T H E M A G A Z I N E OF BR E BE U F J E S U I T P R E PA R ATORY S C H O OL , I N D I A N A P OL I S | sp r i ng 2 0 2 0
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Dear Friends,
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In these unprecedented times, our Brebeuf Jesuit family continues to be on our minds. I write this note to you with love in my heart for all the families who are praying for loved ones who are ill and for all of us as we navigate a new sense of normal during a time of great uncertainty.
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However, times of uncertainty can help us to focus on the true character of a community and the mission of Brebeuf Jesuit. When we experienced a challenging time with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis last summer, we heard from alumni across the globe; we listened to our students; we were in dialogue with current Brebeuf parents; and we were in constant prayer with a loving God. We find ourselves facing a challenging time once again, and we will remain steadfast in our efforts to listen, respond, and pray.
Mike Higginbotham
For the last month, our Brebeuf Jesuit team of faculty, staff, and administration has been working tirelessly to create an exceptional E-Learning environment for our students. We have equipped our faculty with the necessary resources for virutal workloads, and we continue to communicate with our students and families to be attentive to their needs and concerns. It is important that we focus not just on academics, but also on community support, and on spiritual, financial, and mental health. We are doing everything we can to keep our school moving forward and encouraging everyone to be BRAVE TOGETHER. A significant part of how we work to keep moving forward is in seeking the necessary support to achieve our goals and live out our mission. I must admit, we felt conflicted during a time like this as we considered reaching out and asking for financial support. Thoughtful conversation around how to best navigate these challenging times and the sensitivity around financial security was at the forefront of our discussions. Never would we want to offend anyone or present a lack of sensitivity, but we did take this time as another opportunity to focus on our mission and all that goes into supporting that mission. It is at this time, we ask you to consider how you can support the Brebeuf Jesuit mission and to be reflections of the mission as men and women for others. Here are a few options to consider: • Write a note of encouragement or inspiring words to our seniors addressed “Dear Seniors,” and let them know how proud you are to see them move on to the next phase of their life. Email your note to classof2020@brebeuf.org. • Like/follow Brebeuf ’s social media outlets to stay connected and show your support. • Post an encouraging message on your social media feeds with the hashtag #BRAVETOGETHER. • Make a gift to support the most critical needs of our students and faculty • The Brebeuf Fund Provides support for financial aid and scholarships, faculty salaries, capital initiatives, campus ministry, athletics and co-curriculars, and overall campus operations •S t. Ignatius Scholarship Fund Provides support for lunch and books for deserving students in need The Brebeuf Jesuit community has always been strong, and we are truly grateful to witness its rallying during challenging times. In an effort to keep our spirits high and our community standing BRAVE TOGETHER, I am pleased to share with you a digital version of our campus magazine, Bylines, which includes some wonderful stories of alumni, students, and faculty for your enjoyment. As we all continue to navigate these uncertain times together, I encourage you to stay connected, safe, and healthy. With great appreciation,
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ASSISTANT EDITOR Lauren Trosky
CONTRIBUTORS Annie Melbert ’15 Amy Pitcher Jen Wagle Jamie Elkins Patti Brown Katie Mahoney Tobin Strader Michelle Martin Jill Jansen
DESIGN Kern Graphic Design kerngraphicdesign.com
INTERNET brebeuf.org
EMAIL mhigginbotham@brebeuf.org
TWITTER www.twitter.com/brebeufjesuit
FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ brebeufjesuitpreparatoryschool
INSTAGRAM www.instagram.com/brebeufjesuit
Jamie Elkins Senior Vice President
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Mindfulness Initiative, President’s Medal and Heart of Brebeuf Award Winners, Holiday Toy Drive, Bistro 2020 and Mutt Strut
8 SARA COMPTON
A tribute to an influential teacher who passed away in 2019 with an article from 2009 outlining her legacy
14 THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
Brebeuf becomes first high school to perform Indianapolis author John Green’s book, The Fault in our Stars
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16 DEAN OF STUDENTS A peak into the many duties of Dean Brenda Adams as she helps create productive members of society
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a MINDFUL approach to education THE LIGHTS ARE DIMMED, YOGA MATS BLANKET THE CLASSROOM FLOOR, AND SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYS AS STUDENTS TAKE A COLLECTIVE BREATH, AND BREBEUF JESUIT TEACHER MICHELLE MARTIN BEGINS TO LEAD A GUIDED MEDITATION. BY ANNIE MELBERT ’15 “We’re going to take a deep breath in, and slowly let it out…Focus on the space in between your in-breath, and your out-breath…I invite you to imagine a bright light above you that pushes out any tension or stress…and just for a moment, allow your body to sit in this peace.” Michelle, who has been with Brebeuf for 13 years, boasts an inspiring 26 years as an educator. She currently serves the Brebeuf community as a French teacher, immersion trip coordinator, and most recently, mindfulness teacher. “My absolute favorite thing about my role at Brebeuf is that my position isn’t limiting,” Michelle shared. “We are encouraged to stretch ourselves professionally.” The teacher certainly took this encouragement to heart by completing over 200 hours of mindfulness certifications through the International Mindfulness for Teachers Association (IMTA). This rigorous accreditation process involves studies in the history, science, and secularization of mindfulness; cultural competency, i.e., diversity, equity, and inclusion; and contemporary applications of mindfulness in fields such as education, prison, medicine, and business. It also includes personal mindfulness practice, a practicum, training under the supervision of a mentor, and two one-week silent retreats.
