spring 2011
Celebrating 40 Years of Co-Education
CREDITS Editor Cheryl Karashin Editing Staff Christina Brooks Jessica Cerchiaro Valerie Harrison Writers Katie Bartus Jessica Cerchiaro Jason Gawaldo '03 Jamie Jarvis Karie Jarvis Cheryl Karashin Michael McDonald Rebecca Mulvay '91 Heather Schmuck Designer Heather Schmuck Photography Harry Gigilio Jamie Jarvis Mary Clare LaCaria OLSH Archives OLSH Yearbook Printing Multi Print Media SPECIAL THANKS OLSH School Archives OLSH Yearbook Committee OLSHighlights is published by the Advancement Office of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School and mailed free of charge to alumni, faculty, staff, students, families, and friends of OLSH. Contributions to Alumni News and Notes and address changes may be sent to: OLSH Advancement Office 1504 Woodcrest Avenue Coraopolis, PA 15108-3054 Phone: (412) 264-5140 Fax: (412) 264-4143 E-mail: alumni@olsh.org
OLSHighlights Spring 2011
In This Issue 40 Years of Co-Education 40 Years of Co-Education.................................................. 8 Marriages Made at OLSH................................................ 10 OLSH Spotlight: Sr. M. Pulcheria Saukaitis..................... 13
Features Felician Heritage: St. Felix of Cantalice............................ 2 OLSH Students Serve Others............................................. 3 What Do You Want To Be?............................................... 4 OLSH Legacy Gala............................................................ 6 OLSH Launches New Website.......................................... 7 OLSH's Big Little Shop.................................................... 14 OLSH Offers Summer Camps.......................................... 15
In Every Issue What’s Happening Around OLSH................................... 17 Alumni News & Notes.................................................... 19 In Memoriam.................................................................. 20
ON THE COVER: OLSH students, Gabriella Giglio '13, and Timothy Johnson '12 enjoy a friendly stroll in front of the school. Photography by Harry Giglio Productions, Inc.
CELEBRATING 40 YEARs of Co-Education In this issue of OLSHighlights, we celebrate 40 years of co-education at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School. You will read about Sr. Mary Pulcheria Saukaitis, OLSH Principal 1965-1971, who made the bold decision to invite young men to attend OLSH. You will learn about the driving forces behind the change, the necessary preparations, and the experience of being a student during the 1970-1971 school year. We’ll also profile several married couples who trace the beginnings of their relationships’ to their days at OLSH – thanks to the decision to become co-ed! This issue also features many great stories about our students, including a piece on OLSH students making a difference by making paper cranes; an article on a student participating in a unique job shadow experience; and more of What’s Happening Around OLSH in academics, the arts, and athletics.
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Felician Heritage: St. Felix of Cantalice by Jason Gawaldo '03
The Felician Name
The formal name of the Felician Sisters is the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice. They acquired this name in part because Blessed Mary Angela and the first Sisters used to take children to a shrine of St. Felix in Warszawa, and so the people of Warszawa began referring to them as the “children of St. Felix” and the “Sisters of St. Felix.” Who was this saint enshrined in Warszawa who also became the namesake of the Felician Sisters?
in spiritual matters despite his lack of education.
St. Felix and the Felician Sisters
Because of Felix’ association with children, Bl. Mary Angela and her Sisters made a habit of bringing the orphaned children in their care to a nearby shrine to St. Felix. As a saint from the Franciscan tradition, as a fellow minister to beggars, widows, and orphans in the streets, and as a holy man with a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother, St. Felix proved to be an excellent model and patron for Bl. Mary Angela’s Congregation. His feast day is celebrated on May 18.
Prayer Resource The Felician Book of Prayers includes the following Prayer to St. Felix:
St. Felix and Young People
Who Was St. Felix?
St. Felix was born into a peasant family in Cantalice, Italy, and from a young age he showed signs of a deep spirituality. At the age of 20 he became a lay Capuchin, a branch of the Franciscan Order. Felix was given the job of begging in the streets of Rome for food for his house. He always responded to his benefactors with a humble yet confident “Thank God”—“Deo gratias” in Latin—and so he became known as “Brother Deo Gratias.” The embodiment of Franciscan simplicity and humility, Felix was also known for his gift of healing as well as his expertise 2 • WWW.OLSH.ORG
Felix developed a strong rapport with the children and youth of Rome. The illiterate friar would gather them together in a circle and have them sing hymns that he composed on the spot. The hymns typically dealt with the beauty of a good life and the ugliness of sin, and they often revealed his deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. Due to his childlike simplicity and tendency toward spontaneity, Felix related easily to the children and youth he encountered.
Devotion to the Blessed Mother
In addition to his devotion to children, Felix had a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother. He frequently recited the rosary and often was unable to finish due to the overwhelming emotions he experienced while praying. On one occasion, he received a vision of the Blessed Mother during which she allowed him to hold the Christ Child in his arms. St. Felix is often depicted experiencing this vision.
O Saint Felix, humble son of our Father St. Francis, Divine Providence entrusted [the Felician] Congregation to your care. Obtain for us a love of your illustrious virtues of poverty, humility, and obedience. Teach us to yearn for union with God while we never cease to render good to our neighbor. Beg Almighty God to bless our work, struggles, and sufferings. Strengthen us by your prayers, so that we may serve God with Franciscan simplicity and joy of heart. Happy in our own vocation, may we show to all the way to true happiness of loving and knowing God. Amen.
OLSH Students Serve others by making Paper Cranes for Japan by JamiE JaRVis admissiONs COORdiNaTOR
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ccording to Japanese legend, anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish.
On March 11, 2011 the people of Japan were set on a course that would test the unity of love, hope, peace, and faith. The devastating events of that March day will and have become part of the Japanese people and the history they will pass down to their children. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Honshu, Japan was a call to action, not only for the people of Japan, but also their allies from around the world. Our fellow man needed help and it was our responsibility to answer that call. Countries from around the world offered assistance and aid. The American Red Cross responded to support the efforts of the Japanese Red Cross . Benefit concerts and fundraisers took place in order to raise funds for the 370,000+ people that had been displaced and evacuated. Though it is impossible to know exactly how much this disaster cost, estimates are 10 trillion Yen or 100 billion USD. This disaster was a call to action for the students of OLSH. In the weeks subsequent to the disaster, students collected money during their homerooms and lunches and were able to donate $750 to Catholic Relief Services. Some students felt that this was simply not enough. Two of those students were juniors Sierra Welsh and Cassidy Toole.
Juniors, sierra Welsh and Cassidy toole, sit amongst a pile of paper cranes as they prepare to ship them to studentsrebuild.
Sierra and Cassidy began searching for ways they could help their peers in the grief-stricken Japan. Their solution came on the website dosomething.org, a non-profit website that works to promote volunteerism. The two discovered that the Bezos Family Foundation had pledged to donate $2 for every paper crane received for Architecture for Humanity’s reconstruction efforts in Japan. The foundation pledged up to $200,000 in aid. The only stipulation was that the funds be raised one crane at a time. Once all of the cranes were received, they were woven into an art installation. They began making the cranes on March 31, 2011 and by April 8, 2011, the students, faculty, staff and even the residents of Woodcrest Retirement Village (the retirement facility located on school grounds) had turned out 3,608 cranes. With the deadline looming the following week OLSH students, worked tirelessly and were on track to add an additional 1,000 cranes to the total. When the cranes were counted, packaged and shipped on April 12, 2011, 13 days after beginning, they totaled 5,151. “I don’t think there is one person in the school who doesn’t know how to make a crane by now,” Sierra said. Due to the overwhelming response, the Bezos Family Foundation doubled their donation and sent $400,000 to the people of Japan. The work and compassion of Sierra, Cassidy and the students, faculty and staff at OLSH , is a reminder of what giving of one’s self can do in our world.
senior, Katie Withrow, teaches a resident of the Woodcrest retirement village how to make a paper crane.
