GIBBONS Cardinal Gibbons High School Magazine

GIBBONS CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL MAGAZINE

Celebrating Jason D. Curtis

2018-2019

Reaching Out, Enriching Lives The culture of service at the heart of Gibbons encourages students to share their gifts and talents with others - just as these seniors Tara Dorsett ’19 and Gabriela Shorten ’19 - are doing at a Habitat for Humanity build site.

2018-19 1

C E L E B R A T I N G

JASON D. CURTIS PAGE 20

2 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

4

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

5

MISSION MOMENTS

8

10

ADMINISTRATION

BEHIND THE SCENES

CRUSADER SNAPSHOTS

Most Reverend Luis Rafael Zarama Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh Michael J. Fedewa Ed.D. Superintendent of Catholic Formation & Education, Diocese of Raleigh Jason D. Curtis, Principal

16

14

CONVERSATIONS WITH ...

18

EDUCATOR SPOTLIGHTS

TAKE FIVE: ATHLETICS CULTURE CODE

26

TWO VIEWS

JP Gregory Director Susan Leigh ’87 Associate Director of Alumni Advancement Rachelle Garbarine Marketing & Publications Coordinator Jennifer Menon Advancement Database Coordinator

19

CO-CURRICULAR SPOTLIGHT

THE ADVANCEMENT OFFICE

Cover story and alumni spotlights written by Rachelle Garbarine

17

WHERE THINGS HAPPEN

Reporting/Writing/Editing/ Photography/Videography Azul Photography, Dogwood Media, Gibbons Media, Rachelle Garbarine, Terri Ingraham.

GIBBONS is published by The Advancement Office of Gibbons High School, 1401 Edwards Mill Road Raleigh, NC 27607

33

BACK IN THE DAY

34

GIBBONS IMPACT

27

GIBBONS ALUMNI

28 Alumni In Our Community

35

YOU ARE INVITED

30 Alumni Spotlights

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

32 Alumni Celebrations 2018-19 3

From the Principal

W

hile cleaning out a closet the other day, I found a shoebox filled with notes and letters that I have saved from my years at Gibbons. Some were from parents expressing their gratitude to our educators for the formation their children received, others from colleagues expressing their pride in our school or excitement about an opportunity. Some letters were from students and educators on retreats I’ve attended. I even found some notes and photographs sent by young people I’d taught and coached so many years ago who now have their own families and careers.

For the next several hours I was lost in beautiful memories and reminiscing about people I’ve been blessed to know and the moments I’ve shared with them. That shoebox will be making its way out to California because even though memories live in my heart and mind, there is something about being able to see, hold and read those notes and photographs that make it all come rushing back in a stunningly vivid way.

Even among all the digital ways to stay connected these days, there is something important about holding a memory in your hands. This is why we’re excited to bring you this inaugural issue of GIBBONS: a new

4 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

magazine to inform and inspire, to provide our school community a chance to share our mission, and to engage you in an exciting vision for the future of Gibbons.

Our new magazine endeavors to reflect both the future and history of Gibbons. It is a new format to better describe and communicate how we are living our mission and inspiring students, yet also a traditional medium that builds upon a legacy of outstanding Catholic education founded in eternal truth.

It’s our hope that you get lost in these pages, for at least a few moments. We pray that these stories and pictures bring back memories, remind you of treasured friendships and experiences, and inspire you through the creative energy and innovation of truly excellent Catholic education at Gibbons.

I know I’ll be keeping my copy tucked inside a really important shoebox.

With deep gratitude,

Jason D. Curtis Principal

FAITH

Mission Moments

N

ew stations of the cross and a permanent home for retreats are among the latest visible signs of how central faith is to the life of our school. Both enhance the opportunities, personal and shared, for members of our community to discover insights about themselves, recognize their gifts as servant leaders, and grow closer to God and to one another.

Our Spiritual Life program offers students the chance to attend and lead a retreat, which now will take place at the Gibbons Short Journey Retreat Center in Smithville. The school recently reopened the center, which it purchased last year from the diocese of Raleigh.

“The center,” explains Retreat Director Tim Yelenic, “enables us to take new and existing elements of our retreat program and blend them together in our own space.”

Students also may attend all-school Masses, visit the school chapel, or take a reflective walk through the Prayer Garden, where the new stations of the cross stand vigil. The stations, on permanent loan from St. Francis of Assisi parish, were dedicated in March.

“My prayer is that our new stations help us in our faith journey…,” said Theology Educator Mark DeLaRosa, a prime

40+

SPIRITUAL RETREATS OFFERED

mover behind the stations project.

14

NEWLY REFURBISHED STATIONS OF THE CROSS, funded in part by The Cardinal Gibbons Fund.

2018-19 5

Mission Moments

SERVICE R

emarkable and transformative are words often used to describe Gibbons’ outreach program. Here’s why. The school offers opportunities to support service to every member of its community - from students and educators to parents and alumni.

That service is extended to myriad local groups and organizations. This year, Gibbons also reached out to families impacted by Hurricane Florence.

Every school week students are taking steps in their Gibbons journey of service and outreach.

They are participating in such activities, as serving the disadvantaged at the soup kitchen, working with children at a low-income day care center, visiting with senior citizens, and volunteering at Habitat for Humanity.

200 NEARLY

DAYS OF OUTREACH DEVOTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY.

