OCHS Baseball wins All-A State Championship
spirit!
Also in this issue: Theatre class presents “Catholic High ‘Til I Die” l PAGE 10
First Schoolwide Read l PAGE 11
Once an Ace. Always an Ace.
After the tough year COVID presented for our newly formed Alumni Association, we are excited to pick right back up where we left off and we look forward to seeing you soon at our events. More information coming soon!
The OCHS Alumni Association exists to celebrate the Aces spirit while serving and connecting alumni, friends, and students of all ages. We are proud to welcome all alumni as members and keep Aces everywhere informed, connected, and engaged. Our goal is to foster a sense of community while providing a variety of engaging events and communication platforms for our alumni.
We are still seeking officers and board members to assist in building unity, purpose, and structure for our newly formed Alumni Association and would love to hear from you! Interested? Contact Jenny Glenn (jenny.glenn@owensborocatholic. org or 270-686-8896) for more details on becoming a founding member or forming our board positions today.
Together, we can continue to advance our campus and make the Aces pride stronger than ever!
Early in my career as an educator, I had the opportunity to teach 4th graders. I remember listening to students share stories from time to time about challenges they faced. Stories typically included concerns about academic performance, getting along with their siblings, and feeling sad when a friendship ended.
I spent time talking with them about encountering tough times throughout life and stressed the importance of never giving up. In fact, we made little pocket reminders that had NGU hand printed on them. I still have mine.
I thought about those fourth graders when our Catholic school system was in the midst of figuring out how students would be educated when the pandemic hit. Looking back over the past 16 months, I am grateful for so many people who subscribe to the attitude of never giving up—teachers, students, parents, and you, our faithful donors.
Each of us has a key role to play in passing our Catholic faith on to future generations. During the pandemic, we faced unprecedented challenges. Together, with God’s grace, we persevered.
We never gave up.
The experience reminds me of Romans 12:4-12:
For just as, within one body, we have many parts, though all the parts do not have the same role, so also we, being many, are one body in Christ, and each one is a part, the one of the other. And we each have different gifts, according to the grace that has been given to us: whether prophecy, in agreement with the reasonableness of faith; or ministry, in ministering; or he who teaches, in doctrine; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, in simplicity; he who governs, in solicitude; he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness. Let love be without falseness: hating evil, clinging to what is good, loving one another with fraternal charity, surpassing one another in honor: in solicitude, not lazy; in spirit, fervent; serving the Lord; in hope, rejoicing; in tribulation, enduring; in prayer, ever-willing.
It is an honor and privilege to work as one body in Christ with you, brothers and sisters, as we serve the Lord.
NGU, Keith Osborne Chief Administrative Officer Class of ‘81
As we come to the close of another school year, it is certainly not what we are used to with all the end of school year activities. We all know what happened last spring, so when last summer rolled around, there was a lot of speculation, plenty of questions and much planning that had to take place to even consider coming back in-person for the 20-21 school year.
After much research, deliberation, even more planning, and a consensus of OCS administrators, the decision was made to move forward with opening school. And as mentioned, extensive preparation and planning continued all summer with the maintenance/custodial staff, food service and school staff working together to put a plan in place to ensure the safety of everyone.
While there was a lot of anxiety, worry and unknown, there was also a level of enthusiasm and excitement in the air about returning. Students, staff and parents were looking forward to being in school, especially after the NTI experience last spring caught us a little off guard. While we got through it, we know it was not very well received by students or staff and while we did learn quite a bit about online learning, nobody wanted that again for an extended period.
Unfortunately, as we began school, the enthusiasm and expectations faded pretty quickly when the reality of what was going to be required, along with what we were NOT going to get to do, set in.
Our days would include masks, dividers, distancing, but would not include schoolwide Masses, pep rallies, dances, or many
other socialization opportunities. This environment, along with many other missed activities, were creating quite a bit of frustration for students and staff alike.
However, as the semester continued, a gradual change seemed to be happening among the student body. The disappointment everyone was feeling started to turn into an acceptance. It then seemed the students, especially our seniors, became more focused on making the best of the situation they were in and started figuring out things that could be done. While it wasn’t even close to being a normal year at Catholic High, it is amazing how many seniors have told me they had a GREAT year! When their focus changed to what they COULD do, it seemed their attitudes also changed and while there were still some occasional disappointments, whining and even some anger, the overall attitude of the students, especially the senior class, had moved in a positive direction. I have never been more proud to be the principal at OCHS and I have never been more proud of the way our students approached, dealt with and overcame so many obstacles to accomplish our objective of staying in school this year.
