A PUBLICATION OF THE ALUMNI

A PUBLICATION OF THE ALUMNI-DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF RONCALLI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Volume 10, Number 3 • March 2013
ARCHBISHOP LUCAS PRESIDES AT ASH WEDNESDAY MASS
Kate & Leonard Sommer
John XXIII Award Recipients
FESTA DEL LEONE - APRIL 13
Kate & Leonard Sommer to be honored with John XXIII Award
page 5
SWING WITH PRIDE GOLF OUTING - AUGUST 5
Committees forming to plan this event
page 8
RONCALLI CATHOLIC STUDENTS JOIN MARCH FOR LIFE
January 23, 22 students joined 400 others in Washington D.C.
Madonna, RCHS
Partnership Benefits Both
page 10-11
RONCALLI CATHOLIC PARTNERS WITH MADONNA SCHOOL
Madonna Coffee more than just a fundraiser
page 12
page 14-15
Roncalli Catholic High School
2
Click on any ad throughout this issue and learn
more about these supporter of The Pride and
Roncalli Catholic High School.
Inside March 2013
A Message from our President
3
Make your Festa Reservations Today! 5
Student Wins Dream Trip 6
38th Annual Wits Clash Competition 6
One Pitch at a Time 7
Pasta and Pops Concert 7
Swing with Pride Set for August 5 8
Spring Play March 21-24 Directed by Alumnus
9
Ash Wednesday Mass, Retreat, Banquet 10-11
Annual March for Life in Washington D.C. 12
Advent All-School Penance Service 13
Musical Talent Showcased in Christmas Program
13
RCHS and Madonna Partner to Make Madonna Coffee 14-15
All About Alums: Basketball Tournament 16
All About Alums: We Also Heard from
17
All About Alums; Alumna Works with Entertainment Elite
17
Catholic Schools Week at RCHS
18
On the Cover
Roncalli Catholic High School celebrated the start of the
Lenten season with an Ash Wednesday Mass, an all-school
diversity retreat, and an annual hunger banquet over the lunch
hour. The February 13 Mass was led by Omaha Archbishop
George Lucas at 11 a.m. in the Notre Dame Auditorium.
Pictured are Father Chi Igboanusi, RCHS Chaplain,
Archbishop George Lucas, Deacon Rick Niedergesses, and
Father Lloyd A. Gnirk, President Emeritus of RCHS.
PRIDE
March 2013
3
A Word from Mr. Jeff Dempsey, our President
Dear Friends:
From Festa del Leone (our most important fundraising event), to graduation, the school play,
Spring sports and our Alumni Basketball Tournament, Roncalli Catholic is filled with energy
and activity this time of year! And, thanks to our great staff and faculty, and the many
volunteers who so generously offer their time, talent and treasure, our school continues to
grow and thrive.
Our Festa event chairs and committee members have been hard at work, preparing for the
24th Annual Festa del Leone set for April 13. We greatly appreciate their efforts, which
are so instrumental to the success of the event. It’s not too late if you want to join the
festivities – please plan to join us for the evening as a guest or a volunteer. For ticket and table
information or to volunteer, contact our events coordinator at festa@roncallicatholic.org and
see the full story on page 5.
Jeff Dempsey, President
Roncalli Catholic High School
Speaking of Festa, our students are busy selling raffle tickets for the drawing to be held the
night of the event, as well. Fundraising events like these enable us to keep Roncalli Catholic
the most affordable Catholic high school in Omaha.
Our annual spring play is also right around the corner. Michael McCandless, Rummel class of
1974, is directing our students in “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” a play he directed
as an associate Professor of Theater at Creighton University. Save the date and plan to attend
– details can be found on page 9.
As we look forward to the Spring sports season, I am reminded of how very much our booster
clubs do to help with so many different home events. From the concession stand to spirit gear
and signage, their help is vital to these events. We couldn’t do it without them!
On another subject, I would like to say how proud I have been of our school as we were
featured in both the Catholic Voice (on Feb. 8) and on WOWT for our collaboration with our
neighbors, the students of the Madonna School. This project showcases our school’s biggest
asset – students who care and support others. See the whole story and the links to the clips
beginning on page 14.
