Jaynotes | Vol. 47 No. 2 | Spring/Summer 2021

THE MAGAZINE OF JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL OF NEW ORLEANS

VOL. 47, NO. 2 | SPRING / SUMMER 2021

Nexus Off They of Art, Go! Faith, | Paul & Science Frederick|† Goodbye, | Rugby Mal! State Three-Peat | Baseball &| Lacrosse Rivalry Beginnings State Titles

JAYNOTES | SPRING / SUMMER 2021 JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL President Fr. John Brown, S.J. Director of Institutional Advancement Thomas Bagwill II Director of Alumni Michael Prados ’83 Director of Communications Christian Bautista ’06 Executive Development / AGD, PAG, & POA Coordinator Krista Roeling Creative Coordinator Brittany Donnes Communications & Alumni Assistant Myles Kuss ’16 Volunteer & Events Coordinator Maura Owers Assistant to the President for Mission Jeremy Reuther ’01 Major Gifts Coordinator Jamie Roy STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Christian Bautista ’06 Brittany Donnes Myles Kuss ’16 STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Thomas Bagwill II Jeremy Reuther ’01

THIS PAGE: The 2021 Commencement Exercises were held in the UNO Lakefront Arena. The venue was selected to accommodate as many family and friends as possible with respect to COVID restrictions. (photo: Loupe Photography)

ON THE COVER: The Class of 2021 process out of the UNO Lakefront Arena after receiving their diplomas.

“ ite inflammate omnia ”

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

Go, Set the World on Fire Rev. John Brown, S.J., to the Jesuit High School graduates of the Class of 2021:

G

raduating seniors, it is my great honor to address you this evening. There are few visions that can rival what I see or what those in the audience see at this moment. It is truly breathtaking. Savor this moment: your backs straight, your dress in perfect order, your outward appearance matching your inward achievement. You all look like you could set the world on fire. Hold on to it.

You have distinguished yourselves not only as high school graduates, but as graduates of Jesuit High School of New Orleans, sharing the title of alumnus with many other honorable Blue Jays whose lives honor this great institution. Hearty congratulations are in order.

But hold something else as true during this moment as well.

Simultaneous with your apparent magnitude, which no one can doubt in a moment like this, is a truth that many great men become great in moments of abundant challenge.

Think of Saul who would become St. Paul on the road to Damascus— an impressive Pharisee attracting followers willing to kill for him. It was in being struck blind that he saw the light. Think of Iñigo Loyola who would become St. Ignatius recovering from battle wounds—a Spanish nobleman distinguished in all of the ways of the world, attracting followers willing to fight for him. It was in being struck in the knee by a cannonball that he learned to march for his true King, Jesus Christ.

Your own challenges thus far have been immense. The athletes among you have pushed their bodies to the limit. The creative among you have

poured their hearts into their craft.

You are no strangers to spiritual ups and downs. You have all sacrificed in the service of others. You have all faced the daunting challenges of learning the academic lessons necessary to earn your diplomas.

And yet, the challenges thus far have been, in a way, artificial. It was more than shadow boxing, but the gloves were on. There were rules and referees. There was help. Now you go off into a world where the sharpness you display today will be put to a real test.

You will be tempted to glory and immaturity. You have hearty appetites for diversion, distraction from all things tedious or serious. But I see no immaturity today. Keep the man you are today in your heart.

You will be tempted to overvalue your own grasp of facts. You will excel in disciplines that will seem to lose touch with reality, become selfreferential, offer all the answers to life’s big questions by looking through a microscope. I see no misanthropy today. Keep the man you are today in your heart.

You will be tempted to presume that nothing is sure. Openmindedness will seem like the only virtue. Judgements you should be making will seem… well… “judgey.”

Every value will be questioned until no values are left. But I see no flimsiness today. Keep the man you are today in your heart.

You will be tempted to store up the treasures of this world. Your vocations, your hard work will seem like it’s all about earning potential.

Simple living and generosity will seem like foolishness. But I see no stinginess today. Keep the man you are today in your heart.

You will be tempted to believe in purely secular solutions to the world’s problems. It may seem as if justice is a system to be constructed by human hands and earthly power is the end goal. But I see no conceit today. Keep the man you are today in your heart.

If you are honest about the state

of the world we live in, you will be tempted to despair and withdraw, to hide your gifts, to lose your sense of duty. But I see no paralysis today.

Keep the man you are today in your heart.

You are ready to set the world on fire.

Because these very real challenges in the world today are to be resisted, but not feared. They are to be contended with, not avoided. They are to be conquered, not succumbed to. That diploma you have earned stands for the preparation you have received and the grace we can expect you to receive moving forward. It was the achievements and the challenges that combined to make a St. Paul out of a Saul, a St. Ignatius out of an Iñigo.

Learn from the saints. Learn from anyone successful. Success follows when it is recognized that your best self is meant for the challenges that come your way. It will be your own personal temptations that will be your enemy, not so much the brokenness of the world. And those temptations will be successfully fended off when you know who you are, Who made you, and what you were made for, as you know right now.

St. Ignatius teaches us that when you are in a time of consolation, as I expect that you all are in now, save up that grace for the challenging times to come. Savor the grace. Lock it in your hearts. Let the fire there burn so that as men of faith and men for others you will not only be a graduate of Jesuit High School but a fire that lights other fires in the world. St. Ignatius often ended his letters to his missionaries with the Latin phrase ite, inflammate omnia. Go, set the world on fire. It is my sincerest hope and prayer that the men I see here now will do just that. 

Fr. John Brown, S.J. President JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

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FEATURES 8 Off They Go!

IMPROVISING in the face of

Class of 2021 Graduates 256

15 Retirements

Ernest Pierre - 34 Years Malcolm Villarrubia ’66 - 43 Years

CHALLENGE

18 From the Silver Screen to the Whiteboard

Michael Begg

23 Shooting for the Stars Edward "Rocky" Kolb ’69

24 Eyes to the Skies

Senior Kaden Oqueli-White

26 At the Crossroads of Faith and Science

28 Encountering Reality Through Art

Senior Andrew Bruce

49 Achieving Greatness

Baseball Claims State Title

52 Undefeated Season

Lacrosse Claims State Title

60 Report of the President Fiscal Year 2020-2021

IN EVERY ISSUE 1 President’s Address 40 Where Y’at 42 In Memoriam 46 Bib List 48 Annus Mirabilis Spring/Summer 2021 Vol. 47, No. 2 Jaynotes is published twice a year by the Jesuit High School Office of Institutional Advancement.

HOW TO REACH US Jesuit High School 4133 Banks Street New Orleans, LA 70119 Email: jesuitnews@jesuitnola.org

Where Y’at articles and photographs may be submitted online at jesuitnola.org/where-yat.

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magine yourself seated at a piano.

You begin to play a piece familiar to you and anyone listening.

Everyone knows what to expect from the first few notes; it’s simple, straightforward. You set up the structure, and then, right when the melody is starting to drag on or slow down, you begin to deviate, making up a new melody as you go and finding interesting ways to imbue the piece with life while still fitting the original structure.

At that point, you notice listeners tapping a foot, bobbing a head.

They’re tuned in.

For one of the greatest pleasures of playing music comes from those moments when you feel that every note you play is being heard, not by a bored and disinterested audience, but instead by a group which you create and which, in turn, creates you; that instead of hearing dead notes played by rote, you are both enticing them with an anticipated structure and surprising them with each spontaneous deviation; that you are being driven by the energy of an attentive audience, and simultaneously drawing the power to shape that

VALEDIC TORY ADDRESS energy, and that you and your music and the audience that listens to it are all brought together and become one. This is the excitement of improvisation: a perfect mix of structure and spontaneity.

Throughout these past five years, we have each been conditioned to strive to meet the standard of excellence set for us each day. From our first time marching into school through Traditions Courtyard and walking through the Hall of Honors, we felt the magnitude of the history established by the great men who preceded us. The names inscribed on bricks, the eyes that peered down from championship pictures, and the sheen of the many trophies all served to impress upon us the legacy that we were challenged to carry on.

Our teachers intoned for us the grand ballad of excellence at Jesuit High School, and we were tasked with writing our own verse, one that fit with the expectations of excellence, the rhythm and structure set by classes before us. We wore the Blue J proudly on the field, we rifled through From Word to Sentence hunting for the right grammar rule, we pooled

our resources to feed New Orleans families for Thanksgiving, we began each year with prayer at the Mass of the Holy Spirit, and we did it all in an orderly fashion.

In the fourth quarter of our junior year and into senior year, the melody slowed and almost stopped.

Restrictions made it difficult to strive for excellence to the extent expected.

It felt as if our senior year would be defined by what we were unable to do, a year of unfulfilled potential.

However, we kept at it, and we found ways to redefine our senior year by what we were able to accomplish despite the circumstances. We took it as a break point and started to improvise.

From heated spikeball and pingpong matches to focused games of chess, from Zoom quiz bowl tournaments to socially distanced robotics meetings, from excelling at those sports that we could play to filling up as much of the Gizzard as was allowed, the Class of 2021 found ways to thrive. Even when we went to Mass divided by theology class, we kept up the faith however we could.

We helped resurrect the Blue Jay

newspaper and won state titles in both baseball and lacrosse, finishing our verse on a high note.

The final crescendo of Senior Week leading into the resolution of Senior Day will be a time I will always remember. We as the Class of 2021 were tuned in; the combined energy and comradery of the class as one became palpable to me through those Senior Day performances, festivities, and melodies.

My fellow classmates, as you go out into the world, remember to improvise in the face of challenge.

Find your perfect balance of structure and spontaneity. Continuing as men of faith and men for others will be the structure that shapes our experience, and the deviations from what is comfortable and easy will help us grow and thrive. When you hit sour notes, maintain your tempo. Keep at it. As we part ways tonight, the song of our time together will keep us in tune as brothers striving for excellence, for the greater glory of God.  GARRISON L. TRAHANT ’21 class of 2021 valedictorian

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS Garrison Trahant gives the valedictory speech at the 2021 Commencement in the UNO Lakefront Arena.

CLASS OF 2021 JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

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COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES

SPECIAL COMMENDATIONS Presented to the CLASS OF 2021 Each year Jesuit High School recognizes seniors and underclassmen who have achieved significant academic and athletic honors.

Among the awards presented to members of the Class of 2021 were the following.

ACADEMIC & CO-CURRICULAR AWARDS THE BLUE JAY PARENTS’ CLUB AWARD for excellence in

scholarship is awarded to the senior who is graduating with the highest grade point average for four years at Jesuit High School.

This year, the award was merited by Garrison L. Trahant.

The Blue Jay Parents' Club Award winner of the Class of 2021: Garrison L. Trahant

THE SENIOR PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARD | Present for all classes during their entire career | Jackson W. Page THE EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AWARD | NHS member who has completed the most community service | Jackson T. Wallace THE ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA AWARD FOR THE MEMBER OF THE YEAR | Senior who most fully embodies the four pillars that distinguish the NHS: Character, Leadership, Service, and Scholarship | Brandon T. Pham THE AMERICAN LEGION BRONZE MEDAL FOR SCHOLASTIC EXCELLENCE | Senior MCJROTC cadet who earned the highest GPA | Samuel R. Adams, Jr. THE AMERICAN LEGION BRONZE MEDAL FOR MILITARY EXCELLENCE | Senior MCJROTC cadet who distinguished himself through his military bearing, discipline, character, and citizenship | Dominic E. Moore THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION JUNIOR ROTC BRONZE MEDAL | MCJROTC cadet who distinguishes himself through his dependability, good character, and discipline | Maxwell B. Younger THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS MEDAL | Senior MCJROTC cadet who exhibits outstanding leadership both in the MCJROTC Program and other activities | Joaquin A. Enamorado THE PHILELECTIC SOCIETY AWARD | Outstanding achievement in dramatics | Carter P. Morris THE QUIZ BOWL AWARD | Outstanding achievement in Quiz Bowl | Blake N. Johnson THE PROFESSOR MICHAEL CUPERO MEMORIAL AWARD (donated by Michael Cupero’s grandson, Col. Hamil M. Cupero ’56) | Overall musical excellence | Dominic J. Senentz THE CULTURE OF LIFE AWARD | Exemplary leadership as a member of the JHS Pro-Life Club | Garrett J. Derbes THE FRANK T. HOWARD MEMORIAL AWARD | Excellence in physics | Garrison L. Trahant THE LOYOLA UNIVERSITY AWARD FOR MATHEMATICS | Highest overall average in mathematics | Garrison L. Trahant THE SUSAN & GARIC SCHOEN AWARD | Excellence in computer studies | Garrison L. Trahant THE REVEREND WILLIAM J. RYAN MEMORIAL AWARD (donated by the late Dr. J. Joseph Ryan in memory of his brother, Rev. William J. Ryan) | Excellence in social studies | Jackson W. Page & Jackson J. Cheramie THE FRANK T. HOWARD MEMORIAL AWARD | Excellence in English | Garrison L. Trahant THE JESUIT 500 CLUB AWARD | Excellence in Latin | Michael J. Melancon THE WILLIAM HELIS MEMORIAL AWARD | Excellence in Greek | Garrison L. Trahant THE L’UNION FRANÇAIS AWARD | Excellence in French | Benjamin L. Romaine THE PAQUETTE FAMILY AWARD | Overall excellence in French | Jacques C. Karcher THE UBALDO TRELLES MEMORIAL AWARD | Excellence in Spanish | Gabriel A. Cruz THE EXCELLENCE IN THEOLOGY AWARD | William M. Cedro & Michael J. Shore 4 | JAYNOTES |SPRING / SUMMER 2021

AWARDS PRESENTED AT 2021 COMMENCEMENT

Garrett J. Derbes received the Julia

Ferguson McEnerny Memorial Trophy, an award established to honor one graduating senior who possesses those qualities which symbolize “the most representative student of Jesuit High School.”

Ethan P. Morgan received the Very

Maxwell L. Hanemann received

Reverend Father Pedro Arrupe Award, which recognizes the senior who has exemplified the spirit of being a man for others by his participation and excellence in service.

the Reverend Father President’s Spiritual Leadership Award, which is presented to the senior who has exerted the greatest spiritual influence on others by living a life exemplifying his Catholic faith.

ATHLETIC AWARDS THE WILLIAM D. & MAYBELLE POSTELL AWARD (donated by their son, John Blake Postell ’59) | Basketball player with exemplary leadership, scholarship, and spirit | Patrick J. Lavie THE RODRIGUEZ FAMILY AWARD | Most valuable varsity swimmer | Phillip B. Endom THE CHRISTOPHER MORGAN MEMORIAL AWARD | Cross-country letterman who exhibited exemplary courage, leadership, sportsmanship, and spirit | Jackson T. Wallace THE CHESTER M. RIETH AWARD | Track letterman with exemplary leadership, sportsmanship, and spirit | Christopher C. Ferdinand THE MICHAEL D. CONWAY AWARD | Most valuable player on the varsity soccer team | Maxwell L. Hanemann THE EDWIN F. STACY, JR. WRESTLING AWARD | Outstanding wrestler who excelled in academics and exhibited exemplary leadership | Anthony J. Rosevally, Jr. & Garrett J. Derbes THE COACH EDWIN W. TORIBIO MEMORIAL AWARD | Senior football letterman who best combined scholarship and athletics | Giovanni J. Licciardi THE MORRIS B. REDMANN, JR. MEMORIAL AWARD | Outstanding football letterman with best combined scholarship and athletics | Charles G. Schibler III THE DON FORD AWARD | Best football lineman of the current year | Jake M. Murphy THE DANIEL “RUSTY” STAUB MEMORIAL AWARD | Baseball letterman with exemplary leadership, sportsmanship, and spirit | Zackarie M. Casebonne THE MOST VALUABLE TENNIS PLAYER AWARD | Tennis athlete who exhibited exemplary leadership and outstanding tournament performance | David C. Webster THE JOSEPH MICHAEL WORLEY MEMORIAL AWARD | Senior who, by his unselfishness, sportsmanship, and spirit, enhanced the athletic program either as a player, manager, trainer, or student | Christopher R. Gillen & Ferdinand W. Mannino THE ROBERT T. CASEY MEMORIAL AWARD | Varsity athlete with exemplary sportsmanship and spirit | Luke G. LaForge THE LARRY GILBERT FAMILY MEMORIAL AWARD | Best all-around senior athlete on the varsity teams | Giovanni J. Licciardi THE AWARD FOR ALL-AROUND ATHLETIC ABILITY | Most outstanding ability found in a student-athlete in an individual sport | Luke S. Besh

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS | 5

OFF THEY GO! Graduates in Jesuit High School’s Class of 2021 are moving on to 67 different universities. Universities or colleges listed in bold under the names of graduates are the institutions they are attending. Students accepted to that school’s honors program are indicated by an (H). The scholarships listed pertain only to that university or college which the graduate has indicated he will attend. Areas of intended study are included in a graph on page 12. Congratulations to Jesuit’s Class of 2021! (The information in “Off They Go!” was compiled by Jesuit’s guidance department college counselors from data submitted online by seniors and their parents.)

Matthew S. Abadie Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award, LA Tiger Legacy Scholarship Samuel R. Adams, Jr. University of Notre Dame The Posse Foundation Scholarship Ahmed T. Almoaswes Yale University National Merit Semifinalist The Carson Foundation Scholarship Albert J. Alvarez Millsaps College Second Century Scholarship, Academic Excellence Scholarship Parker R. Anderson University of Louisiana at Lafayette TOPS Opportunity Award William N. Anseman Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Momin K. Asif University of New Orleans TOPS Honors Award, Homer Hitt Scholarship Kian P. Badie University of Southern Mississippi Academic Excellence Scholarship Dominick P. Baldi Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Innovation Award Malcolm F. Baldwin, Jr. Southeastern Louisiana University

6 | JAYNOTES |SPRING / SUMMER 2021

Elijah R. Bartlett Loyola University New Orleans TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholarship Luke J. Battaglia Loras College Jackson S. Becker Saint Edward's University President's Excellence Scholarship, Edwardian Scholarship Reed M. Belou Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Daniel N. Bent, Jr. Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award, Knights of Columbus Catholic Leadership Award Presten A. Berggren Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Luke S. Besh Tulane University TOPS Honors Award Carston B. Betbeze Louisiana Tech University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Merit-Based Scholarship Benjamin B. Bogart Texas Christian University (H) National Merit Semifinalist Dean's Scholarship James H. Bostick Vanderbilt University Chancellor's Scholarship

John F. Boudreaux University of New Orleans Andrew C. Brown Berry College Academic Scholarship Connor M. Bruno Southeastern Louisiana University TOPS Honors Award, Priority Scholarship Colin A. Bruzdzinski Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Jackson D. Buhrer Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Peyton D. Burkhalter Mississippi State University Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship Connor E. Caplinger Southern Methodist University Out-of-State Foundation in Excellence Award Luke M. Carlton Berry College Academic Scholarship Jack M. Carmello Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award Zackarie M. Casebonne Dartmouth College Sean P. L. Cashman Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award

OFF THEY GO! William M. Cedro University of Alabama (H) Presidential Scholarship

Christopher A. DeHart Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award

Omar E. Essa Loyola University New Orleans (H) TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholarship

Evan M. Centola Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award

Bradley J. Deichmann Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Innovation Award

Ashton C. Estorge University of New Orleans TOPS Opportunity Award, Dean Scholarship

Joseph D. B. Chamberlain University of Georgia

Garrett J. Derbes Auburn University

Grayson A. Chanove University of Mississippi Non-Resident Scholarship

Samuel S. Derbes University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Owen C. Ettinger Fordham University Jogues Scholarship

Trevor L. Chase, Jr. University of Alabama Jackson J. Cheramie Columbia University National Merit Finalist CU National Merit Finalist Award Christopher M. Ciaccio Fordham University National Merit Finalist Fordham Recognition Scholarship, Fordham National Merit Finalist Award Nathaniel D. Collins II Louisiana Tech University TOPS Opportunity Award Robert L. Colomb, Jr. Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Nicholas J. Crockens Quincy University Robert Blazel Scholarship Carson D. Cruse Loyola University New Orleans TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholarship Gabriel A. Cruz Xavier University of Louisiana TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholarship Quincy J. Curley Spring Hill College (H) Presidential Scholarship William C. Daley University of Mississippi Michael D. Daly University of Alabama (H) National Merit Finalist Presidential Merit Scholarship, Presidential National Housing Scholarship, Supply Store Book Scholarship, UA National Merit Scholarship, Study Abroad Grant

Cameron M. DesRoches University of Alabama Aiden M. Devine University of Colorado Boulder National Merit Finalist Chancellor's Achievement Scholarship Ethan M. Devlin University of Alabama Birmingham (H) Blazer Gold Scholarship Carter R. DiMaggio Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, LA Tiger Legacy Merit Award, Transformation Merit Resident Award Quinn J. Doskey Rochester Institute of Technology (H) National Merit Semifinalist Presidential Scholarship Myles M. Douglas University of Southern Mississippi Daniel M. Douglass, Jr. Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, LA Tiger Legacy Merit Award, Transformation Merit Resident Award Colin T. Doyle Northwestern Michigan College – Great Lakes Maritime Academy Logan P. Dupre Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Innovation Award, Transformation Merit Resident Award James W. Eckholdt, Jr. Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award, Innovation Award Ashton J. Edwards Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award John J. Elms IV University of Mississippi

Frank J. D'Amico III Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award

Joaquin A. Enamorado Norwich University Norwich University Grant

Noah J. D'Aunoy University of Alabama

Phillip B. Endom Texas Christian University Dean's Scholarship

Ryan M. Decker Louisiana Tech University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Presidential Merit Scholarship

