Habemus Papam!
The end of the school year always brings a special kind of excitementjoyful, anticipatory, and only sometimes annoying. But this year, the excitement wasn’t simply about the coming of summer. It reached far beyond our classrooms, carried from a quarter of the world away, borne on a cloud of white smoke.
On May 8, 2025, as students gathered for Crusader Advocacy Period - our daily time of connection and reflection in “families” that meet regularly throughout the year - news began to ripple through the school. White smoke was rising above the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. The cry rang out: Habemus Papam! We have a pope!
The announcement electrified our campus. For days leading up to the papal conclave, students had followed the proceedings with an enthusiasm that was both joyful and deeply reverent. Discussions in hallways and classrooms turned to questions of tradition, leadership, and even papal names. There was a lot of light-hearted talk—especially around Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, whose memorable name made him a favorite among students. Many hoped he would be elected and take the name “John,” affectionately dubbing him “Papa John Pizzaballa.”
But light-heartedness gave way to awe as the reality of the moment settled in. A new pope had been chosen. A sea of students asked the question of the hour: “Can we watch the announcement during class and lunch?”
And then came the news that took our breath away: the new Holy Father was an American.
Excitement turned to astonishment, and astonishment to pride. This was more than history unfolding—it was their history. Our students recognized the gravity of the moment. They understood that this new pope would shepherd the Church as they entered adulthood, discerned their vocations, began careers, formed families, and found parishes to call home.
The Holy Spirit was alive and moving through the halls of Kapaun Mt. Carmel that day. There was laughter, reverence, curiosity, and hope. The kind of hope that can only be born of faith.
And that’s why I share this story with you, our greater Kapaun Mt. Carmel community. Because what I witnessed that day in our students was extraordinary. These young men and women get it. They love the Church. They love Jesus Christ. And they aren’t afraid to live that faith out loud.
The future of the Church is not something we need to fear - it is something we can look forward to with great confidence. The light of Christ is burning brightly in these students, and it will only grow stronger as they carry it into the world beyond these walls.
Please join me in praying for the students of Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School.
May God continue to bless our school community. May He richly bless the papacy of Pope Leo XIV, and may the Holy Spirit guide our students as they walk boldly into the future He has prepared for them.
Go Crusaders!
Rob Knapp ’82, President
June
• 13: Used Uniform Sale, 7-10 am, KMC Commons
• 27: Firework Stand sales begin
July
• 26: Alumni Soccer Game, 10 am, KMC turf field
August
• 13: First day of school for freshmen
• 29: Fall Fest
September
• 26: Homecoming football game; Alumni Night
October
• 17: Kriwiel Classic Golf Tournament
December
• 20: Alumni Night at basketball games vs. Eisenhower
February
• 21: Trivia Night
March:
• 15-21: Spring Break
May
• 17: Graduation, 1:30 pm, Hartman Arena Scan
Merle (Bud) Suter ’63
Bud graduated from Chaplain Kapaun Memorial High School in 1963, and then went on to Kansas Newman. He and his wife, Martha Anne, have four children, Neil, Doug, Pepin and Theresa. Although he is now semiretired, he has been self-employed as a contractor for the last 59 years. Bud lives in Wichita.
Scott Phillips ‘80
Scott was featured in The Active Age newspaper in February for his success as an author, calling him “one of the most acclaimed writers to emerge from Wichita.” He is most known for his book “The Ice Harvest” which won several awards and was turned into a movie. His most recent novel “The Devil Raises His Own,” was published last year. Scott lives with his wife and daughter in St. Louis.
Lisa Neuburger ’84
Lisa works as a track and field coach for the Monument School District, and is the volunteer director and founder of Silent Wave Horse Rescue in Kimberly, Oregon. Silent Wave rescues horses through law enforcement cases, owner surrenders, and offers public outreach services including equine to human connection for disabled, youth and seniors who benefit from equine therapy.
In recognition of her achievements in competitive windsurfing including multiple world titles and two Olympic games, and her work in high level coaching and contributions to the sport over a 30-year period, Lisa was inducted into the International Windsurfing Hall of Fame in January.
Lisa still coaches athletes, but on a local level now, as a high school track and field coach. After retiring from competitive windsurfing, she pursued a career in highperformance coaching. The pinnacle of her sailing/ coaching career was the position of head coach for the Swiss Sailing Team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She was the first female coach to achieve this height of coaching in the Olympic sport of sailing.
She and her husband, David Ciochetti, have two children, Nicolaas and Jin Bo, and reside in Oregon.
