Top academics earn Abp. Hannan blue ribbon

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

Dec. 6 was an especially great day to be a Archbishop Hannan High Hawk. The Catholic, coed school celebrated being named in September a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education for overall academic excellence.

Archbishop Hannan is among only 353 schools in the U.S. – and one of only 40 nonpublic schools – recognized as Blue Ribbon schools this year.

Founded in 1987 and named for the late New Orleans Archbishop Philip M. Hannan, Archbishop Hannan High School has surmounted many hurdles on its way to this milestone. Hurricane Katrina wiped out its original campus in St. Bernard Parish, forcing a move to temporary trailers at St. Joseph Abbey in Covington.

In 2008, the school had to start over again when a permanent, 24-acre campus was built at a nearby Covington site. Enrollment was approximately 300 students. It has since grown to 700 students and added buildings to accommodate the success.

“We know what we do well,” said Steve Shepherd, dean of admissions and communications, mentioning how the small class sizes, diversity of subjects, extracurriculars, the closeness of teachers and students and striving for excellence made the Blue Ribbon accolade possible.

A common trait of all Blue Ribbon winners is a focus on excellent student achievement, but Hannan stands apart by bringing students closer to Christ.

“It is telling us that we are doing a good job, and it affirms the Hannan way – the quest for excellence in everything we do,”  said Nancy Baird, head of school. “It is affirmation that other people think we are doing a great job, not just us. It’s a good feeling to have an outside perspective – other eyes looking at us.”

Baird, who has worked at Hannan for 12 years, was associate head of school last year when the school applied for Blue Ribbon status for the first time. She said the application process through the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) took a few months. CAPE could submit only 50 nonpublic school applications for Blue Ribbon status to the U.S. Department of Education, Baird said.

Baird and associate school heads Ashley Faucheux (academic and summer programs), Kristi Shaffer (teaching and learning) and Denis Schexnaydre (advancement, operations and facilities) traveled Nov. 17 to Washington, D.C., to accept the recognition in person.

Pride of the Hawks

A Dec. 6 Mass on campus celebrated the Blue Ribbon designation. Father Daniel Okafor, school chaplain, read the Gospel from Luke (1:39-55) in which Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, visited her elderly cousin Elizabeth, who was six months’ pregnant with her son John the Baptist. Elizabeth acted with hospitality and sincere love. She was an example of how to be a community that supports each other as we hope and wait.

“If the only prayer you ever said your whole life was ‘thank you,’ that suffices,” he told students, faculty and family of Hannan High students. He urged students to always give thanks to God for everything that is given to them.

“The sacrifice of the Holy Mass is the best way to give thanks to God for the marvelous things he has done,” Father Okafor said, reiterating how God is the source and summit of our faith.

He emphasized that the Blue Ribbon recognition was for overall academic performance, but added how the school surpasses that by supporting students of all backgrounds in the spirit of its founder, Archbishop Hannan. It’s the total commitment of the faculty, staff, students and parents that fulfills Hannan’s mission as a place that “forms faith-filled students who think critically, act with integrity and respond with compassion to the needs of our time.”

“We are so blessed and privileged to be chosen as one of these schools and, for that, we give thanks,” he said. “They have inspired us to raise the bar higher, to reach higher standards. … To live up to a standard is always painful … but also beneficial. We should always give the Lord the best, and the Lord will always give the best back to you.”

He encouraged students to use the gifts (talents) God gave them, “to uplift, build up the mystical body of Christ to make the world a better place.”

Former Hawk graduates Stuart Seiler, class of 2011, and Rob Ciuffi, class of 1996, spoke about their pride in and love for their school. Seiler attended the school when it was rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.

“Today, looking around this gym, this is what we fought for and what we dreamed of,” Seiler said, reiterating the total loss that he, his classmates and their families experienced from Katrina without losing hope.

“The one thing we had to hold on to was wearing the Hannan emblem. … We are always building; we are always clearing a path … to not give up on family, friends, community or self … to always leave things better than the way you found them. … I am already a proud alum. Go make me more proud.”

Scott McDougal, class of 1994, reminisced about dribbling a basketball for Hannan.

“For me, it was a very positive experience, and one you will be proud of when you graduate,” he said. He met wife Caryn, class of 1996, at school and now sends his son Ryan, a senior, and daughter Emily, a sophomore, to their alma mater. He said Catholic education forms the whole person – both in academics and faith – and Hannan is coed.

“It’s an academically excellent school, and we are being rewarded for it,” McDougal said. “The Blue Ribbon is about the process of doing things right when no one is watching – the Hannan way. Charity leads to perfection. That’s what makes things special.”

Rob, Lisa and Josie Ciuffi presented the school with a legacy gift of a chalice and ciborium.

After Mass, students were treated to an outdoor celebration with ice cream, blue popcorn and cupcakes.

“It’s a great accomplishment for us,” senior Audrey Anderson of Covington said. “It will give us more inspiration to be better and keep pushing for excellence.”

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