In The News
Winter 2012
Teacher of the Week English teacher Robert Kent ’74 was named Educator of the Week by WKRN-TN. Each week, a notable Middle Tennessee teacher is profiled for his/her outstanding influence in the classroom. Mr. Kent, who has been teaching at Father Ryan since 1980, also coaches girls’ cross country and track. Irish Dancers Head to World Championship Seniors Emma Hoagland and Caitlin Faimon competed in the Southern Region Irish Dancing Championship in early December. Emma placed 3rd and Caitlin placed 10th, both earning a spot to compete at the World Irish Dancing Championship in Belfast, Ireland this April.
This year's National Merit Honorees are honored by President Jim McIntyre and Principal Paul Davis during the football game against Brentwood Academy. Nine Students Honored by National Merit The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has honored nine Father Ryan students for their performance on the PSAT. Josh Little and Emma Thoni were named Semi-finalists. Domenic Canonico, E.J. Hinlo, Robbie Lindstrom, Gray Pickney, Allison Shacklett, Ryan Weiss and Jessica Zic were named Commended Students. Together they have amassed 57 AP class credits and represent dozens of student organizations like marching band, lacrosse and Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society). Approximately 1.5 million students take the PSAT each year, with 34,000 (2.3%) named Commended Students and only 16,000 (1.1%) named Semi-finalists. Since 2005, 58 Father Ryan students have been honored by National Merit.
Students, Faculty, Staff Support Orphanage Staff and faculty members Abby and Jared Irvine spent their fall break volunteering at Orphanage Emmanuel in Guaimaca, Honduras. In the spirit of Advent, they organized a “giving tree” and Abby, the Spanish Club moderator, encouraged her Spanish students to buy gifts for the orphans. Students and faculty purchased a total of 185 gifts, which the Irvines proudly drove to Chattanooga to be delivered to the orphanage.
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Author of Dead Man Walking Speaks to Students Sr. Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, visited Father Ryan in late October. A leading advocate against the death penalty, she spoke with students about the dignity of life and her experiences working with men on death row. Her book became a major motion picture of the same name in 1995.