Cansgiving Campaign the Table of Contents largest ever as students respond Running for a Cause ................................... 3 to increased need Students ..................................................... 4 Seniors Maddi Walk for Life .............................................. 5 Haas, Christina Farmer, Madelyn Fall Sports Recap ......................................6-7 Radetic and Janie Faculty/Staff Profile .................................... 8 Kluempers, members Extravaganza 2008 ...................................... 9 of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Student Fall Musical ...............................................10 Council who Homecoming .............................................11 organized the 2008 Alumni Profile ..................................... 12-13 “Cansgiving” campaign to stock the Catholic Charities Class Notes ........................................... 14-16 food pantry, accepted a recognition plaque from Bob Lippold, a volunteer with Catholic Charities of Northeast Posnanski / Buck Rogers ...........................17 Kansas. The goal was for every student to bring in at least Old School Alumni Mixer ..................... 18-19 ten cans, and the goal was far exceeded. With demand for 2007-2008 Annual Report .....................20-29 food in the declining economy expected to rise, students were encouraged to stretch further this year to help out. Class Reunions ..................................... 30-31 The Saint Thomas Aquinas community Alumni Survey Results .........................32-33 responded generously with just over Streaks Marrying Streaks ........................... 33 25,000 items. According to Doug Clopton, director of in-kind donations Alumni Events & Progressive Dinner ....... 34 for Catholic Charities, the Saint Community Calendar ............................... 35 Thomas Aquinas food drive was the Mass of Remembrance .................Back Cover largest collection of food from any single source in the 53 year history for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. The Saints Spirit magazine is a publication of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Advancement Office. We welcome your comments or questions. Call or write: By day three of the Bryan Thrasher food drive, the number Director of Communications of items were way [email protected] ahead of any previous Saint Thomas Aquinas High School year’s collection. 11411 Pflumm Road Overland Park, Kansas 66215-4816 913.319.2425 Front Cover Left: The Class of 2003 boasted the record for most William Ford, Ed.D. attendees! Pictured left to right are: President Front row: Caitlin Meyers, Dan E. Heble, Krystina Teresa Ahrens Tongson, Kyle Hill, Drew Morano, Ben Cindrich. Middle Director of Special Events row: Cristin Radetic, Ashley Quick, Taner Neighbors, Kristin Brand, Nick Osbern, Jimmy Carter. Back row: Mary Bridget Kratofil Brian Smith, Marc Dierking, Ryan Harral, Kevin Coombs. Director of Media Relations Not pictured: Sarah Brandenburgh, Tyler Campbell, Joe Michon Quick Payne Director of Alumni & Constituent Relations Cindy Winkler Bottom Right: Class of 1979 classmates, Karen Garies Advancement Office Manager Miller, Melissa Brown Nachbar, and Jane Dillbeck Shriver, are making plans for their 30-year class reunion in 2009! 2 RUNNING FOR A CAUSE Running for a Cause Chilly weather arrived Touching Tiny Lives on November 8 and is a non-profit, 501(c)3 cooled participants in organization committed the 1,000 Mile Relay, a to ensuring the health and fundraiser for the Saint dignity of children impacted Thomas Aquinas ICAN by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Club (International Through the provision of Children’s Awareness clinical care and subsistence Network). Funds go support, implementation of directly to Touching HIV transmission prevention Tiny Lives in Lesotho, programs, and promotion of Africa, to provide the global social responsibility, bare necessities for Touching Tiny Lives strives to children infected with provide processes of healing AIDS. and hope for the children The Saint Thomas of Lesotho and the greater Aquinas community international community. For was introduced to the more information, go to Touching Tiny Lives www.touchingtinylives.org. organization through Brian Towle, ’06, Kevin Towle, ’08, and Left: Freshman Abby Hill, sophomore their parents, Christy Betsy Donohue and freshman Megan Spencer round the corner running and Dan Towle. The during the 1,000 Mile Relay fundraiser 1,000 Mile Relay event for Touching Tiny Lives. was adopted by STA students two years ago. photo by Matt Hallauer National Merit Scholarship Program Saint Thomas Aquinas High School is pleased to announce the 2008 National Merit Scholars and Commended students: 1st row, left to right, Grace Nutti, Rachel Campbell, semi-finalist Meghan Woody, Bridget Porter, Drew Amidei, semi-finalist Peter Whitaker, 2nd row, left to right, semi- finalist Megan Peterson, Jake Darnell, Rachel Keffer, semi-finalist Nick Voda, semi-finalist Austin Moss, Jake Henn, Lauren Stine, Nicole Stewart. 