Winter_2009 by Rick Rivers

Winter 2009

the

CHRONICLE OF

STRAKE

JESUIT

COLLEGE

PREPARATORY

IN THIS ISSUE

Focused Football: An Escape from Tragedy for Jesuit Alum Ogbonnaya

Houston, Texas

Table of Contents Features Focused p. 4

The start of the new school year brought a new tradition to the Jesuit campus - the Daily Examen. At the beginning of 7th period every day, the entire campus comes to a stop and is led through Ignatius’ Examen. Read more on page 7.

The Daily Examen p. 7 First Athletic Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony p. 15 Departments President’s Message - 2 Principal’s Perspective - 3 School News - 7 - 10 Spirituality - 11 Development - 12 - 13 Athletics - 15 - 18 Alumni News - 19 - 20 Class Notes - 21 - 23 Births - 23 In Memoriam - 23 By George - 24 Winter 2009 Vol. 40, No. 2 Editor Rick Rivers, Director of Communications Contributors Fr. Daniel K. Lahart, SJ Richard Nevle Fr. Flavio Bravo, SJ

the

CHRONICLE OF STRAKE JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY

The Chronicle of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory (USPS 024165) Vol. 40, No. 2, Winter Edition, is published quarterly by Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, 8900 Bellaire Boulevard, Houston, TX 77036. Periodicals Postage Paid at Houston, TX. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chronicle of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, 8900 Bellaire Boulevard, Houston, TX 77036-4699.

President Fr. Daniel K. Lahart, SJ Principal Richard Nevle Director of Development NJ Santarcangelo ‘67 ON THE COVER - University of Texas running back Chris Ogbonnaya ‘04 ﬁrst learned his football skills at Jesuit, where his committment to football helped him through some personal tragedies.

Table of Contents Features Focused p. 4

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CHRONICLE OF STRAKE JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY

President’s Message

I sit down to write this during the Thanksgiving holiday. I retreated for a few days to my parents’ cabin in northern Wisconsin. Just in from a walk along the frozen shoreline of the small lake where I boat and swim in the summertime, I reflected on how far away the beginning of the semester seems . It seems like ages ago that Hurricane Ike visited Houston and roared through 8900 Bellaire Boulevard. A few trees down, limbs scattered across the campus, the roof on the Parsley Center a victim once again, Hurricane Rita having torn it open three years ago. The campus dark and desolate, awaiting the return to normalcy. Everyone has a story about the days following the storm. Perhaps my favorite memory is of all the members of the Jesuit Community raking and picking up our corner of the campus. Fr. Daniel K. Lahart, SJ President

Admittedly, Jesuits are not renown for our domestic abilities. Nor are all our members of tender age. It was a wonderful sight and a gratifying experience as we all pitched in to clean up. In the days that followed, groups of our students spread out across the region to help those most devastated by the storm. The stories of coming together to overcome hardship are edifying. How quickly campus life resumed in full force, and the semester has been one to remember. Once again we were named one of the top 50 Catholic High Schools in the country by the Catholic Honor Roll. Our cross country team and football team each won their district title. Our newest club, the Engineering Club, took first place in its first competition. One of our students became the first private school student to win the coveted Touchdown Club’s Student-Athlete Award. Our first Hall of Honor induction ceremony recognized some legendary members of our athletic program. The 18th annual Freshman Retreat once again took over the campus, and with the help of over 100 sophomores, juniors and seniors, the freshmen had the opportunity to draw closer to our God. Yes, Strake Jesuit has fully recovered from the storm, and life is as busy as ever. The fall has also seen us settling into the new W.T. and Louise J. Moran Dining Hall. No longer do students wait in line most of their lunch time to get their food. No longer are tables littered with trash at the end of the period. I have been very proud of how well our students have cared for all our new facilities. “To whom much is given, much is expected.” This line from Luke is certainly about using our talents to serve God’s glory, but it is also about caring for those things endowed to us . Respect for others, respect for our world, begins with caring for what we have at home. We wait in anticipation for the opening of the Clay Activity Center and the Lahart Chapel of St. Ignatius. Construction continues to move along well, and we will dedicate these newest facilities at the end of January. These buildings will complete the current renovation of our lovely campus. We began our strategic planning, Vision 2008, in the fall of 2002. This strategic plan, which called for a variety of improvements to student life, will be fully implemented when our construction in complete in January. We are very proud of what we have been able to accomplish, and I am very grateful for all who have helped make this possible. No matter where you find yourself this Christmas season, whether in the cold and snow or in the warmth and sun, I pray that the gift of this season may be born anew in your hearts and homes. While our economy goes through turbulent, uncertain times we know with confidence that our Lord came to bring us grace, peace, and salvation. May you and your families be richly blessed during Christmas and in the year ahead.

Winter 2009

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The first Christmas tree I saw on campus was hardly up before

itants are Catholic. Instead they practice a religion that significantly

I remembered an invitation I had received this past July from a ris-

antedates the arrival of the Europeans in the New World, or at least

ing ninth grader I had met at the Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico. His

some of that religion. Tony explained that religious practice in Acoma

name was Tony Aldo. At least that was one of his names. He had other

is really a mixture of the religion the “padres” preached and the reli-

names given by the members of his clan that he did not share with us.

gion that has always been here. The Church is very much a place of

What he did share was the story of his people, the people who inhabit

worship for the people of the mesa. Tony, though not a Catholic, was

the longest continually occupied dwelling in the United States.

completely conversant in his knowledge of the Trinity, the liturgy, and

Acoma was one of the places I was able to visit as the result of

many of the saints of the Church. The frescos he pointed out were not

receiving a Fleming Grant. Fleming Grants are funded by Mr. George

just interesting decorations, but illustrations of his own belief. The tap-

Fleming and designed to improve classroom teaching and to attract

estries told stories not only of the saints they depicted, but they were

and retain outstanding faculty. My own grant was awarded to “further

reminders of the more recent history of the Puebloans. One depicting

my study of U.S. and World History.” Years ago I had taught a course

St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr who was stoned to death in Jeru-

in Native American Cultures and have spent most of my career here

salem, had become, in Tony’s hagiography, a victim of the Spaniards.

teaching World History. As much as the culture of Europe has shaped

and touched the development of the United States, there is a frontier

iards and sold into slavery in Mexico. He points to a wall around the

between the old world and the new that is still clearly visible in the

plaza at the entrance to the Church which also serves as a cemetery.

Southwestern United States. Books tell part of the story, as do archi-

He showed us how a gateway has been cut in the wall, but no gate

tecture and landscape, but the best part of that story is in the hearts of

has ever been placed there. The space is left open so that the stolen

the men, women and children who still live along that line of contact.

children can find their way home when they return.

Acoma sits on that line. It’s ancient American roots are visible from

Tony also explained how a group of children was taken by Span-

When one of our group asked about visiting one of Acoma’s kiva

miles away as is the mark of the Conquistadors who took possession

(a sort of chapel in which the various clans of Acoma meet and con-

of it in the name of their king. The Spanish are gone, survived by their

duct religious rituals), Tony explained that the Kivas were still very

shadows in the lives of the Puebloans who remain. There’s a painting

much a part of Acoma life and visitors were excluded from entering

of the Acoma by Dennis Downey in the Parsley Center and it looks a

them. Likewise, visitors were not even allowed on the mesa when

great deal like the place I visited this past July. The Acoma story is told

certain religious ceremonies were underway, “But you are more than

in numerous books, but to hear the story directly from Tony is to hear

welcome at Christmas,” Tony said. “We celebrate Christmas for four

a history of the heart. Tony, as young as he was, was a trained guide.

days, you really should come.”

He was part of the tourism industry that developed among the Pueblo

and Navaho peoples with the coming of the railroads to the Southwest

of history, and its people share a connection to that history that is in-

at the end of the nineteenth century. But for Tony, telling people about

timate and alive. It’s been four centuries since the explorer Juan de

his community and its long history was more than a summer job. The

Oñate first climbed the mesa and took possession of Acoma. It has

I would like to go to Acoma for Christmas–there is a great deal

events he spoke about were as real to him as if

been nearly as many centuries since Acoma’s

they had happened in his own lifetime. When

church was built, and the wall around its plaza

he spoke of Puebloan customs and ceremo-

left open so that the children taken into slav-

nies, about Acoma’s political decision mak-

ery could return. The opening is still there, and

ing process, he was describing his world, the

people still wait.

place he had in it and the role he would have when he grew older. At times some members of the small group that he guided around the mesa top asked him questions about religious practices. He always politely replied, “We don’t talk to visitors about these customs.”

