January 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: Luke Maher
Representing the Class of 2023 as our January Senior Mustang of the Month is Luke Maher. Luke is a graduate of Palos South Middle School and a member of Sacred Heart Mission Church.
Luke kicked off his senior year with a strong academic start, earning High Honors (4.2 – 4.39 GPA). In addition, he has been very active throughout his high school career. Luke is an assistant captain for the Varsity Hockey Team, a member of the National Honor Society, Big Brothers, and Advice Beyond the Classroom. He has also been a member of the St. Rita golf and baseball teams. Outside of St. Rita, Luke is an usher at his parish and volunteers at Special Olympics events. He plans to major in finance at Ole Miss.
A faculty member who nominated Luke, spoke of him saying, “Luke is an excellent example of a Mustang that should be recognized. He is respectful, kind, and hard working. Luke takes pride in all his work, he is very personable, mature, and overall a great young man and leader. He is very accomplished in school, in sports, and in extracurricular activities. Most importantly, Luke has a bright future ahead due to his work ethic.”
Speaking about his experience as a Ritaman, Luke said, “This is the best decision I have ever made. I have loved my time here, especially the friendships and bonds I formed. I wish it didn’t go by so fast.”
Congratulations Luke!
Junior: Nathan Kwak
Representing the Class of 2024 as our January Junior Mustang of the Month is Nathan Kwak. Nathan attended St. Jane de Chantal School and is a member of the St. Faustina Parish community.
Nathan excels in the classroom, earning Superior Honors (4.4+ GPA) for the first semester along with a Heeney Award for straight As. Nathan is also very active at St. Rita as a member of the Scholastic Bowl Team, Spanish Club, Big Brothers, and National Honor Society. He plans to participate in more clubs before he graduates. Outside of St. Rita, Nathan is an active helper at St. Daniel the Prophet.
A faculty member said of him, “Nathan is a wonderful student. He cares deeply about his academics and really pushes himself to be the best academically. He demonstrates caritas in his interactions with his classmates. He is always willing to help them out and does so in such a kind and humble manner. Nathan is a strong partner in group work and leads by example.”
Nathan spoke of his experience as a Ritaman by saying, “So far, St. Rita has presented many life lessons to me that challenged me to grow as a person. I am especially grateful to St. Rita for allowing me to grow in my faith and spiritual life.”
Congratulations Nathan!
Sophomore: Tommy Bonner
The student for the Class of 2025 chosen as our January Sophomore Mustang of the Month is Tommy Bonner. Tommy is a graduate of Hanover Central Middle School and is a member of Living Stones Church.
Tommy works hard in the classroom, achieving Honors (4.0 – 4.19 GPA) for the first semester. He is a member of the football team and was the Sophomore Team Captain. Outside of St. Rita, Tommy is a member of the Bethel Ministries Youth Group. In 8th Grade Tommy helped to lead his football team to an undefeated 8-0 season for the first time in the team’s history. In the future he plans to move South and become a chiropractor/physical therapist.
In his nomination, a St. Rita faculty member is quoted saying “Tommy is extremely polite. He gets along well with everyone and is well respected. He works very hard and excels academically, as well. He is a great example for his fellow Ritamen.”
When asked to speak about his experience as a Ritaman, Tommy replied, “I have enjoyed St. Rita very much. I have made lots of friends and learned to really push myself in academics and athletics. I will make many memories here.”
Congratulations Tommy!
Freshman: Jesus Leanos
The Ritaman from the Class of 2026 chosen to be our January Mustang of the Month is Jesus Leanos. Jesus comes to us from Prairie Junior High and is part of the Our Lady of the Ridge Parish community.
Jesus had a strong academic start to his high school career, earning Superior Honors (4.4+ GPA) for the first semester. He also earned a Heeney Award for achieving straight As for the semester. Jesus is a member of the Band, Jazz Band and Praise Band. He is also involved with the Scholastic Bowl Team, Knights of Augustine, Movie Club, and RCIA. Outside of St. Rita, Jesus has volunteered as a Day Camp Counselor at the Oak Lawn Park District and received the Volunteerism Award at his 8th Grade graduation. In the future he plans to play volleyball, become a Big Brother, and work toward induction into the National Honor Society.
The following was said of Jesus in his nomination, “Jesus is an all-around terrific young man. He is always responsible, polite, and friendly. He is a vital member of the JV Scholastic Bowl Team. In addition, he has volunteered at the PADS shelter and other events. Jesus is a natural leader who represents St. Rita well in his mannerism and intelligence.”
When asked about his experience as a Ritaman, Jesus replied, “My time at St. Rita has been exceedingly great. I enjoy the students here and have grown a lot as a person in just a few month of being here. St. Rita has met all my expectations and even surprises me at times. I cannot wait to see who I will grow up to be and continue to experience all the great things this wonderful school has to offer.”
Congratulations Jesus!
