Knightline Spring 2023

Meet the Family Behind the Smiley - Spalding Scholarship

A Letter from Principal Mathew George

The hope of every teacher, administrator, and staff member that works in a school is that our students are well prepared for life beyond the high school classroom. Educating a student now takes the form of providing skills for jobs and services that currently do not exist, not just knowledge and content. As our society and the needs of society continue to evolve, so does the realm of instruction and how we adapt to educate our students.

Despite the constant changes around us, one aspect of Lexington Catholic High School’s instruction remains steadfast—the spiritual development of our students in “the ideals and moral values of the Gospel.” It’s at the heart of not only our mission, but the pulse of this school.

Despite not being staffed by the clergy or religious men and women, we as educators continue to be an extension of the charisma embedded in our school culture through these great men and women from our past. These servant leaders instilled in our school that our daily actions are led by the simple truth that education is a lifelong process of helping others while learning what God has in store for us; we continue to grow in faith and reason. Our role at Lexington Catholic is to be able to continue the spiritual growth of our students while they discover their God given talents that He will reveal to them and for us to help develop the skills needed to

promote the ideals and moral values of the Gospel. Servant leadership is a key component of our philosophy at Lexington Catholic. Some view “service hours” as a graduation requirement, but at the heart of it, our students leave here with a better understanding of their role in social justice, their responsibility to help others in need, and many continue to provide service to the less fortunate well beyond graduation.

Each of us in Catholic education---students, faculty, staff, and administrators—have made a commitment to being servant leaders. At the conclusion of this academic year, I will have completed my twentieth year of ministry in Catholic education. Needless to say, it was God’s calling that has kept me in this work and that brought me to Kentucky. I continue to live by the notion “it’s God’s will to serve—nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.” Each of us that have walked the halls of LCHS or been a part of Catholic education have been impacted by this simple idea.

This letter is a simple thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and support of this school community and its work. Our work is bigger than teaching how to write a thesis statement or using the Pythagorean theorem---our work as servant leaders is never ending and our commitment to LCHS continues well beyond graduation.

The Gospel is at the heart of not only our mission, but the pulse of this school.

SPRING 2023 — VOLUME XXXVIII

PUBLISHED BY Lexington Catholic High School

2250 Clays Mill Road | Lexington, KY 40503

859-277-7183 | www.lexingtoncatholic.com

MISSION STATEMENT

Lexington Catholic High School serves as an integral part of the mission of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington. We serve students of all faith traditions by providing a highquality, Catholic, college preparatory education that fosters the spiritual ideals and moral values of the Gospel. In this dynamic faith community, we nurture the development of the mind, spirit, and body of our students.

LEADERSHIP

Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington

Mathew George Principal

Anna Wagner Mullis Advancement

Dave Nurnberg Athletics

Colleen Milburn Controller

Dr. Katherine Gartland Assistant Principal for Academics and Faculty Development

Dcn. Brendan O’Sullivan Assistant Principal for Student Life

Dr. Kyle Lee Superintendent Catholic Schools of the Diocese

LEXINGTON CATHOLIC BOARD

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Susan Lancho ‘86, Chair

Stephanie Hall, Vice Chair

Leslie Thomas, Secretary BOARD

Stephen Amato ‘83

Patrick Brennan

Jennifer Castle

John Cox ‘06

Emily Dorisio

Marvin King

Jennifer Miloszewski ‘95

Eric Monday

CONTENTS

2

A Letter from the Principal Mathew George

5

A Conversation with PAC

Stephanie Hall, Shana Peterson, and Stephanie Parish give insight to their involvement in PAC.

6

Ray and Eleanor Smiley

Meet the family that started the Smiley-Spalding Scholarship and why their heart connects to LCHS.

9

Building a Better Future Hard Hat Tour

Look behind the scenes of Lexington Catholic’s Capital expansion and its progress today.

11

Furnish the Future

Get a sneak peak at the furniture that will turn a structure into our school next fall.

14

Fine Arts Department

Meet the department that gives creative beauty to our community through the arts.

16

Celebrating Alumni Under 40

Meet the young alums who are changing our community and the world.

18

From the Desk of the Athletic Director

Hear from Dave Nurnberg what celebrations LC Athletics had on and off the field.

21

Martha Monroe

Kevin Mussler

Lisa Oeltgen - Peyton

Brandon Potter ‘06

Erin Serrate

Robert Stith

Fr. Aldrin M. Tayag

Lynh Tran

Knightline Editor & Design: Lesley Farmer

Communications & Marketing : Lindsey Steffen

Events of Lexington Catholic

Celebrate Mid-Knight Stakes 2023 and save the date for next year’s events on the horizon.

22

Business Partners

ON THE COVER:

Ray and Eleanor Smiley are the couple behind the Smiley-Spalding Scholarship that gives Catholic Education to many students who could not have afforded it.

Schools of Catholic Diocese of Lexington

Dr.

Kyle Lee Superintendent

Greetings Lexington Catholic High School Community, Spring is here, and with it comes the refreshing benefits of new growth and opportunity. After months of cold, dark, dreary days, we are finally able to enjoy the beautiful weather and joyful outdoor activity.

