GIBBONS Magazine

GIBBONS CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL MAGAZINE

2020-2021

Our Resilient Community

Community Days – A New Gibbons Tradition Community days are days of fellowship, unity, and fun. They are also days of connecting with God and with one another. This new school tradition brings with it the joy of holding morning Mass outside on the stadium field under a Carolina blue sky, and of honoring the green and gold that make us distinctly Gibbons. And on these days, in these unprecedented COVID-19 times, our motto, Cum Deo Omnia Possum, With God, All Things are Possible, comes to life and fills us with the hope for a better tomorrow.

Fall/Winter 2020-2021 1

Patricia Grant Alexander CRISTA ANDERS John Aragona RODOLFO ARGUETA Jonathan Armfield ROBERT ASSADURIAN Angus Stewart Aull NANCY A. BARKAN Lisa M. Barrangou NADIA BATTISTONI Nancy Beale JEFF D. BELL Sharon Beuris J. MIKE BLAKE David Taylor Blanton SUSAN E. BOEHLING Christin J. Bothe AMY BRADSHAW Gabi Burn KENDRA M. BURNS Celia Camara MIGUEL CASAS Mark Cashin WILL CATTERSON Tess Chugh LESLEY COE Marc Colonna DEVIN J. CORNELIUS Caroline Costello DAVID CRABBE Whitney Crabbe JILL CREECH Mike J. Curatolo KELLY DAMARE Rebecca G. Dason MARK DELAROSA Gerard A. DeLorenzo PAIGE DEROUIN Genevieve Donahue ANNALAWRE DOUGHTON Nicholas Drew LUCAS DURNEY Susan McGee Ellis AMY ERNENWEIN Austin Faur KEVIN FERGUSON Stephen Ferguson JESSICA L. FISHER Mollie Evelyn Fisher RACHEL NADINE FOGARTY Sharon B. Frederick MICHAEL FRIEDMAN Patricia Gallagher GORDON GALLOWAY Rachelle Garbarine STEPHANIE C. GARCIA Lauren Gentile JEANETTE CAP HADSELL Amy S. Hambrick JENNIFER C. HAMMERSLEY Jennifer S. Harrison KARESTIN HARRISON Andrew Dawson Hawks FREDERICK G. HAWS Timothy Healy WENDY LEA HEALY William Joseph Healy JOHN HENDERSON Nicole Herche MARIA HILL Mason L. Hill TONYA HOLMES Robert House DOUG HUDSON Laura Ingerham TERRI INGRAHAM Gina M. Jiampetti VERONICA JOHNSON Daniel Jukic URSULA KARAZIN Chris Kemple PATTY R. KORMAN Kathleen Kozak KATHERINE KRATZKE Nicole Kuhns SARAH KUSZAJ Georgia Lackey BOB LANGEVIN Susan Leigh JIM LIEBLER Bill Liedy JESSICA GREINER LOWE Treve Lumsden VICTORIA LYLES-SAVAGE Nick Mangum J. RICK MARTIN Jana Mauney MARYCLARE MAZZOCCHI Marianne H. McCarty DIANE MCCLELLAN Edward McKinnie ANGIE MELCHER Jennifer Menon GARY MEYERL Denise Miller KATHARINE MILLER David Mills WENDELL DEAN MONROE Margaret M. Monti CHRISTOPHER MORLAND Brent Nolan LISA M. NORMAN Father Daniel Oschwald LAUREN BROWN OWEN Margaret Paez CHRISTOPHER POISELLA Daniel Porter SHERMANNE BETH PORTER Joshua Proctor RHODNEY READE Diane Ripollone CATHERINE TIGHE ROBBINS Michael Rogosich AMY LONG ROKITA Julissa Rosen JAMES RYAN Emily Anne Sartori TODD SCHULER Kathy Schwering CHRISTIE SELLERS Erica Seninsky THERESA SHEA Michael Sheehan ANGIE SHELL Paul Stewart Smith DAVID SPENCER Kathleen H. Stephens MARY E. STEVENS Deborah J. Taylor ZACHARY CARL TAYLOR Sarah E. Tennant ARTHUR THOMAS Dawn Michelle Thompson KIMBERLY TIMBERLAKE Phillip Tobin DEANNA TREMBOW Joan Troy ANDREW TUTTLE Nikki Wadia JULES WEBER Anthoni Wedderburn EMILY WEST Anna Hosea White DARSEY WILLIAMS Tiffany Gray Williams STEVEN WRIGHT Timothy Yelenic

H O N O R I N G

G I B B O N S

ESSENTIALHEROES

While the coronavirus pandemic upended many activities, teaching and learning continued unabated at Gibbons. The reason is simple – our educators. Thanks to their dedication, compassion, and resiliency they reimagined education, adapted to the challenges and discovered innovative ways to bring learning to life. Today, and always, we’d like to say, THANK YOU!

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

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MISSION MOMENTS

ADMINISTRATION

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Most Reverend Luis Rafael Zarama Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh

WHERE THE ARTS HAPPEN

Jeff Bell Head of School

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CRUSADER SNAPSHOTS

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TAKE FIVE

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EQUITY & JUSTICE TASK FORCE

CONVERSATIONS WITH

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THREE SPORT SHORTS

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TWO VIEWS

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DEEPENING OUR FAITH & OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY

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GIBBONS ALUMNI

26 Career Connections

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ALUMNI WEEKEND

Editor Rachelle Garbarine Director of Communications Alumni Editor Susan Leigh ’87 Director of Alumni Advancement

Cover story and alumni spotlights written by Rachelle Garbarine Editing Rachelle Garbarine, Anna White Hosea, Terri Ingraham, and Susan Leigh ’87 Photography Azul Photography, Gibbons Media, Nick Clemens GIBBONS is published twice a year in the fall/winter and the spring/summer

by Cardinal Gibbons High School for its parents, students, alumni, and friends.

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DONOR PROFILE

Gabi Burn ’08, Kevin Ferguson, Terri Ingraham, Gary Meyerl ’82, Dean Monroe, Tim Yelenic Editorial Board

Advancement Editor Anna White Hosea Director of Advancement

BACK IN THE DAY

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Lytia Reese Superintendent of Catholic Formation & Education, Diocese of Raleigh

28 Alumni Spotlights 30 Alumni Celebrations

CONTACT US: If information has been omitted or incorrectly noted, please accept our apology. To notify us of the correction, to submit information for future issues of GIBBONS, or to request back issues of the magazine, please contact Rachelle Garbarine at (919)834-1625 x 206 or rgarbarine@cghsnc.org

Pictured on the front cover, left to right, Science Educator Paige Derouin ’09, Gibbons Student Bennett Mason ’22, Gibbons Alumna Kayla Tien Thanh Pham ’20, Gibbons Student Carlos Leon-Teran ’23, and BTE Department Chair Jon Armfield.