6 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

Gibbons parents also are working together to serve and give back. They are doing so through opportunities that in the last four years, have grown from centering on a single annual event to service projects that take place each month.

In addition, service projects have become a focus of other parent groups like PrayerCRU and DadCRU. Alumni also are “returning home” to do the same. On April 6, for instance, they gathered with family and friends, at a Habitat for Humanity build site in Raleigh, constructing a permanent home for a Habitat family.

“We are blessed to be part of a school community rooted in the Gospel message of love that enables us to find ways to use our God-given gifts and talents in service to others,” Director of Outreach Ministry Gary Meyerl ’82 said of the program.

Mission Moments Inspiring trust and creating a partnership in a shared vision ...

T

hat was the goal of Gibbons’ firstever Parent and Educator Leadership Conference. The conference, held in February, is the latest in a series of initiatives developed over the last decade that serve to enhance the school’s culture and mission, as well as all aspects of our diocesan community.

“The school has been moving parents toward engagement and the kind of formational opportunities these conferences provide,” said Science Educator and Director of Leadership Formation Gabi Burn, adding that “PELC was an opportunity to explore what a parent-educator relationship could be like.”

In that time, leadership conferences have been designed for our students and educators as well as those in area Catholic middle schools. There also have been conferences for members of our sports, academic, and co-curricular teams. This year, a conference for Gibbons student-athletes and coaches at which they discussed the Athletics Culture Code, was added. The same is true for the conference for parents and educators, which was the next step in that evolution.

All the conferences offer participants opportunities to learn, grow, collaborate, and form relationships, as well as to develop skills to help them further their roles as leaders and to identify and support those skills in others. They also are an innovative way to promote a vibrant campus life at Gibbons as well as at schools throughout the diocese.

To learn more about Mission Moments view the Engage With Us video series by visiting cghsnc.org/videoseries.

LEADERSHIP $200+

DEDICATED PER STUDENT TO ENGAGE IN LEADERSHIP-RELATED OPPORTUNITIES.

8

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEADERSHIP CONFERENCES FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND PARENTS.

2018-19 7

Crusader Snapshots Gibbons offers students myriad opportunities to engage in our vibrant community and live out our mission of forming men and women of faith, service, and leadership. To read more stories about life at Gibbons, please visit cghsnc.org/gibbonsnews

CAREER WEEK

Gibbons Career Week, March 11-15, provided opportunities for students to gain insights about college majors and careers. Those opportunities included a networking trip to Charlotte, a college fair, and a fine arts professional day. The week culminated with Career Expo and Internship Alley, which drew 30 Gibbons Alumni.

EDUCATORS SERVE

Educator Day of Service, an Only at Gibbons tradition, is a day educators spend in service to others. This year’s day of service, the fourth annual, offered educators the opportunity to serve seven different communities.

FAMILY FOOTBALL NIGHT

It is a night of faith, family, and football. It is Family Football Night 2018, which took place before the varsity football game.

Over 1,000 attended the September 7th event, sponsored by the Gibbons Family Association.

RETREAT IMPACTS HURRICANE RELIEF

In the months since Hurricane Florence pounded North Carolina, there have been ongoing efforts to assist those devastated by the storm. Gibbons, working with community partners, has been and will remain part of that communal gesture of hope by giving back to those in need.

8 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

Long after graduating from Gibbons, memories of their retreat experience endure. Alumni remember connecting with friends, discovering insights about themselves, and becoming closer with each other and with God. They also recall how the experience impacted their futures.

CREATIVE TALENTS

Behind the Spring Dance Concert is the story of dedication, commitment, and hard work to bring the more than 250 student-dancers on stage to create a 90-minute show highlighting dance forms from contemporary to jazz and tap.

CHORAL MUSIC

Seven choral students gave up a fall Saturday to lead a clinic for and share their gifts with middle school students from the Raleigh diocese. By attending the clinic these students not only enhanced their skills but gained a preview of the extensive array of arts opportunities Gibbons offers. For Gibbons students, the clinic was a chance to showcase their school, as well as to give back and grow as leaders.

FRESHMAN PARENT FOCUS

During Freshman Parent Focus, which took place on August 11, Class of 2022 parents were engaged by a loving community committed to sharing the school’s mission, and explaining that they should experience their own journey, separate from their student.

SERVICE & GIBBONS

Gibbons observed Veterans Day with a special studentled celebration that brought together alumni, educators, and parents who served or are now serving in the armed forces. Among them were three alumni and one Gibbons educator who shared their military service stories with over 70 attendees.

2018-19 9

Behind The Scenes

PEOPLE WERE AMAZED WHEN THEY ATTENDED GIBBONS DRAMA’S PRODUCTION OF HAIRSPRAY – A PROGRAM FIRST More amazing still was the dazzling amount of time, dedication, commitment, and hard work that went into staging the March musical, which features 40 student actors and an equal number of student technicians and musicians. This peek behind the scenes showcases how our students joyfully share their gifts and talents with one another and with the audiences. It also vividly brings to life the longstanding description of Gibbons Drama as an ensemble-driven community of creative leaders.

10 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

Forty student actors comprised the cast of Hairspray, making it one of the largest in the drama program’s history.

Additionally, some 40 more students – from musicians to technicians, as well as six educators were involved in the musical.

Mary Callan Kelso ’19, Zian Lane ’19, and Kate McCarthy ’19 putting on their makeup and wigs for their roles in Hairspray.

