Pillars Magazine Volume 2

FROMTHETOPOFTHEPILLARS

Thefirstthreemonthsofthesemester haveflownbyatlightspeed!

BlessedTrinitystudentshavegone aboveandbeyondintheFallof2022. ThefirstKairosretreatwasheldat Covecrestwithmorethan80students takingtimeoutoftheirbusyschedules tofocusontheirFaith.Weareproudof theworkthatour27CollegeBoard Scholarsputforthintheclassroom. Emma! wasasmashingsuccessandI'm afraidwemayloseMr.Fasonto Broadway!Themoveto6Ainathletics wasmetbyourTitanswithenthusiasm andgrit.CongratulationstoourState ChampionshipFlagFootballTeam!

AsweentertheseasonofAdvent,I hopeyouallgettheopportunityto spendmeaningfultimewithyour familiesandhaveaveryMerry ChristmasandHappyNewYear.

SENIORSPOTLIGHT: LAURENFOSS

LaurenFossembodiesallthatBlessedTrinityCatholicHigh Schoolstrivestoachieveineachandeverystudent;onethatis wellroundedinallfourareasofourmission,spiritually, academically,artisticallyandathletically.Itonlytakesaminute ofbeinginherpresencetorealizehowtrulyspecialsheis. AccordingtoMadelynCowan,bestfriendswithFosssince meetingineighthgrade,“Laurenhasakindheartandexudes positivity.”Thetwofriendsarealmostalwaystogetherasthey areinvolvedinmanyofthesameactivitiesandclubs.“Laurenis hardworkinganddriven.Shehasthebiggestsmileandlightsup aroom,”Cowanadds.

Spiritually,Laurenhasgrowninleapsandboundssinceenteringthe doorsofBlessedTrinityasafreshman.“IfoundGodthroughBlessed Trinity,”sheexplains.HerinterestintheCatholicfaithbeganafter attendingherfirstKairosretreatasafreshman Shehasattendedallof theKairosretreatsthathavebeenofferedduringherfouryearsat BlessedTrinityandhasservedasaretreatsmallgroupleader Laurenis thrilledtobeservingasoneoftheretreatrectorsfortheFebruary2023 retreat.Inherjunioryear,sheenteredtheRCIAprogramatSt.Peter ChanelCatholicChurchandundertheguidanceofDeaconAvery Daniel,shewasbaptized,confirmedandreceivedherfirstcommunion. Currentlythespiritualeditorof“TheTitanTimes,”BlessedTrinity’s studentrunnewspaper,LaurendrawsfromherspiritualgrowthatBT andbringsauniqueperspectivetothepublication.

FossshinesacademicallyatBlessed TrinityasamemberoftheNational HonorSociety,aBTAmbassador representingtheschoolatvarious eventsandactivities,amemberofthe StudentGovernmentAssociationasa GorettiHouseLeader,andasaSTARS tutorinthesubjectsofReligionand English.Shehasappliedtoseveral competitiveuniversitiesandishoping tostudycriminologyorlaw.

Laurenhasbeeninvolvedinthe BlessedTrinitytheaterprogramfor mostofherhighschoolyears Shehas hadrolesinvariousproductions, includingthecollaborative film,“FindingFocus,”“The25th AnnualPutnamCountySpellingBee,” andthemostrecentmusical,“Emma!”

Lauren’sinvolvementinBlessed TrinityAthleticshasbeencentered aroundfootballcheerleadinginthe fallandsportsmedicineinthespring. Sheservesasanathletictrainerforthe BTlacrosseteamsandislooking forwardtotheupcomingseason.

InadditiontoallthatLaurenis involvedinatBlessedTrinity,sheis coachingmiddleschoolcheerwithher bestfriendMadelynatSaintJudethe ApostleSchoolinSandySpringswhere theymetaseighthgraders.On Saturdays,Fosscanbefoundbakingin thekitchenofCrazyLoveCoffee CoffeehouseinRoswell.Thefutureis verybrightforLaurenFoss,andher timeasaTitangracingthehallsof BlessedTrinitywillnotbeforgotten.

She has the biggest smile and lights up a room.

KAIROS7

THETEAMBEHINDTHERETREAT

DuringtheweekendofPresident’sDay, February17-19,2023,studentsfrom BlessedTrinitywillbeabletotakepart intheseventhKairosRetreatsponsored byCampusMinistry.Kairos,from ancientGreek,meanstheright,critical, oropportunemoment,andthisisa criticalmomentforthethreeKairos Rectors,MadelynCowan,LaurenFoss andNickGomez.Thesethreeseniors havebeentaskedwithplanningthe retreatwhichwilltakeplaceatLife TeenCampHiddenLakeinDahlonega, Georgia.

