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Featured Article:

They Took Care of Us

Winter 2026 V O L 10 9 • N O 1

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Be a Champion of Judge Memorial T H A N K YO U to O u r Cu rrent C H A M P I O N S

JENNIFER ANDRUS BRETT AND MICHELLE BACKMAN MEGAN AND JOHN BARRON LIZ AND SCOT T BET TY

A convenient and secure way to support Judge Memorial is to join our CHAMPION monthly giving program. Being a CHAMPION of Judge benefits everyone. Giving regular monthly donations helps you easily manage your gift to fit your budget, and it provides a dependable source of support that Judge can count on throughout the year.

JOAN BRAND THOMAS AND DEANN BRENNAN BRIAN CHAPPELL AND LIZ ELLISON J A M E S CO R D O VA A N D CO R I G R OT H CHARLES AND KRISTINE DOVER DYLAN ESSON S TA N L E Y A N D T R A C Y F I N N JOSEPH GIBBONS AND LAURA STEFFENS FREDERICK AND JORI HARRIS LOUISE AND ROGER HENDRICKSON WAY N E H E N T S C H E L DASCH AND MEGAN HOUDESHEL M O N I C A H O WA - J O H N S O N A N D B R E N T J O H N S O N ROGER AND LISA JACKSON

As a CHAMPION of Judge, when you participate in our monthly giving program, you will receive:

B R YA N A N D N I C O L E J E F F R E Y S DEREK JENSEN AND TERESA CERESKA R YA N J O H N S T O N E A N D D R . E R I C A J O H N S T O N E KARLA AND ROBERT KELLER

• A special CHAMPION of Judge gift • One annual tax receipt letter each January to help with your tax preparations

RICK AND KRISTIN KLADIS PAT R I C K A N D H I L A R Y L A M B E R T ZACHARY LAUFER N AT H A N M A C K N I G H T SONJA MCKOWN ALEX AND JUDITH MILES SARAH MORRIS JOYCE MUNSON

• Recognition in our CONNECTIONS magazine

M AT T PA C E N Z A A N D J U L I E S T E WA R T MIRIAM AND KEITH PHINNEY DIANNA PUGH CHRIS RING BRIAN AND JAMIE SCHOLL N AT H A N I E L S H AW AIDA AND DAN SHEPHERD CHRIS AND MARY SLOAN A U N D R AYA A N D J A R E D S O B O T K A T I M O T H Y S O R A N A N D J E N N I F E R PA R S O N S S O R A N JIMMY AND BROOKE SOTO WILLIAM AND ERIKA TRENTMAN

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Principal Patrick Lambert ‘97

Advisory Board Tim Clark ‘91, Chair Dominique McCarthey Aragon ‘97 Landon Clark Mary Crowther Marc Day ‘03 Joe Evans ‘93 Leeza Evensen Sean Erickson ‘00 Jim Fuoco ‘75 Stephen Hemmersmeier ‘13 David Leo ‘84 Michael McGinley ‘66 Rene Valles, MD

C O N N E C T I O N S J U D G E

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J U D G E F E AT U R E S A M es s age from t h e Pr in cipal

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M e et the ne w Adviso r y B o ard M embers

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Th ey Took Ca re o f Us

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J e a n ette S awaya R et ires

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A LU M N I

Ex Officio Members Liz Betty, Associate Director of Advancement Joan Brand ‘93, Faculty Louise Hendrickson ‘83, Vice Principal Andrew Montoya, Director of Finance Jimmy Soto ‘89, Director of Advancement

R e u n i on R ound up

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J u d g e Fa m i ly Tree

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Paw Pr i nts : Bui lders o f a M o re Just S o cie t y in Ac tio n

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I n M emor i a m

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G ra n dpare nts Day

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Nikki Ward, Superintendent

Advancement Staff Jimmy Soto ‘89, Director of Advancement Liz Betty, Associate Director of Advancement Joyce Munson, Director of Constituent Relations Will Hawes, Community Relations Coordinator

SCHOOL NEWS

Chelsey Alberico, Special Events Coordinator

Sp o r ts Spotli ght: M a n of the Year : Co ach B r zo sk a

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N ati onal Si gnin g Day

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Featured Writers and Photographers

St u d e nt Spotli ght : Th e Yo ut h lin c Ex p er ience

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Bu lld og Bra g

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Rivi Bero ‘26 Bryan Byerly ‘93 Mike Gorrell ‘72

Th e Wor ld i s O ur Classro o m

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Derek Jensen, Director of Communications

Fo o d Pantr y

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Kory Mortensen, Vitamin K David Newkirk Photography Linda Petersen, Intermountain Catholic

A Publ ica t ion of the Judge M em ori a l Ca thol i c H i gh S c hool O ffi ce o f Ad va n ce me n t S ubmissions: Fo r i n cl u s i o n i n t he nex t is s ue of Connec tions , pl e as e s e nd al l updates an d ph otos to: alum ni @jm ch s. o rg. Yo u m ay a l s o mail your mater ial s to us at : Connec t ions, J udge Mem orial Cath olic High S c h ool, 650 S o ut h 1 1 0 0 Ea s t, S a l t La ke Ci t y, UT 8 4 1 0 2 P ho to grap hs: O r i gi n a l f i l m print s are acce pt abl e. They w il l be s c anne d and return ed to you un dam aged.

Dig ital p hotograp hs: Th e s e s houl d not be pr inte d on a pe r s onal col or pr inter. I n stead, please prov ide th e origin al

e le c t ro ni c f i l e s. D i gi t a l ph o to graphs s houl d be s hot in as l arge a s ize and as h igh resolution as possible for th e c ame ra us e d, w i t h c a re be i n g t a ken to ge t a s har p image. This y ie l ds t he be s t p rintin g results. Please sen d th e raw o r unco m pre s s e d o ri gi n a l T I F F or high-res ol ut ion J PEG as an at t achment. D o n ot open an d adj ust or re - save i nto any ot h e r fo r m at. Ph o to s c a n be e mbe dded into a Word doc ument.

Kaia Roberson ‘26

Graphic Design and Layout Roger Tobari Design Studio Judge Memorial Catholic High School, LLC #102 650 South 1100 East Salt Lake City, UT 84102 801.517.2100 www.judgememorial.org

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A Message fr om t he Principal To Our Judge Memorial and Saint Mary of the Wasatch Families, WE ARE CELEBRATING A SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, commemorating 150 years of Catholic education in Utah. In 1875, two Holy Cross nuns arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. Sister Raymond Sullivan and Mother Augusta arrived via a horse-drawn carriage to their new mission. The two immediately began their work and opened Saint Mary’s Academy. More Sisters of the Holy Cross followed, and the Holy Cross Hospital was opened soon thereafter.

