Alumni News
WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE:
NEASC recertification of accreditation
Girls Varsity Soccer division title
Stunt Nite Wrap Up
Save the dates: Day of Giving (3/16/23)
RCAA Golf Tournament (6/16/23)
Alumni in the News
Impact Report
Athletic Hall of Fame Nominations- now accepting!
Rice News and Other
NEASC PRESTIGIOUS ACCREDITATION
After months and months of hard work and preparation by the administration, teachers and staff, we are so thrilled to announce that Rice was recently awarded a ten year recertification of its accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
NEASC is the nation's oldest accrediting agency and awards accreditation to educational institutions in the six New England states that seek voluntary affiliation. A NEASC accreditation is a globally recognized standard of excellence.
Congratulations to the many parents, alumni, students, parents and staff that worked diligently! This is a major accomplishment for Rice!
DR. KEOUGH NAMED AS RICE'S CONTINUING PRINCIPAL
At Stunt Nite this past year, Superintendent David Young announced to the crowds that Dr. Andrew Keough has accepted the position as continuing Principal at Rice for the 2022-2023 school year and beyond.
"I am thrilled that Dr. Keough has accepted the principal position," said Bishop Christopher Coyne. "Our Catholic schools are blessed with strong leadership committed to nurturing our young people to achieve their fullest God-given potential."
Superintendent Young said, "What really distinguishes Dr. Keough as a leader is his passion for putting students first and considering school policy decisions from the student perspective." Dr. Keough received over 100 hand written notes from students encouraging him to stay on at Rice.
RICE ALUMNI QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER January, 2023 Vol 1 Issue 3
GIRLS SOCCER WIN BACK TO BACK DIVISION TITLES
After starting off their season 0-4-1 with a slate of top Division I opponents, the Rice Girls' Soccer team returned to the Division II state championship for a sixth straight year. Battle tested from the early season schedule gauntlet, the Knights showed perserverance and grit on their path to the finals, dispatching #4 Spaulding in overtime and #1 Montpelier in penalty kicks.
On November 5th, the girls took on #7 Milton for the Division II Vermont State Championship at South Burlington High School's Munson Field. The Knights and Yellowjackets remained scoreless through most of the second half after trading chances until Berit Gross '24 bounced a shot off the post and past the Milton goalkeeper with 13 minutes and 12 seconds to play. Elizabeth Cunningham '25 put the exclamation point on the victory by cleaning up a bouncing ball in the box for an insurance goal with two minutes remaining to seal back to back titles.
Congratulations Girls! You have made the whole Rice community proud.
Sports
Stunt Nite Wrap Up
The magic of Rice's 92nd tradition of Stunt Nite took place at The Flynn on November 22nd. The Class of 2023 took first place for best class performance for a second year in a row!
Thank you to everyone who participated, attended and supported. Special thanks to Alumni Joe '75 and Paulette '74 Bergeron Joe and Paulette have been involved in Stunt Nite as coaches and class directors for 26 years! We also want to thank our Stunt Nite Coordinators Sharon Boardman and Paul Difalco, our faculty advisors, parent coaches and many volunteers.
For the 2022 winners, please click here.
SavetheDate!
Six years ago, Rice started a tradition of designating one day a year to bring the Rice community together in the spirit of giving back by making a gift to the Annual Fund.
This year's Day of Giving is set for March 16th with a goal of raising $150,000. The Advancement Office is looking for class ambassadors to help with this event virtually or in person. Let's connect Rice alum around the country to be a part of the Rice Day of Giving.
We need Alumni Class Ambassadors! Contact Nancy Viner at viner@rmhsvt org to be your alumni class ambassador for the Day of Giving or for more information on giving back!
DAY OF GIVING
MARCH 16, 2023
Alumni in the News
GRADUATIONS & OTHER SCHOOL NEWS
Meagan Keefe '19 American University School of Communications featured in the University's SOC Spotlight
OTHER ALUMNI NEWS
Gretchen Tarrant '13 Producer, Wall Street Journal in charge of the New Formats team, writes and produces WSJ's Women in Business and Careers & Leadership newsletters.
Alex Abrami '00 selected as Vermont's co-sportswriter of the Year for the 4th time
Norm Walker '88 medical mission to Honduras (see additional info in this issue)
ENGAGEMENTS, MARRIAGES, BIRTHS
Gretchen Tarrant '13 engaged to Chris Gulla, set to wed on July 22, 2023
Fran Briand '06 married Jaye Haney on August 12, 2022
Alyson Chenette '06 Bedrin and Nick Bedrin '06 had a baby boy named Finn in September of 2022
Other News
OBITUARIES
Richard Bissonnette '66 passed away on 12/10/22
Albert Corey '57 passed away on 1/23/22
Pamela LaRoche Ackerson '70 passed away on 11/13/22
Joseph Therrien '70 passed away on 1/5/23
Lawrence McCrea ' 62 passed away on 11/2/22
Charles Meli parents of alumni passed away on 11/11/22
Richard Niquette '69 passed away on 12/1/22
Reverend Monsignor Roland Revard passed away on 1/10/23, Msgr. Revard faithfully served Rice Memorial High School from 1972 to 1982. He will be missed by so many alumni and Rice families.
RICE TRAVELS TO ROME
After a travel hiatus due to COVID, Rice picked up its travel abroad program this year. During February break, Latin students will be traveling to Rome, where they will be making a papa visit to Vatican City. Latin teacher, John Cirignano will be leading the group.
