A PUBLICATION OF THE ALUMNI-DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF RONCALLI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Volume 10, Number 3 • March 2013 ARCHBISHOP LUCAS PRESIDES AT ASH WEDNESDAY MASS Kate & Leonard Sommer John XXIII Award Recipients FESTA DEL LEONE - APRIL 13 Kate & Leonard Sommer to be honored with John XXIII Award page 5 SWING WITH PRIDE GOLF OUTING - AUGUST 5 Committees forming to plan this event page 8 RONCALLI CATHOLIC STUDENTS JOIN MARCH FOR LIFE January 23, 22 students joined 400 others in Washington D.C. Madonna, RCHS Partnership Benefits Both page 10-11 RONCALLI CATHOLIC PARTNERS WITH MADONNA SCHOOL Madonna Coffee more than just a fundraiser page 12 page 14-15 Roncalli Catholic High School 2 Click on any ad throughout this issue and learn more about these supporter of The Pride and Roncalli Catholic High School. Inside March 2013 A Message from our President 3 Make your Festa Reservations Today! 5 Student Wins Dream Trip 6 38th Annual Wits Clash Competition 6 One Pitch at a Time 7 Pasta and Pops Concert 7 Swing with Pride Set for August 5 8 Spring Play March 21-24 Directed by Alumnus 9 Ash Wednesday Mass, Retreat, Banquet 10-11 Annual March for Life in Washington D.C. 12 Advent All-School Penance Service 13 Musical Talent Showcased in Christmas Program 13 RCHS and Madonna Partner to Make Madonna Coffee 14-15 All About Alums: Basketball Tournament 16 All About Alums: We Also Heard from 17 All About Alums; Alumna Works with Entertainment Elite 17 Catholic Schools Week at RCHS 18 On the Cover Roncalli Catholic High School celebrated the start of the Lenten season with an Ash Wednesday Mass, an all-school diversity retreat, and an annual hunger banquet over the lunch hour. The February 13 Mass was led by Omaha Archbishop George Lucas at 11 a.m. in the Notre Dame Auditorium. Pictured are Father Chi Igboanusi, RCHS Chaplain, Archbishop George Lucas, Deacon Rick Niedergesses, and Father Lloyd A. Gnirk, President Emeritus of RCHS. PRIDE March 2013 3 A Word from Mr. Jeff Dempsey, our President Dear Friends: From Festa del Leone (our most important fundraising event), to graduation, the school play, Spring sports and our Alumni Basketball Tournament, Roncalli Catholic is filled with energy and activity this time of year! And, thanks to our great staff and faculty, and the many volunteers who so generously offer their time, talent and treasure, our school continues to grow and thrive. Our Festa event chairs and committee members have been hard at work, preparing for the 24th Annual Festa del Leone set for April 13. We greatly appreciate their efforts, which are so instrumental to the success of the event. It’s not too late if you want to join the festivities – please plan to join us for the evening as a guest or a volunteer. For ticket and table information or to volunteer, contact our events coordinator at [email protected] and see the full story on page 5. Jeff Dempsey, President Roncalli Catholic High School Speaking of Festa, our students are busy selling raffle tickets for the drawing to be held the night of the event, as well. Fundraising events like these enable us to keep Roncalli Catholic the most affordable Catholic high school in Omaha. Our annual spring play is also right around the corner. Michael McCandless, Rummel class of 1974, is directing our students in “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” a play he directed as an associate Professor of Theater at Creighton University. Save the date and plan to attend – details can be found on page 9. As we look forward to the Spring sports season, I am reminded of how very much our booster clubs do to help with so many different home events. From the concession stand to spirit gear and signage, their help is vital to these events. We couldn’t do it without them! On another subject, I would like to say how proud I have been of our school as we were featured in both the Catholic Voice (on Feb. 8) and on WOWT for our collaboration with our neighbors, the students of the Madonna School. This project showcases our school’s biggest asset – students who care and support others. See the whole story and the links to the clips beginning on page 14. On Ash Wednesday, in addition to Mass with the Archbishop, the Hunger Banquet and the diversity retreat, we were filming a recruitment video for next year. This is a great opportunity for us to share all that makes our school great – dedicated staff, hands-on parents, involved alumni and students who live their faith. The video, funded by a generous donation, will show that we are so much more than a school – we are a family. On that note, I