Saint John’s Prep is proud to announce students who are graduating with honors. These students are the highest academic achievers of the Class of 2026.

To graduate with an honors diploma from Saint John’s Prep, students must achieve a minimum of three academic distinctions, complete 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 following students will present their capstone research on Friday, May 15 during the Aspire 2 Excellence Scholarship and Community Day at Saint John’s Prep.

2026 Honors Graduates

Donovan Figallo is the son of Shaana and Andrew Figallo of St. Joseph. Donovan will attend Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa and major in International Relations and Biology.

• Capstone Topic: Societal Benefits of Materialistic Novelty Items: Labubus—the Perfect Tool to Climb the Social Ladder
• Distinctions: Science, Social Studies, World Languages

Vivian Fitch is the daughter of Kelly and Scott Fitch of Cold Spring. She will attend the University of Wisconsin in Madison and major in Political Science.

• Capstone Topic:How did Creative Expression Impact Advocacy and Accessibility for Female Reproductive Freedom during Second Wave Feminism in America?
• Distinctions: English, World Languages, Visual Arts

Isabella Glomski is the daughter of Christine and John Glomski of Saint Augusta. She will attend Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina and major in Psychology and Biology.

• Capstone Project: Gut Microbiome Shaping Childhood Development: Long-Term Behavioral Patterns
• Distinctions: English, Science, Visual Arts

Michael Kang is the son of Sun Hye Jung and Sang Yoon Kang of Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, near Seoul, in the Republic of Korea.        Michael will attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and major in Biology with a pre-med focus.

• Capstone Topic: What is the Connection between Teenagers’ Exposure to Short-Form Content and the Weightlifting Supplement Market?
• Distinctions: Math, Social Studies, Science

Aubrie Louis is the daughter of Tina and Lance Louis of Cold Spring. She will attend Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She is undecided on her major.

• Capstone Topic: A Historiographical Critique of the History of the Athena Parthenos
• Distinctions: Social Studies, Science, Visual Arts

Lane McIntyre is the son of Suzanne McIntyre of St. Joseph and Mike McIntyre of South Dakota. Lane will attend Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and major in Civil Engineering.

• Capstone Topic: Problems in Bridges around the United States: Engineering Solutions
• Distinctions: Performing Arts, Math, Science

William Reisinger is the son of Elizabeth and Eric Reisinger of St. Cloud. He will attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and major in Chemistry.

• Capstone Topic: How TikTok Polarizes: Examining TikTok’s Structure and Algorithm
• Distinctions: Math, Science, World Language

Cecelia Weldon is the daughter of Nancy and Derick Weldon of St. Joseph. She will attend Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York and major in Journalism.

• Capstone Topic:The Songs they Carried: Memory, Music, and the Search for Truth in “The Things they Carried” and the Soundtrack of War
• Distinctions: English, Performing Arts, World Languages

Jacob Weniger is the son of Jean Weniger of Maurertown, Virginia. He has not finalized his decision on a college or major for the fall of 2026.

• Capstone Project:Ink and Ignorance: How Limitations in Research, Captivity, and Recognition Obscure Cephalopod Science
• Distinctions: English, Science, World Language

Isabelle Westling is the daughter of Sue and Craig Westling of Sartell. She will attend New York University in New York, New York and major inGlobal Health with a minor in Business.

• Capstone Project: United States and Latin America: How Sports Culture Affects Mental Health
• Distinctions: Science, Math, World Language, Visual Arts

Aquiliana Wolf is the daughter of Lisa and Saul Wolf of St. Joseph. She will attend Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and major in Biology and Theater Production/Design.

• Capstone Topic: The First Public Relations Campaign: How Christianity Influenced the Psychological and Political Foundations of Early America
• Distictions: Social Studies, Science, Performing Arts

Andrew Zahasky is the son of Maria and Brian Zahasky of Sauk Rapids. He will attend Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and major in Pre-pharmacy and Music.

• Capstone Topic:America Science Fiction in the Politics of Fear: How 1984 Influenced Power and Control
• Distinctions: Science, Performing Arts, English

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Izzy ’26 is already a champion in Minnesota, and now she’s joining a national championship team!

Saint John’s Prep Senior Izzy Westling has committed to join the national championship swim and dive team for New York University, in Manhattan. She signed her letter of intent at Prep accompanied by her parents, Craig and Sue Westling of Sartell, SJP/Apollo/CHS Co-op Swim and Dive Coach Evan Shanley and former SJP/CHS Co-op Swim and Dive Coach, Jen Drakkar.