That being said, this time of year always speaks to prospects for support and development in our organizations.

During my career, I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit hundreds of schools (public, private, and Catholic) across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Out of all the schools I have visited, the Diocese of Lexington Catholic Schools are certainly among the best.

Lexington Catholic High School continues to be the crown jewel of our Catholic education system, with the ultimate goal of preparing future saints and scholars. To achieve this goal takes a tremendous amount of outside support and dedication. This brings to mind the idea of Philanthropy and its role in building and improving on the successes of our educational heritage.

To look at the definition of philanthropy, we find a generalization of giving, welfare, donation, and charity. Although correct on the surface, the generous act of providing monetary support goes much deeper than mere ‘donation’. In fact, philanthropy directly supports

the organization’s overall development, and according to Donaldson (2019), development is the “meaningful involvement of people (you) in our mission and vision for the future” (p.2).

For those who have provided this meaningful involvement for our school’s mission and values in the past, thank you! We would not, and could not, continue the success of our students, school, mission, and programming without you. For those who have possibly been on the fence about supporting the school, we understand, and hope you will take a moment to reflect that your generosity is more than a donation. It’s your meaningful involvement in the future mission of our students, families, and diocese. This is not something to be taken lightly – it will undoubtedly change our community, and the greater world, for the better.

Thank you to all who continue to be an active part of this amazing community, and here’s to a beautiful and blessed spring.

Superintendent of Schools Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington

In His Service,

Kyle A. Lee, Ed.D.

The generosity of your time is more than a donation, it changes our entire community.

“Lexington Catholic High School continues to be the crown jewel of our Catholic education system, with the ultimate goal of preparing future saints and scholars.”

Q&A with

“These 4 years in high school go by so quickly, make the most of it by becoming involved. You won’t regret it.”

Why is volunteering at Lexington Catholic so important to you personally, and for other current parents?

STEPHANIE HALL

It is important for me to serve the community in the way I feel most productive and helpful. Giving my time to the endeavors of the high school connects me to fellow parents and to the people who work with my sons and their classmates. I can contribute to the health and vitality of the school while assisting to make events for staff and students come to life. Volunteering in this way fulfills the Christian call to serve and demonstrates my family’s commitment to the Catholic community.

SHANA PETERSON

I can only speak to my personal reasons for volunteering...first and foremost, as Catholics we are called to serve others. We are taught that service to others is how we show love and who better to serve than the educators and faith community of LC who love, teach, and influence our children each and every day. Secondly, as we enter the high school chapter of our children’s lives it is more important now than ever to partner with the LC community to foster a relationship with those that are assisting with launching our kids into their next chapter.

STEPHANIE PARISH

For me it’s about building a community and getting to know other parents the way my son is getting to know new people. It’s also necessary to me to pitch in and help so things are staffed appropriately and run smoothly. There are lots of volunteer events that are fun to work. We have an amazing group of parents and we have a lot of fun in the process of volunteering.

In the spirit of philanthropy, why should parents make it a priority to volunteer at Lexington Catholic?

SHANA PETERSON

Volunteering is a simple way to lead by example - showing your children that service continues throughout life and isn’t just something that is required for school. Volunteering is also an opportunity to make lasting bonds with other parents in similar life stages. Volunteering shows that you care and are invested in the community where your children thrive and grow so why not be a part of it?!

STEPHANIE PARISH

Giving back to Lex Cath with our time and talent helps the school become all that it can be. Investing your time is just as important as investing monetarily.

STEPHANIE HALL

Lexington Catholic High School was built from the vision, work, and donations of the members of the Catholic community and supporters that have come in the generations before us. This school exists because a community of people thought it was vital and wanted it to be available to past, present, and future generations. We are the current caretakers of this institution. I believe we should serve Lexington Catholic through our philanthropy with a sense of gratitude to those that came before and with an obligation to those coming after. Volunteering ensures we have a healthy, community-supported school for our youth.

Lexington Catholic would like to thank Stephanie Hall for her two years of service as the chair of PAC.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Chair -Stephanie Hall

STEERING COMMITTEE

Shana Peterson, Stephanie Parish

ADVANCEMENT TEAM

Emily Dorisio

SPIRITUAL LIFE TEAM

Mike Luchtefeld, Lalana Powell, Rikki Gayou, Lisa Oeltjen

HOSPITALITY TEAM

Katie Downs, Sunny Rafter, Sara Grau, Ashley Winton

SIGNUPGENIUS TEAM

Dawn Reynolds, Christy Good SCHOOL SPIRIT TEAM

Lyndsay Bowles, Kristen Cooke, Lisa Edwards, Susannah Lane, Erin Perry, Katie Downs

Stephanie Parish

Stephanie Hall, Chair

Shana Peterson

Stephanie Parish

The Heart of Ray and Eleanor Smiley

Being a product of Catholic education and lifelong service to others is at the heart of what motivates Ray and Eleanor Smiley. After a successful career in the military, as a senior accountant at Price Waterhouse, and as chief financial officer of Bearings, Inc., Ray Smiley and his wife continue to share their talents, and resources to help ensure that students in Kentucky, Ohio, and Oklahoma have the same opportunities of a Catholic education that were available to them, their eight children, 21 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

The Smiley’s connection to Lexington Catholic High School began in 2013 when their granddaughter, Anna Smiley, enrolled as a student. Since her graduation in 2017, the family has continued to remain connected to Lexington Catholic High School through the establishment of the Smiley-Spalding Scholarship. The Smileys have committed to assisting students wishing to attend Lexington Catholic that may not have the financial needs necessary to attend.