Adam Y. Essa Xavier University of Louisiana TOPS Honors Award, President's Scholarship

Alexander J. Exnicios Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Innovation Award, LA Tiger Legacy Superior Scholarship, Tiger Excellence Scholar Resident Award Colin P. Falcon Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholars Resident David M. Farnsworth III Texas Christian University (H) Dean's Scholarship Dylan W. Faust Northwestern Michigan College – Great Lakes Maritime Academy Christopher C. Ferdinand Villanova University The Posse Foundation Scholarship Samuel G. Finicle Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholars Resident Brian C. Fitzpatrick, Jr. University of Alabama Gavin B. Fitzpatrick University of Mississippi Thomas J. Fransen Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Transformation Merit Resident Award William R. Fransen Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Mason J. Freese Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award William W. Gagnet Rhodes College Isaac S. Galaforo Southeastern Louisiana University Cristoffer J. Garcia Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholars Resident, New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation Joseph M. Gibson Middlebury College Christopher R. Gillen Auburn University (H) Academic Heritage Scholarship

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

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OFF THEY GO! Julian A. Gonzalez Loyola University New Orleans Recognition Award, Resident Scholarship

Si L. Holmes Texas A&M University College Station Maroon Merit Scholarship

Matthew M. Lacour Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award

Jack T. T. Gordon Louisiana State University

Finbar H. Homes Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award

Luke G. LaForge Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award

Jeremy F. Howat Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award, Innovation Award

Rocky D. Lai Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award

Jordan C. Hughes Blinn College

Anthony H. Lam Loyola University New Orleans TOPS Opportunity Award, Recognition Award

Thomas A. Grady, Jr. University of Alabama (H) Presidential Scholarship Brandon P. Griffin Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars Award, LA Tiger Legacy Excellence Scholarship Joshua F. Guzman University of New Orleans TOPS Opportunity Award, Provost Scholarship, New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation Scholarship

Benjamin T. Hunn Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars Award, Rick Phillips Youth Scholarship Foundation

Ethan J. LaNasa University of New Orleans Henry K. Landry Fordham University Fordham Tuition Award

Jason L. Ha University of Southern California

Zachary N. Jaubert Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence Scholar Award

Adam C. Haag Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award

Allan J. Jeandron, Jr. Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award, Innovation Award

Charles G. Haddad III Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award

Blake N. Johnson Boston College

Gavin M. Langston II Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholars Award

Tyler M. Johnson Howard University HU Capstone Scholarship

Patrick J. Lavie Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award

Maxwell D. Jubenville Southeastern Louisiana University (H) TOPS Honors Award

Jonathan M. Leach University of Tulsa Academic Scholarship, Commitment Award

Ralph W. Junius IV Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award

Nathan M. LeCompte University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Ramzi M. Halum University of New Orleans & DarusSalam Seminary Chicago TOPS Opportunity Award, Dean Scholarship Ethan S. Hamilton Southeastern Louisiana University Hawes A. L. Hamm Boston College Maxwell L. Hanemann Air Force Academy William L. Hawkins Gustavus Adolphus College Dean's Scholarship, Paul Rucker Scholarship, Gustavus Legacy Scholarship Julian K. Hays Spring Hill College Ignatian Leader Award Harrison R. Hentze University of Mississippi Academic Merit Scholarship, Patterson School of Accountancy Scholarship Jason P. Hernandez, Jr. Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholars Award Stefan A. Hernandez-San Martin Loyola University New Orleans Dance & Cheer Athletic Scholarship Lawrence Y. Hoffman Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Hunter C. Hoffmann Temple University (H) Dean's Scholarship

8 | JAYNOTES |SPRING / SUMMER 2021

Jacques C. Karcher Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholars Award, LA Tiger Legacy Excellence Scholarship Michael C. Kettenring Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award Michael L. King Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, President's Alumni Scholars Award

Noah C. Landry Tulane University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Stellar Tulane Academic Recognition Award

Justin P. Legrand Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award Noah R. Leingang University of Mississippi Academic Merit Scholarship Giovanni J. Licciardi University of Louisiana at Monroe Academic Scholarship, Athletic Scholarship Daniel P. Lichtl Texas Christian University (H) Dean's Scholarship

Devin E. Knott University of New Orleans TOPS Opportunity Award, Provost Scholarship

Collin C. Loupe University of New Orleans TOPS Opportunity Award, NCAA-UNO Baseball Scholarship, Institutional Award

Reed M. Kronlage Tulane University TOPS Honors Award, Stellar Tulane Academic Recognition Award

Christian G. Lynch Tulane University TOPS Performance Award

Robert L. Kuhner III University of Alabama (H) Presidential Scholarship Pierce F. Laborde College of Charleston

Patrick K. Macnamara Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence Scholar Award Mason C. Mahfouz Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award

OFF THEY GO! Baldassare F. Mannino II Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award Ferdinand W. Mannino University of Colorado Boulder Ethan D. Marks University of Louisiana at Lafayette TOPS Opportunity Award David W. Martinez IV Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Benjamin A. Mathieu Baylor University Academic Scholarship Liam O. Mathis University of Louisiana at Lafayette Patrick K. May Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence Scholar Award, LA Tiger Legacy Superior Scholarship Sean G. Mayfield, Jr. University of Louisiana at Lafayette Matthew L. McConnell Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence Scholar Award Hayden B. McFadden Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award Michael P. McGovern Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence Scholar Award Austin C. McKay Regis University St. John Francis Regis Award, Blue and Gold Award Andrew C. McNeil University of Alabama (H) National Merit Finalist UA National Merit Scholarship, Presidential Elite Scholarship Michael J. Melancon Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars Award, Tiger Excellence Scholar Award Jacob T. Merritt Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award Maximilian J. Milano University of Mississippi Carson J. Miller Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award David W. Millet III Texas Christian University Faculty Scholarship Dane A. Moisant University of Mississippi

Dominic E. Moore Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence Scholar Award Kohlmann R. Moore Arizona State University (H) National Merit Finalist ASU National Merit Scholarship, New American University Scholar Award Ethan P. Morgan University of Notre Dame Scholars Program, The Posse Foundation Scholarship

Jake M. Murphy Millsaps College Athletic Scholarship Donovan N. Musser Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars Award, LA Tiger Legacy Excellence Scholarship Connor J. Myers University of Texas at Dallas (H) National Merit Finalist UT National Merit Finalist Scholarship

Carter P. Morris College of Charleston Merit Scholarship

Ryder D. Naquin Louisiana Tech University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Deans' Scholarship, St. Charles Parish Women's Club Scholarship

Geoffrey B. Morris, Jr. University of Alabama (H) UA Scholar Scholarship, Crimson Scholars Scholarship

Jacob D. Nguyen Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholars Award

Hayden G. Morris Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award

Joseph D. Nolfe III Delgado Community College

Jonathan E. Morse Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Transformation Merit Award Lucas M. Morse University of Louisiana at Lafayette TOPS Opportunity Award Cullen C. Mount Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence Scholar Award Ryan G. Mount Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Daniel P. Murphy Louisiana Tech University TOPS Honors Award, LTU Outstanding Student Scholarship

Joseph A. Pacaccio Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award Jackson W. Page Georgetown University Diego E. Palomo Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award Fernando Patron V University of Louisiana at Lafayette Hunter M. Pearce Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award Cameron M. Peck Mississippi State University Stephen F. Peterman, Jr. Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

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OFF THEY GO! Brandon T. Pham Tulane University (H) TOPS Performance Award, Merit Scholarship

Thomas G. Roche Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award

Guerrero I. Tablan University of Mobile Athletic Scholarship

Nathan M. Pham-Le Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award

Benjamin L. Romaine Arizona State University New American University Scholar Award

Skyler R. Pitisci University of Alabama UA Competitive Academic Scholarship

Anthony J. Rosevally, Jr. Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award

Joel E. Terry University of Alabama (H) Presidential Scholarship, Engineering Leadership Scholarship

Austin T. Pottinger, Jr. Eckerd College Founders Scholarship

Hunter M. Rousselle Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award

Nehemiah S. Prater University of Hawaii Manoa Army ROTC Scholarship

Marshall A. Ruckman Roanoke College Presidential Award

Harrison R. Prince Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award, Innovation Award

Ferris I. Sabatier University of New Orleans

Salvador P. Puleo III Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award William J. Quinlan III Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Transformation Merit Award, LA Tiger Legacy Merit Scholarship Kyle A. Raterman Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholars Award Galen W. Raymond Central Michigan University Trevor W. Reichman, Jr. Sewanee: The University of the South Scott L. Reilly University of Mississippi Ian H. Reily Texas Christian University National Merit Finalist Dean's Scholarship, TCU National Merit Finalist Scholarship Jacob D. Reinhardt Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence Scholar Award, LA Tiger Legacy Excellence Scholarship Noah R. Relan Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Brian Ridgley, Jr. Fordham University Jogues Scholarship, Boys Hope Girls Hope Steward Scholarship Ethan M. Rini Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award, Transformation Merit Award Blair G. Rittiner IV Northwestern Michigan College – Great Lakes Maritime Academy

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DonDiego C. Torres Louisiana Tech University TOPS Honors Award, Presidential Merit Scholarship, LTU National Merit Scholarship Marcelo O. Torres University of Alabama (H) National Merit Finalist Outstanding Student Award Jacob O. Tracy University of Louisiana at Lafayette

John M. Saucier Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Transformation Merit Award

Garrison L. Trahant Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute National Merit Semifinalist Rensselaer Leadership Award, RPI National Merit Scholarship

Raymond A. Sauerwin, Jr. Spring Hill College Portier Leader Award

Avery W. Trapolin Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award

Harrison T. Schell Delgado Community College

Augustine Tseng Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award

Charles G. Schibler III Tulane University TOPS Honors Award Christopher R. Schmidt Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award, Transformation Merit Award Joshua M. Schmidt University of New Orleans TOPS Opportunity Award Malcolm P. Schwarzenbach IV Gap Year Dominic J. Senentz University of Central Florida Harris Rosen Hospitality Management Scholarship Loren J. Sholes Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award, Innovation Award Michael J. Shore Tulane University TOPS Honors Award, Merit Scholarship Kenneth M. Smith III University of Alabama (H) Presidential Scholarship, UA Leadership and Achievement Scholarship Christopher A. Sneed-Haynes Loyola University New Orleans TOPS Opportunity Award, Recognition Award Brett A. Steele Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars Award, H. Britton Sanderford Neuroscience/ Machine Learning Project Award, Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Award

John R. Unger Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award Sebastian R. Upshaw Spring Hill College (H) Presidential Scholarship Christopher M. Valdin Clemson University Merit Scholarship, Out-of-State Tuition Scholarship Willie M. Verret IV Creighton University Founders Award Nathan M. Vicknair Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award Henry Q. H. Vo Virginia Tech University Dan H. Vu Louisiana State University TOPS Performance Award, Transformation Merit Award Ethan K. Vu University of New Orleans TOPS Opportunity Award Jackson T. Wallace Louisiana State University (H) National Merit Finalist TOPS Honors Award, LSU Distinguished Freshman Award Caleb N. Walsh Spring Hill College Portier Leadership Award, National Alumni Association Scholarship

OFF THEY GO! Thomas L. Watson III University of Dallas Academic Scholarship, Music Scholarship, Regional Catholic High School Scholarship David C. Webster Tulane University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Founders Scholarship

Alexander J. Wink Spring Hill College Ignatian Leader Award

Michael J. Yarborough, Jr. Auburn University (H) Academic Presidential Scholarship, McMillan Family Endowed Scholarship

Eric E. Wolf Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award

Maxwell B. Younger Marion Military Institute

David M. Welsh Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award

Benjamin J. Wombacher Louisiana State University (H) TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence Scholar Award

William J. J. Zinsel Loyola University New Orleans National Merit Finalist TOPS Honors Award, Dean's Scholarship

Tyler M. Westfall University of New Orleans TOPS Honors Award, President Scholarship

Bryce S. Wooderson Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars Award

Laden A. Zughayer University of Holy Cross

JohnDavid C. Whitsell University of Mississippi

Mason S. Wulff Louisiana State University TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence Scholar Award

Jalen D. Williams Louisiana State University TOPS Opportunity Award

WHAT THEY'RE STUDYING NUMBER OUT OF 256 GRADUATES: 39 33 31 30 19 19

| Engineering | Humanities & Social Sciences | Biological & Natural Sciences | Business | Finance | Health Sciences & Pre-med

17 09 08 07 06 38

| Computer Science & Cyber Security | Communications & Marketing | Psychology | Art, Music, & Design | Construction Management | Undecided

15%

ENGINEERING

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

11

WHERE THEY'RE GOING Academy of Interactive Entertainment Air Force Academy (1) American University Appalachian State University Arizona State University (2) Auburn University (3) Barton College Baylor University (1) Belmont University Benedictine College Berry College (2) Birmingham Southern College Blinn College (1) Boston College (2) Boston University Brevard College California State University Maritime Academy Catholic University of America Central Michigan University (1) Centre College Christian Brothers University Clemson University (1) College of Charleston (2) College of William and Mary Colorado State University Columbia University (1) Creighton University (1) Dartmouth College (1) DarusSalam Seminary of Chicago (1) Delgado Community College (2) DePaul University Dillard University Eckerd College (1) Elon University Florida Atlantic University Florida Institute of Technology Florida State University Fordham University (4) Franciscan University at Steubenville Furman University George Washington University Georgetown University (1) Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia State University Gustavus Adolphus College (1) Hamline University Hampton University High Point University Howard University (1) Jacksonville University Johnson & Wales University Loras College (1) Louisiana State University (97) Louisiana Tech University (6) Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University New Orleans (8) Lynn University Marion Military Institute (1) Marquette University Maryville College McNeese State University Michigan State University Middlebury College (1) Millsaps College (2) Mississippi State University (2) Morehouse College Nicholls State University

Northwestern Michigan College – Great Lakes Maritime Academy (3) Northwestern State University of Louisiana Norwich University (1) Pennsylvania State University Piedmont College Purdue University Quincy University (1) Regis University (1) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1) Rhodes College (1) Roanoke College (1) Robert Morris University Rochester Institute of Technology (1) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Rutgers University Saint Edward's University (1) Saint Joseph’s University Saint Louis University Saint Mary’s College of California Santa Clara University Savannah College of Art & Design Seattle University Sewanee: The University of the South (1) Southeastern Louisiana University (5) Southern Methodist University (1) Spring Hill College (6) St. Louis University Syracuse University Temple University (1) Texas A&M University College Station (1) Texas A&M University Galveston Texas Christian University (6) Texas Tech University Tulane University (8) Tyler Junior College Union University United States Air Force Academy University of Advancing Technology University of Alabama (14) University of Alabama Birmingham (1) University of Alabama Huntsville University of Arizona University of Arkansas University of Central Florida (1) University of Colorado Boulder (2) University of Dallas (1) University of Dayton University of Denver University of Florida University of Georgia (1) University of Hawaii Manoa (1) University of Holy Cross (1) University of Kentucky University of Louisiana at Lafayette (9) University of Louisiana at Monroe (1) University of Louisville University of Maine

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CLASS OF 2021

This year’s “long distance award” goes to Luke Prater who is traveling more than 4,202 miles to attend University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Blue Jays have accepted $6,898,666 in scholarship dollars.

University of Memphis University of Miami University of Michigan University of Mississippi (10) University of Mobile (1) University of New Orleans (12) University of North Carolina Asheville University of North Carolina Chapel Hill University of North Carolina Wilmington

Below are listed the 160 colleges and universities to which the graduates of the Class of 2021 were accepted.

Schools listed in bold are the 67 institutions they are attending with the number of attendees in parentheses.

Included is a map showing where all of these institutions are located with their school logo.

Forty-one percent of students are going out-of-state (106).

Fifty-nine percent of students are going to college in-state (150).

University of Notre Dame (2) University of Oregon University of the Ozarks University of Pittsburgh University of Richmond University of Saint Andrew’s University of South Alabama University of South Carolina University of South Florida

University of Southern California (1) University of Southern Mississippi (2) University of St. Thomas University of Tampa University of Tennessee Knoxville University of Texas at Dallas (1) University of Tulsa (1) University of Virginia Vanderbilt University (1)

Villanova University (1) Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Tech University (1) Wabash College Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis Xavier University of Louisiana (2) Yale University (1)

The largest contingent, 97 Blue Jays, is destined for Louisiana State University.

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

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CLASS OF 2021

The State of the Blue Jay Address

“Men, I challenge you to this: stand up for what you believe in. Embrace adversity and dive into challenges head on, even if it means losing everything society values, because at the end of the day you have to please one. The One: God.”

The Class of 2021 celebrated Senior Day on Friday, May 24.

Student council president Tripp Haddad delivered the State of the Blue Jay address at the senior morning assembly at the of the 2020-2021 school year.

I

’m sure at some point in your lives, many of you have been posed the question, “If you could go back and redo high school from the beginning, would you?”

Many of you believe with all the missed opportunities this year, the answer for the graduating class is an obvious “yes”; however, I believe the answer is “no.” The mistakes we’ve made, the challenges we’ve faced, the setbacks we’ve overcome, have all contributed to our becoming the men we are as we prepare to walk across the stage and as the rest of the student body prepares to take the next step in their own Jesuit careers.

Obviously there were missed opportunities from this year. Pep rallies and dances were not possible, and a measly student section was allowed at football games during the first semester. However, as we take a look at what was not possible, the possible comes to light. Ping-pong became a game through which students across grade levels could bond and compete. A massive socially distanced water balloon fight could take place in the courtyard. A mechanical bull could be brought into the courtyard.

Baseball games—which, I’ll admit as a baseball player, are not the most interesting to watch—roll out some of the most electrifying Gizzards* the school has seen. The senior class started eating lunch on Will Clark Field, which turned into field day and become a staple of our class identity. This second semester especially, the Class of 2021 came together as brothers to end an unfavorable year with a bang.

Underclassmen, I feel for you. You come to Carrollton & Banks hearing

stories that made you want to come here in the first place, and you are stuck with a rather disappointing first experience. Don’t give up on this place yet. Embrace it. Each senior will tell you that the Jesuit high school experience is full of ups and downs. Some days you’ll hate it.

Some days you’ll feel like you never want to leave. But in the end you’ll understand that everything done here serves to benefit you physically, spiritually, and mentally.

As you go through your time here, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It’s okay to mess up. High school is the time of your life when you can make mistakes and grow from them. Learn from your mistakes so you don’t make them when there’s more on the line—with a career and a family to worry about.

Incoming upperclassmen, embrace the leadership roles you will find yourselves coming into. You will only get out what you put in when it comes to the rest of your time here. I want to challenge all of you to stop looking to the future as a place where the grass is greener. There’s 86,400 seconds in a day. Make the most of each one. Participate in every experience available. You’ll thank yourself as you walk across the stage a few years from now.

In the world we live in today, one’s feelings often take precedence over one’s responsibilities. A culture has been formed in which one’s mistakes and flaws are sought out and brought to light. As a result, people have been encouraged to avoid failure and shy away from confrontation, in turn sparing the ego of themselves and others.

*Today's Blue Jays affectionately refer to the student section at athletic competitions as “The Gizzard.”

S TA FF U PDAT E S

RETIREMENTS

Men, I challenge you to this: stand up for what you believe in. Embrace adversity and dive into challenges head on, even if it means losing everything society values, because at the end of the day, you have to please one. The One: God. I want to leave you all with a poem attributed to Mother Theresa that I think captures this idea: Ernest Pierre - 1990

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse

Thank You, Ernest!

you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

ERNEST PIERRE

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your student body president this year. Good luck with the rest of your lives. Go Jays! 

Maintenance & Facilities | 34 Years at Jesuit

H

is work wasn’t in the classroom, but Ernest Pierre taught decades of Blue Jays valuable lessons about dedication and hard work.

Pierre, who joined Jesuit’s maintenance and facilities team in February of 1986, retired in March.

He remained proud of his service as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard often donning a military cap, but took equal pride in his outdoor toiling that kept the campus and school he loved looking its best. The back field may be named for Will Clark ’82 , but nobody cared, literally, for that piece of property more than Ernest.

Jimmy Huck, Jesuit’s maintenance and facilities manager from 2007-2019,

appreciated his colleague’s diligence and faithfulness.

“Ernest was there for anything I needed or Jesuit needed, including swapping out his maintenance outfit for a white shirt and black bow tie to tend bar at an alumni reunion in the Commons or to assist Br. Billy Dardis ’58 with cooking in the Jesuit residence.”

His wife, Angelle, retired from the cafeteria this past May. Ernest is the younger brother of Daniel Pierre, another member of the JHS maintenance staff.

“He still calls me all the time wanting to know what’s happening at Carrollton & Banks,” Daniel said. “He may be retired, but his heart will never leave this place.”

Already we miss his reliable and comforting presence. 

— TRIPP HADDAD ’21 student body president

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

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RETIREMENTS

A Life Well Taught: Malcolm Villarrubia ’66 Retires From Jesuit After 43 Years

T

hough perhaps best remembered in the secular world for his contributions as a poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J., surmised that St. Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises were embedded with an understanding that man has two wills: one lower, which he called the “affective will,” and one higher, termed by Hopkins the “elective will.”

In 1975, Malcolm Villarrubia, then a student at Tulane University, penned an essay expounding on these two wills as understood by Hopkins.

“Unlike the affective will which can have only finite objects as its direct end,” wrote Villarrubia, “the elective

16 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

1966

2020

will is freely able to have God as its object of choice… out of this interplay of the affective and elective wills, man must seek God.” Jesuit High School will forever be the beneficiary of Villarrubia’s own decision to make God the object of his higher will.