Obviously, everyone has been affected in so many ways during this past 14 months, but the students of OCHS certainly learned some valuable lessons about life. They learned how to deal with things they can’t control and how to deal with disappointment. But maybe the most important thing they learned in this YEAR
LIKE NO OTHER, is to appreciate what they did get by what many of them have told me, “We got to go to school, we got to have a senior year and we made the best of what we had been given!” ♠
“Enlighten our understanding that we may know You. Give us wisdom that Your will may be clear to us and that we may accept it. Grant us the gift of counsel that we may always perceive what is right. Fortify us that we may always be capable of fulfilling Your Divine Will.”
have behind us, never to confront again, the way OCHS met these challenges is a reminder to me of what an amazing school it is. Temperature checks, facemasks, social distancing, and desk dividers were a daily reminder that we were in unusual times. But they were also a reminder of the unmatched dedication and commitment of the faculty and staff, along with the support and cooperation of parents and students, to keep our school open and safe. None of us enjoyed the guidelines and restrictions. No one wanted to wear a facemask or sanitize hands and classrooms. But by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, we did it and we have so much to be thankful for and a lot to be proud of. We kept our school open and we kept our students safe.
And so began the 2020-21 school year, a year unlike any we have ever experienced. None of us knew how to do this. Operating a school (or anything for that matter) during a global pandemic was something none of us had ever experienced, and hopefully never will again. There was so much we didn’t know. I think most of us had some fear and anxiety. Parents, students, teachers, and administrators all wanted to return to school, but we wanted to do so responsibly and safely.
Here is what we did know. We knew that if we were going to do this, we wouldn’t to do so by our efforts alone. We knew we would need God’s help. By God’s grace and divine assistance, we are capable of doing all He calls us to through Him who strengthens us. Owensboro Catholic Schools began the 20-21 school year with a novena to the Holy Spirit, by which we dedicated the academic year and our Owensboro Catholic Schools to the care of the third person of the Most Holy Trinity.
For nine days leading up to the opening day of the school year, the OCS family participated in a novena to the Holy Spirit. We concluded the novena with a Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated in the OCHS chapel on the evening before the doors would open for the first day of the school year. Our prayer was for the Holy Spirit to protect us, guide us, and strengthen us just as He did the apostles and the early Church upon and following the first Pentecost.
Although the challenges of this year are something we hope to
Just as the guidelines and restrictions we followed this year were a reminder of our commitment to keep our schools open and safe, our successful conclusion of the school year was a reminder that the Holy Spirit was with us to guide these disciples who knew not what were doing. Our school year concluded with the faculty gathering for Mass on the Wednesday before the Solemnity of Pentecost. We began our year with a novena and Mass of the Holy Spirit and we concluded our year with a Mass leading up to the solemnity when we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon His Church. It is almost as if our school year was wrapped in the arms of our God.
Over the past 5 years, I have had the privilege of being part of OCHS. Since I first taught here several years ago, I have known this school is a special place. It has been an honor to teach and serve as chaplain. My life will be forever blessed by the amazing people with whom I have worked, the students I have taught, and the experiences I have had during this time. Although I wish my last year at OCHS had been more “normal,” I can now look back and see so many blessings and be thankful I was at Catholic High, even if during the challenges of a global pandemic. As I go forth to a new ministry, I will miss OCHS so much. But as I leave, I will keep this school in my prayers as I pray that the Holy Spirit continue to enlighten your understanding, give you wisdom, grant you counsel, and fortify you that you may be always capable of following His divine will, all for the Glory of God.
Come Holy Spirit! ♠
Paul Martin enjoys rewarding others’ hard work. For many years, he has provided a celebratory meal to an OCHS athletic team to acknowledge the results of a successful season. Other years, he has donated to an OCHS team project. A decorated student-athlete who played college football on scholarship at the University of Kentucky, Paul knows what hard work is and likes to show his support to those who persevere. “I have had a lot of kindness shown to me over the years and that has helped me more than anything…when someone doesn’t have it so easy and I can do something to help them out, that makes me feel good for them.”
