JCA students succeed in and out the classroom

Joliet Catholic Academy president/principal Jeffrey Budz recently announced the JCA November And December Students of the Month.

Students are recognized for their achievements in the classroom and in the community.

November Students of the Month:

Gianna Totani, daughter of Christopher Totani and Victoria Dillon-Totani, currently has a 4.99 GPA in JCA Honors and AP classes.

Totani is a member of National English Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and national Thespian Honor Society.

She currently serves as president of the JCA executive board of student council, president of National Honor Society and president of the JCA drama club.

Totani is also participates in the following JCA student clubs; HillZone student cheering section, Habitat for Humanity, Spanish Club, Respect Life Club, KEO Club, JCA Student Ambassadors and HALO Mentoring.

She recently served as a leader on JCA’s senior capstone retreat, Kairos, and is also a member of the JCA varsity cheerleading team.

In her spare time, she is a student ambassador to the Will County Clerk’s Office, and a Little Buddies teen mentor.

She also works in the summer and fall at Walt’s Ice Cream shop in Joliet, owned and operated by JCA alumni.

Totani is currently undecided on her college choice but plans to major in English and government with future plans to attend law school.

Kate Formhals, daughter of Joseph and Anna Formhals, currently has a 4.74 GPA in JCA Honors and AP classes.

She is a member of National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and International Thespian Society.

Formhals has been a four-year member of the JCA girls tennis team and also participates in the JCA drama club, student council, Victory View student newspaper and JCA student ambassadors.

She plans on majoring in journalism and political science.

Bryan Baker, son of Todd and Kim Baker, currently has a 4.43 GPA in JCA Honors and AP classes.

Baker is a member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society.

He is the president of JCA Habitat for Humanity club, a member of the JCA Respect Life club, a JCA student council at-large member, and he also participates in the JCA student ambassador and mentorship programs.

Baker is also a member of the JCA varsity football team. He is employed at Cemeno’s Pizza in Joliet and does volunteer work with Team Make a Difference in Morris.

He plans to attend the University of Dayton or the University of Iowa to major in business.

December Students of the Month:

Tanner Lee, son of Anthony and Carrie Lee of Joliet, and a graduate of St. Joseph Academy, currently has a 4.43 GPA in JCA Honors and AP classes.

Lee is a member of the International Thespian Society, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and the JCA drama club (where he serves as vice president).

He plans to attend college and major in either history or English, with a minor in secondary education. He hopes to become a high school teacher in the future.

Breanna Ciemny, daughter of Bryan and Lori Ciemny of Shorewood and a graduate of Holy Family Catholic Grade School, currently has a 5.03 GPA in JCA Honors and AP classes.

Ciemny has received numerous academic awards while at JCA, highlighted by being named a national Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.

She is also a member of National Honor Society (secretary), National Spanish Honor Society, National English Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta (vice president).

Ciemny is a member of the JCA Angels varsity cross-country, basketball and soccer programs.

In her spare time, she also participates in JCA Respect Life Club, Keyo Service Club, JCA student council (senior class president), JCA medical science club, and the JCA Habitat for Humanity.

Ciemny was named ESCC all-conference in 2019 on the Angels’ soccer team that finished fourth at the IHSA State Finals.

She plans on playing soccer collegiately and has interests in entering a medical field in the future.

Zachary Bertino, son of Brian and Jessica Bertino of Shorewood and a graduate of Holy Family Catholic Grade School, currently has a 5.00 GPA in JCA Honors and AP classes.

Bertino is a member of National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, National Thespian Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta.

He also participates on the varsity cross-country and tennis teams, and is a member of the JCA drama Club, JCA student council, and JCA student ambassadors.

Bertino was also recently named a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship program.

He plans on attending Washington University to major in computer science and business, with hopes to become a computer programmer.