At an outdoor May Day crowning ceremony on May 8, Emily Hausmann addressed the small group in the teardrop on campus before the May Day Mass in the auditorium. The senior class via a Google Form voted for Queen Mary, her escort and court: Queen Emily Hausmann; Larry Haller, escort; Katie Boots, Audrey McDurmon, and Alyssa Goebel, court. photo by Olivia Hamilton ‘21
RED GOLD AND
The Mater Dei High School Alumni & Friends Magazine summer 2020: volume 37, number 2
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OF
TABLE CONTENTS vol. 37 number 2 summer 2020
1 2
President’s Message Four Cornerstones
SPIRITUAL GROW
6 7 8
Pilgrimage for Life Volunteers of Mowers Virtual Mass
SERVICE
10 11 12 13 14 16
MDFAA Service Program Update Art with Heart Dance Marathon Sills Retires Judy Knapp
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
18 20 25 26
Class of 2020 Innovative Teacher Athletic Highligts Building & Safety Update
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
27 28 30 32
Marlene Weaver Alumni & Friends Alumni on the Front Lines in Memoriam
Send alumni news and address changes to Tara Wayne, Database Manager: twayne@evdio.org. 1300 Harmony Way • Evansville, IN 47720 812-421-5727 • www.materdeiwildcats.com
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To encourage understanding and support of the mission of Mater Dei High School, The Red & Gold is published two times a year by the Office of Institutional Advancement. Through The Red & Gold, Mater Dei’s 10,000+ alumni, current families and the school’s many friends, continue to strengthen relationships with each other and become better informed about the many ways Mater Dei strives for excellence through its spiritual, academic and extracurricular programs. The Red & Gold Editor & Page Designer: Angela St.Clair Communications Director astclair@evdio.org Contributors: Chad Breeden Joe Herrmann Mallory (Goebel) Hertel ’07 Andy Morris Kendra Neumann Jill Seiler Angela St.Clair Tara (Elpers) Wayne ‘05 Photography Cover by Olivia Hamilton ‘21 LifeTouch Straub Yearbook Staff
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE When I think back on this year, I am reminded of how things can change so quickly, and how we can be swept away in the moment.” President Andy Morris
Dear Alumni and Friends,
starting lineup for the first baseball game. We had hopes of preparing our plans for Greetings Mater Dei Community, prom. We had hopes of having one more April 26th was the Third Sunday of Easter. lunch in the cafeteria with our friends. We It was a few weeks before the end of the had hopes for a graduation. To be together school year and we were entering the for handshakes, high-fives and hugs in our seventh week of our pandemic shut-down. celebrations. To even simply look at one At this point we knew we would not be another and say – “have a good summer,” or completing the year in the traditional fashion, “thanks for a GREAT year.” and in several ways, our environments had For these early Christians in the reading, they adapted to this “new normal.” Everyone’s felt the same way. They were upset, they lives had dramatically changed. were disheartened and they had no idea The Third Sunday of Easter the Gospel of what the future looked like – but they reading was from Luke, chapter 24, better weren’t alone. At the end of their journey known as the “Road to Emmaus.” In this for that day, they recognized that they were reading, two individuals were traveling seven traveling with Jesus, and that all hope was miles outside of Jerusalem, and as the song not gone. He then vanished from their sight. by the same name (Bob Hurd, 2000) would Through this journey we know first and sing – they were “disheartened and lost; all foremost that Christ has been with us and for their hopes for a future had been nailed to us. We have not been alone, and even in a cross.” These two individuals had been those times of uncertainty and fear, we was witnesses to the crucifixion and believers and always close to us. followers in Christ Jesus and had left town in In the same way, this Mater Dei community a state of sadness. At the same very moment has been Christ-like to one another, and as they left, “Jesus drew near and walked we have been there for each other. As I with then, but their eyes were prevented complete my first year, I never would have from recognizing him.” (LK 15-16) imagined the journey we would endure, When I think back on this year, I am reminded and through all of this, the one thing I keep of how things can change so quickly, and coming back to is gratitude. how we can be swept away in the moment. I am so grateful for a tremendous amount For so many of us, we had so many “hopes of effort given by our teachers to change for a future.” We had hopes for being in the continued on page 7
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CORNERSTONES spiritual growth. service. academic excellence. social development SPIRITUAL GROWTH PRAYER CHAIN Beginning March 30 and ending early May, our school community shared daily prayers via email and social media so that everyone could stay connected to one another and to our faith. “We are a community of faith, and organization designed by God and a family called to His ministry in our Catholic Schools. For this reason, prayer is important in the lives of our students, but also just as important for all of us, especially when prayed together,” Andy Morris said. Faculty and staff volunteered for certain days and submitted prayers to Campus Minister Chad Breeden. From original prayers to borrowed prayers, the goal from the beginning was to lessen anxiety and keep everyone connected during global pandemic quarantine.
SERVICE Dennis Niemeier ‘70 Janice (Goebel) Schuble ‘64 On Dec.13, 2020, the MDFAA awarded the first ever Distinguished Service Award to two recipients: Janice (Goebel) Schuble ‘64 and Dennis Niemeier ‘70.
$450,000 for Mater Dei athletics. This yearround commitment begins with girls volleyball in the fall and ends with baseball in the spring. She and her husband, Larry, have volunteered thousands of hours over the years and can still be found running the concessions and manning the grill still today.
With a deep love for all things red & gold, Janice has volunteered as the concession stand manager at the school for 28 years and plans to start her 29th and final year in the fall. Throughout her years of dedicated service, Janice has raised approximately
“Janice is a prime example of why Mater Dei is so special--she works extremely hard, shows up and goes the extra mile, and supports the school and its students any way she can. She and Larry have volunteered thousands of hours over the years, and she expects
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Mater Dei students are provided a faith-based education rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. We strive to educate the whole child by blending learning with faith and by making faith an integral part of the school day. This is accomplished through prayer as a fundamental component of each class along with a focus on service to others. Students grow in their awareness of the importance of practicing their faith by participating in Eucharistic celebrations at school as well as in their local parishes, and by participating in and providing leadership for retreat and formation days.
nothing in return. She does it all for the love of the school,” Mallory (Goebel) Hertel ‘07 said. After retiring from Sterling Boiler & Mechanical as the General Estimator/Project Manager in charge of all midwest jobs, Dennis Niemeier ‘70 joined the Mater Dei staff in 2015 and became the Maintenance Manager after years of volunteering at the school. Over the years, Dennis has shared his expertise to some of the campaigns and improvements to the school. Often, he is the first to arrive and last to leave the school grounds for the day. “Mater Dei High School is so fortunate to have Dennis Niemeier leading the maintenance department. His loyalty and love of our school is evident in how hard he works. He is constantly working to improve the grounds and is always very pleasant and open to new ideas to make Mater Dei better. Mater Dei is a special place because of people like Dennis Niemeier,” Principal Darin Knight said. Dennis is actively involved in his home parish at St. Joe in the county and has become one of their go-to-guys when they need a handyman.