In spite of the fact that a large Church

erected by Spanish missionaries in the sixteenth century is the largest building on the Mesa, only about 2 per cent of Acoma’s inhab-

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Focused

As a freshman entering Jesuit in the fall of 2000, Chris Ogbonnaya ‘04 had already faced great adversity and heartbreak in his young life. At Jesuit, football became his focus, his means of dealing with that adversity. Now a star senior running back for the nationally-ranked Texas Longhorns, Ogbonnaya’s story of overcoming life’s challenges serves as an inspiration both on and off the field.

by Amy Dyson

hris Ogbonnaya wasn’t allowed to play football. His father, a doctor, made that clear from the start. But soon after Ogbonnaya and his older sister, Valerie, walked into his high school, Houston’s Strake Jesuit, for orientation, a coach approached him. “You look like you can play football,” he said. “My dad said I shouldn’t play,” Ogbonnaya said. “You’re playing,” said the coach. “We’re having tryouts now.” “I don’t have any shorts,” Ogbonnaya replied. “We’ll get you shorts.” “I don’t have the right shoes on.” “We’ll get you shoes.” Valerie called her father. Despite concerns about injuries, he reluctantly gave the OK — a decision he hasn’t regretted. “Football has been a blessing,” says Dr. Kalu Ogbonnaya, originally from Nigeria, “especially after everything we’ve been through.”

Winter 2009

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naya tried breathing into his mouth. He pushed on Jonathan’s chest, Indeed, the Ogbonnaya family has been through a lot. They have frantically trying to get his heart beating. It didn’t work. The autopsy experienced more tragedy in a few short years than most people do showed that Jonathan had congenital malformation of the coronary in a lifetime. As a witness to one tragedy, the impact hit Ogbonnaya arteries. “I was young,” Ogbonnaya recalls. “It was difficult. It’s tough especially hard: when he was just a teenager, his brother died in his to watch somebody pass away in your arms. It’s a picture you don’t arms. erase from your memory.” Ogbonnaya was the third child born into the family. His younger Dr. Ogbonnaya was afraid the experience would scar his son perbrother, Moses, followed. When his parents separated in 1996 and manently. “For a long time, he would break down emotionally,” he eventually divorced in 1998, his father was awarded sole custody of says. “Just crying. I wanted to make sure that it didn’t mentally incathe children. As with any family torn apart by divorce, it wasn’t easy. “I pacitate him so that he couldn’t function. I told Chris not to let it mess will not kid you; it was tough for Chris,” says Dr. Ogbonnaya. “There’s up his whole life.” nothing like having two parents. I did my best. I showed them love.” Ogbonnaya remained depressed for a long time. The anniverWhile Dr. Ogbonnaya was working hard to adjust to life as a single sary of Jonathan’s death was especially rough. Slowly, with the supfather, he also was trying to help his good friends, Jonah and Rose port of his family, he began to recover. There was something else Ifegwu, also Nigerian immigrants, and their three boys. Jonah had that helped him work through the trauma: football. He threw himself brain cancer, and it became clear that he wasn’t going to make it. Dr. into the sport in order to focus his mind on something other than Ogbonnaya was helping the Ifegwus prepare for death and prepare a Jonathan’s death. “Football was my gateway out,” Ogbonnaya says. will. Then more misfortune struck: Rose was killed in a car accident. “Without it, I wouldn’t have made it through.” “Here was a sick man with three children,” says Dr. Ogbonnaya, “and For that, the Ogbonnaya family is grateful. “It’s such a blessing now his wife was dead.” Jonah didn’t want his boys to go to foster that he’s out there and doing something that he loves to do,” says care, and he asked Dr. Ogbonnaya to become their guardian. Jonah Ogbonnaya’s sister, Jessica. Ogbonnaya’s father first learned about Ifegwu died a couple of months later, and Dr. Ogbonnaya was now football when he came to the United States as a student at Clemson. the only parent of seven children. “You can’t go to a football powerhouse without getting into football,” The adjustment proved to be an enormous challenge. The Ifegwu he says. “When Chris got into it, the transition was easy for me. It all boys — Ifegwu, Charles, and Jonathan — were grieving and could be came back. And for Chris, football was a really good coping mechadifficult, and the family’s house with little furniture was too small for nism.” eight people. Dr. Ogbonnaya would go to work, then come home and Ogbonnaya excelled in football at Jesuit, cook and clean until midnight. He got a lot of playing quarterback, receiver, and running support from his fellow church members, who back. He was bombarded with offers from 27 helped drive the children to school and to their schools, including Michigan, Louisiana State, activities. Still, it was extraordinarily difficult. and Nebraska. He chose Texas because he “This all really affected Chris,” says his father. liked the family atmosphere, the camaradeAfter a year, the family moved into a bigrie of the team. He also appreciated Mack ger house. The Ogbonnaya siblings not only Brown’s honesty. “Coach Brown told me I was adjusted to having the Ifegwu boys in the fambeing recruited as an athlete,” says Ogbonily; they embraced them as brothers. Chris benaya. “He didn’t know what position I’d be came especially close to Jonathan, who was a playing. He was up front.” year younger. Life was getting easier until one When he came to Texas, the coachterrible night in 2001. The eldest Ifegwu brothes weren’t sure what to do with him. They er, Ifegwu, was killed in a car accident on the thought they’d make him a receiver — he’s way back to the University of Houston, where got outstanding hands — but instead started he was a student. He was hit by a drunken him at fullback, a position with a lot of contact driver. Dr. Ogbonnaya remembers the pain. “I that Ogbonnaya wasn’t used to. “I think that took over my friend’s child, and now his child position molded me into a third-down back. I was dead,” he says. The family came together can catch in the backfield, which I take a lot in grief. of pride in,” says Ogbonnaya. During his fiveJust six weeks after the accident, Ogbonyear tenure at Texas, Ogbonnaya has played naya, then 15, and Jonathan attended a church many positions. Last season, he appeared camp in Fort Worth to help build houses for in all 13 games as tailback and on special people with low incomes. Ogbonnaya wasn’t teams. planning on going at first, but when he heard He continues to wear a lot of different that Jonathan was attending, he changed his hats. “He’s a guy who can do a lot of things mind. The boys unpacked their things in the well,” says UT offensive coordinator Greg Dachurch, then headed to the basketball court. vis. “It would be hard to say what he’s best Soon after they started playing, Jonathan col- At Jesuit Ogbonnaya was everywhere on the at — but probably his versatility. He’s one of lapsed. Ogbonnaya heard his head smack on ﬁeld including at quarterback, running back, those kids you enjoy coaching because he the court and desperately tried to help him. and wide receiver. does everything right. He just keeps growing. Jonathan had stopped breathing, so Ogbon-

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I’ve seen him maJessica Ogture to a 220-pound bonnaya puts running back who’s it another way. excellent against “Chris is a rethe blitz and who’s ally big nerd,” a threat out of the she laughs. “He’s backfield.” always been enSince January, amored with hisOgbonnaya has lost tory. He’s not a about 15 pounds big reader, but in order to help his he’s able to respeed. He knows tain facts like nohe has to work body. When he hard to compete was younger he’d for his position. He come home and worked diligently a spout out whatyear ago after two ever he learned in knee surgeries in history that day.” the off-season, and Academics he continues to train play a central part hard now. “You’re of Ogbonnaya’s Ogbonnaya returned to Jesuit when the Crusaders took on Madison in the second round of the strategy for his always under fire,” UIL state playoffs and spoke to the team before the game. future, a stratOgbonnaya says. egy that includes “At Texas, you must plans and backup plans. Plan A is his dream: getting drafted by the work. There are always guys who want to play. I like the pressure. I NFL. He’d be happy with any team, anywhere, he says. In November, love a challenge.” he’ll assess his football status, and if it’s not as promising, he’ll try to Already a team captain and leader, Ogbonnaya hopes to exposition himself to go to graduate school and be a graduate assistant pand his leadership role like one of his role models, Vince Young, with the football team. He’s also interested in joining the work force, did. “Vince made everybody so much more confident,” Ogbonnaya especially in sports broadcasting. “Chris is very serious about his fusays. “We just believed we weren’t going to get beat, ever. Once our ture,” says his father. “He told me he wants to be able to do things for defense made a stop, it was over because our offense was going to himself so he doesn’t have to depend on me. That’s why he got the score.” second major.” As a redshirted freshman, Ogbonnaya was part of the team that Ogbonnaya calls his father nearly every day. He’ll call to tell him won the national championship in 2005 — an experience so surabout his grades, to discuss his future, or just to check on him and real for him that he’s not sure he even appreciates its magnitude see what he’s eaten that day. “My father’s become my best friend yet, though he’d still like to repeat in 2008. “I want another ring,” he outside of my brother,” Ogbonnaya says. “It’s a good relationship, smiles. but my relationship with any member of my family is extremely strong In addition to his dedication on the field, Ogbonnaya also excels because of what we went through.” in academics. He’s a member of the National Honor Society and has Ogbonnaya thinks of his family even during his everyday affairs. already earned a degree in history. Since he has an extra semester When he was in middle school, a close friend got into a fight, and Ogof NCAA eligibility because he was redshirted, he’s decided to use bonnaya rushed in to help him. Then he remembered his father and that time to earn another degree in corporate communications. “My pulled back. Ogbonnaya’s friend got suspended. “Chris remembered dad was always adamant about how important academics are to suchis family upbringing and never got involved,” Dr. Ogbonnaya says. ceeding in life,” says Ogbonnaya. “I took that with me.” His family also keeps him in check, especially his two older sisters. Dr. Ogbonnaya, who succeeded in life through academics after “After all these years playing at a great school with a great athletic growing up with no father and little money during a civil war, seems to program, he still retains his humility,” says Jessica. “It comes from have imparted this lesson to all his children. Besides Chris, Charles having a sister who’ll hit him over the head if he gets too haughty. works in Los Angeles, 2007 Jesuit graduate Moses, is in business Our family isn’t too flashy or shiny. We just like to excel at whatever school at Southern California, Valerie is an opera singer living in New we’re doing.” York City, and Jessica is an investment banker attending the MBA Ogbonnaya continues to excel, both on the football field and in the program at the University of Chicago. classroom. Coach Greg Davis appreciates the challenges of being a studentA tragic event can swallow a person. It can also make someone athlete and commends Ogbonnaya’s ability to manage his time on stronger. “Jonathan’s death made me want to do better on the football and off the field. “He knows how to be a fun-loving picker kidder,” field and better in every aspect of life,” Ogbonnaya says. “Really, the Davis says. “Then he knows how to leave there and go to the football tragedy set my life in motion.” field and work extremely hard. And then he knows how to go to study hall and study.” Reprinted with permission from Horns Illustrated magazine.