On Ash Wednesday, in addition to Mass with the Archbishop, the Hunger Banquet and the
diversity retreat, we were filming a recruitment video for next year. This is a great opportunity
for us to share all that makes our school great – dedicated staff, hands-on parents, involved
alumni and students who live their faith. The video, funded by a generous donation, will
show that we are so much more than a school – we are a family.
On that note, I would like to share the sentiments of one of the members of the film crew.
While filming, he said that he truly got the feeling that Roncalli Catholic was someplace
special, noting that the students, faculty and parents all seemed to get a glint in their eye when
talking about our school.
I’m looking forward to the rest of the school year and proud of the fact that the rest of the
world can see what I already know – Roncalli Catholic is really someplace special! Thank
you all for making it so.
God bless,
Jeff Dempsey, President
Roncalli Catholic High School
4
The PRIDE
­is published by the
Office of Stewardship and Development
of Roncalli Catholic High School, Omaha, NE.
The Office of Stewardship and Development includes:
Public Relations, Recruitment and Retention,
Alumni Relations, Special Events,
Communications and Fundraising.
©2013, All rights reserved.
Materials in The PRIDE may be reproduced
provided prior permission is obtained from the
editor and credit is given.
RONCALLI CATHOLIC PRESIDENT
Jeffrey M. Dempsey
RONCALLI CATHOLIC PRESIDENT EMERITUS
Rev. Lloyd A. Gnirk
EDITOR
Kristi Berger
PHOTOGRAPHY
Development and Alumni Office
DESIGN AND LAYOUT
Goodrich and Goodrich, LLC
STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Jeffrey M. Dempsey, President
Rev. Lloyd A. Gnirk, President Emeritus
Rev. Gerald Igboanusi, Roncalli Catholic Chaplain
Barbara Norris, Business Manager
Kelly Bosn, Database Coordinator
Julie Grosse-Rhode, Events Coordinator
Kristi Berger, Communications Coordinator
Darlene Perrotto, Administrative Assistant
T. J. Orr, Director of Admissions and Recruitment
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION
Please contact Duffi Goodrich
(402) 592.0823 • FAX (402) 597.1321
goodriches@cox.net
or the
Roncalli Catholic Development Office
(402) 571.7670 • FAX (402) 571.3216
www.roncallicatholic.org
All advertising dollars are sent directly to
Roncalli Catholic High School
and help to underwrite the cost of this publication.
Advertisers in this magazine have made it
possible for 2013 March and July issues
of The Pride to be online.
Choose them FIRST for products and services.
PRIDE
March 2013
5
Make your Festa del Leone
reservation today!
Our 24th Annual Festa del Leone is right around the corner – on Saturday, April 13. We
have a fun night planned including a signature dinner, live and silent auctions, a wine grotto
and a raffle drawing featuring three prizes.
This event is a great opportunity to socialize with others in the RCHS family or reconnect
with friends and celebrate all that makes Roncalli Catholic such a great school. Tables are
being put together for our graduates to celebrate landmark reunions – let us know if you
would like to join your classmates at a table.
It’s all for a great cause too! Festa del Leone is held each year to raise money for
grant and tuition assistance programs that benefit the 340+ students at Roncalli
Catholic. Event Chairs for Festa 2013 are Janet and Mark Bowers and Kristy
and Gus Gustafson. The cost is $125 per person. Make your reservation today!
Click here to use our secure web site or call Julie at 402-571-7670.
Pope John XXIII Award
The evening will also include the presentation of the Pope John XXIII Award. This
year, Roncalli Catholic is pleased to honor Kate and Leonard Sommer with the Pope
John XXIII award.
Kate and
Leonard
Sommer
will be the
recipients
of the 2013
Pope John
XXIII
Award.
Leonard is a Rummel alumnus (Class of 1972). Over the years, Leonard has served on
several committees at Roncalli Catholic including: Board of Education, Development
Board, Finance Committee, Alumni Committee, Phone-A-Thon Committee and the Swing
with Pride Committee.
Kate graduated from Mercy High School in 1974. She has served on several non-profit boards
and has been recognized for her community service efforts with various awards, including the
Governor’s Point of Light Award, First Lady’s Outstanding Community Service Award and
the United Way Leota G. Norton Community Service Award. Kate has 25 years of teaching
experience in secondary high school education, most recently at Duchesne Academy of the
Sacred Heart.