Paul Hodges ’97
Paul attended the United States Naval Academy and studied chemical engineering after graduating from KMC. He has served in the US Navy for the past 28 years. He has received the Air Medal
(2011) and the Distinguished Flying Cross (2019), and operated more than 286 combat missions over Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq in a close air support role for air/ground troops. After eight deployments over the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Paul has returned stateside permanently to command Naval Flight ops over the SW Pacific Fleet out of Naval Air Station North Island & Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. He and his wife, Katie, have two children, Kaylee and Isaiah.
Joey Krsnich ’05
Joey was recently recognized as one of the Wichita Business Journals’ 2025 40 Under 40 for his leadership, innovation and positive impact. Joey works for ICT Insurance Group.
Susan Dolan, ‘06
Susan lives in New York City and is employed by a Canadian pharmaceutical advertising agency.
David Akao ’17
David graduated from Friends University, majoring in Health and Physical Education. He works as a personal trainer and is the owner of NPWR Training. He oversees the athletic development of athletes across various sports, focusing on improving their performance, building strength and fostering confidence. In addition to providing hands-on, personalized training, he handles the business’s sales and marketing strategies to drive growth and reach more athletes.
David was nominated as a Young Professional in Professional Services by the Wichita Business Journal and for the 2024 NSCA Personal Trainer of the Year Award. He has built partnerships with Newman University and The Phoenix, extending their services to benefit their athletes and clients. He also runs sports-specific camps, like basketball and volleyball. He is most proud of, however, the meaningful impact NPWR Training continues to have on our community. Every day, he strives to positively influence lives, empowering clients to unlock their full potential and achieve goals they once thought were out of reach.
Joel Amend ’17
Joel graduated from the University of Kansas in 2020 with a degree in finance, and then went on to law school. He is currently an attorney at Fleeson Gooing in Wichita.
Jason Dester ’19
Jason received the 2025 Kansas Horizon Award. The award, given by the Kansas Department of Education, recognizes outstanding first-year teachers who demonstrate excellence in the classroom. Jason teaches Honors World History and AP Government at Topeka West High School.
Audra Grabendike ‘20
Audra received the K-State College of Education Outstanding Graduate Award in November. She student taught at St. Thomas Aquinas in the fall, and became STA’s music teacher in the spring, after she graduated.
Margaret Moore ‘20 Belford
Margaret graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2024, studying international relations, public policy and public administration. She currently works as a project coordinator for the Bertelsmann Foundation of North America, a think tank in Washington, DC. Previously she interned with the European Parliament, a federal resource management council, the U.S. Mission to the African Union based in Ethiopia, the U.S. Department of State bureau focused on United Nations affairs, and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Margaret won the Millennium Fellowship from the United Nations for an environmental research project in college. She attributes her writing ability, work ethic, public speaking ability and critical thinking skills to KMC.
Ella Anciaux ’21
Ella received the Heart of a Shocker Award. Given each year at the WSU student-athlete awards banquets, The Wheaties, it recognizes a male and female student-athlete who embodies everything it means to be a Shocker over their whole career at WSU.
Jack O’Malley ‘22
Grant Johnson ’21
Grant received the Innovator of the Year Award from the Wichita Business Journal for his Chatterbox Studios.
Chatterbox is a language learning application designed to adapt to how you learn, using an LLM to guide you through the process while gamifying the experience. The goal of Chatterbox is to make language learning accessible to everyone, allowing users to learn English — or any other language — entirely for free.
Jack joined the 2025 Kansas Legislative Session as a Legislative Intern for Husch Blackwell Strategies. Jack is a junior at Kansas State University, studying Organizational Management, but plans to study law after graduation. Jack has also served as the Student Body Vice President and president of his fraternity.
Alumni Mass
More than 20 alumni attended the second annual Alumni Mass in the chapel on May 5. Afterwards, there was a small reception in the commons.
KMC Trivia Night 2025
KMC Trivia Night 2025 was a blast! We welcomed over 200 KMC parents, alumni, teachers and friends to a fun night of drinks, food and trivia fun Feb. 15. The Trivia Night 2025 winning team, Wescott for the Number One Spot, was made up of Mike Wescott, Joe Wescott ’04, Ashley Wescott, Monica Wescott ’01 Borger, Jared Borger, Chuey Bernal, Chris Rott and Mary Kay Rott. Thanks to everyone who attended. We are looking forward to Trivia Night 2026!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
For this edition of Ms. Raglin Reminisces, she was shown yearbook pages from the past and she commented on them as her responses were recorded. Here are her comments. Enjoy! by Elaine Robinson
1980
Chris Hesse (‘81) is my vet now. And, he still talks as much as he did in school. When he was in my class, it was one of my first years teaching, and Chris led a group of boys singing ‘Love Train.’ As they would sing, they would make their chairs move like a roller coaster. Chris still thinks that is funny. Look at his face! He hasn’t aged a bit! And, to think he’s taking care of my dog.
