Parents of current McDonogh students may sign up for website accounts. Signing up for an account allows a parent to access the online directory, DASH, and your customized parent Personal Page.
Kudos is the place to find exciting news about our current students, faculty, and staff. If you have an accomplishment to share, send a message (and high-resolution photo if you have one) to communications@mcdonogh.org.
Pianist Mingze Li ‘28 traveled to Germany to perform at the Klassik im Klösterle in Weil der Stadt on November 23, 2024. He also performed for students of the Johannes Kepler Gymnasium Weil der Stadt on November 22 as part of an effort to promote cultural exchange between young people. Follow Mingze's musical journey on his YouTube channel.
Isabella Sodhi '25 created an artistic rendition for a new study released by researchers at Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine regarding treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration. View her graphic published in Newswise.
Ned Courtemanche, Upper School History Department Chair, recently contributed an article,From Panic to Possibility: How AI Could Revolutionize the Teaching of Critical Thinking,on The Flint Blog. This is the first of many articles Ned plans to publish regarding AI-powered teaching and learning.Flint is an AI platform that helps K-12 schools personalize learning for students.
Hilary McDonough, Director of Global Programs, was selected to serve as the 2024-25 Global Educator-in-Residence with the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG). In this role, Hilary will lend her expertise in curriculum design and intercultural dialogue as a pedagogical tool. GEBG is a leading nonprofit association of K-12 schools around the world that researches and establishes model practices in the field of global education.
Sophia Papadakis '25 was named a National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) 2024 GRiT Ambassador. The GRiT Program engages female student-athletes in raising awareness of the effort to get #moregirlsonbikes. GRiT Ambassadors play a key role in recruiting and retaining more girls in NICA programs at the state level.
Kare Coley '24 was selected from a field of applicants — including law school students, master's students, and college seniors — to participate in the prestigious Black Professionals in International Affairs Summer Internship Program. As an intern, she will collaborate with seasoned professionals and gain valuable insights from leading foreign policy experts. Kare stands out as the youngest participant chosen for the 2024 cohort.
Photo Credit: The Baltimore SunElise Cooper ‘25claimed a gold medal in the 200-meter race at the 2024 USA Track & Field Under-20 Championships and qualified to compete at the U.S. Olympic trials for a spot running the same event at the Summer Olympics in Paris. During the trials, she posted the 15th-fastest time among 27 semifinalists with 22.71 seconds. While she did not qualify for the finals, she finished fifth in her heat with a personal best time. Elise is scheduled to compete at the 2024 World Athletics U-20 Championships in August in Lima, Peru.
Director of Educational TechnologyAisha Bryantearned Technology Leaders in Independent Schools certification (TLIS), This honor, which acknowledges her crucial role in leading educational technology initiatives, was granted by the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools.
Carly Green '24was one of only 300 students selected nationwide for Bank of America’s prestigious Student Leaders® program. As a result, Carly secured an internship at Port Discovery Children’s Museum where she will gain valuable insights into the operations of a nonprofit organization by collaborating with various constituents and engaging in research, design, and content development.
Hannah Gray ‘25 (poem), Reshma Pahwa ‘27 (critical essay), and Zewdi Tesfayohannes ‘25 (poem) received Gold Key Awards in the 2024 Maryland Region Scholastic Writing Awards competition, which is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious creative teen recognition program for students in grade 7-12.
Nationally ranked mathletes Lizzy Albertine '26, Philemon Kuo '26, and Christina Z. '29 showcased their exceptional skills and earned top honors at the MathCON Finals in Chicago on May 11. Christina (ranked 12th nationally) received a Bronze Award, and Philemon (ranked 16th) and Lizzy (ranked 23rd) both received Honorable Mentions. Out of more than 30,000 participants, the trio qualified for the final competition by placing in the top 5% in their respective grade levels. Jolee X. '28 and Helen L. '29 also qualified for the finals but were unable to attend the final round. Additionally, Philemon achieved an impressive second-place finish in the State of Maryland Math League competition, competing against students from 40 schools.
Through his involvement with Jack & Jill of America, Austin McNair ‘26 was granted an opportunity to visit the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on May 10. He received a private tour, attended a courtroom lecture, and spoke with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, further deepening his understanding of the judicial system.
On April 21, 2024, Nina Murthi '24, Caitlin Rapalski '24, Solana Silverman '25, Zewdi Tesfayohannes '25, Danielle Nelson '24, and Sophie Winter '26 were recognized by the National Center for Women in Technology for their aptitude and interest in IT and computing, solid leadership ability, community service, learning outside of school, good academic history, and plans for post-secondary education.
Lizzy Albertine '26, Philemon Kuo '26, Jolee X. '28, Christina Z. '29, and Helen L. '29 are 2024 MathCON finalists. Only students in the top 95th percentile or higher qualify for the National Finals in Chicago on May 11.
Helen Luo '29 was awarded first prize for violin in the 2024 Vivaldi International Music Competition, an online competition that aims to challenge the virtuosity and artistic excellence of performers.