All of this hard work informs the mindfulness initiative Michelle has brought to the Brebeuf community. But what is mindfulness? “There is a misconception that mindfulness entails ridding yourself of all thoughts,” Michelle said. “This is not true. The best definition [of mindfulness] that I have come across is from Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., who is the founding executive director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts. He defines mindfulness as the ‘awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.’” Numerous studies have shown that establishing mindful practices may lead to decreased stress and anxiety, better sleep, increased ability to regulate difficult emotions, deeper empathy and understanding of others, higher levels of well-being, and greater appreciation for the interconnectedness of the world. These findings carry important implications for the ways mindfulness may benefit Brebeuf students, especially given the rise of mental health challenges among American teens. “Teenagers are under a variety of stresses that come not only from physical and cognitive changes, but also the mixed messages they receive through social media, the way they are ‘plugged in’ all the time, and the changes in the current university landscape,” Michelle explained. “Messages insisting [that students] need to do more and be more bombard them every day, and life has become a competition for them. Mindfulness teaches teenagers to set more realistic expectations for themselves, to be patient with themselves, and to feel loved and accepted.” Michelle’s one-credit, one-semester Mindfulness 1 and Mindfulness 2 elective courses teach students how to be in the present moment and see things from more constructive perspectives. The curriculum employs meditations, games, reflections, and short readings to teach strategies for increased relaxation, improved focus and concentration, and management of difficult emotions. Lessons
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ABOUT CAMPUS include “Mindful or Mind Full Living,” “Eating Meditation,” “Mindful Messaging and Social Media Use,” “Meeting and Navigating Difficult Emotions,” “Dial up the Gratitude,” and “Self-love and Appreciation.” When asked why they love Michelle’s class so much, her Mindfulness 2 students were quick to describe her as “an advocate,” “an angel,” and “the nicest person you will ever meet in your entire life.” Many shared that her classes help them feel calmer in stressful situations and happier in their daily lives. They described a newfound ability to de-stress before tests, drown out background noise, and tune more deeply into their five senses through mindfulness. Whether it means taking three deep breaths before a presentation, practicing gratitude, or becoming aware of the way they respond to certain social situations, Michelle’s students can use these mindful practices throughout their lives to be more present, listen more actively, and manage everyday challenges with greater ease.
experience levels, spiritual backgrounds, and purposes including managing anxiety, aiding sleep, fostering creativity, and building confidence, among others. Michelle plans to pursue further mindfulness study, specifically on the largely unexplored topic of the role mindfulness plays in equity, inclusion, and anti-oppression education. She also wants to explore whether teaching mindfulness to both educators and students could reduce the rate of educator compassion fatigue, as 40 to 50 percent of teachers leave the profession within their first five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Michelle continues to have a positive impact on her students and the larger Brebeuf community with her mindfulness initiative, and we are grateful for her dedication and hard work! For additional information about mindfulness strategies or course offerings, please contact Michelle Martin at mmartin@brebeuf.org.