1998
Cassie Norris (‘98). I’ll never forget. She gave me a Christmas gift; it was an angel that she made out of macaroni sprayed with fixative. When she gave it to me I thought, ‘Cassie, you’re the smartest girl in your class and you’re decorting with macaroni.’ I still have it. It won’t die.
1998
Genevieve Gordon (‘00) went to Europe with a group of students David Roberts (‘84) and I led. She was amazing because she had such an interest in everything, including fashion.
Sarah Sheldon (‘00) once made a poster for a ‘Brave New World’ assignment. It had nothing to do with the novel, and her explanation was so funny that we all laughed until we cried.
That’s my dog, Stanley. I brought him to school— they dressed him up in a toga for toga day and he walked around with us. Stanley was traumatized and I never brought him back again.
I brought my next dog, Foxy Brown, to show the kids. We came in on free hour and she saw the IHM sisters, and pooped, so she had to go. No therapy dog employment in her future!
StephanBuchanan (‘21) is now the manager at Deano’s. He’s super good at accommodating Kapaun groups, and when the teachers come, he gives us free desserts. I think he deserves a little shout out.
Clara Whitaker (‘21) was my student aide. She was a beautiful girl, inside and outside. She was such a star at tennis, but she had no ego about it.
IzzyFerraro (‘21) just graduated from Benedictine and she is going to optometry school in St. Louis next year.
Izzy went with me to New York. Beth (Ferraro ‘84), Izzy and I went when Izzy was a junior because one of my students, Danny Ramirez, gave me a trip. And, I was supposed to bring a friend, so I thought of Beth.
I thought we should take Izzy. But I didn’t want Danny to pay for her. He did. We stayed at The St. Regis Hotel and we had third row seats to ‘Hamilton.’ As Izzy says, ‘It was the best trip ever.’
2003
Oh, look, Scholars Bowl. Tiffany Smith (‘04). She was a wonder child of Scholars Bowl. She started when she was a freshman. She was brilliant. She knew everything. A nd, she plays sometimes in the Trivia Night here; I was on her team once and we got second place— certainly not because of me!
1998
Andy Van Tassel (‘00). He was a great student. He was super funny. I still have some things that he wrote. Because of Andy, I write things in my gradebook when students say unique things. He was the first one I ever felt the need to do that because he would come up with some unique stuff.
Clint Everton (‘92) won The Gore Award at Wichita State, the one you get on TV for. And, he became an entrepreneur of some sort. Robert Wright (‘92) is the father of the Wright boys. His wife, Megan Shawver (‘93 Wright), she was perfect and he was a wild child — but he was one of my favorites. Frightening to think that he is a socially acceptable member of society now!
‘It
changed my life’ CKM boarder grateful for experience
My father dropped me off on the curb with my cardboard suitcase,” Clem Ast said. “That was as a sophomore. I lived in the dressing room off the stage for three years.”
Ast graduated from Chaplain Kapaun Memorial High School in 1960. Although he enjoyed the opportunity to attend Kapaun, his experience was different than most. He lived on campus—on a campus that didn’t have dormitories.
“Off the stage was the dressing room so people who were in plays would use that dressing room,” Ast said. “It had a kind of a cot—you wouldn’t call it a bed—but it was a cot with a mattress on it. It was pretty sparse. There weren’t any shades over the windows. But there were a lot of lights in there. When you turned them on, they’d kind of blind you.”
The space was used as the actors’ dressing room. When plays were being performed, Ast would have to vacate the space.
stayed a semester. The one upstairs happened to be from Kansas City.”
Ast was one of 14 children and grew up in a small town 45 minutes southwest from Kapaun. There were 10 boys and four girls.
“I went to the public school at Conway Springs for a year but then our church burned down,” Ast said. “The Jesuits had opened the Chaplain Kapaun High School in ‘56. I wound up going to Conway Springs in ‘56. Then, our church burned down. The Jesuits came down to help, and [one of them] approached my parents.”
“[attending kapaun] was a life-changing event,” clem ast said. “It was breaking away from my roots which were wonderful, but it put me on a path to be the only family member brother to complete my college degree. It was a totally different path.”
“I’d have to move out when someone needed that space,” Ast said. “I would usually go to my sisters who were living in Wichita or I’d catch a ride back to Conway Springs. So, it was just a matter of adapting and adjusting.”
Although the accommodations were sparse, there were a few other boys who also lived on campus.
