When offered a chance to say thanks, Connor Hart ‘27 did not hesitate. He knew what he wanted to convey, stood and delivered a heartfelt speech, and in turn left participants who attended the recent Carmel Catholic Golf Classic speechless.
Connor’s speech capped a memorable day on Aug. 10 at Royal Melbourne Country Club. Before he spoke, Carmel Catholic had just hosted a sold-out event to support the type of investment in students that Connor was there to recognize and appreciate.
As he approached the microphone in the large reception room, he was “terrified” looking out over a crowd of 150 people. Carmel Catholic alumni, parents and friends had just golfed 18 holes to raise funds for Carmel’s financial assistance and Tuition Assurance programs. Quickly, though, he settled into a groove, feeling excited to be able to share his CCHS experience in person.
“I agreed to make the speech because I honestly have seen in the past four years how being at Carmel has affected me, and I wanted all the donors to see that and hear my words of gratitude,” Connor says.
The native of Round Lake, who enjoys studying History and Math and has plans to become a paramedic or fireman, has felt especially impacted by Carmel Catholic’s Campus Ministry offerings, like the Kairos retreat, and the way in which the community has pushed him out of his comfort zone to connect socially around campus.
“Carmel has become special to me because of everyone I've been able to meet over the years,” Connor adds. “Everyone is so nice and welcoming, and it truly makes going to school every day feel more special than it usually would be.”
Connor Hart remarks from the Carmel Catholic Golf Classic Reception - August 10, 2026
Hello, my name is Connor. I’m currently a senior at Carmel Catholic, and receiving my education here has been a truly special experience.
Originally, I assumed I would attend my local high school, Grant Community High School in Fox Lake, just like my brother. However, during my freshman year, my parents were given an opportunity through the Empower Grant to send me to Carmel. I didn’t realize just how much Carmel would change me or how much I would come to love Carmel Catholic.
I started getting involved at Carmel during my freshman year by helping with the golf outing. As a new freshman, I saw just how much my mom and dad volunteered, and I knew my help was needed too. I’ve also been heavily involved with Street Scenes.
One of the best things about Carmel is that they don’t care about your past. They care about making a difference in your future. Well, Carmel certainly made a difference in mine. To be honest, I didn’t even get into Carmel because of my test scores. I got into Carmel because I showed that I had something to prove. In fact, it was Mr. Stith who took a chance on me and told me that one wrong decision doesn’t define my future.
That’s when I knew I had to prove him right. I wanted to show him that taking a chance on me was the right decision.
When I saw my mom and dad volunteering for Street Scenes and the Carmel golf outing, I wanted to do more than just help. I always made sure my teachers knew they could count on me if they needed anything. I would ask teachers if there was any way I could help, and I did the same for the staff. One of the greatest things about Carmel is that it gave me opportunities to become more involved—not only in my church, but also in Carmel Catholic's ministry. During my junior year, I decided I wanted to become even more involved, and I became a Eucharistic Minister for our school Masses.
There is something special about having someone hand you your acceptance box and tell you they know you’re going to make them proud. It isn’t just the faculty who make Carmel such a special place. It’s also the opportunity to help other students and remind them that they are never alone.
Mr. Stith has been a big reason why I’ve stayed so involved at Carmel. I’ve volunteered all four years because I’ve seen the impact these events can have. After my freshman year, my mom and dad told me I might not be able to return to Carmel because the Empower Scholarship had ended. That was when I realized that by helping with the golf outing and Street Scenes, I was seeing firsthand just how hard my parents were working to give me an amazing education.
When I received financial aid for my sophomore year, my mom cried. Working three jobs, I knew we couldn’t afford tuition on our own. Seeing the impact these events have on families like mine inspired me to keep helping.
Why would people donate to help kids they don’t even know? I’m not sure. But it always brings me back to sitting in Mr. Stith’s office, telling him about my dreams and promising him that if he took a chance on me, I would make him proud.
Everything that is donated gives other students a chance—the same kind of chance that was given to me. Students whose families you may never meet. Students whose parents work two or three jobs, like my mom, because they believe in giving their children every opportunity possible.
You are the real winners here. Many students may never fully realize the impact of these events, but I can assure you that those of us who do understand are incredibly grateful for your willingness to help students you may never know.
Carmel has shown me that my dream of becoming a firefighter and paramedic is not only within reach, but worth pursuing.