SLUH Magazine

MAGAZINE

WINTER 2021-22

INSIDE TH I S I SSU E :

COURAGE

Inspired by commitment and tenacity to seek the “greater glory of God"

F E AT UR ES: Fr. Ian Gibbons, SJ Ismael Karim '22 (pictured)

Matt Boland '90 The 1540 List

OUR CORNERSTONE: Dear SLUH Community, Our students, families, faculty and staff reflect a vibrant spectrum of geographic, socio-economic, cultural and even religious diversity. As a Canadian immigrant, I know “my story” is very different from even my own sons’ and certainly has few topical parallels to those in our school community.

Yet each of us finds ourselves as unique threads in this beautiful apostolic tapestry of the Society of Jesus called St. Louis University High School.

What is it that brings us together? What defines our enduring 204-year-old identity and ability to form Men for Others?

Courage has been a cornerstone of our strong Jesuit tradition. Not the Hollywood depiction of courage that features Hulk-like heroes or a sensational script, but rather courage inspired by a virtuous commitment and tenacity to seek the “greater glory of God.” Real, authentic courage inspires unwavering mental and moral strength, allowing our school to not only survive but thrive through epic fluctuations in America’s social, political, economic and cultural realities.

Today, we are immersed in a sea of secular imagery and messaging, so loud it can mute the call of Christ. Living and spreading the Gospel message takes sacrifice: “Then they will deliver you to tribulation…and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” (Matthew 24:9) Yet with unwavering faith and courage, we can prevail. Through reflection, gratitude and prayer that sets aside self-promotion and personal agendas, we become liberated. When I look

around SLUH, I see many Christ-inspired, heroic and courageous men and women – all of them working to build the Kingdom of God on Earth – and I am vaulted from moments of burdensome anxiety to a place of great hope and joy.

Before Christmas break, we hosted a faculty/staff karaoke event in the Si Commons for our students.

After several talented, hilarious and sometimes even musical performances, the faculty and staff joined me on stage for a hearty rendition of Jingle Bell Rock. As the adults crowding the stage belted out the tune, hundreds of Jr. Bills stood spontaneously, linked arms and as loud as they could, sang along. Smiles, joy, love, brotherhood and camaraderie were all that I could see. Christ was present at that moment, in that sea of humanity, in every story and background represented – and it was all made possible by God’s grace and generations of courageous people who have been our cornerstone on Oakland Avenue.

Please enjoy this SLUH Magazine issue that includes several stories about personifying courage among our students, alumni, faculty and staff. Thank you for all you do to support our Jesuit mission.

God bless,

Alan Carruthers President

COURAGE “When I look around SLUH, I see many Christ-inspired, heroic and courageous men and women... and I am vaulted from moments of burdensome anxiety to a place of great hope and joy.”

– ALAN CARRUTHERS

Winter 2021-22 | 1

MAGAZINE

ABOUT SLUH Magazine is a publication for alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, benefactors and friends of St. Louis University High School. If you do not receive correspondence from SLUH but wish to, please send a note to alumni@sluh.org with your name, email and mailing address.

CONTACT SLUH Magazine St. Louis University High School 4970 Oakland Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110 magazine@sluh.org EDITOR Ben DuMont '92 Director of Communications SUBMISSIONS Story ideas and submissions are welcome. Please send a note to magazine@sluh.org.

IN GRATITUDE Photography Club for their dedication and commitment in digitally capturing life at SLUH and contributing to this publication...and to students in Prep News, Sisyphus, Gadfly and SLUH Student Media, for enriching the SLUH experience through their coverage, perspectives and creativity.

www.sluh.org sluhigh sluh @sluhjrbills COPYRIGHT © 2022 St. Louis University High School

Artwork illustrating the Ignatian Year, by Nathan Rich '22.

CELEBRATING AN IGNATIAN YEAR 2 | SLUH Magazine

IN THIS ISSUE SLUH TODAY

FEATURES

ADVANCING OUR MISSION

AROUND THE HALLS 4 Semester Spotlight

22 THE PLAYBOOK

52

Go Forth

53

Strategic Programs Support Endowment

54

Donating from Your IRA Offers Tax Benefits

ATHLETICS 6 Sports Highlights 8 Brooks '22 Excels on the Field, in the Classroom Class of '22 Commits CAMPUS MINISTRY 9 Seniors Advocate for the Marginalized GLOBAL EDUCATION 10 Expanding Our Horizons 12 Opening College, Career Opportunities ENTREPRENEURSHIP 13 Cultivating Entrepreneurship 14 Jr. Bills on Wall Street FACULTY FEATURE 16 Bears, Bulls and Jr. Bills: Rob Hill Brings Valuable Experience in Finance to the Classroom

WOMEN OF SLUH 18 Image of God's Goodness SACRED HEART AWARD

20

SLUH Announces First Recipients of Sacred Heart Award

Principal Fr. Ian Gibbons, SJ Leads SLUH through Pandemic with Quiet Courage, Steadfast Spirit

26 UNAPOLOGETICALLY ME Senior Ismael Karim's Journey to Courageously Living and Discovering His Identity

30 DR. HUSBAND, DR. FATHER, DR. FRIEND

The Story of Dr. Matt Boland and the Patient he Loved the Most

34 THE 1540 LIST

Fifteen St. Louis University High alumni under the age of 40 who are challenging our definitions of excellence, and setting the world on fire.

U. HIGHLIGHTS 40

Higher Expectations, No Excuses

43

Man for Others: Whayne Herriford '71

44 47 48 50

Cannonball Enlightenment

Onder '82 Makes Inspired Go Forth Gift Thomas R. Schilli Foundation Supports Chapel Renovation

FROM THE ARCHIVE 55 Blast from the Past IGNATIAN REFLECTION 56 Courage on the Course, in the Classroom EVENTS 57 Upcoming Events & Reunions

John Shipp '98 Courageously Carves His Own Path to Success

To Give, Not to Count the Cost Noteworthy Requiescat in Pace Living Legacies Three Backer Awardees Distinguished by Selfless Service, Remarkable Careers

ON THE COVER: Ismael Karim '22 poses in front of Backer Memorial. Check out his feature story by Jack Figge '22 on page 26. Photo by Miles Schulte '22.

Now through July 2022, the Jesuits and the Ignatian family celebrate the 500th anniversary of the beginning of St. Ignatius’ enormous change of life – that fateful day when Ignatius the soldier, struck by a cannonball, began his transformation into Ignatius the pilgrim. God continues to invite each of us into a deepening relationship, to ongoing conversion. We believe that by embracing this invitation, we embrace our God who calls us to act in new, bold ways that reconcile our world, bringing about justice, peace and compassion. For this Ignatian Year, we ask for the grace to see all things new in Christ.

Learn more about the Ignatian Year

Winter 2021-22 | 3

SLUH TODAY

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SLUH TODAY

AROUND THE HALLS

SEMESTER SPOTLIGHT Men For Others Among many charitable activities, Jr. Bills participated in a successful Adopt-A-Family Drive, benefiting hundreds of St. Louis residents.

They also donated more than 1,800 food items and more than $10,000 through the annual Food Drive.

Budding Researchers Eight Jr. Bills engaged in research last summer – many at leading universities – and shared their remarkable projects and experiences at STEM Night. The event celebrated the power and importance of adding new knowledge to the common collective.

Learn more and watch STEM Night

BUILDING SPIRIT, BROTHERHOOD Jr. Bills enjoyed a variety of on-campus events, including the Back to School Mixer and Fall Ball Dance for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors; Freshman Fun Day and class fun days to build brotherhood; freshman and sophomore Running of the Bills to grow school spirit and unity; athletic contests; performances by our extraordinary Fine Arts program; and two all-school Masses and customized retreats.

Cruz is an Assistant Football Coach, Assistant Director of Admissions and club moderator for the Association for Cultural Enrichment at SLUH (ACES).

National Merit Semifinalists Twelve Jr. Bills from the Class of 2022 earned distinction as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists: Francis Alford, Jack DuMont, Timothy Gunn, Matthew Leight, Lucas Navarro, Luke Pierson, Nathan Rich, Richard Taylor, Brendan Stein, John Torack, Nicholas Unseth and James Winkeler.

Renovated Labs After completing renovation on another science lab, SLUH now has all six of its labs upgraded and fully modernized thanks to the success of the Go Forth campaign. Learn how Go Forth is furthering the excellence of SLUH in its third century at sluh.org/goforth.

SLUH Esports Jr. Bills finished 5th in State in their first season together in the Missouri Scholastic Esports Federation. SLUH Esports has four distinct teams participating in MOSEF throughout the school year. Players compete and practice three times per week at the Saint Louis Science Center, one of the region's premier gaming facilities.

Educator of Distinction English teacher Adam Cruz ’10 was selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction for outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in education. This student-nominated honor is awarded by The National Society of High School Scholars. In addition to his work as a teacher,

Donovan Meachem '22 in the Dauphin Players production of Wait Until Dark

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SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

BY CHRIS MUSKOPF ‘91 ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

FALL 2021

CROSS COUNTRY For the 15th time since 1997, the SLUH Cross Country program earned a trophy at the MSHSAA Championships, registering a 4th Place finish in the 2021 event. On the way to Columbia, the team placed first in the Granite City Invitational, the Hancock Invitational (first championship in 50 years of participation in this event), the Big River Running Invitational and – for the 18th consecutive time – the MCC Championships. Senior Sean Kellogg finished as the top individual runner at the MCC Championships. At the MSHSAA Championships, seniors Grant Brawley (11th Place), Sean Kellogg (16th) and Baker Pashea (23rd place) garnered All-State recognition, marking the sixth time in program history that three runners have earned All-State honors. The average time by the Jr. Bills at the MSHSAA Championships, 16:00.1, is the fastest average ever for a SLUH team at this event.

FOOTBALL With a record of 7-4, the varsity team recorded the most wins in the fiveyear tenure of Head Coach Mike Jones.

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Check @SLUHAthletics on Twitter and sluh.org/athletics for current news, scores and updates.

With wins in the district round over Lindbergh and Marquette, the Jr. Bills advanced to the district championship contest for the first time since 2011. The program’s accomplishments during the season were reflected in the postseason accolades garnered by student-athletes on the varsity team. Fourteen players were recognized as All-MCC: Derrick Baker ‘22, Phillip Bone ‘22, Chris Brooks, Jr. ‘22 (Co-Offensive Player of the Year), Vince Chappuis ‘24, Tommy Etling ‘22, Luke Johnston ‘22, Louis Kertz ‘23, Zach Ortwerth ‘23, Cayden Owens ‘22, Pierston Sanders ‘22, DonTavion Sullivan ‘22, Andre Tucker ‘22, Kylend Watson-Brown ‘22, and Ryan Wingo ‘24. Eight players were named to the Missouri Football Coaches Association All-District Team: Derrick Baker, Phillip Bone, Chris Brooks, Jr., Luke Johnston, Louis Kertz, Zach Ortwerth, Cayden Owens and DonTavion Sullivan. Two players - DonTavion Sullivan and Chris Brooks, Jr., were named MFCA All-State. Eleven players were recognized as MFCA Academic All-State: Matt Barnes ‘23, Phillip Bone, Chris Brooks, Jr., Archie Carruthers ‘24, Tommy Etling, Alex Fowler ‘23, Luke Johnston, Conner Greninger ‘22, Craig Ortwerth ‘22, Zach Ortwerth, and Andre Tucker. Lastly, DonTavion Sullivan, Chris Brooks, Jr. and Ryan Wingo were

honored as members of the STL Today High School Sports All-Metro Team.