would like to share the sentiments of one of the members of the film crew. While filming, he said that he truly got the feeling that Roncalli Catholic was someplace special, noting that the students, faculty and parents all seemed to get a glint in their eye when talking about our school. I’m looking forward to the rest of the school year and proud of the fact that the rest of the world can see what I already know – Roncalli Catholic is really someplace special! Thank you all for making it so. God bless, Jeff Dempsey, President Roncalli Catholic High School 4 The PRIDE is published by the Office of Stewardship and Development of Roncalli Catholic High School, Omaha, NE. The Office of Stewardship and Development includes: Public Relations, Recruitment and Retention, Alumni Relations, Special Events, Communications and Fundraising. ©2013, All rights reserved. Materials in The PRIDE may be reproduced provided prior permission is obtained from the editor and credit is given. RONCALLI CATHOLIC PRESIDENT Jeffrey M. Dempsey RONCALLI CATHOLIC PRESIDENT EMERITUS Rev. Lloyd A. Gnirk EDITOR Kristi Berger PHOTOGRAPHY Development and Alumni Office DESIGN AND LAYOUT Goodrich and Goodrich, LLC STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE Jeffrey M. Dempsey, President Rev. Lloyd A. Gnirk, President Emeritus Rev. Gerald Igboanusi, Roncalli Catholic Chaplain Barbara Norris, Business Manager Kelly Bosn, Database Coordinator Julie Grosse-Rhode, Events Coordinator Kristi Berger, Communications Coordinator Darlene Perrotto, Administrative Assistant T. J. Orr, Director of Admissions and Recruitment FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION Please contact Duffi Goodrich (402) 592.0823 • FAX (402) 597.1321 [email protected] or the Roncalli Catholic Development Office (402) 571.7670 • FAX (402) 571.3216 www.roncallicatholic.org All advertising dollars are sent directly to Roncalli Catholic High School and help to underwrite the cost of this publication. Advertisers in this magazine have made it possible for 2013 March and July issues of The Pride to be online. Choose them FIRST for products and services. PRIDE March 2013 5 Make your Festa del Leone reservation today! Our 24th Annual Festa del Leone is right around the corner – on Saturday, April 13. We have a fun night planned including a signature dinner, live and silent auctions, a wine grotto and a raffle drawing featuring three prizes. This event is a great opportunity to socialize with others in the RCHS family or reconnect with friends and celebrate all that makes Roncalli Catholic such a great school. Tables are being put together for our graduates to celebrate landmark reunions – let us know if you would like to join your classmates at a table. It’s all for a great cause too! Festa del Leone is held each year to raise money for grant and tuition assistance programs that benefit the 340+ students at Roncalli Catholic. Event Chairs for Festa 2013 are Janet and Mark Bowers and Kristy and Gus Gustafson. The cost is $125 per person. Make your reservation today! Click here to use our secure web site or call Julie at 402-571-7670. Pope John XXIII Award The evening will also include the presentation of the Pope John XXIII Award. This year, Roncalli Catholic is pleased to honor Kate and Leonard Sommer with the Pope John XXIII award. Kate and Leonard Sommer will be the recipients of the 2013 Pope John XXIII Award. Leonard is a Rummel alumnus (Class of 1972). Over the years, Leonard has served on several committees at Roncalli Catholic including: Board of Education, Development Board, Finance Committee, Alumni Committee, Phone-A-Thon Committee and the Swing with Pride Committee. Kate graduated from Mercy High School in 1974. She has served on several non-profit boards and has been recognized for her community service efforts with various awards, including the Governor’s Point of Light Award, First Lady’s Outstanding Community Service Award and the United Way Leota G. Norton Community Service Award. Kate has 25 years of teaching experience in secondary high school education, most recently at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. The Sommers also served as honorary co-chairs for our 2012 Festa del Leone. Microsoft Surface Tablets Raffle Just $10 for a Chance to Win One of Three Prizes Roncalli Catholic is raffling off three Microsoft Surface Tablets for just $10 a ticket. The drawing will be held at Roncalli Catholic’s annual Festa del Leone on April 13. You need not be present to win. Please call Julie at 402-571-7670 or [email protected] to purchase tickets or to request a book of (10) tickets to sell. Volunteer at Roncalli