The 4,229 young men and women who graduated from the 17 high schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia this June have earned a grand total of $270,211,116 in scholarships, a record high for scholarship dollars awarded. 94% of the Class of 2011 will pursue a post-secondary education; 92% will be headed for college this fall.

"We are beyond proud of our Class of 2011. Through hard work and determination, these students have excelled by setting a record for scholarships earned," said Dr. Richard McCarron, Secretary for Catholic Education. "Their performance is a testament to the value of a Catholic education, the sacrifices of their parents, and the work of their teachers. Students from the secondary schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia stand among the most gifted and talented in the region. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless them on the life long journey of education."

Nearly half (46%) of the members of the Archdiocesan Class of 2011 received at least one college scholarship, and more than 6,200 total scholarships were awarded. The Class of 2010 received $262,069,165 in college scholarships. Since 2000, Archdiocesan graduates have received more than $1.75 billion in scholarships.

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Editor's Note: For information on all of the schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit www.catholicschools-phl.org.

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Kenneth A. Gavin
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