2018-19 11

Student lighting technicians managed 95 different lights to set the mood in scenes throughout the musical, like this big dance number, featuring a dozen student actors.

Student musicians refine their technique, under the expert supervision of Drama Educator Julie Bradley, to provide Hairspray’s musical backdrop.

Sound engineer Julia Kleiber ’19 creates magic at the sound control board by handling 20 separate microphones and ensuring they were muted after each of Hairspray’s 20+ musical numbers.

Donny Gaynor ’20 undergoes his transformation into the fascinating Edna Turnblad.

12 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

Student actors practice some fancy footwork in one of the more than 18 dance scenes highlighted in the musical.

Drama Educator Emily Sartori ’11 helping Caity Ferguson’19 prepare for her role as Penny Pingleton.

Drama Artistic Director Kevin Ferguson conversing with student directors in between scenes of Hairspray, his latest production. In his 13 years of teaching at Gibbons, he has directed over 30+ plays and musicals.

2018-19 13

5 TAKE

Athletics Culture Code

Every program has a culture. Even if you do not know what your culture is, one exists. Culture is the talk you walk. The code reflects values all teams and coaches believe are important and provides the foundation for individual teams to make it their own. It also identifies the atmosphere they want to create and the expectations they have about what they do and how they do it.

Dean Monroe DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC LEADERSHIP AND LEGACY

“It has been exciting to see our different team leaders and coaches embrace our culture code and use it to set standards and guidelines that help define what is truly important to their team. They also have spent time exploring different ways to engage in meaningful service initiatives, enhance their spiritual life, and discover new opportunities to love and support each other within and outside the Gibbons community.�

14 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

Take Five Jess Lowe ’99 SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATOR AND VARSITY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

“As a coach, knowing and understanding your team’s culture is important. Every team and every season have a different vibe because of the makeup of the team. The Athletics Culture Code brings all Gibbons athletes and coaches together. We now have a common understanding of what we all value, and that common knowledge unites all athletes.”

Todd Schuler ATHLETICS DIRECTOR

“Culture is not what you think, or what you want to do, it is what you do. Our adoption of an Athletics Culture Code has been a collaborative process between coach educators and students meant to define what values and beliefs we’re going to reinforce and drive towards in all of our athletic programming. It provides a blueprint for our teams to make sport a formational experience in context of our school mission. It’s a statement about the actions our teams, students, coaches, and parents need to embrace to sustain long-term success inside and outside the arena of competition.”

Catherine Field ’19 VARSITY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AND LACROSSE

“The Athletics Culture Code is important to student-athletes because it helps teams involve all aspects of the Gibbons community into their season and culture.

It also unites every program to each other and the school as a whole when we are striving towards something other than the outcomes of our games.”

Gabi Burn ’08 SCIENCE EDUCATOR AND DIRECTOR OF LEADERSHIP FORMATION

“The culture code for athletics provides a framework for all of our athletic programs to help them define their own cultures in the context of our school’s mission. It is a tool to help guide the leadership decisions of our student-athletes to help grow and move the individual teams in the same direction as the rest of our school programs, while allowing them to make it specific to their own teams, so that we are all aligned by the values and mission of Gibbons.”

2018-19 15

Conversations with ...

L I B R A R Y M E D I A C E N T E R E D U C AT O R S Patricia Alexander Director Of The STARs (Student Technical Assistance Resource) Program

STARs is a dedicated volunteer studentcentered help desk that focuses on keeping technology at Gibbons front and center. Now in its seventh year, STARs help maintain the 1,800+ Lenovo laptops students and educators use each day.

Students are also able to enroll in STARs as a for-credit class and become certified to repair the devices at Gibbons, which is a Lenovo certified repair center. Each school day you can see STARs assist their peers by problem solving their computer issues and troubleshooting their hardware problems or software malfunctions.

STARs is an excellent program that places students at the forefront of technology and provides them with real-world experience, interpersonal skills, and hands-on applications.

Terri Ingraham Librarian

We touch students’ lives every day in the library. Whether we are helping them academically, giving them a physical space to enjoy the community with their peers, or providing a welcoming place to seek knowledge, ask questions, and creatively think. Our library encourages students to spend time here and share their talents and thoughts with others.

16 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

The support we provide to teachers and students with instruction on MLA and APA papers, and teaching research skills prepares our students for the college writing experience.

The library resource page (our libguide) is filled with examples of class project collaborations with educators and information/links to further their research experience.

Our connection with students starts the moment they enter the library. The best part of the day is when a student has benefited from our help.

Tripp Reade

Head Librarian

Library, the word, evolves to include whatever is needed by learners to make sense of the world and their place in it. Books, yes, and quiet zones, hopefully, but also collaborative hum and chatter, and flexible spaces in which to read, study, work, and play, singly and in groups.

LEGO makerspaces, narrative-based puzzle rooms, and partnerships with classroom educators to deliver engaging projects. Device lending to support real-world outcomes, board game lending to support strong families and friendships, and yes, better thinking and teamwork. Action research by library staff to gather data and measure learning and thus improve lessons and services.

The library always wants to provide tools that lead to deeper understanding, deeper learning, and more empathy. “Library” is an ongoing conversation about how we discover the best of who we are.

where THINGS happen STARs kiosk for laptop and Chromebook borrowing. Two acoustic panels for sound dampening

Books, Bytes, and Beyond – All that and more takes place in the Gibbons Library Media Center, an open, dynamic, and tech-friendly learning space with an emphasis on exchanging ideas and providing resources that teach 21st-century skills.

