FALL 2019 Honoring Academic Excellence Alumna Honored for Her Heart of Service Mrs
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A publication for alumni, parents, and friends of Father Gabriel Richard / Saint Thomas High School LegacieFalsl 2019 2018 – 2019 Annual Report contained within Graduation 2019 Celebrating 150 graduates in the 150th year From Our President Dear Friends and Alumni of St. Thomas/FGR, I’m grateful to be able to present to you the 2018-2019 Annual Report of Father Gabriel Richard High School (FGR) in this Fall Edition of Legacies. We are very proud of the advances we have made as a school community during this 150th anniversary year. In these pages you will find the achievements of our students and faculty and how we continue to make a difference in Ann Arbor, Southeast Michigan and, most importantly, in the lives of our young people. In one of its more poignant documents, the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education stated: “From the first moment that a student sets foot in a Catholic school, he or she ought to have an impression of entering a new environment.” Nowhere is that more true than FGR as we commence the 2019-2020 academic year: new paint in the hallways, new display cases, a new statue of Fr. Gabriel Richard himself; a new strategic Board of Trustees (2018-2019) plan that will serve as a roadmap for the next five years; and, most importantly, teachers- Michael Coghlan ’83, Chair -both veteran and new--who are committed to an education that addresses the whole Patrick Hoban, Vice Chair person. It is a promise and a prayer that we commit ourselves to preparing our students Kathy Grisdela, Secretary for life in this world and, more importantly, for the life of the world to come. Enjoy seeing this glimpse of the great things that are going on at FGR! Join with us John M. DeJak, President, ex officio in ensuring that the next generation of students can be part of this great tradition. Thank Steve Alexandrowski you for your friendship and support! Dr. William Chavey Rev. James Conlon Cheers and prayers, as ever, Thomas Falahee, Esq. John M. DeJak President Rev. Richard Lobert, ex officio Thomas S. Monaghan ’55 Celebrating 150 Years of Grads Andrew Shmina Dr. Mukasa Emmanuel Ssemakula From Our Principal Lisa Vasconi Rev. Brendan Walsh Dear St. Thomas/FGR Community, School Administration Greetings and thank you for reading Legacies magazine, John M. DeJak, President including our 2018 – 2019 Annual Report. It was an exceptional year at FGR, which began with the 150th Anniversary Mass at St. Christopher Dotson, Principal Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and concluded with 150 Janie Herrera, Assistant Principal graduates walking across the stage at Hill Auditorium. Our final Meghan Buckler, Dean of Students drama performance, The Drowsy Chaperone, wowed audiences and our band program Rev. Richard Lobert, Chaplain concluded the school year with an outstanding rendition of Amparito Roca. Our hallways were lined with creative and inspiring artwork and we continuously pursued academic excellence in the classroom as our AP Exam scores regularly placed us far above state Production Team averages. Editor Throughout the year we had countless parent volunteers offer support to ensure Julie Frank FGR’s many initiatives were successful. These include, but are not limited to: Mexico Contributing Writers Mission Trip, Annual Auction, Wine Auction, Faith in Flint, providing hospitality at school functions, assisting with coverage at dances, and at athletic events and drama John M. DeJak performances. Many also provided valuable feedback and insights which informed our Julie Frank strategic planning process. We are very thankful for their generosity and appreciate their Michael McClelland commitment to our school. Photography God bless you all and please continue to pray for our student body, our alumni, and Ryan Charles Photography the entire FGR community. Julie Frank In Christ, Ann Heiser Christopher Dotson Rebound Photo Principal Celebrating 150 Years of Grads Our 150th Anniversary year culminated in the Commencement Exercises of the class of 2019 on May 23, 2019 at Hill Auditorium. During Commencement Exercises, several students offered reflections on their experiences at Father Gabriel Richard High School. Excerpted here is a portion of the speech delivered by Rebecca DiMaria ’19. “I challenge each and every one of us to put our Catholic education to use and to be “bucket-fillers.” We need to pay forward this blessing by being the kind of person who causes other people to be better having known us. We have to be the kind of people who cause other people to walk away from us feeling happier and more fulfilled than before. We should pay compliments to people, give of our time and talents, be optimistic and hopeful. Instead of bringing people down with our negativity, let’s go out of our way to make someone feel loved and fulfilled. That’s what Jesus did, and He is calling each one of us here to do the same. We should continue to glorify God with our knowledge and the gifts He has given us. This world is going to try to break us