MEN FOR OTHERS YOUR DONATION HELPED CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE.
2020-21 PRESIDENT'S REPORT
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Mission
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Mission & Vision President's Message Chairman's Message Made in the Image of God
Rockhurst High School serves the greater Kansas City area by educating Ignatian leaders, “men for others", in the Roman Catholic, Jesuit college preparatory tradition. In the spirit of Saint Ignatius Loyola, its goal is the formation of the whole person within a diverse and disciplined environment, as one who is open to growth, strives for academic excellence, is religious, loving and committed to justice through service.
Senior Salute Ignatian Year Senior Class Gift Spectacular Auction Rev. William T. Sheahan, SJ, Scholarship Fund Making Rockhurst a Reality
Vision Rockhurst High School will be sought out and recognized for its ability to educate “men for others". Rockhurst High School will, in the Jesuit tradition, foster lifelong friendships based on enduring principles and Ignatian values. It will be nationally and locally recognized as the best value-added education because of its success in developing community leaders for an increasingly diverse world.
Families Served by Finacial Aid Sources of Funding Rockhurst Support from Across the Country
TABLE OF
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DEAR ROCKHURST COMMUNITY, We all have words and phrases with deep meaning that we overuse, throw around, and maybe water down the impact they can have. We commonly talk about the Rockhurst “community” or “brotherhood”. We regularly use the phrase “men for others”. Certainly, over the decades there is depth to these descriptions regarding Rockhurst High School that alumni know from the small groups of interest and friendships, from retreats or team gatherings, or when we witness an all-school Mass or pep rally, or see a student section cheering on their classmates. These words and phrases have real meaning at Rockhurst. In our storied 110-year history, the 2020-2021 school year presented challenges that no one had experienced in their lifetime. The COVID-19 pandemic and cultural tumult from race relations to polarized politics provided a context for our school year that presented obstacles placed in front of our young men for their academic learning, socializing, activities, and faith formation. Committed to our mission, these oftused phrases had profound meaning for us last year. I’m incredibly proud to be associated with the perseverance at Rockhurst last school year.
COMMUNITY:
BROTHERHOOD:
• Our Administration made themselves students of science and medicine to be able to both operate in-person school all year, and do our best to protect remote learners. Through it all, they managed 800 instances of health-related concerns and 75 positive COVID cases without a single transmission on our campus.
• Our students were absolutely incredible in making the necessary sacrifices in order to have school and as many co-curriculars as possible. They sacrificed a great deal of normalcy last year, but they modeled perseverance in their own formation and the care of their brother Hawklets. These young men ought to be proud of the standards they upheld in our proud tradition. We are immensely proud of them!
• Our faculty overcame the obstacles presented to them. They prioritized health and safety and cared for their students’ progress in every way possible. They accompanied their students toward a hope-filled future. • Our parents reached out with special care and messages of monthly appreciation for the perseverance of our faculty in care of their sons. The abundance of gratitude was remarkable. • Our Jesuits, Pastoral, and Ignatian Service teams insured that Sacraments, retreats, service, and prayer were not compromised. The eternal goals of our school remained constant in the face of obstacles. • Our alumni, benefactors, and friends provided tremendous financial support outlined in this report. As a result, we didn’t just survive the year – we excelled.
MEN FOR OTHERS: • Our young men continued their faith development in all-school Masses, weekly Confessions, and daily prayer. • We not only stayed committed to our four-year retreat program, but we added an extra retreat for our Class of 2021. • Though community service necessarily looked different, it didn’t pause. We realigned our Senior Service Projects and continued to serve those in need in Kansas City and beyond.
The grit, resilience, and perseverance of our community is the sustaining memory for me of a great year, despite the circumstances, at Rockhurst High School. Without your support, it would not have been possible. We are fortunate to be part of a school that has shown perseverance before in its history: world wars, economic crises, social unrest. When you are 110 years old, you’ve seen a few things. For our part in 2020-2021, I’m proud that our community was able to answer that call when our moment arrived and build upon the foundation given to us by our predecessors in care of our young men and our mission. Thank you and God bless you!
GO HAWKLETS! ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA, PRAY FOR US. GOD BLESS,
David J. Laughlin President
06 As I look back upon my last year as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Rockhurst High School, I understand why the city looks to The Rock for leadership and direction. The challenging coronavirus continues its impact on all aspects of our lives. At Rockhurst High, our staff and students stand steadfast in managing all areas of high school life. This pandemic has not been easy. It has brought heartache and it continues its unrelenting march. However, I have been impressed and amazed by how Rockhurst has handled this challenge head on. In-person education was foremost in everyone’s minds from the Board of Trustees, administration, teachers, and support staff to the students. Under the strong leadership of David Laughlin, our president, as well as Rev. Vincent Giacabazi, SJ, our principal, along with a simply remarkable faculty and staff, students continue to thrive.
