Cover Photo Credits & Magazine Layout: Elizabeth Schulte ‘17
Magazine Contributers: Amy Grills, Michael Higdon, Annette Hunger, Angie Parmer, Debbie Holtel Lamping ‘73, Helen Yane ‘95, and Jason Walke
Photo Credits: Susan Meer Gigrich ‘87, David Lohmueller, and Elizabeth Schulte ‘17
From the President
Mountain Tops and Everyday Moments: Reflections from OA
This past Wednesday, I had the privilege of accompanying our seniors to St. Malachy in Brownsburg for a memorable Mass with Archbishop Thompson. This special Eucharistic celebration unites nearly 1200 seniors from across the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. During his homily, Archbishop Thompson spoke about the “mountain top” experiences in our lives, likening the senior year to such a time—a season of excitement, anticipation, and new beginnings.
He reminded us, however, that while these high points are significant, the daily moments— the work we do off the mountain top—are equally meaningful. It is in these everyday experiences that God often shapes our hearts and minds.
As I reflect on the past several months at OA, I’m reminded of the many “mountain top” moments we’ve experienced together as a school family. From the exhilarating boys’ and girls’ regional soccer games in the “graveyard,” to the transformative class retreats and successful announcement of Go Beyond 4.0, our innovative learning schedule, we have so much for which to celebrate and be grateful.
Our alumni pages, too, are filled with “mountain top” moments—weddings, births, and reunion celebrations. These milestones serve as reminders of the enduring bond and spirit of our OA community.
Yet, the heart of OA lies in the everyday moments that make our school truly special. In this issue of our magazine, you’ll find snapshots of these cherished experiences: the senior sunrise breakfast, junior inductions, food drives, and the inspiring “Volley for Hope” and “White-Out games.” These moments, both big and small, weave the fabric of life at OA, creating a community where good memories and positive energy abound.
None of this would be possible without the dedication of our educators and staff, who inspire, challenge, and support our students every day. We are profoundly grateful for the trust and partnership of our parents, the generosity of our benefactors, and the unwavering support of our alumni and friends. Together, you make both the mountain top experiences and the everyday moments possible for our students.
As you flip through this issue of our fall/winter magazine, I hope you enjoy revisiting these highlights and find inspiration in the stories we share. I also invite you to join us for our upcoming events—cheer on our basketball teams, attend the OA Dinner Auction in February, or enjoy the spring musical in March. Keep up with all OA activities and updates on our social media platforms and website.
Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed and joyous Advent and Christmas Season! Gratefully,
Annette Hunger President
OA Introduces “Go Beyond 4.0”
A New Era in Student Learning and Growth
We are excited to announce Go Beyond 4.0, an innovative learning schedule designed to enhance the academic achievement, social responsibility, leadership, and personal and spiritual growth of our students. This transformative initiative will be implemented in the 2025-2026 school year.
“For nearly 175 years, Oldenburg Academy has upheld a proud tradition of academic excellence rooted in our Franciscan Catholic values. The educational landscape has significantly changed over the last five years, creating the opportunity to reimagine and redefine our learning environment. At the heart of our mission is a commitment to academic excellence with a focus on servant leadership, encouraging students to lead with integrity and purpose. Our Go Beyond 4.0 initiative celebrates this legacy and reinforces our dedication to our core values of Virtue, Honor, and Education,” commented President Annette Hunger.
A Schedule Built for Success: Mission Mondays and a 4-Day Traditional Instructional Week
All students will be on campus four days a week focusing on rigorous academic instruction and college-preparedness, while Mission Mondays will be dedicated to immersive educational experiences. This unique model will elevate the impact that retreats, service opportunities, and internships provide to our students. Go Beyond 4.0 aligns with our plans to expand our partnerships with colleges and universities. Mission Mondays will also offer faculty with dedicated time for ongoing professional development to bring innovative and state of the art teaching practices into their classrooms.