3 STUDENTS Saints featured on morning show Saint Thomas Aquinas was featured on the KMBC morning show’s segment MatchUp Mania on September 12. Over 500 students came to the early morning pep assembly in which Lisa Teachman, the Channel 9 morning weather anchor, interviewed coaches and students. The crowd cheered on cue for the camera and everyone was pumped up all day for the Friday night football game against Bishop Miege. During the MatchUp Mania visit, KMBC Channel 9’s Lisa Teachman spoke with Dr. Ford as he was seated among the students. Softball girls’ grades merit second in Scholarship Opportunity nation ranking The 2008 Saints Softball team, as a whole, was 2nd in the nation for Alumni iModules, the Overland Park based company that oversees our academically with a 3.747 Non- school and alumni-community websites, has established the iModules weighted Team GPA. Educational Scholarship Program to reward students with a $2,500 scholarship to assist them in their education pursuit. This program is The All-America Scholar-Athletes with for prospective and current students in both secondary (high school) at least a 3.5 GPA were: and higher education (college or post graduate) fields of study. The Anna McCord application deadline is April 15th of each program year. Maegan Mathiasmeier Tom DeBacco, iModules President/CEO and member of the Saint Molly Macan Thomas Aquinas High School Board of Trustees, said, “This scholarship Natalie Ireland program was founded on our core belief in assisting students with Ashley Dobbie pursuing their educational goals.” Current, prospective and alumni Colleen Beasley students of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Aquinas and St. Joe High Schools are Cayce Jacquinot eligible to apply. Andrea Piezuch For more information about the scholarship program or to apply, go Katelyn Nill to http://scholarships.imodules.com Lauren Thimmesch iModules Software builds hosted, web-based solutions enabling member-based organizations to manage and grow private online (Going back in time -- The Saints communities which build connections between its members. were 1st in the nation in 2005, 2nd in 2006, 10th in 2007!) 4 WALK FOR LIFE Thank you to the following Saints Walk 2008 Walk for Life sponsors: Alumni and Betty Augustine Theresa Augustine Alumni Parents! for Life Barber Financial Group Carlin’s Cars & Trucks, Inc. Join us for the Over 300 people participated in the Cosentino’s Price Chopper Saint Thomas Aquinas Walk for Life Crown Mechanical benefit on Saturday, April 26. The Kathy Curry event began with a Pro-Life rally in Dupin Family 2009 Walk the school’s gym where Archbishop Rick Enna Chris George Homes Joseph Naumann led the group in Green Expectations Landscaping Co. Inc. for Life prayer before the seven-mile jog, Mark Greffet bicycle or walk to the Advice and Aid Hartung Construction Co. Pregnancy Center on 75th Street. The Cathryn Hund Saturday, school’s Teens for Life Club sponsored Lamar Hunt, Jr. the walk which raised over $13,500 for Kellys’ Ridge Partnership, L.P. April 25, 2009 Laura Kenny Birthright, Advice and Aid Pregnancy Knights of Columbus - St. Michael’s 9:00 AM Center and Grace Center. Money Council was raised through pledges, corporate Knights of Columbus - Prince of Peace STA Main Gym and individual sponsors as well as the Knights of Columbus - Ascension Council Seven-mile walk from Saint sale of t-shirts. Coordinators of the Kratofil Family Thomas Aquinas to Advice and event were Teens for Life president, Drs. Luthi and Rosentreter Aid Pregnancy Center. A picnic Theresa Nelson, and vice-president, Midwest Lawn & Landscape Kerry and Kevin Moore is prepared by the Mothers Club. Annemarie Slaven, and faculty NOVACONGROUP Buses are provided for rides back advisors Heather Schoneman and Prince of Peace Womens Group to Aquinas. Cathryn Hund. Mark Rielley Archbishop Joseph Naumann Ryan Family Saint Thomas Aquinas Attendance Office will be there to send you off on STA Home Repair your walk.* Seib Kongs & Seib, P.A. To register online, use the link Sheerin Scientific Co. below. Trinity House USA Baby Benefits Advice and Aid Pregnancy Center, Wyandotte Co. Pregnancy Center, Birthright, and Grace Center. Last year’s walk raised $13,500 * Schedule permitting For more information, contact TFL moderators: Cathryn Hund [email protected] Heather Schoneman [email protected] Walk for Life participants www.stasaints.net/walkforlife 5 FALL SPORTS Boys Cross Country Football Boys Soccer STATE CHAMPIONS State Runner-Up *STATE CHAMPIONS Regional: 1st Place District