The Sommers also served as honorary co-chairs for our 2012 Festa del Leone.
Microsoft Surface Tablets Raffle
Just $10 for a Chance to Win One of Three Prizes
Roncalli Catholic is raffling off three Microsoft Surface Tablets for just $10 a ticket. The
drawing will be held at Roncalli Catholic’s annual Festa del Leone on April 13. You need
not be present to win. Please call Julie at 402-571-7670 or festa@roncallicatholic.org
to purchase tickets or to request a book of (10) tickets to sell. Volunteer at Roncalli Catholic. Sign Up Online!
Go to i-Volunteer Online http://roncallicatholic.i-volunteeronline.com
an online scheduling system where volunteers use a public link to sign up.
Enter your name and email in one or more slots.
Then, click the link to verify your commitment when you receive the confirmation email.
At Roncalli Catholic, volunteers are a vital part of the success of our school.
We are always looking for volunteer support for our various fundraising events, as well as school and athletic activities.
From data entry to concession sales, we appreciate any support you can give.
So, roll up your sleeves and join the fun!
6
Roncalli Catholic High School
Around the School
RCHS Student Wins Dream Trip
In December, RCHS junior Ashley Campbell got a phone call that would
rock her world. She was the winner of an all-expense paid trip to New
York City to see her favorite band, the British boy band sensation One
Direction.
After hearing about the contest, Ashley decided to try her luck at the
One Direction Sharpie Hello contest, and registered on the company’s
Facebook page.
Well, luck was with her, because she soon found out that she was, in fact,
the grand prize winner. In addition to two parent chaperones (including
Ashley’s mother, RCHS 1989 alumna Tina Ledger Campbell), Ashley
was able to invite eight girls to enjoy the prize. The group enjoyed VIP
treatment at the One Direction concert, a ride on Sharpie’s private jet,
transportation, hotel accommodations and $2500 spending money.
Her love of the group had led Ashley to join a fan club – a group of girls
that she decided to share her good fortune with. So, in addition to her
sister, cousin and a few classmates, she invited some of the girls from the
fan club too.
The girls’ adventure was featured in the
Omaha World-Herald
http://www.omaha.com/article/20121205/LIVING/712059965
and on the WOWT website
http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/One-Direction-Superfan-WinsConcert-Trip-181696311.html
Click the links above to see those features.
Ashley Campbell poses in front of the
Sharpie limousine that served as the group’s
transportation while in New York.
More Around the School
38th Annual Wits Clash
Competition
Students from 17 area middle schools attended
the 38th Annual Wits Clash competition at
Roncalli Catholic on Friday, Feb. 8.
Each
school had two teams of four students competing
in the event.
Wits Clash is an opportunity for metro Junior
High students to compete in a quiz competition
at the school. The competition was done in
a game show format, featuring questions in
various categories. In teams of four students,
participants were quizzed on history, math,
geography, and current events, to name a few of
the subjects.
More than 100 volunteers, including faculty,
staff and students, helped make the event a
success. Parent volunteers staffed the concession
stand, which included chili made by the school’s
culinary arts students.
PRIDE
March 2013
Around the School
7
One Pitch at a Time Promotes
Anti-tobacco Message to Young
Baseball Players
Major League Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mark Melancon
participated in the “One Pitch at a Time” anti-tobacco baseball
clinic and fundraiser hosted by the Dobleman Head and Neck
Cancer Institute at Roncalli Catholic on January 13. The event
raised more than $30,000 for the institute.
More specifically, Melancon joined area coaches in providing a
three-hour baseball clinic for 70 area kids. Participants worked on
hitting, pitching, fielding, catching and bunting. The clinic was
topped off with popcorn, hot dogs and autographs from Melancon.
An evening dinner and auction followed.
Above: Major League Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher
Mark Melancon works with kids at the
“One Pitch at a Time” baseball clinic held at
Roncalli Catholic on January 13.