This fall, Izzy will join the NYU Women’s Swimming and Diving team, the reigning NCAA Division III National Champions, who claimed their first-ever title in March 2026.

In November of 2025 at the Minnesota State High School League Swim and Dive State Championship Meet, Izzy earned 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 3rd in the 100 Free earning All-State honors in both events.

Izzy has been a part of the Saint John’s Prep   community co-op team with St. Cloud Apollo and St. Cloud Cathedral since seventh grade.

Izzy’s former coach and current SJP history and economics teacher, Jen Drakkar, says, “It has been an absolute joy coaching Izzy over the years and watching her continue to develop into the incredible athlete she is today. Izzy is an amazing teammate, always willing to work with, cheer on, and celebrate her teammates. Her work ethic as an athlete is inspirational—she always looks for ways to improve, takes feedback and applies it, and is so respectful on and off the pool deck. I am so excited to continue to follow her journey into the college world of sports. I think she is really going to show what she is capable of at NYU and continue to grow and develop even further as a talented athlete.”

Izzy’s new team is a Division III program. against teams like the University of Chicago, Case Western, Emory, and Washington University. During the 2025-26 season, the NYU Violets earned first place at the NCAA Division III Championship meet in Indianapolis.

Izzy plans to major in Global Health and minor in Business at New York University.

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Saint John’s Preparatory School is proud to announce that Isaac Miller, a Senior at Saint John’s Prep, has been selected to participate in Triple Threat on Hennepin, a highly selective and prestigious performing arts program that recognizes Minnesota high school students for excellence in singing, acting, dancing, and leadership. Triple Threat on Hennepin is part of the Only 24 students statewide were chosen as Triple Threat finalists.

Isaac is the son of Jen and Aaron Miller of Cold Spring. He is the brother of Nora Miller ’23. Isaac will attend Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York to pursue a BFA in Acting this fall. At Saint John’s Prep, Isaac has performed in lead and featured roles in the productions of Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Little Mermaid, James and the Giant Peach, Footloose, and, of course, 2026’s Hadestown.

Isaac will take part in intensive rehearsal, and performance experience in June that ends with performances in the

“This is an incredible honor,” said Isaac. “Triple Threat on Hennepin brings together some of the most talented students in the state, and I’m excited to grow as a performer and collaborator through this experience.”

“We are exceptionally proud of Isaac and this remarkable achievement,” said Brandon Anderson, Theatre Director.  “This selection reflects not only Isaac’s outstanding talent, but also his leadership, dedication, and a commitment to artistic excellence – values we strive to cultivate at Saint John’s Prep.”

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Saint John’s Prep is celebrating Isabel Schwinghammer ’26, who has been shortlisted for the Minnesota Youth Poet Laureate Program. She advanced to the finals of the 2026 contest with three original poems, earning recognition for both her creative voice and thoughtful engagement with important themes.

The hosts an annual poetry initiative that honors young writers using poetry to create artistic, civic, and social impact. Through this program, emerging poets are recognized for their leadership, creativity, and commitment to using words as a force for connection and change.

Isabel is the daughter of Stewart and Kim Schwinghammer of Saint Augusta. She is the sister of Gabe ’28. Isabel is mentored by English teacher, Kelly Fitch.

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Seniors Lane McIntyre and Izzy Westling are the 2025-26 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 were honored at the Section 5A Triple A Award Banquet earlier in January.

Lane was selected as the top male Triple AAA Award recipient in our sub-region. He now advances to represent our region at the MSHSL 5A banquet where he will join the other top AAA honorees in our Section. The top student athletes from Section 5A will then move on to MSHSL state competition in March.

Lane is the son of Suzanne McIntyre of Saint Joesph and Mike McIntyre of South Dakota. He is the brother of Kayla ’28.
While attending Saint John’s Prep, Lane has been a member of the track, cross-country and Nordic ski teams. He serves as a captain of the cross-country and Nordic ski teams. Lane is also a member of the SJP choir, concert choir, and orchestra. He was named to the all-state choir in 2025. Lane also plays piano and earned a spot in the Minnesota Music Teachers Association Honors Concert. Lane is a member of the National Honor Society and the Triangle Literary Magazine. Lane is an alumni member of the Saint John’s Boys’ choir who serves as a camp counselor. He is also an active member of the Church of Saint Joseph.

As a team captain and music mentor, Lane appreciates the leadership opportunities he’s received as a team captain and mentor for younger musicians and singers. “As leaders we learn to work effectively with our coaches, directors, and other team members. I try to make sure that everyone feels like they are an important part of the team or group by spreading kindness, positivity, and cheering everyone on!”

