Strake Jesuit Valedictorian & Salutatorian 2020

It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Michael Artlip as the valedictorian and Nathaniel Fernandes as the salutatorian for the Class of 2020!

Strake Jesuit Salutatorian Nathaniel Fernandes has spent his Jesuit career as a campus leader — Gonzaga House Captain, Key Club Vice President, Magis Managing Editor, Freshman Retreat and Orientation Leader, and NHS peer tutor. He is also an Eagle Scout from Troop 55, a state-qualified Lincoln Douglas debater, and the four-time Jesuit orchestra concertmaster. A talented violinist, he became the first Jesuit student to win the Outstanding Performer Award at the UIL All-state Solo and Ensemble competition! Nathaniel’s greatest love is chess, and he has served as the Chess Club President for four years, and grown the club substantially. To further share his passion, Nathaniel created an after school chess club for middle schoolers at St. Francis de Sales where he teaches every week. An exceptional student, he earned a perfect ACT score and is a 2019 National Chemistry Olympiad Finalist, National Merit Finalist, Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist, National AP Scholar, and a Presidential Coolidge Senator. Having been awarded the Brockman Scholarship - a full-ride academic scholarship for a 4-year undergraduate degree and a 5th-year Masters of Science in Business Degree, he will be studying computer engineering at Texas A&M University in the fall. A true Man for Others, Nathaniel hopes to one day apply artificial intelligence to healthcare to improve patient outcomes.

Strake Jesuit Valedictorian Michael Artlip has made his mark at Jesuit and across the nation. A member of the school’s Quiz Bowl program since 10th grade, he helped lead the team through an unprecedented revival, culminating in excellent finishes at the national level. He has served as the Math Club President, National Honor Society Member, four-year diver with the Jesuit Aquatics program, and three-time district champion. He’s made a special effort to give back to his community by volunteering at a senior assisted-living center, a resale shop that caters to low-income families, and the Houston Food Bank. Michael assists during Sunday services and helps out in the media department at his Church, and served as a counselor at Camp Blessing, which ministers to children with physical or intellectual disabilities. Most of Michael’s time is spent training in gymnastics. He’s received multiple national accolades, and will continue at the NCAA Division 1 level, with hopes and plans to compete as a member of the USA Men’s Gymnastics National Team. He will attend the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University, where he plans to study electrical engineering.