SOCCER The varsity team finished with a record of 23-2-1, the most wins for a varsity team since 2015 and the ninth time since 2002 that the team reached the 23 victory mark. The two losses mark the fewest in program history since the 1975 squad, led by Ebbie Dunn, went 25-2-0. On the way to the District Championship, the Jr. Bills claimed championships in the CBC Tournament and the Jr. Billiken Classic. Forward Stephen Saladin ‘22 was named 1st Team All-MCC, Player of the Year in Class 4, Region 2 by the Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association, Class 4 Co-Offensive Player of the Year by MHSSCA, 1st Team All-Metro by STL Today High School Sports, and All-American by both the United Soccer Coaches and highschoolsoccerallamerican.com.

Several teammates earned recognition as well: midfielder Evan Yalavarthi ‘22 (MHSSCA All-Region and 1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-MCC), midfielder Grant Locker ‘24 (midfielder, MHSSCA All-Region and 2nd Team All-State, STL Today High School Sports 2nd Team All-Metro, 1st Team All-MCC),

SLUH TODAY

ATHLETICS

defender Christian Thro ‘24 (MHSSCA All-Region and 1st Team All-MCC), defender Ben Ridgway ‘22 (1st Team All-MCC), forward Tyler Van Bree ‘22 (2nd Team All-MCC), forward Johnnie Ferrara ‘22 (Honorable Mention AllMCC), and goalkeeper Christian Lewis ‘24 (Honorable Mention All-MCC).

Mueller ‘24 (500 freestyle - 9th place), Brendan Schroeder ‘23 (500 freestyle - 16th place). Lastly, the 200 free relay team of Henry Unger ‘24, Gavin Baldes, Solomon Shelton ‘23 and Kearney Foy ‘24 recorded a 9th place finish.

WINTER 2021-22

SWIMMING & DIVING

BASKETBALL

The AquaBills returned to the podium at the MSHSAA Class 2 Championships with a 3rd-place finish. During the regular season, the SLUH swimmers and divers captured event titles at the Ladue Invitational, the John Burroughs Invitational, the MICDS Invitational and the MCC Championships. In total at the MSHSAA Class 2 Championships, the Jr. Bills earned three individual event titles (Sebastian Lawrence ‘22 - diving, Cooper Scharff ‘22 - 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke), a relay title (Jonas Hostetler ‘22, Jason Cabra ‘23, Ned Mehmeti ‘22, and Scharff - 400 freestyle relay), and set three new SLUH and MSHSAA Championship records (100 butterfly - SLUH and MSHSAA overall, 100 backstroke - SLUH and MSHSAA overall, and 400 freestyle relay - SLUH and MSHSAA Class 2). SLUH swimmers also garnered All-State honors in the following events: 200 medley relay (Scharff, Mehmeti, Hostetler, Cabra - 2nd place), 50 freestyle (Hostetler - 4th place), 200 individual medley (Mehmeti 6th place), 500 freestyle (Mehmeti - 6th place), and 100 freestyle (Hostetler - 8th place). Additional swimmers scoring points for the Jr. Bills at the MSHSAA Championships include: Gavin Baldes ‘23 (200 individual medley - 16th place and 100 butterfly - 11th place), Jason Cabra ‘23 (50 freestyle - 9th place and 100 freestyle - 13th place), Benjamin Chumley ‘24 (200 individual medley - 15th place and 100 backstroke - 16th place), Greyson

The Jr. Bills move towards the end of January in possession of a 14-3 record and the #5 ranking in the large school STL Today High School Sports rankings.

The team, led by SLU commit Nick Kramer ‘23, claimed the championship in the Legends of Winter Classic and won two games against tough outof-state competition in the Quincy Shootout. Two notable benchmarks have been reached during the 2021-2022 season: Head Coach Erwin Claggett captured the 300th victory of his career on December 14 with a victory over McCluer and Nick Kramer scored the 1,000th point of his career in the Legends of Winter Classic championship contest versus Lift for Life.

ICE HOCKEY The varsity IceBills ended the 20212022 regular season with a record of 16-2-2, securing no worse than the number two seed in the Challenge Cup level of the Mid States postseason.

The Challenge Cup schedule will be announced at the end of January with the four rounds of the postseason leading up to the championship contest at the Enterprise Center in March.

RACQUETBALL

Tournament. The top varsity team for the RacquetBills enters the end of January with a 6-0 record and four contests remaining in the regular season. The Jr. Bills will enter the postseason with the MOSHRA State Tournament from February 22-27 and follow that with the USA Racquetball National Tournament from March 2-6.

RIFLERY The RifleBills continue to be a force in state, regional and national competitions. Following a top 10 finish in the scholastic division of the 2020-2021 Nation Championships, the SLUH rifle program welcomed 35 shooters to the 2021-2022 roster, including 21 total ninth and tenth graders! The squad conducts several matches in February, including a home-and-away with Montgomery Bell Academy from Nashville and the Missouri championships, prior to competing in regionals in March and nationals in July.

WRESTLING The Jr. Bills have experienced a youth movement with 18 first year wrestlers, 17 of whom are freshmen or sophomores. The lone returning state qualifier, Cayden Owens ‘22, began the season with a tournament victory in the 220-lb weight class at the Westminster Christian Invitational.

In the team’s most recent event – the Eric Lewis Invitational at MICDS – four wrestlers earned medalist status: Connor Whalen ‘23 - 7th in the 132-lb weight class, Jack Onder ‘22 - 4th in the 152-lb weight class, Alex Nance ‘22 - 6th in the 170-lb weight class, and Owens - 3rd in the 195-lb weight class.

The SLUH Racquetball program began the 2021-2022 season by claiming the top spot in this year’s Winter Rollout

Winter 2021-22 | 7

ATHLETICS

“The most important thing I’ve learned as an athlete at SLUH is to fight through all odds, no matter how daunting they may seem.”

- CHRIS BROOKS, JR. ’22

CLASS OF ’22 COMMITS

Brooks ’22 Excels on the Field, in the Classroom Speed, agility, toughness and an uncanny ability to snag the whirling pigskin over defenders – Chris Brooks, Jr. ’22 has dominated as a wide receiver at SLUH. The varsity football team captain was honored for his exceptional performance as a First Team All Metro Offense selection and MCC Co-Offensive Player of the Year. Yet his talent and ability extend well beyond football.

This fall, the First Honors student will attend – and play football at – University of Wisconsin, where he plans to study business. He also hopes to continue building the foundation to become a professional football player.

“What makes Chris unique is his ability to excel in any surrounding,” says head football coach Mike Jones. “Over Christmas break, I called his dad to talk about his official visit to University of Wisconsin. I asked him what Chris was doing, and he said he was studying. I reminded his dad it was Christmas break, and he chuckled and said, ‘My son believes he needs to be ahead in everything.’”

In addition to football, Brooks has participated in basketball (freshman year) and track (junior and senior years) at SLUH, while serving as a President’s Ambassador and Senior Advisor.

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BROOKS’ BESTS MOVIE: Karate Kid MUSICAL ARTIST: J. Cole SPORTS TEAM: Seattle Seahawks HOBBIES: Video games, spending time with family, listening to music FOOD: Burgers HERO: My parents SLUH FOOTBALL GAME: Beating Marquette last fall.

“It was a back-and-forth game that came down to us scoring within the last 30 seconds, sending us to the district finals.”

DERRICK BAKER Football William Jewell College CHRIS BROOKS, JR. Football University of Wisconsin TANNER DOUGHERTY Volleyball Saint Francis College JACK DUMONT Baseball Saint Louis University CONNER GRENINGER Football Southwest Baptist University JONAS HOSTETLER Swimming Rhodes College LUKE JOHNSTON Football Washington University in St. Louis NICK KRAMER Basketball Saint Louis University JADEN MCCLAIN Basketball Millikin University CAYDEN OWENS Football Millikin University BAKER PASHEA Cross Country/Track Dartmouth College COOPER SCHARFF Swimming University of Wisconsin GUS TETTAMBLE Tennis University of Tulsa ISAAC THOMPSON Football University of Missouri-Columbia NICK WITCHER Lacrosse Centre College MICHAEL YEMM Volleyball Carthage College

SLUH TODAY

CAMPUS MINISTRY

St. Rutilio Grande (pictured), the namesake of the SLUH Grande Project, was an advocate for the poor and marginalized, and a martyr.

SENIORS ADVOCATE FOR THE MARGINALIZED

BY BRIAN GILMORE ‘02 AND SIMONIE ANZALONE

With class-wide service placements in January once again unavailable because of the pandemic, the Class of ‘22 shifted its focus to the Grande Project, an advocacy project designed to provide an alternative to the traditional SLUH Senior Project. In a complex era where so many people are suffering, the project challenges seniors to grow as ambassadors for Christ and take a step toward building up the Body of Christ on earth.

Named after St. Rutilio Grande (one of the newest saints of the Catholic Church) the Grande Project asks seniors to do four things: demonstrate care for a marginalized population; listen to those living the experience, to those on the frontline, to Catholic Tradition, to their heart, conscience, and experience; exercise their Godgiven privilege (gifts, talents, and opportunities) to give voice to the voiceless by becoming an engaged advocate in today’s world; and, ultimately, to awaken seniors’ God-given ability to bring about a more loving and equitable world.

Seniors first chose from one of 10 faith-driven topics[1], each related to tenets of Catholic Social Teaching. Then, they selected a specific audience to direct their advocacy: either elected officials, peers, SLUH faculty or their faith community.

Finally, they identified a format to deliver their message, a medium that best suited their individual gifts and talents. Possible formats included podcasts, art creations, letters to elected officials, rhetorical essays and websites.

Ultimately, the project contains a degree of hopefulness, one that says the voice of an individual matters. When joined with the voices of other advocates, change can be made. Such hopefulness is a precious commodity in our day and age. It was our hope that seniors come face-to-face with their own agency and power to be a force of good out in the world.

IN HIS OWN WORDS The most important thing I learned while making my Grande Project was that sometimes sharing a story is profoundly more impactful than compiling statistics. Working on an advocacy project was a very different experience than from much of what I’ve done in my standard academic courses. Advocacy allowed me to showcase the complexities and hardships of others’ lives in a way that was meaningful for both them and me, the interviewer.

I hope my Grande Project inspires others and moves them toward honesty, authenticity and even vulnerability when speaking to others about their mental health.