M o re Around the School
Roncalli Catholic Hosted
7th Annual Pasta & Pops
Concert on February 17
Roncalli Catholic’s 7th Annual Pasta & Pops Concert
featured the Concert Chorus, Women’s Chorus,
Concert Band, Guitar Class, PRIDE A Cappella and
student soloists, with a Broadway Musicals theme.
Nearly 300 music lovers attended the February 17
event which kicked off with a spaghetti dinner at
5 p.m. The 6 p.m. concert was held in the school’s
gymnasium. The cost was $5 per person or $20 per
family which was paid at the door.
According to Dr. Tom Dobleman, a Head and Neck Oncology
Surgeon and Medical Director of the Dobleman Head and Neck
Institute, the main goal of the event was to reach young baseball
players with the anti-tobacco message before they start.
The Dobleman Head and Neck Cancer Institute, a non-profit
organization since 2002, with its team of Medical Oncologists,
Radiologists, Endocrinologists, Pathologists, Neuroradiologists,
Oral Surgeons and Speech and Swallowing Therapists, provide
coordinated care for their patients from pediatrics to the elderly.
The institute, in conjunction with Creighton University Medical
School, continues to be proactive in building community awareness,
offering free cancer screens, teaching medical and dental students,
residents and fellows and funding cancer research. The institute
receives money through fundraising, charitable donations and grants.
Click here to visit the
Dobleman Head and Neck Cancer Institute web site
for additional information.
Roncalli Catholic Varsity Baseball Coach Tom Kupfer and
Dr. Thomas Dobleman were featured on the Jan. 11 Morning
Blend talk show on KMTV to promote the event.
Click here to see the segment.
Did you know ... ?
You can safely give a gift online on our new and improved website. Visit www.roncallicatholic.org and find
the “Quick Links” at the top right of the home page. In the “Quick Links” drop-down menu, find “Donate Now!”
and you’ll be taken to a secure area where you can give your gift.
8
Roncalli Catholic High School
Save the Date
Swing With Pride Set for
Monday, August 5, 2013
Mark your 2013 calendars for Roncalli Catholic’s 24th
Annual A. Len Leavitt Memorial Swing with Pride Golf
Open! Set for Monday, August 5 at The Players Club
at Deer Creek, this annual event unites 200+ current
parents, past parents, friends of the school and alumni for
a day of fun on the greens.
A social hour, silent auction, raffle giveaways and dinner
program will follow the golfing portion of the fundraiser.
Participants pay just $125 each or $500 for foursomes.
Proceeds benefit the 340+ students of Roncalli Catholic.
For additional details or to see how you can
help, contact Julie Gross-Rhode (402) 571-7670
jgrosserhode@roncallicatholic.org.
Top photo: RCHS Principal Chad Holtz and
Recruitment Director T.J. Orr at the 2012
Swing with Pride.
MONDAY,
AUGUST 5, 2013
THE PLAYERS CLUB
Social hour, silent auction,
raffle giveaways and dinner
program will follow
the golf. outing
$125 individual golfers
$500 for foursomes
Middle photo: President Emeritus Father
Lloyd Gnirk and Brother Armand Alcazar,
a De LaSalle Christian Brother and former
RCHS teacher, catch up at last year’s event.
Bottom photo: RCHS alumni Steve Perrotto
and Ted Ramm (both Class of 1988) enjoy the
2012 Swing with Pride event at The Players
Club at Deer Creek.
Advertisers in this magazine have made it possible for
the March and July issues of The Pride to be online.
Choose them FIRST for products and services.
To advertise in The Pride magazine and help ensure that
the March and July issues are published online,
Contact Duffi Goodrich
402.592.0823
goodriches@cox.net
PRIDE
March 2013
Save the Date
9
Spring Play March 21–24
Directed by Rummel Alumnus
Roncalli Catholic is presenting “The Musical Comedy Murders of
1940” March 21-24. Directed by Rummel High School* Class of 1974
alumnus, Michael McCandless, “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940”
is a comedic farce, poking fun at the murder mysteries of the 1940s.
Set in 1940 at the Von Grosseneuten mansion in Chappaqua, New
York, during a raging snowstorm, a group of actors, writers, directors,
and producers are brought to the mansion for a phony audition for a
new musical. The audition is a sting set-up by the New York police
to catch the “Stage Door Slasher” who murdered three chorus girls in
the last show staged by the same creative team. As the phony audition
progresses comic mayhem ensues with mistaken identities, disguises,
secret passageways, and Nazi spies.