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Mission Moments

From the Head of School : A Momentous Year

I

t has been a momentous year at Cardinal Gibbons--one that has pushed us to new levels of creativity and innovation and that has challenged us to rethink and reenvision how we educate our students and build community. It has been a year that we will not soon forget and also one that we’d prefer not to repeat.

However, from thermal scanners to masks to outdoor lunch to a new schedule, Gibbons has shown who it really is during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are a school firmly rooted in tradition and a strong Catholic faith that is looking toward the horizon in which we continue to thrive and reach our next level as a mission-based and vibrant learning community.

The partnership among our students, our educators, and our families has been the cornerstone of the success that we have enjoyed this year. Each person has taken on the responsibility of keeping one another safe and healthy. It’s not perfect, and the virus is

“Our family is grateful that Gibbons respects and supports what is best for our children, especially including ‘live and inperson’ interactions with other students and educators.”

JILL BEAVIN

Parent of Jakob ’21 and Jenna ’24 4 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

unrelenting, but the Gibbons family has persevered and met each challenge in impressive fashion.

As the new head of school, I am humbled and honored by the work that our educators have put in this semester. And I am in awe of their ability to adapt and adopt new ways of teaching to give their students the best possible experience during an extraordinarily challenging time in our school’s and our country’s history.

As the vaccine becomes more widely available, we look forward to bringing all of Gibbons back together on campus. In the meantime, however, it is important to celebrate the hard fought successes of the fall of 2020 and look ahead to a bright future.

Gratefully,

FAITH

W

hile the impact of COVID-19 has been felt throughout our school and surrounding community, it has not altered our commitment to growing the faith life of our Gibbons family. Rather, it has challenged us to bring creative methods to old traditions.

We continue to live out our faith everyday through virtual and live prayer on campus. The weekday Mass is celebrated several times each week in the newly renovated Queen of All Saints Chapel, often enhanced by the sounds of music played by student musicians in our Music Ministry Program.

During our recently launched Community Days we celebrated class Masses on the stadium field, which has

been just one of many unexpected gifts of this pandemic.

Junior Mass at the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral was another way Gibbons came together this year to celebrate the faith life of our school community.

The Gibbons Short Journey Retreat Center has also given students the opportunity to participate in 17 retreats in the first semester. These retreats are designed to foster and strengthen relationships with God as well as classmates in a safe yet interactive environment.

Despite the challenges, we believe our faith will continue to guide us and help us through these unprecedented times.

By Tim Yelenic, Director of Retreats

Jeff Bell, Head of School

“The Gibbons experience has always been centered on community. This year more than ever, keeping that sense of connection and community has become even more crucial for our students. The fact that Gibbons has remained open and has safely allowed for both flexible in-person and remote learning is a true testament to the spirit of Gibbons.”

JESSICA KAEDING

“Faith and ministry is an important part of my life not only at school, but also in every aspect of life.

My faith and trust in God help me make decisions and guides how I approach life, ultimately deciding what I do.”

“Faith is what helps define me as a person and gives me the motivation to continue following what I love. Through ministry at Gibbons, I am able to share my journey with God to others, actively live out faith, and help others along their journey.”

NATHAN REMMY ’22

COLIN MCELROY ’22

“At Gibbons, small actions such as bringing in a few coins during the penny challenge, to spending a day with children at Beginning and Beyond, means I am living out my faith and the call to service.”

ALEX JENNY ’22

Parent of Payton ’19 and Regan ’21 Fall/Winter 2020-2021 5

Mission Moments

Mission Moments

C

M

OVID-19 has not prevented our Gibbons community from serving others.

Instead, it has inspired us to be innovative and find meaningful ways to serve our outreach partners.

any thought hosting leadership experiences this year would be impossible. But Gibbons is blessed with the technology that enabled us to adapt our inperson programs to a hybrid environment while still providing authentic leadership experiences.

Just ask seniors Elizabeth and Cabell Anderson. The twin sisters have stepped up their commitment to serving Habitat for Humanity and Catholic Parish Outreach (CPO) through our Gibbons chapter of Franciscan Youth International.

Here’s how we accomplished that during the first semester.

Gibbons Leadership Conference, typically held in August, took place in September. This allowed us to adjust the program and “… show our students that leadership is adaptive,” said Brent Nolan ’05, Business Educator and co-leader of this year’s conference.

Cabell Anderson said, “being in an environment where everyone around you wants to help make this world a better place is what gets me so excited about serving others.” Liz Anderson added, “our faith is fueled by love and this love transforms us to want to help others even more.”

The Chick-fil-A Leader Academy moved to a hybrid model and still offered bi-monthly meetings. Students completed their Do-Good December Projects, collecting

This faith fueled by love was evident the first semester. Students and educators created baffles for a Habitat for Humanity home, assembled over 1,200 Soup Kits distributed to families served by CPO, collected over 1,100 books for Wake Up and Read, and continued to staff the Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen every Monday.

Of the Soup Kits project Cabell Anderson said, “We asked the whole school to participate and I was in awe that everyone did.”

This year, more than any other, the key ingredient of Gibbons’ outreach effort is gratitude, which inspires gladness and generosity.

By Gary Meyerl ’82, Director of Outreach

Additionally, student leaders served younger students in the diocese through our Gibbons Positioning System (GPS) program, which hosted over 300 8th-grade families via our outdoor GPS experience. Over 40 students planned a virtual and individualized Middle School Leadership Conference experience for 10 of our diocesan middle schools, to be rolled out next semester.

The lessons learned this year will shape a new future for our leadership programs, proving that with change comes opportunities to grow individually and as a school community.

By Gabi Burn ’08, Director of Leadership Formation

“The Gibbons Leadership Community/ Conference has helped me better understand personal leadership. The conference, small group discussions and meetings that have followed, have led me to discover my purpose and begin to live out the best version of myself.”

“CFA Leadership Academy has highlighted our ability as a community to benefit and amplify everyone. Change takes time, but now is the time for change.”

NATHAN REMMY ’22

TREVOR O’NEILL ’23

“I love how we were able to reinvent the GPS experience this year to make a safe and comfortable way of touring 8th graders around our campus. Students meet members of our community and learn that everyone has a place at our school.”

AVA ASTILLA ’23

SERVICE

“The biggest thing I think of when I’m asked about what we should as Christians do to repay God is to help others. Go make disciples.”

“It is no secret that I love Habitat for Humanity. It is my favorite service activity. Ever since I was about nine I wanted to build a house for someone. Even though we were not able to go on site this year, we still got to do our part.”