Mental health has become this stigmatized phrase that people try to avoid. However, I implore others to acknowledge that their mental health is constantly affected by what they expose themselves to, especially on the internet. I hope my Grande Project helps facilitate some change, even if it’s just one person questioning how social media is affecting their life.

GAVIN LAWHORN ‘22

View Lawhorn’s compelling documentary about social media and mental health.

[1] abortion, death penalty, ecological justice, food insecurity, homelessness, human trafficking, mental health, migration, racial justice, restorative justice

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GLOBAL EDUCATION

Expanding Our Horizons

BY ROB CHURA, DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL EDUCATION, RUSSIAN TEACHER

Despite the many challenges of the pandemic, our Global Education curriculum has adapted and expanded while preparing to hopefully resume all programming this summer. It continues to thrive, benefiting our SLUH and international students through several core elements:

Above: A SLUH senior works on a community farm in Taiwan as part of his Senior Project requirement. Below: SLUH students and faculty participate in the Kino Border Project in Nogales, Mexico, during spring break.

SERVICE IMMERSION PROGRAMS Clockwise from top: Russian and SLUH students show their excitement for restarting their virtual exchange; Rob Chura visited Cairo, Egypt last summer to begin a Jesuit partnership with Holy Family School; Colombian and Chilean exchange students with their SLUH host families at the farewell banquet.

LANGUAGE IMMERSION EXCHANGES Each of our five Modern Languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) has one or more devoted language immersion exchange programs with a global partner where that language is spoken. SLUH students live with host families, study their language intensively, and truly immerse themselves in the culture and realities of their global peers. All programs include a reciprocal visit from the partner schools to SLUH – another extremely rewarding experience for all involved. Also, virtual exchanges were recently added to all language programs to allow this same authentic collaboration and sharing year-round.

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In the spirit of the Jesuit order, being “called to the frontiers,” adding international service to our global and language initiatives has been a perfect fit with our mission. Senior Project has seen more international options each year. Service projects in Egypt, France, Guatemala, Russia and Taiwan have successfully operated for several years already.

In addition, spring break service programs in Honduras and Mexico are wonderful opportunities for SLUH underclassmen to use their gifts in the service of others all over the globe.

SLUH TODAY

EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL PROGRAMS Many academic departments at SLUH have found creative ways to incorporate a global project into their curriculum. The theology department’s Ignatian Pilgrimage, the Ireland Archeological Dig sponsored by the social studies department, and the Iceland STEM program overseen by the science department are just a few recent examples.

Top left: SLUH students and faculty celebrate Mass on the Ignatian Pilgrimage to Italy and France. Above: Dr. Tom Finan ‘85 examines a sample at his ongoing archeological dig in Ireland.

SCHOOL-WIDE ONE WORLD CLUB EVENTS Global education opportunities abound and don’t always require a trip abroad.

Our One World Club creates in-house and domestic global experiences that all SLUH students can participate in. Recent examples include the inaugural Jesuit Global Activism Leadership Summit, begun by SLUH this past spring, as well as expert speakers, cultural celebrations and local UN-sponsored initiatives.

Above: Zach Brugnara ‘21 presents his project at the UN Change Makers Conference.

Right: Students and faculty from 19 Jesuit schools and 12 countries participate in the first Jesuit Global Activism Leadership Summit, created by SLUH in March 2021.

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GLOBAL EDUCATION

Opening College, Career Opportunities The Global Education program equips Jr. Bills with the tools to succeed in a world distinguished by interdependence, diversity and rapid change. It also provides them the knowledge and understanding of culture, language, geography and global perspectives needed to help others around the world.

BELOW, ALUMNI SHARE HOW SLUH GLOBAL EDUCATION EXPANDED THEIR COLLEGE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.

LEO WAGNER ’21

MICHAEL MEYER, PHD ’10

Freshman at U.S. Naval Academy SLUH’s emphasis on service and being a Man for Others motivated me to choose a college where service to my country and others around the world is the norm. Additionally, from the bonds formed with my Chinese teacher, Huang Laoshi, and Arabic teacher, Mr. Oqlat, I knew I wanted to enter a profession where I would get to work with and learn the stories of those different from me. The Naval Academy, offering me the opportunity to commission as an officer in the Marine Corps, allows me to do both.

My study of Arabic and Chinese at SLUH was a driving factor in helping me get into the Naval Academy. At the Academy, Arabic and Chinese are the only languages that are available as majors, so having experience in both languages helped my admission into the school. I look forward to continuing Arabic classes during my 3/C year and potentially even Chinese during my 2/C year. Looking ahead, the practical skill of speaking the native language of a region where I could potentially be deployed would be a tremendous asset.

Mendenhall Fellow & Research Geographer, U.S. Geological Survey, Observing Systems Division (Madison, Wis.) It’s an exciting time to be in computationally intensive environmental and aquatic sciences. We live in a time when there are more publicly available environmental data than ever before, and those data are capable of addressing basic and applied questions at previously unprecedented spatial and temporal scales.

What really drives me is making robust data pipelines that not only meet data demands but also work in a way that empowers others to tackle scientific questions.

Beyond the scientific potential, the push towards data-intensive and computationally based methods also allows for increased participation and inclusion in the sciences, especially for individuals of underrepresented groups and those with intersecting underrepresented identities.

I credit SLUH’s Russian program with laying the foundation for my current position. Following four years of Russian language training, in addition

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to the summer exchange program, I entered undergraduate training with a solid foundation for fundamentals.

I also began to appreciate topics that were less familiar, such as formal presentation, accent reduction, and truly sounding like a native speaker.

While my career has benefited from advanced training and skill development, it would have never reached this level if I had not learned the fundamentals of Russian language at SLUH. The SLUH summer exchange to Gymnasium 209 school in St. Petersburg was really a game changer for me. It’s the first time that I remember Russian starting to become more natural, where I didn’t need to think and translate in my head anymore. But it was also eye-opening to just know what I did not know, and made me realize how much more was out there. So, I completely credit the original “fire in the belly” for international work and collaboration to the SLUH summer exchange, which ultimately led to me working at Lake Baikal, which led me to Washington State University, which led me to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Dr. Meyer earned a PhD in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences from Washington State University.; and a B.S. in Biology, B.A. in Russian Studies, and B.A. in International Studies from Saint Louis University. He was a Fulbright Fellow at the Biological Research Institute at Irkutsk State University (Irkutsk, Russia) and Critical Language Scholar at the Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies (Kazan, Russia).

SLUH TODAY

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

CULTIVATING

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

BY DR. KEVIN FOY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ACADEMICS, MODERATOR OF IGNATIAN BUSINESS LEADERS

In 2012, after recognizing the many students interested in learning about entrepreneurship, markets and investing, Austin Smith ‘13 started the Ignatian Business Leaders (IBL) at St. Louis U. High. Over the years, the club focus has shifted to respond to the interests of student leaders.

One of the important and consistent club threads includes helping students start and run businesses. IBL has participated in pitch competitions at Saint Louis University and University of Missouri-Kansas City. Collaborating with alumni mentors, we facilitated a yearlong smallbusiness accelerator for six student groups. This process culminated with a SharkTank-style presentation to a panel of alumni business leaders.

The first big success featured Skydration Systems by Jimmy Reddy ‘16 and Daniel Wagner ‘17, a project that took first place and delivered drinking water solutions to small villages in Kenya. Fast Forward to Sam Zychinski ‘22, our current Director of Entrepreneurship, and find his startup, Gateway Tea, which steeps fresh flavor into an old commodity.

Tying all of this together is a thriving club that has brought in dozens of speakers, organized field trips, created investment simulations, hosted Q&As and given Jr. Bills opportunities to research and present to classmates on everything from the options market in the airline industry (Jack Rosenstengel ‘21) to the GameStop craze (Cam Glynn ‘19).

Stop by our weekly meetings and you’ll see students from all four years working together, listening and learning from one another, and having a good time figuring out how getting the right people, with the right Ignatian values, can make the world a little bit better. To do this, it takes courage and creativity – things that our students are more than willing to supply.

“... you'll see students from all four years working together, listening and learning from one another, and having a good time figuring out how getting the right people, with the right Ignatian values, can make the world a little bit better.”

Winter 2021-22 | 13

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Jr. Bills on Wall Street Ten students explored the world of finance on the Jr. Bills on Wall Street trip in New York from November 18-20.

The group met with the following alumni to learn about topics such as institutional securities, private equity, financial technology, as well as the transition from college to a career: • Alua Capital: Tom Purcell ’89 • J.P. Morgan: Brian Fitzsimmons ’96 • LeBaronBrown Industries: Jonathan Holden ’06 • Morgan Stanley: Pat Haskell ’90 and Jeff Hoffmeister ’88 • Santander Bank: Michael McDonough ’90 • Willow Tree: Tim Lower ’95 According to Louis Cornett ’22, “My favorite part of the trip was when Patrick Haskell took us onto the bond trading floor.

“After giving us great advice on the benefit of education and his path to Morgan Stanley involving perseverance and hard work, he paired us with bond traders. John Loretta and I talked with a 28-year-old trader who told us about his job along with life in New York.

I felt like I was in a movie because the experience was so surreal.

“Along with the business side of the trip, we visited many tourist attractions.

Being my first time in New York, I saw the show Wicked on Broadway, was moved by the 9/11 Memorial and haggled for sunglasses in Chinatown.”

The Jr. Bills were led on the trip

by Sean Agniel ’96, Director of Advancement, and Dr. Kevin Foy, Assistant Principal for Academics.

14 | SLUH Magazine

From top: Louis Cornett '22 at the office of Willow Tree; Jr. Bills pose with the Bull statue in New York; students at a hotel conference room after chatting with Michael McDonough '90.

SLUH TODAY

SUMMER SLUH @

FO R G R A D E S K- 8

Sharpen your skills in the classroom and on the field!

UPWARD BOUND ACADEMY STEM | ATHLETIC CAMPS | CHESS www.sluh.org/summer

Winter 2021-22 | 15

FACULTY FEATURE

BEARS, BULLS AND JR. BILLS Rob Hill Brings Valuable Experience in Finance to the Classroom

From Saudi Arabia and Princeton, to the New York Stock Exchange and CSP Masters swimming, AP Economics teacher and JV swim coach Rob Hill ruminates on how he landed at SLUH. It’s a new career for this finance expert, and he’s already making an impact.

You lived in many interesting places growing up, including Saudi Arabia.

How has that influenced you?

Living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was a great learning experience. Aside from having to learn and respect the Saudi Arabian culture, I was exposed to the Muslim religion. Also, while living in Saudi Arabia, my family and I visited Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Italy and Malaysia. I spent my 9th grade in Saudi Arabia, and then for 10th-12th grades, I attended a private coeducational boarding high school in Andover, Ma. (Phillips Academy) graduating in 1991. My perspective of the world grew exponentially during these formative years.

16 | SLUH Magazine

You worked through the 2001 dot-com bubble at NBCi and through the banking crisis of 2008 at Thompson Street Capital Partners.

What have those experiences taught you?

