GREAT BEND -- Holy Family Catholic School announced recently that the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) has named Katrina Napolitano-Aumiller a 2004 NCEA Catholic Elementary School Distinguished Graduate. She graduated in 1993 from St. Patrick Catholic School, and currently is a second grade classroom teacher at Holy Family School in Great Bend. She graduated from Great Bend High School and Fort Hays State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

Sponsored by the NCEA’s Department of Elementary Schools in cooperation with Holy Family School, the award goes to Napolitano-Aumiller for outstanding personal and professional achievements. Throughout her life, Napolitano-Aumiller consistently pursued the highest possible professional and personal standards. She is an example of how Catholic schools educate people to take leadership roles in their community and beyond.

"It is with great pleasure that we recognize distinguished graduates from our Catholic elementary schools," said Dr. Robert Kealey, executive director of NCEA’s Department of Elementary Schools, the award’s sponsor. "The education they received in the elementary years has provided a firm basis for growth and achievement in their adult lives."

NCEA established the Distinguished Graduate Award out of recognition that the significant accomplishments of Catholic elementary school alumni are a hallmark of Catholic education. The award highlights, "people who as adults put into practice the values and ideals they learned in their Catholic elementary schools," added Dr. Kealey.

The first Distinguished Graduate Awards were made in 1991. As an award winner, Napolitano-Aumiller joins a stellar group of hundreds of Catholic School alumni across the country.

Napolitano-Aumiller credits her experience in Catholic education for preparing her in a unique way to meet the responsibilities of adult life.

"Catholic education made spiritual growth and worshiping God and serving Him and others a part of every aspect of my education and adult life," she said. Some of Napolitano-Aumiller’s life experiences include her liturgical music work at the University of Kansas and her work as a flutist in various aspects of teaching and performing.

Founded in 1904, the NCEA is the largest private, professional education association in the world.

Holy Family School was established in 2001 by the combination of St. Rose of Lima Catholic School and St. Patrick Catholic School. Holy Family School educates students Pre-Kindergarten through the Sixth Grade with a current enrollment of 165 students. Religion, math, reading, writing, science, social studies, computers, library, and physical education are all part of the Diocesan curriculum taught at Holy Family School.