February Mustangs of the Month
Each month St. Rita of Cascia High School honors one student from each class to be the Mustang of the Month. For a student to be nominated by a faculty or staff member for the Mustang of the Month Award, he must excel or stand out in at least two of the following areas: academics, activities, athletics, spirituality or community service projects or programs. Nominees for Mustang of the Month are those students who are vital elements to what St. Rita of Cascia High School is all about and whose efforts, accomplishments and contributions to our community sometimes go unnoticed.
Senior: Cameron Patterson
Representing the Class of 2023 as our February Senior Mustang of the Month is Cameron Patterson. Cameron is a graduate of St. Walter School and a member of Third Baptist Church.
Cameron is a hardworking student who is very active outside the classroom. He is a member of the Black Student Union, esports, and bowling. He also was a leader on Kairos. Outside of St. Rita, he is involved with Distinctive Junior Bowling and the Third Baptist Church Food Pantry. Cameron received the Sportsmanship Award from a Purdue University Camp and plans to go on to do his best in college as well as to continue being involved. He hopes to play college bowling, esports, and to learn computer science and game design.
A faculty member who nominated Cameron, spoke of him saying, “Cam brings joy to everyone around him. From pep rallies, the classroom, to the dance floor, Cam has the spirit of a Ritaman. He has grown so much since starting at St. Rita and is just a great presence at St. Rita.”
Speaking about his experience as a Ritaman, Cameron said, “My time here has been fun and I have made friendships to last a lifetime. I am excited to start the next chapter of my life.”
Congratulations Cameron!
Junior: Noah Gertonson
Representing the Class of 2024 as our February Junior Mustang of the Month is Noah Gertonson. Noah attended Queen of Martyrs School and is a member of the Queen of Martyrs Parish community.
Noah excels in the classroom, earning High Honors (4.2 – 4.39 GPA) for the first semester. Noah is a member of the Varsity Football Team and a Big Brother. He is also an active member of his church community and assists in coaching youth t-ball. He is currently working toward induction into the National Honor Society and plans to join the Broadcasting Club.
A faculty member said of him, “Noah is a very kind, caring, and patient student. I have seen him working in the tutoring center going above and beyond helping the underclassmen with difficult topics. In the classroom he always brings good energy and a strong work ethic. He also puts in strong work ethic outside the classroom. I cannot wait to see Noah continue to grow during the rest of his time at St. Rita.”
Noah spoke of his experience as a Ritaman by saying, “My time here at St. Rita has been unforgettable. I have learned skills that will benefit me in all aspects of life. I am very grateful for this experience, and I am looking forward to what my next year and a half of high school has in store.”
Congratulations Noah!
Sophomore: Shamaree Siller Jr.
The student for the Class of 2025 chosen as our February Sophomore Mustang of the Month is Shamaree Siller Jr. Shamaree is a graduate of Colin Powell Middle School and a member of Fellowship Chicago Church.
Shamaree works hard in the classroom. He is involved with football, track & field, and the Black Student Union. In the future, he plans to become involved with Advice Beyond the Classroom. Outside of St. Rita, Shamaree is involved with football.
In his nomination, a St. Rita faculty member is quoted saying “Shamaree has shown great improvement from last year. He is always trying his best in class. Shamaree is always polite and friendly to faculty. He is a calm and refreshing presence in the classroom. I appreciate how Shamaree is always willing to keep trying and never gives up.”
When asked to speak about his experience as a Ritaman, Shamaree replied, “St. Rita has welcomed me and showed me that attending a diverse student population is accepting. I feel I can voice my opinion and not be judged.”
Congratulations Shamaree!
Freshman: Andrew Elwood
The Ritaman from the Class of 2026 chosen to be our February Mustang of the Month is Andrew Elwood. Andrew graduated from St. Mary’s School and is also a member of St. Mary’s Parish.
Andrew had a great start to his high school career, earning Honors (4.0 – 4.19 GPA) for the first semester. Andrew is a member of Advice Beyond the Classroom and played both football and basketball. Outside of St. Rita, Andrew plays basketball for AAU. Andrew plans to continue his current involvement and to become part of the Track Team.
The following was said of Andrew in his nomination, “Since I met Andrew, I have known him to be someone always up for a challenge. In the classroom he goes above and beyond to do his best even when things can be difficult. Andrew is also very competitive on the field or court. He is also well liked by his peers and will go out of his way to be helpful to them. I cannot wait to watch Andrew grow over the next 4 years.”
When asked about his experience as a Ritaman, Andrew replied, “My time at St. Rita has been fun. I have had a lot of fun playing on sports teams. I have also met many people who are now my friends. Everyday I look forward to coming to St. Rita.”
Congratulations Andrew!
