Eight students overall, including six from the same Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) high school have graduated with perfect marks.
Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School and Regional Arts Centre in Etobicoke saw six of its students graduate with a 100 per cent GPA for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Six perfect averages is the most the school has ever produced in a single graduating class, according to the TCDSB.
Amelia Campoli, Honora Murphy, Tano Nguyen, Natalia Zulek, Zachary Xerri and Robert Zupancic have been identified as the high-achieving students from Father John Redmond.
Two students, both graduates of Bishop Allen Academy, named Sophia Lezhanska and Ryan Opresnik, also received 100 per cent averages.
The cohort of high-achieving individuals has been described as a “rare but brilliant group of students,” of whom the catholic school board is extremely proud, alongside “the more than 6,000 Grade 12 graduates from all of its 12 Wards,” the TCDSB said in statement to Now Toronto.
The TCDSB also gave honourable mention to 22 top scholar students, defined as those who exceeded provincial education standards by maintaining grade averages between 98 and 100 per cent.
“The Top Scholars at TCDSB are a source of immense pride for all of us at the Board; through their dedication to hard work, these students have demonstrated what can be achieved when clear goals are in mind. We wish them the very best as they pursue their post-secondary studies and achieve their dreams,” Chair of the Board, Nancy Crawford, said in a statement.
Honora Murphy, one of the John Redmond graduates, told Now Toronto that despite her glowing results she tried not to focus on grades too much throughout her school years.
“Instead, my goal was to learn and understand as much as I could, and do the best work that I could. I’ve learned that feeling proud of your work is more rewarding than any number,” she said.
Murphy’s broad ranging hobbies and interests are equally as impressive as her academic accomplishments. She is invested in politics and passionate about social justice, she is a lover of film, and described her time as a member of the TIFF Next Wave Committee, a group of high school students from across Toronto selected to curate an annual youth-centered film festival at TIFF called the Next Wave Film Festival, as one of her “most exciting and rewarding experiences.”
She also served as co-editor of her school magazine and is a competitive Irish dancer. “Most of my time outside of school is spent training for regional, national, and international competitions,” she said.
Murphy also acknowledged the achievements of her fellow classmates. “I was really proud and honoured to be recognized alongside the other students from my school. I have so much respect for them – they are all so hardworking and driven – so being able to celebrate this achievement together has been really special,” she said.
Murphy will begin attending Carleton University this month to study Communication & Media Studies and Film Studies. “I can’t wait to challenge my perspectives and expand my view of the world,” she said of her upcoming university experience, before admitting to being “a little bit surprised” when she received her final grades.
“They hadn’t really been on my mind throughout the school year, I knew I had worked hard, and I was proud of the work I had done throughout the year. That, to me, is the most important thing,” Murphy concluded.
Meanwhile, Amelia Campoli is a recipient of the Father John Redmond Alumni Award and the Roger Farwell Scholarship for Architecture and is set to pursue an undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo’s School of Architecture to improve accessibility within public spaces.
Tano Nguyen is a recipient of the prestigious University of Waterloo President’s Scholarship of Distinction and Purdy Crawford Undergraduate Scholarship, and will be attending the university of Waterloo to study Biomedical Sciences in hopes of becoming an optometrist.
Natalia Zulek will study Retail Management at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she received the Terence Grier Entrance Scholarship. Zulek hopes to integrate her business aspirations into the local community.
Zachary Xerri, a recipient of the University of Toronto’s President’s Scholarship of Excellence, among other prestigious awards, will attend UofT’s Life Sciences Program, aspiring to become a practicing medical doctor in Canada.
Robert Zupancic was awarded the President’s Scholars of Excellence Program scholarship at the University of Toronto, and will be pursuing his post-secondary education at UofT’s Faculty of Engineering this fall.
Sophia Lezhanska will study mathematics and computer science at the University of Toronto and hopes to work in the field of programming.
Ryan Opresnik received the Adrian Della Mora Award and numerous subject awards. He will continue his studies at Queens University in the Life Sciences program where he received the E. Stanley and Nadine Beacock scholarship. Ryan will also play varsity baseball and specialize in neuroscience to help pursue his goal of becoming a neurologist.