ZACHARY RICHARDSON ’24

TAVI ROBINSON ’21

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thank you notes and PPE for healthcare workers and patients, planning a school clean-up, and providing gift baskets for our custodial staff.

LEADERSHIP

Crusader Snapshots

By Terri Ingraham Associate Media Coordinator

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Gibbons continues to offer students as well as parents numerous opportunities to engage in our vibrant community and live out our mission of forming men and women of faith, service, and leadership in church and community. To read more stories about life at Gibbons, please visit cghsnc.org/gibbonsnews JUNIOR MASS

COMMUNITY DAYS

Reflection. Spending time with God. The Junior Mass, held on November 12 at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh, allows students to pray together. The Mass, a longstanding tradition, is the centerpiece of the Gibbons mission to support our students on their journey of spiritual growth.

During these hybrid learning times, Gibbons is building community spirit by bringing each grade together on campus at least one day during the semester. The morning starts with Mass on the stadium field and ends with pizza on the piazza.

Advisors lead the fun activities, which range from tie-dyeing shirts and green machine races to pumpkin decorating and a scavenger hunt.

MOTIVATION MONDAY iCube continues Motivation Monday, the initiative, which centers on inspiring talks that help brighten the spirits, dust off the weekend cobwebs, and, yes, motivate listeners. It’s a way to start the week off on the right foot.

Every Monday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. in the “cube,” the second-floor iCube classroom, guest speakers have a unique platform to share their gifts with students.

VIRTUAL PEP RALLY Our first-ever hybrid pep rally was held on Friday, September 18, from 2:05 to 2:55 p.m. It was live-streamed during advisory, enabling the Gibbons community to watch and participate in the activities, either on-campus or at home. Some elements of the rally were also live.

ROBOTICS Gibbons Robotics Team, the Purple Gears, recently placed second in the Robots to the Rescue student design challenge from PTC for FIRST Robotics. This online competition challenged students to design robots that solved a real-world problem. The Gibbons team created a robot that can be controlled with a phone app and travel to different locations in a facility to decontaminate medical equipment with UV lights.

PODCASTS

SPIRIT WEEK Spirit Week took place Monday, September 14 to Friday, September 18, and culminated with our first-ever hybrid pep rally. Throughout this funfilled week, students had the chance to engage in such activities as Teen Beach Tuesday and Movie Theater Thursday. On both Green and Gold days, students participated in green machine races on the piazza during lunch periods.

HALLOWEEN Gibbons celebrated Halloween on two separate days: On October 29 for students in the Green Group and October 30 for students in the Gold Group.

Students who are 100 percent remote were able to dress up either day. Students and educators dressed in their most creative costumes and competed to see who was voted overall best costume winner, among other prize categories.

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In its second season, the It’s More Than Academic podcast series focuses on program directors and how academics support the community.

Gibbons LEADS explores leadership education and development. Gibbons Gameday brings us into the athletics world. In the newest series, Crusader Voices, Head of School Jeff Bell invites students to choose topics they would like to discuss with him. These podcasts can be accessed on Spotify, Apple or by direct link on the Gibbons website.

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, and for the health and safety of our school community and our guests, we hosted a Virtual Open House on November 1, at 1 p.m.

The one-hour live stream presentation featured a welcome and overview from Head of School Jeff Bell. Then, Assistant Principal of Instruction Nancy Barkan discussed how Gibbons fosters an energetic yet challenging learning environment in a supportive community. Our students also shared their thoughts about what makes Gibbons unique.

A Q&A session followed the presentation.

PARENT MEET AND GREET Head of School Jeff Bell hosted a series of meet and greet gatherings with parents, beginning October 26. These gatherings not only enabled him to connect face to face (or mask to mask) with parents but also for parents to connect with one another while following all health and safety guidelines.There were two sessions, 8-9 a.m. and 5-6 p.m., available on each of the scheduled days. The days were organized by grade and Green and Gold groups. Remote families were welcome to join. Each session was limited to 40 parents and lasted approximately 45 minutes.

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NICK DREW

CHRISTIE SELLERS

TREVE LUMSDEN

“Nick positioned himself as a leader in his department in using new technology to include students both on campus and virtually in creating exercise goals, charting exercise, and measuring their progress.”

“Christie’s positive attitude and willingness to implement new programs and teaching strategies inspires me and other members of our department to want to do the same.”

“Treve is a model for all AP instructors, and, frankly, all instructors, and has taken a lead in modeling best practices in authentic assessment, engagement, and mastery learning.”

Jules Weber Director of Instructional Coaching and Curriculum

Nancy Beale World Languages Department Chair

Amy Ernenwein Director of Professional Development

Physical Education

H O N O R I N G

World Languages

Social Studies

O U R

ESSENTIALHEROES GIBBONS GRATEFUL Our classroom and office educators inspire us every day of every year, but they have all gone above and beyond during these most challenging of times. We love how they are providing so many creative and authentic learning opportunities in-person and online.

We appreciate their dedication to and compassion for our students and families.

And we are so grateful to them for rising to the occasion and demonstrating flexibility, innovation, kindness, and perseverance so that together we could mount an inspiring response to COVID-19.

JEFF BELL Head of School

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NANCY BARKAN Assistant Principal of Instruction

All our educators are distinctly doing their part to keep our community resilient. They provide leadership and strength to us all by their example. Combined our educators have dedicated over 1,000 years of service to Gibbons. While we are unable to present the outstanding work this year of all our educators, we are incredibly proud and humbled to highlight nine on the following pages.

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B I L L H E A LY Business, Technology, Engineering

“Bill has done an amazing job with programming using CodeHS. He is always willing to learn something new and pitches in and helps out on just about everything.”

Jon Armfield BTE Department Chair

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DEBORAH TAY L O R English

“Debbie is our ‘go-to’ person when it comes to implementing a new tech tool in our instruction. She not only knows it, but is always available to help and troubleshoot.”

Laura Ingerham English Department Chair

AUSTIN FAU R Theology

“Austin has been instrumental in providing meaningful Mass opportunities both with our Community Day Masses and our virtual prayer and adoration services.”

Mike Rogosich ’90 Assistant Principal for Engagement

JOAN TROY Math

“For Joan, this new scenario was such an obvious mandate that we have to shift how teaching and learning looks like in math. She learned and implemented strategies and was proactive in supporting her department.”

Lesley Coe Director of Technology

S T E WA R T AULL

LAUREN GENTILE

“Gibbons wouldn’t be able to livestream the work of other arts educators or all our administrative presentations without Stewart’s expertise and partnership.”

“Lauren has collaborated with other educators to develop creative ways to ensure students have opportunities to participate in science labs safely.”