Not only has mindfulness impacted the lives of Brebeuf students, but it also continues to play an important role in Michelle’s own life, as it helps her to be authentically herself. “I find that when I am being mindful, I notice a difference from within myself,” she reflected. “I feel more in tune [and] more gentle with people, nature, and the world. I am more aware that everything I say or do has an impact on the energy in the universe.” Michelle’s initial interest in mindfulness came in response to an experience she had nine years ago sitting on her back patio. “At the time, I had no clue as to what I was experiencing or how it happened, but for just a few moments, my mind became quiet, and a deep sense of peace washed over me,” she recounted. “It is difficult to put into words, but the best way I can describe it is to say that I felt as if my soul was one with everyone and everything in the world, and the idea of separation did not exist.” Today, she strives to live mindfully in as many moments of the day as she can, practicing formal meditations and setting her phone to chime throughout the day to remind her to breathe and be present. Michelle recognizes, however, that mindfulness is not always easy. “My first piece of advice for beginners is to be patient with yourselves and to not focus on achieving a goal,” she said. “That is the opposite of what a mindful practice is.” She recommends a number of apps including Insight Timer, which features more than 28,000 free meditations for a variety of
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BREBEUF JESUIT CELEBRATES THE
40TH ANNUAL PRESIDENT’S DINNER The Brebeuf Jesuit community joined Fr. Bill Verbryke, S.J. to celebrate a special 40th President’s Dinner on November 7, 2019 at the Conrad in Indianapolis. This milestone year honored Bill and Taylor Estes as the 2019 President’s Medal recipients, and former Brebeuf Jesuit President Fr. Jack Dennis, S.J. with the Heart of Brebeuf award. BILL AND TAYLOR ESTES Bill and Taylor Estes are leaders in the Indianapolis community and supportive parents of Brebeuf Jesuit alumni, Zak ’08, Cali ’10, and McKena ’15. They have demonstrated a deep commitment to Jesuit education through role-model-worthy volunteer involvement in their community, in their children’s lives, and in support of the students, faculty and staff at Brebeuf Jesuit. Bill and Taylor were active in the lives of their children while they attended Brebeuf Jesuit by cheering them on from the sidelines of countless sporting events, supporting their academic success, and serving in volunteer roles throughout the school to support programs and opportunities for all students. Taylor has served Brebeuf in meaningful roles with the Brebeuf Mothers Association, where she assisted College Counseling and Community Service with leadership volunteer roles. She was also a team mom for the volleyball and basketball teams. Together, Bill and Taylor supported the Brebeuf Bistro with Bill even going so far as to emcee the event. The Estes Family is passionate about athletics, which provided a natural fit for Bill to chair the search committee for the Director of Athletics. Together, they are Brebeuf Jesuit Magis Society members, have established an endowed scholarship to support financial aid for deserving students, and supported the Kite Wellness Center and Leading the Way capital campaigns with leadership gifts. Most recently, they demonstrated their loyalty and support to Brebeuf Jesuit by helping to replace the gym floor in the West Gym with a brand new, state-of-the-art flooring system for our Braves. In addition to volunteer efforts at Brebeuf, they live our motto of men and women for others with their service and dedication to the community. They support the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital
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Foundation and designed an “Automotive Room” for patients to enjoy, hosted The Estes Family Thanksgiving Giveaway, and are involved with Second Presbyterian Church and Center Point Counseling. Bill served on the Board of St. Vincent’s Hospital for over 20 years. Bill and Taylor established Bill Estes Automotive in June 1975, celebrating 44 years of serving central Indiana this year. The Auto Group grew to four locations, selling eight different franchises and employing over 380 people at its peak. FR. JACK DENNIS, S.J. Father Jack began his tenure at Brebeuf in July 2012 and served as President until June 2018. During his six years as president, he focused on helping Brebeuf embrace its unique identity as “a different kind of Catholic school.” Leading a student body that’s 50 percent non-Catholic (10 percent non-Christian), Father Jack supported and strengthened Brebeuf ’s commitment
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to openness and diversity, while reintroducing many of the sacred aspects central to the school’s Jesuit tradition. He believed that Jesuit values and diversity of faith cannot only co-exist, but also thrive in an educational setting. They are part of what distinguishes Brebeuf Jesuit today. During his service to Brebeuf, Father Jack was a driving force behind a myriad of accomplishments: the Leading the Way capital campaign that raised more than $8 million for much-needed academic and facility renovations; Brebeuf ’s successful ISACS accreditation in 2016; and effective recruitment and retention efforts.
Following his service to Brebeuf, Father Jack returned to Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore to serve as university chaplain in Campus Ministry. In this role, he advises and counsels students, facilitates the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program, and directs a number of retreats. A Baltimore native, Father Jack received his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and spent a year of volunteer service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps., working as a community organizer. He then entered the Society of Jesus and went on to study philosophy at Fordham University. He received his Master of Theology and a Master’s in Educational Administration from Harvard University.
For Father Jack, however, the focus has always been on ensuring Brebeuf students have a voice. When students asked if school convocations could focus more on current events, Father Jack responded, assembling panels of students to talk about issues, such as diversity and civil rights. He worked closely with school leadership and faculty to support students wishing to engage in meaningful, peaceful discourse and demonstration on issues dominating the national dialogue.