“I was the only one who was there for three years,” Ast said. “I did have several who would come in for a semester or a whole year. There was also [a dressing room] above me. You’d have to take the stairs up. For the first year or so there was a senior who was upstairs, and I had a friend from Conway stay a semester and I think there was one from Andale who
Ast said his mother wanted a priest out of her 10 sons. He speculated that was the reason his parents chose to send him to Kapaun. The idea was not farfetched, however, as Ast spent a few weeks at an introductory program at a seminary in Carthage, Missouri prior to his eighth-grade year.
“They wanted me to be a priest,” Ast said. “They felt, and I’m speculating… they always wanted a priest out of those 10 boys, and I was the most likely candidate.”
After his days of classes, Ast worked in the evening to help pay for his tuition.
“I would run the switchboard, back in those days with the plugins,” Ast said. “I’d have to manage the phone lines. So, I’d take care of the switchboard. Also, at night I’d work in the kitchen that served all the meals to the priests and what they called the Scholastics, brothers who were in some stage of religious development. I’d do the dishes, set the tables, and that’s where I’d eat my meals. Breakfast and dinner were in the kitchen. … I’m assuming my working took care of my tuition.”
Taking responsibility for his duties was
important to him as a high schooler, Ast said.
“I had a lot of responsibility working at the switchboard and in the kitchen,” Ast said. “I was on my own. I took that very seriously being responsible and always showing up, and doing what I was asked to do.”
Attending Kapaun without a pre-established friend group was difficult.
“The first six months were very, very difficult,” Ast said. “I cried myself to sleep for many nights. I had left my friends from Conway, went to Wichita and basically didn’t know anyone. I’d go back to Conway and slowly those friendships would diminish because I was out of the loop.
“I would probably say, going in, I was somewhat of a nerd and outcast,” Ast said. “I felt I wasn’t a part of that, but as the years went by, I began to find myself. That wasn’t anyone else’s issue but mine. I began to gain confidence, gain friends. And I appreciated very much what my parents decided to do, and today, I realize it was a part of a bigger vocation.”
Ast’s struggles with loneliness continued until Kapaun started a wrestling team his sophomore year.
“I was a member of the first wrestling team,” Ast said. “That helped me. I was competitive and made the starting team— that was probably a major breakthrough, and then I made friends in that community. Many of them came from similar backgrounds as I did. Some others came from the farm, but lived with family in town.” Ast said the formation of the wrestling team helped him find a friend group.
“[Wrestling] took care of some of the social parts of my life,” Ast said. “[On] the weekends, [we would] go to wedding dances in Garden Plain, Colwich, Clonmel—that was a big issue back in those days. I stayed connected with that group through the church.”
Ast said there were many memorable moments from his time at CKM.
“I’d say the wrestling events were memorable [and] the school itself,” he said.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: @kapauncrusaders, @kmcathletics, @kmccrusade (student media)
Instagram: @kapaunmtcarmel, @kmccrusade (student media)
Facebook: Kapaun Mt. Carmel Alumni & Friends, Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School
Class of 2025
Congratulations to our newest Crusader alumni
Congratulations to the 214 seniors who were offered $8 million worth of academic and athletic scholarships. More than 160 scholarships were accepted to the following colleges:
• Catholic colleges: Ava Maria University, Benedictine College, Creighton University, Emmanuel College, Newman University, Rockhurst University, University of Notre Dame
• Kansas colleges: Barton Community College, Butler Community College, Cowley College, Dodge City Community College, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Friends University, Haskell Indian Nations University, Hesston College, Hutchinson Community College, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, Pratt Community College, University of Kansas, Wichita State University, WSU Tech
• Out-of-state colleges: Coe College, Colorado State University, Gulf Coast State College, Middle Tennessee State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Northwest Missouri State University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Oxford Brookes University, Southern Methodist University, Spring Hill College, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University of California Davis, University of Michigan, University of Mississippi, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Washington University in St. Louis
• Religious formation: St. Joseph House of Formation
• Military: Kansas Air National Guard, United States Air Force, United States Air Force Academy, U.S. Air Force Reserves, United States Navy
• Specialty Programs/Technical institutes: Crave Beauty Academy, Paul Mitchell The School Wichita, The Space Launch Dance Training Program, Sunrise Christian Academy
We are so proud of all of you and your accomplishments over the last four years! May God guide you in all your future endeavors.
Legacy Recognition:
With the Class of 2025, 53 seniors and 88 legacies were given legacy recognition during the graduation ceremonies and received medals, including Ian Barr, who is a three-generation legacy. As alumni, if your children go to KMC, that makes them legacy. To be a legacy of KMC is a great honor and tradition. Parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who are alumni were honored. With a history of more than 130 years, Kapaun Mt. Carmel and its predecessor schools are proud and blessed to have these alumni carry on our legacy. The seniors receiving legacy recognition are marked with an asterisk on page 15.
