Marian Core Value Profiles

Living Marian’s Core Values Personality Profiles of Alumnae and Others Who Impact Our Community

by Journalism I students, Fall 2017

Empowerment

Service

Community Marian Identity

Spirituality Compassion

Audrey Otwell

Service

passion owerment munity ce tuality an Identity

Compassion Spirituality

Marian Identity

Community

Empowerment

Compassion Community Empowerment

Spirituality Service Marian Identity

Hannah Bena

2 4 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 64 66 68 70 72

76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90

Special Alumnae

Sr. Midge Peterson ‘59 by Mariana Incirate-Balza Kathy Bast Tocco ‘61 by Anna Kenney Mary Higgins ‘69 by Lizzie Byrne Carol Zuegner ‘73 by Caitlyn Virgillito Mary Berger Steiner ‘82 by Kaji Loro Kathy Morrison DeBoer ‘82 by Daylee Daubert Susan Russell Toohey ‘82 by Taylor Sterba Debbie Dugan Marcil ‘84 by Mary Watson Laura Frenzer ‘89 by Caroline Drew Molly McGuire Raabe ‘89 by Emma Schafer Sharon Walsh Carleton ‘90 by Kaitlyn Rosenbaum Erin Grace Helton ‘91 by Aileen Zitek Amy Schumacher Bauman ‘92 by Lily Gonzalez Teresa Kenney ‘93 by Maria Alessandro Jodi Teal ‘93 by Ellie Farner Yiota Anastasiou ‘01 by Maria Piperis Jen Edney ‘01 by Audrey Otwell Jenna Johnson ‘03 by Emily Diesing Corrie Mettenbrink ‘06 by Jolie Peal Kelly Kunkel ‘08 by Lydia Delkamiller Adie Magistro ‘09 by Mackenzie Kilton Bridget McQuilan ‘09 by Lily Blake Monica Bosilevac ‘10 by Qwynn Watts Caroline Nelsen ‘10 by Hannah Bena Sarah Fili ‘11 by Tomi Huber Maria Corpuz ‘13 by Paige Connelly Megan Han ‘13 by Madison Bezousek Sara Kreski ‘14 by Olivia Raemakers Ellen Townley ‘14 by Sally Noble Caroline Byrne ‘15 by Jenna Cusick Katelyn Gochenour ’16 by Mia Mixan Bunny Nelson ‘17 by Kayla Gornall Zoe Zier ‘19 by Emma Williams

Special People in Our Community

Robert Davis, Golf Coach by Kristin Beduhn Susan Heim, Hearts of Marian Leader by Macy Salerno Kathy Janata, Theology Teacher by Abby Butler Susan Juza, Social Studies Teacher by Lexi Schorg Mark Koesters, Latin & Theology Teacher by Katherine Pelton Sr. Zita Marie Sharrow, Servant of Mary by Lauren Elliot Lori Spanbauer, Theology Teacher by Joey Carollo Chris Vosik, Hearts of Marian Leader by Clara Roth

COMMUNITY SPIRITUALITY

SERVICE COMPASSION MARIAN IDENTITY EMPOWERMENT Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Mariana Inciarte-Balza

Living Marian’s Core Values

Being Marian’s First Graduate is a Gift of a Lifetime High school can be an up and down roller coaster for many, but for Sr. Midge Petersen, her experience at Marian was just the opposite. Growing up with five brothers as the middle child, Sr. Midge never imagined she would end up at an all girls school like Marian. Describing her experience at Marian she says, “Wonderful. It was kind of like a dream come true.” Marian High School officially opened in 1955 which was the very first year Sr. Midge became a part of a grand community. Her four years at Marian all led up to the event that came to be the greatest part of her life: Graduation.

On a beautiful day in May of 1959, Sr. Midge and her classmates had the joy of being the very first graduating Marian class.

To this day Mrs. Nancy Casey, Alumni Director, confirms that there isn’t a clear amount of girls the class of 1959 had, nor clear graduation details. For graduation in 1959 the girls lined up based on height, and not alphabetically like today. Sr. Midge was the first announced specifically because

she was the shortest, thus being the very first graduate of Marian.

The other Marian graduates conquered high school and were onto the next chapter of their lives.

Sr. Midge had her whole life figured out: to get married and have a bunch of kids. In fact, even after graduation Sr. Midge was engaged; however, she ended up falling in love with the faith.

All her life Sr. Midge didn’t care much for nuns until a school led by the sisters of the Servants of Mary won her over. “When I thought about being a nun, I didn’t think it was a good idea. I wanted to get married and have kids, but the thought just kept coming, so I decided might as well try it, get it out of my mind, which I did, and it became home. It was the attraction of the friendliness and personality of the sisters. And Marian was just home to me.”

Around 1965, Sr. Midge returned to Marian and taught theology to juniors and seniors, sometimes even freshmen. “I loved teaching theology. Most of it I taught differently than what it

is now, and those were some of the most unique and special classes I’ve ever had.” In her theology classes she never had students sit in desks; Sr. Midge’s classroom was a sight full of blankets and pillows. The topics discussed were never out of a textbook and were more spiritual and calming such as spontaneous prayer, or going outside and appreciating God’s creations. Along with Marian, Sr. Midge has also taught at Christ the King, Mount Michael, Creighton Prep, and for the longest time, Skutt Catholic for nine years.

Today she lives in the Servants of Mary convent filling her days with laughter and re-visiting her old memories every day. There is not a particular Marian memory Sr. Midge can say is her favorite.

“All the memories at Marian is a favorite. My classmates... All of it. I love it.” Everything about Marian to Sr. Midge is priceless and she will consider it her school forever. Going forward, Sr. Midge gave amazing yet simple advice to all current and future Marian girls: “Keep the Faith. Be true. Be real.

No phony.”

Sr. Midge Petersen smiling and living her best life at the Sisters of Mary convent. Photo courtesy of Mariana Inciarte-Balza.

Living Marian’s Core Values

Kathy Bast Tocco:

embodying spirituality COMPASSION

SPIRITUALITY

MARIAN IDENTITY

EMPOWERMENT Tocco sitting in her famous rocker. Photo courtesy of Marian Magazine.

As an August breeze blows through the trees surrounding Marian, it brings with it another school year. In the air students and staff feel the emotions of excitement and anticipation. But there are also thoughts of dread and those of grief over a summer long gone that the new school year inevitably brings around. As a car pulls around the circle to the old entrance of Marian connected to the convent, one girl was feeling the emotions of sadness and anger.

This girl was Kathy Bast. It was in the very early days of Marian High School which was founded by the Servants of Mary in 1955. This was her first day in Omaha and her first day at her new school. Kathy’s dad had just been transferred from Minneapolis to work in Omaha at Cargill. For a teenage girl who had to leave all her friends behind, Kathy was definitely not very happy to be in Omaha and to be at Marian. Her parents had come down to interview Mercy, Marian, and Duchesne and chose Marian for her. To Kathy, Marian was a foreign country. But as Kathy’s dad dropped her off at Marian on her first day, he said something that would change her attitude and how she viewed Marian.

“My father never wasted words. He looked me right in the eye and he said, ‘When you walk in that building I want you to look around the room and choose the kind of women to be your friends that you want to become.’” These women who Kathy became friends with and her teachers, the Servants of Mary, would have an influence on her that would affect the rest of her life and help her to live out the core value of spirituality.

Kathy Bast, was placed alphabetically sitting in the first row in the second desk. She would take her father’s advice into hand. “I remember taking my chair and looking across the room this way and watching behaviors and actually making a choice of the people I wanted to gravitate towards. And so those are my friends,” Tocco said. Tocco still keeps in touch with some of the 74 girls whom were in her graduating class of 1961. They just celebrated their Gold-

en Jubilee, five years ago. Some of her friends visit a nursing home together.

Some still go out to lunch. But all continue to live out the spirit of Marian.

Tocco remembers her time as a student and her education fondly. “It was intellectually stimulating because the teachers were marvelous educators.

They cared about the girls. It was always the girls first, the girls first, and you knew that.” She said that she received an, “excellent education because of the excellent educators.” These educators were the Servants of Mary who gave all their time to teaching and serving the Marian community as well as serving the greater communities of Omaha, the United States, and the world.

Tocco is the oldest of 11 kids, and she remembers work study being very important to her. “I actually loved it, because I knew it bought me my education.” The theme of generosity by the Servants of Mary is still a theme in the school today. This was one of the many values and virtues that helped develop Tocco’s spirituality.

As a student, Tocco was very involved. She was elected Senior Class President and was involved in student government. Being a class officer was all about service, and Principal Sr. Mary Marcella Sitzmann helped her learn this value. During preparations for Senior Prom, Sr. Marcella instructed her to go to the girls who hadn’t bought tickets and tell them that if they couldn’t afford one the school would cover it. Also, her boyfriend was instructed to find dates for these girls.

Tocco had no thoughts of ever being a religious sister, because she planned on marrying her high school boyfriend.

But when a priest at Senior Retreat asked her to discern her vocation, she did. She went to the Marian chapel and began her discernment process of prayer and asking God if this is what his plan for her was. “I believe that every person that comes into your life is like a tool of the Holy Spirit.” She thought to herself that this might be God talking to me.

She had recognized how happy the sisters were and how they greatly impacted the lives of the people they touched, and

she thought maybe she could do that to.

“Well, why don’t I try it? I can always leave, that was my out. So, I stayed for 12 years.”

The Servants of Mary were trained too be educators. So she was to be a teacher. She soon found out that she didn’t enjoy teaching little kids. The Servants of Mary were asked to open St. James here in Omaha in 1965. During their annual week- long silent retreat in August she met with the Mother Superior to find out her assignment for the next year. Tocco was only just finishing her sophomore year of college. “I’m thinking what does that have to do with me, and she says, ‘You are going to be in charge of 6 ungraded primary rooms.’”

A mantra played in Tocco’s head that has stayed with her. “Baptism by fire,” which means “You are lit on fire and you just do what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.”

In 1969 she went to Detroit, Michigan on a train during a very scary time in our nation’s history. In 1967, there were 159 race riots that swept the country during the “Long Hot Summer of 1967”. Tocco was still experiencing a culture of race rioting, rebellion, animosity, and fear in Detroit. She was to teach at Servite High School and taught the subjects English and Religion. “As the train pulled into Detroit there were fires burning everywhere. It was scary. We had a 10:30 curfew. Our boys couldn’t practice on the field because the National Guard tents and tanks were on the field.” This experience was completely new and challenging for Tocco. She was there from 1969 to 1975.

Tocco then left the Servants of Mary, because she felt that God was taking her down a different path. She came back to Omaha, and got married and then divorced. She believes that God led her in all of these choices, and she has no regrets.

Tocco came back when the principal at St. Roberts, Mr. Luvern Gubbels called her and asked her to teach. She joined her mom on the teaching staff and taught there for 15 years. During this time, she had interviewed at Marian twice.

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Anna Kenney

Getting on her knees, Tocco found that God wanted her to be teaching and ministering at an all girls school.

She asked Miss Elizabeth Kish, Head of School at the time, for two weeks to pray, after her interview. On the feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 2000, Tocco decided that Marian was again the place for her. She thought that if Mary said yes, so could she. Tocco taught at Marian from 2000-2013, and continued to affect many lives and touch the hearts of many Marian girls.

She had learned well from the Servants of Mary and was passing on the value she so embodies, spirituality, as she was hired to teach Theology.

Tocco found that from student to teacher some things never change. Every morning she would read the mantra above the entrance of the doors.

The mantra from an unknown source is, “Be it known to all who enter here that Christ is the reason for this school, the unseen but ever present

teacher in its classes, the model of its faculty, the inspiration of its students.”

Students realized this and would stop and wait behind her until she was done reading and praying. Marian has greatly impacted her Spirituality.

One summer she made a decorated rocker as a memento and a visual for her students. It is filled with some of her favorite quotes and phrases and her favorite Bible passage. This rocker was a visible symbol of Tocco’s spirituality that was able to be shared with anyone who walked into her classroom. When Tocco retired from Marian the famous rocker was passed down to Mrs. Lori Spanbauer. Spanbauer is a Theology teacher at Marian today and the rocker still resides in her classroom. The rocker still serves as a visible sign of Tocco’s spirituality that we can all embody.

Tocco continues to serve the Marian community and live out the value of spirituality. She spoke at last year’s

Tocco speaking at the end of the year teacher luncheon. Photo courtesy of 2013 yearbook.

Freshman Retreat and continues to substitute teach here at Marian. She will always offer a smile to all the students she passes in the hall. Whenever Tocco subs, no matter the class, she always passes along a message of faith to the Marian students. Whether it is a special prayer or something she would like to teach the students, Marian girls are today being taught how to embody spirituality like Tocco. She will be speaking at a leadership conference here at Marian this upcoming year, which shows how important she is to the Marian community and that they are not ready to let her go quite yet.

Marian will always be an influence in Tocco’s life and she will continue to be a legacy for Marian because of her dedication to God and the Holy Spirit who has guided her in helping and continuing to help Marian of the past, present, and future.

Kathy Tocco, Kathy Janata (counselor), and Shawn Gray (science teacher) support the juniors at the 2013 Field Day. Photo courtesy of the 2013 yearbook.

Kaji Loro

By Lizzie Byrne

Compassion . Empowerment . Community Service . Spirituality . Marian Identity

Living Marian’s Core Values

Mary Higgins Takes

EMPOWERMENT to a New Level

Empowerment comes naturally to some people. Ms. Mary Higgins, President of Marian High School, uses her skills to empower young women. Higgins grew up in the Omaha area. She has always been a Marian girl, considering she attended kindergarten at Marian and later attended high school at Marian. During her time here, Higgins was class president, where she learned how to plan events and fundraise. As class president, she empowered her classmates and learned how to deal with administration. Higgins graduated from Marian in 1969 and went on to attend Creighton University, where she majored in American Studies.

During her senior year at Creighton, Higgins and some of her friends noticed that there was no women’s athletic teams at the university. Thus, being the empowered Marian girl that she is, Higgins went straight to the athletic director, Dan Offenburger. Offenburger listened to the

students’s request and formed the first women’s softball team at Creighton University in 1973.

From there, Higgins became an admissions counselor. After one year, with the growth of women’s athletics at Creighton, Offenburger asked Higgins to coach the softball team. Higgins said, “We had no field, we had nothing, and I am really proud of the fact that within my 17 years of coaching there, we became nationally competitive.”

The team went on to be ranked as high as third in the country and competed in several College World Series. Higgins used her empowerment to take her team from having nothing, to being one of the top teams in the country.

After starting a family and raising her son and daughter, Higgins eventually decided she wanted to do something more academically based for her career. She worked her way up at Creighton and became the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Retention and Academic Advising until 2014,

when she retired. Around that same time, Marian sent out an email looking for a new President.

Higgins jumped on the opportunity to come back to her roots and on July 1, 2014 started her job as the President of Marian.

Higgins inspires and empowers girls at Marian daily. Whether it be standing outside on cold mornings just to give a warm welcome or leading us in morning prayer, Higgins is always there. It is small actions like these, that empower students to go out and live their lives with confidence.

It is evident that Higgins loves her job. She was recently brought to tears when she said, “The student body as a whole.. it just fills me up because I just think we have so many absolutely wonderful girls. What gets me is that they’re trying to do the right thing and figure out who they are. They want to be good people, and they are just trying to figure out how to do that, and I hope that Marian can help them in that journey.”

Ms. Mary Higgins. Higgins answers the phone in her office When she is not out empowering students, she is working hard in her office, Photo by Emmie McMinn Network 2014.

“The student body as a whole.. it just fills me up because I just think we have so many absolutely wonderful girls. What gets me is that they’re trying to do the right thing and figure out who they are. They want to be good people, and they are just trying to figure out how to do that, and I hope that Marian can help them in that journey.”

- Ms. Mary Higgins President of Marian

EMPOWERMENT Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Lizzie Byrne

Living Marian’s Core Values

Carol Zuegner’s Empowerment in the Marian Community Empowerment is one of the six Marian Core Values that is apparent in every student and alumna from Marian. Especially in Carol Zuegner ‘73, the Journalism, Media, and Computing Department Chair at Creighton University. Dr. Zuegner was part of a Creighton team that founded the Backpack Journalism Program in 2010.

