Bronco Express Spring 2024

Novelty& Nostalgia on the stage this spring

“It takes true investment, in many forms, from all of us, to put our students in position to develop their talents and do truly amazing things.”

– President Kevin Beirne

Dear Montini Catholic Family members,

In reviewing this latest edition of the Bronco Express, I’m certain that you, like me, will be quite impressed with the talents that our wonderful students have displayed in recent months. While their academic success is practically a given, it’s their accomplishments outside the classroom that consistently amaze me. As you’ll read, with our spring musical, The Sound of Music, we had what was clearly our most successful stage production in many years. Our Robotics Team continues to take the world by storm, racking up award after award on their way to Dallas. Our mathletes (to be featured in our Summer issue) are also having one of their strongest years. On the athletic front, Girls Basketball competed in the Final Four while our Wrestlers were just a few points away from taking the state title.

Spring 2024

When you walk our building and see their artwork and listen to their presentations, or visit a retreat to witness how the student leaders minister to their classmates, it’s astounding to me that they’re able to find the time to excel in so many areas.

When we list these many accomplishments, accolades, and successes in publications like the Bronco Express, or on social media, it’s easy to forget not just how much time and effort the students commit to their Montini endeavors, but the support they receive in doing so. For example, The Sound of Music that culminated in four days of outstanding performances by our students, was the result of two months of intense preparation by our Theater and Music Directors. Our Robotics, Math, Girls Basketball, and Wrestling coaches dedicated an incredible volume of time, both instructing our students, and planning that instruction to help put them in a place for their talents to shine. Our Peer Ministry leaders are only as successful as the modeling that our adult Campus Ministers have provided to them, work that takes great passion, energy, and patience.

Also often unseen in much of this success, is your support in the form of time, talent, and treasure. Each of these programs includes volunteers who prepare materials, sell concessions, coach, mentor, cheer on, provide expertise, cook meals, provide transportation, and pray for our students. Similarly, others of you provide the financial resources either through our Annual Fund or directly to these programs through restricted gifts.

The point is, it takes true investment in many forms from all of us to put our students in position to develop their talents and do truly amazing things. So, thanks for all you do!

Sincerely,

Kevin Beirne President

Serving Others, One Meal at a Time

Bronco students put their culinary skills to work each month for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

This year, Montini Catholic students have been happy to seize the opportunity to prepare a home-cooked meal for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House across from Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage House (CDH) in Winfield. Since 1977, Ronald McDonald Charities has kept families close to their hospitalized children through their Ronald McDonald House® and Ronald McDonald Family Room® programs, enabling them to "get better together."

All year long, the charity invites families, friends and groups to "get creative in the kitchen" to feed families of hospitalized children through their program called Meals from the Heart. Since families staying at a Ronald McDonald House are often far from the comforts of home, Montini Catholic volunteers have been happy to provide meals for them, allowing families to eat together without the stress of cooking or the expense of dining out.

"Each month we ask four to six students to sign up," explained Montini's Campus Minister, Mike Blanchette. "We are in charge

of planing the meal and figuring out a game-plan for all participants to be involved. Our students and staff member leaders provide the ingredients to cook the meal on-site at the Ronald McDonald House kitchen." Mr. Blancette and his teams have cooked everything from Sloppy Joes to meatloaf and mashed potatoes, to pretzel chicken with key lime pie for dessert. "It's really fun to put the meals together and the kids really seem to enjoy learning and cooking together," added Blanchette. "Sometimes we have a full house eating as soon as our meal is ready, and other times we're asked to pack the meal for families to grab as they arrive back at the house." The Bronco crew is also responsible for cleaning up before they depart.

Mr. Blanchette and his student teams are very happy to be able to provide a bit of comfort to those going through stressful times.

Top photo l to r: Isabella Baldwin ‘27, Sophia Stiso ‘27, Henry Dawson ‘25, Robert Gutierrez ‘27, Michael May ‘26 and Alex Santelli ‘25; Above l to r: Joseph Urizar '25, Haden McKinny ‘27, Andrew Vreeland '27 and Zoe Gangas '25*;

WORLDS

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Montini Catholic's Robotics Team is celebrating another very successful season as they once again secured an early State qualification - and are now preparing for a trip to VEX Worlds on April 25-27 in Dallas, Texas.

Last year, our team was the highest ranking team at State upon qualifying for the VEX Worlds Competition where they ranked among the top 3% in the world at the conclusion of the season. This year's team kept the momentum going early on as they set their sights on Worlds.

The 23-24 VEX Robotics season began for the Broncos on November 19th when they celebrated massive success at their first match, qualifying for State early in competition season! The students' diligence and exhausting after-school sessions and late night hours paid off. The team secured the ‘Create’ Award at the Vex Tournament in Batavia for the second year in a row and also earned the Robotics Skills Champion title in addition to bringing home the 2nd Place overall title!

The Broncos Team A traveled to Batavia once again on Sunday, January 7th when they competed against 38 other teams at the VEX Tournament #2 - Over Under, achieving first place in the individual competition, and 2nd Place overall (by just 1 point in the finals). They also earned the 'Amaze' Award, which is given to the highest scoring robot.

