GIBBONS CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL MAGAZINE 2021-2022
Welcome to Gibbons Faith It can only be described as a Holy Spirit moment. As director of spiritual life, Gary Meyerl ’82 prepared to lead a prayer during the Welcome to Gibbons Night for the Class of 2026. He was moved by the thought of the incoming students using their phone flashlights to transform the dimly lit gym into a welcoming spiritual space. Meyerl invited the future students to join in the Hail Mary prayer for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. This solemn moment occurred in the midst of a jubilant evening featuring a pop-up pep rally and community celebration.
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4 FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL 5 MISSION MOMENTS 8 SNAPSHOTSCRUSADER 16 TAKE FIVE 18 CONVERSATIONSWITHROBOTICS 26 TWO VIEWS 27 THREESHORTSMILITARY 28 CONNECTIONSCAREER 30 RECONNECTING 32 A GIBBONS LEGACY 33 IN MEMORIUM ADMINISTRATION Most Reverend Luis Rafael Zarama Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh Lytia Reese Superintendent of Catholic Formation & Education, Diocese of Raleigh Jeff Bell Head of School SarahEditorHardin Director of Communications Alumni Editor Susan Leigh ’87 Director of Alumni Advancement Advancement Editor Anna White Hosea Director of Advancement Editing Nancye Gaj, Sarah Hardin, Anna White Hosea, and Susan Leigh ’87 Photography Azul andGibbonsJustinPhotography,KaseConder,Media,JasonPhilyaw Project Manager Pam Powell GIBBONS is published by Cardinal Gibbons High School for its parents, students, alumni, and friends. CONTACT US We welcome your ideas and feedback. Please send suggestions or comments to Sarah Hardin communications@cghsnc.org.at PAGE 10 WHERE COMMUNITY HAPPENS 12 CLAIRE CURZAN: CRUSADER & OLYMPIAN 13 WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 20 JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT 24 Front cover: Musical theatre returned to Cardinal Gibbons for the first time in two years with the school’s fourth production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY AZUL PHOTOGRAPHY Mary’s Grotto Summer 2022 32 GIBBONS MAGAZINE
“Whether a one day or overnight Kairos, the results are always the same for our seniors: transformed hearts, new friendships, and a renewed confidence that God loves them as they are right now,” Kairos Director Crista Anders said. “It has been so beautiful to watch our program grow over the past 13 years, with thousands of students experiencing such a meaningful milestone in their high school career.”
Tim Yelenic, Director of Retreats
As we recognize our achievements, we are also looking forward as a school. This spring, we completed a strategic plan that will help us chart our course for the next three to five years and ensure that we continue to be a vibrant, mission-aligned Catholic school that serves the entire Triangle.
Cardinal Gibbons is committed to providing retreats for students at every grade level. The addition of the Short Journey Retreat Center demonstrates our belief that students benefit from participating in an annual retreat.
“Kairos put a lot of things into perspective for me,” rising senior Katie Weimer said. “I feel I am more in control of my emotions, faith life, and future. I feel like I’m finally taking the steps to really see myself as a Catholic.” Kairos allows students to remove themselves from daily distractions, create closer bonds with classmates, and most importantly, further develop a relationship with Jesus “in God’s time.” For rising senior Harrison Day, the experience reconnected him with God.
At Gibbons, Kairos, our retreat offered during an opportune and decisive moment, allows seniors an intentional reflection on their relationships with God, self, and others.
FAITH
“I came in scared and curious about my faith. I learned how accepting and forgiving God is.”
As an educational institution, Cardinal Gibbons is on incredibly strong footing. This past year, we had record admissions and philanthropic donations. We look forward to welcoming 422 students as part of the Class of 2026. And the $1M+ we received in donations ensures that we can continue to deliver strong academics and mission-aligned experiences for our students and educators.
This past year, our students, educators, and parents experienced one of the most memorable journeys in Cardinal Gibbons’ 113-year history. We endured two COVID surges, celebrated the school’s first state championship in football, and were finally able to perform “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” again!
We embody our core values of faith, service, and leadership in every decision we make, every student we admit, and every life we change as a ministry of the Catholic Church. Please enjoy this issue of our magazine that includes updates and stories about the life of our incredible community!
They are often calm places where students experience nature, strengthen friendships, explore their spirituality, and experience personal growth in new ways.
Dear Gibbons Community,
The tradition continued—even during the pandemic— thanks to the care and creativity of our Spiritual Life team.
As we look to the future, we are excited about the role we envision as a leading Catholic high school that offers a unique combination of spiritual formation and academic excellence, as well as cocurricular, artistic, and athletic success.
~HARRISON DAY ‘23 4 GIBBONS MAGAZINE
Mission Moments
LEADERSHIP“Wewantedtocreateameaningfulleadershipopportunitythatsimulatesthedemandsofadultlife.”
Admissions Director Alison Gammage and her team, including Associate Admissions Directors Lauren Gentile ‘04 and Mason Hill, created and launched the program but have turned much of the day-to-day decision-making over to its 100+ students.
“My favorite part about being an Ambassador is giving prospective students an experience that they will never forget, whether that be giving them that great first impression of Gibbons or just making a new friend.”
“Adults are only facilitating; the students are leading,” Gammage said. “We wanted to give them autonomy in running and designing the program. They are supporting the next generation of Ambassadors.”
“Ambassadors write a thank-you card, opening up other pathways and avenues to stay connected,” Hill said.