The Smileys have given over $3 million in support to Catholic education and services throughout Ohio but have only given to Lexington Catholic in the state of Kentucky. They have provided support in education for programs supporting students with learning differences, to increase STEM opportunities, forming partnerships between the community and Catholic schools. The Smileys have created scholarships at 10 different Catholic high schools and universities.

“We are grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Smiley’s commitment to support our mission,” Mathew George, principal of Lexington Catholic, said. “They could have walked away from Lexington Catholic after their granddaughter graduated, but in appreciation for the preparation we provided her, they wanted to make sure others after her could benefit from the education we offer.”

“I truly would not have been able to become the woman I am today without the shaping of my education at Lexington Catholic,” Anna Smiley ‘17 said. “Lexington Catholic helped to develop my passion for service and realize the importance of striving to uplift the dignity of all people regardless of race, creed, or status.” Since her time here, Anna Smiley had begun several outreach programs within the Lexington community and at her college alma mater, John Carroll University.

Graduates and recipients of the scholarship have stated that they are grateful to the family for their assistance. Several have stated that they would not have been able to afford a Catholic education without the support of the Smiley family. Dozens of current LCHS students and graduates have been helped through financial assistance provided through the scholarship in their name.

“The education that everyone has received is far greater in cost than the tuition that was charged when they were there,” Ray Smiley said. “As we look continually toward the future, it is so important that those students, who have not had the opportunity of sufficient resources, can be rewarded by the gifts from others who have been successful, in hope that they also are.”

Why Do I Give?

Alumni

BRANDON POTTER

“The reason I give is because I feel very blessed to be an alum of Lexington Catholic. The education and relationships from classmates, teachers, parents, staff etc. is why I feel so strongly about the Lexington Catholic community. I know my kids will benefit from the efforts we are investing now on the Capital Campaign and uKnight Fund.”

Faculty Members and Parents

NIGEL AND CYNTHIA SMITH

“Lexington Catholic is more than just the sum of its parts. Behind every success or measured achievement is a community of students, teachers, and administration striving for excellence in a variety of ways. We have a sense of ownership in the direction of our community, but also a sense of responsibility towards others in our community. We donate because we all have a role to play in how we reach our goals and produce a quality education for all of our students. That also includes donating specifically to tuition assistance, so that all families that desire a Catholic education have the opportunity to receive one.”

Current Parents

EMILY AND CLAY MOORING

“We support the Lexington Catholic uKnight Fund because we are so grateful for the high school experience our two children, Grace and Max, have had at Lexington Catholic. Lexington Catholic provides a high-quality educational experience that supports and encourages the academic achievement of each student. Lexington Catholic’s top-notch athletics and arts programs, a wide variety of clubs and activities, and required community service participation develop students into well-rounded individuals and productive citizens. The sense of community Lexington Catholic fosters among its students, parents, teachers, alumni and staff is what truly makes it special. We want to give back to Lexington Catholic to help close the tuition gap so that the school can continue to offer current and future high school students a supportive environment with countless opportunities for success.”

BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE

This school, dating back to its roots of Lexington Latin and St. Catherine Academy, has a long-standing tradition of providing a top-notch, Catholic education to all who have attended here. This campaign is about the future of a school that has established its legacy in central Kentucky. It’s also why we encourage you to support this effort. Each and every day, our dedicated faculty and staff aspire to help develop young men and women of faith and character. Our students experience quality programs and instruction, in an environment that is safe and secure. None of what Lexington Catholic has achieved, nor what we are able to provide, is possible without the charitable contributions of so many who came before us, as well as those with us now and who will be with us in the future. Please Aspire to Be a Saint by sharing your blessings as we BUILD A BETTER FUTURE!

HARD HAT TOUR

Thursday, March 2nd

Thursday, March 2, 2023, Capital Campaign and Furnish the Future donors were invited to participate in a “sneak peek” of the new facilities, a 25,000 square foot edition which includes a state-ofthe-art Science Center, Student Commons area, and new High Marks Center. Over 75 guests enjoyed tours of the new facilities in process and presentations from Peters & Pearson Architects, Blanton Coates from Dean Builds, and Tami Dobbins from KPC Architectural Products.

The Capital Campaign, “Building A Better Future,” has taken many years of commitment and financial support to make a reality. This $12 million project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2023, so that students may use the new spaces for the 2023-2024 school year. Lexington Catholic is grateful to all those who have donated to this exciting project. If you are interested in making a donation or learning more, please contact Anna Wagner Mullis, Vice President of Advancement at amullis@lexingtoncatholic.com or visit the Lexington Catholic website, www.lexingtoncatholic.com.