Kare Coley '24 represented McDonogh with distinction and dedication as a member of the Maryland General Assembly Student Page Program. As a page during the 2024 Legislative Session, Kare gained firsthand experience of the inner workings of state government and had the opportunity to observe legislative sessions and committee meetings.
Chidi Onwuanibe '27 won first place in the WJZ Black History Oratory Competition. Hundreds of students from across Maryland submitted essays, and 20 finalists read to a panel of judges at Morgan State University.
Head Athletic TrainerMarty Sataloff received the 2024 Neil Buckley Service Award at the National Prep Wrestling championships on February 24. The honor is awarded annually to an individual for their exceptional contributions to student-athletes and the sport of wrestling.
Isabella Sodhi '25 created an artistic rendition published in the scientific journal Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News on December 12, 2023. Her graphic depicted a 3-dimensional retinal organoid exposed to oxidative stress demonstrating marked cell death within retinal photoreceptors.
Greatest Good McDonogh Program Manager Artie Spruill was awarded the 2023 Continental Memorial Award presented by the Continental Societies, Inc. Baltimore Chapter. The chapter presents the award annually to a community leader or organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth in the Baltimore community.
Catherine Arbaugh '24, James Pitts '24, Caitlin Rapalski '24, and Elliet Walton '24 were named 2023 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. They are among some 16,000 national semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Cate Arbaugh '24, Megan Winakur '24, Nina Murthi '24, Kelvin Niu '24, and Tony Liu '24 received the Global Seal of Biliteracy, an award recognizing an individual's level of proficiency in two or more languages.
The 2023-2024 McDonogh Model UN team, a delegation of 16 students under the leadership of Carly Green '24 (President), Jackson Smith '24 (Vice President), and Jon Salenger '24 (Secretary), competed against 800 students from 76 schools across the US and the globe at the Columbia University Model UN Conference in January of 2024. Jackson Smith '24 won the award for Best Delegate (two years in a row) as Jani Vreto, an Albanian freedom fighter, at the Congress of Berlin, in 1878. Mark Cherches '25 won the award for Best Delegate as Alvah Bessie, a Hollywood screenwriter accused of having ties to communism during the Red Scare period. Jon Salenger '24 won the award for Outstanding Delegate as Heliotrope at the Encryption Eclipse Event that dealt with the fictional scenario of hackers attacking the financial epicenters of the world. Connor May '24 won the award for Honorable Mention as Uesugi Kagekatsu, a powerful daimyo during the Battle of Sekigahara in Japan.
Pianist Mingze Li ‘28 traveled to Germany to perform at the Klassik im Klösterle in Weil der Stadt on November 23, 2024. He also performed for students of the Johannes Kepler Gymnasium Weil der Stadt on November 22 as part of an effort to promote cultural exchange between young people. Follow Mingze's musical journey on his YouTube channel.
Isabella Sodhi '25 created an artistic rendition for a new study released by researchers at Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine regarding treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration. View her graphic published in Newswise. .jpg)
John Papadakis '28 won the National Title in the Junior Men’s 11-14 XCC event at the 2024 USA Cycling Cross-Country Mountain Bike National Championships at the Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania on July 18, 2024. He also won the Junior Men 13-14 Criterium at the USA Cycling Junior Road National Championship in Augusta, Georgia, on July 28, 2024. John secured his first National Title in the Junior Men 11-12 category in 2022.
Ned Courtemanche, Upper School History Department Chair, recently contributed an article, From Panic to Possibility: How AI Could Revolutionize the Teaching of Critical Thinking, on The Flint Blog. This is the first of many articles Ned plans to publish regarding AI-powered teaching and learning. Flint is an AI platform that helps K-12 schools personalize learning for students.
Hilary McDonough, Director of Global Programs, was selected to serve as the 2024-25 Global Educator-in-Residence with the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG). In this role, Hilary will lend her expertise in curriculum design and intercultural dialogue as a pedagogical tool. GEBG is a leading nonprofit association of K-12 schools around the world that researches and establishes model practices in the field of global education.
Sophia Papadakis '25 was named a National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) 2024 GRiT Ambassador. The GRiT Program engages female student-athletes in raising awareness of the effort to get #moregirlsonbikes. GRiT Ambassadors play a key role in recruiting and retaining more girls in NICA programs at the state level.
Kare Coley '24 was selected from a field of applicants — including law school students, master's students, and college seniors — to participate in the prestigious Black Professionals in International Affairs Summer Internship Program. As an intern, she will collaborate with seasoned professionals and gain valuable insights from leading foreign policy experts. Kare stands out as the youngest participant chosen for the 2024 cohort. 
Director of Educational Technology Aisha Bryant earned Technology Leaders in Independent Schools certification (TLIS), This honor, which acknowledges her crucial role in leading educational technology initiatives, was granted by the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools.
Carly Green '24 was one of only 300 students selected nationwide for Bank of America’s prestigious Student Leaders® program. As a result, Carly secured an internship at Port Discovery Children’s Museum where she will gain valuable insights into the operations of a nonprofit organization by collaborating with various constituents and engaging in research, design, and content development.
