Catherine McAuley Honors Scholars

The Catherine McAuley Honors Scholars (CMHS) is a program instituted to recognize superior academic achievement, offer opportunities for academic and cultural enrichment, encourage further development of skills and talents, and reward high-scoring students for their endeavors. Students may be invited to membership after their first semester freshman year through first semester junior year. 

The program was named for Catherine McAuley who founded the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland. From Dublin, Catherine sent her sisters all over the world to serve the poor. One of her strongest beliefs was “no work of society can be more productive of good to society than the careful instruction of women.” So today’s students can better the world in which they live, we continue that tradition of educating women, and we reward them for superior achievement.

Program Requirements

  • Enroll in at least four honors classes or AP classes each semester
  • Complete at least five AP classes before graduation
  • Maintain a 4.1 average each semester. (Beginning with the Class of 2025) (Classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024 continue to maintain a GPA of 4.05) 
  • Participate in at least one extra-curricular activity each year
  • Attend all required programs and events-approximately one or two per quarter
  • Consult with the CMHS Program Director during scheduling time
  • Create and maintain an electronic resume
  • At the start of each semester, students who fail to meet academic requirements for two semesters will be removed from membership in the program.  They may return as members when they meet requirements

CMHS Benefits

  • Provides an additional resource for securing information about academics and college preparation
  • Offers friendship and support from other students in the program
  • Affords special recognition at commencement
  • CMHS Enrichment Opportunities
  • At least four after school events focusing on various topics. This year's plans include two visits from alums in a variety of profession, a visit from college age alums, and speakers helping prepare students for college admission
  • Lunch time opportunities to learn from in house speakers and alumnae visitors
  • Up-to-date information about summer study and volunteer opportunities
  • Possible visits to selective Midwestern university campuses
  • Scholar Sister initiative which pairs new members with older CMHS members