Shadow program at Archbishop Hannan growing

   
    At Archbishop Hannan, the shadow program that once struggled to get prospective students through the door is now booming with full shadow days, thanks to the leadership of Admissions Director Craig Fiedler and Student Ambassador board member Carly Caballero.
   The shadow program allows prospective students to visit Archbishop Hannan and attend three classes in the morning with a student ambassador host and eat lunch. They are dismissed at 12:30 p.m.
    “It offers a seventh or eighth grader the opportunity to experience the everyday at Hannan; to meet students, teachers, administrators, and coaches,” Fiedler said.
    Fiedler began working at Hannan in the fall of 2010. Shortly after, he met with the administration and, together, they decided a half-day shadow program was the best option for the school.         At first, two or three students would be scheduled for shadow days, but that quickly changed.
    “Now shadow days fill up with 20 prospective students or more because the amount of people interested has expanded,” Fiedler said.
    So far, more than 100 prospective students have shadowed, and more are expected.
    Caballero, a junior, is the Shadow Lead, meaning she pairs shadows with their hosts, makes sure the shadow days run smoothly and makes their name tags, which she says is one of the harder parts of her job.
   “I’ve never realized how many different ways you can spell the name ‘Caitlin’!” she says with a laugh.
   Their hard work is worth it though. “The most rewarding part is to see how much the shadows enjoyed their day at Hannan,” Caballero says.“I love seeing all the faces from the shadow program that now attend Hannan.”
    “It was good to learn how they do classes at Hannan,” said Elizabeth Kemker from Our Lady of the Lake Elementary School in Mandeville, after finishing her shadowing experience.
   The shadows are not the only ones who enjoy the day, though. The student ambassadors also look forward to spending mornings with shadows.  
    Junior Alyssa Dowell said, “Hosting shadows is great! It’s awesome to be meeting some possible new Hawks!”          Sophomore Danielle Ledet says, “I love hosting shadows because if they do decide to come to Hannan that is one more person they’ll know.”
    “My favorite part about being the director of such a successful admission program is no one day is ever the same,” Fiedler said. “I have the opportunity to represent a school whose mission I believe in and offers students to grow in faith and understanding of themselves as children of God and young men and women.”
    Anthony Doyle is a sophomore at Archbishop Hannan in Covington. Interested shadows should can Hannan admissions department, [email protected] or (985) 249-6363.