Celebrating 50 Years It all started on September 4, 1962. On that day, Father William J. Schmidt’s dream of starting what was, and remains, the only Jesuit school in Indiana became a reality. On that day, 168 freshman boys, in dress shirts, ties, slacks and leather shoes, walked into a brand new building on Route 100, just north of Indianapolis, and became a part of history. On that day, the first students, faculty and staff members began laying the foundation and creating the traditions that would define Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School. For 50 years, Brebeuf Jesuit has created men and women for others by fostering the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social and physical development of its students and providing the tools to become societal leaders who do all things for the greater glory of God. What follows is a collection of pictures and remembrances that illustrate the remarkable history of Brebeuf Jesuit. We hope you enjoy this nostalgic journey backward as we look forward to the next 50 years!
A special thank you is due to our Archives Committee and Ellie Crawford ’07 for their tireless efforts. This would also not have been possible without the many Brebeuf alumni and current and former Brebeuf faculty and staff who shared their stories and reflections.
1962-1972
“Father Schmidt chose farm land on Route 100, north of Indianapolis. A nice, quiet setting for a school to prepare city boys for college.”
1962 Fr. William (Bill) J. Schmidt, SJ (Left) serves as Brebeuf ’s first president. Fr. William Fay (Right) serves as Brebeuf ’s first principal.
SCHOOL SEAL The central figure is St. Jean de Brébeuf, the patron, who symbolizes Brebeuf ’s missionary work and travels. The lower right section shows the seal of the Society of Jesus, made up of His crown of thorns, His cross, the three nails by which He was fastened to the cross, and the first three letters of His name in Greek (IHS). The upper left shows a portion of the family crest of St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus in 1540. The coat of arms was given to the Loyola family by Alfonso XII of Castille in recognition for the family’s valor in war. A cauldron suspended between two wolves symbolizes the Loyola crest.
Nov. 21, 1961 Archbishop Paul C. Schulte officiates the groundbreaking.
Sept. 4, 1962 First Day of School Paul O’Brien, S.J. along with 9 other Jesuits, 2 lay teachers, and 167 freshman boys become the first class of the first Jesuit High School in Indiana. Sept. 21, 1962 First Arrow was published. Sept. 1962 A team of 4 artists complete the chapel sgraffito in 48 hours.
Aug. 22, 1962 Pike Township Volunteer Fire Department held a training night to burn down the old farmhouse located where the school was to be constructed.
Nov. 21, 1962 First meeting of the Dads Club.
1964 Mural depicting the martyrdom of St. Jean de Brébeuf completed in cafeteria. 1964 Work begins on Brebeuf ’s athletic fields.
1963 Brebeuf held its first retreat, in total silence.
1965 Sodality becomes the largest student organization in the school.
1966 Senior, Clyde Peach wins county, sectional, regional and state championships in track; still holds the state record in 100 yard dash.
1966 First Junior and Senior Prom, inviting many young women from Ladywood St. Agnes Academy.
1966 129 seniors become the first class to graduate, 44 with honors. 1966 First female teachers hired.
1966-1967 Debaters Norm Lerum ‘67 and Jay Valentine ‘68 won the school’s first state championship, the first time a private school had ever won.
1967 First community service project for Brebeuf students – a tutoring program called Summer Breeze, later called Community Action.
1967 First student publication of student works (now the Manitou). 1967 The PRT modular block calendar was established. 1967-1968 Girl cheerleaders made their debut. 1966-1967 Football team goes undefeated, scoring 20 victories in a row and setting a citycounty record for most consecutive wins.
Class of 1970 provides the inlaid school seal on the main lobby floor as their farewell gift. 1970 Brebeuf featured in Life Magazine article.
1970-1971 Braves basketball team broke 100 point mark with 3 seconds left against Scecina, setting a new school scoring record.
Spring 1971 Music Department opened under the direction of Mr. James L. Canady, III, with courses in band, choir and theory.
1970-1971 Brother John “Bucky Buchman, SJ, began as Bookstore Manager.
1972-1982
Brebeuf evolves into a coeducational environment with the enrollment of the first class of female students.
Fall 1972 Entire student body participated in a mock -presidential election and elected Richard Nixon over George McGovern.
1972-1973 Brebeuf theater presented “Post Mortem Reflections” – the first production written, directed and produced by a student, Paul Johnson ‘73.
1973 Student Council completely revamped its constitution.
1973-1974 Tennis team won state championship.
1973-74 Tropical Fish Club debuted.
1974 Hitchhiking was still used by students (noted as only a handful) to get to and from school.
1974 Schedule modified to a form of “Box scheduling”. 1974-1975 Smoking was permitted.
Spring 1975 Mayor of Indianapolis, Dick Lugar, spoke at the Student Council Convention.
1975-1976 86th Street, once considered a bypass of Indianapolis, now contained a number of businesses and Nora shopping centers. St. Vincent’s Hospital now provides much of the health care for Marion and Hancock Counties. The College Park Pyramids have become a landmark. 1975-1976 Cross Country team had an undefeated season (17-0).
