THE LEADER FOR THE ALUMNI, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS OF COVINGTON LATIN SCHOOL
SPRING 2020
Resilience at Latin School
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMASTER
Dear alumni, parents, and friends of Covington Latin School,
I pray this letter finds everyone in good health. These are difficult times for our Nation, our World, and yes, at Covington Latin School, too. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be leading an online school, yet that is what I am currently doing. As we try to keep the education process functioning, it has been a challenge for students, parents, and faculty but with the Lord’s help we will get through this and get back to a normal educational process.
Usually, with this Leader, I would be listing all the wonderful upcoming events for our school and thanking you for your support at the Grand Event. Well, we are still planning the customary May events such as prom, honor assemblies, and graduation. However, we had to change the date for the Grand Event—that will take place on August 22, 2020. When you think about it, what a great way to kick off the new school year! As my first year as Headmaster is coming to a close, the one thing I learned is that Covington Latin School students, and I am sure alumni, are creative, academically aggressive, and have a strong desire to achieve in all areas of life. I have been extremely impressed with how our students adapted to online instruction. Our students accepted the challenge and once they figured it out began to see success. We are all hoping to get back into our building very soon.
Our current students have risen to the occasion, accepted the challenge, and in true Covington Latin School fashion, are finding success. I look forward to sharing our senior class successes and informing everyone of the scholarships earned and colleges they are planning on attending.
Please keep us in your prayers as we hopefully complete the school year in our building enjoying each other’s company. Mr. Joseph E. Gressock Headmaster
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UPCOMING TABLE OF CONTENTS
EVENTS
SPRING 2020
FEATURES Our New Normal............................................................................. 4 Where Are They Now?.................................................................. 5 Alumni Legacy..............................................................................6-7 Golf Outing......................................................................................... 8 Grand Event.....................................................................................18 IN EVERY ISSUE
Letter from the Headmaster.......................................................2 Reconnect with Latin School.......................................................9 School News.............................................................................10-13 Alumni News............................................................................14-16 In Memoriam...................................................................................17 MISSION Covington Latin School offers a unique program for academically talented students in the tri-state area. As its central purpose, CLS aims to form Christian leaders by challenging its students to attain their academic, intellectual, social, and moral potential.
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
Joseph Gressock, Headmaster Matt Krebs, Dean of Students Stephanie Tewes, Dean of Studies Erin Stone, Guidance Counselor Amy Darpel, Director of Advancement
CONTACT
Please direct all Letters to the Editor, address changes, or other correspondence to advancement@covingtonlatin.org or to: Covington Latin School 21 E. 11th Street Covington, KY 41017
FOLLOW US
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SUMMER
June 15-19 ExploreMore! July 23 Golf Outing
August 18 First Day of School
FALL
August 22
October 8
Grand Event
September 16 Grandparents Day
December 6 December 12
Alumni Banquet Open House
Entrance Exam
Alumni Association meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at Covington Latin School
OUR NEW NORMAL
Resilience in uncertain times‌
On March 12th, the Governor of Kentucky made the difficult decision to close all schools due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. While our daily routines have been disrupted, we are so proud of how Covington Latin School has reacted to our new normal. The word RESILIENCE comes to mind. Our teachers have been forced out of their comfort zone to teach remotely. Teachers feel most at home interacting with their students. Doing so remotely is definitely not how they thought they would be finishing up their year. They are showing great RESILIENCE by adapting to new technology and new teaching techniques to maintain a sense of normalcy for our students. Speaking of our students, they are taking to this non-traditional instruction with just as much RESILIENCE and just as you would expect them to be -- are eager to learn new things in new ways. Every day we pray the morning offering and pray for our alumni and benefactors. Please know that you and your families continue to be in our prayers during this uncertain time.