The economy can be very fickle. Capitalism has so many attractive qualities, but a true negative was the hubris some people and institutions had in how they conducted business. Conducting business in a moral or ethical fashion can become a slippery slope when there are many legal loopholes, such as rating agency failures, research analyst kickbacks, dishonest subprime mortgage brokers and malicious greed. It seemed appropriate economic and regulatory structures were just not effective enough to keep our economy from tanking during those years.

SLUH TODAY

Outside of teaching and coaching, what are some of your favorite hobbies and interests?

First and foremost, my wife, Anne, and two kids give me some of my greatest joys in life. My son (Charlie, SLUH ’25) is also a swimmer, and my daughter (Jane, Villa Duchesne ’27) plays tennis, volleyball and dance/vocals – all of which I enjoy watching. We also like to travel, play video games/ board games and watch Olympic sporting events.

Lastly, I enjoy participating in local mini-triathlons.

How were you introduced to SLUH? I give full credit to [SLUH social studies teacher and head swim coach] Ms. Lindsey Ehret. She and I met over a decade ago while we were both swimming for the CSP Masters swimming program in Clayton. Ms. Ehret has been a valuable mentor and friend as I transitioned out of corporate life and began a second career in education.

You are now a teacher at SLUH and you have a son currently attending. What has surprised you about the school?

Being so new to SLUH, my son and I have noticed many surprising things, but I will briefly mention one. I appreciate how thoughtful the SLUH administration has been with respect to handling the COVID protocols for students, faculty and staff. I cannot think of another school in the St. Louis metro area with more than 90% of the students and nearly 100% of the faculty having a documented vaccine record on file with the school.

You have been a swimmer throughout your life and are now a coach of the SLUH swim team. What lessons has competitive swimming taught you?

Setting goals and being truly dedicated to hard work are two great rewards. I recall many former employers telling me that they preferred hiring former swimmers because they believed swimmers would grind extra hard to get work assignments done. No doubt other sports could use the same argument, but it was a data point from past employers that I never forgot. Also, I met my wife, Anne, while attending Princeton and who was also a collegiate swimmer. You never know when you might meet a fellow swimmer who could become your spouse.

Do you have advice for SLUH students who are interested in pursuing a career in business or finance?

Pursuing a career in business or finance is both rewarding and consuming. Some advice: (a) do comprehensive or effective research on the job you are seeking (don’t skim it, because it will show), (b) network with many other professionals “Setting goals and to get their perspective, and (c) go to graduate being truly dedicated school after college. to hard work are two More explicitly, I tell great rewards. ” people that learning MS Excel is crucial - Rob Hill to being a legitimate investment banker.

Similarly, accounting is the ‘language of business,’ and I recommend for all businessminded students to learn how to accurately read an Income Statement and Balance Sheet.

What did you study in college and how did that affect your career choice?

I graduated from Princeton and Pepperdine with degrees in American History. I have always loved Social Studies and retelling stories after doing research on a given subject. Being a history major, I understood that good writing and communication skills could be pivotal for my future career choice. As a former investment banker, I needed to write numerous memos, Board of Director-level presentations and attend road-shows where effective writing and verbal communication translated into meaningful dollars.

What has been your favorite experience of becoming a teacher?

Impact. This is exactly the reason why I became a teacher. Molding these young men as they are about to depart for college is a unique time in someone’s life. I recall thinking back to my high school experience in the early ’90s. I was chatting with one of my teachers, who was my dorm housecounselor and coach, and I remember thinking to myself that high school teachers stay younger and more hip/cooler than most other adults of similar age. I hope this is true … but maybe that last sentence proves that I still have much to learn.

Questions by John Loretta ’22. In addition to serving as the Vice President and Co-Chair of the Mock Hedge Fund with the Ignatian Business Leaders (IBL), John participates in the French club, plays baseball and ice hockey, and serves as an Admissions Ambassador. He plans to major in finance in college and pursue a related career.

Winter 2021-22 | 17

WOMEN OF SLUH

IMAGE OF

“She is the reflection of eternal light, the image of God’s goodness.”

- WISDOM 7:26

18 | SLUH Magazine

SLUH TODAY

From the Blessed Virgin and Anna Backer to teachers and Mothers Club volunteers, women have played an unsung yet unprecedented role in the SLUH history of forming Men for Others. Many women have toiled tirelessly, and largely anonymously, to make SLUH what it is today, and what it will be for future generations.

GOD’S GOODNESS JOYCELYN BARNES Currently in her second year as president of the Parents Association for Cultural Enrichment at SLUH (PACES), Joycelyn (Louis ’19, Matthew ’23) is an active Mothers Club volunteer. Her husband, Mark, is a Fathers Club Officer.

“Joycelyn has been a foundational member of PACES,” says Frank Kovarik ’94, English Department Chair, Director of Equity and Inclusion. “As the organization's first president, she has built out the group's ways of proceeding and shaped its focus and tone in positive and productive ways. She has been a remarkable ambassador for SLUH and embodies the spirit of ‘being the change you want to see.’”

ANN MURPHY Ann (Andrew ’16) began her SLUH career in 2013 and became Director of Admissions in 2018. An innovator and leader, she has re-envisioned how the school attracts students in a rapidly changing market.

“Ann has an innate ability to connect with anyone and see what isn't always obvious,” says Jennifer Thomas, Admissions Coordinator. “She has strategically positioned SLUH for continued success in the increasingly complex St. Louis admissions climate and, as the only woman on the executive leadership team, offers a unique voice and perspective on behalf of all SLUH women. She is a joy to work with and a treasured colleague.”

NINA SEE Nina (Micah ’20) has served as a passionate school counselor since 1994.

Always going above and beyond to care for students, she is a lively, service-focused leader. Her husband, Dan, is a SLUH math teacher.

“Pope Francis often talks about how crucial it is that young people have guides and teachers who are willing to really accompany them in genuine closeness,” says Jim Linhares, Assistant Principal for Mission. “I don’t know of anyone who does that with more devotion and joy than Nina. She truly is a woman ‘with and for others’ in her counseling role at SLUH. We are so fortunate to have her with us.”

Winter 2021-22 | 19

SACRED HEART AWARD

SLUH Announces First Recipients of Sacred Heart Award

St. Louis University High honored the first two recipients of the Sacred Heart Award – John Vatterott and Dr. Mary Lee McConaghy – at the Mass of the Holy Spirit in the Si Commons on August 31, 2021. This new award recognizes women and men who are not alumni of the school for their exceptional support and collaborative spirit.

"John Vatterott and Dr. Mary Lee McConaghy represent the best of the many women and men who support our mission," says SLUH President Alan Carruthers. "We proudly recognize them for their remarkable contributions and exemplary partnerships in collaborating to form young men of competence, conscience, courage and compassion."

20 | SLUH Magazine

SLUH TODAY

ABOUT THE AWARD St. Louis University High established the Sacred Heart Award in 2021 to recognize the remarkable contributions and exemplary partnerships that the school enjoys with individuals who did not graduate from the school.

JOHN VATTEROTT John Vatterott studied at Campion High School, a Jesuit school in Wisconsin that has since closed.

He was born to a large Catholic family as one of 17 children.

His career began as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Missouri Department of Education. It was during his tenure in this position that he recognized a need for stronger trade schools. In response to this community need, he co-founded Vatterott College in 1969 and continued leading the school until 2003.

Vatterott has been an important member of the SLUH community for many decades, and his commitment to the school’s mission continues to this day. A past SLUH parent (Tim ‘91) and former member of the Board of Trustees, he and his wife Joan made the largest charitable gift to SLUH in the school’s storied history several years ago.

Beyond SLUH, Vatterott helped to found Loyola Academy, and launched Access Academies, a network of support for students in middle schools across the metro area. He has served on numerous boards and supported a wide range of Jesuit ministries and nonprofits on both sides of the Mississippi River, throughout the country, and internationally.

He is a model philanthropist in his commitment to collaboration, his passion for the mission of the Church, and his overwhelming love for the Jesuits and SLUH.

MARY LEE McCONAGHY, PH.D. The study of Latin, mostly under the instruction of Jesuit priests, was a long tradition at SLUH. In 1979, however, Mary Lee McConaghy, Ph.D., put a new face on an ancient language.

“Magistra” (meaning “teacher” in Latin), as generations of students and even some colleagues have affectionately called her, was one of only three female teachers at SLUH her first year – and the only one the following year.

Dr. McConaghy taught freshmen and juniors for 30 years, moderated the Latin Club and coached many successful teams in national Latin competitions. She brought Classical Greek back to the SLUH curriculum in 1991. In 2009, she retired from fulltime teaching but continued teaching Greek – and does so to this day.

In addition to building a culture of scholarship, achievement and excellence in the Classics, she developed a rich culture of cocurricular investment in the subject.

Her "Saturnalia" event was legendary and superlative student performance in various contests was well known.

Long before the terminology of "Social and Emotional Learning" became popular, Dr. McConaghy used joy, security, energy, surprise, passion and love to inspire and motivate her students. And, well before teachers were being urged away from lecture and a teacher-centered classroom into various modes of learning, she was using art, performance, costume and

When the Society of Jesus first came to the St. Louis region in the early 1800s, they were assisted in important ways by the Religious of the Society of the Sacred Heart, most notably by a special friendship with St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.

This award pays homage to that early friendship and experience of collaboration between the Jesuits and the Society of the Sacred Heart, which was foundational for the Jesuit frontier mission.

The Sacred Heart Award builds on this centuries-old tradition of women and men who are not alumni generously befriending SLUH and sharing a vision for the good that can be accomplished through collaboration.

Learn more and submit your nomination:

sluh.org/sacredheart

contests to enrich the learning experience and encourage mastery.

Revered by alumni, students and colleagues, Dr. McConaghy displays unbridled enthusiasm for the Classics and an infectious passion for teaching.

An annual SLUH award established in her name honors a senior who, like her, shows the “invaluable qualities of integrity, dedication and enthusiasm.”

A pillar and pioneer of women in education and formation for more than 40 years at SLUH, Dr. McConaghy personifies the Jesuit affirmation of study – especially in Arts and Letters – for its own sake. That affirmation of the "worldliness" of Humanities and the Classics, even apart from sacred texts and explicitly religious content, powerfully reaffirms "finding God in all things."

Winter 2021-22 | 21

FEATURE

THE Principal Fr. Ian Gibbons, SJ Leads SLUH through Pandemic with Quiet Courage, Steadfast Spirit

BY BEN DUMONT ’92

Fr. Ian Gibbons, SJ spent the week of March 8, 2020, on jury duty. Each day he arrived at the courthouse, the streets of St. Louis became more deserted. The city – like the rest of the world – was gradually unraveling as it grappled with the daunting, accelerating reality of COVID-19.

St. Louis metropolitan area schools began shutting down the following week. “We had no time to prepare,” Fr. Gibbons recalls.

