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Transcript of Chronicle Spring 2011
THE CHRONICLEO F S T R A K E J E S U I T C O L L E G E P R E P A R A T O R Y
SPRING 2011
BUILDING MEN FOR OTHERS FOR 50 YEARS
Table of Contents
FeaturesSPECIAL ANNIVERSARY SECTION
The Duty to DreamThe 1980’s
p. 4
Departments
President’s Message - 2
News from 8900 - 10-14
Principal’s Perspective - 15
Athletic News - 17 - 20
Ignatian Spirituality - 21
Alumni News - 23-25
Class Notes - 26 - 27
Births - 27
In Memoriam - 27
By George - 28
Spring 2011Vol. 43, No. 3
EditorRick Rivers, Director of Communications
ContributorsFr. Daniel K. Lahart, SJ Richard NevleVince Santos ‘83
The Chronicle of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory (USPS 024165) Vol. 43, No. 3, Spring Edition, is published quarterly
by Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, 8900 Bellaire Boulevard, Houston, TX 77036. Periodicals Postage Paid at Houston, TX.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chronicle of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory,
8900 Bellaire Boulevard, Houston, TX 77036-4699.
PresidentFr. Daniel K. Lahart, SJ
PrincipalRichard Nevle
Director of DevelopmentNJ Santarcangelo ‘67
MISSION STATEMENTTo assist young men in their formation as leaders and as Men for Others through a program of rigorous college
preparation in the tradition of the Society of Jesus.
ON THE COVER - Still with his youthful appearance in the early 1980’s, by then the school mascot George had become an integral part of the school experience. He was a fixture on the sidelines at home football games as well as at pep rallies.
The class of 1980, pictured here with some of The Shacks in the background,
had its collective foot in two critical decades. They began their Jesuit days
in the 70’s, during which the school recovered from its financial crisis, and
ended it in the 80’s as the school, now on sound footing, began to plan for
the future.
Table of Contents
FeaturesSPECIAL ANNIVERSARY SECTION
The Duty to DreamThe 1980’s
p. 4
Departments
President’s Message - 2
News from 8900 - 10-14
Principal’s Perspective - 15
Athletic News - 17 - 20
Ignatian Spirituality - 21
Alumni News - 23-25
Class Notes - 26 - 27
Births - 27
In Memoriam - 27
By George - 28
Spring 2011Vol. 43, No. 3
EditorRick Rivers, Director of Communications
ContributorsFr. Daniel K. Lahart, SJ Richard NevleVince Santos ‘83
The Chronicle of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory (USPS 024165) Vol. 43, No. 3, Spring Edition, is published quarterly
by Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, 8900 Bellaire Boulevard, Houston, TX 77036. Periodicals Postage Paid at Houston, TX.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chronicle of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory,
8900 Bellaire Boulevard, Houston, TX 77036-4699.
PresidentFr. Daniel K. Lahart, SJ
PrincipalRichard Nevle
Director of DevelopmentNJ Santarcangelo ‘67
MISSION STATEMENTTo assist young men in their formation as leaders and as Men for Others through a program of rigorous college
preparation in the tradition of the Society of Jesus.
ON THE COVER - Still with his youthful appearance in the early 1980’s, by then the school mascot George had become an integral part of the school experience. He was a fixture on the sidelines at home football games as well as at pep rallies.
The class of 1980, pictured here with some of The Shacks in the background,
had its collective foot in two critical decades. They began their Jesuit days
in the 70’s, during which the school recovered from its financial crisis, and
ended it in the 80’s as the school, now on sound footing, began to plan for
the future.
2
_________________PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
RecentlyIattendeda
retreatforboardmembersat
LoyolaMarymountUniversity
inLosAngeles.Thisuniversity
dwarfsStrakeJesuitbymostany
measure–acampusfourtimes
oursize,anenrollmenttentimes
ourown.Theirdepreciationallowance
islargerthanourentireannualbudget.YetIfeltrightat
homeastheyspokefamiliarwordsattheretreat.
FindingGodinallthings.Men (and women) for Others.
Service.Faith.Ignatius’SpiritualExercises.Mission.
Thisexperienceremindedmeof animportanttruth
abouttheconnectednessof Jesuitschools.StrakeJesuit
mightbe44acresonBellaire,butwearepartof aglobal
networkof schools,sharinga450-year-oldtraditionof
Jesuiteducation.
Thereare59otherJesuithighschoolsand28Jesuit
collegesanduniversitiesinNorthAmericaalone.(Note
thelistonthenextpage.)Aroundtheglobe,youwillfind
Jesuiteducationalinstitutions—over3,700of them—
servingstudentsandcommunitiesinsimilarways.At
StrakeJesuit,weknowthisfirsthand.Wehavehad
studentswhoseparentsattendedJesuitschoolsinIndia,
Columbia,Mexico,Argentina,Ireland,Australia,and
Germanyamongothers.
AtourOpenHouse,Ialwayswelcomestudentsto
StrakeJesuit,butIalsowelcomethemtoJesuiteducation
andourworldwidenetwork.If youwearaStrakeJesuit
shirtasyoutravel,youstandagoodchanceof being
stoppedalongthewayandaskedaboutit.Theymightnot
knowourschoolinHouston,buttheywillknowJesuit
educationandwillthentellyoutheirstoriesabouttheir
ownJesuitschools.
Wearetrulyblessedtobeapartof anetworkof
schoolsaslargeandaswellrespectedasJesuitschools.No
otherCatholicschoolsystemisasextensiveasours.In
fact,IthinkitissafetosaythattheJesuitnetworkisthe
largestprivateschoolnetworkintheworld.
RecentlyweofferedadmissiontotheClassof 2015.
WearefortunatetoliveinHouston,acitythatoffers
manywonderfuleducationalopportunities.Mostof our
admittedstudentswillhavewonderfulchoicesfortheir
schooling.AndwhileStrakeJesuitmaynotbetheperfect
fitforeverystudent,itisnotjustoneschoolamongequals
either.Whatweofferhere,andthetraditionthatwearea
partof,istrulyunique.
AllthosefamiliarwordsandphrasesfromthatLMU
retreataremorethanmerewords.FindingGodinall
things.Men and Women for Others.Service.Faith.Spiritual
Exercisesof St.Ignatius.Theyareattheheartof our
mission,theheartof whatwedohereeveryday,theheart
of ourdreamsandvisions.
Ourmostrecentdream,thenewRetreatand
LeadershipCenter,growsoutof ourJesuitmission.The
retreatswewillofferthere,andtheopportunitiesfor
studentgrowth,teambuildingandleadership,willbe
unparalleledinourhistory.Welookforwardtousingthis
newfacilitynextschoolyear.Pleasefollowthisexciting
storyonpage10.
Wecannotdoallthatwedoeverydaybyourselves.
Thankyouforhelpingusfulfillourdreamsforour
studentsaswefulfillourmissioneveryday.
