volume 12 • spring 2012 • www.piusx.net A publication for Alumni

Transcription

PiusConnections
volume 12 • spring 2012 • www.piusx.net
of
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hearts
A publication for
Alumni, Parents & Friends
of Pius X High School
pius connections content
Pius X High School
6000 A Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68510
402.488.0931 • 402.488.1061 fax
www.piusx.net
Superintendent
Father James Meysenburg
Principal
Tom Korta
Assistant Principal
Greg Lesiak
CONTENTS
pius values
Queen of Hearts.....................................4
academic success.................................10
athletic highlights.................................11
Guidance Director
Jan Frayser
pius essentials......................................12
Pius X Foundation
faculty notes
Four Pius X Teachers Retire..................13
So We Will Never Forget: Pius X
Educators Explore the Holocaust..........14
402.488.1046 • 402.488.1061 fax
http://foundation.piusx.net
Director of Development
Michelle Birkel
Foundation Staff
Deb Hoge • Amy Riley • Sophia Werning
BOLT Director
Deb Schulte
Pius X Alumni ~ Cathedral High Alumni
402.488.0931 • 402.488.1061 fax
http://alumni.piusx.net
Alumni Director
Kristin (Edwards) Heath ’91
Current Enrollment
1,055 – Catholic: 99% • Other: 1%
Mission Statement
Restore All Things in Christ
We are dedicated to a total education that
is Christ-centered by integrating Catholic
values in all areas of life and providing
academic preparation of the highest quality
in a disciplined environment.
Change of Address
To notify the school/Foundation of address
changes or personal updates by filling out the
on-line form at http://alumni.piusx.net/
updateform.asp or by contacting the
Foundation at 402.488.1046.
Pius Connections
Published semi-annually in May and November for alumni, parents and friends of Pius
X High School. If you would like additional
copies or to be removed from our mailing list,
please contact the Foundation office.
Thank You
Special thanks to the talented photographers
of the 2011-12 Pius X Yearbook staff who
contribute to this publication: Sponsor Sandi
Sullivan, Zachary Bell, Alexa Birkel, Chloe
Johnson, Johnathon Knobbe, Kathryn Krick,
Daniel LeDuc, Mary Litt, Michaela Maguire,
Abby McClure, Drew Miller, Tiffany Nagel,
Lawrence Nguyen, Brittany Pollock, Abigail
Schoening, Mary Sievert, Mary Sullivan,
Mikayla Tremain, Brittany Ullman, and Alison
Vazquez.
We extend a grateful thank you to Charlie
Calhoun & Jacob North Companies for their
generous donation toward this publication.
empowering students............................13
On the cover –
Kathryn Slattery had an amazing senior year
going from a double heart and liver transplant
to Prom Queen. She is pictured with Prom
King John Knobbe and before surgery with
friends at UNMC in Omaha.
building a strong foundation
Advancement Letter.............................15
2011-12 Scholarship Recipients...........16
Scholarships Make Catholic Education
Possible for Many Families...................17
Al and Dorothy Ballweg
Protect Catholic Education,
Give Everlasting Gift............................18
New Computer Monitors.....................18
Visitor Bleachers to be Upgraded
at Aldrich Field....................................19
Improvements being made to Weight,
Wrestling and Locker Rooms...............19
alumni today
March Madness - Thunderbolt Style.....21
A Family Tradition...............................22
Pius X to host All Honor Year Reunion,
Establish Golden Thunderbolt Club.....24
Class Reunion Schedule.......................24
Bits & Pieces........................................25
In Remembrance..................................26
Births...................................................27
Marriages.............................................28
alumni today
Former Pius X Students become College
Team Working on Pluto Study.............20
bolt
Kings, Queens, Bishops...BOLT...........31
Pius X High School
Budget –
The 2012-2013
Pius X High
School budget
is $5.723 million,
a 3.9% increase
over last year.
Parish Support –
Parish assessments are
provided by the 14 parishes
of the Lincoln Deanery and
four parishes from outside the
deanery. Parish assessment
for the 2012-2013 school
year make up 42.5% of the
operating budget.
1.4%
2.2% 1.4%
2.2%
4.1%
ParishAssessments
4.1%
9.5%
ParishAssessments
9.5%
Tuition&Fees
42.5%
9.8%
42.5%
9.8%
Tuition&Fees
Donations/Grants
Donations/Grants
Foundation/Trusts
Foundation/Trusts
Activities/BOLTFundraiser
Activities/BOLTFundraiser
EducationalTechn.
Initiative
30.5%
30.5%
Revenue Source
Parish Assessments
Tuition & Fees
Donations/Grants
Foundation/Trusts
Activities/BOLT Fund Raiser
Educational Tech. Initiative
Other Revenue
Total
%
42.5%
30.5%
9.8%
9.5%
4.1%
2.2%
1.4%
100%
EducationalTechn.
Initiative
Amount
$2,434,892
$1,743,000
$561,000
$545,000
$237,175
$125,000
$77,310
$5,723,377
pius welcome
We
welcome our 233 graduates to the rank of alumni. Once again, I am amazed by our incredible students! These
graduates excelled in countless ways and learned how to be positive contributing Catholics in society. They
represented themselves, Pius X and their families very well. I pray they will do well in life and always stay close to our Lord.
We also congratulate four teachers who are retiring from Pius X High School. Mrs. Connie Weir retires after
20 years of teaching Spanish; after 18 years, Sr. Veronica Volkmer, M.S. retires from teaching and leading the
theology department; Sally Burt taught for 15 years in the English department and is now retiring; and Dan
Leuenberger retires following 5 years as a math teacher.
BOLT 2012, “Kings, Queens, Bishops...BOLT,” celebrated its 27th anniversary. This important and elegant
fund-raising event benefits the students of Pius X and was an evening of joy and tremendous success, netting
over $240,000. Of that, $140,000 will be used to continue to pay-off the $400,000 loan needed to build the
new kitchen. The other $100,000 will be used by the school and Booster Club to renovate and maintain Pius
X facilities. A special thanks to Deb Schulte and executive committee of BOLT for doing a fantastic job.
The first ever Give To Lincoln Day on May 17th was a great success for Pius X, raising over $95,000 to help renovate our
chemistry labs. Over $17,000 in matching grants were given to Pius X because so many people supported our efforts that day.
Thanks to Michelle Birkel and the Foundation staff for promoting that effort.
The Strategic Planning process is in the final stages of the information-gathering phase. This phase has been thorough,
enlightening and well worth the time and effort involved. Dozens of Pius X stakeholders participated in focus group sessions
which lasted 90 minutes or more. They gave up their lunch hours and evenings to comment on a variety of topics: what Pius
is doing well, where we can grow and improve, and what people want our school to accomplish over the next five to 10 years.
These focus groups included people representing parents of current and former students, parents whose children transferred out
of Pius X, Catholic parents who chose not to send their children to Pius X, alumni, priests who teach at Pius, pastors whose
parishes support Pius, the Pius X Foundation Board, the Pius X Board of Advisers, faculty, staff, and students in each grade
level.
Anne Steinhoff, the consultant who led the focus groups, characterized participants’ comments as “overwhelmingly positive.”
She said that even when people had criticism, they focused on how Pius can overcome the challenges and offered concrete
suggestions for improvement.
Although comments and suggestions varied from group to group, Anne noted that every focus group emphasized the three
areas:
• Support for and pride in Pius X’s commitment to its mission, Catholic values and Christ-centered education;
• The strong sense of family and community shared by those associated with Pius; and
• Agreement on the school’s priorities: academic excellence, teacher quality and pay, functional facilities,
financial viability, managing school growth, and maintaining a Christ-centered focus. (Many also believe the
school would benefit from identifying best practices in each of these areas.)
Now that the focus group research is nearly concluded, our consultant will present her findings and preliminary conclusions to
the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. Then, she will work with a small planning team to create the school’s vision and
draft the strategic plan. Eventually, Anne and administration will solicit a final round of stakeholder input at a town hall-type
meeting, during which participants will be invited to review and react to the draft plan.
Thank you for your input, prayer and support in making Pius X High School the great school that it is and in assisting us with
planning for our future carefully and wisely. May your summer bring joyful times with family, relaxation and rejuvenation. Let
us continue to pray for one another.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Father Jim Meysenburg, Superintendent
Kathryn Slattery, after receiving a heart/liver
transplant, describes her recovery as one of
five transplant surgeons, Dr. David Mercer,
looks on. When news of Kathryn’s impending
transplant reached Pius X, the entire school
paused to share in a moment of silence and
prayer. Soon after, students began to fill the
school chapel. Kathryn and her family “could
just feel that power of all of those prayers
around us.” Picture courtesy of UNMC.
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by Sophia Werning
The Miraculous Journey of a Pius X
Student from Transplant to Prom Queen
T
he first thing you notice is her
smile.
When celebrating the remarkable
young life of Pius X graduate Kathryn
Slattery ’12, it is her outward joyfulness
and deep inner faith in God’s providence
that has inspired all who are privileged to
know her.
On Jan. 11, 2012, just 17 days before
her 18th birthday, Kathryn became an
even greater inspiration throughout the
state and nationwide by becoming the
first combination heart and liver transplant recipient in the state of Nebraska.
The rare, monumental surgery, performed
at University of Nebraska Medical Center
(UNMC) in Omaha, is one of only 6 or
7 of its kind ever performed on a patient
younger than 20 years of age.
This was not the first event of what
Kathryn’s mother Marilyn describes as
“another extra little card” her daughter
had been dealt since the day she was
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born. Her mother's understatement is reflective of the humble, faith-filled journey
of a strong young lady who has captured
the hearts of so many in the Pius X community and beyond.
A Determined Spirit
Kathryn Helene Slattery was born on
January 28, 1994, to Jim and Marilyn
Slattery of Lincoln. She is the youngest
of five children, including Anthony ’02,
Justina ’03, Elisa ’06 and Mary ’08.
Kathryn’s health struggles began immediately following birth when she was
diagnosed with a congenital heart defect
called hypo plastic left heart syndrome.
The life-threatening condition necessitated that Kathryn undergo three openheart surgeries in her first two fragile
years of life.
“I remember when Kathryn was born,
we were all so excited,” Justina reflects
on her sister’s strength of character that
was evident since birth. “Seeing her go
through the surgeries as an infant was
very difficult, but even then, she was
such a strong person, defeating all of the
odds.”
Among Justina’s early memories are
taking Kathryn to their grade school, St.
Peter, to “show off” her little sister.
“Growing up, we all adored her,” Justina says. “She has always been so mature
for her age in terms of how she handled
situations. For example, when she was
younger and had anemia, the medicine
she took made her face look swollen.
Never once did she complain. She would
just shrug it off.”
The early surgeries to repair her heart
allowed Kathryn to enjoy a relatively
normal, active childhood. In addition to
attending school at St. Peter grade school,
she was able to participate in sports,
dance and cheer leading. A joyful girl, she
had no end of friends or admirers of her
I have had strong
faith my entire life,
but this has definitely
strengthened it even
more. I know this was a
very big surgery,
obviously, and God let
me get through it with
no complications when
they were expecting
so many. I’ve always
believed in the power
of prayer, but it really
showed in this
experience.
~Kathryn Slattery
Wearing her scar like a “badge of
honor,” Kathryn was thrilled to first
learn she had been cleared to attend
Prom without a mask. Her example of
faith and strength was evident as the
room erupted into a standing ovation
when she was named Queen. Photo
courtesy of Pius X Yearbook Staff.
infectious smile. Despite her outward demeanor, however, a number of additional
issues began to present greater challenges
to her health as she approached her senior
year of high school.
A Time for Hope
“We have always known the heart
transplant was in her future, but the surprise was the liver,” Marilyn explains.
When Kathryn was young, she developed hemolytic autoimmune anemia, a
condition that causes one’s body to break
down its red blood cells. During high
school, Kathryn also began to develop
pancreatitis. “That is when the liver started becoming an issue,” Marilyn explains.
In June of 2011, her doctor recommended removing her gallbladder. During this surgery, cirrhosis (deterioration of
her liver) was evident. That fall, Kathryn
started experiencing ascites, fluid building
up in her abdomen.
On December 1, she called home from
school to say she was not feeling well, and
then began running a low grade fever.
She was admitted to Children’s Hospital
in Omaha so infectious disease specialists could determine the cause. Kathryn
was placed on a powerful IV antibiotic
get her on the list. They tested for everymaking her nauseous and causing vomitthing. It was a roller coaster.”
ing. Despite the treatment, the fever of
The fever that prompted her hospitalunknown origin remained.
ization – and whose origin to this day
“I could not eat and lost a lot of
remains a mystery – finally broke. On
weight,” Kathryn recalls.
January 5, after enduring days of someKathryn’s pediatrician since birth,
times painful tests, Kathryn was placed
Dr. Jeff David, had always erred on the
on the waiting list for a transplant.
side of cauJust five days later,
tion. Since
We were calm in knowing she and her family redoctors were
ceived the remarkable
God was taking care of
still unable to
news.
determine the
“We thought we were
Kathryn, taking care of us, going
cause of the
in for a few days
taking care of the doctors. to treat a fever,” Jim
fever, she was
transferred to
says with astonishment.
We could just feel the
UNMC by
“One month later she
ambulance on
had a new heart and
power of all of those
December 20.
liver. My head is still
prayers around us.
It was durspinning.”
ing this time
that talk of a dual heart-liver transplant
An Answer to Prayer
became more urgent. Kathryn was growJustina and her sister Mary were working weaker, and her oxygen saturation
ing at the family business, Art & Soul,
levels worsened, making it more difficult
when the phone rang with the news
to breathe.
about the organ donation.
“Once we were transferred to UNMC,
“I answered the phones and heard
it was full speed ahead.” Marilyn says. “It
those wonderful words: ‘We have orwas appointment after appointment to
gans!’”
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Immediately, they left work, picked up
their sister Elisa and joined their brother
and other family members in Omaha
where they were prepping Kathryn for
surgery.
Meanwhile at Pius X, Guidance Director Jan Frayser received the news and
at 11:30 a.m. made the announcement
over the school’s loudspeaker. The entire
student body, faculty and staff learned
together that an organ donor had been
matched with Kathryn, and that she was
going to be wheeled into surgery that afternoon for the historic procedure.
The entire school paused to share in a
moment of silence and prayer. Soon after,
a students began to fill the school chapel.
Word quickly spread among Pius
families to offer up prayers for Kathryn.
Several of her closest friends dropped everything and drove to Omaha to see her
once more before her surgery.
“We knew that the entire Pius X family
– the entire Catholic community – was
praying for us,” Justina recalls. “There
is no doubt in my mind how strong the
community is, and I’ve seen it in other
situations. We all just come together.”
A team of five surgeons were assembled
– two heart and three liver specialists
– along with more than a dozen medical specialists to perform the first-ever
attempt at the dual transplant at their
hospital.
Among the medical team were cardiac
surgeons John Um, MD and Jim Hammel, MD; and liver transplant surgeons
Jean Botha, MD; Wendy Grant, MD;
and David Mercer, MD, PhD. A coordinated plan was worked out for the
surgery, and alternate plans were determined in the event complications would
develop.
“The biggest concern was bleeding. But
the surgery went extremely smoothly and
there were no surprises,” Marilyn recalls.
The heart transplant occurred first, and
then was left to rest a while to make sure
it was functioning properly. After that,
the liver surgeons moved in. The entire
procedure took about 14 hours to complete.
1
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email kristin.heath@piusx.net; or call 402.488.0931
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She’s in God’s Hands
Just before Kathryn was wheeled into
surgery, Marilyn said there were a few
tears shed, but for the most part, it was
a celebratory feeling that her daughter
would be receiving healthy organs and
a new lease on life. For her parents and
loved ones, it was Kathryn who helped
them stay strong.
“Her positive outlook was just amazing. Her attitude and faith were what
helped us overcome some of the fears,”
her father Jim remembers. “I said to myself: She’s in God’s hands.”
“Kathryn had such a wonderful attitude and so much hope that it helped us
get past the thought that it wouldn’t be
okay,” Marilyn adds.
Kathryn’s parents also knew that their
daughter’s quality of life was quickly deteriorating – she was in end stage heart and
liver disease – so they were convinced this
was the right course.
“We all had so much faith in the doctors,” Marilyn says of the medical team
at UNMC. “They were so positive and
confident in one another that it put us at
ease. Also, talking to other transplant recipients, including two young transplant
patients that looked completely healthy
gave us courage.”