According to Principal Angie Parmer, “With nearly 100% of our students pursuing post secondary education, Oldenburg Academy is committed to ensuring that each of our students is equipped to excel in a college environment. Our Go Beyond 4.0 program prepares our students for higher education and aligns seamlessly with Indiana’s newly proposed diploma requirements. Mission Monday will significantly enhance the traditional classroom learning experience, reduce classroom interruptions, and allow students and faculty time to connect during enrichment hours.”
Enhanced Learning, Enhanced Future
Oldenburg Academy’s Go Beyond 4.0 program underscores its mission to foster students’ academic and personal excellence, preparing them to excel in our ever-changing world. This innovative shift in Oldenburg Academy’s schedule will ensure students are well-prepared for the demands of college and service to their communities.
“The Oldenburg Academy Board of Trustees is incredibly supportive and excited about Oldenburg Academy’s Go Beyond 4.0 program. We are confident that this forward-thinking approach will cultivate a learning environment that rivals the best in the nation empowering our students to excel”, stated Board Chair Amy Streator.
Indiana College Core 30 at Oldenburg Academy
Your Headstart to College and Beyond
Through the Indiana College Core 30 program, OA students can earn a full year of college credit while they are still in high school. This structured program allows our students to enroll in and complete general education course requirements, which are recognized by all Indiana public colleges and universities. The head start enables our graduates to explore courses outside their major, reduce their freshman course load, or even graduate early—saving time and money while making the most of their college experience.
The exciting news is that Oldenburg Academy offers students the opportunity to complete these hours right here on campus. Dual-credit courses, taken with familiar OA teachers and classmates, cover essential areas in Written and Oral Communication, Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific, Social, and Behavioral Sciences, and more. Moreover, our Advanced Placement courses can also fulfill some of these credits, allowing even greater flexibility for students pursuing rigorous academic pathways.
Former OA student Emma Weberding, now a college junior, reflected on the value of her experience with the program: “Receving the Indiana Core 30 through Oldenburg Academy gave me an incredible advantage in pursuing higher education. Thanks to the active involvement of my teachers, I was able to draw on their expertise--not only in their respective subjects but also in their personal college experiences. I’ve always set ambitious academic goals for myself, and this educational achievement allowed me to enter college with a unique leverage.”
Over the past five years, we have been helping our students achieve this academic goal. Thirty-seven percent of the Class of 2024 earned the designation, while the Class of 2023 saw 44% of its students meet the Core 30 requirements. These numbers underscore our commitment to supporting students as they take this significant step toward their college futures. At Oldenburg Academy, we are dedicated to creating educational opportunities that support our students’ college ambitions—starting at our own doors.
Receiving the Indiana Core 30 through Oldenburg Academy gave me an incredible advantage in pursuing higher education.
~ Emma Weberding ‘19
Going Beyond in Academics
National Honor Society Inductions
Earlier in the semester, we held our annual National Honor Society Induction ceremony to welcome our newest members of NHS!
Congratulations to Salvatore Bamonte, Jacob Hilbert, Ninah Lewis, Christian Mack, Levi Stonebraker, Aaron Bauer, Felicity Brelage, Rachel Cigolotti, Laura Dennis, Adam Dennis, Eleanor Eaglin, Bridgette Ehrhard, Calyssa Evers, Norah Haverkos, Hailey Hoffman, Luke Hopkins, Ashley Hunter, Jayne Lamping, Bridget Lohmueller, Zachary Phillips, Eleanor Pierce, Grant Rosenberger, Madeline Ryan, Rachel Suttmann, Lillian Vanderpohl, and Kailey Wolfe.
Emerge Conference
Mr. Jason Walke along with Genesis: Pathways to Success worked together in creating a one-day entrepreneurship business conference for schools in southeast Indiana. Seven high schools participated in the event.
Mr. Walke’s Entrepreneurship class was in attendance and enjoyed the day by listening to stories and advice from business leaders and organizations, and also had the opportunity to network and meet with the guest speakers.
Rural/Small Town Scholars
Congratulations to Elana Hollingsworth and Bridgette Ehrhard on being acknowledged as Rural/Small Town Scholars.