Winter 2009

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school news

SCHOOL NEWS

School Begins Ritual of the Daily Examen The start of the 2008-09 school year at Strake Jesuit marked the beginning of a new tradition on campus. It is a new tradition that has

Examen that includes a brief time of reflection after each of these steps:

nothing to do with academics or athletics but has everything to do with the school being a Jesuit school.

- Recall that you are in the presence of God

Each school day, the entire campus - including classrooms, of-

- Give thanks and ask for God’s Grace

fices, and walkways - stops and is guided through the prayer of St. Ig-

- Examine how you have lived this day

natius’ Daily Examen. The Examen, or Examination of Conscience, is

- Ask for pardon

a simple method of daily reflection developed by St. Ignatius in which

- Offer a prayer of reconciliation and resolve

one reflects on his day in such a way as to grow in self understanding and to become more free to follow God’s will.

“Praying the Examen each seventh period of our school day

It is a remarkable sight to see. While most students and teachers

consecrates time and space to search for God’s will in our lives,”

are in class, others are wandering the walkways, in the Dining Hall,

explains school chaplain Fr. Flavio Bravo, SJ. “The Ignatian Ex-

or playing games in the quad. Wherever they are, they stop in their

amen is how Ignatius showed us the way to remain united in mind

tracks and pray. This includes administrators in their offices who may

and heart through the days’ events. When I see the students, fac-

be in a meeting or on the telephone. At that joint moment, everyone

ulty and staff taking the time to pray during their busy day, the

stops and prays.

Strake Jesuit community affirms that God is infinitively active in

“Ignatius told the first Jesuits, both as novices and professed mem-

our academic world, our athletic world and all that is relevant to us.

bers of the order, that going through the Examen was one of the most

According to the Jesuit Conference, the Society of Jesus in the

important activities they could undertake in growing spiritually,” noted

United States, “the general examination of conscience is a simple

Principal Richard Nevle. “Here at Jesuit, we have an extensive re-

form of prayer directed toward developing a spiritual sensitivity to the

treat program which puts a significant emphasis on the importance of

special ways God approaches, invites and calls. It may be done at

looking at yourself and your relationship to the people and the world

the end of each day, though it can be done more frequently as the

around you and, of course, your relationship to God. Ultimately that’s

person feels drawn. The more frequently performed, however, the

what the Examen is all about. It doesn’t matter that it lasts only a few

more natural it becomes and more a way of growing into an ever-

minutes. It’s a daily reminder of why we’re here, what we’re about,

closer relationship with God. It can take anywhere between five and

where we are succeeding, when we are failing and what we need to

fifteen minutes, although it does not matter how long one spends.

do next.”

The important thing is to open oneself to recognizing and responding

So each day, at the beginning of 7th period, the entire Strake Je-

to God’s movement in your heart.”

suit campus comes to a stop and everyone is guided through The

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school news

SCHOOL NEWS

Jesuit’s Men for Others Respond to Hurricane Ike Recovery The destruction that Hurricane Ike wrought

because

our

across the greater Houston area on Friday

students were

and Saturday, September 12 and 13 was as

not in school

enormous as it was swift. And just as swiftly,

does not mean

Jesuit’s spirit and tradition of Men for Others

they were not

responded with action.

getting an ed-

On Tuesday, September 16, nine members

ucation.

This

of the Jesuit Cross Country team, led by Head

was an edu-

Coach Michael Kerley and Academic Assis-

cation and a

tant Principal Carlos Roman, traveled to one

memory

of the hardest hit areas. They went to Clear

will last a life-

Lake Shores in the far southeast part of the

time.”

greater Houston area. The scene that greeted

that

Another

them was worse than any of them have imag-

group,

ined.

by Mr. Brian

led

The group set about the task of cutting

Reedy, SJ, Fr.

trees off the roofs of houses and removing

Flavio Bravo,

furniture from houses damaged by water. The

SJ, and Andy

need for help was so great that on Wednes-

Pruett

day, they sent out a call for more help and

roaming through the neighborhoods of Bay-

were joined by 25 more students, three Jesuit

side Terrace, Shoreacres and Bay Colony.

dads and Coach Willie Webster.

The people there were overwhelmed with

began

Seniors Denys Herfort, Bradley Cayce, and Patrick Connolly were among a troop of Jesuit students and faculty members who assisted Hurricane Ike victims.

The extra help arrived just in time on

emotion by learning that help was on the way.

Wednesday, as the larger group found an

For three days, the Strake Jesuit group orga-

even greater need. More people requested

nized into teams and deployed and assaulted

help getting the furniture and appliances out

the ravages left by Ike by ripping out carpets,

of their houses and then there were a seem-

moving heavy furniture, sawing and hauling

ingly endless number of downed trees.

limbs, preserving personal items and letting

The group did all it could do and the people

people know that their situation was not as

of Clear Lake Shores were very grateful. “Many

hopeless as they may have thought. To so

cried, many said thanks, many just wanted to

many, this team was the first responder

hug and talk to the boys,” said Kerley. “Just

and Mr. Roman accompanied 33 more Jesuit students and some parents to assist in the food distributing effort. Working with Catholic Charities the group traveled to the POD (Points of Distribution) locations where the need was greatest. Fr. Bravo took ten people in a school van to the Food Bank to help with packing food. Mr. Roman accompanied 23 people in a school bus to St. Christopher’s Catholic Church to unload trucks and hand out supplies and food at that POD location.

On Saturday, September 20, Fr. Bravo

Jesuit Named Top 50 Catholic High School for 4th Time For the fourth time, Strake Jesuit has been included in The Catho-

year nearly 300 schools complet-

lic High School Honor Roll. The National Catholic High School Honor

ed the three detailed surveys that

Roll is a list of the top 50 Catholic high schools in the United States,

measure a school’s adherence

where schools are examined on the criteria of academic excellence,

to the Church’s educational mis-

Catholic identity, and civic education. It is produced in consultation

sion. Each school also receives

with an advisory board comprised of Catholic college presidents and

an evaluation to see how it com-

scholars. The purpose of the Honor Roll is to recognize and encour-

pares to other schools nation-

age excellence in Catholic secondary education, and is a resource for

wide.

parents, schools, donors, and colleges. In its five years, the Honor Roll has seen over 50 percent of Amer-

ica’s nearly 1,300 Catholic high schools participate at least once. This

Winter 2009

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school news

SCHOOL NEWS

Grandparents Day is Extra-Special For One Grandmother On Wednesday, October 23, Jesuit held its fourth annual Grandparents Day when grandparents join their Jesuit grandsons for Mass and a lunch. On this occasion, one grandmother in particular had reason to be especially proud. Marilyn Branda Wood enjoyed the special day with all seven of her current Strake Jesuit grandsons. “This has become one of my favorite Strake Jesuit events of the year,” said Mrs. Wood. “I have been close to Strake Jesuit since the 1960’s when my oldest sons, Jim ‘69 and Brian Branda ‘71 attended.” In total, almost 400 grandparents of Jesuit students attended, gathering in the Competition Gym with their grandsons for Mass and lunch. Afterwards, those who wished were given a brief tour of the campus with their grandsons serving as guides.

Marilyn Branda Wood is joined by her seven Jesuit grandsons at 2008 Grandparents Day (left to right) senior James and freshman Zach Branda, sophomore Patrick and senior Andrew Martin, and sophomore Patrick, junior Thomas, and freshman Connor Benson.

Junior Recognized by Volunteer USA

Students Reap National Academic Honors

Eight members of the Strake Jesuit class of 2009 are among

16,000 other students named as semifinalists in the 54th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Each has an opportunity to con-

tinue in the competition for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $35 million.