Catholic. Sign Up Online! Go to i-Volunteer Online http://roncallicatholic.i-volunteeronline.com an online scheduling system where volunteers use a public link to sign up. Enter your name and email in one or more slots. Then, click the link to verify your commitment when you receive the confirmation email. At Roncalli Catholic, volunteers are a vital part of the success of our school. We are always looking for volunteer support for our various fundraising events, as well as school and athletic activities. From data entry to concession sales, we appreciate any support you can give. So, roll up your sleeves and join the fun! 6 Roncalli Catholic High School Around the School RCHS Student Wins Dream Trip In December, RCHS junior Ashley Campbell got a phone call that would rock her world. She was the winner of an all-expense paid trip to New York City to see her favorite band, the British boy band sensation One Direction. After hearing about the contest, Ashley decided to try her luck at the One Direction Sharpie Hello contest, and registered on the company’s Facebook page. Well, luck was with her, because she soon found out that she was, in fact, the grand prize winner. In addition to two parent chaperones (including Ashley’s mother, RCHS 1989 alumna Tina Ledger Campbell), Ashley was able to invite eight girls to enjoy the prize. The group enjoyed VIP treatment at the One Direction concert, a ride on Sharpie’s private jet, transportation, hotel accommodations and $2500 spending money. Her love of the group had led Ashley to join a fan club – a group of girls that she decided to share her good fortune with. So, in addition to her sister, cousin and a few classmates, she invited some of the girls from the fan club too. The girls’ adventure was featured in the Omaha World-Herald http://www.omaha.com/article/20121205/LIVING/712059965 and on the WOWT website http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/One-Direction-Superfan-WinsConcert-Trip-181696311.html Click the links above to see those features. Ashley Campbell poses in front of the Sharpie limousine that served as the group’s transportation while in New York. More Around the School 38th Annual Wits Clash Competition Students from 17 area middle schools attended the 38th Annual Wits Clash competition at Roncalli Catholic on Friday, Feb. 8. Each school had two teams of four students competing in the event. Wits Clash is an opportunity for metro Junior High students to compete in a quiz competition at the school. The competition was done in a game show format, featuring questions in various categories. In teams of four students, participants were quizzed on history, math, geography, and current events, to name a few of the subjects. More than 100 volunteers, including faculty, staff and students, helped make the event a success. Parent volunteers staffed the concession stand, which included chili made by the school’s culinary arts students. PRIDE March 2013 Around the School 7 One Pitch at a Time Promotes Anti-tobacco Message to Young Baseball Players Major League Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mark Melancon participated in the “One Pitch at a Time” anti-tobacco baseball clinic and fundraiser hosted by the Dobleman Head and Neck Cancer Institute at Roncalli Catholic on January 13. The event raised more than $30,000 for the institute. More specifically, Melancon joined area coaches in providing a three-hour baseball clinic for 70 area kids. Participants worked on hitting, pitching, fielding, catching and bunting. The clinic was topped off with popcorn, hot dogs and autographs from Melancon. An evening dinner and auction followed. Above: Major League Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mark Melancon works with kids at the “One Pitch at a Time” baseball clinic held at Roncalli Catholic on January 13. M o re Around the School Roncalli Catholic Hosted 7th Annual Pasta & Pops Concert on February 17 Roncalli Catholic’s 7th Annual Pasta & Pops Concert featured the Concert Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Concert Band, Guitar Class, PRIDE A Cappella and student soloists, with a Broadway Musicals theme. Nearly 300 music lovers attended the February 17 event which kicked off with a spaghetti dinner at 5 p.m. The 6 p.m. concert was held in the school’s gymnasium. The cost was $5 per person or $20 per family which was paid at the door. According to Dr. Tom Dobleman, a Head and Neck Oncology Surgeon and Medical Director of the Dobleman Head and Neck Institute, the main goal of the event was to reach young baseball players with the anti-tobacco message before they start. The Dobleman Head and