teams and competes with the Prep varsity track and field team. Her other leadership positions include National Honor Society service committee chair, German Club co-president, and team lead in the junior volunteer program at St. Cloud Hospital. She is also a member of the Mock Trial and Envirothon teams and works at The Good Shepherd Community as a certified nursing assistant.

Amanda’s future plans include studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) in college. Her long-term goal is to attend medical school and become a pediatric dermatologist. 

She’s grateful to be a Saint John’s Prep student because of the small class sizes. “At Prep, the small student-to-faculty ratio allows me to excel in school because of the personalized attention from teachers and their ability to adapt their pace to the class’s needs.”

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®)–a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year–and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.

Congratulations Amanda!

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Saint John’s Prep School Students Earn AAA Award

Collegeville, MN:  Seniors Sylvie Bechtold and Michael DeMars are the 2024-25 Saint John’s Prep recipients of the “Triple A (Academics, Arts and Athletics) Award” by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). According to the MSHSL, the purpose of this program is to recognize and honor high school seniors who have excelled in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in the fine arts. The two will be honored at the Section 5A Triple A Award Banquet on January 15 in Paynesville.

Sylvie Bechtold

Sylvie is the daughter of Kay and Gary Bechtold of St. Joseph. Sylvie is the captain of the varsity basketball team, and varsity cross-country team. She runs distance events for the track and field team and received the team’s Leadership Award in 2024. Sylvie is the Character Branch Leader for the National Honor Society and a Writing Center tutor. Sylvie is an accomplished painter, designer, and illustrator who has had work published in the Prep literary magazine, the Triangle. She also shows her work at area festivals including the Millstream Art Fail.

Sylvie is not sure of her major in college yet, but she plans pursue classes that combine her interests in both science and art. She would like to study subjects that will eventually support her efforts to attend medical school. “Art has helped me bring creative perspectives to other academic subjects. For example, I studied human anatomy to paint an Italian Renaissance-style self-portrait for my Honors Capstone project.”

Michael DeMars

Michael is the son of Amanda and Dan Demars of Sauk Rapids. Michael is the captain of the varsity basketball team, and the varsity soccer team. In the off-season he plays soccer and takes part in a summer campus work-out program. Michael is also an experienced ceramicist who also creates artwork with digital photography and drawing.

Michael plans to attend college in the fall and will major in some type of engineering. He believes that participation in athletics and the arts fosters the development of valuable skills that will help him in college and his career.

“I really love to create ceramics pieces. There are a lot of creative opportunities in each piece, and I can create whatever I feel like making. Creating art helps you improve your critical thinking and creativity. In my case arts have helped me improve my skills that will help me with my engineering career.”

Awards Banquet

Both Sylvie and Michael will be honored at the MSHSL Section 5A Triple A Award Banquet in Paynesville on Wednesday, January 15. Each will give a short speech and share details about their academic, athletic, and artistic accomplishments. Two Section 5A award recipients will be selected to move forward to the regional banquet. The MSHSL awards two statewide scholarships to young people each year.

Criteria for the Triple A Award include: exhibiting citizenship characteristics and be a respected individual in their home communities and school, have participated in a MSHSL-sponsored athletic program and fine arts activity, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and comply with the MSHSL’s Student Code of Conduct.

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Saint John’s Prep Senior Amanda Bolton is a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Amanda is the daughter of Nicole and Aaron Bolton of Sartell. She is the sister of Matthew ’22 and Sarah ’25.

Amanda is one of the 16,000 students nationwide and 288 students in Minnesota to earn the honor as semifinalist. She is among the academically talented high school seniors who now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for scholarships worth $33 million. She is among the top scorers of the PSAT/NMSQT® in the United States and Minnesota. 

Amanda is co-captain of the soccer and basketball teams and competes with the Prep varsity track and field team. Her other leadership positions include National Honor Society service committee chair, German Club co-president, and team lead in the junior volunteer program at St. Cloud Hospital. She is also a member of the Mock Trial and Envirothon teams and works at The Good Shepherd Community as a certified nursing assistant.

Amanda’s future plans include studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) in college. Her long-term goal is to attend medical school and become a pediatric dermatologist. 

Amanda enjoys her science classes as well as film studies. “I enjoyed AP Biology with Ms. Pasela because I got to grow my interest in the subject and explore potential concentrations. Also, Film Studies with Mr. Erickson was among my favorites, as it expanded my understanding of film history and techniques.”

She’s grateful to be a Saint John’s Prep student because of the small class sizes. “At Prep, the small student-to-faculty ratio allows me to excel in school because of the personalized attention from teachers and their ability to adapt their pace to the class’s needs.”

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®)–a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year–and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.

