Cabrini High School is celebrating an extraordinary season of achievement and investment in its students’ futures.
The Class of 2026 has earned a record-breaking $17.7 million in college scholarships and grants, marking the highest scholarship total in school history. Scholarship-earning seniors averaged more than $361,000 in awards, among the highest scholarship average in the New Orleans area. Six graduates each earned more than $1 million in scholarships, while standout senior Marcia Quispe received an impressive $2.2 million in awards to attend Case Western Reserve University, where she plans to study Communication Science and Disorders. 
The milestone reflects Cabrini’s commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and preparing young women for success in fields ranging from engineering and medicine to theater and business. Graduates will continue their studies at universities across the country, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Coastal Carolina University, the University of Kentucky, and Spelman College.
Cabrini High School STEP-UP DAY!
Adding to the excitement, Cabrini’s annual Step-Up Day celebration (a time-honored tradition when underclassmen “step up” to the next grade level) brought a surprise announcement for the rising senior Class of 2027. Highland Scholars Fund founder Matt Theriot revealed that every member of the upcoming senior class will receive a $2,000 scholarship to Cabrini High School.
The announcement represents a direct investment in students as they enter one of the most important and financially demanding years of their 
academic journey. The gift recognizes students’ hard work and growth while also helping families prepare for senior year and the transition to college and future careers. The Highland Scholars Fund, based in New Orleans, is dedicated to expanding educational opportunities through scholarships and mentorship programs that help students overcome financial barriers.
Together, these milestones highlight both the remarkable accomplishments of Cabrini students and the continued community support helping shape the next generation of leaders.
This year, Social Studies teacher Jose Lozano was named a recipient of the inaugural Bischof Research and Travel Scholarship, awarded by the Center Austria at the University of New Orleans. This prestigious honor supports academic research and cultural exchange between New Orleans and Austria. Lozano earned the award for his extensive study of the Habsburg dynasty, which culminated in a research trip to Vienna last summer. Through firsthand archival work and immersion in European history, he deepened his scholarship in ways that directly enrich his teaching. His recognition, shared with an Austrian student at UNO, underscores both his academic rigor and the global perspective he brings to Cabrini students.
Cabrini also celebrates the continued recognition of its faculty closer to home. Elizabeth Leblanc, Science Department Chair, and Lisa Dubus, Social Studies Department Chair, have been named Top 10 finalists in the New Orleans Mom Blog Teacher of the Year campaign. Selected from a highly competitive pool of educators across the region, this distinction reflects their exceptional dedication to student growth and achievement. Both educators are widely respected for their ability to engage and inspire, fostering intellectual curiosity that extends well beyond the classroom.
Since 1979, ALP has served over 11,000 adult learners from 62 different countries. In 2024, ALP delivered 16 weekly classes to 477 students representing 26 countries. Of those 477, about 1/3 (168 students) took two, three, or even four classes. There were 13 students who earned American citizenship and two who earned their high school diploma.
