OLSHighlights - Summer 2017 by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School

Summer 2017

A Magazine for the Constituents of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School

Sharing in the Story

Greetings from OLSH!

ver the course of its existence, OLSHighlights Magazine has featured vibrant cover photography that, in some form or fashion, effectively depicted aspects of day-to-day life at OLSH, and showcased wonderful people associated with our school. That being said, without question, this cover is my favorite! Its powerful simplicity delivers a depth of dimension, authenticity and humanity relative to our OLSH mission, Felician Franciscan heritage, and enduring tradition. In essence, it conveys the heart of the OLSH story. The San Damiano cross can be found in every classroom and office at OLSH. Each senior receives this cross during the annual Senior Blessing Service in the spring, providing a means through which each of our alumni can remain unified with our school, reminded of our founders, the Felician Sisters, and focused on their faith. As such, San Damiano crosses have traveled to colleges, universities, and military deployments across the globe; been displayed in a variety of work place and ministry settings; and found great homes – within the homes – of OLSH graduates throughout the generations. Within the pages of this issue of OLSHighlights you will find inspiring individual articles that form a rich mosaic of the OLSH story; a story that continues to grow and expand exponentially with every passing year in our school’s history. It is gratifying in each case to discover the extent of the impact OLSH made upon the lives of those who are featured herein.

Terry O’Rourke Donoghue President

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & CONSTITUENT RELATIONS Jessica Cerchiaro DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Jenna Sheetz ‘07 ADVANCEMENT OPERATIONS MANAGER Kim Corrado ALUMNI AND PARENT RELATIONS MANAGER Deena Swank ‘92 WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Jessica Cerchiaro Theresa Long ‘86 Daniel “Monty” Montgomery Julia Sarnowski ‘19 Jenna Sheetz ‘07 Deena Swank ‘92 DESIGNER Michael J. Cerchiaro ‘96

“Each senior receives this cross during the annual Senior Blessing Service in the spring, providing a means through which each of our alumni can remain unified with our school, reminded of our founders, the Felician Sisters, and focused on their faith.”

In closing, I offer a prayer of gratitude for our founders, benefactors, trusted advisors, faculty and staff members, alumni, families and friends who continue to walk with us and work with us, in order to enrich and advance OLSH’s legacy of excellence. Sincerely,

PRESIDENT Terry O’Rourke Donoghue

PHOTOGRAPHY Jessica Cerchiaro Harry Giglio OLSH Yearbook Staff Ryan Parker ‘19 PRINTING Multi Print Media SPECIAL THANKS Felician Sisters OLSHighlights is published by the Advancement Office of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School and mailed free of charge to alumni, faculty, staff, students, families, and friends of OLSH. Contributions to Alumni News & Notes and address changes may be sent to: OLSH Alumni Office 1504 Woodcrest Avenue Coraopolis, PA 15108 (412) 424-4610 · alumni@olsh.org

Table of CONTENTS Summer 2017

www.olsh.org

FEATURES 2

Sharing in the Story: 2017 OLSH Legacy Gala

Setting the Stage for Good Stewardship

OLSH AP Advantage Program Offers New Opportunities to Students

12 Class of 2017:

Leaving a Legacy of Excellence

SPOTLIGHTS

IN EVERY ISSUE

Danielle Banas ‘11 Writing Her Own Happy Ending

Joe Serkoch ‘96 Turning Love of Film into Award-Winning Career

15 Moment for Mission: Chi Rho Retreat

Julia Sarnowski ‘19 Answering the Call to Help Those in Need

18 What’s Happening Around OLSH Athletics

10 Modern Day Storytellers:

Careers in Social Media & Web Management

Advancement News: Establishment of John Mihaloew Endowed Scholarship

16 What’s Happening Around OLSH 20 OLSH News & Notes 21 Alumni News & Notes 23 In Memorium

ON THE COVER: A faculty member hands a senior the traditional San Damiano Crucifix during the Senior Blessing Service.

#OLSHChargers

Be Known | Be Transformed | Be Inspired • 1

he OLSH Legacy Gala: Sharing in the Story was held on Friday, April 28 at the Sewickley Heights Golf Club. The event featured live and silent auctions, raffles, dancing, and fun for the guests – a mix of current parents, alumni, alumni parents, faculty, staff, and friends of OLSH. The Legacy Award was given to Rohrich Automotive Group for its long-time sponsorship of OLSH and significant participation in the EITC tax credit program. Jack Hinds, OLSH alumni parent, board member, and VP & Treasurer at Rohrich, accepted the award. During the evening, guests heard from freshman Joe Valenty, who shared about his experiences so far at OLSH, and senior Tara Richardson, who shared her transformation story. Guests were invited to share in the stories of these two students and their current and future classmates by making an unrestricted gift to the Fund the Vision campaign. Overall the event raised $100,203 for OLSH students and programs.

COMING NEXT SPRING!

OLSH’S FIRST

NO SHOW AUCTION In the spring of 2018, we’ll be hosting a virtual auction, encouraging parents, alumni, and friends of OLSH to pull out their mobile device or log on to their computer to view a selection of items and bid high and often to win the prize of their choice – all from the comfort of your home! Stay tuned for more details next fall!

Setting the Stage for Good Stewardship By Theresa Long ‘86

ing unto the Lord a new song. Let them praise His name in the dance. This Psalm quoted by Ren McCormack in the musical Footloose typif ies what the OLSH theater department does. This spring’s production of Footloose filled the stage with spirited song and down-home dancing while filling audiences with hearty laughter and heartfelt joy. This year’s musical was another in a long line of successes directed by Dolores Manuel, and choreographed by Heather Taylor. Earning numerous Gene Kelly Award nominations over the years, this production was nominated for best- supporting actress for Christina Trocchio ‘18, Best Lighting and Best Musical. The cast proudly took the Benedum Stage on May 27th along with other Best Musical nominees, and wowed the crowd with a spectacular ensemble number. However, it’s more than the accolades that make the musicals noteworthy. A vital aspect of these stellar performances is the impressive scenery, sets and costumes. I n t h i s a re a , t h e m u s i c a l t h e a te r department has gone to great lengths to stay in budget and on Mission. ‘Reduce, reuse, and recycle’ is the motto of the OLSH theater department. Theatrical companies often store costumes and props for reuse, but how often do they scavenge recycle bins for materials to make The Wiz come to life or celebrate a prop rock that’s seen a decade of performances? Each year the OLSH theater department creates something impressive out of seemingly nothing, and Footloose was no different. This year’s special project...new backstage curtains.

New curtains, although needed, were not a concern when budgeting this season because of a cool and innovative idea. While attending a service at Orchard Hill Church, Ms. Manuel noticed the beautiful back-lighting. Upon closer examination she discovered the curtains were actually looped chains like the ones preschoolers make for the Christmas tree. “Theirs was a purchased piece and made of plastic... but I thought we could re-create the look inexpensively.” Inspired she quickly set a plan in motion. The cast and crew used down time during rehearsals to assemble the paper chains from only 3 reams of cardstock paper and for less than $50. The paper curtains not only served to conceal the band backstage but became a bright new feature. Having the lighter colored backdrop provided the opportunity to “throw colored lights on it and set the mood for different scenes”, which enhanced the performance. This project was indeed a success and the paper chains can easily be stored for reuse in future musicals or simply recycled. This type of imagination, prudence and foresight is one feature that truly sets the OLSH Musical Theater department a p a r t f ro m t h e re s t . W h e n a s ke d about their motivation, Ms. Manuel admits that budget is a consideration, but a big part of the motivation is a desire “to be good stewards.” In keeping with the Felician Core Values, conservation of resources, be they financial or environmental, is among the many lessons students learn from participation in an OLSH production. Congratulations to the OLSH Musical Theater Department and the cast of Footloose on a job well done! 

