AHN Admissions Hosts Their Annual High School Open House

With the fall “recruitment” season in full swing for private high schools across the Tampa Bay area, the AHN Admissions Office hosted their annual high school open house. Approximately 80 prospective students from a variety of feeder schools, along with their families, came to the Academy on Wednesday, November 2.

Pam Doherty and Amanda Faunce, along with the help of the AHN Ambassadors, ensured that each and every family was able to experience the Academy campus to the fullest extent, all while getting their questions about AHN answered. Each tour group, ranging from 10-15 families, was lead by a group of Ambassadors. The families were provided tours of the iLab, the Media Center, the Art wing, the Heritage Center, and the Brady Center. Throughout their tour, prospective students and their parents were given information on all aspects of AHN, by staff members from each department. For example, Sister Mary Glavin focused on the spiritual and personal development of each student, while Sister Lisa Perkowski and Erin Franklin focused on the arts. Kerry Keegan, along with Emily Pantellis, Danica Rodriguez, and Olivia Martinez talked about how Academy prepares their students for college and teaches their daughters to grow both personally and academically. At the end of each station of the tour, parents and prospective students were able to ask questions and gain further insight into their personal interests and concerns.

Doherty commented, “We are looking forward to seeing all of the prospective students’ beautiful faces, and to see what they have to bring to our school. It’s always so exciting to see the diversity in each of the classes.”

Prospective students also had the chance to interact with Academy students with the help of Student Council moderator, Jenny VanPelt. AHN’s student council was able to lend a helping hand in making the girls touring more comfortable. In the Brady Center, the parents were led to the North end and were given a presentation by President Art Raimo and were also able to ask questions to a panel of AHN students. The prospective students were separated from their parents and were welcomed by Student Council, led by student body president and senior, Ally Wehle. The girls sat in a circle, played games, and got to know their potential classmates.

Wehle remarked, “We always have a lot of fun every year meeting the girls and playing games with them and answering any questions they have about the Academy. This year we worked with the Ambassadors in our circle and it was a lot of fun and great to see both of our groups work together to really welcome prospective students!”

The Admissions Department was extremely satisfied with the turnout of the night and is curious to see what this group of prospective students has to bring to the Academy. The next time this group of young ladies are back on campus will be for the entrance exam which is later in the winter. After all transcripts and test scores have been reviewed, AHN hopes to welcome about 100 new students into the sisterhood by spring of 2017.