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: Declan Delaney

The Ritaman from the Class of 2030 chosen to be our September Freshman Mustang of the Month is Declan Delaney. Declan is a graduate of Queen of Martyrs School and a member of the St. Gianna Parish community.

Declan has been off to a great start in his first month as a Ritaman. In the classroom, he is currently earning all A’s in mostly honors classes, and he is a member of our Band Program. He is also involved with the Football team, Caritas, Sports Media Management, and Student Ambassador Clubs. In the future, he hopes to get involved in the Cooking and Irish Heritage Clubs, as well as run for freshman student government in a few weeks. Outside of school, he helps coach at Gaelic Park, and his favorite memory thus far was when the freshman football team won their first game.

In his nomination, a faculty member stated, “Declan has always been on time, prepared, and consistent. He has shown a proven dedication to everything he does, including the band program. He is always helping others when he can and is a stand-up Ritaman.”

When Declan reflected on his time so far at St. Rita, he said, “I went to St. Rita for the community, and it has stood up to that. I love coming to school, seeing my friends, and meeting new people. All the teachers take time to make sure you understand everything, and actually care that you do well.”

Congratulations, Declan!

Sophomore: Eddie De La Torre Fonseca

The member of the Class of 2029 chosen as our September Sophomore Mustang of the Month is Eddie De La Torre Fonseca. Eddie is a graduate of Horizon Science Academy Southwest Chicago and a member of St. Turibius Parish.

Eddie is an intelligent and faithful Ritaman who has gone above and beyond in his time so far here. 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. Eddie's faith is very important to him: he is a founder of our Tolle Lege Club, attends daily masses in our chapel, and serves as a teaching assistant for religious education at his parish. Outside of Campus Ministry, he is also highly involved in other aspects of our school community. Eddie is a member of the Cooking, Board Games, Mustang Scholars, and Photography Clubs as well as part of the Cross Country and Volleyball programs. Eddie’s favorite memory from freshman year was in Biology class dissecting a fetal pig. Eddie says that it was an interesting experience and allowed for lots of good conversations and learning.

In his nomination, a St. Rita faculty member is quoted as saying: “Eddie did it all during his freshman year, founding and leading the Tolle Lege Club, excelling in the classroom, and competing as a two-sport athlete. His deeply rooted faith, genuine care for his classmates, and commitment to living out Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas make him an inspiring example of what it means to be a Ritaman.”

When asked to speak about his experience as a Ritaman, Eddie said, “I’ve been able to accomplish a lot at St. Rita, and I’m forever grateful for the people who are around me: my friends and teachers are some of the best people I’ve ever met.”

Congratulations, Eddie!

Junior: Matt Goldner

Representing the Class of 2028 as our September Junior Mustang of the Month is Matt Goldner. Matt is a graduate and member of the St. Gabriel Parish community.

Matt is a helpful and hardworking Ritaman. In the classroom, he has been very successful, achieving Superior Honors (4.4 and higher GPA) in all his previous semesters, as well as earning multiple Heeney Awards (Straight A’s). Matt has previously been involved with both the Baseball and Basketball teams and is currently a member of the Caritas, Spanish, Tolle Lege, and Big Brothers Clubs. Matt also attended the Student Augustinian Values Institute last spring in Boston. Matt is currently working towards induction into the National Honor Society. Outside of school, his favorite St. Rita memory was participating with the Caritas Club in the Polar Plunge on North Avenue Beach. Matt attributes his family, friends, and God to his success as a Ritaman.

A faculty member spoke of him, saying, "Matt is a true Ritaman who embodies our core values every day. He is easily one of the nicest students and is always respectful to both his teachers and his peers. Matt consistently shows genuine care for the community through his SAVI experience and the Caritas Club.”

Matt spoke of his experience, quoting Ferris Bueller saying, “‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.’ My time at St. Rita has gone by faster than I expected, and this quote reminds me to appreciate the moments I have here. From the friendships I’ve made to the experiences I’ve shared, there are a lot of memories I know I’ll look back on.”

Congratulations, Matt!

Senior: Jake Roney

Representing the Class of 2027 as our September Senior Mustang of the Month is Jake Roney. Jake is a graduate and member of the St. John Fisher Parish community.

Jake is a dedicated and responsible Ritaman who consistently steps up to be a leader in any situation. In the classroom, he has earned multiple Superior Honors (4.4 and higher GPA) and Heeney Awards (Straight A’s). He is a four-year member and senior representative for Student Government. Jake is also a member of the Advice Beyond the Classroom and Student Ambassador programs and a key member of the Football and Track teams. Jake attributes his success to his parents, who have supported him along his St. Rita journey by pushing him to do his best when it comes to both academics and sports. His favorite memories from the past four years at St. Rita include all the random student government meetings and work shifts with his friends. Jake most recently was awarded the Great American Rivalry series scholar athlete award which was based on his success in the classroom as a student-athlete. Next year, he doesn’t know where he will be going to college yet, but Jake most likely will be majoring in engineering.

A faculty member who nominated Jake spoke of him, saying, “Jake is the kind of student who, in the classroom, goes above and beyond. He consistently performs in everything he does. His determination and character stand out amongst his peers, and he is a great and humble example of being a Ritaman.”

Speaking about his experience at St. Rita, Jake said, “At Rita you shouldn’t waste your talent in whatever you do, whether it’s sports, academics, or clubs. You should give everything 100%, no matter what it is. Don’t let other people negatively influence decisions that you really want to make happen.”

Congratulations, Jake!