“Never Give Up…” WWII Hero Louis Zamperini Speaks at Christ School Christ School Magazine Winter 2012
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“Never give up…” WWII Hero Louis Zamperini speaks at Christ School Christ School Magazine Winter 2012 All School Alumni “Although there are times in all of our lives where life can be unfair, I encourage all of us to be grateful for even the little things in life. We are all blessed here at Christ School, and we should take advantage of what we have.” –from the senior speech by Jeff Krieger Stretch Opportunities 9 Faculty Note: Thornton 9 Mebane Science Center 10 A Sacred Honor - Memorial 12 8 Senior Speech - Jeff Krieger 13 Letter from the Headmaster 1 Academic Honors 13 Speaker Series: Visual Arts 14 Louis Zamperini 2 Drama 16 Alumni Give Back 34 Charlene Schiff 4 Denis Stokes in Asia 19 Alumni Spotlights 36 Jean Kilbourne 6 Lessons & Carols 20 Hunt for the Class of ’65 36 Bryant Smith 6 MLK Day of Service 22 Bill Briggs ’55 37 Angelus Dinner 7 Service in NOLA 24 Alex Devoid ’07 38 Academics - Mock Trial 8 Student Activities 25 Chad Bennett ’99 39 The Four Evil I’s 5 Varsity Sports 26 Alumni on the Hill 40 Class Notes 41 In Memoriam 47 On the Cover: Louis Zamperini, by Linda Cluxton 26 EDITOR , PHOTOGRA P HY , D E SIGN : Linda Cluxton EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS : Christina Auch, Marshall Baltazar, Mary Dillon, Travis Harris, Paul Krieger, Olga Mahoney, Joe Mouer, Isaac Rankin, Dan Stevenson ’72, Denis Stokes PHOTOGRA P HI C CONTRIBUTORS : Travis Harris, Susannah Landingham, Olga Mahoney, Jose Martin, Jill Schwarzkopf, Lyn Tillet, Betty Weil The Christ School Magazine is published two times a year by the Christ School Advancement Office: Denis Stokes, Director of External Affairs; Linda Cluxton, Director of Communication; Christina Auch, Director of Annual Giving and Special Gifts; Dan Stevenson ’72, Director of Alumni, Kathryn J. Belk, Advancement Services Coordinator. Send submissions to: CS Magazine Editor, Christ School, 500 Christ School Road, Arden, NC 28704 or call 828-684-6232 ext. 104. You can also submit information through our web page at www.christschool.org or to Linda Cluxton at [email protected]. from the Headmaster The Timeless Lessons Confronting the hard questions and moving forever onward ast year, when I sat down to read Laura Hillenbrand’s book, Unbroken, I had no idea where this recounting of a skinny 12 year-old from Torrance, LCalifornia in the early 20th century would take me. A quick and easy read it wasn’t. As I poured through the book, utterly amazed at how one man could take all that life would throw at him, I began to wonder how a man of today would react given the same set of obstacles. Louie’s journey through the Great Depression, the 1936 Olympics, WWII, and Japanese prison camps, all conspired to give me a greater appreciation for him and of his generation. Courageous and humble, their creed became very clear: for Paul Krieger, God, for country and for each other. As inspirational as Louie’s story was, I began Headmaster to feel some amount of regret and almost loss. Could America today survive the same cataclysmic catastrophes of his time? How, after ten years of a Great Depression, followed by four years of a world war, could a group of men and “Today’s women rise up with confidence and fortitude to build an unparalleled post-war tendency to prominence? enable young I am almost afraid to confront those questions. Although I am a fervent people to see supporter and believer in today’s youth, I am not as optimistic about today’s cultural norms and moral values. I often wonder when I look into the eyes of my themselves students and silently ask, “What are this boy’s chances when faced with absolute as powerless adversity, that he will come through them bigger, better, and stronger?” Places like “victims” who Christ School continue to challenge and teach young men to be tough, tolerant, are too often responsible, and determined in the face of unrelenting challenges. Our mission is often counter-cultural and has never been more relevant. encouraged Today’s tendency to enable young people to see themselves as powerless to engage in “victims” who are too often encouraged to engage in finger pointing has created finger pointing a general malaise of “softness” that has permeated all levels of our society. We have has created become timid and shy of all things difficult. If the outcome is not ensured, too many of us never pursue the challenge. I wonder: if we had to build the Panama a general Canal and the Hoover Dam today or even put a man back on the moon again, malaise of could we do it? “softness” that Louie’s visit to campus