Lane will attend Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, and study engineering. He plans to pursue music in the men’s choir and join an intramural running club while in college.

Izzy is the daughter of Sue and Craig Westling of Sartell. She is the sister of Luc ’20 and Claire ’24.
Izzy has been a member of the swim and dive team and as a senior, she serves as a captain. Izzy is also a member of the National Honor Society and the Triangle Literary Magazine. HOSA Future Health Care Professionals Club, Girls Who Code, Gym Girls Club, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. She’s served as a middle school mentor and an academic center tutor. Izzy is an artist and enjoys creating ceramics and drawing in the Saint John’s Prep art studios.

In November of 2025, at the Minnesota State High School League Swim and Dive State Championship Meet, Izzy 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.

Izzy says both athletics and arts are very important to her education. “Sports are important because they teach me how to challenge and push myself. I have been forced to learn time-management skills, discipline, and resilience in the face of obstacles – all skills that are important in the pool, the classroom, and life. Art has played a huge part in my life, by teaching me ways to express myself. I gained confidence and patience in how I understand and express my emotions and opinions by bringing them to life through something I can make.”

Next year Izzy plans to attend a New York University in Manhattan and study global health. She has committed to be a member of NYU’s Violets swim and dive team.

Criteria for the Triple A Award include:  Exhibit citizenship 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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Each 7^th and 8^th grade student donated a festive, wrapped gift that was used for bidding. The auction items were all mystery items. Each gift was labelled with a clue, but all students could see was a wrapped gift or gift bag! Students opened the gifts to find everything from Christmas candy and holiday décor to silly items like beauty products, office supplies, and silly toys.

Middle school teacher Cameron Swanson served as the auctioneer while middle school teachers Jeff Kirchoff, Ashleigh Severson, and Robert Ellenbecker served as cashiers and gift distributors.

The proceeds are being used to fill the wish lists of a family at Anna Marie’s Alliance. Mr. Swanson took a crew of students shopping with the family members’ wish lists. Gifts on the Anna Marie’s wish list range from practical clothing and toiletries to fun toys, gift cards and electronics.

provides safety for women and children in abusive situations in the nine-county region of Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Wright, Mille Lacs, Isanti, Kanabec, Chisago and Pine Counties. For more information about Anna Marie’s Alliance go to www.annamaries.org.

Founded in 1857, is a Catholic/Benedictine, co-ed, private day and boarding school, providing students of all faiths in grades 6-12, with a college-preparatory curriculum. For more information, visit or call 320-363-3315.

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Saint John’s Prep students, faculty and staff are sharing the spirit of Thanksgiving by donating food and money to the . The Thanksgiving food drive benefitting the Food Shelf was a huge success thanks to the efforts and generosity of our families. Together students from grades 6 through 12 collected $ 3,780.58 in cash/check donations and 951 food items!

Saint John’s Prep has hosted this food drive for the Food Shelf for more than 20 years.

The food bank is now distributing the food to families in the St. Joseph area. Prep students brought in non-perishable food items including canned vegetables, boxes of stuffing, cans of broth and cream of mushroom soup, bottles of fruit juice, and other holiday staples. The money will be used to purchase turkeys, pies, buns and other perishable items. More than 30 families with a hearty and healthy Thanksgiving meal thanks to our efforts!

We are especially grateful for the work of the National Honor Society, Ms. Frame and NHS President, Isaac Miller ’26 for coordinating this successful food drive. 

Miller Advising Wins Crumbl Cookie Party

Mr. Miller and his advising group will enjoy a Crumbl Cookie party to celebrate their success. Together they collected $1,002 for the food shelf. Way to go! 

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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 launched the 2025-26 school year on August 20 with our annual opening convocation ceremony. As president of Student Council, Vivian Fitch ’26 gave an encouraging speech to students, faculty, staff, and parents in the Saint John’s Abbey Church.

Good morning, everyone. Thank you Dr. Glomski, Mr. McGee, Abbot Douglas, Saint John’s Prep faculty, staff, and students, and all other friends and family that have joined us here today. Welcome to the first day of the 2025-2026 academic school year.
I am beyond grateful and thrilled to be speaking to you all today. These next nine months will undoubtedly be filled with laughter, memories, and immense self-growth.

As I look out into this crowd now, every single person I see is incredibly capable, determined, and ready to take on this new chapter in their lives. However, I know how nerve-racking and scary it can be to begin a new school year— despite what grade you may be entering. I have the same nerves I do right now as I did at the beginning of my Prep journey five years ago. And as I look back on that thirteen-year-old version of myself, there are so many things I want to say to her—most of which my present self, and perhaps others in this room, need to hear as well, so I will be doing that by sharing some quotes.