To become a National Merit Finalist, Amanda will submit a detailed application that includes her academic record, school and community activities, leadership abilities, honors, and awards. More than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. Finalists are recognized in February of 2025.

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Below is a comprehensive list of colleges and universities for the Saint John’s Prep Class of 2024.

Boston College
University of California San Diego
Carleton College
Concordia College Moorhead
College of Saint Benedict
Denison University
Drake University
Franklin and Marshall College
Hamline University
Lawrence University
Loyola University Chicago
Luther College
Macalester College
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
University of Minnesota Duluth
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
University of North Dakota
University of Notre Dame
Pratt Institute
Purdue university
Saint Cloud State University
Saint John’s University
Saint Scholastica
University of Saint Thomas
Syracuse University
Temple University
University of Wisconsin Madison
Virginia Tech University

Click here to learn more about this outstanding class of Johnnies!

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Saint John’s Prep is proud to announce the top ten students in the 2024 graduating class. These students are the highest academic achievers of the Class of 2024.

On Friday, May 24, 2024, all 47 Saint John’s Prep seniors will take part in the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement ceremony on campus at the Saint John’s Abbey Church in Collegeville, Minnesota. St. Cloud Diocese Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C. will preside and Saint John’s Abbey Abbot Douglas Mullin, OSB will concelebrate.

The Class of 2024 selected English teacher Kelly Fitch to give the faculty commencement address. Senior Adelaide Miron of St. Cloud will give the student commencement address. The Saint John’s Prep Class of 2024 has students from ten countries and five Minnesota cities. Eleven students are graduating with honors. All 47 graduates will advance to a four year college or university.

The top ten students in alphabetical order are:

Evan Danielson is the son of Michele and Nathan Danielson of Sartell, Minnesota. Evan is graduating with distinctions in science and social studies. He is a National Merit Scholar. He will attend the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities and major in engineering.

Patrick Duffy is the son of Megan and Brendon Duffy of Cold Spring, Minnesota. Patrick is graduating from Saint John’s Prep with honors. He is graduating with distinctions in science, math, social studies, and performing arts. He is a National Merit Scholar. Patrick will attend the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana and major in business analytics and economics.

Nick Hansen is the son of Denise and Greg Hansen of Saint Joseph, Minnesota. Nick is graduating with distinctions in science and social studies. Nick has committed to run track and cross country at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. He will major in computer science.

Clara Lamberts is the daughter of Tina and William Lamberts of Saint Cloud, Minnesota. Clara is graduating from Saint John’s Prep with honors. She is graduating with distinctions in science, world languages, and social studies. Clara will attend Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. Clara is undecided about her major.

Miranda Louis is the daughter of Tina Louis and Lance Louis of Cold Spring, Minnesota. Miranda is graduating from Saint John’s Prep with honors. She is graduating with distinctions in math, world languages, performing arts, science, and social studies. Miranda will attend Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Miranda is undecided about her major.

Megan Mahowald is the daughter of Marissa and Bob Mahowald of Sartell, Minnesota. Megan is graduating from Saint John’s Prep with honors. She is graduating with distinctions in English, world languages, and science. Megan will attend Boston College in Boston, Massachusetts. She will major in biology and German.

Adelaide Miron is the daughter of Aimee and Joel Miron of Saint Cloud, Minnesota. She is graduating from Saint John’s Prep with honors. She is graduating with distinctions in English, performing arts, and science. Adelaide will attend Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota where she will major environmental studies and theatre.

Aaron Ruesink is the son of Darcy Ruesink of Saint Joseph, Minnesota and Craig Ruesink of Saint Joseph, Minnesota. He is graduating with distinctions in science and performing arts. Aaron will attend the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He will major in Chemistry.

Hanqi “Harry” Tao is the son of Lan Liu and Jun Tao of Shanghai, China. He is graduating with distinctions in science and math. Harry will attend the University of California in San Diego. He will major in Chemistry.

Lincoln Hennes-Vix is the son of Tamara Hennes-Vix ’96 of Saint Joseph, Minnesota and †Robert Vix ’95.  Lincoln is graduating from Saint John’s Prep with honors. He is graduating with distinctions in English, math, science, and performing arts. Lincoln will attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and major in physics.

Aspire to Excellence Curriculum
Saint John’s Preparatory School offers the Aspire to Excellence curriculum. Students may pursue advanced areas of academic distinctions by conducting additional research, essays, presentations and projects in their preferred fields of study. Students earn an honors diploma from Saint John’s Prep by achieving a minimum of three academic distinctions, completing an interdisciplinary Senior Capstone project based on a combination of research, creative work, writing, and exhibition, as well as earn a composite weighted cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher.

For more information about our school and the Aspire to Excellence curriculum, visit our website at sjprep.net or sjprep.net/academics/aspire-to-excellence-curriculum.

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