The Sisters of the Holy Cross are wonderful examples of faith in action, steadfastly living and serving by their motto “Ave Crux, Spes Unica—Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope”. We marvel at the courage and vision these incredible women had as they educated and cared for the most vulnerable throughout society. Their example shaped the mission of today’s Catholic school system, which guides students to become builders of a more just society. We proudly honor the legacy that began with Saint Mary’s Academy and, over time, spread to the 16 schools within the Salt Lake Diocese.

In addition to celebrating our beautiful history, we are inspired by the ways our mission continues to be revealed today. Our community is vibrant and growing, characterized by continued high enrollment numbers that reflect the enduring value of a Catholic education. This growth is nurtured by our extraordinary faculty, whose dedication to our charism of Cura Personalis ensures that every student is cared for in mind, body, and spirit. To further strengthen this commitment to the whole person, we are proud to announce the opening of a new in-house food pantry, specifically designed to support our students in need and ensure that no member of our family goes without.

On behalf of our faculty, staff, and students, we thank you for your continued support. The united communities of Judge Memorial and Saint Mary of the Wasatch are fortifying the beautiful Holy Cross vision. Thank you to those who are volunteering at the school, attending our events, following our teams, providing financial support, and offering your prayers.

We continue to build together.

We look forward to deepening our connection throughout this new year.

In Christ,

Patrick Lambert ‘97 Principal, Judge Memorial Catholic High School Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

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Meet the Newest Members of the Judge Advisory Board Marc Day ‘03 D irec tor of D evelopment Pioneer Theatre Co mpany K nown for his abilit y to build meaning ful p ar tnerships and inspire engagement, M arc br ings vision, focus, and collabo ration to ever y organization he ser ves. He holds degrees from the Universit y of I llinois at Ur bana- Champaign and M anhattan S chool of M usic. A proud U tahn, M arc is honored to ser ve as direc tor of development at the Universit y of U tah’s Pioneer Theatre Company and is excited to join Judge M emor ial ’s Advisor y B oard, where he looks for ward to contr ibuting to the continued success of this stor ied and excep tional educational institution.

Leeza Evensen Par tner Snell & Wilmer Leeza is a par tner at Snell & Wilmer, one of the most prestigious law fir ms in S alt Lake Cit y, where she pr imar ily focuses on real estate law. Her professional exper ie nce as an attorney is a great benefit to the board, especially as the school contemplates any potential real estate transac tions. Leeza also br ings the perspec tive of a parent of a recent graduate and cur rent Judge senior.

Sean Erickson ‘00 A sso ciate Broker, Realtor Windermere Real Estate S ean is a realtor with Winder mere R eal Estate, where he fo cuses pr imar ily on residential proper ties. With a long histor y of real estate transac tions, reaching a wide net wor k of peo ple, S ean is geared to help the board advance the school ’s development effor ts. S ean has an ex tended family connec tion to Judge. He himself was a graduate of the class of 2000. H is mother, K athy Cordova Er ickson, was a member of the class of 1968, and he has many other ties, with siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles as alumni. S ean is just star ting his jour ney as a parent in Catholic education, with his son now enrolled at St. Vincent de Paul S chool.

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ReunionSpotlight Same Spirit, New Memories: Reunion 2025 Highlights The 2025 Homecoming Reunion was a powerful reminder that while the years may pass, our bonds only get stronger.

The Classes of ’75 and ’85 truly stole the show this year, bringing an incredible level of energy and spirit to every event. From late -night storytelling to the joy of seeing familiar faces for the first time in decades, it was a celebration of where we’ve been and where we are now.

Mark your calendar for 2026!

We’re already planning next year’s festivities. Make sure you’re with us next fall for Reunion 2026—it’s going to be another unforgettable milestone! Stay tuned for the date.

Left and Down: Class of ‘85: Linda Smith Bittel, Christine Gately, Kendra Peters, Liza Malie Garcia, and MaryLynn Malouf Ulibarri Class of ‘00: Katherine Eidens, Aura Boscan Lopez, Spencer Quiel, and Marcus Lopez Class of ’75: Ed Trosper, Harvey Goitz, Lorraine Armstrong, Terry Burchell Maynard, Carolyn McHugh, Denise Yeager Blackett, Sharon Edde Marron, Rob Halverson, Gayle D’ariano Class of ‘85: Liza Malie Garcia, John Mason, Anthony Mello, Christian DePauli, and Skip Brown Above: Liam Duffy ‘00 and Tom Connor ‘00 Principal Patrick Lambert ‘97 and Liam Duffy ‘00

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Above clockwise: Denise Yeager Blackett ‘75 and Liam Duffy ‘00 Mike Jackson, Amy Kusek ‘85, and Andy Westley ‘85 Class of ‘05: Krispen Blackett, Chase Larsen, Katie Huber, Jaleen Smith, Elyse Niederee, Jazmynn Pok, and Connal Grisley

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Spor tSpotlight Jeff Brzoska National Lacrosse Association Names Bulldogs Coach ‘Man of the Year’ Jeff Brzoska, Judge Memorial Catholic High School’s head Boys Lacrosse coach, has been named Man of the Year by the National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association.

The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to high school lacrosse through coaching, local or state coaches associations, and youth programs.

“It’s awesome to be recognized for what’s going on in Utah,” Brzoska said. “I didn’t accept it personally because so many people have been working so hard before I had even been in this state.”

Four years ago, Judge Memorial couldn’t field a lacrosse team because there was little interest among the students for the sport. Brzoska learned about the program’s struggles while listening to a Utah Lacrosse Report podcast featuring Judge alum and former lacrosse player Matt DukeRosati ‘08, who was deeply unhappy about the situation.

“It really hurt Matt’s heart to … see Judge not have a program,” said Brzoska, who called Duke-Rosati and asked, “‘Hey, what do you think if I took over Judge?’” he recalled.

“And he said, ‘If you do that, I will be your first assistant, and I’ll work for free.’ My second call was to Walker Bateman, one of my best friends. Walker said ‘Absolutely. I’m all in.’”

With that, Brzoska took over the Bulldogs lacrosse team and that first year took an all-freshman team to the state tournament.

“We got to the state semifinals. ... got to a spot that no one thought was possible with a bunch of freshmen,” Brzoska said.

That initial success was followed by back-to-back state titles and now, even though Judge lacrosse has moved up into 5A competition, Brzoska fully intends to extend the Bulldogs’ winning streak next spring.

Brzoska’s own lacrosse journey started when he began

playing the sport in the first grade in Norwalk, Connecticut.

He went on to play for Norwalk High School and Western Connecticut State University before transferring to the University of South Florida. There, he helped build a club team that eventually became the university’s Men’s Lacrosse Club, which competes in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association.

He came to Utah in 2008 for a ski trip and ended up staying. Two years later, he attended the 2010 state lacrosse championship, one of his first Utah lacrosse games.

