November 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: Alex Arguello
The Ritaman from the Class of 2029 chosen to be our November Mustang of the Month is Alex Arguello. Alex is a graduate of Queen of Martyrs School and a member of the St. Gianna Parish community.
Alex is a Ritaman who has started his high school career very strongly. In the classroom, Alex's strong work ethic has earned him impressive academic results. Alex has gotten very involved already in many of our clubs as a member of the Aviation, Cooking, McCarthy Center Sports, Board Games, Hispanic Heritage, and Student Ambassadors clubs. He is also a member of the Jazz Band, Swim team, Altar Servers, and plans to play Volleyball in the spring. Outside of school, Alex is a 2nd-degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Alex’s favorite memory at St. Rita thus far has been his time with the Aviation Club. He gets to work on building an airplane every week and even gets to go flying in different types of planes.
In his nomination, a faculty member stated, “Alex is an exceptional and integral member of St. Rita and is the perfect example of a dedicated individual, continually impressing others with his contagious positivity, helpfulness, and genuine care for everyone he meets. As a freshman, he already gets what it means to be a Ritaman.”
When Alex reflected on his time thus far at St. Rita, he said, “At school, I try my best to help others when they may need it. I also try to better myself by joining clubs that interest me, going to peer tutoring if I need it, making new friends, participating in my classes, and getting to know my teachers more.”
Congratulations, Alex!
Sophomore: Jacob Schumacher
The member of the Class of 2028 chosen as our November Sophomore Mustang of the Month is Jacob Schumacher. Jacob is a graduate and member of the St. Cajetan Parish community.
Jacob is a friendly and involved Ritaman who works hard in the classroom and achieved Honors (4.0 - 4.199 GPA) this past year. Jacob is part of the Lacrosse program as well as a founding member of the Sports Management Club. Jacob has had the chance to write a few sports reports for the Mustangs HQ Instagram. He credits his dad for always supporting him to try something new and says he has given him different perspectives to see through. Jacob's favorite memory during his time at St. Rita thus far has been working as a counselor for Camp Swoosh this past summer.
In his nomination, a St. Rita faculty member is quoted as saying: “Jacob is very kind to all of his classmates and teammates. He is a great Ritaman and is always in good spirits. Jacob is very hardworking and is a great role model for others.”
When asked to speak about his experience as a Ritaman, Jacob quoted Winston Churchill, saying, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Congratulations, Jacob!
Junior: Leo Diaz
Representing the Class of 2027 as our November Junior Mustang of the Month is Leo Diaz. Leo is a graduate of Liberty Junior High School and a member of St. Albert the Great Parish.
Leo is a very dedicated and passionate Ritaman who has been successful both in and out of the classroom. Academically, Leo has achieved Superior Honors (4.4+ GPA) and a Heeney Award (Straight A’s) throughout his past semesters. Leo is a strong member of both the Swimming and Water Polo teams. Leo holds a leadership role in our Spanish club, and is a member of our Choir band, Hispanic Culture club, ABC program, Mustang Scholars, and is a Student Ambassador. Leo is also currently working towards NHS induction. Leo’s journey at St. Rita has been supported by his helpful teachers, compassionate friends, especially the swim team, and his parents, who support every decision and allow him to grow and learn so that he can succeed in ways they weren’t able to.
A faculty member spoke of him, saying, "Leo is the best example of a wonderful Ritaman, demonstrating the qualities of a true gentleman who is intelligent, kind, and hardworking, always ready to lend a helping hand to others. He excels as a talented student, athlete, and musician, and despite his quiet nature, he is a great presence who truly represents and deserves recognition for his Junior class.”
Leo spoke of his experience as a Ritaman, saying, “My time at St. Rita so far has been very fun and at times challenging in a good way. I’ve learned many essential skills and lessons that helped me become a better person, student, and athlete.”
Congratulations, Leo!
Senior: Anthony Pociask
Representing the Class of 2026 as our November Senior Mustang of the Month is Anthony Pociask. Anthony is a graduate and member of the St. Daniel the Prophet community.
Anthony has had a strong presence as a Ritaman over the past four years here. In the classroom, Anthony is always a strong student who genuinely cares about his teachers and strives to do his best. Outside of the classroom, Anthony shines in athletics. Anthony has played a variety of sports over his time at St. Rita and is currently a member of the Football, Wrestling, and Lacrosse programs. He is also a member of the Big Brother, Yearbook, and Student Ambassador programs. This past summer, he was also a counselor for the Mini Mustang Camp. After graduation, Anthony hopes to enlist in the United States Air Force. Anthony does not have one core memory that stands out, but says that the best memories he has include the countless hours spent with his friends and teammates at practices, games, and other team activities.
A faculty member who nominated Anthony spoke of him, saying, “Anthony is a humble and respectful young man who is a working leader, demonstrating the virtues of a Ritaman and truly embodying the Augustinian core values of Truth, Unity, and Love.”
Speaking about his experience at St. Rita, Anthony said, “The relationships that I’ve built here at St. Rita are forever, and the friends that I have made are ones that I will stand by in good and bad times.”
Congratulations, Anthony!
