Ancient Order of Hibernians awards six scholarships

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Six eighth-grade students will get a boost as they begin their Catholic high school education this fall thanks to scholarships from the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

The six $1,000 scholarships were awarded to incoming freshmen attending Catholic high schools in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area. Two of the scholarships are reserved for students attending Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas.

The scholarships were awarded by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Father Bernard Donnelly Division scholarship program, said Sean T. Kane, an Ancient Order of Hibernians member and selection committee member.

Ken and Marilyn (Dohm) Rapplean, members of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 13. They will celebrate with a Mass on July 23 followed by dinner with family and friends. The couple was married on July 13, 1973, at St. Dismas Church in Florissant, Missouri, by Father Michael Regan. Their children are: Brian, Colorado Springs; Keith, Lenexa; Brett, Olathe; and Kyle, Eudora. They also have eight grandchildren. The couple will celebrate with a trip to see the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

Kathy and Cecil Stegman, members of Holy Spirit Parish, Overland Park, will celebrate their 50th anniversary on June 30. The couple was married June 30, 1973, at St. Regis Parish in Kansas City, Missouri, by Father Joseph Hart. They have two sons: Jason, Emmett; and Mark, Overland Park. They also have three grandchildren.

One of the six scholarships was from a donation by Brenda Riggs in memory of Liam Riggs, a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Lawrence, and an assistant professor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

The six students received their scholarships during the organization’s meeting on June 15 at VFW Post 7397 in Lenexa. The scholarships have been awarded for eight years. This year 47 students applied.

The applicants had to answer four essay questions as part of their application:

• What does it mean to you to live a Christ-like life?

Jim and Dineen Hill, members of Good Shepherd Parish, Shawnee, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 14. The couple was married at St. Patrick Church in Casper, Wyoming, on July 14, 1973. Their children are: Mary Kay Narveson, Bloomington, Minnesota; Stephanie Hill, Olathe; Christi Stokes, Bloomington, Minnesota; and Justin Hill, Emporia. They also have six grandchildren. They will celebrate with family at the Lake of the Ozarks this summer.

Mark and Christine (Harland) Studer , members of Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Seneca, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 7 with family and friends. They will also celebrate with a Mass on July 9. The couple was married on July 7, 1973, at First Presbyterian Church in Frankfort. Their children are: Scott Studer, Austin, Texas; Julie Bowen, Shawnee; and Lance Studer, Olathe. They also have four grandchildren.

• Why do you want to attend a Catholic high school?

• Choose one value from the motto of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (friendship, unity and Christian charity), and explain why it is important to you and how you plan to live it over the next four years.

• Describe a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.

The six students who won scholarships were:

• Ayva Gunn, a member of St. Paul Parish in Olathe, attended St. Paul School. She will go to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park.

• Isabella Hernandez, a member of Christ the King Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, attended Christ the King School. Hernandez, the first to receive the Riggs

Julane and Joe Hovorka, members of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Topeka, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 22. The couple was married on June 22, 1963, at Sacred Heart Church, Pratt. Their children are: John Hovorka, McAllen, Texas; Anna Ramirez, Topeka; Susan Martin, Kirkwood, Missouri; and Mary Brazier, Vienna, Virginia. They also have 12 grandchildren. The couple will celebrate with their families in July.

Anthony “AJ” and Sharon (George) Lang, members of St. Paul Parish, Olathe, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with an extended weekend at The Trout Shack in Bennett Springs, Missouri. The couple was married on June 23, 1973, at St. Paul. Their children are: Justin, Tyson, Jordan and Adrienne Lang. They also have six grandchildren.

Memorial Scholarship, will attend Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas.

• Melany Mejia, a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, attended Christ the King School in Kansas City, Kansas. She is going to Bishop Ward High School.

• Isabella O’Shea, a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, attended Holy Spirit School. She is going to St. James Academy in Lenexa.

• Nadia Wacker, a member of Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee, attended Good Shepherd School. She will go to St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

• Elijah Waitiki, a member of St. Paul Parish in Olathe, attended Nieman Elementary School in Shawnee. He is going to St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

Cathy and Jim Elliott, members of St. Francis de Sales Parish, Lansing, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 23. The couple was married June 23, 1973, by Father George Bertels at St. Casimir Church, Leavenworth. Their children are: James Elliott, Bret Elliott and Casey Heck. They also have six grandchildren.

Catherine (Minihan) and Steve Harkness , members of St. Bernard Parish, Wamego, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 29 with a family dinner. The couple was married on June 30, 1973, at St. Columbkille Church, Blaine, by Father Robert Hasenkamp. They have one daughter, Heather Winkler, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.