The Backpack Journalism Program has been Dr. Zuegner’s greatest accomplishment and has represented her in such a positive and compassionate way. She has led her students to illustrate their passion for social justice and human rights through writing and documentaries foucused on people living on the margins.

Dr. Zuegner knew she wanted to be a journalist from such a young age, “My dad was a journalism professor at Creighton before, so I think I always had that image, but I love to write, I love to find out about things, and I found a job that let me do that. Then when I was working, I realized I loved editing and working with other reporters, and teaching seem like a great way to do that,” she said.

Her mother was the most curious person she knew and having her father as a professor helped her become extremely successful in her career. Dr. Zuegner teaches all her students, “To say yes to things that scare you.”

Marian has had a lasting effect on Dr. Zuegner and she continues to live out the core values today. Community and compassion are specific core values that she feels she lives out the most today, “Part of my job at Creighton is making students feel a part of the community so I really value that sense

we have of community, that people converse and seem to always focus on that. Being a journalist, where you’re supposed to be objective, I’ve learned that you have to be a human being first. One of the projects that I said yes to that made me uncomfortable was our Backpack Journalism Program, where we take students to marginalized societies and make a documentary film and so I’ve been to Uganda, Dominican Republic, rural Alaska, border with Mexico, and seeing the world and people living very different lives really changed me,” she said.

Dr. Zuegner describes her high school experience as, “Great, I loved Marian and the opportunities I got there. In fact when I’m talking to my students at Creighton and I find Marian grads. we all have to have a Field Day discussion first off because we all understand Field Day. I always tell them that my class won twice, so it’s always kind of funny. I just felt like I had a lot of friends, I did a lot of different things that I might not have done at any other school, so I really liked high school.”

She is very content with her sophomore year Field Day win because her sister and she created the theme. Her twin sister and two brothers, who are her best friends, teach her new things every day.

She is still proud to be associated with Marian because of the difference it made in her life. It helped her become more confident in her abilities and taught her how to find joy in everything, and she loves how Marian still does this today.

“The career of a journalist is obviously changing today in what people

do. I think we need good communicators more than ever. Right now I am the chair of the Department of Journalism, Media and Computing, so I work with faculty and students to move the department forward. I teach and mentor students, and I research and try to keep up with social media and what’s happening in journalism today,” she said.

Balancing faith, work and family can be difficult. “There’s always more you can do in education and journalism, and I think that faith actually helps balance everything else off, taking time to pray and reflect. I actually combine family and faith. I’m not married so I meet my brother and my sister-in-law and the kids at church and do school stuff with them,” Dr. Zuegner said.

Her favorite prayer is the Jesuit Examen in which you pray at night and reflect upon your day and where you see God. Dr. Zuegner said she sees God everywhere and in everything.

Dr. Zuegner is still currently teaching. “I don’t really have hobbies, I walk, play golf, read, I’m a little addicted to food network, I like to cook, I’ve just always been someone consumed by work. I envy people who have hobbies, I’m not crafty or anything, I knit badly, I knit rectangles.”

She is still close with some of her high school friends, “I am friends with a few of them who I see more often and some who moved away I don’t really see as often but, the connection is immediate, it’s like no time has gone by and we are in uniforms with dirty hair again,” she said.

CAROL ZUEGNER, Chair

of the Department of Journalism, Media and Computing, Photo by Don Doll, S.J.

SPIRITUALITY COMPASSION MARIAN IDENTITY

SERVICE

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Caitlyn Virgillito

Living Marian’s Core Values

Mary Steiner: The Ideal Marian Girl As a timid freshman entering Marian in 1978, Mary Steiner was unprepared for who she was about to become. She hardly talked to anyone. It’s hard to imagine that with the withdrawn personality she had, she would soon embody the very definition of a Marian girl: a confident, independent thinking leader.

Steiner, the daughter of Wisconsin natives, knew very little about Omaha when she was placed into Marian. “[It was] kind of chosen for me by my parents. My brothers went to Prep, my parents are from Wisconsin and didn’t really know the schools, but heard about Marian,” Steiner said. The new environment would be enough to make anyone retreat into their shell, but adding that to her already prevalent shyness left her very quiet.

Despite her introversion, she was quick to share how Marian changed her as a person. She cited the Marian core values of compassion, community, spirituality, empowerment, service, and Marian identity as key components to who she is today. “I was really really shy and they taught me to kind of become my own person,” Steiner said.

Marian girls have always prided themselves in their values and Steiner makes it clear that they also helped push her out of her shell.

It only takes a quick glance down any of the three main hallways during one of the passing periods to understand exactly what she means.

The scene is unlike any other: girls laughing, yelling, and hugging as they travel to their respective classes. The sense of community is widespread throughout the school and prevalent in every group scattered through the halls. It’s no wonder that joining Marian’s drill team (now known as dance team) had influenced her personality growth.

Now that the question of how she became the person she is today is answered, it’s time to address another. How exactly did Mary Steiner become the Assistant Director of Student Services and Student Board Co-Moderator? Steiner had previously worked at Boys Town, Creighton University, and the Omaha Home for Boys for a total of fifteen years. She worked in positions such as the Production Manager in Marketing (Boys Town), Director of Donor Relations (Creighton), and Chief Development Officer (Omaha Home for Boys). It was after Omaha Home for Boys that she was offered a job at Marian. “I wanted to work at Marian for a long time, and there was just never the right fit,” Steiner said. “I happened to be talking to the head of school at the time and said I was looking for something. She said they had a position open and I jumped on it.” Steiner actually has a degree in Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, so she explains with a simple, “it’s not what I have my degree in, but I’m just so thankful to be here.” Steiner started her

job at Marian in July of 2013.

Steiner makes it obvious with her warm smile and openness that she enjoys her job and Marian today. Along with continuously citing the core values and Marian girls as stable parts of shaping who she is today, she said her faith is a key component as well. Steiner said that her faith is very important to her and keeps her moving forward. “[I see God] in my life everyday, in everything that I do. I am thankful to Him multiple times during the day for everything in my life,” said Steiner. “I feel pretty lucky.”

Then it was evident just how strongly she feels about her place of work. It’s near the end when she asserts exactly how grateful she is.

“I’m so thankful to be able to work here and with all of the students.

[I love] the mission of Marian, the values, and what we do for girls,” Steiner said.

But, in the very end, she specifies that her family is her greatest accomplishment. “I’ve got three children who my husband and I have raised to be strong and independent, which as a parent is your goal. I’m proud I’ve been able to do that,” Steiner said. Two of those children graduated from Omaha high schools: her daughter, Nicole Steiner ‘15 who graduated from Marian and now attends the University of Dayton, and her son, Kevin Steiner ‘11, who went on to graduate from Seton Hall. The last of those children is fellow Marian girl,

Community Spirituality Compassion Empowerment Service Marian Identity Erica Steiner ‘19, who had nothing but good things to say about her mother. When asked which core value she thinks her mother exudes the most, she passionately points at each banner in the school cafeteria and lists off reasons as to why her mom represents every single one. As she speaks, other Marian girls chime in with how much they love and respect Mrs. Steiner. It’s evident they all think very highly of her mother.

It’s unclear if Steiner is aware of how beloved she is in the building, but she again cites her children as big parts of who she is. “My kids inspire me everyday to be a better person, because I want to be a good role model for them and, actually, everyone here.”

Throughout her years at Marian, Steiner has exemplified the ideal Marian girl. She is compassionate in every conversation with students and faculty members alike, a passionate and spiritual Christian, and exudes empowerment by being an advocate for others and herself. She serves her community by choosing to come back and work at Marian, helping shape the students, and because of all of this, embodies the essence of Marian Identity: being like Mary.

When asked for any advice for Marian students, and girls in general, she provides a few words of wisdom. “Work hard, stay positive, and keep your faith strong, because that helps you through everything.

And, don’t let anybody tell you that you

MARY STEINER ‘82 enjoys the 2017 Welcome Dance with her daughter’s friends. Photo courtesy of Olivia Ramaekers ‘19.

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Kaji Loro

Living Marian’s Core Values

Kathy DeBoer:

Living a life of empowerment and happiness Ms. Kathy DeBoer, a counselor at Marian, has many responsibilities for making girls become as successful as they can. “It gets kinda stressful throughout the year, but it all pays off when the school year comes around,” DeBoer said.

Every year as the school year is about to begin, she, and all of the other counselors and staff at Marian, scramble around and get things ready for the Marian girls when they come back in the fall.

“I love my job and what I do.

High school was very fun for me and I hope all the girls cherish every moment while they’re here.”

From setting up the ACT’s and SAT’s and making sure she does her best, or even helping figure out academic problems and how to better yourself in a subject you are weak in, or even if you wanna sit down for a little chat, she’s your girl.

DeBoer lives her life through the Marian core values of empowerment and Marian Identity. She is a 1982 Marian graduate. DeBoer is

currently the Advanced Placement Coordinator and the NHS advisor.

She has a degree in buisness administration from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and a bachelor of Science in Education. She also has a Masters in guidance and counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

She remembers all the fun times in high school like playing on the Marian soccer team with all of her friends and joining National Honor Society to better her academics, and getting ready for Field Day just as any other Marian girl. DeBoer demonstrates compassion and concern for others.

While she was at Marian, she developed many of the core values. She developed a sense of empowerment that allowed her to advocate for herself and others and she utilized her talents in service to others, and also had a welcoming spirit, and grew spirituality. Marian impacted her life in a very positive way and still does to this day.

“We made our float for Field Day out of chicken wire! We made it in a huge barn building and we made it so big and couldn’t get it out of the building,” DeBoer said. Only Marian girls know the true struggles and excitement that comes during Field Day activities.

Back when she was in school, Field Day was something very different then what it is today.

The way DeBoer and a few of her friends built her float involved a lot of hard work. Through the tradition of Field Day she really bonded with her class and made long lasting memories that grew their sisterhood closer even if their float couldn’t get out of the building.

She lives her life through all of the Marian core values but especially empowerment. She comes to Marian every day with a smile on her face and couldn’t be any more proud of this school and all of the girls who have grown in faith and empowerment.

EMPOWERMENT

Counselor Ms. Kathy DeBoer smiles from her office in Student Services. Photo by Daylee Daubert

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COMPASSION Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Daylee Daubert

Living Marian’s Core Values

Toohey changes the world one child at a time Dr. Susan Russell Toohey, a graduate from Marian of the class of ‘82 and current Nelson Mandela Elementary principal, leads every day of her life striving to embody the core value of service.

For three weeks during the summer between her junior and senior year of high school, Toohey lived with the Servants of Mary in an attempt to discern whether she wanted to be a sister or not while participating in non-profit organizations including serving women in a shelter that assists those affected by domestic abuse. Although she did not choose the religious vocation, she did choose to devote herself to educating future generations.

Throughout her life, education has always been her passion. The teachers who advised her in high school, such as Mr. Tom Baker, solidified her desire to be a lifelong learner and expand her passion to hopefully affect others to see learning as a positive, worthwhile, life skill.

“I think Marian really formed me into that idea of being confident in my own skin, and it was okay to be smart. You weren’t trying to hide that as a girl,” Toohey said. Yet, as

she was discerning, she kept her ears and mind open to God’s plan while praying for the advisement of Him to choose a career path that would impact others positively.

As of 2017, Toohey is on her third year of being the principal of Nelson Mandela Elementary School in North Omaha. Dianne Lozier, founder of the Lozier Foundation, approached Toohey with the proposition of starting a school that enrolls children who live in impoverished neighborhoods and she readily agreed.

Toohey had been an educator and administrator through the Omaha Public Schools from 1989-2009 and Marian from 2009-2014, but she had never tackled elementary education. Although a bit nervous, she approached the task with enthusiasm and the intent to change something in the world, even if that just meant one child.

With her leadership, the non-profit charter school has flourished with students and parents alike completing service hours and the children raising their test scores year after year. Research based teaching techniques make the school unique. Students practice

phonics while playing kickball by sounding out a word for a chance to kick. Every student also learns to play the violin at school because it has been proven to increase brain development. She has continued to make positive progression while maintaining a strong faith life.

Even though she is the administartor of a year-round school, she finds time to attend a Bible group with her husband where she can discuss how God affects her every day life and participate in Mass every Sunday, with her family of three children. Two of which being her daughters who also attended Marian, Caitlyn ‘09 and Hannah’12.

She sees God most through “... the kids. Every day something positive happens...” Toohey said.

She interacts with God every day on some level and spreads positivity and education through her administration. Toohey advises Marian students to “make sure you follow your dreams. Always know that you are a confident, independent, thinking leader, and that you can make a difference in the world.” She is making a difference in this world, by not only affecting one child, but a school full of them.

Dr. Susan Russell Toohey. Photo taken for “Day in the Life of Mandela”. Photo courtesy of Nelson Mandela Elementary.

SPIRITUALITY COMMUNITY

SERVICE MARIAN IDENTITY COMPASSION EMPOWERMENT Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Taylor Sterba

Living Marian’s Core Values

Marian Core Values in Youth Ministry: Marian Graduate Debbie Marcil

Continues to Empower as Pastoral Associate “I have always said that if I help one kid, then I’m successful,” said Debbie Marcil. Marcil graduated from Marian in 1984.

She has been working at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish for 22 years now, and has put an enormous amount of effort into their youth ministry program. She was recently promoted to the position of Pastoral Associate at the same parish.

She has appeared in the Catholic Voice numerous times, most recently for being one of 20 Omaha women to attend Mother Teresa’s canonization in St. Peter’s Square. She embodies several core values, but her work in empowering the young people in her youth group and the St. Robert’s community as a whole makes her an outstanding model of the Marian core value of Empowerment.

Marcil attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha after graduating from Marian, and said that Marian taught her what she needed for college. “I was prepared in college. I knew how to write papers, I knew how to talk to instructors, I was beyond prepared. In fact, Marian prepared me so well that college was actually almost easier [for

me] than for some kids because I knew what to do,” Marcil said.

To that, she also echoed the Marian slogan: “I was a strong, independent woman, which helped.”

After college, Marcil turned right around and started empowering others the way Marian had empowered her. Her work at St. Robert’s included assisting the religious education department, organizing Vacation Bible School, taking groups of students to Winnebago each summer to help those in need, and strengthening the faith of everyone around her. “We traveled all over taking care of people. I felt like my service was bringing along my middle school and high school kids to make them stronger in their faith and more empowered to go and do good for others,” Marcil said.

She also aspires to make sure she gives the Marian Core Value of Empowerment a place in incoming generations. “That was my goal: just to have them [Marcil’s youth group members] healthy all around and go out and keep the service going,” Marcil said. Indeed she has; though her recet promotion has taken her out of youth ministry,

her successor Kate Vazquez has gladly taken on Marcil’s mission.

Marcil emphasized her statement with a few extremely inspiring words. “I am hoping that through [the] outreach that we’ve done, we’ve helped people along the way. I have one story where a kid came back and said, ‘You have no idea. I was going down a wrong path and I turned.’ And now he comes back and serves every summer with us,” Marcil said. This is a perfect example of Empowerment: a few simple words which can turn around someone’s entire life.

Marcil mentioned that though she is no longer directly involved in youth ministry, she wishes to begin an adult retreat and continue empowering others to live out the values of Marian and the Catholic faith. Her final words show an attitude of humility amidst a vast number of accomplishments. “Marian should recognize the great things they put forth in other people. I appreciate Marian. Every day after you get out, you look back... those were four great years and I hope that I’ve lived according to what Marian stands for. Being faithful, serving others, being a part of the community.”

Empowerment

Spirituality

Service

Compassion

Marian Identity

Community

SPIRITUALITY COMPASSION

Photo by St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Parish Core Value Personality Profile by J1 reporter Mary Watson

Living Marian’s Core Values

Challenging Creativity Laura Frenzer’s Mission to Never Stop Growing For as long as she can remember, Laura Frenzer knew what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

“I always knew I wanted to be an actress, ever since I was a little kid,” Marian alum, Laura Frenzer said.

Growing up, Frenzer watched her uncles perform and pictured herself on stage, too, “I saw Shakespeare productions that he[one of her uncles] was in from when I was really little. So that had a huge impact on me, like, this is fun!”

Throughout her years at Marian, Frenzer began to see her acting dream take shape. From participating in Marian’s plays and musicals, to taking specialized classes in vocals, dance, and Shakespeare, Frenzer could feel herself growing, not only as an actress, but as a young woman. “Marian was a great place to ground people,” she said. “I really do think that going to an all girls school really helped me find my voice…in terms of...speaking up for myself and knowing that my opinions are valid and that I have a voice. That prepared me for all aspects of life.”