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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? TOM BACKER RECALLS THREE “TOURS OF DUTY” AT COVINGTON LATIN SCHOOL By Andy Schoettker ’77
Dr. Tom Backer grew up in a small town in southwestern Indiana and went to Xavier and then to UC for a Ph.D. in history. While there he applied for a part time teaching position at Latin School because teaching assistants at UC were not paid very well. Fr. Heile, the Dean, hired him as Headmaster Fr. Arbogast was out of town. That was 1969. He went to Paris to do research for his dissertation and met his wife Pam, a Los Angelean who was studying French at the Sorbonne. Upon returning he taught history full time at Latin School until 1985. He taught in Kenya and Los Angeles until Andy Barczak became Headmaster in 2001 and brought him back to Latin School to teach history once again. He taught full time for ten years and then part time for four before retiring.
Dr. Backer has this to say about his three tours of duty at CLS: “CLS is a great place to teach. The best. Out of the many wonderful memories, the one that stands out is the rafting trip down the Colorado
An interview with Dr. Tom Backer River organized by Fr. Arbogast in the summer of 1970 and especially the Lava Falls rapids where our twenty-foot raft went vertical down into a vast hole in the water and then bumped and went vertical out of it as it shot out of the water. The students at Latin School continually impressed me, especially in the costumes and projects for Ancient and Medieval Days.”
In his spare time, he enjoys art and writing having taken art classes at Baker Hunt and writing classes at NKU, writing short stories, poems, a novel and a play. He has published a poem and two short stories. He and Pam have four children. His daughter, Heather, taught first grade until she started having children. His son, Matt, teaches art history in Houston. Megan does social work in Berea, Kentucky, 5
and nurtures a son. Hank ‘04 is married to Melinda (Borchers), a CLS classmate, and teaches poetry at the University of Tennessee.
Tom lives in Erlanger and takes care of eleven fruit trees and a vegetable garden and enjoys seeing his kids and grandchildren. He belongs to two Bible study groups at St. Barbara Church and has spent many years working with St. Vincent de Paul.
The Rabe
Family Legacy
Walter Joseph Rabe, Col, USAF By Eric Rabe
Throughout Covington Latin School’s nearly 100 years, there have been many family legacies. Three generations of Rabes have their footprints in the halls of CLS. Their family tree reads like a Tolkein lineage. Beginning with brothers, Ferdinand Jr. ‘46, George ‘48, and Walter ‘50, many in the family have followed. Ferdinand Jr. had two sons attend CLS, Ferdinand III ‘71 and Eric ‘74. Eric’s daughter Elivia graduated in 2011. Glenn Rice ‘79 is a nephew to the original brothers (Glenn is currently serving on the Covington Latin School’s Strategic Planning committee). Glenn’s son, George graduated in 2013. Another nephew is Jack Readnour ‘86. His nephew is Nick Readnour who graduated in 2015. Here is the story of one of the original brothers, Walter Rabe, Col. USAF. With the Great Depression in full swing, there was very little promise or hope at the onset of 1934. This arguably was one of the darkest times for our great country. But out of darkness, character is born. People known as the greatest generation, took root and learned the importance of faith, family, and country. Walter Rabe was part of that extraordinary generation, born
on January 7, 1934. He was the third of seven children born to Ferd and Aurelia Rabe, a devout Catholic family.
Walt was an extremely smart and curious boy and by the age of 16 graduated from Covington Latin School, after his two older brothers, Ferdinand, and George. At Latin School he excelled in academics, boxing, basketball, and was a pontifical server all four years. After graduation, Walt entered West Point in 1953. Walt thoroughly enjoyed all four years and carried West Point values, discipline, and friendship throughout his life. Walt did very well at West Point academically, earning two stars and winning the brigade boxing championship in his weight class, was elected president of the Math Club and set up a number of lectures, as well as a trip to a company that was then on the leading edge of computing, IBM. In his first year at West Point, Walt marched in President Eisenhower’s second inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. During the parade at the White House there was a viewing stand where President Eisenhower and other dignitaries 6
observed. Of course, the West Point Cadets were at the front of the parade as Eisenhower himself was a West Point grad (1915) and had himself marched in the parade of Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Walt graduated 36th out of 550 in his West Point class.