For 43 years, he served the Jesuit High School community as an English teacher, department head, principal of summer school, moderator of the National Honor Society, director of the school’s ACT prep class, Title II and CARES administrator, and director of faculty development, but by decades of Blue Jays, he will be

(above, left) Malcolm Villarrubia ’66 emotionally gives his last presentation to his English V AP class; (above, top) Villarrubia leads his 2010 English I class in a group activity; (above, bottom) Villarrubia, while in Jesuit formation meets with Dale Salatich ’75; (opposite, left) Villarrubia's 1983 yearbook picture; (opposite, right) Villarrubia explains the craft of essay writing to his 2014 English class

remembered most for instilling a lifetime love of learning.

Villarrubia’s time at Jesuit began in the early ’60s as a recent graduate of St. Agnes Grammar School.

“I remember a Saturday morning in 1962,” Villarrubia told the Jesuit community in a speech on May 13, 2021, “when I was dropped off at Carrollton and Banks to enter Jesuit for the very first time—to take the placement exam. I didn’t know then that for 43 years Jesuit High School would become a home and a family to me. It has been the greatest privilege of my life to have worked alongside so many wonderful administrators and

S TA FF U PDAT E S

teachers and students who day in and day out make Jesuit the great place it is.”

Earning degrees from Spring Hill College, Tulane University, and the University of London after graduating from Jesuit, Villarrubia’s contributions as an educator were recognized inside

here. I’ll most miss being in the classroom with my students, teaching, but more than just teaching, watching my students grow—God’s slow, continuing creation unfolding before my eyes.”

Villarrubia’s patient approach is a signature of his time at Jesuit.

The legacy Villarrubia leaves at Jesuit is one of excellent teaching and mentorship, but, more importantly, one of patiently orienting the higher will towards God through the tradition of Jesuit education.

Throughout his career and to this day, he has humbly but insistently

Jesuit High School will forever be the beneficiary of Villarrubia’s own decision to make God the object of his higher will. and outside of Jesuit High School, meriting him the 2016 Jesuit High School Profile of a Teacher Award.

Indeed, despite wearing many hats and filling various needs for the school over the years, Villarrubia is, first and last, a skilled veteran teacher.

As director of faculty development, he spent 16 years overseeing the onboarding and development of new members of Jesuit’s faculty, putting him directly in touch with the people who keep Jesuit academically exceptional.

“Jesuit is not just a place. Jesuit is the people,” Villarrubia told faculty and students. “I’ll miss the people

A century earlier, Hopkins, in his characteristically dense poetic style, acknowledged the virtue of a patient approach to large challenges, writing:

Natural heart’s ivy, Patience masks / Our ruins of wrecked past purpose…

We hear our hearts grate on themselves: it kills / To bruise them dearer. Yet the rebellious wills / Of us we do bid God bend to him even so. / And where is he who more and more distils / Delicious kindness?—He is patient. Patience fills / His crisp combs, and that comes those ways we know.

promoted the transformative power of the Ignatian pedagogical paradigm.

“To you, Blue Jays,” he said directly to the student body, “I invite you too to catch the fire of St. Ignatius’ vision.

Especially in today’s fractured world to be men of compassion, men who build others up, not tear them down, men who show love in deeds and not merely in words.

“May the Lord keep you close. Go Blue Jays!” 

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

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F A C U LT Y F E AT U R E

w

by Myles Kuss ’16

I

n the fall of 1969, The Temptations and Elvis Presley were singing hits on the radio, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was drawing crowds on the big screen.

Entertainment consumed the American landscape, and a ten-yearold boy walked into an old-fashioned bookstore and wanted a piece of it.

One script caught his attention, and, as the saying goes, the rest is history.

18 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

“I had such a strong love for movies as a kid,” Michael Begg said.

“That was my thing. No one talked about screen writers, but then I saw the script for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I instantly took to it.”

Begg has always had a taste for movies, and the fascination began at a younger age than one might expect.

William Goldman won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay

for Begg’s first favorite script, paving the way for script writers to get the recognition that they deserved. Ever since then, he has wanted to see his work hit the big screen. In addition to that goal, he now has his sights set on educating the younger generation through a new elective: script writing.

The course will be offered during the upcoming school year. Begg has written scripts for more than 20 years

MICHAEL BEGG and has been teaching English at Jesuit for the past decade.

He possesses plenty of memories and accolades to show for his time at Carrollton & Banks. During his tenure, he earned the Teacher Profile Award alongside numerous awards for his scripts Milk Route, Audubon, and, most recently, The Advantages of Whiskey over Dogs.

“Milk Route actually won the 2019 Stockholm International Film Festival,” said Begg with a laugh. “I was about to go, but then I thought to myself, ‘I’m not going to win,’ so I stayed, and of course, it ended up winning. It truly was a shock and an honor.”

Milk Route, a drama about New Orleans life after Katrina, was not his only success story. Audubon, a script about the life of John James Audubon, was considered by a production company. The Advantages of Whiskey over Dogs, a comedy describing old Hollywood featuring true life figures, is showing early promise after placing in multiple festivals, even being named second runner-up in the 2021 Beverly Hills Film Festival and earning awards in six other contests in 2020.

Begg has written seven scripts with Barry Lemoine and two solo scripts, both of which have won international and domestic awards. He credits his mentor, UCLA professor Richard Walter, but he has also found inspiration through every facet of his professional life at Jesuit.

“The English department here has definitely helped in my script writing,” Begg said. “I

could start seeing an improvement in my own writing simply by teaching the curriculum here. A big thing I hammer on is the overuse of the passive voice, and the students start to see a major improvement simply because of that one fix.”

Begg’s teaching—and his own learning—have extended beyond the walls of the classroom. He has fully immersed himself in the Jesuit life, and the commitment has borne many fruits.

“At the end of the day, I am a Jesuit man,” Begg said. “Even more than teaching, Jesuit has helped my career through the people I am surrounded with—especially in the spiritual sense. I have gone on 17 or 18 Kairos retreats here, and they have made all the difference for the students and for me. You have to give yourself that reflective time if you want to be creative.”

Begg understands that creativity is a tough beast to tame and can lead to more questions than answers.

To help his script writing students along their path, he will be inviting the advice of his UCLA mentor Walter into the classroom by using his book, Essentials of Screenwriting.

“Writing is painful,” Begg said. “It brings me pleasure, but if you have no idea how to approach this different type of writing, the odds of it being successful are nearly impossible. It’s a long and burdensome process, but I have gone through it multiple times and can lend any insights that I may have.

“The best part is that I am starting right there with

them,” Begg said with a grin. “If some of them are interested in going into film schools, this will be a tremendous first step.

“I am looking forward to the class because people are genuinely interested in the writing,” Begg said.

“Back in my day, people wanted to write novels; now they are all into movies, TV, and song writing.

“This class can potentially represent the first steps toward something much bigger than jotting ideas down and hoping they stick.

The class will help put students in the frame of mind that will allow them to become effective writers and communicators.”

While the topic of the course is screen writing, Begg believes students will carry these business and writing skills beyond Jesuit.

“Script writing was not heard of when I was growing up,” Begg said.

“It is a good form of writing that can affect all aspects study. It’ll make people better writers period.”

Begg also emphasizes that technical knowledge is not everything in this industry. As in all fields, success comes from hard work, spiritual formation, and just a little bit of luck.

“I will teach them the tools,” Begg said. “I also want them to understand that luck plays a part in it. Reflecting on yourself helps, and the ability to take criticism is crucial.”

Contrary to novel writing, script writing generates a product that is read by relatively few people, yet the ambitious goal of any script writer is to have a script hit the big screen.

Quite a daunting task—but Begg knows there are a lot of steps between a ten-year-old discovering a script for the first time and submitting his first piece into a contest.

“Ultimately, I want to introduce a craft that fulfills me to students who are interested,” Begg said. “Maybe even more than that, I wish that I had somebody there for me. Now I can be there for my students.” 

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

19

FAITH & SCIENCE

Athanasius Kircher Fund The Athanasius Kircher Fund is a donor restricted fund started with a $149,000 donation from an anonymous benefactor in fiscal year 2021.

The fund provides for Jesuit teachers and students to pursue special projects rooted in Catholic identity pertaining to a specific academic discipline or intellectual interest.

In 2021, the fund enabled eight Jesuit faculty members to study the interaction of faith and science at Notre Dame University’s McGrath Institute for Church Life.

Donors interested in supporting the Athanasius Kircher Fund should contact Tom Bagwill, Jesuit’s director of institutional advancement, at bagwill@ jesuitnola.org.

Academic Games The academic games team continued to play this year despite many changes.

In a normal year the team plays four games against other local high schools from September to March leading up to a national tournament in April; however, the local league was unable to sponsor any games accommodating COVID social distancing requirements. Instead, the players focused on the question-andanswer style games, which could be conducted virtually. The team played three games this year: Propaganda, Presidents, and Current Events.

Propaganda tests players’ ability to recognize different types of persuasion heard in everyday life. Presidents

requires players to learn about the life and career of the presidents of the United States. Current Events assesses players on their recollection of major domestic and international events.

Jesuit’s team members kept high spirits despite the lack of social interaction with players from other schools. The team won first place in Propaganda and Current Events.

Sophomore Wade Rogers tied for first in the overall sweepstakes competition, and freshmen Charles Garitty and Christian Smith also won prizes.

The team is looking forward to returning to normal play and hopefully competing at the national tournament in Knoxville, TN. 

A C A D E M I C R E S U LT S

Model UN In 2020, Model United Nations conferences around the country were forced to cancel or move to an online format. Following a successful and enjoyable trip to New York City for the National High School Model UN Conference just before the pandemic in February 2020, Jesuit’s Model UN Team was left with limited options for this past school year. In February 2021, however, the Blue Jays participated in the online YMCA Youth and Government Model UN Conference, which the group has regularly attended in Baton Rouge since the Model UN team formed at Jesuit in 2016. Divided into the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and the General Assembly, the Blue Jays represented Ethiopia, Japan, Armenia, Vietnam, and the Czech Republic as they negotiated and debated resolutions to issues such as energy accessibility and sustainability, healthcare and poverty, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Conflict. Seniors Owen Ettinger and Ahmed Almoaswes, having been elected to the conference’s state board at the previous conference, each chaired a committee and took part in organizing the student-run event.

With the new school year, Model UN hopes to participate in another out-ofstate conference and continue to build on previous successes. 

(opposite, top) The Jesuit Academic Games team begins competition in a Jesuit second-floor classroom. (opposite, bottom) Model UN members listen intently to the opening instructions before competition begins in St. Ignatius Loyola Hall. (top, right) Haydel, Mercer, Walsh, Schibler, Hasula, Rumney, Lee, Etinger, Christian, Wombacher, Rogers, Tran, and Terrell pose for a group photo in front of the Mary statue in Jesuit’s Traditions Courtyard.

Mock Trial The Jesuit Mock Trial team continued its impressive streak of performances during its 2021 campaign. During the district round of play, two teams of Blue Jay attorneys competed in the Region 4 tournament.

Usually held at the Jefferson Parish Courthouse in Gretna, this year’s tournament was conducted virtually via Zoom from Jesuit classrooms. Thirteen teams participated in a mock case involving alleged negligent conduct by a zoo, whose tiger attacked and injured a teenage boy.

After two preliminary rounds, Jesuit’s "Team Brown," made up of attorneys Dalton Haydel, Ian Mercer, and Preston Rumney and witnesses Caleb Walsh, Ben Wombacher, Tucker Schibler, and Nish Hasula, advanced to the final round in which they defeated a team from Sacred Heart Academy. The team then advanced to compete in the state tournament.

Jesuit’s "Team Black," made up of attorneys Owen Etinger, Wade Rogers, and Asher Terrell and witnesses Daniel Lee, Ben Tran,

and Christian Smith, competed admirably but did not advance.

In individual awards, Wombacher was awarded the tournament’s best witness for the second year in a row.

In the final round, Wombacher was again named best witness, and Haydel was named best attorney.

In the state Mock Trial tournament, Jesuit went up against strong competition from Caddo Magnet and Zachary. The team of student attorneys Haydel, Mercer, and Rumney and witnesses Walsh, Wombacher, Schibler, and Hasula battled hard but fell short of advancing to the final round.

In individual awards, Wombacher was awarded the tournament's best witness.

Jesuit will have a strong core of student attorneys expected to return next year, including rising junior Haydel, who for the last two years has been awarded best attorney in the regional tournament. The team is coached by Brett Wise '82 , Mike Mentz '74, and Jeffrey Hufft '98. 

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

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A C A D E M I C R E S U LT S

Half a Dozen Blue Jays Attain Perfect ACT® Scores

B

y the conclusion of the 2020–2021 academic year, six current Blue Jays had attained ACT® composite scores of 36, the highest possible score on the national college entrance exam. Sophomore Patrick Dowd, juniors Nicholas Nobile and Richard Tonry, and seniors Andrew McNeil, Marcello Torres, and Garrison Trahant joined the ranks of Jesuit students who have earned this distinction over the years. Nationally, less than 0.1 percent of each year’s approximately 2 million test-takers obtain this score.

With local media outlets taking interest in the story, these six Jays have often been asked about their journey to standardized testing success.

“I took all the practice tests I could get my hands on,” McNeil told WGNO’s Bill Wood in an interview.

“That way, by the time I took the actual test, it was just routine.”

“My teachers prepared me well,” Dowd offered as Trahant confirmed, “Preparation made all the difference.”

Alongside their impressive math, science, verbal, and writing acumen, these half-dozen Blue Jays represent a remarkably wide range of skills, interests, and contributions to the Jesuit and Greater New Orleans communities.

McNeil is the son of Adam and Colette McNeil and attended Christian Brothers School before Jesuit. He is the captain of the swim team and has competed in multiple events for Jesuit including the 50yard freestyle, the 200-yard freestyle relay, 200-yard IM, and 400-yard 22 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

freestyle relay. A National Merit Finalist, McNeil will be attending the University of Alabama in the fall to study computer science as a member of the Honors College; he was awarded the UA National Merit Scholarship and the Presidential Elite Scholarship.

Torres, who attended St. Martin’s Episcopal before Jesuit, is the son of Manuel and Kem Torres. He is a member of the robotics team, National Honor Society, Model UN club, fencing club, and Mu Alpha Theta team. Torres was also named a National Merit Finalist, and, in the fall, he will be studying computer science in the Honors College at the University of Alabama where he earned the Outstanding Student Award.

Trahant, who attended St. Angela Merici and Stuart Hall before Jesuit, is the son of Richard and Amy Trahant. He is a member of the quiz bowl team and the robotics team, and was named the valedictorian of the Class of 2021. At his class’s Baccalaureate Mass, Trahant was the recipient of an astounding five major awards recognizing his top performance in English, physics, computer studies, mathematics, and Greek in addition to being the sole recipient of the Blue Jay Parents’ Club Award for overall excellence in scholarship. In the fall, he will be majoring in physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, where he was awarded the Rensselaer Leadership Award and the RPI

National Merit Scholarship.

Nobile, who is an alumnus of St. Charles Borromeo and Christian Brothers, is the son of Michael and Nicol Nobile. He is a member of the swim team, Mu Alpha Theta, and Sodality, and he participates in District Rally. Outside of school in the summer, he has lifeguarded at Ormond Country Club in Destrehan.

Tonry is a third-generation Blue Jay whose grandfather Richard Tonry ’63 graduated from and later taught at Jesuit. He is the son of Richard Tonry '90 and Catherine Tonry, and before Jesuit, he attended St. Margaret Mary in Slidell. Tonry is the sacristan for Sodality, the vice president of National Honor Society, a member of the quiz bowl team, a member of the Asian club, and a member of the pro-life club in addition to recently becoming a big brother for an incoming pre-freshman Blue Jay. Dowd, who attended Alexandria Country Day School in Alexandria, LA, is the son of Gregory Dowd and Shawn Donelon and the grandson and great-grandson of Blue Jays James Donelon '62 and James Donelon '30 respectively. He is the president of Model UN, the sports editor for the Blue Jay newspaper, a runner on the cross country and track teams, and a member of Sodality.

The ACT® consists of English, mathematics, reading, and science tests. Each test is scored on a 1–36 scale, and a student’s composite score averages the four subset scores. 

A LU M N I FE AT U R E

Shooting for the Stars Edward “Rocky” Kolb, Ph.D. ’69 An interview by Tom Bagwill

A

t a Jesuit New Orleans alumni reunion in Chicago, Tom Skelly ’69 pulled me aside to point out a celebrity classmate. Not a movie, television, or social media star, but a star in its brightest form. Edward “Rocky” Kolb, Ph.D., is a cosmologist and former dean of physical science at the University of Chicago.

He is a world-renowned astrophysicist. His undergraduate degree in physics is from the University of New Orleans. He received a doctorate from the University of Texas and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena and was an Oppenheimer Fellow at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Kolb is the author of Blind Watchers of the Sky: The People and Ideas That Shaped Our View of the Universe.

Given today’s headlines, Jaynotes decided it was the right time for all of us to know what this Blue Jay has learned from gazing at the stars.

How did Jesuit inspire your love for science? I received a solid foundation

in mathematics and science at Jesuit in a rigorous program that prepared me for college and life. Frankly, after Jesuit everything was easy. But what I’ve come to appreciate most is the discipline at Carrollton & Banks, the high expectations that I still try to live up to today, and the love of learning that Jesuit instilled in me. Never be

satisfied. The teachers I remember most are Fr. [Milton] Reische, S.J., Mr. [Anthony] Ostini, S.J., and Fr. [Donald] Schishler, S.J., whose geometry lessons taught me logic and structure.

How do you keep connected to

lectures. Genesis isn’t a science book, and it should not be read like one. I do feel comfortable giving this advice to people asking these sorts of questions: from my perspective, when looking for God, you should first look into the human heart.

classmates and to your alma mater in

What do you make of the recent

New Orleans? I just look at it as living

billionaire space race? I do think

across the lake. Get on I-55 and go about 1,000 miles north and you’re in Chicago. Easy enough. Seriously, my wife Adrienne (herself an author) and I do try to get back to New Orleans at least once every year. She’s from New Orleans, too. We really enjoyed my Jesuit 50th reunion. We had a spirited class in 1969 and I saw and experienced that same spirit in 2019.

But my classmates are sure getting old!

there’s an ethical question to ask: Is this where people of abundant wealth should be spending their resources?

However, I have no doubt that the privatization of space will lead us to life-changing technological advances and will be extremely helpful in our exploration of the universe.

In case you’re wondering, I’m working on making my second billion dollars to be able to follow in Branson’s and Bezo’s footsteps.

I’m starting with the second billion because I hear that it’s easier to make the second than it is to accumulate the first.

We’re still developing men of faith and men for others at Jesuit. How have those attributes carried over into your life? What Jesuit gave me

was a moral compass that still guides me on a daily basis. It wasn’t a specific course; you picked it up through assimilation and osmosis. And I’m giving back every day, working with my students and colleagues, helping them overcome obstacles and leading them to successful careers and lives.

Being there for others is important.

What is the connection between your work as a scientist and your faith?

It’s a question I often get at public

Do you have any thoughts about life beyond our planet? It's a really big

universe. If there is life out there, I don’t believe the unidentified aerial phenomena we’ve been hearing about recently is it. We may not have all the answers today, but I take great pride in knowing I am helping mold the minds of the generation who will find that life and ask the questions yet to be asked and answered. Follow me, Blue Jays, to the stars and beyond! 

S T U DE N T FE AT U R E

Eyes to the Skies Aspiring Astrophysicist Kaden Oqueli-White

by Christian Baustista ’06

I

n designing the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Baronne Street, Jesuit’s second president, Fr. John Cambiaso, S.J., included a celestial observatory on the roof of the building. Cambiaso, an astronomer, a chemist, and an architect, was said by writer Fr. Albert Biever, S.J., to have possessed, “unusual strength of body and brilliancy of mind” with “an unlimited capacity for work,” and various sources recount

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K ADEN OQUELI-WHITE

Cambiaso’s propensity to spend time contemplating the created and the Creator from the church’s observatory.

While Jesuit’s campus today lacks an astronomical observatory, its curriculum is nonetheless brimming with opportunities for students to turn their gaze to the stars—literally, in the case of senior Kaden Oquelí-White.

Managing editor for the Blue Jay newspaper, poetry editor for Calliope, a performer for the Philelectic Society and the J-Troupe, vice president of the fencing club, a member of the creative writing club, a vocalist in the Mass choir, and a member of National Honor Society, Oquelí-White has, amongst his many other interests, a passion for astrophysics and astronomy. He aspires to a career as an engineer or professor—or perhaps both—that allows him to blend both the theoretical and practical sides of his astrophysical proclivity.

“I always dreamed of being an engineer,” said Oquelí-White, “though at first I wanted to be an architect. I love observing things, but then I realized that someone has to build everything around us—in some sense, every big project starts in

a garage somewhere. I think the real successes in scientific fields today are accomplished by people who understand both theory and implementation.”

His energy for science and engineering was motivated both by public scientific figures such as Stephen Hawkins and by his teachers at Jesuit. “I’ve had great experiences in my classes at Jesuit.

Mrs. Swan in particular sticks out in my mind—she always made her class really fascinating, even when they were focused on a topic that I didn’t originally think would be interesting to me.”

He was recently named a Thrive Scholar, a QuestBridge College Prep Scholar, and a Hispanic Heritage Foundation Scholar, and he has also attained a “superscore” 36 on the ACT®.

