The Circle of Excellence is a way to celebrate the achievements and loyalty of Cathedral High School’s alumni, employees and community supporters. The school hosts its own version of a Hall of Fame ceremony and will do so again during the 2022-2023 school year on Sept. 29.

In 2018, the 100th year anniversary of the school, volunteers noticed a Hall of Fame acknowledgment program was missing. Volunteers felt that as a school built on a tradition of greatness, a Circle of Excellence program was essential. A selection committee was brought together filled with volunteers tied to the school’s community. In total over the past few years, 38 recipients have been recognized for their contributions not just to the school or to the community, but to the world.

All are welcome to nominate a peer, alumnus, employee or community member who best exemplifies the Holy Cross core values. However, there are certain criteria that must be met for one to be considered for the Cathedral High School Circle of Excellence. Alumni cannot be nominated until five years after graduation, employees may only be nominated after 10 years of service and community members must be nominated after 15 years of experience with the school.

The goal of this program is to show the outstanding efforts of the school’s closest peers. The concept of a Hall of Fame program “allows the community to come together to celebrate those who accomplish greatness,” said executive Vice President for Advancement Mrs. Nicole Beasley ‘98.

The Circle of Excellence makes the school shine and is a way to truly embrace greatness. It is only natural that the school takes a moment to appreciate the excellence so many community members, alumni, parents and staff have reached. The school continues to grow and expand the expectation of greatness, yet so many have stepped up and exceeded the standard.

During his tenure on the Hill as both a teacher and coach, Mr. Lance Rhodes, a recipient of the Circle of Excellence award, was selected 11 times by students to give the graduation address. Rhodes taught at the school for 30 years in total and served as head wrestling coach, assistant football coach, assistant softball coach, Senior Class moderator and economics and government teacher. He also had the second highest winning percentage in Indiana history of 469 wins, 46 losses and four ties for wrestling.

“I was very honored to be selected by my peers to be inducted into the Circle of Excellence,” Rhodes wrote in an email. The school’s goal is to honor people who continue Cathedral’s legacy and grow in the Holy Cross core values. “There will always be a spot in my heart for those young men and women that I bonded with during my tenure at Cathedral. I am proud of them and my time at the school,” Rhodes wrote.

Although students are not able to be nominated for the Circle of Excellence award, actions made throughout the halls can determine the fate of their future, as current students’ achievements eventually could be honored at the Circle of Excellence ceremony.

Beasley said nominations for the next Circle of Excellence recipients closed in April. A selection committee is reviewing those nominations, and the next induction class will be announced this summer.