“I went away from that game thinking, ‘This is the worst lacrosse I’ve ever seen. The best team in Utah couldn’t beat the worst team in Connecticut,’” he recalled. “I wanted to get involved and help.”

That desire led to a decade of coaching in the Park City youth and high school programs, where he contributed to three state titles. Prior to his position at Judge, he also coached at Corner Canyon High School for three years.

Along with his high school accomplishments, Brzoska has co-founded several Lacrosse club programs, including the Utah Blackhawks, Utah Elite, Utah Prime LC, Utah LC and Utah Summit.

Despite the accolades and interest from other programs, Brzoska has no plans to leave Judge, where his experience has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I love everything about Judge, honestly, everybody from the administration all the way down to the parents and the kids it has been an absolute pleasure,” he said. “The fit was right. And it was so much easier [than before] because the administration was so great and the families were unbelievable. … I have zero desire to go anywhere.

And I’m exactly where I want to be.”

by Linda Petersen, Intermountain Catholic Newspaper November 14, 2025

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National Signing Day Connor Knigh t ‘26 Connor will play lacrosse at William Jewell College in Missouri.

Rowan Hankins ‘26 Rowan will play soccer at Trinit y Universit y in San Antonio, Texas.

Dylan Kr annich ‘26 Dylan will play lacrosse at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

Aymen Ismail ‘26 Aymen will play basketball at Colorado State, Pueblo.

Slade Redd ’26 Slade will play lacrosse at Walsh Universit y in North Canton, Ohio.

Sean Jer ome ‘26

Rome Swanick ‘26

Sean will play lacrosse at Marist College in New York.

Rome will play lacrosse at Providence College in Rhode Island.

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A L o o k Ba ck

by Mike Gorrell ‘72

They Took Care of Us

FOR 67 YEARS, WHENEVER JUDGE STUDENTS NEEDED HELP in the front office, they

scenes staff members.

Leone Small started working in the kitchen when it opened in 1941.

She and two helpers administered a Works Progress Administration (WPA) food-surplus program that provided school meals for a nickel.

The onset of World War II ended the subsidized program, but Small stayed on and kept the cafeteria going. A Salt Lake Tribune story in December 1942 noted that 375 of Judge’s 435 students received “hot and appetizing meals every school day.”

could turn for assistance to either Helen Eugster or Rae Ann Eck – or both.

For many, many years, the responsibility for keeping the Judge Memorial campus functioning and looking good rested with Benji Kaneko and his friend and successor, Roy Okamoto, who also had quite a reputation as a cook in the school cafeteria.

And over the last 85 years, that Helen Eugster cafeteria has been operated by a dedicated cadre of “lunch ladies,” beginning with Leone Small and continuing through the service of people like Florence Holtshouser, Marie Kane and dozens of mothers who volunteered for kitchen duty.

No question, most all of the 12,000-plus Judge Memorial graduates benefited at one time or another, in one way or another, from the care provided by these behind-the-

In those years, Judge Memorial included an elementary school. And when Small retired in 1962, she recalled “the little children, crying at noon, wanting to go home to their mothers, and we’d comfort them – now I meet them on the street and those little children have gray in their hair and children of their own at Judge.”

Florence Holtshouser, who recently celebrated her

Marie Kane, fourth from left, with her kitchen staff including parent volunteers

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Leone Small

102nd birthday, put her own stamp on the cafeteria. Arriving a few years after Small retired, she was part of the kitchen team for a quarter century, receiving an Alumni Service Award in 1995. The honor recognized her forwardlooking approach to the job, such as the time in 1991 when she participated in a three-day American Red Cross training pro-

gram on first-aid techniques.

“With all the students we have here,” she said, “it would be advantageous to anybody in their school to know these skills and be qualified.”

Holtshouser also spent time in the bookstore before retiring in 2008, a year after inspiring students Andrew Scott ‘07 and Brendan Garlinghouse ‘07 to collect school supplies from Judge students and deliver them to the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona. She knew of the need from a daughter – one of six kids she put through Judge – who had become a nun and worked on the reservation.

Overlapping with Holtshouser was Marie Kane. She was pictured in the 1980 yearbook as the manager of a cafeteria staff that numbered 10 and, as always at Judge, included parents such as Mary Williams and Marilyn Cronin. They each put multiple kids through Judge, as

Coletta Dent, Leone Small and Roy Okamoto

did Kane. In her final year, 1988, the state Child Nutrition Program deemed Judge’s school-lunch plan to be one of Utah’s best.

The 1952 yearbook was the first to reference Helen Eugster as part of the Judge office staff. She was still in the yearbook in 1989, continuing her long-time role as the school’s treasurer. Mrs. Eugster, as most knew her, was celebrated in a 1968 article in the Judgeonian newspaper.

“To almost every boy here at Judge there are faces which are lastingly familiar,” an anonymous author wrote during the school’s all-male days. “There are faces that guide, faces which are stern, faces with answers and faces that are just plain friendly. And to every Judge student, be he a freshman or a senior, the face with all these qualities is that of Mrs. [Helen] Eugster.”

Her impact was such that in 2006, three members of the Class of 1956 – Leo Walz, Robert Sullivan, and Gil Cordova – raised funds to develop a fountain next to the gym that was named in honor of her and a former principal, Fr. James Kenny.

Through the years, Eugster worked closely with numerous office personnel, such as Kim Tobari, Rita Scholl, and Joan Dunne. The latter was

Kim Tobari

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A L o o k Ba ck They Took Care of Us with a needle and shearing scissors, they will have the women of the bridge club to thank.”

Seidel’s students put on fashion shows each spring, until 1965. She passed away in 2006 at age 91.

Joan Dunne, left, and Rae Ann Eck spent decades in the front office.

an office fixture from 1972 to 1988. She and her husband died tragically in a 2004 automobile accident.

But it was largely Rae Ann Eck who carried on Helen Eugster’s legacy of continuity in the Judge front office.

Rae Ann arrived in 1980, hired by then-dean of students Tim Carr ‘71 to be attendance secretary. By the time she retired in 2019, Rae Ann figured she had “worked for 10 deans and even more principals,” had been honored by the Alumni Alliance and received her 30-year pin.

When 75-year-old Benji Kaneko retired in 1959 after 18 years of being the school’s caretaker, his departure was a source of sadness to the Judge community.

“His monument is written in the hearts of the people who have known him,” said a Judgeonian story, citing student John Olds. “I can remember his saying ‘hello’ almost every morning since I was in kindergarten.” Added Fr. Kenny, then principal: “I won’t get 10 men to do the work he does.”

But he did – in Kaneko’s friend, Roy Okamoto.

“Rae Ann was the first person most people met when they came to the school, and she is the first person people check on when they come back,” said her 2019 principal, Patrick Lambert ‘97, a student when he first met her.

Back in a day when home economics-type courses were deemed important for high school girls, Vesta Seidel came to Judge to teach sewing.

