Cardinal Ritter College Prep

We see you Morgan!!!!!

CARDINAL RITTER’S TOP STUDENT ALSO BECAME ITS FIRST DIVISION I VOLLEYBALL COMMIT

By VOTP News STL Staff
May 16, 2026

ST. LOUIS, MO — Some students leave high school with memories.

Morgan Fowler left with history.

The Cardinal Ritter College Prep graduate officially finished as Valedictorian, ranking No. 1 out of 97 students, while also completing nearly 40 college credits during high school, enough to enter college as a sophomore.

This fall, Morgan will attend TSU, to study Animal Science while continuing her volleyball career.

Throughout her four years at Cardinal Ritter, Morgan earned numerous academic excellence pins and maintained placement on the school’s Highest Honor Roll all four years while balancing athletics, leadership responsibilities, and college coursework.

She also built one of the most decorated volleyball careers the school has seen.

Morgan served as captain of the volleyball team for two years, started at libero all four years, and became the first volleyball player from Cardinal Ritter College Prep to commit to TSU.

According to her family, Morgan’s success was built through discipline most people never saw.

“People saw the awards and the highlights, but they did not see the early mornings, the late nights, or the moments where she was running on empty but still showed up,” the family shared. “There were weekends sacrificed, social events skipped, and moments where she had to choose the hard thing over the easy thing every single time.”

Her family said the moment they realized Morgan was operating at another level came when she consistently managed college classes alongside a demanding athletic schedule while still excelling in both.

“No shortcuts. No excuses,” the family shared. “She handled it all with a maturity that is rare and genuinely inspiring.”

Morgan also served as President of the National Honor Society and worked as a student ambassador throughout her high school career, representing Cardinal Ritter with leadership, humility, and consistency.

And the family had even more to celebrate this year.

Morgan’s cousin, Jesse Swanagan III, graduated as Salutatorian, meaning the top two academic positions in Cardinal Ritter’s graduating class stayed within the same family.

“For Morgan and Jesse to finish first and second in their entire class, in the same year, as cousins, that does not happen without a foundation,” the family said. “We celebrate each other, and seeing them both shine like this is the greatest reward we could ever ask for.”

Beyond the awards, championships, and academic honors, Morgan’s family says her character remains what matters most.

Her resilience. Her humility. Her discipline. Her ability to keep showing up even when nobody saw the pressure behind the scenes.

Now, she leaves Cardinal Ritter with history attached to her name and an entire family proud of the young woman she has become.

Image provided by family