As an educator, Fr. Gibbons was familiar with crises. He had endured the Columbine High School massacre at Regis Jesuit in Denver, terrorist attacks at Regis High School in New York City, as well as earthquakes and other emergencies on international student trips. But none of these experiences prepared him to lead during the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We had no playbook for managing such an unknown,” he says.

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Winter 2021-22 | 23

DID YOU KNOW?

You may know Fr. Ian Gibbons, SJ is the 21st Principal at Backer Memorial (Oakland Avenue location). But did you also know he spent more than a year in the Belize missions, published a paper on zero-inflation economic policies with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and served as an NFL Catholic Chaplain while at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City?

HERE ARE SOME OTHER FUN FACTS ABOUT THE ST. LOUIS AREA NATIVE: COLLEGE: Earned a B.S. in economics and an MBA from Southern Illinois University; master's degrees from Saint Louis University (American Studies), Boston College (Masters of Divinity) and University of San Francisco (Catholic Education Leadership) ORDINATION: 2006 SUBJECTS TAUGHT: Economics, history, Scripture, world religions and business accounting OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE: Served as Assistant Principal at Regis High School in New York; Special Assistant to the President at Strake Jesuit College Prep in Houston; Pastoral, Service and Faculty Formation Director at Rockhurst High School; assisted with student affairs at Regis Jesuit in Denver; and created English programs at Fényi Gyula Jezsuita in Miskolc, Hungary FAMILY: His mother is British, and he has two older sisters (one of them lives and works in Iceland) and a younger brother

24 | SLUH Magazine

FR. GIBBONS FAVORITES PRAYER: Prayer for Generosity QUOTE: “Wonder is a kind of desire for knowledge.”

— Thomas Aquinas BOOK: Bridge of San Luis Rey

by Thornton Wilder MOVIE: Gravity BAND/SINGER: Sigur Rós (Icelandic band) SPORTS TEAM: St. Louis Cardinals HOBBY: Visiting museums and sites related to history FOOD: Vietnamese HERO: St. Thomas More

He did, however, have support. “Our depth of leadership at SLUH is exceptional. We assembled a team of highly dedicated faculty and staff who developed a virtual program with training and structural components, as well as a plan for reopening.”

His team quickly realized the need for adaptability and flexibility, so they developed several plans addressing varying circumstances, with the ability to shift at regular intervals.

He faced challenges as families struggled with fear, anxiety and frustration. He endured noble failures, notably instituting Faber Day, a flexible, remote day that was part of the school schedule and proved less effective than anticipated. “We had to make honest assessments and adjust as needed,” says Gibbons, whose stoic exterior is balanced by a glowing spirit.

Despite the pressure of sustaining a 204-year tradition amid a global health crisis, Gibbons remained resilient and steadfast. “We were not distracted by what others were saying or doing, or people second-guessing us, because our response was based on science, best practices and our Jesuit mission. It was a sound approach that worked.”

This approach was matched with a quiet confidence. “I often reflected on the many crises SLUH has experienced,” says Gibbons, “including the Spanish Influenza, the Civil War and both World Wars. I thought if our predecessors could get through those events, we can do this.”

According to Jim Linhares, Assistant Principal for Mission, "In the last two pandemic years, Fr. Gibbons has carried the added burdens of school leadership with a degree of diligence, persistence and generosity that amazes me every day.”

FORMATIVE YEARS Gibbons moves about slowly and methodically, walking the halls with a laborious, unbalanced gait – a chronic impairment stemming from an old injury.

But he never complains. He perseveres, recalling Fr. Frank Guentner, SJ, one of his role models growing up. Fr. Guentner was a priest at his parish, St. Mary’s in Edwardsville, Illinois, who showed him the importance of broadening his lens beyond himself.

“Fr. Guentner was a perfect exemplar of what it meant to be a Jesuit,” says Gibbons. “He had such a joy for life, a joy for mission and a deep abiding faith in something much bigger than oneself.”

This perspective of oneself, as part of something broader and more meaningful and holy, grew within Gibbons at a young age. While a student at Edwardsville High School, he first felt called toward the priesthood. The call became stronger when he was finishing his MBA at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. In 1995, just before pursuing a career in finance, he entered the Society of Jesus.

Although Gibbons did not anticipate becoming an educator as part of his vocation, his experience as a regent at Regis Jesuit in Denver opened his mind to the possibility. “It was transformative to see the power of influence at the formative ages of 14 to 18,” he says. “I realized I was being called to work in secondary education.”

In addition to providing direction, Gibbons’ Jesuit formation strengthened his faith and character.

“As a novice, I learned to become more vulnerable and empathetic. I developed a deep sense of faith in letting go and asking God for help.”

Years later, with the onset of COVID-19, his deep faith and focus on discernment would prove invaluable.

FROM SURVIVE TO THRIVE In the fall of 2020, the energy of the SLUH track team was different than most years on its trip to the state finals.

“That was a key moment being able to travel for the first time since the spring,” says Gibbons, who joined the team on their trip. “There was incredible joy and great pride in SLUH on the bus ride. It was such a grace-filled moment, in some ways so small yet emblematic of everything we'd been fighting for.”

It was among many victories that reconnected the SLUH community that school year, including a return to in-person classes, club activities, retreats, dances and athletic games.

“It all comes down to being able to see and hope for something much better.

We can get there with a mindset of courage, clear-headedness and, most importantly, faith in our mission.”

- FR. IAN GIBBONS

In the spirit of the magis, however, Gibbons wanted more for SLUH. Getting “back to normal” was not enough. He envisioned emerging from the pandemic a stronger SLUH, one positioned not merely to survive, but thrive.

He formed a Strategic Summit, composed of an internal group of creative thinkers, to prepare SLUH for the next five years. This group is now prioritizing, assessing and providing direction for strategic issues related to academics, co-curriculars and student life.

“While so many institutions are preparing to exit the pandemic with a return to what was, SLUH is focusing on what will be,” says Gibbons. “We are building the wells for our third century.”

“We're in a very high demand time of strategic change,” says Linhares, “both with our Go Forth initiatives as well as our Strategic Summit.

“Fr. Gibbons is deeply invested in all of these processes. But he doesn't let the sheer volume of projects and problems distract him from the disciplined work of keeping one eye on the future and the other eye on what is most important today. That's a spiritual gift as well as a successful management approach."

Reflecting on the past two years, Gibbons quips, “The next pandemic will have a full playbook.

“It all comes down to being able to see and hope for something much better. We can get there with a mindset of courage, clearheadedness and, most importantly, faith in our mission. In many ways, that is the playbook.”

Winter 2021-22 | 25

FEATURE

UNAPOLOGETICALLY

ME

Senior Ismael Karim’s Journey to Courageously Living and Discovering His Identity

BY JACK FIGGE ’22

Inspiration can come from anywhere.

Maybe it is a person; a beloved teacher, a fellow classmate, or a parent. Maybe it is a famous quote or Bible passage; or perhaps it is a phrase in an Instagram bio. Actress Yara Shahidi’s Instagram bio is where senior Ismael Karim found his inspirational gem, a simple threeword message: “Don’t integrate, recreate.” Karim takes those three words to heart in his everyday life, as he strives to live an authentic, courageous life at St. Louis U. High.

Karim’s high school journey started in an unconventional way. His childhood was dominated by frequent school transfers.

He began his academic journey at Henderson elementary, an elementary school in the St. Louis city school district. In sixth grade, he transferred to the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles. Yet the biggest move for Karim occurred after his seventh grade year, when his family moved to the Canary Islands, a small island chain located off the west coast of Morocco. It was there he spent eighth grade.

“When I returned to the U.S. after eighth grade, I hadn’t spoken English for an entire year.

I was different. My attitude, my outlook on life was different,” said Karim. “Being isolated on seven islands in the middle of the ocean for a long period of time really does change you.”

Two weeks before Karim was set to begin high school, he returned home to St. Louis from the Canary Islands. Unlike his fellow freshman peers, Karim began his high school experience relatively blind. He was not able to attend the two days of freshman orientation, Direction Days, nor could he attend summer school; both experiences that freshman cite as being instrumental for a smoother transition to high school.

“I was confronted with a huge challenge of coming back here and fitting into SLUH. This is a competitive space, a space that challenges you,” said Karim. “I didn’t see myself following the

Karim poses with his mother outside their home in St. Louis.

same path that other people did, easily finding a friend group or feeling motivated to paint myself blue and run outside without a shirt on or participate in bashball. That desire to take my own path was really hard to come to terms with.”

So began Karim’s four-year process to discover who he is and make his impression on the halls of St. Louis U. High.

Struggle defined the first two years of Karim’s tenure at Oakland Avenue. A struggle with finding his place, a struggle with finding his identity, and a struggle with the academic rigor that every student encounters at SLUH. Freshman year was a culture shock for Karim, especially after having spent a year in the Canary Islands, an island dominated by Spanish culture.

For the majority of his freshman year, Karim was seeking out a group that he could call friends, a group that he could fit in with.

“I dictated the way I acted depending on my environment,” said Karim. “If I was around a group of people and they were all football players, then I would - ISMAEL KARIM '22 act like I liked football. But the truth is I don’t like football.”

As Karim began to close out his freshman year, he finally began to find a group he felt comfortable with: fellow members of the Association for Cultural Enrichment at SLUH (ACES). This would be the group of peers that Karim would rely on for the next three years and a club that he could call home.

Sophomore year brought with it a new set of difficulties. Investing a majority of his time into leading and planning club meetings, Karim soon found it difficult to balance his vast involvement in extracurriculars and school work.

“Every single day during activity period, I was at a club meeting or I was organizing something. During that first semester, I never caught a break, but I loved it,” said Karim “So when COVID came, it was a good opportunity for

“This is a competitive space, a space that challenges you.”

Winter 2021-22 | 27

This fall, Karim will attend Emory University on a full four-year scholarship.

He plans to study international relations and public policy.

28 | SLUH Magazine

me to just catch my breath and be like, I need to settle down a little bit. I need to prioritize the things that really matter to me. And I think that was good for me for maybe a month.”

While the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought a sense of relaxation and escape from the relentlessness of his everyday life, for Karim, the transition to asynchronous learning brought with it new challenges and difficulties. But determined to maintain his good grades and continue to learn and thrive despite a new learning environment, Karim poured countless time and energy into thriving despite the unprecedented conditions.

During the last quarter of the 2019-2020 school year, Karim was assigned a final essay in his sophomore English class, taught by Mr. Sean O’Brien. Over the course of a week of writing, Karim learned the importance of consulting with teachers and recognized the love that his teachers had for him.

“Ish did what most students don’t do, which is to actually ask for help in terms of his essay writing process. He engaged in the back and forth process of revision over Zoom even in the midst of COVID,

which most students just did not do,” said O’Brien.

“He made a deliberate choice to put in the work.”

The pandemic and a summer of political tensions ignited a desire within Karim: a desire to serve the school community through illuminating the racial and political tensions that haunt America. Taking another leap of faith, Karim applied to Student Council (STUCO) and was selected to serve as the secretary.