-ALISON GAMMAGE Admissions Director
Gary Meyerl ’82, Director of Spiritual Life “For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people’s love and concern for each other.”
~MILLARD FULLER Co-founder of Habitat for Humanity Mission Moments Mission Moments
SERVICEF or over 20 years, Gibbons students have picked up a hammer, strapped on a nail apron, and made a difference in the lives of future Habitat for Humanity of Wake County homeowners. Since a relationship with Habitat was forged by Agnes Penny during her tenure as Director of Outreach, students have been proudly putting on hard hats and softening their hearts to be of service to members of our community. Coming together under the banner of Gibbons Outreach, we are grateful for the chance to partner with an organization that encourages our students, educators, parents, and alumni to give time and talents in service to our brothers and sisters in Christ. When each project is completed, we have built more than just a house; together we have helped to build the Kingdom of God in our own little corner of the world. If we try every day to live a life in service to others, we are really serving our good and gracious God who calls each and every one of us to love one another, enabling us to find the presence of the divine in those we serve.
The interactions between Ambassadors and future families extend beyond the transactional nature of the admissions process, with the students serving as mentors to their younger peers.
The Ambassadors lead weekly campus tours, introducing prospective families to Gibbons and answering questions. They also represent the school at a number of events throughout the year.
“I have never been as comfortable talking to adults, taking initiative in leadership roles, or speaking in front of an audience as I am today,” Hannan said. “I am so grateful for this experience and all of the doors that it has inadvertently opened for me.”
“No one knows the Gibbons experience better than students,” Gammage said.
-JENNIFER TRAN ‘23 Rising Senior
STUDENTS ARE AT THE HEART OF THE ADMISSIONS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.
-LEO MORELLI ‘24 Rising Junior
Jordan Hannan ‘24, a rising junior, was excited about the opportunity to become an Ambassador based on her own initial experience with the school. “I knew that I wanted to welcome the future Class of 2026 with the same enthusiasm, kindness, and acceptance that I experienced,” she said.
While prospective families benefit significantly from their relationships with the Ambassadors, the impact on the students themselves is immeasurable.
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“(The program) teaches accountability, time management, and situational awareness. As a leader, my public speaking has greatly improved, and my social battery has more charge. I couldn’t have asked for a better program to improve myself as a leader.”
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SWEET CELEBRATION
INTERACTIVE LEARNING Wendy Healy’s fourth-period Forensics class took part in a crime scene investigation staged outside at the Western Boulevard Pavilion. To properly process the scene, students had to demonstrate what they had learned. These techniques included sketching,photographing,andcollectingevidence.
Our annual Cupcake Day Celebration is always a hit. The Gibbons tradition coincides with National College Decision Day, giving students the opportunity to share where they are heading next and commemorate the special moment with friends.
A SPECIAL LITURGY
FOOTBALL AS COMMUNITY More than 450 families joined us for our Family Football Night. The annual event is an opportunity for middle school families to engage with the Gibbons community through activities designed by current students, parents, and educators.
Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Durham, presided over the commemoration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. The Gibbons chapter of the Franciscan Youth International ministry group hosted the liturgy to commemorate their patron saint, St. Francis. The 2021-2022 academic year began with social distancing and masking as we continued to do our part to protect our loved ones from the spread of COVID-19. Despite the challenges, Gibbons educators found ways to connect our community through unique learning experiences, prayerful moments and joyful celebrations.
A MOVING GLOBAL EXPERIENCE
Students visited Normandy American Cemetery in Germany during the Western Europe Trip. Educator and trip leader Taylor Blanton said it’s always a very moving experience, made even more memorable by the fact that among the thousands of graves is that of Gibbons Alumnus Capt. (Chaplain) Philip Edelen. We remember Capt. Edelen’s service to his country and to his faith.
By Deirdre Parker Smith
With her serene look, her hands folded in prayer, the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary sat in a quiet, unassuming spot on the campus of Cardinal Gibbons High School.
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The donor and another alumnus, Peter Ruocchio ‘92, owner of Ruocchio Designs in Wake Forest, created a drawing of what the grotto could look like.
“They have a huge devotion to the Blessed Mother, and we wanted a way to thank them for the years they served us,” Monroe said.
With the new grotto, the statue of Mary is the first thing people see when entering the campus. “The placement tells the story of a Catholic school and how important the Catholic identity is to the community. It’s illuminated at night, and it’s breathtakingly beautiful,” said Monroe. After the idea was presented, staff started planning and looking at other grottos. Their research included the one at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, which is a smaller version of the one at Lourdes where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette 18 times, exhorting her to pray for poor sinners.
Mary’sGrotto
Members of the state championship Women’s Lacrosse team often gathered at Mary’s Grotto to prayer before away games.
“To see how far Cardinal Gibbons has come in the years since I graduated, it was a great honor to be asked to design and build the new grotto,” Ruocchio said. “Gibbons is a very special place. All my former classmates who are dear friends have a special connection to this school that I feel is very unique in this world.” Included in the plans were ways to honor those who have served at Cardinal Gibbons, such as the Sisters of Notre Dame of Ohio, who were part of the school for decades.
Gary Meyerl ‘82, director of spiritual life, said putting the Blessed Mother in a prominent place “has the power to change the lens through which we look at life; to recognize the role the Blessed Mother has played in our lives” as the first disciple of Jesus, the first follower of Christ. It has been a real gift.”