Like many, Paul points to the examples set by his parents and his coaches as the foundation for who he is today. He began by watching his mother. “Every morning she would get up before the family, go to mass, come home, fix breakfast for her family, and then go straight to work at her factory job at GE. She may come home to fix lunch
“Our consistent daily routines form us into the people we become. These routines then become habits and eventually make up how we spend our lives.”
on her break but then return to work only to come home, cook dinner, clean up and head to bed by 9. Get up and repeat. And she never fussed about it,” Martin said. “Our consistent daily routines form us into the people we become. These routines then become habits and eventually make up how we spend our lives. My brother and I would go to high school, football practice, and then go to work at Wyndall’s grocery until 9pm. Watching and picking up the daily routines of my parents shaped me into who I have become. The things I watched them do have just stayed with me for my lifetime. I am lucky.”
On the football field, Paul credits Coach Don Netoskie and Coach Lloyd Hodge for having high expectations of the players and developing boys into men of character. He considers them to be the fathers of Catholic High football, having started the football feeder program for OCHS through the OCS grade school program. Paul recalled: “When I started playing for OCHS as a freshman, we had 33 players; my senior year, our program had grown to 78 players.” Paul is noted for being the first OCHS player to be named to the All-State Kentucky high school football first team by the Associated Press; however, he would rather focus on the life lessons and habits he formed through the influence of playing football.
Paul’s habits are revealed in many areas: his work ethic, exercise routine, and annual giving to OCHS are just a few. Paul has been a strong supporter of OCHS for many, many years. He sees the success OCHS has and invests in it. He says, “I have continued admiring my alma mater, OCHS, because they do more with less. And that is not just in athletics, it is in everything they do. Every year we have students honored for academics. OCHS continues to produce quality students and athletes that go on to lead successful lives. I am always in awe, and it makes me feel good for what the school can accomplish. I attribute it to the dedicated administration, teachers, staff, and coaches who have made the school their personal mission and passion…The traditions and culture have remained steady and consistent and that is what kids need to be successful! Not to mention having Christ at the center of everything they do. My Catholic faith is important, and I have an obligation to make sure that the same opportunity of a Catholic education is available to kids today as it was to me when I was a kid. Owensboro Catholic gave me the opportunity to earn a scholarship and I wouldn’t have been able to attend college any other way,” he said.
“Your life’s story and success are important, but what I consider most important is my family. My wife Benita, our children, our grandchildren, and the friendships I have formed along the way. These are what I am most proud of and thankful for, and for these I am not lucky, but blessed!” ♠
“My Catholic faith is important, and I have an obligation to make sure that the same opportunity of a Catholic education is available to kids today as it was to me when I was a kid.”Pictured is a photo that appeared in the Messenger-Inquirer on Thursday, November 17, 1966 when Martin was named to the Associated Press’ first team All-State High School Football Squad. Martin played quarterback.
The Governor’s Scholars Program strives to enhance Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders. Established in 1983, the program provides academic and personal growth through the balance of a strong liberal arts program with a full co-curricular and residential life experience. Students must complete an application and compete with others from across the state. Those selected attend the program free of charge. Traditionally, the program is a five-week, residential summer program for Kentucky’s most outstanding students as they complete their junior year of high school.
Incoming OCHS junior, Maria Pfeifer, was recently chosen to attend The Gatton Academy on the campus of Western Kentucky University. Students who attend The Gatton Academy finish their school careers while starting college. Conducting research with professors, studying abroad, and attending college classes are just a few of the opportunities students will explore during the two years they will spend with Gatton. In addition to this amazing opportunity, tuition, fees, room and board are paid for by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Maria is the daughter of Mark and Holly Pfeifer.
Javier Garcia was accepted to Murray State University’s Commonwealth Honors Academy. CHA is a challenging academic enrichment program for outstanding high school juniors. Javier will attend on-campus classes for 3 weeks this summer at Murray. Upon completion of CHA, he will receive six hours of university credit, have the opportunity to take six additional hours of tuition-free university courses at Murray State University during his senior year, and will be awarded a four-year, $2000-per-year housing scholarship to attend Murray State University.
There are a few top senior honors awarded to outstanding seniors each year voted on by the faculty. The Tom Laswell award is based on involvement in school and extracurricular activity, good citizenship, academy standing, and service above self.
The Harold Mischel award is possibly the highest award given by our school. In honor of Mr. Mischel, this award recognizes the Owensboro Catholic High School student who best exemplifies his or her unfailing devotion to the school. Anyone who knew Mr. Mischel (father of OCHS Librarian Marilyn Pace), most notably known as A.D., knew of his dedication to Catholic High.