A great philosopher once said, “Everything you lose is a step you take.” This strikes a special part of my heart because in the rigorous academic environment that is Prep, it is completely inevitable that you will fail at some point during your time here. Whether it is forgetting to read last night’s assignment and failing a pop quiz, answering a question incorrectly despite such eager confidence, or completely bombing a physics test you tried your hardest at— it’s all part of the experience. There can often be a lot of pressure that we as students face and, due to that, mistakes and failure may feel like the end of the world. However, it is in those moments of failure, stress, and anxiety that teach us the lessons necessary for our growth. It is through failing that we discover how to improve ourselves, what works best for us, and where our true intentions and priorities lie. That is why we must allow ourselves the grace and the space to make mistakes so that if failure approaches us, which it inevitably will, we make sure to embrace it and grow.

Another quote that really inspires me is by a very wise businesswoman. She shares, “There is no easy way out. There is no shortcut home. There’s only hard work, patience, and persistence.” We are all so incredibly lucky to be attending Saint John’s Prep, and I firmly believe that education is the strongest tool that one can have. So, I encourage all of you here to ask those extra questions this year, push yourself to take hard classes, and challenge and expand your mind daily. While it will get difficult, know that that is how you grow intellectually. As that quote shared, it is truly through hard work, patience, and persistence that will lead us all to great success.

Additionally, I also think it’s important to practice balance. A poet one said, “Hold on to the memories and they will hold onto you.” This holds importance because when it comes to school, of course a huge part of it is academic. School is a place to learn, grow, and challenge ourselves intellectually.

However, another aspect that is just as important is the social life. What is sixth grade without making lifelong memories at Osprey Wilds with your friends? What is middle school without the chaotic fails during winter on the sledding hill? What is high school without homecoming bonfires and countless crazy moments in the fishbowl filled with laughter? It is important to find balance at Prep between academics and friendships, because it is the two together that encapsulate the enjoyment of school. So, I hope all of you can practice balance this school year by making long, lasting friendships and memories everywhere you go.

Now, I know I’ve given some pretty broad pieces of advice so far, but there is one last thing I want to share with you today. I want to remind and assure all of you that at the end of the day, nothing is quite that serious. Things will change, people will evolve, and everything will be okay. Know that no one is staring at you as much as you think, no one remembers that embarrassing moment that keeps you up at night as vividly as you do and know that no one is perceiving you nearly as harshly as you may perceive yourself. As once said by a person who inspires me daily, that philosopher, businesswoman, and poet I mentioned earlier, Ms. Taylor Swift, “Just shake it off.”

Thank you all so much for listening and being here today. Be sure to go into this new academic year with an open mind, kind heart, and strong ambition, and I wish you all an amazing 2025-2026 school year!

Thank you!

Vivian is a senior at Saint John’s Prep and the daughter of Kelly and Scott Fitch of Cold Spring, MN.

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Below is the commencement address from Liam Spychala, who was selected by his fellow members of the SJP Class of 2025 to give the commencement address on May 23. Liam is the son of Casey and Jason Spychala of Albany, and the older brother of Lincoln ’27 and Lola ’29. Liam will attend Concordia College in Moorhead in the fall. He plans to study Biology.

Embrace failure. I think I should repeat that though because what many of you just heard was, “Avoid failure.” Embrace failure. It really, really sucks to fail. Frankly, failure is not a theme of the Prep school, and honestly, I’m not sure any school would want failure to be one of their themes, but it means we don’t have experience with it. When you inevitably face it, though, you must learn to accept it. Often this is described as getting back up when you get knocked down, but to me this definition feels like you leave it behind, you almost hide it, in a way. The true challenge is carrying it with you, but I don’t mean this in a negative way. Don’t let it weigh you down and prevent you from moving, but I would tell you to let it ground you. Let the heaviest mistakes give a certain heft to your life, an extra umph to the punch you pack. It keeps you modest and true to who you want to be. It also makes success all the greater because instead of having just the joy of reaching that goal, you also have the pride in remembering what you have been able to overcome. – In trying to leave it behind, you lead a dishonest life.