The program began in the 1949 school year when the Catholic Women’s League raised funds to hire Seidel and buy sewing machines, collecting 50 cents each week from 216 women in a bridge club. The program was so popular that more machines were bought in subsequent years, along with cutting tables, irons, and ironing boards.

By 1958, the Intermountain Catholic Register observed “if the future husbands of the girl graduates of the local high school are proud of the prowess of their wives

Vesta Seidel taught sewing and domestic science.

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T he Ju d g e H i s t o r y P r o j ec t All of the information in the ar ticle about Judge caretakers can be found in the Judge Histor y Project, which was updated recently to include the activiti es and accomplishments of the 2024-25 school year. Prepared for the school’s cen tennial celebration, the online histor y documents what students did in each year of Judge’s histor y (along with a seven- year span when girls went to St. Mar y ’s), from athletic competition to play productions to Roy Okamoto, a jack of all trades.

Okamoto owned a market in Los Angeles until the start of World War II, when his property was seized and he was sent to a Japanese-American internment camp in Wyoming. After the war he moved to Salt Lake and got a job at Judge with his wife, Teru. They lived in two rooms in the school’s basement and ran the cafeteria – Roy was especially known for his quality rolls and cupcakes – while also helping Kaneko and Kay Makita keep the grounds clean.

After his retirement and Teru’s death, Roy lived at St. Joseph Villa. When he died in 1995, age 94, Connections magazine noted “it was not uncommon to see Roy in his beloved Bulldog letter jacket.”

Two years later, Judge Memorial formally said thanks by honoring the outstanding female and male participants in school activities with an award named after Roy and Teru.

par ticipation in clubs and organizations.

The Judge Histor y Project may be viewed at the bot tom of the Judge Memorial website’s home page:

www.judgememorial.or g/year by - year -a t-judge

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J U D G E

F A M I L Y

T R E E

Showca si n g Ge n e ra t i o ns of the If you would like your family featured on the Judge Family Tree and your family has more

Pierce Family Tree

than one generation of Judge alumni, please let us know. Send infomation and pictures to: lbet t y@jmchs.org

Jay Pierce ‘62

Jason Pierce ‘87

Mickey Pierce ‘85

Hailey Pierce ‘18

Peyton Pierce ‘18

Chloe Pierce ‘18

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Marjorie “Ma” Pierce Faculty, JMCHS & St. Mary of the Wasatch 1961-85

Gail Pierce Merrill St. Mary of the Wasatch ‘66

Brittany Watne ‘92

Nick Watne ‘94

Zac Watne ‘98

Patty Pierce McCleary ‘72

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Studen tSpotlight Youthlinc fosters fulfilling experiences for two seniors AMAZING AND ENLIGHTENING are two words used to describe local non-profit organization Youthlinc’s mission and purpose. Seniors Maddox Comey and Tahj Cole recently embarked on a remarkable humanitarian experience this past summer of 2025.

With Comey going to Fiji, and Cole going to Rwanda, they both had an incredible, and meaningful experience being on different continents. The two boys traveled with Youthlinc, a close friend of Judge Memorial, on their community service journey.

The goal in the country is to serve, educate, learn, and foster a good experience with the local communities and their culture. Whether it’s Tahj Cole ‘26 in Rwanda teaching an English lesson to young kids, attending in-home visits with families, or making planter boxes for a preschool garden, the common factor is worthwhile and leaves permanent connections to oneself and others.

Aside from their workdays, the Fiji and Rwanda teams both had a day-long excursion.

“Our excursion was pretty nice. We got to go to a resort for a day and a half, like a Fijian resort,” says Comey.

“My excursion experience, we went to a national park called Akagera National Park,” says Cole.

The trip’s duration was two weeks in the country, but included months and months of successful preparation and composement. When asked what the biggest takeaways from the trip were, they responded with a heartfelt response.

“After the trip, my view on life changed just because I realized how small of a community we are compared to the world. My overall takeaway, honestly, I know this is kind of dumb, but without my phone for two weeks, I realized how much social media and my phone affects my anxiety

and that part of my life,” says Comey.

“My overall takeaway from this trip was that, you know, you should just be able to forgive and forget in life. Holding grudges doesn’t really help anyone out in life, and you know, just being able to forgive and forget is a very important quality to have,” says Cole.

Cole also explains how the tragic 1994 genocide in Rwanda sparked an inspiring element of reconciliation today, which applies to the phrase “forgive and forget.”

In addition to the beautiful destinations of Fiji and Rwanda, there are countless other service locations, such as Peru, Ecuador, Kenya, Cambodia, Thailand, and Mongolia.

They hope to spread the amazing and unique opportunities Youthlinc has to offer to all ages. If you are interested in learning more about the organization and service sites, visit this link! www.youthlinc.org

by Rivi Bero ‘26 Bulldog Press September 29, 2025

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BulldogBrag Judge Memorial named a winner of the Show UP Utah High School Service Challenge

Show UP Utah High School Service Challenge Utah’s first lady, Abby Cox, and Utah Mammoth owner Ashley Smith teamed up for this initiative and recognized Judge Memorial’s commitment to student-led community service. The organization was particularly impressed by our annual participation in Christ the King Service Day. Judge students represented us proudly as guests at the Utah Mammoth Hockey game, where they were recognized on the jumbotron!

The theater department once again earned standing ovations for their performance of Monty Python’s Spamalot. The musical comedy is “lovingly ripped off” from the classic film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Our student actors elicited laughs across a variety of humorous elements, including flying cows, killer rabbits, French taunters, and of course, the Lady of the Lake.

Gift of the Drummer Delivers Record-Breaking Support This year’s Gift of the Drummer was our most successful to date, providing over $20,000 in donated gifts to 80 refugee children and their families.

Working in partnership with Catholic Community Services, our students, faculty, and staff helped make the holiday season brighter for those in need.

Each Discernment Class (a.k.a. Homeroom) was matched with a wish list, fulfilling requests for essentials like winter coats and boots alongside toys and sports equipment. In mid-December, our Peer Ministry team coordinated the collection and delivery of these items.

This remains a shining example of the heart and compassion that defines the Judge Memorial community.

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Camp usSpotlight The World Is Our Classroom Whether kayaking at Catalina, honing their craft in NYC, or trekking through the Tetons, the Bulldog spirit of discovery is alive and well in these signature student experiences.

Science in the Field: Seniors Visit CELP The trip to Catalina Island remains one of our most coveted academic opportunities for seniors. Integrated into the AP Biology and AP Environmental Science curricula, this week-long Oceanography Camp at Howlands Landing offers students a masterclass in experiential learning.

Through the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program (CELP), students participate in a series of guided explorations aimed at fostering a greater understanding of self, community, and the environment. From hiking the rugged terrain to snorkeling the Pacific, students see ecological theories come to life. These transformative trips are a cornerstone of what makes a Judge education so distinctive.