Career Day on Campus
Last month, we welcomed nine alumni and friends of OA to campus to share their careers and experiences with current students! Students met with these professionals who described their careers and explained their educational journeys. This invaluable experience exposes our students to a variety of career paths. It was wonderful to welcome these guests: Sean Vicente, Mindy Eckstein ‘20, Julie Martin ‘09, Sara Mahle Drabik ‘95, Claire Ruberg ‘04, Kathy Drockelman Barajas ‘93, Matty Hurm ‘15, Karen Kuhn ‘95, and Hayden Johnson ‘15. A huge thank you to all of our guests for sharing their experiences, insight, and advice with our students!
Art Students Donate Talents to Margaret Mary Health Foundation Gala
Oldenburg Academy art students worked on the design and painting of décor for the Margaret Mary Health Foundation ‘Off to the Races’ Gala. Students painted the jockey jerseys and hats for their Gala.
2024 Thomas More University Juried High School Exhibition
Every year Thomas More University puts on an exhibition of talented artists from the high school juniors and seniors in our region. Work is submitted by students or teachers and is juried by the Thomas More’s chapter of Kappa Pi, an international arts honors society.
Congratulations to Ava Henry (top left), Elana Hollingsworth (Bottom left), Jacob Voegele (Bottom right), and Bridget Lohmueller (Top right) whose work was selected for the exhibition in the Eva G. Farris Gallery.
OA Greenhouse Continues to Benefit students at OA
Exciting news from our Plant and Soil Science class, taught by Mr. Hartman! Our students have grown fresh lettuce in the OA Greenhouse, and it has been featured in the Twister Café during lunch!
We’re thrilled to see the greenhouse in action, especially since it was part of the senior capstone project by three talented students from the Class of 2023 - Erin Pottschmidt, Hannah Haverkos, and Clare Van Meter. A huge thank you to the Ripley County Community Foundation and the Rising Sun Regional Foundation for their generous support!
Lilly FinalistScholarship
Congratulations to Senior Christian Mack for being named one of the finalists for the Ripley County Lilly Scholarship.
Marian University Visits
Earlier in the semester we hosted Marian University President Dan Elsener and Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Kenith Britt on our OA campus. Their inspiring visit highlighted the strong partnership between OA and Marian University and our commitment to excellence in Catholic education and college-preparedness for our students.
Additionally, in November, the Junior class spent a day at Marian. They met with the Admissions department and celebrated Mass at St. Joseph’s Chapel.
US History Experiences 1700s America in the Classroom
Thanks to a grant from the Joan & John Hillenbrand VISION Fund, Mr. Jason Walke received a set of eight virtual reality goggles that are meant to be used in an educational setting. One of the recent activities they were used for was in the AP US History class to explore a typical colonial village. Students were also able to visit present-day museums and statues and learn about some of the important founders and founding documents in American history.
DICE Challenge
Congratulations to the three teams that advanced through the first round of the D.I.C.E. Challenge. These teams had the opportunity to compete in the finals against other area schools on Friday, December 6th with the possibility of coming away with a cash and/or scholarship prize!
The advancing teams are Alert Academy (Ava Henry, Addisyn Lambert and Jacob Stenger), Gold Sports and Leisure (Grant Goldsmith), and Initiate Design (Albert Hudepohl).
Going Beyond in Admissions
Twister Tuesdays
January 7, 14, and 21
Any 8th grade student interested in learning more about Oldenburg Academy is invited to come for a ‘shadow day’ visit on a Twister Tuesday during the school year. Visiting students will be partnered with an OA student who will serve as their host during their visit to campus. Visiting students will attend classes, meet teachers and students, and see first-hand how they can Go Beyond at OA!
Wednesday Walk-Throughs
January 8 and 15
Time: 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Upcoming Class of 2029 Admission Events
Parents of 7th and 8th grade students are invited to spend a morning at Oldenburg Academy. During the Wednesday Walk-Throughs, parents will hear a brief presentation from a member of our Administrative team, take a tour of the school while it is in session, and ask any questions about the high school experience at OA.
Visit oldenburgacademy.org/enrollment-process#Wednesday-Walk-Through to reserve your spot!