Kevin Ferguson Fine Arts Department Chair

Dan Porter Science Department Chair

Fine Arts

Science

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5 TAKE

THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY

During the first semester, the Gibbons technology team shifted to virtual and in-person service appointments, allowing its members to have contactless and focused interactions. They also maintained contactless delivery and pick up of loaner devices for virtual and quarantined students and expanded their off-site service center partnerships for device repair. Recently, they began offering the opportunity to have a device serviced at home by a Lenovo technician.

Expanding the ways they delivered tech support to all students and educators provided a solid foundation for the success of the teaching and learning experience. That experience included bringing virtual students into the classroom and in-person students into the homes of the virtual students via conference room camera integration with Zoom, the video conferencing platform that supported the vision of the hybrid classroom.

Take Five Lisa Norman ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

“During COVID-19, we partnered with two repair centers. The first accepted devices from our families that we were unable initially to service at school. The second was added this year to expedite repairs. I facilitate communication and tracking of repairs through these partnerships, which continues to ensure devices work.

Students also better understand how to care for their computers, helping to avoid repairs.”

Rodolfo Argueta DIRECTOR OF CLASSROOM AND EDUCATOR TECH SUPPORT

“Providing tech support to educators and students on campus as well as to students engaged in distance learning during the pandemic is challenging because of the need to follow proper safety protocols when interacting with people and handling laptops. To better track interactions, we have implemented an appointment process and are more thoroughly documenting drop-in interactions.”

Ryan Parker ’16 TECHNOLOGY INTERN

“Gibbons’ use of technology during the first semester helped teach students how to adapt to a college environment.

As a current college student, I am often required to use new technologies for my courses, and I feel confident Gibbons students are learning skills necessary for a wide array of technologies in college and the future.”

Trish Alexander STARS TECH TIPS

Lesley Coe DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY

“Overall, I like to look at the exponential growth and technological adaptability that has been generated at Gibbons since March as a pandemic positive. It has been a hard road with many hours of work with a result that was the best hybrid experience we could have offered, and it allowed us to keep our physical and virtual doors open to our community.”

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“Amid COVID-19 we entered a new phase of in-person and virtual tech support, using tools like Zoom to video conference with students, access their computers, and troubleshoot tech issues, as well as Google Hangout chat to send tech tips. Both allowed more interaction and involvement from students and the tech team so that caring for the devices truly became shared stewardship.”

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Conversations with THE ACADEMIC TEAM

T h e A B C s o f Te a c h i n g a n d L e a r n i n g D u r i n g a Pa n d e m i c

where THE ARTS happen

By Kevin Ferguson Fine Arts Department Chair

Nancy Barkan

Assistant Principal of Instruction

January is when our school starts planning for the upcoming school year.

Gibbons knew last May we had to be creative about planning to open our school within a global pandemic. The non-negotiables: #1 Safety of our educators and students; #2 Mission-driven academic experience. We worked together to make this happen - from logistical issues like transitions between classes, health attestations, and lunch to the more complex like creating equitable groupings of students on campus, remote learning protocols, and a new bell schedule. To open and remain open, we had to reimagine about 80 percent of what teaching and learning looks like. It could not have been done this well without the love we have for each other, for teaching and more importantly, for our students.

Amy Ernenwein

Director of Professional Development

Last spring, Gibbons Educators transformed their classroom experiences to a fully distance format. Through their tireless efforts, learning supports, and partnerships between Academics and Technology, our classroom educators made this transition.

We developed a learning series in the summer of 2020, which integrated classroom technology, teaching strategy, and content expertise that educators could apply to the classroom practice in an unfamiliar hybrid model. We also developed a dynamic and holistic digital toolkit to ensure educators had access to all resources during the learning series. This series equipped them with the digital tools and instructional approaches needed to ensure that Gibbons students received the best possible experience in the most challenging of times.

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Julie Gibson Weber

Director of Instructional Coaching & Curriculum

One key to our success in opening during a pandemic was having a great network of resources and staff available to observe, discuss, and reimagine what teaching and learning could look like in a remote scenario. Part of my role is to inspire educators to find new paths for assessing learning, working with technology, and engaging learners near and far. Gibbons assured educators that resource experts would model and develop individualized instructional needs to support the vision of that educator. This created stability in an unstable and unpredictable time.

Keeping the best and brightest educators at our school is core to providing the best academic education possible. Investing in great educators is what makes Gibbons great!

Our technical theatre program keeps fine arts events looking and sounding their best.

State of the art black box studio theater allows opportunities for creative, challenging and intimate plays and concerts.

The arts come alive at Gibbons and this inspiring quote exemplifies that spirit, “What I had to say to you, moreover, would not take long, to wit: Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.”

— Kurt Vonnegut in a 2006 letter to Xavier Catholic high school students.

Fully updated dance studios programmed with dance, fitness\ yoga and musical theater.

Art finds a way: strings orchestra concert on the piazza ... Socially distanced.

Mainstage Theater: where fine arts engages with the Gibbons community.

Introduction to clay is one example of our expansive array of visual arts classes.

Dedicated guitar and strings orchestra classroom for student musicians.

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Equity & Justice Task Force

Gibbons established the Equity & Justice Task Force, which launched several key initiatives this past semester to maintain a campus environment of respect. The task force is made up of 10 Gibbons Educators. Visit the Equity & Justice web page for more information.

According to task force member Caroline Costello, who also serves as a mental health counselor at Gibbons, the task force last semester:

Three Sport Shorts VARSITY VOLLEYBALL The Crusaders capped an unbeaten 17-0 season Saturday (January 23) with a 3-0 win over Providence High School in the 4 A state championship match. It was the 11th state volleyball championship in school history but the first for the school since 2015.

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WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING Last semester Claire Curzan ’22 shattered the 15-16 US National Age Group Record in the 100-meter fly and recently was named to the US National Swim Team after claiming topfive finishes in four events at the Toyota US Open Swim Meet.

CELEBRATING STUDENT-ATHLETES Congratulations to our 21 studentathletes who signed letters of intent last semester to play their respective sport in college. To view the full list of student-athletes continuing their athletic careers in college, visit cghsnc.org/ schoolupdates and click on Athletics then Celebrating Student-Athletes.

By Dean Monroe Director of Athletic Legacy and Major Gifts

• Held two school-wide forums to discuss systemic racism.

• Organized an open small group discussion about culture, race, and sharing our own person.

• Offered three community day sessions with students and the Justice and Equity for Students (JEFS) group with a focus on culture and microaggressions.

• Set short- and long-term goals for the task force to engage with parents and the larger community.

• Partnered with local non-profits and Duke University to gather information on datadriven programming that focuses on peer education around issues of racial justice and systemic racism.

