SLUH Magazine

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

FEATURES:

Steve Missey '88

Keller Anderson '23

(pictured)

Bob Conrads '65

MAGAZINE WINTER 2022-23

Dear SLUH Community,

At St. Louis U. High, we often talk about and are motivated by the phrase “the pursuit of excellence” in all endeavors. For some, this can both appear as and result in a potentially unhealthy focus on perfectionism. As we pray and discern the goal of pursuing excellence through an Ignatian lens, a more accurate picture of its meaning comes to light.

It begins with the foundational belief that all we do at SLUH — and outside of our school — is Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, or, For the Greater Glory of God. With that line of faith-infused logic, everything — from the mundane to the spiritual and intellectual — becomes a celebration and recognition of God’s grandeur.

From the bestowment of life and talent through our own creation and that expressed in others and the natural world we engage, all that is good and beautiful (even when that beauty may not be readily apparent) is the result of the greater glory of God. Thus, our work, our relationships and our experiences become our living prayer, pursued through a set of high standards of both our own creative processes and our behavior.

Pursuit of Excellence AN IGNATIAN REFLECTION

Although perfectionists would see ‘second best’ as failure, a Christ-inspired approach goes beyond merely focusing on the outcome — it values and assesses the process and journey. To be ‘excellent’ is to maximize one’s potential, demand commitment and discipline from oneself, and live in a way that appreciates the beauty and importance of process. Consider that much of what comprises outcomes is determined by small or large factors that are out of our control.

As such, sub-par results can come from a sound process. For young people, competitive activities and team sports are often valuable opportunities to learn how to work to succeed while understanding how to fail with grace. Unfortunately, our secular society and social media culture predominately value outcomes and often create ‘pretend’ outcomes to hide our humanness and the reality that failure and shortfalls can be wins.

Our Jr. Bills are called to pursue a sense of excellence that is marked by process, leveraged by courage and resilience, and, above all, inspired by faith. Therefore, AMDG and Men for Others transcend Jesuit branding or tradition-rich slogans — they are a prayer-filled commitment to celebrate Christ and God’s greatness in all that we think, say and do.

God bless,

Alan Carruthers President

“... a Christ-inspired approach goes beyond merely focusing on the outcome — it values and assesses the process and journey.”

– ALAN CARRUTHERS

PICTURED: Jr. Bills hiking on the Wilderness Retreat in the fall. See story on page 10.

ABOUT

SLUH Magazine is a publication for alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, benefactors and friends of St. Louis University High School. If you do not receive correspondence from SLUH but wish to, please send a note to alumni@sluh.org with your name, email and mailing address.

CONTACT

SLUH Magazine

St. Louis University High School

4970 Oakland Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110 magazine@sluh.org

EDITOR

Ben DuMont '92 Director of Communications

SUBMISSIONS

Story ideas and submissions are welcome. Please send a note to magazine@sluh.org. IN

FEATURES

22 STEVE MISSEY '88: GUIDE AND GUARDIAN TO STUDENT JOURNALISTS

U. HIGHLIGHTS

36 Excellence in Action: David Works '85

ALUMNI TRAILBLAZERS

38 "It's More than Football:" Jason Dulick '92

40 Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau: A Literal Trailblazer

42

IN EVERY ISSUE

19 Summer @ SLUH

52 Noteworthy

54 Requiescat in Pace

FROM THE ARCHIVE

55 Female Pioneers

IGNATIAN REFLECTION

56 Grad @ Grad: Pathway to Excellence

57 Upcoming Events & Reunions

ON THE COVER: Keller Anderson '23 jams on his bass guitar. Photo taken by Max Grellner '23 in the production studio in the new Claude Heithaus, SJ 1916 Media Center.

SLUH TODAY

AROUND THE HALLS

SLUH formally dedicated The J. Anthony '57 and Donna M. Dill Center for Academic Success. This 6,300 square-foot center will further the SLUH tradition of academic excellence with dedicated space for School Counseling, College Counseling and Academic Leadership.

Ten seniors earned distinction as NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS: Thomas Bock, Luke Conran, Luke Dannegger, Jack Evans, David Hunt, Jack Kuhlman, Benjamin McCaslin, Joseph Regina, Joseph Simeri, and Connor Whalen.

More than 450 Jr. Bills participated in Retreat Week during November, embarking on several unique opportunities — Kairos, Junior, Urban Encounter, Philia and Freshman Retreats — to enrich their relationship with God.

St. Louis U. High was recognized with the STL Headliner Award for Best Private High School, as voted by readers of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and others in the metro area.

SLUH welcomed 16 students from Jesuit schools in Chile, Colombia and Poland for two months for a cultural immersion experience at school and throughout the region with their host families.

The new school schedule featured the introduction of SLUH Advisory, dedicated time that provides formational programming such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion presentations, Sustainability activities, College Counseling seminars, Campus Ministry prayer services and class Masses. Advisory also allows students to engage in team-building activities and intramurals, fostering relationships with their peers and faculty advisors.

The Dauphin Players put on three outstanding performances of The Odd Couple in the Joseph Schulte for sold-out audiences.

Musicians Joey Hanks '23, Ryan Jackson '23, Luke Jarboe '25, Andrew Moffett '24 and Evan Mullins '25 earned exemplary achievements at the All-State Auditions and performed with the All-State Bands at the Missouri Music Educators Conference

Coach Joe Porter, a social studies teacher who has dedicated 18 years to coaching Jr. Bills, was inducted into the Missouri Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Fr. Ralph Houlihan, SJ ‘52 celebrated 70 years of vocation and service to young men at De Smet Jesuit, Regis Jesuit and SLUH throughout his remarkable career. He continues to serve the SLUH community on a daily basis.

Seven hundred sixty-seven alumni donated in excess of $350,000 for St. Louis U. High Day, while generous sponsors and attendees raised nearly $200,000 at the 11th annual Scholarship Golf Classic Presented by Mungenast St. Louis Acura, Alton Toyota and the Kurt & Katie Mungenast Foundation. All of these funds support need-based financial aid, which ensures that all qualified young men can attend SLUH, regardless of economic circumstances.

Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski celebrated Mass with the SLUH community, including the Heritage Society (those who have included SLUH in their estate plans), on the Feast of All Saints.

Eight vocalists were named to the Metro 8 All-District Choir. They include (from left) Conner Leahy '24, Joseph Mannello '25, Tommy Zlotopolski '23 *, Ezekiel (Zeke) Essewin '24 *, Luke West '24, Aidan Kane '24 *, Jacob Grijalva '25 and Tim Browdy '24. (* = qualified to audition for the Missouri All-State Choir).

FR. STEWART: IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Learn more about Fr. Stewart and his formational journey in a SLUH Insignis podcast interview.

Fr. Matthew Stewart, SJ ‘98 has been selected to serve as the next Principal of St. Louis U. High, beginning July 1, 2023. His selection follows a comprehensive search process that included many qualified candidates and involved input from students, parents, faculty, administration and the Board of Trustees.

Since entering the Society of Jesus in 2009, Fr. Stewart has demonstrated strong leadership in mission-based programming roles and executive level governance in Jesuit schools throughout the Central and Southern Province. Currently a member of the Administrative Team and Director of Campus Ministry at SLUH, he previously served as adjunct professor at Saint Louis University, Associate Director of the Alum Service Corps, chaplain and teacher at Loyola Academy, and Associate University Minister and faculty member at Regis University.

“Throughout his rich experience in Jesuit education, Fr. Stewart is well known for his commitment to cura personalis, caring well for students and colleagues, relationship building and collaborative leadership,” says President Alan Carruthers. “I am confident that he will lead our school in the pursuit of excellence Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.”

A Christ-centered, mission-driven, dynamic and passionate individual, Fr. Stewart is the first SLUH alumnus to assume the role of Principal since Bob Bannister ‘54 (1995-2002) and the first Jesuit alumnus since Fr. Leo Dressel, SJ ’64 (1979-83). He holds several degrees, including a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (Liturgy and Sacraments) from Boston College; a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Denver; a M.A. in Philosophical Resources from Fordham University; and a M.A. in Theology from Saint Louis University with highest distinction.

“As we look forward to welcoming Fr. Stewart as our Principal in July, I wish to express my profound gratitude to Fr. Ian Gibbons, SJ for his exemplary leadership and care for our mission,” says Carruthers. “Fr. Gibbons has done a tremendous job leading SLUH in academics, programming implementation, strategic planning, hiring and crisis management.”

At the conclusion of this school year, Fr. Gibbons will enjoy a welldeserved sabbatical as he awaits his next assignment at another Jesuit school or ministry. This will complete Fr. Gibbons’ sixth year at SLUH, making him one of the longest-serving principals in our modern history.

IN GRATITUDE

We thank our Principal Search Committee for their time, expertise and dedication to leading a comprehensive, successful search process.

CHAIRS

MARY RUSSO

SLUH Science Faculty, Curriculum Coordinator, Learning Center Coach, Academic Affairs Committee

TOM SANTEL '76 PP

Retired business executive, Past SLUH Board of Trustees Chair

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

DR. MEGHAN BOHAC CP

Dean of Academics, Cor Jesu Academy

FR. MICHAEL CARUSO, SJ

SLUH Vice President, Mission, Planning & Operations; Board of Members and Mission and Identity Committee; Jesuit Community Superior

DR. MILENA GARGANIGO CP

Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning School District of Clayton, Academic Affairs Committee

DARRYL T JONES '73 PP

Managing Partner D&D Concessions, LLC; Chair, SLUH Board of Trustees

DIEGO NAVARRO PP

SLUH Theology Faculty

DANIEL SHIELDS

SLUH College Counselor, Co-Director of Equity and Inclusion, Board DEI committee

BETH VOEGTLI

SLUH Director of Human Resources

CP = Current Parent / PP = Past Parent

ABOVE: Fr. Matt Stewart, SJ ‘98, who serves on the Board of Trustees for Rockhurst University, poses with Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., President of Rockhurst University, on the SLUH campus on September 16, 2022.

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

BY CHRIS MUSKOPF ‘91 Athletic Director

MCC ALL-SPORTS TROPHY

The Jr. Bills claimed the 2021-22 All Sports Trophy for the Metro Catholic Conference. This award is based on regular season or championship event standings in cross country, football, soccer, swimming and diving, basketball, wrestling, baseball, golf, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. SLUH captured MCC Championships in cross country, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball — and also registered solid finishes in the other five sports. Congratulations to the coaches and student-athletes who represented SLUH in excellent fashion and made this achievement possible.

FALL 2022 SEASON CROSS COUNTRY

For the 30th consecutive season, SLUH cross country qualified as a team for the MSHSAA Championships. At the competition in November, the Jr. Bills brought home a 9th place finish, claiming the top spot among all St. Louis area schools in Class 5. As the season progressed to the MSHSAA Championships, the team captured its 19th consecutive MCC Championship,

its first Paul Enke Invitational at Sioux Passage championship since 1993, its second consecutive Hancock Invitational title and the top spot at the Big River Running Invitational. At the MCC Championships, Wyatt Seal ’23 and Charlie Murray ’24 garnered 2nd Team All-MCC recognition. Nolan Meara ’23, Tim Greiner ’23, Carter Lowe ’23, Will Riggan ’23 and Jaden Elgin ’26 secured 1st Team All-MCC honors, with Meara claiming the top individual spot in the conference. All seven of the runners who competed in the MSHSAA Championships – Elgin, Greiner, Lowe, Meara, Murray, Riggan and Anthony Zangara '24 – were designated as Academic All-State by the Missouri Track and Cross Country Coaches Association. Meara and Greiner collected additional accolades, with Meara earning 2nd Team All-District status and Greiner being recognized as 1st Team All-District, Honorable Mention on the Big River/SLUH All-Metro team, and 3rd Team on the STLToday All-Metro Team.

FOOTBALL

Under the leadership of then Interim, now Head Coach, Adam Cruz, the SLUH varsity football team navigated a 2022 schedule that included six district finalists, five district champions and

three state champions. Along that path, the Jr. Bills defeated St. John Vianney, Chaminade and Vashon, in addition to challenging eventual state champion CBC at a level that saw CBC emerge victorious, but with their 2nd smallest margin of victory against any of their St. Louis area opponents. Those accomplishments landed the Jr. Bills in 3rd place in the MCC. The program was selected by IAFO (Interscholastic Association of Football Officials) as the MCC recipient of the 2022 Sportsmanship Award.

Members of the varsity football team have been recognized in significant fashion across various postseason award platforms. Twelve team members of the team earned All-MCC recognition: Matt Barnes ’23 (2nd Team OL), Archie Carruthers ’24 (2nd Team DL), Vince Chappuis ’24 (1st Team OL), Gus Dames ’24 (2nd Team OL), Joe Harris ’24 (2nd Team WR), Keenan Harris ’26 (1st Team S), Jacobi Oliphant ’24 (2nd Team S), Zach Ortwerth ’23 (2nd Team TE), Dillon Ramella ’23 (1st Team LB), Marco Sansone ’24 (2nd Team ATH), Trey Smith ’23 (2nd Team CB), Ryan Wingo ’24 (1st Team WR, 2nd Team P and KR). Four Jr. Bills were named to the Missouri Football Coaches Association (MFCA) All-District Team: Joe Harris, Keenan Harris, Dillon Ramella and

Ryan Wingo. Wingo was also named to the MFCA All-State 2nd Team. Kam Bailey ’23, Archie Carruthers, Alex Fowler ’23, Joe Harris, Zach Ortwerth, Marco Sansone, and Luke West ’24 were tabbed MFCA Academic All-State. Lastly, Ryan Wingo, designated as a member of the 1st Team for 2022, was named for the 2nd time to the STL Today High School Sports All-Metro Team.

