SUMMER 2019
A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI, STUDENTS, PARENTS & FRIENDS OF REGIS JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL
DRIVE FOR THE MAGIS Elevating Mission at Regis Jesuit
IN THIS ISSUE Rick Sullivan’s Lifetime Dedication to Jesuit Education RJ Innovates: Engaging Students Through Real-World Problem Solving 2018-19 Year in Review SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS ON THE COVER
PRESIDENT David Card '87 PRINCIPAL
Stanford-bound Francesca Belibi '19 jumps for the hoop; photo by Paul Soriano
Jimmy Tricco
SCHOOL NEWS
Mindae Russell
Message from the President 3 RJ Innovates: Engaging Students through Real-World Problem-Solving 4 Rick Sullivan’s Lifetime Dedication to Jesuit Education 7 Colorado’s Power Duo: Fran Belibi and Avery Vansickle 10 Year in Review 2018-19 12 Class of 2019 Overview Athletics and Activities Wrap Up LARKaloha Raises $725,000 in Support of Regis Jesuit! 18
THE ALUMNI RAIDER
Regis Jesuit Launches Engineering Mentoring Program 20 Class Notes 22 Alumni Mentorship Series 29 Raider Legacy Families Recognized at New Event 30 Where Are They Now: James Lobato '96 32
COMMUNITY NEWS
Faculty and Staff Notes 34 In Memoriam 35 Upcoming Events Back Cover
VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Tom Dobbins
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Charisse J. Broderick King
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES Katherine Fay
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR FACULTY & CURRICULUM Craig Rogers
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR STUDENT LIFE Bryan Timme
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR MISSION, MINISTRY & DIVERSITY Sajit Kabadi
BOYS DIVISION HEAD Karen Wuertz
GIRLS DIVISION HEAD
Tim Bauer '88
MANAGING EDITOR Tina Schaaf
CONTRIBUTORS M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T Regis Jesuit High School —a Catholic educational community— engages the gifts of young men and women in a single-gender environment, fosters faith in Jesus Christ and promotes justice and mercy, develops critical minds and nurtures compassionate hearts to serve others – all for the greater glory of God.
Will Barbera '20 Jason Beyer Helen Bingham Charisse Broderick King Bethany Carmellini Adam Dawkins '98 Katie Haley Sara Hildreth Gretchen Kessler
Paul Miller '04 RJ Media Program Carolyn Ristow Tom Rochford, SJ '64 Mindae Russell Trina Sandler Sam Stern '20 Colin St. John '01 Jimmy Tricco
DESIGN: ChopBlock Collective, Ltd. PRINT: Unique Litho, Inc. Printed on environmentally-friendly paper using sustainable production methods.
The Raider and Alumni Raider are published by Regis Jesuit High School annually. Your comments, opinions, inquiries about the magazine, Regis Jesuit High School, its programs or community members including alumni are welcome to communications@regisjesuit.com. Story ideas and submissions are welcome as well. Regis Jesuit High School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. 2
M ESSAG E FRO M TH E P RE S I DE N T
Greetings from Regis Jesuit where we bask for a moment in the radiance of hopefulness! As I arrived as president of Regis Jesuit three years ago, one of the most compelling reasons for me to take on such a responsibility was the incredible promise well-formed young people represent to the myriad challenges facing humanity and our common home today. Underlying this hopefulness is the formative process our students engage with: being immersed into the Ignatian way of proceeding. This “way� that I reference is a continuous process of experience and reflection. It also involves an invitation through silent reflection to listen for God’s voice, calling us to service and action. We rely on this process frequently at Regis Jesuit to determine the way forward, and we steep our students in it every day. "One of the most compelling reasons for me to take on such a responsibility was the incredible promise well-formed young people represent to the myriad challenges facing humanity and our common home today."
Sure, our students gain knowledge while at Regis Jesuit. More importantly, through their engagements in service, prayer and reflection, the knowledge they gain in combination with experiences of prayer and service draws them to engage with the world in which they live with a keen commitment to justice. The evidence continues to come back to us each year during our Alumni Mentorship Series when our alumni return to share with our students how they are contributing their gifts and talents today toward the service of others, for the greater glory of God. As we move forward, we understand the impact this formative process is having and are introducing even more opportunities for our students to gain experiences through our academic programs. Our faculty are increasingly introducing learning methods including problem-based learning, inquiry-based learning and transdisciplinary learning, giving our students practice in critically examining challenges confronting humanity and our common home, then developing and presenting potential solutions. In May of this year, we conferred diplomas on 416 young men and women, the largest class of graduates in our history. (For some context, my graduating class totaled 140.) These young men and women will head off to nearly 140 colleges and universities in the fall, and continue with their formation. There is good reason, 416 new reasons, actually, to believe that hopefulness abounds. As we gear up for a new academic year, we do so with great excitement and anticipation that there remains ever more opportunity to form Men and Women with and for Others. We look forward to sharing our progress with the Regis Jesuit community. Welcome to this latest edition of The Raider. AMDG,
David Card '87 President
SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
3
RJ Innovates E N G AG I N G S T U D E N T S T H RO U G H R E A L - WO R L D P RO B L E M S O LV I N G B Y J I M M Y T R I C C O , P R I N C I PA L , W I T H J A S O N B E Y E R A N D T O M R O C H F O R D , S J ' 6 4 , R J I N N O VAT E S T E A M
“The Holy Father emphasized that we should not be satisfied with the status quo of our ministries. He called us again to the magis,‘that plus’ which led ‘Ignatius to begin processes, to follow them through and to evaluate their real impact on the lives of persons.’” Society of Jesus’ General Congregation 36, Decree 1
A
s we approach the two decade mark of the new millennium, the context of our student body and greater community is rapidly changing, transformed in part by new technology. Every student possesses instant and constant connection through the computer-cell phone in his or her pocket. Ordinary processes like notetaking and testing are now web-based. Job applications require both technical and mental skills unheard of not long ago. Employers assume that the students who pass through our doors will have a broad range of problem-solving skills. Thus, we recognize that, just as Ignatius called his followers to do and as GC 36 reminds us, we are called to evolve how we educate our students in response to the changing context of our global society. STEAM is a widely-used acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. Some schools adopt it as a specialized track of courses with its own unique culture. However, at Regis Jesuit, STEAM has evolved into RJ Innovates, which implies more than that acronym because it aims to enrich the existing mission and vision of the school. The program is a complementary agent to our liberal arts education catalyzed by the discipline of discernment, with the simple goal of connecting our students with the world.
RJ Innovates challenges our students to confront authentic problems that prepare them to use content and skills to respond to 21st-century issues. Students who desire a STEAM career vitally need a Catholic, Ignatian, liberal arts education. We reflect upon the challenges created by ubiquitous and rapidly-changing technology, human and global suffering in need of intellectually and spiritually mature responses, what college preparatory education in the 21st century means and, most importantly, upon our students as they are increasingly drawn to the service of God, humanity and creation through STEAM fields. Our students grow by collaborating effectively and 4
communicating their responses as they develop a “faith that does justice.” We aspire to a more ambitious plan: revise our overall curricula to take principles central to STEAM—like authentic problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity—and integrate these learning traits into all academic areas. We want to nurture habits of mind such as design thinking. Our courses should express what each department’s key skills are, how they offer insight into our world and how they form the elements of the Grad at Grad. Then our students should be able to use these skills systematically in other disciplines, and ultimately prepare them for college and the new careers that await them. The Society of Jesus encourages us to be world-affirming and embrace the challenges of reality as we look for the footsteps of Christ. It means that we double-down on our core values of competence, conscience and compassion. It means that we continue to recognize that we are forming Men and Women for and with Others, who are Intellectually Competent, Religious, Committed to Justice, Open to Growth and Loving. We equip our young men and women with these values as they encounter this world, values that continue to be the gift the Holy Spirit gave to St. Ignatius for the world. Let's Collaborate! If you would like to learn more about partnership opportunities, collaboration between your expertise or organization and our classrooms and how to contribute to Regis Jesuit’s programs, we welcome that collaboration gratefully. Please visit: www.regisjesuit.com/RJInnovates or contact as at Innovators@regisjesuit.com.
RJ Innovates: Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in Action Regis Jesuit’s approach to innovative growth has been characterized by fluidity, flexibility and collaboration among numerous and various partners, both internally and externally. A team of teachers and administrators is directing a measured approach that integrates the rigorous content-learning from our humanistic, liberal arts tradition with STEAM-oriented courses augmented with new equipment, facilities and partnerships with industry for research, internships and project ideas. We have developed a relationship with mindSpark Learning, a non-profit focused on the direct intersection of education with industry, to help guide our efforts.