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
It has been heartwarming to see the Rockhurst High School community bind together during such unprecedented times. Rockhurst High School’s team of educators have brought a certain normalcy to our students. The Spirit of The Rock remains strong and proud, for which my fellow Board members and I are deeply grateful. I have always believed in trying to leave this world a little better than you found it, not wasting your time, and doing your best. Let me assure you that Rockhurst High School gets better every year and always strives to be its best. The Board of Trustees is greatly pleased with the school’s condition at every level – curricular, co-curricular, spiritual, and financial. We continue to build upon Rockhurst High School’s 110year tradition, so that many more generations of Hawklets can benefit from a Jesuit education and become respected leaders and men for others.
ROCKHURST HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, 2020-21 Board of Trustees Mark R. Teahan ’78 (Chairman) Mildred “Millie” Brown Gregory J. Fendler ’93 Amy D. Holewinski Rev. Jeffrey C. Johnson, SJ Gregory M. Kratofil, Jr. ’92 David J. Laughlin Michael T. Mayer ’82 Michael G. McMahon ’67 Rev. Gerard E. Menard, SJ Ivan L. Nugent ’99 Rev. Ronald R. O’Dwyer, SJ Anita P. Paredes Stephen D. Penn Anne Riggs Robert J. Rodriguez ’80 Rev. William T. Sheahan, SJ Andrew F. Stafford, Sr. ’93 David M. Staker ’88 Michael B. Trigg ’96 Owen M. Zidar ’75
Your charitable donations to Rockhurst High School make a difference to each one of our students. The foundation of support you help to provide makes Rockhurst High School a stable and special place, where any young man who wants it can enjoy a Rockhurst High School experience and rise to his ultimate potential. The Board of Trustees thanks you for your generosity, and so do I, with my own sincerely felt gratitude.
I leave my position as Chairman with certainty that The Rock is a little better than I found it and with confidence for an even better future. Sincerely yours,
Chairman of the Board (2019-2021)
Andrew F. Stafford, Sr. ’93 (President) Frank C. Allen ’05 (President-Elect) Gerald W. Brenneman ’78 Spencer H. Hardwick ’07 Thomas P. Knox ’88 James H. Maggard ’04 Patrick A. McInerney ’82 Ivan L. Nugent ’99 Frank J. Reardon, CPA ’07 James C. Shay, III ’11 James T. Van Dyke ’05
Leadership Team David J. Laughlin (President) Joanne M. Comiskey (Assistant to the President) Michael A. Comiskey ’03 (Director of Admissions) John B. DeGraffenreid (Director of Facility Management) Rev. Vincent A. Giacabazi, SJ (Principal) Diane J. Marty, EdD, CFRE (Vice President of Philanthropy & Engagement) Allen K. Roberson, CPA ’84 (Chief Financial Officer)
Philanthropy & Engagement Office
As I look to the future for Rockhurst, I see an organization that is led by an amazing, experienced, and caring team of administrators, educators, and volunteers that will continue to lead this institution to even greater heights.
Mark R. Teahan ’78
National Alumni Association Board of Governors
Make Your Donation!
Diane J. Marty, EdD, CFRE (Vice President of Philanthropy & Engagement) Laurence W. Freeman ’82 (Director of Alumni Philanthropy) Turner R. “Robbie” Haden ’09 (Director of Communications & Branding) Moira Kelly Healy (Director of Engagement) Timothy R. Reidy ’02 (Digital Archives Director and Faculty Member) Sylvia M. Smith (Philanthropy & Engagement Supportive Services) Raymond J. “Gus” Sonnenberg ’90 (Director of Philanthropy) Loretta Verbanic (Gifts & Stewardship Specialist)
Parents’ Club Leadership Kristine A. Penn (Co-President) Catherine M. Prososki (Co-President) Teresa Guerra-York (President Elect)
Spectacular 2021, Co-Chair Couples Christian and James Brown ‘88 Lisa and Michael Connor, MD ’88 Courtney and Patrick O’Farrell Courtney and Robert Sprague
Rockettes Leadership Donna Teahan (President) Marianne Damon Kathleen M. Callahan Sarah K. Evans Moira Kelly Healy Rebecca Herring Paula S. Holmquist Judith E. Karlin Kathleen M. Jantsch Patricia A. Zidar
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MEN FOR OTHERS
“ROCKHURST MAKES ‘MEN FOR OTHERS’. IT’S A SIMPLE SLOGAN, BUT THERE’S REAL MEANING IN EACH AND EVERY WORD… …I‛LL MISS THE FEELING THAT I CAN TRULY DO WHATEVER WILL MAKE ME A BETTER PERSON, FREELY.” — SPENCER BROWN, ‛21 UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
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THE YEAR IS 2120. WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO BE?
“MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD” President David J. Laughlin offered these thoughts at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year as context for the Rockhurst High School faithful.
St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote that “the goal of our life is to live with God forever” and that we were created to “praise, revere, and serve God with our lives, and by this means to save our souls.” To answer that question about 2120, we should consider our own personal creation. Each one of us came into being through the miracle called life. We are endowed with freedom, and are an “outstanding manifestation of the divine image.” We possess an intellect and a will. We possess the ability to love and ask questions about the purpose of our own existence. We have spirituality, and we possess, in our creation at conception, a soul. These descriptions of the human person come from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Just sitting in prayerful quiet to think about our own creation –– the questions about our own existence that come to us when we lie our head on our pillow at night; these big questions of contemplation –– we probably don’t spend enough time with them. It’s easier to keep busy. If I have this wonderment and selfrealization about my own existence, I must then know that the “other” in my life shares the same beautiful and complicated awareness. The ‘other’ has a soul and spirit, an intellect and will, and freedom, too. Some “others” in our lives are very close to us: a spouse or children;
a grandparent, aunt, or uncle; a close friend. We come to know their beauty and their brokenness. We share the Spirit of love quite often with these good people. They, too, ponder big questions. And still “others” are distant. They are seemingly neutral to my existence, across the world, or in a different part of the city. Their lives seem less known to me and their cultures foreign from my own. At times, I have sharp disagreement with them. Perhaps I even label them an enemy to me, those I love, and my values. And yet, these “others”, too, have an intellect, will, soul, spirit, and freedom that accompanies the gift of life. Like me, the other was created by a loving God, the one we seek to live with in eternity. Where will we all be in 2120? The Catechism of the Catholic Church also tells all of these people the same thing: “By his reason, man recognizes the voice of God which urges him ‘to do what is good and avoid what is evil.’ Everyone is obliged to follow this law, which makes itself heard in conscience and is fulfilled in the love of God and of neighbor. Living a moral life bears witness to the dignity of the person.” I find it interesting that a glossary index of the Catechism to get us to this point is organized this way: • Chapter One – The Dignity of the Human Person • Section One – Man’s Life in the Spirit • Part Three – Life in Christ • Article One – Man: The Image of God
Here is another question: Where will Rockhurst High School be in 2120? Will we be just past the shadow of our bicentennial? If, generally speaking, we are to remain in the work of Jesuit education, then I suppose the job of preparing our students to be relevant leaders, asking themselves where they will be in 2220, will be our place. But, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Instead, let’s consider Rockhurst High School’s role in helping us know how to answer the question at the start. The one about 2120. Rockhurst High School is, well, a high school. We provide an academic program to prepare students to be successful in higher education and develop critical, entrepreneurial, and analytical thinking in the context of the Humanities as well as STEM. We provide a co-curricular program for our students to engage in activities like sports, choir, speech, theater, band or robotics, to name a few. These activities have a relationship to their formation and the many lessons that can be taken from being involved. These activities and the general school community also play an important role in helping young people form friendships in healthy ways. We also perform community service, both locally and outside of Kansas City. If I stopped describing Rockhurst with these few sentences, we would be and are a really tremendous high school. But, we are a mission of the Jesuits, a Catholic school. St. Ignatius also noted that the work of the Jesuits was about the “salvation of souls”. Everything here is dedicated Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam - for the greater glory of God.
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So, there is Someone who gives a greater purpose to all the things that make us a great high school: Jesus Christ. Christ, found in the Sacraments of the Church, in prayer, and Christ Who resides in me and my neighbor, informs the purpose for all of the things we do at Rockhurst. This perspective is incredibly important when considering the opening question about 2120. We are “Made in the Image of God.” Me and the “other”. All of us. How does that inform our hopes and aspirations? How does it give meaning to a Rockhurst High School education? In 2120, my personal hope is to have been reunited with our loving God for eternity, to see my father and grandparents basking in the glow of the God who made them in God’s image. Until such time as I hope to be called to my eternal homeland, I hope to overcome my sinful self and continue, as a Jesuit educated man, to listen to Christ’s voice calling me for service to be with and for the “other”, most especially those most marginalized, forgotten, at risk, and in need. Each one of those “others” in life is equally made in God’s image, without exception. Each one of those “others” in life is a soul whose salvation I ought to care for like my own. I hope in 2120 the same things for our students that I do for myself. After all, “the purpose of our life is to live with God forever.” Life is complicated. Right. Wrong. Justice. The mess of human sin mixes it all up. Responsibility in life. The complexity of day to day, week to week, and month to month living. Paying bills, planning ahead, health care, professions, and the dignity of human labor. Life is really, really busy, and at times, messy.
