Ripperda Twins Named Class of 2026 Valedictorian & Salutatorian

Elena Ripperda has been named Notre Dame Regional High School’s Valedictorian for the Class of 2026.

Throughout high school, Elena has distinguished herself through outstanding academic achievement. Her freshman year, she received gold on the National Spanish Exam and was on the Notre Dame Algebra 1 Medley team that received first place at Southeast Missouri State University’s Math Field Day. She was named Biology Student of the Year her sophomore year, and once again earned gold on the National Spanish Exam. Last year, Elena was AP Spanish IV Student of the Year, Advanced Math Student of the Year, and earned a silver medal on the National Spanish Exam. During her senior year, she received the first quarter Outstanding Academic Achievement award in Foreign Language.

Very active in the Notre Dame school community, Elena is involved in National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and is the treasurer for the National Spanish Honor Society. In addition to honor societies, she participates in Peer Helpers, Women in God’s Service (WinGs), Encore, Science Club, and is the vice president for International Club. She is a student ambassador, student mentor, and competes for Notre Dame’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) organization.

Elena is a member of Notre Dame’s prestigious Select Singers, and was part of the Quad State Honor Choir and named to the All-District Honor Choir during her senior year. She has been part of her parish choir for the past 10 years.

Putting service at the forefront, Elena is part of two major service organizations. She has been a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters since her sophomore year. She is also a member of the Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha, which is Camp Ondessonk’s service and leadership organization. Camp Ondessonk is an outdoor and spiritually focused camp committed to Catholic traditions and spiritual growth of campers. Additionally, she will be attending her third Notre Dame Joan Strohmeyer Mission Trip this summer. 

Elena is a member of Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Murphysboro, IL. Her parents, Jeff and Kate Ripperda, are who she identifies most as helping her achieve this honor.

“They’ve always given me the resources I’ve needed to succeed and have been incredibly supportive of me,” she said.

Elena will attend Saint Louis University in the fall. She is on the pre-med track and part of the university’s Medical Scholars Program. She plans to major in Biology and minor in Spanish, with the goal of pursuing a career in dermatology or pediatrics.  

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Lucy Ripperda Named Class of 2026 Salutatorian

Lucy Ripperda has been named Notre Dame Regional High School’s Salutatorian for the Class of 2026.

Lucy is the daughter of Jeff and Kate Ripperda, and a member of Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Murphysboro, IL, where is also a member of the choir.

At Notre Dame, she is the president of International Club and a member of Science Club, Student Ambassadors, Students Mentors, Peer Helpers and Women in God’s Service (WinGs). Lucy is a member of three honor societies; National Spanish Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society and National Honor Society, where she serves in leadership positions for each organization. She also competes for Notre Dame’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).

Lucy is a Select Singer for Notre Dame, and has been named to the All-District Honor Choir and participated at Quad State Music Festival. She earned a silver medal on the National Spanish Exam her freshman, sophomore and junior years, and received the second quarter Outstanding Academic Achievement award in Foreign Language her senior year. Her freshman year she was part of Notre Dame’s Algebra I Medley team that received first place at Southeast Missouri State University’s Math Field Day.

She has gone on two summer mission trips through Notre Dame’s Joan Strohmeyer Mission Trip program. She is a four-year member of Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha at Camp Ondessonk, and has been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri for three years.

Lucy was recognized for her guidance to other students, helping her peers plan ahead and choose classes when they feel uncertain, and for always doing so with kindness and support as part of Notre Dame’s Apostolic Leadership program earlier this year.

Lucy said, “I would like to thank my parents for supporting me in going to a school that is an hour away, and allowing me to thrive at Notre Dame.”

She will be attending Saint Louis University in the fall as a Healthcare Management major, while also minoring in Spanish and Public Health. She has been accepted as part of Saint Louis University’s prestigious Medical Scholars Program.