SOCCER

For the second consecutive season, the Jr. Bills notched 20 wins on the pitch. On the journey to those 20 victories, the team claimed 2nd place in the MCC, earned the top spot in the Jr. Bill Classic and landed in second place in the district tournament. Based on their contributions to the 20-win season, several Jr. Bills have garnered postseason accolades. Nine members of the team were designated as All-MCC: Kevin Cooney ’23 (2nd Team), Jackson Griffiths-Hill ’23 (2nd Team), Gabe Hafner ’24 (Honorable Mention), Lucas Hammond ’23 (1st Team), Chris Lewis ’24 (1st Team), Grant Locker ’24 (1st Team), Luke Rosenberg ’23 (2nd Team), Sam Tieber ’23 (Honorable Mention), Christian Thro ’24 (1st Team). The Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association provided additional recognition for Hammond (All-Region, 2nd Team AllState, All-Academic), Locker (All-Region, Region Offensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State), Rosenberg (All-Region) and Thro (All-Region, Region Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State).

The postseason awards for the Jr. Bills concluded with Thro being named to the STL Today High School Sports All-Metro 2nd Team, while Locker was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Central Regional Team and to the STL Today High School Sports All-Metro 1st Team.

SWIMMING & DIVING

A youthful group of Jr. Bill swimmers and divers splashed their way to a fifth-place overall finish at the MSHSAA Class 2 Championships. That overall finish represented the best landing spot by any St. Louis area non-public school in Class 2. En route to that stellar finish in the postseason, the Jr. Bills claimed event titles at the Cape Rock Invitational and the MCC Championships.

Scoring points for SLUH at the MSHSAA Class 2 Championships were: Gavin Baldes ’23 (13th Place-100 Butterfly), Jason Cabra (9th Place-50 Frestyle, 13th Place-100 Freestyle), Ben Chumley ’25 (12th place-200 Individual Medley), Wills Dino ’26 (15th Place-500 Freestyle), Connor Dunker ’26 (10th place-200 Freestyle, 7th Place-500 Freestyle), Kearney Foy ’24 (14th Place-50 Freestyle), Charlie Hill ’25 (13th Place-200 Individual Medley), Greyson Mueller ’25 (9th Place-500 Freestyle), Brendan Schroeder ’23 (16th Place-50 Freestyle, 7th Place-100 Freestyle), Henry Unger ’24 (8th Place-50 Freestyle, 10th Place-100 Freestyle), Jaden Yarbrough (10th Place-500 Freestyle), Evan Zimmermann ’25 (11th Place-100 Breaststroke), the 4th Place 200 Freestyle Relay of Unger, Cabra, Schroeder and Foy, and the 4th Place 400 Freestyle Relay of Schroeder, Cabra, Yarbrough and Foy.

WINTER 2022-23 SEASON

as of January 22

BASKETBALL

The Jr. Bills concluded the month of January with a victory at Chaminade, the team’s third consecutive Friday night road win in MCC competition (St. John Vianney, CBC, Chaminade). The road win at Chaminade marks the first time for that achievement since December of 2012 and the first time the varsity BasketBills have won at CBC and Chaminade in the same season since 1998-99. SLUH hosts St. John Vianney on Friday, February 17, for senior night and the Class 6, District 3 Tournament on March 1, 3 and 6.

ICE HOCKEY

The varsity IceBills closed out regular season competition with wins over CBC – for the first time since 2019 – and St. John Vianney to claim the #4 seed in the 2023 Mid-States Challenge Cup. The team will open postseason play with round robin contests against Parkway South, CBC and Chaminade.

RACQUETBALL

The SLUH Racquetball program began the 2022-2023 season as defending State and National Champions. Early in the season, they continued to show their prominence with a team victory at the Winter Rollout Tournament. The Varsity1 team currently sits with a 5-1 record. Their only loss came from Kirkwood High School, breaking an incredible 51-match win streak for the RacquetBills, dating back to the 2017-2018 season. The V1 squad will rematch Kirkwood on February 14 to close out the regular season and be joined by the rest of the

In appreciation for 25 years of inspiring leadership in the SLUH Wrestling program, the Whalen Family (Jim ’70, Dana and Connor ’23) partnered with the school to dedicate the Wrestling Room in honor of Coach Todd Clements, a standard bearer of excellence and a remarkable Man for Others.

RacquetBills to defend their titles at the MOSHRA State Tournament on February 21-26 and then the USA Racquetball National Tournament from March 1-5.

RIFLE

The RifleBills launched into the season with momentum provided by a 2nd place finish in the Scholastic Division of the 2022 National Championships at Camp Perry in Ohio in July. The program continues to carry more than 30 team members on the roster, including a talented group of 9th graders competing in events in the Sporter category. At the recent Missouri CMP Championships in Webb City, the four SLUH precision teams placed 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, with our top two teams earning automatic bids to the CMP Regional Competition in March. The SLUH entry in the sporter division, a team of four freshmen, claimed the top spot at the event in Webb City.

WRESTLING

The WrestleBills have continued their youth movement as the 2022-23 roster features a total of 34 freshmen and sophomores. The elevated roster size has produced several notable achievements in the first two months of competition: a 3rd place finish for the team at the MCC Championships, weight class wins at the MCC event by Logan Rammacher ’26, Connor Whalen ’23 and Mike Williams ’26, and team dual victories over both CBC and De Smet Jesuit – the first time for this achievement since the 2000-01 season. In the team’s most recent event – the Eric Lewis Invitational at MICDS – three wrestlers earned medalist status: John Madalon ’23, Pau Thang ’23 and Whalen. The postseason begins for the SLUH wrestlers with the District Tournament at Jackson on February 17-18.

Cruz Named Head Football Coach

Adam Cruz ‘10 has been appointed varsity football head coach for the 2023 season. Cruz, a veteran English teacher and leader of multiple SLUH co-curricular programs, has been on the SLUH football coaching staff for the past decade and served as interim head coach this past season.

"Coach Cruz was named the interim coach in May and courageously led our program through the 2022 season," says Chris Muskopf '91, Athletic Director. "We are excited to remove the interim tag and support Adam as he grows as a leader and coach, continues to build meaningful relationships with our student-athletes, and exemplifies the traits of an excellent Jesuit educator."

In addition to his football coaching experience at SLUH, Cruz has coached basketball and baseball, including his current role as B-team assistant coach. He has served on the English faculty since 2014, was Assistant Director of Admissions (2013-2022), and has been co-moderator of ACES (Association for Cultural Enrichment at SLUH) since 2016.

Rugged & Rejuvenating

Eight seniors explored nature and cultivated their own spiritual awareness for two days and two nights last fall on the Wilderness Retreat. The retreat, held at the SLUH Madonna Della Strada Retreat Center and nearby Cuivre River State Park, invited students to pray and reflect on facing one's fears, setting out on a journey and communion with the created world.

“The best part of the retreat was the guys I was with,” says Alex Deiters ‘23. “Whether it was playing cards, having a deep conversation by the fire, unsuccessfully trying to catch fish, or hiking in the forest, it was always the people involved in them that made the experiences special.”

The Wilderness Retreat featured numerous reflections, prayer services, periods of silence, camp fires and more than 12 miles of hiking — all with the goal of encountering God through the beauty of His creation.

Did you know?

Each school year, all Jr. Bills are required to participate in a retreat as an essential part of their formational journey. Upperclassmen have the opportunity to choose from a variety of electives, including the Art, Manresa, Kairos, Philia, Service Learning and Wilderness Retreats.

A Breathtaking Retreat Experience

SLUH has made several improvements to its second campus at the Madonna Della Strada Retreat Center near Troy, Mo. The retreat center now features a renovated main facility with custom artwork by Fine Arts teacher Sean Powers '05, dedicated activity center, basketball court, four outdoor spaces devoted to the Blessed Mother, a meditation trail, and much more.

Visit www.sluh.org/retreatcenter to learn more and view photos.

Two Seniors Travel to Jordan to Assist the Sisters of Mother Teresa

Seniors Anthony Fahim and Gus Kriegshauser have always had a passion for walking with the excluded, and their Senior Project was no exception. An Egyptian himself, Fahim originally wanted to do his Senior Project in Egypt in order to understand his parents’ situation when he was younger. Kriegshauser noticed that the Jesuit Refugee Service in the Middle East was fairly underfunded, due to the large number of non-Christian refugees.

However, when the pair’s contact at the planned site in Egypt, Magdi Nazmi, was transferred to Jordan, Fahim and Krieghauser were given an offer. They could either find a different service project, or they could switch from doing their projects in Egypt to Amman, Jordan.

“There’s a saying in the Orthodox Church, ‘God willing,’ and in this situation God was not willing for me to go to Egypt and willed for me to be here in Jordan,” said Fahim. “God gave me a chance to be free and have opportunity in America, so I thought I would come (to Jordan) and teach English so that these people can get that chance for themselves, and if not for themselves, at least for their children.”

Accompanying the two for a week was [SLUH] Arabic teacher Mohamed Amira, who made sure the two got settled in and everything went smoothly with the contact.

Nazmi himself was the vice principal of a school in Cairo before being transferred to Amman. In addition to designing and implementing activities, Nazmi also plans trips to see landmarks and monuments of the city to keep moods high. The weekend that Amira was there they visited Gerasa, the ruins of an ancient Greco-Roman settlement.

The two seniors are involved in helping the Sisters of

Mother Teresa, who care for the elderly. They spend their Mondays and Tuesdays helping the Sisters, and their work includes making beds, air-drying laundry, cleaning bedrooms, and other miscellaneous tasks for around four hours per day. They also assist in feeding the elderly.

However, their main responsibility is to teach English at the Jesuit Refugee Service Center. Many refugees in Jordan are not permitted to work among other restrictions, so many want to move to a country where they can work, live healthy lives, and enjoy a wider selection of rights.

“Most of the refugees are just waiting in line to move to a country that is wanting to receive them,” said Amira. “The center thought that if they were equipped with communication skills in English, their lives would be easier when they move on.”

Fahim’s team hosts four groups for English learners: beginner, elementary, intermediate, and advanced. They teach simpler things such as sentence structure to the beginner refugees, but in more advanced classes they often have open discussions about various topics such as culture, freedom, or social issues.

“To me, this project is more about making personal connections with the refugees I interact with than the actual work itself,” said Kriegshauser. “The English teacher here told me that while the refugees are here to learn English, the real reason they are here is to find people to talk to. Tony and I being here gives them an escape from the hardships in the life of a refugee.”

Fahim has found that many refugees are afraid to make mistakes in front of him as he is fluent in English, a situation which requires compassion and patience. In this process, Fahim has gained a new perspective of the lives of refugees.

In addition to the students, Fahim and Kriegshauser are also helping the classroom teacher, a Sudanese refugee, develop his teaching style and create new lesson plans.

“(It) really opens your eyes to how hard the lives of people are outside of America,” said Fahim, “These refugees are living some days (with) no food and no shelter. Yet, when they come to class every day they are some of the happiest and kindest people I’ve ever met.”

Did you know?

The Class of 2023 served the marginalized throughout the region and across the globe for Senior Project, including projects in France, Guatemala, Jordan, Mexico, Poland and Taiwan.

PICTURED: Kriegshauser (second from left) and Fahim (fourth from left) pose with refugees in Poland.

Lucas Hayden ’25 and Nicholas Sanders ’24 interviewed Anthony Fahim ’23 and Gus Kriegshauser ’23 while they were onsite in Jordan for Senior Project in January 2023. This article ran in the Prep News on January 20.

Pitts Honored with Sacred Heart Award

SLUH proudly honored past SLUH parent and dedicated volunteer Jeff Pitts with the Sacred Heart Award at the Mass of the Holy Spirit in the Si Commons on September 1, 2022.

In 2014, Pitts had a vision to introduce students at under-resourced schools to STEM. His passion, drive and creativity inspired the development of the Clavius Project, a robotics program driven by Jr. Bills leading after-school robotics programs at middle schools as a project of intellectual service.

“Jeff’s hard work and generous service has been a special gift to SLUH,” says President Alan Carruthers. “More importantly, it has been a powerful manifestation of our school mission in building the kingdom of God in the City of St. Louis and beyond.”

Pitts started by building relationships with nine middle schools and has seen the program grow to more than 50 middle schools — and it continues to expand. Each year SLUH hosts the Clavius Jamboree, a robotics showcase and competition in the Danis Field House featuring hundreds of middle school students from across the region.

This past year, SLUH entered into a partnership with Saint Louis University and the Schilli Foundation, established by Tom Schilli ‘64. The Schilli Foundation is investing more than $600,000 for the Clavius Project to grow and flourish across the region.

Pitts, a retired general manager at Anheuser-Busch, is married to Dede, former Mothers Club President and past CASHBAH CoChair. They have three sons: Jack ‘08, Andrew ‘12 and Dan ‘17.

The Sacred Heart Award recognizes the remarkable contributions and exemplary partnerships that SLUH enjoys with women and men who are not alumni of the school. Learn more and nominate somebody: www.sluh.org/sacredheart.

Jeff Pitts: A Role Model and Man for Others

BY ERIC BERG ‘15

As SLUH Robotics Club members, we were the first group of students who volunteered to go to partner schools to help the teachers carry out the curriculum based around Lego Mindstorms Robotics kits. Many of us even had the opportunity to go back to our own grade schools and launch the Clavius Project there. It was an awesome feeling to be able to educate and inspire the kids whose shoes we were once in, and get them excited about STEM. We knew that by going to help establish the Clavius Project we were giving them an opportunity many of us wish we had at their age. We were spreading our passion for robotics and engineering at the places where our own education began.

Mr. Pitts was instrumental in the planning, fundraising, execution and growth of the Clavius Project. He was doing it not because he had anything to gain, but because he was a Man for Others who wanted to give young kids an avenue to learn and explore their passion. He was a huge role model to me and helped me take the Robotics Club to places I never had imagined it could reach. He taught me how rewarding it can be to use my passion to inspire others. When I graduated from SLUH in 2015, the Clavius Project was less than one year old, yet it had already spread to about 10 grade schools and was on a trajectory to really make a difference in spreading STEM throughout the St. Louis community.

Eric Berg ‘15, a graduate of Cornell University (BS, MEng), is the founder of the SLUH Robotics Club and XBoard, the world’s first electric skateboard that provides power while preserving the ability to perform tricks. He has worked at SpaceX, Tesla and NASA. Berg currently serves as Senior Project Engineer at Moog Construction in Buffalo, NY.

