Clara Malek, Class of 2018

Named this year’s Presser Scholar at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, Clara is completing dual degrees at Wheaton College, a Bachelor of Music in Music History and Literature and a Bachelor of Arts in History. During her time there, she earned Dean’s List honors and the Senior Scholastic Scholarship.

Clara’s experience includes internships at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Indiana State Museum, the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, and the Indiana Department of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. She is currently completing an honors thesis on American campaign music.

Following graduation in May 2026, Clara will tour England and Northern Ireland with the Wheaton College Symphony Orchestra and marry her fiancé later this summer.

Daniel Michael, Class of 2022

After graduating from Cathedral High School this spring, Daniel will attend the United States Air Force Academy (Class of 2030), where he plans to major in physics. During his time at Cathedral, Daniel was deeply involved in athletics and student life, participating in baseball, soccer, and hockey, and serving on Student Council and the International Food Club.

A National Honor Society member, Presidential Scholar, and Summa Cum Laude graduate, Daniel was accepted into multiple prestigious institutions, including the United States Military Academy and Benedictine College. He ultimately chose the Air Force Academy for its academic rigor and the opportunity to be challenged both mentally and physically while developing as a leader.

Daniel continues to carry The Oaks Academy’s values with him through his approach to learning, striving not only to complete his work but to deeply understand it and take full advantage of every opportunity to grow.

Carolyn Nevins Stevens, Class of 2016

After graduating from Taylor University in 2024, Carolyn is now pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Indiana University, with an expected graduation in 2026. Alongside her studies, she works in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), providing one-on-one therapy for teens and young adults with autism, while also completing a counseling internship that offers free mental health support for teenagers.

Carolyn’s passion for counseling began early and has continued to grow through each stage of her academic and professional journey. Her undergraduate studies in psychology, combined with hands-on experience in both ABA and counseling, have strengthened her desire to serve individuals with complex needs, including those with co-occurring diagnoses such as autism, anxiety, or depression.

Today, Carolyn hopes to provide mental health therapy marked by empathy, intentionality, and care, the same values first nurtured during her years at The Oaks Academy.