ROCK NEWS
Spring Alumni Magazine
2017
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Rockhurst ALUMNI MAGAZINE
A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Alumni and Friends, I am delighted to introduce you to Rockhurst High School’s new Rock News. As many of you know, I will be departing The Rock at the conclusion of the current academic year and handing over the reins to Rev. William Sheahan, SJ. Fr. Sheahan will serve as interim president until July 2018, when David Laughlin will become the 17th president of RHS, in what is hoped to be a long and successful tenure. Both are eminently qualified to serve and will shepherd the school’s ongoing work of forming “men for others.”
ROCKHURST LEADERSHIp Rev. Terrence Baum, SJ, to leave after 13½ years as president. David Laughlin returns to lead institution.
In this inaugural issue, you will get a flavor of the wonderful people who ensure that RHS retains its leadership role in educating and forming young men in the Catholic Jesuit tradition. Our two alumni of the year, Michael Brown ’75 and Thomas McDonnell ’62, have been integrally involved with our STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) initiative, and their generosity – and that of their wives – has been transformative, not only with programming, but also in facilities enhancement. Come visit the campus this September to see our wonderful Academic Learning Commons, our active learning classrooms, the robotics and engineering lab, and the various maker spaces sprinkled throughout the building. But why wait until September? If you visit now, you can witness the progress being made on the Student Life and Alumni Center at the west end of Dasta Stadium. The Al Davis, Jr. Field House is a fond memory, and greatly enhanced locker and training facilities are rising in its place. The second-floor Alumni Center will provide a gathering space for groups, particularly on game days – Go Hawklets! I need not prattle on. Dive into the magazine and enjoy reading about The Rock and how it continues to educate young men for the greater honor and glory of God. God Bless,
Rev. Terrence Baum, SJ President, Rockhurst High School
Alumni Submissions Would you, a family member or friend like to be included in the Rock News? If you have a story idea, accomplishment or announcement of marriage, birth or death, please let us know! All submissions should be sent to Robbie Haden ’09, Director of Communications, at rhaden@rockhursths.edu. 3
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Rockhurst ALUMNI MAGAZINE
ALUMNI OF THE YEAR The Rockhurst High School National Alumni Association annually recognizes an alumnus who honors the spirit, mission and vision of the Society of Jesus. This person, through his dedication to be a “man for others,” continues his service to Rockhurst High School and the community by making significant contributions of time, talent and treasure. The Award carries the name of the Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, who was the 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus, serving from 1965 to 1983, and coined the phrase “men and women for others.”
2016 recipient: Michael Brown ’75
To kick off Homecoming Week 2016 in September, Rockhurst held a schoolwide prayer service. The Alumnus of the Year award was presented to Michael Brown of the Class of 1975. Brown and his wife, Millie, are serving as co-chairs for the Building on Our Tradition capital campaign. Funding for the drive will help establish the new Academic Learning Commons, as well as the Student Life and Alumni Center.
Michael Brown ’75 accepted the 2016 Alumnus of the Year Award on Sept. 12. He is pictured with (from left) sons Anthony ’11 and Gregory ’10, wife Millie, and the Rev. Terrence A. Baum, SJ.
2017 selection: Thomas McDonnell ’62
The campaign has successfully generated $11.3 million in donor commitments during its first phase and is working to close the drive by securing $3 million in charitable gifts for mission-driven campus projects to provide state-of-the-art facilities for students. The Browns are also at the forefront of the school’s STEAM initiative, pledging $2.1 million to its programming at Rockhurst. For the full story, visit: www.rockhursths.edu/alumnus/brown.
Visionary business leader Thomas McDonnell of the Class of 1962 has been selected by the Rockhurst High School National Alumni Association’s Board of Governors as the “Alumnus of the Year” for 2017. McDonnell will receive the honor during the school’s annual Homecoming Prayer Service on Oct. 11. McDonnell and his close friend, Michael Brown ’75, were instrumental in helping to develop Rockhurst High School’s groundbreaking STEAM programs as a “school for others.”
Thomas McDonnell ’62. Photo courtesy of The Kansas City Business Journal.
McDonnell’s lifetime volunteerism and board service reflects a diverse range of abilities and interests, including leadership roles with the Kauffman Foundation, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Union Station Kansas City, Inc., BHA Group Holdings, Inc., Informix Corp., Euronet Worldwide, Midwest Research Institute and many more. For the full story, visit: www.rockhursths.edu/alumnus/mcdonnell.
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’88
NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED TO SPORTS
HALL OF FAME
Michael Chonko
’91
• Two-year defensive starter on the soccer team • Combined record of 42-5-2 as starter • Led Rockhurst to third-place state finish in 1987 • Two-time All-District, All-Metro and All-State
Travis Huenfeld
’93
• Rushed for 1,362 yards and 17 touchdowns in just 10 games • All-District, All-Metro and All-State in football • Three-year varsity baseball player • Led baseball team to two district championships • All-District, All-Metro and All-State in baseball • Gatorade Circle of Champions Missouri Baseball Player of the Year
Matt Roney • Three-time state golf qualifier • Led team to state championship and placed third individually as a sophomore • Second golfer in school history to win individual state championship • Four-time All-District, three-time All-Metro and All-State Class of 2016 Sports Hall of Fame inductees with Rev. Terrence Baum, SJ (left) and Gregory Harkness ’81 (far right): Travis Huenfeld ’91, Matthew Krull ’94, Michael Chonko ’88, Timothy Smith ’96 and Matt Roney ’93.