Perhaps the biggest gift Marian gave Frenzer was Ms. Connie Cavel’s Shakespeare class: “That really helped lay that foundation for me as an actor, then going in when I started learning Shakespeare from

an acting perspective, as opposed to a literature perspective, I had that great background in it and it was something I really just loved.” At the end of the class, Frenzer and each of her classmates received a handwritten note from their teacher. Frenzer still cherishes this note and the memories from this class.

Now, Frenzer teaches Shakespeare to children in New York City public schools and says she wishes she had a way to let Ms. Cavel know how much joy she gets from teaching Shakespeare and what an important role she played instilling Frenzer’s life-long love of Shakespeare.

After graduating in 1989, Frenzer took the foundation of self-confidence that Marian helped lay for her and built upon it by challenging herself and creating her own opportunities. She received her BFA in Theatre Performance from Takio College and went on to work with the American Globe Theatre and the People’s Improv Theatre. She has tried her hand in many different forms of entertainment. She’s performed both on stage and on screen, including several TV series, mini-series, movies, and documentaries.

Perhaps her biggest and bestknown project, though, was her hit web series, “47 Secrets to a Younger You.” Frenzer co-wrote, produced,

and starred in the web series. She collaborated with a fellow working mother on this project. “A lot of work went into it,” she said.

“My friend and I were like ‘we’re going to do this’ and people were like ‘okay’ but then we did and and they were like ‘wow you guys’...it’s always nice to surprise people when you exceed their expectations.”

Now, Frenzer lives in New York City with her two kids. As a single mother, she is always working to find a balance between her work and her “greatest ongoing project”: her children.

She often looks for creative ways to involve her children in her work.

In 2006 she started an arts organization in her Brooklyn neighborhood.

Joined by other actors with young children, they produced a family-friendly version of Shakespeare’s “Midsummer’s Nights Dream” in a local park. The park both hosted a stage and a playground, allowing for the actors to bring their children to rehearsals and performances. “It was a project that was accessible for our kids to kind of be involved with…”

Frenzer said, “every summer for six years we did a play[at the park] and it as a fun way for us to be creatively engaged and produce something that our kids could kind of be involved with.”

LAURA FRENZER. Photo courtesy of Basil Rodericks.

EMPOWERMENT Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Caroline Drew

When it comes to balancing her family and work, Frenzer says, “The goal is not equilibrium, it’s give and take.” The balancing act, to her, is more about making little sacrifices and compromises for your priorities than a completely equal balance. “The pressure to keep everything balanced and to do everything, I think, is hard for women to deal with because you can not have it all. Do not expect to have it all.

Choose what you want and find joy where you can find joy. And if the house is a mess? Then the house is a mess.”

There’s always something new happening in Frenzer’s busy life.

She continues to challenge herself to learn and experience new things.

She is always seeking to better herself and grow as an individual, in her free time she reads theoretical physics books to keep her brain sharp. She teaches Shakespeare, an author she loves dearly, to children and hopes to instill in them that same love of literature. Frenzer also continues to pursue new avenues in acting and entertainment in her personal career, “Creatively and artistically, I like developing new

things. I’m always developing new stuff and so I feel like my accomplishments are just getting over that next hoop, you know, that next challenge.”

She urges the next generation to challenge themselves as well.

“Don’t be afraid of doing hard things. In fact, seek out the hard things to do. The things that really really scare you and that really really challenge you, those are the things you should be doing. Because that’s where you’re really going to learn and grow.”

Spirituality

Empowerment

Community Service

Marian Identity

Compassion

By Maria Alessandro

Service Community Spirituality Compassion Empowerment Marian Identity

Mariana Inciarte-Balza

Living Marian’s Core Values

Molly Raabe: Inspired by Others, to Build Community

Mrs. Molly Raabe in her element, of the library. Holding one of her favorite books currently, “All The Light We Cannot See” written

by Anthony Doerr.

Every library has an excellent mind behind it. At Marian, we have Mrs. Raabe. Mrs. Molly McGuire Raabe is a 1989 Marian alumna and has loved it, ever since her high school days.

You might’ve seen her in the choir, singing her heart out or involved in various clubs and activities during her time at Marian. As a student, she thought she was always being challenged throughout her classes. That is one reason why she loves working in the library.

Mrs. Raabe loves many things at Marian, but especially loves the academic presence, her colleagues, and the all-girl environment. Raabe stated, “You really get more done here, rather than a co-ed school. I have worked at both, and when I teach here, I get two times the amount done. It is awesome, as a teacher.” Mrs. Raabe has taught Spanish since 1994, but recently switched to librarian full-time. Mrs. Raabe has done tremendous works for the Spanish speaking community - all around Omaha. She developed a K-4th grade Spanish program at St. Pius, several years ago. She would teach Spanish in the morning at Marian and then teach at St. Pius in the afternoon. She went on to say, “It started a huge program! It grew from one classroom to 17 classrooms. It was the most wonderful experi-

ence. A lot of work and I was very busy, but I loved having an effect on young kids.”

She also started a program at Creighton University for medical spanish, for the ILAC Program. Many medical students aspired to learn Spanish, for many reasons in their future profession. Mrs. Raabe would gather 60-80 medical students in an empty lecture hall in the medical building, once a week. All of which, when she was only in her early twenties. The gathering of those students then, has now turned into one of Creighton’s most valued programs to this day.

The core value that Mrs. Raabe has embodied the most, is the value of community. She has shared a sense of community as she has donated her time and talents through both the Omaha and Marian community. As she has started promising programs for students in Spanish and is a helping hand in the library, being available for girls every day. Mrs. Raabe is the true embodiment and example, of a Marian alumna. She understands and accepts her role throughout her community, and strives to make a difference. When she walks into a room, the room lights up - as she has just such a presence about her. Mrs. Raabe embodies all the core values, but community is the most prevalent.

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Emma Schafer

Living Marian’s Core Values

Sharon Carleton: Compassionately Inspiring Others

“Your Marian is showing,” a former classmate said.

Sharon Walsh Carleton ‘90 can easily share how Marian has shaped her into the person she is today. No matter the situation she is in or the people she interacts with, she gives Marian credit for her strong values and being able to navigate life’s challenges. When Carleton began Marian as a freshman, however, she wasn’t as confident and empowered.

Carleton began high school like most people; playing sports, quiet, and unsure of her identity. One thing she knew: Marian girls held true to their values and characteristics and she aspired to resemble them. Activities like volleyball, speech, volunteer opportunities, and the Marian musicals helped Carleton break out of her shell.

Sophomore year she discovered her confidence in a good group of supportive friends who accepted her for who she was. No longer did she have to fit in with the crowd, rather, she found her true voice.

At times, school was a struggle.

These hardships motivated Carleton to persevere and she put in the extra time and effort to get good grades

and be in leadership positions.

These Marian experiences prepared her for what she later understood as the reality of life. “I can honestly say going into Marian I was a completely different girl then coming out of Marian, which I think is true for most girls,” Carleton said.

Carleton associates the core value of compassion in her life to her faith. As a result, she is involved with hands-on volunteer work in the community.

She is currently a business consultant and a leadership coach. Carleton also recently voulnteered as a coach in the prison system, which is not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination. She felt a calling to do this work.

“You have to remember that you can’t get too far away from the people in need, otherwise you won’t have the compassion to do good things for other people. It’s important to remember to live out your faith,” she said.

Growing up with mainly sisters in a strong Irish Catholic environment, Carleton is familiar with speaking her mind and has come to realize this is a critical skill in today’s business environment. She

said, “Even though you might be the only person speaking out, girls at Marian should continue to do so because that is the only way you will get real change in the world.”

Finding your voice is not always the easy or comfortable thing to do; Carleton gives a word of encouragement, “If life is hard, that’s a sign that you’re being an authentic person. It can feel lonely, but it always feels right if you hold yourself to those values of right and wrong that Marian hammers home to you.”

Carleton looks back on the successes in her life of running two successful businesses, winning various awards for her achievements, and raising two children, one a freshman at Marian and the other a junior at Mt. Michael.

One of her notable accomplishments was winning the Omaha Chamber Business Woman of the Year. She has grown to know when to walk away from her job and credits it all to the values instilled in her while at Marian.

She reminds herself, “You can have it all and do it all, but you can’t do it all at one time.”

SHARON CARLETON smiles for a picture with her daughter, Elaina, at a Marian Legacy Lunch event. Photo courtesy of Sharon Carleton.

COMMUNITY

SERVICE SPIRITUALITY

Compassion MARIAN IDENTITY EMPOWERMENT Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Kaitlyn Rosenbaum

Living Marian’s Core Values

Erin Grace, Journalist for Omaha World Herald Embodies Marian Core Values When Erin Grace, Marian alum of 1991, was asked what Marian core values she embodies, her response was, “I see three main traits out of the six: service, compassion, and community.” She explained that they all tie into one another.

“Our community is part of the larger global world and requires service and compassion. Compassion can be seen in many people all throughout Omaha. I experience all the different compassionate people especially with my job, going all over Omaha to write and cover their stories.”

Grace is a journalist for the Omaha World Herald. She originally did not enjoy her job the first six months, but after a year, she really started to enjoy it. She has been at the Omaha World Herald for about twenty years now. She originally saw herself being a doctor, but soon realized it was journalism she wanted to do. She taught high school English for three years in South Louisiana through Teach

for America, and even taught a journalism class. After this, she realized it was the actual writing she wanted to do in life, and has been doing it ever since.

“Always follow your heart.

Find where your heart is, this is where faith takes a role and comes into action. Follow your heart and faith,” Grace said.

Faith is a very important aspect in Grace’s life. She sees God everywhere: in the stranger at her front door, people she does her stories on, her children, and the community in her parish, St. Cecilia. All of these come into action to help inspire her to spread her faith.

Many Marian teachers helped to inspire and show her the Marian core values. She says that math teacher, Mrs. Mary Baker, was one of the best teachers she had in her whole life. Mr. Mark Koesters, was a true inspiration for the Marian values to her.

She also says that if it was not for Mrs. Kathy Havlik, a former Marian journalism teacher, that

she would not be a journalist today.

Being a Marian alum, she says her dearest friends are still the ones she made at Marian.

Grace has so many stories from her time at Marian, and she even sometimes uses them as bedtime stories to her children.”We had a north of Dodge Street carpool verses a south of Dodge Street carpool, and we would compete to see who could get to school first.” She says they were, and currently are, so tight knit, “These are the people that truly love and accept you in adulthood, because they were the ones that witnessed that awkward stage we all go through in high school.”

Grace has always kept Marian in her heart throughout her whole life. She says she was proud to go to such a fantastic school. She says that every day was wonderful at Marian. “I love Marian and everything that is in the core values.”

Erin Grace ‘91 embodies service, compassion and community. Photo credit - Kent Sievers, Omaha World-Herald.

COMMUNITY COMPASSION

SERVICE

SPIRITUALITY MARIAN IDENTITY EMPOWERMENT Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Aileen Zitek

Living Marian’s Core Values

Amy Bauman:

A woman of compassion Amy Schumacher Bauman is better known as Mrs. Bauman the English teacher at Marian. She is woman of faith, organization, structure, a good rapport, a willingness to help, and a little sense of humor.

She sees herself as someone who has trouble seeing the big picture and has a tendency to overstress.

A wife, a mother, a teacher, and a friend who upholds a great amount of compassion for her community.

Raised in Omaha, Bauman was a middle child. She had a younger brother and sister, and one older sister. Her traditional parents, Bill and Barb, brought their children up as Roman Catholic. Bauman’s parents wanted the best for her. They set up a good foundation, and encouraged her to challenge herself academically. Bauman attended Marian from 1988-92 where

she had a close, tight-knit group of friends. At Marian, Bauman was involved in National Honor Society, along with Campus Ministry and tutoring inner city youth.

At Creighton University, where Bauman attended college, she received her degree in Language, and later went on to take the LSAT to get into law school. Later realizing that she did not enjoy law school, Bauman set off to receive her certificate in teaching and religion. She claimed it was the Holy Spirit who showed her the route to begin her passion of teaching. She said she feels blessed to be able to teach at Marian, and said she thinks Marian has a great reputation academically and religiously.

Years later, now a mother, Bauman has three children: Claire, Joey and Jack. Her favorite thing

about being a mom is the unconditional love for her kids that they also give back in return. “Most of my God moments have been with my children,” Bauman said.

Bauman sees God in her everyday life, in her co-workers, students and family. She prays when she is alone, which usually ends up being when she is in the car on her way to school in the mornings. Bauman has always been a Marian girl, and it has shaped her into the person she is today. Her advice to Marian girls is to be grateful, to not worry so much, and to be kind. “Girls will remember the kind ones more than they will remember the smart ones,” Bauman said. She hopes to gain wisdom and to emulate Mary in her future. This is why Amy Bauman holds compassion in her heart, and lives by it.

“Girls will remember the kind ones more than they will remember the smart ones.”

Amy Bauman. Bauman smiles with compassion for her co-workers and students who touch her life the most. Photo by Emma Williams

COMPASSION

COMMUNITY SERVICE SPIRITUALITY MARIAN IDENTITY EMPOWERMENT Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Lily Gonzalez

Living Marian’s Core Values

Teresa Kenney: A Heart of Compassion Throughout the years, the core values have been instilled into Marian, with many students coming and going as the years go on. Out of all the students that have roamed the halls since 1955, one of the many noteworthy would have to be Teresa Kenney ’93, mother of current Marian student, Anna Kenney ’19, along with 7 younger children as well. Most Marian alumni and people associated with the school, have become and learned to be confident, independent, thinking leaders and Kenney is no exception.

Marian’s core values are an important aspect of the Marian image, and Kenney just happens to live out more than one. Spirituality is a noticeable value seen in her life, with empowerment following a close second, but the most important core value in her life would have to be compassion. The ability to have a good heart to help others is no easy task.

When Kenney was a student in the early 90s at Marian, she was able to be a part of choir and soccer.

She was also active regarding her faith. As a natural-born leader, Kenney had the opportunity to share her faith at school and even experience a pilgrimage. Kenney has always found that her faith was

important, but the turning point in her high school career was when she went to Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the summer of her sophomore year. Kenney recalls the best memory of her trip, “Most of us have grown up being given faith, and we take it for granted, and a pilgrimage, where you go across the world allows you to own your faith. It allowed me to own my faith as my own as well.”

After discovering how she truly felt regarding her faith, Kenney had to start thinking about her future, and with help from her dad, she learned that she wanted to help others especially if it involved showing her faith. Kenney attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, IA, where not only was she a leader by starting the first all girls soccer team, but she also studied to be a nurse.

Kenney currently works as a full time women’s health practitioner at the Pope Paul VI Institute, and also works part time at Sancta Familia.

Both practices that she works at are Catholic institutes. Being a nurse and helping women every day with problems of fertility and learning more about their bodies requires a lot of compassion. It was and is important to her to work in a place

that shares her beliefs of being prolife, prescribing no contraceptives, and still help women regarding their bodies.

Being kind is important, but for Kenney is a part of her everyday lifestyle. It’s not a task that Kenney has to think about, she just shows her care and love for others through her work. Kenney said, “My heart is drawn to compassion.”

When Kenney is not working, she is also giving talks about her particular job at a Catholic practice, at places like Benedictine College and Skutt Catholic High School.

Through Kenney’s outstanding empowerment and compassion through her work that she even won Omaha Magazine’s 2015 Excellence in Nursing Award against all other nurses from Non-Catholic medical practices. Kenney was honored to receive the award, but did not expect it at all. as most of the other canidates were not as vocal with their faith regarding medical practices.

For years, Marian’s core values have been instilled into every single person that roams the halls, and Kenney is no exception. Being the confident and independent leader she is, she has been able to accomplish so much and be the best version of herself.

Teresa Kenney at Sancta Familia, posing for Omaha Magazine’s 2015 Excellence in Nursing. Photo originally taken for Omaha Magazine.

“My heart is drawn to

COMPASSION.”