Class of 2025
Congratulations to our newest Crusader alumni
Valedictorian: Aidan Ingalls | Salutatorian: Chiara Ngugi
SPECIAL DISTINGUISHED AWARD WINNERS:
• Bishop David M. Maloney Award: Benjamin Weber
• Bishop’s Crest Award: James Pugh
• Alice V. Knorr Fine Arts Memorial Scholarship: Colton Sueper
• Renee LaFever Memorial Scholarship: Carlynn Pair
• Shea-Campbell Scholarship: Aidan Ingalls, Landon Jones, Ba Nguyen, Carlynn Pair, Timothy Rowell
• John and Kristen Clevenger Memorial Scholarship: Elizabeth Mboya
• Tim and Greg Osburn Memorial Scholarship: Hannah-Grace Williams
• Lauri Wenberg Memorial Arts Scholarship: Adele LaForge
• The Sister of Charity, BVM Endowed Scholarship: Leah Kuwahara
• Sister Loretta Thome, ASC Scholarship: Aidan Ingalls
• Ray of Hope Scholarship: Leslie Mwangi
• Sr. Eustasia Myers Award: Sophia Crile, Reese Polk, Saydie Sanders
• Bill Doyle Memorial Award: Jackson Daniel
• Daisye Palmer Memorial Award: Madalyn Spiers
• Heart of the Crusader Award: Benryan Altman, Ellynae Amaro, Samuel Ball, Carson Byrd, Aiden Descarreaux, Peyton Gosch, John Guyer, Amelia Hermann, Jessica Kempf, Lauren Kice, Kate Kochenderfer, Nathan Kruse, Adele LaForge, Keelin Luttrell, Majorite Mfaume, Ba Nguyen, Joseph Nguyen, Cabrini Orr, James Pugh, Gianna Redcorn, San Juan Rosales, Ella Rudy, Saydie Sanders, Henry Schmidt, Madalyn Spiers, Alexandria Stewart, Benjamin Strunk, Benjamin Weber, Spencer Zachgo
ATHLETIC SIGNINGS
Congratulations to the following who will be continuing their athletic careers in college:
• Jason Brokaw: Fort Hays State University, golf
• Kylie Cartwright: Cowley College, softball
• Madeline Cartwright: Newman University, golf
• Kaitlyn Cure: Fort Hays State University, volleyball
• Jackson Daniel: Creighton University, track and field
• Marissa Finley: Northwestern Oklahoma State University, track and field
• Peyton Gosch: Cowley College, baseball
• Jack Guthridge: Kansas State University, track and field
• Austin Howard: Benedictine College, football
• Emily Jacobs: Newman University, basketball
• Corbin Johnson: Sunrise Christian Academy, basketball
• Kyle Keya: U.S. Air Force Academy, football
• Kate Kochenderfer: University of Nebraska Omaha, swim
• Bentley Lacy: Friends University, tennis
• Lena Ramsey: Northwestern Oklahoma State University, softball
• Timothy Rowell: Benedictine College, cross country/track and field
• Alejandro Ruiz: Newman University, soccer
• Claire Runyan: Dodge City Community College, golf
• Cindy Smith: Hesston College, powerlifting
• Madalyn Spiers: Fort Hays State University, soccer
• Lillian Stafford: Fort Hays State University, track and field
• Alexandria Stewart: Spring Hill College, volleyball/track and field
• Spencer Zachgo: Southern Methodist University, soccer
MILITARY COMMITMENTS
The following students will be entering into the armed forces after graduation.