SPOTLIGHT: DANIELLE BANAS ‘11

Writing Her Own Happy Ending By Jessica Cerchiaro

anielle Banas ’11 is about to have one of her dreams come true – her young adult novel, Men in Tights, is being published by Swoon Reads this summer. She’s had an interest in entertaining and telling stories since she was 3, when her career goals included “being like the kids on Barney.” In high school she got involved with the Christmas plays and Spring Musical, and in college she found herself working as a background extra on several movies filmed in the area. But writing wasn’t something that she always knew she would do. In fact, she shredded the notebook she kept hidden under her bed and wrote short stories in as a high school student. She took a break from writing as she got involved in extracurricular activities at OLSH and as she started college at Robert Morris University, where she majored in communications with a concentration in advertising. She originally wanted to become a news anchor, but realized that wasn’t her calling. What she really wanted to do was to entertain people and make them laugh. During her junior year in college, The Fault in Our Stars was filmed in Pittsburgh, and she worked as an extra and just hung around the set for a few days in hopes of meeting the stars and the author whose book had inspired the film, John Green. After reading the book and meeting Green, Danielle just kept thinking, “I want to write something that makes someone feel like this book makes me feel. One day I want to get published.” A few years (and a lot of writing and learning and struggling) later – it happened! Danielle took a creative writing course at RMU and really pushed herself to improve. “When the class was over, I was pretty bummed out, so I started writing just for something fun to do during the summer, and my

book, Men In Tights, was eventually born,” she recalls. The novel follows Abby Hamilton, a regular girl whose older brother is a famous superhero, living in a city where superheroes are anything but fiction. Abby teams up with a so-called super-villain to save the city from an insidious plot. Danielle shares that the main character, Abby, is a musical theatre nerd who gets the lead in her school play. A lot of her experiences are based on Danielle’s time participating in OLSH musicals, although the stories have been embellished in the novel. “There’s one scene where Abby gets thrown into a papier-mâché crocodile during rehearsal,” she shares, “and it is 100% inspired by the giant Audrey II plant we had in Little Shop of Horrors.” Danielle started sharing her story by posting it, chapter by chapter, on the website Wattpad – a free reading and writing website she describes as YouTube for books. Men in Tights gained over 1.3 million views on the site from readers all over the world. Because of its popularity on the site, and since she was really enjoying writing the story, Danielle decided she would try to get an agent to have the book published. “Of course I couldn’t find an agent that wanted it, which is pretty typical, so I put it on hold for about a year and kept writing,” she explains. In the meantime, Danielle’s short story, Truth Be Told, a retelling of Pinocchio t h a t t a ke s p l a ce i n a n a l t e r n a t e universe of Pittsburgh, was published in a collection of short stories called Once Upon Now. The publisher of the collection, Swoon Reads, part of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, offers writers the opportunity to submit manuscripts without an agent. During one of their open submission periods, Danielle submitted Men in Tights. Swoon Reads invites the site’s readers

Danielle Banas ‘11

to read and comment on submitted stories, then the editorial board reviews the manuscripts and offers contracts. “I hounded people on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Wattpad – basically the entire internet – to vote for it so the editors would notice it,” Danielle recalls. “I was contacted exactly a month later about setting up a phone meeting with some people from the publisher, and then they offered me the contract.” While the journey from putting a story on the internet to getting published seems simple, the editing process has been as intense as Danielle expected. She knew from fellow authors and from her research that the editing process could be difficult. “After I submitted my first draft and was offered my contract, I got a lot of great notes from my editor. Then I rewrote a bunch of scenes and added scenes . . . and then I got told that the book was too long and I needed to cut a massive amount of stuff out – which is what I’m working on at the moment,” Danielle explained. But for her, one of the most difficult aspects was finding the time to edit as she’s balancing her love of writing with a fulltime job. She would love to one day be able to write full time and not have to juggle writing and editing with her day job. For now, she’s had to overcome her procrastination tendencies and spend her free time getting her book ready for the next step in the publishing process . . . and dreaming up new stories for her readers. 

Be Known | Be Transformed | Be Inspired • 5

ADVANCEMENT NEWS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP HONORS FORMER TEACHER

he OLSH Advancement Office is pleased to announce the creation of a new endowed scholarship fund – The JOHN MIHALOEW ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP. Established by a generous alumni family, donations to the scholarship fund will be matched up to $100,000! This endowed scholarship fund is the latest of several new funds and scholarships in the past couple of years, joining the Sr. M. Pulcheria Saukaitis Endowed Scholarship and the William J. Wolf Endowed Scholarship (which were awarded for the first time this spring), the Sr. M. Christopher Moore Endowed Scholarship and the Michael McNally Endowed Scholarship Fund (newly funded), and the Sr. M. Denise Bernas Endowed Scholarship and the Poleski Family Endowed Scholarship (which have been fully endowed and awarded for several years). This new scholarship fund, once fully endowed at a minimum of $25,000, will be awarded annually to a student who demonstrates financial need and meets other eligibility requirements. OLSH students spanning 3 decades had the opportunity to learn from Mr. John Mihaloew, known as Mr. M. to his students and Jack to his colleagues. While at OLSH, Mr. M. taught physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, and video & television courses. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he developed new courses in computer science and chemistry, began and developed the WCHR television/video studio, and served as a soccer coach and sponsor of several groups including fencing and archery. Prior to OLSH, Mr. M. taught for 20 years in several schools in the Pittsburgh area. Before entering the world of education, Jack served in the Korean War as a Nuclear Weapons Officer in the US Air Force and worked for NASA researching and developing the first noise reduction device for aircrafts. During his time at NASA, he headed back to school to pursue a Master’s degree in engineering, but felt called to teach and earned a Master’s in Education instead.

John A. Mihaloew Asked to summarize ‘why he teaches’ in 2012 when he was commemorating his 9,000th day of teaching, Mr. M. shared a poem entitled “Simply Assisting God” from Piet Heim’s Grooks, which he feels explains it all.

I am a humble artist Moulding my earthly clod, Adding my labour to nature’s, Simply assisting God. Not that my effort is needed; Yet somehow, I understand, My maker has willed it that I too should have Unmoulded clay in my hand.

If you would like to support the John Mihaloew Endowed Scholarship Fund or would like to establish a new named scholarship fund, please contact Jenna Sheetz, Director of Advancement, at (412) 269-7726 or jsheetz@olsh.org. 

SPOTLIGHT: JOE SERKOCH ‘96

Turning Love of Film Into Award-Winning Career By Deena Swank ‘92

oe Serkoch ’96 knew that he wanted a career in film from an early age. As a child, his father would take him to see movies at the Bellevue Theater on dollar night at least once a month. He says, “I saw so many films on that screen that shaped the way I view filmmaking. These are definitely my earliest memories of thinking to myself, ‘This is definitely what I want to do.’” To d ay, Jo e’s re s u m e o n L i n ke d I n lists him as the “Owner/Producer/ Production Manager/Locations Ninja/ Janitor at Orionvega, LLC”. He is a t wo - t i m e E m my Awa rd w i n n i n g producer with 16 years of experience in production and production management in commercial, corporate, broadcast and documentary video. His projects have also included narrative s h o r t f i l m a n d s t i l l p h o to g ra p hy production. In addition, he is the owner of Studio Avery, a creative space for photographers and filmmakers on Pittsburgh’s North Side. S o m e o f J o e ’s e a r l i e s t h a n d s - o n e x p e r i e n ce s i n v i d e o p ro d u c t i o n came under the guidance of Mr. Jack Mihaloew, who began a video program at OLSH when Joe was a sophomore. As one of the first participants in this program, Joe found lots of opportunities to get involved. He says, “We built a makeshift studio, started morning and afternoon programming on a closed circuit system, and even obtained the very first version of a ‘non linear editing’ program called Adobe Premiere.” Not only was Joe provided with the tools he needed to explore his field, he also found an advocate who believed in him and challenged him to do more. “I wasn’t the greatest student when it came to grades,” says Joe, “but Mr. M. wrote letters of recommendation to colleges on my behalf and one of them not only got me accepted to film school but also secured a small scholarship. Looking

back, I feel extremely lucky to have had teachers like him who cared so much for their students’ passions.” After graduating from OLSH, Joe studied cinematography at Point Park University and Pittsburgh Filmmakers. He graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Video Production and set out to find his niche. Joe discovered that his talent and interest lay in producing, explaining, “As a producer, you have the chance to be a part of nearly every aspect of the creation of a project. Over the past 17 years I have worked in live television, commercial production, narrative film, documentary programming, fashion photography, and network programs. I really think the reason why I have been able to be a part of so many different types of projects is because all of them need a facilitator. If you know the components of how a production is planned, executed and delivered… then you can easily fit into a variety of different genres. So I guess what I am trying to say is that my favorite aspect of being a producer is that every job is different.” Joe has compiled a diverse resume of experiences as a producer, director, location scout, and researcher. His clients have included Annie Leibovitz Studio, TBS, HGTV, SELF Magazine, Calvin Klein, Channel News Asia, Spike TV, Synthetic Pictures, Washington Square Films, and the United States Department of Defense. Currently, documentaries are Joe’s passion. He says, “From a creative standpoint I think that people are just way more interesting than anything a movie can dream up.” In addition, working on documentaries involves “an investigative element” that Joe finds to be both challenging and rewarding.

