On Tuesday evening, May 18, 2004, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, was the celebrant and homilist at a special liturgy held at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia honoring high school seniors for their outstanding academic excellence.

The 128 students honored ranked in the top 2% of the Senior Class according to the cumulative rank at the end of the first semester of senior year. The scholars represent Archdiocesan and private Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese.

This year, a Convocation Medal was cast in recognition of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Archdiocesan Academic Honors Convocation. The medal features Saint John Neumann, fourth bishop of Philadelphia and founder of the parochial school system in the United States. He is the patron of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Around the medal is the inscription "Archdiocese of Philadelphia Academic Scholar." Each of the students honored received a medal.

Sister R. Patricia Fadden, IHM, President of Immaculata University, was the guest speaker and the music was provided by the Archdiocesan All Catholic Chorus.