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Maria Alessandro

Living Marian’s Core Values

Providing Happiness Through Horses: A wide smile stretched across Jodi Teal’s face and her eyes lit up as she talked with one of her students at HETRA. She was more than at home there in the HETRA barn, talking and laughing with students and their parents. Even more laughter filled the barn as students were giddy with excitement, ready to ride HETRA’s horses. Teal’s passion for these little moments, this laughter and joy and appreciation from the students is what has kept her working the long days.

Jodi Teal began her volunteer work at HETRA 17 years ago.

HETRA, which stands for the Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy, is a non-profit organization located in Gretna, Nebraska. HETRA is a way of therapy for people with a variety of disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and MS. “What we are doing is bringing the horses and letting the horses be a part of our therapeutic team,” Teal said.

Students at HETRA range anywhere from 2 to 92.

Teal, a graduate of Marian’s Class of ’93, has received a number of degrees and certificates from the University of Nebraska at Omaha,

College of Saint Mary’s, and Southwest Community College.

Teal began her work at HETRA as a side walker in the arena in 2000. Being a side walker meant that she was able to directly connect with the horses and the students.

But, life was getting busier and busier for Teal, and she couldn’t quite keep up with both a full time job and volunteering for HETRA as well.

“In 2010 I was working in the corporate world. I was trying to do fundraising and work with HETRA stuff on the side but it was just getting to be too much.” Teal felt overwhelmed with balancing both her volunteer work and her full time job.

Her love for HETRA and it’s mission is what drove her to pursue her passion. “So, I took a leap of faith and I quit my full time job and came to work here as their development director”, Teal said.

Teal believes that Marian helped instill confidence in her and a way of better connecting with females in the workplace. “Connecting with Marian alums has been great, connecting with other females that are in similar and maybe different po-

sitions in the community has been very helpful. The ability to connect and get involved [is what Marian instilled] because if I wasn’t that confident person to get up in front of a group of people and talk about what we do here, my job wouldn’t be successful.”

Being an aunt to a child with special needs has also helped Teal gain even more of a love for HETRA. “Sometimes individuals with disabilities aren’t accepted or brought into the community. The best part [of HETRA] is that it is kind of a sport for them, it is a sport that their disability hasn’t taken away. Everybody is kind of equal when they’re riding. There’s no wheelchairs.”

One of her favorite memories from working at HETRA is being able to see her nephew with special needs ride on a HETRA horse.

Out of all of Marian’s core values, Teal feels that her life is best represented by the core value of empowerment and a little bit of service. “That horse just gave that child the power to get up and try different things. It has empowered me to be a confident person, to get out in the community and help others maybe less fortunate.”

EMPOWERMENT

MARIAN IDENTITY SERVICE

Core Value Personality Profile & Photo By J1 Reporter Ellie Farner

Living Marian’s Core Values

e powerment

em·pow·er·ment əmˈpouərmənt/noun 1. authority or power given to someone to do something “individuals are given empowerment to create their own dwellings” 2. the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights “political steps for the empowerment of women”

Whispers erupt as a new policy from corporate is posted on the wall. “You say something.” “No you say something!” “Well, I’m not gonna say it!” “Yiota, can you?” In the workplace, pharmacist and Marian alumna Yiota Anastasiou is relied upon for speaking up against unfair new policies and unwanted changes.

“Plenty of people disagree with a change, but not one person speaks up. My co-workers have made me their spokesperson; I’m always the one who has to say something. This has a lot to do with the courage that

was instilled in me at Marian.”

For both current Marian girls and ones graduated long ago, Marian is a place that fosters empowerment and a courageous spirit among young women. Anastasiou, class of 2001, is a perfect embodiment of this core value.

“Marian prepared me really well in the sciences, and that steered my college major. My teachers fostered academic confidence that has benefitted me through college.”

Although she began as a psychology major, Anastasiou graduated from

Creighton University with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and a doctor of pharmacy degree, and now works in a local Walgreen’s pharmacy.

In addition to academics, Marian helped Anastasiou build character.

“The empowerment aspect played a huge role,” Anastasious said. “Not only was I able to preserve my high school relationships, but I was confident enough to branch out and build new ones with the people I met in college. Marian gives you a voice, and it just becomes louder.”

SPIRITUALITY COMPASSION SERVICE COMMUNITYY Yiota Anastasiou. Class of 2001 Photo courtesy of Anastasiou.

MARIAN IDENTITY

“Marian gives you a voice, and it just becomes louder.”

EMPOWERMENT

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Maria Piperis

Living Marian’s Core Values

Marian Alumna to Sail Across the Sea

COMMUNITY MARIAN IDENTITY Edney featured with her camera and incredible focus.

This camera will accompany her for the next 9 months during the Volvo Ocean Race as a photojournalist, her new official title. Photo by Bill Sitzmann.

COMPASSION EMPOWERMENT She is beauty, she is grace, and she is journeying on an ocean race. The next nine months of her life will be spent on a perilous sea, racing wind and current, bracing against ice and water, all with a very expensive camera in hand.

Jen Edney, Marian grad of 2001, spends her life living outside of the pictures she takes. Her She is an adventure photographer, recognized in National Geographic for her fascinating lifestyle of near death experiences.

She embodies confidence and sheer independence, values at the center of a community of diversely fierce women, brimming with the hope to change, the desire to be heard, and the desire to make a difference.

Edney cites her Marian identity as motivation to discover herself by means of adventure. “Marian is where I came out of my shell. I arrived there shy, timid, always wanting to be in the background....Marian helped me to form the foundation that I work off of every day.” Edney said.

Her career, leaving jaws dropped with awe and wanderlust, creates a sense of beauty in her life, and it also creates a sense of opportunity to grow. Alone, without contact, for often 30 days at a time, Edney is able

to ponder on the root of her joy, sadness, and fulfillment. She describes her mental soliloquies as ponderings, “I’ve been blessed to witness a lot, to see how people live around the world.

I’ve had near -death experiences and moments that constantly remind you to keep things in perspective.”

She spends most of her time on the sea, photographing ocean beauty and the lives of those on the water.

She also went on a skiing expedition on the freezing Mount McMillan, in British Columbia, Canada, with a female group, taking incredible photos, her work titled Chicks with Stix.

Her state of being is incredibly impressive, leading a life few care to do anything but dream about. Edney’s travels dare to not only push the limits, but to throw them overboard.

Because she is able to live daringly, dauntlessly, and bravely, Edney is an example of what can happen if you embrace the unknown, trekking through wilderness and free ocean, and make sure to bring a camera with.

To her, “adventure journalism is adventure storytelling.” and “It means pushing myself out of my comfort zone, being adaptable, a professional problem solver and being able to say yes to things that you fear the most.”

Trials of perseverance, identity seeking and glorious experience have

SPIRITUALITY

led Edney to life-changing quests that will stick with her throughout the rest of her time. Her foundation is the confidence that radiates, small at first, until it ignites into a raging fire, unfazed by obstacles in its way.

She implores current Marian students to heed her advice, “Have confidence in yourself, be genuine, value and nurture your relationships with friends, family and the people you want to work with. Understand that some dreams may take time to reach.”

Empowerment lives and breathes in Edney. She is a successful representation of all that a confident, independent, thinking leader can do with her talents, dreams, and skills.

To truly know oneself, one must know herself in moments of silence. Edney is an expert at that.

She has been to 30 countries, breaking through waves into culture and eye-opening tales of joy, woe and the moments in between that make up character.

Hearts and minds absorbing what one sees, Edney is woven into the fabric of what it means to be a spectator in one’s life, a true photojournalist. In her own words, “It’s amazing when people open themselves up to you and trust you to tell their story.”

Agreed, Edney, agreed.

SERVICE Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Audrey Otwell

Living Marian’s Core Values

JENNA JOHNSON:

Expressing Compassion in The White House Jenna Johnson, a Marian graduate of 2003, is a driven White House journalist for the Washington Post. Others can clearly tell she is a Marian graduate by how she answers one simple question. “What is your favorite high school memory?” “Field Day of course!” Johnson says as she discusses her deep love and appreciation for Marian’s traditions and journalism program.

Jenna Johnson has always been attracted to journalism and sees it as an opportunity for public service. She has always been close with her family, being one of three children that grew up surrounded by all types of journalism. Jenna’s parents met while working on their college newspaper, and now own a successful weekly newspaper in eastern

Photo by Al Drago

Iowa. “I loved journalism more than anything, I went into college with this desire for it and just stuck with it. Not a lot of people can say that.”

Johnson was immediately inspired by the work of her parents and her high school journalism teacher, Mrs. Marsha Kalkowski.

Johnson was the Editor-in-Chief of the Marian Network newspaper in 2003. She succeeded in that role then and continues to succeed today.

“I want to be some level of a check and balance in the community.”

While traveling around the United States following Donald Trump’s campaign, Johnson realized how important it is to balance her family, work, and her faith. She mentions that work will always be where she is because

there will always be more stories she can write. “When you’re not living in a healthy way, you can’t accomplish your best work.

That’s why I would just tell my editors and say that I needed a day off to get back on the right track in whatever city I was in at the time,” Johnson said, explaining her time following the Trump campaign. Her best friend since her Marian years, Mary Jo Lang, is the person she relies on the most for advice and pep talks.

Lang and Johnson now live in Washington D.C. and keep up with each other often.

Compassion is the core value Johnson embodies the most.

“There’s a lot of fear, anger and misunderstanding out in the world right now. I will talk to

members of different parties who will just be bashing on each other,” Johnson said. “People don’t seem to have much compassion left for others.”

Johnson’s main goal in her life has always been to cover the White House. She had the experience of following Donald Trump to 170+ rallies in 35 states in just one year, and used her interview style of just listening to capture how other people around America were really feeling.

She loved being able to see her article on the front page and was proud to say “we were there.” She now lives her dream life, capturing every White House story that comes her way and presenting her Marian core values through every encounter possible.

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SERVICE Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Emily Diesing

Living Marian’s Core Values

Mettenbrink uses dance to EMPOWER young girls’ lives Corrie Mettenbrink prepares once again to show the turn she is teaching her young students. She steps her right foot back, puts her arms up, and pushes off into a single pirouette. Her long, brown hair follows her around as she finishes the turn out with perfect posture and a radiating smile. The kids watch in amazement as she continues to teach them new things every day, her smile and love for her job never wavering.

After having graduated from Marian in 2006, Corrie Mettenbrink had a rough dance into life.

She had changed her college major seven times before the life she was looking for leaped right into her. “It was between my sophomore and junior years in college.

I remember having this conversation. Mary Ann [the previous owner] said, “It’s not working and I’m going to have to close the studio.’ Then she looked at me and said,‘Unless you want to try it,’ and I said, ‘Yeah let’s do it!’So, as a 19-year-old, I called my parents.

At first they told me not to, and then told me to take lots of business classes,” which is exactly what Mettenbrink did.

Mettenbrink went on to graduate from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree, while also discovering what it meant to be the owner of Stars Dance Academy. Little did she know she had inherited more than a dance studio, but also the grow-

ing hearts of young girls from as little as 2-years-old to seniors in high school who have a passion for dance.

Dance has always been a passion for Mettenbrink, but the unseen influence on her teaching is Marian. “My Marian experience is so different from other schools. It’s so hard to explain the girls in my class and the teachers. I remember joking with them in the halls.

It didn’t feel like school it just felt like a thing you did.” Marian holds a special place in her heart, and being a part of it is something Mettenbrink wants to remember.

“There are only good things that are coming out of Marian. What they are doing for young women is different from anywhere else I have experienced.”

Whenever the youngest students stare up at Mettenbrink with wondering eyes, she cannot help but feel God’s gift in them. “They are so innocent and unique and the world hasn’t fazed them yet. They just seem the most God-like to me.

They have an optimistic outlook on life that I wish more adults had.

Everything is perfect and their life is so great. The closest to God as I can imagine on Earth.”

Just like the younger students she teaches, family has influenced Mettenbrink, especially when she needs inspiration. “I draw inspiration from a lot of sources. Everyone I think. The strengths of the people I surround myself with. In

the areas of life I feel I am lacking, I surround myself with people I can draw that strength from.”

After 9 years of running Stars Dance Academy, Mettenbrink has learned a lot about the business world. She has attained a lot of knowledge to inspire other young women looking to start a business.

“Running a business, like any job, is hard. If you’re enthusiastic and passionate about what you’re doing, it’ll make it easier. And don’t try to be like anyone or anything else. Figure out what makes you different and stand by that instead of trying to mimic another business.”

Mettenbrink brought a business that was about to see an end to a successful stage. When she first started managing the studio, there was one waiting room and one room for dancing. Today, the waiting room has been extended and two additional dance rooms have been built. And now, instead of only one recital at the end of each year, the studio puts on two recitals.

In the end, though, Mettenbrink measures her success on the impact her teaching has on her students.

“My goal is to make an impact on children’s’ lives and empower them and make them feel strong.

If at any point a child feels empowered, then I have reached my goal.” The empowerment Corrie Mettenbrink has shown is evident in the hearts of her dancers.

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Service Corrie Mettenbrink ‘06 helps one of her dress up to dance.

Photo courtesy of Corrie Mettenbrink ‘06 Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Jolie Peal

Kelly Kunkel teaches Marian Core Values

2,866 miles away

“We are trying to mold into a compassionate future, and the future is them.”

The first things Marian girls learn in theology class freshman year are the six core values of Marian, after the icebreakers, of course. The six values become a foundation for the next four years of high school, goals to live out, and who to become.

Kelly Kunkel is a teacher in Colombia. She graduated from Marian in 2008, but empowerment and community, two of Marian’s core values, are still extremely evident in her life.

Kunkel’s two main activities at Marian were campus ministry and swimming. Among many skills learned in school, confidence shaped her into who she is today because she is able to speak up and be excited about learning and leading. During high school, Kunkel was set on being a pediatrician, until Ms. Kathy Tocco, her theology teacher, noticed her talent of teaching before she knew it herself.

Kunkel began her career in Omaha, but later moved to Colombia when offered a job. She has been teaching elementary language arts, math, science, and social studies, in Colombia

for three years now. Classes are all in the English language, at the private school Colegio Karl C. Parrish.

Kunkel has had to learn how to balance family, work, and faith. “It’s tricky,” she said. “Learn as you go. If I focus too much on one, the others suffer. It is about finding balance. Take a step back, and find what is most important, and how all three fit in your life,” Kunkel said. Family has always been there to support Kunkel, especially her dad. He has reminded her throughout her journey that the littlest things can make you the most happy.

Such as the people in your life, not the material. Today, she lives this out to be true.

Kunkel has also learned an abundance through the children she teaches. She has learned from them that you can be happier with so much less, and that giving love to everyone is the most important act. On one occasion, her phone was stolen. Initially Kunkel didn’t know how to go on, but later she realized, “the person who took my phone needs it more than me,” Kunkel

said, with a smile on her face, “and I need love more than material. Give love.”

Imagine moving to an entirely new country, with new people, a new job, a new culture and customs, and only visiting home once a year. It can be hard, extremely, to become a part of a different community. However, Kunkel has embraced the change, and is proud of where she is and the children she teaches.

“I see innocence and wonder and excitement in each of them. We are trying to mold into a compassionate future, and the future is them,” Kunkel said.

Marian focuses on creating confident, independent- thinking leaders.

Kelly Kunkel is that, and so much more. She embodies the six core values, especially empowerment and community. She is dedicated to teaching, and making a difference.“Marian girls rule this world! They are powerful.” Kunkel is living this out, and inspiring future generations with her talent and love for teaching.

Kelly Kunkel poses with her students on theme days. She teaches elementary students and is proud of each of them. Photos by Patritia

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Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Lydia Delkamkiller

Living Marian’s Core Values

Ms. Magistro Discovers Her True Self At Marian Compassion is the sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

This is the core value that Ms. Adrianna Magistro ‘09 associates the most with in her life.

Anyone that is involved or has been involved with Marian has been acquainted with the core values at some time or another.

Although many people identify strongly with one specific value, all of the values can be seen and experienced every day at Marian. Magistro lives out all of the Marian core values, but one stands out to her in particular: compassion.

Magistro is currently a freshman and sophomore English teacher at Marian. She has continued to grow in her spirituality throughout the course of her life, particularly when she began her freshman year at Marian.

When she began freshman year in 2004, she struggled and had encountered many hardships. Everything then changed for her after she experienced freshman retreat.

“After retreat I fell in love with the school, felt more like myself, and went out for leadership positions,” Magistro said.

She eventually obtained the position of Class Officer and became involved in many other extracurricular activities.