They traveled to Cleveland, Ohio in February and competed against 80 teams from around the Midwest. Then it was on to State on March 22-23 - where they fought hard to bring home the Build Award and placed 6th in State.

Montini's A Team is led by (photo at the top l to r:) Hayden Surrette ‘25, Matt Silveyra '25, Damjan Pasic-Hernandez '24, Anjay Dhir '24, Dhruv Patel '24, Wyatt Prater '25, Issy Jaojoco '25, Connor Kaefer '25 and Geethan Siram '25; Good luck at Worlds, Montini Robotics!

NOTRE DAME BOUND! SENIOR SAM HEMMERSMEIER EARNS THE CHICK EVANS SCHOLARSHIP

Senior Sam Hemmersmeier was selected to receive the prestigious Chick Evans Scholarship. As the nation's largest scholarship program for caddies, The Chick Evans Scholarship has helped thousands of hardworking young men and women get to college since 1930.

Sam will be attending the University of Notre Dame this fall. "Finding out I would be receiving the scholarship was certainly one of the best feelings I have ever had," said Sam. "It is like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders because I now know I will not have to worry about paying for college and taking out many thousands in loans. It also put me one step closer to being able to attend an elite university. The fact that a school with prestigious status and exorbitant tuition, which unfortunately go hand in hand, will be possible for me to attend this 2024 is just unbelievable! Lastly, the scholarship makes my dreams of pursuing medical school much brighter as I won’t be coming out of my undergraduate studies with mounting debt."

Parents, Daniel and Susan Hemmersmeier, are extremely proud of Sam who, earlier in his senior year was named an Illinois State Scholar, a National Merit Commended Student and a College Board Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction. "They know how hard I worked to be in this position and that my dreams are coming true before my eyes,” said Sam. “My parents also made sure that, first and foremost, I thank God for the gifts He has given me and the opportunities He has provided; without His love and grace I would not be in such an amazing family or part of Montini’s outstanding school community."

Congratulations, Sam! We are so proud of you.

ILLINOIS’ TOP 10%

VFW ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

Ryan Rucinski ‘27 (left) and Conor Kaefer ‘25 were recently awarded for putting pen to paper and their voices to video and entering the Voice of Democracy Patriotic Essay Competition sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

Each year, high school students are invited to compete in the essay contest. This year's

theme was - "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?" Conor and Ryan were awarded with a monetary award for their exceptional work and were invited to attend a special banquet on January 13th recognizing local winners.

"I was very honored to win," said Ryan, who represented VFW Post 1578 (Woodridge).

"I really like history and I have a great respect for our veterans who have given so much for our country. My great grandfathers were veterans and I knew entering would make them proud." He believes the greatest attributes of America's democracy involve choice, voice and freedom.

"It was an honor to hear that I had won the local contest, especially because my older sister (Stephanie Kaefer '12) has also won in the past," said Conor, who represented the VFW Lilac Post 5815. He is inspired by honorable veterans, some family members, who

he is proud to know. "I know several Veterans of Foreign Wars members, and they have always been kind and supportive to me. They offered me this opportunity to participate in this contest, and I did so as a way of thanking them for their service to our country. In addition, my grandfather and several other family members are veterans, so I did this to honor and thank them."

"The VFW is proud to sponsor this opportunity for students in our community and we always look forward to hearing students' perspectives," said Mr. Tom Zilla, Chairman of Lombard's VFW Lilac Post 5815.

"Congratulations to Conor and Ryan for their outstanding essay," said Principal Chris Tiritilli. "I am always delighted when our students step up to be a voice for our school and our nation. We are very impressed by their essays and this wonderful accomplishment."

Montini Catholic Bronco Express

Congratulations to our newest Illinois State Scholars: Trinity Smith, Lucy Rizzi, Sarah Paradis, Betsy Beirne, Riley Quinn Boyer, Michael Pogorelec, Daniel Petersen, Thomas White III, Anjay Dhir and Tanner Sebben; (Not pictured:

SPORTS WRAP-UP

GIRLS BASKETBALL

3rd in State

Montini Girls Basketball came out extremely strong this season - while facing tough opponents and having one of the most difficult schedules in the state. The team started their season by winning the Willowbrook Thanksgiving Tournament. They went on to secure the 1st Place trophy in the Montini Christmas Tourney with a win over St. Charles East in the championship game.

Our Lady Broncos went 17-0 at home with big wins over 4A powerhouse programs like Benet, Evanston, Lake Zurich, Marist, Mother McAuley and Schaumburg. In the very competitive GCAC conference tournament they landed in the 2nd place spot. On their road to the final four, the team continued their command by winning the Regional Title for the 19th year in a row (defeating David Speer Academy). The girls continued to push forward, winning the Sectional Title by defeating Trinity High School. Our determined team defeated Grayslake Central in the Super Sectional game (44-25) - securing their trip to State to compete in the 3A State Finals at Red Bird Arena on March 1st. Montini fell in the state semifinal game to Lincoln but were able to capture the IHSA 3rd place trophy with a win over Hinsdale South, ending the season 30-8.