Mater Dei offers a strong educational program which is accredited by the Indiana Department of Education and AdvanceED. The curriculum is designed to recognize the needs and differences of individual students, to develop students’ potential in accordance with ability, and to equip graduates to live and find success in today’s complex world. To assist students in recognizing and developing their full potential, students are taught appropriate methodologies, strategies, and current technologies in all areas of the curriculum to solve problems accurately, effectively, and creatively. While growing spiritually and academically, students also need the opportunity to develop socially and physically. Students are strongly encouraged to become well-rounded individuals by interacting with others in a variety of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities which serve as an extension of a solid educational program. Programs of service to others in Catholic schools are a vibrant reflection of the commitment Catholic education has made to live the Gospel as a way of life. Active involvement in service during high school develops a sense of responsibility and a lifetime desire to respond to the needs of the world. In order to strengthen the commitment to be of service to others, Mater Dei provides a four-year service program that challenges students to reach beyond themselves and to touch the lives of others. Because of the importance of service in the teachings of Christ and because of the educational value to students, all students contribute service hours every year as a requirement for graduation. Service may be given to the Church, the community, and the school. Mater Dei also offers a Service Club and other extra-curricular activities that provide volunteer opportunities and serve as a link to community service organizations.
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After delivering their speeches to an empty auditorium, valedictorians Kristen Schneider and Xavier Reine have fun social distancing on stage. On May 8, many of the individual parts of the virtual graduation were filmed.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE KRISTEN SCHNEIDER ‘20, VALEDICTORIAN
In addition to her academic accomplishments, Kristen Schneider has been very involved at Mater Dei. She is a 4 year member of both cheerleading and student council. She currently serves as clerk of Mater Dei-ville. The daughter of Ken and Teri Schneider, Kristen and her family are members of Resurrection parish. Kristen will attend Murray State University as a Regents Scholarship recipient and will major in speech and language pathology.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE XAVIER REINE ‘20, VALEDICTORIAN
During his career at Mater Dei, Xavier Reine was the captain of the varsity soccer team, President of Spanish Club, and historian of the National Honor Society. Xavier is the son of Bev Robbins and Brian Reine and is a member of St. James parish. Xavier will attend Indiana University as a Provost Scholarship recipient and will major in neuroscience.
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Attending a school centered around faith would be the most prominent part of Mater Dei that has formed me. It built strong character and morals and put God at the core of my life. I also believe the smaller, strong-knit community allowed me to be my authentic self, and it gave me the support and encouragement I needed to flourish.” Claudia Duncan ‘18
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CLAUDIA DUNCAN ‘18
Claudia Duncan ‘18 can now add royalty to her resume. Duncan, a 10 year 4H member, won the Vanderburgh County Queen Contest last summer and defeated 84 other county queens around the state to win the title in January. “There was no greater feeling than being crowned Miss Vanderburgh County and especially Miss Indiana State Fair because it meant that others believed my personal skills and personality would succeed in these opportunities,” Duncan said. The competition consisted of private interviews, on-stage speeches, modeling business wear, and formal wear, and the top 10 finalists answered impromptu on-stage questions. Contestants were judged on their poise, personality, ability to converse, and public speaking. Skills she credits Mater Dei for shaping. “Attending a school centered around faith would be the most prominent part of Mater Dei that has formed me. It built strong character and morals and put God at the core of my life. I also believe the smaller, strong-knit community allowed me to be my authentic self, and it gave me the support and encouragement I needed to flourish.” With the pandemic canceling the fairs this summer, there won’t be a chance to choose a new State Fair Queen, so Duncan will actually keep her crown for two years. She is looking forward to visiting many county fairs in the state next summer and acting as the official hostess for the 17-day Indiana State Fair in 2021.
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While marching, Jill Happe ’20 and Elise Schultheis ’20 hold up signs to support pro-life. The March, held Jan. 24, marked an historic event as President Trump was the first president to attend and give a speech. “It was soulful. People marching and praying together. Everyone was fighting for the same thing,” Audrie Collins ‘20 said.
PILGRIMAGE FOR LIFE by yearbook staff
Students on the Pilgrimage for Life trip sat in buses for more than 10 hours on the way to support the pro-life movement. Participants heard President Trump’s speech before the March, then walked from the National Mall to the Supreme Court building. “My favorite part was the actual March. I loved being able to view the sea of people around me all chanting in favor of unborn babies,” Xavier Reine ‘20 said. In D.C., students saw the Capitol building and where the House of Representatives gathered. Friday was the March for Life and a night tour of Washington D.C. “It was so pretty the way that everything was all lit up. And all the monuments were just really cool,” Anitra Taylor ‘23 said.
6 siritual growth
Saturday was a tour of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and of Gettysburg. Sunday opened with Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, concluding the pilgrimage. Spanish teaacher Mrs. Angela Conner ’85 has organized the trip the past five years.
GENROUS VOLUNTEER
MOWERS
by Dennis Niemeir Every spring when the grass begins to grow and weeds sprout, there have been a faithful team of lawnmowers that cover the sprawling grounds of MD. With MD supplying the mowers, they have always been there when the need arises. Al Weinzapfel ’55 and Tom Wilson have been the leadoff pair of mowers for over 25 years. Larry Schuble is another long-time mower that can still be seen zipping around campus on the zero-turn lawn mower. Tom Niemeier ’55 was a long-time part of the mowing crew and is now in “retirement.” After the untimely passing of Facilities Manager Guy Smythe in 2014, the husband and wife team of Dan and Kathy Schenk ‘70 have been a constant in the spring and fall on the mowers. Brothers Mike and George Folz have also been very gracious with their help. Mike and George were seen for years helping the late Gerald Nurrenbern work on assembling the bleachers. Without the help and reliance of these generous volunteers, Mater Dei would be forced to outsource the jobs resulting in thousands of dollars of labor costs each year. We are so grateful for their time and work ethic!