“During the surgery, we had more than
20 people in the waiting room,” Justina
adds. “You would think we would be
extremely nervous – and yes, the wait was
difficult – but there was an overwhelming
sense of calm. We were calm in knowing
God was taking care of Kathryn, taking
care of us, taking care of the doctors. We
could just feel that power of all of those
prayers around us.”
Justina describes the awe and joy of
entering the intensive care unit and seeing her youngest sister for the first time
following the surgery. “I looked down at
her, could actually see her new heart beating through her thin gown,” she tearfully
reflects.
One of the most poignant moments
following the surgery came from Dr.
Botha, who told the family: “Well, we
took out a nasty liver and put in a Rolls
Royce.”
Another health care professional at
UNMC, Amanda Schademann, RN,
BSN, was working as staff nurse with the
hospital’s Cardiac Progressive Care Unit
when she heard about Kathryn’s case. As
a Pius X alumna, Amanda ‘05 felt an immediate connection and desire to reach
out to the Slattery family.
“I heard about Kathryn (from a family member) at Thanksgiving,” Amanda
recalls. “The following Monday, I went
to the hospital room, introduced myself,
and asked if they needed anything.”
The day of the surgery, the charge nurse
alerted her that a potential transplant
would take place on Kathryn, and part of
the nurse training involves sitting in and
Kathryn has
always been a
Thunderbolt!
Kathryn’s Baptism
Kathryn’s journey has seen many
trials, but a smile - hers or those of
family and friends - and her faith has
seen her through.
watching the surgery take place. “Knowing my connection, they asked if I was
available and I said of course I would be!”
This was the first full transplant Amanda had seen, and watched all through the
night and into the morning when they
closed Kathryn up.
“Afterwards, I would stop in to see her
every night when I was at work. I think
having a friendly face to keep your spirits
up has a lot to do with recovery.”
Like so many others, Amanda was
extremely impressed with Kathryn’s demeanor despite the grueling surgery and
recovery process. “Even when I saw her in
the ICU she was smiling the entire time.
I don’t know if I would have been that
strong.”
The first few days following the surgery
would be critical to Kathryn’s recovery.
Although she suffered some minor setbacks, there were no signs of organ rejection, and the success of the transplant
procedure already was becoming evident.
“Even by the day after the surgery, you
could see the pink in her nails and on her
face and lips,” Justina recalls.
Prior to the transplant operation, Kathryn’s oxygen levels had been dropping to
dangerous levels, and now her new heart
was working to reverse that.
“You and I have anywhere between
97-100% oxygenated blood,” Marilyn
explains. “Before surgery, her levels were
running in the high 50s to low 80s. Now
it is nearly 100%, and she can walk faster
without getting out of breath.”
Kathryn not only defied all of the odds
for surgical and post-operative complications, her hospital stay was one-third in
length of what the family was told prior
to the surgery.
“The doctors had told us she would
be in the hospital for three months,” Jim
says of his daughter’s miraculous recovery.
“Three weeks later, we were able to bring
Kathryn home.”
From “Miracle” Patient to
Queen of the Prom
After arriving home, it took time for
Kathryn to be released to be in large public groups. Even then, she wore a mask to
A mother’s smile is
always good medicine!
Kathryn’s First Holy Communion
with her friend, Carrie.
Kathryn’s first day
of high school - her smile is ready!
protect herself from germs and infection.
Justina describes looking for prom
Throughout the entire ordeal, Kathryn’s
dresses, and how Kathryn was in no
faithfulness to God continued to inspire
way shy of her scar appearing above the
awe in all those around her.
neckline of the beautiful pink gown she
“Hearing her say how much she missed
selected for the special evening.
going to church because she couldn’t go
“I asked if she was going to wear a
somewhere with crowds really touched
necklace,” their mother Marilyn recalls.
me,” Marilyn reflects. “At her age, she
“She said, ‘No, I think I look pretty
could have missed so many other places,”
good.’ This is always how she’s handled
such as the shopping mall or gatherings
things. And that is how we have always
of friends, for example. But Kathryn just
taught her from her first surgeries: That
longed to go to church.
little scar saved your life.”
“I have had strong
“Cover it? She
faith my entire life,
I know it was something wears that scar like
but this has defia necklace,” Justina
nitely strengthened
adds. “She is proud
God wanted as a
it even more,” Kathto wear it. It is her
ryn reflects. “I know
badge of honor.
small part of His
this was a very big
Kathryn never comsurgery, obviously,
plained and just
plan for my life.
and God let me get
accepted everything
through it with no complications when
God put in her path. Here I am the older
they were expecting so many. I’ve always
sister, and I’m supposed to be the role
believed in the power of prayer, but it
model. But it is Kathryn who is my role
really showed in this experience.”
model. Her strength and her faith are so
While still in the hospital, she received
inspiring.”
a day-by-day reflection book called Jesus
The night of prom, Kathryn was joyCalling. “During the day, we would pick
ful to find out she had been cleared by
up the book and read it to each other,”
her doctors to attend without her mask.
Marilyn remembers. “I will never forget
When her name was announced as
how it would speak perfectly to exactly
“Queen”, the entire room erupted into to
what was happening that day.”
a standing ovation.
As the days and weeks passed, Pius X
“When they called my name, it was
administrators and teachers coordinated
surreal,” Kathryn recalls. “Just thinking
and worked out a plan to help Kathryn
about how far I had come to be standing
complete her course work in order to
there and receiving that honor was amazkeep her on track for graduation. “I will
ing.”
never forget when Jan Frayser looked at
us in the eye and said: ‘She will graduate,
The Gift of Life: Paying it Forward
no matter what!’” Marilyn recalls. “I canEven from her hospital bed at UNMC,
not tell you what a relief it was to hear
Kathryn was characteristically thinking
that.”
about others, in particular, the tens of
Then came the news that Kathryn had
thousands of people all across the counbeen nominated for prom queen. “When
try who at any given time are awaiting
Mrs. (Sandy) Hartman called me, I was
life-saving donor organs. At that time,
surprised and really happy. It made me
she asked her family to help her plan and
even more excited to come to prom,”
hold a fund raiser for Donate Life NeKathryn says with a smile.
braska. The organization is dedicated to
“Of course, when we heard she was
spreading the word about organ, eye and
nominated, we were excited for her. But
tissue donation, and promotes organ doshe had already won everyone’s heart by
nor registration throughout the state.
then,” Justina reflects. “I just cannot be
The fund raiser was held on April 19
more proud of her.”
at the Slattery family’s art and custom
piusx.net U
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framing business, Art & Soul. Kathryn
attended the event, where she presented a
check for $2,000 to the organization.
“I didn’t know that much about organ
donation before,” Kathryn says. “But
when the Donate Life people came to talk
to me (in the hospital), I realized how
important it is because there are a lot of
people waiting on the list. I was really
lucky to get on it so fast. It is so important to spread the word and be an organ
donor, because you never know if you or
one of your family members will be in
need of one.”
“We were so impressed with her generosity,” says Cindy Schabow, spokesperson
for Donate Life Nebraska, who was presented with the check. “Most fund raisers
we have been involved with in the past
have been for the patients because of their
tremendous financial needs. This was one
of the first ones that the patient has actually designated us for the funding.”
Schabow notes that Kathryn’s ability to
see the bigger picture of how many others
are still awaiting donors – and how fortunate she was to be a recipient – is remarkable and yet typical of her generosity and
caring spirit.
“She is a very impressive young lady,”
Schabow says. “That is really a unique
perspective, to think that broadly and
openly about others, even as she was still
recovering. And she was a very sick young
lady at that point.”
The Road Ahead
The first year of recovery from Kathryn’s transplant will be what her mother
describes as a “balancing act” of getting
all her medicines regulated. Thankfully,
she is slowly getting off of some of the
Thank You
It is truly amazing the many ways that people in
the Pius X and entire Lincoln Catholic community offered support during the last six months for Kathryn.
We wish to thank each and every one of you for
your kind and generous support during her challenging medical journey.
There is no question that the many prayers offered for Kathryn and for her family provided the spiritual blessings we needed at critical times. With
so many faithful people including Kathryn in their private prayers, it gave her and us strength and
comfort that she was clearly in God’s hands. Relying on our faith for the successful outcome for her
was constantly reinforced knowing she was included in so many prayers by all of you. Prayer is very
powerful and in several instances we believe this massive spiritual support is what pulled Kathryn
through some difficult times. Your continued spiritual support has helped her recovery to proceed
in such a remarkable way, and to maintain her good attitude that she will be successful with her
recuperation. The doctors have reminded us several times this is a marathon, not a sprint. Your
continued prayers for Kathryn are very much appreciated.
Who would have believed she would be dismissed from the hospital to return home slightly over
three weeks later and to be able to attend her senior prom and return to school after only three
months from surgery? We had been advised what to expect for her days after surgery and we
were fully prepared to spend months in Omaha as she recuperated.
There have been many special moments from the Pius X and Lincoln Catholic community we
are very grateful for. We are very thankful for the many students, faculty and friends that went to
the chapel to attend a special mass for Kathryn at the time of her transplant surgery. The cards
(especially from the Catholic grade schools), gifts, posters, wristbands, t-shirts and visits from her
classmates, priests, faculty, staff and parents were important in providing her emotional support
before and after surgery. We were extremely humbled by the generous financial assistance given
to us to help with the extra costs for her care not covered by insurance. The Pius X faculty and
counseling office have been extremely helpful in assisting Kathryn in completing her senior year so
she was able to graduate on time.
Thinking back to prom - what a special night for Kathryn! She was excited when she was told she
had been nominated a candidate for queen. It was such joyous moment for all of us to see the
standing ovation when they announced her selection as prom queen by her classmates! This will
be a memory never forgotten by her or her family. The students showed what good kids they are
and what Pius X is all about. Thank you so much!
May God bless each and every one of you!
~Jim, Marilyn, Anthony, Justina,
Elisa, Mary and Kathryn Slattery
8
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numerous medicines she is prescribed,
and her strength is improving daily. Kathryn also has undergone several weeks of
physical therapy to strengthen heart and
lung functions.
“She lost a lot of muscle because of being in the hospital for so long,” Marilyn
says. “Just walking was difficult in the
beginning. Now we can’t keep up with
her!”
Looking back on her amazing journey,
Kathryn remains humbly faithful, despite
the remarkable nature of her experience.
“It was a really hard thing to go
through,” she says. “But I know it was
something God wanted as a small part of
His plan for my life.”
This coming July, at the six month
mark of receiving her transplant, Kathryn
will be given the opportunity to write a
thank-you letter to the donor family that
will be delivered through Donate Life.
Her letter must remain anonymous. The
family can then choose whether or not
to contact her back. The Slattery family’s
experience of speaking with other organ
recipients have learned that in many
cases, donor families are open to meeting
the recipients. Others choose to remain
anonymous.
“I read a story about a little girl, Avery,
who got a heart transplant when she was
six years old,” Kathryn says. “When she
met the donor family, they became instant friends and they are still in contact
today. I think it would be really cool if
that were to happen to me.”
During her road to recovery, Kathryn
became a typical high school senior. She
graduated with her class on May 20, and
is now looking forward to college. While
still unsure on the direction her skills and
aspirations will lead her, Kathryn will be
attending the University of NebraskaLincoln. Currently she plans on pursuing
a major in English and a minor is speech
pathology.
“That may change – I’m already second
guessing myself,” she says.
Kathryn is certain of one thing - her
desire to become more involved with
Donate Life, serving as volunteer and
spokesperson.
Kathryn is also awaiting word from the
Make-a-Wish Foundation, a non-profit
organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. This summer, the foundation will
be granting one of her three wishes: a trip
to Fiji, a Hawaiian vacation, or a chance
to meet actor Channing Tatum.
What other plans await the young Pius
X alumna?
“I really like to write, especially creative
writing,” Kathryn says.
When asked if she may write a book
about her life experience one day, she
pauses, and then replies: “I could, maybe.”
And then Kathryn smiles.
Thunder
1 Mile & 5K
BOLT
Fun Run
2nd Annual
Pius X High School
August 4, 2012
8 a.m. • Holmes Lake Park
Registration available online at:
www.piusx.net/alumni
Select: Events - ThunderBOLT Fun Run
or go to:
http://alumni.piusx.net/fun_run.htm
Early Deadline: July 9
$20/person or $100/family
Thanks to our sponsors!
Peter
Morin, M.D.
Family Practice
after July 9: $25/person or
$125/family, no t-shirt guarantee
• Packet pick-up to be held Aug. 3 from 4-7 p.m.
at Pius X High School.
• Late registration - 7 a.m. Saturday at
Holmes Lake.
• Children 5 & under may participate for free, a
t-shirt would cost $10 each.
• Strollers allowed in the 1 mile ONLY.
No dogs are permitted.
• Prizes awarded to the top three male and female
finishers in the 5K run and top finishers (male and
female) in each age division.
Dr. Daniel J. Tomes, M.D.
For more information, please contact:
Kristin Heath
Nicole Simon
CLU, Agent
Alumni Director
488.0931 • kristin.heath@piusx.net
piusx.net U
9
academic success
2012
Class of
Photo courtesy of Yearbook staff.
Taylor Ackerman
Elizabeth Albrecht
Eric Anderson
Vanessa Arias
Connor Aylor
Jeffrey Aylward
Charles Barber
Lucy Barie
Annalese Barnes
Emma Barnett
Jose Barreda
Hannah Beiermann
Elizabeth Benes
Erika Benes
Marie Bertrand
Aubrey Birch
George Blankenau
Christopher Bodfield
Michael Boes
Levi Bowman
Joshua Bro
Gabrielle Bruckner
Christopher Bruner
Abigail Burt
Stephen Byers
Elizabeth Campbell
Nicholas Carter
Alexis Christen
John Clark
Melody Claus
Shelby Condello
Quinn Conzemius
Colin Costello
Katherine Crawford
Hunter Creglow
Alexandra Crook
Conor Culhane
Nicholas Daily
Madison Davis
William Davis
Emily Dawson
Mary Dawson
Nicholas Demery
Anna Drehs
Cory Durbin
Cassandra Effken
Matthew Ellerbee
Steven Emmerich
Joshua Ernst
Ann Essay
Marc Fehringer
Lindsay Feltes
Constance Fiedler
Mark Fiedler
Bridget Fitzgerald
Jason Flink
Katelyn Geary
Riley Giesler
Armando Gomez Torres
Ben Goodwin
Derrick Gossard
William Gregersen
Jack Gude
Jordan Haas
Cameron Haecker
Bridgette Hafner
Austin Hagge
Jordan Hall
Bridget Hansen
Anna Hanzl
Guillermo Haro
Nicole Hartmann
Michael Heibel
Jacob Hernbloom
Cassandra Heskett
Caleb Hile
Leah Hile
Caleb Hoesing
Kristopher Hollamon
Maria Hotovy
Scarlett Howerter
Gerardo Izaguirre
Jacob Jara
Noah Javadi
Amber Johnson
Chloe Johnson
Margaret Johnson
Ashton Jones
Harlan Jones
Derek Jundt
Shannon Kelly
Johan Klasson
Johnathon Knobbe
Jessica Koelzer
Jared Kolbush
Kelsey Konecky
Kathryn Kopetzky
Shauna Krause
Mason Krcmarik
Dylan Krings
Amy Kula
Samuel Kurtenbach
Benjamin Landwehr
Christopher Lauer
Nhung Le
Russell Lichtenfeld
Emilee Linebaugh
Mary Litt
Tanner Lockhorn
Caleb Logsdon
William Long
Michaela Maguire
Kayla Malizzi
Mary Marsolek
Zackary Massey
Kevin McCabe
Ethan McClellen
Abby McClure
10 U piusx.net
Madison McConkey
Carolyn McDermott
Hilde McKee
Adam McNeal
Cami Mehl
Thomas Mejstrik, Jr.