Academically, our varsity rostered players ended their season with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. All 12 varsity players were honored with GCAC ALL Conference Academic Team accolades!

BOYS BASKETBALL

Regional Champions

For the 3rd consecutive season, the Montini Boys Basketball team won a 2A Regional Championship, defeating Northridge Prep, finishing the season with a record of 15-19. The boys lost a close game to a 30-win Christ the King team to end their season with their heads held high. Our season marked an increase of regular season wins from 4 in 2022-23 to 13 in 2023-24, due largely to the impact of our senior class. Danny Petersen ‘24 was named All-Chicago Catholic League Honorable Mention for the second consecutive season and DuPage County All-Area Honorable Mention by the Daily Herald.

Maddox Shepherd ‘24 was named DuPage County All-Area by the Daily Herald. Seniors Tyler Pavlik, Nick Lombardi and Quinn Boyer also made a big impact and left a great legacy on the program.

Our Lady Broncos celebrates three AllConference selections – Alyssa Epps ’24, Nikki Kerstein ‘25 and Victoria Matulevicius ‘24. For the boys, it was Danny Petersen ‘24 who achieved Honorable Mention All Conference status.

The IBCA recognized Nikki Kerstein (IBCA All-State 1 st Team) Victoria Matulevicius (IBCA All-State 2nd Team and Alyssa Epps (IBCA All-State Honorable Mention) The Illinois AP honored Victoria Matulevicius to the All-State 2nd team and Nikki Kerstein to the All-State Honorable Mention. Victoria Matulevicius reached 1,668 career points this season (3rd in program history - Lynette Pestel ‘92 holds the record with 1,728 points; Tammy Kocher ‘89 in 2nd place with 1,710.) - and she was named the Suburban Life Player of the Year!

And finally, for the third consecutlive year, Coach Shannon Herold Spanos ‘99 was named IBCA’s Coach of the Year!

#theprideisback WRESTLING

This year the Bronco Wrestling Program had what could only be described as a break through, bounce back season, that only the wrestlers and coaches in the program really expected to happen. The incredible season started when the team captured regular season tournament championships at the Neuqua Valley Invitational, and the Grandville HS Dual Tournament in Grand Rapids Michigan. They finished in 3rd place at the prestigious 32 team Dvorak Invitational, and just as impressive, they finished ahead of several State Ranked teams at the Chicago Catholic Team Tournament finishing in second place as a team.

After finishing the regular season with a glittering 24-2 record, the Broncos continued their dominance in the post season by winning the IHSA Regional Tournament, and advancing 12 wrestlers to the IHSA Individual State Tournament, including Allen Woo ‘27, Mikey Malizzio ‘27, Isaac Mayora ‘27, Josh Vazquez ‘25, Kam Luif ‘26, Jeremy Huf ‘26, David Mayora ‘24, Harrison Konder ‘24, Santino Tenuta ‘26, Alexander Tack ‘26*, Jaxon Lane ‘25, and Mick Ranquist ‘24. Turning in All State performances for Montini were Mikey Malizzio (3rd @ 113 lbs), Josh Vazquez (2 nd @126 lbs), Kam Luif (3rd @ 132 lbs), and Harrison Konder (3rd @ 157 lbs). Allen Woo (106 lbs), and David Mayora (150 lbs), made Bronco history by being crowned the 69th and 70th IHSA Individual State Champions in the long and storied history of Montini Wrestling, after having dominating tournaments.

Looming in the Team Sectional was the team that many people thought would end the Broncos magic season, the IC Knights. In a tough hard fought back and forth match, the Broncos came out on top 32-29, showing toughness, resiliency and a total team effort, to qualify for the IHSA Team State Tournament. After convincing victories over Rochelle in the quarterfinals, and Chatham Glenwood in the semifinals, the Broncos found themselves in the Class 2A State Championship match against defending State Champion Washington HS. The Broncos battled like true warriors but just couldn’t overcome the Panthers and dropped a heartbreaking 30-28 decision to capture the second place team trophy. Even though the season didn’t end the way they wanted, there is no denying that this season was a fantastic season that proved “The Pride is Back” in the Montini Wrestling Program!

On the girls side, Kat Bell ‘25* had an outstanding season, and once again qualified for the Girls IHSA Individual State Tournament for the 3rd time in her career. She made Bronco Wrestling History by becoming the first ever Women’s State Placewinner, as she finished 6th place at 100 lbs, earning all state honors!

Turning in All State performances for Montini were (with Coach Bukovsky): Allen Woo, Josh Vazquez, Kam Luif, Harrison Konder, David Mayora, Mikey Malizzio and Kat Bell.*

Family tradition

Like father, like daughter! Talent has come full circle in the Considine family with Maryfaith ‘27 sharing the same passion for the Montini stage as her dad, Michael ‘86 .

No one who sat in Montini Catholic’s auditorium mid-March for our Spring Musical, The Sound of Music, went home un-amazed by the vocal talents of freshman Maryfaith Considine who boldly took on the lead role as Maria!