Al Weinzapfel ‘55
Tom Wilson
continued from page 1
their complete mode of instruction to become virtual, just days after the announcement of our closure. I am so appreciative of Darin Knight our principal, and all of our administration to continue to keep our staff positive and prayerful, even in all of the constant changes and unknowns. I am thankful for everyone who took on different tasks, saw a need and fulfilled it. For the commitment of our volunteers, our maintenance staff, for the advancement office and our finance office. For our cafeteria workers and spring coaches. For the prayers of the faithful and for everyone who endured this sacrifice with us in some way. We don’t know exactly what the future holds – but we do know as we continue the journey – just like the two early followers of Christ – He will be with us through it all. We will become stronger and unite more as a community of faith, and continue the mission of the Church, which is to love and serve God and to love and serve one another. The staff of Mater Dei has risen to this challenge and will rise above all challenges in the future. Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. Andy Morris, MBA President
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“Attending weekly mass is something I’ve done my whole life and I’ve really missed not going during this time. Watching mass online was a very easy thing to do and I really looked forward to it in the midst of the chaos happening in our world. I am very thankful that this was offered. It helped me feel a sense of normalcy and peace during a time of uncertainty.” Lauren (Niemeier) Grossman ‘07
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MASS GOES
ONLINE by Kendra Neumann
The last few months have been nothing shy of change and uncertainty. With the state going into quarantine due to the Covid-19 virus, all nonessential businesses started closing, including how parishioners worship. Father John Brosmer of St. Boniface Parish took this opportunity to provide a safe and unique way to still attend Mass. Originally, Father John was not going to do a virtual Mass but saw several priests and members of the church doing virtual Rosary’s or prayers. Father John wanted to do something different than a traditional mass. He wanted to make it more of a Mass and the ritual itself. After a few weeks of doing the virtual Mass, he started to get comfortable and decided to add in music. “I am not computer savvy but I am learning. With the virtual mass you want it to be personal and inclusive with the people. It was a challenge at first but now I don’t mind it. One of the things I miss the most is the community. I miss the people,” Father John said. After the first virtual Mass, Father John knew it would be something he would get better at with time and he would watch the videos after each service concluded. He would look for things that he needed to improve on because he wanted to really connect with his parishioners even from a distance. After each virtual service, Father John noticed he was receiving a great amount of positive feedback from the virtual Mass. There has been several people who want to see this option of Mass continued, especially with the older demographic and those who have compromised immune systems. Even as we slowly get back to “normal” there will be those who are not comfortable attending large gatherings. “I want to be able to have it available for the residents on our website so they can watch mass whether they are home or even in a nursing home/ rehab facility,” Father John said.
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MDFAA distinguished service award • Demonstrates a belief in God • Has the integrity and courage
Mater Dei helped shape me into the person I am today. Through the MDFAA, I want to help give back and shape the experience for current and future generations of Mater Dei students.” Andy Niemeier ‘06, Vice President
to integrate Christian values into his or her life and work • Expresses a generosity of spirit through commitment and involvement in activities that affect the well-being of the Evansville community • Gives outstanding service to Mater Dei High School • Exhibits a true dedication to our young people. Please contact Mallory Hertel with your nominations and why you’d like to see them recognized by email mhertel@evdio.org or call 812-4215727. Deadline for submissions is November 6th. The award recipient will be recognized at a home basketball game during the 2020-2021 season.
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The Mater Dei Friends & Alumni Association began in 1985 with founding officers George Helfrich ‘69, Paul Mayer ‘67, Linda (Behme) Rheinlander ‘59, Bob Rheinlander ‘59, and Mary Lue (Neale) Russler ‘58. Over the past 35 years, MDFAA has funded many projects for the school including the parking lot on the north side of the school, the elevator in the school, the seats in the auditorium, and hosted Campus Clean-Up, in addition to continuously celebrating the faculty, staff and students by funding and hosting faculty and staff appreciation breakfast and gifts, a $15,000 gift match on the Dei of Giving each year, the Innovative Teaching Grant, scholarships for graduating seniors, and the senior breakfast at senior retreat. Additionally, MDFAA established an endowment which continues to support their efforts and ensures that the school and grounds are well taken care of for future generations. Membership of the Mater Dei Friends and Alumni Association is open to alumni of Mater Dei, parents, grandparents, and any other friends, supporters, or any other persons interested in the welfare of Mater Dei. It was established “to preserve the tradition and advance the mission of Mater Dei for future generations” and it is clear that they have and continue to be successful in their efforts.
2020 MDFAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Austin Knapp ‘12
President Brett Bueltel ‘08
Jamie (Reese) Schiff ‘98
Vice-President Andy Niemeier ‘06
Janice (Goebel) Schuble ‘64
Treasurer Kathryn (Wildeman) Hess ‘12
Kevin Moore ‘91
Secretary Gina Goedde ‘93
Lauren (Niemeier) Grossman ‘07
Billy Wayne ‘04
Natalie (Emge) Sandefur ‘98 Wayne Emge ‘70
service program update by Chad Breeden, Campus Minister I am happy to report great success tracking service hours this past school year through the implementation of the MobileServe tracking software and phone app. Mater Dei students submitted 10,808
service hours
that brought with it over a quarter of a million dollars of economic impact to the local community. Churches, school, and many nonprofit organizations benefited from the hard work and dedication of our students.
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NHS creates
ART WITH HEART
Before the closure of school, National Honor Society members were preparing to complete service projects around the school. Since these projects could not happen, co-sponsor Angela St.Clair asked students to submit ART with HEART for local medical workers serving on the front lines in hospitals. With the goal of “improving the well-being of others in crisis times,” Rachel Spalding, CNO of Good Samaritan, created a Facebook page “to support our frontline staff and hospitals and other healthcare facilities.”
by Ethan Schnur ‘20
by Paige Denning ‘21
s by E
ther
Wa
mu nne
r
ehle
I hope my art shows that we appreciate the sacrifices that so many have made to help those we care about.” Ethan Schnur ‘20
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Finding Blessings in Uncertain Times by Mrs. Toni Wallace Unfortunately, due to the social distancing requirements with Covid 19, we were unable to have our annual Dance Marathon fundraiser for Riley Hospital for Children. Tentatively, we have rescheduled it for the fall once social distancing mandates have been lifted. An additional backup date of May 2021 has been set if the guidelines continue through the end of 2020. Although our seniors and committee members were saddened by the postponement, it made us realize how fortunate we are during this chaotic time. No one ever plans for things to happen, much like our Riley families. One day everything is going as planned and the next, everything is turned upside down. Being part of the Riley experience has allowed us to hear and see the struggles our families encounter. Through their testimony, we search for hope and find blessings in the smallest gestures. Your continued support, prayers and contributions are part of this appreciation and gratitude. Moving forward, we will continue to accept donations and auction items to help make this 10th Anniversary a true celebration of serving and paying it forward. If you have any fundraising ideas or would like to be a part of our extended Dance Marathon, please contact Toni Wallace at twallace@evdio.org. Again, thank you for the love, support and prayers these last ten years.