Present Problem Students engage in self, peer, and coach review of the process.
PBL PROCESS
Students present their solution and review what they have learned.
Students define the problem and brainstorm ideas based on prior knowledge.
Students engage in independent study.
Students share information, engage in peer teaching, and work toward a solution.
TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM Class: Senior Boys Theology – Mr. Jason Beyer
ABOVE: Seniors in Beyer's class propose their solutions to faculty members in round-robin presentations
Problem Presented: How can Regis Jesuit address the way technology is changing our classrooms, our relationships and our brains in order to improve the well-being of each of us and our community? Student Inquiry: Students engaged in independent research, collaborated on solutions, developed and administered surveys and conducted field research. Solutions Presented: The groups crafted many teacher strategies for in-class use of technology. One group crafted a "teacher tool kit" leveraging brain breaks, collaborative projects and creation of media. Another worked with a teacher to create three different types of lessons (one tech free, one a hybrid and one fully immersed in technology) and then surveyed student experience. Another group focused on an incremental increase in tech use as students mature throughout high school.
Content Objective: Deepen capacity to discern. Sudents studied Ignatian Spirituality, specifically First and Second Week Rules of Discernment, what to do when experiencing Consolation or Desolation, Types and Methods of Discernment and the Examen. With attention to inner awareness and what brings us closer or farther away from God, the hope and expectation was this learning experience would deepen student appraisal of the impact of technology on their lives. Faculty Reflection: The most basic insight from this PBL was understanding that caring for the student is not centered on what is done or said in any moment. It is how learning is structured to bring out the gifts and curiosities of the students. I am a coach rather than a lecturer as they engage with the materials. One response that inspired me was a student stating his "aha" moment was realizing he could not rely on other solutions, he had to create and trust his own. SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
5
DRESS CODE REVISION Class: Women in Literature – Ms. Sara Hildreth Problem Presented: Create a revised dress code proposal that is purposeful, enforceable, equitable (in regards to gender, culture, socioeconomic status, etc.) and in keeping with the Regis Jesuit mission. Student Inquiry: Students heard from panels of experts, created and administered surveys to both the faculty and student body and researched dress codes around our community and in other Jesuit schools. Solutions Presented: The groups’ proposals varied widely ranging from a near uniform consisting of pants, skirts, polos and Oxfords within a required color palette to a much more open gender-neutral dress code. Some groups focused on accountability by drafting co-divisional demerit cards, suggesting the creation of established time in class periods for dress code checks or proposing that administrators take on the responsibility of distributing demerits during passing periods. All groups worked to tackle the perceived inequity between divisions by articulating a clear purpose for their proposed dress codes. Their statements of purpose were the most impressive components of their proposals and focused
6
on teaching RJ students about professionalism while instilling confidence and allowing for self-expression. Content Objective: Writing persuasively and orally communicating a proposal to a panel of experts. A secondary, but perhaps more profound, objective emerged in pairing this project with our reading of The Handmaid’s Tale. Through this pairing, students engaged in discussions about what particular modes of dress communicate about individuals (and women in particular) within communities, whether these perceptions are fair and how to go about maintaining autonomy and confidence in gendered systems. Faculty Reflection: In my five years at Regis Jesuit, informal conversations around dress code have been some of the most animated moments in my classroom. It was fascinating to see students engage with this issue in a more formal way. Fostering their agency to research and craft solutions to a problem they authentically care about brought about a level of care, confidence and curiosity I hadn’t observed before. I was additionally thrilled to see my students empathizing with other parties around this issue. As students, they tend to solely perceive the dress code “problem” from their perspective, but through presentations by administrators and surveys of teachers, they began to understand the issue from all angles and sympathize with points of view that initially seemed counter to their own.
ABOVE: Students present their solution to a PBL question to a faculty panel
Rick Sullivan’s Lifetime Dedication to Jesuit Education
I
f you attended Regis Jesuit High School in the latter half of the 1990s, chances are you noticed something. Well, more accurately, someone: Rick Sullivan. The principal of the high school, who began his tenure in 1993, seemingly attended one event after another without a break: football games, chess tournaments, barbecues. It was like the climactic scene from the 1986 comedy film, Three Amigos, Rick Sullivan was everywhere.
B Y C O L I N S T. J O H N ' 0 1
about Colorado? The sun, the mountains, the weather— especially when you’ve lived in Omaha and Toledo.” Sullivan knew Fr. Ralph Houlihan, SJ, president of Regis Jesuit from 1979-95, from meetings through the Jesuit Province and, at one point, he told Houlihan that, if a job should become available at RJ, he’d be interested. Houlihan called about the principal gig a year later.
“Back in the day, it was Fr. Houlihan, me, Charlie Saulino and Mike Doherty—that’s all,” Sullivan says from his office on campus. “We had to cover things. If an administrator wasn’t there, all chaos could reign. We had a lot of spirit and a lot of things would happen. It was two or three nights a week and weekends,” he says. “It was a big challenge for my family. If they didn’t understand it, then I wouldn’t have lasted. My wife and I are celebrating our 46th wedding anniversary this summer. My daughters are in their mid-30s and we have grandkids. They still talk to us.” Sullivan has another milestone coming up: After more than 26 years at Regis Jesuit and 45 years in education overall, he retired this summer. In his office, he talks about his own Jesuit education as a graduate of Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, and the scholastic there who connected him with a job at Creighton Prep in Omaha. “I was going to stay [at Creighton] three years and go teach in Europe but I stayed for ten,” he says. After teaching sociology, psychology and doing a bit of this and that, Sullivan took the principal’s job at St. John’s Jesuit in Toledo, Ohio. “One of my mentors always said, ‘Ten years is enough for a principal. If you can’t get it done in ten years [at one institution], get out.’ I kind of agree with that philosophy,” he muses. “When we lived in Omaha, four or five of us young teachers would pile in the car with our spouses on Friday after school and drive all night and go skiing,” Sullivan says. “And we’d ski Saturday and Sunday and then drive all night and go teach. I like the West. What can’t you like
ABOVE: Rick Sullivan with Donna, his wife of 45 years
SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
7
Sullivan, who went on to nine years as principal and retired from the position as Vice President of Operations, said we’d have to ask Houlihan why he hired him, so we did. “I particularly remember an evening spent in the home of Pat Butler, a trustee, where some 25 sets of parents from various economic backgrounds quizzed him on a number of topics, which he handled well,” Houlihan tells The Raider from St. Louis. “Moreover, he articulated our Ignatian values quite eloquently. He had a great deal of support and was our first choice. The rest is history.” “We would have preferred to have a Jesuit principal; that had been the history for so long,” Mike Zoellner '74, who was on the Board of Trustees at the time, says of the decision to hire a layman as principal. It was a first for Regis Jesuit. “But Rick’s Ignatian beliefs and spirit overcame that. He was as Jesuit as you could be without being ordained.” As Sullivan began to wind down his time as principal, the Girls Division was a go. It just needed the right person to see it through. “When the Board decided to go forward, it was like: We need somebody to lead the charge. I was close to my ten years,” Sullivan says. “It was such a unique opportunity to get involved and coordinate the process. Back then I think it was called Director of Planning.” So he stepped away from his role as principal to guide the renovations of the original school building to prepare for the girls and oversee construction on the Boys Division building. Sullivan points out two things from his career at Regis Jesuit that make him the most proud. One is the Girls Division. “Having an all-guys school next to an all-girls school, they had the opportunities to interact. I think that helps the guys and the girls to have friends who are in the other division, date some people in the other division and, then, you’re much more prepared for college,” he says. “There was a great concern that we had a great thing going and didn’t need to change course. I think, for the most part, we’ve proven that we’ve improved [our model] without changing the fundamental culture.”
I’d be walking down the hallway and somebody would say, ‘Hey, why doesn’t this lightswitch work?’ So, I’d get diverted.” When I ask Sullivan how many jobs he’s held, he quips, “A lot. Almost as many offices.” He even forgets to mention that he was interim president for the 2015-16 school year. “Rick had a ton of titles,” says Tim Newton, arts teacher mainstay, who retired last summer after 42 years at the high school. “He had a lot of jobs, a lot of job descriptions. And I believe he did really well at each one of those positions.” In his final role as Vice President of Operations, Sullivan has overseen the establishment of a comprehensive campus safety program, as well as upping the game in human resources, informational technology and facilities and ground maintenance. He was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Steele Center at the heart of campus. He has also been charged with long-term planning and is eager to talk about the current conceptual master plan, which includes a crown jewel of a science and innovation center. That master plan may not come to fruition until he’s long gone, but it’d be hard to argue that Rick Sullivan hasn’t made an indelible mark on Regis Jesuit. “Of all the schools I’ve been in, this school is open to more change than I’ve ever experienced. And I think that’s probably what kept me here,” he says. “Always trying to achieve the mission and simultaneously open to growth—the move [from North Denver], then buying property, going co-divisional, advancing the curriculum. It takes everybody doing their job. I was just one of the team. We’re not perfect. We’re still striving. But I think most people feel like it’s a good place to be during those important high school years.”