While in his third year at West Point, Walt’s future course in life was set in motion. He met Janet Schummer at a dance in Covington. This led to a marriage that lasted 59 remarkable years. In 1957, after graduating from West Point, Walt entered the United States Air Force pilot training program. After receiving his wings, he was part of the first pilot group to train on the front line F-100 Super Sabre. The kick in the pants from the afterburner and supersonic flight was a privilege that Walt made the most of. Rumor has it that many windows were
rattled in a flyover Walt made over the Ft Mitchell area and above the family home from a flight originating at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He was always grateful for the honor to serve his country and fly such a magnificent fighter jet, including a tour in Vietnam and during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Walt’s quest for knowledge garnered him graduate degrees in both Aerospace Engineering and Control Theory from the University of Michigan. While at the University of Michigan, Walt’s doctoral adviser thought he was very bright and said that he knew he had taken Greek and Latin in high school because those students excelled in the aerospace field. He used that knowledge from the University of Michigan as an instructor at the Air Force Academy, followed by tours at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Systems Command, and finally ending at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Upon full retirement, Walt was far from sedentary. He juggled his time traveling with his wife around the world, keeping up with his growing family, staying in touch with his West Point classmates, serving a term as Alumni Class Treasurer, and spending time at his country property along the meander-ing Thornton River in Rappahannock, Virginia. This was his “piece of heaven” on earth, perhaps reminiscent of his early days in the woods with his brothers in Fort Mitchell. Walt always loved coming home to Kentucky, visiting his large family (his last time home for a Rabe Thanksgiving dinner was shared with 130 family members). Later in life Walt courageously battled prostate and chronic lymphocytic cancer. He did so with a constant positive outlook and a steadfast desire to depart this world in a dignified manner. In his final year, he was present for his 59th wedding anniversary, attended his
60th West Point reunion, got in one last round of golf, and by the grace of God, watched Army beat Navy.
Walt “slipped the surly bonds of earth” on July 23, 2017. He was survived by his wife, Janet, five daughters, Victoria, Pamela, Kimberly, Janet, and Amy, one son, Walt Jr, nine grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, and still counting. In one of Walt’s last correspondences, he closed with “Whatever happens from here on out, I will thank God for the life He has given me”. This was Walt Rabe --- unselfishly grateful in a life he felt blessed with good fortune and immeasurably graceful in departure from life. His commitment to his strong Catholic faith dominated everything in his life. He was one of the original adorers at St. Michael’s Church in Annandale, Virginia, for their perpetual adoration chapel, devoting an hour every week for over 30 years. His hour was from 3 to 4 AM. At his funeral Mass his parish priest remarked that Walt was the saintliest man he had experienced during his entire priesthood. During his father’s eulogy at Arlington Cemetery, Walt Jr. said, “Dad knew that he lived a life that was immensely blessed. 7
For Dad measured fortune not in wealth or other material measures but in what you can see right here in this chapel if you look around. Dad measured fortune in the priceless value of family and friendships.”
It is vitally important to the recent graduates and current students at CLS to take a moment and thank our Lord for the tremendous opportunity to attend such a fine school. The opportunities ahead of them are endless and there is a certain level of responsibility set by prior graduates like Walt to give back to God, family and country. Walt was an extremely humble man and as unmaterialistic a person as you would ever meet. He had his priorities in life and never lost his focus as to what truly mattered: faith, family, and country. What a great legacy to emulate and carry on: the tradition of humble servants that make this country a better place.
Do you have an inspirational story about a graduate that you would like to have featured in The Leader? Please contact Amy Darpel.
CLS Golf Outing All proceeds will be used to fund several Alumni Association scholarships for CLS students.