Broadway Bound: Performing Arts Takes Manhattan Every other year during spring break, the Performing Arts Department offers music, theater, and dance students an immersive dive into the heart of the arts in New York City.

During their five-night stay, students go beyond the audience’s perspective by attending professional workshops led by top industry experts. From the lights of Broadway to the city’s world-class museums, our students experience an unforgettable week of inspiration and artistic growth.

“Students take classes with current professionals in the performing arts, they see musicals, theater, and dance concerts, and we incorporate museum, restaurant, park, and landmark visits so students receive a full, exciting, and cultured experience during the Performing Arts field trip.” - Lehua Estrada, Dance Program Director Into the Wild: Science Students Head to the Tetons The Science Department is taking the classroom into the elements this winter with a trip to the Teton Science School.

Over three days and two nights, students will explore the rugged winter ecosystem of the Jackson campus.

Through cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and handson field research, our young scientists are trading textbooks for boots-on-the-ground discovery in one of the country’s most stunning natural laboratories.

According to Trever Wilson, science teacher and trip leader, “Students really enjoy the break from technology, connecting with their peers in a different setting, and getting to learn about, and experience, the environment.

Many of them got way outside of their comfort zones and had not spent time outdoors in the winter!”

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Finding Balance How Jeanette Sawaya Shaped Generations of Judge Students Jeanette Sawaya has had an incredible and long-lasting impact on the lives of students at Judge Memorial. The first semester of the 2025-26 school year marks the end of her incredible 42-year-long career here on campus. In addition to serving as the current director of college counseling, Sawaya is also a member of the Utah Teacher Accreditation State Board, as well as the Salt Lake City Arts Council.

Before her work helping students such as myself get into colleges all across the country, Sawaya was Judge Memorial’s one and only Drill Team coach and dance teacher. When speaking about that time, she says it was one of her favorite roles she has played at Judge. “I was with students many times more than the students were even with their families.”

To put in perspective the amount of love and passion she has for her students, she says, “I would be with those students from 6:30 in the morning at drill practice, and then we would have dance concert practice after school till 5:00 at night.” These are just some of the things that demonstrate her commitment and passion to what she was doing for so many students around the building.

During her service to the school’s dance company, Sawaya then gave a great portion of her time to teaching one of her hobbies, yoga to students who showed interest. She had many responsibilities on campus, including taking on the job teaching yoga, “which became this sort of finding balance role. And that was always really awesome.”

Sawaya indeed found a way to balance, as in 1997 she was named Dance Educator of the Year by the Utah Association of Health.

When asked to talk about some of her favorite memories of her time here, she said that having her two sons graduate from Judge was special. “I’m always so grateful for my time here at Judge with them.”

Some other things that stand out are when students don’t think they’re going to be able to even go to college, then they go to college, and now they’re very successful.

She remembers a moment where a first-generation student had come into her office after receiving her help applying for college. When she told him that he had been accepted to college, “he was just jumping for joy.” Sharing that excitement with a student was the reason she did what she did.

“I grew up at Judge, so I came in my early 20s, and Mr. Cordova’s class was the first class that I sat through. I was only ten years older than them, so it kind of blows me away.

Growing up here affected me because relationships at Judge are so important.

“The people that I worked with, especially in my first 5-10 years, were my anchor people, really amazing people like John Colosimo and Jim Yerkovich. And I remember people in the arts like drama teacher Tom Delgado and David Asman the music teacher. Many of those people helped me understand how Judge is different and so special.

“We always joke that you can’t travel anywhere and not run into a Judge person. So I think it shaped me in understanding that people are the most important thing in your life.

“And the spirituality of this place always kept me in check, but also challenged me to be better.”

Jeanette Sawaya is truly an incredible educator and an even more incredible person.

She has served as a cornerstone in this Judge community. From drill team coach to yoga teacher to college counseling, she serves as a great role model for those who want to pursue a life of service, helping to create the success of generations of Judge Memorial students.

by Will Trentman ‘26

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PawPrints 199 0 s Cort Dennison ‘97 Cor t i s on t he m ov e a g a i n . H e i s t he n ew Li n eb a c ker Co ach a n d Co- Def en s i v e Coordi n at o r a t Oreg on St a t e Un i v ers i t y. Go Bea v ers !

20 0 0 s

A l a n a B r o p hy ‘0 3 Alana Brophy! Alana has been working for ABC4 for the past 10 years and serves as their chief meteorologist. She recently won the 2025 Rocky Mountain Southwest Emmy as a weather anchor for her work in the field and beyond. Congrats, Alana!

J es s i c a F r e n c h ’02 Alum Jessica French is an internationally recognized composer of vocal and organ music. She was recently featured in the Eccles Organ Festival at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, with her work presented alongside Bach, Franck, and Grigny.

I s a a c W i n t e r ’07 Congrats to alum Isaac Winter who recently received his Master Distiller Certification from the Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers.

W i l l i a m S h e a f f e r ‘07 A senior vice president at Morgan Stanley, William was recognized on Forbes’ 2025 Best-in-State Next-Gen Wealth Advisors list. But perhaps even better than that, he reports that he is the proud father of two healthy babies with his amazing wife, Jessica Sheaffer.

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20 0 0 s D r. D e m e t r i u s C o o m b s ‘07 Af ter com p l et i n g a si x- yea r i n t eg ra t ed p l as t i c s u rge r y re s i de n cy at t he C l e v e l an d Clinic, in Cl ev el a n d , Oh i o, Dem et r i us w a s i n v i t e d t o j o i n The C ran i o f aci al C e n t e r i n D al l as , Te x as .

Dr. Co ombs m a i n t a i n s a s t ea d y c om m i t m en t t o re s e arch , an d t he n u mbe r o f h i s pe e r reviewed sc i en t i f i c a r t i c l es , b ook c h a p t ers , an d pre s e n t at i o n s e x ce e ds 10 0 . H e i s a frequ ent rev i ew er of a r t i c l es sub m i t t ed f or p u bl i cat i o n i n t he Pe di at r i c & C ran i o f aci al Su rger y sec t i on of Pl a st i c a nd Reco nst r u ct i v e S urge r y , wh i ch i s co n s i de re d t o be t he pre e mi n e n t j o u r n al f o r t h i s s pe ci al t y.

L ew i s Wa l ke r ‘0 8 L e wi s Wal ke r h as j u s t made t he mo v e t o co r n e r back co ach at N o r t h D ako t a S t at e U n i v e rs i t y. H e ’s pi ct u re d he re wi t h h i s au n t L o r i Wal ke r, bro t he r Ke e n y an Wal ke r ‘0 9, an d s i s t e r Pame l a Wal ke r ‘11.

2 010 s J e n es s a J i m o h ‘18 Na m ed o n e o f U t a h Bus i n e s s 3 0 Wo me n t o Wat ch !

