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The 4th Annual DSHA "College Fun Facts Report"!

5/10/2018

by Jim Stamatakos, DSHA College Advisor

This year's senior class has big things in store! Read below for some insight into the future plans of our soon-to-be gradutates, compiled by our College Advisor extraordinaire, Jim Stamatakos, and join us in wishing great things for the Class of 2018!

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1,056 completed applications for admission were evaluated by 211 colleges and universities around the United States and the world; 135 fewer applications than the Class of 2017 sent to 33 more schools last year. This year marks the lowest application total sent out by the senior class since 2014 (897 applications sent that year). This is a positive change in a climate where “admission mania” sees high school seniors applying to more and more colleges each year.

826 offers of admission were extended, resulting in a 78% application-to-admit conversion rate. Last year’s conversion rate was 79%, so our number holds steady with a very slight decrease. The Class of 2018 will matriculate to 72 different schools, 2 fewer than the Class of 2017 did.

By the numbers:

58 students (35% of the clsas) will attend 4-year public institutions (a decrease from 85 students / 49% last year)
107 students (65% of the class) will attend 4-year private institutions (an increase from 87 students / 50% last year)
1 student (1% of the class) will attend a 2-year public institution
60 students (36% of the class) are attending institutions in Wisconsin
105 students (64% of the class) are attending institutions out of state
86 students (52% of the class) are attending Catholic colleges and universities (56 students / 32% of the class attended Catholic colleges and universities last year)

Top 5 college destinations for the Class of 2018*:

Marquette University: 21 students (Ring out a-hoya for an MU Rah-Rah!)
UW-Madison: 13 students
Saint Louis University: 10 students
A 3-way tie between Creighton University, St. Norbert College, and Xavier University: 8 students each
A 2-way tie between UW-Milwaukee and University of Notre Dame: 7 students each (my parting gift to you, Ellen Bartel!)

*The students attending these 8 schools account for 50% of the Class of 2018.

To “boldly go where no Dasher has gone before”:

This year, 12 students became members of the DSHA Trailblazers Club! The following students will be the first (since 2000, when Naviance data starts) to attend the following 12 schools:

Jordan Welch: Ball State University (IN)
Olivia Packer: Central Michigan University (MI)
Maya Luna: Hamline University (MN)
Lizzy Laird: Mercyhurst University (PA)
Grace Novotny: Michigan Tech University (MI)
Colleen Pfaff: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY)
Ify Nwanebo: Richland College (TX)
Caroline Draver: Southeast Missouri State University (MO)
Tatyana Lynn: Union College (NY)
Maggie Nelson: Webster University (MO)
Haley Multerer: Western Carolina University (NC)
Mary Cappon: Western Michigan University (MI)

Full-tuition, non-athletic scholarships:

Brigid Hughes (Burke Scholarship, Marquette University)
Rosita Hernandez (Urban Scholarship, Marquette University)
Anna Baumgartner (Evans Scholarship, UW-Madison)
Maddie Drezek (3-year Army ROTC scholarship, Fordham University)
Tamia Fowlkes (Powers-Knapp Scholarship, UW-Madison)
Maggie Nelson (Presidential Scholarship, Webster University)

This year, 35 students (21% of the class) will attend schools ranked in the top 50 of the US News & World Report’s ranking of “Best National Universities”:

#3 (tie): Yale University (Mary Callanan)
#5 (tie): Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Juliana Strother)
#18 (tie): University of Notre Dame (Grace Akin, Claire Eglehoff, Stephanie Franczak, Emma Grogan, Deirdre Lagore, Jenna Organ, Meghan Scott)
#18: Washington University in St. Louis (Caroline Moss)
#20: Georgetown University (Margaret Butler)
#28: University of Michigan (Payton Homkamp)
#37 (tie): Boston University (Florence Jennaro, Carly Wilson)
#40 (tie): Northeastern University (Emma Cayen, Mia Vuckovich)
#40 (tie): Tulane University (Claire Hubley)
#42 (tie): Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Colleen Pfaff)
#46 (tie): UW-Madison (Anna Baumgartner, Margot Dunn, Joan Ehrlich, Tamia Fowlkes, Sophia Jaskolski, Emma Mager, Sarah McLeod, Aimee Melendez, Abby Monday, Audrey Poorman, Alex Shaw, Isabel Ullrich, Remy Ziolkowski)
#46 (tie): Villanova University (Emily Didier, Laney Tarantino)