Thursday July 23rd, 2020 Twin Oaks Golf Course 450 East 43rd St, Covington, KY 41015
Register here
Open to all friends, parents, and alumni to participate in the fun at the 2020 Covington Latin Golf Outing on Thursday, July 23rd. Registration & breakfast begin at 8 AM....with a shotgun start at 9 AM. Light snacks and drinks will be served throughout the day. Hot Dog/Sandwich and Chips will be provided at the Turn. Dinner will be served at 2-ish. COST: $110/golfer Early Bird Special (before July 7th)
$125/golfer Regular Admission (after July 7th) $80/golfer for Alumni under 21 years of age $30 Dinner Only
SPONSORSHIPS: HOLE SPONSORSHIP / $100 Sponsorship Sign placed in the Tee Box of one hole
CONTESTS: • Longest Drive • Closest-to-the-Pin • Longest Putt • Shortest Drive • $1,000 for a Hole-in-One
CART SPONSORSHIP // $500 TWO Extra Large Sponsorship Signs (front and back Nine) plus Sponsor Logo on Cart Placard
TEAM SPONSORSHIP /// $600 Golf Foursome plus TWO Sponsorship Signs. Must book before July 7th
Make the Hole. Make the Difference. Go Trojans! 8
Reconnect with CLS
Do You Have NEWS TO SHARE?
GROW YOUR NETWORK
We want to hear from you! Tell us your general news, announcement, engagements, marriages, births, and deaths for inclusion in The Leader. Please email advancement@covingtonlatin.org or send your news to Covington Latin School, 21 East 11th Street Covington, KY 41011
ENGAGE WITH FELLOW LEADERS
Submitted by:
______________________________________________________________ Graduation Year:___________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
LEAVE YOUR GROW YOUR NETWORK LEGACY
Phone:_______________________________________________________ Email:_______________________________________________________
Scholarships
Occupation/Employer:____________________________________
It is the mission of Covington Latin School to never turn away a deserving student due to financial need. We are grateful to those who have established scholarships to help fulfill our mission. The gift of knowledge is one that cannot be taken away and lives on for generations.
______________________________________________________________ Schools Attended:__________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
• The Gary Cummins Scholarship
______________________________________________________________
• The Richard Hellmann Memorial Scholarship • The Bob Kohlhepp and Family Scholarship
Engaged
• The Ranft and Vesper Family Scholarship
• The Dennis P. Whitehead Memorial Scholarship
Married
Name of Spouse:___________________________________________
• The Michael and Andrew Zalla Scholarship • The Zalla Family Scholarship
News to share:______________________________________________
• The Saint Vincent De Paul Society Scholarship
______________________________________________________________
• The William V. Banks, M.D. Scholarship
______________________________________________________________
• The Barczak Family Scholarship
______________________________________________________________
• The Ralph J. Colatrella, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
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• August Faeth Memorial Scholarship
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• The Jack LaVelle Memorial Scholarship
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• The Matthew Resing Memorial Scholarship 9
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SCHOOL NEWS
Leaders Start Here The Student Y Chapter of CLS is part of the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association, which provides students with opportunities for service learning, civic engagement, and personal development.
Last November, eight students participated in the Kentucky Youth Assembly. KYA is a 3-day expanded educational opportunity in which students serve as part of a model state government. Delegates from CLS took on a variety of roles at the state level. Congratulations! KYA 2019 Delegation— Premiere Delegation Award Jack Wilburn -- Outstanding Delegate Zoe Hoelmer -- Outstanding Speaker Greta Koszarek -- Outstanding Attorney and Supreme Court Showcase Winner 2018-2019 Student Y Chapter -- Honor Level
Once again, our students have done an excellent job on the National Classical Etymology Exam. Earning a Gold Medal were Paige Graf ‘20, Jacob Schuetter ‘22, Yumi Song ‘22, Zoe Hoelmer ‘22, Earning a Silver Medal were Jack Wilburn ‘21, Roland Long ‘20, Isabel Enzweiler ‘22, Simon Juelg ‘22. And finally, earning a Bronze Medal were Keller White ‘21, Cooper Jones ‘22, Evelyn Kuhns ‘22, and Alex Pham ‘22. 10
SCHOOL NEWS continued
Cece McDaniel won the school spelling bee for the second time in two years. She will be competing in the Scripts Howard Regional Spelling Bee.