There is a reason Ignatian Spirituality can be a gift to our students and to anyone who grows in understanding the gifts of this charism of listening to God, the Good Spirit. In all of life’s complexities, St. Ignatius provided persons a guide for how to listen (discern, he called it) and know how to consider one’s choices today, in the context of 2120 (that is) by taking the long view. When we consider our world and the role of forming our young men to hone their skills, develop their friendships, and serve their neighbor most in need, we are asking them to listen to Christ for guidance and companionship. It isn't a request always readily received in today's world. The world has many, many needs to consider: •
A pandemic currently.
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A national history of racial division, strife, and dealing with the “other” as someone somehow less than Made in the Image of God.
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The disregard of life at conception, as something less, and the need for principled protection and accompanying education and service to help the world think differently.
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Misplaced priority on the things of this world when considering our eternity.
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Servant leadership – in every phase of human community.
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Global environmental and resource concerns in the common home we share.
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The need for effective political activity for the common good in a polarized country and world.
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The list is long…
Ignatian Spirituality helps us to listen to the Truths of God. It helps us to navigate the world and know that in doing so, we build the Kingdom of God. Our work today is important, and it also is about an eternity we all share together in our collective futures, or so I pray. It starts with a simple, spiritual reflection: We are Made in the Image of God. WE. How does God’s hope for me shape the beginning of this school year? How does God’s equal hope for all “others” in my life shape the beginning of my school year? WE are Made in the Image of God. Let this theme inform the consideration of all we do to pursue God’s greater honor and glory this year at Rockhurst High School.
IN CHRIST, DAVID J. LAUGHLIN
“THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT SET ROCKHURST APART FROM OTHER SCHOOLS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES ROCKHURST SPECIAL IS THE TRADITION ROCKHURST SHARES WITH ITS STUDENTS. THE BONDS MADE WITH CLASSMATES, TEAMMATES, AND BROTHERS OVER FOUR YEARS IS JUST AS VALUABLE AS ANYTHING TAUGHT IN SCHOOL.” — WILSON SELZER ‛21 CORNELL UNIVERSITY
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“ROCKHURST NOT ONLY PREPARED ME AS A MAN WHO CAN DELIVER HIS GOD-GIVEN GIFTS TO THE WORLD, THE COMMUNITY HAS ALSO ALLOWED ME TO BE INTROSPECTIVE SO THAT I CAN BE THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF. I WOULDN’T TRADE MY TIME AT ROCKHURST FOR ANYTHING.” — JOSEPH DAVIS ‛21 MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
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“ROCKHURST TOOK A BUNCH OF GUYS WHO NEVER KNEW EACH OTHER AND MADE THEM BROTHERS.” —THOMPSON PENN ’21 BOSTON COLLEGE
Rockhurst Celebrates the Start of the Ignatian Year May 20, 2021 marked the beginning of the Ignatian Year, which continues through July 31, 2022. This special time celebrates the 500th anniversary of when Ignatius the soldier was injured by a cannonball in the Battle of Pamplona. This moment led to his conversion and an unfolding sense of change over these past five centuries, as the Jesuits that Ignatius founded continue their works around the world. This anniversary is a worldwide reminder of the nearly 500-year commitment of Jesuit priests, brothers, and scholastics — along with our collaborators in Jesus’ mission — to the defense and propagation of the Catholic faith, particularly in secondary education. Rockhurst is one of over 80 Jesuit schools in the USA and Canada that celebrates together this commitment to a faith that does justice in our world, preparing our students to be “men for others.” Rockhurst’s faculty and staff, led by its Jesuits, are working to use the Ignatian Year as a time for celebration and reflection. “It is a time to be reminded of our spiritual heritage. St. Ignatius taught us to recognize that God is always laboring on our behalf and calls us to labor with
