Annually, Roncalli High School, in conjunction with the Roncalli Alumni Association, present the Circle of Faith Distinction Awards. These awards were created to honor and recognize faculty, staff, alumni, volunteers and community members who serve with distinction, excel in their careers and devote themselves to their Catholic faith and Catholic education. Please take a moment to nominate a deserving recipient for one of the following awards:
- Alumni of the Year
- Honorary Alumni
- Volunteer of the Year
- St. John XXIII Award
- ROYAL Award
These awards recognize the important role our community plays in educating, nurturing and forming today’s students — tomorrow’s leaders.
Although nominations are accepted throughout the year, the deadline for 2026 recognition is Saturday, March 1, 2026.
For a complete explanation of the criteria for these awards. See this link.
Contact the Advancement Office at (317) 787-8277 with questions.
Meet the 2025 award winners:
Linda Newsome was awarded this year’s Volunteer of the Year award.
Linda is the mother to three grown children, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She attended Northwest High School in Indianapolis. She then attended Indiana State University to receive her bachelor’s degree in education and then completed her master’s degree at IUPUI Indianapolis in education. Linda has worked at both IPS and Warren Township Schools teaching Elementary Education. In 1997, she was named the Warren Township Teacher of the Year.
Linda has volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, Indy Reads, Little Hoosiers History Club, St. Vincent dePaul and the Refugee and Immigrant Services through the Catholic church. Around Roncalli, Linda is known best for her substitute teaching, working in the Spirit Store and volunteer work including helping at our Little Royals Daycare and has made many trips to Appalachia to do construction work for the impoverished.
Thank you to, Linda Newsome our Volunteer of the Year who has made a significant impact on the students, families, faculty and staff of Roncalli.
Francesca LaRosa Rohrer R’12 was awarded the ROYAL Award.
Francesca LaRosa Rohrer R’12 received the ROYAL Award. This award stands for the Roncalli Outstanding Young Alumni Legacy. Francesca and her husband David recently welcomed their two-month old daughter, Gabriella. Francesca graduated from Roncalli in 2012 as did her siblings: Dominic, Adrianna, Lucas and Mariesa. Their parents are Dr. Joe and Christine LaRosa. After graduation from RHS, she received her bachelor’s degree in vocal music education. Francesca and David are parishioners of St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carmel, where she volunteers as a cantor. She also travels around the country leading cantor workshops, retreats and parish missions.
Francesca served as the music director at St. Barnabas Catholic Church for three and a half years. She has worked as a full-time Catholic composer with her husband David for the past four years. Together they create resources for the Church, setting scripture and saint prayers to music. She currently has 14 songs published in Oregon Catholic Press, with another being included in Breaking Bread 2026. Francesca was recently honored with the Best New Singer award at The Catholic Music Awards hosted by the Vatican Dicastery in Rome.
Congratulations to Francesca LaRosa RohrerR’12, Roncalli’s ROYAL Award recipient!
Beth Reel was awarded this year’s Honorary Alumna Award.
We are proud to recognize Beth Reel as one of our Honorary Alumna. Beth and her husband, Randy, have been married for more than 30 years and are the proud parents of four children, two of which are Roncalli graduates, Jacob and Andrew. They share five grandchildren.
A native of Michigan, Beth grew up in a large family with four sisters and two brothers. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Michigan and began her career in the restaurant industry before transitioning into education. Although she had the opportunity to pursue teaching early on, she entered the field later in her professional journey and is grateful for the path that led her to Roncalli High School, where she has found both purpose and community. Beth is in her 21st year at Roncalli where she has served as a teacher and now as our assistant principal of academic affairs. Prior to teaching, she stayed at home with their children. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, Beth also has a masters degree from IU and earned her administrator license from Ball State University.
Beth is a St. Rose of Lima parishioner and is a frequent volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. She has also been engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities at Roncalli where she is deeply committed to the school’s mission and considers the community an extension of her family. Her volunteer activities include the Garden Club at St. Rose of Lima and she is a committee member for the Angels of Grace luncheon for the Sisters of St. Benedict. Beth has done a plethora of volunteer work through Roncalli: lead Senior Retreats, St. Vincent de Paul, R Family, Mock Trial, Eucharistic Minister, Spell Bowl Club moderator, previous Rebel Chefs Club Moderator, previous National Honor Society Moderator and Quest for Excellence. She also serves as a Royal Champion.