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What do You Want to Be? by CHERyl KaRasHiN diRECTOR Of adVaNCEmENT
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rom an early age kids have dreams of what they want to be when they grow up. Many aspire to be their hero – a fireman, a policeman, a baseball player, or a mom. As times go on, new ideas arise – they want to be a teacher, a lawyer, or a doctor. Inevitably around sophomore or junior year in high school they draw a blank. The once exciting question of “what do you want to be when you grow up?” becomes daunting. The question now brings thoughts of “can I really do that?”, “how long would I have to go to school?”, “how much is this going to cost?”…
OLSH sophomore Alexis Clark spent some time contemplating this question. She knew she liked science class and was considering nursing, but she was unsure what career she would pursue. One day this past winter at a classmate’s house, Alexis got her calling. Mrs. Ritter, mother of Alexis’ best friend Sam, was sharing with the girls about her day at work. Ritter, who works as a medical technician in the UPMC transplant unit, was talking about her day in the lab performing tests to find the best match for a patient who desperately needed a transplant. Alexis was fascinated and kept pressing Mrs. Ritter for more information. After sharing a bit about things like blood tests, tissue typing, crossmatching, antibody screenings, and radiologic testing, Mrs. Ritter suggested Alexis spend the day on the transplant unit.
matching. Alexis never imagined what was actually in store for her. Wanting to give Alexis the full experience of the unit, Mrs. Ritter made arrangements for the day to not only include a trip to her lab but also a trip inside the operating room! Finally the day had arrived. Alexis arrived at UPMC around 7:30 in the morning and went straight to work shadowing Mrs. Ritter in the lab. She even had her own blood drawn for Mrs. Ritter to perform DNA testing. Promptly at 8:30am Alexis reported to the office of
Reflecting back on the day Alexis remarked, “I am so grateful to have had this experience.” While still unsure if she desires to be the transplant nurse or the doctor, Alexis does know that the transplant unit is where she wants to be. “This experience confirmed that this is what I want to be!”
Are you willing to give an OLSH student the opportunity to learn more about your profession? alexis Clark awaits the start of the transplant surgery in her scrubs.
Eager to learn more, Alexis approached Mr. Plocinik, OLSH Assistant Principal, about the possibility of doing a job shadow with Mrs. Ritter. She explained, “I had heard stories of people who wanted to pursue a medical field and got into the operating room and fainted or just couldn’t handle it.” Alexis was determined to find out if this was what she wanted to be!
Dr. Ron Shapiro, who is the director of the kidney, pancreas and islet transplant p r o g r a ms a t t h e Th o ma s E . S t a r z l Transplantation Institute at UPMC. He took some time to explain to Alexis what she would be observing. First Alexis would observe his colleague, Dr. Henkie Tam, laproscopically remove the donor kidney. Then she would make the trip down the hall with the kidney to the second operating room to observe Dr. Shapiro perform the transplant.
When initially setting out to do the shadow experience Alexis expected to follow Mrs. Ritter for the day, see inside her lab, and watch tasks such as tissue
After suiting up and scrubbing in, Alexis took her place at the operating table. A rare, even unheard of opportunity for a fifteen year old, Alexis had a front row
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view of the procedure. Alexis recounts “They had to bring me a step stool because the operating table was so high!” The laproscopic procedure consisted of three incisions, and was “just like on TV”. When arriving in Dr. Shapiro’s O.R., the scene was much different. The transplant recipient laid on the table with his entire abdomen spread open. Alexis said, “the transplant was such an amazing experience I can’t even put it into words.” “The sight of the kidney lighting up bright pink, signifying it was properly connected was both overwhelming and exciting.”
There are several ways you can help. On Wednesday, November 23rd OLSH will host it’s bi-annual Career Day where alumni, OLSH parents, and members of the community share their experience in their career. All careers are welcome – from accountants to zoo keepers. For more information on Career Day, please contact Susan McDonald, Director of Guidance at 412-264-5140 or smcdonald@ olsh.org. Or you can provide for a student like Alexis the opportunity for real world experience by offering a job shadow experience. For more information about job shadows please contact Tim Plocinik, Assistant Principal, at 412-264-5140 or tplocinik@olsh.org.
OLSH Thanks Bridge Foundation, Donors and Local Legislators for Scholarship Donation BY Cheryl Karashin Director of Advancement
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n April 15, 2011, the Bridge Educational Foundation visited Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School to announce the donation of $24,540 to income eligible families in Allegheny County through the generous contributions from AWI and CSX Transportation. Bridge Educational Foundation provides a bridge between Pennsylvania businesses and students. The Foundation has made a difference in the lives of more than 6,000 Pennsylvania families with students in over 460 schools spread out across 52 counties. Representatives from these fine companies were pleased to announce EITC scholarships at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School to qualified families who attend OLSH, St. James Elementary School and St. Joan of Arc School. Randy Cheetham of CSX Transportation and Duane Nizinski of AWI were joined by Representative Mark Mustio, Matt Campion of the Office of State Senator John Pippy and Dan Soltesz of the Office of State Representative Rick Saccone to help announce the awards to the schools and families. Teachers, families and students also attended to support the EITC Program and to thank the companies for their tuition assistance and their local elected officials for their support of the EITC Program. Joseph Gerdes of the Bridge Educational
Foundation offered opening remarks: “The EITC Program is vital to families and communities across Pennsylvania. The EITC provides Pennsylvania’s companies with the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of families where they do business.” Randy Cheetham of CSX Transportation remarked, “CSX Transportation is pleased to support the work of the Bridge Educational Foundation, creating educational opportunities for students across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” Duane Nizinski of AWI remarked, “Associated Wholesalers, Inc. and Cash Market, Bloomfield Shursave, and Safran’s Supermarket are proud to partner with education throughout Pennsylvania.” "The EITC program allows thousands of families in need throughout Allegheny County and across Pennsylvania to be able to choose the best education for their children," said Representative Mark Mustio (R-Allegheny). "These tax credits give children the opportunity for an education that they may not otherwise receive. Through the dedication of outstanding educators, the generosity of Pennsylvania's job creators, state lawmakers and others working together, the EITC will continue to be an essential aid in delivering a quality education for our young people
OLSH Students pose with members of the Bridge Foundation, CSX and local legislators.
and expanding educational choice for all families. I am proud to support it." Cheryl Karashin, OLSH Director of Advancement, shared a letter from a family who received scholarship dollars through this program, “The tuition assistance that has been provided to our children has enabled our family to continue the quality education of choice that we have enjoyed at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School.” The family went on to thank local legislators, “Your continued support of choice in education is a wonderful gift to families like ours whose financial situations make quality education a struggle.” The scholarship donations are a part of the Pennsylvania K-12 EITC Program. The K-12 EITC tuition program provides companies with a 75 percent tax credit – 90 percent for a two-year commitment – for funds donated to approved, non-profit scholarship or educational improvement organizations. Businesses may donate up to $300,000 per year though the K-12 program. For more information on how your business can make a scholarship donation through EITC, please contact Cheryl Karashin, Director of Advancement, at 412269-7726 or at ckarashin@olsh.org.
Pictured from left to right: Becky Snowden, Jim Pifko, Jr., Roman Jani, Rep. Mark Mustio, Leah Linerelli and Sean Fitzpatrick.
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL • 5
OLSH Legacy Gala by HEaTHER sCHmUCK adVaNCEmENT sERViCEs maNaGER
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n April 9, 2011 the ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport sparkled as it hosted the OLSH Legacy Gala. The atmosphere was elegant, yet fun with purple accent lighting throughout the room, wonderfully arranged displays and beautifully decorated auction tables. The students of OLSH were showcased as they performed numbers from their recent production of Little Shop of Horrors.
