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cornerstones Spiritual Growth Mater Dei students are provided a faith-based education rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition.

We strive to educate the whole child by blending learning with faith and by making faith an integral part of the school day. This is accomplished through prayer as a fundamental component of each class along with a focus on service to others.

Academic Excellence Mater Dei offers a strong educational program designed to recognize the needs and differences of individual students, to develop students’ potential in accordance with ability, and to equip graduates to live and find success in today’s complex world.

Small class size allows for individual attention to students and the building of close relationships between the experienced faculty and the students. Students graduate well prepared for their future academic and professional pursuits.

Service Active involvement in service during high school develops a sense of responsibility and a lifetime desire to respond to the needs of the world. In order to strengthen the commitment to be of service to others, Mater Dei provides a four-year service program that challenges students to reach beyond themselves and to touch the lives of others.

Social Development While growing spiritually and academically, students also need the opportunity to develop socially and physically.

Students are strongly encouraged to become well-rounded individuals by interacting with others in a variety of extracurricular and co-curricular activities which serve as an extension of a solid educational program.

These activities help enhance social skills, build selfconfidence and self-discipline, and teach lessons that last a lifetime and are not learned in a classroom setting.

Students in need of counseling are able to seek guidance from a full-time Youth First social worker. A peer mediation program is also available for social conflict resolution.

Mater Dei is preparing students well for STEM careers. It offers many college-prep courses in the STEM topics [and] STEM-related extra-curricular activities also.

Mater Dei has gifted educators that motivate students to excel early in their academic careers. I have a B.S. in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Medical Sciences, as well as a Doctorate of Optometry. I never once felt ill-prepared while pursuing these degrees at Indiana University.

Dr. Rachel Rexing-Thacker, O.D. ‘10

welcome to

“When you come to Mater Dei, you become part of a huge family. Since I transferred here, teachers have been very supportive.

Students from all grades are very welcoming.”

“Students should choose Mater Dei because there are many opportunities for everyone to get involved, and the friendships last forever.”

“There are so many different clubs and teams that everyone can find something they like. The teachers are great to work with, especially one-on-one. Mater Dei feels like a home.”

“Students should choose Mater Dei because it has the best supporting community around.”

Chloe Burzynski Golf Saint Bens Youth Group leader

Brandon Werner Drum Major Marching Band Teenpower Leader National Honor Society member

Jill Happe National Honor Society President Pep Club President Dance Marathon Executive Member Soccer Team Captain

John McGrew Football captain Baseball Wrestling Euchre Club

candid photos by yearbook students

1 welcome

academic excellence “My vision for the future is working in the hospital setting while helping people in every way I can. I want to be able to help others when no one else is able to. Mater Dei has prepared me for this future by helping me realize what is expected of me to achieve this goal. MD also provides the classes and networking required to actively work towards this goal.”

Xavier Reine

“In the future, I plan to pursue SpeechLanguage Pathology at Purdue or Murray State University. Mater Dei’s rigorous class options have helped me to prepare for higher education in college, and I know that I will do well in the future thanks to Mater Dei.” Kristen Schneider

“After graduation, I envision myself studying chemical engineering at a college far from home so I can fully experience independence and a completely new environment. I never want to stop learning after I graduate both college and high school, and I want to continue to learn new things everyday I work.

Mater Dei prepared me for the professional aspect of my future just as much as my academics because it holds us to behavior and social standards other schools don’t.”

Grace Wagner

The high expectations of academic excellence instilled in me selfmotivation and a passion for learning. With the variety of college credit courses and honors courses, the advanced material I learned placed me at an advantage and gave me a head start.

Claudia Duncan ‘18 Purdue University, Data Science

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social development:

athletics “One lesson that I have learned is that you need to be open to new people and welcome new friendships. Just by saying hello and having a conversation with the new kid, or anybody for that matter, can brighten their day and could lead towards a new life-long friend.”

Larry Haller

“Being part of the athletics at Mater Dei has shown me that it isn’t only about me. We do it for everyone, including our teammates, alumni, fans, and anybody who gives time or effort to improve the school or athletic programs.”

