Margaret Cicchiello is the valedictorian for the Bishop Luers High School Class of 2018. The daughter of Catherine and James Cicchiello, Margaret is a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Fort Wayne, and attended St. Joseph-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School.

Cicchiello has several outstanding accomplishments at Bishop Luers High School. She was a captain of the English Academic Superbowl team, which earned bronze and silver medals at the state level. She has received the Outstanding Sodalitas Leader Award, was a cross-country captain and served as secretary of the National Honor Society. She was also the recipient of the Mother Theodore Guerin Award her sophomore year.

Carrying a 4.401 grade point average, Cicchiello received high honors every quarter.

She says, “I chose Bishop Luers High School because of the academic rigor, the diversity of the student body and smaller community setting.”

She adds, “I think the students and staff are the strengths of Bishop Luers. When like-minded individuals work to solve a problem – like when we sent a hurricane relief package to Houston, Texas – great things are accomplished.”

Of the Catholic identity of Bishop Luers, Cicchiello says, “Being around other people who were also celebrating my faith helped me to view important parts of my faith from different perspectives.”

She says that Bishop Luers has helped nurture her planning skills as she coordinated various projects. “These skills will benefit me in college and in the workplace,” she notes.

Cicchiello regularly volunteers at Science Central in Fort Wayne.

She plans to attend Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, major in biology and become a doctor.

Cicchiello says both of her parents have had an enormous impact on her life. She also credits Mrs. Marilyn Fech, sophomore theology teacher, Miss Nichole Wellman, cross-country coach, and the Academic Superbowl coaches for impacting her life.

In gratitude, Cicchiello says, “I would like to thank my parents for making sure I get up in the morning, helping me with my math homework at night, and for helping to ensure that my head was on straight in the process.”

She adds, “I would like to thank all of my teachers, from my freshman to senior year, for tolerating my many questions and enabling me to do well. Lastly, I would like to thank my sisters, friends and extended family for helping me to laugh at myself and being part of my support network.”

Adam Veldman is the salutatorian for the Bishop Luers High School Class of 2018. The son of Laura and Paul Veldman of Fort Wayne, Adam is a member of St. John the Baptist Parish, Fort Wayne, and attended St. John the Baptist School for elementary and middle school.

He chose to attend Bishop Luers High School because of the sense of community and his friends attended the school.

Veldman says the strength of Bishop Luers is “We are a family.”

Carrying a grade point average of 4.39, Veldman has been the recipient of the Bishop Luers Knight Award, National Merit Scholar recognition and was the Indiana oratorical finalist.

Bishop Luers, he says, helped nurture the life tools of his work ethic and determination.

Veldman holds a job as soccer referee and a tutor.

He plans to attend Georgetown University and major in international relations. His career goal is to work for the Defense Intelligence Agency or the Foreign Service.

He says his parents have been his role models on how to live a good life. The Bishop Luers teacher who most impacted him, he says, is “Mr. Matt Brown by being a great teacher and a great friend.”

He is also grateful for the support of friends Ben, Brock and Rachel and his parents for “always being there for me.”