Matt Krull As part of the annual Alumni Reunion Weekend on Oct. 13-14, Rockhurst High School celebrated the newest members of its Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame honors alumni, coaches and friends who have had a major impact of the school’s athletic tradition. Given The Rock’s storied heritage of sporting excellence in the Midwest, selection to the Sports Hall means recognition among the “best of the best” in Midwestern athletic history.
Honorees are determined by a Selection Committee that reviews nominations by Alumni Class Captains, as well as recommendations from the public at large, before submitting a slate to RHS President Rev. Terrence Baum, SJ, for his blessing. The 2016 honorees were Michael Chonko ’88, Travis Huenfeld ’91, Matt Roney ’93, Matthew Krull ’94 and Timothy Smith ’96.
’96
’94
• Two-year starter at linebacker • Broke school tackling record twice; recorded 160 (over 13 per game) as a senior • Two-time All-District, and All-Metro and All-State as senior • Three-year baseball letterman • Batted for .417 average as a junior and led team to sectional championship
Ryan Smith • Four-year state qualifier in tennis • Second‑place state finish in doubles as sophomore • Third‑place state finish in singles as junior • Led team to state championship in 1996 with perfect team record • Second‑place state finish in singles as senior
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ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS Kevin Regan ’73 had the privilege of bagpiping at the dedication ceremony of the America’s Response Horse Soldiers Monument at Liberty Park near the World Trade Center in New York City Sept. 12-13.
Joshua Edwards ’96 and his father, Jeff, built and opened Smoke Brewing Co., a Lee’s Summit-based brewery. Smoke Brewing Co. serves innovative craft beers and gastropubstyle barbecue.
Alex Bresette ’88 was named the 2016 Applebee’s Operations “Partner of the Year.”
Marcus Kain ’96 started a volunteer ministry called “Grieving Young Adults” through the Catholic Archdiocese in Kansas City, KS, in August 2015. Since then, the ministry has reached many young adults ages 18-40 throughout the Kansas City Metropolitan area who needed help navigating and managing the grief process.
Bresette has worked at DineEquity for 13 years, with the current job title of guest relations director. He works with approximately 380 franchisees and 3,600 Applebee’s and IHOP restaurants.
Peter Clune ’90 was named the new president and chief operating officer of U.S. operations of Kansas City-based Lockton, Inc. Clune joined Lockton in 2006 as its COO in St. Louis, MO. He was promoted to executive vice president in 2010 and has spent the past six years working on recruiting, business development and client services.
Nicholas Beil ’91 is the chief operating officer of Narrative Science. Narrative Science offers an advanced natural language generation (NLG) platform, called “Quill,” that automatically creates a comprehensive story designed for individual readers, using a combination of data analytics, natural language generation and core artificial intelligence concepts. The company has been featured on Forbes.com.
Sean Miller ’77, Matthew Miller ’80 and Christopher Miller ’11 are part of The Robert E. Miller Group. The insurance company will be honored on May 10 at the 33rd Annual Philanthropy Awards Luncheon, hosted by Nonprofit Connect. The insurance broker has committed to giving at least 10 percent of its annual profits back to the community, and in 2016 it gave 20 percent.
Michael Reardon ’96 was selected to Ingram’s list of “40 Under Forty.” Last year, when McCownGordon launched a new division to focus on smaller, fast-moving projects, Reardon was named operations director.
Jeffrey Foster ’97 started a company called “Clara.” The company’s mission is to improve the mortgage application experience and take a slice from the $2 trillion mortgage market. Foster was a policy advisor at the U.S. Treasury Department before starting Clara.
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We are so proud of our National Alumni Network. It is a true testament to the brotherhood we share and the formation that we receive in becoming ‘men for others.’
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Josh Brewster '99, president of the RHS
James DeSimone ’91 started his company, Lula Mae Pillows, and set about the task of building a pillow donation program for the needy. Today, Lula Mae is able to offer customers a buy-onegive-one model that donates a pillow to a homeless shelter for each pillow purchased. To date, they have donated more than $50,000 in new Lula Mae pillows to shelters nationwide.
George Clarke ’98, general manager of Charlie Hooper’s Bar & Grille in Brookside, won “Overall Employee of the Year” honors at the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association’s Gilbert Robinson Leadership & Awards Dinner.
Christopher Walton ’95 was selected to the Phoenix Business Journal’s list of “40 Under Forty.” Walton is a managing principal for Cresa, an international commercial real estate firm in Arizona.
Lance Snodgrass ’00 was inducted into the Regis University “Athletic Hall of Fame” in September 2016. At Rockhurst, he was a member of the 1998 and 1999 State Championship soccer teams.
National Alumni Association
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Rockhurst ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Bret Springs ’00, co-founder of The Back Napkin Restaurant Group, opened The Rockhill Grille at the corner of 20th & Grand Blvd., where the Cashew was once operated. The company aims to make a name for itself as a “go-to place” for well-executed American cuisine.
Matthew Kincaid ’04 published a book titled “Occupational Hazards Handbook: Avoid The Top Ten Mistakes Made When Beginning A Career.” In his book, Kincaid shares valuable lessons to help others avoid prevalent career missteps.