Four more acoustic panels and another large-screen display

The new books display spinner rack. Beside it is a STARs power station for charging phones

Students using cafe-style seating at power bar: charging their laptops while they work

Comfortable seating.

The door seen beyond leads to a reservable space for educator and student work

STARS desk seen from the library

Long shot of the library’s mobile help desk, complete with a LEGO Hogwarts, product of the LEGO makerspace

The library’s mobile help desk, with a bistro table to the right

The print center: printing, photocopying, scanning, as well as other office supplies such as staplers, paper clips, scissors, and tape

2018-19 17

Educator Spotlights SISTER JANET SCHEMMEL, SND Science Educator and former Academic Dean Sr. Janet Schemmel, has been in Catholic education for 50 years, 27 of them at Gibbons. Students, past and present, credit Sister Janet for passing on to them her dedication to and love of chemistry.

18 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

ANETTE JAY Former Registrar Annette Jay retired last December after 40 years of service. That is a distinction she alone can claim as is the unofficial title of school historian. She also is the first person many met at Gibbons and one they will long remember.

Read more educator spotlights at cghsnc.org/educatorspotlights

AGNES PENNY Former Director of Outreach Agnes Penny, who retired last May after 24 years of service to Gibbons, received the Lifetime Achievement in Catholic Education Award from the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh.

Agnes leaves a loving legacy of service and good cheer to others.

C0-Curricular Spotlight

FYI

It was a bold undertaking: Build a replica of NASA’s Mars Rover and give it such a personal Gibbons touch as naming it Roverto!

Members of the Robotics, Space Explorers, and Physics clubs accepted that challenge and created the rover while having fun, involving the entire school community, and establishing a legacy.

These three clubs are among the over 50 co-curriculars students may choose from at Gibbons, where the co-curriculars are a vital part of the Gibbons experience and mission.

2018-19 19

C E L E B R A T I N G

JASON D. CURTIS IN WORDS AND DEEDS, JASON D. CURTIS HAS HELPED GUIDE GIBBONS ON A PATH OF MISSION-DRIVEN INNOVATION AND SUCCESS.

20 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

by Rachelle Garbarine

Jason D. Curtis has been called a passionate advocate of Catholic education, a dedicated servant leader, and an in-his-heart Gibbons alumnus. He not only is the youngest principal in the 110-year history of Gibbons, but the one who in the last half century, has held the title the longest. Add to those superlatives the fact that during his 13 years as principal and 19 years as a Gibbons educator he expanded on the school’s storied past to provide it with a future bright with promise.

At the end of this school year, Jason will step down as principal to become president of St. Francis, a Catholic co-ed high school in Mountain View CA, not far from both Silicon Valley and where Jason and his wife, Kelly, went to college. With his departure, he leaves behind a legacy that will be felt for years.

As Gibbons’ principal he helped the school reach its potential. In doing so, his tenure has been marked by change in various forms - from the physical and theoretical to the cultural. Examples abound. Here are a few: the expansion of the school, the launch of an internship and entrepreneur program, the debut of the one- to- one laptop strategy, the purchase of the Short Journey Retreat Center, the introduction of a parent engagement initiative, and the establishment of not one but eight different types of leadership conferences.

Jason is the first to tell you, however, that he was not alone in any of those efforts. He will tell you that educators, students, and parents were at his side every step of the way, as were the diocese of Raleigh, the school’s Board of Trustees, and his own family. He will also tell you that those efforts are “the outcome of a vision and love for this place and of putting people in positions to accomplish that vision.”

If one sentiment could serve as Jason’s mantra it would be that he has a passionate commitment to that vision and to what was possible – even when it wasn’t easy.

“I was part of helping the school be the best version of itself and that, in turn, was the product of a loving relationship with my colleagues,” Jason says. “I may be the one who said we had to do something, but I was always confident that we could do it...and surprised and excited when we pushed it beyond what was anticipated.”

While that best version capitalizes on 13 years of advances, the masterwork that is the Gibbons spirit has remained solidly intact. That has endeared Jason to the

Gibbons community, as has his self-effacing manner, deep faith, and Jason-style acts of kindness.

There’s Jason in the school’s kitchen every St. Patrick’s Day cooking corned beef and cabbage for educators; his star turn as Santa, replete with the red suit and beard at a faculty luncheon; his role in the infamous “School is Closed” video; his memorable stint in the classroom as a theology and social studies educator (oh, the stories alums tell); and the Curtis family Christmas cards and gifts.

And who could forget Jason the surf club moderator and the guy who shows up at nearly every activity or sporting event. Also memorable are the times you walk out of his office after a chat and wonder what just happened! There was, as Jason tells it, something else at play, because months later those same people were “owning,” a program, event, or activity mentioned in that meeting.

There is also Jason’s tireless commitment to the school.

When he describes Gibbons as a 24/7 community, he would know since he often is right there to chronicle those times.

22 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

Now the chronicler is being chronicled. Given his nature, Jason is hating every minute of this lengthy interview for this article. In his office glimpses of the man come into view: there are photos of his family, students’ art pieces, Gibbons memorabilia, and a bookcase overflowing with tomes with such titles as “How Big is Your God,” and “Heart at Work.” There is also an old-fashioned globe, the kind that whirls around on the stand, a nod to his days as a history educator.