Traveling to Rome is a unique educational experience--especially for Rice students who have studied Latin Their trip during Winter break includes 10 days of guided tours of famous Roman monuments, museums, churches, such as: Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums, St Peter's Basilica, The Pantheon, The Roman Forum, Colosseum, Palatine, Ara Pacis, Castel Sant' Angelo, Borghese Gallery, and also an audience with the Pope, plus excellent food, fellowship, and many Latin inscriptions. A very special thank you to the Mary C. Gamelli Travel Grant that helps assist students' financial assistance for travel. Also, a special thank you to Vermont Teddy Bear Factory for their participation in a fundraiser to help offset the costs for travel.
pictured left to right: Anouk Von Bernewitz, Luke Broussard, Catherine Viner, Makayla Carpenter-Perry, Nic Newman, Lauren McCabe, Owen Messineo (not pictured Claire Vincent)
Other News
RICE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS!
The selection process is beginning with soliciting suggestions for potential inductees from alumni, coaches, family and friends of Cathedral and Rice Memorial. Potential inductees must have graduated from either school in good standing and be at least 10 years post graduation or have a strong relationship with either school. The quality of "greatness" is key. Greatness can be defined as striving to be an outstanding athlete or coach or be of strong personal dedication.
To nominate someone, please click here. Nominations accepted on a rolling basis until Monday, May 1, 2023 by 5:00PM. If you have any questions, please contact Debby Rolland in the Advancement office at rolland@rmhsvt.org.
Alumni Highlight
NORM WALKER '88 A MEDICAL MISSION TO HONDURAS
Norm Walker '88, a Nurse Anesthetist, received his Bachelors of Nursing from UVM, then his Masters of Nursing and works outside of Trenton, New Jersey. He works for Envision Healthcare who helps third world countries, particularly in Honduras, where surgical services are much needed.
While there, he assisted in General, Orthopedic and Gynecological surgeries. These were services that the general population would not normally have access to
The clinic, The Holy Family Surgery Center, lies on the property of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (“Our Little Brothers and Sisters,” or NPH), a home located in Honduras for orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged boys and girls It is a large facility, around 2000 acres Rancho Santa Fe, also called "The Ranch", is home to about 200 pequeños (children) who are cared for by tíos and tías (caregivers) An additional 60 children from the community attend the NPH school
More than 100 NPH youth attending high school or university live in Tegucigalpa The Ranch features preschool/kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, vocational workshops, a chapel, a farm, greenhouse and vegetable gardens, and clinics As part of the trip, they were given a tour of the facilities, went hiking around the grounds, and got to meet and interact with some of the children NPH also takes volunteers OWS takes non-medical volunteers as well who can help in the clinic or who can work on the farm
We are so proud to call Norm one of our alumni who is living out the pillars of a Rice education in discovering his Godgiven gifts and using them to serve others!
...I feel very fortunate in my life and want to be sure that my skills and my life are geared towards helping with the greater good and this was an opportunity where my best skills (anesthesia) could be useful
-Norm Walker, Nurse Anesthetist
Rice in the News
SHARON BOARDMAN RECEIVES OUTSTANDING REACHER AWARD
Sharon Boardman was recognized as an Outstanding Teacher at the inaugural 2022 Vermont Agency of Education Outstanding Educator Award Ceremony. It's a prestigious honor and we're fortunate to have her on staff! Here's what they had to say about her:
Sharon Boardman embodies what it means to be passionate about teaching. Over her 30 years at Rice, Sharon has been a staple of the science department participating in everything at this school. I was impressed with the hours that Sharon put into her job -after many decades of experience she was still learning herself and staying after school to bolster her knowledge of the subject. Simply put, Sharon IS Rice and IS an example you want to show younger teachers.
We published this news on Rice's social media which, not surprisingly, received accolades of respect and love from alumni, current students and colleagues!
...This was the first year this award was open to "independent" school educators. I am humbled and honored to represent Rice. I had great mentors and am continually inspired by the Rice family: colleagues, students, families, alumni, and our administrators who all work hard to make this school a very special place.
-Sharon Boardman, Rice Science Teacher
Mike Mazzella, Science Teacher, Department Chair and Sharon Boardman, Science Teacher
What is your favorite memory during your time at Rice? Was it special friend(s), special teacher(s) or a memorable experience? Would you like to give another student an opportunity to have a similar experience at Rice? Not everyone can afford a Rice education. In fact, 37% of our students receive financial aid. Please consider giving back to the community that took care of you.
Rice Memorial High School is not fully covered by tuition, resulting in a nearly $4,000 gap. Your unrestricted gift to the Rice Cathedral Fund fills this gap and supports: financial aid for qualified students, classroom resources and equipment, professional development, campus ministry, athletic arts and extracurricular activities and Stunt Nite.
Donate today! Click here to Donate
Want to see the impact of your gift? Click here for our 2021-2022 Impact Report
Are you an alumni, parent, grandparent, or friend of Rice? If you have someone you'd like us to highlight or have information for the Alumni Newsletter, and you want us to let the Alumni community aware, we'd love to hear from you!
Please contact Debby Rolland in the Alumni Advancement office at rolland@rmhsvt.org
FOR MORE VISIT: www.rmhsvt.org