Brebeuf ’s Holiday Toy Drive At Brebeuf Jesuit, students are taught to become men and women for others in the classroom and through their actions. Brebeuf Drives provide one forum to students to give, volunteer, and place others’ needs above their own. The largest annual drive, the Holiday Toy Drive, makes the season magical for our students and the receiving families, alike. Brebeuf ’s Holiday Toy Drive supports the Christmas Store at Catholic Charities, which provides gifts and clothing to over 700 needy families each year. The Christmas Store’s client families are referred by over 90 social agencies, churches, and schools within the Indianapolis Archdiocese. These families deal with challenges including chronic poverty, the loss of a job, medical bills for family members with acute or chronic diseases, and the current opiateaddiction crisis. Through the gifts donated by Brebeuf students, Catholic Charities is able to provide a Christmas to affected children, making sure they do not feel forgotten during the holiday season. It certainly was the most wonderful time of the year at Brebeuf Jesuit, and the entire community is already looking ahead to next year’s Holiday Toy Drive.
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Brebeuf Jesuit
“RAISED THE ROOF” at Bistro 2020
It was a record-breaking crowd at The Indiana Roof Ballroom on Saturday, February 22, 2020 as 491 members of the community came together to celebrate the 26th annual Brebeuf Bistro. The evening was filled with great energy, fabulous entertainment, and a heartfelt camaraderie. The event hosted alumni, parents and friends supporting Brebeuf from afar with online bidding of the silent auction, gifts to the fund-a-need campaign, and sponsorship support. This event could not have happened without the incredible work of all of the Bistro volunteers from sponsorships, procurement, decorations, logistics, raffle, set-up, and clean-up! An extra special thank you to our event co-chairs Sabrina Jensen, Paige Miller, Heather O’Brien, and Jodie Terlisner for their leadership, creativity, and abundance of energy. While Bistro is always an incredible evening of community, the 2020 event will also have a lasting impact on the school with over $365,000 raised – all of which will directly support the students, faculty, staff, and programs at Brebeuf Jesuit. Bistro 2020 will be an event not soon forgotten with an impact that will be felt for years to come.
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Rooting for the Underdog Described by Indianapolis Monthly as the “Greta Thunberg of local animal advocacy,” Junior Sophie Pruitt has had a passion for the underdog from a very early age. Beginning at just seven years old, Sophie’s love for homeless animals empowered her to become a foster mom to more than 60 animals thus far and spend countless hours volunteering at the Indianapolis animal shelter,IndyHumane. Sophie’s dedication to IndyHumane has led her to become a leading fundraiser for their annual event – Mutt Strut. In 2019, Sophie, along with her team, raised over $37,000 – the most raised by any single team that year. Thanks to their incredible efforts, Brebeuf ’s own Chief was named TOP DOG, which allowed him to lead the pace car at the next Mutt Strut event. There is no doubt that Sophie’s commitment to serving the homeless animal population will continue far beyond Brebeuf, but it has been a pleasure to experience it firsthand and to stand alongside her as she and Chief, are recognized.
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REMEMBERING SARA
Brebeuf Jesuit lost a beloved member of our community on Monday, September 16, 2019, when Ms. Sara Compton passed away.
Sara Compton was influential in many areas, none more so than in the classroom where she educated Brebeuf Jesuit students from 1976-2009. However, Sara’s legacy is so much more than that. When Sara was set to retire from Brebeuf in 2009, an article was published in the Spring 2009 issue of Bylines that outlined her incredible legacy. That article follows, as well as a piece that we asked Sara’s friend and colleague Patti Brown to write. In her written piece, Patti, who is also a current Brebeuf Jesuit Learning Center Teacher, elucidates who Sara was and her impact on the Brebeuf community. 8
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Ms. Patti Brown reflects on her friend Sara
When Sara Compton’s dear friend Joan Rocap asked me to speak at her memorial service last October, I accepted the request readily. A day later, I panicked! What could I possibly say to do justice to this woman I knew as larger than life? I could talk about the friendship our parents shared before either of us was born. I could mention that my adolescent self longed to emulate Sara and her best friend, Vicki. I could create list after list of accomplishments Sara had in her repertoire both before and during her tenure at Brebeuf. I could drop a few names of very accomplished people she influenced. Ironically as I write that sentence, I realize that Sara would likely take some offense. Sara looked at everyone as accomplished. Many, of course, were “works in progress.” That is both the blessing and the curse of being a high school teacher. Sometimes we know the rest of the story regarding college, graduate school, and the careers and families of our charges, but often we do not. Many of Sara’s former students did keep in touch with her, so she knew about their lives. Sara loved that connection she shared with her students long after Brebeuf! Sara arrived at Brebeuf in 1976, the year Brebeuf went coed. My mom was already here, working as a library assistant. Sara and my mom shared a special bond, as she had written Sara’s Pi Phi recommendation when Sara matriculated to Denison. I arrived at Brebeuf in the fall of 1978. I quickly learned that Sara, now a warm, welcoming colleague who took me under her wing, was also the quintessential intellectual. She was equally fascinated and curious about everyone and everything, certainly all topics particular to her area of academic concentration, but also beyond that: student athletics, particularly girls’ sports and basketball. Early on, Sara also
vicariously championed her first job as a Foreign Affairs Officer for the EPA when she became the face and voice of the environment and recycling at Brebeuf decades before that was in vogue.