• Conducted narratives with educators.

• Scheduled a team meeting in January to talk about ways to engage parents and the larger community, as well as meet with the Board of Directors to share what we have learned so far.

“While we have made significant progress this year, our work is only just beginning,” explained Costello. “As we have engaged with colleagues, students, and parents from across Gibbons, we have sought to develop robust programming and communications that will ensure that all of us feel supported in our personal and spiritual growth. The Equity & Justice Task Force is excited by the possibilities of continuing to work to that end.”

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To be sure, the center’s story is an interesting one that dates to the early 1920s. That’s when the oneroom, wood-framed building opened its doors in a segregated South as a school for African American children. A generation of students learned life lessons and lessons for life in that school. It also was a “short journey” from the church they attended, giving the school its name.

The students left when the school closed with desegregation after the 1969-70 school year and stood vacant for over a decade. Then in 1983, the Diocese of Raleigh purchased the building, which it ran as a retreat center for more than 25 years, keeping its name in honor of the property’s past.

In 2018 Gibbons bought Short Journey, adding both to our school’s physical presence and spiritual strength. It reopened one and a half years ago as the Cardinal Gibbons Short Journey Retreat Center.

Enhancing Gibbons spiritual strength and deepening our fellowship is more important today since the coronavirus pandemic daily tests our resolve and our spirit. Our faith and ministry program, and by extension our retreats, at Short Journey have helped to keep us connected to God and to one another as a resilient, unified community.

FAITH &

community

By Rachelle Garbarine, Director of Communications

The 12-acre property on Cleveland Road in Smithfield has served many people in different ways throughout its long life: first as a school for African American children and then as a diocesan retreat center for teens and adults. Today, the Short Journey Retreat Center weaves each of those threads into a rich tapestry as an extension of Cardinal Gibbons to deepen our faith life and our sense of community, especially during these most uncertain of times.

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Even before the pandemic presented us with a new normal this school year and last, the retreat program was being reimagined to work at Short Journey, which pre-COVID hosted 43 retreats.

That initial transformation included revamping the grade-level retreats to differentiate them, through curriculum and layout, since all were taking place at Short Journey, rather than in separate locations as they did in the past. The program was transformed again when COVID-19 hit in March of 2020 and Gibbons created a home away from home that was safe, comfortable, and met all health and safety guidelines.

To that end retreats, like other school programs, found innovative ways to continue amid COVID, and by May will host 33 retreats. It will do so by, among other things, limiting the number of retreatants to 24 from 40 to allow for the needed physical distancing, reducing the length of the retreats to one day rather than several, and asking retreatants to bring their lunches instead of supplying meals via a food service.

The biggest challenge was how to enable students in a short time to engage in meaningful spiritual reflection and self-discovering, said Director of Retreats Tim Yelenic.

“Short Journey is a cornerstone of the spiritual life of the school. While there, our students and educators are able to pray, to reflect, and to commune with God and with one another. Its impact on Gibbons is just beginning.” JEFF BELL, HEAD OF SCHOOL “Each time I step foot onto the grounds of Short Journey, I feel at home. Whether I am a retreat leader or retreatant, I feel welcome to be myself, share my thoughts, and pray with my peers. I love how so many emotions can be felt in a short amount of time: wonder and peace while in discussions about faith, happiness while talking to friends, and enthusiasm in the gaga ball pit. I felt these while on Kairos, my favorite retreat. The Short Journey Retreat Center and staff facilitate the growth of faith and with each visit, I feel God’s presence while creating fun memories with other students.” MADELINE SEXTON ’21 “This experience was so much fun, and I got to meet so many amazing people. I loved the fact that this retreat was centered around team building and working together. Short Journey’s location and the fields around it make you feel like you can take some time away from the world. I will always remember this unique opportunity and even if we did not get to see it all, the COVID version was just as memorable. I hope other students get to have the experience that I did, and I hope that they will look back on the time they spent together and smile.” SYDNEY KALISH ’24 Fall/Winter 2020-2021 21

Even so, he stressed, we are still offering retreats, albeit with modifications and adjustments, and that would not have been possible at this time if we didn’t have Short Journey as a get-away for our students and educators. And providing that respite from the current isolation has been significant. Over 250 freshmen and seniors respectively have signed up for retreats, Yelenic noted, adding that those figures are the highest recorded in the last five years.

That the retreats are different than they were in the recent past is a good thing since Yelenic said the program must adapt to changing times to continue to be impactful – to transform lives. Still, the experience remains the same and centers on your relationship with yourself, your relationship with others, and your relationship with God. The retreat program also works in conjunction with school groups - from students to parents and educators - and with other school departments.

For instance, students in the Technical Theatre Department have designed and built furniture to use at Short Journey. The furniture ranges from

benches and nightstands to the latest – Adirondack chairs. (See sidebar for details about this partnership, which has been especially meaningful during the pandemic.)

On the program side, there are also partnerships with athletics, fine arts, student life, and outreach.

As part of sophomore retreats, for instance, participants spend time baking cookies that will be distributed to the hungry at Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen in Raleigh, one of our partner agencies.

In doing so the students are also fulfilling their sophomore outreach effort since COVID prevents them from serving in-person at the soup kitchen.

The building itself also looks different. A visitor cannot walk two feet in any direction before coming face-to-face with the Short Journey brand. The bright gold and green logo and the prominent cross are everywhere - constant reminders of both our connection to God, ourselves, and our resilience as a faith community.

Our Spiritual Home

By Rachelle Garbarine, Director of Communications

They are creative additions to Short Journey Retreat Center: 28 Adirondack chairs that not only dot the 12-acre property with flashes of color and whimsy but also provide a homey feel to Gibbons’ home away from home.

The chairs, in three different styles, are also the latest creations students in the technical theater classes at Gibbons designed and constructed specifically for the retreat center. Over the last 2.5 years, students built the Adirondack chairs, along with benches, corn-hole boards, small tables, and nightstands, together totaling nearly 70 pieces.

“The pieces help establish a feeling at Short Journey that you can stop, sit, and reflect,” Technical Theater Educator Karestin Harrison explained, adding that they also meet a key program goal of giving back to the school.

Building the pieces also provides students with the hands-on experience of constructing something from start to finish that Harrison’s classes are known for. That has become ever more important since COVID has altered live drama performances and the need to design and build sets.

Harrison said the students also appreciate the long-term aspect of the retreat center projects. They are building something that lasts, compared to the three-to-six-week lifespan of a theater set, she noted.

For their part, she added, students think, “it’s cool that the pieces they built are being enjoyed by their peers or that the pieces will be at Short Journey when they return as alumni.”