The Strake Jesuit seniors named NMS Semifinalists are Daniel Blado, Paul Doyle, Patrick Hoskins, Andrew Schneider, Henry Ung, Joseph Vennix, James Webb, and John Whitney.

These select students were among more than 1.5 million juniors

from over 21,000 high schools who entered the 2009 National Merit Program.

A.J. Ledesma and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Jesuit junior A.J. Ledesma was selected as Texas’ first Teen Trendsetter, based on a commitment to volunteerism and school recommendations. He traveled to Orlando to attend the national kickoff

The College Board also announced that 18 Strake Jesuit students

have been recognized by the National Hispanic Recognition Program. They are among a pool of over 200,000 students who took the 2007 PSAT/NMSQT/PAA and identified themselves as Hispanic.

The honored 18 current Jesuit students, who are among 5,000

event where former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who helped establish

such students to receive the honor from students nationwide, are:

the initial program, welcomed the students and applauded their de-

SCHOLARS - Mark Allison, Christopher Bello, Christopher Black-Ce-

sire to get involved in helping others.

lis, Francisco Castillo, Carl Diaz, Humberto Galvan, Roberto Garcia,

Teen Trendsetters’ Reading Mentors pairs high school students

Christian Grado, Philippe Haffner, Daniel Laucirica, Luis Murguia, Di-

with third-graders, who struggle with reading, for one-on-one weekly

ego Pacheco, Andrew Schneider, and Paul Tyger.

sessions. The goal is to improve the basic reading skills of the young-

HONORABLE MENTION - Kenneth Haesly, Rodrigo Hernandez, Ja-

er students and to nurture the volunteer spirit among youth leaders.

son Hochstein, and Andrew Porras.

www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

The Chronicle

school news

SCHOOL NEWS

Senior’s Eagle Scout Project Receives Mayor’s Award Jesuit senior Cavalier Coffield was in need of a project to

earn his Eagle Scout. He approached the Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston and proposed building a labyrinth. His efforts resulted in his being presented with an award in Houston Mayor Bill White’s Keep Houston Beautiful program. He saw the labyrinth as an opportunity to enrich the beau-

ty of the grounds of the Retreat Center. A labyrinth is the perfect addition to a place of retreat and contemplation. The purpose of the labyrinth walk is to still the mind so the voice of the Divine, which dwells within, can be heard. A path and bridge were added to connect the Meditation Garden to the labyrinth, creating a special place for prayer, reflection, and meditation for the 20 different groups that meet at the center.

The project cost $29,000 of which Coffield raised $5,050.

The balance was supplied by the Retreat Center with in-kind donations of craftsmanship and landscaping by John and

Cavalier Cofﬁeld admires his labryrinth at the Holy Name Retreat Center which earned him recognition by the Mayor’s Keep Houston Beautiful Program.

Guillen Landscaping.

Engineering Team Wins First Competition The new Strake Jesuit Engineering Club entered and

won its first competition on November 7 and 8 by taking first place at the North Houston BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) event. BEST is an organization dedicated to fostering science and engineering among high school and middle school students throughout the country. Each year, a competition is held where students construct a robot from a limited set of materials. The robot competes in a game against the other schools where the robots may be removing “dangerous” materials, rescuing aliens, or saving the world.

The teams competed in Oral presentations, submission

of an engineering notebook, table display and interviews, spirit, and results of the robotic contest on Saturday. The team finished 3rd in the actual robotics competition round. With their win, the Jesuit club team moved on to the

Frontier Trails BEST Regional Competition December 5 and 6 at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith. There, the field included teams from North Dakota, Minnesota,

The new Engineering Club at Jesuit celebrated after winning the very ﬁrst competition they entered, the North Houston BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) event in November.

Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Tennessee.

Hoskins, Chris Lauinger, Chris McCullagh, Ryan Stangel, Sami Sul-

Though the Jesuit team did not have the same success as they

tan, and John Work, Juniors - Anthony Banh, Marcus Barnett, Mi-

had at the local competition, it was a great learning experience. The

chael Callegari, Mike Depinet, Kyle Droughton, Matt Geddie, Elliot

team took a 3rd place finish for their web page which is at http://sjen-

Green, Nicholas George-Jones, Dan Pepin, Stephen Skerl, and Dan-

gineering.org.

iel Whitty, Sophomores - Charles Alford, J.B. Brennan, Ali Ebrahim,

Club team members include: Moderator - Diane Whitlow

Charlie Grealish, Ryan Haney, Aidan Hickman, Chuck Jenner, Chase

Seniors - Orion Campbell, Michael Collins, Carlo Henson, Patrick

McArdle, Nicholas Naccarino, Eddie Saa, and Ken Tang and Fresh-

Winter 2009

www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

spirituality

SPIRITUALITY

Of Speed Bumps and Br. Casey by Fr. Flavio Bravo, SJ

“In him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17: 28

Returning from a lunch of tacos at El Maguey, just down the

continues, moving his right hand up and down, “I tell you what, it

road from Strake Jesuit, we turned into the drive way and

is about being contemplatives in action.” Period, no more

behold: we hit a speed bump! What a way to end

explanation needed. Being a contemplative in action

a great afternoon and lunch time with friends. I

is what the parking lot sightings are all about! I

thought to myself, “Quite a pretty good scratch

think I get it.

on the belly of the car.” I often wonder what

Indeed, this is the core of Jesuit Spiri-

it would be like driving a mudding truck in

tuality. To be a contemplative in action is

the parking lot. No traffic calming device

our vocation. Being men and women for

to fear. Well, unless you come across the

others requires being contemplatives in

figure of Brother Casey walking the park-

action and vice versa. One cannot ex-

ing lot.

ist without the other. Brother Casey’s

Strake Jesuit’s speed bumps are

walking the parking lot and the hallways

legendary, no doubt. But even more

make his vocation to serve others and

legendary is the presence of Brother

to find God in all things a reality. He

Casey walking the parking lot. Recently,

contemplates God’s presence in the of-

because of the construction and chang-

ten reckless drivers, and the numerous

es around our campus, information on

jaywalkers cutting across the grass. But

our parking lot has been on the school’s

more importantly, he makes sure that you

website. I have jokingly said to myself that

are safe and exercising your spirit by fol-

part of the traffic information on our park-

lowing the rules. The receiving of a PH or

ing lot should include “Brother Casey sight-

being admonished by Brother Casey in the

ings.”

parking lot or across the Dining Hall can lead a

Many times I have asked Brother Casey

student, and I venture to say that it is quite effec-

about his tenure at Strake Jesuit and how he finds

tive, to self-reflection and contemplation.

his work and ministry after so many years being the enforcer of discipline and the master of PH’s. His respons-

Sometimes it takes the nudges of a friend, a

family member and, yes, Brother Casey’s yelling across the

es are always subtle and nuanced. Anybody who has ever sat to

hall “Hey Boy!!!” to get us to think beyond ourselves. It takes a

converse with Brother Casey knows quite well that he does not

speed bump, a traffic calming device, to try to contemplate our

like to talk about himself. His first and most common answer is,

surroundings.

“Well, it’s about finding God in all things.” Period, nothing more

The next time you drive across the parking lot speed bumps,

needs to be said. The parking lot, as mundane as it may seem, is

cut across the grass, or don’t tuck in your shirt, thank God for

one of the arenas where we can search for and find God.

being there when Brother Casey appears before you. He is there

Continuing my conversation with Brother Casey, I asked him to clarify what he means by finding God in all things. “Well,” Broth-

to lead you, to contemplate your actions and to find God in all things!

er’s voice rises as he puts the legendary clipboard aside, and

www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

The Chronicle

evelopment

DEVELOPMENT

THE GREATER GLORY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Completion Near on Student Activity Center & Chapel The start of the second se-

mester of the 2008-2009 school year will also mark the completion of the construction projects of Phase III of The Greater Glory Capital Campaign. This includes the conversion of the Smith Gym into the W.T. and Louise J. Moran Dining Hall and the Clay Student Activity Center and the Daniel K. Lahart Chapel of St. Ignatius.

The new Dining Hall was completed and

opened in time for the start of the fall semester. This new facility has been a welcome replacement to the Alumni Cafeteria on whose site the new Student Activity and Chapel are being constructed.

The Student Activity Center will

be a 3-story structure highlighted by a magnificent atrium foyer. The facility will be the new home of the Pastoral Ministry Center and the Spirit Store on the first floor. The second floor will include offices and space for Debate, Yearbook, and The Magis student newspaper. The third floor will be the new location for SJET and will also include space for digital arts and ceramics.

As school President Fr. Daniel Lahart,

SJ has often stated, “this facility is the Heart of the Plan of The Greater Glory Capital Campaign. Including the new Moran Dining Hall, this facility will be where students congregate before and after school and between classes. From the dining hall to the chapel, this will be the place where students come to be fed and nourished, both physically and spiritually.” As the new structures take shape, it is be-

coming apparent to all that this will, in fact, be the case.