• December 20, 2024 | Class of 2029 Scholarship Application Deadline
• January 17, 2025 | Registration Packets & Scholarship Award Letters Mailed
• February 5, 2025 | Class of 2029 Registration
• April 2, 2025 | Class of 2029 Scholarship Ceremony
• May 5, 2025 | Class of 2029 Freshman Picnic
OPEN HOUSE
Contact Molly Freeland in the Admissions O ce to schedule a Twister Tuesday visit or Wednesday Walk- rough.
Thank you to our OA students, faculty, alumni and volunteers for welcoming guests for our annual Open House and campus tour! Shout-out to our Alumni Association for baking and serving the delicious pies! It was a great day at OA!
If you were unable to attend Open House but would like to learn more about the admissions process, contact our OA Admission Director, Molly Freeland, at mfreeland@oldenburgacademy.org.
Going Beyond in Student life
Red Ribbon Week
To celebrate Red Ribbon Week, students participated in many events to bring awareness to the dangers of drugs. A main message was “Your Choices Matter.” Students watched a few informational videos in their religion classes and participated in fun events to remind them to make good choices, including a dodgeball tournament, donuts, and a drug-free pledge signing.
NHS Food Drive
The OA National Honors Society held a food drive competition last week. It was an epic battle of teachers vs students to see who could bring in the most items. Seniors won and it resulted in a total of 587 items being donated to the Batesville Food Pantry and Safe Passage.
Versailles
Pumpkin Show
Earlier in the semester, seniors Josie Wolfe and Christian Mack represented Oldenburg Academy in the Versailles Pumpkin Show King & Queen contest. Christian was named runner-up in the contest!
Fall Play | PUFFS!
This Fall, the OA Drama Department put on a production of PUFFS! Congratulations to all of the students who participated as well as our Drama Director Morgan Straber, and Assistant Director Brooklynn Weisenbach Hartman.
Senior Sunrise Breakfast
Earlier in the semester, the senior class of 2025 enjoyed a delicious breakfast and Indiana sunrise as one of the many bonding experiences of their senior year! Principal Angie Parmer and Senior class moderator Justin Hartman prepared a full breakfast complete with pancakes, sausage, and all the fixings!
Adopt-A-Sis
The Adopt-A-Sis program is still a very popular club among the students! This year we have 124 students and 20 Sisters in the Adopt-a-Sis program. They meet during lunch throughout the semester to catch up and spend time together.
Going Beyond in Athletics
The OA fall sports season was a tremendous success, marked by several historic achievements! For the first time in school history, both the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams won Sectional championships in the same year, and both teams advanced to the Regional championship. In a milestone moment, the Graveyard hosted two Regional semifinal games and played under the lights for the first time ever!
The volleyball team also had an outstanding season, finishing with a 22-10 record. They claimed victories at both the Spartan Invite and the Lancer Invite, showcasing their skill and determination. Boys’ tennis wrapped up their season with an 8-7 record, highlighted by an impressive six-match winning streak. They also advanced to the Sectional semifinals. Girls’ golf had a strong season, winning four meets and fielding a full team. Meanwhile, cross country continued its success with five runners advancing out of Sectionals: Adam Dennis, Santiago Schutte, Carson Hartwell, Josie Wenning, and Maddie Ryan.
It was an exciting fall for OA athletics, with remarkable performances and historic milestones across the board!
White-Out For Kathy
At the end of November, the OA Girls Basketball team hosted a “White-Out” in support of Kathy Samples, wife of Assistant Coach Brian Samples, as she bravely battles lung cancer. The team and parents came together to organize a fundraiser and raffle, raising funds to support Kathy and her family during this difficult time. At halftime, the team gathered for a heartfelt prayer for Kathy and her loved ones. Thank you to everyone who showed their support — your generosity and kindness mean the world.
The 2024 OASIS Hog Roast was a success! Thank you to everyone who came to support the event and our student athletes! Together, we raised over $41,000 to support our OA student-athletes and programs.