When asked about the globe Jason calls it a visible sign that things are going to change, that we are part of change, that God is the master of our fate. “It is important to take yourself seriously, but not too seriously,” he says, his mouth pulling upward at the edges into a smile.

What also is striking is that his office has none of the trappings that could come with his title. Everything in it from the black leather seats to the small round conference table is functional. It is a place of work and work he does.

That has been his MO from the beginning, perhaps a legacy from Br. Michel Bettigole, OSF, Jason’s predecessor and mentor. It was Br. Michel who saw the administrator in Jason before Jason saw it in himself. That was nearly two decades ago when Jason, a new father, educator, and coach moved with his young family from California to NC. By that time Jason, a graduate of Santa Clara University, had tried his hand at business and law, before settling on education, particularly Catholic education, as his passion and profession. Before the move to NC he was a social studies teacher at Archbishop Mitty High School. (Ironically, his old school is ten minutes from St. Francis, the school he will lead as president.) When he landed in NC he sought employment at Gibbons where initially no jobs

Notes to Jason were available. Fatefully, however, Br. Michel called with an offer just days before Jason was to sign a contract with a Wake County public school.

In 2003, Br. Michel chose Jason to become Assistant Principal of Administration and three years later to become Principal.

Inspired by the faith entrusted to him, Jason took the role and ran with it. Almost from the beginning he was accompanied on that journey by assistant principals Mike Rogosich’90, Mike Curatolo, and Nancy Barkan. (The latter has been named Interim Principal for the 2019-2020 school year.) The four have been a team ever since.

As principal Jason constantly found ways to honor colleagues and students and celebrate their success. GIBBONS asked folks who worked closely with Jason during his time as principal to do the same for the man who guided our school to new heights during the last 13 years. Here are excerpts of what they had to say. To read the full quotations as well as additional ones, please visit cghsnc.org/notestojason.

“Thank you, Jason for inspiring and encouraging all you encountered … for building on legacy … and for always being mindful of nurturing the next generation of leaders.”

Sr. Mary Frances Taymans, SND, President of the SND National Education Office in Washington, DC and former Principal of Gibbons

The journey has had its share of ups and downs, as well as twists and turns. But it has been both inspirational and fulfilling, as well as enlightening and deeply personal. For not only has Jason gone from educator to administrator, he and his family have lived the life cycle of Gibbons parents and students.

From prospective parents to current parents to parents of alumni, Jason and Kelly have experienced the Gibbons journey as have their children: Jake ’16 and Emily ’18. Maggie, a Gibbons sophomore, and Erin, a seventh grader at St. Michael’s School in Cary, like their older siblings, grew up at Gibbons and will always be Crusaders at heart.

“Jason is the consummate professional, hardworking and dedicated to the betterment of every aspect of Catholic education.”

Mike Curatolo, Assistant Principal for Student Life

“Jason is a visionary leader – one who imagined what this school could become and led us all on our journey to making it happen.”

Nancy Barkan, Assistant Principal of Instruction/Newly named Interim Principal for 2019-2020 school year

“Jason Curtis has led Gibbons to tremendous achievement and recognition during his time as principal.”

David Nerz, former Chair of the Board of Trustees, and parent of Gibbons Alumni 2018-19 23

Notes to Jason

“I always stated that Gibbons was a treasure in the diocese and it will continue to be as all in the community work together to build upon the great work of Jason Curtis throughout these past years.”

Most Rev. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington VA and former Bishop of Raleigh.

“Jason Curtis is a force of nature! He taught me a ton about leadership - that it is profoundly about making others around you better - and encouraging hearts - towards the realization of a common vision.”

J.D. Childs, President of Bishop O’Dowd High School and former Director of Retreats at Gibbons.

“Jason brought the school to heights that none of us ever imagined bringing out the best in all of us and helping all of our God given talents to shine.”

Mike Rogosich ’90, Assistant Principal of Student Engagement

“As Mr. Curtis leaves the school, he should do so knowing that his work here has been deeply appreciated and that the school is well positioned for the future.”

Most Rev. Luis Rafael Zarama, Bishop of Raleigh and Dr, Michael Fedewa, Superintendent of Catholic Formation, Diocese of Raleigh

24 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

While the decision to accept the presidency at St. Francis is a quintessential professional move, it has not been an easy emotional one. From time to time throughout our interview the carefully chosen words and the halting voice laced with sadness, hint at how bittersweet a time this is for him. Looking back on his years as principal he hopes, “people will see that the school has extended beyond its walls into the community to become a model of what we want our students to do – selflessly share our gifts.”

And personally? “When I think of my time at Gibbons I have been luckier than I deserve to be,” he adds. Really? In characteristic Jason-fashion he answers, “The Sisters of Mercy (his former teachers) will attest to that!”

Ever the pragmatist, Jason points out why now is the time for him to step down as principal. “The school,” he says, “is in the best position it has been in 20 years and God is saying Gibbons needs different opportunities, too.” There is still more to do to advance the school to its highest potential, he notes.

What of Jason’s future? His new role is more defined, more structured, and that will take a little getting used to, he concedes, adding, however, that he also is looking forward to new challenges and opportunities. They include getting involved in “a significant building project the school plans,” and building relationships with area businesses, he notes.