• Arthur Dugger: U.S. Navy
• Ethan Hay: U.S. Air Force
• Ronan Jacoby: Kansas Air National Guard
• Kyle Keya: U.S. Air Force Academy
• Lauren Kice: Kansas Air National Guard
• David Smith: Kansas Air National Guard
• Katie Stuber: U.S. Air Force Reserves
Above: Salutatorian Chiara Ngugi and Valedictorian Aidan Ingalls
Benryan Charles Altman - University of Nebraska Lincoln
Ellynae Cambria Amaro - Pittsburg State University
Micah Lai Amphone - Wichita State University
Kayden Cole Amphonephong - Emporia State University
Kieran Riley Amphonephong - Newman University
Samantha Christine Angeron Montemayor* - University of Kansas
Aalyra Xstasia Arguelles - Fort Hays State University
Ashlyn Sophia Baars - University of Arkansas
Cameron Elise Bachman - Butler Community College
Samuel Douglas Ball - Kansas State University
Ian Vincent Barr* - Wichita State University
Luz Maria Barrientos - Butler Community College
Charles Jennings Barrier* - Kansas State University
Emilene Grace Barron* - Crave Beauty Academy
Heidemarie Sophia Bartel* - Butler Community College
Zoe Louise Boatright - University of Alabama
Lily Elizabeth Boeding - Kansas State University
Matthew Aidan Boehne - Wichita State University
Cameron James Boleski* - University of Kansas
Camila Brashear - Fort Hays State University
Luong Jeanette Breitenbach - University of Kansas
Bridget Ellyn Brennan - Creighton University
Jason Matthew Brokaw - Fort Hays State University
Brooklyn Marie Brokschmidt* - University of Mississippi
Josephine Marie Brown* - Kansas State University
Konnor Magnus Bruening - Coe College
Dylan Trent Burr* - Pittsburg State University
Finley Rose Burrus* - Northwest Missouri State University
Kenzie Lynn Burrus* - University of Kansas
Carson Richard Byrd* - Kansas State University
Michael Andrew Carney* - St. Joseph House of Formation
Kylie Jo Cartwright* - Cowley College
Madeline Isabel Cartwright* - Newman University
Gabriela Rosalia Casados - Wichita State University
Nautica Saige Cash - University of Kansas
Joseph Anthony Centeno - Wichita State University
Joshua Stephen Chavez - Kansas State University
Kaden William Cornwell* - Kansas State University
Sophia Nelle Crile* - Colorado State University
Victoria Elizabeth Cruz - Newman University
Kaitlyn Elizabeth Cure - Fort Hays State University
Andy Dinh Dang - Wichita State University
Jackson Ray Daniel - Creighton University
Corey Anthony Daniels - Wichita State University
Patrick Loren Dempsey - Kansas State University
Aiden Blair Descarreaux - Kansas State University
Charlotte Marie Dieker - undecided
Angelica Dillon - undecided
Colton James Dixon - Washington University in St. Louis
Parker Daniel Duchnowski - Wichita State University
Arthur Raymend Dugger - United States Navy
Karina Escalera - Wichita State University
Marissa Renee Finley - Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Karlynn Brianne Flaherty - Fort Hays State University
Alejandro Flores-Lerma - Wichita State University
Kyle Anthony Galicia - undecided
Alexandria Rose Garrett - undecided
Jonathan Michael Goheen - workforce
Jacob Issac Gonzales - workforce
Natalie Guadalupe Gonzalez-Erazo - Wichita State University
Myla Annette Marie Goodbear - Haskell Indian Nations University
Peyton Christian Gosch - Cowley College
Dawson Ezekiel Grabendike* - Kansas State University
Alexander Noah Grajeda - Butler Community College
Griffin Samuel Grey - Kansas State University
Alexandra Quynhanh Grimm - Wichita State University
Jacob Matthew Guereque - Wichita State University
Jack Avery Guthridge - Kansas State University
John Andrew Guyer - Texas Christian University
Paul Michael Habashy - Wichita State University
Bridgette Gianna Hand - Benedictine College
Ellie Hiedi Harter* - Wichita State University
Isabella Adalaide Haude - Butler Community College
Ethan Michael Hay* - United States Air Force
Class of 2025
Congratulations to our newest Crusader alumni
Elizabeth Marie Hayes* - Butler Community College
Benjamin Michael Heppler - Barton Community College
Owen Jeffrey Herlocker - University of Arkansas
Amelia Murtha Hermann - Benedictine College
Adriel Gerardo Hernandez - Newman University
Charles Patrick Higgins - Rockhurst University
Charlee Grace Hoffmann - University of Arkansas
Juliana Rose Hoskinson - Middle Tennessee State University
Austin Scott Howard - Benedictine College
Aidan Christopher Ingalls - University of Notre Dame
Raphael Franz Xaver Ipfelkofer- undecided
Emily Jacobs - Newman University
Ronan Marshall Jacoby - Kansas Air National Guard, University of Kansas
Brynn Catherine Jessup - University of Oklahoma
Corbin Thomas Johnson - Sunrise Christian Academy
Landon Conner Jones* - Wichita State University
Thomas Joseph Kahiapookekaiolohia Kalima-PreciadoWichita State University