Amidst the applause and adulation received by Maryfaith and all performers, a bit of history was coming full circle that weekend. Maryfaith’s father, Michael Considine ‘86, was experiencing his own emotions of pride for his daughter and nostalgia for his own memories of the Bronco stage.

During his time at Montini, Michael, performed in South Pacific (1983), Anything Goes (1984), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1985) and Bye Bye Birdie (1986). “My favorite production was How to Succeed in my junior year – so many great musical numbers – my favorite being Gotta Stop that Man.” He played the role of Bud Frump, the scheming nephew of the CEO. “Despite my leading man good looks, I always landed the comic relief roles – which probably best suited my abilities,” he remembers.

“Standing on the very stage my dad graced almost 40 years ago was an indescribable experience,” said Maryfaith. “I felt a profound sense of pride and gratitude for the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. To walk the same boards, under the same lights, and to share the same passion for the stage was truly humbling.”

“The spring musical was always a big deal at Montini,” Michael recalls, “Our

Photo above: Michael ‘86, Colleen ‘24, Maryfaith ‘27 and Elizabeth Considine

favorite night to perform would be dinner theatre night. Our Principal, Brother Joe Boggio, would host a dinner in the cafeteria before the performance with dimly lit lights and an open bar. The audience was always rowdy that night!”

“I shared the stage with Steve King, Gerry Dulkowski, Lesli Podraza, Tara Chocol, Rick Dusek, Rick Martinello and many other past greats – so many good times.”

With his wonderful memories of the theatre, it’s no wonder that Michael was so thrilled to turn over the torch to Maryfatih. “I was ecstatic because I know Maryfaith is very talented,” he said, adding that he also had some concern that being cast as the lead as a freshmen would be a lot of responsibility for her to bear. “Of course, she pulled it off in grand fashion. Taking on the role of Maria in The Sound of Music is challenging for anyone –Maryfaith nailed it like a pro. I was cast as the lead in the fall play at Montini my freshman year with very little acting experience and while holding my own, I was not the talent my daughter is. I should note that Maryfaith’s mom is a graduate of the Harrt School of Music and Conservatory and played Sr. Mary Leo in Nunsense and Nunsense II Off Broadway – so it’s in the genes!”

“Before opening night, both my mom and dad offered me some invaluable advice that stayed with me throughout the entire performance process,” said Maryfaith. “My dad, always the voice of calm and reason, told me, ‘Remember to breathe, kiddo. Take a moment to center yourself before you step on stage. You've put in the work, now trust yourself and enjoy the moment.’ Then there was my mom, the powerhouse of passion and deter-

mination, who added her own touch of wisdom. ‘Remember, every note you sing and every step you take is a chance to share your love for the stage with the audience. Let your heart shine through.’” Armed with solid advice from both artistic parents, Maryfaith stepped onto the stage on opening night with a sense of confidence and gratitude, ready to embrace the magic of the moment and give it her all.

stage, to embark on this transformative experience, and to share the story with our audience.”

It was goosebumps for Michael who also admitted he choked up a time or two, with a sense of pride and a flood of memories upon seeing his daughter step on the stage. “Maryfaith is such a cool, confident character. From time to time, she would ask her mom how to approach a song and I would try to help her

“Standing on that stage, I realized the power of tradition and the beauty of carrying on a family legacy.”

- Maryfaith Considine

At a young age Maryfaith has always loved to sing and perform. Before her debut as a Bronco, she performed in several musicals at theater company, Kidz Kabaret, playing the role of Rafike and Nala in The Lion King, Olaf in Frozen and Alice in Alice in Wonderland She also played Kelsi in her middle school’s (Kennedy Junior High - Naperville) production of High School Musical. “When I found out I was cast as Maria, a whirlwind of emotions swept over me. I was incredibly nervous, knowing the weight and responsibility of portraying such an iconic character. Yet, amidst the nerves, there was an overwhelming sense of excitement and gratitude. I felt thankful for the opportunity to bring Maria to life on

with her dialogue when asked, but mostly my role was to help her keep her nerves in check and project confidence. I couldn’t have been more proud of her performances – she is the most - to say the least!”

“I sometimes think high school theatre gets a bad wrap these days and many kids with talent don’t participate, which is a shame,” adds Michael. “That wasn’t the case in the 80s at Montini. We had athletes, Broncettes, cheerleaders, choir members, dancers, and reps from just about every club in the musical back then. The Sound of Music was the best production I have seen in recent years – that’s a credit to the directors, cast, and crew – all magnificent. I would love to see this program take this momentum and continue to grow and see kids who want to perform get on the stage – it’s an awesome experience. And, theatre is cool!”

“Performing in my first musical at Montini will always hold a special place in my heart. It was a journey of growth, discovery, and sheer joy—a testament to the transformative power of the stage and the magic of theater. Standing on that stage, I realized the power of tradition and the beauty of carrying on a family legacy.”