Jen es sa J i mo h be l i e v e s i n de mo cracy, an d as e x e cu t i v e di re ct o r o f Ign i t e ! Uta h, she ’s b ui l di n g t h at s ame co n f i de n ce i n U t ah’s n e x t ge n e rat i o n . A f t e r a ro bu s t ci vi cs e d u ca ti on i n Nor t he r n V i rgi n i a i gn i t e d he r pas s i o n f o r i n cl u s i v e go v e r n an ce , t h i s f i rs t- g e ne ra ti on c ol l eg e gradu at e f ro m We s t mi n s t e r U n i v e rs i t y n o w pu rs u e s a pro f e s s i o n al MBA a t the Uni v ers i t y o f U t ah wh i l e cu l t i v at i n g t he n e x t ge n e rat i o n o f co mmu n i t y l e ade rs . “ Com m u n i t y o rgan i z i n g, mo v e me n t - bu i l di n g, an d po l i cy adv o cacy h av e l ong b e e n l e d b y w om en a n d e s pe ci al l y by B l ack wo me n , ” s he s ays . “A dv o cacy i s n’t j u s t s o m e thi ng I d o — i t ’s i n m y bo n e s . ” A s a d es ce n dan t o f o n e o f U t ah’s pi o n e e r i n g B l ack f ami l i e s , s he car r i e s f o r wa rd a l e g a cy of g en erat i o n al act i v i s m an d co al i t i o n - bu i l di n g.

E m i l y S t r a n d ‘12 & W i l l C h r i s t i a n s e n ‘12 Con g ra t ul a t i on s t o f o r me r J u dge c l a s sm a t es E m i l y St ra n d ’12 an d W i l l Ch r i st i a n s en ’ 12. The t w o w e re m a r r i ed on Oc t ob er 11, 20 25, i n H en d ers on , N ev a d a , af t e r 13 yea rs t og et her.

L o g a n G a r s i d e ‘14 L o gan mar r i e d Me re di th C l ar k o n M ay 25, 20 25. The co u pl e w e re ma rri e d i n a p ri v at e ce re mo ny on F l a the a d L ake , M o n t ana .

C o n grat u l at i ons!

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Gr andpar en tsDay Honoring Our Heritage: Grandparents and Special Friends Day IN NOVEMBER, JUDGE MEMORIAL proudly hosted our Grandparents and Special Friends Day, an event dedicated to the foundational figures who support our students’ journeys. The day centered on a meaningful liturgy presided over by Fr. Ronald Cochran and Fr. Jaya Penugonda, emphasizing the spiritual ties that bind our community together. After enjoying refreshments and touring our evolving campus, guests had the opportunity to see the living legacy of the school in action.

Principal Lambert ‘97 with his parents (grandparents to the son of Rob Lambert ‘95).

Becky Duberow ‘68 (Saint Mary of the Wasatch) chats with Athletic Director James Cordova ‘88 while waiting for her grandkids.

Mary McCarthey ‘69 (St. Mary of the Wasatch) with her husband and grandkids.

English Department Chair Bryan Jeffreys with his parents and daughter.

Peeches Cederholm ‘72 and her granddaughter.

Jenifer Gibbons ‘62 with her grandson and husband.

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In Memoriam May t heir souls, and t he souls of a l l t he f ai t h f u l de par t e d, th roug h the Mercy o f Go d , rest i n p ea c e. P l ea s e rem em b e r i n y o u r t ho u gh t s an d pray e rs t he memb e rs of Ju dge Memor i a l a n d Sa i n t M a r y of t he Wa sa tch co mmu n i t y who h av e re ce n t l y pas s e d away.

Paul Roger Br ennan ‘52 Dec em b er 2025.

H us b a n d of Cl a ra Bren n an ‘52 .

Brot her of Fra n k Bren n an ‘4 4 .

M er r y E l l en Bren n a n Be l l ’ 57.

Pa t r i c k Bren n a n ‘ 58. Fa t he r o f M a rg a ret Bren n a n Nev i l l e ’ 76 .

A n n Bren n a n ‘ 78. Pa ul B re n n an ‘ 79. Kev i n Cur t i n ‘ 79. Ro s e mar y Bren n a n Cur t i n ‘ 80. Joe B re n n an ‘ 83. G ra n d f a t her of Kat h r y n H i ck s ’ 07. Jul i a H i c ks ‘ 10. Vi rgi n i a H i ck s ‘ 12. M a x Bren n a n ‘ 11. M ar y N e v i l l e ‘ 11. Pa t r i c k N ev i l l e ‘13.

Monsignor J. Terr ance Fi t zger ald ‘54 Ja n ua r y 2026.

P r i n c i p a l of Jud g e M em o r i al f ro m 1991- 1993. Vi c a r G en e ral o f t he Sa l t La ke Di oc ese f or 16 y e ars .

Ernes t Michael Fedor ‘59 S e pt e mbe r 20 25.

Fat he r o f D amo n Fe d or ‘ 85. Brothe r o f Ge o rge Fe do r ‘ 57. G a r y Fe d or ‘62 . B ro t he r - i n - l a w of De nni s Ca u l f i e l d ‘6 4 . Gran df a the r of Sa mu e l Fe do r ‘21. D o mi n i c Fe d or ‘ 25. Da ni e l Fe do r ‘29.

Rober t Ger ald “Bob” Dannels ‘60 O ct o be r 20 25.

S t at e C h ampi o n Footb a l l 195 9.

B ro t he r o f Ro ge r Da nne l s - 6 6 .

B ro t he r - i n - l aw o f The re se Da nne l s ‘5 6 . U n cl e o f D e anna Da nne l s ‘89. D re w D an n e l s ‘ 93. Da vi d D an n e l s ‘92 .

Richar d L . (Dick) Bail ey ‘60 D e ce mbe r 20 25.

Har old Turner ‘55 Dec em b er 2025.

Brot her of Joh n Tur n er ‘ 6 0 . D o n Tur n er ‘ 66. Un c l e of Ja co b Tur n er ‘ 14.

Jeanne (Zaeli t) Fr ancone ‘57 N ov em b er 2025.

W i f e of Jer r y Fra n c on e ‘57.

M ot her of Jer r y Fra n c on e ‘78 .

H u s ban d o f A n ama ri e Ba i l e y ‘ 6 0 .

B ro t he r o f J i m B ai l e y ‘ 62 . Thoma s B ai l e y ‘6 6 . J o h n Ba i l e y ‘ 70 . Ma r y B ai l e y ‘72 . L i z ( B a i l e y ) Fox ‘ 75.

B ro t he r - i n - l aw o f Da vi d Fox ’ 75.

U n cl e o f J aco b B ai l e y ‘ 96 .

T homas J. Tallon ‘68 N o v e mbe r 20 25.

Fo r me r S al t L ake C i t y F i re Chi e f .