Sincerely,
DanielK.Lahart,SJ
3
JESUIT HIGH SCHOOLSIN NORTH AMERICA WITH FOUNDING YEAR
ArrupeJesuitHighSchool-Denver(2003)BelenJesuitPreparatorySchool-Miami(1854)
BellarmineCollegePreparatory-SanJose,CA(1851)BellarminePreparatorySchool-Tacoma,WA(1928)
BostonCollegeHighSchool(1863)Brebeuf JesuitPreparatorySchool-Indianapolis(1962)
BrophyCollegePreparatory-Phoenix(1928)CanisiusHighSchool-Buffalo(1870)
CheverusHighSchool-Portland,ME(1917)ChristtheKingJesuitCollegePreparatorySchool-Chicago(2008)
ColegioSanIgnaciodeLoyolaSanJuan,PR(1952)CreightonPreparatorySchool-Omaha(1878)CristoReyHighSchool-Sacramento(2006)
CristoReyJesuitCollegePreparatorySchoolof Houston(2009)CristoReyJesuitHighSchool-Chicago(1996)CristoReyJesuitHighSchool-Baltimore(2007)
CristoReyJesuitHighSchool-TwinCities-Minneapolis(2007)DeSmetJesuitHighSchool-St.Louis(1967)
FairfieldCollegePreparatorySchool-Fairfield,CT(1942)FordhamPreparatorySchool-Bronz,NY(1841)
GeorgetownPreparatorySchool-NorthBethesda,MD(1789)GonzagaCollegeHighSchool-Washington,D.C.(1821)GonzagaPreparatorySchool-Spokane,WA(1887)HolyFamilyCristoRey-Birmingham,AL(2009)JesuitCollegePreparatorySchool-Dallas(1942)
JesuitHighSchool-NewOrleans(1847)JesuitHighSchool-Portland(1956)JesuitHighSchool-Sacramento(1963)JesuitHighSchool-Tampa(1899)
LoyolaAcademy-Wilmette,IL(1909)LoyolaBlakefield-Towson,MD(1852)LoyolaHighSchool-Montreal(1896)LoyolaHighSchool-DetroitMI(1993)LoyolaHighSchoolof LosAngeles(1865)
LoyolaSchoolNewYork(1900)MarquetteUniversityHighSchool-Milwaukee(1857)
McQuaidJesuit-Rochester,NY(1954)RedCloudHighSchool-PineRidge,SD(1888)
RegisHighSchool-NewYork(1914)RegisJesuitHighSchool-Aurora,CO(1877)
RockhurstHighSchool-KansasCity,MO(1910)SaintIgnatiusCollegePrep-Chicago(1870)
SaintPeter’sPreparatorySchool-JerseyCity,NJ(1872)ScrantonPreparatorySchool(1944)
SeattlePreparatorySchool(1891)St.Bonaventure’sCollegeSt.John’s,NL,Canada(1999)St.IgnatiusCollegePreparatory-SanFrancisco(1855)
St.IgnatiusHighSchool-Cleveland(1886)St.John’sJesuitHighSchoolandAcademy-Toledo(1965)St.Joseph’sPreparatorySchool-Philadelphia(1851)
St.LouisUniversityHighSchool(1818)St.Paul’sHighSchool-Winnipeg,Canada(1926)St.XavierHighSchool-Cincinnati(1831)StrakeJesuitCollegePreparatory(1960)
Universityof DetroitJesuitHighSchoolandAcademy(1877)VerbumDeiHighSchool-LosAngeles(2005)
WalshJesuitHighSchool-CuyahogaFalls,OH(1965)XavierCollegePreparatoryHighSchool-PalmDesert,CA(2006)
XavierHighSchool-NewYork(1847)
JESUIT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIESIN NORTH AMERICA WITH FOUNDING YEAR
BostonCollege(1863)CanisiusCollege-Buffalo(1870)
JohnCarrollUniversity-Cleveland(1886)Collegeof theHolyCross-Worchester,MA(1843)
CreightonUniversity-Omaha(1878)FairfieldUniversity-Fairfield,CT(1942)FordhamUniversity-NewYork(1841)
GeorgetownUniversity-Washington,D.C.(1789)GonzagaUniversity-Spokane,WA(1887)LeMoyneCollege-Syracuse(1946)LoyolaUniversityChicago(1870)
LoyolaUniversityMaryland-Baltimore(1852)LoyolaMarymountUniversity-LosAngeles(1911)
LoyolaUniversityNewOrleans(1912)MarquetteUniversity-Milwaukee(1881)
RegisUniversity-Denver(1877)RockhurstUniversity-KansasCity,MO(1910)SaintJoseph’sUniversity-Philadelphia(1851)
SaintLouisUniversity(1818)SaintPeter’sCollege-JerseyCity,NJ(1872)
SantaClaraUniversity(1851)SeattleUniversity(1891)
SpringHillCollege-Mobile,AL(1830)Universityof DetroitMercy(1877)Universityof Scranton(1888)
Universityof SanFrancisco(1855)WheelingJesuitUniversity-Wheeling,WV(1954)
XavierUniversity-Cincinnati(1831)
4
Intheveryearly’80s,thesignswereindeedauspicious.In1980,ouralumni
endowmentfundwasestablished,enrollmentroseto593students,thelibraryadded
its20,000thbook,andanewpresident,Fr.EdgarMaresma,SJ,arrivedoncampus.
Thefollowingyear,Fr.Maresma’sinterestintheschool’spatronsaint,St.Stanislaus
Kostka,ledtotherediscoveryofhisstatue“packedawayinthemaintenanceshed.”
Alumni Newsexpressedthewishthat,nowthathewasproudlyondisplayagain,
“St.Stanislaus’dedicat iontohisidealsandhiscommitmenttohisgoaldespite
obstacles[whichincludedhisfamily’sresistancetohisJesuitvocation]canprove
aninspirat iontoourstudents.”
Amorecontemporaryiconwas
theDeLoreanDMC-12sportscar,which
wasthegrandpr izeintheraff leata
fund-raisingdinnerheldinSeptember
1981.Appropriately,the“Dream”was
wonbyoneoftheschool’soldestfriends:
GeorgeBrueggeman,Sr.Sixyearslater,
atanotherdinner,Mr.Brueggemanwas
honoredbyourBoardofDirectorsfor
a l lthathehaddonetohelpkeepthe
StrakeJesuitdreamal ive.
TheDeLoreansportscarwould
beimmortalizedlaterinthe’80sinthe Back to the Future movies,butin1981Strake
Jesuitwasallaboutgoingforwardintothefuture.SJETwashelpingtotakeusthere.
“Thepurchaseof10RCAcolortelevisionsthispastsummer,”reportedAlumni News,
“completesthereplacementoftheolderblackandwhitemonitorsintheclassroom…
[T]heoutmodeddialaccessaudiosystem[hasbeen]removedandanewITTintercom
phonesystem…instal ledinthecontrolroom.”
T he a d v e n t o f c ompu t e r s , howe ve r , w a s t h e r e a l s i g n t h a t we
were pa r t of t he bravenew technolog ica l wor ld . Ou r ha rdwa re cons i s ted
The 1980’s
A DUTYTO DREAM
ExcerptsfromWe are SJ - 50 Years of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
byRobertCremins
On retreat in 1980.
5
of “ t h r e e CRT t e rm i n a l s … con ne c t e d t o a … c en t r a l p ro c e s so r ” a nd
“ [ t ]wo sma l l de sk- top comput e r s , e a ch w i t h d i sk s to r a g e a nd p r i n t e r .”
(Bywayofcontrast,todayourcomputerlabsalonecanboastover150PCworkstations
inf ivelabs.)
Ourfaci l it ieswerealsoimprovingtheold-fashionedway:brickbybrick.
For20years,temporarybui ldings(or“shacks,”astheyweremoreoftencal led)
hadbeenanecessaryeyesoreoncampus,butinthe1980stheywoulddisappear
forgood.“Oneofthemostexcit ingeventsthissemester,”reportedAlumni News
inDecember1982,“wasthedemolit ionoftheold,condemnedtheaterbuildingso
constructioncouldbeginonournewTheater.”
ThisnewhomefortheSouthwellPlayers,alongwiththefour-classroom
500Building,wasinuselessthanayearlater.Thetheater’sinauguralproduction
was“aqualityperformanceofMy Fair Lady”(Alumni News),directedbySallyBarbay.
In1987,theschoolbrokegroundonanevenmoreambitiousbuilding,“atwo-
storybrick[structure]encompassingapproximately13,000squarefeet”(Alumni News).
Thisnew“faculty/studentservice”centerprovidedmuchneededspaceforoperations
rangingfromtheDeanofStudentsOfficetotheCounsel ingDepartment.Named
inhonorofWill iamT.Moran,thebuildingwasfundedbygenerousgiftsfromMrs.
Moranandhergrandson,
PatMoran’66.
However,thesewere
alsoanxiousyearsforthe
JesuitmissiononBellaire
Boulevard.Noschoolis
anisland—especiallynot
th isone.Theoi lslump
ofthe1980shitHouston
hard,andthatdownturn
resultedinreducedfinancial
circumstancesformany
StrakeJesuit,orwould-be
StrakeJesuit,families.The
freshmanclassof1987was
thesmallestinmanyyears.
SomeotherCathol icschoolswouldnotsurvivetheseleanyears.SJdid.R ichard
Nevle,whowasappointedassistantprincipalin1983,offerstheseinsightsinto
oursurvival:“Ourenrollmentturnedaroundinthe’90sbecauseHoustoncl imbed
outoftheoilslumpandStrakeJesuit’seffortsatadvert isingandmoreaggressive
Aerial view, 1986.
6
admissionswork—whichhadbeguninthe’80s—begantopayoff.”
So,eventhoughournumberswere(relat ively)low,moralewashigh.With
thearrivalofFr.Bil lyHuete,SJ,inthesummerof1984,wegainedayouthfuland
energeticnewprincipal.In1985,theschoolcelebrateditssi lveranniversaryyear,
andaJesuitpublicationpraisedthemissionforhaving“afreshnessandenthusiasm
at25years.”
Moralewasfurtherboostedinthefallof1988,whenstudentshad“thethrill
ofseeingahel icopterlandonasoccerf ield”(Alumni News).Thataircraftbrought
averyspecia lv isitortocampus:Fr.Peter-HansKolvenbach,SuperiorGeneral
oftheSocietyofJesus.Inaninspiringspeech,heurgedStrakeJesuitstudentsto
“takecommandofyourowndevelopment,ofyourpersonalformation.Beactors
andnotjustspectators.”
Thestudentsofthe1980swouldprovet imeandagainthattheywereno
merespectatorswhenitcametotheireducationandtheirschoolcommunity.They
pouredtheirenthusiasmnotjustintothetypicalcurricularandextracurricular
activitiesbutalsointounusualpursuits,forthiswasthegoldenageoftheeccentric
pastime.In1984alone,aneclecticstudentcouldchoosetojointheSesquipedalian
Club,theUlt imateFrisbeeOrganization,andtheBeerCanCollectors.
MusicremainedapassionformanySJstudents,thoughthemeansforlistening
toithadchanged.Eight-trackwasout,andCDswerein.Infact,CDsweresomuch
theragethatin1988studentscollaboratedinaneffortthatalumnimentionmore
oftenthananyother
eventofthedecade.
It becameknown
s imp l y a s “Not e
CardMania.”The
prize,offeredbylocal
radiostationKRBE,
wasajukeboxfilled
withthoseprecious
CDs.Accordingto
the1988yearbook,
“ T hou sa nds a nd
thousandsofcards
weref i l ledoutdailyasMr.CaroladrovetheJesuitstudentsintoafrenzynotoften
seenonthiscampus.”SJwonthechallengebyfill ingoutastaggering270,000cards.