Winter 2009

Images of construction on the Student Activity Center and Chapel from mid-December set against artist renderings of the completed project are, from top to bottom: exterior including the chapel’s bell tower, the chapel, and the three-story atrium foyer.

www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

evelopmen

DEVELOPMENT

Exciting Items Set for ‘Safari Soiree’, 2009 Fantasy Auction Look sharp, Big Game Live Auction Hunt-

• H a n d -

ers! Sights are set on some exciting live auc-

c r a f t e d

tion packages to be offered at this year’s “Sa-

Strake

fari Soiree” Fantasy Auction on April 4 at the

suit

Marriott Sugar Land Town Square. Check it

Mr.

out:

Romano’s

• Custom-crafted Strake Jesuit Cruci-

king-sized

ﬁx. A stunning necklace fashioned after the

creation in a

crucifix that will adorn the new bell tower of

green-and-

the campus chapel. Necklace designed and

white

“log

crafted by Mark Herfort.

cabin”

quilt

• Co-Cathedral Tour and Dinner with Car-

style.

dinal DiNardo. Once-in-a-lifetime insider’s

• Carefree

tour for a party of eight with the architect and

New

Cardinal DiNardo.

land Getaway. Escape to the coast of Maine

reserved seating at 2009 graduation… and

with your family or friends and stay at this his-

much, much more!

• Science of Cooking-Texas Style.

Mr.

made alligator boots; a Hill Country getaway vacation;

Je-

Quilt.

16-piece

nativity

Tommy

needlepoint

scene

stitched

by Strake Jesuit moms; a spring break trip to Or-

lando for Astros spring

training; a golf enthusiasts’ package for a threesome

at six top Houston clubs; mass and dinner at your home with Fr. Lahart; four

tickets to South Bend for a

Eng-

Reedy treats 10 people to a menu that’s 100%

toric 1870 captain’s home.

Texan and 100% prepared by him at the Bad-

Notre Dame football game;

Auction Chairs Jill and Phil Ribbeck prom-

• Eight-day African Safari. The real deal

ise an evening that has something for ev-

um family Bellville

– an all-inclusive

eryone… the thrill of the Big Board auction

ranch house.

trip and safari for

throughout the night; a silent auction; chances

two!

to win big in the raffle drawing; and opportuni-

• Stars

But that’s not all…

ties for everyone to join in the fun of the many

watch for details

Sign-Up Parties. Plan your table now and

thrill for four lucky

excit-

join the herd of parents, alumni, faculty and

people to be part

ing auction pack-

friends at this do-not-miss gala dinner to raise

of the crew on

ages,

including

money for Strake Jesuit College Preparatory.

Dennis Conner’s

a Cajun-style sa-

Last year, more than $500,000 was gener-

famous America’s

fari, complete with

ated to benefit the school’s Financial Aid pro-

Cup yacht in San

your own custom-

gram and endowment and to offset operating

Stripes

Sailing

Adventure.

Diego.

expenses.

For more details on the 29th an-

nual Fantasy Auction, please check the Strake Jesuit web site or call Jill Ribbeck at 281.556.1971 or Auction Coordinator Sharon Venables at 713.490.8107.

Among the items that will be available in the Live Auction at the 2009 Fantasy Auction, ‘Safari Soiree’, on April 4 are (top to bottom) a tour of the Co-Cathedral and dinner with Cardinal DiNardo, an 8-day African Safari, and a New England Getaway in Maine www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

The Chronicle

When you Sponsor a student, your gift comes with a face and a name. Whether you have been a longtime contributor to Strake Jesuit, or you have just been waiting for the right opportunity to get involved, consider sponsoring a financial aid student. As a Sponsor, you will be able to meet the student and watch him grow throughout his Jesuit experience. It is a very personal and rewarding way to reach out to a deserving young man and impact his life in a meaningful way. For more information, contact NJâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Santarcangelo â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;67 in the Development Office at 713.490.8152. 14

Winter 2009

www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

ATHLETICS

Inaugural Class Inducted into Athletic Hall of Honor It was, by any definition, a special night. A crowd of over 140 gath-

If there was a consistent theme to their acceptance speeches,

ered in the Moran Dining Hall on Saturday, September 27, 2008 to

it was their shared memories of Strake Jesuit. They each spoke of

witness the Inaugural 2008 Class officially inducted into the Strake

their coaches and teammates, and the bonds and relationships they

Jesuit Athletic Hall of Honor. This first class was comprised of four

formed.

outstanding athletes, one memorable team, and one very distin-

those of the first to be inducted, Mike Janda ‘69. He concluded his

athletics

guished individual.

None of those speeches may have been more memorable than

The inaugural inductees were:

comments by saying “I promise that I have been and always will be a

Mike Janda ‘69

Crusader forever.”

Mike Novelli ‘75

In his remarks, Athletic Director Bill McDonald described the dif-

Eric Mullins ‘80

ficult undertaking that the Hall of Honor Selection Committee faced.

Chris Darkins ‘92

“With almost 50 years of Jesuit athletics to consider, the Selection

The 1976 Football Team

Committee faced a daunting task. In the end, they arrived at an inau-

Br. Casey Ferlita, SJ

gural class that was very worthy of this honor.”

School President Fr. Daniel Lahart offered his remarks to

the inductees and those in attendance by pointing out that “al-

most 75% of our students participate in one or more of our ath-

letic programs. Through sports they learn about teamwork, about setting goals and working towards them, about dealing with suc-

cesses and disappointments. We want them also to experience the greater lesson of athletics. Learning to prioritize responsibili-

ties is important; but learning that integrity matters more than victory is vital.

“Tonight we take the time to honor individuals and teams

who have excelled in representing Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in a wide variety of athletic activities. We are proud of what you accomplished here, and we are proud that Strake Jesuit was part of your growth from

young boys to men. Through your athletic accomplishments here and through what you achieved in the years since, you give witness

to our call to be Men for Others. While an athletic contest ends when you cross that line or

when the final buzzer rings, your mission to be Men for Others never rests.

“While many young boys have looked up to you because of your athletic accomplish-

ments,” he concluded, “more important is that they look up to you for who you are today. “

Nominations for the Athletic Hall of Honor Class of 2009 will be open in February 2009.

Top: A large crowd turned out to see the inaugural class of Athletic Hall of Honor inductees honored. Bottom: Members of the Inaugural Class of 2008 of the Strake Jesuit Athletic Hall of Honor, ﬂanked by Athletic Director Bill McDonald (left) and school President Fr. Daniel Lahart, SJ (right) are (left to right) Br. Casey Ferlita, SJ, Eric Mullins ‘80, Mike Janda ‘69, Head Coach of the Hall of Honor 1976 Football Team Tom Nolen, Mike Novelli ‘75, and Chris Darkins ‘92. www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

The Chronicle

ATHLETICS

Football Team Captures First District Title The Crusaders football team, in their first

As a reflection of that great season, the

season in their new district, were matched

Crusaders dominated the All-District 18-5A

against

James Scott

the

First Team selections with 11

Spring Branch and

players and added another

COACH OF THE YEAR

Alief schools. They

three on the Second Team

Ron Counter

marched

All-District. In addition, Quar-

athletics

DISTRICT MVP OFFENSE

through

district play with a

terback

perfect 7-0 to claim

named MVP on Offense and

James

Scott

was

Eric Baars, Offensive Tackle

their

FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT

district

Head Coach Ron Counter

Kellan Belanger, Wide Receiver

title since begin-

was named District Coach of

Klein Kubiak, Wide Receiver

ning play in the UIL

the Year.

James Scott, Quarterback

first

in 2005. They had

The team also excelled in

an overall record of

the classroom with 20 mem-

Jo Jo Williams, Defensive Tackle

8-1 and went on to

bers of the team being named

Garrett Staudt, Linebacker

All-

Wes Williams, Defensive End

win their first play-

Academic

off game against

District and five

Bayo Adesomo, Secondary

Mayde Creek be-

of those being

Alex Wilkins, Kicker

fore bowing out of

nominated

for

Hugh Stewart, Kicker

the playoffs in the

Academic

All-

second round to

State.

SECOND TEAM ALL-DISTRICT Those

Madison.

Chase Mayo, Secondary

John Hohlt, Offensive Tackle

receiving post-

Hugh Stewart, Defensive End

great season,” said

season honors

Patrick Blizzard, Secondary

head coach Ron Counter. “This

included:

“We

had

senior class has raised the bar

Senior Quarterback James Scott and Head Coach Ron Counter each earned District 18-5A honors after the team claimed its ﬁrst district title.

of high expectations for the Jesuit football program.”

Senior Provenzano Wins Houston Scholar-Athlete Award Senior Brett Provenzano became the first private school student to

win the Houston Touchdown Club’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award on Wednesday, November 12 at the Touchdown Club’s annual awards luncheon. A defensive tackle for the Crusaders, Provenzano was selected from a group of 25 finalists. He received a $1,500 scholarship along with the honor.