Montini Catholic Bronco

Mike (in back) played Mr. MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie (with Gerry Dulkoski ‘87, Matt Eber ‘89 and Tara Chocol ‘86)

The von Trapp singers: Caitlyn Alcantara ‘27, Lucy Gedraitis, Katherine Filkowski ‘25, Nolan Ferris ‘25*, Xhaiden Ian Manalaysay ‘26, (Maryfaith), Eleni Bastas ‘27, Janie Fischesser and Nyla Carr ‘26;

tomo ow's leaders

The event is consistently themed 'Empowering & Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders,' with all proceeds benefiting academic, athletic, religious and community service endeavors.

This year we were very honored to welcome parents, alumni and friends to celebrate Montini's 58th year of Lasallian education! "Whether you’re an alum, a current parent, an alum parent, a board member, a faculty or staff member, or one of our friends, your presence at this important event is incredibly meaningful and impactful to our students - and that’s the reason you’re here," said President Kevin Beirne. "The success of our fundraising events, most significantly, the Maroon and Gold Gala, play an important role in providing us with the financial resources necessary to continue growing and enhancing the Montini Catholic experience."

Mr. Beirne also offered a special thank you to all Bronco donors, sponsors, and underwriters who consistently support the gala. "We know you have many philanthropic options and your belief in our unique mission affirms the important work we do."

The gala also honored four members of the Bronco family for their contributions to the school's success. The Faculty/Staff Dedication Award went to Admissions Director, Head Varsity Football and Wrestling Coach, and Montini alumnus, Mike Bukovsky '83. The Loyalty Award went to Mr. Mike Manna '70. Mike currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of Montini Catholic's Board of Directors. He is also a Development Committee member. Former teacher, coach, dean and assistant principal, Ms. Kathy Filipiak was honored with the Leadership Award. And, finally, alumni parent, Mr. Bob Rawski, owner of Diversified

Print Group (Bloomingdale), graciously accepted the Signum Fidei Award as a valued business partner of Montini Catholic.

The evening included Montini Catholic's much anticipated $20,000 Champions Club Raffle drawing which is their most anticipated raffle of the year. This year Montini gave away $25,000 in cash prizes, with $20,000 going to lucky raffle ticket holders, Jeff ‘88 and Kim Bukovsky ‘88 (photo on the right).

“Our Maroon and Gold Gala is the school's largest fundraiser with all proceeds benefiting academic, religious and community service endeavors,” said organizer and Development Coordinator, Michelle Ptak O’Connor ‘88. “One of the most important requests this year was for our 2024 Fund-a-Need appeal - which is soley dedicated to supporting students affected by the elimination of the Illinois Empower scholarships (see below).”

For the past five years, we have been able to provide a LaSallian education to students, who are not able to afford to pay full tuition, through the Invest in Kids Act Tax Credit Scholarship Program. This program allowed donors to direct scholarship funds to schools in exchange for a 75% credit on their Illinois State taxes. With the abrupt ending to the program this year, schools are now taxed with the task of providing funds for these students in order to allow them to continue their Catholic education. For the 24-25 school year, Montini will have 36 students remaining from this program to fund (in the amount of $344,000). Please consider supporting these students through our One Montini Fund (2024 Fund-a-Need) at www.montini.org/onemontini or Venmo @montinicatholic. We sincerely thank you.

Montini Catholic Bronco Express

Opposite top: 1. Honoree Kathy Filipiak and Campus Minister Michael Blanchette; This page 2-4 top photos l to r: Honorees Mike Manna ‘70, Michael Bukovsky ‘83 and Bob Rawski receive their awards from President Kevin Beirne; 5. Freshmen student helpers, Salvatore Liotta, Owen Ferris,* Johnathan Neustadt* and Azaan Tipu; Bottom: 6. Bronco wrestlers unite at the gala: Jim Beverley ‘81, Jeff Bukovsky ‘88, Norm Sidler ‘87, Jim Izzo ‘71, Mark Bukovsky ‘84, Michael Bukovsky ‘ 83 and Pat O’Connor ‘81; 7. Montini’s newest Homecoming Queen, Skye Houston ‘24 meets our first Homecoming Queen, Joan Izzo ‘71; 8. Ecstatic Champions Club winners, Jeff ‘88 and Kim (Gary) Bukovsky ‘88;

OBRONCO SPOTLIGHT 25

5. My husband(Wally ‘75) and I just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary this past February.

6. My first job was as a cashier at a car wash. “Do you want hot wax with that?”

7. I love to read and worked at a bookstore for almost 10 years.

8. I attended Catholic school from kindergarten through college.

9. I have a BA degree in English from DePaul University.

10. I prefer to write with pencils and use them until I cannot sharpen them anymore.

11. I do not have a green thumb, please do not ask me to water your plants while you are away.

12. I have snorkeled, water skied and scuba dived even though I don’t know how to swim.

13. I get my best ideas while ironing.

14. Even though I love to travel, I do not speak a second language. I took 2 years of a foreign language in high school and hated every minute of it.

ffice Manager, receptionist and alumni parent (Andrew ‘05, Kimmy ‘07), Rita Weisenburger, is the face (and voice) of Montini! She has visited over 50 countries, kayaked on the Amazon River and savored an exotic dish that would have made Anthony Bourdain proud. There is so much about Rita we never knew! And, if her ‘spotlight’ does not inspire you to get out there and live life to the fullest, nothing will!