Cross-townrivalswerenomatchforastudentbodydeterminedtobeactorsand
notjustspectators:“Thebiggerschoolswereinnoshapetochal lengethemanic
Jim Braniff ‘88 filing out one of 270,000 note cards that earned Strake Jesuit a jukebox filled with CDs.
7
industriousnessthatisahal lmarkofa[ Jesuit]student.”
TheCDjukeboxoccupiedaproudplaceinourcafeteriaunt i litdiedof
electroniccauses,thoughtheCDsthemselveswererescuedbythatgreatguardianof
schoolhistory,TonyMuniz’87.Onlyone
mysteryst i l lsurroundsthelegendary
jukebox.Eightiesalumnioftenwonder
why,whentherewassucharangeoftracks
available,thethingalwaysseemedtobe
playing“StairwaytoHeaven.”
Inthelate1980s,theworldwas
changingrapidly.ThethawintheColdWar
resultingfrompositivemeetingsbetween
PresidentsRonaldReaganandMikhail
Gorbachevbecameaveritablemelt ing
oncetheBerl inWallcamedowninthe
f inalweeksofthedecade.The“Berl in
Wall”betweenStrakeJesuitandSt.AgnesAcademyhadlongsincedisappeared,but
in1989thispolicyof“glasnost”(openness)seemstohaveextendedtotheairspace
abovetheschools.OneofFr.Jenniskens’peacockstookofffromourcampusand,
unfortunately,landedonSt.AgnesAcademy’stransformer,electrocut ingitself
andcuttingthepowertoourgoodneighborsrightinthemiddleoftheirMadonna
DayMass.Thismishapdidnotpreventthetwoschoolsfromworkingevercloser
toprovideeachother’sstudentswithopportunit iestotakeelectiveclassesonthe
campusnextdoor.
Luckily,Fr.Kolvenbach’stakeoffandlandingherewerealotsaferthanthe
poorpeacock’s.Beforeheleftcampusonthathistoricday,hegaveourstudentsnot
onlyaholiday,butalsothegiftofacarefullywordedsummationoftheirmission:
It is the r ight and even the duty of the young to dream. You must dream of
the kind of person you want to become. You must dream about the role you will play in
helping transform the earth into a place of justice, love, and peace. You must dream of
transforming yourselves into Men for Others. You must dream of developing your full
potential, the powers of your mind, the abilities of your bodies, and the compassion of
your heart.
Ofcourse,itisnotjusttheyoungwhohaveadutytodream;thoseentrustedwith
Jamming outside the Library in 1981.
8
Fr. Edward Maresma, SJ served as Jesuit’s third President beginning on January 1, 1981 after
serving as a Theology teacher at Jesuit for one year. A native of New Orleans, Fr. Maresma
graduated from Jesuit High School in New Orleans. He then earned a BBA from Loyola
University in New Orleans, an MA in Philosophy from St. John Vianney Major Seminary in
East Aurora, New York and his STL degree in Moral Theology from the Gregorian University in
Rome. He entered the Society of Jesus in August 1967 and did two years of Novitiate training
at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. He taught Theology for one year at Jesuit
High School in New Orleans and then studied theology at Milltown Institute of Theology in
Dublin, Ireland from 1970 to 1973. He was ordained a priest in June 1973 and studied for
the Licentiate in Sacred Theology for two years at Gregorian University in Rome. From 1975
to 1979 he taught Theology at Jesuit High in New Orleans before coming to Strake Jesuit.
P R E S I D E N T ’ S P R O F I L E
Fr. Edward Maresma, SJPresident from 1981-1990
Five Jesuits have held the full-time position of President over the school’s first 50 years. Within a year or two, each of their terms spanned an actual decade. This Profile will feature the
President associated with the decade featured in this special section.
thefutureofamissionsuchasStrakeJesuithavethesameresponsibility,andthroughoutthe
1980sthat’sexactlywhatthosetrusteesweredoing.Uponhisretirementin1987,longtime
facultymemberPhilSmelkocommentedthatthroughhismanyyearsofserviceatSJ,
“IalwaysfeltasthoughIwasworkingwithratherthanforsomeone.”
Work ingwitheachother,thestudents,facu lt y,staff,andfami l iesof
StrakeJesuitensuredthatthe1980sweresuccessfulyearsintheirownrightandan
importantpartofthefoundationfortheexpansiveyearstocome.
9
T R A D I T I O N S
Since the late 1980s, each Christmas the Sophomore class takes up their BEAR (BE A Resource)
Christmas Gift Project. Fr. J.B. Leininger, SJ lends a hand in 1990 (left) collecting gifts and
(below) the results of this year’s efforts were tremendous. As it does each year, the month-long
project concludes at the Immaculate Conception Mass when the gifts are collected in the foyer
of the Parsley Center before being loaded on trucks for delivery. Each sophomore receives one
child’s card request which contains the
name, gender, age (from 1 yr to 18 yrs) and
a wish list of up to 3 items in the order of
preference. The students then try to fulfill at
least one of those wishes on the list.
SOPHOMORE CHRISTMAS GIFT PROJECT
ALUMNI FIELD DAY/ALUMNI GAMES
For years (if not decades) Alumni have retuned to the Strake
Jesuit campus to ‘relive their youth’ and particpate in athletic
games and contests. In the 1980s (right top) the event was called
Alumni Field Day and pitted Alumni class against Alumni class in
a variety of contests where points were awarded for the results.
The day eventually evolved into Alumni Games, as it was held this
year in December (bottom right), where alumni from various sports
return to school and play a game in that sport. The events include
soccer, lacrosse (pictured here), basketball and water polo.
8900NEWS FROMCONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY ONRETREAT & LEADERSHIP CENTER Earth isbeingmoved,concrete isbeingpouredandwallsaregoingupasconstructionhasbegunontheStrakeJesuitRetreat&LeadershipCenter.This
excitingprojectwill provide the school a facility that very fewschoolsinthecountrycanclaim-itsownlocationforallretreatsandotheractivities.Located less than two hours north of Houston off I-45 inLeonCounty, thecenterwillbe locatedon justunder70acresof donatedland.Withrollinghillsandnaturalfeaturesincludingwaterandtrees,itisamagnificentlocationandwillprovidetheperfectbackdropforreflectionandcontemplationawayfromthebustleof thecity.
The first part of the constructionprocess was the clearing of some trees,expansionof asmall,creek-fedlake,andthe grading of an access road. In earlyMarch, construction of the first set of buildingsbegan.ThoseincludetheDiningHall and eight individual cabins. Withthosefacilitiesexpectedtobecompletebyearlysummer,theCenterwillbereadytohostretreatsandothergroupactivitiesbythestartof thenewschoolyear. ConstructionwillcontinueontheotherstructureswhichwillincludeaConferenceCenter, Chapel, Bunkhouse, a Jesuit &
Faculty House and an outdoorPavilion. If things progress asexpected,theentirefacilitywillbecompletebythesummerof 2012.
10
Top to bottom:One of the eight cabins under construction.
View from site of the Dining Hall, across the lake to the area where the cabins are located.
View from the of the Dining Hall to the top of he hill where the Chapel will be located.
ANNIVERSARY BOOK WINS DESIGN AWARDS Strake Jesuit’s 50th Anniversary Book, “We Are SJ”,earnedtwoawardsincludingBestof Showatthe49thAnnualAmericanAdvertisingFederation-HoustonADDYAwardsheld on Saturday, February 19. The publication earnedaGoldAddy and aBestof Show -Print in theCollateralMaterialBookDesigncategory.AsaGoldAddywinner,thebook will automatically compete in the AAF District Tencompetition.TheADDYAwardsistheadvertisingindustry’slargest andmost representativecompetition, attractingover50,000entrieseveryyearinlocalADDYcompetitions. The book, written by former faculty member RobertCremins,wasdesignedbyBrandExtact, aBrandConsultingandDevelopmentfirmheadedbyBoBothe‘88. A limited number of copies of the book are stillavailablefor$40.TopurchaseoneormorebooksontheschoolwebsiteclickontheBookintheQuickLinks.
BIG BASH SET TO CLOSE OUT50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Markyourcalendar,callthebaby-sitter,dustoff thosedancingshoes,sendthat leisure suit to the cleaners and prepare to PARTY!We’re going tocelebratethefirst50yearsof StrakeJesuitthroughthe60’sand70’sandallthewayto2011andbringthisanniversaryyeartoarousingclose. The funwill take place on Saturday,May 7 beginning at6:00 pm with a Mass in the Parsley Center. Afterwards, thepartybegins in theMoranDiningHallwith areception&dinner.Followingabrief program,which will include a short video, “HumbleBeginnings,”whichhighlightstheschool’sfirstdecade, the party really gets started. It will betimetodancethenight(andtheyears)awaytothemusicof thelast50years! Don’twaitfortheinvitationtoarriveinthemail,considerthisaformalinvite.Youcanmakeyourreservationsnowonline.Ontheschoolwebsiteclickonthe50thAnniversaryPartybuttonunderQuickLinks.