Volley For Hope
In September, the OA Volleyball team held their annual gift card raffle and collection to benefit one of the families in our community, the Weilers. Nick Weiler is currently battling stage 4 colon cancer, and the money collected from the Volley for Hope was given to him and his family to help support them during this time. Nick is the brother of alumni Tonya Weiler Hudepohl ’94 and Valerie Weiler Hoff ’97, and he is the Godfather of Owen Hudepohl ’20.
Going Beyond in Faith life
Wednesday Morning Prayer
Every Wednesday, students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to gather together for prayer before the day begins. In the above picture, Sister Lorraine Geis joined the students for prayer.
Advent Prayer Service
Throughout the season of Advent, students and faculty gathered for prayer services to celebrate each Sunday of Advent.
Grandparents Day
We held a Grandparents Day Mass in the Sisters’ Chapel! It was wonderful to see everyone and celebrate the wonderful role our grandparents hold! After Mass, everyone enjoyed a delicious cookie and punch reception.
Junior Inductions
Junior Induction was held during the Grandparents Day Mass. The junior students were officially recognized as upperclassmen and important role models for our school!
Freshman Retreat
The Freshmen Retreat took place earlier in the semester. Many juniors and seniors helped as leaders and gave witness talks. Thank you to Fr. Hollowell, Fr. Suresh, and Fr. Lampert who joined us for Mass and/or confessions. It was a greatday with the theme “I am a child of God; my identity is in Christ.”
Junior Retreat
Earlier this semester, our juniors went on their Junior Retreat at Camp River Ridge, outside of Oldenburg! They participated in a number of fun and fruitful activities to help them grow in their faith and as classmates. Thank you to Fr. John Barker, Fr. Andrew Gronotte, and Fr. Suresh Ganta for helping with Mass, Holy Hour, and Confessions.
Going Beyond in Alumni News
Claire Hollingsworth Ludwig ‘19 and Stetson Ludwig were married on August 24, 2024 in the Sisters of Saint Francis Chapel. They were celebrated by many OA alumni!
Haze Kidd Franks ‘19 and Levi Franks were married on April 13, 2024.
Ava Geers Huber ‘18 and Aaron Huber ‘16 were married on September 7, 2024, along with a bridal party made up of a great group of OA Alumni!
Bella Monroe Selm ‘19 and Isaac Selm were married on October 12, 2024.
Justin Hartman, current OA Biology faculty, and Brooklynn Weisenbach were married on November 16, 2024 surrounded by a number of OA alumni and faculty/staff.
Katie Ulrich Wintering ‘17 and Tim Wintering were married on October 5, 2024 and were celebrated by a number of Class of 2017 OA graduates.
Michael Hoff ‘19 and his wife Anna were married on October 26, 2024 in Tuscola, Illinois.
Pictured with the bride and groom, (left to right) Alyssa Krekeler ‘19, Owen Hudepohl ‘19, Michelle Schneider Hoff ‘95, Zach Hoff ‘25, Nick Hoff ‘21, Michael (groom), Jacob Hoff ‘23, Anna (bride), Anne Schneider Meer ‘98, Barbara Brelage Schneider ‘70, Tonya Weiler Hudepohl ‘93, and Liz Hartman Stenger ‘71.
Grace Mack Lewis ‘19 and Nick Lewis were married on July 20, 2024 and celebrated by her sister Kathryn Mack ‘28 and two fellow 2019 OA graduates, Sarah Price’19 and Alyssa Krekeler ‘19.
Hutchinson ‘17 and Amanda
Hutchinson ‘17 welcomed baby Weston to their family in July.
Sam
Cranert
Sam Gast ‘16, his wife, Haley, and their daughter Vincie welcomed baby Charlotte Grace to their family in June.
Olivia Horan Carter ‘14, her husband John, and daughter Ruth welcomed baby Mae Caroline to the family in March.
Michaela Hartman Pyle ‘17 and Ryan Pyle were married on November 2, 2024.
Huntyr Rose Bischoff ‘17 and Nick Bischoff ‘16 and their son PJ welcomed baby Sutton Jay in September.