Through the generous sponsorship of Sota Construction Services, Inc., friends and alumni of OLSH gathered to celebrate this year’s Legacy Awardees, Jim and Joan Michel. The evening began with cocktail hour, sponsored by First Niagara Bank and silent auction bidding. There was something for everyone in the Legacy award recipients, Jim silent auction, from beach items and theater tickets to and Joan Michel kitchen remodels and sports memorabilia. With the help of special guest Piper Fleming, Jim and Joan’s granddaughter who traveled from California to surprise them, OLSH President, Elizabeth Santillo, presented the Legacy Award to the Michel’s. The Michels were humbled by the immense show of support and compassion from the OLSH community. Over the past 27 years, the Michels have been very active at OLSH. Their oldest daughter, Jennifer, attended OLSH from 1984-1988 and after she graduated, they sent four more of their children, Patrick ’95, Alison ’96, Kip ’98 and Katie ’01 to OLSH. Jim Michel was very active as a soccer coach and led the team to their first and only section championship. Each spring, the Michel family holds the Alison J. Michel Flower Sale. All proceeds from the sale are used to fund the Alison J. Michel Scholarship, which was created in 1998 in memory of their daughter Alison, who lost her fight with cystic fibrosis. The sale is also in memory of their daughter Katie who lost her battle with cystic fibrosis in 2007. Joan Michel takes great pride in making sure that the flower sale is a huge success. The Michels are familiar faces around OLSH, attending various sporting events and always stopping by to see what’s new at the school. Their passion for OLSH and its community are what make them an important part of the legacy of OLSH. The evening continued with the live auction featuring a trip to St. Maarten and an autographed Hines Ward jersey (paired with dancing lessons!), and various raffle drawings. Big winners of the night were Anna Budavich, of First Niagara Bank, winning the trip to Cozumel and RoGene Clark, who won the afghan, which was hand-made by OLSH’s own Sr. M. Pulcheria Saukaitis. The 2011 Legacy Gala was a great success, and a wonderful opportunity for members of the OLSH community to come together to celebrate the mission and vision of OLSH.
Save the date 2012 Legacy Gala Saturday, March 31, 2012 Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport 6 • WWW.OlsH.orG
the Michel family (from left, Jen, Piper, Joan, Jim, Kip, Kelly and Patrick)
OLSH Launches New website BY KATIE BARTUS DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY
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he Internet has become the main source of communication for many individuals. The vast amount of content available on the web has literally changed the way people search for information. While previous generations have communicated by different means, families of today have become accustomed to having pertinent information at their fingertips, easily accessible, and primarily online. As technology morphs and changes at a rapid pace, it is vital to keep moving forward and embrace changes. OLSH is very excited to announce the launch of a new website in June. Through the generosity of a donor, OLSH hired a design firm to bring a new look, feel, and functionality to the site. The www.olsh.org website was born in 1999. Since then, the look and functionality of the site have been updated only a handful of times, most recently in 2006. While cutting edge at the time, this site had very limited capabilities related to the amount and type of content that could be posted. To keep up with the advances in technology, it was critical that OLSH make a change. By implementing a new website at OLSH, communication between parents, teachers, students, alumni, and other various constituencies will improve. A well developed site not only
will open the lines of communication, but also will benefit our community in numerous ways. There are many enhancements to the new design that will foster faculty, staff, and student involvement. The new software behind the website allows content to be easily updated or changed. As the site grows, the flexibility and ease of use of the web software will give teachers the opportunity to create their own page which may include assignments, projects, and information about the good things happening in their classroom. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to provide content for the site via various media, including news articles, pictures, videos, and a student blog. As olsh.org continues to grow, other enhancements to the site will include online event registration and the ability to complete an admissions application electronically. The option of online tuition payments is also being explored. These improvements will help families stay connected. Please spend some time getting to know our new site at www. olsh.org. It is a work in progress and will continue to grow and change, so check back often. OLSH is very proud of the design and the new opportunities this technology will bring. Your feedback is welcome. Click and enjoy!
Learn about what's new at OLSH in areas such as Faith, Academics, Service, Communit y, Athletics, Art, Music and much more! •The improved calendar features will keep you up to date on the happenings at OLSH. •Read the latest news stories from OLSH right on the homepage. •Our features section on the home page will keep you informed of the latest events and happenings. •Check out the New Allumni Section. •Get or share infromation on your class reunion. •Look through photo albums of memories over the decades!
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL • 7
OLSH Celebrates
40 Years of Co-Education
BY REbECCa mUlVay '91
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he 2010-2011 school year marked the fortieth anniversary of a pivotal point in OLSH history – the decision to become a co-educational high school. The primary impetus for the transition to co-education was declining enrollment. Between the 1965 and 1970 school years, enrollment decreased steadily, as fewer and fewer girls were entering as aspirants to the Felician order. By the 1970 school year, OLSH had approximately 50 high school students enrolled. The need for decisive action was clear. Sister M. Pulcheria Saukaitis, CSSF, who began her tenure as principal of OLSH in 1965 and witnessed the dwindling enrollment, proposed opening the doors of OLSH to male students. “The administration and faculty of the school took a risk with this proposal – but we put it in the hands of God,” says Sister Pulcheria. Their prayers were answered, in fairly short order. The decision required the approval of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Provincial Council and the acknowledgement of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Both entities, according to Sister Pulcheria, recognized the need and were supportive of the decision, and approval came quickly. “Everyone realized that the school could not continue to exist if this did not happen,” she says. John T. Cicco, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Pittsburgh Diocese, addressed a parent meeting in 1969, confirming the imminent change. For their part, the parents of OLSH students supported the decision as well - several families who already had daughters enrolled in the school welcomed a local, convenient option for their sons to receive a Catholic high school education. The Grilli family was particularly supportive of the decision to become co-educational, and in fact had been lobbying the OLSH administration for some time to make the change. Dr. and Mrs. Grilli were members of the Parent Teacher Association, and had a daughter
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already enrolled at OLSH. Virginia “Ginger” Grilli, ’71, was a senior when the first boys were admitted. She recalls the change as a natural one, as the school had already evolved in many ways from the time that she was a freshman. “When I entered OLSH, my class was the biggest ever,” she says. “About one quarter were aspirants. Most were boarders. During each successive year, that mix changed little by little. As enrollment dwindled, the number of aspirants decreased. By the time I was a senior, only two remained. Adding male students just seemed like a part of the changes that were already taking place.” Ms. Grilli’s younger brother was able to enroll in the first freshman class. “That only made the change seem more natural,” she says. “Also, as a senior,” she adds, “it didn’t matter what gender they were – they were freshmen, and definitely at the bottom of the pecking order!” In order to prepare for the arrival of the first male students in the fall of 1970, some physical modifications to the school were obviously necessary. Bathrooms had to be converted to include a men’s room. The new freshman class was large enough to fit into two homerooms, which changed the configuration of the classrooms. An athletic director was hired, and a boys’ basketball team was formed and christened the Chargers, a name that the first players chose. The boarding school and the junior high school were closed, and plans were made to convert the dormitories into housing for the faculty, which was composed mostly of Felicians at that time. In the fall of 1970, the first 16 male students were admitted to OLSH, in a class of 102. In 1971 a total of 34 boys were enrolled, and the numbers increased steadily thereafter. Over the next several years, the timing of the decision to become co-ed proved
particularly fortuitous, and positioned OLSH to increase enrollment even more. In 1975, St. Mary’s High School in McKees Rocks closed. The pastor paid for all of the students of the school to transfer to OLSH, increasing the already growing enrollment from 131 in the 1975 school year to 202 in the 1976 school year. The 1975 Supreme Court decision requiring public school districts to provide transportation to parochial and private schools also helped to boost enrollment. OLSH’s new co-educational status allowed the school to receive the maximum benefit from both of these events. OLSH has left a lasting impression on its male alumni. Tony Adamchik, ’75, entered OLSH as a freshman in the fall of 1971, the second year of co-education. The decision to attend OLSH was an easy one for Mr. Adamchik. “I looked around at other schools, but as soon as I got to OLSH, I knew that was the place for me. I fell in love with the school as soon as I stepped into the chapel.” Mr. Adamchik credits OLSH and the Felician sisters that he had as teachers for helping to make him the person that he is today. “They made me strong. They gave me the courage to become an entrepreneur in several businesses.” Mr. Adamchik currently owns and operates Boni’s Floral Shoppe in McKees Rocks. The feeling of welcom that Mr. Adamchik experienced the first time that he stepped onto the OLSH campus continues to this day. He was recently at a reunion event at the school, and saw Sr. M. Augustine Grajewski '36, who succeeded Sr. Pulcheria as principal beginning with the 1971-72 school year. “Another sister was pushing her in her wheelchair down the hall, and she looked right at me and said, ‘Hello, Mr. Adamchik!’ I was amazed – I had not seen her since I graduated!” Mr. Adamchik sums up his OLSH experience by saying, “I would go back there tomorrow, I really would!”
our LadY of tHe saCred Heart HiGH sCHooL • 9
Marriages Made at OLSH
by JEssiCa CERCHiaRO yys mENTOR
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atchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match… With the days of matchmakers and prearranged marriages behind us and more online dating sites than we can count, individuals are searching for new ways to find their perfect mate. For many OLSH alums, that search did not take them too far. A great deal of OLSH grads have met their soul mates at their alma mater – some were high school sweethearts who dated as students, others were classmates who reconnected years later, while others were never students together, but shared a special something that brought them together.
young couples, building friendships and strengthening their own bond as friends. Since they were a year apart in school, neither really thought of marriage and after Noreen graduated, their relationship “waxed and waned” (to use Jim’s words). Each went about their lives, with Noreen entering the working world and Jim off to Washington, DC for college. The two did stay together and in the midst of his law school career, Jim proposed. He reflects, “I began to see, appreciate, and love Noreen in a new way, and that love has only grown deeper and richer over the last 30 years.” The two married in January of 1981 and have two daughters.