An anonymous alumnus came up with the idea and offered to fund the project.
Last fall, all eyes were on the statue as it was placed in a lovely grotto that now invites students, parents, and the community to spend time and pray with Our Lady.
“When we moved to this campus, we brought the statue of Mary with us and placed it near the entrance, but not in a very prominent place. It’s just been sitting there.”
Dean Monroe, director of athletic legacy and major gifts, has been part of Cardinal Gibbons for more than 25 years and understood the importance of the statue’s location.
DECEMBER 13, 19591959 The gym was dedicated to the missionary and founder of the Nazareth Orphanage, Fr. Thomas Frederick Price. The gym was the first building erected on the Western Boulevard Campus, which opened for classes in the fall of 1962.
By Catherine Currin '12
where COMMUNITY happens
Looking Back
CLAIRE CRUSADERCURZAN&
Students at three local Catholic schools—Cathedral, Lourdes, and Saint Monica’s—began playing basketball games in Father Price Gym.
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Bishop Waters broke ground on the new Raleigh Catholic High Auditorium/ Gymnasium, as it was called. The auditorium/gymnasium was built on part of the Nazareth property.
The Pavilion has become a gathering place for everything from athletic signing days to alumni reunions. It gives current students a chance to pay homage to those who came before them and provides alumni a glimpse at the Gibbons of today. The structure’s openness also offers a tranquil space to convene in prayer while experiencing the splendor of nature.
OLYMPIAN
The Western Boulevard Pavilion gets its name from the expansive beams that brought it to life. Once an integral part of the school’s gym at its Western Boulevard location from 1959 to 1999, the beams found a new purpose on Edwards Mill Road.
Its presence is unmistakable. . . a striking structure towering between the school’s football and baseball fields, a portal to the past just steps away from the main building.
Claire Curzan ‘22 has always felt comfortable in the pool. Her older brother was a swimmer, so when she was three years old, she wanted to be one too. “I wanted to race him, so I joined my summer swim team.” Fast forward to 2021, and Claire was on her way to the Tokyo Olympics to compete in the 100-meter butterfly and 4x100-meter medley relay for the United States. She received a silver medal for her performance in the relay. continued on page 14
MARCH 22, 1959
Claire said, at Gibbons, she could be herself. “I went into Gibbons and I could just be ‘Claire,’ not ‘swimmer Claire.’” Educator Amy Rokita says that Claire is not just stellar in the pool. “On day one, it became obvious to me that the devotion and drive seen in Claire’s achievements in the water were matched in the classroom.” Kathleen Kozak loved having Claire in her theology class: “While in the classroom, she showed that the time we spent together was important to her. She was an integral member of the class and cared for her class family.”
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Claire’s faith, through her upbringing and at Gibbons, has impacted her mindset and success. “There’s always continued from page 13
Gibbonsachieve.”swimcoach
“Whether it’s breaking world records or tackling world literature, Claire is the kind of student who will find opportunities to grow and to challenge herself,” said Rokita. In the fall, Claire will head to Stanford University as a Division 1 swimmer. However, she’s not forgetting her roots. Despite her professional level of competition, Claire said she’ll really miss the tight-knit family that Gibbons offers. Tracy Curzan said that Gibbons played a huge role in getting Claire to where she is today. “Being a part of the Gibbons culture and family provided flexibility and allowed Claire to work on a gift that she was given.”
Claire said she had a feeling she might be able to make the U.S. team after a nationals meet in 2019. “Everyone dreams of being in the Olympics. After I had a really good time in that race, I realized it was something I could actually
a bigger purpose. My faith helped me realize swimming is bigger than just me; it gives me a way to connect better with others at Gibbons.” Claire’s mom Tracy said that faith plays a major role in their family’s life, and the support from retreats and study at Gibbons enhanced that for her children. “Claire even says a prayer behind the block before she races. We’re so proud of her swimming accolades, but we’re more proud of the person she is.”
Coach Turner makes sure that everyone has equity on the team, regardless of skill. “Every season we put a focus on finding your role on the team—from the elite like Claire to a new freshman swimming for the first time. After finding your role, from top point score to most spirited, it’s about also finding ways to improve and leaving the team better than you found it.”
Jonah Turner said that Claire stood out from the start: “I remember watching her first race for Gibbons and looking at the other coaches and laughing, saying ‘Maybe she needs to be coaching us!’” Turner swam at UNC-Chapel Hill and has coached the Gibbons swim team for 21 years. He’s seen students and swimmers come and go, but Claire left her mark. “I believe her biggest impact was that she cared so deeply about the program. She helped give several of our swimmers an opportunity to reach All-American status by participating on relay with her. If this swimmer who has been on an Olympic team is showing just as much passion and emotion when she’s wearing the Gibbons cap and finishing her career, then so should every other swimmer in our program.”
My influence for this work was that I wanted to create a piece that could represent a relationship between our senses. I wanted to show a connection between smelling and hearing something. I think smelling a rose and hearing a song have similar feelings.
Students in Becky Dason’s art classes are given the freedom and the support they need to grow their skills and faith. “Making art is a form of prayer, it’s a time when you are absorbed in what you’re doing…” she said. “I think all students need to understand that the arts make us whole, make us human.”
This piece illustrates how I, as a young woman, I am growing up in a society that does not value my voice or opinion because of my sex. I wanted the piece to express the fear for my future that I and many other women are experiencing due to our patriarchal society. I felt that I could most accurately express this through a collage by using images and words to construct something that represents how women are treated in our country.