Joe Serkoch ‘96

Recently Joe was contacted by Channel News Asia in Singapore to produce a couple of documentary/journalism projects in the United States. “On jobs like this,” Joe says, “you are called a ‘f ixer ’ meaning that you are the person on the ground in the shooting location (in this case the entire country) and are responsible for researching, securing, and planning everything for the program. The challenge of embedding yourself into a town where you don’t know anyone and finding the story is amazing. These two programs had me coordinating productions in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Washington DC, Montana, North Dakota, North Carolina, Michigan, and Maryland s i m u l t a n e o u s l y. I h a d t o s e c u r e interviews with high level politicians to hidden members of armed militias. It was 4 months of my time and was by far the most challenging project I ever worked on. I really hope I get to work with them again.” With all the awards and accolades he has won, Joe says that the greatest reward has been being able to start a company doing a job that he loves. He credits his wife, Lauren, with having the bravery to “go out on her own as a self-employed designer” and then convince him to “take a leap of faith.” Joe jokes that he has now been “gainfully unemployed” for 8 years, and he is loving it. “Being able to do something that I (mostly) love every day is something that I am very grateful for,” he says. “I try to remind myself of this often.” 

Be Known | Be Transformed | Be Inspired • 7

OLSH AP Advantage Program Offers New Opportunities to Students Extensive research has been done on the positive effects of participation in Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school. Developed by the CollegeBoard, AP courses were designed to help prepare students for college readiness and success. This research shows that having the experience of taking even just one AP course in high school leads to greater success in college and increases the likelihood of graduating from a four year college up to 50%. OLSH recently formed a powerful partnership between the school and two of the nation’s preeminent universities: the University of Notre Dame and Johns Hopkins University, and launched the OLSH AP Advantage Program. This grant-funded initiative will recognize, reward and advance OLSH students, as well as participating OLSH faculty members, and add exceptional value to the OLSH educational program. Features of the OLSH AP Advantage program include high level training for faculty, providing students with a d d i t i o n a l r e s o u rce s f o r A P a n d advanced courses from Notre Dame University; rewards for student success on AP tests; and opportunities to take subsidized AP and other advanced courses online through Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School is the first school outside of the state of Indiana to be adopted by the University of Notre Dame as a participant in the University’s AP Teacher Investment Program (AP-TIP). AP-TIP prepares high school students for college via rigorous coursework that emphasizes increased involvement in Math, Science, and English Advanced Placement (AP®) courses. Hallmarks of the AP-TIP program include extensive t ra i n i n g f o r t e a c h e r s , a s we l l a s

incentives for teachers and students that effectively increase participation in AP® courses, elevate AP ® testing results, and reward hard work and dedication. As part of the OLSH AP Advantage Program, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School will partner with Johns Hopkins University to provide a truly comprehensive Advanced Placement curriculum to motivated and talented students who would like to further challenge themselves and enrich their high school educational experience. The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) provides a comprehensive complement of Advanced Placement classes, as well as advanced courses ranging from languages like Chinese or Arabic, to college-level mathematics such as multivariable calculus and differential equations. OLSH students who qualify for enrollment in CTY will receive a tuition subsidy and take online courses taught by Johns Hopkins CTY instructors, yet will have access to OLSH teachers and physical laboratory space for support in completing course work. “In our experience, OLSH students who fully invest themselves in high school, by taking challenging courses and capitalizing on leadership opportunities, f ind g reat su ccess i n college and beyond. The OLSH AP Advantage Program provides an unrivaled program of distinction, excellence, and rigor that will afford an e ve n g re a te r o p p o r t u n i t y for our students’ collegiate a c h i e ve m e n t ,” s a i d Te r r y Donoghue, school president.

AP Courses offered at OLSH as part of the Notre Dame AP-TIP Program: Calculus AB Calculus BC Computer Science Principles Physics I British Literature *Students and teachers participating in AP World History at OLSH will also receive monetary incentives for qualifying scores on the AP World History exam through the OLSH AP Advantage, but it is not officially part of the Notre Dame AP-TIP.

Online AP Courses available to OLSH students through the Johns Hopkins CTY: US History Government & Politics Psychology Statistics Computer Science A Biology Chemistry Economics

SPOTLIGHT: JULIA SARNOWSKI ‘19

Answering the Call to Help Those in Need By Julia Sarnowski ‘19

n July 27, 2016, Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil, Iraq, gave a speech to many Englishspeaking Catholics at the Mercy Centre in Krakow, Poland, during World Youth Day events. This speech highlighted the current genocide facing Christians living in the Middle East. I was stunned to learn about the horrors occurring in this part of the world. It is not a topic typically covered in American media. I knew I wanted to make a change and help those people, but, unfortunately, with the excitement of the ensuing days, I first filed my concern away, and then slowly forgot the power of his message until a few months ago. In February, I was asked if I would like to participate in my school’s Chi Rho Retreat. One of the favorite things to say on this retreat is “Doubt the first. Cry the second. Experience the third. Live the fourth.” The last sentence really resonated with me. How would I “live the fourth”? How would I help others in the name of God? What would I take away from this retreat? I did not know until the day after I got back. The day after I returned home was the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, meaning we had the day off. I pondered what to do after an incredible retreat. “Live the fourth” was repeating in my head and I wanted to help someone. But who? And how? The lightbulb went off and I remembered the speech from seven months earlier. The words of Archbishop Bashar Warda’s message suddenly echoed in my mind and I realized who I needed to help - those suffering in the Middle East. I researched various Catholic charities that have done significant work aiding those in the Middle East. I stumbled u pon C atholi c Near East Welfare Association and liked their message as well as their commitment to assisting all in need of assistance. After I discovered

which charity to help, I contacted my principal and shared my idea. I knew that I needed more people than simply myself to become involved; I decided that my school community could make a difference. I quickly formed a team of teachers and students to help me raise the money. This was actually the easiest part, because people were incredibly willing to help, especially once they became aware of the problems faced by religious minorities in the Middle East. The team was all set, but how were we going to fundraise for the cause? Many ideas were brought up. We could have a bake sale, a dodgeball tournament, or have a speaker come in. These ideas, while good, did not make the cut. I wanted something new, something that people would be interested in, something that would help spread awareness of the injustices going on in the Middle East. We ultimately decided to produce a Mr. OLSH Pageant. What is a Mr. OLSH Pageant? It is a play on “Miss Universe” and was a hilarious parody. This all male “pageant” consisted of three categories: Interview, Talent, and Extreme OLSH Wear. With our six contestants, we were able to offer an event full of laughter and fun. I was able to bring up what is going on in the Middle East by playing informative videos in between the categories. Each video was different. The first was a message from a Christian refugee who tells us how to face this problem. The second was the story of a teenage Christian who escaped from ISIS. The final video showed the slaughter that Coptic Christians face. The night ended with us crowning Mr. OLSH and raising around $575.59 for CNEWA. This has been a new process for me. I typically am not an outgoing person, but I knew that I would have to become one to help those in the Middle East. I also realized that the discomfort I felt in

Julia Sarnowski ‘19

Jared Slattery ‘17 was named Mr. OLSH 2017

Jacob DuBois ‘18 models extreme OLSH wear

pushing my idea forward was nothing compared to the daily dangers faced by those living in these areas. Many months were spent planning and hoping that I would be able to help in some small way. My parents have raised me with the idea that if help is needed, then help must be given. I know that I have been incredibly blessed in my life that I live, this is my small way of giving back to those who are suffering and facing religious persecution in the Middle East. 