Clayton Lewis was accepted into the U.S. Military Academy West Point. Lewis received nomination letters from U.S. Senators Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell and U.S. Representative Brett Guthrie, along with many others. Acceptance into West Point includes completing several tests including a medical exam, a fitness, assessment, essays, SAT/ACT scores and high school transcripts. West Point Academy has only about a 7% acceptance rate! Clayton is the son of Carl and Kim Lewis.
35% Honors Diplomas Earned Scholarship Dollars Earned
9% Standard 55% College Prep
Million
The 2020-2021 school year was somewhat of an untraditional school year. Masks, dividers, morning temperature checks, and social distancing were just some of the changes students and teachers experienced as they walked through the doors of OCHS. In theatre, so many stories are told through facial expressions and body language, and COVID made that very difficult. The Theatre class jokingly mentioned they should write their own play in September because they had such a difficult time finding something that would work with the CDC recommendations. Teacher Katie Pagan (class of 2002) suggested that the students pursue a traditional script for the fall play but consider writing their own play for the spring. After their parents-only show of “Horror Movie 101: Failing Can Be Deadly” in November, the class began researching and writing their own play. They collected stories and interviewed countless teachers and OC alumni. This would evolve into “Catholic High ‘Til I Die”.
The play focuses around three female students - senior Heather, her sophomore sister Lily, and their junior friend Abby - who explore what friendship and family mean through the lens of OCHS with the help of Snoopy. Snoopy takes the girls back in time to witness firsthand many Catholic High legends. The girls’ adventures take them to the founding of OCHS in 1950 where they meet the Medley family and Bishop Cotton; they meet Willis Combest and Coach Harold “A.D.” Mischel; they witness
Coach Bruce Embry setting up Heather’s and Lily’s parents for Snowball; they stumble upon Jimmy Rogers whose death rocked the Aces’ world in 1993; and they experience the 2002 flag run before coming back to 2018 where the play is set. Jimmy and Snoopy ultimately help the girls understand what it means to support each other and find your voice. And that we will always be part of Catholic High ... even after we die. ♠
Well, we have GREAT news!! You can purchase your very own copy for a small price that will support the Drama Club to help defray royalty costs for next year.
Digital Copy – $5.00
DVD – $10.00 (plus shipping)
Please reach out to Katie Pagan at katie.pagan@owensborocatholic.org
We have a wonderful librarian at OCHS - Mrs. Marilyn Pace. Marilyn has been with OCHS for 48 years! Marilyn had a vision for a schoolwide read that began February 2020. Students read Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys who is an internationally known author. Her books have been published in 60 different countries and in 40 different languages. Students received a copy of the book and everyone, students and staff, read the book the last 15 minutes of 3rd block each day. Students had opportunities to win gift certificates and other prizes by dropping off answers to trivia questions about the book in the media center. The read was supposed to end with a personal visit from Ruta but COVID-19 arrived first and the meet was cancelled. Zoom visits took place instead in the large gym in sessions with Ruta Sepety and the students.
Besides giving background details about the book that all OCHS read last year, Ruta talked about her unusual path to writing and promised that if any of the students started to seriously write and had questions, they could contact Ruta on one of her social media outlets.
Another happening that occurred with the read was the Author Fan FaceOff. Author Fan Face-off is a book/ game show, a YouTube showdown, a booklover’s zoom challenge for the pandemic era! In each episode of #AuthorFanFaceOff, there is one great writer and one super-fan who go headto-head on trivia questions based on one of the author’s best loved books. The hosts were author Steve Sheinkin and New York librarian Stacey Rattner, along with guest author Ruta
Sepetys and challenger OCHS sophomore, Maria Pfeifer. Ruta chose the book, Between Shades of Gray; however, Maria stumped Ruta and won the contest.
Maria and Ruta’s trivia game was the first one on the high school level. Stacey and Steve started the Face-Off so younger children would continue to have fun reading during NTI. As time went on, they added middle school and then finally high school. The face-off was recorded April 5 and can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul-bbyW-6w8
Thank you, Marilyn, for making this special event come to fruition. It was a wonderful, insightful event for all. ♠
The month of March at OCHS is most notably known for Phonathon calling nights, but when COVID came to town, it shut everything down. Phonathon calling nights usually take up the whole month, but in 2020, we only got in one week! During Phonathon calling nights, that’s our time to get on the phone and really connect with a lot of our alumni. It’s also an opportunity for our alumni to volunteer to help us reach more of our OCHS alums! But as you see, in 2021, we really brought the fun!!