He also points to Kairos, which he helped kick-start with Fr. Phil Steele, SJ '66 who was the Pastoral Director at the time. “I believe that changed the culture here. It really bonded the students together. That strong sense of community: people feel it and they can articulate it.” “After we finished [the work associated with the establishment of the Girls Division], Fr. [Wally] Sidney, then president, said, ‘Now that you’ve spent all the money, you’re going to have to raise the money.’ So I became Director of Advancement. That worked for about four or five years. But when you have the history that I have, 8
ABOVE: Sullivan was the 2019 Paddle Raiser honoree at LARK where $425,000 was raised for the Paddle Raiser to support his passion for student diversity through the Tom Robinson '64 Endowed Scholarship. If you wish to make a gift yo this scholarship in honor of Rick, please visit www.regisjesuit.com/giving.
ABOVE: Sullivan (far right) with Fr. Phil Steele, SJ '66 and members of the first Kairos Retreat (K1) who returned to campus for a special 20th reunion in 2015
SULLIVAN ON SNOW DAYS There’s little doubt that Rick Sullivan’s time at the helm as principal was the golden era of snow days. The man from Ohio magically transformed into a superhero when he sent notice to the news stations that Regis Jesuit would be closed the next day. “It was a great recruiting tool,” Sullivan jokes. Then, he divulges that the real reason the school was so rich in snow days in that era wasn’t so funny. “It was snowing like heck and we brought [the students] into school. It kept snowing, so we let everybody out around 11:00 or 11:30 am. One of the students was going home, heading west on Arapahoe Road and a car heading east spun out of control and had a head-on collision with our guy. He was in the hospital and I remember the doc saying that the only reason he lived is because he was in great shape.” He continues, “It’s not worth the life or safety of a student. That was a big impact. Some people may say, ‘Two flakes of snow and Regis is closing.’ What are you going to learn in a day versus losing a life? It brought it home that it was way too dangerous to have students driving in from Arvada, Westminster, Littleton, wherever. It impacted me pretty deeply.”
ABOVE: Sullivan as principal in the 1994 yearbook SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
9
Colorado’s Power Duo H OW F R A N B E L I B I A N D AV E RY VA N S I C K L E C H A N G E D COLORADO HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL BY SAM STERN '20 AND WILL BARBERA '20, RJ MEDIA
R
egis Jesuit’s Francesca Belibi '19, with her ability to dunk, has gone viral over the past couple of years. Only taking up the sport as a high school freshman, she has become one of the top female high school basketball players and athletes in the country. She and guard Avery Vansickle '21 led the Raiders into the Final Four this past season and filled the record books along the way.
to the world that they are one of the best duos in the history of high school basketball. Their friendship is evident both on and off the court; they speak about each other with nothing but high praise. “It’s really fun to play with her,” says Vansickle, “She does a great job setting up her teammates for success. I wouldn’t want to have any other captains [Sidney Weigand '19 and Belibi].”
Belibi and Vansickle made the remarkable season even more ridiculous when they teamed up for an alley-oop dunk against Heritage High School—the first known female alley-oop at the high school level. Vansickle said they practiced the lob three times in warm ups. “Once we got a steal and Grace [Weigand '21] passed it to me at the perfect time, I just knew Fran was going to be there when I threw it up.”
Beginning the season with a huge 79-55 win against the Grandview Wolves, who beat them to clinch last year’s State Championship, Fran threw down another one of her famously vicious dunks. “After losing to them last year the way we did,” Belibi said, “the game against them this year was definitely a statement game.”
Receiving attention and recognition the world over, including from two-time NBA MVP and three-time NBA Champion Steph Curry, Belibi and Vansickle have proven
Changing the game and standards of women’s basketball is exactly what Belibi strives to do. “Hopefully we get more girls doing alley-oop dunks or just dunking in general,” Belibi hopes. Easier said than done, but with all the recognition that Belibi has received, there is no doubt that she can make her presence and voice heard.
(Photo Credit) Fran Belibi & Avery Vansickle Photo by Armando Maldonado '21
ABOVE: Belibi with teammates and friends Jada Moore '20 and Vansickle '21 10
She put up huge numbers this season. The 6’1” highlightreel dunker had 18 double-doubles and one triple-double during the season. She put up 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 steals against Douglas County in an 85-38 throttling, completing her first career triple-double. Looking to deepen her education and continue her basketball career this fall, Belibi will attend Stanford University. She will join a team with one of the top recruiting classes of 2019 and Belibi and her fellow teammates are looking to have a tremendous year. “Honestly, I am just happy to be there and to be able to learn from the coaches and the girls on my team,” she says, “So I will take all I get to just try to improve my game.” Flying high and scoring baskets is not all Belibi aims to do at Stanford. Planning to follow in the footsteps of her parents, she has her sights set on being a pediatrician and going into medical school following her graduation. Many, including Coach Carl Mattei, also believe that she is capable of being a lottery pick type of player in the WNBA.
Fran’s resume is stacked, and she has plenty more in store as well. She is already a two-time Team USA gold medalist, McDonald’s All-American, Gatorade Player of the Year, All-Conference and All-State player and was voted Top Female Colorado High School Athlete of the Year by the Denver Athletic Club. Could you ask for anything more as a senior in high school? She made the A-Town All-Star team after a season where she averaged 13.3 points, 3.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals. She nailed 75 3-pointers on the season, which tied for first in the 5A Division. And in that pivotal early season matchup versus Grandview? She produced 26 points, three assists, three steals. Dedication. Power. Drive. Excellence. The future is bright for both members of this dynamite power duo. As far as Belibi, don’t blink, she might be dunking any day, any place, anytime. Look for Vansickle stringing together threepointers and driving to the basket with consistency for the Raiders next season. We can’t wait! EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in Elevate, the student-produced news magazine.
ABOVE: Belibi leaps over a friend to throw down a dunk and win the 2019 Powerade JamFest | Getty Images - Used with permission SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
11
Year in Review 2018-19 ACADEMICS: CLASS OF 2019 2019 VALEDICTORIANS
2019 SALUTATORIANS
2019 VALEDICTORIANS Top Row, Pictured left to right.
Boys Division – Christopher Long, Dartmouth College and Conner Pettit, University of Pennsylvania Girls Division – Megan Hilbert, University of Notre Dame and Gianni Pacheco, Princeton University