MARIA-PAZ ERKER A WOMAN WITH AND FOR OTHERS

BY RYAN DOYLE Digital Media Specialist

From the Blessed Virgin and Anna Backer to teachers and Mothers Club volunteers, women have played an unsung yet unprecedented role in the SLUH history of forming Men for Others. Many women have toiled tirelessly, and largely anonymously, to make SLUH what it is today, and what it will be for future generations.

In six short years, Modern Language teacher Maria-Paz Erker has made a substantial impact at St. Louis U. High.

In addition to teaching Spanish, she serves as the Assistant Director of Global Education and moderates the One World Club.

Erker’s dedication is evident upon speaking to her students. “Señora Erker is incredibly selfless in offering herself for her students,” says Matthew Musial ’24. “I admire her dedication and commitment to helping all of us become proficient in Spanish."

Her influence extends beyond the classroom, however. “MariaPaz brings so much professional knowledge, passion, and innovation to SLUH. She continues to be a highlyrespected leader in Global Education among the entire Jesuit School Network,” says Rob Churra, Director of Global Education and Russian teacher.

Erker’s career in education started in Chile, teaching English as a Second Language. She moved to the U.S. in

2014, teaching at Whitfield School for two years before accepting her current position at SLUH.

“As a Christian, faith is an important component in my life,” says Erker, “and I not only wanted to experience that in my personal life, but in my professional life as well.”

SLUH provided that opportunity, and it didn’t take long for Maria-Paz to start providing her own gifts and talents to the SLUH Community. As moderator of the One World Club, an extracurricular for those who share an interest and appreciation for languages and cultures, she is a constant source of inspiration.

“Señora Erker is the hardest working person in the building. Balancing her roles as an outgoing teacher and a dedicated and creative club moderator is not easy, and for that, I’m inspired by her every day and grateful to work with her,” says Andrew Hunt ‘25. As Assistant Director for Global Education, Ms. Erker organizes and implements the global education curriculum, educational experiences and events for the entire school. She also accompanies and oversees Jr. Bills traveling abroad. In 2019,

she and Michael Mohr, SJ traveled with 18 students on a service and cultural immersion trip to Costa Rica. They spent eight days in Santa Cruz, volunteering at two educational centers for children, as well as engaging in various cultural activities.

“It was an amazing experience to see my Spanish students in a different light outside the classroom,” says Erker. “As an educator, I treasure the moments when you can clearly see your students becoming more open to other ways of communicating, thinking, living and seeing life.”

Another meaningful experience occurred in the summer of 2022, when Maria-Paz took the first group of students to her native country, Chile. “The pandemic had postponed this trip, and I was looking forward to showing my students where I grew up, my roots,” says Erker. “It was a very special trip for me.”

Ultimately, Erker has found purpose and meaning within her many roles at SLUH. “I truly enjoy working with students, both in and out of the classroom, and helping them develop not only their global competence, but their leadership skills as well.”

FALL

• Hosted 8 Polish, 6 Chilean and 2 Colombian students from Jesuit partner schools in each country.

WINTER

Hosted 9 students from Jesuit partners in Gdynia and Krakow, Poland as they served 5 weeks at various sites in the St. Louis community

• Sent students to 6 global Senior Project sites serving in the communities of SLUH partner schools: 10 seniors in Guatemala at Esperanza Juvenil (Boys Hope Girls Hope)

• 6 seniors in Taiwan at St. Aloysius School and Lodung High School working at various sites

• 5 seniors in Poland working together with Jesuit partner schools and Jesuit Refugee Services to serve the Ukrainian refugee community

• 3 seniors in Nogales, Mexico working at the Kino Border Initiative

• 2 seniors in Chartres, France serving at various sites

• 2 seniors in Amman, Jordan working with Syrian, Iraqi and Afghani refugees at Jesuit Refugee Services as well as Missionaries of Charity

SLUH GLOBAL EDUCATION EXPANDS ITS REACH

In 2018, the Go Forth campaign established the first Director of Global Education (Rob Chura), started Arabic Language and Culture Studies, and began to expand foreign- and English-based exchange programs. Since then, the SLUH Global Education program has continued to thrive, providing Jr. Bills many opportunities to grow as global citizens in an Ignatian context.

The following summarizes Global Education activities in the 2022-23 school year.

SPRING

• 42 band students will travel to Italy for performance opportunities as well as to visit Ignatian Pilgrimage sites in Spain

• 8 seniors will travel with Theology faculty to Spain and Italy for a full Ignatian Pilgrimage program

• 6 students will travel with Social Studies faculty to Germany, Poland, and Czech Republic for a Cold War Program

• 4 seniors and juniors will travel to Yilan, Taiwan for a Chinese language immersion program

• Will host 14 boys from Colegio Irabia-Izaga in Pamplona for a two-week visit in March

• 15 boys and girls from our Taiwanese partner schools will join SLUH for a two-week visit in April Will host 6 boys from Coláiste Ailigh in Letterkenny, Ireland, one of our two Irish partner schools, for a two-week visit in April

SUMMER

• 16 members of the SLUH soccer program will travel to Barcelona, Spain to compete in the Manresa Cup, an all Jesuit international competition

• 10 freshmen studying Spanish will travel to Colegio IrabiaIzaga in Pamplona, Spain for a two-week language immersion program

• 9 sophomores studying Spanish will travel to Jesuit partner Colegio San Pedro Claver in Colombia for a three-week language immersion program

• 4 juniors studying Spanish will travel to Jesuit partner Colegio San Ignacio El Bosque in Chile for a three-week language immersion program.

• 15 SLUH students studying Chinese will travel to Taiwan for a two-week language immersion program

• 8 juniors studying Russian will travel to Poland for a 16-day language immersion and service program working with Ukrainian refugee teens

• 6 juniors studying French will travel to St. Therese in Rambouillet, France for a 16-day language immersion program

• 6 sophomores and juniors studying Arabic will travel to Jesuit partner Holy Family School in Cairo, Egypt for a two-week language immersion

• 18 students will travel to Spain and Lisbon, Portugal to conduct and Ignatian Pilgrimage and participate in World Youth Day

• 31 Latin students will travel to Rome, Italy and various other sites for a twoweek Classics program

IN-HOUSE

• 25 SLUH Modern Language

Students (5 each in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) will participate in the Modern Languages Summit with peers from Egypt, Taiwan, France, Ukraine, and Spain

• 5 SLUH students will participate in the Jesuit Global Activism Leadership Summit with peers and educators from 20+ Jesuit partner schools from all over the world (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Nepal, Philippines, Poland, Ukraine, Zambia, Zimbabwe)

• SLUH Global Ed faculty and One World Club Officers will participate in the UN Youth Conference in New York City

• SLUH students will participate in SGD Changemakers, Inland Oceans, and other global advocacy programs

Global Ed on Insignis

Listen to three Insignis podcast episodes focused on World Learning, featuring compelling interviews with several members of the SLUH community. sluh.org/insignis

THE MAESTRO

New faculty member Brian Reeves has made a seamless transition in the Vocal Music Program, building on the strong tradition established by esteemed predecessors Joseph Koestner and Addie Akin. His passion for singing, coupled with his breadth of experience, provides Jr. Bills the guidance and direction to maximize their choral talent and impress audiences. Meet the dynamic, spirited — and ever-melodious — Brian Reeves in the following Q&A.

What did you study in college and how did that affect your career choice?

For me there was only music. My father was a musician/comedian. My mother played and sang. At the age of 13 my sister was singing professionally six nights per week. After holiday meals my whole family would play bluegrass music. Unless you wanted to be bored you learned how to play an instrument and join in. I loved playing, singing, composing, and absorbing new pieces, new styles. In college, I started off studying to be a composer but switched to education and never looked back.

Prior to arriving at SLUH, you had an illustrious career in the Parkway School District. How was that experience?

I have been lucky to work for and with great people in quality schools. We had a lot of success at Parkway North through contests and recognition but what I loved most was the kids and the diversity. We saw it socioeconomically, religiously, culturally, racially and ethnically. The kids loved to sing. They loved to travel. I had supportive administration who encouraged us to sing and to travel so we had a blast.

What have you enjoyed most about joining the SLUH community?

Everything. The boys are thoughtful and enthusiastic. They respond quickly to instruction and they are very kind. They don’t just talk about being Men for Others — they live it. The staff and administration have been welcoming and supportive at every turn. Before working here, I had heard the hype that SLUH was a special place. After a semester in the building, I can confidently say: believe the hype.

Can you share a favorite teaching moment at SLUH thus far?

On the night the boys first sang The Star-Spangled Banner for a basketball game, we were rehearsing and it did not sound great. I mentioned a few things I thought would help. Typically, an ensemble does not improve much if at all in the moments

before a performance. By that time, habits — good and bad — have settled in. Well, after I told them a few tips, they rehearsed it again and it did sound better. Then they went out on the gym floor and sang it a step above that. It sounded better than the previous run-through and they performed it completely on their own, without a conductor. I love thinking about that moment.

What are your goals for the SLUH choir program?

Get all 1,000 SLUH boys singing. But since that may take a while, the near-term goals are to build on the foundation laid by Addie Akin and Doc Koestner: to perform as often as possible for the wider school community; create high quality music with boys who care about each other; and double the size of the choirs.

Outside of teaching, what are your hobbies and interests?

I enjoy serving the larger music community as conference manager for the Missouri Music Educators Association. I’m also a board member for both the St. Louis Chamber Chorus and the Choral Society of St. Charles County. Outside of music, my wife and I love to travel. I play a lot of golf and also enjoy reading about public policy.

If you could create a billboard for the entire world to see, what would it say, and why? “Turn to Channel 76.” There would be way less road rage if more people listened to the Sirius XM Symphony Hall station.

"There would be way less road rage if more people listened to the Sirius XM Symphony Hall station."

- Brian Reeves

sunday, october 2

By Cal Kreuter ’23

crisp but pleasant in the early afternoon

Crunching and crumbling, golden elm leaves crackle beneath my soles— their perfect symmetry ruined. Seeping through the cracked sidewalk, a yellow dandelion limply wilts, pitifully begging for attention, hoping to see another day. I step aside.

Sisyphus: EVER-UPWARD TOWARD EXCELLENCE

Sisyphus, the SLUH Magazine of Literature and Art, takes its name from the Greek hero whom the gods consigned to an unending cycle of rolling a massive stone up a hill — only to watch it roll down again. Appreciating the satisfaction of human labor, author to philosopher Albert Camus wrote that “One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”

Enjoy the fruits of creative labor from our students, teachers and staff in the latest issue of Sisyphus at www.sluh.org/sisyphus.

You are bound to find a story, poem, personal essay, drawing, photograph or piece of artwork that amazes you, inspires you, or perhaps makes you happy.

CERAMIC INSECTS

Praying Mantis by Caleb Schellenberg ’23

Black Widow Spider by Zion Spencer ’24

Garden Snail by Cal Krueter ’23

Two Ladybugs by Andrew Petersen ’24 (left) and Troy Pugh ’23

Stink Bug by Sarah Rebholz (Fine Arts faculty)

(right)

Media: clay, glazes, metal rod, wire, acrylic paint, adhesive

FROM TOP RIGHT: Scribble Lady - digital media by Alex Deiters '23; Chinese Guardian Lion - digital media by Jesse Heater '25; Dog - painting by Gavyn McClure '24. LEFT: Grasshopper - prints by Troy Pugh '23

Insignis: In the Spotlight

The SLUH Insignis podcast now offers a special “Spotlight” section on the website, allowing you to browse for brief interviews from more than 30 members of our school community — one fascinating guest at a time. Insignis, hosted by Assistant Principal for Mission Jim Linhares (pictured), features lively interviews with members of our school community engaged in a variety of roles and fascinating projects "down the hall, across the metro area and around the world" in support of the school mission. Visit sluh.org/insignis

New Media Center Provides New Possibilities

Dedicated Space for Media Clubs to Cultivate Creativity, Collaboration

BY BEN DUMONT ‘92 Director of Communications

In January, SLUH opened the new Claude Heithaus, SJ 1916 Media Center in renovated space that formerly housed the academic administration (now in the new Dill Center). The new Media Center is appropriately in the heart of the main building to serve as a laboratory for student discovery and productivity.

The renovated, dynamic space will enable all student media organizations and clubs — Gadfly, Insignis Podcast, Photography Club, Prep News, Sisyphus, SLUH Sports Network, SLUH Student Media and Yearbook Club — to collaborate and create in a synergistic environment. It features dedicated space for each individual club, as well as a large, open collaboration area, a conference room and production studio.

“Our club finally has a designated area to meet,” says Jackson Dukaska ’24 Co-President of SLUH Student Media. “For the last two years we’ve been meeting all around school, but now with our office, we have a room that we can call our own space.”

“I am most looking forward to working with other creative clubs at SLUH within the Media Center,” says Luke Duffy ’23, Prep News Editor in Chief. “All of the media-related clubs at SLUH will be centrally located and connected with the common space, making it easier for us to collaborate on various projects.”

“The pursuit of excellence was

our guiding principle while designing and building the new media center,” says Ryan Doyle, digital media specialist and SLUH Student Media moderator who led the project with David Callon, English teacher and Gadfly moderator, in collaboration with other club moderators. “We recognized that students in multimedia clubs were in need of more space and updated technology.

“We also felt a responsibility to provide the resources and training to our media-inclined Jr. Bills to build the foundation to follow in the footsteps of some of our successful alumni in the media arts.”

Fr. Heithaus, a 1916 graduate of SLUH (known then as Loyola Hall, one of three high schools at Saint Louis University) was an avid communicator who founded the University News at SLU. He used the power of the pulpit to pursue truth and justice, to serve the common good, and to reveal the dignity of all people. His legacy endures as a beacon of Gospel values.

A FOND FAREWELL

Read the Prep News story, featuring past and present editors recalling memories from the old PN office.

One of the boys from the high school division of Saint Louis University (SLU) would go on to play an historic role in opening the school up to African Americans.

Claude Heithaus joined the Jesuits after graduating in 1916 from St. Louis University High (known then as Loyola Hall, one of three high schools at SLU). He studied anthropology at the University of London and eventually became a professor at SLU.