Neck Cancer Institute, a non-profit organization since 2002, with its team of Medical Oncologists, Radiologists, Endocrinologists, Pathologists, Neuroradiologists, Oral Surgeons and Speech and Swallowing Therapists, provide coordinated care for their patients from pediatrics to the elderly. The institute, in conjunction with Creighton University Medical School, continues to be proactive in building community awareness, offering free cancer screens, teaching medical and dental students, residents and fellows and funding cancer research. The institute receives money through fundraising, charitable donations and grants. Click here to visit the Dobleman Head and Neck Cancer Institute web site for additional information. Roncalli Catholic Varsity Baseball Coach Tom Kupfer and Dr. Thomas Dobleman were featured on the Jan. 11 Morning Blend talk show on KMTV to promote the event. Click here to see the segment. Did you know ... ? You can safely give a gift online on our new and improved website. Visit www.roncallicatholic.org and find the “Quick Links” at the top right of the home page. In the “Quick Links” drop-down menu, find “Donate Now!” and you’ll be taken to a secure area where you can give your gift. 8 Roncalli Catholic High School Save the Date Swing With Pride Set for Monday, August 5, 2013 Mark your 2013 calendars for Roncalli Catholic’s 24th Annual A. Len Leavitt Memorial Swing with Pride Golf Open! Set for Monday, August 5 at The Players Club at Deer Creek, this annual event unites 200+ current parents, past parents, friends of the school and alumni for a day of fun on the greens. A social hour, silent auction, raffle giveaways and dinner program will follow the golfing portion of the fundraiser. Participants pay just $125 each or $500 for foursomes. Proceeds benefit the 340+ students of Roncalli Catholic. For additional details or to see how you can help, contact Julie Gross-Rhode (402) 571-7670 [email protected]. Top photo: RCHS Principal Chad Holtz and Recruitment Director T.J. Orr at the 2012 Swing with Pride. MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013 THE PLAYERS CLUB Social hour, silent auction, raffle giveaways and dinner program will follow the golf. outing $125 individual golfers $500 for foursomes Middle photo: President Emeritus Father Lloyd Gnirk and Brother Armand Alcazar, a De LaSalle Christian Brother and former RCHS teacher, catch up at last year’s event. Bottom photo: RCHS alumni Steve Perrotto and Ted Ramm (both Class of 1988) enjoy the 2012 Swing with Pride event at The Players Club at Deer Creek. Advertisers in this magazine have made it possible for the March and July issues of The Pride to be online. Choose them FIRST for products and services. To advertise in The Pride magazine and help ensure that the March and July issues are published online, Contact Duffi Goodrich 402.592.0823 [email protected] PRIDE March 2013 Save the Date 9 Spring Play March 21–24 Directed by Rummel Alumnus Roncalli Catholic is presenting “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” March 21-24. Directed by Rummel High School* Class of 1974 alumnus, Michael McCandless, “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” is a comedic farce, poking fun at the murder mysteries of the 1940s. Set in 1940 at the Von Grosseneuten mansion in Chappaqua, New York, during a raging snowstorm, a group of actors, writers, directors, and producers are brought to the mansion for a phony audition for a new musical. The audition is a sting set-up by the New York police to catch the “Stage Door Slasher” who murdered three chorus girls in the last show staged by the same creative team. As the phony audition progresses comic mayhem ensues with mistaken identities, disguises, secret passageways, and Nazi spies. Show times: Thursday-Saturday, March 21-23 - 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 24 - 2 p.m. Tickets available at the door: $8 for adults • $5 for students In 1999 McCandless directed the production at Creighton University, where he is an assistant professor in Theater. Last year, the RCHS Spring Play was a production of “Cursing Mummies” written by McCandless and directed by RCHS Class of 2005 alumnus Joshua Payton. *All-boys Rummel High School merged with all-girls Notre Dame Academy in 1974 to become co-educational Roncalli Catholic High School. Click on the ads throughout this issue to learn more about these supporters of The Pride magazine proud to support J. Skinner Baking Company is proud to support Roncalli Catholic High School baked fresh daily in omaha skinnerbaking.com 10 Roncalli Catholic High School Roncalli Catholic’s Ash Wednesday Mass, Diversty