“No one plays harder or with more heart than Brett Provenzano,” noted

Head Football Coach Ron Counter. “While he may not have the stats that others have he is very steady and consistent on the field.” Provenzano grew up wanting to play for Strake Jesuit. “When I was a kid I used to always go to Strake Jesuit-St. Thomas (football) games and I always wanted to be on the field with them,” he explained. “I didn’t think I’d have that opportunity. A lot of guys that go to the school and a lot of guys on the football team are really smart and to represent them, it’s an honor.” Provenzano carries a 4.3 grade-point average, scored a 2,160 on his SAT and is a National Honor Society member.

Winter 2009

Former Houston Oilers Quarterback Gifford Nielsen and Provenzano at the annual Houston Touchdown Club Awards.

www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

ATHLETICS

Cross Country Team District Champs, Earn State Berth The Cross Country

“This year’s team was

team finished another

very young,” noted Head

successful season. The

Coach Mike Kerley, “and

squad posted wins at the

we wound up running five

University of Houston,

sophomores at the state

Mayde Creek, Bellaire

meet.

and Brenham as well

were fellow sophomores

as a 2nd place finish at

Nick Gibson, Doug Pat-

the Round Rock McNeil

son, Conner Troxclair

meet.

and Chris Schiller.”

Joining

Novelli

The Crusaders swept

The squad will lose

the District Meet with the

seven seniors to gradu-

Varsity, JV, and Freshman all claiming titles. It marked the third straight

The entire Jesuit Cross Country Team had reason to celebrate this year as they swept the District Meet by claiming the Varsity. Junior Varsity, and Freshman titles.

district title for the varsity

ation and their experience and leadership will be missed. They include Julian Vela, Ben Barrett,

runners. Senior James

Andre Boudreaux, Alex

Webb won the individual championship.

Jefferies, Bryan Williams and the two team Captains Jack Brentin

At the Region III meet the team placed a state qualifying 3rd with

and James Webb. However, the returning team members will waste

Webb claiming the Region Individual title. Sophomore Weston No-

no time in preparing for the 2009 season with high expectations for

velli placed 5th in the race. From there it was on to the State UIL meet

another successful year.

for the second year in a row. This year the Crusaders finished 9th.

Three Seniors Sign Letters to Play Collegiately On Wednesday, November 12, 2008, National Letter of Intent Signing Day, three current senior Crusaders signed on the dotted line and made commitments to play at the college level beginning next year. The three include basketball players Joey Brooks (Notre Dame) and Tim Frazier (Penn State), and golfer Nicolas Dodd (University of Texas – San Antonio). Joey Brooks, a 6’5” forward, committed to attend Notre Dame and play for the Fighting Irish. Last year as a junior he was named AllRegion and 1st Team All-District 17-5A. He led the team in points per game with a 20.1 average and rebounds per game averaging eight. Tim Frazier is a 6’1” guard who has committed to the Nittany Lions of Penn State. As

Tim Frazier (Penn State basketball), Nicolas Dodd (UT-San Antonio golf), and Joey Brooks (Notre Dame basketball) all signed on National Letters of Intent Signing Day. Nicolas Dodd committed to play golf at the

sophomore, and junior and finished 7th at the

named Defensive Player-of-the-Year in Dis- University of Texas – San Antonio. Nicolas

State UIL Tournament in 2008 as a junior. He

trict 17-5A. He also led the team in steals with has been a member of the last three Jesuit

also earned All-District honors each of those

a junior for the Crusaders last year he was

98 for an average of three per game.

District Championship teams as a freshman,

www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

years.

The Chronicle

ATHLETICS

Water Polo Team Earns State Berth in New League The Strake Jesuit Water Polo Teams had successful seasons this fall in a new league, the Texas High School Water Polo Coaches Association (THSWPCA).

athletics

The team owned a record of 12-9 entering Regionals. After a

strong win over Clear Springs, 15-5, they fell to Clear Lake and then lost a close game for third place to Clear Creek 10-9. Their 4th place finish, however, did earn them a berth in the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first state tournament.

The Crusaders entered the state tournament playing their best

team water polo of the entire season defeating Cy-Springs in the first round rather decisively. Unfortunately, their draw pinned them against eventual champion Baytown Sterling in the second round. In a hard fought game, Jesuit came up a little short, 11-8. This put them in the bracket to play for 5th. They would not look back, winning their final two games over Tomball (15-7) and Cy-Fair (10-7). The team was led by senior captains Chris Jennis, Nico Rizzo-

Carrasco, and Jeffrey Peters. Jennis earned 2nd Team All-Region and 2nd Team All-State honors while Rizzo-Carrasco and junior Phillip Eukel both earned 2nd Team All-Region and Honorable Mention All-State honors. Freshman Nate Zuiker earned Honorable Mention

Senior Chris Jennis earned Second Team All- State and Second Team All-Region honors this season and was namd team MVP.

All-State honors. Jennis was selected as the team MVP, and the Most Improved honor went to senior Tim Allen.

Winter 2009

www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

ALUMNI NEWS While Hurricane Ike’s strike on the Tex-

lumni new

Ike Delays, But Can’t Stop Reunion Weekend 2008

all the attendees previously knew as the Smith

as Gulf Coast may have delayed Reunion

Gymnasium.

Weekend’s original date, this year’s Reunion

The next evening, each class gathered

classes persevered. Though the dates were

at various popular restaurants around town for

moved at the last minute to November 14 &

their Class parties. Locations included sites like

15, each class - 1968, ‘73, ‘78, ‘83, ‘88, ‘93,

Churrasco’s, America’s, Amazon Grille, and

‘98, and ‘03 - was well represented.

Ragin Cajun.

The weekend began on Friday afternoon,

Members of the classes of 1969, ‘74, ‘79,

November 14 with a golf outing at Wildcat

‘84, ‘89, ‘94, ‘99, and ‘04 are reminded that next

Golf Club. That evening President Fr. Daniel

year will be their Reunion year. Anyone from

Lahart, SJ hosted the President’s Reception.

those classes interested in helping in the plan-

For the first time, this year’s reception was

ning should contact Tim Scalzittti ‘90, Director of

held in the new Moran Dining Hall, which

Alumni Relations at tscalzitti@strakejesuit.org.

Members of the Class of ‘93 who enjoyed their Saturday night party at Ragin Cajun included: (left to right) Shane Hudson, Matt Girotto, Scott Kerr, Ben Wohlford, Mike Marino, Ted Gorman, Brian Kerwin, Rusty Ulrich, Aris Gonzalvo, Greg Cannella, Chris Lee, David Lafuente, Kevin Mineo,and Mike Nugent.

Members of the Class of ‘83 on hand for the President’s Reception Friday night were: (left to right) Eddie Fletcher, Mike Doyle, Todd Migliore, Chris Bertini, and Paul Junghans.

Members of the Class of ‘98 at the President’s Reception Friday night were: (left to right) John McDonald, Jose Anton, E.J. Malek, Matt Pesek, Scott Rose, Jacob Myres, Chris Kimball, Jonathan Raia,Sean McGee, Chanan Pnyopusarerk, Ian Shelton, and Sachin Bhandari. www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

The Chronicle

ALUMNI NEWS

lumni new

Alumni Return to Address Seniors on Career Day Representing a variety of professions, 16 Jesuit alumni returned

to campus on Wednesday, October 15 for the annual Career Day for the Senior Class of 2009. The event offered the soon-to-be graduates an opportunity to hear presentations from alums who have gone on to successful careers as doctors, lawyers, and engineers as well as entrepreneurs and more.

- Tom Stallings ‘86, Lecturer, Professional Sports Intern Coordinator, Rice University - Miguel Suderman ‘79, President & Chief Science Ofﬁcer, Cell Systems 3-D - Tony Zubizarreta ‘91, Industrial Sales, Rexel Electrical & Datacom Supplies

The morning began with a keynote address by Alex Massa ‘97 with

Tetra Surveys & Appraisals. Then, the students had three, 45-minute presentations they could choose to attend in break-outs. These sessions included presentations on engineering, finance and accounting, the legal and medical professions, oil & gas, sales, and others. Presenters included:

- Jeffrey Cardenas ‘76, Project Manager, Cimarron/DKI - Brett Cochrane ‘98, Project Coordinator, FMC Technologies - Rick Couvillon ‘81, Director Origination, Natural Gas Marketing & Trading, Conoco Phillips Co.

- Michael DiStefano ‘94, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine

- Brendan Doran ‘96, Controller, NDT Systems & Services, Inc. - Tom Light ‘77, Director of Sales, SKF USA - Ken Mann ‘66, Organizational Development Manager, BMC Soft ware

- Ryan McConnell ‘95, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Department of Justice

- Joseph Mims ‘04, Broker, McDade, Smith, Gould, Johnston, Mason, & Co.

- Bill Othon ‘82, Project Orion Modeling and Simulation Lead, NASA/ Johnson Space Center

- Joe Mike Piazza ‘72, Family Dentist - Alex Montoya ‘91, Regional Vice President, Russell Investments

Alex Massa ‘97 (top) with Tetra Surveys & Appraisals gave the keynote address and Ryan McConnell ‘95 (bottom), Assistant U.S. Attorney with the Department of Justice, was one of the Jesuit alumni who returned to campus to speak to the Class of 2009 on Career Day.