2019 SALUTATORIANS Bottom Row, Pictured left to right.
Boys Division – Jacob Botaish, University of Chicago Girls Division – Lauren Hanley, University of Colorado at Boulder
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS* NATIONAL MERIT WINNERS Claire Brennan and Alex Erwin NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS Lauren Hanley and Ethan Buege NATIONAL MERIT SEMI-FINALIST Peter Kane NATIONAL MERIT SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT Matthew Christofferson NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED STUDENTS Maxwell Andrus, Erin Bailey, Ella Bartt, Robert Benke, Jacob Botaish, Isabella Capra, Natalie Christiansen, Joshua Ebedes, Megan Hilbert, Rachel Hilbert, Christopher Long, Gigi Pacheco, Conner Pettit, Kara Toll, Sean Zoellner NATIONAL HISPANIC RECOGNITION PROGRAM SCHOLARS Ella Bartt, Alyssa Cordero, Alexander Erwin, Henry Galan, Frida Hill, Tyler Jedziniak, Gigi Pacheco, Clare Pauka, Annika Schultze 12
DANIELS FUND SCHOLARS Brody Elliott CHICK EVANS SCHOLARSHIP Eliannah Angel-Lucero UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY APPOINTMENTS Edward Custy – U.S. Military Academy at West Point Joe Kassal – Air Force Academy Geno Macias – Air Force Academy Sidney Weigand – U.S. Military Academy at West Point ROTC PROGRAM SERVICE Katie Anselmi – Navy at Boston College Isaac Barbosa – Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech with a three-year fullride Army National Scholarship plus the Julian Burruss and Emerging Leader Scholarships Daisy Deane – Army at Gonzaga University with a full scholarship Jack Herron – Navy at Colorado State University Isabella Reddish – Navy at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a full scholarship Sandra Sariñana – Navy at the University of Colorado at Boulder
COLLEGE ATHLETIC SIGNINGS Brianna Keng Abam – soccer, University of Missouri Maria Allen – soccer, University of Wyoming Colin Armistead – baseball, University of Dubuque Reed Babcock – lacrosse, University of Denver Luke Baldwin – swimming, Coe College Francesca Belibi – basketball, Stanford University Claire Brennan – swimming, Tufts University Jackie Cal – softball, Rider University Daniel Carr – basketball, Augustana College Kiahn Chiku Martinez – football, University of Idaho Collin Cushenbery – baseball, University of Dubuque Brent DiBiase – baseball, University of Notre Dame Gabrielle Eckard – lacrosse, Merrimack Colleg Maddie Ferguson – lacrosse, American University
Kosta Garger – tennis, University of Puget Sound Abby Gonzales – swimming, Nebraska Wesleyan University Will Goodwin – swimming, University of Missouri Rachel Hubka – swimming, University of San Diego Joe Kassal – lacrosse, Air Force Academy Geno Macias – baseball, Air Force Academy Molly Reich – soccer, Johns Hopkins University Patrick Strawbridge – baseball, Cisco Junior College Jake Taylor – lacrosse, University of Notre Dame Meriel Upton – swimming, Southern Methodist University Caden Wagner – baseball, Pennsylvania State University Sidney Weigand – lacrosse, West Point Academy (Army) Matt Wheelock – basketball, Augustana University (SD)
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES The 416 members of the Regis Jesuit Class of 2019 (230 boys and 186 girls) were accepted into nearly 300 colleges and universities. Of the 97% heading directly to college, 43% of them were awarded merit-based scholarships from the schools to which they were accepted totaling nearly $28 million. More than 22% of the class of 2019 will matriculate to Catholic colleges and universities and of those, 15% will continue their Ignatian education at 14 of the 28 Jesuit universities. To see the full list of schools these new #GreatRaiders will be attending, please visit www.regisjesuit.com/Classof2019Colleges. *We list only the names of Regis Jesuit students who receive national level or full-ride scholarships. Annually, Regis Jesuit students receive numerous competitive monetary awards totaling tens of millions of dollars in academic scholarships. The numbers reflect what was reported to the school by the members of the graduating class, so may not be representative the total dollar amount awarded to the Class of 2019. Every effort has been made to record accurately those who have been awarded scholarships or have signed to play sports in college. We sincerely regret any errors or omissions.
ABOVE: Principal Jimmy Tricco addresses the audience during Girls Commencement SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
13
Year in Review 2018-19
ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES WRAP UP: CLASS OF 2019 COMPILED BY RJ MEDIA FALL SPORTS GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Girls Cross Country had another strong season and placed 14th at State! Isalina Colsman '20 broke the school's cross-country record for the women’s 5K with a race time of 18:06 at the Liberty Bell Meet. Colsman and Lizzy Somer '20 led the team with top-ten wins at several meets throughout the season. FIELD HOCKEY STATE CHAMPS! For the first time in history, Field Hockey won its first State Championship in a 2-1 overtime game over previously undefeated Cherry Creek. Lauren Pendergast '20 scored the winning goal, claiming the program’s first State Title and serving the Cherry Creek Bruins their first loss. Head Coach Spencer Wagner was named Coach of the Year.
previously unbeaten Smoky Hill squad in the first round of playoffs, but suffered a loss to the eventual State Champions, Valor Christian, in the second round. GOLF The Golf team had another successful season behind stars Bo Wardynski '20 and Walker Fuller '19. The team of Freddie Ingham '19, Eddie Custy '19, Wardynski and Fuller finished fourth at State behind a seventh place individual ranking for Wardynski, who was also named to First Team All-State. SOCCER The boys Soccer campaign came to a controversial end in a 3-1 loss to Far Northeast Warriors, where a penalty kick from the Raiders was not counted and kicked them out of the playoffs. Despite their post-season disappointment, the Raiders were Continental League Champions and finished with an 8-6-2 record, led by a senior-deficient team and many young returning players for next year. TENNIS STATE CHAMPS! The Raiders had an impressive season with wins at the Western Slope Invitational and Cherry Creek Invitational. They capped the season by scoring 76 points to claim the Class 5A State Team Championship over Cherry Creek. Conor Kaczmarczyk '22 took the title in No. 3 singles, Kosta Garger '20 claimed the No. 2 singles title and partners Evan Nuss '19 and Emilio Gonzalez-Cruz '20 got the crown for No. 1 doubles.
SOFTBALL Softball made its way to the State Tournament for the first time in school history, ending the season with a top eight finish. This strong varsity team was led by Jackie Cal '19, who held a .333 batting average and will be attending Rider University this fall. Coach Merideth Feik was named Continental League Coach of the Year! VOLLEYBALL The girls Volleyball team had another strong season, finishing with a 9-14 wins/loss record. They went 4-0 at the JAM Tournament and took the win. BOYS CROSS COUNTRY The boys Cross Country team took eighth place in State this season, led by Owen Buehler '20 and Thomas Beatty '20, who ran the fourth and fifth fastest times in school history. This is the team’s best finish since 2009. FOOTBALL The Raiders had a slow start to the season kicking off with a trip to Orlando, Florida where they ended up losing by nine points. They turned their season around after starting with a 1-4 record and finished with a record of 7-5 and a dominating win (48-14) against the 14
WINTER SPORTS GIRLS BASKETBALL The girls Basketball team had an impressive season, finishing with a 23-3 overall record, making them the third best team in the state. Fran Belibi '19 and Sidney Weigand '19 were both nominated to the McDonald's All-American Game; where Belibi became a viral sensation, partly due to winning the McDonald All-American slam-dunk contest, the second time ever that a female has won it. Belibi took home the Gatorade Player of the Year award in Colorado and she and Avery Vansickle '21 were awarded First Team All-State honors. CHEER The varsity Cheer team finished 23rd in 5A State Prelims, with a total score of 61.12 and an average score of 20.97.
POMS The varsity Poms team had a great year, finishing fifth at the State Tournament and making the semifinals at Nationals. They also took second place at NDA, the regional competition.
ended in a hard fought loss to Cherry Creek 12-11. Sidney Weigand '19 was selected Player of the Year in the league and First Team All-State. The team also finished the season as co-League Champions.
SWIM & DIVE Girls Swim & Dive had an impressive showing with yet another season as the only undefeated team in the 5A standings. They went into the State Championship with 29 state qualifiers, including eight freshmen. Congratulations to Jada Surell Norwood '20, who won the 100 free with a time of 50.59, and Sophia Bradac '20, who won the 100 breast in prelims and placed second in finals with a time of 1:02.23. In a close finish, the Raiders placed third behind Fairview and Fossil Ridge at the State Meet.
SOCCER Led in goals by Cornell-commit Ava Laden '20, the Raiders stayed at the top of the rankings throughout the season, heading into the playoffs with an 11-2-2 record. Highly credited and proven, the Raiders made their mark early in the season. They had an impressive season and look to be even better come next spring.
BOYS BASKETBALL After a 4-7 start, losing six games by an average score of 2.3 points, the Raiders turned their season around, going 9-1 in league play, and becoming League Champions for the ninth time in the past 12 years. Daniel Carr '19 was Second Team All-State, breaking the Regis Jesuit basketball record for most rebounds in a season with 273. Jamil Safieddine '19 and Payton Egloff '19 earned Honorable Mentions. The Raiders went into playoffs as the 10th seeded team in the state. Coach Ken Shaw was named Continental League Coach of the Year! HOCKEY STATE CHAMPS! Dan Woodley coached Regis Jesuit to its sixth State Championship and second in a row, making his CHSAA career coaching record 268-33-7. Captain Kale Lone '19 has won three State rings and was named Colorado Player of the Year.
TENNIS Girls Tennis went 9-2 in the regular season. For the first time in four years, Regis Jesuit varsity tennis won the team title at the 5A Region 8 Tournament. They sent 10 players to compete in both singles and double in the State tournament. TRACK & FIELD The Raider women had a great showing at State with athletes Fabiola Belibi '22, Isalina Colsman '20, Hailey Harris '19 and the 4x800 team qualifying. Harris finished eighth in the triple jump. Belibi qualified in three events at State during her freshman season. BOYS BASEBALL STATE CHAMPS! With an amazing end to the season, baseball won the 2019 Colorado 5A State Championships with an 8-3 victory over Cherry Creek. Having last claimed the title in 2009, this is the third alltime state title for the Raiders, topping off a strong 25-6 winning season. Coach Matt Darr was named CHSAA 5A Coach of the Year!
WRESTLING Antonio Segura '21 defeated three-time State Champion Theorius Robison from Pomona in one of the biggest upsets in state history, claiming the State crown for the 145-lb weight class. Photo Credit: Kylie Pendleton '21
SPRING SPORTS GIRLS GOLF Regis Jesuit headed to State after placing second in Regionals with Katie Berrian '20 winning first at Regionals with a round of 67. Berrian went on to place third in the State Tournament.