Show times:
Thursday-Saturday, March 21-23 - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 24 - 2 p.m.
Tickets available at the door:
$8 for adults • $5 for students
In 1999 McCandless directed the production at Creighton University, where
he is an assistant professor in Theater. Last year, the RCHS Spring Play was
a production of “Cursing Mummies” written by McCandless and directed by
RCHS Class of 2005 alumnus Joshua Payton.
*All-boys Rummel High School merged with all-girls Notre Dame Academy in
1974 to become co-educational Roncalli Catholic High School.
Click on the ads throughout this issue to learn more about these supporters of The Pride magazine
proud to support
J. Skinner Baking Company is proud to support Roncalli Catholic High School
baked fresh daily in omaha
skinnerbaking.com
10
Roncalli Catholic High School
Roncalli Catholic’s
Ash Wednesday Mass,
Diversty Retreat and
Hunger Banquet
Most Reverend George J. Lucas,
Archbishop of Omaha,
presided at the Mass
Above: Archbishop Lucas leads a pre-Mass prayer
with Father Chi, Deacon Rick Niedergesses and the
student altar servers.
Right: Archbishop Lucas visits with RCHS students
during the Hunger Banquet.
Roncalli Catholic High School celebrated the start
of the Lenten season with an Ash Wednesday Mass,
an all-school diversity retreat, and an annual hunger
banquet over the lunch hour. The February 13 Mass
was led by Omaha Archbishop George Lucas at 11 a.m.
in the Notre Dame Auditorium.
At Mass, Archbishop Lucas told faculty, staff and
students that Ash Wednesday is our opportunity as a
community to admit our shortcomings, the ways we are
not reaching the full potential God has instilled in us.
continued on page 11
continued on next page
PRIDE
March 2013
11
Ash Wednesday. . . continued from page 10
He encouraged attendees to view Lent as a positive time to
reflect and invite Jesus to help us live up to our full potential.
All-school Retreat
The all-school retreat was led by a local organization that
uses interactive theatre programs to focus on issues faced
by teens. More specifically, the program is designed to help
prevent bullying, abusive relationships and teen dating
violence. According to full-time chaplain Father Chi
Igboanusi the retreat also focused on and celebrated the
school’s diversity, which he says is one of the highest strengths
of Roncalli Catholic High School.
“No other Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of
Omaha can match Roncalli Catholic when it comes to the
diverse population we serve and it is something to celebrate,”
said Igboanusi. “The retreat help highlighted this for our
community.”
The Hunger Banquet
The Hunger Banquet is a Roncalli Catholic tradition in which
the students, faculty and staff draw for their meal according
to the populations of the world. Third world countries ate
rice; second world countries ate rice and beans; and first world
countries had rice, beans, a fish patty and a cookie. Those
eating first world food sat at a table, while everyone else sat
on the floor.
According to Igboanusi, the purpose of the banquet is to
demonstrate the inequality of food in the world today, to be
in solidarity with those who have nothing or very little to eat,
and finally to fast for Ash Wednesday in thanksgiving for what
Our Lord has done for us.
The banquet was being catered by “Pleasure Your Palate
Catering” and participants paid $4. The money remaining
following the cost of food was donated to Ad Gentes
Missionaries. The Omaha-based nuns of this organization run
free schools for women and children, as well as shelters and
food pantries in the poorest communities in Northern Nigeria.
Be sure to check out the complete calendar of events at
www.roncallicatholic.org
then choose “Calendar” under “Quick Links”
at the top right of the screen.
Advertisers in this magazine have made it possible for the
March and July issues of The Pride to be online.
Be sure to choose them FIRST for products and services.
12
Roncalli Catholic High School
Around the School
Roncalli Catholic Students Join
Annual March for Life in
Washington D.C.
In January, 22 Roncalli Catholic students and two faculty
chaperones joined more than 300 participants in the 2013
Omaha Archdiocesan Youth Pilgrimage to the annual March
for Life in Washington, D.C.