Magistro attended Creighton University in the fall of 2009, planning to become either a veterinarian or psychologist.

These career paths were then eliminated by Magistro after she realized that she didn’t enjoy science at all. Inspired by one of her high school English teachers, Ms. Connie Cavel, Magistro then decided to major in En-

glish, co-major in education, and minor in dance. She graduated from Creighton University in the spring of 2013, and began teaching in the English Department in the fall of 2015. In addition to being a full time English teacher, Magisto is also the moderator of the Poetry Club.

By experiencing the six core values daily, Magistro has continued to grow in her faith life.

She believes that the core value of compassion is very important because it’s the hardest one to achieve. “It is easy to be compassionate until it’s not,” she said.

Magisto is able to balance her busy life that consists of family, work, and faith by blending them all together. She said, “Marian is part of my family that helps me to live out my faith.”

Ms. Magistro ‘09, continues to live the core values today as a teacher at Marian.

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COMPASSION Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Mackenzie Kilton

Living Marian’s Core Values

Bridget McQuillan: Fearlessly Empowering

From the moment Bridget McQuillan ‘09 could hold a crayon, her passion for storytelling began. Constantly surrounded by the world of journalism and media as a child, her adolescent years were spent with a pen and paper in one hand and her dad’s trusty DSLR in the other. McQuillan is one of the few but extremely lucky, who can say that their career is truly their passion.

McQuillan is a freelance journalist who graduated from Marian in 2009 to attend Creighton University. In high school, McQuillan mostly kept to herself but what made her love high school, was journalism. She was editor of the Network her senior year after Mrs. Kalkowski, journalism advisor, encouraged her to apply to be editor, “She saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.”

After college graduation, McQuillan kickstarted her career as Flywheel’s very first hire.

Flywheel is a company full of youthful minds that hosts and manages the Wordpress websites of other companies for them.

McQuillan was in charge of developing the company’s brand and making videos to market the company. McQuillan was able to very strongly influence the overall essence of Flywheel because of the fact that her bosses gave her total creative freedom which

she holds very dear to her heart.

All she had was a blank slate, what she did with that was her choice and the end result became what is now one of the most whimsical and exuberant hosting companies on the web today.

As much as she was passionate about her work at Flywheel, McQuillan knew she had a travelers heart that she had to pursue. In February of 2016, McQuillan quit her job after three years and spent four months backpacking around the world. She went everywhere from Vietnam to Myanmar and did it all by herself.

McQuillan said, “I had a lot of personal goals, I wanted time and space to think about how I wanted to craft my career and I wanted to learn how to be alone.” Travelling has given her a better understanding and appreciation of her place in the world.

She says that because she has gotten the opportunity to travel to a variety of places, “I’m more tolerant toward people who are different than me. I see everyone as a human being. The more you travel places that are so different, the more you realize that everyone is the same. Everyone wants love. Everyone wants security.

Everyone wants family. Everyone wants adventure.”

McQuillan has also had the opportunity to travel to other

places outside of her backpacking experience. During all of her travels, she updates her blog titled “Wanderblog” with pictures, stories and daily diaries of her experiences, and even the occasional video.

McQuillan is now a freelance journalist and gets to shoot and write about many different things and people, “I love the little things. I love understanding people and really really getting to know a person--what drives them and what scares them. People are very complicated and I like to understand every piece of them.”

Bridget McQuillan empowers the people around her wherever she goes. With her go -getter attitude and compassionate heart, she inspires people to live out their wildest dreams.

She encourages those around her to not fear the idea of actually pursuing your goals and not just imagining them.

She is a fearless soul whose goal is to understand and really know everyone she comes to meet. She follows her heart in spite of obstacles. She sticks up for things that are scary to stand up for. She knows herself and exactly what she stands for. Bridget McQuillan practices exactly what she preaches, to “live life fearlessly.”

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SPIRITUALITY BRIDGET MCQUILLAN empowers others anywhere and everywhere she goes.

Photography and being able to capture moments is something she loves.

Photo by: Bridget McQuillan

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Lily Blake

Monica Bosiljevac:

Empowering others day by day Empowerment. This core value is embedded not only in the community at Marian, but in the Football For The World Foundation’s core four steps as well. It is something any Marian girl holds within them wherever they go: the ability to empower someone to achieve and pursue their goals. Monica Bosiljevac embodies that selflessness to a T.

Monica graduated from Marian in 2010. Yet, her journey to Marian was quite different than most. She started her high school career at Westside, but decided that it wasn’t the right fit for her. She transferred to Marian, following in the footsteps of her sister. Compared to her former school, she noticed several differences in Marian’s school environment. “It surprised me how much these girls were academically driven to do their very best in school, that’s one

thing at Marian that challenged me the most, but the healthy competition made me strive to do great things.” This is one of the many traits that makes Marian unique.

Her years at Marian sparked her interest in the business field. She was enrolled in various business and marketing classes over the courses of her three years. “One of my teachers, Stephanie Cross, who had played soccer at the University of Omaha influenced me in my decision of studying marketing because the business field is broad,” Bosiljevac said. Before she even knew it, the path that Cross ventured was similar to her own. As time went on she found that market fundraising/development was the right path for her. This whole process inspired her to give back to the community and help with the creation of

the non-profit, Football For The World (FFTW), at the young age of 23.

Football For The World is a foundation that works with schools, sports clubs, community groups, individuals and corporations to improve the quality of life of children through the game of football. Their vision is a world where all children have access to food, education and sport. The four steps that they take to slowly aspire to their mission and vision are: equip, educate, empower, and excel. Bosiljevac found out about FFTW during her first experience to study abroad her sophomore year in college. Within her time in Gaborone, Botswana she realized how much she wanted to volunteer in Africa.

She researched and found a volunteer soccer program called “Street Soccer Program” in Mwanza, Tanzania. For one

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Empowerment month she volunteered there as a tutor during the day and a soccer coach for the U17 Mwanza Girls Team at night.

“These were kids that for a variety of reasons had been separated from their families, living on the streets and now lived at this center, while staff worked to reconnect them with a family relative and find a stable home. It was called the Kuleana Street Children’s Center,” Bosiljevac said. Alkhan Popat happened to also be coaching soccer on the field across the street. They were inspired by these children’s passion and determination to succeed. They noticed that they didn’t have the equipment suitable to play soccer and that was the very moment where Football for the World was born. Ever since then, she has lead countless donation drives all over the

world including Kingston, Jamaica to help better the lives of children through soccer.

Bosiljevac continues to embody empowerment, service, and compassion throughout her day to day life. She is also involved in the SAVE Program, a nonprofit program dedicated to providing youth with academic support and opportunities to participate in sports or extracurricular activities, and in many other ways, big or small. Going forward Bosiljevac’s goals consist of being “... an Executive Director of a nonprofit organization and/or foundation at some point in my life. I want my work to impact people in positive way. I also want my work to help close the pay gap for women and provide opportunities for women and girls,” Bosiljevac said.

She also wants to travel to at least one new country every year and bring home another state championship for the Marian Varsity Soccer Team. She’s been serving as an assistant soccer coach since 2016.

She lives out her life with the Marian core values always in mind, especially empowerment, “I believe empowerment is the first step in motivating someone. Once I share all of my words of advice and knowledge on the topic it gives people a chance to retain, interpret, and run with it to achieve their goals,” Bosiljevac said.

Monica Bosiljevac: Empowering others day by day.Photo courtesy of Monica Bosiljevac.

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Qwynn Watts

Caroline Nelsen: Empowering in Law Marian alum and attorney Caroline Nelsen is the definition of empowerment. After Nelsen graduated from Marian in 2010, she attended Boston College for undergraduate studies and went into pre-medicine with a Political Science major.

Nelsen’s favorite course in high school was AP Government taught by Mr. Tom Baker.

“I think I always knew I loved government, problem solving, and logic, but I hadn’t had any exposure to law prior to college,” Nelsen said.

During Nelsen’s first semester of college, she was enrolled in a business law class, but took it as an elective. The young attorney said, “On day one, I was absolutely fascinated by business law. My professor was an amazing female attorney and I was so inspired by her.” On the second day, Nelsen attended her chemistry class; she already knew she hated it. “That’s when I knew I was only pre-med because my brother was pre-med, and that the legal field was my true calling,” she said.

After her first two days, she switched to pre-law, added a

Spanish minor, and kept her political science major. Nelsen attended the University of Notre Dame Law School directly after Boston College, and graduated from law school in May of 2017.

Nelsen currently works for McGrath North, a law firm in Omaha, as an attorney in the employee benefits group. She had a part-time job as a clerk throughout law school there and obtained a full-time job in June of 2017. One of the roles she performs at McGrath North is to develop plans for clients’ employees that are compliant, unique, and able to implement the benefits each employer wants to offer.

Not only is Nelsen an attorney, but she also helps coach Marian’s Mock Trial Team.

Nelsen said the girls did an outstanding job at all three of their trials and their performances will only continue to get better.

“They have come a long way this season, and I look forward to coaching them next year,” said Nelsen. In her first year of coaching, Nelsen said the girls are doing an excellent job as it

is their second year competing.

Nelsen says the most important thing to be a lawyer is to be able to read, understand what you read, interpret the effect of what you read, and finally, to write about it. In undergrad, Nelsen took advantages of many opportunities. She enrolled in lots of law-related courses, joined Boston College’s Bellarmine Law Society, and even took a class at Boston College Law School as a junior.

“I worked for a few politicians while in college, interned at a courthouse in Boston, and worked for a state’s attorney in Chicago,” Nelsen said.

“While in college, look for internships or other jobs you can get that give you interaction with the court system, government officials, or lawyers in the area,” Nelsen said.

Caroline Nelsen has found her passion of law and continues to empower all those surrounding her. Nelsen is an excellent example of a confident, independent, thinking leader today.

Photo Courtesy of Caroline Nelsen

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By J1 Reporter Hannah Bena

Living Marian’s Core Values

Sarah Fili’s Empowering Journey to Happiness Sarah Fili represents the core value of empowerment through her determination to be the best and happiest self that she could be. Fili graduated from Marian in 2011 and had no idea that six years later she would be a reporter on Omaha KETV News.

As a high school student she had no interest in journalism. After she graduated, she went to Nebraska Wesleyan University to study molecular biology and chemistry.

She thought about being an anesthesiologist but quickly lost interest in that because, “a couple of milliliters could mean someone’s life,” Fili said.

She also considered being a doctor or a pediatrician, but those didn’t feel right either. After many difficult science classes, Fili decided she needed to find something different. “It was just getting to the point to where I was like,’You know what, I’m frustrated with this, and I can tell I don’t love it, so I need to find something else to do,’”

Fili said.

Fili decided that she wanted to go into communication because of the mixture of English and psychology. “It kept me interested but also had that science aspect part that I really liked to do.”

Now with her communications major, she thought about marketing and even the FBI but quickly ruled these out because she just didn’t feel that “spark.” A big goal of Fili’s was to stay in Omaha to be with her family. Then, she started an internship at Channel 11 in Lincoln.

“When I found my internship, everything just kind of clicked,” Fili said. She didn’t have to sit at a desk all day and was able to to go out into the community and connect with people and tell stories that would affect them. Not only did she find her calling there, but she also met her fiancé there too.

Fili’s fiancé was the nightside reporter while she was the nightside intern. He helped her learn how to get a story done and how to shoot

a video. Not long after that Sarah became a reporter at Channel 7 Omaha KETV News.

As a KETV News reporter, Fili has a crazy schedule. She sometimes has to work until 11 a.m. and then be in bed by 5 in the evening to be able to get to work by 3 a.m.

Even though she has a busy schedule she still makes sure that she goes to gym, makes time for her family and tries to go to church regularly.

Fili had recently come to Marian and talked to the journalism classes and shared her experience in journalism. She gave the students tips on how to write good stories and how to keep the audience interested.

From experiences in her life so far, Fili had advice to give to Marian girls today to empower them in their journey of finding what they truly love, “Take control, take advantage, go out, try everything, get involved and get to know people.”

Sarah Fili, Marian graduate from 2011.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Fili.

EMPOWERMENT Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Tomi Huber

Living Marian’s Core Values

Professional Best Friend

Maria Corpuz is a perfect model of being a confident, independent, thinking leader. She is a 22-year old Mary Our Queen, Marian and Creighton University alumna.

According to Corpuz, high school was awesome. She was involved in many clubs and activities such as journalism, ballet and tap, recruitment team, Student Board, volleyball, Burn Magazine, Big Sisters, Campus Ministry, Speech, and FBLA. She said that her favorite thing at Marian was definitely journalism. This class introduced her to the Burn Magazine which she and some of her classmates started.

Through Marian, Corpuz did lots of service and came to learn that she loves working with people. This is how she decided she wanted to become try to a nurse.

After high school, she went to Creighton University College of Nursing. After going to the college of nursing for a year, she realized that the nursing life wasn’t the life for her. She decided she still wanted to have a job that involved talking to, helping, and being creative with people and overall making a difference in their lives.

“If I could be a professional

best friend, I would. That is my dream job,” Corpuz said. Just by talking with her for almost two hours, I learned that she was more than qualified for this position. Unfortunately, she quickly realized there was no legitimate profession for this, so she decided to major in journalism instead. Through college and journalism class at Marian, Corpuz found her passion of wanting to help people and give people a voice who don’t have it.

She said the process of figuring out your passion “is a lot of trial and error” and “you have to know your personal values.”

Corpuz and her friends live by the motto, “grow day.” She says, “It’s an adjective, no matter how horrible or great your day was, you can still put a positive spin on it and realize that you grew.” This goes along with her advice to Marian girls today, she says you need to empower other girls and stick up for each other and take her mom’s advice, “You’re in charge of your own fun.” Meaning that no matter where you are or what you are doing, you can have fun and put a positive spin on it, like grow day. Corpuz said that when she was younger she hated when her mom said this but as she grew up

she learned to really live by this.

Corpuz learned to make her own fun in Omaha with documentaries, music festivals, and Corpuz learned to make her own fun in Omaha with documentaries, music festivals, and finding new things to do with her friends. One of the most recent events she worked at was Farnam Fest. This experience led her to the opportunity that she has now of working with the band Tennis as their social media publicist. She said that she and her friend really want to put the oh too common phrase, “Omaha is so boring, there’s nothing to do,” to bed.

In order to help others “find their own fun” in Omaha, Corpuz and her friend have decided to create an app for people to find events in Omaha to go to.

First they are starting a splash page or website to get the ball rolling. They are meeting with app designers to set up their app soon. No matter where she goes with this she will continue to motivate and empower others.

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Maria Corpuz. Photo courtesy of Ally Pietrok, Class of 2013.

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Paige Connelly

Living Marian’s Core Values

Megan Han Motivates

Her Students to be Good People in and out of the Classroom Ms. Megan Han ‘13, a math teacher at Marian High School, teaches a variety of math classes that Freshman through Seniors are enrolled in. Ms. Han is determined to not only shape the minds of her students in the interest of math, but to also mold her students into upstanding members of society.

When asked what core value Han identifies the most with she said, “Empowerment - I really feel strongly about living my life the way that I see best fit. I do what I need to do, and try not to worry about what other people think about it. I stand up for myself and what I believe in.” Not only does she motivate her math students, but she motivates and empowers the entire sophomore class as their class moderator.

As a Marian alumnae, Han knows the spirit and community

of Marian like no other. Many students look toward the faculty for inspiration or a mentor. Miss Han is inspired by her students.

“Other people inspire me. I enjoy watching other people succeed because it makes me want to be successful. My students inspire me everyday to do what I do. The other day, I found out that one of my students got into an amazing scholarship program for college, and the emotions that I felt because of that one student were indescribable.”

Han has many accomplishments academically but she finds that her most important accomplishment is becoming a Marian teacher.

As a former class officer for the class of 2013, Ms. Han is passionate about field day and the lessons and experiences that come with it. “The one thing

that I wish were different was the competitive nature. It gets to be too cutthroat at times. But at the same time, I don’t want it to not be competitive because I know that competition makes people the best that they can be.” Ms. Han was the mascot moderator for the sophomores last year and helped guide them to a 2nd place finish. If you ever have any questions about field day or other annual Marian events, talk to Ms. Han Students throughout Marian know that Ms. Han will do anything for them and that she is dedicated to her job. By completing one of Ms. Han’s classes, you will not only have a better understanding on your math subject but you will be motivated to accomplish all of your dreams, because Ms. Han is determined to empower you.