Kathleen Meradith
Derek Meyer
Margaret Meyers
Zachary Micek
Emily Milana
Logan Milburn
Trevor Milburn
Braidan Miller
Bryce Miller
Drew Miller
Elena Miller
Jeremy Miller
Maxwell Miller
Tyler Minchow
Brian Morehouse
Margaret Morehouse
Ariana Munguia
Paola Mwenentanda
Audra Nabity
Tiffany Nagel
Phouog Anh Nguyen
Dang Nguyen
Kevin Nguyen
Randy Nguyen
Shawn Nguyen
Erich Nickman
Jared Nickman
Austin Niemann
Sara Novotny
Devin O’Brien
Sarah O’Hearn
Matthew Olsson
Sean O’Neill
Dominic Otto
Nichole Perez Pacuno
Kelsey Patzel
Benjamin Pavlovic
Edgar Pelayo
Sarah Petrzilka
Ryan Pham
Dominic Piccolo
Erica Pieper
Katrina Pierce
William Pokojski
Eric Policky
Lauren Pope
Matthew Powell
Nolan Pribnow
Brooke Punteney
Tyler Ramos
Andrew Reese
Emily Rentschler
Richard Rice
Anne Richert
Ian Ritterbush
Trenton Royse
Casey Rozell
Lea Sack
Timothy Sanders
Cole Sartore
Alec Sasse
Nathan Schlautman
Anne-Marie Schneider
Austin Schnell
Abigail Schoening
Justin Schreiber
Andrew Schumacher
Zakary Sedlak
Samantha Shottenkirk
Mary Sievert
Taylor Skudlarek
Kathryn Slattery
Richard Sloup
Lauren Smith
Raymond Smith
Michaela Speth
Patrick Spethman
Stephanie Springer
Emily Steinbach
Dayton Stewart
Derek Stoley
Erika Stuchlik
Mary Sullivan
Mitchell Theil
Alexander Theisen
Michaela Timmins
Alex Tobias
Joshua Tomjack
Adam Torres
Jessica Tran
Paul Tran
Katelyn Tucker
Nicholas Varilek
Alison Vazquez
Kyle VerMaas
Matthew Vrbka
Hanna Wackel
Kyle Warday
Marie Wathen
Danielle Weskamp
Emily Wiebeck
Eric Wilhelm
Samuel Williams
Benjamin Woita
Austin Woltemath
Allison Zastrow
Andrew Zeleski
Matt Zeplin
Mitchell Znamenacek
Academic Accomplishments
• 94% post-secondary enrollment
• 35 seniors scored a 30+ on their ACT test
• 26 seniors had a perfect cumulative 4.0
average
• 49% of class received the Presidential
Academic Excellence Award (cumulative
GPA of 3.5 or above)
• 38 seniors named Distinguished Scholars
• University of Nebraska - Lincoln
o 16 Regent, 18 Honors Program, 1 Raikes,
4 Top Scholars
• University of Nebraska - Omaha
o 5 Regents, 2 Dean’s, 1 Chancellor’s
Scholarship
• University of Nebraska – Kearney
o 1 Regent Scholarship
• Nebraska Wesleyan University – 27
Achievement, 1 Vaughn and 2 Legacy
Scholarships
• Benedictine College – 1 Dean’s Scholarship
• Creighton University – 11 Scholarships
• Marquette University – 1 Honors Program
Selection
• Susan Buffett Scholarship – 1 winner
• Presidential Scholar – 2 selected to apply
• Omaha World Herald All Eastern AllAcademic
o 1st Team individual
o 2nd Team individual
• Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship –
1 National Finalist
• One student to attend St. Gregory the Great
Seminary
• 2 seniors selected for “Best of the Class”,
sponsored by Channel 8 KLKN-TV saluting top
academic achievers in Nebraska
• 3rd place in State Academic Decathlon
receiving 26 individual medals
• National Forensics League 1 Academic All-American
athletic highlights
State Champions
Baseball • Wrestling • Bowling
ongratulations to Coach Charf
Cand
the Pius X Baseball team for
claiming Pius X’s first ever
State Baseball Championship!
The Pius X baseball team celebrates and shows off the school’s very first State
Baseball Championship trophy! The baseball team also made the local news’
Top Baseball Moments in 2012. View it at www.1011now.com, Sports, Prep
Zone. Photo courtesy of Pius X Yearbook Staff.
ongratulations to the Pius X Bowling Teams
Cfor
sweeping the Nebraska High School
Bowling Federation State Championships.
Congratulations to the 2012 Pius X baseball team and coaches! Pictured l to r,
back: Jordan Hall, Matt Foley, Nolan Walker, Alexander Schleppenbach, Jared
Kolbush, Fletcher Zornes, middle: Daniel LeDuc, Jonathon Brakenhoff, Ryne
Kortum, Tanner Zeutzius, Ian Ritterbush, Jacob Schleppenbach, Devin Krenk,
Rex Raetz, front: Derek Meyer, Tyler Hooper, Christopher Bodfield, Jordan
Haas, Anthony McWilliams, Travis Sedlak, and Thomas Schneider. Photo
courtesy of Pius X Yearbook Staff.
ongratulations to Pius X Wrestling
CTeam,
who had three state medalist.
Jared Nickman claimed the State Title
with Ben Goodwin taking home the
runner-up medal and Tyson Cisneros
placing fifth place.
Jared Nickman
The 2012 State Championship for the boys bowling team marked their third state title in four
years and the first title for the girls’ team. Above:
The Pius X boys team members include (back, l
to r, back) John Masinelli, Nick Schuller, Coach
Rod Machacek, Jon Post, Colin Koehler, Coach
Larry Puteney, (front, l to r) Derrick Gossard,
Drew Miller, and Will Thorpe. Right: The girls’
team members include (l to r, back) Jessika
Lierz, Coach Tyler Puteney, Brooke Punteney,
Kaylee Petersen, (front, l to r) Meghan Straub,
and Kelly Machacek.
Ben Goodwin
Tyson Cisneros
piusx.net U 11
pius essentials
Cheer Squad Takes 2nd
at National Competition
The Pius X Cheer leading Squad competed at
the contest of Champions Nationals School and
Youth Recreational Cheer competition on Feb. 26
in Orlando, Fla. In addition to cheering at Pius X
sporting events and regular practices and activities
throughout the year, the team members had to
commit to additional practices in preparation for
the national competition. Their hard work and
dedication paid off when they brought home 2nd
place, missing the championship title by just .4 of
a point. Congratulations to coaches Amy Snyder,
Lexie Deahn and Jess Posta and the competition
squad, including Ehlee Anderson, Kaylyn Barnes,
Tracie Champoux, Melody Claus, Makala Gossard,
Nikki Hartmann, Sami Jablonski, Hannah Kathe,
Madeline Kenney, Michaela Maguire, Bridget
McKeegan, Madison Montanez, Maggie Morehouse,
Megan Pohlen, Anna Printz, Allison Russell, Meg
Tasler, Mikayla Tremain, Kelsie Valish and Natalia
Unger. Photo courtesy of Kelly Morehouse.
Pius X Students Give Gift of Education
Club World Aid focused all of their efforts this year
to raise funds for a “School for Sam.” Sam is a student
at the Shanti Bhavan School in India. Shanti Bhavan’s
mission is to adequately develop the most vulnerable
and disadvantaged children of India’s “lowest caste.”
Club World Aid held a number of fundraisers, including an Encore Benefit Concert. In one fundraiser more
than $3,330 was raised for Sam and to pay for Sam’s
education and room and board. This gift will nearly
cover three full years of his education. The students
found inspiration through the daughter of Pius X
spanish teacher, Mrs. Sievert. Elise taught English
and dance at Shanti Bhavan. Club World Aid, one of
many Pius X’s student led organizations, is
dedicated to promoting awareness of problems in our world and to
finding ways to improve our world. You can learn more about Sam
and his incredible school at www.shantibhavanonline.org. Photo
courtesy of Yearbook staff.
WORDSTRUCK Live!
Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Prayer, by Stephanie Spring
er
Pius X student authors, artists, and photographers were showcased at WORDSTRUCK Live! on April 28. Celebrating its 10th
year, the annual event is planned each year by the second semester
ria
Senior Writing Class taught by Mrs. Burt. It included a coffeehouse Shannon Kelly and Ma
h
10t
the
at
t
sen
pre
y
Hotov
atmosphere complete with a stage; art and photography displays;
Wordstruck
of
ry
ersa
niv
An
live music; readings of published pieces by their authors; and refreshstaff.
Live. Photo courtesy of Yearbook
ments.
The participating students also publish their work in a literary magazine entitled
WORDSTRUCK 2012. This 12th annual piece was then available for purchase for the
cost of $10. Copies are still available by contacting Pius X High School. The value of
Wordstruck 2012 is immeasurable - as the thoughts, feelings and artistic expressions
by Theresa McB
ride
of Pius X students are worthy of seeing, reading and keeping.
Congratulations to all members of Senior Writing who helped to produce the magazine: Annalese Barnes, Jose Barreda, Erica
Benes, Abby Burt, Cory Durbin, Katelyn Geary, Nikki Hartmann, Maria Hotovy, Scarlett Howerter, Shannon Kelly, Emilee Linebaugh, Abby McClure, Derek Meyer, Jeremy Miller, Erich Nickman, Sarah O’Hearn, William Pokojski, Richie Rice, Mary Kate
Sievert, Taylor Skudlarek, Kathryn Slattery, Emily Steinbeck, Erika Stuchlik, Mary Sullivan, Kalie Timmins, Alex Tobias, Josh Tomjack, Kyle VerMass, Matt Vrbka, Hannah Wackel, Kyle Warday, Emily Wiebeck, and Eric Wilhelm.
12 U piusx.net
empowering students
Academic All-State
PrepVolleyball.com named three Pius
X volleyball players to their list of High
School Academic
All-Americans for the
2011 fall season. All
three student-athletes
ended their high school
career with perfect 4.0
GPAs. Allison Zastrow
was named to the 1st
Allison Zastrow
Team. She will be playing volleyball in this
fall for Washington
University in St. Louis,
Mo. Named to the 2nd
Team was Cassie Effken, who will be headed to Drake University
Cassie Effken
in Des Moines, Iowa
to also play volleyball.
5th Team honors went
to Lea Sack. She will be
attending and playing
volleyball at Bradley
University in Peoria, Ill.
Lea Sack
Pius X
Student
Selected for
Scholar Programs
Mary Driewer was selected as a QuestBridge 2012 College Prep Scholar. As
such, she has been
nominated for an allexpense-paid campus
visit to one or more of
QuestBridge’s partner
colleges and has been
wait listed for a QuestBridge College Admissions Conference at Stanford University,
Princeton University, or Northwestern
University.
Mary was also selected as a 2012
Joyce Ivy Foundation Summer Scholar.
Through this summer program, she will
Nation’s Capitol Provides Unique
Educational Experience
This year, 115
Pius X students
traveled to
Washington,
D.C., our nation’s capital for
an extraordinary
educational
experience.
The trip immersed them
in the culture
and heritage
of our country.
Students explored the Capitol, and visited memorials including the Martin Luther King,
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, Korean, Iwo Jima, WWII and Vietnam memorials. Other highlights included the Holocaust Museum, Mount Vernon, and
Arlington National Cemetery and the changing of the guards. Special thanks to Senator
Mike Johann’s office, which made special arrangements for a tour of the White House.
attend Brown University this summer
with the costs being paid by Brown University and the Joyce Ivy Foundation.
The selection of the 2012 Summer
Scholars was extremely competitive based
on academic achievement, commitment
to extracurricular activities, and motivation demonstrated by the applicant.
Students to
Participate in Summer
Education Experience
Four Pius X students have been selected and will be participating in educational opportunities at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center this summer. The
Pius students are four of only 18 selected
for the program.
Jayme Cox and Garrett Teel will have a
fun and exciting learning journey as part
of the St. Elizabeth’s Health Occupations
Summer Internship. The experience will
include learning from and
networking with medical
professionals and other
interns. They will keep a
weekly journal, conduct
research and make an oral
Jayme Cox
presentation about their
project.
Morgan Bideaux and
Rebecca
Wright
will participate in St.
Garrett Teel
Elizabeth’s
Summer
Camp which will include
experience at the hospital Morgan Bideaux
and at additional sites
which will enhance the
camp adventure. They
are encouraged to bring
journals and capture their
thoughts and information
Rebecca Wright
they receive.
faculty notes
Four Pius X Teachers Retire
Pius X is blessed with an outstanding faculty and staff, but the new school
year will bring a different look as four special educators are retiring.
Mrs. Sally Burt is ending her career after 15 years as a member of the English
department and a beloved writing teacher. Her senior writing class produces the
school’s literary magazine, Wordstruck and hosts Wordstruck Live! She was the
recipient of a Teacher of the Year award in 2004.
Mrs. Connie Weir has spent 45 years teaching, including 20 years at Pius X.
In addition to teaching Spanish, she has graciously given of her time and talent
leading a number of student organizations.
Retiring Pius X faculty Mr. Dan Leuenberger, Mrs. Sally
Mr. Dan Leuenberger may have only spent five years at Pius X, but he has
Burt, Mrs. Connie Weir, and Sr. Veronica were honored at
definitely left his mark. In addition to teaching math, he started the Pius X
Pius X’s end of year faculty/staff luncheon.
Cribbage Club.
Leaving Pius X, but definitely not retiring is Sr. Veronica. She has been teaching and leading the theology department for the last 18
years. She will be heading to Atchison, Kan., to open a new convent to house younger Sisters attending Benedictine College.
piusx.net U 13
faculty notes
So We Will Never Forget:
Pius X Educators Explore the Holocaust
Above: Pius X instructors Katie Elsener (left) and Tom Seib
(center), along with former Pius X teacher Jane Connealy
(right) have become national leaders in Holocaust Education.
They will again be leading one of only seven satellite seminars
offered this summer by the The Memorial Library. The
educators are pictured above at the Oskar Schindler’s factory
and on the left in front of the statue of St. Pope John Paul II in
Crawcow, Poland.
This past spring, Katie Elsener, Tom
Seib, and Jane Connealy participated in
an educational tour of historical sites in
Poland and Israel, as part of the Holocaust Educators Network. The trip took
place from March 24-April 4, and was
sponsored by the Memorial Library in
New York City.
This unique experience will allow the
educators to share their knowledge and
experience with students when teaching
about social justice in today’s world. In
addition, the teachers will be leading a
seminar to share their knowledge with
other educators.
Elsener and Seib are currently Pius X
High School teachers and Connealy is a
former teacher at Pius X. They joined 14
other educators from across the United
States and visited historical sites related to
the Holocaust and important to contemporary Jewish life.
The educational trip included exploration of the Warsaw Ghetto, Oskar
Schindler’s factory, and the concentration camps, including Majdanek and
Auschwitz. They also visited the location where Gisela Glaser labored in the
Plashov concentration camp, where
Irving Roth dug ditches near Birkenau,
and where Olga Lengyel used her skills as
a physician’s assistant in the infirmary at
Auschwitz.
In Israel, they toured sacred and secular
sites in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, including
14 U piusx.net
Yad Vashem: The Holocaust Martyrs’ and
Memorial Library was founded by Olga
Heroes’ Remembrance Authority, and
Lengyel, a Holocaust survivor and author
visited Masada, a UNESCO World Heriof Five Chimneys: A Woman’s True Story of
tage Site of critical importance to Jewish
Auschwitz.
history.
“After Lengyel died, she left a sum of
In both Poland and Israel, the teachers
money to the library in an effort to get
traveled with a Holocaust survivor and a
teachers to teach the Holocaust correctly
historian, and met with local educators in
and effectively,” Elsener explains. “Her
order to exchange ideas about the rewards
hope was that the knowledge of the Hoand challenges of teaching about the
locaust wouldn’t die.”
Holocaust. They and
Sixteen of the parsome of their fellow
ticipating teachers also
“For the dead and lead Memorial Library
travelers wrote about
their experiences for a
Satellite Seminars in
the living,
blog created for their
seven states, including
students back home.
Nebraska. Elsener, Seib,
we
must
bear
Among the most
and Connealy will be
poignant experiences
leading the Nebraska
witness.”
on the trip were their
satellite seminar June
~ Elie Wiesel
visits to the notorious
25-29 at Pius X High
concentration camps in the region.
School. The seminar is free for Nebraska
“You cannot imagine how big
teachers in grades 7-12 in both public
Auschwitz is,” Seib recalls. “We read
and private schools, and will help teachers
about this and we see documentaries and
learn about the Holocaust and implewe hear stories, but we think it’s just this
menting a curriculum that addresses sotiny camp. It’s not at all. As far as the
cial injustice on both the local and global
eye can see, it was barracks. And to the
level.
end of the camp were the ovens and the
“There is no better way to teach somecrematories. It was so big. It was a death
thing like this than to witness it personfactory.”
ally,” Elsener says.
The Holocaust Educators Network is a
To learn more about the Memorial Ligroup of more than 100 middle school,
brary, the Holocaust Educators Network,
high school, and college faculty who
the Summer Seminar and the Satellite
have participated in summer seminars
Seminar programs, please visit www.
offered by the Memorial Library. The
thememoriallibrary.org.