In 1943, the leadership at SLU fended off proponents of racial integration with calls for delay and careful attention to the desires (and prejudices) of white alumni and parents. Heithaus blasted through this moral ambivalence with an impassioned sermon denouncing racism and urging integration of the

university. On February 11, 1944, at a student mass at St. Francis Xavier (College) Church, Heithaus took a stand for justice with words that were also published in the University News that same day.

“It is a surprising and rather bewildering fact, that in what concerns justice for the Negro, the Mohammedans and the atheists are more Christlike than many Christians,” Heithaus said. “The followers of Mohammed and of Lenin make no distinction of color; but to some followers of Christ, the color of a man’s skin makes all the difference in the world.”

Heithaus also shared his text with the local press, and it was published in Catholic newspapers around the country, though not in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. His stance had a tangible and

speedy effect: SLU did admit five African Americans the following term, becoming the first university in the state to integrate, and the first university in a former slave state to do so.

That fall, however, Heithaus, faculty sponsor of the University News, refused to print a notice from the president of the university that black students would not be allowed to attend the prom. His disobedience resulted in his banishment from SLU for a number of years.

Claude Heithaus, SJ was posthumously honored by St. Louis University High with the Backer Award in 2009.

(Excerpt from the SLUH Bicentennial book To God with Gratitude, written by Frank Kovark ‘94.)

Claude Heithaus, SJ 1916 Ignatian-Inspired Creator and Communicator

The Legacy of Fr. Claude Heithaus, SJ 1916 Endures as Beacon of Gospel Values

“The pursuit of excellence was our guiding principle while designing and building the new media center.”

- Ryan Doyle, digital media specialist

PICTURED: Jackson Dukaska ‘24 in the new Heithaus Media Center production studio.

STEVE MISSEY '88:

GUIDE AND GUARDIAN TO STUDENT JOURNALISTS

BY SAM FENTRESS '15

The Prep News is in something like its third or fourth epoch, depending on how you measure it. For years after its inaugural issue in 1938, St. Louis U. High’s student newspaper ran every other week. There were iterations in decades before it: the Ludovican, Megaphone, Dauphinette. The University Prep News, as it was first called, was born as the school was pulling itself out of the paucities of the Great Depression; student publication budgets had been slashed for years.

The look of the Prep News remained relatively static until the early 1970s, when the publication shifted dramatically from newsprint broadsheets to a 3-column typewritten format on letter paper. 1973, in particular, marked a new era: the Prep News under the leadership of the English department’s Jim Raterman, who shepherded the paper into a standardized weekly production (following the direction of his predecessor, Fr. David Wayne, SJ).

By the mid-1980s, staffers were entering articles into a word processor on a primitive computing system; that setup collapsed near the end of spring 1988, after which the staff began to map out the Prep News on Aldus Pagemaker (now Adobe InDesign) using a gleaming batch of Macintosh computers. No more resizing each article on a copier or piecing together layouts with scissors and tape. That had been the standard of labor during the tenure of one young reporter, Steve Missey ’88, who during his junior spring semester

cut his teeth on the Varsity baseball beat (home-field advantage—he was himself a BaseBill) and became a regular byline in the weekly’s pages therewith.

The Prep News found its first non-clerical moderator in Raterman years before the school appointed a lay principal (Paul Owens, in 1983) or president (David Laughlin, in 2005). After Raterman departed the paper in 1996, leadership shuffled. When the dust settled in the new century—the current Prep News epoch—the moderator left was Missey, who had been hired as an English teacher full-time in the 1994-95 school year, following service in the Alum Service Corps and as PN advisor under Raterman (he also left for two years in the mid-1990s to get a master’s degree). The immensity of Raterman’s influence marked his exit as the de facto end of an era: who could replace him? Similarly, for the reporters, editors, photographers and artists who have poured themselves into the newspaper during the past two decades, the Prep News without Missey is unimaginable.

The weekly time commitment of the moderating job, which requires overseeing the production late into Thursday nights, is formidable for a full-time teacher with a family. But Missey sets the precedent of

non-complaint, even when layout’s finishing touches spill into tender hours. He makes a point, instead, of the generosity of Julie, his wife; the time he gives to the Prep News is made possible by her sacrifice.

While Raterman saw the paper through the birth of personal computing, Missey has steered the enterprise into the digital age. Those who have followed the trajectory of the paper speak admiringly of Missey’s unflagging dedication. No one is a more coherent and essential apologist of the Prep News, the basic role of which is to report and reflect on—with rigor, fairness and open-mindedness—the life of the school. In moments when that role has demanded clarification or defense (to outside skeptics or the paper’s own members), Missey has set a standard for passionate and eloquent articulation.

On the other hand, former editors told me, Missey’s greatest strength as a moderator may be his contention that the organization remain wholly student-run. The editorial vision of each volume of the Prep News reflects that of its editors, and student labor is the condition for its existence. The pace of weekly production demands that a moderator make constant calls about where to be hands-on, and hands-off—and be comfortable with relinquishing certain strata of decision-making to student editors.

Missey, fortunately, is acutely sensitive to each staffer’s strengths. He is an expert at long-term guidance, the process by which students begin to trust, over time, their instincts around how close a story is to being ready for print, or how the paper should cover a particular topic. Missey is patient, kind, encouraging and firm. The overarching ethic, which I heard over and over speaking with former Prep Newsians:

“Steve is willing to treat you like an adult, in the sense that he wants you to recognize that your opinions matter,” Jim Santel '08, editorin-chief of volume 72, told me. (During my own time working on the Prep News, I also recall feeling, on occasion, delightfully slow—though never a function of even faint condescension on

Two generations of the Prep News : pictured in the middle are Tom Santel ’76 and his son Jim Santel ’08, both editors in chief of the Prep News, along with their respective moderators, Jim Raterman and Steve Missey ’88.

Missey’s part. As a moderator, he tends to think three, four, five steps ahead; he is possessed of a critical agility that journalism often requires and from which the Prep News benefits greatly.)

The editorial standard Missey sets, drawn from the paper’s past leaders and an ambitious, cosmopolitan idea of what a high school weekly can do, proves infectious to those who devote their extra hours to the newspaper. “It’s really the little things—the attention to detail,” said Marty Johnson, ’15, who went on from his Prep News editorship to study journalism at Northwestern and work as a reporter in Washington, D.C. “That was something that he instilled, something that is extremely important as a writer.”

What kinds of detail? The placement of commas, the spacing between columns, the repetition of a word. Missey also teaches story structure and reporting. In our conversation, Santel shared a classic Missey phrase that will be familiar to any Prep News reporter who once labored on a piece for weeks only to find they’d overlooked a prime source: “This is really good, but the perspective that’s missing is this…” Missey prevents the paper from making grave errors, but not always slighter ones—part of the staff’s learning process, much of which is collaborative.

Under Missey’s watch, the Prep News has been a site of experimentation. In 2009, he supported the switch back to a broadsheet format, after four decades of letter-size editions. He has helped students fashion hundreds of commentaries, reflections and editorials over the years. This kind of writing entails adopting an alternate set of rhetorical positions and prose styles than is typical for news articles, and the flexibility that comes from this practice can be invaluable. Conor Gearin, a writer and the news editor of Prep News Volume 75, turned out a quietly illuminating column, “Notebook,” a chronicle of life at SLUH, built often out of observations of the mundane.

“[Missey] had an excellent eye for when I was getting in my own way or taking an intellectual shortcut in a draft,” said Gearin, emphasizing also the

extent to which the Prep News moderator let him run free. “He really helped guide my writing to a level I couldn’t have reached otherwise, while still letting me have my own voice and learn from my own mistakes.”

The significant load of labor which goes into making the Prep News is made much lighter by the accompanying camaraderie among its staff: the free periods spent chattering and tinkering, the half-day afternoons meeting and strategizing, the Thursday evenings building that week’s edition from the ground up. Missey keeps the right distance to allow fellowship to flourish apart from him, but surely it is also his stalwartness, his journalistic joie de vivre, that keeps the engine humming. “Let’s make a paper!” he declares after each week’s meal, or at least did in my time.

(Each Prep Newsian inevitably associates certain words with Missey for life—some universal, others particular. The one I return to is “triage,” a word I learned from him; Marty Johnson told me his is “non-negotiable.”)

Those who know Missey know he is always thinking about how he can do better with the Prep News ; his reverence for its past is never a hindrance to conceiving its future. Jack Kiehl ’15 reminded me that at the end of each year, Missey encourages editors to take home a volume of the Prep News archive to dig around. Light summer reading—he is, after all, an English teacher.

“Whether or not this was his intention,” Kiehl said, “I was struck by the weight of being part of an institution that’s been there for 80-something years. I think [Missey] recognizes that—that he’s a moderator in a line of moderators who have been responsible for fostering the student journalists who are telling the story of SLUH.”

Sam Fentress '15, who served as Prep News Editor-in-Chief during his senior year at SLUH, is an assistant editor at The Atlantic.

Those who have followed the trajectory of the paper speak admiringly of Missey's unflagging dedication.

“CAN’T HELP IT:” SENIOR KELLER ANDERSON’S JOURNEY FROM SONGWRITING TO TAKING THE STAGE

BY LUKE DUFFY '23 Prep News, Editor-in-Chief

Keller Anderson '23 has been passionate about music since he was old enough to strum a guitar. Throughout his life, he has turned to music for the motivation to keep moving forward. As his two headlining concerts and four released songs can attest, Anderson “can’t help it” but to share his gift with the world.

Anderson learned the basics of being a musician at Dave Simon’s Rock School, a program for children to learn rock band techniques. By the time he was 10 years old, he could sing and play piano, guitar, bass guitar and drums. He left Dave Simon’s in 2016 because his father opened Gaslight Studio, a recording studio in The Hill neighborhood. Anderson continued playing music, and in middle school, he ventured into the world of songwriting.

“I sometimes would write about personal experiences, whether it be relationships or other stuff going on in my life,” said Anderson. “I would also write about stories and just make things up.”

Songwriting became a ritual. Every day, Anderson would spend time at the piano, riffing on his guitar, or scribbling lyrics, constantly thinking of new ideas. In October 2021, he decided he was ready to release his first song with the help of his father at Gaslight.

“I saw it not as a beginning,” Anderson said. “It was a start to releasing my other music and being a musician who puts their music out on Spotify, Apple Music and other platforms.”

The single, “Can’t Help It,” quickly circulated among students at SLUH and other St. Louis high schools. Anderson saw friends and classmates start to appreciate his work.

“I have been to two Keller Anderson shows, and I just have to say that they were two of the greatest nights of my life,” said St. Joseph’s Academy Senior Lily Pingleton. “He is such an entertainer, and he can really tickle the ivories.”

His song also put him on the radar of other musicians at SLUH, and it began to open doors for him to collaborate with new people. One such collaboration was with junior Archie Carruthers, who is interested in hip-hop and R&B.

“It was actually on the StuCo retreat when we bunked together in the same room, and we were probably up until 3 a.m., playing each other our little demos of music and stuff, just showing each other what we could do,” said Anderson.

Anderson and Carruthers started bouncing ideas off each other in the band room, and they quickly landed on the foundation of a new song that they would produce together. “Can’t Ever

Die,” released in February 2022, features Anderson singing and Carruthers rapping a verse under the nickname “Archer-C.” They recorded the song at Gaslight with help from a producer-friend of Anderson’s father.

“It was fun. It was upbeat,” Anderson said. “I just really thought that it would be a good move to put that out next, and also to get Archie’s name out there as well.”

“Can’t Ever Die” takes on a more hip-hop/disco vibe than “Can’t Help It,” a slower ballad. In his songwriting and producing, Anderson tries to avoid confining himself to one genre. He goes in the direction of his influences at the moment and tries to convey feeling and emotion through his music rather than follow a strict format.

“One of the most important things to me is that whenever I'm releasing music, I don't want to just put out this genre of music, this type of music,” he said. “I want to be able to have all of my different styles and all my different personalities within my songs.”

Anderson says his main influences are singer-songwriters like Billy Joel, Elton John and Ed Sheeran. However, he is also inspired by R&B artists like Brent Faiyaz.

Anderson’s third song, which came out in July 2022, was a completely independent project. He recorded all of the instruments and vocals in his home studio. “Set Me Free” took the direction of R&B, with smoother melodies and a beat track.

“It was the first one that I had produced all at my home basement studio. I mixed the vocals, I made the beat, and I wrote the entire song on my own,” Anderson said.

Continuing to work on his own, Anderson released “done” in December 2022. With that song, he focused mainly on piano and vocals, hoping to convey the complex emotion of a failing

relationship with a raw, natural sound.

“I wanted it to feel not as if I recorded it in a studio or a home basement but as if it was a live version of the song,” he said.

Employing a variety of songwriting and recording techniques, Anderson has explored songwriting as a way of expressing his creativity and developing his talent. Alongside his song releases, Anderson also performed at three concerts in 2022, organizing two of them himself. His first concert, dubbed the “Warehouse Show,” was held at Gaslight Studio in February 2022. The venue sold out its 125-person capacity and had to turn away dozens of fans without tickets. The show opened with Jude Fucetola ’22, who fans refer to as “J-Anthony.” Anderson performed his set with seniors Leo Smith on drums, Ryan Carpenter on guitar, Cody Cox on saxophone and CBC senior Sam Castro on guitar. Carruthers also performed for “Can’t Ever Die.”

“Keller and I were on StuCo together last year and bonded over both making music,” Carruthers said. “As we got closer, we decided to collaborate on a song and it led to us performing together. Performing on stage with him is always very fun, it's just fun to make music with someone as talented as him who’s also just a great friend.”

For his next concert, Anderson reached out to senior Jason Cabra, who releases his own rap songs on streaming platforms as “J-Cab.”

Together with Carruthers, they sold tickets for the June show at the Old Rock House. Cabra and Carruthers each had their own sets followed by Anderson’s set with his band.

“Cabra had never performed before,” said Anderson. “I think it was just really crazy to see him go up on stage and feel so natural. We all worked

together trying to sell tickets and stuff. He and Archie both just owned it.”

Later in the summer, Anderson got the opportunity to open for a more established artist that his dad knew from Nashville. He opened for Ashten Ray at the Blueberry Hill Duck Room on July 23, singing solo with Cabra controlling the music.