Be Known | Be Transformed | Be Inspired • 9

Community. Her stories are featured on Point Park’s website (PointPark. edu), on the university’s social media channels, and in the university’s magazine, The Point. She also helps create content for the School of Communication and Conser vatory of Performing Arts program pages, pitches stories to local media, and manages a team of student photographers. While having so many means of communication allows greater exposure to her message, it also requires continued tailoring of the information to match the audience and the platform.

MODERN DAY STORY TELLERS: Careers in Social Media & Web Management By Deena Swank ‘92

or most people, social media has become a part of daily life. We use it on the job, for entertainment, to keep in touch with friends and family, and as a means of gathering and sharing information. According to a 2016 study done by the Pew Research Center, 62% of U.S. adults report getting their news from social media. With this in mind, many professionals in the field of communications have had to reinvent the way they share information.

Gina Puppo ’02 and Andrew Orie ‘12 are just two OLSH alumni who have embraced the move to social media communications. They are finding creative ways to use their talents and experience to engage their audiences via social media and the internet. Gina Puppo manages website content for the Conservatory of Performing Arts and School of Communication at Point Park University and provides content to the university’s social media channels. Her challenge is to communicate the most up-to-date information, using the most current platforms, in a way that is both interesting and engaging. “We’re always trying to come up with creative and fun ways to share content on social media,” says Gina. “People consume information so much differently now, that we are challenged to write concisely and creatively no matter the outlet we are using to get the message across.” As one of the “voices of Point Park University’s website”, Gina tells the stories of the university’s alumni, faculty, students, and other members of the Point Park

10 • www.olsh.org

As a member of the NFL Network’s digital media team, Andrew Orie also understands the challenges of communicating in a world where technology reigns and people want instant access to information. Andrew produces and manages content across a variety of social media platforms, including YouTube, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and CTV, and says, “The biggest challenge is to develop interesting and compelling video content that attracts viewers. This is a particularly difficult challenge given the short attention spans of today’s consumers and the wide availability of competing video content.” For those who enjoy a fast-paced, ever-changing work experience, however, social media management can be an exciting field. “I embrace the challenges,” says Andrew, “since it motivates me to creatively develop unique approaches to producing video content.” In addition, there is the satisfaction of knowing that your content is reaching a wide audience. “There is definitely a feeling of accomplishment,” s a y s A n d r e w, “when I see that many of my highlight shows have had millions o f Yo u Tu b e viewers.”

Having a career that allows him to combine his love of sports with his talents in communications has also been exciting for Andrew. He says, “For me, the coolest part of the job was my first day when I entered the office and was surrounded by large flat screen TVs with all sorts of NFL games and network shows. I had to pinch myself to realize that my ‘job’ was to watch NFL games and produce highlight videos.” For Gina, the greatest reward of her job is having the chance to tell people’s stories, and communicating through technology makes those stories more widely accessible. She loves of the process of getting a person to open up and finding t h e h e a r t o f t h e i r s t o r y. “ I t ’s always a challenge to listen to your interviewee’s responses, take notes, and be thinking ahead of your next question,” she says. “Often, interviews will go in a completely dif ferent direction than what you planned.” Gina’s interest in communications began during her time at OLSH, when she participated in an apprenticeship sponsored by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. “We learned how to produce and execute our own newscasts,” she says. “This was a great first taste of my career-to-be as a storyteller – I love telling people’s stories.” She also credits the faculty and staff of OLSH with supporting her and teaching her skills beyond the curriculum, saying, “In

addition to my class work, I learned more about how to be an effective communicator and how to be a leader.” Andrew also says that his time at OLSH helped him discern his career path. He says, “My eyes were opened to career opportunities when I took Ms. (Theresa) Long’s communications class in my senior year. She was a tremendous teacher who inspired me to explore the multiple opportunities available for those who are able to effectively communicate their message.” While he says it is hard to single out individual people who impacted him without “unwittingly excluding OLSH teachers and coaches”, he does express special gratitude to Coach Mike Rodriguez “who urged his players to use passion and commitment to overcome adversity and achieve their goals”, Mr. Jack Hinds who “continually demonstrates that commitment to OLSH does not end with graduation”, and Mr. Robert Brasko who “always brought a lively energy to the classroom and was a great role model.” Andrew says that he is especially thankful for the Felician Sisters “who created OLSH’s nurturing and supportive academic and social environment.” The strong foundation both of these alumni got at OLSH and later developed through higher education, internships, and job experience continues to open doors to new opportunities. In the fall, Gina will add teaching to her impressive resume as she becomes a part-time instructor at Point Park. As she says, “I’ll be following in the footsteps of my role models, my parents, Jan and Giovanni, who have always encouraged me and my siblings, Joe ’96 and Annamaria ’99, to try new things and challenge ourselves.” Andrew hopes to have a long career in sports media. For now, he hopes to stay in his position with the NFL Network as he continues to master his craft and gain valuable connections within his field. “I would like to explore other opportunities with the NFL Network and other NFL media platforms,” he says, “and hopefully to one day develop and produce innovative and interesting shows. The big advantage of my job is that I am obtaining experience and developing skills that can be used with Major League Baseball, the NBA, the NHL, and college sports. I am excited at the opportunities available to me.” Both of these OLSH alumni are finding ways to help communications keep up with the constantly evolving technology. Not only are they telling the stories of now in modern and creative ways, they are helping to lay the groundwork for the next generation of storytellers. 

Be Known

Be Transformed

Be Inspired • 11

Class of 2017:

LEAVING A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

WE ARE FAMILY! Senior Andrew McDevitt hugs freshman Caroline Friend during the senior walk through – a beloved OLSH tradition that illustrates the family spirit th at f l ows t h roug h t h e school.

“

OLSH is a place where y o u a r e c a r e d f o r, respected and loved. Every person matters a n d O L S H m a ke s s u re you are happy and safe.” – Gina Crisci

“

OLSH is literally like one big family. Everybody k n o w s e ve r y b o d y a n d you always have someone that you can talk to. There’s never a time that you feel alone, because every day is like being with your best friends.” – Kaylie Szuchy

“

Everyone at OLSH is accepting and it really is my second home. OLSH has inspired me to become a better person because of the people I am around, i n c l u d i n g t h e co a c h e s , teachers, and students.” – Anna Vallejo

AMONG THE MANY SUCCESS STORIES OF THE CLASS OF 2017: The football team’s first appearance in the WPIAL playoffs The girls soccer team won their first WPIAL section championship The boys basketball team played for the WPIAL championship The hockey team advanced to the semi-finals

The girls volleyball team won their fourth consecutive WPIAL section championship The baseball team won their 3rd consecutive section championship A US Figure Skating Association Gold Medalist Advanced Physics students took 2nd place at the Westinghouse Chain Reaction Contraption Contest

An Award of Excellence at RMU’s Digital Media Arts Consortium Three Gene Kelly nominations and the third consecutive nomination for Best Musical A third consecutive Superior ranking of our show choir at the CMU High Notes Festival Four Eagle Scout Awards

A class in which 51% of the young women graduating will pursue STEM related majors in college A class that has produced two National Merit Commended Students AND a National Merit Finalist and Scholarship Winner A class that has been awarded over $10 million in scholarships for the next four years

DANIEL SHAW: Excelling in Academics & the Arts

ay 10 was an exciting day for Daniel Shaw. It was the day that the news of his selection as a National Merit scholarship winner (one of only 2,500 across the United States) was released to the public and it was the day the Pittsburgh CLO announced the nominees for the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater. Last spring, along with two of his classmates, Rachel Kuchnicki and Daniel Joyce, Daniel was notified that he qualified for the National Merit Scholarship competition. These three students’ scores on the PSAT were among the top 50,000 scores across the United States. This fall, Daniel would find out that he would continue on in the competition, being named a Semifinalist in September, a Finalist in February, and ultimately a Scholarship winner in May! He has been a strong performer academically throughout his high school career, earning the highest average in his class each year, including this year, when he was named Valedictorian. Daniel has also been a strong performer on the OLSH stage, participating in the Christmas plays and spring musicals. This year he played the lead role in Footloose, dancing his way across the stage. Since the production was nominated for Best Musical, the cast performed on the Benedum stage and Daniel was also selected to represent OLSH in the Kelly Awards finale. “It’s incredibly exciting to get

to perform on that stage for the third year in a row,” he shares. “The first time it was so eye opening to get to perform in front of that many people and getting to be in the finale, it’s so fun to see people from all different schools coming together and feel all that energy and enthusiasm.” Daniel will head to the University of Notre Dame next fall, where he will pursue Pre-Professional Health Studies. “I’ve always wanted to be a doctor,” Daniel shared. His grandfather was a doctor and he remembered hearing stories of the respect his grandfather was given, how hard he worked, and what he did for others. “A lot of my family is older and I’ve seen them through illness and viewed what doctors have done for them,” he said. For now he’s considering pursuing a career in oncology as he has several family members who have had or are currently fighting cancer. He’s also thinking about going into dermatology, since skin is often a source of insecurity for people and he feels like he could help people feel better about themselves. He hopes to continue to sing, dance, and act in college – even if it’s just for fun. “It’s a release from all of the stress,” Daniel explains. “You take in so much during the day, it’s nice to produce something yourself and share it with others.”