Summer greetings to you from Pius X High School! Yes, we are a little late in getting this publication out; however, as you will see on page 19 of this newsletter, Pius X is buzzing with a lot of activity and keeping all of us who work here during the summer months very busy!
I just returned from an action-packed four day trip of a lifetime to Washington D.C. with seasoned veteran chaperones Ray Forycki, Jan Frayser, Tom Seib, Tom Korta, Katie Elsener and Greg
Lesiak. This year, 115 Pius X students, our largest group ever, traveled to our nation’s capital where
they received an extraordinary educational experience that immersed them in the culture and heritage of our country. Students explored the capitol where current and past politicians have changed
the world. They visited memorials including the Martin Luther King, Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, Korean, Iwo Jima, WWII and Vietnam memorials.
Some highlights of the trip were the Holocaust Museum and visiting Mount Vernon, George
Washington’s mansion, where we visited his tomb and nearly 50 acres of his extensive plantation. We
also got to tour the White House this year thanks to Senator Mike Johann’s office who helped us get
in. On Friday, the last day or our trip, we toured Arlington National Cemetery, 624 acres of impressive landscape, which serves as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest. At
the cemetery we were able to visit the Kennedy gravesites, tour Lee’s mansion and witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the
Construction is
Unknown Soldier.
quickly moving
“The trip’s success over the past
along. Phase 1,
22 years is due to the cooperation
which will include
and behavior of the kids, the dedithe first of two
cation and caring attitude of the
chemistry classrooms
and labs, will be
many chaperones and the support
complete for the
of our school,” remarked Ray Fory2012-13 school year.
cki. “The numbers have fluctuated
over the years with 47 students our
first year being the smallest group,
Michelle Birkel
to 122 this year, our largest group.
Director of Development
y
It is a trip we look forward to every year.”
$26,540.00
Some of the most rewarding words I hear working at
$53,156.00
Pius
X are, “There is a very special tradition at Pius X.
ants
$17,241.04
Thank goodness for the strong Catholic formation that
$96,937.04
has prepared our kids so well for their future.”
We just experienced something very special here this
Give To Lincoln Day
past month that will enable Pius to continue providing an excellent education and Catholic foundaTotal Raised: $96,937.04
$26,540.00
tion for our students. On May 17, more than 430 donors including alumni, parents and friends
$53,156.00
of Pius X, supported us through the “Give To Lincoln Day” campaign, sponsored by the Lincoln
$17,241.04
Community Foundation. A grand total of $1.3 million was raised
$96,937.04
$17,241.04
Give To Lincoln Day for 187 nonprofit organizations in Lancaster County in just a 24
hour period. Pius X netted $94,558.47 after expenses and ranked
Total Matching, Bonus
$26,540.00
#2 (out of 187) in number of online donors and ranked #1 in total
& Prize Funds Receive:
amount raised out of all the nonprofits that participated. THANK
$17,241.04
MatchingFunds
YOU! We have wonderful support from our alumni, parents and
BonusGrant
$200
$17,241.04
the Lincoln community and we cannot thank everyone enough!
PrizeGrant
$53,156.00
$1,500
OfflineDonations
Due to this successful campaign, phase 1 of Room 200 of the
$26,540.00
OnlineDonations
Chemistry Lab renovation project began on June 1.
Match&BonusGrants
“Our chemistry labs are in poor condition as they have not been
$53,156.00
OfflineDonations
MatchingFunds
renovated
since the school opened its doors more than 50 years
OnlineDonations
BonusGrant
ago,” said
science department chair, Shari Schneider. “Since that
Match&BonusGrants
time, there
have been many recommended laboratory innovaPrizeGrant
tions that Pius X High School has been unable to meet due to
$15,541.04
aging facilities. Our faculty have been able to work around
these challenges; however, a number of improvements
have become more and more necessary due to tightening
requirements on high school chemistry laboratories related
to space, safety and number of required years of science
education.”
This much needed renovation will provide a modernized
lab environment which includes an upgraded teacher demonstration table and new student experiment stations. An
eyewash and emergency chemical shower will be added and
a proper fume hood will be installed. New cabinets, desks
and wheel chair accessible sink will be installed as well as a
new floor and ceiling.
We will keep you posted of our progress throughout the
New Chemistry
summer. Thank you for your support and belief in Pius X
Classrooms and Labratories
High School.
Pius X
FOUNDATION
piusx.net U 15
T
2011-12
Scholarship Recipients
hank you to our many donors who have established Endowed
Scholarships within the Pius X Foundation. Because of your
generosity, 79 scholarships totaling $40,025 were distributed to assist
these students and their families with their tuition. Additionally, $6,420 in
scholarships was awarded to Pius X students by the Dillon Foundation.
Carmen Alcalde
Charles Shandera
Memorial Scholarship
Aubrey Birch
Richard and Dorothy Burke
Memorial Scholarship & Dillon
Foundation Scholarship
Alison Cordry
Steve Grosserode Scholarship in
memory of Marcella Grosserode
& Dillon Foundation Scholarship
Nicholas Esparza
Pius X Foundation Scholarship &
Dillon Foundation Scholarship
Jason Flink
Colin Korensky
Paul & Rosemary Reinsch
Scholarship
Caitie Mattison
Monsignor Dawson
Scholarship
Christian Alcalde
Pius X Foundation Scholarship
Gabrielle Bruckner
Charles Shandera Memorial &
Adam McCabe Memorial
Scholarship for Kindness
Melanie Cordry
memory of Marcella Grosserode
Tyson Cisneros
Bridget Hansen
Sarah Kottwitz
Charles Shandera
Darrick Mazour
Monsignor Dawson
Scholarship
16 U piusx.net
Jose Al-Kafaji
Jim and Merle Briggs
Simon Bruckner
Vince Aldrich Memorial
Scholarship
Kenny Do
John Liescheski Memorial
Scholarship
Andriana Fernandez
Pius X Foundation & Dillon
Hannia Horta
Nicholas Kramer
R. Scott Wickham
Hilde McKee
Alexandria Artiaga
Jeff Dodd Memorial Scholarship
Riley Carney
Abraham Driewer
Glenn and Ann Miller Memorial
Scholarship
Constance Fiedler
Jose Barreda
memory of Marcella Grosserode,
Charles Shandera Memorial
Scholarship, & Dillon Foundation
Scholarship
Max Church
Patrick Schafers Memorial
Scholarship
Mary Driewer
Glenn and Ann Miller Memorial
Scholarship
Alejandra Espinoza
J.F. Houser Citizenship
Scholarship in Honor of
Donald J. Houser
Breanna Incontro
Bernadette Johnson
Brandon Krauel
Jacob Meyers
Vince Aldrich
Kaitlyn Baumgartner
Harold and Cecilia Sherman
Scholarship
Rachel Bruns
Megan Drozda
John Byington Scholarship
Halley Gaucher
Mark Gibbs
Carl Endrulat
Scholarship, Pius X Foundation
Scholarship & Dillon Foundation
Scholarship
Samantha Grendahl
Pius X Foundatin Scholarship
Margaret Johnson
Jaelle Kondohoma
Prisca Kondohoma
Morgan Kuklis
Jean Thomy Kwambamba
Paul Meza
Harry Endrulat
Scholarship & Pius X Foundation
Scholarship
Nathan Clement
Kristin Bottger Memorial
Scholarship
Steve H. Grosserode
Scholarship in memory of
Marcella Grosserode
Mary Elizabeth Brake
Foundaton Scholarship
Aiden Clarke
Glenn and Ann Miller & Amy
Rodeno Scholarship in Memory
of Dr. and Mrs. Lynn Sharrar
Audrey Bieber
Glenn and Ann Miller
Eileen Hartmann
Katherine Benal
Alberto Meza
Steve H. Grosserode
Marcella Grosserode
John Michael Foley
Ben Landwehr
Michael Anderson
Jesus Meza
George O’Boyle Scholarship
John Michael Foley
Allison Main
Charles Shandera
Jeremy Miller
Harold and Cecilia Sherman
Scholarship
Scholarships Make Catholic Education
Possible for Many Families
“I would like to thank everyone who has made this scholarship
possible for me to receive. My father was very proud and happy
when he received the letter in the mail about my scholarship. This
scholarship will definitely help my family’s financial situation at
the moment.”
This statement came from a Pius X Senior, who wrote a wonderful thank you letter to his scholarship donor. His, like the following,
were only three of many letters which expressed abundant gratitude
for the gift of Catholic education and Pius X High School.
“My passion for God has only taken enormous strides forward
during my time at Pius.”
“I used to dislike math, but the teachers here at Pius make it a
fun learning environment and are good at teaching it. Also I never
really liked reading books until I started coming to Pius and taking English classes. I must say though that Modern Literature has
the best books to read.”
These statements hold the truth of the importance
of protecting Catholic education for all students.
The cost of a Catholic education, even with successful efforts to keep tuition affordable, is still a burden
for many families. Thank you to all of the individuals and families who have so generously helped hundreds of students attend Pius X High School.
Katelin Miller
Austin O’Brien
Nicole Olson
Steve H. Grosserode
Marcella Grosserode
Ryan Peters
Stephanie Polivka
Vince Aldrich
Sarah Styron
Stephanie L. Fiedler
Quentin Vrbka
Kristin Bottger
Mitch Theil
Kathi Krause
Kyle Warday
Paul & Rosemary
Reinsch Scholarship
Betty Ostasuc
Amy Rodeno Scholarship
in Memory of
Dr. and Mrs. Lynn Sharrar
Nolan Pribnow
Adam McCabe Memorial
Scholarship for Kindness
Clayton Tobin
Emily Wiebeck
John Liescheski
Mary Ostasuc
in Memory of
Pamela Ramirez
This year, $40,025 in scholarships were generously awarded to 77
students, with an additional $6,420 being awarded to 30 students by
the Dillon Foundation. This is only a portion of the students who
need assistance. Almost 15% of those applying for a scholarship did
not receive any assistance. Additionally, none of the 34 endowed
scholarships provide full tuition assistance. The average scholarship
award pays only 1/3 of the tuition cost or about $506 per student.
You can protect the future of Catholic education for all students by
donating to one of the endowed scholarships or Pius X Foundation’s
general scholarship fund. As a scholarship balance increases, so does
the financial help students receive.
If you would like donate to an existing scholarship or establish a
new endowed scholarship, please contact Michelle Birkel at the Pius
X Foundation at 402.488.1046. You may also donate directly to an
existing scholarship by sending a check in the enclosed envelope or
safely and securely on-line at www.piusx.net/foundation. Simply
click on the Donate Now link.
Tyler Minchow
J.F. Houser Citizenship
Scholarship in Honor of
Donald J. Houser
Cindy Ostiguin
Robert T. Roach
Louis Root
Charles Shandera
Roger Torres
JohnMark Townsend
Austin Woltemath
Mitch Znamenacek
in Memory of
Charles E. Chace
Kathi Krause
Paola Mwenentandk
Nicole Owens
Stephen Sailors
Don Kelley Scholarship
Peter Tran
Liam and Lorraine Barr
Fletcher Zornes
Hunter Nelson
Clint Eckhout
Annet Pelayo
Andres Salinas
Jason Nguyen
Charles E. Chace
Edgar Pelayo
Ricky Sloup
Linda Sloup
Faith Villamonte
Rebecca Villamonte
Vince Aldrich
Harrison Zornes
Charles Shandera
Sullivan Zornes
piusx.net U 17
Al and Dorothy Ballweg Protect Catholic
What types of
Education, Give Everlasting Gift
Al Ballweg was a World War II and Korean War veteran. He retired from his position as an accounting
manager for Burlington Northern Railroad. Both Al
and his wife Dorothy believed in Catholic education.
Several years ago, Dorothy and Al updated their
estate plan. When they passed away, Al and Dorothy wanted to protect Catholic education
for the future.
Upon Al’s death last December, Al
and Dorothy did just this – they
made an everlasting impact on
Catholic education and Pius X
High School.
In their will, they granted
Pius X’s endowment a gift of
$25,000. Their generosity, combined with gifts from you and
donors like you, keeps a Pius X
education affordable for every
student and their family.
With their bequest, Al and
Dorothy became members of the
St. Pius X Legacy Society. The society
honors those individuals who either
plan to give or have given a gift upon their
death to financially secure the future of Pius
X. You are invited to join this distinguished group of
individuals by simply making a commitment to Pius X High
School in your will.
You can join Al and Dorothy and protect the future of
Catholic education by simply including Pius X in your estate
plan. Your gift will impact the future, ensure that a Christcentered education remains affordable for all students and
their families, and leave a lasting legacy.
*All individuals are encouraged to consult with a professional
advisor before entering into any charitable or planned gift
agreement. Please contact Michelle Birkel at michelle.birkel@
piusx.net or call her at 402.488.1046 to visit with both you
and your advisor as you consider your legacy gift to Pius X High
School. If you have already included Pius X in your will, please
contact the Pius X Foundation at 402.488.1046.
gifts can you give?
You can give almost any type of
planned or deferred gift including:
h
Will Bequests
h
Beneficiary of Trusts
h
Beneficiary of
Retirement Accounts
h
Beneficiary of Life Insurance
h
Real Estate
h
Life Income Agreementstrusts, charitable gift,
annuities
The following
individuals and
couples have come
forward and shared the
wonderful news that they
plan to remember Pius X with a
planned gift and promote the idea
of planned giving toward our school.
St. Pius X
Legacy
SOCIEty
Anonymous (11)
Aloysius F. & Dorothy Ballweg +
Paul and Michelle Birkel
Terry Connelly
Jack and Margy Dawson
Msgr. James Dawson
Robert Duden
George & Joanne Easley +
Mary Fenton +
Dr. Carmen Hill Grant
Steve & Patricia Grosserode
Jim Houser
Mike Hughes
Rachel Jensen
Fr. John J. Keefe
Mary Joan Linebaugh
Don and Laurie Luensmann
Keith and Pat May
Fr. Michael Morin
Paul and Rosemary Reinsch
Guy and Faie Saunders
Howard and Doris Schiefelbein
Clara Sullivan +
Verlyn and Sheila Westra
Richard A. Wiese
+ denotes deceased
New Computer Monitors
Above: New 17 inch flat-panel monitors are now
being used in rooms 206 and 254 thanks to the
generosity of an anonymous donor. Left: Fund-It is
Pius X’s online, searchable database of needs and
wish lists items submitted by teachers and staff.
18 U piusx.net
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous alumnus/
former parent, Pius X students are now using new 17
inch flat-panel monitors in two of the computer labs.
The new monitors (which replaced old CRT monitors)
enhance sight lines for students and teachers, allow for more workspace, and improve
energy efficiency. On behalf of all Pius
X students and faculty, we extend our
deep appreciation and thanks to the
donor for his support and generous gift.
The gift was the result of the efforts of
the technology department through
Fund-It (http://piusx.fund-it.org/grants/
search.php). Fund-It is a searchable list
of Pius X needs and wish list items that
can not be covered by the school’s
annual budget.
Visitor Bleachers to be Upgraded at Aldrich Field
New aluminum bleachers to the right
side of the current visitor structure at
Aldrich Field will be added this summer. Pius X will move to Class A in the
2012-2013 school year for a number
of sports and activities. The additional
seating will be vital to being able to
continue to host football games and
other events at Aldrich Field.
Pius X High School has received a
generous commitment of $100,000 from
an anonymous donor to create additional
seating for the visitor bleachers structure
at Aldrich Field. In 2010, Pius X High
School embarked on a $500,000 project
to install artificial turf to be utilized by
the football, soccer, track and band programs.
As an extension of this facility improvement, the bleachers upgrade will be an
important enhancement to the Aldrich
Field renovation. Pius X will begin installation of new bleachers in the visitor section this summer. With Pius X athletics
moving to Class A, the bleachers will be
complete for the fall 2012 football season.
“The additional seating at Aldrich Field
will be a welcomed addition to the stadium,” states Pius X Athletic Director Tim
Aylward. “It is something we have needed, and with the change in our football
schedule to Class A, the 400 additional
seats will allow us to better accommodate
more fans at Aldrich Field.”
“Aldrich Field is now being used by
football, soccer, track, and band to perform on the new playing field, and the
improvement of the bleachers for our
visitors will truly make it a multi-purpose
facility,” explains Michelle Birkel, Director of Development.