Members of the Gibbons Retreats Team from left: Tim Yelenic, Director of Retreats, Sarah Tennant and Crista Anders, Retreat Coordinators at Cardinal Gibbons Short Journey Retreat Center.

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Harrison conceded that not building theater sets during COVID has been tough. But the Short Journey projects are a silver lining because her students “are still building, still following plans, still using power tools,” she said, “noting that the projects also include a key added component: legacy.”

Fall/Winter 2020-2021 23

Two Views

On being a freshman in 2020

As told to Gary Meyerl ’82, Director of Outreach

GIBBONS ALUMNI Giving back and engaging from across the USA

VIRTUAL ALUMNI WEEKEND

DANIEL MAZZERINA ’20

“Offering a cardio-fitness class on Zoom during Virtual Alumni Weekend allowed me to provide a way for Gibbons Alumni to exercise during the challenging COVID-19 quarantine period and create an opportunity to connect with others.”

EVERYTHING THAT I EXPECTED to be great was just okay and everything that I expected to be just okay was great,” Daniel noted as he recalled his experience of first semester freshman year at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Grateful that he had an on-campus college experience, Daniel is certain that his first semester at Belmont “was far from representative of the typical college experience.”

Kate Freed ’17 | Clemson, SC | Fitness Program Manager, Clemson University | Group Exercise Director at Gold’s Gym

“John Steigerwald ’74 and I enjoyed hosting a Virtual Alumni Weekend Zoom for alumni and educators from the 1970s.

Coach Finley Cloninger and Andrea Bolibruch Long joined alumni from across that decade. We remembered the sense of community we felt during our Gibbons days and lasting friendships made. It was wonderful to see how much people have grown, while still being the same person we knew in high school.”

Lisa Saylor ’75 | Raleigh, NC | Class Captain

“At first I was too content with sitting in my room,” Daniel admitted. “But I soon realized that I needed a little bit of drive and ambition to get out and meet people on campus.” While it may not have happened overnight, Daniel’s experience of on-campus life “finally felt exciting and fulfilling and I don’t see that trend slowing down anytime soon.”

HOMECOMING @ HOME

“I enjoyed meeting the Gibbons Dance Team members and was so inspired by how proactive they are in using their dance education background and skills in seeking new opportunities that will serve them well in their future careers.”

In early October Daniel was elected dorm president.

“I wasn’t able to achieve as much as I would’ve liked due to my lack of familiarity with Belmont and our COVID-19 restrictions but I am excited to return to campus and overcome the limitations we face.”

Elizabeth Stone ’16 | Raleigh, NC | Intern, NC State University Athletics

“The Green Army Alumni-Student Zoom was a great way to celebrate Homecoming. I am inspired by how current students have evolved Green Army to reflect the founding vision 13 years ago, to be a platform for growing fan support at all athletic events. The thoughtfulness behind Green Army activities today is a great evolution and shows the impact Gibbons can make in the greater community.”

Louis Liberatore ’07 | Franklin, TN | Director of Goal Keeping, Tennessee Soccer Club

JACQUELINE MAZZERINA ’24

I THINK IT’S SAFE TO SAY that my freshman experience at Gibbons has truly been like no other,” Jackie began. “It was extremely weird at first to walk into biology class and have to sit by myself at a lab table. But I soon realized that high school doesn’t last forever, so I have to make the most of it.”

The younger sister of Daniel Mazzerina ’20, Jackie suspects that her expectations were “immensely different than those of freshmen from last year and every year before that.” But despite having to consistently wear a mask and keep a safe distance from others, Jackie confessed how impressed she is that Gibbons has “made it possible for us to be in-person on campus, safely continue athletics and retreats and even helped students safely interact with each other.”

A member of the JV Volleyball team, Jackie said freshman year has provided her “with opportunities to better herself,” and meet new people. Community, she concluded, is what makes “Gibbons, Gibbons.”

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ALUMNI SERVICE

“Returning to serve under the Gibbons umbrella is a special and unique opportunity. I was honored to continue the tradition of alumni serving at The Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen over Christmas break, even with a limited number of on-site volunteers due to COVID-19. I look forward to participating in future years.”

Meredith McElroy ’18 | Loudonville, NY | Siena College ’22

CLASS OF 2020 COMMUNITY DAY

“The best part of my day was playing Jeopardy with Mr. Durney and classmates. Remembering old literature terms, guessing novels based on quotes, and proudly recalling fun facts from his class made me feel like I was in AP Lit again, and I truly felt at home.”

Sophia Jenny ’20 | Los Angeles, CA | UCLA ’24

“There is nothing quite like the energy and spirit that Gibbons gives off from the moment you enter the building. It was as if I never left! My favorite activity was making and decorating cookies for The Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen. Now more than ever, serving others is at the forefront of our minds, as COVID-19 has challenged us to consider how our actions impact those around us.”

Gracie Athus ’20 | Raleigh, NC | NC State University ’24

Fall/Winter 2020-2021 25

CAREER CONNECTIONS Alumni in Our Community

By Susan Leigh ’87, Director of Alumni Advancement

Coleman ’98 and Chavar ’02 Tyrance

Bernadette O’Neill Naro ’06

In 2008, Coleman ’98 and Chavar ’02 Tyrance saw an opportunity to combine their love of coaching with their passion for community outreach - inspired by their time at Gibbons. The brothers’ first Football Food Drive Camp was an incredible success and continues annually, the second weekend in July, bringing in more than 2,000 pounds of canned goods for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern, N.C. Success with their camp led to Cary Coaching Precision, a summer and after-school program for kids 5-18. Cary Coaching Precision also provides academic tutoring and community outreach supporting leadership formation in addition to athletic skill development.

Inspired by two Gibbons families that encouraged their start-up efforts, the brothers have continued to support Gibbons through alumni football initiatives and mentoring younger alumni and student-athletes.

Bernadette O’Neill Naro ’06 pursued a Masters of Divinity, with a certificate in Religious Education from Emory University and combined that with her passion for social justice and youth ministry to chart a course in student spiritual growth and development. Currently, Bernadette is a Campus Minister at Marist School in Atlanta, GA, where she offers support and spiritual guidance to students. She also coordinates opportunities for her students to live out their faith through service and social justice efforts.

Bernadette offered a Guided Meditation reflection to Gibbons Alumni during Virtual Alumni Weekend June 12 – 15, 2020.

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH, CARY COACHING PRECISION | CARY, NC

Tim Waer ’08

PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE FELLOW, PHOENIX CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL | PHOENIX, AZ

With a medical degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2016 and experience working at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, Tim Waer ’08 is currently in his second year of a three-year Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship in Phoenix, AZ. “Gibbons instilled in me a passion for service and prepared me for the first steps in my medical career. This year, especially, serving as a frontline provider in a Pediatric ICU, has its good days and bad. I find myself relying on my strong faith to get through those bad days. It is an honor and a privilege to care for my patients and their families as they recover from COVID-19.”