Class of ‘67 Reunites for Annual Lunch

Winter 2009

Houston-area members of the Class of 1967 attending their annual get-together luncheon in December at the Four Seasons were (left to right): Tom Standish, Mike Guarino, Gray Miller, Jim Stewart, Johnny Webre, Glen Boudreaux, George Gaenslen, Jim Booth, Gil Naert, Rick Sindelar, Frank Gullo, Rod Dosch, NJ Santarcangelo, Bruce Dugey, Ray Adamcik, and Mike Lallinger. www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

‘60’s ‘60’s

Zeb Poindexter ‘77 won the 2008 Pinnacle Award for Healthcare from the Citizens Chamber of Commerce. He is a dentist and has a practice in Houston.

Tom Robinson ‘68 graduated from UT-Austin with a Journalism degree and entered broadcasting. He was the Sports Director for KTBC-TV in Austin and then became the radioTV specialist for men’s athletics at UT. He left UT to join a friend in a video production company to serve as a producer/writer for corporate and commercial clients. Steve Tower ’68 has been in the residential real estate field since 1983, working in property management, commercial real estate, and selling foreclosure properties for financial institutions in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He lives in the Memorial area of West Houston and has been working as a residential real estate broker since 1995 with Coldwell Banker United, Realtors on Memorial Drive.

‘70’s ‘70’s John Bradley ‘77 was recently appointed Chair of the Advisory Committee on Offenders with Medical and Mental Impairments by Governor Rick Perry. He is currently serving as the Williamson County District Attorney.

Joe de la Fuente ’88 is an attorney practicing commercial litigation and dispute resolution and prevention with the firm of Lloyd Gosselink in Austin, Texas. He has been in Austin since 1988, graduating from the University of Texas in 1992 and Law School in 1995. He and his wife, Sarah (SAA Class of ‘88) have two children, Anna and Thomas.

Hal Bean ’78 lives in Beaumont, Texas with this wife and four children.

Oscar Martinez ’88 and his wife, Stephanie, live in Lakewood, Colorado with their three boys. He spent five years with Andersen Consulting with 18 months of that time in Argentina and traveled extensively to Germany and Mexico. He attended Harvard for business school and went into investment banking in New York and San Francisco. He is currently Assistant Treasurer for Qwest, the local phone company in the 14 state mountain region.

Joe Dante ’78 is married with four children and lives in Katy, Texas. He is the Vice-President of IT for PM Realty Group in Houston.

Kevin Urbanowicz ‘88 is the Sales Team Division Leader for PSE of 360training.com, Inc. in Austin, Texas.

Guy Sullaway ’78 lives in Yorkville, Illinois which is 90 minutes west of Chicago. His son, Marshall, graduated from Jesuit in 2005.

Luke Stellakis ’88 graduated from the University of Houston. He and his wife, Catherine, have two children, Maria and Yianni. He is currently a purchasing manager for Primary Sourcing Inc.

Gabriel Amado ‘78 recently climbed Mt. Kilimajanro in Tanzania. The climb, which included ten other climbers, took seven days.

‘80’s ‘80’s ‘90’s ‘90’s

Henry Drewinko ’83 earned his Law Degree and, after working for a prominent top-rated national law firm, began his own firm in Houston.

Ricky Tejada ’83 graduated American University of Paris and Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He married Paloma Marchand in 1998. He served as an economic advisor to U.S. Secretary of Labor R. Reich and President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1998. He lives in Paris, France with his wife and daughter, Inès. Carlos Garcia ‘87 and his wife, Lila, welcomed the birth of their second daughter, Marisol Isabella, on November 10.

Mark Bane ’93 served in the United States Marine Corps from 19941998. He and his wife have two daughters and he will soon graduate from Texas A&M at Galveston with a degree in Marine Biology. Bernardo Escalona ’93 earned a BA in Mathematics from the University of St. Thomas. He taught Math and Science to grades 5-12 for several years. He currently is an Educator at Memorial Hermann Southwest and now Lead AV Technician at JW Marriott.

class notes

CLASS NOTES York City in December. He has been in Management for the past 6 years while living in New York, London, and Vienna. He earned an MBA from Columbia Business School and London Business School and is now teaching a Private Equity class to MBA students at Columbia Business School on the side. He is on the Board of Directors of Blue Bird Bus Company, NABI, Green Tree Financial, and Boxclever LTD. Michael Kenney ’93 lives in Austin with his wife and son, Logan. He is at Dell as a Director in their Channel Sales group after his company was acquired by Dell in April of 2008. Chris Lee ‘93 graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design. He joined McCleary German Architects here in Houston in 1998 and has worked there since.

Rich Ramirez ’93 graduated with a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2002. He then moved to Dallas following graduation and started his own dental practice in 2003.

Paul Smith ’93 is married with five boys and one one girl and is currently working for Memorial Hermann Hospital as a Sr. Software Applications Engineer. Scott Tompkins ’93 recently ended his naval career and is currently working as a government contractor in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Steve Roberts ‘93 and his wife, Jennifer SAA ‘94, and their daughter, Jordan, welcomed the birth of their second daughter, Blakely Ann, on September 3.

Matthew Hansen ’93 married Krista Anderson in St. Xavier’s in New

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The Chronicle

class notes

CLASS NOTES Richard Zientek ‘95 and his wife, Leslie, welcomed the birth of Ethan Andrew on October 8, 2008. Richard also recently took the position of Public Affairs Coordinator with the Harris County Toll Road Authority.

Andrew Aguirre ’98 earned a BS & MS in Applied Mathematics and MS in Finance from The University of Tulsa. He is currently employed as a Financial Analyst for a privately held aerospace company. Justin Boeker ’98 graduated from the University of Nebraska. He worked in financials for three years before switching careers and is currently in the home building industry. Brett Cochran ‘98 attended the United States Naval Academy where he earned 3 letters playing football. He graduated in 2003 and married his wife, Stephanie. Brett spent 5 years in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer and served onboard two naval vessels: USS Iwo Jima and USS Laboon. He left the Navy in May and moved back to Houston where he is a Project Coordinator for FMC Technologies. Pedro Correa ’98 graduated from Rice University with a degree in Economics in 2002. He worked as a management consultant with Bain & Company for 4 years and then graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA. Matthew Hoffman ’98 graduated from Texas A&M in 2003 and joined the Alumni Service Corps at Jesuit from 2003-2004. He married his wife, Julie, in August of 2004 and they moved to Irving, Texas. He became a Construction Superintendent for D.R. Horton in Fort Worth and later transferred to Austin. They moved to Oahu in 2007 and he worked on an organic farm. They have now settled in Grapevine and

Winter 2009

he is in quality control and construction manager for an architectural metal company. Edward Hourani ’98 graduated with an MBA in 2006 and is finishing a second Masters of Computer Information Systems in May 2009. Andy Jones ‘98 graduated from Trinity University and went on to law school at the University of Texas. After graduation, he worked as a litigator in New York and has spent the past few years in Washington, D.C. He currently serves as Counsel to a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Texas. Chris Kimball ’98 graduated in 2003 from Saint Edward’s University with a B.S. in Chemistry. He is currently in his 4th year of Dental School at UT Houston. Adam Mackie ‘98 graduated from the University of Texas with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He joined Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, Texas where he met Monika, his wife. He completed his MBA from Carnegie Mellon. Daviz Pham ’98 graduated from the University of Texas in 2004 with a BA in Government. He enlisted in the Army in 2005 as an infantryman and deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne. He trained in Florida with the 6th Ranger Training Battalion and is currently on assignment to Korea as an airborne rifle team leader. Jonathan Raja ’98 graduated from the University of Texas in 2002 with a BA in Plan II Liberal Arts and Spanish. A few months after graduation, he entered seminary studying for the priesthood in the Diocese of Austin. After six years of formation, he was ordained a deacon and will be ordained as a priest in June. Danny Rigamonti ’98 graduated from Texas A&M in 2002 with a BA in Biology. He has worked as an Electroneurophysiologist since 2003. He and his wife have two children, Camille and Nathaniel.

Ryan Scharar ’98 graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in Accounting. He then graduated from the MBA program at Baylor University and took a job as an auditor for PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Houston. After working for almost three years he went back to Law School at Michigan State University and is now in his third and final year. Brian Smith ’98 graduated from the University of Virginia in 2002 with a BA in Government, Phi Beta Kappa. He attended law school at Columbia University and received his JD in 2005. Since then he has been practicing law in the Washington D.C. office of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr, LLP. After his second year of private practice, he left the firm to clerk for the Hon. Rosemary M. Collyer on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. He returned to private practice last spring and married Kristin Longhauser on May 10, 2008. Jonny Vu ’98 earned a BA in Marketing from the University of Denver and a MA in Advertising from the University of Texas. He has worked for sports companies like the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Rapids. After living in a variety of cities, he’s begun to put roots down in Chicago where he volunteers at the Children’s Hospital, takes Improv classes at the Second City Theatre, and catches games at Wrigley Field whenever he can. Marc Wren ’98 earned his undergraduate degree in Fine Art and Digital Media at the University of Denver. After graduating he worked as a graphic designer at Xylem Interactive and then later helped start an online television company called ManiaTV! He is currently Director of Software Development at Beatport, an online music sales company for electronic music. He spends his spare time producing music, music videos and coding.