Retreat and Hunger Banquet Most Reverend George J. Lucas, Archbishop of Omaha, presided at the Mass Above: Archbishop Lucas leads a pre-Mass prayer with Father Chi, Deacon Rick Niedergesses and the student altar servers. Right: Archbishop Lucas visits with RCHS students during the Hunger Banquet. Roncalli Catholic High School celebrated the start of the Lenten season with an Ash Wednesday Mass, an all-school diversity retreat, and an annual hunger banquet over the lunch hour. The February 13 Mass was led by Omaha Archbishop George Lucas at 11 a.m. in the Notre Dame Auditorium. At Mass, Archbishop Lucas told faculty, staff and students that Ash Wednesday is our opportunity as a community to admit our shortcomings, the ways we are not reaching the full potential God has instilled in us. continued on page 11 continued on next page PRIDE March 2013 11 Ash Wednesday. . . continued from page 10 He encouraged attendees to view Lent as a positive time to reflect and invite Jesus to help us live up to our full potential. All-school Retreat The all-school retreat was led by a local organization that uses interactive theatre programs to focus on issues faced by teens. More specifically, the program is designed to help prevent bullying, abusive relationships and teen dating violence. According to full-time chaplain Father Chi Igboanusi the retreat also focused on and celebrated the school’s diversity, which he says is one of the highest strengths of Roncalli Catholic High School. “No other Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Omaha can match Roncalli Catholic when it comes to the diverse population we serve and it is something to celebrate,” said Igboanusi. “The retreat help highlighted this for our community.” The Hunger Banquet The Hunger Banquet is a Roncalli Catholic tradition in which the students, faculty and staff draw for their meal according to the populations of the world. Third world countries ate rice; second world countries ate rice and beans; and first world countries had rice, beans, a fish patty and a cookie. Those eating first world food sat at a table, while everyone else sat on the floor. According to Igboanusi, the purpose of the banquet is to demonstrate the inequality of food in the world today, to be in solidarity with those who have nothing or very little to eat, and finally to fast for Ash Wednesday in thanksgiving for what Our Lord has done for us. The banquet was being catered by “Pleasure Your Palate Catering” and participants paid $4. The money remaining following the cost of food was donated to Ad Gentes Missionaries. The Omaha-based nuns of this organization run free schools for women and children, as well as shelters and food pantries in the poorest communities in Northern Nigeria. Be sure to check out the complete calendar of events at www.roncallicatholic.org then choose “Calendar” under “Quick Links” at the top right of the screen. Advertisers in this magazine have made it possible for the March and July issues of The Pride to be online. Be sure to choose them FIRST for products and services. 12 Roncalli Catholic High School Around the School Roncalli Catholic Students Join Annual March for Life in Washington D.C. In January, 22 Roncalli Catholic students and two faculty chaperones joined more than 300 participants in the 2013 Omaha Archdiocesan Youth Pilgrimage to the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Despite snowfall and bitterly cold temperatures, an estimated 650,000 people participated in the 2013 National March for Life, marching past the U.S. capital in protest of the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion. The annual event is intended to promote respect for human life at all stages – from conception to natural death. The group traveled by caravan in seven chartered buses and made stops at many religious and historical sites along the way. The group visited the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame; Saint Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C.; the Franciscan Shrine of the Holy Land in the United States; the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; the Basilica of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, MD; Arlington National Cemetery; and the Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall. Before and after the March, the RCHS group attended the "Life is Very Good" rally and Mass with young people from dozens of other dioceses across the country, featuring Catholic recording artist Matt Maher. The five-day trip cost $375 per student and began on January 23. Students covered the cost of the trip on their own, with family support, or with