LACROSSE The boys lacrosse team ranked top 50 in the nation beginning the season and finished with a record of 11-6. Following the State Championship victory last year, handed by Jake Taylor '19 and Reed Babcock '19, the Raiders entered the playoffs as the No. 9 seed. After a hard-fought comeback, the team did not pull off the upset over No.1 seed Valor in the second round of the playoffs, losing 11-9.
LACROSSE For only the second time in school history, the girls Lacrosse team went to the Final Four of the State Championship tournament, where they SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
15
RUGBY STATE CHAMPS! After a loss in the first week of the season to Denver East, the Raiders went undefeated in the regular season. The team hit its stride towards the end of the season, demolishing teams with scores of 71-17 and 78-7 prior to their rematch with East in the State final. They capped their season off with a 21-14 win in a thrilling championship game to Denver East Rugby taking home the D1 State Championship title.
THEATRE The cast, crew and pit band of Sister Act were chosen to perform the musical on the main stage at the 54th Annual Colorado Thespian Conference (ThesCon). This is the first time in Regis Jesuit Drama Club history that our ITS troupe was selected for such an honor— the equivalent to winning a State Championship! Additionally, Ellie Hill '19 earned a Bobby G for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for her role as Sister Mary Patrick. This is the first-ever win for the RJ Theatre Program. Per the DCPA website, "The Bobby G Awards are the culmination of a year-long program administered by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts that emphasizes camaraderie and shared experiences while supporting, promoting and celebrating achievements in Colorado high-school musical theatre."
SWIM & DIVE The Raiders had a great regular season in the water and finished with only one loss, winning the Mustang Invite and the Dick Rush Coaches Invite. They went into the State Championships strong with 27 swimming qualifiers and six diving qualifiers. The team finished second at the State Championship meet behind Cherry Creek. Will Goodwin '19 capped off his high school career by winning the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, setting a new State Record by 0.01 seconds in the breaststroke with a time of 54.67. Quinn Henninger '21 won diving, missing the State record held by alum Kyle Goodwin '15 by five points. Head Coach Nick Frasersmith was named Continental League Coach of the Year and Dive Coach Jake Carloni won the Colorado Diving Coach of the Year Award. TRACK & FIELD The Raiders had a great showing at State with athletes Jackson Connelly '20 and Zion Gordon '19 qualifying. Connelly ended his season ranked the No.1 junior in the state for the 100m and 200m race. USC-bound Gordon won State in both the 110-meter hurdles and 100-meter dash and earned the third best national time in the 100-meters.
CLUB HIGHLIGHTS FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA STATE CHAMPS! In just its first year as a chapter, the FBLA Team qualified to compete the State Competition in April. Three of the members then qualified for the National FBLA Competition in San Antonio: Brody Elliott '19, who won first place at State for Business Law, Michael Jones '20, who took fourth place in Cyber Security, and Sam Engelbert '20, who captured the first place trophy for Personal Finance. The club is moderated by Brent Bieshaar.
VOLLEYBALL Under the guidance of new coach Kristi Gauss, boys Volleyball finished the season with a 5-13 record. In 2020-21, boys volleyball will move from being a club sport to an official CHSAA sport.
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CONTINENTAL LEAGUE ART SHOW Four outstanding artists took top prizes at this year's Continental League Art Show. First Place in Ceramics—Cole Hibbeln '21; First Place in Mixed Media—Lukas Howell '19; Second Place in Mixed Media—Ana Kistle '19; and Best of Show—Allison Womer '20.Their superb works of art were proudly on display at Parker Adventist Hospital in late April. ALL-STATE CHOIR Seven students qualified for Colorado All-State Choir this year: Ellie Hill '19, Blake Mann '20, Jon Miller '19, Rachel Hilbert '19, Grace Keating '20, Claire Darley '20 and Kaley Schrameyer '20.
16
ROBOTICS CLUB The RJ Robotics Club traveled out of the country for the first time to attend the International FIRST Robotics Competition in Calgary, Canada. This competition combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology.
MOCK TRIAL STATE CHAMPS! The Mock Trial A team comprised of Jacob Botaish '19, Alyssa Cordero '19, Alexander Erwin '19, Peter Lengwin '20, Ryan David Mahoney '19, Matilyn Rogers '20, Morgan Schaaf '19, Duncan Whipple '19 and Sean Zoellner '19 went undefeated this year and won the State Competition. With this win, they advanced to Nationals in Athens, Georgia in May where they competed admirably.
RJ SPECIAL OLYMPICS CLUB Sixteen members of the RJ Special Olympics Club participated in the Special Olympic Polar Plunge at the Aurora Reservoir, where Aurora Fire had to cut through over 10 inches of ice to access the plunging location. The team raised $1288 to support Special Olympics Colorado, and the event itself raised $83,335. This year, they also hosted a "Spread the Word to End the Word" rally where students enjoyed sweet treats and t-shirts and signed a pledge to spread the word for inclusivity.
GIRL UP CLUB Members of our Girl Up Club and friends ran in the Ragnar Relays Day of the Girl Challenge supporting an all-girls running team in Ethiopia. SPEECH AND DEBATE The Speech and Debate Team members won awards at the National Speech and Debate Association Qualifying Congress for Nationals at Mullen High School on April 6. Awarded members were Kevin Reyes '21, Sabrina Jain '19, Josh Brito-Mariani '21 and Sarah Abraham ′20, nominated most outstanding speakers; Kevin Reyes '21, elected Presiding Officer of the Senate and Third Place in Congress; Josh Brito-Mariani '21, Third Place in Congress; Sabrina Jain '19, First Alternate to the National Congress. The team also won the Second Place Sweepstakes Award at the NSDA National Qualifying Congress and closed out the 2018-19 season having won 144 awards in speech competition. Sabrina Jain '19 (pictured far left in photo) represented Regis Jesuit and the Rocky Mountain South District of the National Speech and Debate Team at the National Speech and Debate Tournament this June.
RJ STUDENTS FOR LIFE CLUB The RJ Students for Life Club sent a delegation of nearly 20 RJ students to attend the 46th March for Life to represent and give voice to the vulnerable. In addition, the club hosted its annual Diaper Drive, shattering last year's record by bringing in 43,051 diapers for Catholic Charities in support of families in need.
SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
17
LARKaloha Raises $725,000 in Support of Regis Jesuit!
See more photos showing the great spirit of this year’s LARK at www.regisjesuit.com/LARKPics. 18
W
e are grateful for the generosity of the Regis Jesuit community who supported our 46th annual LARK Dinner-Auction, LARKaloha, on April 27 at the Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel. The mission-driven evening was made even more wonderful by the spirited and loving energy in the room by the 650 attendees. Under the incredible leadership of Event Co-Chairs and current parents Amy Dailey and Sarah Neylon (pictured right), the Event Steering Committee and over 130 volunteers, this year’s event raised $725,000 net in support the Inspire & Ignite Fund and the Financial Aid Endowment. This generous support will continue to allow Regis Jesuit the ability to advance the strategic vision of the school to ensure our students benefit from essential formative programs, an innovative campus environment and financial aid.
ABOVE: LARKaloha Co-Chairs and their husbands: Sean & Amy Dailey and Sarah & Brian Neylon
One of the most memorable moments of the night came in the heartwarming stories shared by student speakers Hannah Smith '20 and Rene Del Barco '19 (pictured right). Their accounts of their Raider experience showcased our mission to form Men and Women with and for Others, who upon graduation are ready to meet life’s personal, social and spiritual challenges—and ready to make a difference in our world. The generous $100,000 paddle-raiser match from our Board of Trustees inspired our parents, alumni, faculty and staff to raise a total of $425,000 to honor Rick Sullivan, our 2019 paddle-raiser honoree, in support of the Tom Robinson '64 Endowed Scholarship—quadrupling its previous balance. Tom Robinson '64, former teacher and coach at Regis Jesuit (1969-2001) was one of Rick’s most influential mentors. Both Tom and Rick were humbled by this generosity. This endowed scholarship will continue to provide long-term support for ensuring a diverse student body at Regis Jesuit. It was a wonderful way to honor Rick, one of Regis Jesuit’s most transformative leaders as he retires from his role as Vice President of Operations after 26 years of dedicated service.
SAVE THE DATE for LARK 2020 on Saturday, April 25!