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Megan Han ‘13. Math teacher that empowers her students and the entire sophomore class.

Core Value Personality Profile by J1Madison Bezousek

Sara Kreski:

Living Marian’s Core Values

A Model of Faith and Service Senior BFA Theatre Major at Texas Christian University, and Marian Graduate from the Class of 2014, Sara Kreski embodies what it is to be a follower of Christ. Kreski remembers her years at Marian as the foundation for her strong faith. “I found my faith and made it my own. I found friendships that glorified the Lord. I grew in my confidence, and became the leader that I am today.”

Kreski was very involved at Marian. She participated in Hearts of Marian, Recruitment Team, Junior Classical League, Campus Ministry, EMHC and Senior Retreat Leader, Select Women’s Choir, MPower Program, ProLife Club, National Forensics League, and the school musicals. “I think being an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion helped me grow in my faith by understanding the importance of Mass, especially the Eucharist.

Being a Senior Retreat Leader also allowed me to put my faith into action. I got to serve my peers and pour out all of the love Jesus had put in my heart. However, being in Hearts of Marian was probably one of the biggest highlights in my high school career. This is where I found my passion to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I caught a glimpse of how much love Jesus has for us, and how he is continually unveiling that love.” Kreski said.

She knows that God and her family are behind her in every choice she makes. “I knew I wanted to go into acting because of how strongly the Lord was calling me to continue pursuing theatre.” Kreski has a passion for sharing stories, singing, and creating art. “I love entertaining people, and making people laugh,” Kreski said. “Theatre is a great way of sharing stories, and expressing these stories onstage so that everyone can experience them.” Before going to college, Kreski performed at The Omaha Community Playhouse and Rose Theatre, and in 2016, while in college, Kreski was cast in the National Tour of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical!

Sara tries to include God in everything she does. “I try to live my daily life in continual prayer”, Kreski states. She loves praying the rosary, Litany of Humility, and Litany of Trust every morning. “I’m a rosary girl,” Kreski

says. “I love the seven sorrowful mysteries, which are prayed on Tuesday and Friday.”

Kreski recalls that one of her greatest accomplishments is traveling to Uganda for service work. She is a part of an organization called WEND Africa (Women’s Empowerment Network Design). This organization is a nonprofit that provides opportunities for employment, education and empowerment to women affected by wars that took place in Northern Uganda. The Ugandan women make bags and jewelry by hand, and these are sold in the United States. All the proceeds go back to the women and their families, in order to help them with their essential needs. “I went to Uganda this past summer and had the opportunity to meet all of the women, and see their beautiful hearts at work. I’m constantly praying for them,” Kreski said.

When Kreski first wanted to go, her parents were hesitant. “Going to Uganda always seemed like it was an unrealistic goal. I was so blessed when my parents gave me the ‘yes’ to go!” Her interest in going to Uganda began when she read a book called Our Lady of Kibeho. Here, she gained her passion for Africa as a whole. “I’ve always wanted to go there. At Saint Margaret Mary’s, my grade school, our head priest was from Uganda, and shared stories of his life there. I loved hearing his descriptions of the land and the people.”

Kreski notes that one of her favorite things about Uganda would be the pure hearts of the people that live there. “In Uganda, the people are spiritually fed and impoverished. In United States, we have opposite problem. Ugandans live such a simple life.” The first time Kreski went to Uganda was during the summer of 2016, and this is when she had the opportunity to teach Vacation Bible School to young children at an orphanage. “I loved my experience at the Jireh (Ji-rah) Orphanage, where I taught VBS. The kids were between three and ten years old, and we had the opportunity to teach them about Christ for two weeks.”

Sara’s second trip to Uganda was with WEND Africa. “On my second summer, I had a much different experience than the summer before. In 2017, we were focused on WEND for the duration of our stay. We built

relationships with the women and spent a lot of time in prayer over each other. We made lifelong friends and encouraged one another.”

Throughout this trip, Kreski felt extremely empowered and truly felt God truly moving through her. “It’s special to see how God is working through me, and how it is different every time I go to Uganda.”

During her second trip to Uganda, Kreski was focusing on a great amount of business for WEND. Sara and the WEND team created new designs, picked out fabrics, and figured out how to make WEND more successful. “We did a lot of design and held business-oriented meetings. After the women made the bags, we figured out how to get the bags to the United States for fundraising, and I attended conferences. I’ve been able to sell the products at multiple conferences around the Dallas/ Fort Worth area. To sell the products, we told stories of the women who made them, and also put the stories online to share with everyone.”

“I am so broken and inadequate, but God provides. He is so clearly working through me, and my actions. I am so full of peace while in Uganda because the Ugandan people are constantly showing me the unconditional love of Christ,” Kreski recalls. She states that when she would visit native’s homes in Uganda, they would pull their mattresses out into the street for her to sit on. “It’s their way of welcoming us. We’d sit on the mattresses, and they would bring us food and refreshments. These people will typically get one meal a day, and the fact that they gave me their food was so selfless,” Kreski said. The organization is trying to raise money for these families to provide for their basic needs, such as food, and other personal items.

Kreski holds many fond memories of her Ugandan travels near and dear to her heart.

One in particular would be when she had the opportunity to meet a fifteen-year-old girl named Charity. Because Charity’s mother was raped during the war, Charity is a “Bush Baby”. A “Bush Baby” is defined by a baby that was born out of war, through rape. “Charity is HIV positive, has one meal a day, and cares for her brothers and sisters while trying to get a high school education,” Kreski said.

Claire Burn, Monica of the WEND Organization, and Sara Kreski. Photo by Sara Tober.

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Charity was kicked out of her tribe because of her status as a Bush Baby. However, Charity has great faith and has made great strides to be where she is today. She is now a leader within her community, with hopes to go to college one day.

Her mother is one of the many women who work at WEND. “The people of Uganda have it rough, but they put all of their hardships aside. The Ugandan people are some of, if not the most, joyful people with the strongest faith. I aspire to be just like them. They aren’t defined by their material items in life, and they never complain,” Kreski recollects, with a smile.

Another one of her favorite memories was when she traveled outside of Gulu, Uganda, which is where WEND is located.

“Many people were lying along the streets, paralyzed and diseased. They were kicked out of the city, and were just sitting there to die. It looked as if they had no hope. Just seeing these people made me understand how grateful I should be for everything that I have, and how much this situation needs to change. It breaks my heart to see people that do not have a place to live, an education, and food on a table everyday. I think that everyone should be able to have those basic necessities and opportunities.”

If there was one piece of advice that Kreski could offer to students from this experience, it would be “to trust in the Lord, even if we feel broken. He will provide, and how He will work thorough each one of His children is going to be beautiful.”

For more information on WEND, or to purchase Bags / Jewelry / Merchandise, please visit www.wendafrica.com. To learn more about Uganda, or to donate, visit www.us2uganda4life.org

Charity and Sara. Photo courtesy of Sara Kreski

The Ladies of WEND. Photo courtesy of Sara Kreski

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Empowerment Community Service

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By J1 Photographer Taylor Sterba

Spirituality

Living Marian’s Core Values

Ellen Townley

Empowering the Community with Her Passion for Sustainability Ellen Townley, a Marian graduate of 2014, is already making her alma mater proud with her passions for empowerment and sustainability.

Using the values instilled in her both by family and schooling, Townley has gone on to accomplish reform in several environmental areas and is on a path to be successful in medical school and beyond.

Family

Born and raised in Omaha and the middle child of five, Townley has been shaped by her family in many ways. The Townley family is numerous in Omaha, and many have been successful in careers in the medical field and are social-justice oriented.

“My family taught me to pay attention to inequality and social justice issues and to advocate or serve as a way to address the problems I see in society,” Townley said. Her family has also demonstrated medicine as a career focused on addressing the issues that are pressing for society through taking care of people.

One of her role models is her aunt Theresa Townley, a Marian graduate

of 1982, who has been successful in her work as a doctor working for global health in Omaha. Close to her large and driven family, Townley has had access to useful guidance and advice to be successful in her chosen field.

because it taught her the importace of community and appreciating and celebrating differences instead of conformity. Marian was a central factor in shaping the person Townley has become.

Marian

Townley decided to attend Creighton University after she graduated from Marian, partially because of the pre-med program, but also because its wholistic approach to education allowed her to keep her options open and able to pursue multiple interests. A current senior at Creighton, Townley majored in biology and minored in sustainable energy, hoping to find a way to work in medicine while also advocating for environmental justice and educating people about climate change. Townley hopes to work in global health like her aunt Theresa, addressing health issues at a global scale and finding opportunities to share resources with communities around the world that are in need.

She is considering medical school, but is also thinking about doing

At Marian, Townley had her first experience with challenging academics and many good teachers who pushed her to achieve her potential.

“Academics were central to my high school experience, but I valued the Marian community just as much, because looking back, it is clear that Marian girls are unique and special in how they get along and care for one another,” Townley said. Going to the Dominican Republic with Marian was also an eye-opening experience for Townley, because the service she completed at a medical clinic was the factor that made her interested in pursuing the medical field. Marian also prepared her for college not only because the classes were college preparatory, but also

Creighton and Future

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SPIRITUALITY Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Sally Noble

a year of volunteering. Whichever field Townley decides to go into, the experience and knowledge gained from her many years of guidance and schooling will serve her well.

Empowerment through Service

The list of service Townley has completed to help her community is abundant, and she truly does have a passion for empowering people through her own words and actions.

She has served at the Siena Francis House, which houses and empowers homeless people, and at Project Homeless Connect, which has helped more than 3,000 people in the Omaha area find housing, healthcare, and other needed services. Townley has also done service in the form of sustainability service trips offered to Creighton students through the Schlegel Center for Service and Justice (SCSJ). Throughout her four years of college, Townley has been involved in SCSJ, the Schlegel Center for Service and Justice, advocating for sustainability. Townley sees advocacy as an important way of addressing the problems she sees in society and serving communities in need. Townley also studied abroad in Ireland, which gave her the opportunity to study sustainable infrastructure and community programs in other countries.

Townley said, “Traveling, seeing new

places, and living in other countries are invaluable opportunities to see cities that focus on using different means of sustainability in design.”

Her determination to use her experience and resources to help other people through service is inspiring and will make her successful in achieving reform for injustices in the Omaha community and beyond.

Sustainability

Townley is a strong believer in empowerment through advocacy, and that everyone must stand up for what they believe in. Townley said, “Always make sure you get involved in things you’re interested in and stand up for what is important to you, because every voice matters.” In her case, Townley has a passion for making her community at Creighton, in Omaha, and across the world, more sustainable. The principles of sustainability such as minimizing energy use, creating green space, using recycled materials, and planting trees, will create lasting social, environmental, and economic benefits in infrastructure. Her freshman year of college, Townley was sitting with her friend Maria Mathey, also a Marian graduate of 2014, talking about how they were both interested in addressing climate change by taking action on Creighton’s campus. The idea started becoming a reality once they orga-

nized a meeting with the President of Creighton, Father Daniel S. Hendrickson, to voice student’s concerns about sustainability on campus. Their efforts combined with many others on campus led to the formation of the Presidential Advisory Committee for Sustainability. The committee made it clear to the university and to individual departments that efforts behind sustainability need to be improved and the idea of sustainability needs to become more of a priority on campus.

An important thing that the committee did was hire a sustainability coordinator to help achieve these goals at Creighton. Townley and Mathey were excited to shape the efforts at Creighton to increase sustainability, and her talents and knowledge are sure to be useful in the future.

Townley is a role model for all empowered women in the use of her Catholic faith to guide her work, relationships, and service. Townley said, “The principles that the Catholic faith teaches about taking care everyone, especially the poor and vulnerable, are very important to me, and I try to put them into practice in my work.”

She tries to balance all the elements of her life with school and family, while empowering others through her actions. Townley has been successful in making Marian proud with her actions of empowerment through service.

“Traveling, seeing new places, and living in other countries are invaluable opportunities to see cities that focus on using different means of sustainability in design” -Ellen Townley

Ellen and her family

Ellen on the Marian 2012 Dominican Republic trip Ellen and friends at an Operation Others event

Ellen on a Creighton Service trip

Living Marian’s Core Values

“It’s this idea of living for and with others, and I think that it’s one of the most applicable of them (the core values) because we can live with compassion not only within our future careers, whatever that may be, but within every day and every little interaction,” -Caroline Byrne

Compassion Caroline Byrne: Byrne laughs while playing with a boy she met during her trip to the Dominican Republic during the summer before her Senior year at Marian.

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Caroline Byrne: Choosing

Compassion Every Day

Caroline Byrne, current junior at Creighton University from Marian’s Class of 2015, strives to live with compassion in every aspect of her life. “It’s this idea of living for and with others, and I think that it’s one of the most applicable of them (the core values) because we can live with compassion not only within our future careers, whatever that may be, but within every day and every little interaction,” she said.

Whether it be living in solidarity with the poorest of people in the Dominican Republic or in a simple everyday interaction, Byrne lives a life of compassion.

During her time at Marian, she was involved in many activities. She played soccer and played the violin in the orchestra all four years, was involved in Campus Ministry, and was the demo Class Officer senior year when their Senior Space Odyssey took home a first place Field Day win.

Byrne could not be more proud of the high school she came from, the school that has helped shape her into the person she is today.

Byrne explains that everyone knows Marian girls are who they are: confident and unafraid to be themselves. “Being out of Marian, I have realized I am who I am because of Marian and in the most positive ways.

If it weren’t for Marian, I wouldn’t have the confidence in myself that I do, which has opened up so many opportunities for me.”

The summer before her senior year at Marian, Caroline Byrne was fortunate enough to be selected to go on the ten-day-long Marian immersion trip to the Dominican Republic.

Little did she know that this experience would change her life forever.

In addition to being able to explore the country’s major sites and visit an orphanage and a Haitian batay (a sugarcane mill where the poorest of the Dominican people, including kids, work for very low wages), she got to stay with a host family in the campo Comedero. “That was the first time I was exposed to people who lived so presently. It was the first time I realized the importance of living in the moment and living with the people that you’re with,” Byrne said. When she left, she said she knew it wasn’t enough. “I felt that I had such a deep connection with the people and I felt at home. I knew I was challenged in ways I hadn’t been before and I wanted to be challenged again and further,” Byrne said. The experience was so important to her that it even affected her decision when looking at colleges. “One of the Jesuit values is magis; it’s this idea that we are restless human beings and we want to do more and I felt that I was called to do more there.”

In her second semester of Sophomore year at Creighton, Byrne went back to the DR; this trip was much longer than her previous one, lasting from the beginning of January through the middle of June. During this time around, they went to a campo for three longer periods of time.

During the first period of time, they planted kakow, lemon, and coffee trees. During the second period, they gave talks on how to take care of these trees, nutrition, the importance of self confidence, and prayer. During the third period, they lived with and

learned from the people. During this trip, they went to the service site Accion Callejera: an educational foundation for boys who are living and working on the streets, a majority of which are Haitian shoeshiners living in the DR without homes. By living among the Dominicans, working with them, and not only giving time and help to them but learning from them, Byrne embodies the value of compassion.

Byrne is now a junior at Creighton. She is majoring in Spanish with a minor in Biology and either public health or medical anthropology, on the pre-med track. The values she learned in the Dominican Republic have stuck with her and helped her to live with compassion everyday.

God’s presence in her life has shaped Byrne into the compassionate person she is. God is made most present to her in the people she surrounds herself with and when she sees amazing people showcasing their gifts for everyone to see. “I see God when the people around me are sharing their talents. When people are passionate and doing what they love, that’s when I see God most,” Byrne said.

One thing Byrne has heard people say about Marian girls is that they stand out, and that they aren’t afraid.

“You’ll learn quickly after Marian that every semester or every month after that, everything is always changing.

It’s not this routine of block schedules, everything’s changing, so don’t be subject to change and don’t be afraid to be yourself. You are the only one who can be the best version of yourself.”

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Jenna Cusick

Living Marian’s Core Values

Marian Helped Guide Katelyn Gochenour to Empower Herself and Others

Katelyn Gochenour started her journey at Marian with an hourlong drive to school from Logan, Iowa. Every day for four years, she drove two hours round-trip just to go to school. By the end of her senior year in 2016, she had sacrificed a minimum of 1,140 hours in a car for a beautiful place called Marian.