The 1970s...
The 1980s...
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n the fall of 1970, 16 boys enrolled at OLSH. Each new school year following brought a few more new boys to the school. Noreen (Kim) Kearn ’74 began her freshman year at OLSH in that historic year. As dramatic as that change may now seem to us, neither Noreen, nor her husband, Jim ’75 thought too much of it. Jim looked more at the opportunity to attend the best high school he could afford –and the $300/year tuition beat out the other local Catholic high school. Even if they didn’t know it at the time, the historic decision to enroll boys at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart would change Jim and Noreen’s lives forever. The Kearns started dating in 1974 when Jim, a junior, asked Noreen to her senior prom. As one of OLSH’s early couples, Jim and Noreen found themselves attending school dances, basketball games and going roller skating. They would often hang out at Tom’s Corner Market, just outside the school’s wall, with other
oLsH Prom1974: noreen & Jim Kearn (left)
t wasn’t long before boys and girls wa l k i n g dow n t h e h a l l s t og e t h e r became a regular sight. Kimberly (Logue) Bosetti ’83 and Patrick Bosetti ’83 met as classmates and started dating in 1981. Couples at the time hung out with friends, went to Eat’n Park, played putt putt and went to the movies. The Social Commons was the customary place for couples to hang out in school and holding hands was the most common public display of affection (PDA) offense. Sr. Christopher, principal at the time, even bought Kimberly and Patrick a gag gift for Christmas one year because of their history of "PDA"! After dating for awhile, the two began to realize their relationship was something special and started to think they may get married one day. Kimberly and Patrick stayed together after high school and feel so blessed that their loving marriage brought two wonderful children, Bradley ’08 and Rebecca ’11, into their lives.
oLsH Campus 1982: Kim & Patrick Bosetti
The 1990s...
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s the 1990s began, boys and girls attended OLSH side by side with little thought of anything different. The school had grown a bit, but couples were still meeting and forming friendships that would last a lifetime even if they may not have realized it at the time. Kathryn (Gaffney) Fogle ’96 and Eric Fogle ’96 never expected their education at OLSH to impact them in quite the way that it did. With last names one letter off in the alphabet, the two often found themselves sitting near each other in classes. It was Eric’s brother, Drew ’97, who encouraged the two to get together in their junior year. They enjoyed spending time together in school and at Eat’n Park and the mall. Like most couples before them, Kathryn and Eric didn’t really think seriously about marriage while still in high school. However, a project for senior religion with Mrs. Puppo gave them a glimpse into their future. They were studying vocations and students were “married” to each other to learn a little more about that way of life. Kathryn remembers that Eric decided to surprise her with a fake proposal, asking her to marry him in the middle of class with a big plastic ring! She was embarrassed and refused to talk to him for the rest of the day, but that high school “practice” may have been just the thing to continue to strengthen their bond with each other. Their relationship continued as they went their separate ways to college, and while the transition of no longer spending every day together was difficult at times, their love endured. The two married in 2002 and have three children together.
oLsH Prom 1996: Kathryn & eric fogle
2011: the Kearns
2011: the Bosetti family
2011: the fogles
Today...
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s 40 years have passed since OLSH made the decision to go co-ed, others are finding themselves in similar situations to the couples of OLSH’s past. Couples that began dating in high school, like Jackie Cooney '03 and Nathan Silvestri '03, are busy planning their upcoming nuptials. Other couples, like Samantha Kristek Lesak '02 and Matt Lesak '96 connected after graduation and have found a common bond that brings them together. And the story continues as every year, new engagements are announced in our alumni news. Current students at OLSH are building relationships to make the next chapter of OLSHighlights Alumni News. While these teenagers are not searching for their soul mates; like their fellow former Chargers they are simply meeting new friends, learning m o r e a b o u t t h e m s e l ve s a n d b u i l d i n g friendships. They hang out in the halls, by their lockers and at the mall. While there’s no more Tom’s Corner Market to meet up at, the alcoves by the school elevator have taken its place. They attend school dances , and are expected to “leave room for the Holy Spirit”, just as the couples of 40 years ago.
The OLSH Secret Recipe...
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o, what is it about OLSH that seems to draw people together? The intimate class sizes and close camaraderie between the students at OLSH has been a constant over the years. Jim and Noreen Kearn both believe a couple must be friends first in order to build a strong relationship, and OLSH fosters these types of friendships. The Bosettis agree, considering friendship to be the foundation of their marriage. According to the Fogles, OLSH’s community is a family and families nourish relationships. OLSH also seems to draw students who have similar family values – values that help students build lasting relationships. “My parents’ marriage was a big influence on our relationship. They showed us through their love what a marriage should be,” shares Kimberly. our LadY of tHe saCred Heart HiGH sCHooL • 11
Marriages Made at OLSH (cont.) For all three couples, the strong education in faith is also a key reason OLSH seems to draw people together. Students are challenged to explore their faith and learn more about themselves; religion isn’t something you do – it’s a part of life, and therefore, a part of relationships, too. Noreen commented, “Our faith in God and in each other grew while there.”
Kathryn also commented on the faith aspect of their relationship, sharing, “It is that comfort that we found that we embrace in each other today.” Kimberly agreed, sharing “There have been many ups and downs along the way concerning health, jobs, life in general, yet we persevere because of our love and faith.”
True to its mission, OLSH has been educating the whole person in a loving and challenging Christian community – a faith-based community that nurtures relationships. While the love birds voted “Best Couple” in their senior year book don’t always end up together, many matches made at OLSH stay together after high school and for years to come.
More Marriages Made at OLSH When we began to think about this article, we sent out a message on the OLSH Alumni page on Facebook. The response was overwhelming. Below we have started to compile a list of all couples whose marriages were made at OLSH. If you are missing from this list, please contact us and let us know. Check out the new alumni section of the OLSH website for updates on even more marriages made at OLSH! Kimberly (Brannen) Mihalov '74 and Dale Mihalov '74 Noreen (Kim) Kearn ’74 and Jim Kearn ‘75 Elaine (Mihalov) Pentland ’77 and Mark Pentland ‘77 debra ann dujmovich-vavrek '78 and Alan Vavrek '77 Kathleen (Hetzer) Pifko ’80 and Jim Pifko ‘80 Kimberly (Logue) Bosetti ’83 and Patrick Bosetti ‘83 Karen (Montello) Pugielli ’85 and Paul Pugielli ‘85 Lori (Gariti) Walenchok ’85 and Tom Walenchok ‘85 Danette (Colantoni) Duncan ’86 and Todd Duncan ‘86 Shelley (Bohn) Smith ’93 and Jim Smith ‘93 Marie (Dixon) Wrabley '95 and Colin Wrabley '92
Kathryn (Gaffney) Fogle ’96 and Eric Fogle ‘96 Meredeth Fergoson '97 and Peter Ciechanowski '96 Melanie Karapandi ’98 and Anthony Armbruster ‘98 Brooke Maurer Aston-Reese ’98 and Todd Aston-Reese ‘99 Denay (Pijanowski) Farrand ’98 and Brian Farrand ‘95 Kim (Ulizzi) Cooney ’99 and Sean Cooney ‘98 Angela (Kaczorowski ) Fiedler '99 and T.J. Fiedler '01 Emily (Verostek) Warnock ’00 and Jeff Warnock ‘00 Katie (Homich) Mihalyi ’01 and Tim Mihalyi ‘00 Jessica (Venezio) Schleicher ’01 and Scott Schleicher ‘01 Marguerite (Costantino) Meader '03 and Jeff Meader '03
Marriage Made Before Co-Ed!
