TOLEDO—Members of the St. John’s Jesuit High School Class of 2008 benefited from career exploration classes in law, biomedical frontiers and The Ohio State University introduction to engineering in making their future college and career choices.

The 191-member class was accepted at 111 colleges and universities across the country including Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, Miami, Toledo, Loyola, Boston College and many more.

Clockwise from top left: St. John's Jesuit valedictorians Nadeem Abou-Arraj, Steven Schmitt, Zachary Wehrmeister and salutatorian Daniel Kennedy. (photos courtesy of St. John's Jesuit High School)

Graduation is May 21 at 7 p.m. at the Stranahan Theater, and baccalaureate is May 18 at 9 a.m. at St. John’s Jesuit High School.

The 40th St. John’s Jesuit graduating class earned 138 Jesuit college scholarships. Members of the class of 2008 were generous with their service to the Toledo community contributing more than 16,000 hours over the course of their high school career to 30 hometown organizations as well as serving in Appalachia and in Central America.

In addition, members of the class of 2008 have been instrumental in renovating the Diocese of Toledo’s Padua Center in the central city as well as providing tutoring help at their after-school program. They helped build a playground for the La Posada Center.

Valedictorians are Nadeem Abou-Arraj of Toledo, Steven Schmitt of Sylvania and Zachary Wehrmeister of Maumee. Daniel Kennedy of Sylvania is salutatorian.

Nadeem Abou-Arraj is the son of Elias and Rochelle Abou-Araj and will attend Harvard University. He is a National Merit Finalist, senior class president and chair of the Spirit Committee. He was one of the initiators of the new Brother Rodriguez Respect Committee composed of students, faculty, and alumni. He is on the Ambassador Core Team and in the National Honor Society. He is the president and founder of the Arabic Club, serves on the Integrity Committee and is a peer tutor. He is captain of the Titan lacrosse team.

Nadeem was a senior, sophomore and freshman retreat leader. He participates in the St. John’s Jesuit daytime Christian Service program and has served at Flower Hospital and Seagate Food Bank. He is active in the Walk for Diabetes and helped renovate Padua House.

He earned the BCSN Scholarship ($1,500) and the Harvard College Faculty Scholarship ($173,600).

He is a member of Toledo Christ the King.

Steven Schmitt is the son of David and Dr. Dorrie Schmitt and will attend Boston College. He is a National Merit Commended Student. Steven is a part of the new Brother Rodriguez Respect Committee, a class representative on Student Council and is one of the five board members of the Business Club. He has won academic honors for science and health as well as being a Rensselaer Medalist for achievement in both math and science. He participates in the Ski/Snowboard Club and the French Club.

Steven is a goaltender on the Titan hockey team that captured the State Championship.

He is active in Christian Service and has served at the St. Patrick’s Historic Soup Kitchen, the Kingston Residence of Sylvania and the Seagate Food Bank. Steven is a peer tutor to his fellow Titans, was a freshman and senior retreat leader, and was involved with “Easter on Campus” with Cherry Preschool.

He attended Sylvania St. Joseph School, and is a member of the parish.

Zachary Wehrmeister is the son of Dr. John and Wendy Wehrmeister and will attend the University of Michigan. He is a National Merit Commended Student. He is part of Tests in Engineering, Aptitude, Math and Science (TEAMS) Engineering Competition. He is involved in the Cooking and Computer Clubs. He played freshman and junior varsity soccer for the Titans and continues to play through the Toledo Football Academy travel soccer team as well as indoor soccer.

Zachary is active in Christian Service inside and outside the school. Inside the school he has served on My Team helping with freshman activities and has been a tour guide. He helps his fellow Titans as a peer tutor. In the community he has served at the Good Samaritan Outreach Center, a soup kitchen and at St. Patrick’s Historic Soup Kitchen.

Salutatorian Daniel Kennedy is the son of Mark and Dr. Carol Kennedy and will attend Boston College. He is Student Council president, a member of the Campus Ministry Core Team and has served as a junior and senior retreat leader. He serves on the Brother Rodriguez Respect Committee and on the Integrity Committee. Daniel is in the National Honor Society and the Ambassador Society.

Committed to Christian Service, he spent several weeks serving in Guatemala City garbage dump working with children as part of the Guatemala Grande Team. He was part of the La Posada playground project and has been a volunteer at Hospice of Northwest Ohio for four years. Daniel is part of the Social Justice Alliance that strives to improve the social awareness of the school community. He is a big brother and mentor to the seventh- and eighth-grade Academy students and is a eucharistic minister.

He has been the Titan hockey team manager for four years and is a two-year varsity letterman on the Titan varsity lacrosse team.

He attended Sylvania St. Joseph School, and is a member of the parish.