“Knowing that there were people who travel the country and work in the music industry there at the show gave me extra motivation. There were important people in the crowd, so I had to kill it,” he said.

By pushing himself to keep releasing new music and performing, Keller has come far in his music career as only a high school student. He doesn’t do it for fame or money, though. He keeps making music because he loves to do it, and he hasn’t run out of ideas yet.

Anderson hopes to study music business in college next year, possibly adding a second major in songwriting. With plans for the distant future, Anderson’s primary goal is to keep making music and performing.

“The second you have an idea, you want to write it down. You want to make a voice memo of you humming something out. You don’t want to forget an idea because you never know what it can lead to.”

Author Luke Duffy ’23 is the Prep News Editorin-Chief and Sisyphus Layout Editor. During his junior year, he was PN 86 Web Editor and founded Kino Teens Club for Immigration advocacy. Duffy is a member of the Association for Cultural Enrichment at SLUH, the Antiracist Coalition and Ongoing Conversations.

AMultifacetedMan

Striving for Excellence: The Life and Times of Bob Conrads ’65

BY JUSTIN SEATON ’13

Sitting in front of his computer in his home in Truckee, California, Bob Conrads ’65, very genially asks when I graduated from St. Louis U. High and where I work now. He is curious about me, but I remind him that this story will be about him. So he begins…

The next two hours of conversation touch on television repair, atomic physics, semiconductors, fusion reactors, computer programming, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, financial services, real estate and more.

As often as I need to stop him and clarify some detail, I rarely do. He articulates every moment in his life in a necessarily technical way. Yet, there is never a hint of condescension in Bob’s voice. His mind is an endless database. He shuffles through decades of specialized information with impressive recall and a teacher’s amiability. And there’s not enough time to get through it all, especially if I stop him. So I just listen to the information pour from his mind.

Bob grew up in South St. Louis, near Francis Park. His first job was at a hardware store on Hampton Avenue.

“I was hired to sort nails in bins,” said Bob. “But the store also had a TV repair business. So when I finished sorting nails, I would spend time with the technicians, learning about how to do their job. My mother started telling her friends, ‘Bob can repair your TV.’”

Equipment was bought, and Bob’s first business was born.

Before Bob had his driver's license, he was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, working as an apprentice for an electrical contractor and hitchhiking to jobs across the city in the summer between his sophomore and junior years.

At SLUH, Bob focused on fostering his interest in technology through chemistry, physics and math courses, while teaching himself electronics.

Outside the classroom, when he wasn’t playing basketball, football or cheerleading, Bob was scouring catalogs to learn about electrical components. By his junior year, he had hired his first employee to keep up with the demand for tv and radio repair.

“One of the things that SLUH helped me with was taking on things that were of interest but that I didn’t have a strong background in, and that were challenging.” said Bob. “It gave me the confidence to change directions throughout my career.”

That ability to adapt, to learn quickly and to stay curious translated to 60 years of success in half a dozen industries.

From SLUH, Bob went to Georgia Tech, where he entered into an electrical engineering co-op program with McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis. It was the height of the space race, and McDonnell was at the leading edge of electronics with their work on the Apollo Program.

“After a couple of quarters, I decided to switch my major to physics and refocus at McDonnell on researching molecular structures, looking at material that was being retrieved during the Apollo space program, and developing electronic equipment for our lab instruments,” said Bob.

In 1970, Bob married his now-wife of 53 years, received a B.S. in physics from Georgia Tech and entered into their graduate program of atomic physics. Bolstered by his work at McDonnell and his uncanny ability to become an expert in whatever new tech sparked his curiosity, Bob found himself leading graduate research in atomic and molecular physics for the US Atomic Energy Commission Fusion Reactor Program and the National Science Foundation.

“Fusion is truly the answer to the world's energy supply forevermore,” said Bob. “However, it has proven very difficult to produce a reaction that provides a net positive power output… It’s nirvana if you can make that happen.”

One week after Bob was interviewed for this piece, a group of researchers found nirvana—or “scientific energy breakeven”—a controlled fusion experiment that produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it. And as a graduate student in the early 70s, Bob had left his mark on this century-in-the-making breakthrough.

Talk to Bob Conrads for too long and you might start to notice how he left his mark, however faintly, on many of the technological breakthroughs of the past 50 years.

In 1972, Bob received his M.S. in atomic physics from Georgia Tech and decided to refocus once again—this time on getting his MBA from Harvard while simultaneously consulting with President Nixon’s Council on Environmental Quality in Washington D.C.

“I was commuting from Boston to D.C. every week… I got my only low pass at Harvard because my International Business class was on Friday afternoons when I was in Washington,” Bob remembered with a smile.

From Harvard, Bob served six months in the military, then came back and accepted a job at McKinsey & Co., where he worked for 12 years.

Early on at McKinsey, Bob recognized that, while they were serving many of the largest companies in the world, they weren’t serving the tech companies of the day, and Bob was one of few people at the firm with a tech background.

“My idea was: let’s build a knowledge base so that, when we first meet with these companies, we have substantive ideas of how to enhance their strategies,” said Bob. That led to McKinsey eventually serving 23 of the top 30 global tech companies by the time he left the firm.

It was around this point in Bob’s career when he began getting his hands on virtually every emerging technology—as a consultant, an investor or a C-level executive.

At McKinsey, Bob led strategy studies for Siemens, Rockwell International, Xerox and Toshiba, among others. He remembered an early meeting with the Toshiba board to review a new product idea—portable computers.

“They said, ‘Mr. Conrads, who would ever want to take a computer out of an office? This has been a waste of your time and our money. You are fired. We

"One of the things that SLUH helped me with was taking on things that were of interest but that I didn't have a strong background in, and that were challenging."

- BOB CONRADS '65

never want to hear from you or McKinsey again,’” Bob recalled. “A few weeks later, the project was back on, and I put together a team that helped to develop the first Toshiba laptop computer.”

By 1986, already several careers removed from sorting nails at the hardware store on Hampton Avenue, Bob had shifted once again to investment banking.

At The First Boston Corporation, Bob began working with emerging tech companies in Israel. That’s where he met Benny Landa, “The Father of Commercial Digital Printing.” Benny is the son of a Polish holocaust survivor, a Canadian immigrant in Israel, and like Bob, an innovator. Benny had invented a new digital printing technology. Based on his work with Xerox while at McKinsey, Bob saw the opportunity to build a company that would bring this revolutionary technology to the commercial printing market.

“Benny thought of it as a technology that should be licensed to others,” said Bob. “My role was to convince him that he could build a company around it… So I approached George Soros, and talked him into giving us $50 million to start the commercial activity of the company. Within a year we launched the product in the US, Europe, Japan and took Indigo public.”

In January 1994, Bob became the CEO of Indigo America, the company credited with developing the first digital printing press, and CFO of his friend Benny’s industry-changing company, Indigo NV. In 2002, Indigo was sold to Hewlett Packard for $830 million. So Bob left his mark on what is now HP’s commercial printing division.

Now at age 76, as the co-founder, chairman or C-level officer of a dozen organizations during his career, Bob has collected many stories. Within each story there are always characters like Benny Landa and George Soros—whose Wikipedia pages are four times the length of this profile.

And yet, what struck me most about Bob was an email he sent just before our interview last November. It read:

“Sent you a professional resumé in a separate email. Lest I come off as a complete nerd, I also

enjoy skiing, mountain biking, golf, fly fishing, scuba diving and am an instrument-rated pilot.”

I realized by the end of our conversation that we hadn’t talked about any of those hobbies. On our two-hour journey through Bob’s career, we’d hardly made it into the 21st century.

Here’s some unsolicited advice: If you ever get to talk to Bob Conrads, let yourself get lost in the annals of tech history. Act like you know what he means when he talks about “transitioning from mechanical crossbar switching to semiconductor switching.” Watch with amazement as he unearths decades-old knowledge about the semiconductor industry.

Bob is still active today serving as Chairman, board member or CEO of the financial services and real estate companies that he started with his son over the last two decades.

He is also past Chairman of the Georgia Tech Advisory Board and Member of the Board of Trustees and Visiting Professor of the College of Computing, board member of the Chadwick School and currently serves on the SLUH Endowment Committee.

Two hours (or 250 words) are not nearly enough to convey Bob Conrads’ lifetime of achievement and striving for excellence. If given the chance to hear his stories, don’t forget to ask him how he found time for fly fishing.

Justin Seaton ’13 is a graduate of Saint Louis University and a former member of the Alum Service Corps. As an ASC volunteer, he taught first-year English at SLUH. Today, he is the Marketing & Communications Coordinator at Trailnet, a local nonprofit advocating for a more walkable, bikeable St. Louis. Outside of his work and writing, Justin is a disc golfer, guitarist and SLU Men's basketball super fan.

CAMPAIGN SUCCESS

Empowered by Our Past Emboldened by Our Future We GO FORTH

St. Louis U. High is pleased to celebrate the success of the Go Forth campaign. Thanks to the generosity of our school community — a historic effort that raised in excess of $73 million (as of February 1, 2023) — we are strengthening our 205-year legacy with a focus on financial accessibility, academic excellence and revitalizing our century-old campus.

COMMITTED: $73,457,495 GOAL: $70,000,000

(as of February 1, 2023)

OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL QUALIFIED YOUNG MEN

Go Forth strengthened financial assistance to preserve student diversity and an unwavering commitment to affordable education in the Jesuit tradition. The campaign provides a new level of scholarship assistance to ensure a SLUH education remains accessible to all qualified young men, regardless of economic circumstances.

INTELLECTUAL GROWTH AND DISCOVERY

Mindful of the pulse and vitality in education today, Go Forth engaged a holistic, globally conscious model of curriculum development and innovative programming. It prioritized student support while modernizing the Backer Memorial building for its next century of forming leaders of competence, conscience, courage and compassion.

CAMPAIGN ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Growing the endowment for financial aid by more than 100% to preserve need-blind admission . As of December 31, 2022, the endowment was valued at $70,733,770.

• Meeting 100% of demonstrated need from students (currently more than $4 million per year).

• Strengthening the endowed scholarship program which now funds more than 85% of need-based aid.

• Starting the Francis Scholars program, which provides extra support, beyond tuition, for families most in need.

• Launching Presidential Scholarships, which are funded at $1 million and publicly recognize SLUH scholars of distinction. Learn more at www.sluh.org/scholarship.

CAMPAIGN ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Creating the James Guth Costigan ’62 Innovation Lab to anchor STEM programming. This 5,200 square-foot strategically planned space features a fabrication workshop, Peacock Family Classroom, workshop, robotics construction space and collaborative meeting areas.

• Hiring a Director of the Innovation Lab, Mr. Jeff Schaefer.

• Renovating six science labs.

• Opening The J. Anthony '57 and Donna M. Dill Center for Academic Success, a 6,300 square-foot space for School Counseling, College Counseling and Academic Administration. It features 14 offices, three reception areas and two conference rooms.

• Launching the College Counseling Department with four College Counselors and an array of programming; simultaneously creating capacity in the Student Counseling Department to prioritize student holistic health and well-being.

• Creating the Learning Center and Curriculum Outreach Program.

• Establishing the first Director of Global Education, Mr. Rob Chura.

• Starting Arabic Language and Culture Studies.

• Expanding foreign- and Englishbased exchange programs, and integrating a global dimension into our curricular intentions for every SLUH student.

• Developing new immersion partnerships with Jesuit schools in Columbia and Taiwan, as well as service opportunities at multiple international locations.

• Facilitating a Comprehensive Curriculum Review and providing interdepartmental professional development.

• Conducting a Strategic Summit among SLUH academic leaders to build a plan for curriculum and programming that could be implemented after the pandemic.

• Creating a synergistic space for media clubs with the Claude Heithaus, SJ Media Center

GO FORTH FOR

THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD

Go Forth reinvigorated the enduring commitment of SLUH to educate Men for Others who live out the Jesuit, Catholic mission around the world. Go Forth has provided nearly $10,000,000 as direct investments in the Jesuit Catholic character of SLUH.

These investments represent a long-term commitment to the mission of the Church by: remaining a leader in vocation promotion to the Society of Jesus and the Archdiocese of St. Louis; and ensuring that all students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni continue to experience SLUH as a place of encounter with God, and formation for mission.

CAMPAIGN ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Acquiring and renovating the Madonna della Strada Retreat Center to support the school's strong retreat program. Resting on 88 sprawling acres near Troy, Mo., it features gathering spaces, meeting rooms, dormitories, a freestanding chapel, recreation center, a Spirit Walk nature trail and Stations of the Cross. Learn more at sluh.org/retreatcenter.

• Expanding the retreat program in Campus Ministry by creating Sophomore Service and the Junior Retreat Program, now required for all students, while increasing the number of students attending Kairos Retreat.

• Beginning in 2023, SLUH will renovate the main school chapel and create the St. Peter Faber, SJ Campus Ministry Center, in Honor of Kelly and David Laughlin. These improvements will not only make more efficient use of space, the heart of the school will become a more inviting space of worship and solitude, grounding academic and athletic achievement in spiritual and moral formation.

U. HIGH LIGHTS EXCELLENCE IN ACTION

David Works ’85 reflects on his own “Pursuit of Excellence” — his lifelong search for the culture of excellence he first encountered at SLUH.

BY JUSTIN SEATON ‘13

Behind David Works’ desk hangs a poster. Printed on the poster in five differently-colored squares are the five “Cultural Beliefs” of US Foods, which David helped create as their current Chief Human Resources Officer.

On the top left of the poster, in white lettering on a green box, is printed cultural belief number one: “Expect Excellence.”

“I’ve been fortunate that I’ve worked in a number of places that expected excellence,” said David. “The first place I ever experienced that from day one was St. Louis U. High… I bought it hook, line and sinker.”

As he reflected on his life and career, it became clear that David was always searching for another place like SLUH—a place where everyone aspired to do their best. He remembered how the healthy competition

and camaraderie taught him to be confident in rooms full of smart people.

“Everybody there was a good student,” said David. “I used to look at my classmates and think, ‘He has more brains in his little finger than I have in my whole body.’”

When revered college counselor Bonnie Vega called David into her office during his sophomore year, he was taken by surprise.