CAMPUS MINISTER, MARIST SCHOOL | ATLANTA, GA

Nate Steele ’10

MANAGER, PRODUCTION & MEDIA ASSETS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA

During the 2020 Homecoming @ Home virtual event, Nate Steele ’10 (pictured with wife, Jane) shared with fellow alumni and Dean Monroe that his football career dreams came true when he landed a position with the San Francisco 49ers. Before joining the 49ers Studios, Nate graduated from the University of Notre Dame with BA’s in both Film, Television, and Theatre, and Anthropology. After graduation, he accepted a video production internship with Fighting Irish Media at Notre Dame Athletics, where he worked until his move to the Bay Area to join the production team at the 49ers. Nate feels blessed to have worked with great professionals and mentors throughout his career. His staff’s work has been nominated for numerous Regional Emmy recognitions and distinguished awards in sports video.

Digital Career Expo “It was exciting to participate in Gibbons’ first-ever Digital Career Expo during quarantine and a great way to engage with fellow alumni and students virtually. I am grateful for the relationships I formed at Gibbons with my teachers and always welcome an opportunity to give back.”

Abbe Lewis Baker ’02

FOOD, WINE, AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY WRITER & EDITOR | NEW YORK, NY

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“Network with as many people as possible. Reach out and connect with those in an industry you are considering; they want to help you.” These words of wisdom were shared with Gibbons students during an iCube Motivation Monday gathering on campus this fall.

Kathryn Baker ’15

MARKETING ASSOCIATE, CATALYST CLINICAL RESEARCH, LLC | RALEIGH, NC

“This fall, through his Business Management class at Gibbons, Christian Vito ’22 got a chance to see how my company is adapting and trying to provide excellent customer service in these challenging times. During his virtual shadow day, my goal was to give Christian exposure to sales and customer service and insight into different career options after he graduates. I thoroughly enjoyed getting the chance to work closely with a great Gibbons student.”

Spencer Greenway ’07

SALES REPRESENTATIVE, MID-ATLANTIC ROOFING SUPPLY | RALEIGH, NC

Fall/Winter 2020-2021 27

Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight

DR. CHRIS REID ’84

CATHERINA GOMES ’10

Trading a career as an electrical engineer to become a fellowship-trained nephrologist, Dr. Chris Reid ’84 works with patients among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

While the availability of two vaccines is a crucial step forward in the fight against COVID-19, companies around the world remain committed to developing additional treatments. One is Merck & Co. Catherina Gomes ’10 is an engineering specialist at the pharmaceutical giant and part of a team working on a preventive vaccine candidate.

Practicing in Florida and Alabama, Chris collaborates with 14 physicians and 20 nurse practitioners treating 1,500 dialysis patients. “I see my role as a physician as a calling to make this world a better place for others,” he said.

Armed with an electrical engineering degree from NC State University, Chris worked in the field for four years before transitioning in 1993 to medicine. He described the transition as easy because it is the application of science and engineering to the human body.

Asked why he switched Chris, a graduate of East Carolina University School of Medicine, said: “I searched for a career that would allow me to use my engineering skills and love for science in a job that kept me challenged.”

“Many people at Gibbons had an impact on my life, including the teachers, administrators, staff, and fellow students. I am grateful for the experience and want to thank my parents for sacrificing to allow me to attend Gibbons.“ Dr. Chris Reid ’84

By Rachelle Garbarine Director of Communications

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Of specializing in kidney care, he said he was a resident at the University of Virginia Medical Center, when he realized that nephrology and engineering shared many similarities and rely on math, physics, and chemistry. “These are areas I love learning about and enjoy,” he noted.

How has COVID-19 impacted his practice, which is based in Pensacola, FL? “Most of the patients I take care of on a day-to-day basis are at high risk for morbidity and mortality,” said Chris.

The pandemic, he added, has also sparked needed changes in the medical field, like making telemedicine a viable alternative for patients and doctors. “In nephrology,” he noted, “telemedicine visits provide an option to patients afraid to expose themselves to the public or who are in quarantine.”

Looking back, Chris said his Gibbons education had a tremendous influence on his love of science and math and challenged him to be a lifelong learner. He said his favorite Gibbons memory is playing soccer and enjoying time with friends and family; eating pizza on Tuesdays at Mission Valley is a close second.

His advice to current students? “Follow your dreams, never give up, and find your calling,” he said.

“It is incredibly rewarding being able to make a direct impact on the world that is so necessary at this time,” said Catherina who has a degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University and has worked in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries for over five years. At Merck, she leads training sessions, helps teach the biochemical and engineering side of the company’s process to teammates, and pushes new experiments forward, which is personally important to her since she lost family to COVID-19.

Catherina also uses her skills to advocate for another cause. She started her own company, 700 Rivers, to work with women who have escaped human trafficking in Bangladesh, her family’s native country.

The non-profit trains these women to make all-natural soaps and offers them a fresh start and living wages, she explained.

“All the values that Gibbons promoted and taught

During the global quarantine, she added, 700 Rivers artisans worked from home to sew fabric face masks that were donated to 400 children in a Bangladesh orphanage.

helped shape me into the

Catherina traces her desire to empower others and help those in need to her faith and her Gibbons education.

“That’s exactly what pushed me to create 700 Rivers and exactly why I moved my career to developing a COVID-19 vaccine,” she said.

creating my own company

She also credits Gibbons for helping to grow her passion for the sciences. I appreciated being able to see how the sciences could be applied outside of the classroom, which made me excited to continue to pursue chemistry and biology after my time at Gibbons, she noted.

Asked what advice she has for current students, Catherina said: “Success is different for everyone, but you get to decide what it means for you. Understand your values and hold true to them.”

person that I am today and helped me achieve my personal and career goal of centered around social good and helping others.”

Catherina Gomes ’10.

By Rachelle Garbarine Director of Communications

Fall/Winter 2020-2021 29

Day

ALUMNI CELEBRATIONS

Back in the

By Susan Leigh ’87, Director of Alumni Advancement

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1 1. Tyesha White Smith ’03, her husband, Jeremy, and big brother Landon welcomed Wyatt Wilson Smith on September 4, 2020. The family resides in Charlotte, NC. 2. Dawn Wuest Thrasher ’79 recently retired from the Department of Veteran Affairs after 22 years of service, including her work in the Research Department for the Million Veteran Program.