Dason celebrated her 40th year at Cardinal Gibbons during the 2021-2022 school year. To mark the occasion, a few of her AP art students share the inspiration behind their work.
THE IMPACT OF AP ART
TAKE 5
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HELENA TORREY ‘23 - “Puzzled” stoneware clay
LUCIANA KRAUS ‘23 - “Born to be Uprooted” collage and digital media
Take Five
AVA ASTILLA ‘23 - “Frustration” colored pencils, acrylic paint, oil pastels, and Procreate My intention for this piece was to depict the frustration and struggle behind having poor eyesight. Since this problem is something that I have dealt with for many years, I wanted to make a piece that reflected a very personal situation.
This piece helps construct the story of how women are consistently oppressed, creating a sense of exclusion and hopelessness. As women, we experience sexualization in everyday life, but there isn’t much we can do. I used “bricks” to construct this piece to create a way for a face to be reconstructed in different meaningful ways.
ELI KONVALINKA ‘23 - “The Sound of Roses” ink and digital media
ISABELLA OLIVA ‘23 - “Rome” drypoint print
My intention for this piece was to show off the beauty of Rome, Italy, one of the many places I have traveled and the trip that stood out the most. I wanted to show off the architecture of the buildings while not making it too busy, so that you can really focus on the memory I have of this trip.
I’ve had various roles as a Software Engineer at the Department of Defense and Principal Engineer at Northrop Grumman. Today I serve as a Senior Consultant/ Engineer at Microsoft. I can always relate at least one thing I learned in Robotics Club
I’m glad I’m a part of this program, I have learned a lot while helping with coaching and Morementoring.than100students have gone through the program, which was a driving force in establishing the Makerspace — home to the school’s 3D printer and other engineering marvels. Team members gather twice a week after school to work on their next project and prepare for competition. Over the years, the club has become known for its prowess, landing a spot in every state championship for North Carolina First Tech Challenge.
When the Robotics Club began in 2008, it was just five students in Coach John Toebes’ garage. Today, about three dozen students are members of the club, which includes two teams and meets in the school’s Makerspace.
I have been a member of the team for three years. During my first few years, I learned fundamental skills from the more experienced upperclassmen in the club.
The Robotics Club at Cardinal Gibbons is something that genuinely sets Cardinal Gibbons apart from the surrounding high schools. The coaches, educators, and alumni involved with the club have various experiences across the industry (Cisco, SAS, and SpaceX). I joined the Robotics Club my freshman year, and it was one of the best decisions that I ever made. Being a member of the Robotics Club has greatly expanded my technical skills. In addition, it taught me how to collaborate in a team environment and be inclusive when making decisions.
Diane Ripollone Robotics Club Moderator
When I first joined the club, I didn’t realize I’d also become part of a strong community. Robotics has become a second family for me, and I have developed close friendships with many students in the club. We have phenomenal mentors and role models that push us to be our best and help us to network with professionals in various STEM fields. As a club, one of our main goals is outreach to connect with robotics teams from other schools and collaborate with the local community.
The club continues to expand the school’s mission by taking part in a number of outreach opportunities in the community, including hosting an annual summer camp that attracts local middle schoolers. They also take the Open-Source Rover “Roverto,” built and maintained by team members, to museums and events so that others can experience the magic of robotics.
Conversations with
The success of the program adds to its legacy at Cardinal Gibbons.
I was able to learn everything from making CAD designs of the components to manufacturing parts and assembling the robot. Each year’s competition brings new challenges and learning opportunities to grow as a team.
Members of the club are constantly stretching their creativity to solve real world problems. They recently filed their 8th patent and have been featured on the front cover of “Inventors Digest” and in “Popular Mechanics.”
Now as an upperclassman, I have also had the privilege of becoming one of the co-captains of Carpe Diem, one of the two competition teams inside the club. This responsibility has helped me develop and practice leadership skills that I will use in my future endeavors. The Gibbons robotics program has helped me learn not only engineering skills but also communication and presentation skills.
Sean McDonald ‘15 Robotics Club Alumnus
Benjamin Miranda ‘23 Current Robotics Club Member
THE ROBOTICS TEAM The Rise and Impact of Gibbons Robotics 18 GIBBONS MAGAZINE Summer 2022 19
CRUSADERS CLINCH FIRST FOOTBALL STATE “THROUGH LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER” - GALATIANS 5:13 WHAT IT TAKES CHAMPIONSHIP IN 113 YEAR SCHOOL HISTORY 20 GIBBONS MAGAZINE Summer 2022 21
The team’s path to the school’s first state football championship in 113 years was paved by teams that came
When the team won the championship on December 11, 2021, Wright said it was euphoric for everyone involved.
“We’vebefore. tried to emphasize to our players that this whole process really began in 1992 when this school reinstituted football,” Wright said. “The sacrifice that so many former players, coaches, and families made laid a foundation for us to make the state championship run a possibility.”
Wright also called the student groups that support the
team every week—cheerleading, dance, drumline, Green Army, and pep band—“invaluable.”
“When I walked into that locker room with all of our guys there, it was probably one of the purest expressions of joy that I’ve ever been a part of,” he said.
The following pages explore how diferent student groups (Football, Drumline & Pep Band, Cheerleading, Dance, and Green Army) prepare for Friday night games throughout the season.