Many people would wonder why in the world is any school worth that sacrifice. If you traveled today to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and asked Gochenour what is the most important thing she learned from Marian she would simply say,

“As an individual, I have more resiliency because of Marian.”

Gochenour knows that if she would not have woken up an hour early every day of high school, she would not be the person she is today. She believes that because she made the sacrifice to go to Marian, she was able to easily push herself to be persistent in becoming a better student and also a better person.

Gochenour, like so many of her classmates, walked into Marian and was inspired daily by teachers and staff who taught her kindness and work ethic.

For the first time in her life, she took an art class and was taught that in Mr. Jeremy Cisco’s classroom, you can truly be yourself. Her favorite theology teacher Mrs. Lori Spanbauer, modeled

the kind of lady she wanted to be: patient, kind, and fully understanding of the grace in every student she taught. Another one of her most impactful teachers was Mrs. Susie Sisson. Mrs. Susie Sisson encouraged Gochenour to honor her individuality while pushing her students to let their inner light shine as brightly as possible.

Yet another layer of Gochenour is her athletic ability as an All-American javelin thrower in her freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year of high school. In her senior year, she set the javelin record for the New Balance National Championships. Then in her senior year of high school and again in her freshman year of college, she made the US Junior team. During high school, javelin allowed Gochenour to travel to Finland, Poland, Cuba, and Colombia. At the same time, Gochenour was excelling in her schoolwork at Marian and was inducted into four different academic honor societies: National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Math Honor Society and National Science Honor Society.

Gochenour is now a sophomore at Duke where she now holds the javelin record. She has maintained her academic excellence, even while being a successful full-time student-athlete.

Gochenour does not know how she does this and says, “that sometimes you just have to wing it and have faith you can get it done.” She credits her Academic Honor Roll from her freshman year at Duke to her time at Marian.

Javelin throwing is something

that Gochenour enjoyed as a child and, by a small chance, was also successful at it. In Nebraska and Iowa, javelin is not allowed to be a part of track and field events. This made her unique throwing ability even more amazing. However, it is not something she brags about or holds above others. Gochenour views javelin throwing as just an activity she does in her free time.

Yes, Gochenour is an amazing student and athlete, but Marian has shaped her into so much more than that. Marian taught Gochenour that you are truly only young once, and it is so important to be young and silly and not grow up too fast. Gochenour advises current Marian girls to appreciate the fun things at Marian: Field Day, Surprise Day, and just being able to smile and say hello to everyone in the halls.

Gochenour graduated from Marian only two short years ago and has so much more ahead of her in life. She looks forward to being done with school and starting a different chapter in her life. A chapter in her life where she can use all the beautiful things Marian taught her. She wants to learn how to fully trust in herself and embody her full confidence. She wants to someday, be the type of person who can be gracefully true to herself so she can be a role model for everyone around her.

Katelyn Gochenour personifies empowerment because she walks through life trying to empower herself, so she can one day empower as many people as possible.

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Core Personality Profile J1 Reporter Mia Mixan Katelyn Gochenour. Throwing javelin. Photo courtesy of Michael Scott.

Living Marian’s Core Values

Bunny Nelson: Pushing through Marian’s front doors is just a small part of the attending students daily routine, but for Bunny Nelson, those doors were more than just an entrance to a school; they represent the four years in which Marian entered her heart and transformed her into the person she is today.

As it is for any other high school freshman, Nelson’s first day of freshman year at Marian was overwhelming. She was unsure and nervous because she didn’t know what her sisters who came before her meant when they said that “Marian is the greatest place on earth,” but she was confident that the best was yet to come. She was embarking on a journey with an unknown destination, however, the initial confusion proved to be well-worth it. Over the course of four years, the new school and the strangers that filled it became home.

Nelson was a member of Student Board all four years and went to Hearts of Marian (HOM). HOM is open to any girl after school every Wednesday. Those who attend reflect on a message or Bible verse in a journal and talk about how it pertains to their life. Everyone also gets a chance to discuss anything happening in their life that is weighing heavy on their heart. It is beneficial for girls in the sense that they get a chance to talk to God and feel the comfort by all who come. Nelson also shared God’s grace by being a Freshman Retreat leader her junior and senior years and traveling to the Dominican Republic with Marian.

She learned that her spirituality is not just something that is found in Church; it is ever

present in the beholder. The student became the teacher when Marian shaped Bunny Nelson into a beholder of the core value of Spirituality.

Out of the seven core values of Marian, the most prevalent in Nelson is Spirituality. She says she is a mixture of all seven; however, Spirituality shines through. Nelson is now a freshman at The University at Nebraska in Lincoln and still brings love, acceptance, and faith to the world each day by continuing to strengthen her relationship with God, treating everyone with respect and being open to new people. Nelson said, “I cannot begin to fathom the majesty of God’s kingdom, but I’m going to make every day on Earth a little more like that.” Her life is dedicated to appreciating all of the beauty around her and to being Christ’s hands and feet.

Nelson’s faith is simple. She leads her life with an open heart and allows God to direct her through life. She prays regularly; journaling is her favorite form. Although spirituality may entail structure for many people, the spirituality she possesses is a mindset that she constantly holds true.

Nelson brings the love and compassion Marian taught her with her everywhere she goes as she lives her spirituality. The place that shaped her is a reminder of the journey of finding herself and her identity as an individual and follower of Christ. Although the journey at Marian is over, her spiritual journey is eternal. She says, “life with Christ is a journey; a never ending cycle of being able to get closer and closer to God.”

“I cannot begin to fathom the majesty of God’s kingdom, but I’m going to make every day on Earth a little more like that.”

Bunny Nelson smiles with flowers in her hair.

Photo courtesy of Allie Morrissey.

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Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Kayla Gornall

Living Marian’s Core Values

EMPOWERMENT MARIAN IDENTITY SPIRITUALITY COMPASSION COMMUNITY SERVICE

ZOË ZIER. Zier is happy to be home after a five-week kayaking trip. Photo courtesy of Zoë Zier.

Zoë Encourages a World of Empowerment Zoë Zier is a daily reminder of the Marian Core Values. She lives them out truthfully and completely, and there is no Zoë Zier without empowerment.

Along with other experiences, Marian has made Zier into the confident and empowered person she is today. “I remember going into freshman year kinda down on myself. I was confident enough, but I remember sitting down after two months and realizing how much I had grown in confidence. Now looking back, it’s incredible to see where I’ve come from,” Zier said.

Zier was raised by parents that she deems “really cool people” based on their professions and what they instilled in her. Her parents encouraged traveling as much as possible, trying her best, and forming a trusting relationship which can all be found in Zier’s current life.

Zier’s parents also affect her through their actions she observes on the daily. A specific example Zier described was when her mom supported the entire family with her business while her dad was finishing college and grad school. At the time, Zier’s mom was 8 months pregnant with Leyla, Zier’s youngest sister, and she had already had three kids.

As for Zier’s dad, he always helped Zier realize when she was forming judgments. “He always asked ‘Is that a judgment or a fact?’ which instilled in me there’s a difference between what is true and what I have been led to believe,”

Zier said. She was taught not to make judgments from a young age, even when she was too young to understand the question.

While her parents are a contributing factor, Zier’s biggest motivators are her younger sisters: India, Maya, and Leyla at ages 14, 12, and 8, respectively. “I think growing up as a girl is difficult and all of us know this,” Zier said. As the oldest, Zier has to be a role model for the other girls in her family. “I have grown to love myself, and not for me, but for my sisters, to show them what that should look like,” Zier said.

Not only is Zier a role model for her biological sisters, she is a role model for her Marian sisters as well. Zier is currently in her first year as a Student Board (or StuBo) member. Many people in the class of 2019 look to her as an inspiration and an example. When asked about her motivations to become a StuBo member, Zier explained that after the 2016 presidential election, she felt really down about being a woman in America. She lost a part of herself. Running for StuBo helped her overcome that feeling and time of discouragement.

Zier also has other ways to deal with loss of confidence. “I like to journal a lot. The more I write or talk about my feelings, the more I understand it, and once I get a handle on it, it’s easier to deal with,” Zier said. Other ways she deals with it is by watching the sunrise or talking with her sisters.

Another contributor to Zier’s empowerment is Miniwanca, the girls summer camp she attends in Michigan, that she described as being similar to Marian. For the past six summers, Zier has attended this camp ranging from one to five weeks at a time. “Their motto is ‘My own self, At my very best, All the time,’” Zier said. Her summers there have taught her what she is capable of and instilled in her a sense of confidence.

This past summer, Zier went on a 5-week kayaking trip through Miniwanca. After only the first night of playing introspective icebreakers, these games “really made you believe in who you are,” Zier said. In her journal that night, she wrote that she did not think they could get any closer than they already were. After going through five more weeks of activities like this, the group of people she was with didn’t feel like friends, they felt like family.

One would think that going on a 5-week kayaking trip may not be the best decision for someone with anxiety issues. Zier didn’t have a problem with it. “I don’t get anxious about being in the middle of nowhere in a kayak, but it’s like you’re scared and you don’t know what’s causing it. It’s like missing a step on a staircase but for a longer amount of time,” Zier said. Zier knows when and what to do in the instance of an anxiety attack, but it also makes it hard for her to be productive. “It’s just inconvenient,” Zier said. Perhaps part of Zier’s

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Emma Williams

empowerment comes from living with anxiety.

Zier’s strongest value is empowerment, but her compassion is something to be noted. Zier cares about and loves everybody who comes her way. A mere conversation with her can exhibit how much love Zier has in her heart. “Everyone should be loved, and love can solve any issue.

There’s already so much hate in this world, and I don’t have the right to contribute to it,” Zier said.

Zier’s empowerment certainly pushes her to strive for her goals. Her highest aspiration is to be the President of the United States, but if that doesn’t work out, she has other plans. “If not the president, then I want to be in a position of power in which I can inspire others to do good for themselves and for the world around them,” Zier said. Not only does Zier exhibit the Marian Core Values on a daily basis, but she also intends to spread them to others in her future.

“I don’t get anxious about being in the middle of nowhere in a kayak, but it’s like you’re scared and you don’t know what’s causing it. It’s like missing a step on a staircase but for a longer amount of time”

“Everyone should be loved, and love can solve any issue. There’s already so much hate in this world, and I don’t have the right to contribute to it.”

ZOË ZIER. Zier is smiling on a beach after visiting UCLA. Photo courtesy of Zoë Zier.

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Anna Kenney

Living Marian’s Core Values

Robert Davis EMPOWERS the golf team to be their BEST Three. Two. One. Blast Off! One. Two. Three. Go Marian!

These are two common phrases Robert Davis hears in his very busy life as a Principal Director for Aerospace Corporation where he advises the military on what satellites they will need in future, as well as head coach for Marian’s golf team. Davis found his passion for both of these jobs in different ways, but they were both dreams that became reality due to Davis’s value of empowerment.

Davis grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and he graduated from the University of Dayton, then continued his education at Stanford University. He has always been inspired by people who have a huge passion for a cause and fight hard for it. Davis became exactly what inspired him when he started doing service mainly centered around empowering children.

For example, he started the Marian Academic Competition Club (MACC) in 2012.

MACC is a competition team that challenges students academically in broad categories.

Davis learned from leading this experience that he loved work-

ing with young people. “They don’t know their own limits, or their own potential, so they are an open book,” Davis said.

Marian gained a special place in Davis’s heart, especially when his only daughter Claire Davis enrolled in 2011.

“Claire’s personal development in spirit, social and academic life is due to Marain, it is such a joyful place that spread to the home,” Davis said. Claire now attends Tulane University and is studying engineering physics.

Davis learned from this experience how important it is to let your daughter grow in high school. “Set firm boundaries and expectations, but then back off and let them make their own choices, you need to let them grow into independent and confident young ladies,” said Davis.

Due to the amazing experience his daughter had at Marian, Davis was extremely appreciative to the community, so when he received an unexpected request for him to help out Marian’s golf team he was quick to accept. “The girls were so eager to learn and very hardworking,” said Davis.

The girls inspired Davis,

and he empowered the girls, it clicked and Davis became the head coach. As the head coach of the golf team, Davis exemplifies empowerment daily.

Not only in his determination to set every team member up for the best opportunity, but he empowers girls to be their own problem solvers. “Golf sets them up for being successful in life, it teaches them life lessons about integrity and hard work,” Davis said.

Davis’s experience as a Marian father has helped him immensely with coaching.

On occasion the golfers will have problems with teachers or friends and Davis is knowledgeable on how to help so his team members can stay focused on the task at hand, golf.

Due to Davis’s coaching and the team’s hard work they achieved the state runner-up title in 2015. The core value of empowerment is fitting for Davis. He along with the quality itself is all about solving problems with passion. Davis remains the head coach of the golf team and will continue to empower all the team members in 2018.

Grace McMinn ’17, Jalea Culliver ’19, Abby Hermanek ’16, Ally Hermanek ’16 and Makenzie Fuss ’16 jumping in celebration as Head Coach Robert Davis kneels with the District Golf Trophy. from fall of 2015.

C Y O T M I L P ASSION A U T I R I SP MARIAN IDENTITY

COMMUNITY SERVICE

T N E M R E EMPOW Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Kristin Beduhn

Living Marian’s Core Values

Superwoman goes above and beyond

Being a mother of three, a devout Catholic, and a business owner is nearly impossible as it is, but Susan Heim manages to do all of this and more.

Heim grew up in Hastings, Nebraska. She attended St. Michael Catholic Grade School and St. Cecilia Catholic High School. She was raised in an extremely Catholic-based family, consisting of her two parents and three sisters. Today, she is a parishioner at Saint Wenceslaus in Omaha, Nebraska.

Her faith-rooted childhood helped shape her into the incredibly spiritual and grounded woman she is today.

Heim is a business owner of a gift and stationery store called On A Whim. She and two friends started On A Whim 14 years ago. “We’ve been in business since our kids were little, and each of our daughters worked and are still working there,” Heim said. Heim prides herself on her creativity and loves to express this creativity through the arts.

Her hobbies and interests include playing the piano and painting.

Heim and her husband have three daughters: Maggie, Mary (Lily), and Elizabeth (Liza). All three of these girls have attended or are attending Marian. Maggie graduated from Marian in 2013, Lily is a senior, and Liza is a freshman.

Although Heim is incredibly talented and imaginative, she says “I absolutely love leading children into God’s heart; that’s probably my favorite hobby.” She has led the Hearts of Marian club at Marian for seven years. Hearts of Marian is a club that brings Marian girls together weekly to share

in a retreat-like experience and grow in their faith through journaling and prayer. Clara Roth, Heim’s neice as well as weekly Hearts of Marian attendee, said “I love having my aunt lead Hearts because it makes my experience that much more special.”

Heim perfectly embodies Marian’s core value of spirituality because she is selfless in her work and devoted to her relationship with God. She says that her greatest accomplishment is her faith and relationship with God. “My spiritual life is always moving. It is really natural and organic, like hanging out with my best friend,” Heim said.

Living out spirituality is not the only core value that Heim posseses. She represents a little bit of every core value with her generosity and kindness.

She is an empowered woman who is driven by her family, her community, and her faith. She uses the life she is blessed with to live out her faith by serving others and God. Heim inspires every person that comes in contact with her with her inviting and warm presence, and allows every person to feel welcome and safe.

Although her life is far from quiet, she manages to find quiet of Christ in the chaos, which helps her to be the rooted, faithful, amazing woman she is today.

Heim says the most important mission led at Hearts of Marian is “God has a deep love for eachMarian girl and ech of His children. He wants them to hear it, feel it and know it deeply. When they know this their lives are changed forever. They operate out of this love and not what the world says love is.

Susan Heim smiles as she leads Hearts of Marian. She leads Hearts of Marian every Wednesday in the Marian chapel following school. Photo by Macy Salerno.

COMMUNITY SERVICE MARIAN IDENTITY SPIRITUALITY COMPASSION EMPOWERMENT

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Macy Salerno

Living Marian’s Core Values

A KIND heart in the halls of MARIAN For a woman who was once told, “you can only really make a difference at a place if you’re there between five and seven years,” she never imagined she would soon be approaching 30 years at Marian. Ms. Kathy Janata, a current theology teacher, has gone beyond making a difference at a place, but become a difference-maker herself.