The Advancement Team at OCS Central Office along with Principal Gates Settle introduced a new campaign this year for the graduating seniors with a goal of raising $500. The seniors were called to the large gym where there was a presentation about philanthropy and what it means to get involved with philanthropic work at OCHS.
The seniors had a three-week opportunity to drop their donations off in the main office and if the goal was met, they were awarded a half day off from school. Our vision for this campaign was to help them realize the importance of contributing to their school. The future depends on them. Of course, it is not the size of the gift that matters, but the routine. Habitual giving is a great way to lay a foundation for what could be their children’s future. ♠
The alumni of Owensboro Catholic High School are very generous when it comes to financial support. That’s a testament to how the school creates a community with a lasting impact on its graduating students. I left as a member of the class of 2000, yet still feel a close connection and affinity for the community at OCHS more than two decades later. When it comes to charitable contributions, it’s always important to optimize that giving within the construct of your annual tax planning. One strategy for charitable giving that is available for retirees but often overlooked is the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) are not new. They have been around since 2006, but were made more valuable with Trump’s signature tax reform in 2017. By nearly doubling the standard deduction for tax years 2018-2025, that tax reform has resulted in far fewer tax filers itemizing deductions.
If you would like to give to Catholic High but still need a regular income in your retirement, consider a Charitable Gift Annuity through the Catholic Foundation of Western Kentucky. In return for your gift of cash, appreciated securities, real estate, or other assets, you will receive regular, fixed payments for the rest of your life.
You will receive a fixed rate of 5.1% to 9.0%, depending on your age. You will also be eligible for a charitable tax deduction now and may even reduce your estate taxes. Catholic High will receive the remainder of your gift at the time of your death.
Please call Natalie Hayden at 270-686-8896 for rate information or a confidential, personalized proposal.
Analysis by the Tax Policy Center and IRS data shows that the number of filers deducting donations on Schedule A dropped by nearly 60% in 2019 from 2017.1 The QCD is relatively more attractive today precisely because fewer people are itemizing deductions and claiming a tax benefit for charitable giving. The QCD creates an alternative and valuable strategy whereby retirees can achieve a tax benefit through their charitable giving.
The QCD allows people age 70.5+ to make qualified charitable contributions directly from an IRA. The contribution can satisfy some or all of a required minimum distribution (RMD). But since first dollars out are deemed to satisfy the RMD, retirees need to consider QCDs early in the year to ensure optimal tax planning. With a QCD, there is no charitable deduction. Rather, the QCD reduces the amount of income reported. It’s an exclusion of income rather than a tax deduction. But therein lies some of the potential benefits of a reduced adjusted gross income (AGI) that are not accomplished otherwise by a charitable deduction on Schedule A: lower taxable Social Security benefits, lower Medicare Part B and Part D premiums, larger deductions for medical expenses, and lower net investment income tax (NIIT). Even for those retirees who claim charitable deductions via Schedule A, the QCD might be an optimal strategy.
There are strict rules inherent in this strategy. QCDs cannot be made from a qualified plan like a 401k or 403b. They must be distributed from an IRA. They cannot be distributed from the IRA to the individual, and then to a charity. QCDs must be paid directly from the IRA to a charity. They are capped at $100,000 per individual. And finally, individuals must proactively notify tax preparers about charitable giving from their IRAs, as the tax document 1099-R does not generally distinguish the QCD from a normal taxable distribution. Planning this strategy alongside your tax advisor is imperative.
For the retired OCHS alumni who are generously supporting the school, now might be a great time to review the QCD strategy with your tax advisor and/or financial planner to see if your current giving might be enhanced by improving the tax outcome. ♠
To make our campus more inviting and high-functioning for our students and for exciting ventures such as our alumni association, we are currently working on a number of capital projects. Thank you for contributing, living the mission, praying for our growth, and daring us to dream!
The need: The chapel is not large enough to house a single class.
The solution: Remove a wall to expand the chapel’s seating capacity to 100+ in an effort to better house an entire class and visiting class reunions for masses. This chapel will have exterior recognition on Parrish Ave. so that passersby can see that Christ is the reason for this school.
The need: The side steps need to be brought up to code and a canopy is needed to provide protection from the outside elements.