scholarship money from the Knights of Columbus or the school’s campus ministry fund. All RCHS students are eligible to participate in the annual pilgrimage. Left: (l to r) Mrs. Kim Schumacher, Mackenzie Schutte, and Celeste Black-Harr. Right: (l to r) Thad Vogel, Hunter Herout, and Adam Fleming at the 2013 March for Life. PRIDE March 2013 Around the School 13 Advent Penance Service Left: Visiting priests participate in the Roncalli Catholic Advent Penance Service on November 29. Below: (l to r) Students Raluca Maiefski, Taylor Mittermeier, Rachel Norris and Tea Anna McDowell wait for their turn to receive reconciliation. More Around the School RCHS Kicks Off Advent with All-School Penance Service on November 29 Roncalli Catholic’s full-time chaplain Father Chi Igboanusi organized an all-school Advent Penance Service for November 29. Twenty-four priests were on-hand to participate in the Prayer Service and provide reconciliation for all students, as well as faculty and staff. This service kicked off weekly Prayer Services being offered at Roncalli Catholic each Monday throughout the Advent season. “My goal is to help our school fully experience all the joy that the Advent season offers,” said Igboanusi. “Our weekly prayer services should serve to keep our students, faculty and staff focused on the true meaning of the season.” The first Monday Prayer Service included a blessing for the school’s Christmas tree and Advent wreath and the first purple candle was lit in celebration of the Holy Season of Advent. RCHS Musical Talent Showcased in December 12 Christmas Concert On Wednesday, December 12, five student groups performed at the annual Roncalli Catholic Christmas Concert. Held each year in the Notre Dame Auditorium, this concert featured seasonal classics such as “We Three Kings” and “Joy To The World.” The RCHS Concert Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Concert Band, PRIDE A Capella group and the Piano Class performed. Close to 200 people attended the annual concert. 14 Roncalli Catholic High School B A A. M adonna School students Andrew Spring (left) and Derek Rivard (front) pose with RCHS junior David Larson during coffee production. B. M adonna school students Michaela Schwartz and Sarah Wiedner weigh coffee with RCHS sophomore Brittany Fitzler. Roncalli Catholic and Madonna School Partner to Make Madonna Coffee Partnership to result in educational benefit and community service opportunity C. R on Poster, a student in the life skills program, often mans the coffee grinder on the production line. C Roncalli Catholic High School and the Madonna School are working together to make the Madonna Coffee that the school sells for its fundraising efforts. Madonna students are developing job skills while the partnership serves as a community service opportunity for the RCHS students. More specifically, students in the Madonna School’s Life Skills Transition Program are paired with Roncalli Catholic students to work in the high school’s Culinary Arts laboratory, grinding and packaging the coffee. The RCHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) group will also help market the coffee to expand its distribution from web site and fundraising event sales to local distribution around Omaha. According to Madonna School president, Jay Dunlap, this partnership is a win-win situation for everyone. “We are delighted to be working with Roncalli Catholic on this project,” continued Dunlap. “Nothing makes a bigger difference in the lives of our graduates than attaining a good job and this is a great learning opportunity to help them on their way.” RCHS President Jeff Dempsey said his students will benefit in many ways from the collaboration. continued on page 15 This story was featured on KETV Channel 7 News Click here for the feature. It was also featured in the February 8 The Catholic Voice Click here for the feature. PRIDE March 2013 15 Madonna Coffee D continued from page 14 D. Sam Nelson grinds coffee as Ron Poster and RCHS junior Alysha Bremer look on. Photo courtesy The Catholic Voice. E. M adonna School student Andrew Spring seals coffee bags on the assembly line. E “This partnership will be a wonderful community service opportunity for our students,” said Dempsey. “It will also be a great hands-on learning experience for our students in FBLA, the Future Educators of America and our Culinary Arts programs.” Provided by LaRue Coffee for Madonna School’s fundraising efforts, the product previously came to the school pre-packaged. The process was changed in an effort to give Madonna students a more hands-on role and an opportunity to develop job skills. The Madonna School