1. I wanted to be an archaeologist, until I realized it is a hot and sweaty job.

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2. I am one of 6 children, I am number 5. There is a 25 year age difference between my oldest sibling and my youngest sibling. Yes, the same parents.

3. I’ve known my best friends since kindergarten, that is a very long time!

4. I like to bake and make candy, not a fan of everyday cooking.

15. I have been to over 50 countries/islands, including Iceland, Cuba, Russia and Egypt.

16. I went in a hot air balloon and flew over Egypt to watch the sunrise.

17. I’ve climbed 3 different volcanoes, one in Iceland, Mt. Etna in Sicily and Mt. Vesuvius near Naples.

18. I’ve kayaked on the Amazon River.

19. Easter Island is on my bucket list.

20. I ate guinea pig while in Peru. It was in tortellini, so not really sure if that counts. (Yes, it counts.)

21. If I'm flipping through the TV channels and see the movie You've Got Mail on, I have to watch it.

22. My favorite animal is the polar bear.

23. My senior year of high school I was awarded the "Betty Crocker Award.”

24. My favorite food is Italian and my favorite cookie is chocolate chip.

25. My favorite saying is: “When your life passes before your eyes, make sure it is worth watching!

Sightings

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Members of Montini Catholic's administration and alumni teams were honored to gather in front of classroom #103 on January 24th to honor members of our charter class - the Class of 1970 - for their donation of funds towards the renovation of the classroom. Father Jeff Stoneberg from Christ the King Parish in Lombard was also present to bless the classroom which had been updated due to the generosity of the class members.

"They specifically chose Room #103 to renovate because it was one of the freshmen homerooms in 1966 when Montini first opened," said Katie Doll Hubeny '96, Alumni Relations Director. (Montini's first day of school was September 14, 1966.) "Included in the classroom renovation were new desks, new ceiling tiles/grid, LED lighting with dimmers, carpeting, SMART Board technology, installation of whiteboards for classroom instruction and finally, a fresh coat of paint."

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Representing the Class of 1970 were graduates, Mike Manna, Tom Young, Mark Steagall and Mary (Cesaretti) Traficanti. Following the blessing, President Kevin Beirne thanked the class for their loyalty to their alma mater and dedication to the betterment of Montini's facilities. A special plaque has been placed outside the classroom door to forever memorialize the occasion.

"It's very fitting that our Charter Class of 1970 is the first class to come together to raise funds to renovate a classroom," said Hubeny. "We were so proud today to dedicate Room 103 to this historic class, forever cementing their Montini legacy."

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1. We were honored to welcome Dr. Michael Alebich '03, Steven Montalto '06, Rob Piper '10 and Ben Piper '11 (with President Kevin Beirne on far left) to share their career knowledge and expertise with Bronco seniors and juniors at our first Lunch and Learn series on March 20th. 2. In December, Jacob Halbleib '11 stopped in to visit his photo and remember the time he and Kaitlin Maggiore Konopacz '10 (in photo) starred together in Montini Theatre's "I Don't Have a Clue." 3. Crew member, Sophia Stiso ‘27, was happy to be visited by brother, James Stiso ‘22, at our Spring Musical, The Sound of Music 4. Former Broncettes Emma ‘23 and Megan ‘22 Canty (with Francesca Arroyo ‘24 and Claudia Sipchen ‘24) came out to support our Broncettes during competition season; 5. Former Teacher/Coach Tom Kucera, Bronco Coach Brian Opoka, Pat Mooney ‘13, Sean Nash ‘13, Rich Bodee ‘12 and Logan Goss ‘13 came out to support our Broncos during their Bosy Basketball reunion in January;

Photo above: l to r: Members of the Class of 1970 - Tom Young, Mark Steagall, Mary (Cesaretti) Traficanti and Mike Manna (outside of Classroom 103)

KEEPING UP

WITH THE

BRONCOS

Please e-mail your Bronco updates and/or photos to alumni@montini.org.

MARRIAGES, FUTURE BRONCOS, UPDATES & SYMPATHIES

sympathies

To the Beamish Family on the April 2023 passing of Ed Beamish, father of Deborah Beamish ’71, Pamela (Beamish) Tumpane ’72, Paul Beamish ’73, Kevin Beamish ’75, and David Beamish ’81; father-in-law of Julie (Gits) Beamish ’75.

To the Dwar Family on the passing of Michael Dwar, father of Martin ’10 and Erin ’13.

To the Lis Family on the passing of Collin Lis, son of Chris Lis ’87; nephew of Julie (Howe) Lis ’84 and Mark Lis ’85.

To the Nudd Family on the passing of Jim Nudd, brother of Robert ’71, Julie ’76, David ’77, and Mark ‘79.