“She handed me a list of colleges, most of which I’d never heard of, and said, ‘You should go to one of those,’’' said David. “I'm not sure I would have gone to Penn and met my wife if Bonnie hadn't planted those seeds.”

At the University of Pennsylvania, David studied Mechanical Engineering and Finance at the Wharton School—one of the most prestigious business schools in the world. That’s also where he met his now-wife of 32 years, whose support he credits for much of his success.

After college, he joined the Nuclear Submarine Force and spent seven years as a naval officer. The bar was high there, too. For decades, Admiral Hyman Rickover, “The Father of the Nuclear Navy,” personally interviewed every officer who entered the program. That tradition continued after Rickover retired.

“I had to meet with a four-star admiral as a senior in college… It was clear that we were expected to drive these nuclear submarines 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year all over the world, and they were going to work. It was a place where excellence was expected, and I liked it.”

David spent about three and a half years on the USS Groton, most of it at sea. He earned two Navy Arctic Service Ribbons at the end of the Cold War, completed several six-month deployments in the Mediterranean, and was named Junior Officer of the Year for his squadron in his final year onboard Groton. He also received three Navy Achievement

medals, a Navy Commendation medal and more during his time at sea.

From Groton, David served his last few years in the Navy as a submarine communications instructor and simultaneously earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at night from the University of Connecticut.

Two years later, he went to pursue a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University— consistently ranked one of the top MBA programs in the country.

While at Northwestern, David became a summer associate at McKinsey & Company—one of the top consulting firms in the country—and joined full time when he graduated in 2000.

The resumé goes on, and the same pattern holds from position to position. David Works gravitated toward places where people were encouraged to be great. So he became the person who encouraged people to be great.

“One day I became the head of Human Resources at Sears. I’m not entirely sure how that happened… I had spent no time in HR—couldn’t spell HR—but I liked the role, and it suited me,” said David. “It allowed me to shape the culture of organizations and help others aspire to excellence and reach their potential.”

Almost 14 years and several HR positions later, David is once again working at an organization that expects excellence.

David now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. His wife remains “the well-spring of [his] happiness.” His three children all attended the nearby University of North Carolina, where the family often gathers for college basketball games. David Works has fostered an excellent life for himself. And it all started somewhere.

“I’ve been fortunate that I’ve worked in a number of places that expected excellence. The first place I ever experienced that from day one was St. Louis U. High… I bought it hook, line and sinker.”

- DAVID WORKS '85

“IT’S MORE THAN FOOTBALL”

Alumni Trailblazer Jason Dulick’s Journey as an Educator

BY FRANK KOVARIK ‘94 Co-Director of Equity and Inclusion, English Department Chair

or Jason Dulick ’92, this year’s Alumni Trailblazers inductee, a lifetime of service as an educator and coach was indelibly influenced by his formation at St. Louis U. High.

“I always tell people that one of the experiences that really shaped me for the future was my Senior Project,” Dulick says.

Dulick and a few classmates did their Senior Projects at Cote Brilliante School, a public elementary school on the northside of St. Louis in the historic Ville neighborhood.

“We tutored first and second graders. A lot of them had grown up with challenges, and they would bring that to school and tell us their experiences at home and what was going on in their neighborhood. It was really tough to hear sometimes, because it impacted their learning. That always stuck with me. I never had plans of becoming a teacher, but that senior project had an impact on me that never went away. I wanted to make a change in the community.”

Dulick’s work during his project was a precursor to his lifelong vocation as a teacher in St. Louis Public Schools, where he has worked in special education and coached for more than two decades.

Dulick came to SLUH as, in his words, “a tall, lanky, uncoordinated freshman” from St. Roch, the parochial school near his childhood home in the SkinkerDebaliviere neighborhood. As one of a small number of Black students, Dulick found strength and community in the SLUH Organization for Black Achievement (OBA), moderated by then-Jesuit scholastic and SLUH teacher Gene Morris ’83 (now a monsignor in the Archdiocese of St. Louis). “It was a place where we could talk about things that were going on in our lives. It was a brotherhood,” Dulick recalls, which connected him with friends that he still keeps up with to this day.

Dulick also remembers being profoundly impacted by renowned documentarian Henry Hampton '57 delivering a speech to the student body when he was

honored with the Backer Award in 1990.

An avid football fan, Dulick had never played on an organized team before coming to SLUH and joining the freshman squad coached by Matt Sciuto ‘70 and Dominic Calacci. He also played for a freshman basketball team under Gary Kornfeld that went 19-0. Kornfeld saw potential in Dulick, who began training in the offseason and became a senior standout on a football team that made it to the state final in 1991.

“Football and basketball shaped me for life—being part of a team, being accountable, the work ethic. It helped me understand success. And some of those same things I learned as a player I have tried to instill as a coach.”

Dulick earned a football scholarship at the University of Illinois, where he majored in history and still holds records in receptions and touchdowns. After graduating, he signed as a free agent with the Houston Oilers and trained with a number of NFL teams. He played arena football in Tampa, Florida, from 1998-2000. Going for a fumble during a game, however, he collided with another player and injured his neck. Specialists told him that he was at risk of paralysis if he continued to play.

“I had a lot of life to live and definitely didn’t want to have that happen,” Dulick says, so he decided to give up football. “It was a tough break. Things were going well for me; we were in the playoffs. But I prayed on it” and decided to come back to St. Louis. Dulick’s mother was a teacher in St. Louis Public Schools, and she suggested that he apply to be a substitute teacher. He did so and was hired to be a gym teacher’s aide at Nottingham CAJT, a special education school in south St. Louis.

“A lot of people have perceptions of people with disabilities, but it was great to be a positive mentor in their lives and talk to them about my experiences.” Dulick

earned a Master’s in Education, certified as a cross-categorical K-12 special education teacher.

Dulick was soon hired as an assistant football coach at Gateway STEM High School (formerly O’Fallon Technical High School). He eventually became head varsity football coach, a position he has held for ten years. Under Dulick, Gateway has made it to the state quarterfinals and semifinals and won conference championships, making it a standout in the Public High League. Dulick coached Sheldon Richardson, a #1 draft pick for the New York Jets.

“It’s more than football,” though, Dulick says. “It’s about being transformational, changing lives daily. These young men at Gateway are like the students at Cote Brilliante.”

Dulick has taken on many leadership roles at Gateway, teaching a wide variety of subjects as a special education teacher and now serving as department head. Dulick has coached girls basketball and soccer, boys and girls track, and been athletic director for the school. In 2011 he received the Pettus Award of Excellence, the SLPS Teacher of the Year award.

Outside of his work as a teacher and coach, Dulick says, “My kids keep me moving.” He has a 13-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son whose involvement in dance and soccer has him picking up and dropping off daily.

Dulick’s dedication to his students and players makes him a true Man for Others and a fitting addition to the Alumni Trailblazers wall at the Backer Memorial.

Did you know?

The SLUH Alumni Trailblazers honorary list celebrates the achievements of graduates of color. Learn more and nominate an alumnus at www.sluh.org/trailblazers.

“I always tell people that one of the experiences that really shaped me for the future was my Senior Project... We tutored first and second graders. A lot of them had grown up with challenges, and they would bring that to school and tell us their experiences at home and what was going on in their neighborhood. It was really tough to hear sometimes, because it impacted their learning. That always stuck with me."

- JASON DULICK '92

Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau: A Literal Trailblazer

BY FRANK KOVARIK ‘94 Co-Director of Equity and Inclusion, English Department Chair

As an infant, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau (18051866) traveled with the Corps of Discovery, the famed expedition led by Merriwether Lewis and William Clark that reached the Pacific Ocean. Charbonneau is the only SLUH alumnus to appear on a piece of U.S. currency. On the so-called “golden dollar” coin, first issued in 2000, he appears riding on the back of his mother, Sacagawea, the Shoshoni woman who helped guide the expedition.

Jean-Baptiste’s father, Toussaint Charbonneau, was a French-Canadian fur trapper and trader whom Lewis and Clark hired as a translator at Fort Mandan in North Dakota during the first winter of their expedition. Sacagawea gave birth to Jean-Baptiste on February 7, 1805, and the young infant and his parents left with the expedition less than two months later. During the expedition, Clark gave Jean-Baptiste the nickname “Pompey,” or “Pomp,” and at the end of the expedition even offered to adopt the child as his own.

Years after the expedition, Clark would become Jean-Baptiste’s guardian in St. Louis. After trying out life as landowning farmers in the St. Louis region, in 1811 Jean-Baptiste’s parents decided to move back West, where his father could resume his work with fur-trading expeditions and his

mother could be with her indigenous community. Hard as it must have been to do, they left their son with their former employer who was so fond of him. Tragically, Sacagawea died a little over a year later, not long after giving birth to a daughter, Jean-Baptiste’s sister Lizette.

As a métis, a person of mixed indigenous and European ancestry, Jean-Baptiste lived a privileged life in a complex political world. His guardian William Clark was the superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Louisiana territory, and he sought to achieve a harmonious future for indigenous people and settlers—though one predicated on the Jeffersonian idea of indigenous people adopting the ways of the settlers. When Jean-Baptiste was baptized on December 28, 1809, his godfather

was Auguste Chouteau, who had helped to found St. Louis 45 years before and was the patriarch of one of the city’s leading families.

Jean-Baptiste entered SLUH (then called St. Louis Academy) at the age of 13. His father had helped to arrange funding for the newly formed school. Unfortunately, Jean-Baptiste’s school records do not survive, but Clark’s financial records note his payments to the school’s administrator Rev. Charles Neil, as well as expenditures on other school supplies and books for the boy.

As Clark’s attitude toward indigenous people was superseded by a rising sentiment that favored “Indian removal,” Jean-Baptiste left the city and began working for the Missouri Fur Company, owned by the Chouteaus. While working near the mouth of the Kaw River near present-day Kansas City, he met a duke from Wurttemberg (in present-day southwestern Germany) who was traveling through America. The two struck up a friendship, and JeanBaptiste would go on to spend the next five-and-a-half years in Europe.

Upon his return to America, Jean-Baptiste followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a “mountain man,” one better educated than most. For the next 15 years he roamed the frontier as a trapper, interpreter, trader and guide. In 1847 he found himself in California, where, most likely thanks to his service as a guide to American military battalions, he was appointed magistrate, or alcalde, of the San Luis Rey Mission, north of San Diego. In that role he established a school for indigenous people and worked to defend them against exploitation. In fact, he was soon accused of being too lenient and even of plotting an uprising. In 1848 he resigned in protest.

From there he followed the Gold Rush, managing an inn near Auburn, California, in a town called Murderer’s Bar. He stayed in the Auburn area until 1866, when, at the age of 61, he set off to make a new life in the Montana territory. He never reached Montana, however. Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau fell ill on his journey and died in Danner, Oregon, on May 16. His gravesite is a Registered National Historic Place and bears a commemorative plaque that summarizes his life and distinguishes him as “the youngest member of the Lewis and Clark expedition.”

Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau is a fascinating historical figure whose life offers a unique window into our nation’s vexed and often troubling history. He navigated the complex currents of his identity and became, one might say, the 19th-century version of a well-rounded SLUH graduate. His biographer Susan M. Colby concludes that, all told, he was

“an intelligent, admirable man in harmony with his fellow citizens, respectful of the public good, and inspired by an undying passion for the West…. mindful of his heritage while living peacefully among men of all cultures. If all those going west had followed his lead, how much more just and admirable western expansion would have been.”

As one of the earliest alumni of the school, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, like his namesake John the Baptist, was a harbinger of greatness ahead—the many Alumni Trailblazers who would come after him.

Orange Crush

ALEC ABELN ‘13, offensive analyst for the University of Tennessee football team, has earned praise for his role in the resurgence of the Volunteers on the gridiron. He shares what inspired and motivated him in his journey, from English class at SLUH and playing football in the SEC to finding solace in the Great Smoky Mountains.

When did you know that you wanted to play football in college?

I had a second cousin who played at Ohio State in the early 2000s, and watching the 2002 national championship game is still one of my earliest football memories. It probably wasn’t until the NCAA 06 video game came out that I really made it a goal to play in college.

While at SLUH, were there any experiences with coaches that made you want to coach yourself?

I think the whole experience made me want to get into coaching. I had great youth coaches who really fostered a love for the game. At SLUH, that love took

Alec Abeln ’13 (top left) following the Tennessee 52-49 victory over Alabama on October 15, 2022. Abeln, who played as an offensive lineman at SLUH, has become a lynchpin to the Volunteers’ success as an offensive analyst. UPDATE: Abeln was promoted as the new tight ends coach on February 2, 2023.

off. Coach Wilson did an excellent job introducing the game to so many of my classmates and making it a positive experience. On the varsity coaching staff, I don’t think it was any secret that those guys were having fun. You could tell that they really loved each other and really loved being at SLUH.

What advice would you give a SLUH student who wants to follow a similar career path as you? The hardest thing is getting in the door. I was fortunate to play and have really positive relationships with coaches who gave me chances and taught me how to do the job. If you don’t have the opportunity to play, volunteer and work your tail off. Once you’re in, it’s like anything else. Smart people who work hard and treat people right typically do okay.

While at SLUH, were there any mentors that gave you advice, and if so what helped the most coming from them? Too many to name them all. The best single piece of coaching advice still remains from Coach Kornfeld, who said: “Be an athlete.”

How did the challenges of SLUH prepare you for collegiate football as a player and coach? Time management and learning how to work in all aspects of being a college athlete. For most of my teammates, three hours of homework seemed impossible. Coming from SLUH, that was just a Tuesday. I felt so well prepared.

What was your greatest accomplishment at SLUH?

I once received an A- on an English essay.

Outside of football, what were you interested in while at SLUH as well as today when you are not coaching?

There’s not a whole lot of free time, but I love music and play the guitar. If we get a whole weekend off, you can usually find me out in the Great Smoky Mountains.

While playing either at SLUH or in college, did you think of coaching after your playing career? When I went to college, I wanted to be a doctor.

Organic Chemistry 2 helped me realize that medical school was not my path and pushed me toward a career in finance. Honestly, by the time I was 20 years old, this was all I really wanted to do.

What has been your biggest challenge as a coach or a player?