HANNAH HARRISON: Well Prepared to Study Health Sciences

hen her junior year rolled around, Hannah Harrison still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do beyond high school . . .until she started her human anatomy course. “The teacher that has impacted me the most at OLSH is Mr. Nypaver. He helped me to realize that I have a true passion for learning about the human anatomy, which ultimately led to my decision to go into the medical field,” she shared. As her senior year began, she applied to several schools and was honored to be accepted into Duquesne University’s Masters of Physician Assistant Studies Program. “This program had over 600 applicants and only accepted 35,” Hannah explained. “I know that I am deserving of my spot, and I know that I have OLSH to thank for preparing me for this program.” Hannah is joined by 22 other young women from the class of 2017 pursuing a career in the sciences, technology, engineering, or math. Over half of the young women graduating from OLSH this year are pursuing careers in which women are generally underrepresented. Hannah says, “OLSH has encouraged me to have big dreams. I think that I have learned so much while at OLSH and achieved so much that I really can do anything I put my mind to.”

Be Known | Be Transformed | Be Inspired • 13

CHRISTOPHER DESALLE: Inspired to do good for others

s a freshman, Christopher DeSalle was selected as OLSH’s representative in the Diocesan Youth Council (DYC), a group of high school youth in the Diocese of Pittsburgh who come together for formation and discussion. Students in DYC are asked to complete a Matthew 25 project, using their talents to serve others in the community. Chris has always enjoyed riding bikes so his idea for a charity bike ride began to take shape. Chris chose to partner with Variety: the Children’s Charity’s “My Bike” program. The organization helps to provide adaptive bikes for children with disabilities. “Each bike is specially designed for the needs of each individual child, based on his or her specific disability,” Chris explains. “Children sometimes are on a waiting list for up to 6 years and sometimes insurance doesn’t cover the cost of the bike and families can’t afford to purchase one themselves, so they work with their physical therapist and apply for a bike through Variety.” Chris established a goal of purchasing two bikes, and started planning the event. “I definitely realized two years back when I first had the idea, you start thinking of everything that needs done, and you realize you definitely can’t do it by yourself,” Chris

RACHEL KUCHNICKI: Leading by Example

alutatorian Rachel Kuchnicki is the definition of a wellrounded student. As a member of the four-year section champion girls’ volleyball team, she learned teamwork. As a volunteer at McGuire Memorial, Allegheny General Hospital, Holy Trinity Parish, and a member of the Bikes for Bikes planning team, she learned to give back to others. As a participant in the March for Life, discipleship, and mission trips, she learned how to stand up for her faith. As an OWL Center tutor, National Honor Society treasurer and National Merit Commended Student, she learned how to share her knowledge and leadership with others. A true leader, Rachel served as an example to her classmates. In her salutatory address at graduation, she encouraged her classmates to not let high school be the best four years of their lives. “I don’t care if you end up being a fry cook or a cardio-thoracic surgeon,” she said. “If you are answering God’s call for your life and you love what you do, then you are doing bigger and better things.” Rachel will attend Gannon University next year, where she will enroll in their Physician Assistant program.

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shared. “I learned that having such a good group of people with a common focus really does pay off. I’m so grateful for the people who have come forth to help out.” Chris worked with a team of fellow seniors, including Rachel Kuchnicki, Andrew King, and Katie Moody, and several faculty advisors, including Mr. Jeff Hulbert, Ms. Theresa Long, and Mrs. Susan Rusnak. He and some of the others on the planning team went to Allegheny General Hospital and got to observe the distribution of bikes to young children and the joy of the children was something they would all carry with them and inspired them to continue to work hard to make the event a success. The ride was held on Saturday, May 30 at North Park and was a success! The event raised almost $7,000 through registrations and sponsorships. This was the first-ever OLSH Bikes for Bikes, but Chris hopes that it becomes an annual event. In addition to his creation of the Bikes for Bikes event, Chris was honored with the Blessed Angela Award, OLSH’s most prestigious award, which recognizes a senior who lives out the example of Blessed Angela, foundress of the Felician Sisters.

MOMENT FOR MISSION CHI RHO OLSH continues to offer the Chi Rho retreat, a retreat based on the Kairos retreat model which takes place in high schools across the country. The retreat is led by students, as well as alumni, faculty and staff, and has been a meaningful addition to the retreat program at OLSH. “Out of all the retreats inside and out of OLSH, perhaps none has had as much of a lasting impact as did Chi Rho. Going in I was skeptical and doubted its effect, but coming out I was assured in my faith and strengthened in my relationships with my peers, teachers, and family.” –Jacob DuBois ‘18 “Chi Rho is an eye-opening experience that is unlike any other retreat I’ve ever been on. It consists of four days focused on deepening faith, making friends, and having tons of fun. During this weekend, you discover things about yourself and about other people that you never knew you could, making you a stronger person. I love that it is also very personal as people find God wherever they may be in their faith journey, and have a support system of leaders, friends, and teachers to guide them along the way. My OLSH experience would not have been the same without Chi Rho. I was blessed to attend twice in high school, and was thrilled at the opportunity to return again this year. Each time was unique, inspiring, and a blessing in its own way. During each of those four days, time seemed to stop and I wanted my “Chi Rho high” to last forever. Chi Rho has ignited my faith life and allowed me to have a deeper relationship with God as shown through the people around me. I have not only grown in my relationship with God, but in

friendships and memories that will last a lifetime thanks to this retreat. I believe that it can change people’s lives for the better. I know that it has changed mine.” –Kristian Biega ‘16 “I was fortunate enough to attend the 2017 Chi Rho retreat this year. As someone who is new to the OLSH community, I thought this would be a great way to get to know some of our students and faculty better. What struck me the most about this weekend was that nobody was busy, rushed, or stressed. Everyone had time to be with each other and truly get to know one another. There was time to rest, play games and have fun, time to just talk about what was going on in our lives and time to truly let Christ enter into our hearts. I think Chi Rho offered an experience that so many of us desire so deeply – strong community and time to be with Our Lord. The peace and joy that came out of this retreat were evident on the faces of the students and it is my hope that all who come to OLSH will have the opportunity to experience the wonderful weekend that is Chi Rho.” –Ms. Kate Kelly, Theology Teacher The Chi Rho retreat is generally held once each year and is led by students, alumni, and faculty. Interested students should see Mr. Monty, Campus Minister, for more details

OLSH Website gets a facelift! The OLSH website is undergoing the final steps in a redesign process. The new site will launch on August 1. Benefits to the new & improved www.olsh.org: Mobile responsive Quick-link to pages for students and for parents Ability to subscribe to teacher pages/classes Pop-up messages with important news and updates

Be sure to check out the new look on August 1!