Have We Met Before?
When OLSH opened its doors in 1932, it was almost exclusively a convent school, opened for the purpose of educating girls who were called to religious life with the Felicians. As time went on, more and more girls began attending OLSH for the value of the faith-based education offered by the Sisters. In the 1960s, OLSH was still quite small and girls there had no way of meeting their future husbands – or did they?
Kathy (Hetzer) Pifko ’80 and Jim Pifko ’80 graduated from the same class of 36 students, but they didn’t really “meet” until after graduation! Kathy, who transferred into OLSH as a junior, met two new friends on her first day of school that took her under their wing. After that day – the three were inseparable! Jim spent half of each school day at Parkway West Career & Technical Center. The small class size and unbalanced 24 girls to 12 boys didn’t allow for a whole lot of dating to go on!
Darla (Leja) Dietz ’66 never thought she would meet her future husband, Jim Dietz, at OLSH, but she may be the first alumnae to be able to claim that she did, even though boys weren’t yet attending the school! Darla shared her story of a picnic her class of around 20 girls was planning to North Park shortly before their graduation. One of her classmates, Arline DiClementi, had a brother Nick who was home visiting from the seminary. He had brought along a friend, Jim, who was leaving the seminary. Jim noticed a photo of Darla at the DiClementi’s home and wanted to meet her. Darla and her friend Arline convinced the Sisters to allow the boys to come to the picnic – to “help carry the coolers.” The Sisters agreed and Darla and Jim went on a date that evening and got married two and a half years later. They were married 43 years in May and have five children and 10 grandchildren. While Darla’s story is a unique one, she is not alone in having met her future husband at OLSH. 12 • WWW.OlsH.orG
After graduation, Kathy and Jim “met” at a graduation party. They started talking and by the end of June, Jim had asked Kathy out! They have been together ever since. Even though they didn’t interact much as OLSH students, Jim and Kathy learned more than just academics during their time in school. As Kathy commented, “I think the one thing about OLSH that helped keep us together – and keeps us together today – is our common faith. There have been some rough patches in our life, but our faith has helped us through and guided us.” That faith helped the Pifko’s to make the necessary sacrifices to send their two children, Kelly ’06 and Jim ’11, to St. Joseph School and OLSH. That strong foundation in faith, reinforced at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart seems to be the uniting force that brings and keeps OLSH couples together – no matter when they run into each other.
OLSH Spotlight
Sr. M. Pulcheria Saukaitis
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ne of the charms of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School is the presence of the Felician Sisters in the school. While the school has undergone many changes, from a convent school to a co-ed college preparatory school, the Sisters’ involvement in the education of young people has never ended. Sr. M. Pulcheria Saukaitis ’39 has influenced members of the OLSH community for the past 76 years and is still going strong! When asked when she officially retired from teaching, Sr. Pulcheria answered, “I never retired, I was just recycled!” True to the “green” philosophy, Sr. Pulcheria has found new ways to share her time and talent no matter where her journey has taken her over the years.
Sr. Pulcheria began her time at OLSH as an aspirant and student in 1935. As a student, she enjoyed studying science, particularly Biology taught by Sr. Eugenia. She was an active member of the school community, participating in the school newspaper, yearbook and Sodality groups, among other school organizations. Sr. Pulcheria graduated from OLSH in 1939 and went on to continue her study and love of science at Seton Hill University where she earned a B.A. in Science. In 1945, she returned to OLSH as a teacher of Biology, Chemistry, Health, and Religion. Under Sr. Pulcheria’s guidance, students competed and excelled in the PA Junior Academy of Science and The School Science Fair at the Buhl Planetarium. She inspired many young women to
pursue degrees in science, something that was quite uncommon at that time. Always willing to take on a challenge, Sr. Pulcheria recalls her homeroom included 25 African refugees. She was responsible for teaching them English and helping them acclimate to their new school. Her welcoming spirit and strong determination helped these students to succeed. After taking some time off to pursue her Master’s Degree in Science at The Catholic University, Sr. Pulcheria spent time teaching at Quigley Catholic High School, St. Adalbert High School, St. Joseph School, and Steubenville Central Catholic. Sr. Pulcheria’s next opportunity for a challenge came when she was named principal of OLSH in 1965. Her visionary leadership was instrumental in the decision to invite boys to enroll at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Her openness to change and creative thinking helped to ensure OLSH would be around for future generations. In the 1970s, Sr. Pulcheria was asked by the Felician Sisters to share her talents in a new ministry – working with medical records at a Felician-run hospital in Port Charlotte, FL. During her time there, the hospital grew from 70 beds to an amazing 212 – another testament to Sr. Pulcheria’s hard work and determination. After spending 11 years in Florida, Sr. Pulcheria was called back to Pennsylvania to work at St. Anne’s nursing home, another Felician ministry. She was happy to return to the area and has stayed here since then.
running smoothly. In addition, each spring Sr. Pulcheria donates her time and talent to the OLSH Legacy Gala. She has been a faithful member of the committee and creates a beautiful afghan and pillow set to be raffled at the event each year. Sr. Pulcheria is an excellent saleswoman, this year raising over $2,000 for OLSH. Each year she sets the goal of increasing the amount of money she will make for her raffle and so far she has met that goal! Sr. Pulcheria’s giving spirit, her visionary leadership, and her inspirational teaching are all qualities that earned her the honor of being selected for the OLSH Legacy Award in 2010. Her great dedication and openness to new experiences are examples that members of the OLSH community can only hope to emulate. Always humble, Sr. Pulcheria is proud of her school and the others that have followed in her footsteps. She shares, “OLSH is a wonderful school. I am so very proud of the accomplishments of all those that came after me. So many people were instrumental and deserve credit for the success of the school.” She credits Sr. M. Christopher Moore ’63 and Sr. M. Francine Horos ’68 for their continued hard work and dedication to the school they all call home. The OLSH community continues to be blessed with the “recycled” teaching and amazing example Sr. Pulcheria shares each day.
Today, Sr. Pulcheria spends her mornings back in the halls of OLSH. While not a teacher of the formal sort, she is continuing to inspire students with her commitment to her alma mater. Sr. Pulcheria shares her time each day as an office volunteer – helping the main office with attendance, filing, stuffing mailings, sorting paperwork and just about anything else that needs to be accomplished. Her vast experience, smiling face, and positive attitude help to keep the advancement and main offices
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL • 13
OLSH's Big Little Shop by JEssiCa CERCHiaRO mUsiCal PROdUCER
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LSH’s production of Little Shop of Horrors was anything but “little.” This year’s Spring Musical proved to be one of the edgiest shows OLSH has performed. But , as cast member and plant operator, junior Vinnie Smith, commented, “Little Shop was a new type of show for OLSH and as a cast we had a lot to work with. But, I think we exceeded previous years and put on the best show OLSH has seen in a long time. The show was so fun to perform!”