“They are instrumental in the experience of the season; they play a big role in providing energy and support,” he said. “I don’t think it would be a community event without those elements.” “The support was palpable, and we felt it on the sidelines.”
Looking back, it seems fortuitous that Head Coach Steven Wright selected Galatians 5:13 as the football team’s verse of the season: “Through love serve one another.” From it sprang the catchphrase “Team Over Self,” which became a sort of team motto. “It points to love, sacrifice, and service going into the year,” Wright said. “The idea is that we’re all supporting each other, that we are more powerful collectively than individually.”
The Green Army, a student group of super fans, spends the season hyping every group involved on Friday nights and beyond. Their thunderous cheers ignite the stadium with the kind of energy that’s hard to describe and impossible to forget. Known as the “spirit in the stands,” one of the group’s core values is good sportsmanship. They cheer for Gibbons and avoid negative chants about the other team. They also thank the referees for their work and provide a warm welcome to the opposing team and coaches.
“We hope all of our combined energy can translate to the players and coaches, hopefully breathing life into them until the last second ticks off the clock,” said Head Coach Nikki Wadia. “Our goal is that players can turn around at any point during the game and see that we’ve got their backs, no matter the outcome.”
Playoff games mean the girls often pull double duty. A typical Friday night includes practice from 3:30 to 5 p.m., team dinner, warm up before the game, and cheering throughout the game. On Saturday morning, there is no sleeping in because the team members have to wake up early to prepare for their own competitions.
Scan this code or visit cghsnc.org/whatittakes22 to learn more about how each student group prepared for and impacted bring home the 2021 NCHSAA Football Championship.
From the time spring football begins in May through the end of the season, players have dedicated thousands of hours to the sport.
“It’s a big commitment on the players’ part. I think that also creates a lot of buy-in because they’ve got a lot invested,” Head Coach Steven Wright said.
DANCE The Dance Team members dedicate untold hours of time and energy to make sure they are ready to keep the spirit of the crowd positive and energetic during the games. The team is very intentional about its choice of music for performances, picking songs that will get the crowd hyped. They collaborate with the cheerleaders, Green Army, and the band to build a sense of community and oneness for the team.
DRUMLINE & PEP BAND
A typical week includes 8-10 hours of practice per week during football season. As football winds down, the team begins cheering for the basketball teams and preparing for high school nationals competition in Orlando.
When the season officially gets underway and classes begin, the balancing act intensifies.
FOOTBALL
CHEERLEADING For the cheerleading team, the road to the state football championship was extremely busy. The team’s pre-state competitions and NCSHAA State Championship were also in November and December.
“The kids have a lot to juggle,” Wright said. “They actually tend to do better academically during the season because their schedules have to be so regimented to get everything finished.”
GREEN ARMY
“I am always proud of the commitment my girls have to Cardinal Gibbons and the amount of time and effort they put into ensuring they are the very best leaders,” said Head Coach Jenny Marks. “It was super special to have our cheer team and football team both win NCSHAA State Championships in the same month.”
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During the summer, varsity players are on campus from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. almost daily to lift, run, jump, and practice skill work.
Student musicians spend about six hours on campus for each home game, from tailgating beforehand, to warming up and performing throughout the game. The band and drumline students also performed at home playoff games and at the state championship. “On just game days alone, these students spent roughly 50 non-curricular hours proudly supporting Gibbons Football,” Band Director Mark Cashin said. The drumline takes part in an extra hour of organized practice each week to prepare for Friday nights. Those students also dedicate countless hours of individual practice time to learn the different songs and cadences played during football “Upperclassmengames.even recorded videos for new members to help bring them up to speed quickly because the first game of the year was just two days into class,” Cashin said. Pep band members learn music for the games during class as part of the curriculum for the fall.
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Ferguson said it’s all about community. “I wanted every student who comes to Gibbons to have an opportunity to experience the inclusiveness, joy, and energy that is inherent in being part of a Joseph ensemble. The opportunity to be a part of the production helps students to understand the value and human necessity of being a vital part of a vibrant whole.” “I also thought it could be used as a milemarker for the evolution of Gibbons Drama and would be an interesting way of celebrating where we’ve been and what’s to come.” He said the show creates such positivity and cohesion in the group; like the show, it’s hard not to love the entire experience. For Ferguson, it all comes back to the love of what he does and of this show in particular. “I love the show; it’s been that way my whole life. It’s about as polar-opposite from my world-view as could be. It’s uncomplicated, doesn’t ever take itself too seriously, and is as sunny as it gets. It’s just one of those things that art does to people, and I’m grateful for it.” By Catherine Currin '12
The show, which tells the Old Testament story of Jacob’s son Joseph, has been performed countless times across the world—partially thanks to its easy, breezy nature and wholesome messaging. Emily Sartori ‘11, Gibbons drama educator and Gibbons alumnae, worked on the show as a student in 2009 and now as the stage and costume designer. “Tradition creates a sense of belonging and family, and that’s what makes Joseph so special to me. Tradition is a touch point for us that allows us to look back and see where we came from in order to appreciate where we are. That’s why we make so many nods to the original Gibbons version of Joseph.” The theater department has evolved and been enhanced over the past 14 years, including updated facilities like the state-of-the-art blackbox theater, plus additional curriculum like costume design and stage lighting. Sartori says the costumes have certainly become more sophisticated, but many elements were woven into the production from the start. For example, Joseph’s 12 brothers still wear overalls for most of the show, but in today’s rendition, they’ve traded them in for 70s-style garb during the number “Go, go, go Joseph!” Like this production, the entire program has grown tremendously over the years, said Ferguson. “The program was also at a point where I was thinking a great deal about what I wanted the long-term culture and values of Gibbons Drama to be centered on. I knew that a supportive community and ‘found family’ had to be part of it.” Gian Gibboney ‘18 played Joseph in 2017’s production, and it made a huge impact on his life. He’s now headed to graduate school at New York University for its Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program. He said this next step never would have happened without Gibbons Drama. “It was formative in my introduction to the production side of musical theater, and that interest would not have grown throughout college had I not started here.” Why bring the show back every four years?