Over this summer, Oquelí-White was selected for a NASA-sponsored internship through the prestigious STEM Enchancement in Earth and Space Science (SEES) program. The internship was based at the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research. After the internship, he was invited to attend the Advanced Space Academy ® program in Huntsville Alabama. In May, WGNO aired a feature piece on him on Jesuit’s campus, and in July, local news network Fox 8 featured Oquelí-White

commenting on their live coverage of Blue Origin’s first manned space flight.

Despite a sharp focus on astrophysics, Oquelí-White feels that his passion for science fits into a larger picture both in terms of his time at Jesuit and in terms his overall worldview.

“I’ve always enjoyed the arts,” he said, commenting on the ways in which he feels art and science interact to him as a singer. “Art is an expression of some deeper reality, and art is a really important part of being human.”

Perhaps echoing Cambiaso’s own sentiments about the stars some 170 years prior, Oquelí-White says that he hopes that the way in which the mysteries of the universe inspire him might one day spark a similar zeal in future Blue Jays. “In my time at Jesuit I see it as important to be man for others by making sure I leave a legacy that provides even a modicum inspiration for students who will come after me. I don’t think I was able to put that into words until I came here.”

If Cambiaso’s extraterrestrial fervor foreshadows what kind of legacy a Jesuit man can leave for future generations, then prospects are good that today’s Blue Jays, too, can leave a legacy that lifts all of our eyes upwards towards the Heavens. 

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F A C U LT Y D E V E L O P M E N T

At the Crossroads of Faith & Science

by Jeremy Reuther ’01

A

t the risk of stoking old fears, let’s start with a pop quiz.

Q A

IN RESPONSE TO GALILEO FORMALLY TEACHING AND PROMOTING HELIOCENTRISM IN THE 17TH CENTURY, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH… A. BURNED GALILEO AT THE STAKE. B. SENTENCED GALILEO TO HOUSE ARREST. C. EXCOMMUNICATED GALILEO. D. IMPRISONED GALILEO TO PREVENT HIS TEACHING.

As you think about the question, also think about how a class of high school sophomores at Jesuit might answer it. Is one of the answers just a little too obvious to be the correct one? Is there a common assumption that the teacher is trying to uncover with the question?

These and countless other testtaking strategies come to mind for a sophomore who couldn’t quite find enough time to study the material.

For most of us, whose precise knowledge of the historic relationship of the Catholic Church to scientific inquiry is as fuzzy as the unprepared sophomore, the mishandling of the Galileo affair by the Church appears to be a paradigm for all that is (at 26 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

worst) backwards and superstitious about religious belief, and (at best) simply embarrassing.

Eight Jesuit faculty members spent their summer taking a hard look at this big issue and others at the intersection of science and theology.

How should Catholics interpret the creation story of Genesis 1 in light of the scientific theory of evolution?

What does the archeological evidence for man’s hominid ancestors mean for the Catholic doctrines of original sin and the special creation of the human soul by God? Over the course of two week-long seminars, a mix of theology and science teachers from Jesuit sharpened their scientific and philosophic tools to navigate these questions in the hopes of offering greater clarity to their students. Participating theology teachers included Daniel Augustin ’15 (Christology), Roger Bacon ’10 (sacraments, morality), Susan deBoisblanc (Christology, bioethics), and Scott Delatte ’06 (Christ in Scripture, ecclesiology).

From the science department were Matthew Firmin ’10 (biology, environmental science), Karen Harper (environmental science), Khanh Nguyen (physics), and Jeffrey Reuther ’99 (chemistry).

Hosted by the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, the program included stout offerings of theological essays, in-person labs and simulations of scientific concepts, seminar discussions, communal prayer, and sharing of best-practices with other mission-driven educators from around the country. Participants also received a generous stipend from the McGrath Institute and a collection of reading materials. At the end of the program, Jesuit teachers reinforced their understanding that the Galileo affair, far from being the paradigm for the Church’s hostility to scientific inquiry, is actually the exception to the rule of an otherwise lavish patronage of the sciences through the ages.

A quick survey of Catholic priests or clerics making ground-breaking contributions to scientific knowledge makes the point well. St. Albert the Great (a German Dominican priest) and Roger Bacon (an English Franciscan Monk, to be distinguished from the Jesuit teacher of the same name) were instrumental in the incorporation of Greek science and the early discoveries and inventions

of the 13th century. The list is extensive from then until more recent contributions of Gregor Mendel, an Augustinian priest honored as the founder of genetics, and George Lemaître, a Belgian priest known as one of two originators of the Big Bang theory. Interestingly, Nicholas Copernicus himself, though not a priest, held ecclesiastical office as the “canon” of Frauenberg Cathedral.

The Jesuits especially were no strangers to scientific enterprise.

Jesuits have classically been sent by the pope “to the frontiers,” and the fields of astronomy and mathematics have certainly been historical frontiers through the scientific boon of the latter half of second millennium.

Christoph Clavius, S.J., just years after the formation of the Jesuit order, combined astronomical observation and mathematical genius to help Gregory XIII revise the Julian calendar. Christoph Scheiner, S.J., a contemporary of Galileo, published a massive treatise on his observations of sunspots. Many more Jesuit astronomers follow from Gian Battista Riccoli, S.J., Francesco Grimaldi, S.J., and Matteo Ricci, S.J.,

in the 17th century to Pietro Angelo Secchi, S.J., in the 19th century.

This rich history should cast suspicion on any claim that faith and science are essentially in conflict.

Granted, real intellectual work is needed to harmonize the teachings of the Catholic faith with scientific findings related to human origins and quantum theory, but we can all be confident that Jesuit teachers are putting in the time to do that work so that students get the very best from the Catholic intellectual tradition.

St. John Paul II said it well in a letter to George Coyne, who was a Jesuit priest, astronomer, and director of the Vatican Observatory: “the Church and the scientific community will inevitably interact; their options do not include isolation.

Christians will inevitably assimilate the prevailing ideas about the world, and today these are deeply shaped by science. The only question is whether they will do this critically or unreflectively, with depth and nuance or with a shallowness that debases the Gospel and leaves us ashamed before history.”

This level of depth and nuance in discovery harkens back to the opening question about Galileo.

Many today do not escape a shallow

grasp of the facts relevant to big questions. Many incorrectly assume that Galileo’s punishment was much worse than house arrest. A week of prayer and reflection for these faculty members has been an antidote for shallow assumptions about science and religion and a salve of resting in the glory of God in the majesty of creation.

Jesuit’s participation in the McGrath Institute program is part of a larger movement to integrate the academic disciplines around a Catholic and Jesuit worldview. The Athanasius Kircher Fund allowed these eight faculty members to pursue these studies with depth and nuance, and more projects will be made possible as the fund grows.

These projects will drive an academic vision articulated in the same letter by St. John Paul II: “Science can purify religion from error and superstition; religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes. Each can draw the other into a wider world, a world in which both can flourish.” Jesuit High School remains committed to a faith that nourishes understanding, fostering in each student a capacity to find God in all things. 

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S T U DE N T FE AT U R E

Encountering Reality Through Art Andrew Bruce and the Jesuit Studio Art Program

by Christian Baustista ’06

I

n 2016, Pope Francis issued a message themed around “Sparks of Beauty” that referenced a 2009 meeting with artists held by his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. Benedict’s own speech, given in the Sistine Chapel, occurred on the tenth anniversary of another similar meeting called by St. John Paul II in 1999. In each of their own ways, the three Pontifices Maximi at once affirmed the importance of artists in the life of the Church and charged them with the responsibility of incarnating beauty in the world.

Benedict extolled his artist audience: “Dear friends, as artists you know well that the experience of beauty, beauty that is authentic, not merely transient or artificial, is by no means a supplementary or secondary factor in our search for meaning and

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happiness; the experience of beauty does not remove us from reality; on the contrary, it leads to a direct encounter with the daily reality of our lives, liberating it from darkness, transfiguring it, making it radiant and beautiful.”

Echoed through the words of three popes—and many before them—the themes of the fundamental importance of beauty and the indispensability of art have been articulated clearly and repeatedly by the Church.

Over the last few years, Jesuit High School itself has taken steps to emphasize the arts in its curriculum.

New art studios were constructed on the second floor in 2017 as a part of the Minds & Hearts Enlightened capital campaign; studio art was added as a two-year elective sequence for Blue Jays, with the course first taught by now-president Fr. John Brown, S.J., and now by longtime fine arts faculty member Meg Jennings; and with the first students now having completed this art sequence, Blue Jays such as rising senior Andrew Bruce have begun to make an impact on the art world beyond Jesuit’s halls.

“My experience as a student and as an artist at Jesuit have made me open to growth in a way that has led my mind to mature from the mind of a child into the mind of an adult,” said Bruce, reflecting on his underclassmen Blue Jay years.

“Though my faith life is rooted in my relationship with my mother— growing up, every day we would pray, read the Bible, and even sing the Hail Mary—my time in classes, at Mass, and in the art studio at Jesuit have really deepened my intellectual and spiritual life.”

A multitalented Blue Jay who speaks Chinese, teaches an emergency services course as a member of the Silver Air Patrol, and hopes to one day be a surgeon, Bruce sees art as a through-line in all of his own endeavors. Though he began his art career as a painter, he quickly branched out into various media and art forms. This summer, he earned a spot in a summer course with the world-renowned Rhode Island School of Design studying drawing, design, and animation. He was featured by local media in February 2021 when he designed miniature Mardi Gras floats for local non-profits. One float in particular drew praise from New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell.

“I want to say thank you to Andrew Bruce, a student from Jesuit High School, for making this beautiful float for me,” Cantrell responded. “The young talent in this city is showing.”

An Apprentice artist at YAYA in New Orleans (where artists are categorized as Aspirants, Apprentices, and Guild Members), he is now primarily interested in glass as a medium. As a glass artist and through his time in Jennings’s art class at Jesuit, he has begun to glimpse the importance of the message to artists from Pope Francis and his predecessors.

“The mysterious has always attracted me, and art is a way of getting at that,” Bruce said. “I want to be able to grow into the type of artist that allows me to more and more fully convey my message and emotions through developing my technique. But more importantly for me, being an artist and being in the art program at Jesuit gives me the chance to be a man for others by paving the path for students who will

ANDREW BRUCE come after me.”

He also sees a strong relationship between his art and the sciences and other fields such as marketing.

“There is a science to conveying emotion: it’s not just random. There is a sort of science of marketing yourself as an artist, especially today.”

In his speech to artists some two decades ago that would later inspire Benedict and Francis to make similar speeches of their own,

John Paul II affirmed, “In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art.” With a redoubled emphasis on the centrality of beauty in its curriculum and the spirited participation of Bruce and many other like-minded Blue Jays, Jesuit’s burgeoning art program has become an animating force in its pursuit of John Paul II’s call to leverage art to communicate the Gospel to the world. 

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EVENING OF REFLECTION

“Religion, What is it Good For?”

C

hrist speaks to people in a multitude of ways. C.S. Lewis famously said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains.” This past year has proven that while pain has been on the forefront of the minds of many, God has not stopped speaking to us and bringing us closer to Him. On February 25, 2021, Brandon Briscoe ’98 talked about another type of suffering: martyrdom. Briscoe led an Evening of Lenten Reflection that dug deep into the life of some of these witnesses of Christ. This reflection illuminated that, while these stories

can invoke fear, God provides the strength to get through. After Jesuit president Fr. John Brown, S.J., celebrated Mass, Briscoe dove into the history of martyrs and our own calling to martyrdom.

“It is fitting that we are all gathered here in the early days of Lent in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs,” Briscoe said. “Because what is Lent if not a 40-day journey of martyrdom.”

Briscoe talked about people choosing martyrdom—and it choosing them. These paths require total dependence on God and grace that only He can provide. At the end of his oration, Briscoe reminded everyone that Lent is a time both to reflect on these difficult ideas and also to commit to action because we are all called to be martyrs for Christ.

On April 21, 2021, Brown led a reflection on the never-overstated importance of religion itself. By

focusing on the importance of the sacrifice of the Mass, he emphasized that we should not go solely for selfcentered reasons; rather, we should go to the sacrifice of the Mass because we owe it to God. “Religion, what is it good for?”

Brown asked jokingly. “You owe it to God, but you also owe it to your fellow man.”

Brown related the idea of justice and according to St. Thomas Aquinas, how the practice of religion falls under that virtue. Religiousness itself, then is a virtue that everyone needs to strive to achieve. Whether he was talking about Rene Descartes, St. Thomas Aquinas, or St. John Bellarmine, the message was clear: sacrifice at the altar is our obligation.

“God is due all that we are,” Brown said. “We are a priestly people that are called to offer all that we have on that altar.” 

Evenings of R eflection

T H E I G N AT I A N Y E A R S E RIE S

The Year of the Cannonball

by Brandon Briscoe ’98

I

n the designs of Providence, you are reading these words, in part, because a French soldier fighting in 1521 in Pamplona, Spain fired off a cannon. The shot, of course, struck Ignatius of Loyola and initiated his convalescent conversion. A different sort of canon concluded the famous conversion story when Pope Gregory XV added Ignatius’s name to the Church’s roster of saints in 1622.

To mark the respective 500 and 400-year anniversaries of these two can(n)on events, the Society of Jesus has launched an Ignatian Year to celebrate the conversion of St. Ignatius and all that followed: the founding of the Jesuits, the witness of so many Jesuit saints and martyrs, the baptisms of countless souls, and the establishment of universities and schools worldwide, Jesuit High School among them. The year officially began on May 20, the date of the cannon attack, and will conclude next year on July 31, 2022. Although St. Ignatius was canonized on March 12 with St. Francis Xavier, the celebration will conclude on St. Ignatius’s feast day, the date of his death in 1556.

Indeed, the impact of that cannonball and St. Ignatius’s subsequent cooperation with God’s grace can hardly be understated. As the great apologist Fr. Ronald Knox observed, the Society of Jesus that St. Ignatius founded is a religious order uniquely marked by its energetic fervor. “Where men complain of it, they complain not of its relaxation, but of its activity; it has been suppressed, but it has never been reformed.”

Animating this activity and accomplishment for the past 500 years has been what Fr. Raymond

Fitzgerald, S.J., '76 once

described as St. Ignatius’s “spiritual arsenal.” Indeed, the spiritual life of the Church has been armed with St. Ignatius’s spiritual exercises, the Suscipe prayer, the daily examen, the A.M.D.G. motto, and more. Helpfully, this spiritual arsenal has been smartly summarized and beautifully depicted in Bishop Robert Barron’s “Pivotal Players” documentary about St. Ignatius and his spiritual teachings. The hour-long video has been made available for free for the Ignatian Year and can be found on the Word on Fire website through the QR code accompanying this article.

Visiting exquisitely filmed locations that feature prominently in St. Ignatius’s life, Barron walks viewers through the highlights of Ignatian spirituality. For example, he points out that St. Ignatius’s foundational motto—to do all things “for the greater glory of God”—works so well because it orders our every day. When we consider the underlying goal of each day’s activities, the A.M.D.G. principle reminds us that “What I am about today is giving ever greater glory to God.” And it’s not that God requires ever greater glory for Himself—the idea, rather, is that we can always give more of ourselves to God. Our spiritual work is never complete.

Barron walks viewers through the movements of Ignatius’s spiritual exercises—the self-examination and reflection on our sin, the contemplation of the life of Jesus who is the solution to our sin, the meditation on Christ’s suffering and death, and the immersion into His resurrection. The movements are designed to help those who undertake them to become indifferent to the

Ignatian Year attachments of this world and open completely to God’s will. “Here is the odd and deeply Christian paradox,” explains Barron. “Only when I give my liberty totally to Christ will I find real freedom.”

For St. Ignatius, the spiritual task for each of us is to detach ourselves from comforts and sin while living each day for God’s greater glory. Or in the words of Fr. Fitzgerald, “The purpose of our being here is to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord.

God gives us the means of doing this each day.”

Jesuit communities locally and worldwide are hosting events and providing resources to celebrate the Ignatian year in the coming months.

In the meantime, Barron’s short film is an excellent way to commemorate the anniversaries of those pivotal events centuries ago and to remind ourselves of St. Ignatius’s invaluable contributions to the spiritual life that can aid us in our journey back to our Creator even today. 

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FAT H E R- S O N M A S S

Strengthening Bonds

F

athers and sons totaling more than 500 experienced an extended morning of bonding and spiritual growth at Jesuit’s annual Father-Son Mass in January. To meet social-distancing requirements, the event was split into two separate Masses in Jesuit’s Chapel of the North American Martyrs. The popular steak dinner portion of the program had to be eliminated due to COVID restrictions but is expected to return in 2022.

After each Mass, attendees were treated to heartwarming stories shared by three Blue Jays seniors. Daniel Douglass and Garrett Derbes honored their fathers Danny Douglass and Lew Derbes ’89 after the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Sam Adams paid tribute to his dad Samuel Adams after the 11:00 a.m. celebration. Senior Connor Caplinger and his father Charlie Caplinger ’83 served as gift bearers for the early morning Mass. Senior Dickson Chamberlain and his father John Chamberlain presented the gifts at the second Mass. 

(above, clockwise) Senior Sam Adams honors his father at Mass; John Chamberlain with his son Dickson Chamberlain present the gifts; Samuel Adams and Sam Adams at the 2021 Father-Son Mass in the Chapel of the American Martyrs (below, top to bottom) Senior Daniel Douglass with father Danny Douglass and brother pre-freshman Jack Douglass ; Freshman Elliott Derbes, Lew Derbes ’89, and senior Garrett Derbes PHOTOS BY LOUPE PHOTOGRAPHY

EVENTS

Jesuit Honors Five Blue Jay Mothers

REFLECTIONS FROM THEIR SONS Josh DeBlieux ’13 Zach DeBlieux ’19

“Our mother truly embodies a servant leader and is someone whose actions speak louder than words. She inspires us with her kindness, energy, and selflessness to be men for others.”

Palmer Montalbano ’17 Carter Montalbano ’20

“I truly believe the world would be a much better and joyous place if there were more people like my mother. I hope she understands one day that her will to volunteer has motivated our family to work hard and to make others’ lives better.”

(above) The 2021 Alma Mater Award honorees —(left to right) Wanda Montalbano, Lori Ryan, Jill Stoner, Vonda Rice, and Karen DeBlieux—with Jesuit president Fr. John Brown, S.J., at the Jesuit Mothers' Luncheon

Jordan Rice ’13 Charles Rice III ’16

“My mother was always fiercely selfless. Serving others was never something that was a question, and that continued to ring true during my time as a Blue Jay. What is most important to me is the legacy she continues to set to this day by continuing to serve others happily, still serving the Jesuit community well after her two boys have graduated."

Connor Ryan ’11 Patrick Ryan ’14 Andrew Ryan ’18

“Anything she has done for Jesuit or other communities has been rooted in what she did for my brothers and me and set a wonderful example for us. As her son, I could not be more proud, and I am truly lucky to have such a special mother.”

Anthony Stoner ’16 Dominic Stoner ’20

“While I may not often admit it, my mother has been perhaps the most influential figure in my life, teaching me how to care about others and to place their needs before my own. It is her example that has shown me how to put my faith into action in service to my community and to give back for all I have received.”

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EVENTS

Generations of Love Blue Jays and their Grandparents Celebrate Mass

O

n Saturday, April 24, Jesuit students and their grandparents arrived at the Chapel of the North American Martyrs on Jesuit’s campus to celebrate the special relationship between Blue Jay grandparents and their grandchildren. In order to safely accommodate all families, two Grandparents' Masses were held to provide for adequate social distancing in the large chapel.

In a new component of this annual event, three senior speakers offered stories and personal vignettes about their relationship with their grandparents; Ben Hunn and Ethan Morgan spoke after the first Mass, and Ian Reily spoke after the second (pictured to the right, respectively).

Hunn’s remarks focused on his grandfather Dale Hunn ’68; Morgan honored his grandmother Brenda Valteau; and Reily paid tribute to his grandfather René Curry ’56.  34 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

Welcome Back, Birdie!

E

ven after swapping his holein-one witness chair for his heavenly observation post, the late Br. William Dardis, S.J. ’58 continues to positively influence an event he enjoyed for decades.

Undoubtedly, Br. Dardis’s annual plea to the Blessed Mother helped keep threatening rain away from the 2021 Jesuit Golf Classic presented by IberiaBank|First Horizon. The event took place on a windy but dry Friday in April on the Bayou Oaks South Course at City Park.

More than 200 members of the Jesuit community competed in the safely distanced event that returned to the school calendar after a one-year COVID cancellation. Jesuit president Fr. John Brown, S.J., and a host of school administrators welcomed guests as they arrived. And taking Br. Dardis’s place, retired alumni director Mat Grau ’68, assisted by his wife Leah, presented the participant

closest to the pin in each foursome with a “spirited” prize.

The Class of 2001 team of Adam Bailey, Brian Foret, Craig Geraci, and Jared Strecker won the morning round with a low score of 58 (14 under par). That group also walked away with the coveted Class Cup trophy, which is presented to the foursome of alumni golfers (all in the same class) with the lowest score of the day.

The afternoon round winners were a foursome from the Class of 1992: Rene Baumer, Travis Bonifacic, Richard Edrington, and Joe Lavigne, who recorded a 59 (13 under).

Kris Martinez ’02 and Blue Jay parent Paul Treuting won the longest drive contest, while Rock Grundmann ’99 and Todd Johnson ’11 walked away with prizes for being closest to the hole.

