Spring 2021 Thank you, Father Bob! SPRING UPDATE 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 10 PERSPECTIVE 12 SHOW CHOIR 13 VALEDICTORIAN & SALUTATORIAN Garcia Receives Point of View National Merit Finalist 04 11 17 Abe Lincoln Award 06 Revelations 14 ACT Super Stars 18 Lenten Projects 08 Advancement Angle 14 Speech Team to State 20 Scholastic Awards Christmas Kegerreis Silver 09 Performances 16 Senior Assist Day 22 Anniversary Team UPDATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2021 Update Magazine is published by the Office of Institutional Advancement under the direction of Terese R. Carson, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Its intent is to be a vehicle to inform alumni, family and friends of recent and upcoming happenings and achievements at the school, as well as showcase the talents and gifts of its students, faculty and alumni. Editor-in-Chief: Terese Carson | Deputy Editors: Jeen Endris, Tina Hayes and Gary Armbruster R’81 | Design Director: Jeen Endris | Photographers: John Smith, Stefan Welsh, Phil Anderson, Jeen Endris | Inquiries/Correspondence: Fran Davey, Roncalli High School, 3300 Prague Road, Indianapolis, IN 46227, (317) 787-8277 ext. 238 [email protected]. Website: www.roncalli.org Circulation: 13,037 Email: [email protected] FOR EDITORIAL INFORMATION, CONTACT TERESE CARSON AT (317) 787-8277, EXT. 240 OR [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT As a Catholic high school, our pledge is to provide, in concert with parents, parish and community, an educational opportunity which seeks to form Christian leaders in body, mind and spirit. Guided by prayer and the Gospel values of faith, love and justice, students are challenged to respond to the call of discipleship and to fulfill their potential as lifelong learners in service to others. Our end is to make God’s love complete among us. ADMINISTRATION INTERIM PRESIDENT: 3 Rev. Robert Robeson, VF, Ph.D., M.Ed. PRINCIPAL: Charles Weisenbach R’79 VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT: CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK ATHLETIC REVIEWS 15 26 Terese R. Carson, Hon’18 VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AND Bischoff Indiana FACILITIES: Bruster’s Bits Dave Gervasio R’85 23 All-Star Team 36 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ACADEMICS: Beth Reel Class Notes New Coaches ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR 24 38 STUDENT LIFE: Kevin Banich R’09 Archbishop Thompson DEAN OF STUDENTS: 33 Collegiate Commitments 44 Visits Roncalli Tim Crissman GUIDANCE DIRECTOR: Lisa Beckwith R’01 The Last Word CAMPUS MINISTRY DIRECTOR: 35 Summer Camps 46 Jeff Traylor ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: David Lauck R’94 CHAPLAIN COORDINATOR: Father Douglas Hunter RONCALLI • SACRED HEART CENTRAL • CHARTRAND • KENNEDY MEMORIAL POINT OF VIEW A Challenging Time Rev. Robert Robeson, VF, Ph.D., M.Ed., Interim President CORONAVIRUS This past year has been beyond When we consider the many challenging. Coronavirus, social challenges related to logistics distancing, and communication Zoom meetings, ...the central priority was that have come with hybrid schedule, always doing what is best this pandemic, I am quarantine, for our students. How can we particularly grateful contact tracing, best keep them safe? How for the amazing, and 4 synchronous can we foster their learning sometimes virtually learning; these and growth? How can we heroic work of our are terms that we help them to deepen their Administrative are very familiar relationship with Christ? Council, led by our with today, but principal (and soon to just a year ago, we had never really be president) Chuck Weisenbach. encountered most of them. In this In every discussion of how to past year we have experienced a respond to a new development, global pandemic, widespread social and this happened on almost a conflict, a contentious, polarizing daily basis, the central priority election, not to mention the was always doing what is best for controversial process of changing our students. How can we best our nickname from the Rebels to keep them safe? How can we the Royals. Through all of this, it foster their learning and growth? has been clear to me that we have How can we help them to deepen a very special community here at their relationship with Christ? Roncalli. In my year as interim These are the questions that I president, I have seen how our heard raised, over and over, in school leaders and administrative our Administrative Council and staff, our teachers, our parents President’s Council meetings, and and our alumni always seem to go in my day to day discussions with above and beyond in order to serve teachers and administrators. our students and their families. SOCIAL DISTANCING UPDATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2021 ZOOM MEETINGS HYBRID SCHEDULE QUARANTINE CONTACT TRACING I saw, first hand, the long hours is deeply committed to Roncalli’s our