Kindness is the one thing she says everyone should embody. Her 27 years here at Marian have given her a glimpse and a hope for a “kind” world.

Janata has spent most of the past three decades working at Marian as either a teacher or a student counselor. To her though, Marian is more than her workplace, it is home. Janata says that God is in everyone and everywhere.

Janata grew up in a heavily-influenced Catholic community. She spent her elementary years learning from religious nuns at a Catholic grade school in rural Nebraska. The sisters at her grade school and the sisters she has worked with before, “are always very kind,” she said.

When Janata was in the first grade, one of the sisters helped her realize how important a loving

father is. When the sister would always describe this “loving father in heaven who wanted us to be his children,” Janata felt intrigued.

She had been growing up with a father who was an alcoholic and not necessarily her best “role model.”

Having learned of someone so kind and caring, she kept digging to get to know this God better and still is.

“Every day,” she says, “if I do not make a connection, my life is not the same.” One thing she knows is God is there, every day and everywhere. Good times and the bad.

Happy moments and the sad. Janata says, “It is not just at church.”

She says the little signs and symbols are ways she is reminded every day that God is with her and by her side. She feels that God really has a sense of humor and is always going to be forgiving no matter how many mistakes a person makes.

The presence of God in her life helps her become aware of her presence in others lives, too. Making sure she says “hello” and “goodbye” and being tender towards others are a few of the many reasons she embodies compassion. “Everybody has a story”, Janata said, and it just takes getting to know them.

Being compassionate towards people is hard, but Janata says you have to be there for people and be kind. Compassion is being aware of others, and she really tries to do so. “There are so many challenging things in this world and it up to us to make it good place”.

Currently, she teaches sophomores and juniors theology. She has always been there to support girls here at Marian by giving guidance and listening as student counselor. It takes a certain compassionate person to always be there to guide and support. She has done everything from service, teaching, counseling, coaching multiple sports teams, club moderator for numerous clubs, and much more.

Janata continues to keep an open mind and gives everything a try, knowing God is there to support and guide if she is willing to do so to others. The humble person she is makes a difference. A quick joke in the hall, a funny story in class, and her kind heart reflect on those around her and her compassion is contagious. She strives every day to make a difference in this world and being compassionate and kind is part of it.

KATHY JANATA.. Photo by Abby Butler..

Compassion Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Abby Butler

Living Marian’s Core Values

Susan Juza: A Model of Faith “My 12 years of Catholic education laid the foundation for the type of person I would become,” said Mrs. Susan Juza, a former teacher at Marian.

Ever since Juza was a young girl, her faith has been an important part of her life. Juza grew up as a Catholic, where she attended Catholic schools, St. Augustine and Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, Minnesota. In high school, Juza was involved in a club known as the Girls Athletic Institution (GAI), where girls played a variety of sports and be involved in different activities. In addition, she was involved in sports like gymnastics and volleyball.

Juza found her love for teaching through raising four sons. She loved that she could be as creative and interactive as she wanted to be with her own children, so she wanted to bring that to life in the classroom.

Marian also valued her creativity and supported any chance she could get to improve her teaching methods in the social studies classroom. Juza loved to see how students would create the things she had imagined in her head. Each class Juza taught had an aspect that she always looked forward to, especially when it came to talking about her past travels in her teaching.

“Besides Marian being supportive of the teachers, the fact that they were a religious, based school, and I didn’t have to be afraid to mention God made it so much more amazing,” Juza said.

Marian has helped transform Juza into the woman she is today.

“It made me more tuned to how students learn, it made more tuned to be always looking for the other side rather than saying that student cannot learn. I would ask myself what is the reason why and try to figure it out.”

She explained how this view can be used when it comes to anything in life. It is important to lift people up and empower them to be their best selves, especially when they are at their worst. She advises young students today to get the most out of their education. “My Catholic education laid my faith foundation. I couldn’t imagine going through life without it. Just having that foundation gets me through any crisis.”

In grade school, a priest by the name of Fr. Peter, inspired Juza to always believe in herself. He used to call her ‘monster’ as a joke because she was so short. Over time, however, he showed her that size doesn’t matter, “It’s your talents and inner self that make you who you are, and no one can take that away from you.” Juza took this

advice with her throughout her life.

In volleyball, she remembers being the shortest person on the team, but found a way around it and continued to enjoy a sport that she loved.

In college, she was not doing so well in class and the professor suggested that Juza drop the class.

However, dropping out was not an option. Juza, again, found a way to overcome adversity and now is an inspiration for the professor’s lectures today.

Juza said that Marian changed her life for the better. When she was being interviewed to become a teacher here, she asked God for a sign to see if this was the place for her. She said, “I don’t need a burning bush, but just give me a sign.

And as I opened up the gym doors, there it was, the Crusader. When I was in high school, our school’s mascot was also the Crusader. In that moment I never felt more sure that this was the place where God wanted me to be.”

Mrs. Susan Juza embodies the core value of Spirituality. Everyday she lives out her life according to God and His will. Her faith the biggest part of who she is. Marian has not only allowed Juza to find her love for teaching, but has changed her life for the better. She can proudly look back at her time at Marian, and believe that she made a difference in the lives of students.

Susan Juza was a Social Studies teacher at Marian High School from 2005-2016. Photo

by Lexi Schorg.

Spirituality "I didn't have to be afraid to mention God.� ~Mrs. Susan Juza Social Studies teacher (2005-2016)

Compassion Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Lexi Schorg

Living Marian’s Core Values

Mark Koesters: A model of

Compassion and Faith Mark Koesters grew up on a farm in Iowa in a religious family consisting of 10 siblings, six brothers and four sisters, that taught him the value of hard work. He went to a local Catholic school near the farm, and enjoyed playing sports.

He attended Mount Michael for high school, a boarding school with fewer than 150 students. It was a lot different because it was a boarding school out in the country and he was leaving the small town he grew up in, but he grew to love the tight-knit community and the atmosphere. He enjoyed everything it had to offer, from French class, to playing basketball, and other sports throughout his high school career.

Surprisingly, his favorite thing about high school was taking French even though later in life he became a Latin teacher. He took French for all four years, and Latin for two. At this time, the boys that attended Mount Michael usually had the intention of becoming a priest, which is what Koesters thought he wanted to be when first enrolling. Later on in life, he felt that he had a different calling.

Koesters went on to focus on learning Latin, teaching himself the language before taking the college courses. “Actually, half of the Latin I know is self-taught.” He attended Creighton, St. John’s University, a college in Minnesota, and earned his masters from Seattle Univer-

sity before completing his college education. He only attended the college in Minnesota for one year because he was drafted, but he conscientiously objected. “I objected to carrying weapons and fighting and hurting people,” he said. “It makes me sad when innocent people are harmed.” At this time he had a deferment because he was planning on being a priest. He gave up his deferment, was drafted, and served alternate service for two years in the California Division of Forestry as a cook for forest fire fighters.

By the time he finished college, he decided that he wanted to be a theology teacher, saying; “Because of religious experience I felt like I had something to give in that area.”

He also wanted to be a French teacher, inspired by one that taught him at Mount Michael. However, when the opportunity arose for him to teach Latin, he took it because of his love for language.

When deciding which high school he wanted to teach at, he said “I made a list of schools I wanted to teach at-Marian was first.” He ended up getting the job, and has enjoyed everything about Marian the past 35 years working here. He has been teaching not only theology, but Latin as well.

He loves the positive atmosphere and the spirit. Everyone is excited to be here and to learn. Over the course of his time here, he says

that Marian has made him more creative, open, confident, and has given him the ability to plan and think. However, just as Marian has had a positive effect on Koesters, Koesters has also had a positive effect on Marian.

Koesters is strong in his faith life, and he shows this every day at Marian to all of his students.

“The core values I associate with my life are faith, hope, and love.

Those are the three big ones,” he said.

He inspires them to be strong in their faith as well as becoming a better person. He enjoys supporting Marian students by coming to their sport events and loves to have conversations with others. He displays the Marian core values of compassion and faith every day without fail, something truly worth striving for.

“Make sure you read a lot of books, develop a wide range of knowledge, make good friends, don’t be mean, and be open to others,” Koesters said when asked what advice he would give to Marian girls. “Lastly, take full advantage of the opportunities you have here.

Koesters is a model of compassion and faith, and will continue to inspire Marian girls during the rest ofMr.his time at Marian.

Mark Koesters spins a fidget spinner in one of his Latin classes.

Photo by Katherine Pelton

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Katherine Pelton

Living Marian’s Core Values

Servant Of Mary Strong in her Spirituality The students of Marian High School strive every day to follow what the founding Servants of Mary have set forth for young women: the core values of service, spirituality, compassion, Marian identity, community, and empowerment. The young girls of Marian today look to role models such as teachers and faculty, alumnae and students, and the current Servants of Mary who show the influence of these values every day. One special example of an amazing woman who diligently and wholeheartedly follows Marian’s core values is Sister Zita Marie Sharrow.

Walking a mile to school everyday and working as a soda jerk on the weekends, Sister Zita found her vocation when she was just in eighth grade. A priest, while passing out report cards, told her she would either be a nurse, a teacher, or a sister. “And I said not a nurse,” Sister Zita recalled, so she opted for the latter two.

Sister Zita has many stories to tell and advice to give. In New York, Iowa, Tucson, Rome,

England, and right here in Omaha, she has taught (from kindergarten kids to college students), worked, lived, and loved all over the world. She has found a way to stay positive all the time despite all that life has thrown at her.

“What can lift me even higher is something like seeing a little child and that new life, or walking outside and getting nature to speak to you,” Sister Zita said. She finds joy spending time in the garden by the convent and seeing all the beautiful surrounding nature.

Sister Zita starts every day by spending quiet time in the presence of the Lord. Her favorite Bible quote is from a number of verses, and it says that “God is within.” She said she feels very blessed by God in every aspect of her life. “God made us out of love, and so that love is never changing,” Sister Zita said. She says she sees imperfection as what makes us who we are. God is her priority in her life, and her main influence as well.

Sister Zita has so much wisdom, advice, and stories to share

from her 88 years on this earth.

Her advice to Marian girls today: “That God loves each person no matter what, and therefore if we can live that love, and we jump to that love and others, our whole life is a life of goodness and happiness and peace.” She also stressed the importance of good relationships and having good friends who accept you as you.

She says one of her greatest gifts is her ability to see the needs of others. Sister Zita loves the wonder of the world, and is inspired by the goodness of individuals.

Sister Zita prays daily for the students at Marian, and loves to be available to the students and participate in the school. She tries to make as many connections as possible with the students and nourish those connection as well.

Her life of spirituality at Marian is admirable, and her work to teach and add goodness to the world is inspiring. Her prayers and advice are certainly not in vain, and she is a clear representative of all Marian’s core values.

EMPOWERMENT MARIAN IDENTITY SERVICE

SPIRITUALITY COMPASSION COMMUNITY

Sister Zita Marie Sharrow never fails to give a smile to anyone and everyone she sees. Her positivity and spiritual attitude help her stay grounded always. Photo by Lauren Elliot

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Lauren Elliot

Not Exactly What She Had Planned...

High school theology teacher, Lori Spanbauer, never would’ve guessed she’d end up here. Where, you may ask? At Marian High School, getting the opportunity to inspire and empower young women every single day.

A well-known and well-admired teacher at Marian, Spanbauer has had such a positive impact on many students through all of her years of teaching. But, originally this wasn’t her plan. Originally, Spanbauer went to college and got a degree for social work and continued this for 10 years. She had never thought of becoming a teacher, until God’s grace lead her to this path of education. A job needed filling and Spanbauer stepped in, and she never thought it would have such a big impact on herself and her life.

Growing up, Spanbauer had a very different education and schooling experience than most girls at Marian do. She went to a coed public school, that seemed to be more laid back. Comparing Marian and her high school, she said the difference is too big to compare since she had boys at her school. Also, having such an open, loving, and compassionate community here at Marian is a very drastic difference between the two. She still lived a normal teenage life and while reminiscing on memories of her best friend from high school, Spanbauer said, “We did some stupid crazy things.”

Spanbauer never thought she would become a teacher until a

friend of hers, Kory Delkamiller gave her a call and recommended the position to her. It almost seems as fate or as Spanbauer says, “I didn’t really choose it, it sort of chose me.” At the time of the offer, she didn’t even know much about Marian, but she loved the idea of an all girls school. “I just really really feel like it’s important to empower young women, so I was really happy about the chance to teach at an all girls school,” she said.

Although, teaching was not her original plan, Spanbauer said she loves where she is today and enjoys her job. She enjoys how much she learns from being here and how much the students challenge her every day. “If I’m any good at all at teaching, it’s because of the students here, they’re constantly making me better, they don’t know they’re challenging me, but they challenge me every day to live my faith in the best way I can,” Spanbauer said.

When asked which one of the six core value she associates to her life, Spanbauer answered with community. She says this because of the time she spent serving at a children’s homeless shelter in Florida, The Covenant House. While there, she served with 10 other people and said it is one of her favorite and most memorable places she’s ever been.

Talking more about this, she says, “I just think Community is the way we have to live our lives.We have to get support from each other. We have to give support to each other. We aren’t

meant to be alone... I’m inspired to live that way and to empower girls to live that way because I just think that’s the only way to live.”

Spanbauer was not always so sure about her faith, she says when she was younger she would question if God was present in her life, but now when asked where she sees God most in her life she responded with, “When I look back on my life I can see where God was present in every single situation. So, I see God most all through the events of my life. God has taken care of me. All of these random events and decisions I’ve made in my life have all sort of come together according to God’s will. God has totally connected all of the dots for me.”

Spanbauer has made such a positive impact on numerous students and she is extremely proud to be a part of the Marian community. She is proud because of how kind and compassionate all of the students are, and how they have a positive view of Marian in the community.

She is also proud to be a part of a community that is so good and compassionate to others. But most of all, she is proud of the students because she sees God through them every day in everything they do.

Theology teacher Mrs. Lori Spanbauer laughs alongside her class while sharing the high’s and low’s of their week.

Photo by Joey Carollo.

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Joey Carollo

Living Marian’s Core Values

Christine Vosik:

Spiritually Empowering Not Only Others but Herself Starting her spiritual journey at age 40, Chris Vosik is now inspiring Marian girls to live out their faith and is rooting girls in the their faith during high school. While raising three kids, two of which went to Marian, Vosik helped start the Hearts of Marian club.

Hearts of Marian (HOM), is a prayer group for Marian girls that involves songs, journaling, and being prayed over.

Even through all of her hobbies, raising her kids, and spending time with her husband, Vosik still has time to give her talents and effort to help with Hearts of Marian.

When Vosik’s eldest daughter came back for the first time from college, she explained how much Marian had rooted her in her faith and her confidence. Vosik said “Finally she really understood how special Marian was.” Her daughters were free to be themselves in high school and beyond due to the core values that were deeply established at their time at Marian.

The core value Vosik chose for herself was empowerment. Although she is very spiritual, she thought empowerment would be a better fit for her. She feels empowered by the shower of love that God gives to her everyday.

Vosik said, “I know that I am empowered by the power of Christ and I am able to go to him to put me back on path.”

Vosik loves seeing God in her family, nature, and in music. She has felt God most in her life when she has been by the ocean or on the mountains. Her greatest accomplishment in life is motherhood. Being a mother has taught her many things about herself and has strengthened her relationship with God. Even though her Catholic faith is strong, she feels discouraged just as much as anyone else. For example, Vosik is not a fan of public speaking. So those few times she does speak in front of a large group, she feels nervous and feels like she is not worthy to be speaking in front of so

many people about faith.

But she prayed through it and gave it all up to God. Vosik said, “When I was praying, God was like are you going to please Me or are you going to please yourself ?” Vosik chose to please Him and worked through her nervousness and spoke publicly. It was the most nervous she has ever been, but the only thing that got her through it was prayer.

Vosik ended with some pieces of advice for all Marian girls. She talked about how even though it seems cliché and hard to do, she just advises us to be ourselves. Vosik said “Really seek who God made you to be. When I try so hard to please others with my choices, I end up with a life that isn’t mine.” She told us all to really find what we love in high school. We don’t need 20 activities or 30 friends, we need to find a couple of things and people that make us truly happy.

EMPOWERMENT

Christine Vosik and her family take a family picture at a Debutante ball. Vosik values her family above all.

Core Value Personality Profile by J1 Reporter Clara Roth