3. Andrew Eichen ’11 joined Legal Aid of North Carolina’s High Country Office in Boone, NC as a staff attorney advocating in domestic violence cases, eviction defenses, and benefits appeals on behalf of indigent clients.

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It is a rock bigger than a small person and situated near the student section entrance to the stadium field on the Edwards Mill Road campus. Before a game, student-athletes pass the rock, touch it with the palm of their hand and recite a prayer or a wish - for luck.

It is a tradition that players of all sports have performed for more than a decade. Over time, club members and parent groups have gathered around the rock to pray.

The rock’s appearance, however, changes, thanks to another tradition.

Students paint the cloud-gray rock vivid colors and decorate it. Most recently images of handprints of students, parents, and children adorn the rock, underscoring that it and these school traditions are memories for all members of the Gibbons community and perhaps even future Crusaders.

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5 4. Lindsay Knapp Cooper ’01 and Rose Jackson Harvell ’01, best friends since sophomore year, both welcomed babies this summer. Lindsay and her husband, Al, welcomed their first child, daughter Denver Louise Cooper on August 8, 2020. Rose and her husband, Steven, welcomed daughter Lillian Belle Harvell on July 30, 2020.

5. Kate Newns ’07 graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2019 with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in Chemical Biology and Medical Chemistry.

She is currently employed as a medical writer for Springer Healthcare in New York, NY.

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6. Jeff Anderson ’99 and his wife, Stacy, welcomed a son Hayes Argoe Anderson on September 3, 2020.

He joins his older brother Elliot in their Arlington Heights, IL home.

7. Kathryn Thomason ’11 and Patrick Sabatelli ’11 were married on October 2, 2020, in Glacier National Park, Montana. They reside in Raleigh, NC. 8. Monica Gibbs ’15 and Ryan Veno ’15 were married on October 10, 2020. The couple began dating their senior year at Gibbons after serving as small group leaders for the junior retreat, Quest.

Read more online at cghsnc.org/alumni/celebrations

We invite you to send in your favorite memory of the library for the next issue of GIBBONS. Please send your submissions to alumni@ cghsnc.org. Contributors will receive a small Gibbons gift.

Fall/Winter 2020-2021 31

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ALUMNI WEEKEND JUNE 11–14, 2021

DONOR PROFILE

THE BRIGGS FAMILY

As told to Anna White Hosea, Director of Advancement.

“From the start we knew Cardinal Gibbons was the right community for us and school environment for our son.

Everyone here is incredibly welcoming and open,” says Chris Briggs, father of Austin ’23.

“Austin’s teachers are committed to him as a learner and as a person. Our experience at Gibbons has been a breath of fresh air,” continues Kelly Briggs. “Which is why we wanted to make an investment in the school so more students can experience this special place.”

When the Briggs family joined Gibbons, they knew they could have an impact on the student body while also honoring important family members: Chris’ mother Margaret and his Uncle Fred. During their son’s freshman year, they established the Briggs Family Endowment Fund in Memory of Margaret P. Briggs and Fred T. Pearce, Jr. The endowment provides tuition assistance to a student of color beginning his or her sophomore year.

Chris explains his and Kelly’s desire to ‘pay it forward’: “We were inspired to give to Gibbons because mom and Uncle Fred benefitted from scholarships. They were raised by a single mother in Greensboro. Mom went to Duke on a full scholarship and Uncle Fred attended N.C.

32 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

State on the GI Bill. Mom wouldn’t have graduated Phi Beta Kappa and gone on to have a career in education without the generosity of the family who provided her scholarship. Uncle Fred went on to work at NASA and was one of the Apollo 11 engineers.

My father is also committed to education. Following a career as an English professor at Hamilton College, he is still involved in academia and maintains an active interest in how Austin is doing in school.”

The family is equally committed to ensuring a diverse student body.

“Mom was impacted by many of the civil rights protests she witnessed first-hand. She saw how persons of color were marginalized, and she vowed to make the equal treatment of everyone a priority and raised me with that same commitment,” reflected Chris.

The Briggs Family Endowment Fund in Memory of Margaret P. Briggs and Fred T. Pearce, Jr. is one of thirteen endowments at Cardinal Gibbons that supports tuition assistance. For more information about these endowments, please contact the Office of Advancement at 919-834-1625 ext. 163.

Alumni Weekend is Friday, June 11 through Monday, June 14. The committee is currently making plans for the most appropriate and fun gathering possible. Classes ending in ’0, ’1, ’5, and ’6 are celebrating milestone reunion years. If you would like to be part of your class reunion planning committee, please let us know: cghsnc.org/classcaptain.

Alumni Weekend events centered around the mission of faith, service, and leadership will include alumni engagement opportunities with classmates and favorite educators. Don’t miss our virtual experience for alumni unable to attend in person. Please save the date and watch your mailbox for more details!

FRIDAY

Kick off Alumni Weekend with a Friday night gathering centered on food, fellowship, and fun

SATURDAY

Join our family-friendly food truck rodeo with games for all ages on the front lawn. Saturday night is reserved for class gatherings

SUNDAY

Alumni join in prayer at the 10 A.M. Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral

MONDAY

Wrap up the weekend with a morning of service

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Raleigh, NC Permit #2212

1401 Edwards Mill Road Raleigh, NC 27607

CRUSADER CLASS

CHALLENGE

Tuesday, March 16 is the Gibbons Alumni Day of Giving: Crusader Class Challenge.

One day dedicated to honoring and remembering educators and coaches.

One day to say “thank you” for the impact they had on you.

One day to make a difference for current and future students.

One day for alumni to express gratitude for their Gibbons experience.

“I give to Gibbons because I treasure the connections I made with classmates, who are now friends for life.”

Susan Ball Winterscheidt ’62

“Giving to The Cardinal Gibbons Fund is important to me. I want to make sure current and future students experience not just the same Gibbons I did, but an even better one.”

Josh Teder ’11

“Gibbons represents a meaningful experience in my life for which I am grateful to my parents, the educators, and my friends, in contributing to my personal development.

I give as a token of appreciation to all those who impacted my experience at Gibbons.”

Chris Fleming ’98

TUESDAY, MARCH 16TH

GIBBONS ALUMNI DAY OF GIVING

PLEASE JOIN US: MARCH 16, 2021 | CGHSNC.ORG/ALUMNIGIVING With concern for the safety of our community and public-health guidelines for COVID-19, Gibbons is monitoring future engagement opportunities including Gibbons Alumni efforts. Updates will be included in the monthly Alumni Newsletter and Gibbons Alumni social media accounts. If you are not receiving the Alumni Newsletter please update your preferred email contact at: cghsnc.org/updatemyinfo. cghsnc.org/alumni

facebook.com/alumnigibbons

twitter.com/alumni_cghsnc