Theleadershaveloftygoalsforthe retreatwhichincludepleasingthebroad majorityofattendeesbywell-planned activities,inspirationalandimpactful talks,andgreatuseofstudentleaders Withanoverwhelmingnumberof applications,therectorshavebeentasked withchoosing20studentleaderstofill variousroleswhichrangefromsmall groupleaderstoactivityandhospitality directors.AccordingtoCowanandFoss, thebiggestgoalsoftheretreatplanning include“bettertimemanagement,”and “moreinvolvementfromthejunior class.”Theirhopesofpassingalonga traditiontothenextgenerationof leaderscomesfromawellrunandwell attendedretreat.Theleadersarealso veryinspiredbythenumberoffreshmen thatattendedtheKairosretreatin October

AnneBirth,DirectorofCampus MinistryatBlessedTrinity,has“never

seensuchanorganizedgroupofretreat rectorswithsuchattentiontodetailThey haveplannedeachandeveryaspectso carefullyandthoughtfullybyconsidering theleaders’strengthsbeforeassigning themresponsibilities.”

AccordingtoGomez,“choosingatheme takestime,”andhestressesthe importanceofpleasingthebroad majorityofretreatparticipants.When askedaboutthethemeoftheupcoming retreat,hesimplystates,“It’suptothe manupabove.”Thethreerectorshave beenprayingaboutthethemeandbelieve thatitwillberevealedtothematjustthe righttime.Theyarealsoplanningatrip toHiddenLakeaheadoftheretreatto takeintoconsiderationthelargercampus andhowthatwillimpactthegeneralflow ofactivities.

Kairos7applicationswillopenupin January,andallstudentsareencouraged toattendthetransformativeweekend.

“Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” Hebrews 13:7

THLETES

sday rtdayfor tystudents, gatheronce sleep ncilsand calculatorsinhandandare db myMuller etapresident, MATH sedTrinity sranging ugh12 nebonus rmath nceaswellas orevery correctly. vethe Georgia tions The tudentsto box”anduse ensetosolve eadifferent feelthantheirtypicalmath

Onewouldnotbesurprisedto findfourclassroomsfullof studentsontheseWednesdays deliberatingovermath problemstakenfromThe GeorgiaMathLeague,a programdesignedto“build studentinterestandconfidence inmathematicsthrough solvingworthwhileproblems”

“Beingapartofprogramslike MuAlphaTheta,studentsare abletoengageinthe curriculuminauniqueway withoneanother,"according toBlessedTrinityGuidance CounselorBrandonHarwell. "Thisenablesthemtoenhance theircriticalthinkingskillsand demonstrateagenuineinterest inmathbeyondtheconfinesof theclassroom.Doingthis assistsstudentsinthecollege applicationprocessandhelps thembemoresuccessfulonce theyarriveattheiruniversity ofchoice"

"Anyoneiswelcometocome totheMathletes-Georgia MathLeaguecompetitions," addsMuller,"nomattertheir skilllevel."

MUSICAL

Girl power has never sounded so good!

BlessedTrinity'sFineArtsdepartmentbroughtthemusical“Emma,APopMusical”tothestage November4andNovember5.Theshowincludedmusicbylegendarygirlgroupsandiconicfemale singersfromtheSupremestoKatyPerrytoShaniaTwaintoPatBenatar.

AmandaKetcham,TheaterDirectoratBlessedTrinity,andAlyssaHarris,MusicDirectoratBlessed TrinitycombinedforcestobringthemusicaltolifeWithassistancefromtheStagecraftclasstaughtby Ketcham,castandcrewassembledthesetfromscratch."Itwasapleasuretogettoworkwithsuch amazingkidswhoworkedsohardtoproduceanentertainingshow,"Mrs.Ketchamadds.The productioninit'sentiretywasacollaborationofmanystudentsandteachersintheFineArtsdepartment

CAST LIST

Emma Woodhouse - TessaCostanzo Harriet Smith - MariaDeirisarri

Jeff Knightley - NickGomez Frankie Churchill - DeclanDoyle Jane Fairfax - AllyLoquasto Phillip Elton - KevinKellner Martin - AidenNott Ashley - MaeveDoyle

Mrs. Bates - AudreyZimmerman Mr. Weston - Mr.ChrisFason/ColeWeaver Miss Taylor - JoannaGrissom‘13/LaurenFoss

Tech Crew

FOURADDEDTOBTHALLOFFAME

TheBlessedTrinityAthleticHallofFame recognizesathleteswhohavebrought recognition,honor,anddistinctiontoBlessed TrinityCatholicHighSchoolthrough outstandingcontributionstotheathletic program.TheHallofFamealsohonorscoaches andathleticdirectorswhohaveshownmany yearsofdedicationtotheyoungmenand womenintheircharge.

Thisyear'sinducteesare(picturedabove clockwisefromtopleft)ZacharyKrause'10, MichaelLobacz'05,Lauren(Judson)Shoemaker '09andAlStasko.

Krausewasatwoyearletterwinnerintheboys Tennisprogramandledtheteamtothe program’sfirstStateChampionshipin2010and aRunner-Upfinishin2009.Hewasthewinner ofourprestigiousSt.SebastianAwardhissenior yearandwasthenumberonesinglesplayerhis JuniorandSenioryears.

Lobaczwasafouryearletterwinnerinbaseball andearnedAll-Regionhonorsinboth2004and 2005.Michaelholdstherecordformostdoubles (23)inschoolhistoryandisalsoonthe leaderboardforRBI(49).