Lucas Dwyer placed 3rd in the Queen City Classic Chess Tournament 2020
Freshman, Rhiannon Chapman, earned a Gold Key Scholastics Art Award. Her illustration (above) has been commissioned for a book cover to be released later this year.
We have several students who recently have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Adam Moon ‘19. Jacob Schuetter ‘22, Chris Macke ‘20, Seth Bozart ‘20, and James Acey ‘18 Liam Connelly ‘22 and his Coach, Stephanie Tewes. Mary Lauren Veazey ‘21 competed in the Kentucky State Swim and Dive Meet. Andrew Apollonio was accepted into the Henry Clay Student Congress at the University of Kentucky in June. 11
Our Academic Team was very successful this year and earned a bid to compete in Regionals. Keller White ‘21 is set to compete at the state level in Social Studies. (below)
SCHOOL NEWS continued The tradition of the Junior Ring Ceremony continues. It was held on November 9th. This rite of passage was celebrated in the chapel concluding with a reception after.
Frances Geiger ‘20 was named the Spectrum Student Athlete of the Month for the state of Kentucky. She is pictured with her sister, Allison ‘21 and her parents, Bill and Amy.
Roland Long ‘20 earned National Merit Scholar Honorable Mention. 12
Joey Sodergren ‘20 is a 2020 National Merit Scholar Finalist.
SCHOOL NEWS continued
Catholic Schools Week was celebrated in January. The week was kicked off with Benefactors Day. All benefactors were invited to celebrate Mass followed by a brunch with our seniors. Each day had a different theme and activities to celebrate Catholic Schools.
Brady Boyer ‘22, Kevin Garuccio ‘22, and Jacob Schuetter ‘22 were selected to represent CLS at the year’s Hugh O’Brian Leadership Seminar at Berea College this summer. Leaders from business, education, and government as well as collegeage mentors with diverse leadership styles and backgrounds will work with the students on the importance of being involved and the challenges and rewards of being a leader. In addition to the “learning” seminars, the students will have time to interact with students from across the state and to have fun. These students were selected based on leadership potential. 13
ALUMNI EVENTS Our Alumni Association is back in action and has been hard at work to connect and engage our alumni. Over the past several months, the Covington Latin School Advancement Office and the Alumni Association have hosted Young Alumni Happy Hours, Benefactors Day, a Wine Tasting Event, a Phonathon, and a Career Day. These have all been tremendous successes and we could not be more thrilled to be able to connect with our alumni. It is truly inspiring to see how successful our former students are.
Career Day
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ALUMNI EVENTS continued
AAF Class Captain Dinner
Benefactors Day
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If you would like to serve on the Covington Latin School Alumni Association Board, please contact Scott Spille for more details.
ALUMNI EVENTS continued
Young Alumni Happy Hour
Wine Tasting
One of the goals of the Alumni Association is to help update our database to produce a Covington Latin School Alumni Directory. We need everyone’s help with this. Please visit our website to update your contact information. 16
In Memoriam
ALUMNI NEWS
Rev. John E. List ‘73 is still serving as Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Lexington (since 1992). He transferred this summer from pastor of St. Peter, Lexington to pastor of St. William, Lancaster, and its mission, St. Sylvester, Ottenheim. Dan Meyer ‘79 is still working at Donor Network of Arizona as Director of Quality & Regulatory Affairs. This is a position he has held for 5 years.
Michael Daughtery ‘80 secured a grant from his company, Scripps Howard, for a Lego Robotic League for CLS. Next year, CLS will have a Lego Robotics Competition Team complete with a 3-D Printer. David Nussman ‘13 graduated from Xavier University in 2017 and moved to Michigan for his career.
