Mr. Gallagher led prayer this morning, reflecting on the leadership of our National Merit Finalists...

Our principal, Mr. Ryan Gallagher '00, led prayer this morning, reflecting on and giving thanks for our National Merit Finalists, who are "inspiration to all of us to strive for our very best in all that we do and to enter the 4th quarter committed to finishing strong in all of our endeavors."

"Good morning everyone, 

Please join me in our morning prayer. In the name of the father…

Our prayer this morning is a little different; it’s a reflective prayer, and one of thanksgiving for a few special members of our school community.  

I’d like to take a few moments this morning to recognize five members of our senior class for outstanding achievement in the area of academic excellence. 

Throughout your years as a student at Brother Martin, we’ve made it a point to talk about our traditions, which began just over 200 years ago with Father Andre’ Coindre and which was carried forth through the leadership of Brother Polycarp. 

While neither Father Coindre nor Polycarp directly addressed academics, their commitment to preparing young people for a livelihood is the basis for our commitment to and promotion of academic excellence at Brother Martin. 

This commitment is also memorialized through the words of Brother Martin Hernandez when he said that we are not here to teach you how to make a living, but how to make a life. 

In a Brothers school we view academic excellence as the development of each student to the maximum of his potential; it means improving students’ skills to help them achieve a sense of personal competency. We do this by challenging you to continuously improve and to achieve at the highest level possible of which you are capable, which in turn, is helping to form you into the person God created you to be. 

That challenge and process of continuous improvement is part of the reason why we hold you accountable for work; why we provide personal attention; why we ask you to complete unfinished assignments rather than merely lower your grade.  

This morning, we recognize five Crusaders who have readily accepted that challenge, who strive for mastery, who commit to individual excellence in everything that they do, and have reaped the rewards that come with such dedication. 

In September of 2021, 16,000 high school seniors across the country were notified that they had earned National Merit Semifinalist recognition, a recognition reserved for students who score in the top 1% of all high school students who take the PSAT. Semifinalists are chosen from each state, and they represent the top .5% of high school students in the state.  

Semifinalists then have to fulfill requirements to advance to Finalist standing. Each Semifinalist submits a detailed scholarship application, which includes essays and information about extracurricular achievements, awards, and leadership positions. Semifinalists also have to have an outstanding academic record and earn SAT scores that confirm their qualifying test performance. From the Semifinalist group, a certain number of students, varying from year to year, advance to Finalist standing; typically about 15,000 of the 16,000 semi-finalists earn Finalist distinction nationwide. 

This year, five Brother Martin Crusaders earned Finalist distinction for their holistic excellence. Because the Conlin Gym is under construction, we are not able to recognize these young men formally in front of the entire student body. We have them with us this morning in the front of school to recognize them for their gifts and talents. Mrs. Martinolich, Mrs. Broussard, and the rest of the administration are with me this morning to congratulate these young men for their outstanding accomplishment. 

Our 2022 National Merit Finalists are Seniors: 

Kyle Borde,

Matthew Lindner,

Chase Lormand,

Logan Millet, 

Landin Sanborn 

Kyle, Matthew, Chase, Logan, and Landin - thank you for your commitment to excellence at Brother Martin and for answering the call as members of the class of 2022 to leave Brother Martin better than when you arrived. 

We pray that the example of these five young men can be an inspiration to all of us to strive for our very best in all that we do and to enter the 4th quarter committed to finishing strong in all of our endeavors.  

Students and Faculty, please congratulate these five students when you see them throughout the day. 

Ametur Cor Jesu…

In the name of the Father…"

Congratulations to our National Merit Finalists on their leadership and academic achievements!