Shoemakerwasafouryearletterwinneringirls golfandledthegirlsgolfteamtoastate championshipin2009,astaterunner-upfinishin 2008,afourthplacefinishin2007,andafifth placefinishin2006.

CoachAlStaskojoinedtheBlessedTrinity coachingstaffin2001.Duringhis14yearsat BT,CoachStaskowastheboysandgirlsCross CountrycoachaswellasanassistantBasketball coachinboththeboysandgirlsprograms.Stasko ledhisteamtothefirstboyscrosscountrystate championship(andfirstchampionshipforany boyssportatBlessedTrinity)in2003.In2005, CoachStaskoledourgirlscrosscountryteamto theirfirststatechampionship,andhewasatthe helmwithanothergirlscrosscountrystate championshipin2006.

BASEBALL

PorterBuursema-GeorgiaSouthernUniversity-(Statesboro)

LukeFlading-SouthGeorgiaStateCollege(Douglas)

ColeHarof-PiedmontUniversity(Demorest)

JakeLankie-UniversityofGeorgia(Athens)

CooperMilford-UniversityofGeorgia-(Athens)

JacksonMorgan-YoungHarrisCollege(YoungHarris)

EvanO’Neill-IndianaUniversity(Bloomington,IN)

BASKETBALL

BrighamRogers-BelmontUniversity(Nashville,TN)

BOYS LACROSSE

LiamBrubacher-NorthGreenvilleUniversity(Tigerville,SC)

AidanChambers-QueensUniversityofCharlotte(Charlotte,NC)

GIRLS LACROSSE

KathrynMcCabe-AndersonUniversity(Anderson,SC)

HaleyCook-BelmontAbbeyCollege(Belmont,NC)

CarlyCoopman-UniversityofOregon(Eugene,OR)

ReaganHart-UnitedStatesNavalAcademy(Annapolis,MD)

JaclynJohns-UnitedStatesNavalAcademy(Annapolis,MD)

AvaRegitz-CentralMichiganUniversity(Mt.Pleasant,MI)

EmilyWeir-VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity(Richmond,VA)

GIRLS SOCCER

TylerKaseta-XavierUniversity-(Cincinnati,OH)

CarolineSmith-UniversityofGeorgia-(Athens)

AND FIELD

ClarkBilderback-UniversityofMissouri(Columbia,MO)

Lister-LaSalleUniversity(Philadelphia,PA)

Connecting Our Community

The Blessed Trinity Advancement Office kicked off the 2021-2022 School Year with a variety of events to engage the Blessed Trinity Community. Read a few highlights below!

Fall Kick-off Tailgate

WewelcomedbackourBTcommunityandwelcomednewTitansbykickingoffthe footballseasonwithfoodtrucksandtailgatingforourfirsthomefootballgame.

Major Donor Reception

ThegenerouscontributionsofourBTcommunitytrulymakeadifferenceinthelivesof ourstudents.Eachyear,wehonorourmajordonorswithaspecialMassandreception.This year’seventtookplaceonAugust27onourcampus,allowingdonorstheopportunityto viewtheupgradesandenhancementsmadetoourlobby,cafeteria,andchapel.

Grandparents & Special Friends Day

ThisinauguralcelebrationonSeptember9wasattendedbyover400grandparentsand specialfriends.ThemorningbeganwithMassinthetheater,followedbybreakfastwith guestspeakerandBTgrandparent,JeffreyArmbrusterinthegym.StudentAmbassadors offeredtoursofourcampusandallGrandparentswereofferedticketstothePatriotism BowlfootballgamefeaturingBlessedTrinityvs.St.PiusX,hostedonourcampusthat evening.

Homecoming & Reunions

OnOctober7,wewelcomedbacktocampusouralumniandalumnifamiliesfor Homecoming.Everyonegatheredinthehorseshoeforsomefuncarnivalgameswiththeir childrenandcheeredonourTitanfootballteamfromtheAlumniPavilionwithaBBQ tailgate!Thisfall,wecelebrateda10-yearreunionfortheclassof2012anda5-yearreunion fortheclassof2017.

Second Annual Titan Trot & Waffle House Food Truck

Oursecondannualstudent-drivenfundraisertookplaceonTuesday,November8.Witha recordnumberof900+participatingstudents,alongwithourfacultyandstaff,weraised justover$90,000towardstuitionassistanceandfinancialaid,providingopportunitiesfor morestudentstoaffordaCatholiceducation.Wearethrilledtocontinuebuildingthis cultureofphilanthropywithinourstudentbody.Allparticipatingstudentswererewarded withanentireweekoutofuniformandourtopfundraisingclass,thefreshmen,were treatedtoaWaffleHousefoodtruckforbreakfasttheweekfollowingtheTitanTrot.

#iGiveCatholic on Giving Tuesday

Thankstothegenerosityofmorethan400donors,weraisedover$84,000,anewschool record,onTuesday,November29for#iGiveCatholic.Thesefundswillgotowardallfour ofourschoolpillarsprovidingadditionalcrucifixestoourcampus,upgradestoour AcademicSupportCenter,acustomtrailerforourDrumline,upgradedtheaterlighting, andaFirstResponderMedicalCartforourSportsMedicineteam.