As a player at Mizzou, blocking SEC defensive linemen was by far the biggest challenge. As a coach, the hardest part of the job is the lifestyle. You miss weddings, reunions and PGA championships. If I’m lucky enough to get married and have kids, being the best husband and father possible will be the biggest challenge. It can be done, but it is not easy.

What has been your favorite part about coaching? It may sound cliché, but just being with the guys. Staff and players alike, there is a special bond that takes place in our building, and it really is so much fun coming to work every day.

If I had to name a single moment, it would be after the Alabama game this season. I played for Glen Elarbee (current Tennessee offensive line coach) my last two years at Mizzou and have worked with him in three of my five years coaching. We are family. Finding him in the sea of orange that had taken over the field…the cigar smoke filling the entire stadium…the hug and words we shared…it’s tough to get that at a desk job.

Questions by Zach Ortwerth ‘23. Ortwerth was a captain on the SLUH football and basketball teams. He will play football as a tight end and study physical therapy at the University of Iowa. After college he would like to stay involved in football either as a physical therapist or a coach.

"For most of my teammates, three hours of homework seemed impossible. Coming from SLUH, that was just a Tuesday. I felt so well prepared."

- Alec Abeln '13

Out of this World

BRYAN MAAS ’12 recently gained notoriety as lead optical engineer in the successful DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) Project, the first NASA mission to demonstrate asteroid deflection by a kinetic impactor. The Senior Optical Engineer at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory reflects on his journey from Oakland Avenue to space exploration efforts that could one day help to literally save our planet.

What advice do you have for a student who wants to become an engineer involved in STEM?

Be proactive and take advantage of opportunities for you to grow your skillsets, experiences and interests. Challenge yourself by taking an AP level course in science or math. Join a club or research topics that interest you. Try to learn a new computer language. Seek out internships or volunteer opportunities that allow for real-world experience. The more you explore and learn about various fields in STEM, the more likely it is that you will succeed in finding a career that’s fulfilling and you’re passionate about. Also, it’s perfectly normal to be uncertain of your career path in high school and even in college.

Were there any classes or clubs that you participated in at SLUH that you found particularly impactful, especially as it relates to your path toward becoming an engineer?

Mr. Baudendistel’s AP Physics course was my introduction into the field of optics and how light and matter interact. I didn’t know at the time that I would become an optical engineer (or that the field existed), but I found the physics demonstrations to be fascinating. When it came time to apply to colleges, the strong education I had received in science and math led me to pursue a major in engineering.

What was the most challenging problem your team had to solve as part of NASA’s DART mission to crash a probe into the target asteroid and change its trajectory?

I worked with a great team of engineers to design and build the telescope that imaged the Didymos asteroid system in order to guide the spacecraft into the center of the target asteroid, called Dimorphos. The most challenging problem was verifying through analysis and testing that the telescope would be able to survive the launch forces from the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and operate in the extremely cold vacuum of deep space.

What inspires you to get up each morning and do the work that you do?

I’m inspired by the remarkable people that I work with and the awesome missions that I get to contribute toward. The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) fosters a collaborative, supportive and innovative culture for scientists and engineers, and, when you’re working with people who love what they do, it serves as a motivating factor to bring your best effort to the workplace. It’s very rewarding to see a project go from the initial proposal phase to real-life hardware accomplishing the mission objectives.

What hobbies or interests do you have outside of STEM?

I’m a big sports fan, especially of baseball having grown up with the Cardinals and played while at SLUH. I stay active by playing in my work’s softball and basketball leagues, as well as playing pickleball, hiking and going to the gym. Recently, I have started getting into cooking — both exploring new dishes and making old family recipes. Above all else, I enjoy spending time with family and friends.

Now that DART has successfully accomplished its mission, what comes next for you?

Currently, I am working on several telescopes and cameras. One of the telescopes will image the Sun in the extreme ultraviolet to study and characterize coronal mass ejections commonly associated with solar flares, which is important because of the impacts that they can have here on Earth. Another camera will operate on a lunar rover to analyze the spectral composition of various rock and soil types.

What part of the SLUH experience do you think has contributed the most in forming the person that you are today?

The relationships that I made while at SLUH. I met my wife at a SLUH football game, and she has been

my other half that loves, supports and motivates me to be the best version of myself. I made lifelong friendships with classmates who I talk to daily and visit whenever possible.

After you graduated from SLUH, what path did you take to become involved in such an amazing project like DART?

I attended the University of Rochester to study biomedical engineering. During my freshman year, I was introduced to the field of optics through classmates and professors, and I ultimately changed my major to optical engineering. An internship at Johns Hopkins APL fueled my passion for space and developing optical systems that operate in some unique and challenging environments. DART was the first project that I worked on out of college.

If you could go back and give yourself advice as you entered your freshman year of college, what would it be?

Get a real winter jacket — Upstate New York is very cold! In reality, I would tell myself to be open to new opportunities, trust your gut, work hard and enjoy the ride.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is working with great people on some incredible projects. It amazes me that the instruments and spacecraft that we work on will travel millions — sometimes billions — of miles to capture data and images that once seemed impossible to humanity.

Questions by Ben McCaslin ‘23. Ben is the president of the robotics club and vice president of the Clavius Project (STEM service program), and he has played racquetball for the last three years. He plans to study aerospace engineering in college and pursue a career developing spacecraft.

"It amazes me that the instruments and spacecraft that we work on will travel millions — sometimes billions — of miles to capture data and images that once seemed impossible to humanity."

- Bryan Maas '12

In September 1540, St. Ignatius of Loyola and six companions lit the flame that would become the Society of Jesus.

Together, these young men explored the intersections of faith and culture. Love and learning. Human nature and all of its many possibilities.

Through service, solidarity and prayer, the Jesuits (as they are known today) were welcomed around the globe as men of wisdom and science, education and spiritual depth.

The 2nd annual 1540 List celebrates fifteen tremendous alumni who — just like the young, creative and bold leaders who came before them — are challenging our definitions of excellence, and setting the world on fire.

Tony Adams ’17

SAFETY, NEW YORK JETS

Who or what inspired you to pursue your field of interest? I knew it could change my family’s life, so I gave it my heart. Also one day, Coach Kornfeld pulled me aside and said, “You can play in the NFL one day.” That was special to me!

Denis Agniel ’03

FULL STATISTICIAN, RAND CORPORATION

What topic are you most excited about in your industry?

Figuring out the best ways to encourage health care providers to improve care to disadvantaged patients (as) major players like Medicare and insurers are now interested and able to make real changes.

Emil Beckford ’15

PHD CANDIDATE, UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

LAB ALUMNUS, FUNDAMENTS OF ADOLESCENT BRAIN LAB AT YALE UNIVERSITY

What are you working on? What accomplishments are you most proud of? My interests lie in understanding how having marginalized identities impacts mental health and how protective factors can mitigate adverse mental health outcomes. I have sung and performed on all six inhabited continents and made an album of my own original songs.

Rev. Brian Fallon ’04

VOCATIONS DIRECTOR AND PASTOR ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. LOUIS

Think back to senior year. Was this the job you dreamed of? I was thinking about priesthood in high school and knew I was called to enter seminary. But priesthood has been far different than I imagined. I didn't know how fulfilling it could be to follow Jesus.

INDUSTRY Professional Football

EDUCATION

BA, Political Science

University of Illinois

Urbana-Champaign

INDUSTRY

Non-profit Research

EDUCATION

PhD, Biostatistics, Harvard University ; MS, Statistics, University of Illinois

Urbana-Champaign; BS, Statistics and BA, Philosophy, Loyola University Chicago

INDUSTRY

Counseling Psychology

EDUCATION

BS, Psychology, Yale University

INDUSTRY Ministry

EDUCATION

MA, Theology, Saint Louis University ; MDiv and BA, Philosophy of Letters, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary

Tom Fields ’14

TV DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE AMAZON STUDIOS

How are you acting as a Man for Others in your current role?

My full-time job is championing the artist’s vision. I give credit where credit is due. I take the blame when things go sideways. And I don’t seek rewards for each of my creative contributions.

Karl Guenther ’02

ASST. VICE CHANCELLOR, ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – ST. LOUIS

DBA CANDIDATE, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI - ST. LOUIS

Do you have a favorite SLUH memory or teacher?

Joe Schulte stands out as one of the most formative of my teachers and mentors. From math to juggling to theater, Mr. Schulte always found a way to help us build skills and share life lessons that stick with me today.

Dr. Daniel Heard ’04

DATA SCIENTIST, UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

I am proud to have been the first African-American to receive a PhD in Statistical Science from Duke. More recently, I am proud to have been a part of establishing programs to support student and early-career development, being an inaugural member of the Risk Management Advisory Board for the Greehey School of Business at St. Mary's University as well as being a founding core team member of the African-American business support group at USAA.

Br. Ken Homan, SJ ’08

JESUIT BROTHER, JESUITS USA MIDWEST PROVINCE ORGANIZER, KALMANOVITZ INITIATIVE FOR LABOR AND THE WORKING POOR

PHD CANDIDATE, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

What advice would you give to our current Jr. Bills? Dream differently. There's a great temptation to follow predetermined or pre-imagined paths. Be bold and creative in responding to the needs of your communities and the world.

INDUSTRY Entertainment (Animation) EDUCATION

MFA, Peter Stark Producing Program, University of Southern California ; BFA, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University

INDUSTRY Higher Education

EDUCATION

MA, Economics, University of Missouri - St. Louis ; MSW, Social and Economic Development, Research, Washington University in St. Louis ; BS, Psychology, BA, Religion, Truman State University

INDUSTRY Financial Services

EDUCATION

PhD, Statistical Science, Duke University ; MA, Mathematics, Saint Louis University ; BS, Mathematics, Arizona State University

INDUSTRY Labor and Ministry EDUCATION

MTS, Theology, Boston College ; MA, History, BA, History and BA, Theology, Fordham University

Bryan Maas ’12

SENIOR OPTICAL ENGINEER

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY

What accomplishments are you most proud of? My work on the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART). The mission was a technology demonstration of our ability to impact a moving asteroid in space…Years of hard work by many scientists and engineers across multiple organizations and disciplines resulted in the successful impact and the scientific knowledge gained.

Timothy McNutt ’01

DIRECTOR, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR RELATIONS SCHOOL CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Do you have a favorite SLUH memory or teacher? During my Senior Project, I went to Yoro, Honduras, to work at the Centro San Yves and care for malnourished infants. The experience opened my eyes to large-scale inequities that exist and the importance of direct service to improve lives.

Michael F. Meyer ’10

MENDENHALL FELLOW & RESEARCH GEOGRAPHER

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

What does the future of your industry look like?

The future is complex. To date, much of our knowledge about freshwater is based in the US midwest, northeast, and western Europe. The world is much larger, and now we have the tools to scale up.

Ian Mulligan ’02

PRINCIPAL

ST. JOHN VIANNEY HIGH SCHOOL

Who or what inspired you to pursue your field or interest?

I believe it was every teacher, coach, and mentor in my life that led me into education. Each of them modeled service and a path to enrich a community and the lives of those in it.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE ON THE 1540 LIST?

MAKE YOUR 2024 NOMINATION AT SLUH.ORG/1540LIST

INDUSTRY Space Exploration

EDUCATION

MS and BS, Optical Engineering (Optical Systems Design), University of Rochester

INDUSTRY Academic

EDUCATION

JD, California Western School of Law ; BA, Sociology, The George Washington University

INDUSTRY Environmental Science

EDUCATION

PhD, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Washington State University ; Fulbright Fellow, Irkutsk State University ; Critical Language Scholar, Kazan Institute of Social & Humanitarian Studies ; BS, Biology, BA, Russian Studies, Saint Louis University

INDUSTRY Secondary Education EDUCATION

MS, Education, Regis University ; BS, Biology, University of Dayton

Joseph Neely ’03

PARTNER, BEHR, MCCARTER, POTTER, NEELY & HYDE, PC FORMER SPECIAL AGENT, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

VETERAN, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, JUDGE ADVOCATE DIVISION

What advice would you give to our current Jr. Bills?

You don't have to have it all figured out by the time you leave high school.

Austin Smith ’13

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

MISSION CONTROL GG

Describe what you are working on in your role. Playing…games (was) a medium to community (for me). As an adult, I…realized there was no equivalent experience for esports…So, my co-founders and I decided to build Mission Control, a community platform for recreational gaming. We have raised a few million (dollars) in venture capital to build a rec league esports software for customers like the University of Kentucky, the City of Las Vegas, GameStop, Comcast, & Cinemark.

Sam Stragand ’06

GRADUATE STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

I developed the capacity of my former organizationMetropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing & Opportunity Council - in its mission to ensure more equitable housing opportunities for often-marginalized communities. I am also especially proud of playing a lead role in exposing future attorneys to the opportunity to empower at-risk communities and contribute positively through our internship program.

INDUSTRY Civil and Commercial Litigation

EDUCATION

JD, University of Michigan ; BSBA, Finance and Banking, University of Missouri

The profiles above are a brief look into the work our honorees are doing. To read their full responses or to nominate someone for next year’s list, please visit sluh.org/1540list.

INDUSTRY Recreation, E-Sports and Software

EDUCATION

BSBA, Entrepreneurship, Economics & Service

Leadership, Saint Louis University

INDUSTRY Public Policy

EDUCATION

JD, Washington University in St. Louis ; BA, Philosophy, Grinnell College

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Join the premier SLUH celebration supporting the SLUH assistance program.

www.sluh.org/cashbah

Co-chaired by current SLUH moms

Bridget DuMont and Karen Zenor

WE THANK OUR MANY GENEROUS SPONSORS, INCLUDING: PLATINUM SPONSORS

Kathleen and Paul '74 Matecki

Mark and Kathy Schuchardt

Mary and Joseph '78 Stieven

GOLD SPONSORS

Ameren Missouri Aon

Azar Orthodontics - Nick '00 and Joe '03

Berra Family Charitable Foundation

*sponsors as of January 31, 2023

NOTEWORTHY

Discover what your fellow alumni are up to below, then explore more class notes at sluh.org/alumni.