Zachary Thomas ’00 of the Law office of Zach V. Thomas, LLC was selected as a 2016 Best of the Bar honoree by the Kansas City Business Journal. The “Best of the Bar” publication showcases 198 lawyers selected by their peers as the top attorneys in private practice in Kansas City.
Jason Crain ’05 is the chief operating officer of Partpic, a visual recognition and machine learning company for industrial supplies. Crain credits his relationship with Roshawnna Novellus, known as the ‘Wealthy Yogi,’ and co-founder of Bootstrap Capital and host of Startup Funding on the internet, for his entrepreneurial passion and skills in raising business capital.
Anthony Vontz ’00 runs the Edgevale Clothing Company out of Oakland, CA, and the brand’s primary product, the North Coast Shirt Jacket 2.0, was awarded Outside Magazine’s “Gear of the Year Award” for being one of the best “shackets” for 2017.
Brendan Matthews ’01 was selected to Oil and Gas Investor’s list of “Thirty Under 40.” Matthews is the vice president of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. in Houston, TX. He joined the company’s acquisitions and divestitures team in early 2015 after working at multiple successful energy A&D firms, including Citigroup, RBC Richardson Barr, and Jefferies.
Raymond Chang ’01 will help lead Team China during the World Baseball Classic in March. He will play shortstop and serve as a veteran mentor. After the WBC, Chang will begin his next stage in baseball: working as manager of the MLB Development Center in Nanjing, China.
Stephen Stinger ’05 was named to Ingram’s “20 in their Twenties.” Stinger is a civil and structural engineer for Black & Veatch.
Andrew Wank ’05 was named to Ingram’s “20 in their Twenties.” Wank is manager of business development for blooom, a wealth management robo-adviser that was the fastest-ever startup company in the industry to hit $300 million in assets under management.
Christopher Sabates ’03 opened Brookside Wine & Spirits in 2012. Now he will expand the building and put in a separate entrance for Brookside Pizza & Taproom. Sabates plans on a late spring opening for the operation, which will offer quick-serve pizza alongside wine and 20-30 craft beers, with a focus on local breweries. The Taproom will also have a patio and full-service dining in the evenings.
Jeffrey Huggins ’07 was named to Ingram’s “20 in their Twenties.” Huggins is manager of sales operations for Inside Ventures, which helps large brands scale their customer-acquisition efforts.
Nicholas Starke ’03 was selected as the winner of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s $10K Challenge.gov. Starke is a penetration tester and computer software evaluator in Iowa. His idea helps reduce complexity, tracking changes to a living story by navigating revisions with simple color-coded and clickable boxes of inserted and removed text.
Sean Fessler ’08 returned to Rockhurst in October to join its Advancement Team. As director of special events, he works closely with Mark Blanck ’98 on annual alumni functions, as well as new events.
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Seth Sinovic ’05 returned to the Rockhurst Soccer Program last fall as a volunteer coach. Sinovic has played in the MLS since 2010 with Sporting KC. He helped the Soccer Hawklets reach the State Championship in 2016.
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Kemer Quirk ’08 joined Shawnee’s Blind Box BBQ team, started by classmate Joseph Tulipana ’08 in 2015. Quirk manages the catering side of the business, which provides food for social gatherings, corporate events, weddings and anything in between.
Kyle Wolf ’13 set the University of Central Missouri school basketball record with nine successful three-pointers in one game Nov. 26. Wolf ended with 31 points on the night in just 22 minutes.
Alumni Submissions
Maxfield Kaniger ’09 started a nonprofit organization called Kanbe’s Markets. The mission is to provide access to fresh, healthy and affordable food for food deserts in Kansas City. Kanbe’s Markets brings food choices to people by collaborating with already existing corner stores.
Austin Aguirre ’14 helped save the life of a man who collapsed at a community center on Jan. 16 in Lee’s Summit. Aguirre began chest compressions for Terrance Benson, who’d just suffered a heart attack. Aguirre was joined by two parks department employees, who used an automated external defibrillator to get Benson’s heart beating again.
Matthew Ledom ’09 is the reigning “Rookie of the Year” for the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors’ commercial division, an honor reserved for brokers in the industry for less than three years. Ledom received the award in February, after a year in which he was involved with $43 million in transactions. Ledom was also named to Ingram’s “20 in their Twenties” list.
Harrison Her ndon ’10 appeared on CNBC’s “Make Me a Millionaire Inventor” to pitch his invention: DropShades. DropShades are sound-reactive sunglasses that light up to the beat of any music.
Timothy Bianco ’11 is a resource teacher at Trautwein Elementary School in Mehlville, MO, and made the father-daughter dance special for one student. Bianco served as the date for a 9-year-old student whose father had passed `away. “I just thought that if she would like to go with somebody or have her own chaperone, I’d love to go with her,” Bianco said.