“I wanted right away to start addressing the student body with regards to the protests and chaos in our own community,” said Karim. “Whether it was leading the Latino Student Union and making sure everyone in our club was good during current chaos, or through leading the One World club and helping others understand the global effects of all political tensions, or through organizing STUCO events, I was just hoping to help educate the whole student body and make a difference.”

At the end of junior year, Karim faced a dilemma: how would he leave an impact on SLUH during his final year of high school? Karim knew he wanted to serve on STUCO again in some capacity but believed that he was not suited to run for

“We all have our own unique identity, our own unique perspectives, our own unique story. Everybody has worth and it’s important for people to recognize their own worth.”

- ISMAEL KARIM '22

an elected position. But after some insistent pestering from a few faculty members and friends, Karim decided to face his fear of public speaking and leave the fate of his STUCO seat up to public opinion as he ran for vice president.

“There was so much fear running because I would be one of the first Latinos and the first Muslim to be the student body vice president and that was a huge, huge challenge for me,” said Karim. “On the Wednesday before we were supposed to give our speeches I asked Mr. Mueller if he could take out my application because I didn’t want to run anymore. But he talked me out of it.”

Despite having great fears and anxiety about speaking in front of the entire class of 2022, Karim’s speech solidly earned him the seat. He joined STUCO for his second year, this time in the second highest position. This year, he has led the school with great diligence through planning events like the annual Back to School mixer and organizing speakers to present to the student body about important issues.

“The way that Ish carries himself and leads others is truly inspiring,” said student body president AJ Thompson ‘22. “He is confident in himself and his decisions, yet he is one of the most humble people you will meet.”

High school is a time of growth, a time of development. It is a time that should challenge one’s self and force one to step outside of their comfort zone. For Karim, high school has been a time of realizing that while he may not conform to the profile of a typical SLUH student, he could not allow those differences to hold him back.

“Here I was, this Hispanic, South Asian Muslim, navigating this whole Catholic, very white atmosphere,” said Karim. “And I had to realize that if I set my standards depending on how other people set them, I was never going to be where I wanted to be.”

This realization that he could not become trapped by others’ expectations allowed Karim to develop a worldview that has redefined the way he lives, a worldview that he hopes everyone will come to accept.

“We all have our own unique identity, our own unique perspectives, our own unique story.

Everybody has worth and it’s important for people to recognize their own worth,” said Karim. “I used to be so trapped worrying about other people’s perception of me, whereas now I try to just be unapologetically me because I realize that every space I enter, I bring unique ideas and a unique perspective that no one around me has.”

Author Jack Figge ’22 is the Prep News Editor-in-Chief, Pastoral Vice President for the Men for Life club, a Senior Advisor, and a President and Admissions Ambassador. He hopes to pursue a double major in Theology and Journalism in college, with Catholic media or teaching as a possible career path.

Photographer Miles Schulte ’22 plays golf and participates in robotics, the car club and the outdoor adventure club. He hopes to study architecture or engineering in college.

Winter 2021-22 | 29

FEATURE

The story of Dr. Matt Boland '90 and the patient he loved the most

BY JUSTIN SEATON ’13

30 | SLUH Magazine

From left: Tara Boland (inset); Matt Boland '90 with Molly and their kids; Boland's senior photo (opposite page).

Dr. Husband, Dr. Father, Dr. Friend Matt Boland ’90 agreed to meet with me at a coffee house with a patio on a cold morning in early December. He walked up carrying a plastic Schnucks bag.

For an hour and a half, Matt and I talked about his five children, his wife Molly, and his journey to becoming an ICU physician. All the while, the plastic bag sat untouched and unmentioned between us. At the end of our conversation, Matt reached inside the bag and handed me its contents: a t-shirt, a bumper sticker, and a pink bracelet from the TaTa Sisterhood, a non-profit foundation created by Matt’s late wife Tara.

These parting gifts were a reminder that, though this is a profile of Matt Boland, it is indelibly a story about Tara Boland—reminders of whom had sat between us throughout our interview—her battle with Triple Negative Breast Cancer, and how a community was forever changed by her diagnosis, her death and her beautiful life.

T

he beginning of the end of Tara’s life coincided with the start of another life. Tara was six weeks pregnant with her fourth child when she discovered the lump on her breast.

On May 23, 2012, they got the call. The lump was a cancerous tumor. The diagnosis was Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC).

TNBC is a unique diagnosis. A TNBC tumor tends to grow quickly, and it is less likely to be seen on an annual mammogram. It is likely to

spread to other parts of the body early. Common treatments like hormone therapy are ineffective on a TNBC tumor, though chemotherapy can be very effective in the early stages. About 15-20% of all breast cancers in the U.S. are triple negative.

“It is aggressive and tends to attack beautiful, vibrant young ladies like myself,” then 36-year-old Tara wrote on her CaringBridge blog in 2012.

On May 23, 2012, Matt and Tara Boland sat on their bed and cried. Then they made a decision: they would attack this cancer as aggressively as possible, while making sure that their baby survived.

Tara went through 24 weeks of chemotherapy while she was pregnant. She never missed a session. She remained bright, funny and resilient.

“Yes I survived this round,” Tara wrote on her CaringBridge in July 2012. “Not only the side effects of chemo, but also being bold in public just as I am. Proud of myself for getting through the first round. Only 3 more of these to go…

Yikes. Let’s go back to one day at a time.”

Meanwhile, Matt Boland did what he had been trained to do—he cared for his patient.

After graduating from SLUH in 1990, Matt attended UMKC for their six-year medical program.

After UMKC, Matt did multiple tours as a Medical Officer and teaching physician in the Navy. There, Matt’s love of knowledge and critical thinking, which he credits SLUH for fostering, was allowed to flourish. Matt would continue teaching medicine throughout his career, first at Saint Louis University, and now at Washington University in St. Louis.

Winter 2021-22 | 31

The thirst for knowledge that attracted Matt to medicine and teaching was a buoy during his wife’s battle.

“When my wife was diagnosed in 2012, I knew about TNBC. But I quickly had to teach myself how to be an expert,” said Matt. “My job in the ICU is acute. There’s no longevity. But now I had my own patient. My wife was sick.”

About three months after the healthy delivery of their fourth child, Sam, an evaluation showed that the cancer cells were back and had spread.

“The community very quickly set up a triage unit for Matt and his family, so that every aspect of their life was attended to, and so that Matt could focus on taking care of his family,” said Mike Amann ’97, long-time neighbor and friend of the Boland family.

Matt’s partners on his rotations at area ICUs volunteered to take all of Matt’s shifts.

Their family and friends served dinners to the Bolands every night, delivered necessities, drove kids to practices and play dates, and helped with homework after school.

This loving support allowed Matt to be Tara’s 24/7 caregiver, and on several occasions, to save her life.

On Labor Day weekend of 2013, Tara’s cancer spread to the lining of her brain and she slipped into a coma. Traditionally, the prognosis at this stage is terminal: six weeks to live.

When Matt brought Tara to the hospital that Friday, Matt’s co-workers rallied. The radiologist came in to read the MRI; the pathologist came in to look at the cells from the spinal tap; the surgeon came in on a Sunday to place a drain in Tara’s skull to relieve the pressure.

For three months, a few times each day, Matt manually drained fluid from her skull as she slipped in and out of comas. And when that could no longer go on, Matt’s co-workers rallied again. Tara lived for six months after Labor Day, and during that time, the Bolands made every day count.

I

n two years of treatment, Tara had met many women who were suffering, often without the support that the Bolands had. So she helped them.

The staff at Mercy hospital had fundraised $5,000 for Tara early in her treatment. They told her to go to Disney with her family. Instead, she started writing checks. She paid for medications and bills, all for other women, all out of her personal accounts.

“She had so much fun doing it,” remembered Matt. “People started coming to her with more and more money to give away. One donor offered so much money they wanted a tax deduction,

32 | SLUH Magazine

From left: TaTa Sisterhood Board in 2015; Boland at high school football practice; Boland climbing a wall at Freshman Direction Day.

and that’s when we said, ‘OK, we’re doing this.’

She put together a group of eight of her closest friends, all women plus me, to sit on the board.”

With an entity in place, Tara founded the TaTa Sisterhood: “We are the chemotherapy angels, providing motivational and financial assistance to women suffering from Triple Negative Breast Cancer. As we strive to lessen their burden, we also aim to find a targeted treatment for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.”

Becoming a certified 501(c)3 non-profit organization can take up to 27 months. When Tara and Matt decided to apply, her cancer was in recurrence. They knew she did not have 27 months.

“We formed in October and submitted our documents in mid-January of 2014,” said Amber Walsh, Tara’s friend and neighbor, and a founding member of the TaTa Sisterhood. “With that, we included tons of letters. We focused on the fact that we were not going to have our foundress on this planet for much longer. We called on the IRS to fast-track the application.”

They got their IRS approval, with zero questions, in one month, and Tara Boland was able to see her vision come to fruition.

“I think it gave her a sense of additional fulfillment, among all the other things that she was doing in her personal life, to be here for the first six weeks of her organization’s official status,” said Amber, her voice shaking.

W

hen Tara passed away on April 10, 2014, Matt’s vocation fundamentally changed. He became a father without a mother by his side. What’s more, he became the father of four very young children who would, in their own time, need help processing the grief of their mother’s passing—a grief that Matt would be simultaneously processing.

“Tara tasked me with a few things as she was getting sick,” said Matt. “Some of those were verbal and some of those were written … One of my chief tasks, to quote her, was: ‘Make sure our kids don’t grow up to be horrible human beings.’” Matt laughed. “From there, I had my marching orders.

The best way I knew to do that was to make sure they knew they were surrounded with love.”

Matt’s love in the years since Tara’s death has extended well beyond the walls of his home.

Matt became determined to repay the support that had lifted him through his toughest years, and to carry on Tara’s legacy as President of the Board of the TaTa Sisterhood.

Their organization has now helped several hundred women in the St. Louis area, and they are determined to help fund studies on TNBC treatments in the future.

Matt remarried in 2017 and has since had one more child, Blake. He continues to teach medicine and work 60-hour weeks in the ICU. In his church community, he has become the go-to person for anything medical.

“Matt is a Man for Others,” said Mike Amann ’97. “In our community, when you get sick, you call Doc Boland. He is as selfless as they come, and he wants to help you.”

“He is an incredibly gifted physician—gifted on a level that you don’t understand until you or a family member is in a health crisis and you see him work,”

echoed Amber Walsh. “He is a really, really talented and unique physician, and he shares that with all of us in a very large community. We rely on him.”

Perhaps most remarkable has been Matt’s ability to move forward with his life in the wake of a terrible loss, and to do so selflessly.

But still, always, sitting on the table in front of him is Tara’s memory: her hundreds of CaringBridge blog posts, her non-profit organization, the birthday cards she wrote for each of her four children years into the future when she knew she was dying. And despite Matt’s vibrant smile and broad-shouldered strength, he cried as he shared the parts of his story that belonged to Tara and to the people who love their family.