Elliott Sipple ‘15 graduated Summa Cum Laude in May ‘19 from Northern Kentucky University with a double major in Computer Science and Computer Information Technology, a minor in Mathematics, and a specialization in Web Design & Database Design. Elliott moved to Chicago in July 2019 and is employed by Ernst & Young, LLP, as a Tax, Technology, and Transformation Consultant. Jamie Macke ‘15 graduated in December with a bio degree from NKU. He is currently job searching but plans to go to graduate school for public health. Alex Kammerer ‘16 graduated from NKU in December with a degree in International Studies and a minor in German. He speaks it fluently now and spent time in Germany over the summer for summer abroad. After an internship at Anthem Insurance for the past two years, he was hired full time as a Process Expert in their pharmacy division. He enjoys traveling the nation for his job. Jake Darpel ‘16 was accepted to the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy at George Washington University. He will be moving to Washington, DC this fall. We love hearing from our alumni. Please email your updates to Leigh Ann Divine at Leighann.divine@covingtonlatin.org. 17
William Thomas “Bill” Able, grandfather of Abby Martin ‘06 Ignatius Aloysius Archambault, Grandfather of Ike Archambault ‘23 and father of Beau Archambault ‘87
Rev. Father John Eudes Bamberger ‘42 Joshua Foldy ‘87
Fredric “Fritz” Ganshirt, grandfather of Emma ‘13 Dave E. Gerner ‘76
James A. Howard ‘57
Rev Fr. John Kroger ‘47
Sandra Lee McFarland, grandmother of Georgia ‘24
Mrs. Theresa Stylinski, mother of Brynn ‘09 and Adam ‘06 Mary, wife of John Reeves ‘61 Ronald J. Vesper ‘63
Nota bene: We rely on notifications from family and friends for our expressions of sympathy. We regret any omissions. Please contact Leighann.divine@covingtonlatin.org to send news of the passing of a loved one.
Saturday, April 25th, 2020 We had to make the difficult decision to reschedule the Grand Event which is our largest fundraising effort of the year. These irreplaceable funds support the AAF and technology upgrades for our students. Unfortunately, the Grand Event will be held after the close of our fiscal year. We are holding a Day of Giving on our original Grand Event Day. We humbly ask that you consider supporting Covington Latin School during this difficult time.
Thank You!
SAV E T H E DAT E
Saturday, August 22, 2020 Register at www.bidpal.net/ CLSgrandevent for tickets & auction updates 18
A MESSAGE FROM CLS ADVANCEMENT
Dear alumni, parents, and friends of Covington Latin School,
This will certainly be a school year to remember! I pray that all our Covington Latin School community is well during this uncertain time. I believe it important to focus on the positive and be optimistic for the future of Covington Latin School. Over the past few weeks, I have heard stories of our Latin community who are living our motto. They are on the front lines of the pandemic. Whether that be of an alumnus who is a paramedic in Michigan, or a nurse who works in the ER, or a teacher who is now interacting with her students remotely, we see the goodness, discipline and knowledge that took root at Covington Latin School. In addition to keeping up with their virtual classes, our students are finding ways to serve their community through donating food to food pantries and sewing masks for healthcare workers. They are truly servant leaders and I cannot help but think that Fr. Ryan would be proud. While I miss hearing Bohemian Rhapsody being played on the piano in the morning, watching the ping pong tournaments happening at lunch time, and going to games, plays, and concerts. We are fortunate to have the technology to make these connections virtually. I promise, you haven’t seen anything until you have watched a Prep 7 class enjoy a virtual lunch! I know many have been impacted by our current situation. Please know that your Latin School community is here for you. Let me know if there is anything we can do for you. You are always in our prayers and until we can see each other again, stay safe
Amy Darpel Director of Advancement
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Non-Profit Org US Postage
Covington Latin School 21 East 11th Street Covington, KY 41011
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Address Service Requested
30.2
*
Avg. ACT Score
85% Participate in Sports
(Recent Graduates)
52% Receive Financial Aid
4 Years of Speech
212K
Avg. Scholarship Per Student
*ACT Composite Score is based on most recent ACT scores reported by Covington Latin School.
25+
Clubs & Organizations
$ %
90%
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees