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In Memoriam May t heir souls, and t he souls o f al l t he fa i thf u l d e p a r te d , t h roug h t he M e rcy o f Go d, re s t i n pe ace . Pl e as e re me mbe r i n y o u r t ho u gh t s a nd p ra y e rs the m em b ers of Jud g e M e mo r i al an d S ai n t M ar y o f t he Was at ch co mmu n i t y w ho h av e re ce n tl y p a sse d a wa y.

Mar y Kay “Cakey ” Ravarino Erickson ‘69 Jun e 2025.

St . M a r y of t he Wa sa t c h .

Si s t er of Da n i el Ra v a r i n o ‘6 3.

Joh n Ra v a r i n o ‘ 65. Ji m Rav ar i n o ‘ 66. Ca rol (Ra v a r i n o) W i l co x ‘72 .

Si s t er - i n - l a w of Pa t r i c i a Rav ar i n o ‘ 65. A un t of Da v i d Ra var i n o ‘94 .

Jon a t h a n Ra v a r i n o ‘ 95. S co t t Rav a r i n o ‘ 89. G rea t A un t o f M adi s o n Ra v a r i n o ‘ 15

Dennis Reeves ‘78 N o v e mbe r 20 25.

S o n o f M ar y Re e ve s ‘ 4 3. Brothe r of Tho mas Re e v e s ‘79. J a me s Re e ve s ‘81. Kat h l e e n B ra cco ‘ 8 3. Ma r y Fran ci s J o n e s ‘85. Fa the r of Ca ri n Re e v e s ‘18 . N e phe w of Ka the ri ne ( Re e v e s ) L o rds ‘49.

.

Genie Lamb ‘71 N ov em b er 2025.

Jud g e M em or i a l & St . M ar y o f t he Wa s a t c h . Si st er of Yv o n n e ( H e i s e r ) E a g a n ‘ 60. Si st er - i n - l a w o f L ar r y E a g a n ‘ 60. Jer r y E a g an ‘70 . Ke r r y E a g a n ‘ 73. Ba r r y E a g an ‘77.

Jus t in Reed ‘80 O ct o be r 20 25.

B ro t he r o f D an i e l ( And e rson) N i e l s o n ‘79.

Kenne t h “ Kenny ” James Louie ‘72 A ug us t 2025.

Brot her of G ord on Lou i e ‘70 . M ar i a (Loui e) Ki er ‘ 74. Ci n di L o u i e ‘ 76. M el a n i e (Ca st i l l o ) L o u i e ‘8 3.

Brot her - i n - l a w of Da n Kas ch mi t t er ‘ 75. Un c l e of A l ex Kas ch mi t t e r ‘ 09. Ni ki Ka sc h m i t t er ‘ 13. W i l l i am Ci s n eros ‘ 14.

Joan Marie Sullivan ‘82 N o v e mbe r 20 25.

John Colosimo ‘74 Jul y 2025.

Pa s t Fa c ul t y / St a f f , Co ach & A t h l et i c Di rec t or. St a t e C h amp i on (f ootb a l l ) 1973,1981, 198 3.

Brot her of Rosea n n e We bbe r ‘70 .

N a n c y G i b b s ‘ 72. G a l e y C o l o s i mo ‘ 76. Pa ul Col osi m o ‘ 78 . M ar y M a r kosi a n ‘ 80. La r r y C o l o s i mo ‘ 82. Joe Col osi m o ‘ 84 . B ro t he r - i n l a w of Bet h Col os i m o ‘84 .

Lyne t t e Childs ‘9 0 N o v e mbe r 20 25.

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Pe t er Al exander St r ansk y ‘95

Elizabe t h Ann Fel t ‘92

J u l y 20 25.

Oc t ob er 2025.

Brother of Joseph Stransky ‘90.

Alyssa Hershkowitz ‘92.

Ma t hew Bri t t Sch wobe ‘94 N ov em b er 2025.

Husband of Simriti Schwobe ‘94. Father of Hagan Schwobe ‘24. Roan Schwobe ‘27. Brother of Stephanie (Schwobe) Glawe ‘98. Brother-in-law of Jeff Louder ‘96. Soorya Louder ‘97. Uncle to Milana (Mimi) Louder ‘25. Jai Louder ‘29.

Deng Mayar ‘20 A u gu s t 20 25.

B ro t he r o f A n ge l i na Ma y a r ‘ 19.

A cho l M ay ar ‘23.

C h r i s t i n a M ay ar ‘ 25.

Extended Family RANDY A. BAUER - May 2025.

PAUL C. BAPIS - August 2025

Father of Bridget Bauer ‘99.

Grandfather of Michael Bapis ‘92. Alethia Bapis Chatzis ‘94.

MARY PATRICIA COX - May 2025.

CAROLE ANNE DOYLE CALLAHAN - August 2025.

Mother of Linda (Cox) Tyler ‘83. Stephen Cox ‘86.

Sister of Robert Mitchell ‘60.

Mother-in-law of Wendy (Lewis) Callahan ‘84. Grandmother of Rachel D. North ‘11. Patrick Lewis Humlcek ‘15. David Lewis Humlcek ‘15.

MARK BABE DRAZICH - May 2025.

SISTER MARGARET MARY MILLER - August 2025.

Husband of Josaphine M. Drazich ‘46.

Brother-in-law of Edna Holman ‘49.

Carmelite Monastery of Salt Lake City.

SALLY MARIE CONVERY IVERS - May 2025.

Father of Melissa Zarr ‘95. Son of Eudora Zarr ‘31.

Mother of Thomas Ivers ‘75. Mathew Ivers ‘77. Mary Lynn (Ivers) Cier ‘79. Patrick Ivers ‘82. Stepmother of James Ivers ‘66. Katherine Havas ‘64 St. Mary of the Wasatch. Mother-in-law of Andy Cier ‘80. Sally Ivers ‘82. Sister-in-law of Grace Mary Gallivan ‘34.

SUSAN LOUISE RICHEY - May 20205.

Mother of Jenn (Richey) Freeman ‘91. Sarah (Richey) Bell ‘94.

BRUCE & BARBARA TURNER - June 2025.

Parents of Zachary Turner ‘01.

FINAU MAKA - June 2025.

Husband of Kathleen Marie Maka ‘66. St Mary of the Wasatch.

Father of Paul Maka ‘97.

JAMES JONATHAN SWEENEY - July 2025.

Brother of Miriam Phinney ‘87. Judge Memorial School Counselor. Matthew Sweeney ‘89.

DIANE L. ROBINSON - July 2025.

Mother of Natasha Robinson ‘11.

DREW MATHEW PETERSEN - July 2025.

Husband of Sandy (McChrystal) Petersen ‘63.