Kane Egli

[Cheerleading] has enhanced my vision for life because it has taught me that you need to be able to work as a team. The main life lesson I learned is that there is failure in all parts of life, but it is what someone does after they fail that makes them who they are.

Audrie Collins

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The athletic team is a mirror image of the workplace.

The coach is now a boss, and our teammates are now employees.

Our team goal is always to strive for excellence and work together.”

Mrs. Darlene Quinlin Asst. Principal Asst. Athletic Director

“Athletics have taught me the meaning of hard work and discipline. Mater Dei athletics has encouraged me to go past my limits in life and accomplish great things. As a student athlete, the life lessons that I have learned are to never give up and anything is possible.

Colin Givens

“Participating in athletics has allowed me to learn time management skills and to always keep a positive attitude because in a game calls will not always go your way and life will not always go your way.�

Emma Lamble

I am very glad I attended Mater Dei for many reasons. Among these include: I competed on the best speech team in southern Indiana, I learned from some of the best high school teachers that motivated me and taught well, I had the opportunity to serve as mayor of one of the only city-school government systems in the nation, and I made great friends due to Mater Dei’s small, family-like nature.

Nathan Seiler ‘18, IU Kelley School of Business

social development:

clubs

“Being involved in clubs is the best thing I’ve done during high school. I have made many new friends and have had wonderful experiences. I’ve only ever had a few close friends, but I have been able to expand my horizons and put myself out of my comfort zone.”

Alyssa Goebel Theatre, Choir, German Club, Peer Mediation

“I have learned both teamwork and the importance of independence. I believe that the moderation of teamwork and independence made me a better student, teammate, and leader. Through these clubs, I also developed responsibility, commitment, and sportsmanship.”

Katie Boots Speech Team Co-captain, Asst.

Clerk Affiliate Student Council, Pep Club, German Club, Track, NHS, Service Club “My involvement in MD clubs and organizations has shown me how close the MD family is, and they help me meet new people outside of my class. The clubs I am involved in have taught me a lot about time management and responsibility.”

Allison Deeg Yearbook Design Editor German Club President, National Honor Society, Pep Club, Service Club, Peer Mediation, Dance Marathon

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service

“The goal of the Mater Dei Service Program is to offer meaningful service experiences that allow our students to make a positive and lasting impact on the community.�

Mr. Chad Breeden Campus Minister

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“All over the world, there are people in need. I serve because I believe it is the right thing for me to do in order to help those in need near me. I find great satisfaction in knowing that my service helps the Evansville community. By serving my community I feel that I am part of a global group of people that serve those in need.”

Jared Blanton serves through lacrosse, track, student council, NHS, Change Make Challenge

“I serve in hopes to positively affect others and help them out in the best way I can. I hope it impacts others by inspiring others to volunteer and help someone else. “

Travis Kirsch serves through Dance Marathon, chruch, and the fall festival

“Learning right and wrong as well as appropriate behaviors, and moral expectations are the greatest skills that our MD students possess, along with recognizing and learning their role of service to their community”

Mrs. Donna Lefler Business teacher

The main hope that I have for students is to grow in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He loves each one of us individually and without exception. Discovering Christ and having a personal relationship with Him is critical for understanding the faith and integrating all other aspects of theology into our lives. Outside of that, I hope that students will be able to take what they have learned here and courageously live out their faith after they graduate from Mater Dei.

Mr. Jeremy Goebel ‘06, Theology teacher

spiritual

growth “The small school size allows students and teachers to develop personal relationships. We are able to talk about what is going on in our lives and learn more about our students’ lives. We can pray with each other and for each other.”

Mrs. Meghan Carter Choir Teacher

“ I have grown in my spirituality at Mater Dei because of the amazing teachers and faculty who teach me to work hard, stay focused, and follow my faith. I am not only blessed to receive a great education but a great faith-filled education.”