1975-1976 “Environment II” – Brebeuf ’s first major capital fundraising campaign since the construction of the school was announced with a goal of $2,000,000 and extensive plans to renovate athletic, academic and artistic facilities. 1976-1977 Brebeuf became a fully operational coeducational institution when 153 young women joined the student body.
1976-1977 Construction began on additional physical education facilities ($275,000), which were dedicated on February 27, 1977.
1977 The yearbook changed its name to Totem. 1977 Chess Team won the state championship. 1977-1978 Girls volleyball debuted.
May 14, 1978 Commencement exercises were held for the first time at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University.
1976-1977 Brebeuf offers its first accredited art classes.
1978-1979 Speech team won the sectional speech competition for the first time.
1977-1978 Mothers Association was formed.
1978-1979 Girls tennis won state.
1977-1978 Chess team won state.
1979-1980 Softball began as an organized sport.
1980-1981 Girls tennis won state for the 3rd year in a row. Heather Clark ‘83 won tennis singles state championship. 1981-1982 1,700 people participated in the first annual Le Grand Garage Sale.
1982-1992 1982-1983 The Christmas rock musical “Joy” was directed and produced entirely by students. 1982-1983 Several students attended the nationwide Model UN in New York for the first time. 1982-1983 Computer Club debuted. 1984-1985 Senior class hosts “camping out on campus” tradition for Senior Skip Day.
Brebeuf Celebrated its first 25 Years utilizing the theme, “We Believe…25 Years of Believing.”
1984-1985 Swing Choir and Chamber Ensemble presented the first Christmas Madrigal Dinner. 1984-1985 Brebeuf axes football.
1985-1986 All-school parties were the new school activity. Each class sponsored one and they all had different themes. 1985-1986 Brebeuf reinstates the football program.
Spring 1986 The Edward H. Block Memorial Library opened; construction also included new lockers, a weight room and a new computer center.
1986-1987 Brebeuf celebrated 25 years. 1986-1987 A celebratory banner at the school read, “Welcome to Brebeuf: A History of Great Futures”. 1986-1987 Chess won state for the second year in a row.
Spring 1987 12 students with the highest test scores on the first semester chemistry exam participated in the 1987 American Chemistry Society scholarship test and placed first in the state.
1987-1988 Veena Kulkarni ‘90, pianist, won the Prelude Award. 1987-1988 Vicki Hall ‘88 was ranked #1 woman high school basketball player in the country by USA Today.
1987-1988 Amy Scales ‘91 won state championship in gymnastics. 1987-1988 New schedule implemented with a 10 minute homeroom period.
1988-1989 School held its first “Mr. Brebeuf ” contest during Homecoming. 1988-1989 Freshmen Lock-in was a new event for the school. Activities included a dance, movies, bowling and more.
1988-1989 2 new extracurriculars were added – Hoosier Academic Spell Bowl and Hoosier Academic Superbowl. 1989-1990 11 Brebeuf students and 13 German students participated in a student exchange program.
1989-1990 The Tomahawk Award for Spirit was presented to the entire senior class. 1989-1990 Conservation Club was founded. 1989-1990 First year for Brebeuf Boys Hockey.
1989-1990 “Brebeuf Expansion” began, a 3-phase $2.5 million renovation (tennis courts and parking lots, then the Jesuit Residence and classrooms). 1990-1991 Jesuits celebrated their 450th anniversary and the 500th birthday of Saint Ignatius. The convocation was watched nationally. 1990-1991 Boys basketball placed 2nd in state (previous record was 7th). 1990-1991 Hockey team won state.
1991-1992 School renovations (carpets, bathrooms, computers, ceiling fans, dirt mounds) include new meditation room and new flag. 1991-1992 Marlin Stewart ‘92 won state in wrestling.
1992-2002
Carnival Daze occurs for the first time, the football field is illuminated, and Brebeuf builds a website.
1992-1993 First ever Brebeuf Carnival was held April 29 - May 2, 1993. Proceeds profited school clubs and the Student Financial Aid Program. 1992-1993 Art Club and Mock Trial Team debuted at Brebeuf.
1992-1993 Courtney Adams ‘96 became state individual champion in cross country, First Team All-State and Runner of the year; she also placed 1st in state in the 1600 meter event.
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Fall 1992 First homecoming game on Brebeuf ’s home field. Rented bleachers were assembled and disassembled within one weekend. Spring 1994 First Bistro event takes place.
1993-1994 Men’s volleyball became an official sport. 1993-1994 Music program expanded to include string ensemble, wind ensemble and jazz ensemble. 1994-1995 Widening of 86th Street was completed. 1994-1995 Choir branched off to madrigal and concert choirs.
1994-1995 8 speakers and debaters advanced to the National Catholic Speech Competition in Chicago, leading the team to capture the national title.
1994-1995 Brebeuf held the Diversity Festival of the Arts event. The purpose was to highlight and celebrate the cultural/ethnic diversity which excisted within the Brebeuf community. 1995-1996 Men’s Club began, with the intention of being a place where students could find loving Christian fellowship. 1995-96 Conservation Club established recycling program.