Jesuit thanks presenting sponsor Iberia Bank, Eustis Insurance & Benefits, and the following businesses

for their support of this event: Acme Oyster House, Banner Chevrolet, Bayou Oaks, Central City BBQ, Chateau Café, Crescent Crown Distributing, Drago’s Seafood, Galatoire’s, Foodie Fest, Harrah’s Gulf Coast (Biloxi), HRI Properties, L’Auberge Casino Hotel, Promotional Products For You!, Mr. Mudbug, Paul Piazza & Son, Inc., Pelican Ice, Perret’s, and Sports Beat Pub & Café.

Jesuit offers its thanks to tournament chairman Fred Gaupt ’73 and committee members Krista Roeling (lead coordinator), D.J. Galiano ’07 (operations), Cherie Turk-Adler and Mike Rodrigue ’71 (on-course restaurants), Tom Bagwill and Clint Romig ’94 (sponsors), Anne Barnes (volunteers), J.P. Escudier ’95 (prizes), Bill Hare ’90 (donations), Mike Prados ’83 (tee gift), and Brittany Donnes, Myles Kuss ’16, and Christian Bautista ’06 (communications). 

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

35

EVENTS

B

lue Jay Spirit was on display at John Ryan Stadium on March 20 as hundreds of Jesuit parents, alumni, students, volunteers, supporters, and friends showed up for the Blue Jay Bazaar DriveThru Food Fest. With an unprecedented 857 pre-purchased meals given out over the course of the day, the special COVID-compliant format for the event was a resounding success.

Presented by Reliant Recycling and made possible especially by local restaurants Acme Oyster House, Central City BBQ, and Drago’s Seafood, the Drive-Thru Food Fest was supported by a dedicated team of 130 volunteers under the leadership of this year’s Bazaar chairpersons, Jesuit parents Amy Burke, Jaime Falcon, and Michelle Ellzey. Alongside the inperson component of the Bazaar, auction chairpersons Cindy Wooderson and Alison James headed up efforts to put on a top-notch virtual auction that drew thousands of bids from around the country. 

36 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

JESUIT BAZA AR PRESENTING SPONSOR

T-SHIRT SLEEVE SPONSORS

TOP LEVEL SPONSORS

T-SHIRT SPONSORS

SHOPPER TOTE SPONSORS THE FALCON FAMILY KIRBY, JAIME, DYLAN, & ABBY

K ATE & ETIENNE BALART SCHEUERING SECURITY SERVICE

FOOD TENT SPONSORS

SOUVENIR CUP SPONSORS

THE ABADIN FAMILY ALEXANDRIA NEUROSURGICAL CLINIC THE BENSEL FAMILY BOBUCO, INC. DELTA REGION COFFEE SERVICE EAST JEFFERSON EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS THE ELLZEY FAMILY THE GIBBENS FAMILY HELM PAINT & SUPPLY, INC. HYUNDAI OF METAIRIE THE KEHOE FAMILY LOUISIANA BOAT DEALER LOUPE PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO PERRET'S FOR JESUIT UNIFORMS PORTER & LUKE'S RESTAURANT TRUE TITLE OF METAIRIE

STADIUM FENCE BANNERS SPONSORS SPONSOR FLYER SPONSORS ANDERS LAW FIRM, LLC DR. & MRS. NICHOLAS A. DANNA III LEE AND JENNIFER GARY MR. AND MR. GERARD HENRY LOUISIANA BOAT DEALER METRO GI & ASSOCIATES OCSM SPORTS PERFORMANCE ORTHOPEDIC CENTER FOR SPORTS MEDICINE & PHYSICAL THERAPY SCHOOL TIME SIGMA CONSULTING CORP. JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

37

REUNION RECAPS

1976

1961

2016

1975

1956

1955

1956

1995

REUNION TIME After a year of postponed reunions, classes came back in full force to celebrate the memories and friendships that they made at their alma mater. The Classes of 1986 and 2011 kicked off the muchanticipated summer with tremendous showings of teachers and alumni alike. Photo galleries of each reunion event are available on the alumni section of the Jesuit website. 

2006

1951

1991

1986

2001

1975

38 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

REUNION RECAPS

2001

1995

1961

2015

1991

1976

1955

2015

2011

1950

2011

1986

2006

2016

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

39

Where Y'at?!

’74

ALUMNI: TELL US WHERE Y’AT! Submit online at jesuitnola.org/where-yat.

CHRISTOPHER DREW

1950s William Hugh Murray ’53 is retired

from IBM, Deloitte & Touche, and Verizon and is living in New Canaan, CT, after a career in cybersecurity.

He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Information System Security Association and a Fellow of the International Information System Security Certification Consortium.

In 2016, he was inducted into the National Cybersecurity Hall of Fame.

He was a visiting professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, for seven years.

1960s Mat Grau ’68 has joined the Board of

Trustees of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. The shrine is a sacred place of pilgrimage, worship, and prayer for those devoted to the Mother of Jesus under the title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, patroness of New Orleans.

Bob Tompkins ’68 self-published a

book in January: Choice Fruits From the Family Tree: Stories About My Parents, Grandparents and Other Ancestors Who Made a Difference. He is a retired sportswriter, having worked four-plus decades at newspapers across the state, the longest stretch at The Town Talk in Alexandria, where he resides with his wife of 45 years, Janet. In 2016, he was voted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

40 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

Stephen Blust ’69 was awarded

the AT&T Fellows Honor, the top technical honor in AT&T, joining the group of 70 other Fellows inductees over the history of the company. As Director of Radio Standards, he was recognized for a sustained career of outstanding leadership, extraordinary technical contributions in advancing mobile wireless communications, and his long-standing role in the industry as a global visionary and thought leader. Stephen lives in Georgia.

1970s # Christopher Drew ’74 co-wrote Into the Deep: A Memoir From the Man Who Found Titanic with famed ocean explorer Robert Ballard. Published in May, it expands on the undersea focus in his bestselling book Blind Man's Bluff about submarine spying during the Cold War. After 22 years at The New York Times, he returned to Louisiana to teach journalism at LSU and looks forward to catching up with classmates.

Peter Finney, Jr.’74, who is executive

editor/general manager of the Clarion Herald, newspaper of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, is the recipient of the 2021 Cardinal John P. Foley Award from the Catholic Media Association. The Foley award recognizes demonstrated excellence and innovation in Catholic storytelling in the preceding year, with work presented on various media platforms, including—but not limited to—video,

podcasts, photo spreads, blogs, or a multimedia melding of platforms.

Pat Williams ’74 and his wife Linda

returned to the New Orleans area in the summer of 2018 after living in North Carolina for 32 years. He recently retired from the LA State Department of Facility Planning and Control. He spent the majority of his career as an architect / project manager representing institutions including Carolinas Medical Center, North Carolina State University, Research Triangle Institute, and FPC as the owner's representative. He is glad to be home and looks forward to traveling and volunteering.

John Boulet ’75 is a pediatric

emergency medicine specialist in Huntsville, Alabama. He and his wife, Joni, have four children.

Jeffrey Hartlage ’79 has been

nominated for the Sun of the East Awards, from the Tagore International Film Festival, as a co-writer for the screenplay Motema.

1980s # Jim McCormick ’86 topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for the third time with “The Good Ones,” which he co-wrote with singer Gabby Barrett and two others. He recently released two albums as one fourth of the Write Brothers, alongside Paul Sanchez, Alex McMurray, and the late Spencer Bohren.

W H E R E Y 'AT ? ’86

JIM McCORMICK

’89

’91

RYAN MIRE

’98

JUSTIN ANSEL

DANNY WHITE

Tim Leach ’89 is an optometrist and

Brian Landry ’94 was named the

Allen Porter III ’06 has received a

the clinic director for My Eye Dr., overseeing the DFW, Houston, and NOLA region. Tim lives in Frisco, TX, with his wife, Myriam, and two sons.

Christian Brothers School 2021 Alumnus of the Year. He is the Chef/Owner of QED Hospitality, a restaurant operations management group that he co-founded in 2018.

While restaurants were closed because of COVID-19, QED Hospitality started a telehealth company called QED Resources in order to keep as many hospitality workers as possible employed and to support hospitals and patients in the midst of the pandemic.

fellowship from the James Madison Foundation to return to Princeton, his alma mater, to study, write, and teach.

# Ryan D. Mire ’89 has been named president-elect of the American College of Physicians representing internal medicine physicians, related sub-specialists, and medical students.

Dr. Mire will be formally installed as president in April of 2022.

Joseph Wright III ’89 has been on

Coast Guard active duty to lead the COVID vaccination tracking of members in the San Diego area of responsibility as well as standing up and managing the random testing program.

1990s # Justin Ansel ’91 was promoted to colonel before making his tenth deployment in 2018. He returned from Iraq and received orders to serve as the assistant chief of staff, G-3/5 for Marine Forces Reserve in New Orleans. Ansel and his family live in Mandeville.

Brad Bordes ’94 was promoted to

colonel in the US Air Force in July.

An active duty member of the USAF since 2001, he is presently stationed at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio. He and his wife Hiroyo have one son.

# Danny White ’98 was named athletic director at the University of Tennessee in January. White previously served as AD at Buffalo and Central Florida. His brother Mike ’95 is head basketball coach at the University of Florida.

2000s

Andrew Hamilton ’07 is the director

of security at the new Four Seasons Hotel in New Orleans.

Patrick Vocke ’07 graduated from

Harvard Business School’s MBA program in May as a George F. Baker Scholar. This summer he is moving back to Houston with his wife and two children and will begin working for the Sterling Group, a middle market private equity firm, as a vice president on their investing team.

2010s Tony Fortier-Bensen ’11 is living in

Charleston, SC, after accepting a job as a technical writer for Booz Allen Hamilton.

Anthony Scelfo ’05 has been

named Southeastern Louisiana University’s tight ends coach, recruiting coordinator, and pass game coordinator. Scelfo spent the past three seasons as the quarterbacks coach, recruiting coordinator, and pass game coordinator at Northwestern State.

Jonathan Finney ’06 has moved

back to New Orleans after five years away from home to start working at Southern Orthopaedic Specialists in pain management. He has joined his uncle, Tim Finney ’77, in the practice.

He says that he has enjoyed giving back to the community that has given so much to him.

Connor Gillen ’14 passed the CPA

exam in the fall of 2020 and is currently working as a staff auditor at Deloitte & Touche in New Orleans.

Cameron Guernsey ’15 graduated

from Johns Hopkins University with a master’s in engineering management and has accepted a product manager position in Longmont, CO. He manages a portfolio of hybrid and EV drivetrain solutions for on-highway, off-highway, and marine applications. 

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

41

In Memoriam

Jesuit remembers deceased alumni and faculty in Jaynotes, which is published biannually.

The listing below includes notified passings from Dec. 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

We continue to memorialize deceased members of the school community—with links to their obituaries and other details—on a daily basis in the In Memoriam section of our website (QR code below). To notify us of a death, please complete the online form at jesuitnola.org/in-memoriam or call Jesuit's volunteer office at (504) 483-3947.

1930s

1940s

George A. D'Hemecourt ’34

George M. Quartano ’40

Frank J. Panepinto, Sr. ’44

Anthony J. Clesi, Jr. ’48

Edward J. Joubert, Jr. ’35

Francis X. Levy ’41

Frank J. Vonder Haar ’44

Richard R. Francis ’48

Wiley L. Mossy, Jr. ’39

Andrew P. Caneza ’43

Alfred E. LaPointe ’45

Robert G. Morgan ’48

Fr. Paul W. Schott, S.J. ’40

Philip Cooper, Jr. ’43

Robert H. Charbonnet ’46

Wilfred O. Prados, Jr. ’48

Henry F. Mestayer ’44

Louis A. Lanaux, Jr. ’47

William A. White ’48

42 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

IN MEMORIAM

1950s

Teurlings J. Roy, Jr. ’49

John C. Putnam ’51

Hugh W. Huxen ’53

John D. Becker ’57

George B. Groetsch ’50

Paul P. Hatrel ’52

Louis G. Cucinotta ’54

Albert A. Demerast, Jr. ’57

Paul P. Rutledge ’50

Gerald C. Keller ’52

Vincent A. Messina, Jr. ’54

Grady C. Lloyd, Jr. ’57

John L. de la Houssaye, Sr. ’51

Robert N. Morgan ’52

Stanley A. Villavaso, Sr. ’54

Andrew J. Meibaum, Jr. ’57

Ernest C. Hansen, Jr. ’51

Anthony C. Amadeo ’53

Eugene K. Simon ’55

Joseph B. Vella ’57

Henry J. Lartigue, Jr. ’51

Raphael J. Eiffert, Jr. ’53

Timothy A. Caserta ’56

Jude H. Trahant ’58

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

43

IN MEMORIAM

1960s

1970s

Francis P. Caliva, Jr. ’59

Gerald J. Martinez, Sr. ’61

Robert B. Cahill ’63

Ronald H. Vaccaro ’69

Willard A. Eastin, Jr. ’59

Gerry A. Rault ’61

Lucas H. Ehrensing ’63

Wayne E. Villavaso ’69

F. H. Lapeyre ’59

Kenneth R. Vairin ’61

Patrick A. Sabadie ’63

Ernest L. Harvey, Jr. ’71

Samuel J. Brown ’60

Rene' C. Viosca ’61

Robert E. Songy ’64

Timothy P. Kingsmill ’74

Earl J. Pennison, Sr. ’60

Ralph N. Watermeier, Jr. ’61

Reed M. Pringle ’67

Steven T. Richard ’74

Stanley C. Simons, Sr. ’60

James R. Conway III ’62

G. Mark McGregor ’68

Gregory M. Johns ’75

44 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

IN MEMORIAM

1980s

1990s - 2010s

Paul L. Hebert, Jr. ’78

Pierre R. Sabate' ’88

Fr. O'Neal flanked by past students Brett Giroir ’78, left, and Mark Schott ’78.

JESUIT REMEMBERS EDUCATOR & ALUMNI CHAPLAIN, 1960-2017

Gerard B. Gelpi ’80

Henry J. Steudlin III ’88

Fr. Norman B. O’Neal, S.J. (1926-2021)

Christopher B. Edwards ’83

Fr. Norman B. O'Neal, S.J., of Grand Coteau, Louisiana, died June 20, 2021, at 95, a Jesuit for 73 years and a priest for 62 years.

Jack E. Bowling ’11

(Staff, 1979-2006)

Robert J. Rioux, Jr. ’84

Charles J. Coulon ’98

Jackie G. Bruno

Michael T. Birtel ’86

Beryl B. Greco

(Faculty, 1994-1997)

Scott T. Fowler ’85

Beloved by generations of students, Fr. Norman O’Neal was remembered by the Jesuit community at a memorial Mass on evening of Tuesday, June 29.

In 1960, he was assigned to teach science and religion at Jesuit where he would remain for 57 years, with only three interruptions: tertianship (a year of final training as a Jesuit), a year at Holy Cross College to earn his master’s degree in chemistry, and a year of sabbatical in 1988-89.

For most of his tenure, he taught earth science and chemistry, and is remembered fondly by countless Blue Jays in this capacity.

“The over-arching star in his personality was kindness,” former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu ’78, one of O’Neal’s students, told local obituary writer John Pope. “He didn’t have a big, loud personality. He wasn’t someone who sought the limelight, but he was always there and he was always smart.”

O’Neal also served as alumni chaplain beginning on a part-time basis in 1989. He took on the role on a full-time basis in 1994.

During his time at Jesuit, he also penned a biography of St. Ignatius.

In January 2017, his health necessitated a move to St. Charles College and the Alphonsus Rodriguez Pavilion in Grand Coteau.

In his time here and through his final days, he kept up with family, friends, and acquaintances and faithfully and fervently prayed for the Church and the Society. 

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

45

DECEMBER 1, 2020 – MAY 31, 2021

BIB LIST JESUIT CONGR ATULATES: Kelly & David Boyd '87 on the birth of

Carly & Chris McArdle '01 on the

Lauren & Timothy Brinks '05 on

their son, Spencer Campbell Boyd, Nov. 11, 2020.

birth of their son, Reilly McArdle, Feb. 2, 2021.

the birth of their daughter, Caroline Renee Brinks, Oct. 1, 2020.

Marie & Tommy Harold '93 on the

Sally & Casey Forshag '02 on the

Laurie & Craig Daste '05 on the birth

birth of their son, Thomas Patrick Harold, Jr., March 24, 2021. Thomas is the grandson of Elliotte Harold '56.

birth of their daughter, Charlotte James Forshag, July 12, 2020.

Charlotte is the granddaughter of Kurt Forshag '70.

of their daughter, Genevieve Elisha Daste, Feb. 13, 2021.

Heather & Ryan Leach '93 on the

Diana & Alex Farge '05 on the birth

Sarah & Millard Mule '02 on the birth

of their daughter, Caroline Julianna Farge, April 29, 2020.

of their daughter, Isabella Gianna Mule, Sept. 18, 2020.

Alexandra & Johnny Giavotella '05

birth of their son, Jack Lewis Quinn, March 19, 2021. Jack is the grandson of Patrick Quinn III '72 .

Ashley & Jordan Bunch '03 on the

on the birth of their daughter, Lola Dawn Giavotolla, Nov. 27, 2020. 6

birth of their daughter, Lucy Rose Bunch, March 10, 2020.

Christie & Aaron Hoover '05 on the

Alysha & Alfred Colfry III '98 on

Margaret & Eric Leefe '03 on the

birth of their son, Tanner Padraic Hoover, Oct. 23, 2020.

the birth of their son, Alfred John Colfry IV, Nov. 25, 2019. Alfred is the grandson of Alfred John Colfry, Jr. '63.

birth of their daughter, Cecilia Marie Barat Leefe, April 7, 2021. 7

Sarah & Christian Bautista '06 on

Iracema & Michael Arcuri '00 on the

Sara & William Heim '04 on the birth

the birth of their daughter, Theresa Carmen Bautista, April 8, 2021. 9

of their daughter, Ella Grace Heim, Dec. 15, 2020.

Katherine & Jonathan Finney '06 on

birth of their daughter, Remi Therese Leach, Jan. 30, 2021.

Shannon & James Quinn '97 on the

birth of their daughter, Mia Eleanora Arcuri, Jan. 19, 2021.

Corey & Peter Crowsen '00 on the

birth of their son, Jacob Peter Crowsen, Sept. 22, 2020.

Leslie & Henry George '01 on the

Charmaine & Mark Hill '04 on the

birth of their son, Andrew Pius Hill, March 24, 2021. 8 Catie & Michael McDaniel '04 on

birth of their daughter, Zoey Elizabeth George, Nov. 16, 2020.

the birth of their son, Nathan Devlin McDaniel, March 25, 2021. Nathan is the grandson of Craig Parker '72 .

Jenny & Gavin Guillot '01 on the birth

Leigh & Kevin Riley '04 on the birth

of their son, Hayes Edward Guillot, Sept. 4, 2020.

of their son, Jack Kevin Riley, Jan. 13, 2021. Jack is the grandson of Mike Riley '77.

Chris & Brandon Montgomery '01

on the birth of their son, Ryan Christopher Rakestraw, Aug. 28, 2020.

the birth of their son, Harry Ignatius Finney, Oct. 14, 2020. Harry is the grandson of Peter Finney, Jr. 74. 5 Katie & Craig Forshag '06 on the

birth of their son, Theodore Joseph Forshag, April 18, 2020. Thomas is the grandson of Kurt Forshag '70.

Chelsea & Ryan Hathaway '06 on

the birth of their son, Harris Miller Hathaway, April 6, 2021.

Christine & David Rigamer '06 on

Jessica & Benjamin Triche '04 on the

the birth of their daughter, Jade Rose Rigamer, Dec. 28, 2020

birth of their son, Austen Lawrence Triche, May 8, 2021. 1

Erin & Jonathan Rowan '06 on the

birth of their daughter, Caroline Marie Rowan, May 27, 2021.

46 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

1

BIB LIST

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Lindsey & Kevin Astugue '07 on

Sarah & Adam Laurie '08 on

the birth of their daughter, Anne Catherine Astugue, June 3, 2021.

the birth of their daughter, Julia Josephine Laurie, Apr. 3, 2021.

3

10

Info and images for the Bib List may be sent to www.jesuitnola.org/bib-list.

Raenell & Michael Ballero '07 on

Jennifer & Kenneth Taylor '09 on the

the birth of their son, Louis Ballero, March 24, 2021.

birth of their daughter, Amelia Marie Taylor, March 17, 2020.

Katelyn & Ian Gunn '07 on the birth

Madeline & Peter Flores '09 on the

of their son, Patrick Pierce Gunn, March 10, 2021. 2

birth of their daughter, Anneliese Catherine Flores, March 29, 2021.

Lindsay & Ryan Bautista ’08 on

the birth of their daughter, Collins Everly Bautista, born on March 6, 2021. 10

4

New parents receive a pink or blue Jayson bib for their new arrival.

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

47

F LY I N G W I T H T H E J AY S

Blue Jay Athletic Programs Infused with New Blood Jesuit Adds Four New Head Coaches to its Roster

A

longside a new administrative building, an updated cafeteria, and a renovated Banks Street wing, Jesuit has welcomed new head coaches to the football, wrestling, tennis, and lacrosse staffs.

Leading the Blue and White on the gridiron will be experienced coach Ryan Manale. He also joins the school’s faculty while serving with Joseph Latino as an assistant athletic director.

Manale arrives at Jesuit from his most recent head coaching position at De La Salle. After attending Archbishop Rummel and earning a bachelor of science from Southern University of New Orleans, Manale served as an assistant coach for 13 years at Rummel.

During his nine-year tenure at De La Salle he accumulated a 7923 overall record with appearances in four state championship games.