Tradition is imperative at Cardinal Gibbons. From retreats to Cookie Tuesdays and everything in between, the Gibbons culture is rich with heritage. One very special tradition happens every four years in the theater, when the colorful costumes and vibrant voices come on stage for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Joseph was the first performed musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber, eventually landing on Broadway in 1982. Director of Fine Arts Kevin Ferguson picked the show back in 2009 in part because of its versatility for the growing theater department. “I initially chose Joseph because, as a new teacher, it was a show I knew well. It had a lot of good roles and an active ensemble, which is sort of the unicorn of high school musical theater productions.”
JOSEPH and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat THE RETURN OF A GIBBONS THEATRE TRADITION
“Being able to participate in Joseph in 2009 was an incredible experience! It was truly a cross-department collaboration with drama, tech theater, dance, chorus, and theology (shoutout to Mr. D!). At the time, we were seeing other high schools put on larger scale musical products, and “Joseph 2009” felt like Gibbons’ entrance into this scene. We all worked so hard to bring the show to life, and the school really took notice. We were bringing students from all areas into the theater and immersing them in dramatizing a classic Bible story with a fun twist. I’m so thankful the experience gave me some lifelong friends and started a tradition at Gibbons. Go, go, go Joseph!”
Thanks to a generous gift from Army veteran Dr. Tom Weber, Cardinal Gibbons now has an endowment to benefit the children of military and first responders.
The annual student-led event, hosted by the Serving Our Soldiers club (SOS), brings together and celebrates members of the Gibbons community who served or are currently serving in the armed forces.
“My visit to Gibbons, interaction with students, and day spent on campus reminded me of how special the Gibbons family is and how grateful I am to be part of this community,” he said.
Weber, the chief medical officer and anesthesiologist at Midtown Pain and Spine Clinic in Raleigh, credited his Catholic education with his success. His connection to the Sisters of Notre Dame in Ohio inspired the scholarship.
Three Military ShortsTwo Views in a Gibbons production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on the role of Joseph
NEW ENDOWMENT ESTABLISHED
The holy order led the Catholic schools he attended and also provided leadership for Gibbons from 1972 to 2020. “They helped mentor me and set me on the path to be the person I am today,” he said. “If it wasn’t for them, I might not even be a doctor.” Thank you, Dr. Weber!
U.S. Marine Corps Col. John Sattely ’92 returned to his alma mater to serve as the speaker during the Veteran’s Day celebration. He credited the school with planting servant leadership in his heart and grounding him in his Catholic faith.
AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE
AIDAN KOPPINGER ’22
MILITARY RECOGNITION CEREMONY CELEBRATES FUTURE LEADERS
MILITARY ENROLLEES FROM THE CLASS OF 2022 Aidan O’Donnell, The Citadel | Liam O’Donnell The Citadel | Alexandra Hatchett U.S. Air Force Academy | Cole McGee, U.S. Air Force Academy John Isacco U.S. Air Force Academy | Shane Phelps Naval Academy Prep School
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Cedric Stapleton starred as Joseph in Gibbons Drama’s original production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in 2009. Cedric graduated from Duke University and works in customer success for tech startup Tonkean.
CEDRIC STAPLETON ’09
AN EXPERIENCE WE WILL NEVER FORGET “This show has meant so much to the cast and me. We are so happy that we were able to carry on the tradition and put on the fourth rendition of Joseph. Because of the pandemic, we had not been able to put on a musical in two years, so you can imagine that everyone in our department was very excited. All those involved with the show poured their hearts and souls into this production. To be able to share it with an audience is an experience we will never forget.” Aidan Koppinger is a recent Cardinal Gibbons graduate who played Joseph in this year’s production. Aidan plans to theater.UNC-Wilmingtonattendtostudy
Each year, Cardinal Gibbons conducts a Military Recognition Ceremony to honor seniors who have committed to serving our country in different branches of the armed forces. During the event, representatives from each military school shared a bit about their respective students’ paths to the armed forces.
COLONEL SATTELY ’92 CREDITS GIBBONS WITH HIS HEART FOR SERVANT LEADERSHIP
In July 2020, Tim Hackett became the Sports Information Director at Avila University in Kansas City, MO. He manages athletic communications for all 16 varsity sports teams, is the Director of Game Day Operations, and is a professor in the School of Visual Arts and Communications. “I cannot overstate the impact that Gibbons Video and Gibbons Drama had on not only my career choices but also on my sense of self.” Tim credits his faith with providing him the gift of patience, an essential trait as he works with a wide variety of people, each facing their own challenges. KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
MORRISVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
Melissa Monroe joined the Special Olympics staff in September 2021 after earning her Master of Public Health in Global Applied Epidemiology from New York University. Her tenure began just as the organization returned to in-person activity after nearly two years of exclusively virtual “Itprogramming.hasbeenextremely rewarding to help our local programs navigate a safe and successful return to inperson competition,” she said. “A huge part of my role is ensuring athletes know how to help keep themselves and others healthy so they can compete at their best.