When asked if his taking a job in CA reflects the old cliché that he is returning home, or going full circle, Jason’s answer is a quick and emphatic NO. “North Carolina will always be our home,” he states. “It is where I raised my family, where my job became my vocation, where Gibbons is located.” It is also, no doubt, where he will leave a big chunk of his heart.

The Past 13 Years ...

Poet Maya Angelou wrote: “You can’t know where you are going until you know where you have been.” So, let’s consider how far Gibbons has gone and how much it has accomplished since Jason became principal in 2006.

An over $15 million expansion program doubled the size of the school, increasing building square feet per student from

Annual giving and endowment grew by over

Student-Teacher Ratio decreased from

98 to 140 Minority student enrollment increased by

21%

Enrollment increased

40% to over 1500 students

300%

16:1 to 14:1

A first-of-its kind parent engagement program was introduced, offering myriad opportunities to parents to make their experience at Gibbons separate from their student’s.

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN ATHLETICS, ARTS, AND CO-CURRICULARS DRAMATICALLY GREW: Student-Athlete participation increased by

95%

Dance students increased from

39 to 256

Drama students increased from to over

51

300

The Short Journey Retreat Center was purchased to accommodate an extensive retreat program, which grew from offering 7 retreats in 2006 to more than 40 overnight, leadership and spiritual formation retreats.

Co-curriculars offered to students now total

over 50

Annual, need-based

FINANCIAL AID increased to over

$1.5 MILLION

All students are engaged annually in community service, facilitating nearly 200 DAYS OF SERVICE each year to the community.

An internship and entrepreneurship program, ICUBE, was introduced,

350 desktops to 1800 laptops

AP classes offered grew by more than

50% to 23 classes in 2019.

ROBOTICS/ENGINEERING

providing over 40 INTERNSHIPS to student last year alone.

A 1-1 LAPTOP PROGRAM was started, increasing the number of computers in the school from

The number of

classes offered to students

Student Technical Assistance Resource (STARs) was started to assist the school community.

8

different types of Leadership

Conferences were initiated

2018-19 25

Two Views On being selected for UNC-Chapel Hill’s prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship

ROBERT BODE ’66

Honored!

That is the word Robert (Bob) Bode ’66 recalled using to describe how he felt when learning he was selected as a Morehead Scholar, its name back then. At Gibbons, Bob served on Student Council all four years, was a member of the National Honor Society, yearbook editor, and captain of the varsity basketball team. Bob was accepted to West Point but decided to attend UNCChapel Hill, graduating with a degree in History. He then joined the Navy before going on to law school at UNC. He worked as an attorney for nearly 40 years and retired in 2013.

GERILYN MASELLI ’19

Grateful!

That is the word Gerilyn Maselli ’19 used to describe how she felt when learning she was selected as a Morehead-Cain Scholar. “It was a very special moment,” she recalled. “I felt validated that all of my hard work paid off.” Gerilyn is a leader of the Gibbons Band, as well as a member of the National Honor Society, varsity women’s golf team, and percussion ensemble. She plans to study political science, English, and chemistry at college with the hope of ultimately going to law school. Though honored by her selection, she will attend Brown University on a full ROTC scholarship.

26 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

GIBBONS ALUMNI

june 7 FRIDAY

Evening: Alumni Social and BBQ under the Gibbons Pavilion

june 8 SATURDAY

Late Morning: Food & Games Festival in the Gibbons Piazza Evening: Reunion Parties for Milestone Years (classes ending in 4 & 9)

june 9 SUNDAY

10 am Mass dedicated to alumni at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral TO LEARN MORE AND TO REGISTER, PLEASE VISIT CGHSNC.ORG/ALUMNIWEEKEND

2018-19 27

Alumni in Our Community

CAREER CONNECTIONS John Drescher ’78

DEPUTY EDITOR ON THE NATIONAL POLITICS INVESTIGATION TEAM WASHINGTON POST | WASHINGTON, DC

John was named Deputy Editor on the National Politics Investigation team at the Washington Post. John moves into this role after serving in various positions at The News & Observer, including 10 years as executive editor.

During John’s journalism career he also worked at The State in Columbia, SC, as well as at The Charlotte Observer. John is the author of the 2000 book, Triumph of Good Will: How Terry Sanford Beat a Champion of Segregation and Reshaped the South.

Frank Bria ’99

VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL SALES OPERATIONS IQVIA | RALEIGH, NC

Frank heads the global sales operation for IQVIA, the largest Contract Research Organization in the industry. In his role, he works with 75 employees world-wide offering pharmaceutical clients managed clinical trials as well as access to an extensive collection of prescription drug clinical trial data. After 14 years at his company, Frank finds he continues to value what he learned in high school.

“At Gibbons, I learned that personal interaction is important and how you get along with people can impact your success. That has helped me more in the business world than anything I learned in college.”

-FRANK BRIA ’99

Tyesha White Smith ’03

GLOBAL HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS | CHARLOTTE, NC

After graduating with a degree in Business Administration concentrated in Human Resources from UNC-Greensboro, Tyesha went on to work in Human Resources for Moses Cone Health System and Cummins Diesel Engines. Currently, she works for Corning Inc. in the Optical Communications division as a Global Human Resources Manager, covering over 800 employees.

Tyesha and her husband recently had a new addition to their family that you can see within the Alumni Celebrations section on page 32.