Hilton Denver City Center SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
19
Regis Jesuit Launches Engineering Mentoring Program PA R T N E R S H I P B E T W E E N A L U M S A N D C U R R E N T S T U D E N T S P R O V I D E S U N I Q U E O P P O R T U N I T Y F O R YO U N G W O M E N B Y G R E T C H E N K E S S L E R , A L U M N A E R E L AT I O N S L I A I S O N
T
his past February, Regis Jesuit embarked upon a new and exciting mentoring opportunity for a small group of juniors in the Girls Division. Christina Canino '14, who recently graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in chemical and biological engineering and a minor in biomedical engineering, saw this an opportunity to combine her passion for engineering outreach with her love for her alma mater by establishing an engineering mentoring series for a group of interested junior girls. Canino is passionate about educating and empowering young women to become more keenly aware of the possibilities in the field of engineering, and what it means to be an engineering student. The program consisted of four meetings. Canino and some of her female colleagues from CSU spent their time over the spring semester meeting with RJ juniors. Canino sought to establish genuine, trusting relationships between the mentors who were finishing their degrees at CSU and our
junior mentees. “Witnessing the nervousness that presented itself as near silence in the first meeting to engaging conversations by the final meeting was the highlight of the program,� reports Canino. The goal of the program was not necessarily to encourage girls to go into engineering, but to serve as a source of real-life information to guide them in making decisions about engineering on their own. Hearing a few of the girls speak confidently about their decision at the end of the program in comparison to their indecisiveness at the beginning was incredibly fulfilling to the mentors. A major contributor to the success of the program was the emphasis on the relationships between the mentors and mentees. The mentors expressed how they are all going through similar things even though they and their mentees are at different points in their lives. All program participants have gained something valuable by building relationships with one another. Madison Hoff '20 said, “Going into this
ABOVE: The engineering mentorship program provides an opportunity for girls to see how skills learned in science and math classes can be leveraged in new and unique ways. 20
experience, I had never really considered engineering a career for me, but I want to keep an open mind. Christina and the other women allowed me to realize how valuable women in engineering are and how my academic strengths fit into this career. After this mentorship, I have decided I want to be an engineering major in college. I feel incredibly blessed to have been offered this opportunity.” During the monthly meetings, the girls had the opportunity to participate in a speed mentoring experience, hearing different perspectives as they asked about various aspects of engineering. Some of the RJ students traveled to CSU. There, they toured campus, visited classes and had the opportunity to have conversations with some of the professors. Mary Bell '20 had been interested in engineering but did not know where to begin. She reflected, “This mentorship gave me the opportunity to explore my interests in engineering as well as connect with the other junior girls considering a career in engineering.” The last meeting was reserved as a celebration of the relationships that have been established and what has been learned. Canino expressed her gratitude for having the opportunity to be able to develop and implement an engineering mentorship program at Regis Jesuit. She hopes that it’s only the beginning of the ways that she’s able to give back to the institution that was so integral in shaping the woman she is today. We are so grateful for her initiative and interest in creating this mentorship opportunity and we are so proud of this amazing young woman. It has been our blessing to journey with her thus far!
TOP ROW: Friends and fellow engineers Katie Jordan and Kelly Scharlau with program lead Christina Canino '14 BOTTOM ROW: Carly Eberhart '20, Mary Bell '20, Madison Hoff '20
Interested in supporting today’s Raiders through a mentorship program or relationship? Contact Alumni Relations at alumnioffice@regisjesuit.com.
SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
21
Class Notes 1940s BELOW: Aloha to Regis Jesuit legend Guy Gibbs '47 who turned 90-years-young on June 28. He and his wife Joan got into the Hawaiian spirit of this year’s LARK!
John Sheridan '76 is celebrating 38 years at San Marco Petroleum, Inc. David Maybury '78 recently retired as a teacher. Before teaching, he served as a lieutenant commander in the Navy. He currently lives in Australia. 1980s Current Regis Jesuit parent and teacher, John Ferraro '82 was ordained a permanent deacon on June 22 at Light of the World Catholic Parish in Littleton. 1990s Brendan McNicholas '96 is the executive director of media services with the Colorado Avalanche. Barry Doyle '98 and his wife Lauren welcomed son Callen Patrick Doyle on December 12, 2018. Matt Huelskamp '98 is the president of Hyder Construction
1960s Joe Tatarka '66 is the co-owner of Kennedy Station Bar & Grille in Denver. Bruce Linder’s '69 son Jeff is the head basketball coach at the University of Northern Colorado. Mike Scarafiotti '69 and his wife Susan are celebrating the tenth anniversary of 3 Sons Italian Restaurant in Arvada, where the Class of 1969 has their class luncheon every month. 1970s Tom Dunn '70 and Paul Clarke '71 are celebrating the 41st Annual Eastside Summer Scramble Golf Tournament. The tournament is played by a large number of Regis Jesuit alumni from the east side and has raised thousands of dollars for a variety of charities over the years. Warren Olsen '74 is the chairman and chief investment officer at SCB Global Capital Management. David Pytell '74 and his wife Kim have spent the last 11 years sailing their 49-foot sailboat named Slow Dancing around North and South America and the Caribbean (35,000 offshore miles!). They have recently hung up their flip-flops for cowboy boots and a ranch in Clyde Park, Montana, enjoying life and work on Pytel’s Ponderosa. They are looking forward to their granddaughter Sofia Pytel enrolling at Regis Jesuit in three years; go class of 2026! 22
Adam Knickerbocker '98 is the general manager and sommelier at The Plimoth–Neighborhood Eatery in Denver. Mark Laber '98 is a senior managing director at FTI Consulting in New York City. John-Paul Maxfield '99, guitarist and lead vocalist for the band Coal Town Reunion, celebrated the release of the band's EP on June 13 at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox in Denver. BELOW: Zachary Shattuck '99 is a native species coordinator for the Fisheries Division of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. He is pictured returning an endangered fish species (pallid sturgeon) to the lower Yellowstone River in Montana.
2000s Tyler Breuer '01 is the school director of the Swallow Hill Music School in Denver.
BELOW: Alumnae and coaches from the 2009 State Girls Basketball Championship team reunited on center court at one of the Girls Basketball playoff games this past February.
David Foley '01 is a commercial real estate broker with Buell & Company. Garrett Fitzgerald '03 is a vice president at Millennium Bridge Capital. John Pavlakovich '03 is a senior mortgage loan originator at HomeServices Lending, LLC. BELOW: Roger Espinoza '05, a Sporting KC midfielder who has also played for his native Honduras in two World Cups and the 2012 Olympics, met with 70 members of the RJ soccer community and others to talk about his Raider experience. The event was organized by fellow alum Danny Bieshaar '08 who works for the Colorado Rapids.
2010s Molly Roberge '10 returned to her alma mater working in the Learning Services Program. “I work with passionate, humble and selfless people. They inspire me every day. That’s why I want to be back at Regis Jesuit working for a bigger cause with amazing people.” Brad Tagtow '10 is a software engineer for IBM in Denver working on their artificial intelligence project. Julia Biernat '11 was married to Landon Craft on September 29, 2018. Megan Harrison '11 is a senior consultant at Management Solutions in Madrid. She recently married Gonzalo Franco Ceballos.
Mike McKibben '05 is the retail manager at Berkeley Supply in Denver. Taylor (Olson) Condie '06 and her husband welcomed a baby girl, Dahlia, on December 13, 2018. Demar Lewis '07 is finishing his second year as a Ph.D. student at Yale University. He is also tying the knot this July. David Glugla '08 finished his Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Colorado.
Jordan Harshman '11 is the newest member of the Regis Jesuit Investment Committee. After graduating from Harvard University in May of 2015, she has worked in marketing, insurance and in October 2017, started her own online retail business, Befitting & Co. Scott Rupp '11 graduated from the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine and was presented with his Doctor of Medicine degree in May. He also was promoted from second lieutenant to captain in the United States Air Force.
Cavan McConaty '08 is a loan officer at Draper and Kramer Mortgage Corporation. Kaitlyn McNamara '08 finished her veterinary degree and is excited to head down south for a small animal surgery residency at the University of Florida. SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
23
BELOW: Sarah Anderson '12 is pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry at Northwestern University where she uses surface chemistry to study enzyme activity and cellular metabolites. She also writes for the Illinois Science Council blog and has published an article in Science. Upon completing her doctorate, Sarah hopes to work in the field of science communication in order to help make science more accessible to the general public.
Bridget Bowers '12 was recognized as one of the Dr. Berger Excellence in Teaching Awards recipients at DeSmet Jesuit High School. Elizabeth Cromie '12 is a civil engineer working in Dallas. BELOW: Missy Franklin '13 returned to campus to speak to the student body about her experiences in high school, Olympic competition and her personal experience of struggling with depression and anxiety and how she sought help. Read more about her visit at www.regisjesuit.com/inspireandignite.