Sara’s colleagues marveled as her intrigue with the law became far more than a passing fancy. She completed her JD through night classes and summer work. Thankfully, she chose to stay at Brebeuf rather than take the job with the juvenile court system. Sara’s brain remained a veritable sponge for knowledge, but her heart kept her teaching. During Sara’s tenure here, if I posed the question, ‘Who is the smartest person you have ever known?” your answer would be like mine. That was simply a given. As a colleague, Sara respected, listened to, and embraced everyone; she championed others’ rights and voices. She attended parties, sporting events, concerts, dinners, and fundraisers. Through those yearbooks, she can be found wearing endless goofy costumes, a tribute to her willingness to be part of the never-ending frivolity staged by the faculty and staff. She took more than one pie in the face. Even during faculty meetings where opinions clearly differed, Sara, while adamant in her position, never judged someone who felt differently regarding a topic. Sara was a person who stood up, literally and figuratively. When she had heard every side of some issue, but was still dissatisfied with the movement of the discussion or the outcome, she did not raise her hand; she stood, and the room became eerily quiet. Then she offered her reasoned response. No one interrupted Sara Compton. When she was finished, she simply flashed that toothy smile and sat down. Over the years and through several administrations, Sara stood up
for colleagues, for policies, for equity and justice. Sara stood up.
In the week or so before her memorial, I spent some time looking through all the yearbooks during Sara’s tenure at Brebeuf. In those candid shots, I saw Sara living in each moment, whether in exchange with her colleagues, in frivolous play, or in her classroom. I saw Sara in the maroon and gold mums outside the main doors of the school reminding me of the boldly striped rugby shirt she often wore. I saw Sara perching on a table or desk as she taught or listened to her students or a guest speaker, and she brought many through these doors. My favorite picture circa 1978 is of her sitting cross legged on a student desk, her back to the camera, and by the looks on their faces, clearly captivating her world civ freshman students. Sara and I also shared another love, that of the Children’s Museum Guild. She was one of my sponsors and eagerly supported my years of active participation. Even though Sara did not have to continue working at the annual haunted house, she continued doing so long after her active years were completed. In the house I co-chaired in 1988, the last house in the free standing, old, and scary building on the museum property, Sara may have been a little too enthusiastic about her haunting, scaring someone so much that he lashed out and gave her a strong shove to the chest. She shrugged it off...remarking (and I paraphrase) “Need to remember to give the big guys plenty of reacting distance.” It would not have dawned on Sara to cut her shift short that day. Just as she did with everything in her life, Sara was fully invested in her students, in events and volunteer work, in friends and colleagues, in the law, and in most definitely in Brebeuf Jesuit. That was just who Sara Compton was. SPRING 2020
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BREBEUF THEATRE
WORLD PREMIERE BY JILL JANSEN
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John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars” is a best-selling novel, a Hollywood film, and now—thanks to Brebeuf theater arts—a stage play the school premiered in five sold-out performances this past fall. Adapting for the stage the iconic love story of cancer-stricken teens Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters was the brainchild of Brebeuf theater director Tobin Strader. “One of the challenges is finding plays and musicals that are relatable to our students and will also bring in audiences,” said Strader, leader of the school’s theater program since 2015. “I started thinking
about stories we could tell, and this one just came to mind.” With Green’s permission to bring the story to the stage, Strader got approval from principal Greg VanSlambrook in late 2018 to form a playwriting class, and recruited four seniors—all veterans of the school’s theater program—to help write the script. The semester before they graduated, Sammi Bilitz, Julia Hiatt, Chad Smitson and
Nathan Nouri met weekly with Strader and continued the work outside of class, sharing thoughts and editing the master script in Google Docs. “THE REPUTATION WE’VE EARNED” To boost the size of the cast for a high school production, the playwriting team wrote original dialogue for teens attending a cancer support group—the venue where Hazel Grace and Augustus meet in the
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story. With a record number of more than 70 students auditioning for this year’s play, the added parts not only contributed to the storytelling, but also allowed more students to participate. “One of my favorite things is to see how excited Mr. Strader gets when new people audition,” said Smitson, who played two parts in the fall play his freshman year when only a handful of students tried out. “It’s all about making the theater family bigger and increasing the talent.” That heightened sense of theatrical community is part of the reason “Fault’s” lead actors, juniors Emily Doehring and Joe Fisher, have made theater an integral part of their life at Brebeuf.