Father of Lisa (Petersen) Jamu ‘86. Heather Leavitt ‘90. Heidi Petersen ‘90. Megan (Petersen) Bryant ‘96. Mikaele (Petersen) Sansone ‘96. Brigitta (Petersen) Erickson ‘04. Grandfather of Abigail Jamu ‘25.

THOMAS MICHAEL ZARR - September 2025.

GLADYS ELIZABETH “LIZ” YANNI - September 2025.

Wife of John Yanni ‘69.

IDA BITTMENN - October 2025. (Mother) of Father Joseph Bittmenn. (former Judge Theology Teacher).

ROGER HONRI BULLOCK - October 2025.

Father of Thomas Bullock ‘03. Amy Bullock (Clancy) ‘04.

MICHAEL LANCE REARDON - October 2025.

Father of Kristin Reardon ‘86.

JUDY YAMASHIRO - October 2025.

Aunt of Jennifer Yamashiro ‘00.

JOELENE CONDY ARAMBULA - November 2025.

Grandmother to Gabriela Urcino ‘18. Isis Leon ‘27. Destiny Tarrant’ 27.

KATHRYN LEE KEIFER THOMPSON - November 2025.

Mother of Adam Thompson ‘99.

RENEE KATHERINE RAZZECA - November 2025.

Mother of Michael Razzeca ‘69. Pamela (Razzeca) McCaughey ‘70 St. Mary of the Wasatch. Dr. Kristin (Razzeca) Walsh ‘72. Tim Razzeca ‘77. Suzie (Razzeca) Sandwick ‘82. Rick (Richard) Razzeca ‘86. Grandmother of Amelia (Amy McCaughey) Paulos ‘02. Kristin McCaughey ‘04.

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In Memoriam Extended Family MARGARET AMADOR - November 2025.

(former Judge Faculty/Staff).

TYE JED TAYLOR - November 2025. (former Judge Hockey Coach).

Father of Samuel Taylor ‘13.

CONNIE MAE GARCIA - November 2025.

Mother of Rick Garcia Sr. ‘88. Grandmother of Ashton Larson 06. Lindsay Larson ‘09.

Emily Garcia ‘18 (current Girls Soccer Coach). Ricky Garcia Jr ‘22

RICKEY TAD JUDD - December 2025.

Father of Current Softball Coach Camillia Moore.

Camp usNews

Grandfather of Malik Judd ‘22. Silas Hill ‘23. Olivia Morre ‘29.

Passion Project Becomes Official Food Pantry at Judge

volunteers make substantial Thanksgiving food deliveries to families in need. And the rest of the money was diverted to help pay for Judge’s annual Free and Reduced Lunch Program.

by Derek Jensen

According to the Utah Food Bank, 415,000 Utahns face uncertainty about where their next meal will come from, including one in six children.

Beginning in 2026, Judge was recognized as a “Share Pantry” with St. Francis.

It started as a Student Council speech then gathered momentum, funding, and donations from generous families. But before Judge’s nascent food pantry could open its door, it banged into enough bureaucratic bumps to essentially swing closed.

Fast forward a year and this passion project led by student leaders has suddenly survived an 18-month odyssey to open as a state sanctioned food pantry.

“We’ve got the food all set out so that people can just come discreetly grab a bag of food as needed,” explains Campus Ministry Director Monica Howa Johnson. “It’s for students, it’s for staff, it’s for families — it’s open for whoever is in need.”

The brainchild of 2024-25 Student Body President Delaney Dolan and Vice President Zach Farr, the on-campus pantry was intended to combat food insecurity among the student body and families alike. Shelving was built in a cafeteria storage room while Dolan and Farr convinced Judge families to donate two full-sized refrigerators.

Boys Lacrosse then staged a successful 2024 golf fundraiser that generated more than $10,000 toward the cause.

By Thanksgiving of that year, the scale of the need — and the red tape — proved too big a barrier to proceed. Judge, it turned out, was not eligible to be recognized as an official Utah Food Bank location. Other Diocesan schools already had operating permits, and the proximity of pantries at nearby schools were cited as reasons.

Some of the funding did help Student Council with parent

ing how to help.

By fall 2025, after cuts to social services and threats to SNAP benefits, Judge parents, staff and students rallied to resurrect the prospects of a pantry. Boys Lacrosse teed up another food insecurity fundraiser, while parents flooded the phone lines, ask-

In short order, a Thanksgiving food drive was organized by Peer Ministry. The generosity of the Judge Memorial community was staggering to watch.

A larger pantry space was cleaned and prepped, and Dolan and Farr’s refrigerators were installed. Then, spearheaded by Judge parent Teresa Cereska, the pantry was fully stocked and labeled by section in English, Spanish, and Sudanese.

To keep the pantry viable long term, a reliable food source is crucial. So, the school’s communications director decided to take one more swing at getting the state to sanction Judge.

This time, the effort paid off. At the end of 2025 Judge was green-lit as a so-called “Share Pantry” with fellow Catholic school St. Francis. Going forward, Judge will partner with St. Francis to bring monthly food deliveries from the St. Francis food pantry to Judge’s new pantry.

“The need is bigger than we may realize, so if we can support our families, our faculty, our staff on such an important level it’s critical,” says Principal Patrick Lambert. “There may be times when any of us need a little support, and if families have something like this to lean on it will strengthen the ties that bind our school community together.”

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Pl a n ned Giving 1921 Heritage Society Securing the Future: Faith, Values, and Your Legacy at Judge Memorial For over a century, Judge Memorial Catholic High School has been a foundation for character, faith, and academic excellence. This enduring impact is only possible because of the unwavering support of our alumni and friends who believe in the power of a “Bulldog” education.

As we look toward our next century, we are focused on ensuring that Judge remains a transformative place for generations to come. One of the most meaningful ways you can support this vision is through Planned Giving.

The Impact of Your Legacy Planned gifts, such as bequests in a will, life insurance designations, or charitable trusts, act as a “forever fund” for our school. These gifts provide the long-term stability needed to: • Provide Perpetual Scholarships: Keeping a Judge education accessible to all.

• Support Exceptional Faculty: Retaining the mentors who shape our students’ lives.

• Modernize Our Campus: Ensuring our facilities match the caliber of our students.

Contact Information: Jimmy Soto ‘89 Director of Advancement Office 801-517-2166 Mobile 801-808-6358

Help Us Recognize Your Generosity Many of these visionary gifts are made privately, and we often only learn of them years later.

If you have already included Judge Memorial in your estate plans, or are currently considering doing so, please let us know.

Sharing your intentions allows us to properly thank you now, ensure your gift is directed exactly as you wish, and welcome you into the 1921 Heritage Society. Your commitment, regardless of the amount, serves as an inspiration to the entire Judge community.

Each planned gift—no matter the size—helps strengthen Judge Memorial’s mission to educate hearts and minds in the Catholic tradition and ensures that the school remains a place of faith, excellence, and opportunity for generations to come.

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