28 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

Melissa Tolentino ’09

RECRUITMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST H4 ENTERPRISES, LLC | WASHINGTON, DC

After three and a half years managing educational outreach and strategic communications at the Japan-America Society of Washington, DC, Melissa recently became a contractor with the Fulbright Program at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs. As a public affairs specialist, she contributes to the creation and execution of the program’s digital marketing and communications strategy alongside a team of others who are just as passionate about international education.

“Gibbons taught me to come out of my shell and be proactive. My experience as a freshman retreat leader led to a career in international education. Gibbons gave me a platform for my passions that allowed me to thrive in the real world.”

-MELISSA TOLENTINO ’09

Michael J. Crooke ’04

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/WHOLESALE BUSINESS BANKING MANAGER WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. | NEW YORK, NY

Michael has been with Wells Fargo since 2011, in the Raleigh-Durham office. In 2013, he relocated to New York City where he joined the Wells Fargo Business Banking Group in Manhattan. In this position, Michael is responsible for leading a commercial banking team and growth of accounts with gross annual revenues over $5,000,000. His territory includes offices in Manhattan, Long Island City, and Queens, NY.

Hannah Holub ’12

SENIOR ANALYST DECISION ANALYTICS – ADVANCED ANALYTICS THE HOME DEPOT | ATLANTA, GA

Hannah received her Master of Science at the Institute for Advanced Analytics at NC State University, launching her into a career in merchandising and sales analytics for The Home Depot. In this role she is responsible for analyzing historical trends and building machine learning models targeting performance initiatives throughout the company - including inventory management, pricing strategy, financial expectations, and macroeconomic indicators.

Jeff Hartlage ’82

CHIEF MARKETING ANALYST NETMETRICS | CHARLOTTE, NC

Jeff received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at UNC-Charlotte and went on to a career in computer programming and ultimately consulting. At NetMetrics he provides marketing insight to clients through Search Engine Optimization (SEO), e-commerce, and other business development utilizing computer search metrics.

2018-19 29

Alumni Spotlight

MARGARET FAYE STUBBLEFIELD LITTLEWOOD ’66 Margaret Faye Stubblefield Littlewood ’66 didn’t plan to become a computer programming innovator. But she had a gift for mathematics and a passion to attend college – the first in her family. The combination inspired her, even though her father advised her that studying to become a secretary was more suitable.

Gibbons provided Faye’s path forward. “Because the school’s curriculum was college prep, it became a given to me that I would attend college,” notes Faye. She never looked back. Now retired, she lives in New Jersey with her husband, Barry.

Faye received a full scholarship to Mount St. Mary’s College in NY state, but rejected it. At that time, St. Mary’s was an all-women’s college with a heavy liberal arts focus. Faye, however, wanted to major in the sciences and attend a co-ed school.

She picked NC State. “It was co-ed but barely and it had a great engineering department,” says Faye, who was in one of the school’s early classes of women engineering graduates.

Faye majored in Applied Mathematics and minored in Computer Science, which in the late 1960s was a relatively new field with unmined career potential for savvy women like Faye. “I loved it all,” she notes.

“I NEVER FELT OUT OF PLACE. IT WAS AN EXHILARATING FIELD. I LOVED MANAGING THE COMPLEX PROJECTS BUT MOST OF ALL I LOVED THE TEAM BUILDING … ASSISTING MY TEAM MEMBERS TO ACHIEVE THINGS THEY DIDN’T THINK THEY COULD DO.”

30 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

Faye entered the work world as a computer programmer and over time advanced to systems analyst and ultimately to vice president of IT teams. During her nearly 30year career she worked for three companies, including Western Electric, developing computer systems for the financial and manufacturing industries.

It was a male dominated field then as now. Faye, however, never let that deter her. “I never felt out of place,” she says. “It was an exhilarating field. I loved managing the complex projects but most of all I loved the team building … assisting my team members to achieve things they didn’t think they could do.”

Her managerial passion, it seems, is a throwback to her time as yearbook editor when she was a Gibbons senior. “This role,” she explains, “required me to develop planning, organization and team building skills – all of which ultimately would be needed in my career.”

Alumni Spotlight

TYLER ZIMMERMAN ’12 First as a student, and now as an alumnus Tyler Zimmerman ’12 has supported Gibbons’ core tenets of faith, service, and leadership. That support has taken on added significance with his appointment this year to the school’s Board of Trustees, making him among the youngest to join the board.

Tyler graduated from Catholic University of America (CUA) with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biomedical engineering. “I was always interested in math and science,” he says. “Biomedical engineering was an exciting way to incorporate both fields, especially with the goal of impacting and improving lives.”

In college, Tyler interned for one summer at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD, studying neurological diseases; and for two summers at United Therapeutics (UT) in Research Triangle Park, first in the company’s Pharmaceutical Development Department then in its Regenerative Medicine Labs. The UT internships led to a full-time position with the company as Research Associate II - Tissue Engineering.

Translation?

“Our lab is working on bio-engineering lungs for transplantation,” Tyler explains. “The goal is to manufacture and provide an unlimited supply of lungs for transplantation to overcome the large shortage of organs available for transplant.”

Helping others is familiar to Tyler. At CUA, he attended a mission trip to Jamaica and served as a student tutor.

At Gibbons, he participated in and led retreats, took part in the Pall Bearer Society, and served as National Honor Society vice president, working on the annual toy drive. Meanwhile, he played varsity men’s soccer (all four years) at both Gibbons and CUA.

