Best Private High School - Four Years Running
![best private high school]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1725573837/stmonicachsorg/citsy0fxoe1jdi3uo75b/besthighschool.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1725573837/stmonicachsorg/citsy0fxoe1jdi3uo75b/besthighschool.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1725573837/stmonicachsorg/citsy0fxoe1jdi3uo75b/besthighschool.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1725573837/stmonicachsorg/citsy0fxoe1jdi3uo75b/besthighschool.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1725573837/stmonicachsorg/citsy0fxoe1jdi3uo75b/besthighschool.png","width":1280}])
Best Private High School - Four Years Running
Saint Monica Preparatory is the Best Private High School for the FOURTH year in a row, according to HomeTown News readers in its annual “Best of” August issue. Sending a big thank you to everyone in the community who voted for SMPREP. It's a wonderful recognition of our strong academic, athletic and student programs resulting in impressive Class of 2024 college acceptances to top schools including Berkeley, Dartmouth College, University of Notre Dame, UCLA and USC, and our Mariner athletics program boasting multiple CIF and league champions.
The community joined together this week to celebrate the Feast of St. Monica, our patron saint, and the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. Our pastor Monsignor Torgerson was serenaded on his 85th Birthday, after he blessed SMPREP students and the new campus turf for the school year ahead.
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![Saint Monica Alumna and Former U.S. Ambassador Nathalie Rayes to Deliver 2025 Commencement Address]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1748624449/stmonicachsorg/t8bkpkkhziqh1gkopgee/newspost21.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1748624449/stmonicachsorg/t8bkpkkhziqh1gkopgee/newspost21.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1748624449/stmonicachsorg/t8bkpkkhziqh1gkopgee/newspost21.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1748624449/stmonicachsorg/t8bkpkkhziqh1gkopgee/newspost21.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1748624449/stmonicachsorg/t8bkpkkhziqh1gkopgee/newspost21.jpg","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Preparatory is proud to welcome back Nathalie Rayes ‘92, the former U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, to deliver the keynote address at our 2025 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. Her career spans public service, private sector leadership, nonprofit advocacy and diplomacy—embodying the values we aim to instill in every student.
The following week, Rayes also has the honor of returning to her university alma mater, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, to deliver commencement addresses at both its undergraduate and graduate ceremonies.
![SMPREP Students Make Headlines]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1748546733/stmonicachsorg/txnueonl9lnif9zgunbt/newspost16.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1748546733/stmonicachsorg/txnueonl9lnif9zgunbt/newspost16.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1748546733/stmonicachsorg/txnueonl9lnif9zgunbt/newspost16.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1748546733/stmonicachsorg/txnueonl9lnif9zgunbt/newspost16.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1748546733/stmonicachsorg/txnueonl9lnif9zgunbt/newspost16.jpg","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Preparatory students are making waves beyond our campus. This month, both the Los Angeles Times and CBS News' "Inside SoCal" featured three of our seniors, all recipients of four-year, full college tuition and housing scholarships through the Western Golf Association's Evans Scholarship. SMPREP junior Tomas Officer finished in first place at UCLA's Open Mind Film Festival, while senior Lucy Lopez was recognized by the L.A. Archdiocese for this year’s Archdiocesan Christian Service Award. Senior Micaela Patajo took home Gold in the Speed category at the 2025 USA Climbing National Team Trials, while two Mariner juniors are among the 2025 Founding Forward National Essay Winners.
![Spring’s Record-Setting Achievements]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1749750706/stmonicachsorg/l3p8zxgooiejymq88pvy/newspost1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1749750706/stmonicachsorg/l3p8zxgooiejymq88pvy/newspost1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1749750706/stmonicachsorg/l3p8zxgooiejymq88pvy/newspost1.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1749750706/stmonicachsorg/l3p8zxgooiejymq88pvy/newspost1.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1749750706/stmonicachsorg/l3p8zxgooiejymq88pvy/newspost1.png","width":1280}])
Mariner Boys Golf had a record-setting season, securing the league championship title with only one loss in its overall 14-1 record. Mariners made it all the way to the CIF Team Championship, where they missed the cut by only 11 strokes. Mariner Softball secured second place in Camino Real League play, while Mariner Baseball pulled off an historic win vs. Paramount - the first win in CIF Playoffs for Mariner Baseball in 20 years!
Track & Field, Boys Volleyball, as well as Middle School Golf and Track & Field athletes all also made the highlight reel this spring. SMPREP hosted a Signing Ceremony last week for four of its senior athletes continuing their achievements at the collegiate level. Congratulations, Mariners!