Him in ways great and small,” said Fr. Daniel Tesvich, SJ, Theology teacher and Pastoral Department member. The timing of the Ignatian Year is especially appropriate given what is going on in our world at this time. “The Ignatian Year gives us an opportunity to reflect on our own experience of God. In good times and in bad, in a thriving Jesuit high school and battling a global pandemic, God invites us to reflect on the ways we love and serve His people,” said Fr. Gary Menard, SJ, Theology teacher and Office of Ignatian Formation member. Community service is a longstanding tradition at Rockhurst High School, and fortunately, safety measures were taken to allow for many service opportunities to continue at the school. The incoming freshmen in the Class of 2024 spent their first full day as Hawklets in the Freshman Day of Service serving organizations across the city; the Class of 2021 was still able to partake in its Senior Service Projects in May; and Rockhurst offered three summer Total Ignatian Experience (TIE) trips involving 28 students. In April, nearly 30 students also served as pallbearers for the cremains of 66 deceased who did not have family to lay them to
rest. This ministry at Rockhurst is called the St. Joseph of Arimathea Society. These are all great examples of living out the ideals of St. Ignatius, which continue throughout the Ignatian Year. In addition to acts of kindness and generosity, we can also celebrate the Ignatian Year through self-examination and prayer. “With twelve Jesuits working in four Jesuit apostolates in the Kansas City region (Rockhurst High School, Rockhurst University, Saint Francis Xavier Parish, and the Ignatian Spirituality Center), those who wish to join us in celebrating the Ignatian Year might consider offering prayers of gratitude to God for the positive influence of the Society of Jesus in their own lives and in the lives of so many throughout the centuries,” said Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, SJ, principal.
View the Honor Roll of Donors
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SENIOR CLASS GIFT MAKES STRONG STATEMENT ABOUT BROTHERHOOD
RENDERING
RENDERING
Outdoor Classroom & Lab Focused on the Future
The 2021 Senior Class Gift Campaign broke the record for the most dollars raised by any graduating class to help fund Rockhurst High School’s “Discovery Pond,” a component of the new Outdoor Classroom and Lab. The class raised $6,708 with 53% percent participation. “We were excited about the Discovery Pond,” commented Bobby Hummel ’21, a member of the Senior Class Gift Leadership Committee. “It was our way of expressing appreciation to the teachers who helped us on our Rockhurst journey and pay it forward for classes in the future.” The Outdoor Classroom and Lab is an area immediately to the south of the school’s main entrance. Students will experience and enjoy a wide
array of diverse natural habitats when it is completed for aesthetic and educational purposes. The Discovery Pond will be an aquatic ecosystem and key component of the overall curricula for Life Sciences. While some parts of the Outdoor Classroom and Lab will open in late 2021, most of its components will be finished in 2022. The Senior Class Gift Leadership Committee included Josh Frerker, Thomas Holmes, Bobby Hummel, Sam Kanatzar, Jack Kelly, and Sam Muehlebach, all members of the great Class of 2021. The team led a fundraising push that concluded just before graduation in May. “I am very proud of this senior class,” reflected Kim Brown, senior
class Moderator and Rockhurst Guidance Counselor. “Even during such a challenging time as a pandemic, they never lost heart, focus, or spirit. They truly are an exceptional group of young men.” The Senior Class Gift Program started in 2008. Working with the school administration, leaders from each class select a project to support. More than $65,000 has been raised by the 13 classes who have joined the program, with interests ranging from campus beatification to scholarship development.
SEPTEMBER 2021
Naming Opportunities Entryway $300,000 Outdoor Commons $250,000 Interior Courtyard $200,000 Gardens (2) $175,000/each Walkways (3) $75,000/each Jack Nestor ’34 Memorial Courtyard SOLD The Deb and Larry (’74) Krissek Regional Native Grassland Area SOLD Regional Native Grasslands Area SOLD African Tortoise Habitat $50,000 Greenhouse $50,000 Missouri Native Orchard $50,000 Windows to the World (6) $25,000/each Art Installations (8) $10,000/each Class of 2021 Discovery Pond
SOLD
Naming rights are designed to cover the cost of physical construction as well as to create an invested fund to generate revenues for ongoing maintenance and upkeep. For additional information about the Outdoor Classroom & Lab, or to inquire about making a naming gift, please contact Diane Marty at 816.363.2039 x538 or dmarty@rockhursths.edu.
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“HOW DOES GOD’S EQUAL HOPE FOR ALL ‘OTHERS’ IN MY LIFE SHAPE THE BEGINNING OF MY SCHOOL YEAR?…
…WE ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.” — DAVID J. LAUGHLIN, PRESIDENT
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The Spectacular 2021 Co-Chairs led a record-breaking auction: (L-R) Patrick & Courtney O’Farrell, Jim ’88 & Christian Brown, Lisa & Mike Connor ’88, Courtney & Rob Sprague, with President David Laughlin.