Furnish

the Future

by Scanning the QR code above.

Help us build our school. A building isn’t a home until it has furniture. With the help of KPC Architectural Products, our school will be modern, adaptable and create a space for students to connect. We need your help to go from a new space, to classrooms our students can learn in, collaborate in, and build a community in. You can help us do that by helping purchase the items needed for each classroom. Whether you can purchase an entire classroom or a chair, everything matters when you are Furnishing the Future of a Lexington Catholic student.

TAMI DOBBINS ‘92

The Alum Behind the Design

What year did you graduate from Lexington Catholic and what are your most cherished memories?

I graduated in 1992 and I have so many memories! I loved eating lunch on the front lawn with my friends because the cafeteria has always been too small, lol. The Search retreats hold an extra special place in my heart. I still have my parents’ letters they wrote to me as well as all the notes my classmates wrote to me. In the chaos of academic pressure, crazy hormones, friendship, and relationship drama, it was a weekend where we could step away, have space to be vulnerable and refocus and recenter our faith and our relationships. We never came back the same as when we left. This rhythm of work and retreat is still something I value today. I not only do this individually, but we also do this as a family where we step away from the ‘noise’ of the world and spend time just listening to God and to each other.

How did Lexington Catholic prepare you for the career you have now?

I’m a 1st generation college graduate (UK College of Design) and I know I’m able to say that because of my years at Lexington Catholic. Although my parents didn’t attend college, they knew the value of education and the opportunities it could provide their kids. My parents worked multiple jobs to send my 2 sisters and I to Lexington Catholic, so I was always aware of the sacrifices that were made for this investment for our futures. There were days when I hated the ‘smallness’ of the school and that everyone knew everyone but there is so much value in being known, and I appreciate it so much now. The smaller classes allowed me to form relationships with my teachers and they invested in me not just as a student but as a person. The smaller classes also provided space for collaborative and interactive learning. I learned how to collaborate with peers when we had differences in opinions and ideas and always felt like I had a safe space to use my voice. It also taught me how to listen to other people’s voices.

Although the rigorous academics taught me how to balance my time and schedule and how to work hard, the biggest impact that Lexington Catholic had on me was the value of seeing people. In my line of work, I create spaces for public use. Most of the infrastructures I’m in (libraries and education) serve a diverse group of people in very diverse communities. I still carry the value of making people feel seen and known with me in every project.

Tell us about your current job and company. What is your role and what skills does that involve? Why do you enjoy it?

I’m an Interior Designer at KPC Architectural Products. We are a full-service furniture dealership. I work mostly with libraries, education, and corporate entities doing everything from space planning to furniture and finish selections. I love what I do! I love getting to know the client and creating a unique space that reflects their community and clientele.

How did you create the design for the Lexington Catholic project? Did you have certain inspirations or goals?

It’s always special to be able to create a space for future students but even more so when you personally have a past with the space. I knew the space needed to reflect academic excellence but also needed to be able to provide flexibility for lecture and collaborative learning spaces. I wanted to step outside of the normal classroom design and select furniture and finishes that would not only give a nod to the tradition of Lexington Catholic but also reflect its future. Being able to work with administrators and staff who share the same vision has made this project so fun! We were able to add mixes of soft seating with traditional classroom chairs, high and low seating for student choices, and large and small tables for collaborative and individual learning. We created spaces with flexibility, and I couldn’t be more excited to see how the students and teachers embrace and make these spaces their own!

STUDENT COMMONS ADAPTABLE CLASSROOM

Matias Fuentealba Perez

Angelica Sanchez Saldana

FINE

Department Arts

A Vibrant Creative Community for LCHS Students with a Tradition of Excellence

The Fine Arts Department at Lexington Catholic is a vibrant, creative community which is a vital part of the lives of many of our students.

Students may play in the Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, or Symphonic Band, and there is also an extra-curricular Jazz Band. There is a highly active pep band, which plays at many regular-season and tournament games for basketball and football. Students have also begun to enjoy two levels of class instruction in guitar and there are at least three sections of piano classes, from beginner to advanced.

The vocal music program features the nonauditioned Concert Choir, Advanced Men’s Choir, and Chamber Choir, as well as the after-school a cappella group, Knight Life. The program is also in charge of our Music Ministry team, which provides music for all the school Masses. The drama program features intro to drama,

acting, theater production, and theater seminar classes, and has an immense following of students throughout the school, who participate in plays after school, on an extra-curricular basis. Four plays are produced, including a large-scale spring musical, which employs the collaboration of the vocal music and instrumental music programs, as well as extensive set-building and other technical theater elements.

An extremely active visual art program also forms a crucial part of the fine arts department, with courses in intro to art, ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, honors art, AP art, and an active art club. There are two courses in arts and humanities, which provide a comprehensive survey of art history in Western civilization. Students present their work throughout the year at shows in the school, often in conjunction with a band or choir concert, and outside the school.

Experiential Education

Experiential Education, Lexington Catholic’s new job shadowing course, is an excellent opportunity for students to get a glimpse into the working world and explore different career paths. The program allows students to observe professionals in their respective fields, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of what the day-to-day work entails. Experiential Education is built around three components: Career Exploration, Professionalism & Work Ethic and Reflection.