You will inevitably be faced with moments where you feel like you don’t stack up, that you are somehow less than others. This can be especially hard when you don’t have control over the metric that you are worse by. This could be a job opportunity that passes you by, a college acceptance maybe, or even just what other people think of you. It is not our role to get stuck on these roadblocks. In these situations, it is easy to blame yourself because it really does feel like you were the reason why you didn’t get it. You turn inward and you say, how could I have let this happen, when in reality, it is that something has been done to you. – A question that will likely come up if you face this struggle is, “Where did I go wrong?” But what we have to remember is that there aren’t right or wrong choices in this matter because of how subjective it is. – They didn’t say, “NO” to every part of you, they only said no to the part that you let them see. They don’t know what you don’t tell them, they can only assume. We all make impossible decisions at some point in our lives, and someone will always get hurt. To act so selfishly and to act as though you alone suffer is wholly wrong. I believe in your ability to move past this way of thinking, to realize and accept these nuances of reality.

You are so much more than your greatest accomplishments. Now, don’t go thinking, “Wow, I’m even better than I thought I was.” No. I’m saying that your most prideful moments are likely not as impactful as you think they are, at least not to the surrounding community. Nobody receives awards for being a great parent, nor do you get praise for being a good friend.

Ground yourself in the unseriousness of life. So little has ever ridden on the score of a test or the result of a course. It just doesn’t make sense to weigh so heavily the short term and momentary goals when we humans have this ability to look into the future and say, “Yes, this is the type of person I want to someday be,” and then you set out to do it. This mindset of forward thinking and flexibility prepares us well because there aren’t any test corrections for life.

How you carry yourself and your actions are pretty final. You can’t bring someone back to life, you can’t really take back what you say, and time keeps passing, always. The wonderful thing is, despite not allowing for test corrections, there are no wrong answers. You get to create the questions, and you even get to choose which ones you answer. Should I take this opportunity? How can I serve those around me? What brings me purpose – fulfillment? The only way that you can fail this test is to lie to yourself. In lying to yourself you’ve been cheated of having your own life. You sacrifice “the self” for “the other.” Never a good plan.

Be people of the greatest character. There is no way to even begin this process, which is the hardest part. There is no checklist for how to be a person of great character, and even when you begin to describe it, those things lose their value because drawing attention to actions that improve one’s character makes them take away from your character. This idea of not being able to know when you’ve reached great character is just like being a lifelong learner. Being inspired, thoughtful, and curious, applies to your character too. So, how would I recommend that you become someone of character, it’s not possible – I just told you that. What I would tell you though is to act with genuine care and respect for others, and you will LOVE the way that you see yourself. It isn’t something you do, becoming these things, it’s something you are. Chase after this with a thunderous zeal. Let people make no mistake in who you are and why you believe that you should be who you are.

Once you live as a person of character, you will find yourself doing things you never would have expected. You will be recognized far more for doing the things that nobody wants to do than the things people expect of you. But don’t take up those things because you know that you’ll be valued for that, but first find that you care for others and the actions will follow. You do these things earnestly too, because you truly believe in them rather than doing them because it’s the “right thing to do” and somebody’s watching.

Strive for greatness, settle for good. It makes sense to be driven and to have a desire to excel, and in fact it is good to desire to excel. But make sure to settle for good as well. I think it’s also funny the illusion that we put around what we perceive to be the best. There are so many ways to be successful in life, but our monkey brain still goes, “this person tells me I’m less good, and it looks like they’re doing better than I am, so I must be less than them.” – Life is just such a game sometimes, a really fun one at that, so don’t be the person that loses because you think that the rulebook is always right.

The last piece of advice that I’ll leave you with is to practice gratitude. This is a perfect time to reflect on thankfulness and love. If you really think about it, you have done nothing to get yourself to where you are today. You have taken advantage of what has been given to you, sure, but you and I likely did nothing to earn that for ourselves. This, paired with the fact that you are ready to leave a part of you in the past, is probably the most impactful time to thank those that have allowed you to come to this school and become the bright young adults that you are. And I’m sure there are things beyond that too that you can thank people for, it doesn’t have to just be teachers or parents, mentors, and even friends can be very important to you and I think it’s worth at least talking to them about their importance to you. Remember, they don’t know what you don’t tell them.
– And teachers, parents, and mentors, when your child or student thank you, they were probably already going to do that and this only makes them look bad. Don’t go, “oh yeah sure pal you and I both know you’re doing this because of that kid in the front of the abbey who wouldn’t shut up about gratitude.”

In attempting to speak on most everything I’ve spoken of perhaps almost nothing. Just as this speech could only have hoped to inspire and bear fruit beyond these nine minutes, that is what I call us to do. To take these values and these messages and go out into the world. See in others’ eyes that glint of possibility that I see in each and every one of yours. We all have the ability to change ourselves and the world for the better, so let’s go and do it.

Liam Spychala ’25

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