With a dark humor plot (a man-eating plant) and a rock-style music score, Little Shop is the story of Seymour Krelbourne, a poor orphan who collects strange and unusual plants. His most recent acquisition, a plant he calls “Audrey II” after his co-worker (for whom he’s held a long-time crush), has an appetite for blood! As the plant grows, Seymour’s fame and fortune grows too. The talking plant convinces Seymour to feed him antagonists Orin Scrivello, Audrey’s abusive dentist boyfriend, and Mr. Mushnik, the owner of the plant shop. Seymour’s conscience finally takes over when the plant tricks Audrey into climbing into its enormous mouth and Seymour sacrifices himself to try to end the plant’s reign of terror. The entire story is carried along by the “Ronnettes”, a group of six girls whose 60's girl-group style vocal harmonies guide the audience
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through Seymour’s journey. With 51 students in the cast, 9 students on stage crew and 2 student musicians, Little Shop boasted one of OLSH’s largest accounts of student participation. This year’s show also benefited from the help of several alums including Alexis Jabour ’09, John Farren ’05, Adriana Bencivenga ’05, Kyleigh Taylor ’10, and Amy Lynn Greek ’07. As if that awesome number of students and alumni involved didn’t fill OLSH’s tiny stage enough, one of Little Shop’s main characters, the plant, had to make a statement, too. The production team made the decision to purchase the plant puppet from a small theater company in Vermont. Since the plant grows throughout the show, there were four puppets used in the production. In the second act, when the Audrey II begins to dine on humans, the largest puppet appears. The stage crew responsible for moving the largest puppet joked that it was bigger than a Smart Car. But the hard work of moving the huge plant was worth it for the audible gasps as the curtain opened and the plant appeared for the first time. Audiences clearly enjoyed the show, selling out five scheduled performances and prompting the production staff to make the arrangements to add a sixth show. Keeping in line with the Spring Musical’s
big year, OLSH was nominated for seven Pittsburgh CLO Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater, tying last year’s record. The efforts of the cast, crew, musicians, production staff, alumni and parents came together to earn nominations for Best Costumes (Budget Level 1), Best Direction, Best Lighting Design (Budget Level 1), Best Scenic Design (Budget Level 1), Best Musical (Budget Level 1), Best Actor – Zander Lyons ‘12, and Best Actress – Adrianne Knapp ‘12. The last three nominations on the list include the opportunity to perform on the Benedum Stage. The entire cast performed the number “Skid Row,” a song about life in the dumps of “downtown” that includes a Stomp-like rhythm section. Zander and Adrianne each performed in a medley with five other nominees. OLSH took home the awards for Best Lighting Design and Best Scenic Design. Performing on the Benedum stage in front of thousands of audience members is an experience our students will not soon forget. As senior Katie Withrow, four-year musical participant and winner of the CLO Ambassadors scholarship put it: “OLSH Musical Tickets: $10, Gene Kelly Tickets: $25, being surrounded by good friends and performing on the Benedum Stage: Priceless!”
OLSH Offers Summer Camps O
ur Lady of the Sacred Heart High School introduces a series of innovative and inspiring summer workshops. These half-day camps are appropriate for students in grades 5 through 8 (unless otherwise noted) and cover a wide range of interests. Providing enrichment as well as entertainment, there are workshops for artists, writers, musicians and more.
Earth, Wind and Fire Science Camp Experiment with the forces of nature at this entertaining but educational camp. Build a kite while learning the principles of aerodynamics, and ecosystems while creating a terrarium, churning butter, making ice cream and more. June 27th – July 1st, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 5 /maximum 10) Creative Endeavors Writers’ Workshop We’re looking for the next J. K. Rowling! Participate in a variety of creative writing activities, exercises and projects to explore and inspire your imagination. Endeavor to create works of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. At the end of camp, a cumulative portfolio of your writing projects is yours to cherish. June 27th – July 1st, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 5 /maximum 10) July 11th – 15th, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 5 /maximum 10) ReCreativity – Recycled Craft Camp Putting the creativity into recycling, this camp will show participants a variety of crafty ways to turn trash into treasure. Birdhouses, terrariums, and candlelanterns are just a few of the innovative craft projects all made of recycled and recyclable materials! July 5th – 8th, Cost: $80.00 (minimum 5 /maximum 10)
The “Green” Zone – Environmental Camp - Participants will see just how easy it is being "green" while learning about their place in the eco-system and their responsibility in the environment. Build a birdhouse, grow a window garden and participate in a variety of Earth-friendly activities, which are the highlights of this environmental awareness camp. July 5th – 8th, Cost: $80.00 (minimum 5 /maximum 10) Roots – Family History Camp - Curious about dad’s first job or favorite food? How about mom’s cherished childhood friend or her first date? Participants in the Roots camp learn valuable research and writing skills as they explore the fun facts and fascinating people in their family’s history. July 11th – 15th, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 5 /maximum 15) Christmas in July – Recycled Craft Camp - Reindeer, snow gauges, wreaths, Santas and snowglobes– everyday items are magically transformed into festive holiday décor. Felt, sequins, glitter, glue, light bulbs, glass jars, and clothespins become treasured celebrations of Christmas. July 11th – 15th, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 5 /maximum 15) Junior Christmas in July – Recycled Craft Camp – Grades K-4 July 18th – 22nd, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 5/maximum 10)
Faith, Hope & Charity Bible Camp - By exploring the lives and work of a variety of Catholic saints, participants learn the true values of faith, hope and charity. Games, crafts, skits and service fill the week with life-lessons and love. July 11th – 15th, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 8/maximum 18) Drama Days Theater Camps - Rising stars will enjoy practicing their skills or learning new ones through improvisation and theater games, creating characters and mastering monologues, as well as putting together one act plays and mini-musicals at the Drama camps created by the OLSH Musical Theater Department. (Participation in multiple weeks is acceptable.) July 5th – 8th, Cost: $80.00 (minimum 10 /maximum 18) July 11th – 15th, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 10 /maximum 18) July 18th – 22nd, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 10 /maximum 18) Aug 1st – 5th, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 10 /maximum 18) Junior Drama Days Theater Camps – Grades 2-4 July 25th – 29th, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 10 /maximum 18) Pep Band Camp - Strike up the band! Campers learn a variety of pep tunes to rouse the crowd, inspire the team and celebrate victories big and small. Bring your instrument. August 15th – 19th, Cost: $100.00 (minimum 8/maximum 18)
All camps run 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Drinks and snacks, and all necessary camp materials will be provided. To receive a registration packet or to request more information, visit www.olsh.org and click on Featured News Or contact Theresa Long '86 at (412) 264-5140 or tlong@olsh.org. our LadY of tHe saCred Heart HiGH sCHooL • 15
2011 Honors Convocation Celebrates Student Success O
n May 24, 2011, over 150 instances of excellence were celebrated at OLSH's annual Honors Convocation. Annie Kayser was named the Valedictorian, and Sean Fitzpatrick the Salutatorian of the Class of 2011. Rounding out the list of top ten seniors were Sherry Greek, Kathryn Gasior, Sandra Cahalan, Taylor Belloma, Katherine Christoff, Anthony Smith, Rebecca Bosetti, and Leah Linarelli.
annie Kayser '11 and sean fitzpatrick '11 The crowd rose to its feet to commend Anthony Smith, this year's recipient of the Blessed Angela Award, which is presented to the senior who most exhibits the spirit of Mother Angela and the Felician charism. It was awarded by Sr. Mary Justice Przybocki, Local Minister at the OLSH Central Convent.
sr. M. Justice Przybocki and anthony smith '11 Paige Berg was awarded the Alison J. Michel Award & Scholarship, which is given to a senior who is dedicated to service, spirit filled, has a positive attitude and a great character. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Michel were on hand to present her with this award. Kathleen Stewart won the OLSH Spirit of Caring Award, which recognizes the 16 • WWW.OlsH.orG
student who has earned the most service hours through her four years at OLSH. Kathleen Stewart contributed 800.75 hours during her time at OLSH.
is a wonderful role model to our young people." Mrs. Brooks stated that Mr. Thomas, "serves quietly and humbly, never ceasing to put OLSH first."
Mrs. Christina Brooks, OLSH Principal, presented Leah Linarelli with the Principal's Leadership Award, which is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
The senior student ambassadors were honored for their service to OLSH, and the faculty presented departmental academic achievement awards.
That night was the inaugural awarding of two endowed scholarships: "The Poleski Family Scholarship and the Sr. Mary Denise Bernas Scholarship�. Freshman JaShawn Smith accepted The Poleski Family Scholarship from Nancy Poleski Collier. The scholarship was established in memory of her parents and her sister, Janice, and in honor of her sisters Judy and Joan. Robert Monks, a student at St. James School in Sewickley, won the Sr. Mary Denise Bernas Scholarship. He will enter 9th grade at OLSH in the fall. The audience was thrilled to welcome Sr. Denise to the stage to award the scholarship established in her honor. Juniors Swati Rajprohat and Anthony Graziani were named the Top Scholar Athletes this year. These awards are given to the two students who participate and complete two playing seasons and have the highest academic averages in a school year. Miss Rajprohat is on the cross country and track and field teams. Mr. Graziani is on the bowling and track and field teams. Mr. Mike Miller, Foreign Language Chair, awarded the Susan P. Fahey Memorial Scholarship to junior Amanda Carmichael. This scholarship is presented to a junior who plans to study an upper-level language in her senior year. Mrs. Christina Brooks initiated the Shining Star Awards to thank faculty and staff members for their outstanding service to OLSH. Mr. Jeffrey Hulbert, History teacher and Mr. Jeff Thomas, Head Custodian were the first recipients of these awards. Mrs. Brooks said that Mr. Hulbert, a social studies teacher, never ceases to "serve where he is needed." She added that "he
Miss Karen Runtich recognized Danielle Auth and Annie Kayser for their excellent work in Bioinformatics at the Summer Institute at Carnegie Mellon University and the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center. She also commended Swati Rajprohat for her acceptance into a summer program this year through Westinghouse Science Institute, which will allow her to study at the Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Ms. Theresa Long acknowledged senior Peter Wojtechko whose essay "The Right of the Human Person" won a nationwide contest for the Franciscan International Human Rights Award.