11
8900NEWS FROM
LONGTIME FACULTY MEMBERS GILBERT & HORN SET TO RETIRE Twoof thelongestservingfacultymembersstillteachinghaveannouncedtheirretirementattheendof thecurrentschoolyear.JimGilbertandBobHornhavedecideditistimetopassthebaton. Gilbert arrived on the Strake Jesuit campus in 1968 expecting it to be arelativelybrief stay. “I intended to stay a fewyears and thengetmydoctorate
inArtHistory,”herecalls.“IhaveneverconsideredleavingJesuit.Ihavelearnedalotinmy40yearsatJesuit.Iwould
notchangeanyof it.”AsidefromteachingArtHistory,Mr.Gilbertis known best as serving as theman behind SJET since the late1970’s. BobHornarrivedintheearly1980’s as a young math teacherand soon became the swimmingand water polo coach. “Fr. J.B.Leininger, SJ first showed mearoundacampusin1982.”Hornrecalled. “The main parkingarea was lined with temporarybuildings which served asclassrooms,Jesuit residences, thechapelandfacultylunchroomandoffices.TheystoodwhereMoranHall and the 500 building andtheater stand now. I’ve enjoyedseeing the school grow andchange. However, mostly I’veenjoyedtheopportunitytoworkwith the Jesuit students for thelast29years.”
12
8900NEWS FROMEIGHT BAND & ORCHESTRA
MEMBERS SELECTED TO
ALL-STATE GROUPS
Eight Jesuit members of the
Strake Jesuit/St. Agnes band and one
orchestra member were selected to
the 2011 Texas Private School Music
Educators Association’s All State Band
and Orchestra. They were selected by
audition from a pool of over 30 private
high school music programs. The All-
State Band and Orchestra, of which they
were members, performed a concert on
January 29 in the Evans Auditorium at
the Texas State University, San Marcos.
All-State Band members are:
senior Sebastian Kawar-tuba
junior Jonathan Vachon-alto saxophone
junior Gabriel Janer-alto saxophone
junior Beau Guedry-clarinet
freshman David Culbreth-trumpet
junior Daniel McMinn-trombone
junior Max Westhoff-trumpet
All-State Orchestra member is
senior Simon Lee-cello
JESUIT DEBATERS EXCEL AT
HARVARD TOURNAMENT
The Strake Jesuit Debate Team
competed at the Harvard National
Tournament in late February. There
were 350 debaters at the event
representing 25 different states. Top
Jesuit competitors were junior Clay
Spence, sophomore Jeremy Dang, and
junior John Heizelman. Spence placed
in the top 30 debaters, Dang was in the
top 20, and Heizelman placed ninth.
Heizelman was also recognized as the
second place speaker at the tournament.
Jim Gilbert (top) in his first year of 1968 and today and Bob Horn (bottom) in his first year of 1982 and today.
Congratulate Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Hornon their many years of service to Strake Jesuit!
You can e-mail them at [email protected] and [email protected].
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8900NEWS FROM40th SPRING FLING A RECORD SETTER OnMarch 6we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Strake Jesuit’s SpringFlingInternationalFestival.Byallaccounts,itwasaSpringFlingtoremember!Thedaywasperfectineveryway.Theweatherwasgorgeous,theturnoutwasfantastic,thefoodwasdelicious,themusichadthecrowdmoving,andthegameswereablast. Thisyearsawthereturnof Fr.Leininger’sJungleSafarigameaswellasmanyothernewgamesandmanyof theoldfavorites.Funwasrampant across the campus – whether youwere a child playing in Crusaderland, eatingafriedsnickersorrock-climbing,oneof ourdadsorstudentssellingorwearingtackyties,astudentplayingcasinogames,agrandmotherplaying ping-pong with her grandson, ora shopper at our marketplace. There wassomethingforeveryone. EveryonewasfiredupandreadytorollfromthemomentSpringFlingkickedoff.Fr.Lahart leda long listof greatsportswhotookaturnintheRoyalFlush–eachsubjectinghimself to theflowingwater.Therewasanon-stopcrowdwaitingforaturn.Whatahit! The Strake Jesuit community reallycame together for this special event.Whether participating in Spring Flingby organizing a booth, volunteering fora shift, delivering gift cards or food, orsimply sharing time with friends, theentirecommunityreallysteppedup.OurStrakeJesuitcommunityisthereasonthedaywassuchasuccessanditisoneof thethingsthatmakesStrakeJesuitsospecial. The day culminated in the much anticipated Raffle drawing for a 2011ToyotaRav4,FlatScreenTVand$1,000GiftCard.Raffleproceedsgotowardssupportingtheschool’sfinancialaidprogram,whichgivesover$1.1millioninaidtoover120students.Arecordamountinexcessof $230,000wasraised,andallclassesexceeded100%of theirclassquotas. Withoutadoubt,SpringFling2011wasagreatdayforStrakeJesuitandawonderfulcelebrationof ourcommunityanditsdiversity.If youcouldnotmakeitthisyear,youwillwanttobetherenextyear. SpringFling2012willbeherebeforeyouknowit.
From the very first Spring Fling in 1971 (top) to where it is today (bottom), the event has grown to become the largest community-wide event at the school.
8900NEWS FROM
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NINE NAMED NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST Each of the nine Strake Jesuit seniors who last fall was named NationalMeritSemifinalistshasbeennamedasFinalistsintheNationalMeritScholarshipProgram.Eachwillnowbeeligibletobeoneof 8,400MeritScholarshipswinnersfromthemorethan15,000Finalists.Thewinnersof thescholarshipofferswillbenotifiedthisspring.Thenineare:
SENIOR LEE PERFORMS AT CARNEGIE HALL SeniorcellistSimonLeeperformedinWeillHallatNewYork’sCarnegieHallonMarch6.Lee,alongwithSt.AgnesmusicianSophiaDao,wontheAmericanProtégéCompetitionwith their recordingof Shostakovich’sCelloSonata inD
minorop.40. The pair participated and won the Houston YoungArtist competition. By recommendation of their privateinstructor, they recorded a DVD and submitted theirperformance to the audition committee of the AmericanProtégé InternationalPianoandStringsCompetition2010.The competition attracted applicants from across the US,China,Korea,UnitedKingdom,Germany,France,Canada,Romania,HongKong,Republicof Georgia,Australia,IsraelandCostaRica. Thewinnersof theeventperformedaconcertheldatWeillRecitalHallatCarnegieHall.
Simon Lee and Sophia Dao atCarneigie Hall in March.
Alan Albrecht Alex Bartram Andrew Best George Taylor Matthew Lacamu
Ryan Lord Matthew Meece Sean Sculley Christopher Than
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Sincesomanyolderhighschoolstudentscanclearlypassforadultsitishardforparentstoseethemastheyoftenseethemselves–anxious,powerlessandconfused.Afteralltheydrivecars,traveltheworld,holddownjobsandhandlephysicsandcalculuswithverylittledifficulty.Theyappeartohaveeverythingundercontrol–andthat’showtheywillanswerwhenasked. “Don’tworryaboutit,I’vegoteverythingundercontrol.”Itisfrustratingtounderstandwhyyoungsterswhoareblessedwithsomuchtalentandsomanyresourcesholdthemselvesbackforyearsatatime,andthensuddenlyexplodeandthrowtheirheartandsoulintoaproject,andveryoftenacareer.Forsometheexplosiontakesplaceintheirfirstyearsof highschool–forothersthisliftoff maynottakeplaceuntiltheyareintheirthirties–butwhenithappens,thebestthingforparentstodoisstepback,stayoutof thewayandwatchtheirsonbecomeaman. Thepsychologistswhocouldfindtheswitchthatturnsonthisburstof confidenceandcommitmentwouldenjoynotonlyfamebutfortuneaswell.Sadlythereisnosuchswitch;growingupandtakingchargedoesnothaveanagenda.Anumberof thingshavetohappenandnotinanyparticularorder.Confidencecomesfromachievement,buttoachieverequirestakingariskandtakingrisksrequiresconfidence.Makingadreamarealitydependsonhavingadream,butdreamingrequiresself-knowledgeandadolescenceandagoodpartof adolescentlifeisfindingoneself. ThereisabeautifullineinProverbsthattellsusthat“Wherethereisnovision,thepeopleperish.”Oneof thegreatchallengestothewholeof Americaneducationcomesnotfromtheschools,butfromsociety.Whenpovertyisintenseandsystemic,itisdifficultforyoungsterstoseebeyondthepowerlessnessof theirpresentsituation–theyaremorethanpoor–theydon’tevenhaveadream.Likewisewheneducationisreducedtotraining,thenwheredostudentslearntothink,towonderandtodream?Whilewecannotfindtheswitchtoilluminatethedarknessof adreamlessworld,wecanintroduceyoungsterstotheimportanceof havingavision. Thematerialisticandconsequentlyfatalisticsocietyinwhichourchildrenaregrowingupcannotbegintoaddressthisneedtoseebeyondthehorizonof thepresent
PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE __toenvisionwhatIcanbe–towhatIamcalledtodo,calledtobebothhereandnow–andultimately.Listeningtostudentssharetheirdreamsandconfusionsishardlyinthecurriculumof mostAmericanschools.Someteacherscanempowertheirstudentstodreamandreflect,butwhattheyaredoingarisesoutof theirsensethatteachingisaministry.Theyusuallyworkwithoutsupportfromtheinstitutionsthatemploythemandfromthefamiliesof thechildrentheyteach.Whenteachersandschoolssharethesamepriorities,thereisamuchgreaterchanceof openingstudents’mindsandhearts. Theadvantageof aJesuiteducationisthatitpresumesthisneedforvisionandfromastudent’sfirstdaysattheschoolhehearsthatispartof somethingmuchgreaterthanhimself.Heischallengedinhisacademiccourses,andinathleticandextracurricularprogramstofindouthowdeephegoes.Confidencegrowsoutof thesechallenges,asdoesasenseof self-worth,andthecouragetodream.Whenhehearsandmeetsanalumnuswhohasthrownhimself bodyandsoulintomakinglifebetter,astudenthasachancetoseethatpeoplelikehimself,whothemselvesoncesatnervouslyinthesameclassroomshesitsin,asparkignites,afuseislit. Jesuitstudentsspendagreatdealof timeinspiritualretreatsaswell;theyareledbytheirteachers,bothJesuitandlay,andbytheirpeersthroughaseriesof exercisesdesignedtohelpthemknowandbetterunderstandthemselvesandtheirrelationshipswithGod,theirfamiliesandtheirclassmates.Theyarechallengedtoreflectandtodream,tosearchformeaningandtobroadenanddeepentheirvision. Somestudentsrespondtothechallengetoseethewidervisionimmediately,othersdrawonthememoryof theseeventsyearslaterandtakechargeof makingtheirdream,theirvision,areality.
Tee it high & let it fly!
Monday, June 13, 2011at magnificent
Sweetwater Country Club
Register Online atwww.strakejesuit.org/scramble
SPONSORSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE
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NEWSATHLETICFOUR INDUCTED INTO ATHLETICS HALL OF HONOR OnSaturday,February5,StrakeJesuithosteditsannualNightof HonorwhenitinductedfournewmembersintotheStrakeJesuitAthleticsHallof Honor.(Theeventinnormallyheldinthefallbutwasmovedthisyeartoaccommodatetheschedulesof someof theinductees.) ThenewmembersareGeorgeBean‘81,CoreyDavis ‘90, longtime athleticboosterBobPilegge,andformercoachTommyNolen.Thethirdsuchinductionceremonydrewthelargestcrowdtodateas almost 200 familymembers, friendsand supporters were on hand. WiththeirinductiontheHallof Honornowincludes 14 members including eightathletes, twoteams, threedistinguishedindividuals,andNolenasthefirstcoach. Thehighlightvideosaswellastheacceptance speeches of each of thisyear’s inductees can be viewed on theschool’swebsite.Toaccess,justclickonHallof HonorinthedropdownmenuunderAthleticsandfollowthelinks. These four join the othermembers of theAthleticsHall of HonorMikeJanda‘69,MikeNovelli‘75,EricMullins‘80,ChrisDarkins‘92,the1976FootballTeam,Br.CaseyFerlita,SJ,RalphSacra‘69,SteveMcConnell‘78,BillMcArdle,andthe1976-77SoccerTeam. TheStrakeJesuitAthleticHallof Honorwascreatedin2008torecognizeandhonortheathletes,coaches,individualsandteamsthathavemadesignificantcontributionstotheCrusadersAthleticprogram.
Flanked by Athletic Director Bill McDonald (left) and school President Fr. Daniel Lahart, SJ (right), the 2010 Hall of Honor inductees are Tommy Nolen, Bob Pilegge, Corey Davis ‘90 and George Bean ‘81.
Nominations for the Athletics Hall of Honor Being AcceptedNominationsfortheAthleticsHallof HonorClassof 2011arenowbeingacceptedonlineuntiltheendof April.Toaccesstheformandmake a nomination, visit the school’sweb site at www.strakejesuit.org and clickontheHallof HonorbuttonintheQuickLinks.Theformgivesthequalificationsforselectionaswell.
SOCCER AND TENNIS TEAMS
CONTINUE TRADITION
OF SERVICE
On Saturday, December 4, 2010,
26 soccer players representing all five
Strake Jesuit soccer teams volunteered
their time and worked with their hands
for a change. The group traveled to
a warehouse downtown operated by
Christian Alliance for Humanitarian
Aid, Inc. This organization gathers
donated items from corporations
throughout the nation, and negotiates
distribution to areas in desperate need.
Christian Alliance sent 7 shipping cargo
containers full of aid to Haiti last week.
Then, on Sunday, January 30, the
Strake Jesuit Tennis Team continued its
program’s long tradition of volunteering
at Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen. For
this, the 7th straight year of the team’s
service project, 24 team members
and 2 coaches participated. The team
donated salad for the homeless including
lettuce, tomatoes, and dressing as well
as clothing and shoes. They then helped
prepare a meal and served over 250
meals to the homeless on hand before
assisting with cleanup and attending a
Mass with the homeless.
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newsathleticSWIMMING & DIVING TheJesuitSwimmingandDivingteamfoundthemselvesinaverycompetitivedistrictin2010-2011.Despitethechallenge,theteamcompetedwellandseveralindividualshadoutstandingseasons..Inaddition,theJVsquadtooktheirdistricttitlegivingtheteamapromisingfuture. “Wewere inanextremely toughdistrict,but Iwasveryhappywithhowwecompeted this year,”noted Head Coach Tom Walker. “We had someof ourbesttimesinafewyearsandwehavesomeyoungtalentthatispromisingforthefuture.” SophomoreZacharyStocktonhadtworecord-setting diving performances. He broke the schoolrecords for both a 6Dive event and the 11Diveevent. TheCrusadersenteredthedistrictmeetasheavyunderdogs,notseededtomakeregionsinanyevent.Againstthoseoddstheteampostedtheirbesttimesin almost all of their races and several membersqualifiedfor theregionalmeet.AmongthosewereStocktonwhoplaced3rdindiving,SeniorGabrielPucciniwhoplaced6thinthe50Freestyle,andthe200 Freestyle Relay team of junior Nate Zuiker,seniorChrisThan, juniorAllenGlass, andPucciniwhich placed 5th. At the regional meet Puccinifinished7th, three-tenthsof a second fromqualifying for state.The 200FreeRelayteamfinished7thandZacharyStocktonfinished6th. Stockton,Puccini,Zuiker,Glass,andThaneachearnedAll-Districthonors.
BASKETBALL TheCrusadersbasketballteamreturnedeightplayersfromlastyear’sregionsemi-finalist team giving themhigh expectations.After early seasonwins overDallasJesuit,St.Thomas,andnationalpowerhouseCentralParkChristian,Jesuitentered tournament play.After taking theConsolation title in theAldine ISDTournament, theCrusaders headed toBethesda,Maryland and theAnnualFr.George Christmas Classic, an all-Jesuit tournament. The squad captured thetournament titlewithwinsover JesuitNewOrleans,St. Ignatiusof Cleveland,andhostschoolGeorgetownPrep. Thenitwasontodistrictplay,whichwouldnotbeacakewalk.“District19-5AisasstrongasanydistrictintheGreaterHoustonarea,”notedHeadCoachWayneJones.“Thecompetition,nightafternight,isincredible.”Facingstiff competitioninthelikesof state-rankedSevenLakesandMortonRanch,theCrusaderswouldonlydroponedistrictgameandcapturewithtitlewitharecordof 13-1.
Members of the Tennis Team prepare to serve a meal at Loavesand Fishes.
Zach Stockton ‘13
19
NEWSATHLETIC ThetoughscheduleseemedtopreparethemforanotherrunintheUILplayoffs.In the bi-district game, the Crusaderswere matched up against the LamarRedskins. The gamewent into overtimewiththeRedskinscomingoutontop56-55. TheCrusadersfinishedwithanoverallrecordof 26-4,13-1 indistrictplay andthedistrict19-5AChampions.Theywererankedashighas#2inthecityand#10in the state. Junior Rasheed SulaimonwasDistrictMVPaswellas1stTeamAll-District along with junior John Gillon.SeniorMichael Felton was selected 2ndTeamAll-District andWayne JoneswasnamedCoachof theYearinthedistrict.
WRESTLING The Jesuit Wrestling team had a banner year,reaching tremendous teamand individualmilestones.As a dual squad, the Crusaders clawed their wayto among the top ten teams in the state with theirsuccessatstateduals inJanuary.TheydefeatedsometopprogramsincludingCincoRanch,KatyTaylor,CyWoods,KleinOak,CyFair and a tiewith theKleinBearcats. SeniorsPhillipPoswayandSeanSculleyandjuniorMarcHenning qualified for state andmade quite animpression. Henning defeated a star wrestler fromthe eventual state champions andSculleypinned theundefeatedRegion1champion.SeniorKyleHamiltonwontheRangerClassicatDallasJesuitandplantedthetopthreeRegion2wrestlersonhisquest. Sculley, Hamilton, Posway and Henning havejoinedanelitegroup, earning aplace in the“100+victories club” over their career. Their photos willgracethetrophycaseforyearstocome. Henningreturnsforhissenioryearrankedasoneof thetopwrestlersinthestateandhasachancetobreaktheschoolrecordforvictories.Thereisalsotremendoustalentreturningnextyearandtheteamlooksforwardtoimprovingonanincredibleseason.