Houston Smith ’15 played the National Anthem on saxophone at Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas night before the Chiefs’ victory over the Denver Broncos. Smith is currently studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
MARRIAGES Seamus McLaughlin ’04 and Brittany Barnds Kelly Quirk ’05 and Missie Jones Thomas Staab ’05 and Gina Margas David Willis ’05 and Amaris Brady Kirby Campbell ’07 and Abbey Hatke Conner Zecy ’07 and Marina Maib William Tarr ’07 and Katherine Poppe Alexander Cowan ’08 and Abigail Vickers Justin Koehler ’08 and Kaley Garrison Gerald Mancuso ’08 and Haley Harlan Kevin Turissini ’09 and Claire Hughes Nicholas Gard ’10 and Katherine Sweeney Matthew Neisius ’10 and Courtney Allen
BIRTHS Jordan Willis ’13 just finished his stellar college football career at Kansas State. With 26 career sacks, he ranks third in the program’s history. At the end of January he was invited to Mobile, AL, for the annual Senior Bowl. Willis is a projected third-round pick in this year’s NFL draft, but many scouts are saying that the defensive end could climb into an earlier round.
Andrew Huber ’96 and Katie, a son, George Philip Scott Reagan ’99 and Claire, a daughter, Abbie Michelle Brendan Matthews ’01 and Kelly, a daughter, Reese Ann, and a son, Emmett Patrick Daniel McDonough ’02 and Katie, a daughter, Tinsley Rebecca Derek Hardin ’03 and Nikki, a daughter, Finley Adeline Kevin Stone ’05 and Libby, a daughter, Lena Elizabeth, and a son, Oliver Frank
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deaths
Ryan Mandl ’06 and Laura, a daughter, Addyson Ryan Samuel Tapko ’06 and Allison, a son, Miles William Brent Becker ’09 and Meghan, a son, Leland John
DEATHS Alumni Joseph Murphy ’39 William Clarkson ’42 George Reutter ’43 W. Robert Aylward ’45 William Hopper ’45 Theodore Wiedeman ’46 James Connaughton ’48 James Murray ’51 Dennis O’Connor ’51 Michael Hogan ’52 A. Patrick Hannan ’53 James Altman ’54 Ronald Perkins ’54 Michael Draney ’57 James Gudenkauf ’63 Anthony Henderson ’66 Terence Karson ’68 Ronald Sextro ’68 John Keyes, Jr. ’69 Daniel Dunn ’70 Daniel Doran ’71 Michael Fagan ’71 Ronald Paradise ’71
Would you, a family member or friend like to be included in the Rock News? If you have a story idea, accomplishment, or announcement of marriage, birth or death, please let us know! All submissions should be sent to Robbie Haden ’09, Director of Communications, at rhaden@rockhursths.edu.
Timothy Williams ‘71 James Hess ’72 Michael Lombardo ’77 Richard Fisher ’84 Brian Tarwater ’90 Steven Mendenhall ’07 Colin O’Sullivan ’13 Jack D. Ryan ‘16 Friends Louise Barry, MD Margaret Baum Geraldine Brady Mary Branton Jim Carmody Wayne Chaddock Wayne Cornish Mary Sue Cosentino Rev. Robert T. Costello, SJ Jerry Culver Kathryn Dierks Sue Dierks Thomas Dorrian Br. Alois Dorsey, SJ Thomas Effertz, Jr. George Evans George Gates, MD Geraldine Gaughan Helen Heft John Hoag Barbara Altman Hodes Delores Holland Alice Judy Steve Karlin
Daniel Keating Francesca LaSala Jim LeHay Rev. Mark Link, SJ Anna Masure Majorie Mattione Patrick Mercer Ellen Meyer John Moran Clarita Morris Helen Mary Muenks Charles Naylor James O’Neill Emma Sue Orscheln Kathleen O’Sullivan Dee Pierce Steve Pierce Margaret Redmond Theodore Rowland Fred Schmitz William Scroggin Robert P. Sherman, MD Paul Smith Stephanie Trujillo Don Tschanner, Sr. Jennifer Waldenmeyer Margaret Weinand Rev. James D. Wheeler, SJ Drolette Wiedeman Gretchen Wilhelm-McCabe
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Rockhurst ALUMNI MAGAZINE
HURTADO SCHOLARS BECOME HAWKLETS The first group of Hurtado Scholars were welcomed to Rockhurst High School in the fall as part of the Class of 2020. The Hurtado Scholars Program is an educational and leadership opportunity offered by Rockhurst to prepare middle school boys for success at a college preparatory school and beyond. St. Alberto Hurtado, SJ, was a Chilean Jesuit priest who founded homes for and offered education to impoverished boys throughout his native country in the mid-20th century. The mission of Hurtado Scholars is to assist boys who have great potential, but for whom a college prep education may be unattainable. Students attend both Camp Hurtado in the summer and academic-year weekly programs during their sixth- through eighth-grade years. Once completed, they receive the necessary financial assistance to attend Rockhurst.
Hurtado Scholars gathered at Rockhurst in the summer, during which they spent six weeks engaged in academic study, personal development, and outings that emphasize langauage, math and basic study skills.
Members of the freshman Class of 2020
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Rockhurst High School students serve as pallbearers for the newly formed St. Joseph of Arimathea Society.
MARCHING FOR LIFE
• Burying the Dead: 72 juniors and 28 seniors signed up for the Joseph of Arimathea Society to serve as pallbearers for the homeless and indigent.
On Jan. 27, 12 Rockhurst High School students and two teacher chaperones traveled to Washington, D.C., to represent the school at the 44th annual March for Life. The March for Life is a rally protesting abortion, usually held on or around the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision legalizing abortion in Roe v. Wade.
“Every human life is sacred, from natural conception to natural death. To represent that as one person and as one community from Rockhurst was really great.”