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Jeff Shaddix ‘99 graduated from Harvard Business School in June 2008 and was the recipient of the Dean’s Award as one of six students honored for their service to the school and society. Jeff spent his January breaks in New Orleans helping with Katrina recovery efforts.

‘00’s ‘00’s

Lorenzo Servitje ‘02 and Mary Ann Marquez were married Mexico City in December. Justin Douglass ’03 played soccer for 4 years for Missouri State University and is attending Optometry School at University of Houston. Andy Duffy ‘03 graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service with a degree in Culture & Politics. He worked three summers with Amigos de las Americas in Panama, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. He now lives and works in Washington, DC, where he teaches GED Exam preparation classes at a youth center. Steve Hogan ‘03 graduated from UT-Austin in December 2007 and married Mary Tschoepe in June 2007. In July, 2008 he began a four year dental program at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio. Alex Stefﬂer ’03 spent three summers working on staff for Amigos de las Américas in Paraguay, Costa Rica, and Honduras. He then spent three months in Buenos Aires working on an independent research project. He graduated from George Washington University in 2007.

Wesley Trojacek ‘03 has completed the United States Marine Corp Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant last August. He earned a degree in Business Administration from St. Edward’s University in Austin in December 2007.

Mark Strickland ‘08 was named the Collegiate Water Polo Association Southern Division Rookie of the Year playing for Johns Hopkins. He is the first player in the history of the school’s Water Polo team to earn Rookie of the Year honors.

class notes

CLASS NOTES - IN MEMORIAM -

Mark Bambace ‘77

Jerry Cox ‘79

Adam Williams’08

Theresa Falgout Mother of Walt ‘66

Barbara Hess Mother of Michael ‘86

Allen Kinghorn Father of Patrick '78 and Daniel '82

William Laflin, Sr. Father of William ‘68, George, ‘72, Robert ‘74, & Chris ‘81 Ursel Lange Mother of Michael ‘81 and Grandmother of Grant Miller ‘08 Mario Luna Father of Jorge ‘86 and Albert ‘92 Ray Miller Father of Gray ‘67

Victor Miranda Father of Michael ‘00 and Matthew ‘08 Marie Roth Mother of Bob ‘71 Fr. Joseph (Joe) Francis Doyle, SJ 1936 - 2008

Michael Rutledge Father of Alex ‘04

Rev. Joseph (Joe) Francis Doyle, SJ, passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida. He was 72 years old, a Jesuit for 50 years and a priest for 38 years. From 1983 through 1986 Fr. Doyle served as a counselor and teacher at Strake Jesuit. Then from 1988 to 1995 he was at St. Joseph’s Parish as pastor and chaplain for the Diocese of Galveston-Houston. A native of New York City, Fr. Doyle was born on December 4, 1936. He attended Fordham Prep High School and Fordham University in Bronx, New York,

Jeanette Santarcangelo Mother of NJ ‘67 and Grandmother of Michael ‘97 and Brad ‘01

John Steets Father of Walter ‘65 and Grandfather of Andrew ‘00 and Jonathan ‘02

from which he graduated in 1958 with a degree in History. He entered the Society of Jesus on August 14, 1958 in Grand Coteau, Louisiana and was ordained a priest

- BIRTHS -

on May 30, 1970 in Toronto, Canada. Fr. Doyle served as the Spiritual Director of Scholastics at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, 1972-1974; Superior of Scholastics at Loyola University, New Orleans, 1972-1974. From 1974-1981 he was the Novice Master at St. Charles College, Grand Coteau, Louisiana. After his time in Houston, he was Superior of Ignatius Residence in New Orleans from 1986-88. In 1996 through 2008 he was assigned to Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida where he served as President and

Blakely Ann Roberts on September 3, 2008 Steve ‘93 and Jennifer Ethan Andrew Zientek on October 8, 2008 Richard ‘95 and Leslie

School Chaplain.

Marisol Isabella Garcia on November 10, 2008 Carlos ‘87 and Lila

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The Chronicle

Mr. Nice Guy

There are two buildings on campus that bear the Moran family

tention in class and was engaged. At night he went home and studied

name. Newcomers to this campus may be unfamiliar with the Moran

hard. More often than not, by the time report cards were issued, Pat

family, but they have been committed to philanthropy and especially

led his homeroom. I was in the same homeroom as Pat and some-

to the betterment of Catholic education for as long as this Olde Cru-

times shared in class honors with him. Those were proud moments

sader can remember. As a testament to their generosity, the Moran

for me. I still remember standing next to Pat as Class honors were

family name graces edifices not only at Strake Jesuit but also at the

awarded. I was proud to be there with him. To this Olde Crusader’s

University of St. Thomas, Duschene Academy, and St. Thomas High

way of thinking, Pat personified the standard that the rest of us strived

School. Those of us who love this school will be forever grateful to the

for and he still does.

Moran family. But this is the simple story of a friend, a classmate and

No accounting of Pat’s years at Jesuit would be complete without

a role model. He is someone that I have always admired. I am very

mention of his alter ego, the outspoken and often irreverent, King

fortunate to have this opportunity to tell all of you about a really nice

Quasi. Pat wrote for the student paper. His column chronicled the

guy; Patrick J. Moran.

King’s fabulous albeit fictional exploits. The stories were narrated with

I first met Pat in 1962. The

tongue in cheek and offered the readers an insight into Pat’s satirical

Jesuit College Preparatory was

and humorous perspective of the current events of the time. Even as

just one year old when we were

a youngster, Pat definitely had a marvelous sense of humor.

both enrolled as freshmen. My

They say that at Strake Jesuit

first impression of Pat has been

the boys will establish friendships that

an enduring one. He was then,

will last a lifetime. That was certainly

and is still, a genuinely nice guy.

true for Pat Moran. His best of friends

Pat was a handsome young man

to this day are classmates Joe Polichi-

with boyish good looks and a

no and Jim Brown.

disarmingly pleasant smile. The

Friends for life, I used to call

years have had little affect. Pat

them the ‘Three Musketeers.’ If you

is widely recognized among his

ever have an occasion to see any one

1966 classmates as one of the

of them, be assured the other two are

youngest looking amongst them.

somewhere nearby. They are all older

Today, those boyish good looks

now with adult priorities like fami-

and disarming smile are still his

lies, careers and responsibilities, but

stock and trade.

through the years the friendships that

Pat the freshman took to Jesuit like a fish to water. He was

were forged at Jesuit have endured

everywhere. Pat the leader was confident enough to take charge

the passage of time. Make no mistake

but Pat the team player was also modest enough to allow others to

about it; Pat was a good guy to have as a friend. He still is.

take the lead. In short order, Pat either volunteered for or was elected

Since those early days I have been blessed to meet a lot of

to Student Council, Yearbook, Southwell Players, student newspaper

the nice guys among the alumni of this school. They have all been

and sports. The Crusader student newspaper once named him as

great but to this Olde Crusader’s way of thinking, Pat was always the

their “Crusader.” The entire student body recognized Pat as a tireless

“King.”

volunteer; keenly motivated and unselfish with his time and effort. He still is. Pat was not shy about his work ethic or his commitment to his

To Mr. Nice Guy, I pledge my sword and my shield.

George

studies. He was a member of the National Honor Society, made good grades and took pride in doing so. During the school day, he paid at-

Winter 2009

www. s t r a k e j e s u i t . o r g

Suspice, 2001, by Edward Lee Hendricks, is suspended gold plated tubes. It is located in the foyer of the 800 Building and is on loan from Frank Ribelin.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January

11 Father-Son Pool Tournament 11 Alumni Mothers Tea 27-30 Kairos XXXIV

February 2 5 7 9-12 11 18 19-22 22 25

Application Deadline Open House Entrance Exam Father-Son Sophomore Retreat Parent-Teacher Meeting The Next Three Years Father-Son Sophomore Retreat Father-Son Basketball Tournament Ash Wednesday Liturgy

PARENTS, if you are still receiving your son’s Chronicle although he no longer lives with you, let us know so we can change our records and send the magazine directly to him. If you enjoy reading the publication but do not receive a copy of your own, let us know that too. We would be glad to send a copy to your son’s new address and continue to send you one. Contact the Alumni Office at tscalzitti@strakejesuit.org or at 713.490.8153

March 1 9 9-12 16-20 25 28 29 30-31

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory 8900 Bellaire Boulevard Houston, Texas 77036

President’s Dinner Spring Fling Kairos XXV Spring Break Feast of Annunciation Liturgy Alumni Moms Retreat Green Mass Spring Senior Ignatian Retreat

For up to date event information, go to www.strakejesuit.org