To the Peterson Family on the passing of Mary K. (Kathy) Gullang, sister of Eric ’71 and Doug ’73 Peterson.

To the Kicmal Family on the passing of Theodore (Tod) Kicmal, father of Kevin ’81, Ann (Kicmal) Brodette ’82, Lisa (Kicmal) Hichens ’86 and Steven ’88.

To the Donlan Family on the passing of Martha Donlan, mother of Marylou (Donlan) Woods ‘73, Karen (Donlan) McCauley ‘74, Therese (Donlan) Lee ‘76, Maureen (Donlan) Breen ‘79, Mark Donlan ‘79, Missy (Donlan) ‘80, Marcey (Donlan) Futris ‘82, Tom Donlan ‘82 and Michelle (Donlan) Spratt ‘84.

To the Pellicore Family on the passing of Joseph Pellicore, father of Krista (Pellicore) Farnum ’88 and Deandra (Pellicore) Kodish ’90.

To the Laskero Family on the passing of Julie Meyer, sister of Stephen Laskero ’75, Gina Laskero ’76, and Dan Laskero ’83.

To the Niewoehner Family on the passing of Bernard Niewoehner, father of Bernard ’87, Daniel ’89, and Sean ’99.

To the Voegtle Family on the passing of Lora Lee Ann Voegtle, wife of Bernie Voegtle ’70.

To the Devlin Family on the passing of Edward “Tommy” Devlin, father-in-law of Kelli (Barron) Devlin ’89.

To the Forde Family on the passing of Mary Forde, mother of Mary Therese Forde '85, Ann (Forde) Chapple '88 and Brian Forde '89.

To the Mellace-Caruso Family on the passing of Carla Mellace, mother of Ariana (Caruso) Voelsch ’12, Vincent Caruso ’15, and Lisamarie Caruso ’18 and cousin of Montini art teacher Stephanie Kuecker.

To the Aho-Schmitt Family on the passing of Jacob Aho, son of Margaret (Schmitt) Aho ’95; nephew of Edward Schmitt ’75, Stephen Schmitt ’77, Anne (Schmitt) Kolatorowicz ’78, Katherine (Schmitt) Miley ’79, the late Thomas Schmitt ’80, William Schmitt ’87, Patrice (Zaccagni) Schmitt ’87, and Michael Schmitt ’91.

To the Psenica Family on the passing of Catalina De Psenica, mother of Catalina (Psenica) Duerinck '77 and Adriana (Psenica) Yehl '78; motherin-law of Brian Duerinck '79; grandmother of Adriana (Zambuto) Mrizek '96.

To the Diedrick Family on the passing of G. Vern Diedrick, father of Steven ’81 and Larry ’83; grandfather of Doug ’11, Matt ’14, and Mike Maduko ’14.

To the Lucarelli & Santay Families on the passing of Vincent Lucarelli, father of Chris '94 and uncle of Stephen '07, Alex '12, and Samantha '17 Santay.

To the Jinkins-Dailey Family on the passing of Finnegan Cooper Jinkins, infant son of Erin (Dailey) Jinkins '07; nephew of Lisa (Dailey) Krueger '01, Michael Dailey '03, Ryan Dailey '05, Kevin Dailey '10, and Gerald Krueger '97.

To the Almassey Family on the passing of Beatrice Almassey, mother of Beverly (Almassey) Barger '78, Rick Almassey '81, and Sharyn (Almassey) Sather '86; grandmother of Michael '12 and Thomas '14 Almassey and Michelle '14 and Ashley '17 Barger.

To the Sobkowiak Family on the passing of David Sobkowiak, father of Steven '93 and Scott '95.

To the Montgomery Family on the passing of Charles Montgomery, father of Dan Montgomery '82; father-in-law of Cheryl (Jenkover) Montgomery '84; grandfather of Roseann '07, Charles '09, and Zander '24.

To the O’Neill Family on the passing of Mandy O’Neill, wife of Ed ’90; daughter-in-law of former Montini Catholic principal Maryann O’Neill; sister-in-law of Maureen (O’Neill) Nielsen ’87, Christine (O’Neill) McManus ’88, and the late

Michele O’Neill ‘93; aunt of Elaine ’17, Garrick ’20, Charlie ’22, and Maggie ’25 Nielsen and Rebecca ’17, Johnny ’20, and Tommy ’22 McManus.

To the Krones Family on the passing of John Krones, father of Sandy (Krones) Neuenkirchen ’86 and Cindi (Krones) Colleran ’90; father-in-law of Dennis Colleran ’90.

in memoriam

John Dodge ‘79

Collette Delcase ‘87

Martin McCullough ’75, brother of Karen (McCullough) Gron ’71, Diane (McCullough) Kelly ’73, and Brian McCullough ’78.

Jeffrey Vesecky ‘83

Michele O’Neill ’93, daughter of former Montini Catholic principal Maryann O’Neill; sister of Maureen (O’Neill) Nielsen ’87, Christine (O’Neill) McManus ’88, and Ed O’Neill ’90; aunt of Elaine ’17, Garrick ’20, Charlie ’22, and Maggie ’25 Nielsen and Rebecca ’17, Johnny ’20, and Tommy ’22 McManus.