The Pius X Foundation works diligently to seek third-source revenue for
operations and special projects such as
the bleacher improvements. Generous
supporters allow Pius X High School to
keep it’s tuition among the lowest in the
nation. This enables students from all
socioeconomic backgrounds to attend our
outstanding school.
“Pius X High School and all the Lincoln Catholic schools are strong, faithfilled schools because we have strong,
faith filled parishioners and donors who
see Catholic schools as a vital ministry,”
Superintendent Father James Meysenburg
says.
Improvements being made to
Weight, Wrestling and Locker Rooms
The existing weight room has been cleared out
and construction has already begun. The project
will add much needed ventilation, sound proofing, and humidity control.
The summer of 2012 at Pius X High
School may just be one of the busiest
in recent memories with a number of
important projects being completed,
including work in the weight, wrestling,
and locker rooms.
Thanks to the generous donation of
an anonymous donor, the current weight
and wrestling rooms are receiving much
needed improvements, including sound
proofing. The spaces were actually the
original school gym, with class rooms
added above it. Windows are being installed on the north wall of the weight
and wrestling rooms, and the renovations
will also include improving ventilation,
humidity control and HVAC.
A second anonymous donor came
forward with a gift for improvements to
the locker room. The Booster Club then
Four windows are being added to the north side
of Pius X for the weight and wrestling rooms.
Older lockers in both the boys and girls rooms
are being painted green to match newer ones.
Additionally, one row of new lockers will be
added in the boys locker room.
offered to assist with the renovations.
The shower stalls in both the boys and
girls locker rooms will be revamped and
walls are being repainted. Lockers are
being replaced, repaired or repainted,
and new benches are being added.
Summer conditioning has been moved temporarily into the existing wrestling room until the
project is completed.
Fresh paint, revamped showers and new benches
will complete the locker room renovations.
The support of individual donations,
combined with school fund raising efforts is vital to the continued upkeep
and improvement of Pius X. Thank you
for your support.
piusx.net U 19
alumni today
Former Pius X students become
college team working on Pluto study
Pius X alumni Mitch Hain ‘07 and Nathaniel
Cunningham ’95 worked together as a studentprofessor team at Nebraska Wesleyan University to
analyze Pluto’s surface for NASA.
Editor’s Note: This article, written by
Kevin Abourezk of the Lincoln Journal Star,
is reprinted with permission. All references
to Pius X High School have been added to
the original article.
A student-professor team at Nebraska
Wesleyan University (and both Pius X
alumni) has helped uncover evidence
of complex molecules on the surface of
Pluto, a find that could explain the dwarf
planet’s ruddy color.
“This is further evidence of the types
of molecules that may be making Pluto
reddish,” said Physics Professor Nathaniel
Cunningham ’95.
Along with student Mitch Hain ’07
and researchers at the Southwest Research
Institute in San Antonio, Cunningham
studied data provided by the Hubble
Space Telescope this summer to better
understand Pluto’s composition. The
Hubble’s highly sensitive Cosmic Origins
Spectrograph generated the data used by
the team.
The team found a strong ultraviolent
wavelength absorber on Pluto’s surface,
suggesting possible complex hydrocarbon
and nitrile molecules on the planet’s surface. The molecules aren’t signs of life on
the distant planet and can be produced
by interaction of sunlight or cosmic rays
with Pluto’s known surface ices, including
methane, carbon monoxide and nitrogen.
The team also discovered evidence of
changes in Pluto’s ultraviolet spectrum
compared to Hubble measurements from
the 1990s. The changes may be related to
differing terrains seen now versus then,
or to other effects, such as changes in the
surface related to a steep increase in the
pressure of Pluto’s atmosphere during that
same time span.
Cunningham said the team’s research
may be used to help plan research conducted by NASA when its New Horizons
spacecraft reaches Pluto in 2015. The Astronomical Journal recently published the
team’s findings.
Alan Stern of the Southwest Research
Institute said the team’s research bodes
well for NASA’s New Horizons mission.
“The discovery we made with Hubble
reminds us that even more exciting discoveries about Pluto’s composition and
surface evolution are likely to be in store
when NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft
arrives at Pluto,” Stern said.
Hain, who is now studying mechanical engineering at Washington University
in St. Louis, said his role was to pore
through the data taken from the Hubble
to search for meaningful results.
“It was a good project to wrap up my
career at Wesleyan,” he said.
Alumni Spotlight
Mitch Hain ‘07
Mitch, a 2011 Nebraska Wesleyan University graduate,
is currently studying mechanical engineering at Washington
University in St. Louis. He is the son of Ken and Peggy Hain,
and has three siblings: Cory (’05), Alex (’11) and Jacey (’14).
In the summer of 2011, Mitch had the opportunity to conduct
important research as a graduate student intern alongside of
Nathaniel Cunningham ’95, and have his findings included
in a major scientific journal. It was during this time that they
discovered their connection as alumni of Pius X.
Q: What are your fondest memories of being a student
here at Pius X?
M: My fondest memories at Pius have to do with all the
friends I made during my four years. I’m still in regular
contact with many of them. I mostly remember playing in
football and baseball games and hanging out in the hallways. I also had many different classes I enjoyed going to.
Q: What extracurricular activities were you involved in?
M: I was involved in Football and Baseball for all four
years, and basketball for my first two years. I was always
20 U piusx.net
busy with games, practices, or lifting and conditioning
almost year round. I was in Recycling club as well.
Q: How do you believe having a Catholic education
impacted your future academic/professional pursuits?
M: My education at Pius was very beneficial in getting
me off to a good start in college. Looking back, the way
most classes were conducted held me accountable for my
own success, and prepared me for the way college classes
would be run. I think the way Pius integrates faith into the
halls and the classrooms taught me a lot of things about
myself. I learned a good work ethic at Pius, and that has
served me well since I graduated. Also, I know that I always have a good support system.
Q: What advice do you offer current Pius X students
who are aspiring scientists?
M: I would say to work hard, and you will have opportunities to pursue something meaningful. Opportunities
will be presented to you when you least expect them.
alumni today
Alumni Spotlight
Nathaniel Cunningham ’95
Nathaniel Cunningham ’95 is the son of Sherri ’69 and Andrew Cunningham, and is one of 8 siblings all of whom graduated from Pius X.
He received his undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of
Notre Dame, and earned both his master’s and Ph.D. at the University of
Colorado at Boulder. His doctoral work focused on designing and building
astronomical instruments, and on understanding how very young massive stars interacted with each other in the past, as shown by the powerful
outflows of gas that they launched. He has since worked with Hubble
Space telescope observations of Pluto and other objects in the Solar System.
Nathaniel joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Nebraska
Wesleyan University in 2010.
Nathaniel resides in Lincoln with his wife Staci their four children:
Marianne (8), Ruth (6), Margaret (3) and Peter (1). They are members of
St. Teresa Parish. Nathaniel and Staci currently host several Pius X students
for the St. Teresa Godteen program, and Nathaniel helps coach his parish’s
MathCounts competition students. His hobbies include fishing, computer
programming, and singing in the St. Teresa choir with his daughters.
Q: What are your fondest memories of being a student at Pius X?
N: I have a lot of memories of Pep Band, and being up on the stage
in the gym. Also, I remember goofing off in physics class, and participating in some of the math competitions. One of my favorite experiences was Mrs. Coulter taking us to UNL Math Day and Creighton
Math Day.
Q: What extracurricular activities were you involved in?
N: I played the trombone in Band, and was in Jazz band, Madrigal
Singers, Chess Club, Math Club, and Cross Country.
Q: Any favorite teachers/administrators?
N: I had many great teachers. Sister Anne Divis, Mr. Kent Reinhard
who taught physics, Mrs. Mary Coulter, my Algebra teacher, and Fr.
Townsend, who taught us religion and taught us to play bridge. He
used to say to us: ‘Most of you will get married and all married people
should know how to play bridge.’ Other favorites were Mrs. Hofeditz
who taught World Literature, and Mr. Forycki taught AP U.S. History, which was just an awesome class. He also taught us how to write a
good essay to prep us for AP testing.
Q: How do you believe having a Catholic education impacted your
future academic/professional pursuits?
N: It was great to grow up and know that your Catholic faith can
be threaded through your daily life, not just something to be compartmentalized. The opportunity to have the Sacraments and religion class
threaded through – especially having the whole school united around
the Mass – taught me that faith is what holds us together and not just
something you do on your own.
Finally, the ability for teachers that are able to teach that there is
natural law that underpins all of human life impacted my approach to
science. Many scientists are relativistic and look at nature as nothing
but matter. My faith makes my awe of nature a very complete human
experience. It is not just something I think about at work. Thinking
about science in the context of the beauty of God’s creation makes my
research more profound and meaningful.
Q: What advice do you offer current Pius X students who are aspiring scientists?
N: Keep trying to find that corner of science that you really love.
Don’t be practical any sooner than you have to be. Chase it down
because you love it. And try out summer research experiences in high
school and especially in college.
March Madness Thunderbolt Style
A new twist to March
Madness has become
a yearly tradition for
Pius X High School
Alumni and supporters.
The Alumni Basketball
Tournament, held
Aldrich
this year
Division-1984
on March
16-17,
Seib
saw 295
Division-1997
Alumni
making up
36 teams
to compete for bragging
rights in five divisions.
With the exception of
1985 and 2008, every
class year
from
1983
Anderson
Division-1995
through
2011 was
Kelley
repreDivision-1987
sented.
A special
thank
you goes to the Pius X
Booster Club Team that
also competed.
Now in its eighth year,
the Alumni Basketball
Tournament is an imporForycki Division-2002A
tant fund raising event for
the Pius X Booster Club. The new TV monitors in the
Pius X Commons came from funds raised at past tournaments. The TVs offer communication to our students on
daily and weekly announcements, as well as offer an opportunity to broadcast video at special events. Funds from
this year’s tournament were used by the Booster Club to
assist the basketball teams in purchasing a shooting machine.
Mark your calendar for next year’s tournament to be
held on March 15-16, 2013.
The Official Lincoln Pius X Alumni Page
piusx.net U 21
alumni today
A Family Tradition
S
ince Pius X first opened it’s doors on October 1, 1956, thousands of students have proudly walked our halls, and more than 9,300 have
earned diplomas. As the years pass, we are able to claim new alumni whose parents have also shared in our 56 year history. To celebrate
this legacy, we are honored to feature graduates of the Class of 2012, who followed in their parent’s footsteps, instilled with values and
knowledge from a Catholic education.
Tim Aylward ‘69
Jeffrey Aylward
Chad Krause ‘75
Kate (Barry)
Culhane ‘72
Kevin
Morehouse ‘74
Shauna Krause
Derrick Gossard
Therese (McCabe)
Sack ‘78
Mona (Parra)
Gossard ‘77
Susan Johnson ‘77
Hilde McKee
Lea Sack
Pat McCabe ‘79
Kevin McCabe
Thomas Davis ‘80
Kathleen (Vestecka)
Sartore ‘80
Brian Dawson ‘77
Benjamin Woita
22 U piusx.net
Mary Dawson
Caleb Hile
Debbie (Rerucha)
Hile ‘79
Paul Bruckner ‘80
Cole Sartore
John Morehouse ‘80
Madison Davis
Jordan Haas
Christopher
Dawson ‘77
Margaret Johnson
Bridget (Dawson)
Woita ‘79
Maggie Morehouse
John O’Neill ‘75
Brian Morehouse
Richard Gossard ‘76
Donald McKee ‘77
Joe Haas ‘74
Conor Culhane
Kelly (Anderson)
Morehouse ‘80
Gabrielle Bruckner
Emily Dawson
Cathy (Morris)
Dawson ‘80
Leah Hile
Martha (Stephens)
Bruckner ‘80
Mark Heibel ‘80
Michael Heibel
Karen (Wiese)
Heibel ‘82
Sean O’Neill
Cynthia WagnerWiebeck ‘77
Emily Wiebeck
Larry Logsdon ‘78
Caleb Logsdon
Patricia (Mulligan)
Jones ‘79
Harlan Jones
Bryan Miller ‘80
Jeremy Miller
Kellie (Vrbka)
Effken ‘81
Cassandra Effken
alumni today
Jennifer (Sweem)
Powell ‘81
Teresa (Easley)
Hansen ‘82
Lisa (Lierz)
VerMaas ‘82
Kirk Sanders ‘81
Matthew Powell
Timothy Sanders
Connie (Scott)
Sanders ‘81
Richard Costello ‘82
Bridget Hansen
Kyle VerMaas
Steven Zeplin ‘83
Matt Zeplin
Steven Smith ‘84
Julie (Wakefield)
Zeplin ‘84
Lucy Barie
Abigail Burt
Dan Micek ‘88
Zach Micek
Nancy (Power)
Micek ‘88
Shelly (Kidwell)
Theil ‘90
Cami Mehl
Jerry Milburn ‘83
Logan Milburn
John Hartmann ‘84
Cameron Haecker
Jeff Carter ‘85
Nicholas Carter
Christina (Turek)
Kullbom ‘86
Lisa (Messineo)
Carter ‘86
Joshua Ernst
Eric Jones ‘92
Mitch Theil
Emilee Linebaugh
Erika Benes
Patrick Septhman
Geeena (Polivka)
Mehl ‘86
Ann Essay
Mark Linebaugh ‘82
Pat Haecker ‘84
Monica (Scott)
Sedlak ‘86
Phillip Essay ‘82
Dayton Stewart
Elizabeth Benes
Scott Spethman ‘83
Zakary Sedlak
Steve Burt ‘86
Todd Stewart ‘82
Terry Benes ‘83
David Sedlak ‘84
Raymond Smith
Diane (Wilson)
Milburn ‘82
Trevor Milburn
Denise (Svoboda)
Costello ‘83
Colin Costello
Koni (Westra)
Barie ‘82
Tom Milburn ‘81
Ashton Jones
Stephanie (Roberts)
Jones ‘94
Nikki Hartmann
Sarah (Kinney)
Long ‘85
Ann (Breiner)
Wackel ‘87
Teresa (Munguia)
Macias ‘95
William Long
Hanna Wackel
Ariana Munguia
piusx.net U 23
alumni today
Pius X to host All Honor Year Reunion,
Establish Golden Thunderbolt Club
E
1957
1962
1967
1972
1977
1982
1987
1992
1997
2002
2007
leven graduating classes of Pius X High School
will celebrate their class reunions in 2012. On
July 22, Pius X is hosting its first All Honor
Year Reunion.
Alumni and their immediate families from all
honor year classes are invited to attend the event
which will include Mass, brunch and school tours
on the fourth Sunday of July.
In the past, each class would choose their own
reunion weekend and events. Many classes are still
choosing this option, but two classes will be combining their activities with the new school-wide
reunion. Even if a class opts to hold their class
reunion on another weekend, all alumni and their
families from these classes are still invited to attend
the All Honor Year Reunion on July 22.
The Alumni office also will be taking this opportunity to formally establish a Golden Thunderbolt
Club. Alumni celebrating their 51st+ class reunion
will be honored as members of this prestigious
group and presented with a small token of honor. This year, all
alumni from 1957-1961 will be included, and are invited to attend the All Honor Year Reunion.
An RSVP for those attending is being requested to assist with
planning. Please write, call or e-mail the number attending and
All Honor Year
Reunion
Sunday, July 22, 2012
the names of all attendees by July 7, 2012. The cost of the event
is $8/person, or $25/immediate family. For more information
about the All Honor Year Reunion or for help in scheduling your
class reunion, please contact Kristin Heath, Alumni Director at
402.488.0931 or kristin.heath@piusx.net.
Class Reunion Schedules
1957 - 55th Class Reunion
No information received
Sept. 7-8, 2012
July 27-28, 2012
Join your class for golfing and dinner on
Friday. There will also be an informal gathering on Saturday.
June 23-24, 2012
Events will include a cash bar, appetizer
buffet and dancing at the Oasis Room ($25/
person) on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. On
Sunday at 11 a.m., Don McKee ’77 and
Alumni Director Kristin Heath will be giving
tours of Pius X High School.
24 U piusx.net
June 30, 2012
Can it really have been 25 years? Father
Troy Schweiger ’87 will begin the reunion
with Mass in the Pius X Chapel at 4 p.m.,
followed by a brief tour of the school. After
dinner ‘on your own’ or with friends, join
the class at the home of Mike and Ann ’87
(Hanigan) Kotopka for h’orderves and open
bar beginning at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $20 per
person. Email questions to piusxclassof87@
gmail.com.