is an educational organization founded on the Christian principles of value, worth and dignity of every individual as created by God. With a mission of empowering students and adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities to lead fulfilling lives as participating members of the community, the Madonna School offers a K-12 school, a Life Skills Transition Program for 18-21 year olds, and a sheltered workshop for adults. For additional information about the Madonna School and Madonna Coffee visit www.madonnaschool.org. Thank the advertisers for this edition of The Pride If you enjoyed the three issues of The Pride last year, be sure to let the advertisers know. It’s because of their sponsorship that the March and July online editions are possible. A third issue publishes in November and is featured online as well as printed and mailed. Click on any ad throughout this digital issue and you’ll be taken to the advertiser’s website or an email will pop up, allowing you to request more information. Promote your business and support Roncalli Catholic If you are a business owner/manager, consider advertising your company in this magazine. You can be featured in one, two or three digital issues, as well as the November printed issue. You will also be listed as a supporter in the Annual Report portion of the November magazine. A contract with pricing is on the last page of this magazine. Click here to be taken to that page. Contact Duffi Goodrich, 402.502.0823, [email protected] or Kristi Berger, 402.571.7670, [email protected] with questions. Checks are always made payable to Roncalli Catholic High School. 16 Roncalli Catholic High School All About Annual Alumni Basketball Tournament The Annual Roncalli Catholic Alumni Basketball Tournament was held March 1-3 and 8-10, featuring 20 teams, including a Roncalli Faculty Team. Participants ranged from graduates of the Class of 1981 to the Class of 2012. The final four featured the classes of 1997, 1996, 1992 and the Faculty team. The class of 1997 won the championship as they defeated the senior champion 1992. The event featured a Pat O Show concert following the Saturday, March 2 games. The Pat O Show features RCHS Alumni Pat O'Hanlon (1981) and Jon Weis (2003). Future Pride teams, made-up of children of the participating alumni, played between tournament games. Top photo: Junior Champs (l to r) Gary Holstein, Dave Welch, Ryan Flynn, Aaron Woodard, Nick Heller, Tom Worthington Pictured Rright: Senior Champs (l to r) Nick Sanger, Matt Bowers, Bob Holzapfel, Mike Douglas, Brad Mausbach, Josh Casey, Will Ross Pictured are two Future Pride of Roncalli. Caitlin Keating and Vinny Schwarz are both children of alums. Saturday, March 2, was the night that showcased the Future Pride of Roncalli. This has become an annual game of players in the grades 3rd-6th. PRIDE March 2013 All About 17 Roncalli Catholic alumna works with entertainment elite Publicist Claire Ratliff (Roncalli ’79) backstage at “The Tonight Show” during a Jan. 25th appearance of her client, a Grammy-nominated bluegrass band called The Grascals. The dream of a country music career lured Claire (Moerles) Ratliff, a 1979 Roncalli Catholic graduate, to Nashville, Tenn., 25 years ago. Today, the one-time singer/performer runs Laughing Penguin Publicity in Nashville. We Also Heard From . . . Karyn Bixler (2009) broke the all-time leading basketball scoring record at the College of St. Mary with 1341 points career record. Click to see the news clip featuring her new record. Shawn Griffith (1987) purchased Sam and Louie's Pizza at 156th and Dodge in Omaha, Nebraska. As an entertainment industry publicist, Ratliff is charged with making "the perfect pitch” that will snag media attention for her clients. They have included Grand Ole Opry star Lorrie Morgan, Grammy winner David Ball, David Frizzell (brother of Lefty) and the Grammy-nominated bluegrass band The Grascals. Lynn Hosek (1969) has left Iraq and taken a contractor job with the Army at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas as a senior systems analyst. As a student at Roncalli Catholic, Ratliff was active in theater and musical productions, the school newspaper, Campus Ministry and Student Council. Tim Molak (1969) is starting his 24th year at Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley, California; it is his 16th year as Head of School. Phoebe (Ryckman) Nordyke (1996) welcomed daughter Nora Esther Nordyke on August 12, 2012. A 1985 graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Claire lives in Nashville with sons, Ian, 21, and Parker, 18. Her husband Charlie, who performed as Charles Ardean