1995-1996 Students Taking Responsibility Against Poverty (STRAP) formed. 1995-1996 Men’s cross country had first undefeated season.
1996-1997 Prom theme was “Oh, What a Night.” It was held at the Westin Hotel with after-prom events at Block party. 1996-1997 Brebeuf Computer Club created a website for the school.
1997-1998 Mural Team made its debut, developing the styles and techniques of graffiti art for the creation of professionalquality paintings for the school and intramural competition.
1997-1998 Basement renovation included new science rooms, new student commons and Multi-Purpose Room. August 29, 1997 First home football game at night (with new lights).
1998-1999 Animetion Club began at Brebeuf where members viewed and studied a particular genre of Japanese animation and educated others about it. 1998-1999 Brebeuf won 1999 Academic Super Bowl State Championship. 1998-1999 Asian Student Union debuted. 1999-2000 Men’s basketball won state.
1999-2000 Band traveled to Europe (France, Switzerland, and Austria) over the summer for15 days. 1999-2000 Speech team won state. 1999-2000 Asian Festival debuted.
2000-2001 Homecoming week was interrupted by the September 11 attack 2000-2001 80-member Model UN Team won over half of all the awards presented at the Model UN competition.
2002-2012
The spirit of social justice and care for all is embodied by two longterm servants at Brebeuf Jesuit. We honor the passing of Joe Harvey and Paul O’Brien, SJ as we strive to continue their mission for the next 50 years.
2002-2003
Mothers Association sponsors the first “Chalk it Up” where classes, groups, clubs and individuals staked claim to sidewalk squares, drawing pictures representing the theme of “One World”.
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2002-2003 Dance team debuted.
2003-2004
Fall 2002 Brebeuf held a week of
Girls basketball won 3A state championship.
remembrances, including a peace walk around the school, to commemorate 9/11.
2003 -2004 2003-2004 Construction improvements
included 8 new classrooms, the student commons and a mechanical room; air conditioning was installed.
Volleyball team won state championship.
2003-2004 Girls lacrosse debuted. Fall 2004 Fr. Paul
O’Brien, SJ, passed away.
Fall 2004 Brebeuf performs the Indiana
2005-2006 Fed
2005-2006
2006
2006-2007
Spring 2007 Brebeuf institutes a No
2009-2010
2011 January 1, Joe
High School premiere of Dead Man Walking. Performance rights were given by Tim Robbins only to Jesuit schools because of their commitment to social justice.
challenge won state for 2nd year in a row.
Volleyball undefeated (best in state).
Boys win Golf state championship.
Harvey passed away.
2005-2006
Academic Superbowl won state championship.
Tolerance Policy for prom enforcement.
2005-2006
Brain Game won championship for the second year in a row.
Hockey won state championsip.
Girls basketball won 3A state championship, Girls golf won state, Ta’Shia Phillips named Indiana Women’s Basketball Player of the Year.
2005 Academic Superbowl won state
championship. 2005-2006 Econ Challenge won 1st in state
and 3rd in nation.
2005-2006
Debate won state championship.
2006 Br. Buckman (Bucky) officially retired after 35 years.
2006-2007 Drama
Club participated in Indy Fringe Festival – first time any high school was invited to participate.
2006-2007 Daniel Kent ‘07 named 2007
Citizen of the Year by Gannett Newspapers. 2009-2010 First all-school November Catholic Mass. 2009-2010 Girls Volleyball wins state
championship.
2012 Boys Baseball 2010-2011 New
Religion Curriculum debuted.
finishes as state runners-up. 2012 Boys Golf
2011 Boys Golf wins
back to back state titles.
finishes as state runners-up.
2012 and Beyond Dear Brebeuf Jesuit Community, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you just how grateful and blessed I am for my appointment as the 11th president of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School. I am excited to
1962 - 1968 William J. Schmidt, S.J.
1968 - 1979 Carl E. Meirose, S.J.
1979 - 1982 James P. Gschwend, S.J.
1982 - 1987 M. Joseph Casey, S.J.
1987 - 1992 J. Patrick Sheehy, S.J.
1992 - 1994 Fred B. McCashland
1994 - 1999 Walter C. Deye, S.J.
1999 - 2000 Ann W. King
2000 - 2006 Benjamin B. Hawley, S.J.
2006 - 2012 Dr. Matthew J. Hayes
join this dynamic and vibrant community and honored to provide leadership at such a distinguished Catholic Jesuit institution. I am aware of the hard work, dedication and commitment it takes to build and maintain a premier Jesuit high school. I want to recognize all of the time and talent that has already been contributed over the years and continues to be provided to this school today. I am confident that we have a strong foundation in place as we embark on the next 50 years toward an exciting and prosperous future. I look forward to meeting those of you attending the many festivities we have planned for the 2012-2013 school year as Brebeuf kicks off its 50th Anniversary celebration. God s Blessings, God’s
Fr. Jack Dennis, S.J. President
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School 2801 West 86th Street Indianapolis, IN 46268 317.524.7050 www.brebeuf.org