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SILLS RETIRES by Mrs. Toni Wallace After 43 years of dedicated service to the Catholic Diocese, Art Teacher Roger Sills is setting his sights on a well-deserved retirement as well as spending more time with his wife Lisa, their children and grandchildren. Roger began his career in 1978 at Memorial High School. In the fall of 1982, he joined the staff at Mater Dei and served as a teacher and Art Department head for 38 years. During this time, he implemented the Feeder School Art Show. This recognized the talented works of the middle school students and then displayed them on the Mater Dei campus. He was also awarded the Lilly Grant that allowed him to merge history and art with his abstract paintings of historic bridges. More recently he was honored with the Innovative Teacher Award for implementing the use of 3D printers in his curriculum. In addition teaching Art, Computer Graphics and Drafting, Roger was also known for his extended coaching career. He coached both boys and girls basketball and served as an assistant baseball coach under Carl Voegel and Darin Knight which spanned twenty five years. Out of the classroom Roger’s quick wit and advisement were legendary, as well as his entrepreneurship. In his spare time, he could often be seen drawing up architectural designs for building desks or offering samples of his homemade cheese sauce. We extend a heartfelt thank you to Roger for all of his contributions to our students and MD community.
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During the last faculty meeting of the year, via Zoom, Principal Darin Knight surprised Roger with tributes from faculty and staff and his son Cory and daughter April.
Coach Sills had a tremendous impact on all seven of us senior basketball players in the Class of 1997. He believed in us when most people didn’t and he taught all the members of that team the value of putting team goals ahead of individual accomplishments. We will all be forever grateful to him for that. On a personal note, Roger has been a tremendous mentor to me as both a coach and teacher. It is hard to put into words how important his advice has been to me during my time at Mater Dei. I would have never guessed as an 18 year old in 1997 how good of friends we would become over the next 25 years. I’m extremely blessed to have played for him and worked with him. The Mater Dei community is blessed to have had him all these years and we all wish him the best in his retirement. Kurt Wilderman ‘97
RED GOLD ROYAL GOLD SPONSORS All In The Family Dental Dr. Allie (Moll) Frounfelter ‘02 Altstadt Hoffman Plumbing Dave ‘75, Cindy ‘75, Chip ‘03 & Megan ‘03 Altstadt, Andy Hoffman ‘93 Azzip Pizza Brad Niemeier ‘08, Blake Kollker ‘02, Dan Niemeier ‘80, Laura (Tenbarge) Niemeier ‘80, Andy Niemeier ‘06, Craig Niemeier ‘10 Edward E. Jones Roger A. Nurrenbern ‘96, Andrea (Dick) Brown ‘01 Fehrenbacher Cabinets, Inc. Bob ‘71, Mary Kay ‘71, Peter ‘97, Zachary ‘00, Patrick ‘03 & Sarah ‘05 Freeman, Will & Niemeier, INC Freeman, Will, Niemeier & Heston, LLC Patrick B. Freeman ‘65, P. Evan Freeman ‘90, Stephanie (Helfrich) Freeman ‘91, Elissa (Freeman) Higgins ‘94, M. Ethan Freeman ‘00, Emily Freeman-Hobbs ‘02, Lynn
(Will) Reed ‘78, Jordan Raben ‘05 Matt Zeller Electric Matt Zeller ‘09, Tim Zeller ‘83 Muensterman Auto Service Tom ‘73, Steve ‘76, Jerry ‘79, Mark ‘83 & Bob ‘87 Pierre Funeral Home, Inc. Gary ‘61 & Susie ‘62, John ‘88, Jim ‘89 & Lori ‘89 Schiff Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. Jim Sr. ‘69 & Jan ‘69, Angie (Schiff) Happe ‘93, Jim Jr. ‘96, Casi (Jost) Schiff ‘97 Schneider Heat & Air, Inc. Jeff & Judith (Siemers) ‘79 Schneider, Catherine Schneider ‘14, Mariah Schneider ‘16 Siemers Glass Company, Inc. Jane ‘81 & Mark Weinzapfel ‘80, Jake ‘06, Mac ‘08, Ali ‘11 & Jack ‘13
LOYAL RED SPONSORS David K. Robinson, Attorney David & Darlene ‘70, Michael ‘01, Chris ‘03, Andrew ‘08 Happe & Sons Construction, Inc. Jeff Happe ‘84, Madelyn Happe ‘17, Betsy Happe ‘18, Bryce Martin ‘93 Kempf’s Donut Bank Harold ‘54, Chris ‘77, Lindsey ‘81, Ben ‘85 & Joe ‘91 Lappe Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Ed Lappe ‘82, Dan Lappe ‘77 & Dave Lappe ‘03 Ohio Valley Insulation Company, Inc. Scott ‘80, Beth ‘80, Dustin ‘05, Logan ‘08, Faith ‘10, Brooke ‘11 & Joel Slaton Paul’s Menswear, Inc. Steve ‘73, John ‘78, & Brian Eickhoff ‘99 Pinnacle Contractors, Inc. Todd ‘02 & Amber (Gilles) ‘02 Zimmer Professional Eyecare Associates Todd Niemeier, O.D. ‘91, Andrew Moore, O.D., Morgan Hussmann, O.D. Southwest Graffix & Apparel, Inc. Rose Ann ‘60, Mary ‘82, Mike ‘83, Michelle ‘85, Mark ‘89, Schelly ‘89, Julian ‘15, Brendan ‘16, Nolan ‘18
Tri-State Orthopaedics Surgeons Dr. Terence A. Alvey ‘81, Phil Rawley ‘97
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Judy Knapp was one of Mater Dei’s greatest supporters. Judy was very visible and animated in her Wildcat Red & Gold attire at so many MD events, be it rooting for her own childrens’ teams or to cheer all MD teams. Judy initiated the cat paw auto decals, the first of their type in our community, as an athletic fundraiser. She and husband, Ed, donated their personal Red and Gold van for use by teams, coaches, and for all-school academic endeavors, the “Judy-van” piled on nearly 300,000 miles and was used for well over a decade. Other items given generously included office furniture, MD shirts for coaches, and monetary support for so many MD groups. Judy’s outgoing personality was ‘happy’, her attitude was contagious. She went above and beyond, and she made a difference. The MD community has deep appreciation for Judy, Ed, and the Knapp family. While we all miss Judy, one must believe that somehow she willed some red & gold pom poms to heaven and that she is leading cheers for another great fanbase for the Wildcats.” Mike Goebel ‘70
JUDY KNAPP ‘For God, Country, Family and Mater Dei’ 16 service