Despite snowfall and bitterly cold temperatures, an estimated
650,000 people participated in the 2013 National March for
Life, marching past the U.S. capital in protest of the 1973
Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion. The annual
event is intended to promote respect for human life at all
stages – from conception to natural death.
The group traveled by caravan in seven chartered buses and
made stops at many religious and historical sites along the
way. The group visited the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at
the University of Notre Dame; Saint Matthew's Cathedral in
Washington, D.C.; the Franciscan Shrine of the Holy Land in
the United States; the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception; the Basilica of Saint Elizabeth Ann
Seton in Emmitsburg, MD; Arlington National Cemetery;
and the Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall.
Before and after the March, the RCHS group attended the
"Life is Very Good" rally and Mass with young people from
dozens of other dioceses across the country, featuring Catholic
recording artist Matt Maher.
The five-day trip cost $375 per student and began on January
23. Students covered the cost of the trip on their own, with
family support, or with scholarship money from the Knights
of Columbus or the school’s campus ministry fund. All RCHS
students are eligible to participate in the annual pilgrimage.
Left: (l to r) Mrs. Kim Schumacher, Mackenzie Schutte,
and Celeste Black-Harr.
Right: (l to r) Thad Vogel, Hunter Herout, and Adam
Fleming at the 2013 March for Life.
PRIDE
March 2013
Around the School
13
Advent Penance Service
Left: Visiting priests participate in the Roncalli
Catholic Advent Penance Service on November 29.
Below: (l to r) Students Raluca Maiefski,
Taylor Mittermeier, Rachel Norris and Tea
Anna McDowell wait for their turn to receive
reconciliation.
More Around the School
RCHS Kicks Off Advent with
All-School Penance Service on
November 29
Roncalli Catholic’s full-time chaplain Father Chi Igboanusi
organized an all-school Advent Penance Service for November
29. Twenty-four priests were on-hand to participate in the
Prayer Service and provide reconciliation for all students, as
well as faculty and staff. This service kicked off weekly Prayer
Services being offered at Roncalli Catholic each Monday
throughout the Advent season.
“My goal is to help our school fully experience all the joy
that the Advent season offers,” said Igboanusi. “Our weekly
prayer services should serve to keep our students, faculty and
staff focused on the true meaning of the season.” The first Monday Prayer Service included a blessing for the
school’s Christmas tree and Advent wreath and the first
purple candle was lit in celebration of the Holy Season of
Advent.
RCHS Musical Talent Showcased
in December 12 Christmas
Concert
On Wednesday, December 12, five student groups performed at
the annual Roncalli Catholic Christmas Concert. Held each
year in the Notre Dame Auditorium, this concert featured
seasonal classics such as “We Three Kings” and “Joy To The
World.” The RCHS Concert Chorus, Women’s Chorus,
Concert Band, PRIDE A Capella group and the Piano Class
performed. Close to 200 people attended the annual concert.
14
Roncalli Catholic High School
B
A
A. M
adonna School students Andrew
Spring (left) and Derek Rivard (front)
pose with RCHS junior David Larson
during coffee production.
B. M
adonna school students Michaela
Schwartz and Sarah Wiedner weigh
coffee with RCHS sophomore Brittany
Fitzler.
Roncalli Catholic and
Madonna School Partner to
Make Madonna Coffee
Partnership to result in educational
benefit and community service
opportunity
C. R
on Poster, a student in the life
skills program, often mans the coffee
grinder on the production line.
C
Roncalli Catholic High School and the Madonna School are working
together to make the Madonna Coffee that the school sells for its
fundraising efforts. Madonna students are developing job skills while
the partnership serves as a community service opportunity for the RCHS
students.
More specifically, students in the Madonna School’s Life Skills Transition
Program are paired with Roncalli Catholic students to work in the high
school’s Culinary Arts laboratory, grinding and packaging the coffee. The
RCHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) group will also help
market the coffee to expand its distribution from web site and fundraising
event sales to local distribution around Omaha.
According to Madonna School president, Jay Dunlap, this partnership is
a win-win situation for everyone.
“We are delighted to be working with Roncalli Catholic on this project,”
continued Dunlap. “Nothing makes a bigger difference in the lives of our
graduates than attaining a good job and this is a great learning opportunity
to help them on their way.”