His 79 wins are the most earned by any Cavalier football coach. In 48 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

district play, his record stands at an impressive 45 wins and six losses.

In 2017, Manale was named Louisiana Coach of the Year, and beginning in the same year, he earned the designation of All-District Coach for four consecutive years.

From the gridiron to the mats, Jesuit will be welcoming a familiar face to coach the historic wrestling program. Jonathon Orillion ’01, who recently returned to Jesuit as a faculty member and assistant wrestling coach for the 2020-21 academic year, has been named the head coach of the school’s storied and acclaimed wrestling program.

Having spent time coaching at the high school level in the mid-2000’s at Jesuit and then later at Rummel, Orillion most recently coached at the collegiate level at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.

The Blue Jay family will also be welcoming a new tennis coach.

Bill Jepsen joins the tennis program after managing parks and recreational

tennis programs in California, Georgia, and Illinois. He coached private and public boys and girls high school varsity tennis for 12 seasons in San Francisco and Chicago. He has managed a tennis club and was a tennis pro at two other clubs. He remains an on-call coach for A’s & Aces.

Lastly, fresh off a state title in his first season, Zach Pall has taken the reins of the lacrosse program.

Pall was highly recommended for the position by both outgoing coach Saban Sellers and on-campus team coordinator Roger Bacon ’10. Pall, originally from Long Island, NY, spent multiple years coaching in Alabama and Florida before moving to New Orleans to take the position at Jesuit. Having competed in the Lacrosse World Championship, he remains a member of the Israeli National Lacrosse Team, which was recently ranked No. 2 in Europe and No. 7 in the world. 

ANNUS MIRABILIS

A Field of Dreams

A

mong Jesuit’s storied athletic programs, baseball stands near the top. The Blue Jays’ diamond success that began in 1931 with the school’s first state championship continues today with the Jays taking the 2021 prep state title. From the beginning, that success has come from both sides of a Jesuit High School doublebarreled shotgun, blasting away in both prep and American Legion leagues.

When the Jays defeated Byrd 6–1 in mid-May in the title game, they notched the school’s 21st baseball state title. Two months later Retif Oil & Fuel added Legion state title number 20 to the school’s record books when they outscored Gibbs Construction 5–1.

What is notable, perhaps even remarkable, is that the Legion team remains school-based with all of its players Jesuit students or recent alumni. Other Legion teams are often all-star teams with players from various schools. Some schools choose to use Legion as a developmental program for the

next season’s prep team, leaving off their graduating seniors. Gibbs Construction consisted of recent alums from several metro area schools.

For Jesuit, the Legion team remains a tool for meeting its mission of developing young men of character with the interaction of younger and veteran players being significant in meeting that mission.

Today’s Jays and Oilers stand on a foundation of success forged by past players. A quick look at the record book might be jarring to the viewer: Legion “3-Peat” state titles from 1934–1936 and 1945–1947; and seven consecutive prep state championships from 1932–1938.

Unity has always been important at Carrollton & Banks—unity among underclassmen and seniors and the connection of today’s students with those who went before. And so when today’s Blue Jay proudly runs off the diamond possessing a new State title and tips his cap to all those former Jesuit players going back to the 1920s, it’s no Field of Dreams. It’s reality. 

(above, left) The 1934 Jesuit varsity baseball team after claiming the state championship

(above) Jesuit's first state champions, the varsity baseball team of 1931

(above) Jesuit's first American Legion team of 1932

F LY I N G W I T H T H E J AY S

Achieving Greatness JESUIT BASEBALL WINS FIRST STATE TITLE SINCE 2012

50 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

T

he goal of being remembered—of leaving a legacy—is a lofty one full of challenges. This Jesuit baseball team (31-6, 6-6) persevered and showed why it should be remembered for its talent on and off the diamond.

The No. X seeded Blue Jays defeated No. 1 seeded C.E. Bryd 6-1 in Shreveport to clinch the LHSAA Division 1 state baseball title.

Through the first 19 games of the season, Jesuit excelled at every facet of the game from hitting with power and contact to pitching and fielding. The result of this superior play was an early 19-0 record.

District play brought about new challenges, resulting in a string of mid-season losses.

The team still captured six wins but could not find a solid groove going into the big dance.

Yet this team never seemed to hold its head low.

The energy of the team took center stage and kept the roster motivated in times of trouble.

Jesuit entered John Ryan Stadium on Friday, May 7, needing two wins on its home turf to advance to another baseball semifinal. The Blue Jays wasted no time by winning those games 7-0 and 6-4.

Junior two-way star Holden Hess pitched a complete game shutout to open post-season play against Archbishop Rummel High School. He also delivered from the box by producing two hits and three RBIs. Seniors Tripp Haddad and Collin Loupe each helped put the game out of reach with two hits and an RBI each. Junior Ryan Porche took the hill in the second contest, looking to send the Raiders packing.

John Curtis stood in the way, a team that handed Jesuit a hard-fought

F LY I N G W I T H T H E J AY S

Zack Casebonne hits the championship winning grand slam.

defeat only a short time before. Jesuit would not let heartbreak strike twice.

The Blue Jays defeated the Patriots 4–3 thanks in part to a walk-off single by senior Zack Casebonne, whose game-ending RBI broke a multipleinning stalemate. Senior Hayden Morris scored the final run.

All-around solid performances from the Jesuit lineup contributed to the playoff victory; Hess pitched most of the game with senior Sean Cashman closing out the day for the Jays by putting away all six Patriot batters that he faced.

The final step to enshrine this team forever had come: the LHSAA Divison I state Championship game.

Jesuit did not miss a beat.

The triumphant afternoon was marked by game-long outstanding play by the Blue Jays with multiple

three-up-three-down innings under Porche, capped off by a championship grand slam from Casebonne. The Blue and White pin stripers captured Jesuit’s first baseball state championship since 2012.

Among this extraordinary team, a few individuals earned special recognition for their achievements.

Each year, the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association names outstanding baseball players to the LBCA All-State Team. This year, three Blue Jays from Jesuit’s championship team were tapped for this honor: Casebonne, Haddad, and Hess.

Super shortstop Loupe also made the LBCA All-Region team with Casebonne, Haddad, and Hess.

All of the above players were also named to the Louisiana Sports

Writers Association All-State team, and Loupe and senior thirdbaseman Giovanni Licciardi were awarded an honorable mention from the organization.

In addition to these honors, three Blue Jays from the championship team will be continuing their athletic careers at the college level. Casebonne will attend Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, Loupe will be staying close to home to attend University of New Orleans, and Licciardi joins the baseball squad at University of Louisiana at Monroe.

These players always got the job done with smiles on their faces while spreading an uncontainable enthusiasm. They not only won a championship but also inspired all of those who watched, immortalizing them at Carrollton & Banks. 

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

51

F LY I N G W I T H T H E J AY S

I

After Undefeated

Season L ACROSSE WINS

S TATE CHAMPIONSHIP

52 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

n a season for the history books, the 2021 Jesuit lacrosse team (10–0) accomplished the unprecedented: an undefeated LHSLL Division I state title. With a nearly three-to-one ratio of goals earned to goals given up for the entire season, the Blue Jay squad—from offense to defense and from underclassmen to seniors— relentlessly strove for excellence the entire spring.

The team’s successes, however, belie the many challenges and uncertainties that it faced from the outset, and the season’s ultimate conclusion came as the result of both unwavering resolve and enthusiastic commitment on the part of students, coaches, and parents.

Like coaching staffs across the region and nation, the leadership for the lacrosse team faced both foreseeable and unforeseeable challenges due to COVID-19.

“My biggest concerns as the faculty coordinator for the team,” said Roger Bacon ’10, “were finding a consistent location and time for practice for all three teams—varsity, junior varsity A, and junior varsity B.” Bacon, who is a member of the theology department, joined the team this year alongside new head coach Zach Pall, a member of the Israeli national lacrosse team, and the team’s new assistant coaches Robert Hinyub ’16, Gray Cressy ’16, and Dominic Sunseri ’16.

After finding solutions to the season’s logistical challenges, the coaching staff faced weeks of inclement weather that affected the team’s practice plans for much of February and March.

“Between the leadership of our coaches and the strong senior class, we overcame all of the adversity in terms of things outside of our control,” reported Bacon.

Leadership and perseverance prevailed,

F LY I N G W I T H T H E J AY S

and the season began with a strong opening against UMS Wright Preparatory School from Alabama.

The Louisiana-Alabama matchup foreshadowed the dominant season to come with the Jays coming away with a 20–4 victory. With seven goals and three assists, Berry College commit Andrew Brown, whose performance earned him the season-opening “player of the week” honor from LHSLL, led the offense while senior middie Jack Unger controlled the center of the field with nine ground ball pickups and six faceoff wins along with five goals of his own. Sophomore goalie Ethan Lago successfully defended Jesuit’s goal eight times— from crease to crease, the team was already firing on all cylinders.

The team quickly picked up comfortable wins against St. Paul’s (16–5) and Catholic High School (16– 8) leading up to a game against Isidore Newman. In the Newman matchup, Jays on the offensive, midfield, and defensive regions of the field worked together to generate a 15–9 victory. Senior Evan Centola led the offensive with five goals with Brown contributing four of his own. Unger, who had 13 faceoff wins, and senior midfielder Dickson Chamberlain picked up a combined 19 ground balls.

The midseason defense came into its own under the leadership of seniors

Max Milano, Miller Farnsworth, Gavin Fitzpatrick, David Welsh, Bill Daley, Carston Betbeze, and Jaques Karcher.

The winning streak continued against St. Thomas Moore, Brother Martin, and St. Paul’s Episcopal, setting the team up for the LHSLL playoffs in Lafayette against Northshore-based Chaos Lacrosse.

In the 19–5 victory over Chaos, Brown was named LHSLL player of the game, but overall offensive leadership from Centola (four goals), Farnsworth (three goals), and Unger (three goals) added to the Jays’ lead.

Junior midfielder George Martin won six faceoffs while contributing a goal of his own, and, on defense, laudable performances from David Welsh, Michael Welsh, and Masen Mannina won the day.

After an 8–5 semifinal victory against Lower Alabama at Lee Hedges Stadium, the team advanced to face Baton Rouge rival Catholic High School in the 2021 LHSLL State Championship. Assistant coach Bacon recalled: My favorite memory will be state finals weekend in Shreveport. We chartered a bus to take us from school to the hotel in Shreveport, and rode the bus everywhere while up there. Before we left, the team had a short prayer in the

3rd floor chapel with Fr. Dyer. We lit a candle with the intention that we would blow it out when we returned to school with a state championship.

That Sunday, we were fortunate enough to have Fr. Brown celebrate Mass for us in one of the chapels at Loyola Prep, and he and Coach Dave Moreau were there on the sidelines just as they had been at baseball's state championship the day before. The coaches put together an excellent game plan, and the team executed it to perfection; our defense took their best player completely out of the game, holding him to zero points.

In spite of losing Andrew Brown late in the 2nd quarter to a broken arm, the guys came together and capped off an incredible season with the state championship to finish 10-0.

As promised, we returned to Jesuit late Sunday night and blew out that candle in the chapel.

LHSLL named Milano the game’s defensive MVP and Centola the offensive MVP with LHSLL Division I coaches later meeting to name Brown, Centola, Unger, Milano, and David Welsh to the 2021 LSHSLL All-State teams. USA Lacrosse commended Brown with the Bob Scott award, and, at the conclusion of his very first season at Jesuit, head coach Zach Pall was named the Louisiana coach of the year. “It feels amazing,” Pall commented a postgame interview. “These kids have worked so hard this year, and their hard work paid off.”

The coaching staff has resolved to continue to challenge its players and help them develop as lacrosse players and as men. “We hope to resume our annual trip to Dallas and matchup with Strake Jesuit,” said Bacon, “and we're also hoping to add a trip to Shreveport and Alabama or West Florida. We're going to continue to help our players develop the attitude and the mindset to work hard to grow in all aspects of their lives, especially as men for others.” 

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

53

F LY I N G W I T H T H E J AY S

Golf Following a shortened 2020 campaign, the Jesuit golf team claimed another Catholic League district title to continue its successful run. The Jays’ 13th district title in the past 14 seasons came by way of an unbeaten regular season going into regionals.

The golfers defeated familiar Catholic League opponents such as Holy Cross, Rummel, St. Augustine, and Brother Martin. The closest match occurred on March 9 against Brother Martin at English Turn on the Westbank. Due to windy conditions, both squads posted higher scores than usual, but Jesuit weathered the storm and Jacob Schorr and Morgan Hebert led the Jays to a 169-173 victory each with a score of 41.

The Blue Jays continued their impressive play at the regional stage, finishing 3rd, which was good enough for a spot in the Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA golf championships. This feat is even more impressive considering that the tournament has switched to an eight-team format. Jesuit wrapped up its season by finishing 6th in the state tournament.

The Jays were led by multi-sport athlete Hebert, who tied for 16th with scores of 77 and 73. Junior Taylor Boasberg finished inside the Top 20 (tied 19) with 77 and 74. Junior cocaptain Merrick Rotolo shot 73 and 82. Schorr finished at 168 (85 and 83), and senior co-captain Si Holmes shot a 169 (83 and 86).

The team, coached by Owen Seiler ’75, brought another district trophy back to Carrollton & Banks. 

Bowling Jesuit bowlers capped off an outstanding season with junior Luke Wood claiming the state runner-up medal at April’s LHSAA State Singles Championship in Baton Rouge. Wood averaged an impressive 246 over four games and finished just 19 pins behind the gold medal winner from Central

54 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

LaFourche. The tournament included the top 81 prep bowlers from across the state. Seven of them, a school record, had Jesuit emblazoned on their jerseys. Joining Wood were seniors Ben Hunn and Michael McGovern, juniors Collin Pearce and Gary Sims, and sophomores Will Adams and Will Carpenter.

Jesuit fell to state champion Brother Martin in second-round play of the LHSAA team tournament.

An outstanding regular season included multiple shutouts as well as new team and state records. In 18 games (six bowlers from each school bowl three matches) against Patrick Taylor Academy, Blue Jay bowlers knocked down 3,951 pins, 128 more than the previous school mark. Their 12-game total of 2,716 pins broke a state record held by rival Brother Martin.

Hunn, Sims, and Wood were named to the All-District First Team.

Adams was named to the All-District Second Team. A panel of coaches from other schools selected Hunn, a fouryear starter and two-time captain, as District co-MVP. Other 2021 contributors include seniors Brandon Griffin and Tyler Westfall and juniors Jonah Anderson and Josh Barraza. 

Soccer With Hubie Collins at the helm, Jesuit soccer concluded the regular season unbeaten and claimed another district title for the school.

The team followed this momentum into the LHSAA State Tournament by defeating Ruston 7-0 in a one-sided affair.

The regional round also produced a lopsided victory for the Jays against No. 18 West Jefferson. On a misty and foggy night at the Ryan, Jesuit showed no signs of letting the nasty elements affect them. After 20 minutes senior Trevor Reichman, with some help from seniors Colin Bruzdzinski and Noah D’Aunoy, scored a hat trick before the fog even had time to settle.

Senior Robert Colomb scored on

a header to extend the lead to 4-0 going into halftime. Jesuit claimed the victory by a score of 7-0.

The squad would not stop there.

The Blue Jays continued their success on the pitch by defeating No. 7 St. Amant 4-0 in the quarterfinal round of the LSHAA playoffs at John Ryan Stadium.

Reichman continued his impressive play by scoring and then assisting on a goal by Bruzdzinski to grab an early 2-0 lead. For the rest of the half, the Jesuit defense held strong with its typical combination of seniors Maxx Hanemann, D’Aunoy, Jacob Merritt, and Noah Relan.

Unfortunately, the win streak would end at 18 games. The Blue Jays and the St. Paul’s Wolves produced another exciting soccer match-up. When the semifinal concluded, St. Paul’s ended Jesuit’s undefeated campaign by a score of 2-0.

Senior mid-fielders Chris Schmidt and Joe Pacaccio provided stability in both the attacking and defensive ends of the pitch.

Two Jays will continue their careers in college. Goalie Raymond Sauerwin will play for Spring Hill College, and forward Trevor Reichmann will leave New Orleans for Sewanee University.

With a season full of offensive and defensive skill, the soccer team finished 18-1-1. 

Tennis The Jesuit tennis team produced another exciting season in 2021. The Jays finished their regular season on April 8, defeating all local competition except Brother Martin. Some impressive wins included sweeps of Holy Cross, Newman, and Lusher.

After a successful regular season, the Blue Jays brought the momentum to the regional round of the LHSAA playoffs. Day one at regionals produced ten wins for Jesuit out of 11 matches with the only loss being a 3-set nail biter with rival Brother Martin.

Day two also brought exciting tennis action to City Park. Four out of five

F LY I N G W I T H T H E J AY S

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

55

F LY I N G W I T H T H E J AY S Jesuit entries made it to the semifinals.

The doubles team consisting of seniors David Webster and Nicholas Crockens qualified for the championship match.

The tennis season came to an end on April 26 at the LHSAA State Tournament. All five singles players and doubles teams won first round matches and impressed throughout.

When the final match was finished, the solid and deep Jesuit team placed fourth.

Other standouts from the season included seniors James Bostick and Ethan Morgan and sophomore Nick Kapusta.

One Blue Jay will be continuing his work on the court at the next level: Nick Crockens will represent Jesuit at Quincy University in Illinois starting in the fall.

First-year coach Bill Jepsen is confident that Jesuit will continue to improve and become even more competitive as it strives to keep pace with the strongest high school programs of Louisiana. 

Basketball The 2020-2021 Jesuit basketball season was a rollercoaster of sighs and triumphs for the cagers and their fans.

The Jays (20-10) made a huge jump from the 2019-2020 season by making it to the semifinals of the LHSAA state tournament.

The excitement ramped up after the squad managed to defeat eventual state champion St. Augustine in the regular season after losing earlier in the year.

After the hard-fought contest, the Jays started to believe in themselves and wins started piling up.

By early February, the team had won four in a row. The momentum seemed to be turning in the right direction for a long playoff run. Shortly before the postseason was set to take place, Jesuit had to cancel the last games of the season due to COVID-19 protocols.

The No. 5 seeded Jays came into the LHSAA playoffs not having played 56 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

since early February. Rust was the concern on every fan’s mind, but Jesuit made a well-disciplined showing with wins over No. 13 Rummel and No. 4 Catholic.

The Blue Jays started their winning streak on March 1 in the Benson Arena with a match-up against the Raiders.

Jesuit relied on superior defense to power them through a tough opponent and ended up winning big in the trenches. The game ended 58-29 in favor of the Jays.

On March 5, the second game took the Jays on the road to Baton Rouge to face a highly talented Catholic team in a raucous environment. Despite the distance from Banks Street, a large crowd of students traveled to support the team.

The game started as a defensive battle between rivals. As usual, senior Christopher Gillen, senior Patrick Lavie, and junior Matthew Knight applied defensive pressure that allowed only 17 points in the first half and only five in the second quarter. Knight also thrived on the offensive end by scoring 15 points and nailing clutch free throws to close it out.

In the third period, the Jesuit offense came alive. Sophomores Jack Lo and Josh Washington continually brought the ball to the basket and converted tough drives. Lo finished with a game-high 17, and Washington pitched in nine crucial points. Senior Malcolm Baldwin, who handled the ball with caution throughout, found points in the paint and mid-range game.

Bringing the momentum from Baton Rouge to Lafayette, Jesuit went into the semifinal round and left it all out on the court against powerhouse and No. 1 seeded Scotlandville.

The Jays ultimately fell short in the Cajundome 46-43.

Until the doors to the Benson Arena open again, fans can rest assured that head coach Chris Jennings ’78 and his staff will be preparing for another exciting season. 

Rugby The Jesuit Rugby Team finished 3rd in the state of Louisiana in 2021. The team was led by senior captain Mason Mahfouz and multiple other seniors. The Jays were coached by veterans from the New Orleans Rugby Club and the NOLA Gold, the professional rugby team based in New Orleans. The team had many successes, finishing with a record of 3-3-1 and defeating both Texas teams that toured to New Orleans to play matches. The Jays relished the opportunity to compete during a year of uncertainty.

Coach Jeff Reuther ’99 added: “The Blue Jay Rugby Team demonstrated excellent skills and teamwork throughout the year.

Several players are returning for the 2022 season that joined the NOLA Gold U-19 program over this past summer, which yielded notable improvements. We have high aspirations and goals for the upcoming season.” 

Track & Field This was an incredible season for the Jesuit track & field team. The long-distance events are where Jesuit shined. At the LHSAA District 9-5A Championship, the Blue Jays took the top two spots in the 800-meter, 1600-meter, and 3200-meter. At the LHSAA Region 3-5A Championship it was much the same with Jesuit nabbing the top two spots in 800-meter and 1600-meter and first and third in the 3200-meter. Leading the team in these events with first-place finishes in both the 800-meter and 1600-meter runs (at district and regionals) was freshman Michael Vocke. Vocke currently holds the second-fastest 1600m (4:17.27) and fastest overall 3200m (9:28.30) and full mile (4:21.37) time in the state.

Also with first-place finishes at district and regionals was senior pole vaulter Aiden Devine and 3200-meter

F LY I N G W I T H T H E J AY S

runner sophomore Jack DesRoches.

The 4x800 relay team—senior Chris Dehart, junior Morgan Hebert, and sophomores Aeric Wender and Zack Blanchard —made an amazing showing with a second-place finish at district and a first-place finish at regionals.