The solution: Rework the steps leading to the entrance of OCHS and add an attractive canopy to make this entrance to the school more welcoming to students, staff, and all visitors.
The need: We don’t have enough parking for our student drivers. Overflow parking is at the Sportscenter, a block away from the school. Students must cross the busy street, Parrish Avenue. Athletic events pose an issue for visitors wanting to park closely to the athletic venues.
The solution: Two homes have been purchased on the adjacent lots to OCHS. These homes have been demolished to allow additional parking in our school lot for students and patrons. The current lot, along with the new acquired properties, will be completely blacktopped and restriped. A new school entrance will be added as well.
The need: We currently serve thousands of alumni, 450 students and faculty, and offer numerous clubs and committees. Currently there is not a meeting room to house events etc.
The solution: To have a functioning, appealing meeting place for all of these events, the Home Economics lab will be transformed to a state-of-the art meeting room with a fully equipped kitchen. The hall will provide a separate after hours entrance into the school, increasing building security.
The need: The breezeway is one of the main entrances used for entering and exiting the school and gym. It is highly visible yet over the years has become dirty, dark, and dingy.
The solution: This space will get a major clean up with fresh paint and new lighting. The corridor will host trophy cases and serve as a walk of fame for past and future alumni of our school.
The need: The field currently has some hazardous areas, and the sprinkler system is faulty.
The solution: A new, first-class playing surface of Bermuda sod and a new sprinkler system will be installed in Phase 1, and in Phase 2 a new concession stand and honor wall will be created.
The need: The OCHS Greenhouse is in complete disrepair.
The solution: The current greenhouse was recently taken down and a new fiberglass greenhouse along with some raised beds will be installed. Plants and flowers will be grown from seed and sold to support the future of the greenhouse and the OCHS FFA program.
The need: It has been years since OCHS has had an update to a science lab. Instruments and materials have become outdated.
The solution: Update an existing lab by adding new floors, ceilings, HVAC, lighting, and science casework. This updated lab will provide controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed.
The need: It’s no surprise to anyone that an additional gym is something needed for OCS. A new gym would cost roughly $4 million.
The solution: With your help, we can raise enough dollars to make this need a reality.
LEGACY $500,000 and above
VISIONARY $250,000-$499,999
PRESIDENTIAL $100,000-$249,900
HONORARY $50,000-$99,999
GOLD $25,000-$49,999
SILVER $10,000-$24,999
BRONZE $5,000-$9,999
EMERALD $1,000-$4,999
WHITE $500-$999
ACE Less than $500
2021 Goal
$210,000
Current Total $147,884
We are having a great year with Phonathon 2021. Thank you for giving to this important appeal. Donations received by October 1 will be listed on the OCHS Proof List published in November.
We have the most amazing alumni and your commitment to OCHS is obvious in your support and donations. A giving envelope is inserted for your convenience. Who will help get your class on top this year?
The top TEN giving classes for the 2021 Phonathon will have their class year posted on our new Giving Classes Wall of Fame. Friends of OCHS make up a class of their very own.
Owensboro Catholic High School alumni have the opportunity to sustain the tradition of excellence through a planned gift. One of the simplest ways to make a meaningful planned gift is through a bequest in your will. If you have already included OCHS in your will or other long-range plan, please let us know! It would be our pleasure to include you as a member of our Legacy Society.
Matching gifts from companies and corporations double or triple gifts to Owensboro Catholic Schools.
The Aces spirit is comprised of the OCHS student body, along with our community of alumni and friends. It is all of us who define the character and personality of the school. We want to continue to share in the joys and successes of our alumni. Please take a moment and submit some news to us on how you are doing. New marriage, baby, job, move? Let us hear from you. All correspondence, along with photos may be emailed to Jenny Glenn at jenny.glenn@owensborocatholic.org.
Jim Knott ‘58
Jim Marrett ‘61
Jim and Jim recently stopped by OCHS for a tour of the school.
John recently flew into Owensboro to visit with Administration at OCHS. John shared many endearing stories of his time at the high school.
Sara is the Executive Director of the Marilyn and William Young Charitable Foundation and was also a founding board member of Impact100. Sara was awarded the Athena Award presented by Girls Inc. The Athena Award is awarded to a woman in the community who has helped uplift and create opportunities for women. Sara was 1 of 8 nominees.