24
Kaitlyn Taggart '13 is now working as the coordinator of marketing for USA Volleyball in Colorado Springs. Srida Saraogi '13 is an associate account strategist at Google in the Bay Area. BELOW: Diani Akigbogun '14, who coached the Raider Girls Freshman Basketball team this past season, was named WBCA National High School Assistant Coach of the Year at the NCAA Final Four in Tampa on April 6.
A NEW WEBSITE EXPERIENCE
COMING MID-JULY 2019 FEATURING • Mobile-first technology • Integrated and filterable calendar • A new secure online community called
•
• Athletic scoreboard • News highlights • A new networking opportunity for alumni called
RJ CONNECT
SAME SITE ADDRESS
www.regisjesuit.com SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
25
Taylor (Caldwell) Campbell '14 is a cardiac ICU emergency room nurse. Max George '14 teamed up with Walt Weiss, former Rockies player and Max's high school coach, to help accelerate his career
BELOW: Dani Britt '15 celebrated graduation in style as she received her bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University this spring.
Colton Jones '14 was accepted into a training program in the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Division in the summer of 2019. Devin Kadillak '14 was hired a software engineer at Lockheed Martin. David Peterson '14 is making his mark from the mound as the top pitching prospect in 2019 for the New York Mets as a baseball player. BELOW: After successful collegiate baseball careers, Reagan Todd '14 and Brook Urich '14 have leveraged their experience by starting a high school athletic recruiting business. Todd played baseball at Arizona State for three years before transferring to Colorado Mesa. He was drafted in 2018 by the Colorado Rockies and is currently playing for their organization. Ulrich played baseball at Miami University for four years and was the captain of the Red Hawks his senior year, leading his team to the MAC Championship. Learn more at elitespeedsp.com. Jess Lewis '15 graduated from The United States Military Academy in May. She will be heading to medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Maryland. Kellyn Toole '15, a senior at Chapman University, earned the 2019 NCAA D3 Region 2 Championship swimming title on the one-meter board and is the first Chapman diver to qualify for NCAA Championships.
26
u RIGHT: Ian Wuertz '15, who just graduated from Seattle University, released his third novel, a mystery called The Heirs of Clearwater. Ian will be teaching this fall at St. Louis University High School as a member of the Alum Service Corps.
BELOW: Sebastian Colsman '18 sports his Raider pride internationally posing for a photo at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
Quin Cotton '16, a centerfielder at Grand Canyon University, was taken in the eighth round of the MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. Michael Wambsganss '16 earned an internship with the NCAA this summer where he will be helping coordinate and organize the first NCAA Youth Development Camp. BELOW: Thomas Kuttner '17 with his mom, RJ teacher Regine Joulie-Kuttner, received his white coat from the Nursing School at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
BELOW: Grace Marchand '18 (pictured at Xunantunich, an ancient Mayan ruin in Belize), who is studying mechanical engineering, Chinese and leadership at the University of Denver, had the opportunity to take her studies abroad. "I got to learn how various leaders in Belize are integrating sustainability into their livelihoods, and how inclusive leadership is instrumental to successfully improve the quality of life around the world."
BELOW: Myles Murphy '18 spoke with current RJ students about life as a first-year engineering student at the Colorado School of Mines.
Madeline Broderick King '18 was recognized as the Catholic Woman of the Month in April 2019 by the Catholic Women of Georgetown University where she has just completed her freshman year.
SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
27
HOMECOMING 2019 Celebrating the Regis Jesuit High School community!
SEPTEMBER 19-21 18th Annual Rudy Cup Community Golf Tournament Thursday, September 19 The Ridge at Castle Pines Golf Course | 11:00 am shotgun start A fun day on the links, building community and supporting Regis Jesuit students.
Alumni Homecoming BBQ Friday, September 20 Regis Jesuit High School - McNicholas Green | 4:30 pm The largest gathering of the RJ alumni community and their families.
Homecoming Football Game vs. Mullen Friday, September 20 Regis Jesuit High School - Kellogg Stadium | 7:00 pm Root for the Raiders in this classic match up. Raider Raffle drawing will take place at halftime.
Raiders Reunion Mass Saturday, September 21 Regis University - St. John Francis Regis Chapel | 4:30 pm Celebrating the reunion classes of '69, '74, '79, '84, '89, '94, '99, '04, '09 and Golden Grads!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.regisjesuit.com/Homecoming 28
Alumni Mentorship Series Success T
hank you to our alums listed below who participated in the Spring Alumni Mentorship Series. If you are interested in sharing your professional experience with today’s Raiders, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumnioffice@regisjesuit.com.
• Brian McGuire '63 – Surgical Medicine • Ernie Sanelli '76 – Medical Technology • Jason Hunke '88 – Communications • Joe Grubenhoff '93 – Pediatric Emergency Medicine/Higher Education • Alfred Zarlengo '86 – Insurance • Ben Meininger '00 – Commercial Mortgage Lending • Christopher Johnston '01 – Emergency Medicine • Bryan Zerr '05 – Real Estate
revised 12.17.09
• Nicole Cochran '08 – Social Work • Ariana Flores '08 – Law • Andrea Tagtow '08 – Nonprofit • Madeline Sapyta '09 – Interior Design • Molly Deibel '10 – Marketing • Will Holmes '10 – Engineering • Connor Wist '10 – Communications • Andrew Bell '11 – Accounting • Alexandra (Todd) Martinez '11 – Nursing • Rayvon Solomon '15 – Finance
BELOW (far left): Nicole Cochran '08 reflected on the experience speaking to RJ students about her career as a social worker, "I was given the opportunity to go back to my high school and speak to students on my career and how my experiences at RJHS helped to get me to where I am. At the time, I did not know how much I needed this. This filled my cup up entirely and provided me an opportunity to reflect on the last 10 years and the various paths I could have taken, the ones I did take and how the whole person experience at RJHS had a hand in it all. At the end of the day, this reaffirmed for me that I am exactly where I am meant to be, doing what I am meant to do and for that, I am grateful."
SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
29
Raider Legacy Families Recognized at First Annual Appreciation Event
O
n Friday, May 3, the first annual Raider Legacy Appreciation event honoring members of the graduating class and their alumni parents and/or grandparents was held. We celebrated the 28 legacy families from the Class of 2019 with a special ceremony held in the Blessed Rupert Mayer Chapel following First Friday Mass. We look forward to this becoming an annual tradition for our generations of Raiders.
CLASS OF 2019 LEGACY RAIDER FAMILIES Colin Armistead '19, father Mark Armistead '80 Jack Born '19, grandfather Paul Foster '59 Izzie Capra '19, father Nicolas Capra '88 Caroline Daly '19, father Colin Daly '87 Dominic DeVito '19, father Tony DeVito '85 Logan '19 and Max '19 Henninger, father Monty Henninger '87 Freddie Ingham '19, father Fred Ingham '86 Eryn Kaiser '19, father Chris Kaiser '89 Luke Keefe '19, father Paul Keefe '95 Abbey Loveland '19, father Lloyd Loveland '89 Jaden Lundell '19, father Bill Lundell '66 Luke Maxfield '19, father Marty Maxfield '88 Annika Mayers '19, father Gregory Mayers '80 Madison Morroni '19, father Joseph Morroni '93, grandfather Thomas Morroni '58
Joey & Nick Nickerson '19, father Joseph Nickerson '97 Emma Oakes '19, grandfather Thomas Morroni '58 Nick Pavlakovich '19, father Nicholas Pavlakovich '82 William Peltier '19, grandfather William Peltier '57† Cameron Quinn '19, grandfather Thomas Quinn '67 Charlie Quinn '19, father Michael Quinn '85 Molly Reich '19, father Robert Reich '88 Olivia Restivo '19, father Thomas Restivo '87 Bella Riedell '19, father Billy Riedell '92 Elisabeth Schade '19, grandfather Joseph Chase '52 Anne Seier '19, grandfather James Delaney '54† Sarah Tartell '19, grandfather John Bell '57 Dylan Zarlengo '19, father Marcus Zarlengo '96 Alex '19 and Sean '19 Zoellner, father Patrick Zoellner '79
Please accept our apologies If we have accidentally omitted a legacy family from the Class of 2019 and contact Paul Miller '04, Director of Alumni Relations at pmiller@regisjesuit.com to help us ensure we have our family legacy relationships updated in our database. † Deceased
30
David Card '87, RJ president, with Elisabeth Schade '19 and her grandfather Joseph Chase '52
Card with Chris '89 and Eryn '19 Kaiser
Legacy families from the Class of 2019 gathered for a special ceremony in the Blessed Rupert Mayer Chapel
David Card '87 with Dylan '19 and Marc '96 Zarlengo
Card with Bill '66 and his son Jaden '19 Lundell SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
31
Where are they now? J A M E S L O B ATO ' 9 6
What years did you teach at Regis Jesuit and what were the subjects you taught and positions held?
to teach it. It ended up being my favorite subject and my favorite students to work with: sophomores! (Pretty weird huh?)
