St. Paul graduation this Friday

The St. Paul High School Class of 2025 will graduate Friday, May 30 at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church.

Jessica Fikac has the honor of being named the valedictorian of the St. Paul High School Class of 2025. She is the daughter of Darren and Bernadette Fikac and has attended Shiner Catholic School since the 7th grade after previously being homeschooled. 
She is being recognized for her academic accomplishments, involvement in school and community activities, and commitment to serving others. Through Victoria College’s dual credit program, she has earned 32 college credit hours and was named to the Dean’s List of Honor.
During high school, Jessica remained actively involved in both academics and extracurriculars. She participated in varsity track all four years and received several honors, including TAPPS 2A State Champion in 2024, Academic All-State in 2024 and 2025, and Second Team All-State in 2024. 
She was a member of TAPPS 2A district champion teams in 2022, 2024, and 2025. 
Jessica also played softball through her junior year and was part of two TAPPS 2A state championship teams. 
Beyond athletics, she found joy in the arts, earning top recognition at TAPPS State Art competitions, including a state championship in colored photography.
Jessica also contributed to several academic and leadership organizations. As Vice President of the National Honor Society, she helped lead service initiatives and support academic excellence among her peers. 
She was also an active member of the Student Council, participated in the TAPPS State Academic Meet, and played an important role in producing the school yearbook.
Faith and service have been an important part of Jessica’s high school experience. She has volunteered hundreds of hours through her church, school, and community—serving in programs such as Catholic Heart Work Camp, Vacation Bible School, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, and numerous local fundraisers and events. 
Whether teaching children, supporting the elderly, or helping with church music and liturgies, Jessica approached each opportunity with care and dedication.
In the fall, Jessica will attend Texas A&M University, where she plans to major in economics. She looks forward to continuing her education and hopes to use her experiences to serve others and contribute meaningfully to the world. 
Jessica is deeply thankful for the support, encouragement, and love she has received from her family, teachers, friends, and the Shiner community throughout her school years.
 

Kennedy Dodson, daughter of Trey and Kimberly Dodson, has the honor of being this year’s St. Paul High School salutatorian. 
Her accomplishments include serving as the Club Med president, the treasurer of the Halfmoon 4-H Club, and the secretary of Junior Catholic Daughters of Americas Court #1604. 
Extracurricular activities enabled Kennedy to support the community through service projects for the nursing home, first responders, teachers, and hospital patients. 
Particularly memorable leadership roles were sitting with the pre-k 4 kids during mass as a part of student council and singing in the Shiner Schola Choir. 
Participating in competitions such as art contests and tennis tournaments led to 5th place in TAPPS 2A State on-site drawing and the opportunity to be a state qualifier in girls tennis doubles this year. 
Another important activity over these past several years has been showing breeding heifers and market steers at local and major shows leading to many lessons learned in all aspects of life.
When asked, Kennedy would say that faith-based leadership has impacted her the most during her high school career. She has learned how to have a servant heart though volunteering for the church picnics, fundraisers, hosting youth nights, retreats, other faith-based activities, and attending Catholic Heart Work Camp for three years. 
Serving as a teen leader for the Sacred Heart Teen A.C.T.S Retreat for the past two years and this summer has been an impactful experience. Kennedy was deeply honored to play the role of Mother Mary in the Living Stations of the Cross as a part of the J-Squad. She is excited to see what the Lord has in store while attending Texas A&M University in the fall and looks forward to becoming part of another wonderful community!
 

Dallyn Pesek, daughter of Darryl and Lynette Pesek, has been named Historian of the St. Paul High School Class of 2025. 
Throughout her high school journey, Dallyn has excelled academically and demonstrated extraordinary leadership and involvement in extracurricular activities. She has been an ambassador for the National Society of High School Scholars, a member of the St. Paul High School National Honor Society, and served as President of her Freshman class and Vice President of her Senior class. Additionally, she has been an active 4 year member of the Student Council, serving as the Freshman Representative and currently as Vice President. 
She also held the position of treasurer in the St Paul Club Med organization and is a TAPPS state academic qualifier in Number Sense and Mathematics. Dallyn has consistently received the President’s Excellence Education award each year and was acknowledged with the College Board Rural & Small-Town National Recognition Program award in her Senior year. 
Dallyn’s leadership accolades include being selected for the 2023 HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth) Leadership award, the 2023 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership) award, the 2024 Ronald Reagan Leadership award, and recognition as a 2024 Coca-Cola Scholar Semi-Finalist. 
An accomplished athlete, Dallyn was a 5-sport athlete during her Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years, transitioning to a 2-sport athlete her Senior year. 
She was recently honored as the top female athlete in her Senior class and has contributed to 6 state championship teams including cross country, softball, basketball, and track. As the Varsity Cheer Co-Captain for the first three years of high school and Captain her Senior year, she earned the title of NCA All-American cheerleader and was chosen to model for the Varsity Spirit Fashion catalog. 
Dallyn was also part of the 2024 state champion field marching band, was active in the National Piano Guild, and she was recognized as a state outstanding award winner in both piano solo and hymn playing events by the National Federation of Music association.
Dallyn’s love is community service and she has helped several organizations in our community including the Shiner Chamber of Commerce, Shiner Lions Club, Shiner Brewery, Shiner Public Library, Shiner Pilot Club, and Special Olympics to name a few. 
Her true passion is serving the special needs community. She runs her own non-profit organization called the Sparkle Club Inc, coaches a special needs cheer team, plans and directs a yearly special needs pageant and has worked to help support a special needs school in Haiti. 
She also advocates for the special needs community with Texas legislators through her work with the Arc of Austin and the Arc of Texas. She was awarded the Gordon Hartmann Heart of Gold award for changing the lives of those in the special needs community. 
Dallyn plans to continue her service while in college both locally and globally.
Dallyn is also a Girl Scout member and achieved the Silver Award through her yearly Christmas care package project with the Hospice of South Texas organization. 
For the last two years she has served on the Advisory Board for Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas as a teen leader engaging members in all things with Girl Scouts and helping to grow the organization’s membership.
Dallyn proudly served Shiner as Junior Miss Shiner 2020 and Miss Shiner 2023. She went on to compete at the Miss Houston Teen USA pageant and won the title in March 2024. 
Three months later she was honored to be named Miss Texas Teen USA 2024 and was a Top 20 Finalist in the Miss Teen USA pageant. She has spent a busy Senior year traveling and serving Texas as their teenage ambassador and getting to be a part of a once in a lifetime experience. 
Through pageantry she was able to continue her platform on a larger scale promoting love, inclusion and respect for others, especially her special needs friends. 
Dallyn will continue her modeling career, her love of pageantry and her platform throughout college. 
Dallyn is proud to be attending The University of Texas at Austin in the Fall. 
She is graduating from St. Paul with 35 college hours and will be majoring in Biology with the goal of entering the medical field, and she will be minoring in sports broadcasting.