SPECTACULAR SETS NEW AUCTION RECORD IN SUPPORT OF HAWKLETS Community support shines through in a second virtual event The Spectacular 2021 Co-Chairs with David Laughlin, president, Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, SJ, principal, and Moira Healy, Director of Engagement.
For the second consecutive year, Rockhurst’s Spectacular auction was presented as a virtual event. And also for the second consecutive year, Spectacular raised record-breaking funds for the education and formation of young men in the Jesuit tradition! Thanks to the generous support of the Rockhurst community, more than $1.5 million was raised for students and families who rely on financial assistance to make the Rockhurst experience possible for their son(s). Many thanks are due to our amazing Spectacular 2021 Co-Chairs: Christian & Jim Brown '88, Lisa & Mike Connor '88, Courtney & Patrick O'Farrell, and Courtney & Rob Sprague. Their leadership, counsel, and willingness to go all-in for the cause is greatly appreciated. Rockhurst also wants to thank its sponsors, underwriters, item donors, and, volunteers. Without their generosity, Rockhurst wouldn’t be able to provide ever-increasing tuition assistance to deserving young men and their families. Through the generosity of Heartland Chevrolet and the Chris Igoe ’93 Family, Rockhurst raffled off a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. This was the third car that Heartland Chevrolet has
provided to the Spectacular Car Raffles in recent years. Igoe, president of Heartland Chevrolet, understands the importance of support to keep Rockhurst a diverse environment, available for all families who want to attend. “We give because it's for the greater glory of God and if our generosity allows for additional young men to be educated by the best faculty at the best institution, then it's worth every penny knowing what it has provided for me and my family,” said Igoe. Students sold raffle shares for the car to earn the option to wear sweatpants to school for a month. Larry Houlton ’59 spoke to one of those students, and purchased raffle shares over the phone. Houlton was the lucky winner of the Trailblazer, when his name was drawn during the livestreamed, virtual Spectacular on April 17, 2021. When Houlton was informed of his good fortune, he remarked that he already owned a relatively new car, and didn’t see the need for a newer one. He asked that Rockhurst donate the car to someone in need. Truly, a “man for others”!
in Kansas City was in dire need of another vehicle. After discussing the prospect of giving his car to the Jesuit Community, Houlton agreed it was a fitting match. “The St. Peter Claver Jesuit Community, which has 13 Jesuits serving the greater Kansas City region, is very grateful to be on the receiving end of the gift of the Chevy Trailblazer, which has already been put to good use in many and various ways,” said Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, SJ, Rockhurst Principal and member of the St. Peter Claver Jesuit Community. “Our alumni and other benefactors believe in Rockhurst's hope for each of its graduates, that is, that they be ‘men for others’. Whenever a generous Rockhurst alumnus gives back to his community, he is creating a ripple effect that inspires others toward the same.” Be sure to mark your calendar for the next Spectacular, set for April 9, 2022. *Lawrence J. "Larry" Houlton '59 passed away peacefully on September 18, 2021. We give thanks for his life and pray for his eternal rest.
At the same time, the Saint Peter Claver Jesuit Community here
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Auction Highlights Item Sales 28% Fund a Future 20% Underwriting 17% Giving Tuesday Donations 13% Car Raffle 9% Giving Tuesday Challenge Gifts 9% Rock the Masters 4%
FUND A FUTURE
9%
13%
GIVING TUESDAY
4%
ROCK THE MASTERS
9%
CAR RAFFLE
28%
ITEM SALES
17%
UNDER WRITING
CHALLENGE GIFTS
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Sheahan Fund to Continue Hurtado Scholar Program Legacy After 13 years of faithful and dedicated service to Rockhurst High School, Rev. William T. Sheahan, SJ, was called by the Jesuits to begin a new role. Fr. Sheahan was reassigned to Fordham University in New York to work with young Jesuits in formation beginning in July. Fr. Sheahan joined the Rockhurst High community in 2008 when he entered as a faculty member. Throughout his time at The Rock, in addition to teaching Theology and English, he served as the Rector of the Rockhurst Jesuit Community, and stepped in as Interim President of Rockhurst High School in 2017. He continued teaching through the 2020-21 school year. “Rockhurst High School has played a very special role in my life. Most significantly, it was my first assignment following my