District MVP junior Rasheed Sulaimon
Sean Sculley ‘11 pinned the eventual state champion at the State Wrestling Tournament
CRUSADERS AND EAGLES COME TOGETHERFOR GOOD CAUSE
ItisnotoftenthathighschoolstudentathletescanputanageoldrivalrytorestforanhourbutStrakeJesuitCollegePreparatoryteamedupwithSt.ThomasHighSchool toco-host thefirst everChallengerBasketballgameonJanuary8,2011. With a crowd of family and friends filling thebleachersandtheCrusadersingreenandEaglesinredthegamewentoff withoutahitch.Muchof thatduetothehonorarycoachesWayneJones fromStrake JesuitandDannyEvans fromSt.Thomas aswell as a verycooperativeathleticstaff frombothschools. With varsity basketball players towering over theChallengers,thesespecialchildrenlearnedtohandletheball and scoredbasket after basket.The score soaredinto triple digits as the Challengers felt a part of abasketballteamforthefirsttimeintheirlives! With megaphones and pom poms, spiritedcheerleaderstaughtthelittleonestoshout,cheer,andshakecourtsideandtheylovedentertainingthecrowd. AsthegameendedeveryoneenjoyedthemealastheyvisitedandplannedforthenextChallengerevent.
MJ SAM, WESTON NOVELLI SIGN WITH RICE SeniorsM.J.SamandWestonNovellieachsignedwithRiceUniversityontheNCAA’sNationalLetterof IntentSigningDayinFebruary.SamwillplayfootballfortheOwlswhileNovelliwillrunCrossCountryandTrack.
Samservedasacaptainof thefootballteamasajuniorandasenior.HewasalsoanAll-DistrictDefensiveLinemanselectionasajuniorandsenior. NovellihadanoutstandingcareeratJesuit.InCrossCountry hewasDistrict champion in 2009 and 2010,RegionIIIrunnerupin2009,RegionIII3rdplaceand18thatStatein2010.Hewasamemberof fourDistrictchampionship teams, two Region III Championshipteams and amember of the State’s 4thplace team in2010. In trackhefinished2nd inDistrict in the3200meters, 3rd inDistrict in the 1600meters and 3rd inRegionIIIin3200metersallin2010.
Strake Jesuit junior RasheedSulaimon gives an assist to oneof the young Challenger players
M.J. Sam and Weston Novelli signed with Rice University on the NCAA’s National Letter of Intent Signing Day in February.
20
IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY____ __
RecentlyIcaughtabrief clipfromtheFiddleontheRoof movieontheTCMmoviechannel.TheclassicscenecentersonTevyeandGoldeinthekitchen.TevyeaskingGolde:“Doyouloveme?”AndGolde’ssmartmouthedanswer:“DoIwhat?Aftertwentyfiveyearsyouaskmethis?Maybeit’sindigestion!!!” Thecompletesceneisasardonicandyet,wonderfullookatlongtermcommitmentandtradition.Icouldnothelptothinkof myparentswhorecentlycelebrated52yearsof marriage.Icouldseemymomanddadaskingthemselvesthesamequestionandbothpointingtowhattheyhavedoneforeachotherovertheyears:cleaningthehouse,doinglaundry,preparingmeals,providingforfoodandshelter,payingthebillsandraisingthechildren.Andyet,thequestioncontinuestobevitalamongnewlywedcouplesandthosewhohavesharedthebondsof marriageandfamilyfordecades:Doyouloveme? Ponderingfurther,Iwasbroughttothebiblicalimageof JesusandPeterandtheir“Doyouloveme?”exchange.Prayingthispassagerightafterbreakfast,inthecoolof themorningandjustbarelyfinishingmyfirstcupof coffee,Jesusturnstomeandasks:“Doyouloveme?”Ouch!burningmytonguewiththehotcoffeeIexclaimed:“DoIwhat?“Jesus,whatareyouasking?It’sprobablyindigestion!” WithJesus’voiceechoinginmyheartandfrankly,puzzledbythequestion,Itrytodiffusetheweightof thequestionwithmattersathandsoIwalkedawaytothe
office. IntheSpiritualExercises,intheContemplationtoAttainLove,St.Ignatiusof Loyolawritesthatloveoughttobeshownmoreindeedsthaninwords.Inmyownprayer,Ihavecometounderstandthismeditationpointingtothechief characteristicof God,whichisuttergraciousnesstowardshiscreatures.God,wholoves
usandcreatesus,shareshislifeandgoodnesswithallhisbelovedcreatures.AllthroughtheExercises,weareconfrontedwithaGodthatshareshisgiftsandlaborsforusandwithus.Yet,atsuchoutpouringof love,weoftenrunandseektodiffusetherealityof beinglovedunconditionally.SoconvincedwasIgnatiusfromhisexperiencethat
GodispuregraciousnessandlovethatinalettertoFrSimonRodriguesin1542hewrites:“...itseemstomeinthelightof theDivineGoodnessthatingratitudeisthemostabominableof sins...Foritisaforgettingof thegracesandblessingreceivedthatwesin.Assuchitisthecause,beginning,andoriginof allsinsandmisfortune.” “Doyouloveme?”Godasksof youandme.Whatdowerespondasweencountertoday’schallenges?HowwouldyourespondtodayandwhatwouldyousaywhenyouhearJesus’voiceinvitingyoutodeepenyourloveandexpandyourheartwithgratitudeandgenerosity? Inthemeantime,withmyheartfilledwithgratitudeIinviteusalltosurrenderandbreaktheawkwardsilenceandsay:“Lord,youknoweverything;youknowthatIloveyou.”
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a
third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” John21:15-19
by Fr. Flavio Bravo, SJ
“Doyouloveme?”
21
Sign-up now online atwww.strakejesuit.org/50thanniversaryparty
23
DR. TONY GARCIA-PRATS ‘94 RECEIVESIGNATIAN AWARD AS ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR Dr.TonyGarcia-Prats‘94wasrecognizedonSaturdaynight,February5astherecipientof the2010IgnatianAwardastheStrakeJesuitAlumnusof theYear.AttheannualNightof Honordinner,thatalsoincludedtheinductionof fournewmembersintotheAthleticsHallof Honor,Garcia-PratsacceptedhisawardafterbeingintroducedbyPrincipalRichardNevle. The Ignatian Award is annually bestowed upon a Strake Jesuit Alumnuswho meets the followingcriteria:hislifeexemplifiestheacademic,religious,andsocialvalues of the Jesuit tradition;outstanding generosity tothe community; professionalachievement contributing totheadvancementof hisareaof expertise,andheexemplifiesaMan for Others. The youngest recipientof the award since it wasfirst presented in 1984, Dr.Garcia-Prats is an assistantprofessor of pediatrics with the Baylor International PediatricAIDS Initiative(BIPAI), an internationally-renowned program of Baylor College of MedicineandTexasChildren’sHospital thatprovidesHIV/AIDScare and treatment tomorethan30,000childrenandfamiliesworldwide.Garcia-PratshasbeenadoctorwithBIPAI’sPediatricAIDSCorpssinceAugust2006.HeservedintheLesothoChildren’sClinicalCenterof ExcellencethroughFebruary2009andcurrentlyisleadingascale-upof thenewBIPAIcenterinMbeya,Tanzania. Justlastyear,Dr.Garcia-PratsreceivedChapmanUniversity’shighesthonor–theAlbertSchweitzerAwardof Excellence.Itisanawardthathasbeenpresentedtoindividualsororganizationsthatexemplifythespiritandphilosophyof thelateDr.AlbertSchweitzer,aphilosopher,physicianandhumanitarian. Tony is the eldest of ten Garcia-Prats boys to attend Strake Jesuit. Theyoungestsonof JoeandCathyGarcia-Prats,Timmy,isacurrentstudentandamemberof theClassof 2012.
NEWSALUMNI
Along with Mr. Nevle and Fr. Lahart (far right) Dr. Garcia-Prats was welcomed by some past recipients of the Ignatian Award including (left to right) Larry Mason ‘66, NJ Santarcangelo ‘67, Dr. Brian Parsley ‘74, Dr. Joe Mike Piazza ‘72 and Ray Albrecht ‘72.
Nominations for the Ignatian Award Being AcceptedNominations for the 2011 IgnatianAward are nowbeing accepted onlinethroughtheendof April.Toaccesstheformandmakeanomination,visittheschool’swebsiteatwww.strakejesuit.organdclickontheIgnatianAwardbuttonintheQuickLinks.
JESUIT HOSTS HOUSTON CROQUET CLASSICTO BENEFIT SUNSHINE KIDS FOUNDATION
For the third straight year, StrakeJesuitplayedhosttotheHoustonCroquetClassic in March. The annual event is afund-raiser benefiting the Sunshine KidsFoundation. Alumni Mike Riccetti ‘84, GeneRiccetti ‘86 andMikeWells ‘84 served onthe event committee and approached theschoolabouthostingtheeventseveralyearsago. The tournament takes place on theGessnerFieldandtheeventincludeslunchandlivemusic.