These 9 Dashers will play a sport in college:

Megan Crevoiserat: Soccer @ Saint Louis University (D1)
Caroline Draver: Volleyball @ Southeast Missouri State (D1)
Lizzy Laird: Field Hockey @ Mercyhurst (D2)
Lorenza Martinez de Alva Gonzalez: Golf @ Loyola-Chicago (D1)
Haley Multerer: Volleyball @ Western Carolina (D1)
Grace Novotny: Volleyball @ Michigan Tech (D2)
Audrey Poorman: Soccer @ UW-Madison (D1)
Meghan Scott: Cross Country @ Notre Dame (D1)
Juliana Strother: Field Hockey @ MIT (D3)
Megan McPike: Field Hockey & Ice Hockey @ Concordia University, Wisconsin (D3)

“Nuggets & Tidbits”:

Gaby Johnsen wins this year’s “Homesickness is Overrated” award. She’s attending Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles; 31 hours/2,072 miles from her house! Our runner up is Megan Goldammer (University of Arizona: 27 hours/1,758 miles from her house).
Carly Wilson and Anne Moede are taking gap semesters before attending Boston University and St. Norbert College, respectively. Anne is participating in St. Norbert’s own gap semester experience.
The number of students going to Notre Dame from the Class of 2018 beats DSHA’s previous high-water mark at that school (6 students in 2010). It’s also the first time since 2010 that DSHA has sent this many students to one of US News’ Top 20 national universities.
This year, 6 members of the Class of 2018 were admitted to Washington University in St. Louis. That ties our previous high-water mark with WUSTL, when 6 were admitted in 2010. Apparently, 2010 was also a very good year!
This year was the first since 2016 to feature multiple offers of admission from the Ivy League. Grace Akin was admitted to Dartmouth College, but chose to attend Notre Dame. Mary Callanan was admitted to Yale, where she’s headed this fall.
Jamie Misky and Cookie Topp were among a group of 8 students selected from an initial applicant pool of over 300 to receive Xavier University’s Community Engaged Fellowship. This four-year scholarship (valued at $22,000 per year) is awarded annually to incoming first-year students who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership or initiative in community engagement or service through their school, community or church. The Community-Engaged Fellows are involved in a host of diverse, hands-on community opportunities throughout the Cincinnati region drawing upon principles of social justice, community building and public policy. They are guided by faculty and community engagement professionals on campus and in the field. They join Tatum Crampton (Class of 2017) as the second and third DSHA alumnae to join this exclusive program.
Rosita Hernandez is the fourth DSHA graduate since 2015 to join Marquette University’s Urban Scholars Program. She follows Lupe Serna (Class of 2015), Azucena Garcia (Class of 2016), and Maria Velarde Villalaz (Class of 2017). The first Urban Scholars class entered Marquette in fall 2007. Since then, Urban Scholars have been true citizens of the Marquette, Milwaukee and global communities. Urban Scholars have included researchers, Ronald E. McNair Scholars, Les Aspin Center for Government alumni, members of the Greek community, interns, recipients of trademarks, graduate students, advocates, leaders, resident assistants, orientation staff leaders, step show winners, and dean’s list honorees.
Grace Hilbert was admitted into Creighton University’s Global Scholars Program. Creighton’s Global Scholars Program is a four-year educational and professional development program designed to immerse select students in a variety of cultures for a rich academic, social and service experience. Through language study, specialized coursework, service-learning, research, internships, and interaction with leaders in the global community, Creighton Global Scholars become experienced global citizens. As a Global Scholar, Grace will complete a minimum of four global experiences during her time at Creighton. These include two semester-long study abroad experiences and her choice of two summer intensive experiences: either two Faculty-Led Programs Away (FLPA) or one FLPA and one Intensive Language Immersion Program or International Internship.
Anna Schwabe was accepted into the HURS Program (Honors Undergraduate Research Scholars) at Colorado State University. She was selected from a pool of over 400 applicants. Students accepted into the HURS program are be actively engaged in independent research, collaborating with faculty mentors, experiencing the investigative process, and expanding their core knowledge in a manner that will advance their academic careers as well as their prospective career opportunities. Anna hopes to partner with a faculty mentor conducting research in animal science, particularly as it relates to her declared major, Equine Science.
Anna Baumgartner becomes the first DSHA alumna to receive the Chick Evans Scholarship for Caddies since Elizabeth Curley (Class of 2013). The Evans Scholarship is awarded to 18-22 students in Wisconsin (roughly ¼ of the recipients are women) annually. Both of Anna’s brothers, Alex and Josh, also received the Evans Scholarship and attended UW-Madison. The scholarship is based on the following criteria:
- Strong caddie record: Applicants must have caddied, successfully and regularly, for a minimum of two years and are expected to caddie at their sponsoring club the year they apply for the scholarship.
- Excellent academics: Applicants must have completed their junior year of high school with above a B average in college preparatory courses and are required to take the ACT and/or the SAT.
- Demonstrated financial need: Applicants must clearly have a need for financial assistance.
- Outstanding character: Applicants must be outstanding in character, integrity and leadership.
Emily Didier was one of 80 students admitted to Villanova University’s Honors Program; no small feat when one considers that Villanova’s admit rate declined from 43% in 2016 to 28% this year! Other students receiving invitations to participate in their schools’ honors programs include Grace Akin and Stephanie Franczak (Notre Dame) and Claire Hubley (Tulane).
Two members of the Class of 2018 will pursue majors in Architecture in college; Claire Eglehoff (Notre Dame) and Katie MacDonald (Ohio State).
Maddie Drezek will be attending Fordham University with the financial benefit of a 3-year Army ROTC scholarship. After graduating, Maddie will be required to serve 8 years with the Army with at least 4 of those 8 years being on Active Duty. Beginning her sophomore year, Maddie’ scholarship will cover:
- 100% tuition and mandatory fees
- A $1,200 per academic year book allowance
- A tax-free stipend of $350/month sophomore year, $450/month junior year, and $500/month senior year.

