For family, friends, & alumni of Cistercian Preparatory School Spring 2018 INSIDE The Class of 2018 leaves its mark Members of the bird-watching elective on the banks of the hidden pond north of the gym Our For some students and teachers, paying attention to Cistercian’s 82 acres is just as important as paying attention in class Oasis SPRING 2018 • CONTINUUM 1 REMEMBERING CISTERCIAN WITH A PLANNED GIFT Sheila Gregg with Jeremy Gregg ’97 (left) and Fr. Stephen Gregg ’01 during their days as Cistercian students A final gift Sheila Gregg walked onto Cistercian’s campus for the first time in 1989. For the next 28 years, she gave the school all that she had: her two sons, Jeremy ’97 and Fr. Stephen (Andrew) ’01; her time and talent as a cheerleading coach and drama volunteer; and her treasure as a loyal donor to both the school and the Abbey. And when Sheila passed away in late 2017, she gave her final gift to the school: a scholarship endowment in honor of Fr. Abbot Peter Verhalen ’73, whom she considered one of her dearest friends and spiritual guides. “Our family fell on financial hardships when I was in high school, and scholarship funds allowed me and my brother to remain a part of the school. Knowing that she could provide that same gift to others was among my mother’s greatest joys,” said Jeremy. “From my mother’s perspective, these funds were always God’s. They are just returning to Him through Cistercian.” For more information or to make a gift, contact Erin Hart. 469-499-5406 | [email protected] 2 CONTINUUM • SPRING 2018 Our oasis invites us to join in hymn of praise ast into the fire for refusing “Let the earth bless the God’s creation. For some this expe- idol worship, three young Lord, praise and exalt rience has been life altering. Note C him above all forever… Hebrew boys remain miraculously All you birds of the air, also how the School is continuing untouched by the heat and, in bless the Lord; praise to build on this tradition with the gratitude, invoke all creation to and exalt him above all recent introduction of solar re- forever. All you beasts, join their wild and tame, bless the sources and a rain water collection CISTERCIAN joyful hymn of Lord; praise and exalt cistern. PREPARATORY praise. him above all forever.” Our second feature introduces (Dan 3: 74, 80-81) SCHOOL This spring our graduating class, the first to be Rev. Paul McCormick edition’s lead feature re- shepherded by an alumnus priest form master Headmaster minds me of this beautiful since the days of Fr. Abbot Peter Verhalen ’73. Head of Middle School prayer sung frequently at the Fr. Augustine Hoelke ’00 recalls his start with the Greg Novinski ’82 Abbey. For despite the “fire” form and highlights some of the individuals and Assistant Headmaster Head of Upper School of a rigorous academic pro- experiences that have made the Class of 2018’s gram and the literal “heat” journey unique and their legacy so special. Letter from Jim Taylor the headmaster of North Texas, our students Don’t miss class updates or the wit and wis- Director of Admissions Fr. Paul McCormick are still able to look up from dom of Smokey Briggs ’84, who recalls his own Chris Blackwell their books to venture out graduation and the “fog” that then confronted Director of College Counseling into the blessed oasis of nature that encompasses him. You also will no doubt appreciate the sage Erin Hart our 82-acre campus. advice of Fr. Roch, who reminds us that even Director of Development Mentored in their appreciation by a faculty short periods of prayer in one’s day can open us and Alumni Relations and staff that over several decades have con- up to real discovery and celebration of the bless- André Bruce sciously striven to preserve and protect the nat- ings that surround us. Director of Athletics & Physical Education ural wildlife, our students come to experience God bless you all and all my best wishes for Tony Johnston ’05 for themselves both the shared blessing and the an authentically restful, and hopefully not too President, Cistercian Alumni Association shared responsibility of being good stewards of hot, summer. Volume 45, number 1 In this issue School Board Rt. Rev. Peter Verhalen ’73 Rev. Thomas Esposito Leaving Rev. Roch Kereszty their markr 8es8 Rev. Robert Maguire Members of the Class of 2018 Rev. Bernard Marton Rev. Paul McCormick will be remembered for their Kent Clay record of service, commitment, Mike Donahoe ’80 Charles Lipscomb ’84 and teamwork (oh, and robotics). Kathleen A. Muldoon Peter P. Smith ’74 By Tom Pruit Jere W. Thompson, Jr. ’74 Our Oasis 14 Departments continuum For some, paying News & Notes ............................4-7 David E. Stewart [email protected] attention to Cistercian’s Sports .............................................19 Erin Hart 82 acres is just as Class Notes ............................20-22 Alumni Relations important as paying On Prayer by Fr. Roch Kereszty 24 Jim Reisch ..... Photography Editor attention in class continuum is published Cover photography by twice a year (spring & fall) By David E. Stewart Jim Reisch by Cistercian Preparatory School. 