I taught from the fall of 2000 and wrapped up at the end of the 2005-06 school year. Over those years, I taught algebra, geometry and personal finance. I coached freshman football and track & field all six years that I was with the school.
Financial literacy is something I did not learn as a young person, so I was so excited to be able to create and deliver a class to help young people become more business savvy and money-wise.
What were some of your fondest memories of your years at Regis Jesuit?
Where do you live now and what are you up to?
Some of my fondest memories are of leading retreats (especially Kairos), coaching successful teams and individuals to conference titles and All-State honors, leading Service Projects and of course DJing many school Homecomings and Proms (DJ-LO in the building!). My best memory is getting to work alongside the same people who helped form me into a Man for Others – Joe Lechuga '82, Rod Card '61, Bill Gold, Jeff Howard '88, Mike, Kelly Doherty, Rick Sullivan, Charlie Saulino and the ageless Ralph Taylor are just a few who invested in my success as a young man and teacher!
I still live in southwest Denver and am happily married to my best friend of 16 years (June 7). We have both a high school student and middle schooler who keep us very busy with their activities and sports.
What do you miss most about Regis Jesuit? The sense of brotherhood and camaraderie amongst the faculty and students at RJHS has always been second to none in high school education (my biased opinion). I also appreciated the daily opportunities to educate the whole person – mind, body, and soul. What are you most proud of during your years at Regis Jesuit? I’m most proud of teaching geometry and creating a new elective for upperclassmen. I never took geometry as a student in high school and studied all summer to prepare
32
At work, I get to lead teams of passionate financial professionals, help them learn the business and empower them to make a difference in our clients’ lives as they take ownership of their careers. Recently my wife and I accepted associate pastor roles at our church, where we lead and are deeply involved in children’s, adult, music and marriage ministries. What advice would you give young women and men today? Same thing I tell my boys: get your face out of your phones! There’s a whole lot of life going on all around you and you have a responsibility to contribute to it. Any special thoughts to send to the Regis Jesuit community? To the faculty and staff at RJHS, our prayers are with you always as you continue to form Men and Women with and
for Others. That “others-before-self” mentality has helped me succeed in life and is becoming rarer in society today. To the students, always remember, each day is a gift – choose love! Find your passion, and study hard. Remain coachable and adaptable and you will succeed in college and your career beyond.
To my former students, many of whom I have the privilege of working with now --Thank you! I learned as much from you as you (hopefully) learned from me. To my fellow alumni, God has blessed you! Live out your faith boldly!
Lobato (inset) from the 1996 yearbook and with his wife and two sons today
SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
33
FACULTY & STAFF NOTES FUTURE RAIDERS BELOW: Girls Assistant Division Head and social
studies teacher, Ryan Williamson and his wife Julia welcomed their second child, Nora Vivian.
In this feature of The Raider, we list milestone occasions and awards or events for members of the faculty and staff. BELOW: English teacher Mary Claire Modak and
her husband Brent welcomed a baby boy, Lewis Michael, on January 29, 2019.
p ABOVE: On January 8, 2019, RJ Principal Jimmy
Tricco and his wife Jacqui welcomed their fourth child, Ita Dorothy.
p ABOVE: On March 27, 2019, math teacher Alex
Crane and his wife Ashley welcomed Avila Rose, their fifth child. Not Pictured: English teacher Chris Mixon and his wife Ali welcomed their first baby, Freya Eugènie, on May 7, 2019.
HONORS & AWARDS u RIGHT: Kathryn Ames, Boys School Counseling
Chair and Head Girls Lacrosse Coach, was awarded the 2019 Outstanding Colorado Educator by the University of Colorado at Boulder.
34
In Memoriam
The entire community of Regis Jesuit extends its sincere sympathy to the family and friends of loved ones who have died recently. The following are remembered in our prayers:
Alumni Who passed away between December 1, 2018 and April 30, 2019, listed in ascending order by year of graduation
William E. Grannell '40, father of William E. Grannell, Jr. '67 Roy Mucilli '66, brother of George Mucilli '48† Daniel J. Shannon, Jr. '47 John T. Goodier '49 Gerald L. Frawley '53 Robert A. Allord '54 Thomas A. Duggan '54, brother of Dennis Duggan '60
Victor S. Artese '59 Daniel B. O'Hara '63 Simon Peter O'Hanlon '65 Joseph P. Pergola '67 Thomas E. Newton '68 Thomas J. Zirkelbach '71, brother of David Zirkelbach '72 and uncle of Stetson '08 and Ellen '10 Zirkelbach
Mark T. Lessner '11, brother of Baylen Lessner '08 Grant J. Wagner '12 Caroline E. Lewis '17, sister of Katharine Lewis '15
We have also been informed recently of the deaths of the following alumni and extend our sympathies and prayers to their loved ones. Listed in ascending order by year of graduation whose deaths we were notified of since our last publication date
Thomas X. Kelley '41 George E. Crouter '45
George J. Minellono '46 Paul D. Bruns '61
Family & Friends Listed alphabetically by last name
Dorothy M. Grant, wife of Charles Grant '43 Shirley Harvey, mother of Jerry Harvey '67 and James Harvey '74†, and grandmother James '04, Joe '06 and Jacob '14 Harvey Jeffrey Jensen, son of social studies teacher Skip Jensen
Leslie K. Kissel, mother of Christopher '06 and Sam '10 Kissel Kitty Nemechek, wife of James Nemechek '56 William G. Rogers, father of Assistant Principal for Faculty & Curriculum, Craig Rogers and grandfather of Bennett '16 and Matilyn '20 Rogers
John (Hans) Speier, father of Henry Speier '79 and grandfather of Kevin '10 and Bruce '14 Nerheim Mary A. Zarlengo, wife of Albert E. Zarlengo '57
† Also deceased The names recorded in this section represent those made known to us between December 1, 2018 and April 30. 2019. Any deaths occurring after that date will be listed in the 2020 issue. We make every effort to account accurately for the passing of any alumnus/a, student, faculty or staff member as well as that of any of their parents, spouses, siblings or children. If we are aware of other relationships the deceased had to members of our community, we do our best to list them as well. We also share news of the deaths of all members of our extended community on the In Memoriam page of our website (www.regisjesuit.com/inmemoriam).We sincerely regret any oversights or errors that may occur.
SUMMER 2019 T H E R A I D E R
35
Men and Women with and for Others
Non-profit org. U.S. postage
6300 S. Lewiston Way Aurora, Colorado 80016
PAID
Denver, CO Permit #546
PARENTS OF ALUMNI: If you are still receiving your son’s or daughter’s Raider even though he/she no longer lives with you, please let us know. We will update our database and send the magazine directly to him/her. Also if you are not receiving our monthly e-magazine, The Raider Connection, and would like to, please update your email address with us. Contact the Advancement Office at advancementoffice@regisjesuit.com or 303.269.8022.
Calendar Highlights 2019 Wednesday, August 14............................................................................................................................................. First Day of Classes Saturday, August 17..........................................................................................................30th Annual Pig Roast at the Jesuit Residence Friday, September 6.................................................................................................................................................... First Friday Mass Friday, September 13.......................................................................................................................................... Mass of the Holy Spirit Thursday, September 19.................................................................The Rudy Cup Golf Tournament at Ridge Golf Course, Castle Pines September 20-21................................................................................................................................................. Homecoming Weekend
Friday, September 20.......................................................................Raiders Reunion Homecoming Football Tailgate – All Alumni
.
Homecoming Football Game
.
Raider Raffle Drawing – Halftime at the Homecoming Game Saturday, September 21..................................................................................................Raiders Reunion – Reunion Year Alumni
Friday, October 4......................................................................................................................................................... First Friday Mass Sunday, October 20........................................................................................................................................... Admissions Open House Friday, November 8..................................................................................................................................................Remembrance Mass November 1-3 and November 8-10............................................RJHS Theatre presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Sunday, November 24................................................................................................................................................Grandparents Day Saturday, December 7................................................................................................................................Class of 2024 Entrance Exam Friday, December 6..................................................................................................................................................... First Friday Mass Saturday, December 21............................................Red & White Christmas: Five-Year Reunion for the Class of 2014 at the Irish Snug Tuesday, December 24.................................................................................................................... Young Alumni Christmas Eve Mass
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.regisjesuit.com 303.269.8000 36
CONNECT WITH US!
For full details on all upcoming events at Regis Jesuit, visit www.regisjesuit.com/calendar. All events are held at the school unless otherwise noted.