Career Exploration exposes students to various career paths and help them identify their interests and strengths. Students explore different industries, learn about the educational and training requirements for different professions, and gain insights into job prospects and potential salaries. Students learn about the necessary skills and qualities for success in different fields, develop networking skills, and gain insights into the hiring process. The exposure to different professions and industries allows students to make informed decisions about their future education and career paths.

Professionalism & Work Ethic gives students opportunity to observe professionals in their respective fields. Students learn about the expectations and behaviors that are necessary for

GIVING STUDENTS HANDS-ON CAREER EXPLORATION

success in the workplace. Students learn about the importance of punctuality, communication, and teamwork. By observing professionals who are passionate and dedicated to their work, students learn about the importance of hard work, perseverance, and selfmotivation. Reflection offers opportunities after each job shadowing experience for students to reflect on what they learned, what they enjoyed, and what they found challenging. This reflection helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their areas of interest.

DanceBlue DanceBlue

Lexington Catholic’s annual DanceBlue Mini-Marathon took place on January 13, 2023, in the Alumni gym. Approximately 400 students danced for 5 hours to raise awareness and funds for kids battling cancer! This year DanceBlue raised over $35,000 for the Pediatric Oncology Center at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. The funds raised by Lexington Catholic are used to assist families who need to stay in the Lexington area while their children undergo cancer treatment. This year, a young patient and her family joined us at our Mini-Marathon to talk about the impact of fundraising efforts. Our students were very touched,

and provided the family with a care package of donations that they chose to distribute to patients at UK. As always, the event was an exhausting and rewarding effort that our students hope to repeat at the college of their choice, as many universities all over the country have similar Dance Marathons to fight pediatric cancer.

LCHS STUDENTS Giving Back

The Hester sisters, Ava and Lily, were instrumental in bringing the CPR demonstration to LCHS.

On March 1, Lily and I organized an AED and CPR event for the Lexington Catholic Heart Club. We founded the LC Heart Club once we realized extensive impact of cardiovascular disease on both sides of our family. Our mission for the Heart Club has been to promote heart health, learn the basics of CPR, and instruct others on the correct way to use an AED. We were overjoyed by the success of our Heart Club function and hope that we are helping spread awareness regarding cardiovascular disease and creating change in our community.

Evelyn Dugan has done a wide variety of services as a student at Lexington Catholic.

My name is Evelyn Dugan, and I am a junior at LCHS. Some important servant leadership roles I have taken on include Service Club Leader, Dance Blue Fundraising Committee member, and Executive of Service Planning for the YMCA Student Council. I spend a lot of time on environmental cleanup/ recycling projects. I am driven to serve due to my love for all of God’s wonderful creations.

Kate Brown and Mary -Claire Harris organized the most recent can drive for a charity close to their heart.

Kate and I were very grateful to be able to help organize the God’s Pantry Food Drive! As part of the Bluegrass Youth Sustainability Council’s food and agriculture committee, we are always trying to find collaborative ways to recycle and distribute food in our community. As a committee, we have volunteered at God’s Pantry many times and always look forward to the friendly teamwork that come with it. Lexington Catholic’s food drive has helped aid God’s Pantry during their slow donation season while also helping to feed people across Kentucky… Kate and I are so proud to be a part of it!

Josie Murray and Grace

Dilger diligently planned the Fashion Show to benefit the Catholic Action Center.

The Lexington Catholic Community Fashion Show is such a fun way to raise money for the Catholic Action Center! Students participate by modeling clothing from local boutiques around Lexington. We are so blessed at Lexington Catholic that it feels good to give back to our community. We are grateful to be able to put on this event.

ALUMNIUNDER40

making

Brittany Browning Manning ’04 continues to be an active member of the LCHS community serving on the Alumni Council.

Brittany serves as MCF’s Director of Wealth Management Services and Shareholder. She was previously involved in the Junior League of Lexington. Brittany is currently involved in several community organizations including the Bluegrass Estate Planning Council, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Michael Rumpke ‘04

Even as a small child, Michael was destined to become an entrepreneur. He was an all-state football and baseball player for LC winning many leadership awards in both. He played baseball at the collegiate level, finishing his career at the University of New Orleans. Through many years of research and hard work, Michael founded “Alpha Radon Remediation” a five star nationally certified Radon Mitigation and Measurement business. Michael’s creative marketing and savvy business acumen has allowed the company to expand beyond the Lexington area and into Louisville and Cincinnati/N. KY

Michael Beirne ‘06 is a mentor and expert in his field of intercollegiate and professional athletics administration. Having overseen the WCWS and 20+ NCAA national championships, 100+ conference championships, served as sport administrator for men’s gymnastics, and served on the national board of CEFMA, winning national awards USA Gymnastics and CEFMA Event Manager of the year. Michael has served as a college instructor at Miami University and University of Oklahoma in Sport Administration along with countless guest lectures and interviews.