ordination to the priesthood in June 2008,” said Fr. Sheahan. “In short, Rockhurst taught me how to be a priest. Whether teaching English and Theology, working administratively, or engaging in explicitly Pastoral and Sacramental ministries, I grew in understanding of what it means as a Jesuit to be a priest. I will always be grateful to the Rockhurst community for having played such an important role in my formation.” Fr. Sheahan also co-founded the Hurtado Scholars Program in 2012, along with then-principal, Greg Harkness. This program partners with three inner-city diocesan grade schools, which help identify rising 6th graders who have great potential, but for whom a Catholic, college preparatory education may not otherwise be attainable. The selected group of young men, identified by
their principals, spend Saturdays during the school year and eight weeks of summer receiving tutoring and cultural experiences to prepare them for high school. They are enrolled as Hurtado Scholars from their 6th grade through their 8th grade years. Upon graduation from the Hurtado Scholars Program, these young men have the opportunity to attend Rockhurst with minimal tuition cost. There are 31 Hurtado Scholars Program graduates currently enrolled as Rockhurst students, and 35 Scholars are currently in the middle school program. The first two classes of Scholars, a total of 14 students, have graduated from Rockhurst, including five members of the Class of 2021 who graduated with honors, and are now in college. The program is able to continue its mission through the generosity of the Rockhurst community. The Rev. William T. Sheahan, SJ, Scholarship Fund, established in June, will help make the Rockhurst experience possible for current and future Hurtado Scholars. The fund was created by family and friends of Rockhurst in honor of Fr. Sheahan’s commitment to the school and to the Hurtado Scholars Program. On June 17, 2021, the fund's founding balance in excess of $250,000 was announced to the crowd gathered for the annual Hurtado Scholars Program celebration. The announcement was a surprise to Fr. Sheahan, who was spontaneously contacted by phone by David Laughlin from the podium as the fund total was announced.
“AT FIRST, I WAS VERY SURPRISED. I NEVER EXPECTED SUCH A GESTURE TO COINCIDE WITH MY REASSIGNMENT. I FEEL VERY HONORED TO HAVE A ROCKHURST HIGH SCHOLARSHIP BEAR MY NAME. THIS SCHOLARSHIP, ALONG WITH ALL THE FUNDS DONATED BY SO MANY PEOPLE WHO LOVE ROCKHURST AND SUPPORT THE HURTADO PROGRAM, WILL MAKE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE HURTADO SCHOLARS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THESE BOYS TO ATTEND ROCKHURST. THE GROWING SUPPORT FOR THE HURTADO PROGRAM AND TUITION ASSISTANCE OVERALL AT THE SCHOOL TESTIFIES TO THE GREAT AND OBVIOUS GENEROSITY OF THE ROCKHURST COMMUNITY.”
— REV. WILLIAM T. SHEAHAN, SJ
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SCHOLARSHIPS CREATE LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES Jesuit Ideals are Foundational to Giving Back
We all have people in our lives who bring out the best in us. For these people, we are grateful. They are the ones who teach us to see the good things in life and not the bad. They inspire us to give back, which is central to what St. Ignatius believed was the best way to develop a close relationship with God. Rockhurst High School is an independent Catholic college preparatory school sponsored by the Society of Jesus. Most people know that fact. What they often do not know is that like many other institutions in secondary education and university levels, Rockhurst High School relies on invested assets to provide sustainable support of its mission. The collection of assets are freely given by inspired donors who agree to partner in mission with the school to allow these thousands of individual donations to be invested together for strength. These reserves produce as much as $1.6 million in the form of a “draw” approved by the Board of Trustees to offer tuition assistance grants for students who otherwise could not afford a Rockhurst High School experience.
A fully-funded scholarship at Rockhurst High School requires an investment of $225,000. The funds can be established outright or over time with multi-year pledges based on agreements established with the school that are aligned with donors’ charitable giving plans. The school now has 185 Named Scholarship Funds that have been founded by alumni and friends; however, most are partially-endowed and will need to gain strength over time to reach a fully-funded level. Six new scholarship funds (The Rev. William T. Sheahan, SJ, Scholarship Fund and the five listed on the following page) were created at Rockhurst High School during the past year to inspire young men to pursue Jesuit education and their own dreams of a college degree. They were established in gratitude to honor individuals who led lives as “women and men for others” and inspired people with their faith and love for Rockhurst High School and its students. For more information on scholarship funds or to provide outright scholarship assistance, contact Diane Marty at 816.363.2039 x538 or dmarty@rockhursths.edu.