The following was taken from Judy’s Obituary in the Courier & Press The late Judy (Seibert) Knapp was a proud 1960 graduate of Mater Dei High School. She served as the school’s clerk her senior year and its biggest fan for the rest of her life. Her Mater Dei friends, of every generation, meant the world to her. The most special of her Mater Dei relationships became her lifelong love and best friend, Edward Knapp, who she married in June 1966. Her heart and energy were always poured into the lives of her children: Eddie ‘85 Miranda Graham ‘88, Alex Rodman ‘91, Anthea Turner ‘96 and David’ 02. With her amazing example of raising children, her six children blessed her with 20 grandchildren. Endless dancing, homemade candy, seashell walks, front yard football games and plenty of hugs are just a few of the ways she was easily the best Mamaw/Juju for Austin and Hayden Knapp, Remy and Millie Graham; Charlie, Adley and Gus Rodman; Abe, Carver, Daniel, Daisy, Adelaide and Grace Knapp; Bella and Seby Turner; and Kayla, Josh, Liam, Grayland and Marlee Knapp. Her tombstone is simply engraved with “For God, Country, Family and Mater Dei.” Always wearing her signature red and gold, she dedicated her life to making sure everyone at Mater Dei had the most amazing experience by encouraging them to get involved and by being their biggest fan at every event. She also always made sure her 1960 classmates knew how much they were loved and needed for every class reunion. Ed and Judy established the Seibert-Knapp Family Endowment to provide tuition assistance for students for generations to come. Her legacy lives on through her generosity from this endowment as well as through her husband Ed, her children, and grandchildren. Contributions can still be made in Judy’s honor to the Seibert-Knapp Family Endowment by visiting the Mater Dei website and submitting a gift online or by mail to 1300 Harmony Way, Evansville, IN 47720.
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mater dei scholarship recipients Advancing Women in Science/STEM Scholarship, Andrea Reisinger Father Deering Scholarship, Emily Burgdorf Father Lautner English Award, Kristen Schneider James Niemeier Wrestling Scholarship, Kane Egli and Macartney Parkinson Jason Coughlin Memorial Scholarship, Macartney Parkinson Mater Dei Friends and Alumni Scholarship, Xavier Reine and Grace Wagner Mater Dei Student Council Leadership Scholarship, Sabrina Henderson Mater Dei-ville Citizenship Award, Alyssa Goebel Walter and Irene Ruston Nursing and Education Scholarship, Emelyn Stockton The Stan Singer Excellence in Writing Award, Eve Bilderback Tom Tighe Scholarship, Bailey Brush Tomorrow’s Workforce Leadership Scholarship, Lance Berendes Rick Weber Memorial Scholarship, Jill Happe Louie Wittmer Nursing and Medical Scholarship, Allison Deeg
photos by OLIVIA HAMILTON ‘21
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KRISTEN SCHNEIDER’S VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH Back in August I gave an inauguration speech as Clerk of the Student Council, and I talked about the importance of living each day with a mindset of determination and gratitude. When I found out that we weren’t coming back to school and that our senior year was essentially canceled, I honestly struggled to feel any kind of gratitude. We spent four years working so hard to reach the end, the final celebration, and right before we get there, it’s pulled out of reach. But then I started to think. This moment, this disappointment, is only one speck in the journey that is our lives. We still have many, many years ahead of us to make new memories, new friends, and soon high school will seem like a far away dream. It won’t matter if you had the prom of your dreams or not. What matters is the relationships that you made with the people who shared in that journey with you. Don’t let this disappointment prevent you from being grateful for your high school relationships. If I’ve learned anything from my time in confinement, it’s that we all have an essential role to play in this world. Whether it’s saving lives as a medical professional, or saving bank accounts as an accountant, or providing food for people as a volunteer worker, we all have the chance to do incredible things. As Shakespeare said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some
have greatness thrust upon them.” We aren’t all lucky enough to be born great or simply fall into greatness, but anyone can achieve greatness. Through determination and perseverance, we can accomplish any goal. Seniors, I am so proud of how far we have come. It’s hard to believe that only a few years ago we were tiny, clueless freshmen. I can only imagine the amazing things that each and every one of you will achieve. So remember, never lose your motivation, and never stop thanking God for the people in your life. I miss you all, thank you. XAVIER REINE’S VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH Welcome all faculty, friends, families, and most importantly the class of 2020. It’s been an interesting four years, especially this last one. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank everyone who has helped us get where we are today. Thank you to all the families and friends who supported us, especially my own parents who encouraged me to do my best every day. Thank you to all the teachers who stayed after hours to help us with our homework and dealt with panicked emails late at night about the Spanish test the next day. Thank you to the faculty and staff who kept the school running so smoothly, and a huge thanks to the cafeteria ladies for the amazing lunches. Most importantly thank you to continued on page 22
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WE APPRECIATE THE GENEROSITY OF THE MATER DEI FRIENDS AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION and are pleased to announce that the recipient of the Innovative Teaching Grant for 2020 is Dr. Donna Richardson. Dr. Richardson’s proposal was to purchase supplies to enhance the learning environment of her AP Computer Science classes. She will be awarded this grant to purchase the supplies she requested and to implement this technology into her curriculum for a more hands-on experience for our students. Congratulations to Dr. Richardson!
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BACKGROUD INFORMATION: The Micro:Bit was developed by the BBC and has been used in schools across Britain since 2016. These very sturdy, 2 by 2.5 inch boards hold a surprisingly powerful computer, an LED display, two buttons, and several connections that allow them to interact with external devices. It are programmed in JavaScript (the same language we use in the rest of the course). While each student needs access to their own Micro:Bit, peripheral devices such as the robots can be shared by several users. While there are several (cheaper) robots that can interact with the Micro:Bit, GiggleBot is the sturdiest, and it is the only one which allows for a quick change from one Micro:Bit to another. This is essential if students are going to share the robots.
