We Are BK Capital Campaign: GRIFFIN MATCH UPDATE

A $200,000 challenge match; that’s what 1979 BK alumni Joe Griffin and Denise Dayer Griffin have offered to Bishop Kelley as part of the school’s historic $25M capital campaign. The offer, made nearly a year ago, is a challenge to alumni who attended BK from 1976-1982.

Since the challenge was made, alumni from those classes have contributed about $31,000, leaving $169,000 on the table. (Please note some alumni from those classes made significant gifts to the campaign prior to this challenge starting.)

SiSter mary eliSha glady, rSm

By Grace Wells

Teaching is more than just a career; it’s something bigger than a classroom, beyond the pages in a textbook. Teaching is the connection between an individual and their potential within education. It is the bridge to the fullness of knowledge. This is seen and experienced on a daily basis through the instruction of Sister Mary Elisha Glady, RSM. Since becoming a member of the BK community two years ago, Sister Mary Elisha has made an extraordinary impact within her time here.

Sister Mary Elisha taught in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at Xavier High School before she was assigned to Bishop Kelley in the fall of 2021, a decision she notes as a “vow of obedience.” Currently in her third year as an educator, Sister Mary Elisha teaches various classes within the Theology and Math Departments. She is admired by her colleagues who see her as a prime example of a team player and one who is dedicated to her work.

Also known to be “naturally caffeinated,” Sister Mary Elisha brings a sense of colorfulness to her teaching, taking on the most complex of obstacles with gracious per- severance. When faced with these challenges, Sister, as described by fellow Theology teacher Ms. Allison Pollard, is always able to “make everything relateable and understandable for her students.” Mr. John Simons, Chair of the Theology Department, also reiterates this attribute by defining Sister Mary Elisha as a conscious “custodian for the students’ eternal souls.”

Sister Mary Elisha’s work with curriculum development is a unique talent; Simons describes her skillset as, “practically a Charism.” When asked what he most appreciates about Sister, student McCaleb Doyle remarked how “she tries to include all of the students in the lessons.” Mrs. Pollard noted that Sister is “constantly finding ways to reach the students where they are.”

Outside of the classroom, Sister Mary Elisha is a fundamental presence in the life of the school, bringing an energy that is irreplaceable into the daily lives of the teachers around her, always willing to offer contributions. Such contributions can be found in her work on the Theology Department curriculum, a true embodiment of the Lasallian principles of “Faith” and “Zeal.” In the words of Mr. Simons, Sister Mary Elisha is “a servant and instrument of the One True Master Teacher,” and such a role is seen in her work with “the lives of the young people…in every single class she teaches.”

Beyond connecting with her students and seamlessly moving through complex lessons, Sister is known for continuously raising the bar within her teaching, pushing her students spiritual development to new heights, as well as raising their level of thought and critical thinking. Even in the midst of all this, Sister moves through her day and her career with an attitude of humility and servitude to those around her. Sister Mary Elisha says she enjoys working at Bishop Kelley and collaborating with teachers. She views her work as a fulfillment of a blessing.

Since she stepped foot on the BK campus, Sister Mary Elisha has shared her gifts with others, ranging from her life as a Religious Sister of Mercy to her teaching. She truly is an invaluable gift to the Comet family.

By Amy Nagode ‘24

How do you imagine a teacher during their teenage years? A nerd, maybe a brown nose? Mrs. Kathleen Zigler, however, was like any other typical high school student. In her own words, “I was quiet, I always sat in the back, always had my hoodie up.” According to Zigler, she never imagined herself becoming a teacher. “Not at all.” She laughed when asked if her career was something she had always envisioned. “I did not like school. Math especially. It was not my strong suit.”

Zigler entered Northeastern State University in 2006, initially interested in pursuing journalism. However, she later shifted her major to English. At NSU, she got to know fellow Bishop Kelley English teacher Ms. Kylie Hendricks. According to Zigler, commiserating over their shared Linguistics class was one of their most significant bonds.

Following grad school, Zigler spent some time as a college professor before transitioning to a temporary employee at Cascia Hall Preparatory School. Mrs. Zigler’s favorite part about working at various schools was (and continues to be) the students. “I cried when I left Cascia. I loved the students and was sad to see them go.”

The students continue to be Mrs. Zigler’s favorite part of being at Bishop Kelley. “I click with a lot of students. It’s fun to see their sense of humor and how bright each student is. It is so different from a huge public school. What I love about Bishop Kelley is how you are able to foster relationships with every kid.”

Her effective teaching and positive relationships with students and faculty alike have been evident this year: she was one of the first-awarded Teachers of the Month during the 2022-2023 school year!

“When the campaign first began in the silent phase, Fr. Gary Kastl (BK president at the time) asked Denise and me to serve on the campaign council to help open doors to other donors and generate new gifts,” Joe Griffin said. “Eventually, we decided to make a personal challenge in hopes of attracting another $200,000 to the campaign, which is very much needed.”

Having met as freshmen at BK in the fall of 1975, Joe and Denise have been married for 41 years and have three children. They sent their children to Bishop Kelley and two of them married BK alumni. The Griffins have ten grandchildren, and hope that all of them can also obtain a Bishop Kelley education.

“Some private schools have a capital campaign every three or four years, starting a new one about a year after ending the last one,” said Joe. “Bishop Kelley has gone decades between capital campaigns and so the school finds itself in a position to upgrade outdated facilities, address major structural issues, and enhance safety.”

“It is our policy not to use tuition funds for capital projects,” said Sister Mary Hanah, RSM, who is in her second year as president of Bishop Kelley. “We keep our tuition as low as possible and it covers the cost of salaries, benefits, basic upkeep of facilities, utilities, and those kinds of things.”

To afford campus improvements and grow the endowment, a concerted effort is made by the school’s Philanthropy Office to attract donors who have a passion for the mission of Bishop Kelley and the means to give, whether that’s a $500 gift or something much greater.

“We are very grateful to Joe and Denise for the leadership they have provided and for offering up their resources in a way to encourage their classmates to also support the capital campaign,” said Doug Thomas, BK’s Director of Philanthropy. “We don’t often receive challenge gifts, so when we do, we want to take full advantage of them. We’re encouraging all alumni who attended BK between the years of 1976 and 1982 to give so we can receive the full amount of this challenge grant.”

The school appreciates all donors, whether they are alumni, parents of alumni, parents of current students, grandparents, or friends of Bishop Kelley.

Scan the QR code to contribute to the Griffin Match as part of the We Are BK Capital Campaign. To scan, use your phone’s camera. Hover over the QR code as if you are taking a photo, then click the link that appears. It will take you to the donation page. 17

“We frequently hear stories about how the school changed lives and put its graduates in a position to succeed in life and we’re hoping many of those positively impacted by Bishop Kelley faculty and staff will give to the campaign,” Thomas said. “We intend to reach our $25M capital campaign goal, and it’s going to take all of us rowing in the same direction to realize these needs for our current and future generations of BK Comets.”