Angus Pellant ’17
ARIMATHEA SOCIETY LIVING OUT “YEAR OF MERCY”
Students marching in Washington, D.C.
COMMITTED TO JUSTICE Over the days of Nov. 12-14, students and faculty members from Rockhurst High School joined more than 1,800 other people in Washington for the 19th “Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice.” People of faith representing Jesuit and other Catholic institutions from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and El Salvador gathered to learn, reflect, pray, network and advocate for the Catholic faith.
Eight students and five faculty/staff members attended the “Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice” in Washington, D.C.
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Gathering with parishioners, students and volunteers offered our students and staff a wider view of the Jesuit mission in action.
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Alan Ratermann, English teacher
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In the Kansas City community, students participated in the following:
Pope Francis proclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy that ran from December 2015 to November 2016. During that time, Rockhurst actively stressed the importance of mercy at the school.
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As ‘men for others,’ we are called to be there for those who do not have anyone there for them, especially in this time of their lives. So it is our duty to take on that role and give them the love that they deserve. Damon Ross Jr. ’18
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• Visiting the Sick: A group of freshmen visit residents at The Forum in Overland Park, KS, each Thursday after school to play cards, games and other activities with senior residents. • Feeding the Hungry and Giving Drink to the Thirsty: Students attend Cherith Brook Catholic Worker House on the second Thursday of every month and Kansas City Community Kitchen on days off school. • Mercy Times Infinity: A group of students attended the Ignatian Solidarity Network in November. The theme was “Mercy in Action.”
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Rockhurst ALUMNI MAGAZINE
DAVID LAUGHLIN SELECTED AS 17TH PRESIDENT
REV. WILLIAM SHEAHAN, SJ, TO SERVE AS INTERIM PRESIDENT
Rockhurst High School’s Board of Trustees appointed David Laughlin as the 107-year-old institution’s 17th president on Jan. 4. As Rockhurst’s first lay president, he will succeed the Rev. Terrence Baum, SJ. Laughlin will take office July 1, 2018.
After the announcement of David Laughlin as the 17th president of Rockhurst High School on Jan. 4, the Board of Trustees began a search to find an interim president to serve from July 2017 through June 2018. They found Rev. William Sheahan, SJ.
Laughlin is the president of St. Louis University High School (SLUH). Prior to his post at SLUH, he served as principal of Rockhurst from 2000 to 2005.
Sheahan began his service to Rockhurst in the fall of 2008, teaching junior English and sophomore theology. During the fall of 2011, he began a needs assessment of work that would lead to establishment of the Hurtado Scholars Program, an educational and leadership opportunity to prepare urban core middle school boys for success at a college preparatory level.
Laughlin’s work in Jesuit secondary education spans 25 years, including service in administrative leadership positions at prestigious schools such as Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, NE, Rockhurst and SLUH. His roles have included teacher, coach, director of campus ministry, dean of students, academic assistant principal, principal and president. “Beyond my 12 years as a president of SLUH, I find equally deep roots in my five years as a principal of Rockhurst High School and my 10 years as a teacher, coach and assistant principal at Creighton Prep,” Laughlin said. “Even more, the depth of those roots finds itself in my own experience of the Spiritual Exercises, with regular prayer and retreat experiences in the Ignatian tradition. I have had the good fortune of serving at almost every level of a Jesuit high school, and I look forward to returning to Rockhurst as president.”
During the 2014-15 academic year, Sheahan expanded his duties at Rockhurst to join the Advancement Team. He was instrumental in securing grants for the Hurtado Scholars, as well as other funding initiatives, particularly devoted to tuition assistance for families.
David Laughlin Photo courtesy of The St. Louis Business Journal.
In his 12 years at SLUH, David Laughlin has developed a keen understanding of all the moving parts that must work in sync in order to make a Jesuit high school successful: enrollment, advancement, finances, curriculum, co-curricular activities, and – first and foremost – formation of young men in our Jesuit tradition. We look forward to his strategic and inspired leadership.
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Jonathan Haden ’75, chairman of the Board of Trustees
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Rev. William Sheahan, SJ
For the full story, visit: www.rockhursths.edu/interim-president.
For the full story, visit: www.rockhursths.edu/presidential-selection.
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Sheahan left Rockhurst High School in the summer of 2015 to begin his Jesuit Tertianship Year in Puente Grande, Jalisco, Mexico. He returned to Kansas City last year when the Very Rev. Ronald A. Mercier, SJ, Provincial Superior of the Jesuits of the USA Central and Southern Province, appointed him as Rector of the Rockhurst Jesuit Community.
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Fr. Sheahan has distinguished himself as a caring, thoughtful leader who desires to honor Christ in all that he does. The Board of Trustees has selected an outstanding person to provide solid leadership during this time of transition.
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Rev. Terrence Baum, SJ, president
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South Entry North Entry
LOWER CAMPUS UNDER CONSTRUCTION After the demolition of the historic Al Davis, Jr. Field House in October, construction began almost immediately on the new lower campus building, the Student Life and Alumni Center. This 16,000-square-foot, two-story, multipurpose facility will be home to athletic locker rooms, training facilities, coaches’ offices, and a flexible meeting room with movable walls, used for classrooms, retreats or gathering space. The project’s general contractor, JE Dunn Construction, forecasts an August completion date.