R E H C A TE While I love the curriculum SUPPLIES: I use, it does a poor job of • Two 10-packs of Micro:bit addressing how computers computers from AKJ Education interact with real-world objects, such as • Six ‘Gigglebots’ from Dexter Industries our car’s cruise control or your home’s • Assorted mounts, sensors, moprogrammable thermostat. I would like tors, etc to work in conjunction to provide my students with hands-on with Gigglebots experience in this area, and to do this, I • Three Inventors kits for Micro:bit need the physical objects for the code • Three Electronics starter kits for to run. I have purchased samples of Micro:Bit several different systems, so that I could assess how well they would work well in a classroom environment. The addition of Micro:Bits, GiggleBots, and the other peripheral devices listed below will greatly expand the sorts of projects my students can do. It will help my students understand how computers interact with all sorts of objects in our lives. I am excited at the prospect of developing coding labs that will build students’ skills and extend their interest in and understanding of computer science.” Dr. Donna Richardson
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Mrs. Reneer for doing the extra work for us to make our transition to college easier. My time here at Mater Dei was so special, I couldn’t come up with the words to describe it, so instead I’m using the words of Mark Twain, E. Meehan, Dumbledore, John Mulaney, Bernard Baruch, Juice WRLD, Spongebob, Maya Angelou, The Office, Anais Nin, Carol Baskin, Forrest Gump, The Bible, Tony Stark, Peter Parker, Moonlight, Nemo, Brian Johnson, Vernon, Community, The Little Prince, Kenny Rogers, and A Boogie wit da Hoodie. Now, you see us as you want to see us—in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain…and an athlete…and a basket case…a princess… and a criminal. We create our own demons. Who said that? What does that even mean? Doesn’t matter, I said it cause he said it. I don’t, uh, I’m going to start again. Let’s track this from the beginning. Hey all you cool cats and kittens. I just wanna say how happy we are, that all of you are here tonight. And I want to especially thank those of you who have travelled from far away. It is no secret that the best thing about secrets is telling someone else your secret, thereby adding another secret to your secret collection of secrets, secretly. And I’m going to let you in on one. The best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time. I’m kidding, I’m kidding. But did you know we’re the only species on this Earth that observes Shark Week? Okay for real though. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. Faith. It does not make things easy, it makes them possible. Let your faith be bigger than your fear because true peace comes from knowing that God is in control. My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get. I’m prepared for any insane adventure life throws our way and I don’t know about you, but I’m looking for-
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ward to every single one of them. Always accept the unexpected. No man can win every battle, but no man should fall without a struggle. Just keep swimming. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel because we don’t see things how they are, we see things as we are. It is not our abilities that show what we truly are… it is our choices. It is 100% easier not to do things than to do them, and so much fun not to do them - especially when you were supposed to do them. But look back at it. Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. At some point you’ve got to decide for yourself who you’re gonna be. You can’t let anybody make that decision for you. You can do whatever you want, you just have to know what that is. Afterall, you don’t need a license to drive a sandwich. It’s important that as we go on, we remember all the times we’ve spent together. And as our lives change from whatever, we will still be friends forever. This is not only a graduation at this point, it’s a reunion. What makes you think it’s special? Because it’s the one thing you can’t replace. I just wonder what’s happening in the darker timeline. Unless this is the darkest timeline? Nevermind. You ought to spend a little more time trying to make something of yourself and a little less time trying to impress people because this is as far as it goes. This is the end of the road. This is the end of the show, it’s over. High school has officially come to an end , and I only have one more piece of advice to give that I think applies to every situation. You’ve got to know when to hold’em. Know when to fold’em. Know when to walk away, and know when to run. You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for counting’ when the dealin’s done. Thank you.
Thank you to our 146 individual donors and the MDFAA for generously contributing $32,472 to our school community!
THANK YOU, WSNC The Mater Dei family appreciates the generosity of the West Side Nut Club.
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The OIA office has created a new advertising program for our generous sponsors. Proceeds from each ad contract will benefit our students, beginning with the 2020-2021 school year. From the football program to the yearbook, you can show your support of our Mater Dei Family by purchasing a gold, silver, or bronze package.
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ATHLETIC
ALL-SPORTS TROPHY In this day of specializing in one sport it is truly a great accomplishment and sacrifice to become a multi-sport athlete. The following seniors accumulated the necessary points to be awarded the prestigious all-sports trophy. An athlete must receive 42 points to receive the award. Each athlete receives 2 points for a JV or freshman letter and 5 points for a varsity letter.
ADAM BARNES earned
4 varsity letters in cross country, 4 varsity letters in swimming, 1 JV and 1 varsity letter in track for 47 points.
HANNAH FEHRENBACHER earned
a JV letter in soccer, 3 varsity letters in cross country, 4 varsity letters in swimming, a JV letter and 3 varsity letters in track for a total of 54 points.
JOHN MCGREW earned a frosh letter and 3 varsity letters in football, 2 JV and 2 varsity letters in wrestling and a JV letter and 3 varsity letters in baseball for a total of 48 points.
CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS Football: sectional champions Girls basketball: sectional champions Wrestling: City, SIAC, sectional, regional and semi state champions. Girls Soccer: sectional, regional, semi state and state champs
Thank you to all the athletes that participated this past school year. It has been a pleasure watching you compete this year as you represented Mater Dei with the highest dignity. Athletic Director Joe Herrmann
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BUILDING UPDATES & SAFETY by Mrs. Toni Wallace Keeping our school safe is always one of the highest priorities at Mater Dei High School. The School Safely Committee meets each month to discuss ways to protect the student body and campus.
This year, we continued the implementation of limiting the number of open outside doors before school. Both doors have been staffed each morning to ensure students are where they need to be, in addition to limiting access of the school to non-student body. The committee also continued to hold quarterly lockdown drills which tested our new remote and hard wired security systems. We were able to identify certain areas in the system that needed to be improved upon and have fine-tuned them to our specifications. Unfortunately, the school year was cut short due to the
BUILDING PROJECTS
• The old Bookkeeping Office/Bookstore has been turned into a new Conference Room. • The IT office has been moved to the lower level. • The former IT office has become the new teachers’ workroom. • The former teacher’s workroom has been renovated to become the teachers’ lounge. • With the advent of the BYOD policy, the former computer room in 213 has been made into a classroom. • Room 214 has become a dedicated bookstore. • The old divider wall between 214 and 215 has been moved to the east to allow Room 215 to become a large classroom. • Room 108 has now become a religion classroom to replace the vacated Room 214. • In order to prepare for the 2020/21 school year, normal stripping and waxing of floors has been taking place along with miscellaneous painting and sanitizing.