Hannah Gray ‘25 (poem), Reshma Pahwa ‘27 (critical essay), and Zewdi Tesfayohannes ‘25 (poem) received Gold Key Awards in the 2024 Maryland Region Scholastic Writing Awards competition, which is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious creative teen recognition program for students in grade 7-12.
Nationally ranked mathletes Lizzy Albertine '26, Philemon Kuo '26, and Christina Z. '29 showcased their exceptional skills and earned top honors at the MathCON Finals in Chicago on May 11. Christina (ranked 12th nationally) received a Bronze Award, and Philemon (ranked 16th) and Lizzy (ranked 23rd) both received Honorable Mentions. Out of more than 30,000 participants, the trio qualified for the final competition by placing in the top 5% in their respective grade levels. Jolee X. '28 and Helen L. '29 also qualified for the finals but were unable to attend the final round. Additionally, Philemon achieved an impressive second-place finish in the State of Maryland Math League competition, competing against students from 40 schools.
Through his involvement with Jack & Jill of America, Austin McNair ‘26 was granted an opportunity to visit the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on May 10. He received a private tour, attended a courtroom lecture, and spoke with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, further deepening his understanding of the judicial system.
On April 21, 2024, Nina Murthi '24, Caitlin Rapalski '24, Solana Silverman '25, Zewdi Tesfayohannes '25, Danielle Nelson '24, and Sophie Winter '26 were recognized by the National Center for Women in Technology for their aptitude and interest in IT and computing, solid leadership ability, community service, learning outside of school, good academic history, and plans for post-secondary education.
McDonogh’s Groundskeeping Team was awarded the DMV Field of the Year Award from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Field Managers Association.
Lizzy Albertine '26, Philemon Kuo '26, Jolee X. '28, Christina Z. '29, and Helen L. '29 are 2024 MathCON finalists. Only students in the top 95th percentile or higher qualify for the National Finals in Chicago on May 11.
Helen Luo '29 was awarded first prize for violin in the 2024 Vivaldi International Music Competition, an online competition that aims to challenge the virtuosity and artistic excellence of performers.
Kare Coley '24 represented McDonogh with distinction and dedication as a member of the Maryland General Assembly Student Page Program. As a page during the 2024 Legislative Session, Kare gained firsthand experience of the inner workings of state government and had the opportunity to observe legislative sessions and committee meetings.
Nitesh Cherukuri '29 won the 2024 Maryland Sweet 16 Chess Championship. He is the first winner in 10 years to have a perfect score! 
Girls Varsity Basketball Coach Brad Rees was named the IAAM 2024 Basketball Coach of the Year for the second time in five years. 
Elise Cooper '25 won the 200m title at the 2024 Nike Indoor National. Watch her post-race interview.
Chidi Onwuanibe '27 won first place in the WJZ Black History Oratory Competition. Hundreds of students from across Maryland submitted essays, and 20 finalists read to a panel of judges at Morgan State University. 
Jonas Levy '25 and Julia Norris '25 were selected as winners of the West Point Society of Baltimore's Leadership and Ethics Conference Essay Competition in February of 2024.
Head Athletic Trainer Marty Sataloff received the 2024 Neil Buckley Service Award at the National Prep Wrestling championships on February 24. The honor is awarded annually to an individual for their exceptional contributions to student-athletes and the sport of wrestling.
Isabella Sodhi '25 created an artistic rendition published in the scientific journal Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News on December 12, 2023. Her graphic depicted a 3-dimensional retinal organoid exposed to oxidative stress demonstrating marked cell death within retinal photoreceptors. 
Greatest Good McDonogh Program Manager Artie Spruill was awarded the 2023 Continental Memorial Award presented by the Continental Societies, Inc. Baltimore Chapter. The chapter presents the award annually to a community leader or organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth in the Baltimore community.
Catherine Arbaugh '24, James Pitts '24, Caitlin Rapalski '24, and Elliet Walton '24 were named 2023 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. They are among some 16,000 national semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. 
Cate Arbaugh '24, Megan Winakur '24, Nina Murthi '24, Kelvin Niu '24, and Tony Liu '24 received the Global Seal of Biliteracy, an award recognizing an individual's level of proficiency in two or more languages. 
The 2023-2024 McDonogh Model UN team, a delegation of 16 students under the leadership of Carly Green '24 (President), Jackson Smith '24 (Vice President), and Jon Salenger '24 (Secretary), competed against 800 students from 76 schools across the US and the globe at the Columbia University Model UN Conference in January of 2024. Jackson Smith '24 won the award for Best Delegate (two years in a row) as Jani Vreto, an Albanian freedom fighter, at the Congress of Berlin, in 1878. Mark Cherches '25 won the award for Best Delegate as Alvah Bessie, a Hollywood screenwriter accused of having ties to communism during the Red Scare period. Jon Salenger '24 won the award for Outstanding Delegate as Heliotrope at the Encryption Eclipse Event that dealt with the fictional scenario of hackers attacking the financial epicenters of the world. Connor May '24 won the award for Honorable Mention as Uesugi Kagekatsu, a powerful daimyo during the Battle of Sekigahara in Japan.
Alice Margraff, Director of College Counseling, has been named a Delegate for the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC), a regional branch within the national organization (NACAC).