Top 10 Students of 2026 Announced

St. Bede Academy is proud to announce the Top Ten of the Class of 2026. These students have honorably represented the academy in scholastic and non-scholastic events, service to their school and community and in character.

Members listed in alphabetical order are Noah Buck, Harrison Fess, Mae Hagenbuch, Aiden Hermes, Jillian Pinter, Xiangyi Ren, Lillian Soliman, Ryan Soliman, Yannis Yong and Ruihan Zhang. 

Noah Buck is the son of Andrew and Janelle Buck. He is a member of Holy Family Church in Oglesby and attended Trinity Catholic Academy. Buck’s future plans are to attend Northwestern University to study computer software engineering. While at St. Bede Academy, he has been involved in tennis, golf, bowling, spring musical, fall theater, scholastic bowl, World Youth Science Engineering, E-sports, ambassadors, altar serving, bible study and AI club. He attended school-sponsored trips to Ireland, Scotland and Costa Rica. Buck’s awards include co-valedictorian, St. Bede Academic honors in geometry, algebra II, citizenship, computer science, world history, Spanish and English. He also received the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership award and the St. Bede Academic Excellence Top of Class awards his freshmen, sophomore and junior years. Buck has been on the honor roll every semester and was recognized as an Illinois State Scholar.     

Harrison Fess is the son of Rick and Dr. Kara Fess. He is a member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and attended Holy Family School in Oglesby. Fess’s future college plans are currently undecided. While at St. Bede Academy, he has been involved in scholastic bowl, tea club, art club, stage rats, science club, fall theater, spring musical, Rotary club, World Youth Science Engineering and attended a school-sponsored trip to Scotland and Ireland. Fess is an assistant at Rock and Soul in Utica. His hobbies are photography, art, reading, collecting and listening to music, collecting rocks and minerals, spending time outdoors and traveling. Fess’s awards include Illinois State Scholar, College Board National Recognition Program Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award, School Recognition Award, and honor roll every semester.     

Mae Hagenbuch is the daughter of Johnathan and Kate Hagenbuch. She is a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and attended Holy Cross School in Mendota. Hagenbuch plans to attend Marquette University College of Nursing. While at St. Bede Academy, she has been involved in volleyball, basketball, golf, curling, tea club, Stage Crew, Rotary, ambassadors and student government. Hagenbuch’s hobbies include weight lifting, gardening, listening to music and spending time with family. She attended school-sponsored trips to Ireland, Scotland and Costa Rica, was a recipient of the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Award and has been on the honor roll every semester. Hagenbuch is nationally ranked third in curling competitions.

Aiden Hermes (AJ) is the son of Jim and Angie Hermes. He is a member of LaSalle Catholic Parishes and attended Trinity Catholic Academy. Hermes’s future college plans are currently undecided. While at St. Bede Academy, he participated in football, baseball, basketball and ambassadors. Hermes is the student government co-president and an Illinois State Scholar. He has been on the honor roll every semester and received College Board AP Scholar with Honors recognition. 

Jillian Pinter is the daughter of Jamie and Erin Pinter. She is a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and attended Peru Catholic School. Pinter’s future college plans are currently undecided. While at St. Bede Academy, she has been involved in softball, volleyball, ambassadors, Rotary and was a member of the prom committee.  Her hobbies include reading, baking, photography and pickleball. Pinter’s awards include recipient of the Saint Joseph’s Holy Name Society Scholarship, Dietz Family Scholarship, honor roll every semester and Illinois State Scholar. 

Xiangyi (Viola) Ren is the daughter of Hui Ren and Wei Jia. She attended Kinglee High School in China. Ren’s future college plans are currently undecided. While at St. Bede Academy, she participated in cheerleading, charity club, science club, spring musical, fall theater, last supper club, student government and the American Mathematics Competition (AMC). Ren is an intern for a digital illustrator and is an animation editor. She is a leader and speaker for a middle school outreach program in China and is a content creator and video editor for a personal media project. Ren is the founder and president of St. Bede dormitory’s activities and entertainment club and is the founder/leader for the charity club student-led food fundraiser. She led the student library initiative project and the dormitory prefect program at St. Bede Academy. Ren’s hobbies include painting, reading, traveling and photography. Her awards include placing third in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference Art Festival, College Board Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award, College Board School Recognition Award, honor roll every semester and she received the College Board AP Scholar with Distinction Award. 

Lillian Soliman is the daughter of Shawn and Dr. Amy Soliman. She is a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and attended Holy Cross Catholic School in Mendota. Soliman plans on attending Marquette University to study biomedical sciences on a pre-medical track. While at St. Bede Academy, she participated in volleyball, tennis, bowling, softball, stage crew, tea club, the polar plunge and attended school-sponsored trips to Ireland, Scotland and Costa Rica. Outside of St. Bede, Soliman attended a rural health careers camp. Her hobbies include playing tennis, puzzles, playing board games and spending time with her family at the lake. Soliman’s awards include Illinois State Scholar, honor roll every semester, St. Bede Academic Excellence Award, IHSA All-State Academic Team Nomination, College Board Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award and College Board School Recognition Award.     

Ryan Soliman is the son of Shawn and Dr. Amy Soliman. He is a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and attended Holy Cross Catholic School in Mendota. Soliman is undecided where he will attend college and plans to study biomedical engineering. While at St. Bede Academy, he participated in football, basketball, baseball, bowling, fall theater, spring musical and student government. Outside of St. Bede Academy, Soliman played for the Astra Soccer Academy. His hobbies include watching sports, movies, listening to new music, playing new video games, going to the gym, photography and spending time with friends. Soliman was a participate in the polar plunge and he attended school-sponsored trips to Ireland, Scotland and Costa Rica. His awards include co-valedictorian, honor roll every semester, St. Bede Academic Excellence Award, College Board AP Chemistry Student of the Year, St. Bede AP Computer Science Student of the Year, College Board AP Scholar with Honor Award, College Board National Recognition Program, College Board Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award and Illinois State Scholar.   

Yannis Yong is the son of Promise and Zita Yong. He is a member of St. Patrick’s Church in LaSalle and attended Trinity Catholic Academy in LaSalle. Yong’s college plans are undecided. While at St. Bede Academy, he participated in basketball, tennis, soccer, ambassadors, AI club and is the student government vice-president. Outside of St. Bede Academy, Yong enjoys playing chess, tennis and basketball. His awards include being named class salutatorian, National Merit Scholar Commendation, College Board AP Scholar with Honor, honor roll every semester, Illinois State Scholar and St. Bede scholastic awards his freshmen, sophomore and junior years.   

Ruihan (Yoyo) Zhang is the daughter of Gaojie Zhang and Dandan Du. She attended Kinglee High School in China and is undecided about her college plans. While at St. Bede Academy, Zhang served as a dorm prefect. She participated in a research project in evolutionary psychology, where she examined emotional investment and family resemblance. She also participated in Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) behavioral health competitions. Zhang also volunteered as a summer peer-tutor in China, where she shared English-learning strategies with younger students. Her hobbies include painting, traveling, reading, photography and calligraphy. Zhang’s honors include honor roll every semester, John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize, earning a Regional Bronze Award in HOSA Behavioral Health, being part of the top-scoring team in the microeconomics division of the National Economics Challenge and receiving the College Board AP Scholar with Distinction Award.