and his time spent with our boys provides firsthand has permeated inspiration that there is still hope, even if that hope is found in a young man’s soul all levels of over 80 years ago. Some of the many hallmarks of Louie and his generation are faith, humility, fortitude, kindness, and the ability to take one’s lumps and move our society.” uncomplainingly forward. May we keep these timeless lessons close to our hearts and souls as we move forever onward. Paul M. Krieger Headmaster Learning Lessons from WWII Veteran and Olympic Athlete Louis ZamperiniBy Olga Petrovich Mahoney t is not every day that teenage students get to meet a hero. Louis Zamperini, whose story Iis told in Laura Hillenbrand’s best- seller Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption, spoke to a mesmerized audience at Christ School last week. 94 year-old Zamperini arrived on campus wear- “It’s been ing his Olympic jacket, USC baseball cap and running shoes. He was ready a great life, to share lessons from his extraordinary experiences with an audience of al- I wish I could most 1,000 at the Greenie Dome. The book was required summer do it all over reading for the high school students at Christ School. After all, the book again.” exemplifies each of the four pillars of the core mission of the school: intel- lectual and spiritual growth, athletics and manual labor. As a youngster, Zamperini was a trouble maker who got into fights, was involved in petty theft and was heading down the wrong path. Fortunately, his brother, Pete, encour- aged him to try competitive distance running in high school. Zamperini excelled and set a national record for the mile. In college he ran at the their decrepit B-24 fell into the bigger nightmare began. University of Southern California ocean. Only three survived: floating The students, faculty and and at 19, made the Olympic team to on two small rafts, drinking rain guests sat in astonishment as Mr. compete in Berlin in 1936, where he water and catching small sharks by Zamperini recounted snippets of shook Hitler’s hand after a race. hand. They drifted for 2,000 miles his experiences. An 11th grade The rest of Zamperini’s story over 47 days, and only two of them student, Chambers Loomis, read is even more amazing. With the survived the ordeal at sea, each losing a letter to the Christ School com- outbreak of World War II, he signed half of their body weight. Zamperini munity from Rev. Billy Graham, up for the U.S. Army and became a and the pilot, Russell Phillips, were whom Zamperini credits with bombardier assigned to the Pacific. captured by the Japanese and taken to saving him from self-destruction During a rescue mission in 1943, “Execution Island” -where an even after the war. After his talk, THE CHRIS T SC HOOL SPEAKER SERIES 2 Winter 2012 “We were the hardiest generation, not the greatest generation.” – Louis Zamperini students asked him questions about said at the Crusade that convinced survival, forgiveness and faith. One him to convert. Zamperini answered student, Honor Council Chair and that he said, “When there is nobody, senior leader, Andy McMillan, nowhere, and nothing else to turn to, inquired about Zamperini’s motiva- you can turn to God. He will always tion to keep going when there were be there for you and will always help so many instances where he should when in need.” have given up. Zamperini responded Louis Zamperini ended his that it was his positive attitude and fascinating visit to Christ School by strong faith that kept him alive dur- stressing the importance of a positive ing the war. McMillan later asked attitude in everything you do and Zamperini what Rev. Billy Graham giving yourself to Christ. Above all, he said, “Never give up.” “We think every day about how to improve the school experience for our students. Having Mr. Zamperini here was exceptional.” –Headmaster Paul M. Krieger Christ School Honor Council Chair Andy McMillan ’12 with Mr. Zamperini. ohn Naber, fellow Olympian and Jfriend of almost 30 years, traveled with Louis Zamperini to Christ School. His comfortable onstage question-and- answer format was the basis for Mr. Zamperini’s talk to the packed Mebane Field House. John arranged for Louis to meet pri- vately with Billy Graham in June 2011, and in October 2011 he arranged for the first and only face-to-face meeting with Laura Hillenbrand, author of the New York Times bestseller “Unbroken.” Winner of four Olympic Gold swim- ming medals in 1976, John passed the In this photo Olga Mahoney shows Mr. Zamperini and John Naber the framed display Olympic flame to Mr. Zamperini’s torch about him that she keeps in her classroom. It was Ms. Mahoney who first presented in 1984 and again in 2004.