Celebrating the Future: Mariners Prepare for What’s Next
![Celebrating the Future: Mariners Prepare for What’s Next]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1778621062/stmonicachsorg/fxnh07xntyfuku51wkzt/newspost57.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1778621062/stmonicachsorg/fxnh07xntyfuku51wkzt/newspost57.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1778621062/stmonicachsorg/fxnh07xntyfuku51wkzt/newspost57.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1778621062/stmonicachsorg/fxnh07xntyfuku51wkzt/newspost57.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1778621062/stmonicachsorg/fxnh07xntyfuku51wkzt/newspost57.jpg","width":1280}])
Celebrating the Future: Mariners Prepare for What’s Next
It has been a joyful and memorable year for Saint Monica Preparatory’s Class of 2026, filled with moments like last Friday, when SMPREP proudly celebrated the senior class during College Decision Day with a festive ice cream social on the schoolyard. Students signed an “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” banner and gathered in college sweatshirts representing their exciting journeys ahead.
From University of California, Berkeley and University of Notre Dame to Emory, UCLA, USC and Vanderbilt, seniors proudly showcased the colleges and universities where they will continue their academic journeys after graduation on Friday, June 12. Mariners are heading to campuses across California and throughout the country, including Pepperdine, California Polytechnic State University, Loyola Marymount, UC San Diego, Brandeis, Syracuse, Ole Miss and Oregon, with several students earning full academic scholarships. Others will pursue creative passions at renowned institutions such as NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design, Otis College of Art and Design and SCI-Arc.
At the same time, SMPREP’s AP Capstone students are concluding an impressive year of college-level academic work. Under the guidance of Dr. Janelle Peters, nearly 40 AP Seminar students and 13 AP Research students recently completed formal presentations and examinations centered on original research projects exploring topics ranging from political polarization and nutrition to economics, sports science, artificial intelligence and fast fashion. Throughout the process, students worked alongside mentors and professionals from fields including medicine, engineering, psychology and technology, gaining valuable experience in research, public speaking and analytical thinking. Together, these accomplishments capture the spirit, ambition and community that define the Mariner experience.
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![Miriah Lopez Named Head Coach of Inaugural Mariner Varsity Girls Flag Football]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1788559775/stmonicachsorg/yrrnnuxdv41nrvobmdyh/newspost14.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1788559775/stmonicachsorg/yrrnnuxdv41nrvobmdyh/newspost14.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1788559775/stmonicachsorg/yrrnnuxdv41nrvobmdyh/newspost14.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1788559775/stmonicachsorg/yrrnnuxdv41nrvobmdyh/newspost14.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1788559775/stmonicachsorg/yrrnnuxdv41nrvobmdyh/newspost14.png","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Preparatory is proud to welcome Miriah Lopez as the new Head Coach of the Mariner Varsity Girls Flag Football team for the 2026-27 season. This year marks a milestone for SMPREP Athletics as the school launches its first-ever Girls Flag Football program, joining a rapidly growing sport that became CIF-sanctioned in California in 2023.
Lopez brings an impressive combination of professional playing and collegiate coaching experience, as well as a passion for empowering the next generation of female football players. A three-time All-Pro athlete, Lopez currently plays professional tackle football for the Los Angeles Legends of the Women’s National Football Conference, where she was named team MVP in both 2024 and 2026. She is also the co-founder of Football Sisterhood, an organization dedicated to creating a positive, supportive community for girls and women in football.
![Celebrating the People Who Serve Our Mariner Community]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1788554397/stmonicachsorg/h1hzdwukflrdhttvd1p7/newspost13.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1788554397/stmonicachsorg/h1hzdwukflrdhttvd1p7/newspost13.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1788554397/stmonicachsorg/h1hzdwukflrdhttvd1p7/newspost13.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1788554397/stmonicachsorg/h1hzdwukflrdhttvd1p7/newspost13.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1788554397/stmonicachsorg/h1hzdwukflrdhttvd1p7/newspost13.png","width":1280}])
Service is at the heart of the Saint Monica Preparatory community. Throughout the year, parents, faculty, staff and students give their time, talents and energy to strengthen our school and support those around us. This spirit of generosity was celebrated during the Feast of St. Monica Weekend with the David Hines Awards, recognizing volunteers for years of dedicated service.
Jermaine Shelton, a beloved member of the SMPREP community for 25 years as the parent of Rayne ’17 and Scarlett ’26, was among the award recipients. "Jermaine’s unwavering involvement in all aspects of our school and community is an inspiration," said Suzette Sornborger, SMPREP Dean of Spirituality & Faith Formation.
SMPREP celebrates fellow honorees including Mike Dwyer, whose years of service have touched both the parish and school communities. Faculty, staff, parents and students were recognized by Msgr. Torgerson for their relief efforts following the Palisades and Eaton Fires: Patrick Friend, Katherine Leach, Monica Moore, James Spellman, Vincent Torroba, Renett Young and Julie Zaller.
![Mariners Take Center Stage at SoFi Stadium]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787954218/stmonicachsorg/m876ozarxqiar9eva4of/Copyofnewspost_1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1787954218/stmonicachsorg/m876ozarxqiar9eva4of/Copyofnewspost_1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1787954218/stmonicachsorg/m876ozarxqiar9eva4of/Copyofnewspost_1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1787954218/stmonicachsorg/m876ozarxqiar9eva4of/Copyofnewspost_1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1787954218/stmonicachsorg/m876ozarxqiar9eva4of/Copyofnewspost_1.jpg","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Preparatory student-athletes recently had the opportunity to step inside the world of professional football as part of a Media Day experience hosted by the Los Angeles Rams and Nike LA at SoFi Stadium. Saint Monica Prep was among a select group of high school football and flag football teams invited to participate in the special event, designed to shine a spotlight on both youth football and the rising popularity of girls flag football. SMPREP will host a girls flag football team for the first time this Fall.
For our Mariners, the day was about much more than football. Student-athletes explored the many avenues of how to represent themselves, their team and their school at the highest levels. The event offered them a unique glimpse into the opportunities that exist beyond the field while equipping them with skills in leadership, communication and personal branding that will serve them well wherever their athletic journeys take them.