“The story I have to tell is one that will easily resonate with folks: a local boy makes good, returns home to St. Louis, picks a community that supports the ‘F’ out of him when he hits his toughest challenge, and he turns around and tries to give something back. It’s a story as old as time… And some of the guest stars that make appearances along the way– I may be the focus here, but the story is about them.”

So this is the story of Matt and Tara Boland.

But it is also about Molly, Jack, Rachel, Tom, Sam, Blake and the rest of their big family. It is about Ashley and Laurie, their nannies. It is about Amber, Allison, Laura, Shannon, Amy, Shanna, Kathleen, Mike, Tim and all their friends and neighbors.

It is about Fr. Byron, Dr. Germs, Dr. Shoes, Dr. Brains, Dr. Ticker, Dr. Beloved and Dr. Google.

This is a story about so many others who gave Matt Boland the strength he needed to be a man of courage, a Man for so many Others.

Winter 2021-22 | 33

I N T R O D U C I N G

In September 1540, St. Ignatius of Loyola and six companions lit the flame that would become the Society of Jesus.

Together, these young men explored the intersections of faith and culture.

Love and learning. Human nature and all of its many possibilities.

Through service, solidarity and prayer, the Jesuits (as they are known today) were welcomed around the globe as men of wisdom and science, education and spiritual depth.

With The 1540 List, we recognize 15 St. Louis University High alumni under the age of 40 who—like the young, creative and bold leaders who came before them—are challenging our definitions of excellence, and setting the world on fire.

34 | SLUH Magazine

FEATURE

IN MEMORIAM

David Ball ’10

Nicholas Calcaterra ’07

INDUSTRY Music & Ministry EDUCATION BM, Organ Performance The Juilliard School MM, Organ Performance The Juilliard School

INDUSTRY Law & Intellectual Property EDUCATION BS, Biochemistry University of Missouri-Columbia PhD, Pharmacology, Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine JD, Intellectual Property Law University of California, Berkeley

Cathedral Organist and Head of Music Ministry, Christ Cathedral (California)

QUICK FACTS • Performed recitals across the country, most notably on the largest musical instrument ever built: the Boardwalk Hall Organ • Accompanied the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica choirs in Rome, Italy, while attending SLUH • Dedicated to creating liturgical music of the highest caliber by conducting multiple parish choirs and supporting a diverse, multi-lingual congregation You know we have to ask it. Do you have a favorite SLUH memory or teacher? Studying the Classics with Mr. Mark Tychonievich and Magistra instilled the idea of creativity through discipline and organization [...] I recently dedicated my first published musical work—an arrangement of a Latin Renaissance motet that included my own translation—to the memory of Mr. T. … shout-out to the Praetorian Guard.

Which topics interest you most about your industry? This coming year the whole organ world will celebrate the completion of the restoration of the Hazel Wright Organ at Christ Cathedral.

Although lauded for its size as the fifthlargest instrument ever built, it is also a testament to collaboration and community.

Associate, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

QUICK FACTS • Received The Career Scientist Award from the American Gastroenterological Association • Co-founded a Johns-Hopkins medical group to develop a vaccine for the prevention of cancer-causing viruses • Established a food research group in St. Louis to develop new methods of food production • Recognized by St. Louis City for work with unhoused in North St. Louis FROM THE PARENTS OF NICHOLAS CALCATERRA: Nick had many achievements during his short life. They would not have been possible without first attaining the strong academic foundation and the moral, Christian values set forth by St. Louis University High.

SLUH not only gave Nick the tools to succeed academically, but also for him to be a free thinker, to take on challenges without hesitation or fear, to be strong in his Catholic faith, and to be of service to others. Nick never rested on his laurels, but instead, always looked forward to new endeavors and finding ways to succeed in them. He enjoyed life to its fullest.

Everyday was an adventure for him.

Kwofe Coleman ’01 CEO & President, The Muny

INDUSTRY Entertainment EDUCATION BA, English, Emory University QUICK FACTS • President and CEO of The Muny, effective January 1, 2022 • Formed The Muny’s first digital communications department • Recognized locally and nationally as a strong force in theatre operations • Contributes to the St. Louis community, serving on the St. Louis University High Board of Trustees, Cor Jesu Academy Advisory Council, Common Circles Advisory Council and as a proud founding board member of Atlas School What else would you like to accomplish?

Our mission [at The Muny] is to create and present musical theatre in a way that’s accessible to all. And it’s not just about physical accessibility. It’s about financial accessibility. It’s also about the fact that the stories that are told on stage, and how they are told, relate and connect to everyone in the community so that no matter what corner of St. Louis you come from, you see a reflection of yourself on the stage.

On the importance of giving back: I think it's important for the young men at SLUH to see the faces of alumni who have been there, and have been led to various levels of success and appreciation for the next stages in their life. I want to show them what that looks like and be a resource to them.

DISCOVER EVEN MORE ABOUT THE HONOREES AT SLUH.ORG/1540LIST Winter 2021-22 | 35

Nicholas Fandos ’11

Sam Heagney ’16

Reporter, The New York Times

Renewable Development Analyst, Invenergy LLC

INDUSTRY Journalism EDUCATION AB, History and Literature Harvard College

INDUSTRY Clean Energy EDUCATION BA, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Economics, Vanderbilt University

QUICK FACTS • Chronicled two Supreme Court confirmation fights, two historic impeachments and countless bills in between • Participated in The Times’s coverage of the 2018 and 2020 elections • Currently covers New York State politics, with a focus on money, lobbying and political influence Think back to your Senior year at SLUH. Was this the job you dreamed of having?

Well, this only reveals how little imagination I have, but being a reporter for The New York Times has been my dream job since high school. I remember reading the paper in the Prep News office every day during free periods: studying bylines, soaking up copy, daydreaming about working in a big newsroom and going out to see the world.

What advice would you give to our current Jr. Bills? Expect more of yourself. Privilege your own curiosity over grades; it matters more. If it's an option that makes sense for you, go away for college. If you're from the county, spend time in the city. Listen to your English teachers. Read the newspaper.

QUICK FACTS • Interned as a research analyst for NASA, mapping floods in Guatemala and El Salvador • Created the framework for a data model to track the performance of solar and energy efficiency projects in New Delhi, India • Recently established SLUH Clean Energy Alumni group for alumni working with clean energy Think back to your Senior year at SLUH. Was this the job you dreamed of having? I had the privilege of taking AP Environmental Science my senior year, and it was over the course of APES that I decided to dedicate my career to climate change solutions.

What advice would you give to our current Jr. Bills? My senior year at Vanderbilt I researched 135-million-year-old volcanoes. That research has absolutely nothing to do with my current job, but I learned so many valuable lessons that I draw on every day. My boss cited my improv comedy journey—which began at SLUH—as the main reason he hired me. When you follow the pursuits that really interest you, not the ones you think you need to have on a resume to get you somewhere you think you need to be to be called successful, finding a path to success becomes much easier and a lot more enjoyable.

Ryan Hopkins ’16

Owner & Filmmaker, Everybody at 68 INDUSTRY Film & Entertainment EDUCATION BA, Film & Television Production Loyola Marymount University QUICK FACTS • Recently filmed "Survivor" TV show in Fiji • Has worked on various TV shows, including the LA Unit of Netflix’s “Space Force” • Recognized by Voyage LA Magazine for company, Everybody at 68, and their work producing short films and music videos • Created music videos that have been featured on popular music blogs, such as Lyrical Lemonade and Elevator Were you involved in any activities at SLUH that hinted toward your path today? Mr. Kevin McKernan [...] had an enormous impact on the way I carry myself as a director on set, and in helping me find a voice that permeates through my work. Also, my friends and I would spend countless hours in the Gadlab, working on sketches for new Gadfly episodes. Those moments, being able to have the freedom to be creative with friends, was an invaluable experience. It was our writer’s room before we even knew what a writer’s room was.

How are you acting as a "Man For Others" in your current role?

I try to be a resource for younger people wanting to be filmmakers, whether it’s speaking on the phone or connecting on social media. [...] There’s a lot of value in being able to have a relationship with someone who is in the thick of it.

DISCOVER EVEN MORE ABOUT THE HONOREES AT SLUH.ORG/1540LIST

36 | SLUH Magazine

Fr. Louie Hotop, SJ ’09 Jesuit Priest, Society of Jesus

INDUSTRY Immigration & Ministry EDUCATION BA, Philosophy, Russian Studies Saint Louis University Master of Divinity, Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University QUICK FACTS • Co-hosts the "The Jesuit Border Podcast," featuring stories from the US-Mexico border • Served in Kansas City, Denver and St. Peter Claver Parish in Punta Gorda, Belize • Taught English at multiple summer camps in Siberia • Ministered to the unhoused in San Francisco You know we have to ask it. Do you have a favorite SLUH memory or teacher?

Mr. Chura was my Russian teacher for 4 years. After completing a task in class, he would say, “Хорошо… Good enough!”

It was never “Perfect!” I was never “Outstanding!” Just, “Good enough!”

Now that my ministry on the border has me learning Spanish, I find myself going back to that mindset frequently. To seek perfection is to focus on myself and how I appear before others, but to be OK with “good enough” helps me to move past my mistakes, beyond my own ego, and focus on the person in front of me.

Think back to your Senior year at SLUH. Was this the job you dreamed of having? In my Senior year of high school, I wanted to be a Jesuit priest and, after 12 years of formation, that desire has been fulfilled. Still, you can do a lot of things as a Jesuit. I never imagined myself working with migrants on the US-Mexico border.

Dr. Jack Lally ’09

Peter Lucier ’08

Resident Surgeon, Otolaryngology, U.S. Army

Veteran, U.S. Marines 3L, Saint Louis University School of Law

INDUSTRY Healthcare EDUCATION BS, Theology, Preprofessional Studies, University of Notre Dame MD, Georgetown University School of Medicine Residency in Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center

INDUSTRY Social Justice EDUCATION BA, Political Science, International Relations, Montana State University-Bozeman JD, Saint Louis University School of Law (2022)

QUICK FACTS • Former champion boxer at the University of Notre Dame • Served in the United States Army • Researches and deals with the delicate, complex issues of the head and neck • Inspired by his local parish to pursue military medicine: “I went to Mass and there was a beautiful service afterward and I just thought at that point that I wanted to take care of people who fight to take care of us” Which topics interest you most about your industry? The complex facial trauma and reconstructive cases are one exciting part of military ENT. What advice would you give to our current Jr. Bills? Take the time to get to know each other and look out for each other. The brotherhood is special.

Were you involved in any activities at SLUH that hinted toward your path today? I always loved being part of a team. The soccer and hockey programs gave me that opportunity.