Emmalee Schulte Kessens ‘15 and Jacob Kessens ‘15 welcomed baby Amelia to their family in August.
Rachel Schulte Hinton ‘12 and Nick Hinton welcomed baby Lucy to their family in August.
The Class of 2004 had a great time at their class reunion!
Luke Weisenbach ‘16 and Brian Weberding ‘15 celebrated together at Oktoberfest in Germany.
Pictured is: (Back row) Amy Frazer Grimes, Alex Gates, Doug Wanstrath, Jeremy Roell, Amanda Koumoutsos, (Front row) Nikki Wittmer Sinclair, Diana Dietz Ostrowski, Cassandra Galle Mathews, Kayleigh Weber Byer, Madonna McGovern, Mary Kate Henrikson, Kristen Johnson Abell, Kara Kerker Burgess. Also in attendance but not pictured: Matt Schutte, Erica Baechle Kelb.
Alumni Homecoming
On October 12th, the Oldenburg Academy Alumni celebrated their homecoming with a Mass in the Oldenburg Academy Auditorium. The alumni were welcomed by Oldenburg Academy President Annette Hunger. The Mass celebrant was Fr. Bill Verbryke, SJ. They remembered the 30 alumni who have passed this year with a candle lighting ceremony. The musicians, singers, and readers for the Mass were from the class of 1974, celebrating their 50th anniversary. A luncheon was enjoyed in the Feldhaus catered by Blanco’s Catering and Schmidt’s Bakery.
Three award winners were honored-- Sr. Jeri Fuhrmann ‘67 received the Excellence in Art Award, Pat Merkel Moster ‘57 received the Distinguished Alumni award ,and Keith Moenter received the Virtue, Honor, and Education Award. A slide show was presented of the activities that the alumni board has been involved in this year, featuring the Retired Sister’s Christmas Party, Easter Egg Hunt, student scholarship awards, donation for the STEM program at the dinner auction, and volunteering at the Oldenburg Academy Open House.
In loving memory... until we meet again
Colette Campbell Speranza ‘46
Violet Trossman ‘46
Joan Conrady Lingg ‘50
Barb Hirt ‘51
Alice Jane Schmidt Peetz ‘54
Patti Sauntry Clark ‘55
Marjorie Barnhorst Fischer ‘55
Pauline Glotzbach Bourne ‘57
The Alumni board is very grateful for the generosity of the alumni and the help of the Advancement Team to make all these endeavors possible. We would love to Stay connected!
Roseann Volk Tumlin ‘59
Peggy Blank Salatin ‘59
Janice Runnebohm Comstock-Crane ‘59
Dolores Barnhorst Scheele ‘60
Sr. Marilyn Doerger OSF ‘61
Judith Raver Doll ‘61
Ruth Jean Effing Riehle ‘62
Viola Niese Billman ‘62
Sharon Ann Deffner Singer ‘67
Jane Bedel Fussner ‘69
Julie Schlotman ‘91
Sr. Carol Ann Mause OSF HM
Update your address, phone, and email as you continue to make changes in your lives so we can quickly contact you when necessary.
Send your updated contact information to dlamping@oldenburgacademy.org or fill out an on-line form by scanning the QR code.
Support the Academy Fund
We appreciate your support...
We invite you to consider making a meaningful gift to our Academy Fund. The Academy Fund makes it possible to continue Oldenburg Academy’s mission through vital unrestricted giving.
Annual gifts of any size to the Academy Fund allow us the flexibility to address immediate needs and invest in areas that will have the greatest impact on our students and community. Whether it’s supporting academic initiatives, extracurricular activities, campus ministry, teacher development, or facility improvements, your support makes a difference.
Gifts to our Academy Fund support these educational initiatives not covered by tuition alone and enable us to continue to fulfill the mission of academic excellence, social responsibility, leadership, and personal and spiritual growth for all our students who will excel in this ever-changing world.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to give!
Donate online by clicking the button or by visiting oldenburgacademy.org/ways-to-give#academy or donate through a gift of check or cash by mailing to the address below.