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pandemic so we did not get to practice the last quarter lockdowns. We will resume this as soon as school begins in the fall. Speaking of the pandemic, this is an area that will need to be reviewed and added to our school safety manual when we return. We try to have a written plan in place for any type of emergency that might impact our school. A new committee is currently being implemented to assist the schools with identifying the requirements needed to be in compliance with state and federal guidelines and codes concerning COVID-19. As we look towards the next school year, we will continue to look for ways to improve our school environment. The safety, health and well-being of our students, staff and families will continued to be lifted in prayer, and be of the utmost concern.
MARLENE M. (SINGER) WEAVER ‘50
LIFELONG FAN Marlene M. (Singer) Weaver is a proud member of Mater Dei’s first graduating class of 1950. She attended the annex for three years and served as an assistant editor for the Little Memorial newspaper. As a senior, under the supervision of Mr. Ellert, she served as assistant editor of the Hi-Lights newspaper and has fond memories of a field trip to the Courier & Press. She wrote articles and poems for both papers and helped with the yearbook. She attributes her love for literature and poetry to Sr. Mary Gertrude. Marlene holds countless memories dear from her time at Mater Dei, especially the lasting friendships. Spiritually, though, she is grateful for Father Wm Lautner who provided sound guidance to the students as they developed their faith.
by Mrs. Angela St.Clair
derson ‘76, Marc Eric Weaver ‘77, Gary Lee Weaver ‘79, David Alan Weaver ‘80. As a life-long fan of the school, Marlene wants others to know that Mater Dei provides a “[q]uality education grounded in faith” with “engaged students who know attending Mater Dei is a great opportunity.” Sadly, in 2001, Marlene’s husband Victor died in an accident, but as an active Catholic and devoted fan, she has stayed involved. As a 30-year member of The Legion of Mary, she spent years visiting shutins and hospitals and even served the Eucharist to the homebound. Even today, she makes calls to praying members and attends weekly meetings at St. Philip Church.
Besides faith, she remembers a message from For her years of service and dedication to The Legion of Mary, she received the Brute Father Lautner that still impacts her today: Award for her work at Sacred Heart. “A country is only as good as its women.” After graduating, Marlene met and married Victor Weaver, a 1950 graduate of Memorial, and he, too, became a supportive fan of the Mater Dei school and community. Once married, Marlene worked at Old National Bank, and in addition to staying at home for ten years to devote time to her children, she dedicated 26 years to the bank before retiring in 1998. Marlene and Victor raised five children: Michael Weaver ‘75, Julie Ann (Weaver) An-
Besides her church work, she has attended nearly all football games and loves wrestling. All four of her sons wrestled, and she cheered on the boys at holiday tournaments and state finals even after her sons had graduated. She has even supported the girls basketball team at the state finals. Today, Marlene serves as class representative and works on class reunions. She’s been involved with Mater Dei work days and made contributions to fundraisers, the yearly alumni, the auditorium and the prayer garden. 27
& Alumni’s children born within one day of each other
Math teacher, Jenna (Denstorff) Kunkler ‘05, and husband, Craig, welcomed daughter Makinley in October 2019. Mackinley is Jenna and Craig’s first child.
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Mater Dei’s Director of Advancement, Mallory (Goebel) Hertel ‘07 and husband Kyle ‘07, welcomed twins Maggie and Mason in October 2019. Maggie and Mason are the couple’s first children.
Haley Rheinlander ‘14
Haley is the owner of Haley Raven Photography, specializing in weddings and lifestyle content. Before Covid-19 introduced itself into our lives, busy season was right around the corner. Soon after realizing she wasn’t going to be able to interact with clients and that weddings were being postponed, Haley began temporarily tweaking her business model. This is when Haley decided to start offering Front Porch Sessions (a quick mini session that both documents this strange time and allows the opportunity for Haley to deliver memorable images). What started out as a small way to compensate for lost time and income quickly turned into something much bigger. Haley quickly started traveling all across Evansville and Newburgh capturing gorgeous porch photos and getting involved in the community. In addition to weddings and lifestyle content, the Front Porch Sessions will stick around for a while.
Dr. Brett Bueltel ‘08, Assistant Professor of Accounting at the University of Southern Indiana was the recipient of the 20192020 Romain College of Business Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Brett currently serves as President of the MDFAA Board and he and wife Sara (Weinzapfel) ‘08 served as Annual Fund Chairs for the 2019-2020 campaign.
Brett Weinzapfel ‘16 recently received an Outstanding Future Educator award for his performance as a biology education major at the University of Evansville.
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on the
FRONT LINES Faith (Slaton) Byland ‘10
Staff Pharmacist at the Mount Sinai Hospital What have you found to be the most challenging part of dealing with the pandemic on the front lines? When the coronavirus had first hit NYC, a vast majority of our patients were mild cases and simply would receive oxygen in the emergency department and would be discharged. As time progressed with this pandemic, patients were quickly becoming sicker and critical-often requiring intubation and a plethora of medications to keep them stable. One of the biggest challenges has been trying to keep up with the increased workload as more and more patients have been admitted. Our hospital’s policies and procedures are constantly changing even multiple times a day so it has been crucial to ensure patients are receiving the most appropriate medications and care possible as more and more
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data and information is known about COVID-19. Since I have never worked in a pandemic, I have gained so much experience and knowledge on the importance of adaptability and resilience. What have you found to be the most rewarding? I feel as though it has and always will be a privilege and honor to work in NYC at any time but especially at such a trying time like now. I became a pharmacist
because I wanted to help people. I have a responsibility to my patients to ensure they are receiving the most appropriate, best care possible especially at such a traumatic time for them. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a pharmacist during this pandemic has been seeing the progression of patients as they fight to beat the coronavirus and become stable and healthy enough to be discharged from the hospital.