July 20-22, 2012
Gather Friday night at Red 9 for a causal
evening with friends. Then Saturday morning
at 10 a.m., bring the whole family for brunch
and fun at Homes Lake Park (Shelter #1).
Saturday evening from 6:30-10 p.m. will be
music, dinner and adult beverages (leave the
kids with a sitter) at the Vuko Ranch. Cost is
$50 per adult. Email Andyvuko@gmail.com
or call 402.416.9952 with questions. Then
don’t miss the first All Honor Year Reunion at
Pius X High School on Sunday, July 22. Mass,
brunch and school tours will highlight the
event. Cost is $8 per person or $25/immediate
family.
Reunion Information
More details about all of the reunions is
available online at http://alumni.piusx.net/
reunionschedule.htm. If you would like to
help organize a class reunion or need
assistance, please contact Kristin
(Edwards) Heath ’91, Alumni Director,
at 402.488.0931, ext. 10132 or
kristin.heath@piusx.net.
1997 - 15th Class R eunion
July 20-22, 2012
Gather Friday night at CAVO (7301 S
27th St) from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Catch-up with
friends, sip on signature cocktails, delight
in the music of a DJ. No cover charge, cash
bar. A Family Potluck Picnic will be held on
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Antelope
Park (27th & Capital Parkway, Shelter 1). The
Saturday evening event will be held at Red9
in Stage9 (7 p.m.-2 a.m.) with a nacho bar,
continuing with a live band in Lot9 (9:30
p.m.-2 a.m.) and a DJ in Cloud9 (10 p.m.-2
a.m.). Admission charge is $15, and must be
purchased prior to July 9th (see website for
details). Then, don’t miss the first All Honor
Year Reunion at Pius X High School on Sunday, July 22. Mass, brunch and school tours
will highlight the event. Cost is $8 per person
or $25/immediate family.
alumni today
Bits & Pieces
Classmates
Erin Lang ‘08, Ethan McWilliams ‘08,
Kirsten Hattan ‘08, Arielle Byrnes ‘08
(and not pictured, Abby Gibbs ‘08)
recently graduated from Rockhurst
University in Kansas City, Missouri.
All five have gone to school together
the last eight years - through all of
high school and college. How inspirational that their bond established in
the halls of Pius X kept them in touch
throughout their college experience
as well. God is good!
1960s
Steven Lukas ’63 is retired, on
the board of two non-profits, and
a single father of three sons.
1980s
Sister Mary Bernadette ’83
(Denise Lenz) recently moved to
Virginia and is in the process of
transferring from the School of
Christ the King to a Contemplative Order.
Chris Martin ’87 married
Mary Elizabeth Ennis in April
1996. They have one child, Jesse
Carl Tremewan Martin, born
December 15, 1999. Chris has
won the following titles:
The World
Championships of the
board game
Diplomacy
in 1998, as
well as North
American
Champion in ’98, ’99, ’11. Chris
received his BM in Musical Theatre from The Catholic University
of America in 1993; his MA in
American Dances Studies from
Florida State University in 2002,
and his PhD in Theatre & Performance studies from the University
of Maryland in 2009. Chris has
also been in the following races:
Finisher Ironman Wisconsin 2009
and Ironman Coeur D’Alene
2011 (11h 30 & 11h 08). Chris
currently is a Deputy Project
Manager for K4 Solutions in
Rockville, MD.
1990s
Rachel (Krause) ’93 was married on May 29, 2010 to Bob
Rybinski. Their son, Hayden Kyle,
was born October 12, 2011, and
joins his big sister, Morgan Krause
(16). Rachel is a Medicare Billing
Specialist for Catholic Health
Initiatives.
Erin (Kruger) Haefle ’98 and
her husband Douglas have been
married for 6 years and have two
daughters: Berkleigh (3) and
Harper (6 months).
2000s
Evan Reinert ’03 graduated from
Southeast Community College
Milford with an Associate’s Degree in Auto Collision Technology in 2005. He moved to Los
Angeles in July 2005 and Evan
has been working in the motion
picture industry since 2006 for a
picture car company Cinema Vehicle Services. They build and rent
cars, trucks or anything that has
wheels to TV shows, movies and
commercials all over the U.S.
Michael ’03 and Caitlin (May)
’04 Riordan are family teachers at
Boys Town. They have 2 daughters; Maria May (2 ½) and Stella
Therese (1 ½).
Greg Zuerlein ’06, a Missouri
Western kicker, received first-team
Division II All-American honors.
Greg has led the nation in field
goals per game (2.30) and broke
NCAA and MIAA records with
21 consecutive field goals made.
He set a school record with a 58yard field goal during a regularseason win against Northwest
Missouri State.
Sean Murphy ‘07 participated
in his first official music gig since
moving to the east coast. He was
hired to play bass in December
2011 at a theater in Beach Haven
NJ. He is played in a show called
“Plaid Tidings”. It was a holiday
show based on “Forever Plaid”. Sara Berens ’08 graduated from
Hastings College on May 19,
2012 with a BA in Health Systems. She will be attending Methodist College Accelerated Nursing
program in January 2013.
Mollie Lacy ’08, a Washburn
University (Topeka, Kansas)
middle blocker, was named a
Capital One 1st Team Academic
All-American. Mollie received 2nd
team honors last year, and is a 4.0
nursing major.
Kathleen McBride ’08 was
named homecoming queen at
Benedictine College.
Kaley Wieser ’08 has been
selected into the Doane College chapter of Omicron Delta
Kappa (ODK). ODK is the oldest
national leadership honorary and
their members are chosen based
on their significant leadership in
one of the Five Phases of Campus
Life: Scholarship, Athletics,
Campus Organizations, Media,
and the Fine Arts. Students must
be in the top 35% of the junior
or senior class to apply, and were
chosen for ODK based on their
leadership to campus throughout
their Doane career.
2010s
Rosa Egge ’11 is now at St. Olaf
College in Minnesota. She not
only is a member of the St. Olaf
Orchestra, but she is the principal
oboist (first chair). The St. Olaf
Orchestra was featured on a live
broadcast of Garrison Keillor’s
“Prairie Home Companion” a
nationwide broadcast on public
radio. The orchestra played a
prominent role and at several
times Rosa’s oboe playing was
clearly heard.
Abbey Hellem ’11 is a Freshman at the University of North
Alabama in Florence, Ala., and
is playing soccer. The Lions
Women’s soccer team won the
Gulf South Coast conference title
for the first time in the schools
15 year program history. Nov
4-6, UNA won their conference
tournament for the first time and
an automatic bid into the NCAA
Women’s Division II National
soccer tournament. They ended
their season with a 17-4 record in
the first round of the NCAA tournament in Orlando, Fla. Picture is
of her team with the Conference
trophy.
We want to hear from you and share your news!
Please complete this form and send it to Pius X Alumni News, 6000 A Street, Lincoln, NE 68510; e-mail alumni@piusx.net or submit on-line at
http://alumni.piusx.net/updateform.asp.
Class _________ First Name _ ________________ Maiden __________________
Last Name _ ____________________________ Spouse ____________________
Address _ ________________________ City/State/Zip _ ____________________
Phone (h) _________________ (w) _________________ (c) ________________
E-mail 1 _ _________________________________________________________
Info_______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
piusx.net U 25
alumni today
In Remembrance
Robert Sparks ’62, passed away
on February 22, 2011. He is survived by his wife Gail; daughters,
Pam Brunkard and Kathleen
Hinrichs and his son Michael.
Grandchildren, Abbey, Lindsey
and Sara Hinrichs, and Emily
Brunkard.
law, Andrea and William “Pete”
Peterson, grandchildren, Trevor
‘13, Carley, Haley Peterson;
daughter and son-in-law, Cindy
and Merlin Hammond, grandchildren Trenton, Meghan Hammond; sisters, brothers; numerous
nieces and nephews.
Raymond P. Szelag, 55, passed
away on November 14, 2011.
He is survived by his wife, Kim
(Fitzekam) ‘76; sons, daughterin-law: Casey and Chasity Carlbom, Raymond Paul Szelag II;
mother, Pauline Zybeck; sisters,
brothers-in-law: Wanda and
David Vanderlee, Susan and John
Hilchey, Anne Gross, Theresa and
Jack Kershner; brothers, sistersin-law: Walter and Ann Szelag,
David and Kris Szelag, Phillip
‘77 and Keli Fitzekam, Brett and
Lou Anne ’79 Daugherty, Mike
and Carole ‘80 Owen, Jesse and
Teresa Cortinas; parents-in-law:
Douglas and Marilyn Fitzekam,
Judy Ivie; many nieces and
nephews.
Canuto “Ken” Sanchez ’62 was
called home by his Lord and Savior on Thursday, November 17,
2011. He is survived by his wife,
Janelle; children, spouses: Gabriel
and Angela Sanchez, Micaela and
Alan Boling, Jennifer Von Busch,
Leonard and Natasha Mason; 12
grandchildren; mother, Micaela
Garibay Sanchez; brothers and
sisters: Nene E. Martinez, Napoleon and Petra Sanchez, Gregoria
S. Guzman, Juanita Cruz, Jesus
and Guadalupe Sanchez, Esperanza and Flavio Gonzalez, Olga
Sanchez, Maria Herlinda Sanchez,
Criztoval and Naida Sanchez, Jose
and Valerie Sanchez, Carmela
Sanchez de Jimenez and Patricio
Jimenez; numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts, and uncles.
Clifford Larry Vice, passed away
on November 15, 2011. He is
survived by his wife, Juanita
(Aquirre) ‘57; step-daughter, Kari
Sigerson and husband, Dirk Kaufman and their daughter Eva Belle,
sisters: Melva Sage, Janice Keller,
Marilyn Blex (Jim); brother,
Merlin Vice (Cris); several nieces
and nephews
Albert C. Montanez Jr., 65,
passed away on November 17,
2011. He is survived by his
wife, Sally Montanez; son and
daughter-in-law, Mike and
Tonya Montanez, grandchildren,
Trey’11, Madison ‘14, McKenna
Montanez; daughter and son-in-
Dorothy Y. Hubertus, 87, passed
She is survived by her daughter,
son-in-law: Paula S. and Donald
D. Kucera; son, daughter-inlaw: David G. and Kathleen
Hubertus; granddaughters and
grandsons-in-law: Katharine E.
‘99, and Eric R. Walker, Anne
E ‘00 and Andrew D. Munger;
grandson: David M. Kucera ‘05;
great granddaughter: Maddison
R. Walker and another great
grandchild expected soon; two
nephews.
Ethel B. Sovereign, 88, passed
She is survived by her children:
Larry (Jenna) Sovereign, Darrell
(Jan) Soverign, Gordon Sovereign, and Jolene (Rick) Masten;
eleven grandchildren including
Nate Sovereign ’92, Joshua
Sovereign ’93, Zach Sovereign
’99 and Sarah Sovereign ‘04;
twenty six great grandchildren;
four great-great grandchildren; a
brother; and many loving nieces
and nephews.
David ’88 and Glenda Schnase;
son, Mark ‘91; grandchildren,
Wyatt and Sophia Schnase; many
nephews, nieces, and friends.
Margaret M. Spitsen, passed
She is survived by her son, Jim;
daughter-in-law, Kathy; grandchildren, Joe ‘00, Nick ’03 and
Matt ‘06; and great grandchild,
Isabel Buss.
Richard Schafer, 82, passed
away on December 12, 2011.
He is survived by his wife,
Betty (McCurdy) Schafer ’51
of Cathedral High School; four
sons, William (Phyllis) Schafer,
Kenneth (Vickie) Schafer, James
(Charrise) Schafer, and Edward
(Kathy) Schafer; three daughters,
Theresa (Bob) Kivi, Susan (Dave)
Blocher, and Rebecca DeMelfi;
13 grandchildren, and five greatgrandchildren.
Kelly Stammer passed away on
November 28, 2011 from a brain
aneurysm. He is survived by his
two children; Becke Galarza
Stammer ’02 and Zachary Stammer ‘01.
Robert L. Ebbeka Sr., 65, passed
away on December 2, 2011. He is
survived by his daughter, Kristen
L. Ebbeka ‘85; son and daughterin-law, Robert L. Jr.’88 and Amy
Ebbeka; grandchildren, Cole,
Levi, Nicholas Ebbeka; sister and
brother-in-law, Diane and Jake
Jacobsen; brother and sister-inlaw, Gerald and Dee Ebbeka;
sister and brother-in-law, Sue
and Jim Lottman; mother-in-law,
June Piccolo; many brothers and
sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
William M. “Bill” Schnase, 85,
passed away December 3, 2011.
He is survived by his wife, Mary
Jane, son and daughter-in law,
Brothers to Play Professional Soccer
The Polak family is starting a pro soccer family tradition. Less than one
week after former student Tyler Polak was selected in the Major League
Soccer SuperDraft, his brother Nate Polak ’08 was taken in the fourth
round of the MLS supplemental draft.
Nate, a senior from Hastings College, was selected by the New York Red
Bulls in the fourth round, becoming the first player in GPAC history to
be picked in the MLS draft. He suffered a broken jaw during preseason
workouts, and now has a tryout with the Minnesota Stars of the North
American Soccer League.
Nate was named the 2011 GPAC offensive player of the year. He has
Nate Polak ’08
also been named the state college male athlete of the year, and received
NAIA All-American first-team honors. Nate helped lead the Broncos to two NAIA championship
appearances, guiding Hastings to the 2010 title.
Tyler was selected in the second round of the SuperDraft by the New England Revolution.
Aaron Polak ’03 also played for Hastings, and was the 2006 GPAC player of the year and a twotime NAIA All-American.
26 U piusx.net
Theodore “Ted” Glen Turner,
55, passed away on December
10, 2011. He is Survived by his
mother, Jeanette (Becks); wife
Mary; daughters: Katie (Ren)
Aller, Mandi (Joe) Scdoris, and
Amy ’06; two grandsons; his
brother, Tony (Cora) Turner, and
nieces and nephews.
Betty K. McBurney, 86, passed
away on December 14, 2011. She
is survived by her son, Kevin C.
‘75, and fiance, Jeanette Milius;
two grandchildren, Jenny (Tim)
Buchholtz, and Patrick McBurney, and fiance, Tami Herman;
sister, Mary Jo Stalder; nieces and
nephews.
Naoma B. “Pat” Wisch, 88,
passed away on December 14,
2011. She is survived by her
children, spouses, Joan and Gary
Stover; Lanny and Margaret and
grandchildren Tim and Kelly Stover; Brook and Suzann Bugenhagen; Ryan and Alison Stover, and
Joshua Wisch ’00.
Yolanda Dakan, 51, passed away
on December 15, 2011. She is
survived by her husband, Doug;
caring daughters, Lisa ‘04, Krystal, Melissa, and Lora; grandson,
Blake; dad, Frank Martinez; sister,
Debbie Martinez, and nieces and
nephews.
Matthew David Fedon, passed
away on December 15, 2011. He
is survived by his parents, Mark
and Wanda Fedon; brother, Kevin
Fedon; sister and brother-in-law,
Angie ‘96 and Mike Wassenmiller; niece, Katie Wassenmiller;
uncle and aunt, Carl Fedon and
Sandy Lorenzen; cousin, Michelle
Fedon; and girlfriend, Heather
Maley.
Martin Donald Connealy, 78,
passed away on December 25,
2011. He is survived by sons, Bill
(Renee), Jerry (Sharon), Jack (Jane
– former Pius X teacher), Mick
(Kathy) and Terry (Lisa); daugh-
alumni today
ters, Susan (Bob) Huffman, and
Kathy (Steve) Cleveland. Twentyfive grandchildren proudly called
Marty grandfather including the
following Pius X graduates; Tara
Connealy ‘02, Allison Connealy
‘03 and Anne Connealy ’06; and
seven great grandchildren carry on
the family legacy.
Mary Lou (McManus) Green, a
1950 Cathedral Graduate passed
away on December 25, 2011 at
the age of 78.
JoAnn Focht McGovern ‘64
passed away peacefully on December 29th after a 14 month battle
with pancreatic cancer. JoAnn is
survived by her husband, Tom ‘63
and three boys: Jon (wife Kelly);
Brett (wife Patti) and Casey (wife
Jessica); seven grandchildren;
Wyatt Thomas 8, Avery Quinn
7, Grant Major 6, Ryan Duffy
4, Jack Foley 4, Kelsey Flynn 2
and Erin Mae 1. Joann’s siblings
include Jane ’61 (husband Bob
Lyons), Jack ‘65 (wife Ellen),
Gary, (husband Peter Birkirts),
Mary (husband Stephan Mattyasovsky) Lynn ’71, Bob ’76 (wife
Hollie), Chris Focht, Tom Focht
(wife Tracy), Karen (husband
Peter Ryerson).