Scan this code to connect with the Gibbons community and see how our alumni are living out our mission.
SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR AT AVILA UNIVERSITY
PEDIATRIC RESIDENT AT MCGAW MEDICAL CENTER OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Alumni in Our Community CAREER CONNECTIONS
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS
By Susan Leigh ’87, Director of Alumni Advancement Ben Johnson ’77 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST IN THE RECOVER DIVISION FOR FEMA PRESIDENT BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
After battling COVID-19, Ben Johnson returned to work with FEMA setting up testing and vaccination sites with an eye on the underserved, especially women and people of color. He was in a coma for three weeks, on a respirator with pneumonia and failing “Prayerkidneys.works,” he said. “God has given me a platform to come back.” After his bout with COVID, Johnson realized the virus wasn’t going away. “We must manage it better,” he said. “I’m a server who wants to make it better for those who come after me. I’m taking care of humankind.” Johnson has always been willing to step up and lead, a trait he fine-tuned during his time at Cardinal Gibbons. In 1977, Johnson was named Wake County A-1 Basketball Player of the Year. He went on to become a civil servant with a career that included positions in local government. Johnson was the first African American spokesman for the Governor of Virginia before joining the Biden Administration.
Amparo Penny ’94, M.A., LCMHC LICENSED CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR Amparo Penny said her name in Spanish means “I protect, I heal, I aid.” She thanks her parents for the prophetic name and instilling the importance of giving and serving. Her mother, Agnes Penny, was the Cardinal Gibbons Director of Outreach for 24 years, and before that, Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Raleigh. Amparo participated in service projects through Gibbons OutreachMORRISVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA and the Diocesan Youth Board. “The activities we were encouraged to do really exposed me to the different kinds of people and challenging situations out there,” she said. As a result, “I learned I could gain fulfillment and healing while helping others.”
Timothy Hackett ’15
Melissa Monroe
After Hunter Smith graduated from Cardinal Gibbons in 2012, he went to University of Notre Dame for a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Hunter pursued his dream of becoming a medical doctor, attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, receiving his MD and MPH in 2021. Influenced by Outreach initiatives at Gibbons, he has volunteered for medical service organizations including the Lincoln Community Health Center and the Honduran Health Alliance. Inspired by his grandmother’s emigration from Mexico and recognizing the need to serve the increasing Latino patient population in North Carolina, Hunter trained to become fluent in medical Spanish, serving as a translator at UNC student-run clinics. In June 2021, Hunter started his pediatric residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.
A licensed clinical mental health counselor in the Asheville, NC, area, she specializes in borderline personality disorder, trauma, mood disorders, and disordered eating. Learn more about her practice at her private practice website. She also works at a sexual assault organization, helping people focus on healing from sexual trauma. “It is very humbling and rewarding to sit with individuals as they process some of the hardest days of their lives and then help them realize they can endure this struggle and not let it define them,” she said.
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“It has been incredible to see our athletes support each other through this time of transition.” Melissa said her continuing volunteer role with Global Brigades in Nicaragua has taught her the importance of Specialofcommunicationcross-culturalandthechallengesglobalhealthassheworkswithOlympicsathletes.
Hunter Smith ’12
HEALTH DIRECTOR AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF NORTH CAROLINA
’13
WASHINGTON, DC
Adam Castiller ’20 poses for a photo with Miguel Casas during the first AlumniEducator Christmas lunch. Marianne Bahna ’21 packs a food back while volunteering at Catholic Parish Outreach.
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Nearly a dozen Cathedral Latin alumni returned to campus to reminisce and reconnect during a special reunion held last summer. The graduates spanned the decade from 1949 to 1959 before our school was renamed Cardinal Gibbons. During the event, Bill Foushee ‘52 was able to see new technology he could only dream of as a student as he watched Robotics Coaches John Toebes and Diane Ripollone create a commemorative token using the school’s 3-D printer. His interest in the 3D printer stemmed from his time as president and CEO of Scientific Plastics, Inc., a plastics manufacturing company. Foushee’s visit to the area prompted the reunion. A resident of Mississippi, he hadn’t been back to Raleigh in several decades.
ALUMNI SERVE OUR COMMUNITY Alumni from the Class of 2021 continued the annual tradition of gathering during Christmas Break to serve Catholic Parish TheOutreach.group packed shelf-stable food boxes that provided over 250 Wake County families with essential food items. “Service is a big part of who I am and was part of my time as a student at Gibbons,” Marianne Bahna ’21 said. “I loved participating in the alumni service at the CPO Food Pantry. It was a great way to give back to the community and stay connected with Gibbons.”
A RETURN HOME UNITES LONGTIME FRIENDS
A new Cardinal Gibbons tradition began last December when recent graduates—on break from college—returned to campus to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with a special Alumni-Educator Christmas Lunch. They gathered at a long table in the school lobby, a welcoming space that buzzes with excitement as students move between classes. Just steps away, the Mission Wall provided a familiar backdrop for reminiscing.
Editor’s note: Bill Foushee passed away shortly before publication. We are grateful we had the opportunity to spend time with him on campus and reconnect him with schoolmates.
