Prince of Peace Catholic School in Hoover awarded graduating students Maddie Barranco and Ethan Deakle the 2026 Patrick Francis Werszner Memorial Scholarship on May 15 at the school’s graduation Mass. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded by the Prince of Peace Knights of Columbus to two students attending John Carroll Catholic High School in the fall. The memorial scholarship honors the late Patrick Frances Werszner, a parishioner and Prince of Peac School graduate who was dedicated to the Catholic faith and to service to others. Veronica Werszner and John Werszner, siblings of the scholarship namesake, were present for the award, and Knight of Columbus Joe Lawhorn presented the awards.

Barranco held a 4.0 GPA at Prince of Peace, membership in the National Junior Honor Society, and was captain of the school’s House of St. Thomas. She has volunteered in the church’s Food for Our Journey meal outreach to the homeless, and she also visits those in nursing homes. Barranco was also a member of the John Carroll Catholic High School tennis team that went to this year’s state tournament. She is the daughter of Charlie and Rachel Barranco of Hoover.

Deakle was a member of the National Junior Honor Society and captain of the school’s House of St. Francis. He serves as an altar server, in the Food for Our Journey ministry, and has built beds for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace outreach. Deakle has volunteered at the Grace Klein Food Bank, Central Alabama Community Food Bank, and with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He is the son of Landon and Ashley Deakle of Hoover.

The Prince of Peace Knights of Columbus Council 11537 established the memorial scholarship eleven years ago to honor Patrick Francis Werszner, who passed away at the age of 19. He was a 2010 graduate of Prince of Peace Catholic School and a 2014 graduate of John Carroll Catholic High School. At the time of his death, he was a student at UAB, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and a parishioner at St. Stephen the Martyr and Prince of Peace Catholic Churches.