Annette S. Markin ‘74 passed
away on December 30, 2011. She
is survived by husband, Rodney
S. Markin; sons, Nicholas (Kara),
Christopher (Suzanne) Markin;
sister, Kathleen Starkweather
‘68; brother, Steven Olson ‘66;
nieces, Katie and Maggie Starkweather; brother-in-law, Douglas
(Kathleen) Markin; other loving
family and friends.
Dean Henggeler, 84, passed
away on January 4, 2012. He is
survived by his daughter Del Ann
Divis ’67 and son Darrell ’71
and the following grandchildren
who are Pius X graduates; Amberly (Divis) ’96 and Matthew
Byington ’96, Bridget (Divis)
’99 and David Easley ’98, Keith
Henggeler ’04 and Evan Divis
’05.
Dale E. Spaulding, 77, passed
away on January 3, 2012. He
is survived by his wife, Shirley;
daughter and son-in-law, Chris
and Robert Larsen; son, Jeff
Spaulding; daughter and sonin-law, Becky and Mark Mroz;
daughter and son-in-law, Barb
and Jeff Kadavy; grandchildren:
Erin Sharpe, Shelby Ferris, Seth
Spaulding, Matt ‘02, Andrew,
Nikki ’06 and Lukas Mroz,
Stephanie and Angela Kadavy; six
great grandchildren.
’10, Marie Bertrand ’12 and
Kristopher Hollamon ’12 and
six great grandchildren.
Dennis R. Baumert passed away
on January 10, 2012. He is survived by his beloved family, wife
of 56 years, Pat, and children, Jim
’75 (Krystal), Denise ’76 Alfonsin
(Jim), Sue ‘77, Marti ’79 Jeffrey
(Rich), Tom ’80 (Melissa), Joe
‘83 (Tami Jacobs), Karen Bentz
‘85; grandchildren, Heidi ’10 and
Hanna ‘14 Baumert, Mary, Denny, Anna, and Nicky Alfonsin,
Spencer Baumert, Nikki Schwartz
and Amanda Kuhn (Rodney, Jr.),
Joey Baumert, Morgan and Jarrod
Jacobs, and Natalie Bentz; great
grandchildren, Jack St. George,
Haylie and Mylie Kuhn, and
Leloo Fisher; and many, many
extended family members and
friends.
Bernadette A. Bell, 90, passed
away January 21, 2012. She is
survived by her daughter-in-law,
Judy K. Bell; grandchildren, William R. Bell and wife Claudia,
Kenneth Bell and Lora, Mark Bell
and wife Cheryl of Lincoln; eleven
great grandchildren including
Megan Bell ’04, Mariah Bell ’08
and Zach Bell ‘13; and nine great
great grandchildren.
Richard D. Spellman, 81 passed
survived by daughters, Kathleen (Pat) Bartek, Kristi (Jim)
Bertrand, Karin (George) Peale,
Kelli (Matthew) Hollamon; son,
Mike; 14 grandchildren including
the following Pius X graduates;
Anthony Bertrand ’04, Erin
Bertrand ’06, Claire Bertrand
Guy E. Brubaker, 92, passed
survived by his family, Carol and
Bob Mullendore; grandchildren,
Matt Mullendore ‘94 and wife
Kelly, Mike Mullendore ‘98, and
Carrie Mullendore ‘04; great
grandchildren, Shelby, Jacob, and
Zeke Mullendore.
Donna M. Wood, 83, passed
away on January 20, 2012. She is
survived by daughters, Kathleen
’67 (Steve) Ruby, Cindy Graham
‘68, Mary Jo ’69 (Mike) Hussey,
Lori Wood, and Kris Wood; son,
Terry (Lynne) Wood; 21 grandchildren including those who
went to Pius X; Paul Hussey ’89,
Births
Becke (Stammer) Galarza
’02 and her husband Isidro
welcomed
their new
baby girl
Sophia
born on
February 9,
2011. She
joins her
older siblings; Natalie is 8
and Diedrich is 4. Becke’s
husband graduated boot
camp and AIT training for
Nebraska Army National
Guard this spring.
Andrew Heath ’89 and
Kristin welcomed their
new baby boy;
Trevor Joseph
Cartmill Heath
on October
10, 2011 weighing in at 7lb
9oz and 20 3/4 inches.
Mark Burt ’98 and his
wife Miranda had a healthy
baby girl at about 4 a.m. on
November 12, 2011. Sally
Elizabeth was born at home,
during a very exciting but
scary adventure as this was
not planned to be a home
birth. This makes number
four for them.
Matt Cashore ’90 and his
wife Maria welcomed their
new baby daughter; Madeline Leokadija on November 24, 2011.
Maria Van Etten ’03 and
Mitch Benes ’04 welcomed
their new
baby girl;
Gemma
Isabel on
January 14,
2012. She
weighed
in at 5 lbs. and 1.7 ounces.
Maria is Lay Campus Minster at Pius X.
Kimber
Bouwens ’05
welcomed
her son;
Corey
Christopher on
January 19, 2012.
Leah (Groepper) ’95 and
John Elsener ‘97 welcomed
William
James
on
March
31st.
He joins big sister Emily
Carol. They live in Seattle
Washington where Leah is a
physical therapist and John
is a high school English
teacher.
Kevin Coulter ’95 and his
wife Mindy welcomed a
baby girl,
Brooklyn
Elizabeth, on
February 28,
2012. They reside in Omaha
and Kevin works for Peter
Kiewit.
Katie (Reinsch) ’99 and
Britt Hayes ’00 welcome
their new
little boy;
George
Harold Joyce
Hayes on
May 18,
2012, weighing in at 8
lbs. and 1 oz.
He joins his older siblings
Matilda and August. Katie
is a Spanish teacher here at
Pius X High School.
piusx.net U 27
alumni today
Beth Hussey ’95, Chris Hussey
’97, Jordan Hussey ’10 and
Joseph Hussey ’13 and 21 great
grandchildren.
Gerald H. Buettner, 81, passed
survived by his sons, Jerry (Fran),
Tom and Randy; daughters, Edy
(Roger) Clark, Mary (Mike)
Cords, and Blinda (Tom) Weber;
14 grandchildren including the
following Pius X graduates: Gerald ’94, Janelle ’96 and Jolene
‘98; three great grandchildren.
Arlene A. Worster, 61, passed
away on January 25, 2012, surrounded by her family, after a
three year battle with cancer. She
is survived by her husband of
41 years, George J. Worster, Jr.;
mother, Claudette Brennan; son
and daughter-in-law, Brian ’89
and Michelle Worster; daughter
and son-in-law, Jaime ‘94 and
Paul Cunningham ‘94; five
grandchildren, Allison and Brian
E. Worster, Jr., Zachary ‘14, Nathan and J. Wyatt Cunningham.
Susan M. “Susie” Schrepf passed
away on January 30, 2012. She
is survived by a sister, Sheryl
’66; brothers, Tim Schrepf, Tom
Schrepf, Pat Schrepf ‘ 71; and
many cousins, nieces, nephews,
and a grand-nephew.
Thomas W. Christiansen ‘68
passed away on February 3, 2012.
He is survived by his wife Cathy;
son, Brian; daughter, Laura; Laura’s husband, Brandon Champion;
beloved three week old grandson,
Brayden Robert Champion;
sisters, Kay Christiansen ’66 and
Susan Root and husband, Randy
Root; many nieces, nephews and
cousins.
Nell Jacqueline (Jackie) Ridler
Dwerlkotte passed away February
3, 2012. She is survived by her
two children, Dorothy Theresa
(Dotti) Romero and her husband,
Ron, and David LeRoy Dwerlkotte; grandchildren, Ronnie
(Nikki) Romero, Roxie Romero
‘93 and husband, Scott Ohler,
Matt Dwerlkotte, Brent Dwerlkotte and fiance, Laura Rittel;
great-grandchildren, Kirra, Tyson,
and Kaci Romero, and Jack Ohler.
Robert ‘Bob’ Frieden, 92, passed
away on February 3, 2012. He
is survived by his wife Nina M.
Frieden; daughter, Linda Gagner
(Melvin); grandchildren, Toni
Boardman ‘85 and Edward
Gagner ‘93; great-grandson, Ben
Boardman; sister, Dorothy Ellison
and many nieces and nephews.
Cheryl (Navin) Berberet ’62
passed away on February 3, 2012.
She is survived by her husband
Marriages
Liz Maly ’01 and Pryce Wigginton were married on April
30, 2011
in Lincoln.
The couple
resides
in St.
Louis Park,
Minn.,
where Liz
works in marketing for ING
and Pryce is a mechanical
CAD designer for MTS
Systems Corporation.
Kari Charlson ’98 and
Kevin Sims of Louisville,
Ky. were
united in
marriage
on July
2 at Our
Lady of
Lourdes Catholic Church in
Louisville, Ky. The couple
resides in Louisville.
Adam Hilkemann ’03 and
Erica Overmyer were married
on July 16,
2011.
Adam graduated from
Washington
University School
of Law in
St. Louis in
2010. He is employed with
the law firm of Akin Gump
in Dallas. Erica graduated from Rice University
in Houston in May with
a master’s degree in music
performance. She is an oboe
instructor. The couple resides
in Dallas.
28 U piusx.net
Rachel High ’06 and Kyle
Bruns were united in marriage on July 23 at St. Joseph
Catholic
Church in
Lincoln. A
reception
was held at
the Rococo.
Rachel and
Kyle graduated from Rockhurst University in Kansas
City, Mo. They are third-year
medical students with Kansas
City University of Medicine
and Biosciences. Rachel and
Kyle reside in Fort Myers,
Fla.
Bob
Francis ‘02
and Alison
Deatherage
were married on September 17, 2011
in Waynesville, N.C.
Kari Charlson ’98 and
Kevin Sims of Louisville,
Ky. were united in marriage
on July 2 at Our Lady of
Lourdes Catholic Church in
Louisville, Ky. The couple
resides in Louisville.
Kristin (Cunningham) ‘99
and Corey Minchow ‘03
were married on July 30th,
2011 at St. James Catholic
Church in Omaha, NE.
Corey and Kristin both work
as recruiters for Werner Enterprises based in Omaha.
Allison O’Neill ‘07 and
Brandon Hajek ‘06 were
married
Sept. 3 at
St. Peter’s
Church in
Lincoln.
Allison
is a math
teacher at J.C. Harmon High
School and Brandon is an assistant PGA golf professional
at Ironhorse Golf Club. They
reside in Overland Park,
Kan., and will honeymoon in
Cabo San Lucas this summer.
Daniel Haden ’03 and
Katelan Cronin ’04 were
married on
October
22, 2011 at
St. John’s
the Apostle
Church in
Lincoln, Neb. Dan has a
degree in Philosophy and
was a FOCUS missionary
for three years. He is currently pursuing a degree in
Accounting and Finance at
Benedictine College. He is
residence director for Benedictine College as well. Kate
graduated from Benedictine
College in 2008 with a
degree in Elementary Education and Special Education.
She is currently a 7th grade
Special Education teacher for
the Atchison Public Middle
Schools, head Cross Country
coach, and head girls Track
coach. The couple resides in
Atchison, Kansas.
Nate Cronin ’01 and Suzie
Schierbrock were married on
November 12,
2011
at St.
Anne’s
Catholic
Church in Vail, IA. Nate
graduated from Metro
State University in Denver
with a degree in Business
and Finance. He currently
works for Lincoln Financial
Group in Omaha processing
short term disability claims
for the company. Suzie
received a Bachelor of Arts
in Journalism and Mass
Communications with an
emphasis in Public Relations
from Creighton University
in Omaha. She works for
the Knot.com as an Internet
Quality Assurance Coordinator. They reside in Fremont,
NE.
Stephanie
Howell ‘05
and Joseph
Haschke were
married Jan.
7 at St. Teresa’s Catholic
Church in Lincoln.
Grant Schmailzl ’05 and
Jen Lambrecht were married on April
14, 2012, at
North American Martyrs
Catholic
Church in
Lincoln.
alumni today
of forty-five years, Jerry, and two
daughters, Heather M. (Delores)
and Meghan E. (Ron). Cheryl
is also survived by two brothers,
John F. ‘66 (Sharon) and Philip
X. (Debie), granddaughter Ryan
McKenzie Berberet, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and
in-laws.
Maria Tulia Brigida Trinidad de
Jesus Downing PhD, 87, passed
away on February 16, 2012. She
leaves her husband Jim; Liz ’73
(Gary) Estler; Rose ‘74 (Terry)
Russell, Jennifer Russell; Marti
Downing ‘80, Gloria and Maria
Rosa Quiros, Maruja Gil, Cecy
(Foster) Easley; the Quiros Amador, Diaz Quiros, Easley Quiros,
Gil Quiros, Quiros Carvajal,
Quiros Quiros, Quiros Rodriguez,
Quiros Solis families, cousins,
extended family, colleagues and
friends in the U.S., Costa Rica,
Mexico, Spain, Canada, Germany
and around the world. She was
a Professor of Geography and
Spanish and was a very faithful and active Catholic having
served, among many other things,
as Chair, International Affairs
Commission Lincoln Diocesan
Council of Catholic
Women. The family wanted the
following links to her obituary listed as well as a link to her
slide show on line http://www.
currentobituary.com/Memory.
aspx?Memory_ObitdID=106435
and http://4-pawsanimalshelter.org/
mtd/index.php.
Helen M. Horak, 92, passed
away on February 16, 2012. She
is survived by her daughter, Patty
‘71 (Earl) Haddow; son, Mick
‘73 (Diane ‘73); two grandsons,
Michael ’94 (fiance Maggie
Shirey) and Shaun ‘97 (wife
Sheila) Horak; two great granddaughters, Samantha and Emma
Horak; sisters, Maryann Sharrar
and Tina Johnson; brother, John
Benishek.
John J. Janecek, 67, passed away
on February 20, 2012 at home
surrounded by family after a 10
year courageous battle fighting
cancer. He is survuved by his
wife, Linda ’66 Janecek; son and
daughter-in-law, John Jr. and
Christi Janecek; daughters and
sons-in-law: Shannon and Rick
Lassek, Dana and Paul Paxton;
step-daughter, Michelle Wiles ’91
and special friend J.J.; step-daughter and husband, Amy ‘92 and
Todd Hellerich; 13 grandchildren;
brother and sister-in-law, Marcel
and Sharon Janecek.
Richard L. Spence, 78, passed
is survived by his wife, Phyllis;
sons, Steven ‘78, Joseph, Jeffrey
’81 and Gregory ‘83; sister, Holly
Spence; nieces and nephews.
John Joseph Curran, 55, passed
is survived by his sons, Andrew
Curran ‘01, and Dustyn Curran
’03; daughters, Jaime Curran,
Caitlin Curran, and Bobbie Curran; grandchildren, Josiah and
Mariah Curran; brothers, Edward
P. Curran (Jo), Fr. Francis T. Curran, Robert M. Curran (Julie),
and Larry S. Curran (Cindy);
sister in law, Connie Curran, and
sisters, Sally Mobley, Mary Gourlay (Jim), Vicki Karre (Ted), Jane
Curran Felcone, (Michael), Julie
Platek (Rege), Eileen Thibault
(Duane), ‘K.C.’ Kathryn Bethel
(Rob).
Shirley Mae Allder, 85, passed
away on February 23, 2012. Shirley is survived by her husband,
Dale; children, Jerry (Sharon ‘72)
Allder, Jackie (Noble) Swanson,
Harley (Debby) Allder, Kathryn
Allder, Patty (Raul) Alfonso, Roy
(JoAnn) Allder, Larry (Jo) Allder,
Steven Allder, Theresa (Joe)
Madden, and David (Nancy ‘84)
Allder; 13 grandchildren including the following who graduated
or are attending Pius X: Vincent
Swanson ’92, Timothy Swanson
’93, Bradford Swanson ’96 and
Dale Allder ’13; 11 great grandchildren.
Ralph J. Perkinton, 90, passed
away February 27, 2012. He is
survived by his children; Ann
Perkinton, Joan Scdoris ’72,
Monsignor John Perkinton
’75, and Rex Perkinton ’79;
6 grandchildren including the
following who are Pius X graduates; Jennifer Scdoris ’91, John
Scdoris ’97, Mary Culjat ’98
and Joe Scdoris ’01 and 18 great
grandchildren.