Steve Snodgrass ‘65 has a book coming out about Josh Kezer, the first of three convicted murderers that he, along with others at Bryan Cave, has been able to get released from Missouri prisons. It is entitled: The Murder of Angela Mischelle Lawless: An Honest Sheriff and the Exoneration of an Innocent Man. Along with others at Bryan Cave, Snodgrass won the Missouri Lawyer of the Year Award for the third man he got exonerated. His role in the case was to get the state’s expert to admit she was just speculating about the effect of hair washing on fingernail DNA.

Steve’s classmate Rich Callahan ’65 was the judge who exonerated Josh. He was named U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri by President Obama.

A large contingent of Jr. Bills gathered at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis over the weekend of September 24 to celebrate the wedding of Brendan Mehan ’07 Fr. Jeff Harrison, SJ ’75 presided over the ceremony.

Toni Reavis ’66 received the George Hirsch Journalism Award from the New York Road Runners for excellence in the reporting, writing and broadcasting of the sport of marathon and distance running. Four days later, his first book was published, Bisia & Isham: The Countess & The P.O.W., the harrowing story of his parents’ momentous meeting and marriage in Lublin, Poland during World War II.

Matthew Crawford ’75 — recipient of the first, and to date only, 12th Man Award at Maryville University for his efforts in support of Maryville Men's Soccer — is writing a history of the program, which has grown from a grassroots squad in 1972 into one of the top programs in NCAA Division II.

SLUH social studies teacher Tom McCarthy ’80 stepped down from coaching soccer after 37 years. Since 1985, McCarthy has coached soccer on the SLUH JV, B and C teams and was also an assistant and head track coach for 18 of those years. McCarthy saw overwhelming success, amassing a record of 477-121-89, making him the winningest underclassman coach in SLUH history.

Matt Kemner ’84, partner at Squire Batton Boggs law firm in San Francisco, joined the Board of Directors for the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley.

Jim Goodman ’92 was promoted to Chief Business Strategy and Product Portfolio Officer at the American Dental Association.

Editor Bryn Vytlacil ’01 received an Emmy Award (Outstanding Editing for Multiple Camera Program) for the Netflix show Making Fun at the 2022 Children's & Family Creative Arts Emmys. His credits include the TV series Shark Week, Duck Dynasty, Deadly Alibi and Auction Hunters, among others.

James Barbieri ’07 is the CEO and Co-Founder of WINGXPAND, an aerospace company formed to expand possibilities with aerial intelligence with a 7-foot autonomous airplane that expands from a backpack to help farmers grow more yield, public safety officials respond to disasters faster, and keep soldiers safe. Previously, Barbieri spent more than 10 years at Boeing and the U.S. Intelligence Community in a wide range

PICTURED AT THE RECEPTION, HELD AT THE ST. LOUIS ART MUSEUM:

Left cluster: Steve Klostermeyer ’07, Tim Nesmith ’07, Ted Dickinson ’07, Mark Abram ’06. Front: Jake Roeckle ’07 (with the mustache), Kevin Rushing ’07, Tim Reedy ’07, Brendan Mehan ’07, John Martin ’07, Kerry Read ’07, Paul Merrill ’07. Back: Tony Conroy ’78, John Mehan ’74, Rich Mehan ’10, Tom Mehan ’73, Patrick Mehan ’86, Dick Mehan ’70 and John Troy ’71.

of leadership roles across engineering, strategy and innovation. WINGXPAND (www.wingxpand.com) was recently named a Top Company for Women in Emerging Aviation Technologies, awarded the Most Innovative Technology of the Year at the Natural Disaster Expo, and graduated Techstars LA, a leading global startup accelerator.

Michael Niese ’16 finished an impressive college football career with Temple University and signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos. He made his NFL debut in the Broncos preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on August 13, 2022. At SLUH, Niese was a member of the National Honor Society, football team captain as a standout offensive and defensive lineman, and a two-time state champion on the water polo team.

Tony Adams ’17 earned a spot on the final roster for the New York Jets as a defensive back. He was a dominant DB at SLUH, earning a spot as a captain, with all-state honors and looks from Division 1 programs as a three-star recruit. Adams continued as a starting DB for the University of Illinois as a true freshman and played for five seasons, leading the team in his final year as a captain.

•

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Since July 2022, SLUH has learned of the deaths of the following alumni. Eternal rest grant unto them, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Find the complete list at sluh.org/remember.

List compiled 7/1/22-1/15/23

Mr. Charles F. Baker '45

Mr. Kenneth P. Bicking '57

Mr. Richard J. Bolfing '72

Mr. Paul S. Bozdech '88

Deacon John M. Burke '79

Mr. Robert J. Burke '68

Mr. Ramon E. Cartwright '73

Mr. William J. Christman '71

Mr. Mark Clark '72

Mr. James L. Connell '47

Walter F. Davisson Jr., M.D. '58

Edward A. Desloge, Ph.D. '43

Mr. Mark E. Digman '71

Mr. Kerry F. Drulis '66

Mr. Thomas Q. Ebanues '47

Mr. Jon W. Eckles '59

Mr. Timothy J. Fleming '50

Mr. William F. Frein '52

Mr. John R. Gacki '63

Mr. Paul J. Harbaugh Jr. '48

Mr. John M. Heagney '75

Mr. Douglas H. Herrmann '72

Mr. George W. Jordan '60

Mr. Dennis G. Keeley '73

Mr. John J. Keeley '43

Richard A. Kirchhoefer, D.M.D. '63

Russell R. Kraeger, M.D. '59

Lt Col Larry J. Krussel '69

Mr. William C. Kuehn '64

John J. Lang, M.D. '50

Mr. Warren F. Langford '52

Mr. Richard C. Malecek '48

Mr. Donald D. McAlister '83

Mr. L. M. McKeown '54

Mr. Aloysius J. Memmel '46

Mr. Robert L. Millman '54

Mr. Donald H. Nonnenkamp '70

Mr. James M. Palumbo '68

Mr. Wendell D. Phillips '82

Mr. R. D. Pozzini '77

Mr. Donald L. Reed '44

Mr. Nicholas J. Ribaudo '65

Mr. Jason M. Robb '90

Mr. John W. Robb '38

Mr. Robert E. Rucker '56

Richard P. Schmitt, D.D.S. '49

Mr. Richard G. Seitz ‘67

Mr. John E. Simon Jr. '60

Mr. John F. Stebbings '58

Mr. Jack Steiner '42

Mr. Jerome J. Sweeney '51

Mr. William Taylor '44

Mr. Charles J. Tintera Jr. '65

Mr. Robert B. Tyler Jr. '64

Mr. Bruce L. Ulrich '63

Mr. Gerald K. Walsh '49

Mr. John R. Walsh '47

Mr. Robert M. Walsh '71

Mr. Gregory P. Westrich '02

Mr. Joseph W. Zickel '48

Please let us know if you learn of the death of an alumnus or friend of SLUH at alumni@sluh.org.

FEMALE PIONEERS

PAVING A LASTING FOUNDATION AT SLUH

BY THE SLUH ARCHIVE COMMITTEE

Before the first female teacher was hired at St. Louis U. High in 1968, women served in roles such as receptionists, secretaries, librarians and registrars. Today, women play a pivotal role in the formation of Men for Others at SLUH, enriching every sector of student life, from academics and athletics, to counseling and campus ministry.

FOLLOWING ARE A FEW OF THE FIRST FEMALE PIONEERS AT SLUH.

Irene Coyle served as librarian from 1957-83. A few months after Coyle started, she took some students to lunch and gave an interview for the November edition of the Prep News

“I use violent and abusive language on people who disrupt my library,” she told the Prep News. At “only 4 feet 6 inches in heels,” she said that she took up library work because she “probably couldn’t see over the tops” of teachers’ desks. The Prep News article concluded that the new librarian had captured the affection of most of the students.

Throughout her SLUH career, Coyle frequently attended extra-curricular events. In the fall of 1962, she traveled to Springfield, Mo., to watch the SLUH football team play Parkview High. While driving back to SLUH, she suggested to a few seniors that they should teepee the CBC campus, which, at the time, was in nearby Clayton. Upon arriving at SLUH, Coyle went into the women’s restroom and returned with several rolls of toilet paper. That was all the motivation the Jr. Bills needed to decorate the Cadets' campus.

Complementing her fiery, rambunctious spirit, Coyle recommended and managed several improvements in the library during her 25 years at SLUH. In 1960, she directed changes in seating and lighting to give the library a new look. She also participated in studies that led to the construction of the new library in 1971, the first concrete indication of the school commitment to remain at its Backer Memorial location.

EILENE MARTINI

The 1968-69 school year marked the first time that SLUH employed a female teacher. Eilene Martini had been teaching at Indiana University when she interviewed with SLUH President Fr. Richard Bailey, SJ, for a job teaching French. After her interview, she learned that SLUH was an all-boys Catholic high school and assumed she did not have a chance to be hired, but Fr. Bailey offered her a job and she accepted. Martini taught at SLUH for two school years.

SLUH ARCHIVE

SR. CATHLIN CASEY, BVM & KATHLEEN McVEY

By the 1970-71 school year, SLUH again had no female teachers until the 1974-75 school year when Sr. Cathlin Casey, BVM, who taught English, and Kathleen McVey, who taught Latin and religion, joined the faculty. Sr. Casey and McVey remained at SLUH for two years, so at the start of the 1976-77 school year there were again no female teachers, yet the acceptance of female teachers had been established. Sr. Casey taught 1-8-1-8 Advanced Credit courses at SLUH. After only two years at the school, she was forced by illness to move closer to her order’s convent in Chicago. She died in 1979 of ALS. The 1979 Dauphin Yearbook was dedicated in her honor “with deep appreciation for her lifelong devotion to teaching, and for her commitment to St. Louis University High School.” An award to outstanding 1-8-1-8 teachers was named after Sister Casey by Saint Louis University and a scholarship in her name is to be awarded to SLUH students. In 1978, Sr. Casey was named the first recipient of the award named in her honor. Former SLUH Assistant Principal for Academics Tom Becvar was the 2015 award recipient.

Do you have SLUH memorabilia, artifacts or pictures of historical significance?

If so, the Archive Committee would like to hear from you. Please send an email to archive@sluh.org.

IRENE COYLE

GRAD GRAD AT GRAD

PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE

Irecently attended an alumni reunion at one of my former high school assignments. I was talking to an alumnus and learned that he was living and working in Kansas City, my hometown. As we chatted, I asked about his parish and where he went to Mass. After a pregnant pause, he responded that he didn’t attend Mass mainly out of laziness. I wanted to teasingly ask, “So, when did you start hating Jesus?” Instead, I suggested that he might want to rediscover his faith after his parents invested in a Catholic education — and that was the most important goal we had for him at the school.

of formation hopefully cultivate a mature life of active faith, set a moral compass, hone critical thinking skills and build a body of knowledge.

BY FR. MICHAEL CARUSO, SJ Vice President for Mission, Planning & Operations

On the bottom of that first page, one reads about the Graduate at Graduation and its five pillars. Our graduates should be:

• Intellectually Competent

• Open to Growth

• Religious

• Loving

• Committed to Justice

sullen, snarky or self-absorbed? When a student begins speaking in a friendly manner and responds to questions in complete sentences instead of crabby one-word responses, glimmers of maturity and excellence are evident.

What is excellence at St. Louis University High, or any other Catholic school? In the SLUH viewbook shared with prospective families, the first page headline reads: “BECOME part of a 200+ Year Tradition of Excellence.”

Excellence is most evident in the lives of our alumni, yet these four years

These would compose the formula for excellence, yet not all are easily measurable. Intellectually Competent is the easiest to determine by looking at the GPA and diploma. Service projects invite students to develop a Commitment to Justice, yet if it is simply checking a box, that seed did not take a deep root. Being Open to Growth is a lifetime pursuit. It means listening to others with respect and attention, without a superior attitude. Our truculent culture makes this a serious challenge.

How does one measure to be Loving?

A simple test for students is how they speak to their parents. Is their attitude

Being Religious is perhaps the most important quality for a Catholic school in the Jesuit tradition. Applicants are interviewed about this dimension of their lives so one can presume that students are engaged in their spirituality, but being religious also means being part of a worshiping community, putting your beliefs into action. It has been said that Catholic high schools “want to get kids into Harvard, but it is more important to get them into Heaven.” That is definitely a goal we should all embrace.

A student who graduates without a deepened relationship with Christ has not been well-served or did not take full advantage of the SLUH mission. While this can be disconcerting, it is reassuring to remember that graduation provides a doorway to a young man’s future — and the graduates, like all of us, are God’s cherished projects in progress.

Fr. Caruso joined the SLUH staff in July 2022. Previously, he served as a tenured Associate Professor in the Saint Louis University Educational Leadership Program; completed a 10-year tenure as President of Saint Ignatius College Preparatory School in Chicago; and was a tenured faculty member in Catholic Educational Leadership at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Improv Show

Friday-Sunday, March 24-26

Joseph Schulte Theater

CASHBAH Auction

Saturday, April 1

For details, visit www.sluh.org/cashbah

AMDG Parent Spirituality Session

Wednesday, April 12

For details, visit www.sluh.org/amdg

Mass of Praise and Gratitude

Thursday, April 27 Si Commons

Choir and Dance Concerts

Sunday, May 21

Joseph Schulte Theater

Graduation Weekend

Saturday-Sunday, May 27-28

Father-Son Golf Tournament

Saturday, June 17

Norman K. Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park

Fr. Hagan Alumni Cup Golf Tournament

Friday, June 23

Norman K. Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park

For more events and details, visit sluh.org/calendar.

Classes ending in 3 and 8 are invited to reunite at SLUH in 2023. Find out when your classmates are headed back to Oakland Avenue below.

1st Reunion Service & Social

Saturday, July 8

Class of ‘22

5th-45th Reunions

Saturday, September 16

Classes of ‘18, ‘13, ‘08, ‘03, ‘98, ‘93, ‘88, ‘83, ‘78

50th Reunion

Friday, October 13

Class of ‘73

55th-80th Jubilee Reunions

Friday, August 4

Classes of ‘68, ‘63, ‘58, ‘53, ‘48, ‘43

Visit sluh.org/reunions to learn more.