Since the founding of Father Lopez Catholic High School in 1959, over 4,000 young men and women have attended our school. Every single one of them studied history. Only a few of them, however, made history. This year, each of our 488 students has already made history. This is the largest number of students ever to be enrolled in our school!  

This year's enrollment of 488 tops the previous high set just two years ago when enrollment reached the 483 mark. Our students come to us from near and far. Their addresses are found in 50 zip code areas in Daytona Beach and surrounding communities in Volusia, Flagler and Seminole counties. Our cultural diversity is enhanced with the addition of international students from ten other countries.

We are thankful that these student have made Father Lopez their school-of-choice. We are so appreciative of the sacrifices that parents are making to provide their sons and daughters with a Lopez education. At Lopez, we rightfully consider the parents to be the first teachers of their children. As Catholic educators, we are humbled to be invited to be their partners in the educational and spiritual formation of their sons and daughters. We know that this is a sacred trust that parents have bestowed upon us.

In exchange for this trust, I want to reaffirm our commitment to always do our very, very best so that our students may do their very, very best while on this journey through high school. Nothing less should be expected!

In closing, let me ask for your continued prayers and support for Father Lopez and the students we are privileged to serve. Know that we are keeping you and all members of the family that is Father Lopez Catholic High School in our prayers.

The report showcases many of the achievements and accomplishments from the past school year. It also gives us a chance to tout some of our alumni. We provide updates on 35 graduates from six different decades, noting their successes in their careers, in their communities, and in their service to God and to others.

The Annual Report also provides us with the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the many parents, alumni, faculty and staff, and other friends who generously shared some of their resources with us.  We appreciate their support of Lopez and the students we are privileged to serve.

(Additional copies of the magazine will be available in the Main Office after the mailing goes out.)

We are pleased to welcome Ruth Neilson to the Lopez faculty as the newest member of our Social Studies Department. She earned her BS Degree in Secondary Education/Social Studies from Athens State University in Alabama. She later earned an MA Degree in History from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Previous teaching experience includes serving as a Social Studies teacher with the Montgomery Public Schools in Montgomery, Alabama. Her full-time teaching assignment at Lopez incudes Advanced Placement World History, World History, and Sociology. She officially joined our school faculty earlier this week.