After graduating from Catholic High, Natasha moved around to other cities and states for 13 years before returning to Owensboro in
2013 to open her business, Bella Ragazza Boutique. That is where she met her husband, Tyler Stanley. They have been married for 5 years and have 2 daughters, Sloan (3) and Hart (2). Moving home to start her women’s apparel and accessories boutique was the best decision she could have made. It has grown year after year, adding a website, relocating to a larger location in Wesleyan Park Plaza, and earning Best Boutique in Owensboro 2 years in a row.
Jay has enjoyed a distinguished career in the oil and gas industry. He even participated in the Eastern KY University distance program to earn his MS in Occupational Safety after earning his Bachelors from Kentucky Wesleyan College. His career has given him the opportunity to perform work throughout the United States and even internationally in West Africa, South East Asia and Norway! He attributes having great parents and a K-12 Catholic education as the foundation for his accomplishments. While currently living in North Dakota with his wife Anna and their son Ford and daughter Piper (7 months), he continues to be “a fan from afar.”
Haley graduated from Belmont University School of Law in spring 2021 and started as a Junior Associate, Legal Affairs at Warner Music Group in Nashville, TN.
Something we all learned during the 2020 Pandemic of COVID-19 was the fact that we had to come up with alternate means to communicate with people that we were so used to just meeting up for a cup of coffee or taking annual vacations with. There are 9 classmates from the Class of 1961 who didn’t let COVID-19 get in the way of checking in with each other. Since the coffee shops were closed and pretty much everything else, classmates Bob Marrett, Burley Phelan, Alan Westerfield, Ralph Basham, Joe Kurre, Doug Wood, Ed Jones, Tom Dunbar and Buzz Van Meter knew that if they wanted to keep up with each other, they had to discover Zoom and make the most of it. They got together every week via Zoom since COVID ruined their annual trips to Pigeon Forge and St. Simons Island, GA and it’s like they never missed a beat.
Unfortunately, Dr. Joe Kurre passed away in October of 2020 and his dear friends wanted to honor his memory with a plaque for the Wall of Remembrance that hangs right outside the Chapel at OCHS. They also added an engraved leaf on the Tree of Life that hangs in the OCHS main office. ♠
Two distinctly different opportunities are available for remembering a friend or relative at Owensboro Catholic High School.
On the wall outside our chapel is our Wall of Remembrance, containing plaques purchased by anyone wishing to have someone remembered at OCHS. The person remembered may or may not be a graduate of the school.
On a wall in the main office is the memorial fund Tree of Life, a brass tree purchased by the Doug Schaaf Memorial Fund—not only to memorialize Doug but also to offer opportunities to both memorialize loved ones and to use that vehicle to help increase the long-term viability of Catholic High for generations to come.
The Tree holds an engraved leaf in memory of each of those friends of the school for whom a memorial fund has been established.
After graduating from Catholic High, Molly attended OCTC and then WKU, graduating with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2019. Loving all things food, near the end of her internship the following year and at the start of the pandemic, Molly started baking cookies – leading to the creation of Molly’s Mixins. In fall 2020, Molly became a registered dietitian. Within a year, she went from baking in a small college apartment, to a small rented kitchen, to her very own space – all to make your world just a little bit sweeter!
Upon graduating Catholic High, Carli attended WKU to obtain a degree in Fashion Merchandising & Business Administration. Shortly after, she moved to Nashville to pursue a fashion career but quickly realized she wanted a business of her own. In fall 2018, Barr Bones was born. The business began as an online boutique, which grew into a mobile boutique a year later, and a year after that, a full brick and mortar location on Frederica Street. Carli still operates all three avenues and has no plans to stop there. Of her success Carli says, “I am one lucky gal to be living out my dreams at such a young age. I couldn’t be where I am today without all the support from my family, friends, and advisors!”
Caroline graduated from UK College of law in May of 2021.
Pictured is Michael and Coach
Chelsea Dirks-Ham from MO State at the Olympic Trials. He qualified in July 2019 in the 100M Breaststroke. The Olympic Trials were postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael graduated from Missouri State University cum laude in spring 2021 in General Studies with emphasis in Biomedical Science, Psychology and Kinesiology. He will begin his graduate degree this June in Sports Management while competing one more year due
to a redshirt year. His goal is to compete in the NCAA Championships in spring 2022. Michael said the following about competing in the Olympic Trials, “Having the opportunity to compete at Olympic Trials is a dream come true. Just having my name in the hat to compete makes all the countless hours in pursuit of perfection worth it.”