Emily Hausmann

“I have grown in my spirituality by becoming aware of God’s presence and applying Christian morals to my life. Each year at Mater Dei has taught me something different. All I have learned has helped shape my relationship with others and God.” Brady Boring

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why choose the vision?

“While it is true that in any high school, or even college setting, one ‘gets out of it, what one puts into it’, there is no question that students wanting to pursue their interests, and explore new ones, are very welcomed and encouraged to do so at Mater Dei. It is refreshing to know that spiritual views and beliefs are not only respected, but openly encouraged and discussed as the ‘norm.’”

“The atmosphere at MD, the connections made while there and the community that you then become a lifetime participant in are so valuable for the rest of your life. There is always a base of people there to lean on and leverage relationships from. The ability to be able to openly express your faith in the high school years is also so important. The cost is a sacrifice, no doubt, but one that I think gives back more than any monetary sacrifice could outweigh.”

“By always challenging me to maintain a strong work ethic, think beyond the status quo and strive to be a better person, Mater Dei not only prepared me for college but I also use these traits daily in my current role as CFO of George Koch Sons, LLC. Mater Dei offers a quality education and a nurturing environment that has strong core values. Most importantly, it has a solid faith base that helped strengthen my Catholic beliefs.

We look forward to our son being part of the rich tradition that Mater Dei offers.”

Matt Folz ‘91 CPA, Vice President, Harding Schymanski

Lindsay Schmitt ‘01 CFO George Koch Sons LLC

Tony Bacon ‘91 parent

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“So many of my classmates are like sisters and brothers to me. I will always feel deep connections for many of the teachers I was privileged to have. Attending Catholic schools has helped me grow in my faith which is a significant reason we chose to send our four children to Mater Dei. Although it is a continuously challenging financial commitment I would happily make the same decision all over again to send our children to Mater Dei.” Felicia Scofield ‘82 parent

“I graduated from Mater Dei with an incredible base for my college education, with connections in the Mater Dei and Westside community, and with leadership and stewardship mindset that is still with me today. It helped me be a better student and person then, and a better husband and father now.”

Mater Dei maintains high standards and strong discipline. We feel that the school is a safe environment for our children. The teachers have even used their prep time to prepare students for tests and offer extra assistance.”

Becky Rexing parent

Not a day goes by that I regret the decision to send my kids to Mater Dei. Yes, I would have the money that I spent on tuition if I sent them to a public school, but I also would not have the dedicated and caring teachers that I feel my kids are exposed to at Mater Dei. Mater Dei challenged my kids in more ways than I can count including how to be leaders and how not to give up.”

Bev Robbins parent

Brad Niemeier ‘08 Founding owner of Azzip Pizza “MD provides all the tools almost any student needs for success through its academic and extracurricular programs.

High standards of character and discipline are constantly emphasized and are the vehicles with which academic, athletic, and other extracurricular successes are achieved.”

Jeremy Herrmann M.D. ‘98 Riley Hospital Heart Surgeon

“From day one of transferring late in the school year, my kids both had teachers offering to stay late or miss their lunch to help them get caught up. The teachers go above and beyond for their students and make sure they feel welcome.”

Rachel Virgin parent

It feels like home. The people that work at MD have a common sense that this place is bigger than them.

MD means something to the past, present, and future students, parents and alumni. It’s not just a school to the people that work here.�

Mallory (Goebel) Hertel ‘07

HISTORY Mater Dei High School opened in the fall of 1949 and for over 60 years has educated young people to enter society academically and spiritually prepared for the next chapter of their lives.

Mater Dei is recognized for its outstanding academics, athletics, fine arts, and extracurricular activities.

Students strive to meet high academic standards of excellence, learn to share their gifts and talents in service to others, and to live their faith in a global world.

MISSION Mater Dei High School is committed to being a school of choice for all families. A Catholic co-educational community in the Diocese of Evansville, Mater Dei strives to create an educational environment based on Gospel values, which recognizes the needs and differences in individuals and empowers students to meet the demands and challenges of a rapidly changing and morally complex world.