Commons Interior – Pitch Space Student Life and Alumni Center
Commons Interior – Main Floor
Commons Interior – Focused Work Space
LEARNING COMMONS, NEW CLASSROOMS COMING Last summer, Rockhurst’s library and computer lab were transformed into state-of-the-art classrooms that included integrated individual and group learning environments. This summer, the school will see more improvements. There will be an Academic Learning Commons that will serve as the epicenter of student engagement. It will provide new classrooms, focused work areas, and work, pitch and innovative maker spaces. These classrooms and spaces will enhance educational performance and reflect future working environments, as well as create spaces for collaborative and individual work. 21
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NEW MISSION WEEK RECORD
ROCKHURST ACCEPTED TO NATIONAL STEM GROUP In mid-January, Rockhurst High School was notified of its acceptance as an Associate Member with the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS). The Consortium’s mission is to advance STEM education by providing professional development and networking opportunities for educators and enriching learning experiences for students; to serve as a national resource for STEM schools and programs by supporting collaboration and knowledge sharing, in partnership with educational, corporate and international organizations; and to inform policymakers on STEM education. There are now 100 high schools in the nation that are Institutional Members of the association, and Rockhurst will join the other three schools with Associate Member status. According to Rockhurst’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) director, Gregory Owsley ’00, the school hopes to achieve Institutional Member status by the start of the 2018-19 academic year. Rockhurst is the first Jesuit high school in the country to be accepted into the NCSSS. It joins St. Teresa’s Academy as one of the first two schools in Missouri to achieve membership following the Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing. There is also one Kansas school in the organization.
During the annual Mission Week in February, members of the Student Government Association (SGA) set a lofty goal: raise $50,000 for the missions in five days.
“NCSSS affirms Rockhurst’s positive step forward catalyzed by the STEAM initiative, which is only in its second year. The new learning opportunities and being an NCSSS member school will give Rockhurst graduates a competitive advantage on a national level as they move on to higher education.” Gregory Owsley ’00, STEAM director
Although the Rockhurst High School community came up just short of the goal, it raised a total of $49,200 and set a new school record for donations. Each grade level selected the organization to which its funds would go. Freshmen chose Loyola Academy in St. Louis, MO, sophomores picked Aid for Africa, juniors selected Intsikelelo, and seniors donated to Heart to Heart International. The money raised from the Penny Wars went to St. Peter Claver Jesuit Parish in Punta Gorda, Belize.
STUDENTS BUILD FOR TOY DRIVE This year the annual Regis Club Toy Drive had a new aspect to it: along with the usual toys purchased and donated by Rockhurst High School students, there were also toys built by students. Instructor William Murphy’s Drawing and Design for Industry class constructed the wood toy trucks that were also donated to children at Operation Breakthrough.
“Membership in NCSSS demonstrates that our education product is among the most elite secondary educational institutions in the country,” Owsley said. “Now that Rockhurst High School is officially a member, the school will be able to provide even more opportunities for its students. Being a part of this network of schools will also help Rockhurst continue its commitment to continuous improvement. The school models for its students by always going for the Ignation “Magis” (or “the better”).
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It is humbling and admirable to see some of the students at Rockhurst spend part of their school time and energy to construct toy trucks for the children at Operation Breakthrough.
Students in robotics classes build their own robots for schoolwide competition.
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At the Mission Week Prayer Service on Wednesday, Feb. 8, senior SGA President Ryan Chandler ’17 urged his classmates to “give until it hurts.” At that point, Rockhurst had raised just over $10,000. The students raised four times that amount in the following two days.
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-Thomas Reintjes ’18, Regis Club president
Students in William Murphy’s Drawing and Design for Industry class proudly show off the wood toy trucks they built for the Regis Toy Drive.
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Rockhurst ALUMNI MAGAZINE
SINGERS NAMED TO KC HONOR CHOIRS
STUDENTS ATTEND PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION Twelve Rockhurst High School students, accompanied by two social studies teachers, had the opportunity to attend the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. The Rockhurst delegation spent the week visiting the nation’s capital leading up to the historic event. In addition to visiting museums and monuments, they were invited to meet with members of Congress, including U.S. Sen. Timothy Kaine ’76 of Virginia and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri. They also met Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver and Sam Graves, both U.S. Representatives for Missouri. The group visited the United States Capitol and Supreme Court, and were given a personal tour of the Senate by Brett King ’04, a legislative assistant with U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. They also spent time visiting Arlington National Cemetery. On Friday, they attended the inauguration festivities, including one of the inaugural balls.
Students enjoyed a tour of the Senate, photo provided by Brett King ’04. All 16 Rockhurst vocalists who auditioned for the Kansas City Honor Choirs were selected to either the District Honor Choir or the Men’s Honor Choir.
Rockhurst High School sent 16 students to audition for the Kansas City-area Honor Choirs in the fall. Between 550-600 students auditioned for the Kansas City District Honor Choirs, with around 250-300 young men. Of those who auditioned, 78 singers made the District Honor Choir, and an additional 83 students were selected for the Men’s Honor Choir. Every one of the 16 singers Rockhurst sent to the audition was selected for an honor ensemble, with seven winning spots on the District Choir and nine on the Men’s Honor Choir. This is the first year ever Rockhurst has achieved the goal of 100 percent acceptance.
