NIAGARA CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Lakeshore Catholic student bound for Harvard

The Niagara Catholic District School Board is excited to share that Anderson Dy, a Grade 12 student at Lakeshore Catholic High School, has accepted an offer to attend Harvard University in September 2024.

He received his offer on March 28, the date Harvard issued general acceptances to all first-year applicants. Assured he had the full support of his family; Anderson accepted Harvard's offer April 6.

Anderson is President of the Lakeshore Catholic Student Council and is an active member of his school and extended community, including playing keyboard in the Lakeshore Catholic school band.

A Fort Erie resident, Anderson is part of that community's Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee as well as its regional counterpart. He has accumulated more than 450 hours of Christian Community Service, mostly by playing free concerts at churches, nursing, and retirement homes. The 17-year-old completed his Grade 10 piano exam in December, around the time he completed his application for Harvard, which began in August last year writing his SATs and essays.

Anderson is in the top one per cent of his graduating class, and scored in the top one per cent on his SAT.

Anderson intends to study molecular and cellular biology at Harvard in the fall. It's an interest he developed after being diagnosed with an illness that causes chronic inflammation in his bones seven years ago.

Since receiving his acceptance, Anderson has visited Harvard for its annual first-year welcome weekend, Visitas in April. He was paired with fellow Gator grad Thomas Mete (Lakeshore Catholic Class of 2022) to tour around the school and the community.

Lakeshore Catholic's Principal John Markovich had high praise for Anderson.

"Although I have only been principal of Lakeshore Catholic for this school year, I have worked closely with Anderson through his role as Student Council President," said Mr. Markovich. "He is an extremely bright young man, with many unique qualities that make him an outstanding student and leader. I have no doubt that he will be an asset to Harvard when he moves on to university this fall, and wish him success, happiness, and God's blessings on his next journey."

Niagara Catholic Director of Education Camillo Cipriano noted that many students receive outstanding offers to attend university, it is rare for Canadian students to access the Ivy League.

"Spring is both an exciting and occasionally anxious time of year for graduating students, as they receive and accept university offers and scholarships," said Mr. Cipriano. "We are always happy for our students as they leave behind their Catholic school years and embark on new challenges at universities, colleges and in the world of work - both here in Niagara and around the world.

Whichever new adventure our students choose, I am extremely proud of them for completing their formal education with us in Niagara Catholic - an education that has prepared them to use their God-given talents and skills to make this world a better place for the next generation. I wish Anderson - and our entire Class of 2024 - continued success and pray that they stay rooted in the foundations they received at Niagara Catholic not just in these first post-secondary years but throughout their lives."

FAST FACTS

Harvard received 54,008 applications for first-year admission for September 2024. 1,937 students were accepted - an acceptance rate of 3.59 per cent.

More than 15 per cent of the accepted students were international students. Canada had the highest number of international acceptances, with 78.

Source: The Crimson.

Anderson is the second Lakeshore Catholic student and third Niagara Catholic to gain acceptance to the Ivy League school in the past two years. Thomas Mete (Lakeshore Catholic 2022) and Ciara Krsul (Notre Dame College School 2022) will begin the third year of their undergraduate degrees in September. Thomas is studying government and economics, and Ciara is studying computational neuroscience.