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“I think [interest in the program] speaks to the reputation we’ve earned since Mr. Strader has been here,” said Doehring, who has participated in Brebeuf theater for the past three years. “Also, that there are people in the theater classes trying out for the play who wouldn’t have done it before—I think that speaks to his abilities and how much he puts into the shows and his classes.” After taking the introductory theater class last year, Fisher, a lifelong athlete, performed in the spring musical instead of playing baseball, and he’s never looked back. “I thought I knew what I was passionate about until I took Mr. Strader’s theater class,” Joe said. “Every year our program gets better and better, and this year I think we made a
huge and lasting contribution to Brebeuf theater.” HARD WORK, PROFESSIONALISM BUILD STRONG PROGRAM While Strader acknowledges that “Fault’s” popularity and the novelty of a world premiere likely attracted more interest this year, continuing to raise the bar for the theater program is, well, written in the stars. In recent years, Brebeuf earned the rights to the musical “Chicago” and the stage adaptation of “Frankenstein,” and it was the first Indiana high school to present the shows. The rights to plays and musicals are granted selectively to high schools based on the quality of past performances, and in the case of these two productions, are difficult to obtain.
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“We’ve had such great support from the school, and our actors and crew work really hard to make professional theater—it’s one of the things we take pride in,” Strader said. “I always tell the kids, ‘we’re small, but we’re mighty;’ we do things like there are 300 of us.” Doehring knows firsthand the lengths the program will go to ensure theatrical professionalism. To play the part of cancer patient Hazel Grace, Doehring agreed to cut her long hair in lieu of wearing a wig, a stipulation for the sake of authenticity that Strader made clear before the auditions. Admitting that parting with her hair was the most challenging aspect of playing the lead role, Doehring received an outpouring of support from her castmates and from Strader, who researched qualified hair stylists and went with her to the salon. “We always form a special bond as a cast, but this show, in particular, was really special to me,” Doehring said. “It meant the world that we had a bunch of people supporting us and just remembering the people who were there for me.” HIGH PRAISE FROM A SURPRISE GUEST The thrill of staging a world premiere aside, top of mind for nearly everyone involved in Brebeuf ’s adaptation of “The Fault in Our Stars” was John Green’s reaction to it. The school extended an invitation to Green to attend opening night on Thursday, Oct. 3, but learned he’d be on vacation. On Wednesday afternoon, hours before the final dress rehearsal attended by faculty and staff, Strader received word that Green and his wife planned to come and see the play that evening. “The cast didn’t know he was in the audience until intermission,” Strader said. “They’d done a really great job, and it was a great
show up to that point—and act two went beautifully. It was a magical night to be here.” After the show, Green met with the students backstage, offering praise for the performance and the playwriting. The next day, he emailed a heartfelt message, which Strader read to the cast and crew just before their opening night performance.
“Hearing that John Green was impressed by the production was the best thing we could have hoped for when we started the whole process,” Hiatt said. “There were so many little details from the book that I’d never seen dramatized before…and the moments you added gave texture and depth to the characters and their
stories,” Green wrote. “I loved the way the play was structured, and I was grateful that so much of the discussion around life’s big questions was included. Also, thanks for making it funny!” In the audience for Saturday evening’s performance, Bilitz, Hiatt, Smitson and Nouri missed meeting Green, but his message, which Strader forwarded along with a photo of the novelist and the cast, made a lasting impression. “Hearing that John Green was impressed by the production was the best thing we could have hoped for when we started the whole process,” Hiatt said. “It [Green’s message] made me feel as though the work we did was impactful and reminded me of the scale of our project—it was a world premiere after all,” Nouri said. “Honestly, it still feels like a dream, and it’s something I’ll never forget.” Bilitz added, “Knowing the creator of the universe in which ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ exists approves of what we did, it’s very gratifying.”
