Two St. Joseph CHS graduates headed to Notre Dame

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Sydney Brown and Madeline Holl, seniors at St. Joseph Catholic High School, have been accepted with honors and scholarships to the University of Notre Dame.

OGDEN — In a small town in Indiana, a prestigious college awaits the nation’s most highly regarded students. Annually there are 22,000 applications – 8,500 of which are students at the top of their class. Of those, 2,000 are accepted. This year, two St. Joseph Catholic High School students, Sydney Brown and Madeline Holl, will be among those who have been accepted with honors and scholarships to the University of Notre Dame.

Sydney, a lifer at St. Joseph, is a three-sport athlete, playing soccer, basketball and softball. She has led her class as a student body officer, an Ambassador and member of the Hope Squad. She was an Academic All-State in basketball.

“I think I attribute my success most to my family, teachers and my peers. Specifically, my mom and sisters have always been my role models in life and I have strived to be like them,” said Sydney, who has also enjoyed her academic experience.

“My favorite teacher of all time, Mr. Jay Hart, has had a major influence on me in the best of ways: He has created a love and passion for learning in me through the amazing ways he teaches, and he also cares about his students, which makes me not only a better student, but a better person as well,” she said. “It isn’t just the academics at St. Joe’s that have made me into the person I am today, but the community of it, which I know I can always count on.”

The school has influenced her experience, because “St. Joe’s pushes you to develop your own sense of self as well,” she said. “In my time at St. Joe’s, I have done more than I ever dreamed I could. The nation’s premier universities don’t just look for top-grade students; they look for people who are willing and able to see a problem in the world and face it with courage, new ideas and kindness. St. Joe’s has developed me into a person who doesn’t just achieve high grades, but is also a person who is willing to challenge myself and others while still being kind and caring for those who can’t care for themselves.  I can’t thank my school enough for that.”

Sydney plans to study science.

Unlike Sydney, Madeline came to St. Joseph High School during her freshman year. However, like Sydney, she has been a well-rounded athlete, participating in volleyball, track and field, and swimming. Madeline comes from a military family and was accepted to the Naval Academy. Although she ultimately decided on Notre Dame, either option would have lent itself to a future of limitless opportunity.

 “My parents were my model of work ethic all my life, and taught me to work hard toward my goals,” Madeline said. “St. Joe’s has wonderful teachers that push their students academically. Also, the diversity and various opportunities to participate in many activities across many different interests made getting accepted a reality.”

Madeline plans to study electrical engineering.

Earning more than $7,500,000 in scholarship monies, different members of the Jayhawks Class of 2019 are moving on to other universities. Graduates will be attending Virginia Tech University, Gonzaga University, University of California, University of Dallas, Montana State, Westminster, Benedictine College, Colorado State University, Shasta College, Western Wyoming, University of Utah, Southern Utah University, Ogden-Weber Technical College and Weber State.  

Courtesy of St. Joseph CHS