ALUMS RETURN TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH BELOVED EDUCATORS
“Bill reached out to request a school tour that might include a 3D printer demonstration during a planned visit to Raleigh with his family. That grew into an opportunity to bring the Class of 1952 together, which grew into a larger gathering of Cathedral Latin alumni who graduated more than 60 years ago,” Director of Alumni Susan Leigh ’87 said. The gathering was a reminder of the special bonds we share through our connections with this school.
“Events like the Alumni-Educator Christmas lunch are great because they allow me to learn about new things at Gibbons while also reminiscing about the things that made my time at Gibbons so amazing,” Adam Castiller ’20 said.
RECONNECTING
Bill Foushee ’52, center, chats with duringclassmatesareunion.
Harry E. Stewart, or “Granta,” was my great grandfather. He was also a graduate of the Cardinal Gibbons High School Class of 1936, then known as Sacred Heart Academy. When his father died in 1927, his mother was unable to work to support the family while raising five children, so Granta and his brothers were sent to Nazareth Orphanage on Western Boulevard. While living there,they attended classes at Sacred Heart Academy which was housed in the PulaskiCowper Mansion. They were cared for by the Sisters of Mercy during the week and returned home to their mother on weekends. At the orphanage, Harry worked hard and studied harder. He played football and baseball and loved that everyone at the orphanage knew each other; they were “family away from family.” During his time at Sacred Heart Academy, my great grandfather met and later married his classmate Teresa Sapulos. They were blessed with four children, one being my grandmother Kerr Pelto. Years later, the family grew to include 10 grandchildren, including my mother Lydia Pelto. She later married my father Jon Binanay, a graduate of the class of 1999. I proudly follow in the footsteps of my father and great-grandfather as a member of the Gibbons Class of My2025.great grandfather’s picture hangs on the Mission Wall that I pass by every day. It reminds me of how proud I am to continue my family’s tradition of Catholic education.
In Loving Diggett William (Bill) Winters Chase McCord Juan Bosco Molina Morgan Eileen Capps (Sallie) Griswold Southerland Kevin Walsh Cambria Yauger Ruth Zewedu
Jonny Binanay ‘25
‘20
In response, Jim called a meeting of diocesan, deanery, and school leadership and together they worked out a new, unified direction for Cardinal Gibbons which Bishop Gossman approved.
James Cardinal Gibbons once said, “There are no office hours for leaders.” Numerous friends and clergy have remarked how Jim worked tirelessly to ensure the success and sustainability of Cardinal Gibbons. Throughout his lifetime, he always remained interested in the school.
Foushee ‘52 Daniel Hutchby ‘67 Patricia Johnson ‘67 Dwight Johnson ‘71 Donna
In the mid-1990s, Cardinal Gibbons was in trouble. Kathy Boyle had heard rumblings. Her daughter Denise ’93 had just graduated, but Kathy continued to serve as a volunteer. “Many times, I came home from the school and told my husband Jim, ‘They are not sure what they are doing, but they need you to help them,’ ” recalled Kathy. “Eventually he listened to me and managed to join the board.”
When asked what motivated Jim all those years ago, Kathy answered simply, “His faith. He loved his church and his family, and he believed in doing the right thing and doing it well.”
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‘62
Navarro ‘86 Luke
Schwab ‘52 Sara
School Visionary, Man of Christ In Memoriam: Jim Boyle (1937–2022)
Industrious, faithful, and optimistic, Jim Boyle was busy with his career at IBM, his family, and church obligations when Kathy implored him to help the school.
Jim was quickly appointed chairman of the board. The youngest of 13, Jim grew up in Pittsburgh and early on learned the lessons of getting a lot of people together to work towards a shared vision. Soon after assuming the role, he realized the school could not survive in its present condition. Too much leadership—the faculty, the parents, and the parish pastors—had led to no leadership and a school principal in a state of confusion.
In memory of Jim Boyle, a new award was given at graduation to a student who exhibits a strong faith, positive spirit, and leadership in meeting a challenge for our school community.
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THE BINANAY FAMILY A GIBBONS LEGACY Teresa Sapulos & Harry E. Stewart SACRED HEART ACADEMY CLASS OF 1936 Jon Binanay CARDINAL GIBBONS CLASS OF 1999 Jonny Binanay CARDINAL GIBBONS CLASS OF 2025
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Around the same time, Jim led a delegation to contact and recruit the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn to guide the school. Gibbons began to flourish, and once again Jim was called on to help lead the school’s effort to build a new and enlarged campus. He spearheaded the search for land, eventually securing the current Edwards Mill Road location and also led a successful fundraising effort to make the move a reality.
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Memory William Davis ‘68 Joseph Devine ‘60 Mike
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Laroche ‘65
‘11
SATURDAY, OCT. 1
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Raleigh, NC Permit #2212 1401 Edwards Mill Road Raleigh, NC 27607
PRAYER SERVICE at the GROTTO Begin the day with a brief prayer service at our Grotto, a new sacred space designed to offer a place for quiet reflection and connection with God.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 30
Celebrate the beginning of a new era at Gibbons with a ribbon cutting ceremony for our historic hallways, which pay homage to those who have helped Gibbons become what it is today.
ALUMNI TAILGATE
CAMPUS TOURS
Save the Dates
RIBBON CUTTING
Join us before the Crusaders take on Enloe for a tailgate to reconnect with classmates and educators. Alumni are welcome to bring along family and friends to join the fun.
We’re excited to offer both guided and self-guided tours of the school. See what’s changed and how we continue to adapt to meet the needs of our student body.