Mike Crosse ’87, husband of Deana (Flerlage) Crosse ’87; father of Maddie ’21; brother of Carrie (Crosse) Igoe ’83 and Sharon (Crosse) Cox ’86; brother-in-law of Joseph Flerlage ’85; uncle of Erin ’10 and Colleen Igoe ’12.

Mary Beth Boeh ’73, sister of Jean (Boeh) Fleming ’70, Catherine (Boeh) McKinley ’71, Diane (Boeh) Davies ’74, Tom Boeh ’76, Joanne (Boeh) Castillo ’82 and Joe Boeh ’83.

John Weiss ’07, brother of Michael Weiss ’06.

Kathy (Winchel) Gossen ’78, sister of Ron Winchel ’80 and Margie (Winchel) Fugiel ’81.

Ryan Neill ’01, brother of Tyler Neill ‘02

Justin Maack ’03, son of Therese (Fruehe) Maack ’79; husband of Amber (Julian) Maack ’03; brother of Seth ’13; nephew of Mark ’81 and Donna (Mueller) Fruehe ’81; cousin of Stephen ’10 and Michael ’13 Fruehe.

Susan (Fuglsang) Siorek ’70, mother of Ryan ’97; sister of Lynne Fuglsang ’73 and Dennis Fuglsang ‘79

UPDATES

Tom Boeh ’76 recently completed his personal seven-year mission to visit all 63 United States National Parks.

Estevan Moreno ‘22, Bronco baseball standout, became the only player in Notre Dame baseball history to hit three homers in a single game - three times! What an incredible feat!

Kerry Pryzbylo ’87 (left) was honored with the Reducing Barriers Award from Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Vito Bonomo ’96 was promoted to Chief of the Plainfield Fire Protection District.

Lisa Doll '99 is a licensed professional counselor and owner of Grace Water Counseling, PLLC based out of Frisco, Texas.

Enya O’Flaherty ’20 started a new position as a New Grad Sales Associate at BlueCross BlueShield.

Peggy O’Flaherty ’87 started a new position at Thriftly.

Lina Martino ’04 (left) won a Regional Emmy Award for "Outstanding Crafts Achievement for Editing: Short Form Content" for her work at the United Center with the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks.

Catherine Kitz ’13 started a new job with Re:Build Manufacturing as a Program Management Specialist in the automotive division.

A ‘heartbreaking’ article on the dangers of social isolation by Debra (Tauscher) Goff ‘75 was selected for publication in October 2023 by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America - after a national requests was made for physicians and pharmacists for articles regarding Covid. Debra is an infectious disease specialist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and a professor of pharmacy at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She’s the only U.S. pharmacist appointed to the World Health Organization antimicrobial stewardship programs in low and middle-income countries. Although she is on the front lines of the virus and other infectious diseases, the article selected presented her and her mother, Eleanor Tauscher’s personal experience in a nursing home during the pandemic. The thought provoking article can be read at: https://pharmacy.osu.edu/directory/debra-goff

Dan Pacheco ’13 started a new position as a Distribution Market Manager at TE Connectivity.

Ben Dobosenski ’13 started a new position as an Assistant Project Manager at Northern Builders, Inc.

Jack Martin ’12 (left) premiered his debut feature film, “Bolt from the Blue,” at the Mammoth Film Festival in California. The film is about an overlooked engineer who is sent to Alaska to scope out an eccentric scientist's claim that capturing lightning can be a new source of renewable energy.

marriages & engagements

Tess Riley ’05 married Richard Loehman on October 27th, 2023.

Briana Borsellino '11 (above) and Dylan Rupp are engaged to be married. The wedding will take place in February 2025 in Sarasota, Florida.

Victor Muscia ’99 became engaged to Lisa Curtis in February 2024. The couple is planning a 2025 wedding.

Claire Smego ’13 married Ty Elley on March 23rd, 2024.

future broncos

Mike Gibson ’12 and Angela (D’Ambrosio) Gibson ‘13 welcomed daughter Brooklyn Christine on October 21st, 2023. She joins big sister Michaela.

Joe ’96 and Jennifer (Soger) Benka ’99 welcomed daughter Alyvia Megan on October 23rd 2023.

Tommy Scalamera ’13 and wife Brooke welcomed daughter Sophia Lyn on December 3rd, 2023.

Lori Seccombe ‘96 welcomed son Theodore David on January 4th, 2024.

Jacob ’08 and Gabrielle (Pacelli) Barrett ’13 welcomed daughter Gwyneth Joan on February 14th, 2024.

Montini Social Studies teacher Alex Zasso and wife Jessica welcomed son Charles (above) on February 18th, 2024.

Montini Catholic Bronco Express

Joe Norton ’06 (above) won his second straight NCWWC Regional title as the head coach of the women’s wrestling team at North Central College.

Are you getting multiple issues of Bronco Express? Please send address changes for Montini graduates not at this address to: alumni@montini.org. Thank you!