The team’s success carried over to the LHSAA’s Class 5A State Track and Field Championship where the Jays placed fifth out of 38 teams overall.

Vocke and DesRoches both brought home the gold with first-place finishes in the 1,600-meter (4:17.27) and

3,200-meter (9:47.89), respectively.

Devine sailed to a bronze finish with a third-place finish (13-11.25) in the pole vault.

The Louisiana Sports Writers Association named Jesuit's Vocke to the 2021 All-State Track and Field Team in recognition of his outstanding season. 

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

57

EXTR AORDINARY GIVING

The

en d ol G by

Jim

ies d l O

2

er ’6 d y R

When it comes to extraordinary giving, the Golden Oldies are still on the playlist.

A

fter committing to support an institution such as Jesuit High School, benefactors often seek to maximize the impact of their gift. Tax laws have traditionally provided a number of tax-favored devices to donors of extraordinary gifts—that is, large gifts made from accumulated wealth or forgone future income as opposed to recurring gifts made from current income. Jesuit recognizes donors of extraordinary gifts as members of the Maisonaube Bequest Society.

It is important to emphasize that extraordinary giving must have a substantial philanthropic motive: there are no personal economic gains from making charitable gifts. Tax benefits can only reduce the cost of a gift.

While recent policy changes potentially dilute the tax benefits of charitable giving, federal laws such as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 did not, for the most part, directly affect long-established extraordinary giving techniques, referred to in the industry as “The Golden Oldies.”

For many benefactors looking for the most efficient ways to give, these oldies are still topping the charts.

58 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

EXTR AORDINARY GIVING

BACKGROUND ON RECENT CHANGES What has changed in recent years are the potential tax savings in the area of estate and gift taxes.

The changes in the income tax rules are relatively benign, and, for larger gifts, can be a net positive. For smaller gifts, the increase in the standard deduction can cancel any income tax benefits; however, the overall annual limit on the deduction for charitable contributions has been raised from 50 percent to as much as 60 of adjusted gross income for donors itemizing deductions. Contributions in excess of this amount can be carried forward and deducted for five succeeding years.

Beginning in 2018, the transfer tax exemption has been increased to $11.4 million per person ($11.7 million for 2021 adjusted for inflation), effectively eliminating the tax for most people. The transfer tax exemption has never been “rolled back,” but theoretically, unless new legislation is passed, this exemption is scheduled to revert to $5 million (adjusted for inflation) per person on December 31, 2025. Louisiana does not have an inheritance tax.

BEQUESTS Bequests are the most popular form of extraordinary giving.

In order to make a charitable bequest to Jesuit, a donor must have a will. Anyone who owns any property—including a family home— who wants to guarantee the property passes according to his or her wishes needs to provide for these wishes in a will. Absent a will, property will pass under state law, which may be in contradiction to those wishes.

It is prudent to have a will, and adding Jesuit as a beneficiary can always be done through a simple addendum, called a codicil, without having to completely redraft an existing will. A will is not irrevocable and can be changed unlimited times;

CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUSTS

only the last will before death is determinative.

LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES Life insurance policies are another vehicle for extraordinary giving.

They can be gifted to Jesuit in one of two ways: by transferring ownership of an entire policy to Jesuit or by designating Jesuit as a beneficiary of a policy. The transfer of ownership or change of beneficiary can be effected by executing forms obtained from one’s insurance company.

Income tax deductions are available for the value of a policy transferred to Jesuit.

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES

A Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) is a means to benefit Jesuit and simultaneously create a lifetime income stream for the benefactor.

Similar to a commercial annuity, a CGA is a contract between Jesuit and a benefactor to pay a lifetime fixed amount of income to the annuitant (and, if chosen, a second person such as a spouse). The rates are set by the American Council on Gift Annuities, an independent nonprofit organization. Currently, the rate for a joint annuity where both annuitants are 75 years of age is 4.6 percent. Since a portion of the annuity is considered a return on investment, it will be received tax free. The annuitant also receives a current income tax deduction for the actuarially computed value of the amount passing to Jesuit at the termination of the annuity.

A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) functions similarly to a CGA but is more flexible—albeit slightly more complicated.

In a CRT, property is transferred to a trust, and the settlor retains the income for a period of time, usually life. At the termination of the trust, the remaining principal transfers to Jesuit. There can be more than two non-charitable beneficiaries of a CRT, and the income payout can be greater than that of a CGA while being structured in such a way as to increase as the value of the trust corpus increases.

A CRT is a tax-exempt entity, which means that appreciated property can be transferred without being considered a taxable gain for the benefactor. As with the CGA, a settlor receives a current income tax deduction for the actuarially computed value of the amount eventually transferring to Jesuit.

GENERAL PROPERTY GIFTS Finally, if appreciated property is donated to Jesuit, the donor may receive an income tax deduction for the fair market value of the property without having to recognize a taxable gain on the appreciation. There are a number of exceptions to this approach depending on the specifics of the property donated.

The above descriptions of these vehicles are, of course, brief sketches of these topics. Before any action is taken, I strongly advise consulting with one’s own tax and legal advisors.

The Jesuit Advancement Department can also provide resources and further details. If you have any questions, contact Tom Bagwill, Jesuit’s Director of Institutional Advancement, at bagwill@ jesuitnola.org. 

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

59

2021 REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 (JULY 1, 2020 - JUNE 30, 2021)

Jesuit has shifted the publication of the Report of the President to the Spring/ Summer edition of Jaynotes to better align with the end of its fiscal year. The report reflects unaudited financial figures.

60 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

FINANCIAL SUMMARY | (JULY 1, 2020–JUNE 30, 2021)

PAGE TITLE

FY ’21 STATEMENT OF OPERATING ACTIVITIES* OPERATING REVENUE

ENDOWMENT DONATIONS FY 2021

Tuition Less Financial Aid

$12,991,000 (1,046,000)

Total Operating Revenue

$11,945,000

$635,526

FY 2020

$742,599

FY 2019

$947,292

OPERATING EXPENSES

Instructional & Student Services General & Administrative Facility Operations & Capital Improvements

$9,954,000 3,012,000 3,530,000

Total Operating Expense

$16,496,000

Deficit from Operations

$(4,551,000)

$0

$0.5M

$1M

$1.5M

TUITION FY 2021

$ 9,950

FY 2020

ADDITIONAL REVENUE

Donations Unrestricted Investment Income Scholarship Investment Income Blue Jay Bazaar/Celebration Forgiveness of SBA PPP Loan Other Income

$2,710,000 363,000 1,800,000 280,000 2,288,000 32,000

Total Additional Revenue

$7,473,000

OVERALL SURPLUS

$2,922,000

*The Statement of Operating Activities does not include activity associated with the Minds & Hearts Enlightened capital campaign. Campaign income is restricted by donors for the intended purposes and not available for general operations. Those donations are, however, included in giving summaries and donor honor roll.

TOTAL AMOUNT OF AID & COURTESIES $1.25M

$1,103,921

AID

$1,033,860

$750K $500K

$979,653

$948,060

FY 2019

$9,450

$0

$2K

$4K

$6K

$8K

$10K

STUDENTS RECEIVING AID FY 2021

191

FY 2020

154

FY 2019

183

0

50

100

150

200

250

20

25

COURTESIES

FY 2021

11

FY 2020

11

$958,861 FY 2019

$250K $0

$ 9,750

COURTESIES*

$1,046,421

$1M

$2M

$124,268

$85,800

$87,560

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

17

$0

5

10

15

*Courtesies include sons of faculty and staff members.

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

61

FISCAL YEAR 2021 GIVING DONATIONS AT A GLANCE

BY DOLLARS

5%

$0

$6,007,752

BY CONTRIBUTORS

7%

<1%

$8M

3,898

$ 6,333,773 4,785

0

2K

4K

6K

TOTAL

DONORS

8K

10K

CELEBRATION GALA AND AUCTION & BLUE JAY BAZAAR NET INCOME Jesuit’s Celebration Gala and Auction, which was chaired by Cindy Wooderson, and co-chaired by Jessica Hughes and Kelley Moreau, was held virtually on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2020.

The Bazaar Drive-Thru Food Fest was held on Saturday, March 20, 2021, and was chaired by Amy Burke, Jaime Falcon, and Michelle Ellzey.  $300K

$279,871

$276,302 $250K

92%

$200K

$126,193 $181,267

$162,678

$150K

Alumni, Parents & Parents of Alumni* Friends Foundations

3,230

Total

3,494

$124,766 $100K

250 14

$147,246 $117,193

$50K

$56,501* $0

* For the purpose of these charts and to avoid double counting, alumni who are parents of current Jesuit students or parents of alumni are counted as alumni only.

62 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

$10M

$ 9,476,775

FY 2020

FY 2019

Total

$6M

3,494

20%

Alumni, Parents $4,501,112 & Parents of Alumni* 1,231,459 Foundations 275,181 Friends

$4M

$6,007,752

FY 2021

75%

$2M

FY 2019 CELEBRATION

FY 2020

FY 2021

BLUE JAY BAZAAR

* Excludes proceeds from the in-person event and the Grand Raffle, which were canceled due to COVID restrictions

CLASS ANALYSIS grad year

donors

living alumni

grads

percent donating

donation amount

grad year

donors

living alumni

grads

percent donating

1937

0

11

169

0%

$

1938

0

8

181

0%

1939

0

10

125

0%

1940

0

13

138

1941

0

13

1942

0

1943

donation amount

0

1979

40

230

240

17%

$

43,169

$

0

1980

32

210

227

15%

$

103,248

$

0

1981

29

200

207

15%

$

26,818

0%

$

0

1982

43

216

223

20%

$

52,873

147

0%

$

0

1983

56

232

241

24%

$

131,012

20

164

0%

$

0

1984

34

210

218

16%

$

33,566

4

21

160

19%

$

5,526

1985

47

219

234

21%

$

118,596

1944

4

22

139

18%

$

58,400

1986

45

211

219

21%

$

48,570

1945

4

21

139

19%

$

475

1987

36

234

241

15%

$

80,598

1946

7

34

138

21%

$

15,975

1988

29

234

243

12%

$

123,721

1947

11

46

165

24%

$

43,675

1989

36

239

249

15%

$

49,868

1948

9

39

151

23%

$

56,043

1990

39

205

211

19%

$

127,733

1949

9

25

94

36%

$

5,650

1991

61

211

218

29%

$

70,054

1950

15

55

160

27%

$

2,925

1992

68

228

233

30%

$

108,568

1951

24

66

168

36%

$

16,809

1993

38

231

237

16%

$

90,035

1952

19

64

159

30%

$

7,153

1994

49

223

230

22%

$

58,403

1953

34

73

168

47%

$

17,009

1995

60

261

263

23%

$

67,028

1954

23

71

163

32%

$

30,364

1996

52

231

239

23%

$

36,935

1955

38

105

183

36%

$

20,221

1997

52

277

281

19%

$

48,108

1956

50

88

149

57%

$

46,651

1998

48

233

237

21%

$

41,382

1957

49

96

152

51%

$

82,111

1999

27

277

281

10%

$

12,819

1958

46

118

187

39%

$

20,792

2000

36

264

270

14%

$

23,733

1959

37

101

171

37%

$

36,589

2001

44

250

253

18%

$

19,081

1960

60

154

226

39%

$

52,037

2002

14

256

258

5%

$

11,925

1961

38

150

225

25%

$

32,228

2003

46

287

288

16%

$

14,912

1962

47

141

181

33%

$

26,743

2004

47

278

280

17%

$

63,854

1963

63

169

210

37%

$

115,248

2005

26

266

266

10%

$

8,505

25

260

260

10%

$

8,605

1964

50

171

213

29%

$

36,014

2006

1965

38

174

222

22%

$

363,467

2007

18

273

274

7%

$

6,853

1966

53

160

191

33%

$

41,760

2008

19

273

273

7%

$

3,091

1967

45

129

163

35%

$

16,988

2009

6

244

245

2%

$

1,108

1968

59

150

172

39%

$

48,989

2010

10

258

259

4%

$

1,400

1969

51

158

195

32%

$

60,242

2011

23

260

264

9%

$

2,392

1970

41

136

162

30%

$

80,597

2012

55

262

262

21%

$

5,882

1971

35

153

178

23%

$

13,847

2013

16

254

255

6%

$

1,588

1972

33

154

182

21%

$

77,403

2014

65

260

260

25%

$

4,361

1973

40

152

164

26%

$

58,916

2015

20

275

275

7%

$

2,425

1974

39

140

157

28%

$

68,133

2016

4

273

273

1%

$

1,205

1975

36

148

158

24%

$

113,526

2017

2

289

290

1%

$

50

1976

54

193

204

28%

$

190,690

2018

2

276

276

1%

$

154

2019

1

271

271

<1%

$

25

14,250

17,848

18%

$ 3,565,466

1977

29

160

168

18%

$

29,752

1978

32

183

196

17%

$

18,263 TOTAL 2,626

Class Analysis Note: The classes of 2016–2021 were not invited to participate in AGD, but some class members generously gave. Giving numbers in the Class Analysis reflect total giving by alumni. For analysis specific to the AGD, please see the following page.

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

63

ALUMNI GIVING

TOP 10 CLASSES BY PERCENT grad year

donors

percent donating

’56

50

57% $

’57

49

’53

TOP 10 CLASSES BY AMOUNT grad year

donors

46,651

’65

38

51% $

82,111

’76

34

47% $

17,009

’60

60

39% $

’68

59

’58

TOP 10 CLASSES BY NUMBER

donation amount

grad year

donors

22% $

363,467

’92

68

30%

$ 108,568

54

28% $

190,690

’14

65

25%

$

’83

56

24% $

131,012

’63

63

37%

$ 115,248

52,037

’90

39

19% $

127,733

’91

61

29%

$

70,054

39% $

48,989

’88

29

12% $

123,721

’95

60

23%

$

67,028

46

39% $

20,792

’85

47

21% $

118,596

’60

60

39%

$

52,037

’63

63

37% $

115,248

’63

63

37% $

115,248

’68

59

39%

$

48,989

’59

37

37% $

36,589

’75

36

24% $

113,526

’83

56

24%

$ 131,012

’55

38

36% $

20,221

’92

68

30% $

108,568

’12

55

21%

$

’51

24

36% $

16,809

’80

32

15% $

103,248

’76

54

28%

$ 190,690

donation amount

percent donating

percent donating

donation amount

4,361

5,882

ALUMNI GIVING DRIVE Jesuit remains a leader among high schools across the country in alumni support. The primary vehicle for alumni giving is the Alumni Giving Drive (AGD). Donations to AGD and its companion drives (PAG for parents and POA for parents of alumni) are essential to the financial health of the school and help to keep Jesuit affordable, accessible, and thriving.

AGD donations keep Jesuit tuition affordable for all families, a goal separate from the financial aid that is supplied by proceeds from the endowment. Jesuit thanks the 2020–21 AGD leadership team of Arthur “Dooty” Patron ‘51, Arthur Mann ’64, Bob Bartlett ’75, John Zollinger ’85, J.P. Escudier ’95, Ian Blanchard ’03, and Kyle Crabtree ’12, for their outstanding job leading this important campaign. 

AGD RESULTS

DONORS

AVG. GIFT

AMOUNT DONATED

FY 2021

2,348

$495

$1,161,819

FY 2020 FY 2019

2,289 3,832

64 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

$473 $461

$1,085,889 $1,304,649

PARENT GIVING GIVING BY PARENTS Jesuit’s Parents’ Annual Giving Drive, also known as PAG, is as important today as it was when it began in the early 1970s.

For 18 consecutive years, parents have donated more than $1 million to offset operating expenses. Through this partnership, Jesuit is able to keep tuition at an affordable level for as many families.

Jesuit’s tuition remains one of the lowest among parochial and private schools in the New Orleans area and is, by far, the lowest among traditional Jesuit schools nationwide.

Jesuit thanks 2020–21 PAG chairman Pat Morris ’90, his 18 grade-level chairs, and 300-plus captains for their exemplary volunteer leadership. 

PAG RESULTS

DONORS

AVG. GIFT

AMOUNT DONATED

FY 2021

548

$1,859

$1,018,989

FY 2020 FY 2019

750 832

$1,199,289 $1,196,276

2020–21 PAG LEADERSHIP Chairman

Sophomores

Pat Morris ’90

Mason Couvillon ’92 David Joint ’93 Chris Mann ’90 Jessica Waguespack

Seniors

GIVING BY PARENTS OF ALUMNI

John Chamberlain Roger May ’84 Pat Morris ’90

Another area of annual support comes from Jesuit’s parents of alumni (POA). Current parents who are not alumni transition into the parents of alumni group after their sons graduate.

Juniors

Many parents of alumni remain connected to Jesuit long after their sons graduate from Carrollton & Banks, participating in events such as Celebration, the Jesuit Mothers’ Luncheon, Blue Jay Bazaar, and Evenings of Reflection. In fiscal year 2021, parents of alumni donated $64,025. 

$1,599 $1,438

René Alvarez ’83 Tom Barnett John Carbo ’90 Kent Finger ’83

Freshmen Will Newman ’93 Charles Seemann ’88 Eric Vocke ’93 Pre-Freshmen Len Aucion ’92 Carlos Calix ’92 Keith Hemel ’95 Markell Currault-Holmes

POA RESULTS

DONORS

AVG. GIFT

AMOUNT DONATED

FY 2021

183

$348

$64,025

FY 2020 FY 2019

133 187

$336 $369

$44,740 $69,003

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

65

Scholarships Scholarship donations become part of Jesuit’s endowment, which funds financial aid for deserving and qualifying families.

The amount to fully endow a Full Education Fund (FEF) is $250,000. The annual income from an FEF equals the amount of a full-cost tuition (tuition and gap).

All fully endowed scholarships at Jesuit High School are listed in this report. Existing partial scholarships are listed if they are active and have reached 25% of their fully endowed amount.

The amount of a fully endowed scholarship is $75,000. The annual income from this scholarship funds the average financial aid grant. 

FULL EDUCATION FUNDS Gayle & Tom Benson Charitable Foundation FEF Robert H. Boh ’47 FEF * The Jason ‘04 & Warren ‘74 Bourgeois Families FEF * Ambrose Patrick Gootee FEF * Michael H. McGarry ’76 & William A. McGarry, Jr. ’72 FEF Rev. Anthony F. McGinn, S.J. FEF *

Lynn & Robert D. Murphy, Jr. ‘69 FEF * Wally Pontiff, Jr. ’99 & Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76 FEF James P. Raymond, Jr. FEF Jane & John G. “Chick” Schoen, Jr. ‘63 FEF * Tonti Family FEF: Robert & Margaret, Robert '79, Michael '81, & John '84 *

*These gifts were applied to the Minds & Hearts Enlightened Capital Campaign

FULLY-ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS Capt. Nick J. Accardo, M.D. Scholarship Almar Foundation Scholarship Rev. Thomas E. Barberito, S.J. Scholarship Frank & Josephine Gallo Barreca Scholarship Eugene H. & Paul M. Barrios Scholarship John A “Jack” Belsom ‘51 Scholarship Rev. Edgar J. Bernard, S.J. Scholarship Joseph V. Bologna Scholarship Henry F. Bonura, Jr. Scholarship Linda & Frank Bordelon ‘59 Scholarship Bruce J. Borrello ‘50 Scholarship Rev. Claude P. Boudreaux, S.J. Scholarship Shawn Bowles Scholarship James & Kay Brandau Scholarship Clendon J. Butera Scholarship James L. & Carolyn B. Butler Scholarship Andrew P. Caneza ‘43 Operation Upgrade Scholarship Nicholas E. Caruso Scholarship George J. Cassard III ‘56 Family Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. Joseph A. Childress, Sr. ‘35 Scholarship Salvadore J. Christiana ‘52 Scholarship #1 Salvadore J. Christiana ‘52 Scholarship #2 Class of 1938 Scholarship Class of 1945 Scholarship Class of 1956 Scholarship 66 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

Class of 1959 Scholarship Class of 1963 Scholarship Class of 1965 Scholarship Class of 1966 Scholarship Class of 1968 Scholarship Class of 1969 Scholarship Class of 1970 Gold Star Scholarship Class of 1976 (Parents of Fr. Fitzgerald) Scholarship Class of 1990 Scholarship Wallie & Jules L. Coco ‘69 Scholarship Bob & Loretta Coleman Memorial Scholarship Philip R. & Mary C. Collins Scholarship Linda Vath & Michael E. Coney ‘63 Scholarship Robert J. Conrad, Jr. Scholarship Sissy & René A. Curry, Jr. ‘56 Scholarship Thomas D. Daley Scholarship Dr. & Mrs. William J. Dardis ‘25 Scholarship Br. William J. Dardis, S.J. ‘58 Scholarship Emma Jaquet Disimone Memorial Scholarship Duplantier Family Scholarship Hon. Adrian G. Duplantier ‘45 Scholarship F. Robert Duplantier - Boys Hope Scholarship

Gwendolyn B. & Ralph D. Dwyer, Jr. Scholarship J. Michael Early Scholarship Elmore Francis Rigamer, Sr. & Rita Mary Dazet Scholarship Hugh McCloskey Evans Scholarship Fran & John Faherty ‘53 Scholarship Guy G. Faulstich ‘67 Scholarship Elizabeth Leigh Faust Scholarship Frank L. Faust & Ruth Reuter Faust Scholarship Ruth U. Fertel Scholarship The Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. Student Scholarship Norris V. Fitzmorris ‘50 Scholarship James E. Fitzmorris, Sr. Scholarship James E. Fitzmorris, Jr. ‘39 Scholarship St. Marc J. Flotte Scholarship Ivan M. Foley, Sr. ‘33 Family & Fr. Albert S. Foley, S.J. ‘29 Scholarship C.L. Ford ‘43 & Don Ford ‘47 Scholarship Forshag Family Scholarship Edmund Fortier Scholarship Michael J. Galvin Family Scholarship Adam C. Gambel ‘34 Scholarship Robert A. Generes ‘41 Scholarship Rev. Jean Marie Germain Scholarship Gerard J. Gillen Scholarship R. Jerry Glas Scholarship Marjorie & Raymond Goodspeed ‘35 Scholarship

