Posted
May 13, 2026
As an International Baccalaureate World School, St. Edward approaches teaching and learning through a global lens. Across campus, students are encouraged to think critically, communicate with confidence, and consider perspectives beyond their own. Whether in a freshman classroom discussion or an upper-level research project, the IB philosophy challenges Edsmen to connect ideas across disciplines while developing a deeper understanding of the world and their place within it.
For Rylan Smith ’26, the program became one of the defining parts of his St. Edward experience.
Rylan credits the IB Diploma Programme with shaping both his work ethic and confidence as a student. This spring, he was recognized with Phi Beta Kappa, a distinction awarded to the member of the senior class with the highest GPA.
IB pushed me every day—not just academically, but personally. You learn how to manage your time, think differently, and hold yourself to a higher standard. Standing there at awards night was emotional because it represented years of hard work and the people who helped me get there. -Rylan Smith '26
Rylan says one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was the bond formed within the IB Diploma cohort itself.
“You spend two years taking almost every class together, so you become really close,” he says. “Everybody pushes each other to do better, but there’s also a lot of support. We went through the whole program together as brothers, so it’s definitely bittersweet to move on. After all the stress, deadlines, presentations, and projects, these guys really feel like family.”
This fall, Rylan will attend The Ohio State University, where he was accepted into the selective University Honors Program and plans to study exercise science on a pre-med track.
St. Edward High School is proud to introduce the Class of 2026 International Baccalaureate Diploma Cohort, their research topics, and where they're headed next.
The 2026 IB Diploma Cohort was celebrated on Monday, May 4, at the Annual IB Cords & Awards Ceremony. Click here to view the photo gallery.