Roncalli officially welcomes Beth Reel into the Roncalli family as an Honorary Alum.
Vic Sahm was awarded this year’s Honorary Alumna Award.
Vic has been a Roncalli staple for too many years to count! Vic and his wife Ann were married in 1967 and have three children: Mike, Amy and Ann, who all are alumni of Roncalli. His wife Ann graduated from Sacred Heart in 1961. Vic is the proud grandparent of seven.
Vic graduated from Cathedral High School and then attended Bellarmine College for a year and Blue Cloud Abbey for a year. Prior to retiring in 2007 from the workforce, he worked at Metropolitan Life Insurance, Farber Distributor and Southeastern Supply. Vic began his coaching career at St. Jude from 1967-1985 with Coach Bob Kirkhoff. Then both Vic and Bob came to Roncalli to coach the girls basketball program from 1985-2000. Vic has done a lot of volunteering over the years at his parish, with several youth groups, Central Indiana Little League and at Roncalli, and can still be found monitoring our gate into the stadium on Friday night home football games.
Roncalli officially welcomes Vic Sahm into the Roncalli family as an Honorary Alum.
Sister Barbara McClelland C’66 was awarded this year’s Alumna of the Year award. Our Alumna of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has taken the lessons from the classrooms of Sacred Heart, Kennedy Memorial, Bishop Chartrand and Roncalli and lives them out in the world.
A Sister of Providence, Sister Barbara—along with Sister Rita—co-founded Miracle Place in Indianapolis, a ministry dedicated to serving inner-city children and families. Today, Sister Barbara continues her mission as Director of Miracle Place, a work described as a true “Congregation Commitment” to serving those in need, regardless of background.
Sister’s years as a principal gave her firsthand experience of the struggles within the inner city. Her partnership with Sister Rita, who had years of experience as a chaplain at St. Vincent Hospital, provided a foundation for understanding the importance of individual care during difficult times. Together, they sought a new approach to impact the lives of children and families.
Sister Barbara had previously served as a principal and teacher at Holy Cross Catholic School ministering to families facing hardships from 1980 to 1996. She also taught at St. Simon and St. Joan of Arc schools in Indianapolis and served as principal at Our Lady of the Mountains in Kentucky.
Sister Barbara has one sister and they both attended Holy Name Grade School. Sister attended Marian College for one year and then entered the Sisters of Providence community. She then finished her bachelors of arts in education at St. Mary of the Woods College. She earned her Masters Degree at IU and then spent her hours to receive her principal’s license at Butler University. Most importantly, Sister Barbara is a 1966 alum of Bishop Chartrand High School.
We are proud of Sister Barbara and honored to recognize her as our Alumna of the Year!
Monsignor Joseph Schaedel C’66 was awarded this year’s St. John XXIII award.
The St. John XXIII Award is considered to be the most prestigious award that is given to a person who best exemplifies the nine traits identified in the halls of our school as encompassing the life, legacy and spirit of Saint John XXIII. Those traits are Welcoming, Simple, Kind, Peaceful, Humble, Humorous, Servant, Holy, and Inspired Change.
Monsignor Joseph F. Schaedel, MS, MDiv, was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1982, and has devoted more than four decades of faithful service to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. His ministry began at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Indianapolis, where he also taught at Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School. Over the years, he has served the Church in a variety of leadership roles, including director of vocations, vicar general, moderator of the curia and director of both pro-life activities and missions. In 1997, he was named a Prelate of Honor, recognizing his distinguished contributions. Alongside his diocesan responsibilities, Monsignor Schaedel was pastor of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish and later St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, where he guided the community with wisdom and dedication. Known for his strong pastoral leadership, his devotion to Catholic education, and his unwavering commitment to the mission of the Church, Monsignor Schaedel has left an indelible mark on countless lives throughout central and southern Indiana.
Congratulations to Monsignor Joseph Schaedel C’66, our Saint John XXIII Award recipient.