administrative team put in, just mission of serving Christ by 5 to make sure that every detail was forming young women and men worked out. I saw how beautifully in their faith; and it is an honor our students responded to what to work with such a talented and was asked of them and how our faithful leader. While this year has parents cooperated and often been beyond challenging – it has expressed their appreciation for the also been a time of great renewal. way their children were cared for. Our faith teaches us that pain and Most of all, I saw how Christ was struggle lead to purification and present throughout this challenging redemption. This past year has time, guiding our community to certainly been painful at times! It help form Christian leaders in has also helped us to understand body, mind and spirit. things about ourselves and our As I begin to wrap up my year as Roncalli community; about what interim president of Roncalli, I we are capable of, and about how am filled with gratitude and hope we can better live the life that God for the future. I know that Chuck has called us to live. For this we can Weisenbach will be a remarkable all be grateful. leader as the new president. He St. John XXIII………… Pray for us! SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING RONCALLI • SACRED HEART CENTRAL • CHARTRAND • KENNEDY MEMORIAL REVELATIONS Partners Fr. Peter Marshall, Pastor of St. Jude Catholic Church When I arrived at St. Jude in July of Second, Catholic schools partner with 2019, Dr. Joe Hollowell came to meet local parishes in important ways. The with me in my office. Even though I central mission of the parish (any parish) knew him and his family, he wanted to is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus officially welcome me as a new pastor in Christ within a particular geographic the South Deanery and as a new neighbor area. In this way, Roncalli serves, again, to Roncalli. In the meeting I told Dr. as a means of amplifying the message Hollowell that I saw St. Jude and Roncalli of the Parish. By participating in the as partners. And, partners is a good sacrament of the Eucharist on the word for how I view Catholic education. weekend, our youth are prepared to This partnership has several important receive further instruction and formation dimensions. in the Faith during the week at Roncalli. First, Catholic schools, both elementary True conversion takes time, effort and and secondary, partner with parents and repetition. The participation in the grandparents in teaching our children life of the parish should naturally flow and youth about God and the Church; into participation in the community of in passing on the Faith. In the Catholic Roncalli. And, the formation during the 6 ritual of baptism, parents are reminded week at Roncalli should naturally lead several times that they are the “first to a fuller experience of the Mass on the teachers” of the Faith to their children. weekend in the parish. Having deanery While many parents are uncertain, or priests present for sacraments and other even anxious, about talking with their events at Roncalli visually and tangibly children about spiritual matters, God reinforces the bond of the Spirit that gives the grace to teach to all parents. unites us all as one Church. Catholic schools function to amplify I know that our community has faced and clarify the messages that children real and important challenges over the receive at home. Catholic schools can past few years as we attempt to grow as never replace the influence and example a community of disciples. In deepening that parents provide for their children. In and strengthening the Catholic identity today’s culture, all of us are bombarded by of Roncalli, we all enhance our ability messages contrary to the Faith. Catholic to effectively proclaim the Good News schools like Roncalli serve as a place of of Jesus Christ. As partners, Roncalli refuge and strength to allow our youth to and the local parish are working hard to hear the Truth of God’s word, and a space help families truly live as the Domestic in which to wrestle with reconciling the Church, and together we pass on the messages of this world with that Truth. Faith to our youth. All of us who support Catholic education participate in the support given to Catholic families. UPDATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2021 How are you feeling today? Check in with your co-workers, friends, family and neighbors. Ask them, “How are you feeling today?” Someone you know may be delaying important emergency care, chronic care or emotional care. Remind them to get the care they need. Remind them to reconnect with their doctor about ongoing care needs, and that delaying care could impact their health in a negative way. Remind them to ask about emotional health needs and health concerns that might be weighing on them. At Ascension St. Vincent, appointments are available, with strict precautions in place for your safety in our care.