HAMMOND - Bishop Noll Institute is starting off the 2025-2026 school year with some positive news related to the accomplishments of its students and staff.
2025 JOHN J. WADAS AWARD RECIPIENTS
Class of 2025 grads Molly Whelan and Brandon Jimenez were awarded the John J. Wadas scholarship.
Awarded annually since 2000, The Wadas Award commemorates 1967 Bishop Noll graduate Dr. John J. Wadas. It is presented to a senior male and female who make outstanding contributions to their team(s), their school, and to their community.
Jimenez, who played baseball and was on the swimming and cross country teams at Noll, will attend Indiana University in Bloomington. Whelan, a standout volleyball and softball player, will attend Ball State University.
CONGRATULATIONS, EMMA, HAILEY AND MEGAN!
Three Lady Warriors aced their futures, earning the prestigious Chick Evans Scholarship. Hailey Wojtaszek, Emma Boyer and Megan Virosztko, all BNI golfers and Briar Ridge Country Club caddies, will receive full tuition and housing scholarships. They were honored for this achievement during a special ceremony at commencement June 5.
The scholarship “means the world” to Wojtaszek, lifting the financial burden and changing her outlook on her worth and confidence.
“My involvement in golf...ultimately brought me to the Evans Scholarship and formed so many bonds,” she said. “I’m excited to call myself an Evans Scholar and live with fellow scholars.”
Evans Scholars live and work together in communities at 24 universities, developing leadership and communication skills. The program boasts a 95 percent graduation rate.
Wojtaszek plans to study anthropology and hopes to work in a museum and travel across the globe. She credits Bishop Noll and principal Lorenza Jara Pastrick, saying that she otherwise would have never known about this amazing opportunity.
She also thanked theology teacher Johan Castandea, who was her No. 1 cheerleader and wrote her letter of recommendation.
For Boyer, the scholarship “relieves the financial burden of college and means that I will be debt free.”
Inspired by a previous BNI Evans Scholar, she began caddying, which “impacted my life by allowing me to be more patient and disciplined.” She added caddying was a great opportunity.
Boyer is “excited to be living in a house with all of the Evans Scholars” and aspires to one day go to the FBI and pursue a criminal justice degree. She said she learned discipline, respect and the value of hard work at Bishop Noll and thanked golf coach Trent Harminac and BNI teachers Bianca Bernal, John Gleason, Hannah Lareau, Dena Neville and Elizabeth Cuadrado for their support.
Virosztko said the scholarship relieves stress about paying for college and shows that all her hard work was successful. She started caddying after receiving an email from Pastrick and advises others “to start early…it was a lot of work to get all 100 loops in 2 years but it can still happen.” She is most looking forward to “living in the Evans house and getting to meet all the people who have also caddied.”
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Eddie Limon '85, vice president of advancement, and Jen Florek, associate director of advancement, recently attended a Catholic schools leadership conference in Boston. They engaged in professional development classes and connected with school advancement teams from across the country, returning with innovative ideas and perspectives. Alumni, current parents and friends of BNI are invited to show support for BNI by joining advancement efforts. Please email jflorek@bishopnoll.org or elimon@bishopnoll.org for more information.