throughout Omaha and the Midwest in the 1970s and 80s, died of cancer in 2004. Brad Perreault (1979) and business partner Terry Mallott formed the Play Ball Foundation, which recently purchased Gladiator Park in Irvington with plans to make more than $1 million in improvements that will be made possible by grants and private donations. Click to read the story in the Omaha World-Herald. “I’ve worked in entertainment and media most of my life,” Ratliff says, “but I can’t imagine that I would’ve pursued my own firm had I not been forced to make that decision. When Charlie died, I was left with two young boys and I simply couldn’t continue with my corporate job. I had to look at my skills and experience and find a way to distill those things into a career I could manage from home. Charlie loved entertainment and I’m sure he’d be tickled to see what my little business has become.” Anthony (Tony) Sambol (1974) is the assistant director of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory at UNMC. He has five children: Jeremy (32), Joshua (30), Janelle (28); Anna and Mollytwins (14). Jenn Schrage (1999) is celebrating four years at Schrage Chiropractic and Acupuncture and her engagement to Doug Howard on March 1. Dawn (Simmons) Wecker (1989) recently got married. She has worked at Catholic Mutual Group for more than 10 years and has three teenage children: Nolan, 17, Reid, 15, and Delaney, 14. Claire’s nephew, Ben Willett, 24, a 2007 Roncalli Catholic graduate, recently relocated to Nashville to try his hand at the public relations game, too, under the watchful eye of his aunt. Willett majored in public relations at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Roncalli Catholic High School 18 Around the School Catholic Schools Week at Roncalli Catholic MONDAY All School Mass This liturgy was coordinated by members of Student Government. TUESDAY Faculty-Student Dodge Ball Selected student teams competed for a championship match against faculty members. The faculty team won the tournament! WEDNESDAY Other Catholic School Shirt Day Students were allowed to wear uniforms or shirts representing other Catholic grade schools or high schools. THURSDAY Twin Day Pairs (or other multiples) of students wore identical costumes. Prizes were awarded for best twins, with judging in the student center before school. FRIDAY Spirit Day and Talent Show Students wore their favorite RCHS shirts and other spirit attire. There was a student talent show in the auditorium at the end of the day, with cash prizes for the top three performances ($100; $75 and $50.) First prize went to freshman Ellen Manhart who sang “Hallelujah”. Top photo: Student dodge ball team readies for their opponent - the faculty team! 2nd from the top: Coach Berens reads a poem about gym socks on behalf of an absent student during the Catholic Schools Week Talent Show. 3rd from top: Senior Pat Bilek hosted the Catholic Schools Week Talent Show at RCHS. Bottom photo: The faculty team won the tournament. A PUBLICATION OF THE ALUMNI-DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF RONCALLI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL OMAHA, NEBRASKA Ad Sizes and Prices Choose appropriate: Business Card (3.5”w x 2”) ___ 1 Issue $100 each ___ 2 Issues $90 each ___ 3 Issues $80 each Quarter Page (3.5”w x 4.5”) ___ 1 Issue $210 each ___ 2 Issues $180 each ___ 3 Issues $150 each Half Page (covers only - 7.5”w x 4.5”) ___ 1 Issue $350 each ___ 2 Issues $300 each ___ 3 Issues $280 each Please note: all ads will be featured in color on the eMagazine version of Pride. Choose which issue(s) ___ March ___ July/August ___ November (Web & print) If you place an ad in more than one issue how do you wish to be invoiced ___ For each individual issue ___ All issues at once PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT INFORMATION BELOW Company name Representative name Phone Address City Email State Zip+4 Website Please choose one: ___ Artwork provided ___ Pickup from ________________________________ Authorized person ___ Create new ad* Date By giving us your name for the line above, you have given us your authorization and are bound by such. * The creation of a new ad will be based on an agreement between you and a third party and not with Roncalli Catholic High School. All ads must be approved before submitting for this publication. YOU WILL BE INVOICED FOR PLACEMENT OF THIS AD Duffi Goodrich, Advertising Liason for RCHS Pride magazine [email protected] • 402.592.0823 Mail checks to: Roncalli Catholic - The Pride Magazine 8818 Ohern St, Omaha, NE 68127-2536 Please make checks payable to Roncalli Catholic High School
© Copyright 2024