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BERNIE AND SUE DIERKS SCHOLARSHIP FUND Two of Kansas City’s most well-known friends of Catholic education were Sue and Bernie Dierks. Their collective service as board members and donors to institutions like Rockhurst High School was a model of giving back to humanity. Sons Christopher ’86 and Michael ’91, along with their daughter, Angie, had dreamed about creating this fund long before they passed away. Their family established this scholarship to inspire future generations of Rockhurst men to give back for God’s greater honor and glory.
REV. THOMAS W. CUMMINGS, SJ SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Rev. Thomas W. Cummings, SJ, touched the lives of thousands of students at St. Louis University High School, Regis University, and Rockhurst High School. He taught with a passion for life and people’s wellbeing. Fr. Cummings “never met a stranger.” He was president at Rockhurst High School from 1986 to 1993 and became most well-known for leading the campaign to build the Rose Theater, McGee Hall, and a new journalism department in 1990. His scholarship was established by his colleagues and friends so young men could remember a true model of care for others.
JAMES M. KUKLENSKI SCHOLARSHIP FUND
James M. Kuklenski had an unprecedented enthusiasm for life and lived it to the fullest. People of all ages remember his positive attitude. His sons, Michael ’20 and Edward ’22, learned a quiet form of inspirational leadership from their father through devotion to others by acts of charity, including works as Eagle Scouts and all forms of service in the Tribe of Mic-o-Say. The James M. Kuklenski Scholarship Fund remembers a pillar of community service and inspires everyone he knew to live in a Christ-like way.
McKIBBIN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
So many Rockhurst High School benefactors speak about the importance of family when making charitable contributions. This was very much the case when R. Bruce McKibbin and his sons, Matthew ’04 and Sean ’09, established the McKibbin Family Scholarship Fund. Bruce talks about his father, Robert Cecil McKibbin, as a loving patriarch who taught him how to “raise a man.” He proudly refers to his sons as “men for others,” and the entire family strongly felt a scholarship fund was the best way to pay tribute to the important figure in their lives, while giving future Hawklets the educational opportunity of a lifetime.
ANDREW S. HAGEDORN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
As English literature skill happens, learning always starts with failure. Yet, with great inspiration comes achievement. Andy Hagedorn has inspired this kind of greatness and achievement in his students at Rockhurst High School for almost 40 years. Although teaching part-time now at The Rock, he still finds time during the afternoons and summers to meet with students and alumni to guide them to extraordinary levels of literary confidence and competence. An anonymous donor established the Andrew S. Hagedorn Scholarship Fund so students with great aptitude in English can continue to improve in advanced courses to use their highlevel of thinking to understand any challenging subject matter for the greater good.
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“THE MEMBERS OF THE ROCKHURST COMMUNITY DO NOT BACK DOWN FROM A CHALLENGE, THEY USE THEIR RESOURCES AND KNOWLEDGE TO FIND A WAY.” JACOB SURLES ‛21
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
PERSEVERANCE
032 03 32 Make Your Donation!
FAMILIES SERVED BY FINANCIAL AID FY 2020-2021
7% INCOME MORE THAN $150,000
16% INCOME $100,001-$125,000
44% INCOME LESS THAN $75,000
23% INCOME $75,000 - $100,000
10% INCOME $125,001 - $150,000
$2.7 MILLION
2 IN 4
$6,100
IN FINANCIAL AID AWARDED
RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID
AVERAGE AWARD PER FAMILY
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CHARITABLE GIVING TO RHS JULY 1, 2020 - JUNE 30, 2021
4% DESIGNATED GIFTS
22% UNRESTRICTED GIFTS
33% INVESTED FUNDS
25% AUCTION
16% HURTADO SCHOLARS PROGRAM SUPPORT
“Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, Rockhurst students responded generously to the needs of our community through service. Our students, safely, accomplished some of the following: bringing meals to those without, attending to organizations through virtual meetings, cleaning public parks and trails, painting neighbors' homes and fences, planting and harvesting in community gardens, and constructing wheelchair ramps and safety rails. After each service experience, students reflected on their work and their personal relationship and responsibility to neighbor and community. Freshmen spent their first day at Rockhurst volunteering at eight local charities. Seniors lived as 'men for others' during their three-week Senior Service Projects at 60 different local organizations. Together, the class donated 25,000 hours to those most in need in the metro. We also offered three Total Ignatian Experience summer immersion trips: twice to Tennessee and here in Kansas City.”
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$6,220,665 OF SOURCED FUNDING
- Alan Ratermann Director of Ignatian Service Programs
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STATE-BY-STATE DONATIONS
Blue designates donation(s) received
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WE ARE ROCKHURST
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9301 STATE LINE ROAD KANSAS CITY, MO 64114 HTTPS://WWW.ROCKHURSTHS.EDU
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