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DEAN OF STUDENTS, DEAN FOR STUDENTS BY ANNIE MELBERT ’15
She maintains school safety and tracks student attendance. She organizes school spirit activities and oversees student council. She is caretaker to Chief, the school therapy dog. She even paints the yellow numbers on the parking spots and keeps Brebeuf ’s decorative plants alive! Simply put, Dean of Students Brenda Adams is so much more than the disciplinarian her title may imply. While she wears many hats, her work is rooted in a deep, personal care for her students and their success in school and beyond. Brenda, known to students as Dean Adams, boasts an impressive 13 years at Brebeuf Jesuit. Prior to her time at Brebeuf, however, she served as an English teacher at an IPS alternative school for almost 14 years. This program, Brenda explained, caters to students who often come from difficult situations and are expelled from traditional IPS schools for offenses involving drugs or weapons. “That was kind of when I got my first taste of being a disciplinarian just because—kids are kids,” she said. “If you can establish a relationship with them and let them know you care about them, they’re usually better off.” Because her students benefited from more individualized academic, emotional, and behavioral support, Brenda worked incredibly hard to foster an environment that helped them towards graduation, which she said was no easy task given that many were learning how to read well into their teenage years. Additionally, teaching in a higher-risk environment such as this one often meant spending time in jails and at funerals to provide support for her students. Although Brenda found her teaching
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experience incredibly rewarding, the heavy emotional load began to take its toll, as it would for anyone in her position. After careful thought and consideration, she made the difficult choice to consider employment elsewhere, which led to an opportunity at Brebeuf as Dean of Students. While Brebeuf offered her a position shortly after her interview, she did not accept it initially due to the love and responsibility she felt for her IPS students. “They had nothing,” she explained. “That made it harder to leave, because your heart gets [involved].” Even beyond her years of teaching in the IPS alternative school system, the impact Brenda had on her past students remains, as she has helped some of them get jobs in their adult lives. Others have found her on Facebook and sent her messages asking if she remembers them. “It helps,” she said. “I’m glad to see […] them do well.” Brenda has carried this individualized focus on the wellbeing of her students with her to Brebeuf Jesuit as Dean, and her hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. “She never turns Brebeuf off,” teacher Matt Mayer admired. “The number of stories I’ve heard of a student in trouble or a student who’s failing […] and Brenda making that extra phone call at 9:00 at night—she’s busy here during the day, but to know that she’s doing the same thing at night, it’s remarkable to say the least.” Brenda frequently checks in on students she
knows could benefit from a watchful eye, which often translates to making sure an injured student uses the elevator while on crutches, or tracking down a specific kid to send to the math office for additional help. She jokingly refers to this aspect of her role as “babysitting,” but the commitment she has for her students is no joke. “It’s a big part of my life,” she said with a smile. “I love these kids.” While her work environment has changed between schools, the positive impact she has on her students remains constant, as evidenced by the number of Brebeuf alumni who also continue to reach out to her. Last year, a 2012 graduate emailed her unexpectedly and asked to catch up. She did not know him particularly well when he was a student, but she remarked that sitting with him and hearing what he took away from the small moments they shared meant a lot to her. “Seeing young people make big changes over time is so great,” she said. “I love getting messages and visits from past students. It makes life come full circle.”
FEATURE STORY
Dean Adams Fast Facts Where are you from? Traverse City, Michigan Most embarrassing concert? Neil Diamond
Brenda expressed that these moments are the ones that fill her heart most, as she recognizes her title may not carry the most positive of connotations. “It’s challenging for me to get students into a place where they realize I’m a person, too,” she explained. “I’m funny, sarcastic, and I like interacting with them. The challenge is to break down the initial wall and find a commonality.” This commonality begins with Dean Adams’ consistent effort to build friendships with students. Although she has an office on Brebeuf ’s top floor, you’d never know it given the time she spends walking the halls or standing in the main lobby to greet students, faculty, and staff members—one of the many ways she immerses herself in Brebeuf ’s community. “People think I keep our community in check when really, we keep each other in check for the betterment of us all,” she said. “I love the opportunity to ask students for help with things, and they have never let me down.” Current Brebeuf Jesuit senior Sydney Gallagher shared her gratitude for Dean Adams’ willingness to trust her students and amplify their opinions within the school community. “[She] understands the importance of the student voice,” Sydney ’20 remarked. “She’s
committed to giving students opportunities to drive their Brebeuf experience.” Class of 2015 alumna Samantha Bennett expressed similar sentiments in recalling the positive impact Brenda had on her four years. “Dean Adams is a strong, caring, empowering, and unwavering presence at Brebeuf,” Samantha shared. “She goes above and beyond to ensure that students are seen, respected, and appreciated. She expects nothing but the best from us, yet she is a constant support when we falter. I would not be the woman I am today without her tenure as a strong role model when I was at Brebeuf. She believed in me, encouraged me, and helped me see the best in myself, which helped me build the self-confidence that I continue to hold onto and foster to this day.” For almost three decades, Brenda has committed herself to the mission of loving her students and working tirelessly to create productive members of society. For the last 13, specifically, she has lived Brebeuf ’s mission authentically and wholeheartedly as a woman for others, serving as maintainer of school safety, keeper of student attendance, cultivator of school spirit, overseer of student council, dog mom, parking lot painter, gardener, and above all, friend and ally to the Brebeuf Jesuit community. All of these duties and more fall under Brenda’s title, Dean of Students, but perhaps a more accurate one would be Dean for Students.