24
NEWSALuMniROD GRAVES ‘77 WINS DIVERSTY AWARD Jesuit alumnusandGeneralManagerof theNFL’sArizonaCardinalsRodGraves’77wasrecentlypresentedthePaul“Tank”Youngerawardforworkinthe
areaof promotingminorityopportunities.Graves,whostarted as a scoutwith theChicagoBears in the early1980s,admittedheneverthoughthewouldhavereachedthepositionhenowholds.“My father (Jackie) always instilled within me a basicphilosophy of just working hard and trying to dothingstherightway,and lettherestof it takecareof itself,”Gravessaid.“Iwasneverfocusedonalevelof achievementorcertainposition. I’ve justbeenblessedto be around people who were fair and gave me anopportunity.” “Tank” Younger, a one-time NFL star andthefirstAfrican-Americanexecutiveintheleague,wasactuallyclosefriendswiththeGravesfamily. “I am deeply honored to be among the classof recipients that have gotten this award and I am
particularlythrilledtogetanawardinthenameof TankYounger,”Gravessaid.“TankrepresentedalottotheAfrican-Americancommunity.Weallaspiredtobewherehewas.” Pastwinnersof theawardincludeformercoachesTonyDungyandBillWalsh,SteelerschairmanDanRooneyandRavensgeneralmanagerOzzieNewsome.
Rod Graves ‘77 receives the Tank Younger Award from Arizona Cardinals team president Michael Bidwill .
25
ALUMNI PROFILE:
HUNTER JAGGARD ‘96
Theendof Februaryrepresentssomuchtosomany.Itmarksthearrivalof anotherStrakeJesuitSpringFling.Itbeckonsthestartof MarchMadnessincollegebasketball.ForHunterJaggard‘96,thistimemeansthatheisalittleoveramonthawayfromembarkingonhis7thconsecutivepilgrimagefromHoustontoAustinintheannualMS150.Andhewillnotbealone. Hunter’syoungerbrotherwasdiagnosedwithmultiplesclerosisinlate2002.Hunterwasdeterminedtostandbesidehisbrotherandsupporthimwithmorethanjustheartfeltwords,butproductiveactionsaswell.By2004hehadformedTheCarneyMen,namedafterasongplayedbyCrossCanadianRagweed,asouthernrockbandthatholdsaspecialplaceintheheartsof bothbrothers.TheCarneyMeniscomprisedof peopleequallycommittedtomakingadifferenceinthebattletoeradicatemultiplesclerosis.Theinitialteamin2004contained14bikeriders,half of whichwerefromStrakeJesuit,andwasabletoraise$6,500.Asthegrouppreparesforthe2011MS150,itisexpectedthattheireightyearfundraisinggrandtotalwillsurpassthe$500,000mark. WhenaskedhowTheCarneyMenhavebeenabletogeneratesomuchsuccess,Hunterhitsthemark,“Wedowellbecauseabout40%of ourteamhasclose,personalconnectionstothecause.Additionally,Ialwaystrytorelayamessagetotheteamthattherewillalwaysbethingsinlifethatwecan’tdoanythingaboutandhavenocontrolover;however,yourattitudeisnotoneof them.”Hunteraddsthatsomanyof thepeopleheandtheteammeet
by Vince Santos ‘83
NEWSALuMNI
whoarelivingwithMSexudesuchaprofoundlypositiveoutlookthatiscontagious. Hunterknowsthatkeepingapositiveattitudeiscrucial
bothtoanindividualandtoateam.HecreditsJesuitcoachesBillMcDonald,LarryFinke,WillieWebster,andMikeCrowleywithteachinghimthingsthathelpedshapehischaracterbothonandoff thefield.“AtJesuit,mycoacheswhoinfluencedmethenarestilltherenow,passingonvaluablelifelessonstoanothergeneration.TheyshowedmehowtoliveasaMan for Others andinTheCarneyMen,westrivetobeaTeamforothers.”
UpongraduatingfromStrakeJesuit,HunterobtainedhisdegreeatTexasTech.Heandhiswife,Brittany,havebeenmarriedfor4years.Theyhave
a15-montholddaughter,AubrieJoy,andwelcomedthebirthof daughterSavannahonMarch14,2011.TheJaggardsliveintheHoustonareawhereHunterworksincommercialrealestate.Asahusband,father,andbusinessmanheislivingthelessonshelearnedandhasintegratedthemintotheveryfabricof TheCarneyMen.Toworkhard,notjustasanindividualbutasateam,topickeachotherupwhentheyfall,andtokeepthefocusonallof thepeoplethatwillbenefitfromthecollectiveeffortof beingateamforothersareideasthatformthefoundationof theirgroup.Hunterisresoluteinhisconviction,“OurgoalistoridetheMS150everyyearuntiltheyfindacuresothatwedon’thavetorideanymore.”
Hunter Jaggard ‘96 (left) and The Carney Men (above).
Owen Zidar ’04isastaff economistfortheCouncilof EconomicAdvisersforthePresidentof theUnitedStatesuntil August. He then goes back totheUniversity of California-Berkeleyto finish his PHD in economics.(Owenisfarleftinthisphoto.)
Greg Keogh ’07 is a senior at St.LouisUniversityfinishingadegreeinMechanicalEngineering.HespentlastsummerataninternshipwithNationalOilwellVarcoinHouston.Hehasalsobeen active in competitions and hasbeensuccessfulatwinningseveral.
Louis LeBlanc ’66 and Don Blair ’69 met Father Don Bahlinger, SJfor lunch on December 17 at theRiversideInninBroussard,Louisiana.Don lives in New Iberia, Louisianaand Father Bahlinger is at GrandCoteau,justnorthof Lafayette.Louiswas in thearea tovisit thegravesitesof thisparents.
Andy Mihalick ‘89, hiswife,Melissaand their three year old daughter,Lucy, welcomed twin boys Gus andHenry to their family on December22, 2010.Andy andhis family resideinHouston,Texaswhereheisacivillitigationattorney.
Richard McCarty ’92 and his wifeKelly celebrated the birth of theirfirst child, Henry “Harry” ByronMcCarty, on November 28, 2010.RichardgraduatedfromUniversityof HoustonLawCenterinMay2010andbegan practicing intellectual propertylawwith an international lawfirm intheHoustonarea.
80’s
Shane W. Hudson ‘93 marriedBrooke A. Webster on November20, 2010 at All Saints CatholicChurchinHouston.Rev.BillyHuete,SJ officiated the ceremony. SergeHudson ‘89 served as Best Man.Also in the wedding party were TedGorman‘93andAmmieBlahutaSAA‘98.ThecoupleliveinHoustonwiththeirdogsRynoandRiley.Shaneisashareholderwiththelawfirmof Fizer,Beck,Webster,Bentley&Scroggins.
Vernon Caldera ’94 recently hada three page article about the MostBeautifulRoomIEverSawpublishedin Lonny Magazine, a nationalmagazinefromtheeditorsof Domino.
Richard Zientek ’95 hiswife Leslieand their son Ethan welcomed thebirth of their second son BlakeJacobonFebruary 20, 2011.Richardcontinues to serve as Director of Transportation Issues for HarrisCountyJudgeEdEmmettandLeslieisasecondgradeteacherinHISD.
Hunter Jaggard ‘86, his wife Brittany and daughter Aubrie, welcome the birth of Savannah on March 14, 2011.
00’s60’s Andy Dougherty ’96 and VitaMontalbanoSAA’99weremarriedonDecember4,2010attheCo-Cathedralof theSacredHeartinHouston.ChrisColemon’96servedasBestManandRicky Nuila ’96 was a groomsman.They honeymooned in Belize inmid-February, and the couple livesin Houston where Andy is theNewMedia Coordinator for the HoustonTexans.
John W. Bates ‘99 andLindaHatlerwere married on January 1, 2011 inHouston. John received hisMastersof Catholic Education fromUST inMay2010.JohnandLindabothworkatStrakeJesuit.
NotesCLASS
WEST POINT CADET JEFFERIES ‘09 CARRIES FOOTBALL IN TRADITIONAL RUN
Alex Jefferies ‘09, a cadet at West Point, took part in a decades-old tradition last December in which the academy’s marathon team runs from its home campus to the site of the annual Army-Navy game. He wound up with his picture on the front page of the New York Times. Jefferies and his teammates were escorted by two state troopers with flashing lights and a white van festooned with the hand-scrawled declaration “WEST POINT BEAT NAVY.” He was one of 16 young men and 4 women who would take turns carrying the ball over 20 hours and 179 miles, from the United States Military Academy in New York’s Hudson Valley to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Cadets cheered the runners on their way at West Point. According to tradition, the ball must never touch the ground, for if it did, Army would surely lose. “They say no one’s ever dropped it,” Mr. Jefferies, 19, said after running about eight miles in an hour. “But my hands were numb and I couldn’t even feel the ball.”