William E. Greve ‘37 Scholarship Haddad Family Scholarship Stephen S. Hall ‘75 Scholarship Harlan Family Scholarship Maurice F. Hatrel, Jr.’43 Scholarship Heard Family Scholarship Christian Blaine Hebert Scholarship William B. Higgins, Jr ‘29 & Donald V. Higgins ‘32 Scholarship Andrew E. Hillery Scholarship Robert E. Hogan Scholarship Elizabeth G. & Murray G. Hurd Scholarship Linda & Luis Ingles Family Scholarship David F. Jaubert ‘75 Scholarship Albert P. Keller Family Scholarship Nellie Flynn Kingsmill Scholarship Connie & Thomas Kitchen ‘65 Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. William B. Kitchen, Sr. Boys Hope Scholarship Louis F. Knop, Jr. Scholarship Olivia Schaefer Knop Scholarship Alden J. Laborde Scholarship Dr. Wallace J. Landry, Jr. & Clare B. Landry Scholarship Ronald “Snow” Lenfant ’42 & Rodney Lenfant ’80 Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Licciardi, Sr. Scholarship Louisiana Liaison Group Scholarship Norma & John K. Long ‘49 Scholarship Gladys & J. Ashton Majeau Scholarship Ulisse Marinoni Nolan Family Scholarship Richard H. Marshall Scholarship Logan J. Martin ‘84 Scholarship Marie C. & Benigno A. Martinez Scholarship Maud Blossman McCarron Scholarship Charles J. & Laurene Wu McClain Scholarship E. Thomas McEvoy, Jr. Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. Michael H. McGarry ‘76 Scholarship Rev. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ‘66 Scholarship (Donated by the Class of 1985)

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph R. McMahon, Jr. Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. John M. McMahon Scholarship Mary McNeally Scholarship Joseph A. Metzler ‘33 Scholarship Robert G. Miller, M.D. Scholarship Winnie Miller Scholarship Julio M. Minsal-Ruiz, S.J. Scholarship Patrick R. Mooney ‘68 Scholarship Michael J. Moran Scholarship Rev. M. M. Mulvihill, S.J. Scholarship Robert D. Murphy, Sr. ‘43 & Robert D. Murphy, Jr. ‘69 Scholarship Murray Family Scholarship Ardell & George Nalley, Sr. Scholarship Frederick Harvey Nicaud Scholarship Dr. Robert A. Nicaud ‘57 Scholarship Nunez Family Scholarship Frank S. Oser, Jr. M.D. Scholarship Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. John C. Paquette & Son Scholarship Rev. Daniel W. Partridge, S.J. Scholarship Mary & Vincent J. “Joe” Perez III ‘49 Scholarship Pettingill Brothers Scholarship: Bernard ‘65, Jeffery ‘66, William ‘68, & Byron ‘70 Rev. A. Patrick Phillips, S.J. Scholarship Francis A. Plough Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. J. Kevin Poorman ‘69 Scholarship Jamie Porter Memorial Scholarship Ronald M. Porter, Sr. ‘45 Scholarship W.D. “Maybelle” Postell Scholarship William D. Postell Scholarship Wilfred O. Prados, Jr. Family Scholarship Francis J. Prevost Scholarship Emile A. Rainold III ‘56 Scholarship Gerrard E. Raymond Scholarship Leola B. Raymond Scholarship Br. Joseph Remich, S.J. Scholarship Milton “Mickey” Retif Scholarship - (Metro Baseball) Clarence G. Reuther, Jr. Scholarship Robert W. Riordan, Jr. ‘54 Scholarship

Rizzo Family Foundation Scholarship Grace Redding & George A. Rizzo, Sr. Scholarship Raymond S. & Louise Rizzo Scholarship Stephen B. Rodi, Sr. ‘32 Scholarship Alphonsus Rodriguez, S.J. Scholarship The Maidee Daigle Rodriguez Scholarship Louie J. Roussel III Scholarship Christopher “Brent” Rozas ‘90 Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. Edward N. Ryan Scholarship James & Enell Ryder Scholarship Rev. Nicholas T. Schiro, S.J. ‘44 Scholarship Theodore & Josephine Schiro Scholarship Philip J. Schoen III ‘36 Scholarship Bernard I. Schott Scholarship Rev. Paul W. Schott, S.J. ‘40 Scholarship Owen Seiler Family Scholarship Edward W. Skinner Scholarship Michael C. Slaughter Scholarship #1 Michael C. Slaughter Scholarship #2 Bryan D. Spraberry ‘83 Scholarship Daniel J. “Rusty” Staub ‘61 Scholarship Mire J. “M.J.” Thomas ‘48 Scholarship Andrew Quirk & Harry Tompson Scholarship Harry M. & Jeanne R. Tompson Scholarship Edwin “Eddie” Toribio Scholarship Vincent Family Scholarship Gilbert J. Vincent ‘27 Scholarship Roger G. Vincent ‘33 Scholarship William S. Vincent ‘32 Family Scholarship Harry Waldo ‘45 Family Scholarship Michael J. Waldo ‘70 Scholarship A.T. Webber, Jr. & H. W. Christenberry, Jr. Scholarship Leo A. Welcker ‘45 Scholarship Michael J. Wheat Memorial Scholarship Linda Birdsall Wilson Scholarship Albert J. Winters, Sr. Scholarship Paul J. Zerangue, Jr. ‘42 Scholarship

PARTIALLY-ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS Eunice Knop Accardo Scholarship Guiseppe Accardo Scholarship Rosina Cognato Accardo Scholarship John D. Becker ‘57 Scholarship Philip J. Carroll, Jr. ‘54 Scholarship Class of 1958 Scholarship Rev. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ‘76 Scholarship (Donated by the Class of 1998)

Norma Ford Scholarship Elizabeth & Elliotte Harold ‘56 Scholarship Rev. Donald A. Hawkins, S.J. Scholarship Patricia A. Tibbits & Sterling J. Helwick ‘69 Scholarship Richard Kernion Family Scholarship Mary A. Long Scholarship

Luke & Josie Lukinovich Memorial Scholarship Michael G. Ory Scholarship Rev. Herve’ P. Racivitch, S.J. Scholarship Rivalry Account Scholarship Malcolm P. Schwarzenbach Scholarship Oscar J. Tolmas Scholarship Frederick W. “Fritz” Veters Scholarship

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

67

The Maisounabe Bequest Society The Maisounabe Bequest Society — formed in 1987 and named in honor of Fr. Jean Baptiste Maisounabe, S.J., the founder of Jesuit High School — recognizes living and deceased benefactors who have already provided or intend to contribute planned gifts to Jesuit High School. Such extraordinary gifts are typically made through bequests, annuities, charitable trusts, or life insurance policies.

The cross symbol (†) denotes the person is deceased. With couples, if the † is placed after a first name, only that person is deceased. When the † is inserted at the end of a couple’s name, both individuals are deceased.

Information about the various ways that charitable gift planning can benefit you and Jesuit is available at jesuitnola. org/planned-giving. You may also contact Tom Bagwill, director of Jesuit’s office of institutional advancement, at (504) 483-3841 or bagwill@jesuitnola.org.  Rebecca & Nick Accardo, Jr. ‘72 Janet Anderson (Robert ‘42) Phala & C. Clifton Andressen ‘65 Charles Bailey ‘31† Joy & Joseph Barreca ‘43 Earl Bellanger ‘46† Sibyl & J. Pierre† Bernard Albert Boelte, Jr. ‘55† Joseph Bologna ‘35† Melinda Hickey & Marc Bonifacic ‘92 Paul Bonitatibus Judy & Leon Bordelon ‘55 Thelma Bougere† William Bowen ‘38† Arion Boyle ‘55 John Browne ‘48† William Cahill† Kimberly & Timothy† Cambias ‘61 Pierce Carey, Jr. ‘31† Nicholas Caruso ‘66† Cyrus Caruso ‘38† Barbara & Michael† Casteix ‘70

Stephanie & Mark Castell ‘83 Harry Charbonnet ‘36† Victor Chisesi ‘49† Salvadore Christiana ‘52 Anthony Clesi, Jr. ‘48† Carol & Alexander† Cocke, Jr. ‘50 Wallie & Jules† Coco ‘69 John Coker ‘33† Candace & Robert† Coleman, Jr. ‘63 Philip Collins ‘36† William Collins ‘77 Joann & John† Combes Elvire Cordes† (Adrian ‘49) Alwynn Cronvich ‘36† Sissy & René Curry, Jr. ‘56 Genevieve & Michael D’Aquila ‘99 Sally & Thomas Daley ‘34† William Dardis† Edward Derbes, Jr.† Malcolm Disimone ‘42† Edward Drouet† George Dunbar† Sally & Adrian† Duplantier ‘45

Homer Dupuy, Jr. ‘31† Louis Dutel, Jr. ‘37† Dorothy & William Eanes III ‘36† Conrad Ernst ‘54† R. Erskine† Hugh Evans, Sr.† Gerald Fedoroff ‘50† John Ferrara ‘55 Ruth Fertel† John Fischer ‘46† T. Stephen Fitzpatrick, Jr. ‘38† Scott Fleming ‘79 St. Marc Flotte ‘38† Darla & Robert Foley ‘69 Cece & Robert Funck ‘75 John Gallagher ‘86 Catherine & Frederick Gaupp ‘73 Robert Generes ‘41† Glenn Gennaro ‘66† Valda & Frederick Gisevius, Jr.† Tristan Greene ‘87 Thomas Greve ‘43† Susan & Charles Grey, Jr. ‘62 Sue & William Hammel ‘57 Liz & Elliotte Harold, Jr. ‘56 Brenda & Ronald Hebert ‘58 John Hebert† Milton Hilbert, Jr. ‘38† Barbara & Scott Hines ‘93 Leslie Hottinger ‘32† Julie & T. J. Semmes Hughs ‘79 Diane & Dale Hunn ‘68 Patricia & George† Irwin ‘50 Jason Jeandron ‘97 C. Palmer Jones† Will Jourdan ‘52† John Kelly ‘63 Patricia & John Klause ‘61 Suzie & Rodney Lenfant ‘80 John Long ‘49† Lynn & Thomas Long ‘67 Barbara Lota Peggy & Michael Lulich ‘76 J. Ashton Majeau†

Hazel Manion† (William ‘33) Lynn & Arthur Mann III ‘64 Betsy & Robert Marino ‘64 Juanita McBride Stanley McDermott, Jr. ‘46† Elizabeth McDermott† (Stanley ‘46) Emanuel McEvoy, Jr.† Merlin McGivney† Diane & Martin Miller II ‘62 James Moreau, Jr. ‘72 Kathryn & Arthur Parham, Jr. ‘71 Doris Pilié† Kathy & Frederick Plaeger II ‘71 Carol & Ronald† Porter ‘45 Janet & John Blake Postell ‘59 Paula & Raphael Rabalais, Jr. ‘65 Stanley Ray, Jr. ‘33† Lillian D & Paul Reising, Sr.† Beverly & Clarence Reuther, Jr. ‘40† Betty & Robert Riordan, Jr. ‘54 Stephen Rodi ‘32† Sally & Louis Roussel III ‘63 Peggy & James Ryder, Jr. ‘62 Gail & Don Saucier ‘58 Edgar Schafer, Jr. ‘38† Susan & J. Garic Schoen ‘38† Stephen Scully ‘65† Thomas Shepard, Jr. ‘38† Emmett Smith, Jr. ‘55† Florence St. Paul† Paulette & Frank Stewart, Jr. ‘53 Catherine & Durel† Talbot ‘31 Dominic Tusa ‘71 Martin Van Studdiford† Roger Vincent ‘33† Harry Waldo, Jr. ‘45† Michael Waldo ‘70 Margarette Webber† Donna & A.T. Webber, Jr.† James & Frances Wheat† V. Wheeler III Adele & Kenneth† White John Wilday, Jr. ‘38† Paul Zerangue, Jr. ‘42†

Foundations Support from foundations assists Jesuit in keeping tuition affordable, providing financial aid for families in need, enhancing student programs, and improving facilities. Jesuit thanks the foundations listed below for their assistance in FY 2021.  Gayle & Tom Benson Charitable Foundation Ruth U. Fertel Foundation JKP Family Foundation Kelly Family Foundation Lauricella Land Company Foundation 68 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

Diane & M.O. Miller Foundation J. Edgar Monroe Foundation Robert & Lynn Murphy Foundation Jerome S. & Grace H. Murray Foundation N.O. Hispanic Heritage Foundation

Stanley W. Ray, Jr. Philanthropic & Civic Trust Stuart Family Foundation Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust

In Memory of and in Honor of...

Jesuit High School gratefully acknowledges the many benefactors whose contributions were given in memory of their loved ones.  Anthony Amadeo ‘53† Irita Angelico† G. Dufour Bayle ‘51† Marilyn Beauford† John Becker ‘57† Earl Bellanger ‘46† Claude Boudreaux, S.J.† Daniel Brennan, Sr.† Roy Brennan ‘69† Robert Cahill ‘63† Timothy Caserta ‘56† Anne Chapman† Robert Charbonnet ‘46† Anthony Clesi, Jr. ‘48† James Conway III ‘62† Elvire Cordes† Thomas Creagan ‘39† Jefferson Cressionnie Jr† Anthony Cucchiara ‘13†

Albert Demarest, Jr. ‘57† Willard Eastin, Jr. ‘59† Christopher Edwards ‘83† Lucas Ehrensing ‘63† Raphael Eiffert, Jr. ‘53† Mary Fitzgerald† Lee Foley, Jr. ‘53† Carl Giffin, Sr. ‘54† John Glas ‘61† George Groetsch ‘50† Ernest Harvey, Jr. ‘71† Mildred Hawkshead† Sharon Hewlett† James Hotard, Sr.† Hugh William Huxen ‘53† Charles Jeanfreau, Sr.† Edward Joubert ‘35† Gerald Keller ‘52† David Knill ‘78†

Elizabeth Lacroix† Keith Landry ‘85† F. Henri Lapeyre, Jr. ‘59† George Lara ‘53† René Lazare, Jr. ‘43† Jean Legrand† Maurice Legrand† Lloyd Lind ‘85† Gerald Martinez, Sr. ‘61† Gloria Mazzeno† Elizabeth McDermott† Henry Mestayer ‘44† James Meyers ‘47† Robert Morgan ‘52† André Navarre ‘17† Shirley O’Dwyer† Norman O’Neal, S.J.† Wallace Paletou ‘59† Wilfred Prados, Jr. ‘48†

Reed Pringle ‘67† Harry Ray, Jr. ‘52† Otto Rees ‘45† Beverly Reuther† Earl Rozas† Elizabeth Rozas† Paul Schott, S.J. ‘40† E. Kelleher Simon ‘55† Stanley Simons, Sr. ‘60† Edward Smith ‘55† Robert Songy ‘64† Richard Spangenberg ‘43† Henry St. Paul, Jr. ‘43† Gene Tarzetti† Rene’ Viosca ‘61† Keith Whipple† Kenneth White ‘42† Lee Zollinger†

Matching Gifts Employee matching gift programs are important sources of income for Jesuit High School. The entities listed below have employee matching gift programs that contributed to Jesuit in FY 2021.  AT&T Abbott Laboratories Alabama Gas Almar Foundation Ameriprise Financial Services Ball Bank of America Baptist Community Ministries Baudier Auto Bayer C.V. Starr Charles Schwab Chevron Chevron U.S.A. Coca-Cola Delta Air Lines Edwards Lifesciences Eli Lilly & Co. Entergy Entergy Services

Fluor Freeport-McMoran Google Graham Holdings Hartford Insurance Group Hershey Company Hewlettte Packard Enterprise Humana Huron Consulting Group IBM IBM International Foundation LAMMICO LPL Financial Lennox Industries Lincoln Financial Foundation Marsh & McLennan McMoran-Freeport Oil Medtronic Merrill Lynch Microsoft Mondelez International Morgan Stanley

Murphy Oil USA NBC Universal Northwestern Mutual PPG Industries Pfizer Progressive Insurance Regions Bank Regions Financial Corporation Foundation Schneider Electric Shell Exploration & Production Shell Oil Shell Pipeline State Farm Insurance Synchrony Financial TEGNA Foundation The Oaks Wedding & Event Center The Standard Travelers Insurance Unum Group Wells Fargo

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

69

MINDS & HEARTS ENLIGHTENED PAGE TITLE

While Jesuit has never backed down from growing its campus or its endowment to better meet the educational needs of its students—from the construction of the Student Commons to the addition of the school’s still-cutting-edge science labs— the Minds & Hearts Enlightened Campaign is by far the school’s boldest capital undertaking.

MHE RESULTS

DONORS

AVG. GIFT

AMOUNT DONATED

FY 2021

346

$8,611

$2,979,357

FY 2020 FY 2019 FY 2018

1,190 294 106

$5,695 $13,461 $25,839

$6,787,864 $3,997,936 $2,738,963

In short, the campaign is a collective resolution made by the entire Jesuit community to situate Jesuit at the educational forefront for generations to come. For thousands of Blue Jays who will one day walk the halls at Carrollton & Banks, the instructional, athletic, co-curricular, and spiritual experiences that make up a “Jesuit education” will be permanently and tangibly improved.

Our donors’ generosity has enabled the school to transform the gym into the impressive Benson Arena. In the same building, brand new locker rooms have replaced aging training facilities. Almost every classroom on campus has been renovated, and, in between classes, students can now safely travel across Banks Street on the Stuart Brothers Bridge.

In addition, benefactors have added more than $5 million to Jesuit’s endowment. Soon, the public-facing components of the school (including the Blue Jay Shop, the events/volunteer office, the advancement office, and the admissions office) will move to a new four-story administration building. Renovation of the 192670 | J A Y N O T E S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

wing, which will create space for expanded and enhanced student activities, will follow.

The campaign’s pledges currently total $30,293,063 with $17,903,230 donated as of June 30, 2021. 

VOLUNTEERS At Jesuit High School, it is not the exclusive domain of the faculty and administration to educate its students and develop in them the competence, conscience, and compassion to enable their formation into Men of Faith and Men for Others. The Jesuit Community is fortunate and blessed to be able to rely on an extensive network of volunteers who play supportive and pivotal

leadership roles. Jesuit is grateful to its volunteers— enthusiastic and dedicated parents, alumni, and parents of alumni—for their unselfish contributions of time and talent. Jesuit is proud to recognize the many faithful volunteers who served on various boards and committees during the 2021 fiscal year. 

F Y ’ 2 1 J ESUIT LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT’S ADVISORY COUNCIL

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

chairman

chairman

Malcolm Schwarzenbach III ’83 Partner Trumpet, LLC

Brian North ’83 President & CEO Fifth District Savings Bank

Greg Abry ’82 President/CEO Abry Brothers, Inc.

Edwin Mazoue, Jr. ’62 Retired City of New Orleans

Walter “Beau” Baudier III ’98 Attorney Design Engineering, Inc.

Fr. Richard Hermes, S.J. President Jesuit High School, Tampa

Mason Couvillon ’92 President/Financial Planner Dardis Couvillon & Associates, LLC

Brian North ’83 President & CEO Fifth District Savings Bank

Fr. John Brown, S.J. President Jesuit High School

Thomas Kitchen ’65 Retired Stewart Enterprises, Inc.

Vonda Rice IT Business Analyst Entergy

Fr. Penn Dawson, S.J. Assistant Professor of Law, Campus Ministry Loyola University

Eric Simonson ’82 Attorney at Law/Partner Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Raymond “Rocky” Daigle, Jr. ’85 Partner Beacon Pointe Advisors John Dardis ’59 Chairman of the Board Dardis Couvillon & Associates, LLC Gerald Duhon ’85 Executive Director Café Reconcile Brandon Gregoire ’91 Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) United State Marine Corps Kevin Heigle ‘69 Attorney/President Capital Title Agency, Inc. Heigle and Associates Patricia LeBlanc Of Counsel LeBlanc Fantaci Villio, LLC

James Ryder, Jr. ’62 CPA Self-employed Robert Talbot ’80 Real Estate Broker Talbot Realty Group Michael Varisco ’83 Owner ASRS, LLC Fredericka Wicker Appellate Judge 5th Circuit Court of Appeal State of Louisiana Cindy Wooderson Events & Volunteer Assistant Jesuit High School

Karen DeBlieux Head of US Corporate Banking, Market President Capital One

Gregory Tilton ’70 Cardiologist Cardiovascular Specialists, Inc.

ALUMNI STEERING COMMITTEE Doug Adams ’01 Jay Baudier ’68 Ken Boe ’84 Travis Bonifacic ’94 Stephen Cazentre ’87 Chris Cox ’89 Kyle Crabtree ’12 Ron Drez ’83 Chad Evans ’97 George Moisant ’66

Mike Pfister ’76 Kyler Pisciotta ’16 Mark Rodi ’59 Cardell Ross ’96 Graham Ryan ’04 Jeff Serpas ’00 Br. Terry Todd, S.J. ’58 Walter Zehner ’65

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS |

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