When Cecelia Boatner and her parents, Nic and Kimberly, started the high school search, Marmion was not at the top of the list.

Cecelia is an eighth grader at St. Patrick School in St. Charles. She explored several options. But over the course of last fall, her thinking began to shift. After attending admissions events and touring campus, her father said it was Cecelia who ultimately made the call.

“At one point, she came to us and said, ‘It’s Marmion,’” Nic said. “And we were on the same page.”

Cecelia will now be part of Marmion’s first co-educational freshmen class. Nic said his daughter understands the history of this change and is embracing her trailblazer status.

“She knows that Marmion might face some adjustments in the first year, but she wants to help the school navigate this remarkable moment in its history,” said Nic. “For Cecelia, it’s a chance to step into something new and help shape what comes next.”

Cecelia is a dedicated volleyball player. Last fall, Marmion announced the hiring of Megan Willie as the school’s first-ever girls volleyball coach. Cecelia is excited to be a part of the inaugural season.

But the biggest aspect of the Marmion decision was how big a role faith plays in Cecelia’s life.  Cecelia keeps Bible verses on her phone. Her spirituality is a core aspect of her identity. She and her parents appreciated that faith is not just present at Marmion. It is central to the student experience.

“We are all in,” Dad says. “We’re Cadets.”