RCHS President Jeff Dempsey said his students will benefit in many ways
from the collaboration.
continued on page 15
This story was featured on
KETV Channel 7 News
Click here for the feature.
It was also featured in the
February 8
The Catholic Voice
Click here for the feature.
PRIDE
March 2013
15
Madonna Coffee
D
continued from page 14
D. Sam Nelson grinds coffee as Ron Poster and RCHS
junior Alysha Bremer look on.
Photo courtesy The Catholic Voice.
E. M
adonna School student Andrew Spring seals coffee
bags on the assembly line.
E
“This partnership will be a wonderful community service
opportunity for our students,” said Dempsey. “It will also
be a great hands-on learning experience for our students in
FBLA, the Future Educators of America and our Culinary
Arts programs.”
Provided by LaRue Coffee for Madonna School’s fundraising efforts, the product
previously came to the school pre-packaged. The process was changed in an effort to
give Madonna students a more hands-on role and an opportunity to develop job skills.
The Madonna School is an educational organization founded on the Christian
principles of value, worth and dignity of every individual as created by God. With
a mission of empowering students and adults with cognitive and developmental
disabilities to lead fulfilling lives as participating members of the community, the
Madonna School offers a K-12 school, a Life Skills Transition Program for 18-21
year olds, and a sheltered workshop for adults. For additional information about the
Madonna School and Madonna Coffee visit www.madonnaschool.org.
Thank the advertisers for this edition of The Pride
If you enjoyed the three issues of The Pride last year, be sure to let the advertisers
know. It’s because of their sponsorship that the March and July online editions
are possible. A third issue publishes in November and is featured online as well
as printed and mailed.
Click on any ad throughout this digital issue and you’ll be taken to the
advertiser’s website or an email will pop up, allowing you to request more
information.
Promote your business and support Roncalli Catholic
If you are a business owner/manager, consider advertising your company in this
magazine. You can be featured in one, two or three digital issues, as well as the
November printed issue. You will also be listed as a supporter in the Annual Report
portion of the November magazine.
A contract with pricing is on the last page of this magazine. Click here to be taken
to that page. Contact Duffi Goodrich, 402.502.0823, goodriches@cox.net or Kristi
Berger, 402.571.7670, kberger@roncallicatholic.org with questions. Checks are
always made payable to Roncalli Catholic High School.
16
Roncalli Catholic High School
All About
Annual Alumni Basketball Tournament
The Annual Roncalli Catholic Alumni Basketball
Tournament was held March 1-3 and 8-10, featuring
20 teams, including a Roncalli Faculty Team.
Participants ranged from graduates of the Class of
1981 to the Class of 2012.
The final four featured the classes of 1997, 1996, 1992
and the Faculty team. The class of 1997 won the
championship as they defeated the senior champion
1992.
The event featured a Pat O Show concert following
the Saturday, March 2 games. The Pat O Show
features RCHS Alumni Pat O'Hanlon (1981) and
Jon Weis (2003). Future Pride teams, made-up of
children of the participating alumni, played between
tournament games.
Top photo: Junior Champs (l to r)
Gary Holstein, Dave Welch,
Ryan Flynn, Aaron Woodard,
Nick Heller, Tom Worthington
Pictured Rright: Senior Champs (l to r)
Nick Sanger, Matt Bowers,
Bob Holzapfel, Mike Douglas,
Brad Mausbach, Josh Casey, Will Ross
Pictured are two Future Pride of Roncalli. Caitlin
Keating and Vinny Schwarz are both children of
alums.
Saturday, March 2, was the night that showcased the Future Pride
of Roncalli. This has become an annual game of players in the grades
3rd-6th.
PRIDE
March 2013
All About
17
Roncalli Catholic
alumna works with
entertainment elite
Publicist Claire Ratliff (Roncalli ’79) backstage
at “The Tonight Show” during a Jan. 25th
appearance of her client, a Grammy-nominated
bluegrass band called The Grascals.
The dream of a country music career lured Claire
(Moerles) Ratliff, a 1979 Roncalli Catholic graduate,
to Nashville, Tenn., 25 years ago. Today, the one-time
singer/performer runs Laughing Penguin Publicity in
Nashville.
We Also Heard From . . .