Be Known | Be Transformed | Be Inspired • 15

WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND OLSH HONORS CONVOCATION NHS INDUCTION The annual Honors Convocation was held on Monday, May 22. Top Awards included: BLESSED ANGELA AWARD Christopher DeSalle ‘17

MALE & FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETES Aesling McCullough ‘17 and Luke Saftner ’19

TOP 10 SENIORS Hannah Feldhues, Caroline Jones, Daniel Joyce, Jessica Kerecman, Jonathan Kim, Rachel Kuchnicki, Maria Lohmann, Aesling McCullough, Luke Rattay, Daniel Shaw HIGHEST ACADEMIC CLASS AVERAGE Francesca Taylor ‘20, Krista Kim ‘19, Alexis Moskala ‘18 SPIRIT OF CARING AWARD Jonathan Kim ‘17 ALISON & KATIE MICHEL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Andrew McDevitt ‘17

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The OLSH Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 18 new members on April 30. New officers were also inducted: Emily Halbedl ’18 (President), Christina Trocchio ’18 (Vice President), Jennifer Falgione ’18 (Secretary), Alexis Moskala ’18 (Treasurer). 

MARCH FOR LIFE

A group of 33 students and 6 chaperones, including some alumni, participated in an overnight experience including a visit to the Holocaust Museum and Mass in the Basilica at Cathoiic University. Another 15 students and chaperones joined them for the March on Friday, January 27. 

LOVE WALK FOR THE POOR

PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION

On Sunday, February 12, 30 members of the OLSH community braved the cold and rain to participate in a Love Walk for the Poor, a tradition started 27 years ago by Sr. Louise Marie Olsofka. The group walked through the OLSH campus carrying donations of nonperishable food items for Our Lady’s Pantry and baby items for Choices Pregnancy Center in Coraopolis. 

On Thursday, January 19 over 80 alumni, parents, faculty, board members, and other friends of OLSH attended the President’s Reception at the Hat Tricks Club at the RMU Neville Island Sports Center. Guests were thanked by OLSH president Terry O’Rourke Donoghue for their dedication to OLSH. Those invited to the event represented loyal donors to OLSH, those who donate to scholarship funds, and members of the President’s Leadership Council and the Blessed Angela Society. 

EMPTY BOWLS On Thursday, March 30, students, faculty, and Sisters participated in the annual Empty Bowls event, raising $725 for Our Lady’s Pantry, which helps feed our neighbors in the community. 

ROOTS On Wednesday, May 10, the freshman class hosted the annual Roots Reception. Each freshman completes a project interviewing “the oldest person they know.” The subjects of the students’ project are invited to a reception featuring Mass, a performance by the show choir, and refreshments. 

Be Known | Be Transformed | Be Inspired • 17

WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND OLSH ATHLETICS BOYS GIRLS BOYS & GIRLS BASKETBALL BASKETBALL BOWLING The boys basketball team ended the season in 2nd place in the WPIAL, after losing the championship game at the Peterson Events Center to section rival Sewickley Academy. The team made it to the PIAA quarterfinals and ended the season with an overall record of 20 wins and 7 losses. Ethan Harrell ’17 was named to the Beaver County Times’ Boys Basketball Top 22. 

The girls basketball team made it to the WPIAL semifinals and the PIAA quarterfinals, despite having a young team with no seniors. The team ended the season with a record of 20 wins and 6 losses. Coach Don Eckerle was named Girls Basketball Coach of the Year by the Beaver County Times and Jocelyn Nagy ’18 was named to the Times’ Girls Basketball Top 22. 

The boys team welcomed new head coach Craig Benzinger this season. Luke Rattay ’17 and Jake Benzinger ’19 qualified for the WPIBL individual qualifying match. Adilia Schmidt ’20 qualified for both the WPIBL Section individual qualifying match and the Regional individual qualifying match. 

HOCKEY

SWIMMING

BASEBALL

The team made the PIHL semifinals, losing to Meadville 12-0. The boys ended their season with an overall record of 10 wins and 6 losses. 

Joey Rozman ’20, OLSH’s lone representative on the co-op swim team with Cornell, placed 8th in the 500 meter freestyle at the MAC Championships and qualified for the WPIAL Championship meet as a member of the 200 meter medley relay team. 

The Baseball team took the section championship this year and made it to the semi-finals of the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs, losing a close game to California. 

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SOFTBALL

BOYS VOLLEYBALL TRACK & FIELD

The Lady Chargers had a great season, improving on their 4-13 season last year to finish this season with a record of 7-3 in section and 11-4 overall. The girls competed in the first round of WPIAL Class 2A playoffs, losing to Laurel 7-4. 

With only 5 players returning from last year, the boys volleyball team had a rough start to their season. Though they improved in the 2nd half of the season, taking Canevin, Seton LaSalle, and Trinity (all playoff teams this year) to 5 game sets, the lack of experience caused the team to miss the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. In the end, their record was 2-8 in section and 4 -11 overall. Andrew King ’17 and Andrew Schnarre ’19 were both selected to the Section 1 AA second team. 

COLLEGE SIGNINGS

In the WPIAL Championships, Haley Hamilton ’20 took 4th place in the 1600, Cole Cejer ’17 took 4th place in the 800, the girls 4×8 relay team took 2nd, the boys 4×8 relay team took 6th, Madison Tanczos ’20 took 6th in the 400, the girls 4×4 relay team took 3rd, and the boys 4×4 relay team took 6th. Haley, Cole, the girls 4×8 relay team, and the girls 4×4 relay went on to represent OLSH at the PIAA Championships at Shippensburg University. There, the girls 4×8 relay team (Tara Richardson ’17, Maria Lohmann ’17, Hannah Valenty ’20, and Haley Hamilton ’20) took 11th place in the state. 

OLSH MVPs

Dom Davis will play baseball at Wheeling Jesuit University next year. 

Annamarie Boburka has committed to play volleyball for Carlow University. 

Dylan Osheka will play baseball for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the fall. 

Three OLSH football players signed to play in the fall: Markus Jenkins signed to play at Alderson-Broaddus University, Romnn Schell signed to play at Glenville State College, and Weston Roberts signed to play at Case Western Reserve University. 

Congratulations to the 2016-2017 Male and Female Most Valuable OLSH Athletes: Haley Hamilton ’20 and Matt Schnarre ’17. 

Be Known | Be Transformed | Be Inspired • 19

OLSH NEWS AND NOTES FACULTY, STAFF, & COACHES

Mrs. Andrea Bagnell was selected by the College Board to serve as an AP test reader. She travelled to Salt Lake City in June and joined 5,000 other teachers. She and her group of 20 fellow teachers were responsible for reading and scoring 11,000 AP World History test responses. While the days were long and intense, Mrs. Bagnell enjoyed the opportunity to meet other teachers from around the country. Library Media Specialist Mrs. Bethany Cvitokovic and her husband, Matt ,welcomed their baby girl, MillieAnn Jo, on Sunday, March 12. Social Studies Department Chair Mr. Scott DeVivo and his wife, Becky, welcomed their daughter, Lydia Lynn DeVivo, on March 11.

OLSH Golf coach Ron Lucas was the co-recipient of the 2017 Tri-State PGA Section Patriot Award given by the PGA. The PGA Patriot Award bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf. Spanish teacher Ms. Kelly Mullen was selected as an NEH Summer Scholar from a national applicant pool to attend a Summer Institute sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). She will participate in “Tales from the Chihuahuan Desert: Borderlands Narratives about Identity and Binationalism” in June at the University of Texas at El Paso.

STUDENTS Brendan Burke ‘18 coordinated a Heart and Sole Shoe Drive to support the Benedictine Sisters’ Ministry for disadvantaged children in Greene County during the month of April. Emily Costantino ‘20, Sarah Davison ‘20, Katherine Marks ’19, and Mae Twyman ‘19 qualified as 2017 Recognized Carson Scholars. Students are named as Carson Scholars as a result of academic achievement and service to their community. Katie Dickey ‘18 competed in impromptu speaking at the Pennsylvania High School Speech League State Tournament and made it to the semi-final round, placing 9th overall. Juliana Grimm ‘20 was selected to represent OLSH in the PMEA District I Junior High Band Festival in March. Mrs. Barbara Desman will be shifting roles at OLSH, saying goodbye to the classroom after 30 years. She will remain as the Chair of the English Department, Director of the OLSH Writing & Learning (OWL) Center, and a member of the Middle States Coordinating Team. At the faculty/staff end of year lunch, Mrs. Desman bequeathed her beloved ficus tree to Mr. Tyler Rodgers who will be teaching in classroom 2020 next year.

