Meet Mary from Seton Catholic Preparatory

January 15, 2026

Meet Seton Catholic Preparatory High School Sophomore, Mary Clare McDonald our January Student Spotlight. Her mom, Susan is a theology teacher at the school as well. She has older siblings Thomas (’20), Michael (’22), and Catherine (’24) who received scholarships from the Arizona Leadership Foundation when they attended Notre Dame Preparatory.

Both Mary and Susan agreed that they are very happy to be a part of the Seton community. Mary told us, “The best part of Seton is the community. I didn’t know anyone when I started at Seton, but it was easy to find friends. I also love that the teachers create an atmosphere that encourages learning. They cultivate my love of learning, rather than diminishing it.”

Susan shared with us her perspective on the school and being able to share the experience with her daughter. “It has been a joy to have Mary attend the school where I teach. We both look forward to the drive to and from school each day, getting to pray together in the morning, and sharing how our day went in the afternoon. I especially love Mary’s sense of humor; she has me laughing all the way home.”

Mary went on to share with us her areas of academic areas interest, “My favorite subject is science. I especially like life sciences because there is so much to learn about our natural world. There are endless questions to ask, and it is fun to search for the answers. I would like to study medical sciences in college. I am considering several different fields. Wildlife conservation and optometry are both high on my list.”

Mary is involved with the tennis team, robotics, a member of the NEHS (National English Honor Society) and a Seton Ambassador where she gives tours of the campus to prospective families and hosting 8th graders on ‘Shadow’ days. She has a 4.2 GPA with an honors course of study.
“It is truly a joy to share what a blessing Mary Clare McDonald has been to our Seton Catholic school community. We were thrilled when she chose to join the Sentinel family, and she has since had such a positive impact on our community. As a Student Ambassador, she leads with grace, welcoming prospective eighth graders and their families with genuine warmth. Getting to know her as her counselor this year has been truly a pleasure, especially as we discuss her future goals. What impresses me most is her heart for service and her dedication to living out her faith by helping others. We are truly blessed to have Mary Clare as a member of our Seton Catholic community.” Mini Bernasconi-Olivas, Seton School Counselor.

According to Susan, “Several members of our family have had serious health issues in the past few years. Our children have had to step up and take on more responsibilities than most high school students. As three of her older siblings have moved out of state for college, Mary has taken on more of those extra chores by herself. She has been a great blessing – always willing to sacrifice her time to help other members of our family.”
Susan summed up her experience with a Catholic education while being thankful for the scholarship from ALF, “Our family is grateful for the generosity of donors who have made a Catholic education possible for Mary Clare and her older siblings. As the youngest of our 5 children, Mary Clare spent most of her childhood at her older siblings’ high school events. She has looked forward to attending a Catholic high school where her faith could develop along with her intellect and extracurricular interests, just like her brothers and sisters did.”

About Seton Catholic Preparatory:

To provide a Catholic faith community of courageous leaders, loving servants, and determined learners who strive for academic excellence. We do this by focusing on the development of the individual student. It is a well-rounded approach that blends a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with enriching faith formation and ample opportunity to explore extracurricular activities. Seton Catholic Preparatory is a community of faith whose mission is to call its students to full participation in that community and to challenge them to achieve superior standards of educational excellence. For more information visit: setoncatholic.org