Albina “Albie” Sisel, 92, passed
away on March 3, 2012. She is
survived by her son, Bud and wife
Donna Sisel; daughters, Beverly
and husband Lad Dolezal, and
Monica and husband Lawrence
Polivka; seven grandchildren,
Randy ‘80 and Sue Dolezal, Russ
’87 and Brenda Dolezal, Shelly
and Ed Trojan, Becky and Brian
Roseland, Ryan Sisel and special
friend Brenda, Larry and Mandie
Polivka, Erin Kay and Tim Pelan;
15 great grandchildren.
Betty Louise (Leif ) Treu, 79,
passed away on March 4, 2012.
She is survived by her sons and
daughters-in-law: Mark ’77 and
Chris Treu; Adam ’92 and Tracy
Treu, daughter: Lori J. Hetrick
’82; grandchildren: Matthew,
Olivia, Kemper, and Finley Treu;
Nate, Emma and Cole Hetrick.
Brother and sister-in-law, Jim and
Ernestine Leif; sister-in-law, Annie
Leif.
Joseph James Caruso, 97, passed
away on February 28, 2012.
Joseph is survived by sons and
daughter-in-law, James, Thomas
and Pamela; grandchildren, J.P.
‘86 and wife Anne, Julie, Megan
’89 and husband James, Amy
and husband Neill, Christopher
and wife Bridget, and Nicole
and husband Matthew; sister-inlaw, Frances Rozzano; 13 great
grandchildren, and 25 nieces and
nephews.
Adolph J. Furasek, 88, passed
away March 7, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Alice; daughter
and son-in-law, Patricia and Ken
Webb; sons and daughters-inlaw, Larry and Carol Furasek,
Richard and Diane Furasek;
nine grandchildren including
the following Pius X graduates:
Todd Furasek ’95, Jill Jakub ’97,
Michelle Reinke ’97, Michael
Furasek ’99, Aaron Furasek
’00 and Mark Furasek ’04; 14
great grandchildren; sister, Helen
Potter; numerous nieces and
nephews.
Tony A. Vrchota, a 1944 Cathedral High School Graduate,
passed away Friday, March 9th.
Tony is survived by his daughters
and son-in-law, Pat and Tom
McGinty, Rose Westerlund and
Terri Vrchota; sons and daughtersin-law, Mike and Mary Vrchota
& Tom “TJ” and Charla Vrchota;
grandchildren, Lori Vrchota,
Lisa and Tim Morfeld, Tim ’01
and Liz Vrchota, Katy Vrchota,
Tony and Danielle Vrchota; great
grandchildren, Emma, Tatumn
and Tucker; and sister, Dorothy
Stransky; and nieces and nephews.
Helen Catherine Augustin, 93,
passed away March 13, 2012.
Helen is survived by her son,
Larry (Deanna) Augustin; three
daughters, Patricia (Wayne) Davis,
Sandra (Dan) Reisdorff, and
Carole (Rick) Hoyt; 16 grandchildren including the following Pius
X Alumni: Nathan Reisdorff ’89,
Kerri Reisdorff ’90, Katherine
Christensen ’96 and Andrew
Reisdorff ’98; 30 great grandchildren with a new addition anticipated in May, and two great-great
grandchildren.
spouses, Trudy (Richard) Stodola,
Phyllis (Ernie) Haag, Nancy (Joel)
Staley, Steve (Sonia) Jambor, Jim
(Anita) Jambor; 19 grandchildren
including those who graduated or
will attend Pius X High School:
Jason Jambor ’98, Abigail Jambor ’00, Tyler Jambor ’08 and
Austin Jambor ’16; and six great
grandchildren.
Gaylord Jerome Becker, 80,
Gaylord is survived by his wife,
Marilue (Henning) Becker,
former teacher of Pius X High
School; son, Christopher ’85
(Susan) Becker; grandchildren,
Nicholas and Jacob, Carol Ann
’89 (Robert) Goodding; brother,
Rex (Judy) Becker, Louis (Linda)
Becker; sister, Darlene (Duane)
Daniel; brother, Lester (Linda)
Becker; and many nephews,
nieces, great nephews, great
nieces, and dear friends.
Jonathan “Jon” T. Briggs ‘66,
Jon is survived
by his wife, Jo
Anna Briggs; his
children, Cassandra Briggs, Jody
Leonard; stepchildren, Matthew
Svoboda, Gretchen
Cosier; son-inlaw, Kent Leonard, Brandy Best;
son-in-law, Henry Best, Michael
Briggs; son-in-law, Jeremy Cosier;
his brother, Bill Goodman; sisterin-law, Joann Goodman; sisterin-law, Micki Larson-Briggs. He
was grandfather to Chris, Julia,
and Tosten. He was preceded in
death by his parents, James and
Merle (Chambers) Briggs, and his
brother, Steve Briggs ‘64.
Edwin C. Perry, 80, passed away
on March 27, 2012. Edwin is
survived by wife Joan (Hanson),
a 1949 Cathedral High School
Graduate; sons, James (Gail)
and Greg (Genelle), Jack (Missy);
daughters, Marcy (Steve) Mills,
Judy (Rand) Phipps, and Priscilla
(James) Hefflefinger. Edwin had
19 grandchildren and one great
grandson to be born.
Raymond J. Fiala, 84, passed
away on Mar. 17, 2012. He is
survived by a son and daughterin-law, Jerry and Cindy Fiala;
granddaughters, Jenny ’99 (Ryan)
Trausch, Brenda ’00 (Brian)
Wandzilak, Beki Fiala ’03 and
Alyssa Fiala ’06; great grandchildren, Isaac, Claire and Lucy
Trausch, Evan Wandzilak.
James J. “Jim” Ryan, 77,
passed away, April 2, 2012. He
is survived by his sons, Bill ’77,
Pat ‘84 (Marcie) and Tim ‘88;
daughter, Kathy Berry ‘79; three
grandchildren, Jeff (Jen), Jessica,
and Wesley; one great grandson,
Traeton; sisters, Theresa Ryan, and
Julie Hoaglin; nephews, nieces,
and many cousins. Proceeded in
death wife JoAnn (Welsh) Ryan
Cathedral High class of 1956.
Ernest Jambor, 94, passed
away on March 18, 2012. He is
survived by his wife of 65 years,
Jeannette Jambor; children and
Nancy Lawlor Jenkins, 83,
passed away on April 10, 2012.
She is survived by family, including sons and daughters-in-law;
piusx.net U 29
alumni today
Michael and Carol (Clifford) ‘80
Jenkins, Jeffrey and Lynn Jenkins;
grandchildren, Jared, Danny
‘07, Abbie, Hanna, Nick ‘11 and
Scott ’13 Jenkins.
Bill Knight passed away on April
11, 2012. He is survived by his
wife of 63 years, Virginia; son
and daughter-in-law, Doug ‘68
and Carrie (Irvin) ’68 Knight;
daughter, Carol ‘70; daughter and
son-in-law, Kathy ’74 and Scott
Cather; daughter, Mary Knight
‘77, seven grandchildren and ten
great-grandchildren. Preceded in
death: son, David ’74.
Martin R. Grgurich, 46, passed
away on April 23, 2012. He is
survived by his wife, Joyce; father,
Robert Grgurich; mother, Helene
Grgurich; siblings (spouse),
Mark ’75 (Linda), Matthew ’77
(Brenda), Mike ‘78, Deborah
’79 (Ramon) Olivier, and Cathy
‘82 (Chuck) Turner; sisters-inlaw, Sandi Jorgensen, and Joanne
Badura; mother-in-law, Irene
Badura; nine nieces, five nephews,
five great nieces, and two great
nephews.
Herbert E. Honke, 88, passed
away on April 25, 2012. He is
survived by his wife, Mildred L.
Honke; children, Michael P. and
Martha Honke,; Vicki A. and
Duane Hodge,; and Terry L. and
Connie Honke,; grandchildren,
Heather (John) Schroder, Beth
(Derek) Babel,; Matthew (Kathy)
Honke; Betsy Shonka; Amber
’06 and Colby ’08 Honke; Traci
(Craig) Barnard; and Marty (Jodi)
Hodge. He was also blessed with
great-grandchildren, Shelby, Allison and Lindsay Schroder, Jack
and Parker Shonka, Tyson and
Regan Barnard, and Landon and
Levi Hodge.
Ann Darlene Lynch Schmidt,
passed away on April 27, 2012.
She is survived by her four children. Sons and daughters-in-law:
Mike ‘68 and Dianna Schmidt,
Brad ’69 and Mary ‘69 Schmidt;
daughter, Theresa Curtis, and
daughter and son-in-law, Patti
’79 and Rick Clarence; seven
grandchildren including the following who have graduated or
attend Pius X; Katy Schmidt ’97,
Kelly (Schmidt) Houghton ’00,
Megan Schmidt ’02 and Avery
(Schmidt) Essay ’02 and Claire
Clarence ’13 and eight greatgrandchildren.
Virginia “Ginny” Wrann
Watts, 90, passed away on April
28, 2012. Ginny is survived by
daughters, Kathleen ’64 and
Christine Watts, and son, Dennis (Jan) Watts. Grandchildren:
Melissa Watts (Andrew) Skea,
Chaslynn Watts (Benjamin)
Martchek, Megan Watts, and
Jordan Cantu and two greatgrandchildren.
James M. “Jim” Noonan, 77,
passed away May 3, 2012. Jim
is survived by his beloved wife
of 55 years, Marilyn (Barry)
Noonan; son, Mike; daughter,
Kelly ’78; daughter, Carrie and
husband Dan Bienka; daughter,
Becky Ely and Randy Trauernicht;
grandchildren, Evan Ely and KC
Hunt, Garrett Ely, Kendra Bienka, Daniel Bienka and Sammy
Burns, Casey Noonan and Joe
Hartley, Jimmy Noonan, Dusty
and Rachelle Trauernicht, Taylor,
Logan and Jensen Trauernicht;
great grandchildren, Owen and
Brooklyn Ely, Tatum Ihrig, and
Noah Trauernicht; his sisters, Darlene Sievers, Doreen Miller ‘50,
and Viv Walters ‘59; and many
nephews, nieces, and friends.
He is preceded in death by his
parents, and his brother, Gene
Noonan ‘55.
in-law, Tom and Jane Steinbach,
and Ted and Holly Steinbach;
grandchildren, John ‘06, Bill ‘07
and Emily ‘12 Steinbach.
Nina O’Brien, 99, passed away
on May 4, 2012. She is survived
by her daughters, Mary Ellen ’60
(Robert) MaCoy and Kathy ’63
(John) Morris; Daughter-in-law,
JoAnn (Delisi) O’Brien; 7 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren.
Preceded in death by her son,
Larry ‘57.
Kathleen Charlotte (Moss) Creal
passed away on June 1, 2012. She
is survived by her sons, daughtersin law, Stephen ‘61 and Anna;
Thomas ‘65 and Cindy; Daniel
’71 and Vicki, Robert and Mary
O’Shea-Creal, Jeffrey ‘80 and Susan, Michael ’74 and Catherine;
daughters, sons-in-law, Marcia
‘66 and Kenneth Merboth, Teresa
‘73 and Louis Zearing, Christine
’75 and Daniel Nordstrom; 36
grandchildren including the following who graduated or attend
Pius X: David Merboth ’98,
Andrew ’97, Brad ’00, Samuel,
’09, Robert O’Shea-Creal ’04,
Marie O’Shea-Creal ’06, Norah
O’Shea-Creal ’09 and Liam
O’Shea-Creal ’13 and 20 greatgrandchildren.
Nina M. Frieden, 86, passed
away on May 7, 2012. She is
survived by her daughter, son-inlaw: Linda and Melvin Gagner;
grandchildren: Toni Boardman
’85, Edward Gagner ‘93; great
grandson: Ben Boardman.
Kenneth L. “Ken” Classen, 66,
of Lincoln, died Friday, May
25, 2012, at his home. Ken is
survived by his daughter, Lindsay
Wittenhagen and husband Steve;
three grandchildren, Layne (’16),
Haeley, and Chase Wittenhagen;
former spouse, Sandee Lutz;
brother, Ronald Classen & wife
Barb; sisters and brothers-in-law,
Margaret and Steve Slinkard, Judy
and Richard Douglas, Mary and
Loren McGinnis; and many nieces
and nephews.
Theresa M. Bayless, a 1953 Cathedral High School Graduate
passed away on May 28, 2012 .
Jill Nicole Portsche, 32, passed
away on May 30, 2012. Jill is survived by her parents, Paul (Doug)
and Susan Portsche, and brother,
Greg Portsche ‘2010.
John L. Steinbach, 82, passed
away on May 31, 2012. He is
survived by sons and daughters-
Thomas A. Kirkpatrick, 55
passed away on June 5, 2012. He
is survived by his wife, Sue; children, Tara ‘04, Amy ‘07, Teddy
‘11, Robert; brother and sisterin-law, Tim and Susan; brother,
Terry; mother, Mary Jo Kirkpatrick; sister, Coleen Hughes; nieces
and nephews.
Joyce T. (Meister) Delisi, 78
passed away on June 6, 2012. She
is survived by her husband, Sam;
four children and their spouses:
Gary ‘73 and Roxie Delisi,
Dianne ’74 and Rick Aksamit,
Mary ’77 and Jon Butcher and
Scott ‘82 and Barb Delisi; sisters:
Marie, Helen, and Rita; six grandchildren and spouses; and two
great-grandchildren.
Pius X Alumni Compete in U.S. Olympic Trials
Bridget (Divis) Easley ’99 and Mike
Morgan ’98 recently competed in the U.S.
Olympic Trials, and were honored during
the half-time of a Pius X basketball game.
On Sat., Jan. 14, two Pius X High
School alumni competed in the U.S.
Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston,
Texas.
Mike Morgan ’98 finished in 17th
place with a personal best time of 2 hours,
14 minutes, and 21 seconds. His time
equates to 5:08 pace per mile. This was
30 U piusx.net
Morgan’s second trip to the trials, having
also qualified and competed in 2008.
Bridget (Divis) Easley ’99 finished the
women’s trials in 129th place with a time
of 2 hours, 52 minutes, 28 seconds.
To receive an invitation to compete
in the trials, a runner must meet a minimum qualifying time during the 4- year
span between each Olympic Game at a
sanctioned marathon, half marathon or
10,000 meter race. The qualifying time
for the women’s marathon is 2 hours 46
minutes and the men’s qualifying time is
2 hours 19 minutes.
At this year’s trials, 237 runners (85
men and 152 women) competed for the
three qualifying spots available on each
team.
W. Christian Davenport ’92 is the
only other known Pius X Alumni who
has competed in
an Olympic Trial.
He competed in
the U.S. Olympic
Trials for Road Cycling in May 2000
in Jackson, Miss.
The Olympic team
had already been
partially selected at
that point, which W. Christian Davenport
included Lance
’92 competed in the U.S.
Armstrong. Finish- Olympic Trials for Road
Cycling in May 2000.
ing 46th overall,
Davenport placed
in the top 10 for amateurs. This was a
great accomplishment, as he trained and
competed at this very high level while
holding down a full-time job (unlike
other professional and amateur cyclists).
Kings, Queens,
Bishops...
BOL T
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benefit dinner • live & silent auctions
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hank you for making Kings, Queens, Bishops...BOLT another incredible
success. More than 550 guests attended the dinner and auction and raised
more than $240,000. Your support of BOLT will help the Pius X Booster
Club and help Pius X to achieve the vital goal of retiring the debt on the
new kitchen facilities. Be sure to mark your calendar and
join us for BOLT 2013 on April 20th!
Adam Raun ’01 and wife Dawn
Heads or Tails
Mike Barrett ’93 and wife Kim
2012 BOLT Executive Committee
- Front-l to r: Deb Schulte, Penny
Bachmann, Diane Pryor, Janet
Kurtenbach, Ann Kotopka, Mike
Kotopka, Steve Jaros, Libby
Jaros, back-l to r: Fr. Meysenburg,
Joe Bachman, Alan Pryor, Mark
Kurtenbach, and Michele Arndt.
Not pictured: Ron Arndt and Dave
and Ann Kirby.
Scott Noel ’80 and wife Jackie
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage Paid
Lincoln, NE
Permit # 136
Pius X High School
Foundation Office
6000 A Street
Lincoln, NE 68510
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volume 12 • spring 2012 • www.piusx.net A publication for Alumni

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