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Jonathan Kim ‘17 was awarded a scholarship from the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League for his academic achievements and future goals. Jonathan Kim ‘17 and Nathan Nicklas ‘17 were recognized as Eagle Scouts at a ceremony on June 5. Joe Weber ’17 & Brody Connor ‘17 were also recognized as an Eagle Scouts this year. Larissa Krulac ‘20 was chosen to represent OLSH in this year’s PMEA District One Junior High Choral Festival in May. Sarah Macchione ‘17 was honored by the Diocese of Pittsburgh Secretariat for Leadership Development for outstanding contributions to her parish and the OLSH community at the 23rd St. Timothy Awards on May 8. Mara Mercadante ‘17 was selected to play clarinet in the PMEA District One West Senior High Band Festival. Stephanie Petinaux ‘20 placed 4th chair out of 24 in the violin section at the PMEA District I Junior High Orchestra Festival in March. Loren Suttmiller ‘17 became a US Figure Skating Association Gold Medalist. Loren joined an elite group as only 3% of all figure skaters achieve the Gold Medalist level according to the USFSA. Loren skates with Pittsburgh Figure Skating Club at the RMU Island Sports Center and plans to continue skating at the college level. Nathan Walter ‘18 received an award for the best entry from OLSH at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Awards ceremony at Carnegie Mellon University.

ALUMNI NEWS AND NOTES 1956

Sr. Mary Lee Przybylski is currently working in the diocesan office in Yellowknife, Canada, for Bishop Mark Magemoen. She has been there since July of 2013 and says the cold weather is a frequent topic of conversation, with the lowest she has experienced being -52 degrees.

1992

Michelle (Majerski) Mackie and her husband, Jay, welcomed their first child, Jonah Michael, on March 10 weighing 6lb 15oz at Tripler AMC in Hawaii where Jay is stationed for 3 yrs with the U.S. Navy.

Jill Ammon was named Account Executive of the Year for 2016 at Continuum Managed Services.

Kristen (Skarada) McCabe and her husband, Hunter, welcomed their second child, Ezra James, on February 2, 2017.

1995

2005

Emily (Klein) Morris was recently honored for 10 years of service with Teach for America. Emily started teaching as a corps member in 1999, has been on TFA staff 10 years as a teacher coach, and has been the Director of District and School Partnerships for 8 years.

Laura (Kowatic) Deer and her husband, Billy, welcomed their first child, Kellan Jack, on March 27, 2017.

Dan Waruszewski was ordained into the priesthood by Bishop David Zubik on June 24, 2017.

2007

Michael Christiansen and his wife, Jessica, welcomed their daughter, Lily Maria, on March 22, 2017. Lily joins her older brother, Lucas.

2002

Amanda (Klein) Gonzalez was named a 2017 Health Care Hero for her work as a paramedic. Started in 2007, Health Care Heroes honors health care professionals in the New Orleans area. Honorees are selected based on industry achievement and community involvement. Tim Rosser and his writing partner, Charlie Sohn, won Best Score at the San Diego Theater Critics Circle for their musical “The Boy Who Danced on Air” at the Diversionary Theatre.

2003

Victor Fanks was recently promoted to Sergeant in the U.S. Army.

2004

Matt Hogue and Cara Brougher welcomed their daughter, Hudson Reign Hogue on March 3.

2007

On Saturday, June 10, the OLSH Class of 2007 celebrated their 10 year reunion at Yorktown Grille in Moon. Pictured: Back Row: Steve Sluzynsky, Nicholas Michalenko, Eric Polesky, Liz (Moore) Addison, Ed Coyle, Laura Crawford, Chelsea Mastilak, Caitlin (Feth) Matthis, Jenna (Zyroll) Sheetz Middle Row: Alyssa Silvestri, Terry Cahalan, Eileen (Johnson) Kravitz, Kerry Brind’Amour, Jackie (Dawso) DiLorenzo, Kara Hertzberg Front: Michael McNally, Kirsten Ott, Tony Summers, Mark Grogan

Be Known | Be Transformed | Be Inspired • 21

ALUMNI NEWS AND NOTES 2010

Samantha (Eagle) Atkins and her husband, Jameson, welcomed their daughter, Everly Grace, on March 16, 2017.

Annie Collier earned her white coat from Cornell University School of Veterinary Science on March 18, 2017.

Brian Halligan and his team from Penn State University received 1st place in the 2017 CAPSTONE/Spring Design Showcase Awards out of 130 groups that participated. Brian graduated with his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Penn State Main on Friday, May 5. He has accepted a position at the Tata Consultancy Services group in Columbus, Indiana. Rachel Petro was nominated by faculty and staff to take part in Baldwin Wallace University’s 123rd Annual White Rose Ceremony.

Dana Derbish enlisted in the U.S. Army as a military police officer with the rank of specialist.

Rachel Rattay was the first female to receive the Outstanding Software Engineer Award at Penn State Behrend.

2012

Hannah Devlin graduated from the University of Pittsburgh summa cum laude in 2016 with a B.A. in Philosophy and Anthropology, and a minor in Museum Studies and Spanish. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Museum Studies with a focus on Material Culture and Artifact Studies at the University of Glasgow. She is also using her time in the United Kingdom to explore England, Ireland, and Iceland.

2013

Starting pitcher for the Slippery Rock University baseball team Preston Falascino was named to the 2017 AllPennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Team with second team honors.

Things have changed since 1932! We're sure you have too! Send your news to alumni@olsh.org or visit the alumni section of the OLSH website to submit online.

22 • www.olsh.org

Mary Swick graduated at the top of her class with a cumulative 4.0 GPA. In addition, she received the Alpha Chi Honor Society Award for Academic Excellence, the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society Award for Excellence in Education, and the Dr. Mary Salter Award for Academic Excellence in Math.

2014

Jen Haseleu was recently inducted into the Chemistry Honor Society at St. Vincent College. Shaughn McDonald was inducted into the Psi Chi Honor Society in the Psychology Department at St. Francis University.

Rachel Osheka traveled to Immokalee, FL, as part of an immersion experience sponsored by John Carroll University’s Office of Campus Ministry during spring break. Immersion experiences challenge students to engage the realities of the world while reflecting on the values of human dignity and servant leadership.

2015

Alexis Brezny made the Dean’s List for the Fall of 2016 at Robert Morris University and was accepted to the Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Business Society. Emily Davis has accepted a longterm research position at the Edison Biotechnology Institute. She will be researching the growth hormone-growth hormone receptor pairs in normal cells versus the same pairs in cancer cells. Santino Platt allowed only one run and had 5 strikeouts as the Washington & Jefferson baseball team took the 11th place PAC Baseball crown with pair of 8-1 wins over Grove City in May 2017. Tim Mulvey ’13 closed the game, allowing only one hit.

2016

Rachael Sarnowksi was awarded the VADM Keith W. Lippert, SC, USN (Ret) Scholarship from the Navy Supply Corps Foundation. This scholarship is a 3 year, $5,000 annual award. She also made the Dean’s List each semester and was inducted into an honor fraternity this spring. Julia Waszyn is studying abroad in Spain with the IUP Honors College on the Camino de Santiago, a 550 mile journey across the country which is completed entirely on foot. Mr. Bob Brasko, former OLSH teacher and Bowling Coach, was inducted into the WPIBL Hall of Fame on April 9 for his outstanding contributions to high school bowling.

Congratulations to the following OLSH alumni on making the Dean’s List for the Fall 2016 semester!