Karyn Bixler (2009) broke the all-time leading basketball scoring
record at the College of St. Mary with 1341 points career record. Click to see the news clip featuring her new record.
Shawn Griffith (1987) purchased Sam and Louie's Pizza at 156th
and Dodge in Omaha, Nebraska.
As an entertainment industry publicist, Ratliff is
charged with making "the perfect pitch” that will snag
media attention for her clients. They have included
Grand Ole Opry star Lorrie Morgan, Grammy winner
David Ball, David Frizzell (brother of Lefty) and the
Grammy-nominated bluegrass band The Grascals.
Lynn Hosek (1969) has left Iraq and taken a contractor job with
the Army at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas as a senior systems analyst.
As a student at Roncalli Catholic, Ratliff was active in
theater and musical productions, the school newspaper,
Campus Ministry and Student Council.
Tim Molak (1969) is starting his 24th year at Woodside Priory
School in Portola Valley, California; it is his 16th year as Head of
School.
Phoebe (Ryckman) Nordyke (1996) welcomed daughter Nora
Esther Nordyke on August 12, 2012.
A 1985 graduate of the University of Nebraska at
Omaha, Claire lives in Nashville with sons, Ian, 21,
and Parker, 18. Her husband Charlie, who performed as
Charles Ardean throughout Omaha and the Midwest in
the 1970s and 80s, died of cancer in 2004.
Brad Perreault (1979) and business partner Terry Mallott formed
the Play Ball Foundation, which recently purchased Gladiator
Park in Irvington with plans to make more than $1 million in
improvements that will be made possible by grants and private
donations. Click to read the story in the Omaha World-Herald.
“I’ve worked in entertainment and media most of my
life,” Ratliff says, “but I can’t imagine that I would’ve
pursued my own firm had I not been forced to make
that decision. When Charlie died, I was left with two
young boys and I simply couldn’t continue with my
corporate job. I had to look at my skills and experience
and find a way to distill those things into a career I could
manage from home. Charlie loved entertainment and
I’m sure he’d be tickled to see what my little business
has become.”
Anthony (Tony) Sambol (1974) is the assistant director of
the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory at UNMC. He has five
children: Jeremy (32), Joshua (30), Janelle (28); Anna and Mollytwins (14).
Jenn Schrage (1999) is celebrating four years at Schrage
Chiropractic and Acupuncture and her engagement to Doug
Howard on March 1.
Dawn (Simmons) Wecker (1989) recently got married. She has
worked at Catholic Mutual Group for more than 10 years and has
three teenage children: Nolan, 17, Reid, 15, and Delaney, 14.
Claire’s nephew, Ben Willett, 24, a 2007 Roncalli
Catholic graduate, recently relocated to Nashville to
try his hand at the public relations game, too, under
the watchful eye of his aunt. Willett majored in public
relations at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Roncalli Catholic High School
18
Around the School
Catholic Schools Week
at Roncalli Catholic
MONDAY
All School Mass
This liturgy was coordinated by members of Student
Government.
TUESDAY
Faculty-Student Dodge Ball
Selected student teams competed for a championship match
against faculty members. The faculty team won the tournament!
WEDNESDAY
Other Catholic School Shirt Day
Students were allowed to wear uniforms or shirts representing other Catholic grade schools
or high schools.
THURSDAY
Twin Day
Pairs (or other multiples) of students wore identical costumes. Prizes were
awarded for best twins, with judging in the student center before school.
FRIDAY
Spirit Day and Talent Show
Students wore their favorite RCHS shirts and other spirit attire.
There was a student talent show in the auditorium at the end of the day,
with cash prizes for the top three performances ($100; $75 and $50.) First prize went to
freshman Ellen Manhart who sang “Hallelujah”.
Top photo:
Student dodge ball team readies for their opponent
- the faculty team!
2nd from the top:
Coach Berens reads a poem about gym socks on behalf of an
absent student during the Catholic Schools Week Talent Show.
3rd from top:
Senior Pat Bilek hosted the
Catholic Schools Week Talent Show at RCHS.
Bottom photo:
The faculty team won the tournament.
A PUBLICATION OF THE
ALUMNI-DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF
RONCALLI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
OMAHA, NEBRASKA
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