Danielle Otto ’09 Dr. Otto received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Kentucky. She then completed a PGY1 ambulatory care track pharmacy practice residency at University of North Carolina Medical Center and a PGY2 specialty residency in hematology/ oncology at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. Dr. Otto provides comprehensive pharmaceutical care to patients at UK’s Markey Cancer Center, primarily practicing in the Multidisciplinary Solid Tumor Clinic. Her research interests

include oncology supportive care, financial toxicity, patient outcomes, and residency training.

Blair Schneider ‘09 is a Nurse Practitioner at the Gastroenterology Clinic at UK HealthCare. She received her MSN from EKU in 2019 and received her BSN from Marshall University in 2013, where she also represented Marshall on the women’s soccer team. Blair has spent her whole nursing career at UK first as an Internal Medicine Med Surg RN. She then helped open the internal medicine 10th floor progressive unit as a Charge Nurse, overseeing 36 beds, 9 RNs and 5 NCTs in addition to caring for 4-6 patients of her own per shift. Blair was a finalist for the Clinical Nurse Excellence Award and nominated for a Daisy Award. She is working on her Doctor of Nursing Practice at UK and will graduate in Spring 2025.

Phillip Johnson ’10 Phillip attended Eastern Kentucky University graduating magna cum laude in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Since joining the Lexington Police Department in 2013 he is currently one of the youngest Sergeants since being promoted in January 2021. Phillip has served his local and state communities through volunteering for many events and is part of the Kentucky First Responders Disaster Relief Team traveling to other states and assisting fellow Kentuckians when disasters occur. Phillip has been the recipient of many awards and commendations including 2018 FOP Member of the Year.

Hannah B. Simms ’10 Though her career is still young, Hannah has served the University of Kentucky in a number of important roles, including leading the development and implementation of UK Health Corps, a support hub for services, information and referrals related to COVID-19 during the pandemic; providing engagement leadership for the UK Alumni Association; and most recently, serving as Associate Dean of Students, overseeing the Office of Student Conduct. Trained as an attorney, Hannah is a rising star in higher education.

Devin Walden ‘12 Devin is a highly accomplished master distiller of Big Machine Distillery in Nashville, TN. Devin was a distiller at Woodford Reserve and then went on to be the master distiller of a distillery in Miami. She has her alcohol in stores, and she

has been flown to several places to sit as a judge at tasting competitions.

Molly Dawson ’13 Molly is an ICU nurse. In June of 2020, she contracted COVID while working and nearly died, spending a month in the hospital and another 18 months recovering from side effects of the virus. During that time, she was the first person in Kentucky to donate convalescent plasma as a COVID survivor. She also began working toward her critical care nurse practitioner degree. She regularly volunteers at events for Deaf children. She is currently working as a travel nurse in ICUs around the country.

Thien-Huong T Tran ‘13 was valedictorian of the class 2013. She went onto Transylvania University graduated summa cum laude with a degree in accounting in 2017. She was accepted into the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Business and School of Public Health into their dual master’s program, MBA, master’s in business administration and MHA, master’s in health administration, in 2018 and graduated in May 2021. She was selected in the school of Public Health in 2021 as their student profile. She was featured in TOPS 50 under 50, in their October 2020 issue for her work with 2nd Chance Clinic. St. Jude is extremely dear to her heart. She lives in Minneapolis, works for Optum and United Healthcare, and is the Associate Director of Care Model Strategy, Acceleration Office for the Optum Washington State, Optum West.

Brennan Carpenter ‘14 has been very blessed with a job in marketing, but her heart has always been with helping in the diocese. She has created Saint canvases for Lexington Catholic halls, CTK, St. Leo’s, Benedictus, National Catholic Youth Conference, and One Bread, One Cup. She has done work for St. Margaret Mary (Louisville) in the diocese, contributes social media content for diocese accounts, and is a web designer/ content contributor for the Catholic Education Opportunities Foundation. She is a drummer for Christ the King & St. Peter Claver, and a media/ marketing volunteer St. Peter Claver, young adult events coordinator in the diocese.

Paige Ezell ‘14 excelled as a student/athlete at the University of Louisville. As a Division I swimmer, her team finished in the top 8 and nationally all four years. She served as a representative to UofL’s Athletic

a positive impact

Director and earned the top GPA Award (4 years). Upon graduation, she entered Brandeis School of Law where she was Regional Champion of the National Mock Trials - one of four teams qualifying for nationals. Paige was a representative for the Kentucky Bar Association and worked with immigrants prior to their taking the US Citizenship Test. She earned her Juris Doctorate in May of 2021 (magna cum laude) and currently works at Stites and Harbison as an Associate and serves as a Volunteer Leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the JCPS system.

Mariah Stevens ‘14 Mariah embodies the mission statement of Lexington Catholic every day by showing her commitment to serving God and sharing her love for Him. Ms. Stevens has jumped in as Marketing and Admissions Director at Sts. Peter & Paul. She also serves on the Catholic Education Foundation Committee, helping to promote Catholic Education in the greater Lexington area.

Jake Carrico ‘16 he received a dual degree in Computer Engineering and Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Kentucky in 2020. After college, he started his software development career in Madison, WI while also starting his professional athletic career. In 2022, he was selected to play for the Madison Radicals ultimate frisbee team as part of the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL). Lexington Catholic helped him discover his passion both for Ultimate Frisbee and Computer Science.