I feel as
though this pandemic has really put into perspective how much I cherish the little things in life. Faith (Slaton) Byland ‘10
I also think it has been incredible the amount of teamwork that I have experienced both at Mount Sinai Hospital as well as in the community- it is just the most amazing thing to see everyone trying to be as positive as possible in such a trying time. Working in NYC during this pandemic has been a very rewarding and humbling experience. What are you looking forward to most in the future when things go back to “normal” or whatever that new normal looks like? When things start to get back to normal, I am looking forward to enjoying the little things such as going out to eat with friends, enjoying Broadway shows, traveling back to Evansville to visit my family and being able to venture out of our apartment without having to wear face masks. I feel as though this pandemic has really put into perspective how much I cherish the little things in life.
Mackenzie Riggs ‘07
Nurse Practitioner at a hospital in Manhattan The most challenging part of dealing with the pandemic on the front lines has been witnessing the suffering of families. Though they were necessary to keep the public safe, the strict hospital visitor restrictions intensified the confusion and stress of having critically-ill loved ones. Some of my patients, unfortunately, died alone, and that will stay with their family members and me forever. Caring for COVID-19 patients has also been challenging because it is such a new and complex disease. Every week, treatment recommendations have been changing, so we’ve truly been learning on the fly. It was rewarding to see New York City come together in support of the healthcare workers. I received so many heartfelt “thank you”s from strangers, donated lunches from local businesses, and support from the community. The cashier at my favorite wine store even gave me a free bottle because she remembered that I was a nurse practitioner. It was a small gesture but it meant so much! When things go back to “normal,” I’m most looking forward to being able to visit my family in Evansville! Besides that, I can’t wait for brunch and yoga classes at my favorite studio. interviews compiled by Mrs. Mallory (Goebel) Hertel ‘07
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IN
M EM O R I A M In Memoriam from December 2019 through May 2020
ALUMNI
Rita (Mayer) Hoefling ‘53 of Evansville, IN April 27, 2020 Wayne L. Killian of Wadesville, IN December 17, 2019
Larry L. Alsop ‘58 of Evansville, IN January 5, 2020
Allan C. Knapp ‘64 of Evansville, IN December 11, 2019
Ronald Joseph Altstadt ‘57 of Santa Claus, IN February 27, 2020
Judy (Seibert) Knapp ‘60 of Evansville, IN February 15, 2020
Darryl Barron ‘58 of Evansville, IN February 18, 2020
Allen Koch ‘63 of Boonville, IN March 18, 2020
Tom Bartley ‘71 of Newburgh, IN February 2, 2019
Kestudis Krisciunas ‘51 of Chicago, IL September 2019
James F. Bienhaus ‘64 of Wadesville, IN January 14, 2020
William L. Kueber ‘66 of Evansville, IN December 24, 2019
Eric Choate ‘62 of Evansville, IN January 24, 2020
Paul J. Limberger ‘79 of Evansville, IN February 8, 2020
Patricia (Girten) Davenport ‘65 of Evansville, IN July 21, 2019
Jerry Neuendorf ‘51 of Evansville, IN January 19, 2020
Carolyn Sue (Raben) Evans ‘60 of Evansville, IN March 17, 2020
Jerome Preske ‘53 of Evansville, IN April 7, 2020
Paul Glaser ‘57 of Haubstadt, IN April 2, 2020
James “Jim” Rainey ‘86 of St. Louis, MO April 10, 2020
Sylvia (Schneider) Goebel ‘58 of Evansville, IN February 22, 2020 Patricia (Happel) Grannan ‘55 of Evansville, IN April 8, 2020
Bettye Jo (Goebel) Reine ‘59 of Evansville, IN January 11, 2020
Patty Greaney ‘69 of Evansville, IN February 18, 2020 David Hayden ‘60 of Evansville, IN January 25, 2020 Henry Hertel ‘57 of Evansville, IN November 27, 2019
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Andrew Seibert ‘07 of Evansville, IN April 19, 2020 Jacob Seibert ‘50 of Evansville, IN February 5, 2020 David Steinkamp ‘65 of Evansville, IN January 25, 2020 Carol (Halbig) Stocker ‘55 of Bellevue, NE December 25, 2019
Susan L. (Hasselbrinck) Weis ‘90 of Mount Vernon, IN December 5, 2019 Frank Will ‘71 of Evansville, IN April 14, 2020 Malcolm A. Winiger ‘62 of Indianapolis, IN April 19, 2020
PAST PARENT
Evelyn Bauer of Evansville, IN April 27, 2020 Roy Farmer of Henderson, KY January 10, 2020 Annabelle Helfrich of Evansville, IN February 14, 2020 Mary Elizabeth Jochim of Salina, KS March 26, 2020 Charlotte MacGregor of Evansville, IN March 15, 2020 Jeffrey Schneider of Evansville, IN April 6, 2020 Bettye L. Stevenson of Evansville, IN March 13, 2020 Velma Waterman of Evansville, IN April 6, 2019
FRIEND
William Rust of Evansville, IN January 22, 2020
REUNIONS The Class of ‘55 will celebrate its 65th anniversary with a luncheon on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. More information will follow at a later date
The MD Class of 1970 50th Reunion was postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The original date for the reunion was scheduled for August 1st at the Downtown DoubleTree in Evansville. It will be rescheduled most likely for 2021 or 2022. More details will be shared once known. Watch for info on the MD Website materdeiwildcats.com, the Red and Gold or thru Facebook. For questions: Wayne Emge at wayne.emge@ gmail.com 812-459-4945 or Kathy Schenk at 7230kjs@insightbb.com
CORRECTION My report left Eric ‘92 & Jennifer ‘93 Folz were excluded from the HRD and Alumni Gifts. They should have been included in the Century Club Section and their respective graduating classes.
RESCHEDULED The Ave Maria Society Morning has been rescheduled for Thursday, September 17th. All Mater Dei Friends and Alumni are invited to join us during this special morning where we celebrate Mater Dei and learn more about planned giving and endowments that are necessary to Mater Dei’s future. There is a breakfast provided after the Living Rosary and Mass with the students so please be sure to RSVP to Mallory Hertel at mhertel@evdio.org or call 812-421-5727.
The Mater Dei & Memorial Tradition Golf Classic has been rescheduled for July 20th. Contact Mallory Hertel for team sponsorship opportunities: mhertel@evdio.org 812.421.5727
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OUR MISSION Mater Dei High School is committed to being a school of choice for all families. A Catholic co-educational community in the Diocese of Evansville, Mater Dei strives to create an educational environment based on Gospel values, which recognizes the needs and differences in individuals and empowers students to meet the demands and challenges of a rapidly changing and morally complex world.
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