Congratulations to the Felician Sisters who celebrated their 50th Jubilee on June 24, 2017: Sr. Melanie Marie Bajorek ‘67 Sr. Grace Marie Spera ‘66 Sr. Leah Marie Turberville Sr. Mary Thaddea Meyers

Meghan Bayer ‘14 University of Pittsburgh

Walter Kenderski ’92 Kent State University

Adam Pace ‘16 University of Dayton

Marisa Corona ‘13 Seton Hill University

Monica Kilburg ‘16 John Carroll University

Grace Quigley ’13 Grove City College

Samantha Davis ‘13 Youngstown State University

Bailey Kocent ‘16 University of Dayton

Sarah Schauble ’15 Loyola University of Maryland

Vincent Michael ’13 Grove City College

Sarah Shaheen ‘16 Baldwin Wallace University

Morgan Osheka ‘13 John Carroll University

Karen Thorwart ’15 Kent State University

Rachel Osheka ‘14 John Carroll University

Victoria Young ‘14 University of Dayton

Jacob Dickey ’16 Kent State University Jaclyn Elias ’15 Kent State University Julien Kastelic ‘15 John Carroll University

In Memorium

Dorothy Kardell January 10, 2017 Mother of Roberta Kardell ’65 and Audrey (Kardell) Cassel ’65 (deceased)

Glen C. Glaser March 26, 2017 Father of Carla (Cronin) Martire ‘73 and Diedre (Cronin) Martire ‘79

Dr. Jan W. Marratta May 17, 2017 Father of Caryn (Maratta) Kopay ’91 and Jamee (Maratta) Hahn ‘90

Michael D. Riser ‘94 February 11, 2017

Delores J. (Ross) Tripodi March 29, 2017 Mother-in-law of Caroline Tripodi, OLSH School Counselor

Nicholas Dilanni May 19, 2017 Son of Mary (Crossey) Dilanni ‘78

Vittorio “Vic” Pugliano February 17, 2017 Father of Lisa (Pugliano) Koslosky ‘88 Thomas Adamchik ‘75 February 24, 2017 Brother of Anthony Adamchik ‘75 Penelope S. “Penny” Rady March 4, 2017 Mother of Holly (Rady) Feher ‘88 and Noelle (Rady) Panza ‘87 Henry Frank Trella March 5, 2017 Father of Michelle Trella-Husted ‘78 and Jeanene Trella ‘81 Daniel Deramo March 12, 2017 Father of Timothy Deramo ’77 and Nancy (Deramo) Krajovic ‘79

Paul S. Niehenke April 6, 2017 Father of Rita (Niehenke) Foley ‘93 Linda Palermo May 4, 2017 Mother of Melissa (Palermo) Oblinger ‘06 Sr. Mary Augustine Ladislaa Grajewski ‘36 April 23, 2017 Barbara Lynn (Conlon) Snatchko ‘65 May 4, 2017 Robert Anthony LaLama ‘85 May 17, 2017

Gerald S. “Gerry” Nelson May 21, 2017 Husband of Adrian (Broniszewski) Nelson ‘73 Rock Gregory Rauterkus May 21, 2017 Father of Claire Rauterkus ‘19 Harry R. Bielewicz, Sr. May 28, 2017 Father of Marybeth (Bielewicz) Goldbach ‘75, Frank Bielewicz ‘77, Fr. Harry R. Bielewicz, Jr. ’78, Marycamille (Bielewicz) Strano ‘80, Mary Dee (Bielewicz ) Rink ‘84 Todd M. Riale June 4, 2017 Husband of Lynn Riale, Main Office Staff and Stepfather of Zane Travis ’14 and Luke Travis ‘15

Be Known | Be Transformed | Be Inspired • 23

Announcing the Inaugural

OLSH Distinguished Alumni Awards ALUMNUS with HEART Christine (Plucinski) Glatz ‘78

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP James Rosenwald ‘84

PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE Christy (Tancraitor) Uffelman ‘95

YOUNG ALUMNUS Alexander Vallejo ‘11

These distinguished alumni will be honored at a reception on Sunday, October 1. Details to follow in the 2017 Homecoming invitation later this summer. If you would like to nominate an OLSH alumnus for an OLSH Distinguished Alumni Award, contact Deena (Newsom) Swank ’92, Alumni & Parent Relations Manager at dswank@olsh.org.

SAVE THE DATE!

HOMECOMING '17!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Alumni Family Tailgate before the OLSH Chargers take on Cornell at Moon High School Stadium

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1

Mass in the OLSH Chapel OLSH Alumni Luncheon, with Distinguished Alumni Awards Presentation, location TBA

More details to follow later this summer!

RALLY FOR MCNALLY SUCCESS!

he 2 annual Rally for McNally Endowed Scholarship 5K was held on Saturday, June 10. Alumni, current students, parents, alumni parents, friends, and running enthusiasts came out to run, walk, and support the event. The event raised dollars for the McNally Endowed Scholarship Fund, an endowed scholarship that was established in honor of 2007 OLSH graduate Michael McNally. Thanks to the generosity of an alumni family, all dollars raised this year were matched, totaling over $12,000 for the Fund. This total will allow the Scholarship to be fully endowed, with its first distribution happening in the 20182019 school year. nd

Thanks to our sponsors Rohrich Automotive Group, Ohio Valley Hospital, and Pierogies Plus for their generosity and to all who supported the event, especially the Moon Township Police and the OLSH cross country and track coaches and teams! Special thanks to Michael McNally ‘07 and his family for inspiring our runners and walkers in the home stretch of the course. We are so blessed that they were able to travel to Pittsburgh and join us for the event this year!

OLSH ALUMNI Making a Difference since 1932

CLASS AGENTS

Class Agents help the Alumni Office gather updated contact information and news about their classmates. Please contact your Class Agent with updates or reunion plans that can be shared with OLSH. 1968 Sr. M. Francine Horos smfhoros@olsh.org 1972 Claudia (Bonchak) Lewis troop150@yahoo.com 1976 Michael Pentland theoutdooraddict@msn.com 1978 Christine (Plucinski) Glatz cglatz@olsh.org 1982 Joseph Farley joseph.farley@dcsg.com 1985 Karen Nolder vargo008@icloud.com 1986 Beth Ann Roland-Studeny bethrolstu@gmail.com 1988 Raquel (Roney) Sanders chevychick612@yahoo.com 1989 Lara (Kannenburg) Kenney larakenney@yahoo.com 1992 Jill Ammon jillammon@gmail.com

BYOB PAINTING PARTY AT OLSH!

On Saturday, July 8, Tara Zalewsky-Nease ‘98, owner of Pittsburgh Paintings, led a group of OLSH alumni and current parents in the painting of a custom picture created just for OLSH! The group enjoyed wine and snacks in the art room during the three-hour session and each left with a beautiful OLSH memento to hang on their wall!

1996 Michael Cerchiaro cerchiarogd@gmail.com 2000 Brendan Gallagher brendan.patrick.gallagher@gmail.com 2001 Christopher Wilfert cwilfert@wm.com 2002 Jordan Hinds jordanhinds@hotmail.com 2004 Robert Skvarca robert_skvarca@yahoo.com 2006 Siemone Cerase cerase0923@gmail.com 2007 Mallory (Praskovich) Hurley mhurley@olsh.org

UPCOMING REUNIONS Class of 1992 - October 21, 2017

The Class of 1992 will celebrate their 25 year reunion on Saturday, October 21 in OLSH’s Founders Hall. For more information, please contact Jill Ammon at jillammon@gmail.com.

Class of 1997 - September 2, 2017

The class of 1997 will celebrate the 20 year reunion on Saturday, September 2 at Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh in the Southside Works. Contact Rachel Fry at rachel.fry@directenergy.com for more information.

2012 Greg Ott gmo18@case.edu

If you graduated in a year ending in 3 or 8, 2018 is your reunion year!

If you would like to be a Class Agent, please contact Deena Swank at dswank@olsh.org.

For more information about any of these reunions or to begin planning a reunion for your class, please contact Deena Swank ‘92 at dswank@olsh.org.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School 1504 Woodcrest Avenue Coraopolis, PA 15108-3054

Upcoming Events JULY 2017 8 Alumni BYOB Painting Party at OLSH

AUGUST 2017 7-11 Debate Camp

10-14

Soccer Skills Summer Camp Girls Volleyball Skills Camp Boys Volleyball Skills Camp

Freshman Foundations Day, Matriculation Mass, and Welcome Picnic for Class of 2021

16-21

Mission Trip to Young People Care/ Bethany Retreat Center, Frenchville, PA

First Day of Classes for Upperclassmen

First Day of Classes for Freshmen

Getting Ready for High School Program Girls Basketball Skills Camp

All Students Report

24-28

31-Aug 1 Strength & Conditioning Camp

SEPTEMBER 2017 30 Homecoming Football Game & Alumni Tailgate OCTOBER 2017 1 Alumni Mass & Lunch 2-6

Mission & Heritage Week

For more information on these, or other upcoming events, visit www.olsh.org.

OLSH is a Ministry of the Felician Sisters

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