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This year more than ever, the students put in extra work preparing one vocal solo and working on their ability to sight-read. As Rockhurst’s choir program has grown in numbers, the students continue to work together and push each other to higher and higher standards of excellence. Samuel Anderson, director of choirs
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“It was truly an honor to be able to attend the Inauguration, regardless of one’s political affiliation. The ability to have the opportunity to attend such a historical event is truly amazing, and I will be forever and always grateful for the teachers and my parents for making it possible.” Joseph Tutera ’20
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Rockhurst ALUMNI MAGAZINE
STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN MECA CHALLENGE On Presidents Day in February, a Monday, when school was closed, more than 60 students still came to Rockhurst High School to experience the Most Entrepreneurial Community in America Challenge. The MECA Challenge is a one-day innovation competition that pushes students and teachers to build an entrepreneurial mindset, collaborate with Kansas City innovators and create solutions for real-world problems. Students were split into teams and given just three hours to present a solution (á la “Shark Tank”) to the community problem: “How would you help patients in Kansas City find accessible and affordable medication and specialists based on their individual insurance plans and neighborhood options?” Their solutions were presented to the judges, who were three leaders in the Kansas City business community: Herb Sih, Aaron Deacon and Joe Massman Sr. ’87.
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JE DUNN MENTORS HAWKLETS
The MECA Challenge allowed me to really dive into the world of entrepreneurship, getting my hands dirty trying to solve real-world problems. The topic of healthcare is broad and complicated, but my mentor, Andrew Wank, was able to provide us with invaluable, high-level advice on how to break our problem down and then present our solution in a way that was compelling to the judges.
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Paul Kaster ’17, winning group member
A group of Rockhurst High School students are taking full advantage of the construction on the school’s campus. These students are working with team members from JE Dunn Construction to learn as much as they can about the business. They are going through on-site visits, spending time in the classroom with JE Dunn representatives to understand the process of conception to building, and working with the technology the team uses. It is a project that will take the students up to the grand opening, where they will present a final project to guests that evening. The final project can take the form of a physical model, a video or slideshow, or any other presentation the students choose. JE Dunn is the general contractor managing the campus improvements underway at Rockhurst.
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I’m interested in pursuing a career in engineering, and the JE Dunn Internship Program was a unique opportunity for me to be introduced to the fields of civil and structural engineering. This program allows me to experience the real-world factors for construction, budgets and applied science. Nicholas Moussa ’19
The winning team awarded in the MECA Challenge, along with the judges and representative from KC Digital Drive.
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Students in the JE Dunn Internship Program listen as project managers explain the construction details of the Student Life and Alumni Center.
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Rockhurst ALUMNI MAGAZINE
MOCK TRIAL, NATIONAL SUCCESS In September, the Rockhurst High School Mock Trial Team took fifth place in the Empire Tournament in San Francisco, CA. As a new team at this prestigious international tournament, Rockhurst faced an uphill battle. Rockhurst had the most difficult tournament schedule of any team present when calculated by opponents’ records. The Mocklets won eight of 12 ballots in four competitions. Three team members received individual awards: senior Maguire Radosevic ’17 as third-best attorney, Philip Brain ’17 as second-best witness and Jack Reardon ’18 as third-best witness.
Mock Trial team members are all smiles after their fifth-place finish at the Empire Tournament in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of Stephen Derrington ’98.
FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS GROUP IS FORMED A new Rockhurst High School student group emerged in the fall of 2016 – the Future Business Leaders of America. The students attended an FBLA conference in Dallas, TX, to attend business workshops and presentations. They later competed in an FBLA district competition in early February. Joseph Hathaway ’18 and Joseph Massman ’18 received a fifth-place medal in Entrepreneurship, while Max Conradt ’18 took second place in Business Finance. For his performance, Conradt advanced to the state competition.
The Future Business Leaders of America team attended a conference in Dallas to learn more about the organization.
SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM KEEPS BUSY Throughout the fall and winter, the Speech and Debate team, led by Phillip Helt ’07, could be found at a different tournament each weekend. The team is often led by James Patterson ’17 and Maguire Radosevic ’17, as well as Kaelan Jungmeyer ’18, Grant Lander ’18 and Drake Rebman ’18. Helt is excited by the growing interest in Speech and Debate from freshmen and sophomores. A highlight of the season was the Savannah High School Savage Showdown Tournament, in which the team won two sweepstakes trophies and had four event champions.
Members of the Speech and Debate team celebrated after a successful tournament at Marquette High School. Photo courtesy of Phillip Helt ’07.
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Rockhurst ALUMNI MAGAZINE
CROSS COUNTRY WINS FIRST TITLE
VALDIVIEZ TWINS END AMAZING CAREERS
For the first time in school history, the Rockhurst cross country team brought home the State Championship from Jefferson City.
Brothers Cameron and Colin Valdiviez ’17 have been forces on the Missouri wrestling scene since they were freshmen. Eight state qualifications and three individual state championships later, the twins have finished their Rockhurst careers.
The Hawklets had finished in second place in both 2011 and 2015, but were able to overpower the competition to be Missouri’s top team in 2016. Rockhurst’s top individual finisher was John Luder ’17, who placed third overall out of 172 runners. The team also included Daniel Toomey ’17 (20th), Thomas Seitzer ’19 (32nd), William Oltjen ’17 (52nd), Branden Schaff ’17 (60th), Andrew Connor ’18 (63rd) and Peter Campbell ’18 (97th).
The State Championship cross country team celebrated its first title in program history.