Carmen Maria von Unrug ‘16 exemplifies drive, creativity, loyalty, productivity, innovation, personal integrity, passion for excellence, and strong leadership skills in all she does. She would not be where she is today without her dedicated, spectacular teachers, particularly Mrs. Timko, Mr. Geraci, and Mrs. Stokes. The discipline learned led to her growth and development of her event venue, Montresor. She has been renovating the150+ year-old estate as an ideal location for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and

more. She has continued volunteering with patients since graduating from LCHS and Washington University in St. Louis. She runs an animal sanctuary specializing in caring for endangered waterfowl.

Sarah Angelucci ’16 is preparing to graduate from UK J. David Rosenberg College of Law in May of 2023. She recently received the CALI award for excellence (highest grade) in her Labor Law class. She is a successful competitive equestrian. She is proud to be a Lexington Catholic graduate and love sharing her experiences with everyone she knows.

Michael Naas ‘17 As a teacher at Sts. Peter & Paul Regional Catholic School, Michael shares how he chose a career as a Catholic educator because of the rewarding experiences and faith formation he received at SPPS and Lexington Catholic. Each day he brings joy and enthusiasm to the classroom. Michael has volunteered to assist the elementary Academic Team for the past two years. While he is a young professional, still early in his career as a teacher, he is the type of educator who is enthusiastically “giving back” to the Catholic schools he feels helped to form him into the person he is today.

Caitlin Flemm ‘19 is graduating from the University of Kentucky with her degree in music education this spring. She coaches Lexington Catholic’s pop a cappella group, Knight Life. Caitlin is the recipient of the KMEA NAfME Collegiate Composer Award for 2022 and recently conducted her award-winning piece “Glory to God” at the Kentucky Music Educators Association in Louisville. She is an inspiration to all the young artists she teaches every day, and we are blessed to have her in our community.

Jordan Gal ‘19 will graduate this spring from the Clemson Honors College with a B.S. in Biology. She expanded her research completed as part of the Lexington Catholic

Exemplar Scholars MST Program, presenting at the 2021 American Diabetes Association annual scientific conference and publishing in Pediatric Diabetes. Jordan has consistently received President’s List recognition for outstanding academics. She has been an active volunteer and leader at Clemson, serving as the Clemson Miracle Morale Team Chair, ZTA philanthropy chair, Think Pink Week Chair and as the 2022 Co-Chair for the ZTA Big Man on Campus event which raised over $115,000 for Breast Cancer Education and Awareness.

Cameron Gartland ’19 Cam graduated from LCHS in 2019 and was awarded “Boy of the Year.” He is currently a senior at Purdue University. He was admitted to the Honors College and is majoring in Economics with a minor in Statistics. He has consistently maintained excellent grades, which garnered him a position as a Teaching Assistant in Economics last year. He is currently a Resident Advisor and president of the Pre-Law Society. Cam will graduate in May and plans to attend Law School next year.

Jackson Kirn ‘19 Jackson has excelled as a Division 1 student-athlete playing soccer for Bellarmine University. He led his team in minutes last season, earning Conference player of the week and has started every game over the last 2 years. He will graduate this spring with a dual major of Business Administration and Sports Business. He has also begun the Bellarmine 5-year MBA program and will graduate with his MBA in the spring of 2024 after his last season of soccer. He also leads his team’s spiritual life group.

Collin Schneider ’19 As of this spring he plans to graduate from EKU and continue his academic career to pursue a master’s in athletic training degree at the University of Kentucky. LC’s college-preparatory classes, community engagement, and spiritual influence made him want to pursue higher goals all while strengthening his relationship with Christ.

CLASS REUNIONS

CLASS OF ‘63 - 60TH REUNION

Dominic Martina - mdominicm@yahoo.com

Barbara Coy -b2coy2@hotmail.com

Becky Mantle Starks - beckystarks@aol.com

CLASS OF ‘73 - 50TH REUNION

Darlene Silvestri - darlene@avanttravel.net

CLASS OF ‘83 - 40TH REUNION

Linda Tucker Smith - Lindatuckersmith@gmail.com

Gina Price Fielding - Glf452@aol.com

CLASS OF ’68 – 55TH REUNION

Sue Fosson - sandfosson@windstream.net

Marlene Redding - mcreddingaaj@gmail.com

CLASS OF ’76 - 47TH REUNION

Susie Morton - susie@sem-payroll.com

CLASS OF ‘93 – 30TH REUNION

Jody Vasher Wedding - jodywedding@yahoo.com

ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS

Boys’ Basketball

Boys’ Basketball finished 32-3. They won WGM Tournament and First at the Academy Classic in Orlando. Runners-up in the Class 2A State Championship and 11th Region Runners-up.

Girls’ Basketball

Girls’ Basketball finished their season bringing home the first district title in 15 years and making it all the way to the Region Finals.