Peter Wojtechko '11 Mrs. Brooks commended Jon Lach '11, Amanda Carmichael and runner up, Patrick Michael '11, on their St. Timothy Awards, which were presented in a ceremony sponsored by the Diocese of Pittsburgh at Duquesne University. She also acknowledged junior Hannah Devlin, sophomore Grace Quigley, and freshman Angela Kilburg for earning the highest averages in their respective classes this year. Congratulations to all of the award winners!
What’s Happening Around OLSH OLSH student named 2011 Miss Smiling Irish Eyes
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LSH senior, Katie Christoff, was selected to be the 2011 Miss Smiling Irish Eyes for Pittsburgh. As Miss Smiling Irish Eyes, Katie was required to attend many events leading up to St. Patrick's Katie Christoff '11 on the McDonald's Day. Her first order of business was to attend a Shamrock Shake float in the St. Patrick's Day Parade Communion Breakfast with Bishop David Zubik where she was named 2011's Miss Smiling Irish Eyes. She then
went to a City Council meeting where the plans for the parade were officially proclaimed. The day before the parade, Katie was interviewed on Pittsburgh Today Live and then attended a luncheon where she was crowned by Allegheny County Chief Executive, Dan Onorato. Finally, she participated in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 12th. Katie rode through the parade on the Miss Smiling Irish Eyes float that was sponsored by the McDonald's Shamrock Shake. Katie said, “The whole experience was completely surreal, and I enjoyed every second of it. I had an amazing time attending all of these events, and I am so grateful to have been given such a unique opportunity.” Congratulations Katie!
St. Timothy Award
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n Monday, May 9, 2011 OLSH students Jonathan William Lach ‘11 and Amanda Carmichael ’12 received the Saint Timothy Award. The St. Timothy award recognizes young people from across OLSH Teacher, Karie Jarvis; Jonathan the Diocese for Lach '11; OLSH Principal, Christina Brooks; upholding and Amanda Carmichael '12 the Church’s teachings in their everyday actions and serving as examples to their peers. Students are nominated by their pastors, youth ministers, catechetical administrators, principals and teachers for their exemplary leadership skills, service, spirituality and involvement in their youth ministry programs, parishes and/ or schools. The award ceremony takes place at Duquesne University each spring, and the award is issued by the Diocese of Pittsburgh Secretariat for Catholic Education. This year it was presented by the Auxiliary Bishop, The Most Rev. William John Waltersheid. The award recognizes four young people from each of the Diocese’s four pastoral vicariate regions and a student from each of the 12 Catholic high schools. Jon Lach was selected as the winner from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School. Karie Jarvis, OLSH music teacher
and member of the OLSH Ministry Team, nominated Jon. She stated, “Jon is a model of Christian leadership in his family, school, parish, and all of his activities. He takes responsibility for the prayer life of his younger siblings as well as his school basketball team. Jon also takes an active role in his parish.” At home Jon is a spiritual leader for his younger siblings. He says evening prayers with his ten-year-old brother almost every night before bedtime and works with his two-year-old sister to say short prayers at meals. Jon is the son of Joseph and Renee Lach of Coraopolis. He plans to attend Penn State Beaver in the fall. Amanda Carmichael received the St. Timothy Award representing her Vicariate. Amanda is a junior at OLSH and a member of St. Malachy’s Church. Amanda serves as a member of the Diocesan Youth Council Vicariate 3 District 1 in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. She is an active volunteer for her church and a major contributing member of the St. Malachy Youth Group, always volunteering to pray and take a leadership position. Amanda also volunteers with the younger children at St. Malachyby helping to lead Vacation Bible School and CCD classes. This past year, Amanda helped to raise money for the Holy Family Institute and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She is a member of the OLSH Student Ambassadors and is active in many aspects of the school. Amanda was nominated by her youth leader Steve Swank. “She is one of our best advertisers”, Swank said. Congratulations to both of our outstanding Catholic role models!
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL • 17
What’s Happening Around OLSH Charger Athletics Update
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he Baseball team had a slow start to their season this year with a 1-4 record. After losing seven seniors last year, they were a very young, yet talented team. Sophomore, Preston Falascino, proved to be a leading force on the OLSH team. Preston and his teammate Michael Phillips were selected for the Class A AllStars this season. Preston was also chosen as the Beaver County Times Athlete of the Week and was chosen team MVP with a .531 batting average. The Chargers rallied through the remaider of the season and finished at 500 with a 6-6 record. OLSH won 5 of the last 7 section games and narrowly missed the playoffs by one game. The Chargers finished this rebuilding season strong and look forward to hitting the diamond again next season.
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he 2011 OLSH Boy’s Volleyball team enjoyed a great deal of success this season as they accomplished a number of feats for the first time. While the boys’ teams have been consistent at qualifying for the playoffs numerous times over the years, this year’s squad made it to the semi-finals for the first time in the history of boys’ volleyball at OLSH. The boys finished in a 3 way tie for second place in their section with Moon and Ambridge (Montour was first). The strength of the section competition was evident during the season as all four of the teams were ranked in the top 6 in the WPIAL rankings for most
of the season. Their overall record was 9 - 7, including the playoff wins and losses. Sprinkled in among the match wins were also 2 tournament first place finishes in the Mt. Lebanon Invitational and our very own OLSH Invitational. The playoffs included wins over Steel Valley in the first round and a resounding 3 to 0 match victory over rival Moon in the quarter-finals! The Chargers’ losses came to WPIAL Champion Deer Lakes in the semifinals and finally a loss to Ambridge for the final berth in the PIAA playoffs. All in all, a very good season for the OLSH boys. Additionally, a number of players were recognized for their performances during the season and awarded post-season honors. The following players were selected to the All-Section Team: Senior Sean Feeley and Freshman Shaughn McDonald to the 1st Team, Senior Dan Szabat and Junior Greg Ott to the 2nd Team, and Seniors Jon Lach and Ben Stock to the 3rd Team. These selections were the result of polling by the section coaches. Players were also selected to the All-WPIAL Team as well. These included: Freshman Shaughn McDonald to the 1st Team, Seniors Sean Feeley and Dan Szabat to the 2nd Team, and Junior Greg Ott to the 3rd Team.
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he Boys and Girls Track and Field teams did very well this spring. They finished their section meets with a 5-3 record for both the boys and girls teams. The follwoing students qualified for WPIAL championships: the boys 4 x 800 meter relay team and the girls 4 x 800 meter relay team, Alyssa Wolf in the 200 meter sprint, and Isiah Neely in the 100 meter sprint. What a great way to end a very successful season! Congratualations to all of the OLSH Spring sports teams!
NFL - Not Just Football! year OLSH continued to build its forensics team. Five students and one teacher became official members of the NFL T– thehis National Forensic League, that is! Forensics is speech and
debate competition and the National Forensic League is one of three leagues of which OLSH is a member. With only five regular participants, OLSH had a remarkably successful year in local and state level competition. Ellen DiMartini ‘13 and Chris McDermott ’13 competed in Impromptu and Lincoln-Douglas debate, respectively. They each earned the degree of Merit (25 points in competitive speech and debate) from the NFL. The team of Swati Rajprohat ’12 and Tim Johnson ‘11 competed in Public Forum debate and took first place at the Oakland Catholic tournament early in the season. Swati 18 • WWW.OLSH.ORG
and Tim both earned the degree of Honor (75 points). Anthony Smith ‘11 has talked his way to the top this year, competing in the event of Student Congress and earning the degree of Excellence (150 points). Anthony placed first or second at several local tournaments before qualifying for the Pennsylvania High School Speech League State tournament held at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. After two days of intense competition, Anthony took second place in the entire state in Student Congress. Anthony also qualified for the NFL National tournament that was held in Dallas, TX in June. He competed against students from all over the country, debating student-written bills on current events topics.