Ambere just completed her junior year at WKU and was selected as the C-USA Player of the Year and Midfielder of the Year. She was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-American Third Team, which makes her the first WKU Women’s Soccer All-American in the program’s history!
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Please send updates and photos to jenny.glenn@owensborocatholic.org
When the pandemic began, we had our hearts ripped out of us because both of our basketball teams (boys and girls) were not allowed to participate in the KHSAA state tournaments they had earned the right to play in. Shortly after, we also had to shut down all spring sports and there were no spring sports at all in 2020.
We hoped that when things lightened up during the summer of 2020, we would be able to get back to playing athletics. However, the pandemic had just begun and tough decisions had to be made on how Owensboro Catholic could come back to school in 2020. Hardly any other school in the entire state would be going to school in person daily and this had to be our focus as a school system. Athletics plays a huge role in our student’s lives so we wanted to make sure they were able to participate in sports also.
Some of these decisions included how to transport kids to and from sporting events and practices, how players could or could not use the locker rooms, how we were going to safely hydrate
Caroline Kanipe, Mallary Bailey, Emilee Cecil and Kash Rice came in second place in the 4x100 meter relay at the 2021 KHSAA State Track and Field Championship.
Kash Rice placed 15th in the 100 with a 13.47. Carol Staples, Maleigha Shelton, Mallary Bailey, and Abby Payne placed 10th in the 4x200 relay with a time of 1:55.66. Ella Claire Goetz was 12th in the girls 3,200 with 13:30.68. Staples was 16th in the girls long jump with a 29-6.25, also a personal record.
Ann Switzer and Dylan Nichols placed third in the mixed unified shot put.
our athletes in the middle of the summer heat, whether we needed to wear masks while actively participating in sports, how many, if any, fans would be allowed at our home events, etc.
Luckily, we came together like the Catholic community always does and we made sports possible for our students. Fans, although limited, were also allowed to come watch and we are very thankful for them.
In closing, we have been more successful in athletics than we ever could have imagined while also going to school every day in a pandemic. We did not have a teamwide Covid outbreak in any sport for the entire school year. Every sport either improved on their previous seasons’ records or had winning records. Our administration, players, coaches, parents, and fans did whatever it took to make school and sports happen. As our athletic director, I am very proud of our athletic programs and our school system! ♠
The girls went 22-1 in the season, won Region for the 5th year in a row, and finished in 3rd place at state.
Two of our senior players were All-State, Emmy Moore and Sarah Kate Young (who won region and made it to the final 16 in state). Aisha Merchant (8th) and Olivia Hayden (11th) lost to Moore/Young in the Region final and also made it to the final 16 in the state.
One singles player, Ella Cason, an 8th grader, also went to state
The OCHS baseball team had an impressive campaign in 2021. We won our first All-A State championship since 2008, bringing home the 4th state title in program history (2005, 2007, 2008). We won our second consecutive 9th District championship and claimed our first 3rd Region Championship since 2005. The team finished with a record of 32-6, going undefeated versus 3rd Region opponents & winning more games than any OC club since the 2005 team, who went 34-7.
and finished in the final 16.
Our boys finished 10-10 in the season. Tucker Ray and Brett Conder lost in the semi-final at Region but went on to win a round at the state.
Thank you to our OCHS Tennis Coach, Noel Clayton, for coaching the OCHS tennis teams. He has done this for 20 years!
Owensboro Catholic Lady Softball finished runner-up in the All “A” State Tournament. They were runner-up in the 9th District Tournament and advanced to the semi-finals of the 3rd Region Tournament.
This year’s team set a new record of homeruns hit in one season! The 2021 team hit a total of 24 homeruns! The number to beat was 21.
After teaching at OCHS for 29 years and coaching for 22 years as the most successful softball coach in the state of KY, George Randolph is signing off! To recap, Coach Randolph has had an extraordinary athletic coaching career which included 6 state Championships, 4 runner ups, 1 third place, and 2 fourth place finishes. Coach, along with his teams, has had the best winning record in any sports program throughout the state at 78%, which includes 678 wins!
George Randolph will be one of the most remembered and celebrated educators OCHS has ever had. He led his co-workers and students by his Christian example, and his faith never wavered when tested.
We wish to congratulate and thank Coach George Randolph for all the love he poured into OCHS over the last 29 years and all the lives he impacted on and off the field! Enjoy retirement Coach!