down every chance it gets, so we need to be strong and continue to allow our lights to shine for the rest of the world to see. There will be situations in our futures when this will not be easy to do, but we have been blessed with the grace and foresight to make a difference by spreading joy wherever we go.” 1 Honoring Academic Excellence Bishop Kelly Award Winner Gabriel Garbarz. The Bishop Class of 2019 Top Scholars: These students maintained a Kelly Award is chosen by the faculty and presented annually cumulative GPA above 4.0 for their entire high school careers. to the senior who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, Left to right: Stephanie Vuylsteke, Mary Claire Zauel, Julia citizenship, service and scholastic achievement. Tenbusch, Lily Pattee, Rebecca DiMaria, Michelle DePriest, Gabriel Garbarz, Ember Larson, Aaron Picard, Viviana Geron, Ryan Tokarz Michelle DePriest was awarded the Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit Julia Tenbusch and Rachel Eggenberger received the Anhut Family Ypsilanti Rotary Scholarship The 150 members of the class have matriculated to these colleges and universities: Albion College Kellogg Community College The College of Wooster Ave Maria University Kent State University University of Dallas Benedictine College Lansing Community College University of Dayton Bowling Green State University Lawrence Technological University University of Detroit Mercy Calhoun Community College Loyola University Chicago University of Illinois at Calvin University Madonna University Urbana-Champaign Central Michigan University Miami University Ohio University of Michigan Christendom College Michigan State University University of Pittsburgh Cleary University Northern Michigan University University of Washington Duke University Oakland University University of Wyoming Eastern Michigan University Pennsylvania State University Washtenaw Community College Edgewood College Saint Joseph’s College Wayne State University Franciscan University of Steubenville Saint Louis University West Virginia Wesleyan College Grand Canyon University Saint Michael’s College Western Michigan University Grand Valley State University Schoolcraft College Xavier University Hillsdale College Tarrant County Junior College Hope College Texas A&M University 2 FALL 2019 Honoring Academic Excellence Alumna Honored for Her Heart of Service Mrs. Claudia (Niemann) Hopper ’80 capable: the self-offering totality of love; the strength that is capable of bearing the greatest sorrows; limitless fidelity and tireless devotion to work; the ability to combine penetrating intuition with words of support and encouragement.” (St. John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater). This is Claudia Hopper and we are tremendously grateful. The Niemann Family and FGR Claudia’s fondness for FGR is a bit of a family legacy. Claudia is the youngest of seven children, all of whom attended St. Thomas/Father Gabriel Richard High School in the 1970s and 80s. When the school first took on Stadium Cleanup as a fundraiser, the Niemanns were there. Mrs. Niemann served on the school board. Claudia has had six nieces and If there is any example of love and at school: logistics for student retreats, nephews matriculate through FGR, selflessness for her alma mater and her ironing the linens for the altar to make a which helped her stay connected with students it is Mrs. Hopper. Coming as fitting place for our Lord’s sacrifice, and the school even before her son, Cole ’19, she does from the venerable Niemann always being willing to chaperone any became a student. Staying connected to family—fixtures in Ann Arbor and at student event. To the question, “what FGR is a family affair. Claudia’s father, the University of Michigan—she has words best describe Mrs. Hopper, the Dr. Walter Niemann, has attended dedicated countless hours to supporting answers are self-evident: hard-working, every one of our 16 Dramalums Catholic education in Ann Arbor; not selfless, magnanimous, indispensable. productions, even before he had a only to FGR, but also to Huron Valley But perhaps the best descriptor grandchild perform in the shows. Catholic School. You may have seen and the most important is: great mom. For her own part, Claudia loves her assisting in the LRC, helping out at While words fail to truly encompass the FGR community. She has enjoyed the annual fall auction, moderating the all that Mrs. Hopper does as a mother, helping with Campus Ministry and the library and media center on Wednesdays, we think these words of Pope St. Drama Club and getting to know the and doing everything but act for the John Paul II are a fitting tribute: students and developing relationships Drama Club and in support of drama In the light of Mary, the Church with the staff. She is grateful that she productions. A woman of faith, she has sees in the face of women the reflection has the flexibility in her schedule to also taken on the sometimes mundane of a beauty which mirrors the loftiest be able to spend time at FGR and we tasks in support of Campus Ministry sentiments of which the human heart is are grateful to her for her dedication.