Cameron was able to repeat as champion, this time in the 126-pound class, and Colin finished as runner-up in the 132-pound class. Over their final two seasons, they combined for an amazing 195-3 record.
FOOTBALL MAKES DEEP RUN
SOCCER ENDS IN THRILLER
Colin Valdiviez puts a move on an opponent during state tournament competition. Photo courtesy of Ryan Kelley ’91.
Both will wrestle in college. Cameron will attend the Air Force Academy, and Colin will head to Northwestern University.
The football team, ended as a top four team in Missouri. The Hawklets earned a 9-3 final record, with the only losses coming to the other three teams in the Final Four: CBC, Blue Springs and Kirkwood. Top performers included 1st Team All-State Chance May ’17 and Ross Elder ’17, and 2nd Team All-State Cameron Reller ’17 and Brady McCanles ’17.
The two have also wrestled one weight class apart, so they do not have to face each other. Both have enjoyed success at the state level. Cameron placed third as a freshman and sixth as a sophomore; Colin placed fourth as a sophomore. Junior year was special, as both won individual state championships – Cameron in the 120-pound class and Colin in the 126-pound class. Both went undefeated for the entire season.
Rockhurst cross country is led by Coach Michael Dierks ’91, in his 21st season as head coach.
Cameron Valdiviez wins a match en route to his second state championship. Photo courtesy of Ryan Kelley ’91.
Quarterback Chance May ’17 rolls out and passes in a District Championship win over Lee’s Summit West. Photo courtesy of Forrest Roudebush ’17.
SWIM & DIVE PLACES IN TOP 10
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working and growing close with my teammates and coaches. At the beginning of my high school wrestling career, winning two state titles seemed almost unattainable. Through good habits and a consistent work ethic, I was able to accomplish my goals and exceed expectations.” Cameron Valdiviez ’17
FOOTBALL PLAYERS SIGN TO COLLEGES On Feb. 1, National Signing Day, Rockhurst celebrated four senior football players who signed letters of intent to continue their educations and athletic careers. • 1st Team All-State defensive back Ross Elder: Kansas State University • 1st Team All-State athlete (quarterback and linebacker) Chance May: University of Missouri (preferred walk-on) • 2nd Team All-State defensive lineman Cameron Reller: Colorado School of Mines (scholarship) • All-District tight end Carter Selzer: University of Michigan (preferred walk-on)
The soccer team celebrated a win in the BVNW Top Dawg Tournament. Photo courtesy of Mr. Craig Smith.
The Aquahawks swam their way to a ninth-place finish at State. Photo courtesy of Hayden Pribyl ’18.
The soccer Hawklets played their way into the State Championship and lost a heartbreaking game to a great CBC team. The two teams battled for 110 minutes of play. After 80 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute overtime periods, the teams were knotted at 1-1. That forced penalty kicks, which Rockhurst ended up losing in sudden death.
The Rockhurst swim & dive team, known as the Aquahawks, achieved its first goal by qualifying 20 swimmers and divers for the state meet.
The Hawklets ended with an impressive 26-5 record and State Runner-Up honors. The season also included a USA Today No. 1 national ranking for a period of time. All-State honors went to Gianni Catenacci ’17, Nicholas Moyer ’17 and Matthew Smith ’17, as well as Frank Barry ’18.
All-State swimmers included Collin Nill ’17, who also broke the 100 Backstroke school record, and relay teams that featured Joe Green ’17, Kyle Kidder ’17, Bobby Freeman ’17, Collin Nill ’17 and Danny Thompson ’18.
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The team was able to put together a handful of solid performances in multiple events and finish in ninth place with 95 points.
Four Rockhurst football players signed to their future colleges on National Signing Day. Left to right: Chance May, Cameron Reller, Coach Tony Severino, Ross Elder and Carter Selzer.
SENIOR EARNS SOCCER ACCOLADES After the Rockhurst soccer team’s successful season, Gianni Catenacci ’17 was awarded with several individual honors. In addition to 1st Team All-State honors, he was named the Missouri High School Coaches Association West Region Co-Player of the Year, Missouri Offensive Player of the Year and an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association. Gianni signed to play collegiate soccer at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Senior All-American Gianni Catenacci and Coach Chris Lawson attended the National Soccer Coaches Association Convention in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Chris Lawson.
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SEVEN NAMED NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS
OUR MISSION
Only about 1 percent of high school seniors throughout the country are selected as National Merit Finalists. Seven RHS students in the Class of 2017 received the recognition: Alexander Crayon, Paul Kaster, Quinn Lennemann, John Murphy, Max Parsa, Daniel Pfaff and Joseph Stuppy.
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.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO: Joshua Brewster ’99 and Trozzolo Communications Group for their assistance in the production of this magazine, and Sean O’Donnell and Raven Printing for their printing and mailing services. The 2016-17 Rockhurst High School National Merit Semifinalists are pictured with Rev. Terrence Baum, SJ, president (left) and Mr. Gregory Harkness ’81, principal (right). The seniors (from left): Alexander Crayon, John Murphy, Max Parsa, Joseph Stuppy, Daniel Pfaff, Quinn Lennemann and Paul Kaster.
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It is a tremendous honor to receive this distinction, as it is truly a culmination of all of the support I have received from my teachers, family and Rockhurst brothers who have given me the opportunity to succeed. -Joseph Stuppy
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