BK News

Four exceptional Bishop Kenny High School student-athletes were honored on April 15 as they signed their national letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Surrounded by coaches, family, and friends, these young athletes celebrated the culmination of years of hard work, discipline, and dedication to both sport and scholarship.

Reese Mayer, an accomplished basketball player, will take her talents to Mount Saint Mary College in New York. A well-rounded student, Reese was involved in numerous clubs including Crusader Athletes for Christ, History, Latin, and Interact, while also earning membership in the English, Latin, Rho Kappa, and National Honor Societies. Reflecting on her high school career, Reese shared, “Being coached by my father has been an amazing experience and a true gift. He’s been a positive role model, and I can’t thank him enough for always believing in me and pushing me to play my best.”

Distance runner Tessa Massa signed with Appalachian State University after an impressive high school career that included back-to-back state championships with the Crusader Cross Country team in 2023 and 2024. Tessa is a member of several honor societies and clubs, including Mu Alpha Theta and Crusader Athletes for Christ. She credited Coach Mike Curran for his impact, saying, “Coach Curran has been particularly inspirational to me because he is always so positive and motivates me and the team to always focus on the goal and work harder.”

Garrett Holloway will be heading to Hampton Sydney College in Virginia to play football. Known for his leadership on and off the field, Garrett served on the Leadership Council and participated in Crusader Athletes for Christ. He praised the team dynamic and coaching staff at Bishop Kenny, noting, “I enjoy the team aspect of football at Bishop Kenny and Coach Krause is a tremendous coach. He motivates not only me, but the entire team and his energy is just unbelievable.”

A multi-sport standout, Payton Burnett signed with Aurora University in Illinois. Payton balanced both football and basketball at the varsity level and was also active in Crusader Athletes for Christ and the Interact club. He shared a heartfelt reason for his dedication this season: “Being a two-sport athlete has been a fantastic experience at BK. I love playing both so much and enjoy the team comradery. I dedicated my season this year to my grandmother who has been watching me from heaven—she was one of my biggest supporters and loved to watch me play.”

These athletes represent the best of Bishop Kenny—scholarship, sportsmanship, and spiritual integrity. As they take the next step in their journeys, the entire Crusader community celebrates their achievements and wishes them continued success at the collegiate level.

Congratulations, Crusaders!

Bishop Kenny High School is proud to announce that seniors Claudia Rodriguez and John McCoy have been named Students of the Month by the Exchange Club of Jacksonville. This honor is awarded to one male and one female student from different area schools each month in recognition of outstanding scholarship, leadership, community service, and character. Monthly winners are also entered into the Exchange Club’s Student of the Year scholarship competition.

Claudia Rodriguez exemplifies academic excellence and meaningful service. A National Merit Commended Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction, Claudia holds membership in numerous honor societies, including English, Mu Alpha Theta, Rho Kappa, Science, Spanish, and National Honor Society. She leads as captain of the cross-country team and participates in Student Government, BK Student Ambassadors, BK Buddies, and the Interact Club. Her commitment to faith and service is seen through her 447 service hours and her roles as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Claudia will attend the University of Notre Dame.

Reflecting on her experience, Claudia shared, “At Bishop Kenny I have always prioritized my academics and strived to be a good student. Being surrounded by such an ambitious group of students on the cross-country team, I tried my best to follow their great example of taking on a rigorous course load and being very involved in the school as a whole, which has made me a stronger person.”

John McCoy also shines as a well-rounded student-leader. Like Claudia, he is a National Merit Commended Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction, and a member of the same distinguished honor societies. John balances his academic achievements with athletic commitment as a member of both the soccer and track & field teams. His passion for service has led him to contribute nearly 300 hours of volunteer work, including missions with YoungLife Tanzania, Camp I Am Special, and TopSoccer. John will attend Georgetown University.

Looking ahead, John shared, “I now serve as a youth board member of Fountains of Hope, with plans to continue to raise funds for future trips to Africa. I also plan to share the spirit of joyful service that I brought home with me. When I left Tanzania for the first time, I returned home with a seed. I plan to continue to nurture that seed and share its fruits not only in my community, but in communities all over the world.”

As these two remarkable students prepare to begin their college careers, their accomplishments offer a powerful reflection of the values nurtured at Bishop Kenny—faith, service, and a commitment to excellence.

Bishop Kenny High School is proud to recognize seniors James Warren and Stephanie Grden as the April Students of the Month! Selected by their peers, these outstanding Crusaders exemplify athleticism, courage, and dedication in their respective sports.

James Warren is a three-sport athlete, competing in cross country, soccer, and track & field while actively participating in numerous clubs and honor societies. He is a member of Crusader Athletes for Christ, a BK Ambassador, and an inductee of the English, Latin, Rho Kappa, and National Honor Societies. James plans to attend Mississippi State University to study Industrial Systems Engineering, with the goal of transferring to the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he has been accepted for his sophomore year in the fall of 2026.

Reflecting on his time at Bishop Kenny, James shared, “Athletics gave me a new set of friends outside of the classroom that I really enjoy being around. Running and playing soccer helped me balance my academic life and made high school an incredible four-year experience.”

Stephanie Grden is a two-sport athlete, contributing to Bishop Kenny’s two-time state champion cross country team and competing in track & field. She is also a member of Crusader Athletes for Christ, as well as the history and science clubs. This fall, Stephanie will attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she will run on the cross country and track teams while pursuing a degree in Kinesiology.

Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “BK has been an amazing high school experience, and I want to thank Coach Mike Curran for pushing me through the hard times. His guidance has helped me appreciate our two state championships and the strong bond I share with my teammates.”

Congratulations to James and Stephanie for their dedication and achievements, both in athletics and academics!