Clara Rose Kangas - Gulf Coast State College
Daniel Keith Kasych - University of Kansas
Jessica Grace Kempf - Kansas State University
Kamryn Saige Kennedy - Northwest Missouri State University
Kyle Nathan Keya - United States Air Force Academy
Lauren Elizabeth Kice* - Kansas Air National Guard, Wichita State University
Mara Catherine Klein* - Pittsburg State University
Ethan James Kleinschnitz* - Wichita State University
Thomas Matthew Klosterman - Butler Community College
Kate Lynn Kochenderfer University of Nebraska Omaha
Nathan Domenico Kruse - Wichita State University
Owen Cody Kunz* - University of Kansas
Leah Marie Kuwahara - University of Kansas
Bentley Trey Lacy - Friends University
Ethan Michael Lafon - Missouri University of Science and Technology
Adele Gianna LaForge - Fort Hays State University
Phoebe Lynne Laufer* - Butler Community College
Abigail Hoa Le - Butler Community College
Benjamin Hoang Le - Wichita State University
Brandon Dung Le - Wichita State University
Kelli Thuy Mai Le - Wichita State University
Gianna Pauline Lee - Wichita State University
Lily Paige Logan* - Wichita State University
Yocelyn Lopez - Newman University
Regina Leeann Luna-Tenbrink - Fort Hays State University
Keelin Marie Luttrell* - Wichita State University
Melania Marie Martinez - Wichita State University
Madison Paige Mayhill - Butler Community College
Elizabeth Marie Mboya - Butler Community College
Allison Amelia McCandless - Wichita State University
Olivia Christine Meier* - Paul Mitchell The School Wichita
Majorite Malenga Mfaume - Butler Community College
Romiz Anthony Monaco - Pratt Community College
Valeria Moreno - Wichita State University
Sophia Elise Morris - University of Kansas
Grace Elizabeth Murry - Wichita State University
Leslie Wambui Mwangi - Wichita State University
Dawson Lee Myers - Kansas State University
Chiara Njeri Ngugi - University of Michigan
Ba Minh Nhat Nguyen - Newman University
Eden Duc Nguyen - Wichita State University
Helen Anhthu Nguyen - Friends University
Jason Thanh-Vu Nguyen - University of Kansas
Joseph Thien-Phong Nguyen - Wichita State University
Mia Thanh Nguyen - Wichita State University
Will Thomas Niederee - undecided
Cabrini Samantha Orr* - Kansas State University
Chiderah Karen Otarighobe - Hutchinson Community College
Carlynn Rose Pair - Benedictine College
Blaise Raymond Parks - Kansas State University
Alex Anh Pham - Newman University
Kristine Le Pham - Newman University
Alex Christopher Phan - University of California Davis
Dayton Shane Phillips - Emporia State University
Nevaeh Samone Phillips - undecided
Reese Caroline Polk* - Ave Maria University
Ebiladei Aviva Pondei - Benedictine College
Sophia Leilani Prilliman - University of Kansas
James Matthew Pugh - workforce
Andrea Rebeca Ramirez-Lerma - Newman University
Lena Rae Ramsey - Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Owen Anh Le Raymond - Butler Community College
Gianna Marie Redcorn - Friends University
Alexis Ann Reiter* - Wichita State University
Isabella Dawn Richardson - Newman University
Shae Marie Ricke - Texas A&M University
Daniel Abel Rocha - WSU Tech
Jesus Rodriguez - Newman University
San Juan Rosales - Butler Community College
Timothy Darryl Rowell* - Benedictine College
Ella Elizabeth Rudy - Kansas State University
Alejandro Ruiz - Newman University
Claire Lillian Runyan - Dodge City Community College
Martin Salgado - Wichita State University
Christopher Aaron Sanchez - Wichita State University
Saydie Paige Sanders* - Kansas State University
Audrey Lynn Sanger - Butler Community College
Ethan Alan Sauer* - Kansas State University
Marin Elizabeth Schindler - Kansas State University
Henry Matthew Schmidt* - St. Joseph House of Formation
Noah William Schreck* - Kansas State University
Michael Alan Scott* - Kansas State University
Solomon Mark Scott* - WSU Tech
Emma Sophia Shibley* The Space Launch Dance Training Program
Itzel Simental-Rodriguez - Wichita State University
Brady Michael Smith* - Wichita State University
Cindy Juliana Smith - Hesston College
David Maxwell Smith Kansas Air National Guard, University of Kansas
Melanie Vanessa Smith - Emporia State University
Nora Kay Smith* - Kansas State University
Madalyn Ann Spiers* - Fort Hays State University
Lillian Mae Stafford* - Fort Hays State University
Gabriel Lee Steffen - Wichita State University
Alexandria Louise Stewart - Spring Hill College
Joseph Joachim Stewart - Newman University
Lucie Marie Stewart* - Butler Community College
Benjamin Thomas Strunk - Kansas State University
Katie Faith Stuber - U.S. Air Force Reserves, University of Kansas
William Eugene Stuhlsatz* - workforce
Colton Clinton Sueper - Wichita State University
Caroline Sophia-Marie Thompson* - Kansas State University