Alumni News & Notes 1936
2001
sR. m. aUGUsTiNE GRaJEwsKi celebrated her diamond anniversary (75 years) as a felician sister on May 29, 2011.
bENJamiN JOHNs graduated from WoCs in January and is currently working towards becoming an aH-64d attack Helicopter Pilot.
1961 sR. m. dENisE bERNas celebrated her Golden anniversary (50 years) as a felician sister on May 29, 2011.
1977 JamEs dEPaCE retired from active duty in the navy in 2003 and has been working as a usaf Helicopter engine Manager at the tinker airforce base in oklahoma City, oK.
1978 faTHER HaRRy biElEwiCZ celebrated his silver anniversary (25 years) as a priest on May 30, 2011, at st. Margaret Mary Church.
2000 aNGEla VERdONi received her Phd in Genetics from the university of Wisconsin– Madison. she is currently at Washington university school of Medicine in st. Louis doing postdoctoral research on the genetics of acute myeloid leukemia.
2002 maTTHEw HOGUE was hired as Chief of staff to Pittsburgh City Councilman Bruce Kraus. He was recently honored with the 2010 Jefferson award for his service to the community. TimOTHy PREVadE has been named the national Kitchen & dining sales Leader for iKea australia, based out of sydney. samaNTHa lEsaK earned her Master's degree in reading & Language arts with a K-12 Reading Specialist certification from duquesne university.
2004 HalEy HiNds wed rishi Barran on June 17th, 2011. the happy couple will reside in fort Myers, fL, where Haley is currently working as a reporter for WinK-tv. mEGaN POdsiadly announced her engagement to Joshua stephens. the couple plans a June 2012 wedding at st. Joseph Church in Coraopolis.
Class of 1986 25th Reunion August 13-14, 2011 Saturday evening, August 13th the class of 1986 reunion committee is planning a dinner & dance. Sunday, August 14 the class of 1986 will celebrate mass in the OLSH Chapel at 11:00am. Mass will be presided by REV. MICHAEL YAKSICK '86.CurrentOLSH student ambassadors will be available to give tours of campus after mass. For more information please contact reunion chair D E B R A (S M I T H ) TALLMAN '86. at tallmanfam@rcn.com
2007 sam fOCER joined the performance group The Young Americans in the fall of 2009. after one year of training, he traveled to the united Kington to teach children to sing and dance. sam will be traveling to Japan this summer where he will be teaching kids and helping with earthquake/tsunamin disaster relief. JEffREy ROssER was named to the dean's list for the spring 2011 semester at Penn state erie, the Behrend College.
2009 EmilEE RENK was one of four students admitted into the Bayer scholar Program for the 2009-10 school year.
Alumni come together to celebrate family Katie Kearn, daughter of NOREEN (KIM) KEARN '74 and Jim KEaRN '75, married Garrett Manning at the LPGa international County Club in daytona Beach, fL. the following alumni were also in attendance, pictured at left: ALEX TRUZZI '12 , SUSAN (KOROWITZ) TRUZZI '84 ANN (LEPORE) KOROWITZ '50, Katie (Kearn) Manning, Garret Manning CHRisTiNE (Kim) RiCE '69, NOREEN (KIM) KEARN '74 and Jim KEARN 75 our LadY of tHe saCred Heart HiGH sCHooL • 19
OLSH alumni volleyball players reunite to celebrate the marriage of KRISTA MICHAYLO ‘06 to Don Fitch on May 29, 2011 at the Fez in Aliquippa, PA. Alumni in attendance were: DANIELLE AUTH ‘11, MICHAELENE AUTH ‘07, LINDSY FETH ‘09, JESSICA RODGERS ‘06 (Maid of Honor), JOHN FARREN ‘06, CAITLIN FETH ‘07, ADRIANA BENCIVENGA ‘06, and JILLIAN BABISH ‘07.
biRTHs GINA (RHAWN) MANNION '91 and her husband sean welcome their second child, Michael Patrick, born on december 8, 2010. Michael weighed 9lbs and was 21 inches long and joins his big sister Maeve ann. the family resides in stanton Heights.
sTEPHaNiE (wOlbERT) ValENTiNE '04 and her husband Tyler welcomed their first son, santino Charles valentine, on april 14. He was 9 lbs and was 20 inches long.
former oLsH class mentor, JaNE walsH and her husband Matt welcomed their first child on June 3rd. Josephine schuchert Walsh weighed 7 lbs 13 ozs.
In Memoriam Charles Gorney March 2, 2011 father of CHARLENE GORNEY '78
George Steffine May 3, 2011 father of CHRISTIAN STEFFINE '85
eli Maslaney March 28, 2011 father of ESTHER MASLANEY GROGAN '71 and grandfather of MATTHEW GROGAN '06 and MARK GROGAN '07
susan Marie (Woessner) o'Connor May 21, 2011 Mother of JESSICA WOESSNER, MD '02 and SARAH WOESSNER '06
irene Bober april 15, 2011 Mother of ANNE MARIE BOBER '66
PATRICIA CROSSEY '77 June 13, 2011 sister of LINDA HERBERT '69, MARGARET CROSSEY '74, SHARON CROSSEY '75, MARY DI'LANNI '78, ERIN PASQUALIN '87, and the late JANICE MCCARTHY '80
William P. Vito april 16, 2011 father of the late william ViTO '74
UPCOMING EVENTS JUNE 30 Last day of OLSH Fiscal Year – last day to make contributions to the 2011 OLSH Fund. Give online at www.olsh.org
AUGUST 13-14 Class of 1985 25 year Reunion 28 Welcome Liturgy & Picnic for New Families
SEPTEMBER 14 Meet the Teachers Night 30 OLSH Homecoming Weekend
31 First day of classes for full student body FOR MORE INFORMATION on these events or other upcoming events, visit www.olsh.org.
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Things have changed since 1932!
We’re sure you have too.
Why don’t you tell us about it? OLSHighlights is looking for class news from all OLSH alumni. Promotions, weddings, babies, get-togethers with other alumni, retirements – don’t be shy. We want to hear it all...and we want to see the pictures too!
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Send your news to alumni@olsh.org, visit the alumni secction of the OLSH website (www.olsh.org) to submt online or cut out the alumni news form below and mail it to us!
Name:________________________________________________________ Class of:____________________ Address:___________________________________________________________________________________ City:_______________________________________________ State:___________ Zip:____________________ Home Phone:_______________________________ Work Phone:_________________________________ E-Mail Address:_____________________________________________________________________________ Profession/Position:______________________________________________________________________ Employer Name:____________________________________________________________________________ Spouse’s Name:_____________________________________________________________________________ Children’s names and ages:_______________________________________________________________ News Item:_________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ MAIL THIS COMPLETED FORM TO: OLSH Advancement Office, 1504 Woodcrest Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108. Or send your news via e-mail to alumni@olsh.org or fax to (412) 264-4143.
OUR lady Of THE saCREd HEaRT HiGH sCHOOl 1504 Woodcrest Avenue • Coraopolis, PA 15108-3054
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Where in the World O
LSHighlights magazine traveled across the globe from Honduras to Rome to the Caribbean. The question is: where in the world can you take OLSHighlights? Our alumni live and travel across the country and around the world. Now it’s your chance to show us the places you live, work, and visit. Send a photo of yourself holding your OLSHighlights and a description of the location and why you are there to alumni@olsh.org. We can’t wait to see all the places you’ve been!
KRisTEN laNdER '10 in front of La Paz Waterfall in Costa rica; TiNa KOwal PEssOlaNO '60 in front of the Historic Lighthouse on Grand turk island in the turk and Caicos islands in the Caribbean; and JEN REilEy '92 and sR. mElaNiE maRiE baJOREK '67 in front of the vatican in rome, italy.