Bryanda Hernandez and Laura Rodriguez will be involved with Marquette University’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). The program provides support services to first generation college students and provides participants with enough financial aid to cover the full cost of tuition and fees.
Maggie Nelson was one of 15 incoming first-year students from an initial applicant pool of over 120 to receive Webster University’s Presidential Scholarship. 32 finalists were selected based upon demonstrated academic excellence, involvement with school and community and capacity for future contributions as a student leader at Webster University. Finalists interviewed with faculty, staff, and current student leaders, as well as completed an onsite essay during the on-site Presidential Scholarship Competition. Maggie will study set design, a true passion of hers that’s seen her work exhibited locally at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Her home for the next four years also happens to boast one of the coolest mascots of all time…
Tamia Fowlkes joins a host of DSHA alumnae, most recently Camila Hernandez and Mariana Rosales from the Class of 2017, as a recipient of UW-Madison’s Powers-Knapp Scholarship. A committee of UW-Madison faculty and staff carefully reviews each application and selects scholars based on their demonstrated academic success in high school, involvement in school/community organizations, leadership skills, and ability to excel in the university's rigorous educational environment. In addition, Powers-Knapp scholars benefit from program components that complement the financial award and provide significant experiences that enhance their personal and academic success.

A BIG “THANK YOU!” TO THE TSC, WHOSE SUPPORT FOR OUR SENIORS PAVED THE WAY TO AWESOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM!

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