3660 Cistercian Road Cistercian Preparatory School was founded with the aim of preparing talented boys for the colleges of their choice Irving, TX 75039 by challenging their minds with excellent academic programs, molding their character through the values of Cath- 469-499-5400 olic education, and offering them guidance with both understanding and discipline. Cistercian Preparatory School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national, or ethnic origin in the administration of its admis- www.cistercian.org sion and education policies, financial aid programs, athletic programs, and other activities. SPRING 2018 • CONTINUUM 3 News & notes NEW TEACHER DIGITAL MARKETING ENDOWMENT EFFORTS PAYING OFF ESTABLISHED Cistercian parent Chris Current parents Vaughan (Bennett Paul and Melissa ’19, Maxwell ’21) GriffithTruman ( ’23, offered a “digital Coleman ’25) have marketing and helped Cistercian website design” establish a new elective in the spring “Teach for Excellence semester and also Endowment” to help helped spearhead ensure that Cistercian efforts this year always attracts and to modernize the retains high quality website and to teachers. The Griffiths orchestrate the are representatives of school’s whole digital the Strake Foundation outreach. Fr. Anthony in Houston. Members of Fusion Corps, Cistercian’s robotics team, at the FIRST Robotics Championship in Houston Bigney and Jim Taylor, in April. The team’s faculty sponsor, Fr. Mark Ripperger, is on the front row at far left. director of admissions, SENIOR SEMINAR teamed with Kara EVENING IMPRESSES ROBOTICS Dahl (webmaster) The second annual Cistercian team competes at worldwide competition to create content for Senior Seminar the site, Facebook, Evening showcased As faculty and students back in Irving and program a robot to perform prescribed Instagram, LinkedIn, presentations on followed the progress of Fusion Corps tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as and other outlets. topics from Magical online at April’s FIRST Robotics Compe- close to “real world” engineering as a student Feedback has been Realism in Spanish tition in Houston, some must have stopped can get. Professional mentors volunteer their positive, especially literature to the and wondered at the quick ascent of the time and talents to guide each team. for the videos that contrasting theories Cistercian robotics program. The FIRST mission is supported by a have captured some of Milton Friedman, It was just last fall that team founder list of sponsors that includes a who’s who in priceless moments . Hayek, and Keynes. Charlie Lipscomb ’18 technology. A number of local NOTES university professors was motivated to bring Fusion Corps also found like-minded students from many willing sponsors To honor the spirit of and other academic Dr. Martin Luther King professionals various forms together into (with help from Marshall an activity that felt natural. Comeaux ’18). Jr., students in the Up- attended. A few made per School spent MLK “So many people here This year’s team took their presentations Day doing community exclusively in French love STEM, robotics, and full advantage of the service throughout the or in Spanish. building,” he told the Texas working space provided Metroplex. Some built Catholic, “it only makes by the new flex lab in the ramps and restocked BRAVEART sense for us to have a science building. shelves while others STUDENTS CREATE robotics team.” And, with a year under sorted food at the Food FLYING HAWK The FIRST robotics its belt, Fusion Corps Bank or built furniture. This year at the annual competitions provided the Fusion Corps robot, #6672, found it easier to form Fr. Justin McNamara BraveArt workshops, structure to fit robotics into at the FIRST competition in alliances with other teams and Tara Kennedy alum dad Mike Uhrick the tight Cistercian schedule Houston in late April. from other schools, a key served as faculty spon- helped students (in the second semester). factor in succeeding in the sors for the event ... create an impressive Tyler Bethea ’03 and A non-profit advancing K-12 STEM competition. metal welded Shae Armstrong ’98 sculpture of a “Flying education for nearly 30 years, FIRST Both played roles in the team’s ability taught a combined law Hawk.” The iconic combines the excitement of sport with the to move on from the state competition in and finance elective work will be placed rigors of science and technology. Teams of 10 Lubbock to the world stage in Houston. with multiple alumni at the entrance to the students or more are challenged to design a After only its second year, robotics coming in to meet with science building.