Bowling

Maddie Blankenship and Brody Rogers finish quarterfinalists at KHSAA Unified State Tournament. Maddie and Brody are KHSAA Region 7 Unified Runner-up. 4 top-4 team finishes this season, including a semi-finalist finish at KHSAA Region 7 tournament

Varsity Cheer

The Lady Knight Varsity Cheerleaders finished an outstanding season qualifying for nationals.

Dance

Your Lady Knights dance team took home 5th in the region and qualified for state competition.

Swim & Dive

The girls’ swim team finished 2nd in State Competition and junior Miles Buchart won the state diving competition.

FROM THE DESK OF ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Dave Nurnberg

Our spring season is underway, and it is always an exciting time at Lexington Catholic. During this time of year, we have baseball, softball, boys’ lacrosse, and girls’ lacrosse all playing games on campus. In addition to that, our track, tennis, and trapshooting teams are all getting their seasons started. Last spring, these teams all had excellent seasons. Trapshooting had an outstanding season, culminating in a 3rd place finish in the region. Our baseball team won the district in the regular season under, then, first-year Head Coach Scott Downs. Our girls’ lacrosse team made it all the way to the State Quarterfinals. The track team also had a great season, with the girls’ team finishing 5th in the state at the final competition of the year. Our tennis team had both boys and girls individuals advance to the final rounds of state competition, with the girls’ team finishing 2nd in the state after winning the 11th Region Championship. Our softball team made it all the way to the state championship game, after winning their district and region, and was the state runner-up. Finally, our boys’ lacrosse team finished the season by hoisting the trophy as State Champs! Lexington Catholic is extremely proud of all our athletes and coaches and their many accomplishments. We look forward to another exciting spring season!

Thank you for helping to make Mid-Knight Stakes 2023, Denim and Diamonds

Presented by Traditional Bank, a success for our school and community! It was an incredible knight at The Carrick House!

Many thanks to everyone who volunteered, donated items, and/or monetary support for the auction, procured items, sponsored the event, purchased tickets and helped in many countless ways with the support you have given to Mid-Knight Stakes and Lexington Catholic High School!

Mid-Knight Stakes is an important school-wide fundraiser, and we couldn’t do it without YOU!

Thank you to our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Traditional Bank

Platinum Knight Sponsors

Banks Veterinary Clinic

Buchart & Wachs

Lexington Clinic Orthopedics

– Sports Medicine

Pete and Marlene McLaughlin

Milward Funeral Directors

TDS, McDonald’s

Blue Knight Sponsors

Bin There Dump That

Gary D. McCollum

Gold Knight Sponsors

Berkshire Hathaway

Forcht Bank

Hallway Feeds

RJ Thieneman Family Foundation

The Wagner Family

White, Greer & Maggard

Heads or Tails Sponsor

Endodontic Center of Lexington

Specialty Cocktail Sponsor

Hourglass Aesthetics and Salon

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING

Master of Ceremonies

Bill Meck

Auctioneer

Lee Hall

Save the Date

Mid-Knight Stakes, February 3, 2024

Presented by

The Sapphire Society includes graduates from our 1973 (most recent 50 year graduating class) back to our roots with St. Catherine’s and Lexington Latin. This is such a special group of alums and the foundation on which our school is built. We hope you will join us!

Thursday, April 20, 2023

5:00 PM

Lexington Catholic High School

Robert J Bueter Gym Lobby

Light appetizers and beverages will be provided.

Please contact Pam Schneider pschneider@lexingtoncatholic.com or 859-277-7183, ext 306 with questions and/or to RSVP.

We are looking forward to seeing you at THE UNIVERSITY CLUB OF KENTUCKY MAY 15, 2023

Join us and your fellow golfers for a wonderful lunch, putting contest, individual and team prizes, basket drawings, fun and fellowship presented by sponsor Gist Heinrich and McDonald’s. It is a fantastic way to spend a Monday afternoon in May in support of the football and cheer programs. We appreciate everyone’s participation and support. You can register to play and/or sponsor on www.lexingtoncatholic.com and find under Events, the uKnight Cup registration link.

SAVE THE DATE 2023-2024

*All Dates Subject to Change*

Hoagie Day, Saturday, September 30, 2023

Alumni Knight, Friday, October 20, 2023

Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, March 23, 2024

Mid-Knight Stakes

Mid-Knight Stakes Pre-Party Tailgate, Friday, October 27, 2023

Sapphire Society

Reception, Thursday, April 18, 2024

Mid-Knight Stakes, Saturday, February 3, 2024

4th Annual George Ewen uKnight Cup Monday, May 13, 2024

Lexington Catholic High School

Advancement Office

2250 Clays Mill Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40503

FOR THE MOST UPDATED INFORMATION VISIT

LEXINGTONCATHOLIC.COM

SAVE THE DATE

ALUMNI CLASS COMPETITION

The graduation class with the most participation (not most $ raised) during this 24-hour period will be awarded a reception banquet and a Hard Hat Tour of the new building expansion.

STUDENT CLASS COMPETITION

The student class with the most participation (not most $ raised) during this 24-hour period will receive a Hard Hat Tour of the new building expansion.

Minimum $20 donation

*Prior donations to the uKnight Fund do not count towards this competition.

WWW.LEXINGTONCATHOLIC.COM