90’s
26
~ IN MEMORIAM ~
Mary Louise BrandenMother of Albert ‘67 and Dennis ‘69
Robert BucciFather of Luke ‘74
Mary Esther BurtonMother of Tim ‘75, Thomas ‘77, Chris ‘78, Cliff ‘83, and Doug ‘87
and Grandmother of Justin Ferris ‘04
Dorothy ClaudeMother of Robert ‘74 and Peter ‘86
Charles Colemon Jr.Father of Chris ‘96 and Greg ‘99
Louise CroninMother of Michael ‘72
Polly FlinkerMother of Daniel ‘71
James ImoehlFather of William ‘73
Margaret LaflinMother of William ‘68, George ‘72, Robert ‘74 and Chris ‘81
Bernice MurphyMother of Roger ‘70 and George ‘77
John O’MalleyFather of Mike ‘79
Joe H. Peters, Jr.Father of Steve ‘83, Kevin ‘84 and Rick ‘87
Peggy C. RuisingerMother of Fritz ‘77
Patricia TricheMother of Richard ‘68 and Timothy ‘77
NotesCLASS
~ BIRTHS ~
Henry “Harry” Byron McCarty on November 28, 2010Richard ’92 and Kelly
Gus and Henry Mihalick on December 22, 2010Andy ‘89 and Melissa
Blake Jacob Zientek on February 20, 2011Richard ‘95 and Leslie
Savannah Hunter Jaggard on March 14, 2011Hunter ‘96 and Brittany
27
Gerald Cruickshank ‘68Brother of Peter ‘71
Michael Gruber ‘83 Malcolm Squyres ‘71Brother of Tim ‘74,
Dennis ‘76 &Danny ‘78 and
Uncle of Kevin ‘06
Fr. Michael Kennelly, SJ1914 - 2011
Fr. Michael Kennelly, SJ, founding president of Strake Jesuit, passed away
on Monday, January 3 in New Orleans. At the time of his death he was the oldest
member of the Province.
Fr. Kennelly was just 14 years old when he left his native Ireland and sailed
to America on board the S.S. Mauretania, the first of many adventures in a long,
rich life. After living with an aunt and uncle in the Bronx and attending Regis High
School in Manhattan, he continued his Jesuit education at Spring Hill boarding
school in Alabama.
In 1933, he entered the New Orleans Province’s novitiate at Grand Coteau,
Louisiana. As president of Jesuit High School, Tampa, he oversaw that historic
institution’s move to a new, greenfield site. He also served with distinction as
president of Loyola University, New Orleans. In the decade between those two
prestigious assignments, Fr. Kennelly served as Strake Jesuit’s first president.
When he arrived in Houston in 1959, a Jesuit high school was little more
than a dream; when he left in 1970, nine permanent buildings stood on campus.
Fr. Kennelly has remarked on the “openness and enthusiasm” of the Houstonians
who helped him make the dream a reality, and these are qualities that his legions
of friends and admirers in Houston and the other cities where he worked noted in
him.
Saints of God, come to his aid!
Hasten to meet him angels of the Lord!
Receive his soul and present him to God the Most High.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
TheafterschoolhoursareoftenabuzzwithwhatIliketocall,TheFlightof theGymGnats.Theyarethelittleones;theyoungchildrenof ourStrakeJesuitfacultyandstaff.Theyareherebecausetheirparentsarehere.Sometimesitseemsasif thisschoolnevercloses.“HotelJesuit,”somewillremark,“Ahotelnevercloses.”Andso,theyoungonescomeandtheyallseemtolikeithere.Boysorgirls,nomatter;it’safunplaceforakidtobe. LookfortheGymGnats.Youwillspottheminthestandsoronthecourtoronthefield.MomorDadmaybebusywiththeircampusduties,butthekidspresson.Manyhavehomeworkandtheydoithere;ableacherbenchwillserveasamakeshiftdesk.Mostjustwanttoplay.AndtheStrakeJesuitcampusmakesforasimplygrandplayground.It’sagoodplaceforagameof kickballorevenabitof HideandSeekfun.It’sevenagoodplacetojust“hang”withabigbrother. Foraverylongtime,JesuitwasafavoritehangoutforDaveandKathyMuras’son,Brian.Thenoneday,hewasoldenoughtoenroll.IrememberBrianasabrandnewfreshman.Iaskedhimif hethoughthewasgoingtoliketheschool.“I’lllikeitjustfine,”hereplied.“I’vealreadybeencominghereformostof mylife.”Ibetthesamecouldbesaidforhisbrothers,ChristopherandSean. BasketballCoachWadeSumma’skidsAngel,NathanandClairearethenewestof theGymGnats.Youwillseethem,(whereelse?)atthebasketballgames.HomeorAwaytheybusythemselveswiththeirhightechelectronicgamesasDadkeepsawatchfuleyefromcourtside. ElizabethandKatieBroussardwerenotashightechwhentheywerelittlegirls.Bothgirlsarenowintheirtwenties,butIstillrememberthefuntheyhadplayingwiththeirMyLittlePonydolls.That’stheonewiththelongpurplemaneandatinylittlecomb.Oh,howthosegirlslovedthoseponies! CoachMcDonald’sboys,ChristopherandBenjaminhavebothgraduated.Theyarebigstrappingyoungmennowwithyoungmaninterests.ButIcanrecallatime,notsoverylong
ago,whenPokémonwastheironeandonlyinterest.Howtheytriedandtried(unsuccessfully)toteachmeaboutallthevariouscharacters,theirnamesandtheirmagicalpowers.Iwonderif theboysstillhavealltheirPokémonstuff.Perhapsitisallnowstoredawayinshoeboxesatthebottomof somedarkcloset.
Oneday,say50yearsfromnow,theircollectionmaybecomethefeaturedfindonAntiquesRoadShow. MatthewKennyspentmostof hisyouthinaJesuitbasketballgymsubsistingmainlyonPizza,Gatoradeandconcessionstandhotdogs.ThatboymayhaveseenalmostasmanyJesuitbasketballgamesandpracticesasthisOldeCrusader.Butevenwithacoachforafather,basketballwasnotMatt’sgame.Asitturnedout,hewasamusicianandaverygoodoneatthat.TheJesuitBandbecamehisnicheandhemadealotof friendsamongthebandmembers.Mattisoff tocollegenow.Ibetif heisstillattendingbasketballgames,it’sasabandmember. WewillallhavetheopportunitytowatchCoachClemons’boy,BrandonashegrowsuphereatJesuit.Overtheyears,hehascollectedaclosetfullof greenT-shirts,mostof whichhehasalreadyoutgrown.Heisbecomingquiteabigboynow,andIseeit,theyoungsterhasa
knackforathletics.IwonderhowlongitwillbebeforeIseehiminaJesuitfootballuniform. LittleAnthonyCastenzioScalzittimaybetheyoungestGymGnatof all.HehadablastattheSpringFlingandIcanalreadyseethat“theacorndidnotfallfarfromthetree.”LikehisdadTim,IpredicttheboywillonedaybecomeaStrakeJesuitlifer. AndsodearGymGnats….Istillhearthebuzz….Isittheflutterof wings?Orisitsimplytimethatisflyingby?IknowthatIhaveleftoutquiteafewof youthatarenowgrownup.ButIhavefondmemoriesof eachof youwhenyouwerejustalittlekidoncampus.Youwerespecialthenandyouarespecialnow.Toeachof you,Ipledgemyshieldandmysword.
George
THE GYM GNATS
28
One of these
students would
not be at
Strake Jesuit
without support
of the
1 of every 7
One out of every seven. That’s the number of Strake Jesuit students who receive tuition assistance from the school’s Financial Aid Program. Walk across campus on an average school day and it would be impossible
to pick one of them out of a group of Jesuit students studying, playing frisbee in the Quad, in a theater production, or on one of the school’s athletic teams. Here they are simply Strake Jesuit students.
The only difference is, without your support of the Strake Jesuit Annual Fund, there is a good chance that they would not have the opportunity to be Strake Jesuit students. Every dollar given in support of the
Annual Fund makes it possible to provide this program that is so essential to the school’s mission. A part of that mission states that no qualified applicant is ever denied enrollment for financial reasons.
If you have made a gift to the Strake Jesuit Annual Fund, thank you for helping to make a difference in a young man’s life. If you have not, please consider a gift today.
Each gift, no matter the size, makes a difference. Simply use the envelope provided in the magazine to make a gift or online go to www.strakejesuit.org and click on the Strake Jesuit Annual Fund.
If you have questions or would like additional information, contact N.J. Santarcangelo ‘67, Director of Development, at 713.490.8152 or [email protected].
April
May
For up to date event information,go to www.strakejesuit.org
PARENTS, if you are still receiving your son’s Chronicle although he no longer lives with you, let us know so we can change our records and send the magazine directly to him. If you enjoy reading the publication but do not receive a copy of your own, let us know that too. We would be glad to send a copy to your son’s new address and continue to send you one.
Contact the Alumni Office at [email protected] or at
713.490.8153
Strake Jesuit College Preparatory8900 Bellaire BoulevardHouston, Texas 77036
June
Father-Son Breakfast
Fantasy Auction - Hearts of Gold
Spring Band Concert
Parent-Teacher Meeting
Holy Thursday Liturgy
Easter
NHS Mass & Induction
Awards Assembly
Spring Orchestra Concert
Junior Cross & Ring
50th Anniversary Party
Empty Nest Presentation
Mentor Moms Breakfast
Baccalaureate Mass
Graduation
Summer School Begins
Higher Achievement Program Begins
Scramble
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16
17
20
21
24
27
28
29
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7
9
14
21
22
6
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS are you ready forTHE WEEKEND?
196619711976198119861991199620012006
If this is YOUR
Weekend,
mark your
calendars now for
September 16-18, 2011