“I’M GRATEFUL FOR THE LIFE LESSONS GIBBONS TAUGHT ME. I’M ALSO

Tyler remains engaged with Gibbons, setting the stage for a lifetime relationship with his alma mater.

He regularly returns to assist at alumni gatherings, including Alumni Career Expo and the Alumni Soccer Game. He also is involved with the Gibbons Leadership Conference, which he attended as a student. Now, there is also his role with the Board of Trustees.

HONORED TO BE A

“I’m grateful for the life lessons Gibbons taught me,” he says. “I’m also honored to be a board member and look forward to giving back even more to the school that has given so much to me.”

THAT HAS GIVEN SO

BOARD MEMBER AND LOOK FORWARD TO GIVING BACK EVEN MORE TO THE SCHOOL

MUCH TO ME.”

2018-19 31

ALUMNI CELEBRATIONS

3

1

4

2

5 1. Richard Skowron ’14 and Claire Thelen Skowron ’14 were married June 16, 2018.

2. Tiffany Ancharski ’14 graduated from the University of South Carolina in May 2018 with a major in Sports Management and a minor in Business Administration. In August, she relocated to Dallas where she works for the College Football Playoff.

3. Tyesha White Smith ’03 and her husband, Jeremy, welcomed Landon Smith on September 17, 2018.

32 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

6

7

4. Lauren Sullivan Steddum ’08 D.M.D - earned her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from East Carolina School of Dental Medicine in 2016 and now practices at CarolinasDentist in Fuquay-Varina.

7. David Foye ’13 graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in May 2017. David serves as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC.

5. Gene Davis ’86 recently was named to serve on the UNCChapel Hill Board of Trustees for a four-year term.

8. Javier Pico Prats ’10 passed the Georgia Bar Exam after graduating from Emory Law School in May 2018. Javier is Assistant Executive Counsel for Governor Brian P. Kemp, and resides in Atlanta, GA.

6. Alison Grimme O’Quinn ’03 graduated from Duke University with a Master of Nurse Practitioner. Alison works at Wake Med Hospital in Cary.

Read More online at cghsnc.org/alumni/celebrations

8

Day Back in the

If that old oak tree on the Western Blvd campus could talk, it would tell tales of Crusaders gathering under its leafy canopy to eat lunch and discuss their trials and tribulations. It is also where they stole their first kiss, waited with James Dean-like coolness for their ride home, and formed lifetime friendships.

That old oak was razed a few years ago to accommodate the new cathedral.

But another was planted on the Edwards Mill Rd campus as a nod to its predecessor. It will take decades for the sapling to mature and then oh, what stories it will tell‌

We invite you to send in your stories about the old gym on Western Blvd for the next issue of GIBBONS. Please send your submissions to alumni@cghsnc.org. Contributors will receive a small Gibbons gift.

2018-19 33

GIBBONS IMPACT

THE WUJEK FAMILY Our family began the Gibbons journey in the fall of 2013 when we attended open house. Through elementary and middle our children attended public school, and while we were happy, God was pulling us to consider a Catholic education for high school.

We had a positive experience that day as we toured the building and could feel an energy and a presence of faith, service, and leadership. At the conclusion of the open house, we knew we wanted Gibbons to be in our family’s future.

However, the cost of tuition for three children to attend was at the forefront of our minds. It was clear that we loved all that Gibbons had to offer, but could we afford the cost when two, and then three, of our children would be enrolled at the same time? Many months of prayer and challenging ourselves to make our decision based on faith, led us to accept the spot for Madeline in the spring of

2015. While we were excited at the opportunity we did not fully comprehend just how wonderful it would be.

We have all three children – Madeline ’19, Joseph ’20, and Thomas ’22 – at Gibbons this year. They have experienced endless encouragement and support from their peers, educators, coaches, and administration(ors).

The opportunities truly epitomize faith, service, and leadership. It’s been a joy to watch our children embrace all that Gibbons has to offer. It’s clear that these experiences shape the moral compass as well as prepare students for college.

We are blessed to know that our family will always share the “Gibbons Family” bond. We will continue to embrace all that the school has to offer and proudly support the community.

Brett, Nancy, Madeline ’19, Joseph ’20, and Thomas ’22

To see the Gibbons Impact in action, please view the Engage With Us video series by visiting cghsnc.org/videoseries.

34 GIBBONS MAGAZINE

Home you are invited...

Jun.

ALUMNI WEEKEND

Aug.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Aug.

FRESHMAN PARENT FOCUS

Aug.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

Sep.

FAMILY FOOTBALL NIGHT

Sep.

SPIRIT WEEK

07-09 15

17

29 13

23-27

Sep.

27

HOMECOMING

Sep.

CRUSADER CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT

30

Nov.

03

Nov.

14

OPEN HOUSE JUNIOR MASS

In Loving Memory Harry Stewart ’36 Bert Barrett ’55 Frances Winters Carter ’59 Edward Allen Lee ’61 Albert Hargrove ’63 James “JR” Steigerwald ’72

For full calendar listings, visit cghsnc.org/calendar

Dallas Foster, Jr ’75 Cole Guvetis ’13

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

1401 Edwards Mill Road Raleigh, NC 27607

MAKE AN IMPACT ON ADVANCING OUR MISSION

FAITH

O N E DAY

O N E M I S S IO N

SERVICE

06.19.19 #cgGiveGibbons19 To see the impact of your support in action please visit

LEADERSHIP

cghsnc.org/CGFUND