Donald Sebestyen, principal of Providence Catholic High School, is pleased to announce Eric Connelly as the Class of 2014 Valedictorian and Jessica Talwar as Salutatorian.
“We are very proud of these academically gifted students who are leaders among their peers both in and out of the classroom and we wish them the very best in their future endeavors,” said Sebestyen.
Valedictorian Eric Connelly, son of John and Heidi Connelly of Tinley Park, is a graduate of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School and a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Seton Church. Connelly received an academic scholarship to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he plans to major in Engineering Physics. The honor roll student is a National Merit Finalist, an AP Scholar with Honor, an Illinois State Scholar and has received numerous PCHS subject awards over the past three years. He is a member of the school’s National Honor Society, Scholastic Bowl Team and Math Team. Connelly has been a member of the Honorary All-Sectional Scholastic Bowl team for the past two years and placed 1st in regional math competition for the past three years. During the 2013 state math competition, he placed 8th individually and 4th as a member of the calculator team. Furthermore, Connelly is a member of the Theatre Club and has had numerous lead roles during his high school career. He also performs in several school bands including marching, concert and jazz; he has been Drum Major for the marching band for the past two years.
Salutatorian Jessica Talwar, daughter of Arvind and Cynthia Talwar of Orland Park, is a graduate of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School and a parishioner at St. Julie Billiart Church. Talwar received an academic scholarship to attend Loyola University Chicago in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, where she plans to major in Political Science and Biology and minor in Spanish. The honor roll student is an AP Scholar with Honor, an Illinois State Scholar and has received numerous PCHS subject awards over the past three years. In addition, she has been named “Student of the Month” on multiple occasions. Talwar is president of the school’s National Honor Society (NHS) and a member of the Spanish NHS and Augustinian Youth Ministry. Furthermore, she is a writer for Proviscope, the school’s newspaper. Talwar is an alumna of the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine program and has been a student of the Village of Orland Park School of Dance for fifteen years.