April Mustangs of the Month
Every month, St. Rita of Cascia High School honors one student from each class as 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. Nominees for Mustang of the Month are those students who are vital elements to St. Rita of Cascia High School and whose efforts, accomplishments, and contributions to our community sometimes go unnoticed.
Freshman: Dillon Hannan
The Ritaman from the Class of 2029 chosen to be our April Freshman Mustang of the Month is Dillon Hannan. Dillon is a graduate and member of the Christ the King Parish community.
Dillon has put a lot of effort and dedication into his time here thus far. In the classroom, he has worked hard to succeed, earning high praise from his teachers. Dillon has been a member of the golf and volleyball teams as well as the freshman basketball manager. He is a consistent part of the ABC program, photography, cooking, and sports media clubs. He is looking forward to getting more involved in those clubs, but especially with our sports media club’s new MustangsHQ Instagram. Outside of school, Dillon is on the Teen Service Corps of the Beverly Area Planning Association. He attributes his success in school to his dad for helping him stay on top of all his classes. Dillon really enjoyed managing the freshman basketball team this year and getting to help out all the coaches.
In his nomination, a faculty member stated, “Dillon is a kind, respectful, and hardworking young man who consistently treats his peers and teachers with respect while maintaining a positive attitude in and out of the classroom.”
When Dillon reflected on his time so far at St. Rita, he said, “The future depends on what you do today, because if you just don’t try in school, then you can’t expect your future to be bright. You have to pay attention in your classes to get good grades and have a good future.”
Congratulations, Dillon!
Sophomore: Julian Herrera
The member of the Class of 2028 chosen as our April Sophomore Mustang of the Month is Julian Herrera. Julian is a graduate and member of the Sts. Bruno & Richard Parish community.
Julian is an excellent student who has had great success at St. Rita so far. Academically, he has achieved Superior Honors (4.4 and higher GPA) in all his previous semesters as well as a Heeney Award (Straight A’s) each semester. Julian plays on the JV baseball team and is also a member of the Spanish and Hispanic Culture clubs. Next year, he hopes to be a Big Brother and take on more leadership roles in the clubs he is in. Julian credits his dad for supporting him the most on this journey and recognizes how hard his father has worked to give him this amazing opportunity to be at St. Rita. His favorite memory thus far was when his freshman orientation team won the dodgeball tournament on his first day at St. Rita.
In his nomination, a St. Rita faculty member is quoted as saying, “Julian is a model Ritaman, consistently striving for excellence and putting forth his best effort in everything he does. He is a dedicated learner who seeks true understanding, lives out the value of Veritas (Truth), and creates a positive, supportive environment by helping and uplifting those around him.”
When asked to speak about his experience as a Ritaman, Julian stated, “These past two years at Rita have gone by very fast. I still remember that first day of freshman year, and I want to make sure that I cherish and enjoy everything that this school has to offer.”
Congratulations, Julian!
Junior: Jayden Khong
Representing the Class of 2027 as our April Junior Mustang of the Month is Jayden Khong. Jayden is a graduate of St. Jerome School and a member of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple.
Jayden is a well-rounded student who is dedicated to his studies. In the classroom, he has gone above and beyond, achieving Superior Honors (4.4 and higher GPA) last semester. Jayden is also on the cross country and scholastic bowl teams. He is a member of the Caritas club and is working towards NHS induction. Last fall, Jayden represented St. Rita on the Student Augustinian Values Institute (SAVI) trip in San Diego. Outside of school, Jayden is part of the Luv Michael Non-Profit Organization. Jayden's favorite memory has been the freshman overnight, because it was great to meet new people and learn more about what it means to be a Ritaman.
A faculty member spoke of him, saying, "Jayden truly exemplifies what it means to be a Ritaman, being an excellent, courteous, and helpful student. He is a quiet leader who leads by example, offering thoughtful contributions in class and showing great respect for both his teachers and peers, making him a vital part of our school community.”
Jayden spoke of his experience as a Ritaman, saying, “At first I was a scared and shy kid as a freshman, but as time went on, I learned that it’s okay to be afraid; however, what’s not okay is staying where you are. I learned through facing my struggles both physically and mentally that you always have to keep moving forward. You have to accept who you are to become who you want to be.”
Congratulations, Jayden!
Senior: Charlie Skoczylas
Representing the Class of 2026 as our April Senior Mustang of the Month is Charlie Skoczylas. Charlie is a graduate and member of the St. Daniel the Prophet Parish community.
Charlie is a determined and kind Ritaman who has grown so much over the past four years at St. Rita. Last semester, Charlie earned Superior Honors (4.4 and higher GPA) as well as a Heeney Award (Straight A’s). He is a member of the football program and has also been very involved with the ABC and Big Brothers programs, as well as part of the Aviation club and National Honor Society. His favorite memory at St. Rita was going on his two Kairos retreats. Kairos 156 helped him get closer to his classmates and helped him understand himself better which led him to be chosen as a leader on Kairos 160. After graduation, Charlie is headed to Iowa State University to pursue a future in engineering.
A faculty member who nominated Charlie spoke of him, saying, “Charlie excels academically through his strong work ethic and willingness to challenge himself, all while collaborating with classmates and making the most of his talents. He is a kind, humble, and positive young man who is always willing to learn.”
Speaking about his experience at St. Rita, Charlie said, “My four years at St. Rita have been nothing but amazing. I have had teachers who supported me and helped me grow throughout my time here. I have made many friends and created lasting memories over these four years. I will always be grateful for my experience at St. Rita.”
Congratulations, Charlie!