Where would you like to travel if money were no object? New Zealand How do you take your coffee? Black Salty or sweet? Salty Favorite book? Catcher in the Rye Favorite season? Spring Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving Ideal superpower? The ability to fly Pet peeve? Loud chewers Cure for the hiccups? Holding your breath If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would you eat? Fruit Role model? Her mom
SPRING 2020
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2801 West 86th Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
CONGRATULATIONS
CLASS OF 2020 Sohaib Afzal Melinda Alviar Benjamin Androne Oluwanifemi Ayodele Daniel Batler Shane Bauer Andrew Baumgart Mary Baxter Livingstan Benjamin Megan Berenyi Alec Bevelhimer Carter Bice Joseph Bilitz Natalie Bir Logan Blackburn Alec Blanton Nicholas Boccone Michael Boehm Elizabeth Brase Casey BrysonJohnson Tova Burton Xandra Button Caroline Caito Victoria Cassman Colin Chambers Brooklyn Chestnut Caitlin Cheung John Cook Jack Cota Andrew Davis Gabriella Davis Sebastian De Felice Jackson Deets James Dix Kimberly DorantesFlores Seth Douglas
Carson Drews Cameron Durm Paige Edens Chloe Eggleton Caleb Ellison Lane Erickson Megan Erwin Scott Esteb Caulin Fitzgerald Ava Fromm Ivy Gallagher Sydney Gallagher Garcia de Quevedo Fuerte Kelly Gardner Nicholas Garino Andrew Gavitt Ella Gebke Himmat Ghoman Nicholas Girod James Gladden Ryan Govindadas Joseph Graham Isabella Habash Lauren Hague Katherine Hale Seth Hall William Hall Benjamin Hannel Aanyah Harris Caroline Hauser Gabriella Hays Adrienne Hein Roy Higgins Belle Hinshaw Stephen Hoke David Hopper Helen Hughes
Maximillian Humbert Nina Jain Gigi Jenkins Jett Jenkins Zoe Jensen Riley Johnson Molly Kennedy Ryan Kennedy Dexter King Brandi Kirkbride Tessa Klein Ari Kleinman Erik Klem Lucie Koeberlein Jack Kovach Hannah Krohne Samuel Krok Saaya Kumar Rachel Kump Lauren Lamberson Cecilia Lamphear Kiara Lewis Amy Loberger Ava Lowry Ethan Maluccio Melanie Marshall Joshua Matatall Bryce Maxey William McCullough Matthew McKay Yves McMullen Braeden McNealy Katherine Melbert Maxwell Melrose Jack Meyer Karl Meyer Lily Meyer Austin Miller
Ian Miller Isabella Mokaya Xavier Momper Abigail Moore Jack Moore Rachel Moore William Morelock Kendall Morris Morgen Morris Liam Murphy Ellen Myrvold Musa Ndhlovu Julian Neely Sarah Niednagel Andre Novak Michael O’Sullivan Brandon Ozobu Sheny Perez MacAlister Perkins Benjamin Peters Jacobi Pettigrew Nathan Phillips Nicholas Phillips Andrew Pickett Anika Pirkle Harrison Polak Davia Poythress Mariana Quintero Abigail Randall Nikita Rao Hudson Reamer Casey Rector Emily Ren Abbey Richman Corbin Riggins Owen Rosen Sawyer Rothermel William Rudolph
Lillian Ryan Laney Rzeppa William Scheetz Robert Sheffield Anna Sherman Matthew Siegel Quinn Simmons Zoe Simmons Andrew Skelton Gabrielle Smiley Abigail Smith Joseph Smith Margaret Smith Jakob Solito Caroline Sorrells Owen Speer Abigail Spohn Dominic Stella Lauren Taylor Nikya Thomas Caroline Todd Coby Torrence Francisco Torres Luke Turro Olivia Urban Sita Wagle Mia Wagner Katherine Watson Sophia Weeter Grant Whitsett Logan Williams Ashlyn Winters Sumner Wolff Gabriel Wright Paolo Zichella