Kaitlyn Elizabeth Thompson* - Wichita State University
Louis Ely Thompson* - University of Kansas
Garrison Emmit Michael Tinker* - Wichita State University
Savanna Marie Torres - undecided
Giulio Francis Traglia - Friends University
Hang Madison Thanh N Tran - Wichita State University
Huyen Lauren Thanh N Tran - Wichita State University
Lia Dao Tran - Rockhurst University
Lyna Thanhmai Tran - Wichita State University
Michelle Dinh Tran - Oxford Brookes University
Aidan Michael Ultzsch - University of Kansas
Angeli Marie Ventresca - Emmanuel College
Nicholas Paul Vinduska - undecided
Benjamin Thomas Weber - St. Joseph House of Formation
Faith Elizabeth Webster - Butler Community College
Isabel Sofie Wentzel* - University of Kansas
Cabrini Paige White - workforce
Hannah-Grace Clara Williams* - Haskell Indian Nations University
Isabella Elise Williams - undecided
Tor Lee Williams - Wichita State University
Spencer Alan Zachgo - Southern Methodist University
Hazel Grace Zagula - University of Nebraska
Grandparents Day 2025
We celebrated Grandparents Day here at KMC April 9. This was our biggest turnout to date, with over 950 grandparents and their grandchildren in attendance.
Our grandparents were welcomed by student ambassadors and administrators before a special presentation about Kairos from Fr. Seth Arnold, a current peer minister, Benjamin Weber, and Jaylynn Sharau, a junior who recently attended a Kairos retreat. They shared what Kairos means to them, the community, and how it is changing KMC.
After Mass, students enjoyed a reception with their grandparents. KMC CPO provided breakfast burritos, donuts and fruit. It was a wonderful time!
Alumni Basketball Night
Alumni were invited back for the KMC basketball game vs. West at KMC on Dec. 19.
Advancement News
Business Directory
Show your Crusader pride by supporting one of the dozens of businesses included in the KMC Business Directory! Listings include CKM, MCA and KMC alumni and our current KMC families, and is available for our entire KMC community. The directory is available on the KMC website, under the Parents or Alumni tab. Entries are listed both alphabetically and by industry.
Want to add your business? We will update the directory again soon, so please submit your information today at tinyurl.com/yc4hta4y.
We hope this will be a valuable resource to promote and connect alumni and current parent businesses, local and worldwide.
For questions or changes, please contact Andrea Naldoza at analdoza@kapaun.org or 316-634-0315 ext. 112.
Wall of Honor
The KMC Wall of Honor features KMC alumni currently serving in the armed forces - active duty, guard or reserve. We are very proud of our men and women alumni protecting our freedoms and civil liberties, just like our namesake Fr. Emil Kapaun.
This wall is prominently featured in the walkway between the main academic hallway of the school and the commons, so students pass by it every day. We hope it will be a reminder to all of the sacrifice, pride and legacy of our military alumni.
We know there are alumni we are missing, so if you or someone you know should be on our wall, contact Andrea Naldoza at analdoza@kapaun.org. Please visit the Wall of Honor webpage on the Kapaun.org website, under the Alumni page.
Hi Everyone, my name is Andrea Naldoza, and I am so excited to be assuming the role of Advancement and Alumni Coordinator here at Kapaun Mt. Carmel!
My husband Ted ‘87 and I, have four children, three of which have been, or are at KMC now, and one at St. Thomas Aquinas, seventh grade. I have been within the Diocese of Wichita’s Catholic schools since 2017, and am looking forward to helping all of you, our past graduates, with your special reunions here at KMC. GO CRUSADERS!!
There’s Still Time to Give!
The Crusader Fund is Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s annual appeal, inviting families, grandparents, alumni, and friends of the community to contribute to the mission of our school. This fund plays a critical role in supporting our day-to-day operations and allows us to continue forming each student in the image of Jesus Christ.
Our goal is to raise $560,000 by the end of the 2024–25 fiscal year on June 30, 2025—and with your help, we can get there!
Your gift, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference. Every dollar donated to KMC directly supports the school’s operating budget.
Thank you for your continued prayers, generosity, and commitment to our Catholic mission.
You may go online to give at Kapaun.org, or mail a check to Kapaun Mt. Carmel, 8506 E. Central, Wichita, KS 67206.
For questions, contact Rachael Stewart, Director of Advancement: rstewart@kapaun.org, or 316-634-0315.
DONATE NOW! Scan the QR code with your smartphone to make a donation online.