Be honest. What was your wildest Back To School Mixer / school dance outfit? No comment.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE ON THE 1540 LIST? MAKE YOUR 2023 NOMINATION AT SLUH.ORG/1540LIST

QUICK FACTS • Former ASC with SLUH English • Marine Corps (2008-2013) • Assists with in the safe passage of American citizens, LPRs, SIVs and at-risk Afghans • An advocate for veterans, featured in The New York Times, Washington Post and other publications • Working to advance gun violence prevention work around the country Which topics interest you most about your industry? From evacuation to resettlement, every touch point in the journey from evacuation to resettlement is a potential bottleneck. The journey to safe passage doesn’t end when Afghans reach the US either. Workforce development, language classes, traumainformed education at schools, and obtaining permanent legal status [...] all present significant challenges and opportunities for Afghans.

How are you acting as a "Man For Others" in your current role?

The aftermath for Afghans who lived through that war will continue for the next twenty years. As men and women for others, we are called to help pave the path from conflict to justice. As a Marine who participated in that war, I’m called to assist in this effort. It’s going to be a lifetime of work. But I’m excited for Americans, St. Louisans, and the SLUH community to participate in the labor.

Read about Lucier's effort to combat the humanitarian crisis at home and abroad.

Winter 2021-22 | 37

Dr. Patrick Lyons ’04

Instructor of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Medical Director, BJC’s Healthcare Innovation Lab INDUSTRY Healthcare EDUCATION BA, English, University of Notre Dame MD, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine MSc, Clinical Investigation Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Certificate, Human-Centered Healthcare, Parsons School of Design QUICK FACTS • Accomplished early career pulmonologist at Washington University • Treated the first COVID positive patient in the ICU at Barnes Jewish • Applying informatics and implementation science techniques to improve clinical care delivery in the hospital You know we have to ask it. Do you have a favorite SLUH memory or teacher?

On my first day, I sat in Mr. Curdt’s English class. He said to us, “Look to your left, then look to your right. One of these young men will be in your wedding some day.” It turned out he was right. Nathan Harris ‘04 was one of my groomsmen alongside several other SLUH classmates, and I was one of his.

It’s amazing the special friendships I was able to make at SLUH, even from day one.

Which topics interest you most about your industry? I think data science and human factors research are approaching a point of convergence, such that clinicians will be able to use fast and accurate informatics tools to augment their own clinical intuitions. My hope is that this makes healthcare more personalized, more efficient, and safer for all patients.

Patrick Mulligan ’13

Justin Smith ’02

INDUSTRY Non-Profit, Food & Hunger EDUCATION BS, Political Science, Economics Lindenwood University

INDUSTRY Urban Education EDUCATION BA, Political Science, International Studies, Loyola University Chicago MS, Early Childhood Education Pace University (NYC) MA, Urban Education and Leadership, The Broad Center

Founder & Executive Director, Nutrifund

QUICK FACTS • Founder of NutriFund International, a US-based nonprofit working to combat childhood malnutrition in Honduras • Working with the San Yves Center in Yoro, Honduras, a longtime SLUH Senior Project location providing 24/7 care to severely malnourished children • Assisted by Shane Mulligan '06 (brother), Jerry Albrecht '61, Justin Jellinek '13, Andrew Robinson '13 and former SLUH teacher, Charley Merriott Which topics interest you most about your industry? Though not making headlines, poverty and hunger around the world are rapidly decreasing. In my lifetime, around one billion people have risen out of extreme poverty, even as the global population increases. It's exciting to play a small part in continuing this process.

Who or what inspired you to pursue your field or interest? From the values my parents instilled in me growing up, to the Jesuit education I received at SLUH and its focus on social justice, I have always felt called to serve in some way. When I arrived in Honduras and saw the great need here—people who through no fault of their own were born into impossible situations—I considered it an opportunity to serve and to try to make a difference.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE ON THE 1540 LIST? MAKE YOUR 2023 NOMINATION AT SLUH.ORG/1540LIST 38 | SLUH Magazine

Senior Director, KIPP NYC

QUICK FACTS • Worked for 7+ years with Teach for America in New York City • Served as Chief of Staff of Academics with Denver Public Schools • Currently leads a variety of strategic projects at the KIPP Foundation, which supports 270 free public charter schools with more than 160,000 students and alumni nationwide You know we have to ask it. Do you have a favorite SLUH memory or teacher?

Father Harrison’s history class my Junior Year continues to have an impact on me today. Through his creative and engaging teaching style, we dug into history through the perspectives of the people most marginalized. He pushed me to question so much about our world by considering who benefits from systems, policies, and the ways we talk about our shared history. I continue to bring that lens of looking at the world to my work today.

Were you involved in any activities at SLUH that hinted toward your path today? My first year of teaching I remember being very thankful for all of my time performing in plays and competing in speech club. Thanks to Mrs. Whitaker, Mr. Schulte, and Dr. Koestner, I built the confidence I needed to eventually stand up in front of a room of students and teach.

I also think these experiences helped me cultivate skills I would later need in building relationships and collaborating with others toward a common goal.

Integration Engineer, The Boring Company

Dan Wagner ’17

Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, Monolith Brands Group

David Willard ’01

Marcus Wright ’10

INDUSTRY Transportation & Engineering EDUCATION BS, Engineering Physics University of Colorado Boulder

Founder & Managing Partner, 52 Capital Partners, LLC

INDUSTRY Sustainability & Education EDUCATION BS, Psychology, Loyola University Chicago BA, International and Global Studies Loyola University Chicago MA, International Public Service, DePaul University

QUICK FACTS • Founding member and former president of the Robotics Team at SLUH • Former Robotics teacher at St. Gabriel the Archangel and St. Ambrose School • Designed and installed residential rainwater collection systems in Oyugis, Kenya with Jimmy Reddy ‘18 • Working on the next-generation of transportation at The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk You know we have to ask it. Do you have a favorite SLUH memory or teacher? Fall Fest 2018. The robotics team had stolen 300 lbs of steel from the weight room the night before and strapped it to our newly completed but still extraordinarily janky punkin chunkin trebuchet. As the final exam of the day let out and the root beer kegs were tapped, we chucked pumpkins into the grass next to the fieldhouse. At first, we were cautious, but as we grew more confident in the machine’s repeatability, shenanigans ensued culminating in the near decapitation of an Elvis Presley cardboard cutout. (See the fun at sluh.org/1540list) What advice would you give to our current Jr. Bills? Being able to work hard and focus is as important as talent and skill. A regular person who has an incredible work ethic will beat a lazy genius most days. If that regular person has the occasional splash of wisdom and inspiration, they are nearly unstoppable.

INDUSTRY eCommerce & Business EDUCATION AB, Princeton University JD, New York University - School of Law Certificate, Data Science Stanford University Tsinghua University & Beijing Normal University QUICK FACTS • Serves as a Mentor-in-Residence of Yale Law School, and as a Fellow with the Princeton-in-Asia Program in China • Advises Fortune 500 businesses, investment firms and multinational corporations • Has held positions at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation in Cambridge and the Delegation of the European Union to China in Beijing What advice would you give to our current Jr. Bills? My biggest advice to current Jr. Bills would be to explore as many academic interests as you can and to be open to change in your career. Today's economy requires that students and professionals constantly adapt to new technologies and new challenges such as the COVID pandemic.

Think back to your Senior year at SLUH. Was this the job you dreamed of having? During my Senior Year at SLUH, I had aspirations of going to medical school and becoming a neurosurgeon.

During college at Princeton, I became much more interested in business, finance and Asian markets, and from there, I decided to pursue a career in finance.

DISCOVER EVEN MORE ABOUT THE HONOREES AT SLUH.ORG/1540LIST

Program Coordinator, Greenheart International

QUICK FACTS • Taught English and launched literary workshops in Namibia • Developed training sessions for the Peace Corps, focused on allyship, mattering, marginality, microaggressions, code-switching and intercultural sensitivity • Currently facilitating cultural exchange programs, eco-fair trade purchasing, personal development opportunities, volunteer service initiatives and environmental advocacy projects in Chicago Were you involved in any activities at SLUH that hinted toward your path today? When I was senior, I volunteered at the International Institute of St. Louis for my senior service project, working with immigrants in the St. Louis community.

It opened my eyes to ways I could engage in cultural exchange here in the states and the impact that could have on people's lives. My experience there was a significant contributing factor to some of the internationally focused volunteer and work opportunities.

How are you acting as a "Man For Others" in your current role? While there are many things I've taken from experience at SLUH, the idea of being a "Man for Others" is towards the top of the list, and it has guided my life choices throughout. Engaging in intercultural work—particularly facilitating conversations about diversity and inclusion and intercultural communication—is how I have been able to contribute to bettering the world around me.

Winter 2021-22 | 39

U. HIGHLIGHTS

HIGHER EXPECTATIONS, NO EXCUSES John Shipp ‘98 Courageously Carves His Own Path to Success

BY BEN DUMONT ‘92

Nathaniel Shipp, against daunting odds, never gave up, and never gave in. He grew up before the Civil Rights movement and endured ridicule, including rejection from colleges, because of his skin color – yet he had dreams and persisted. Nathaniel went on to serve in the Korean War, became one of the first Black physical

40 | SLUH Magazine

therapists west of the Mississippi River and served the local Catholic community as a respected deacon.

“During his most difficult times, my grandpa said it would have been easy to quit and feel sorry for himself,” says John Shipp ‘98.

“But he always persevered and became a better person for it.”

In addition to raising John in North St. Louis, where he attended St. Engelbert

Focus School (now Saint Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist), Nathaniel challenged his grandson to apply to St. Louis University High. John, however, had planned to attend Cardinal Ritter or a public school with his friends.

“My grandpa had higher expectations for me,” says John. “He insisted I immerse myself in other communities, to get out of my own head and comfort zone if I wanted to grow and maximize my potential.”

Nathaniel supported John throughout

U. HIGHLIGHTS

“I prayed a lot in Iraq, on a whole different level.”

- JOHN SHIPP '98

From left: Shipp, with a Blackhawk helicopter, received an air medal for combat missions in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division; flying a Blackhawk in Iraq.

his entire SLUH journey, funding his education, attending his football games and helping him with his homework.

“He was such a champion for me in so many different ways. I give credit to him for the man I am today.”

Shipp knew nobody entering SLUH as a freshman, and he was not the popular kid he had been in middle school. Eventually, he found a group of friends and thrived, participating in track, basketball and football.

Dr. Eric Clark ‘83, then the Dean of Students, was a mentor to Shipp.

“Dr. Clark was tough on me and held me accountable. He set higher expectations and didn’t accept excuses.

He was a realist that the world was not always going to be fair, and that I had to adapt and be resilient.”

in cellular and molecular biology with minors in chemistry and psychology.

Upon graduation he went active duty.

Due to a shortage of pilots because of army troops in both Afghanistan and Iraq, Shipp was able to transition from an engineer to aviation officer. After finishing flight school where he became a Blackhawk pilot, he was selected to undertake the maintenance test pilot program, a highly selective yet risky undertaking.

Up to this point, Shipp’s five-year military service had primarily been stateside, but he received the call in 2005 to join the 101st Airborne Division as an air assault pilot in Iraq. As the missions and close calls racked up, the deployment began to take a toll on him, mentally and emotionally. He had experienced live combat, countless mortar attacks, bullet holes in his helicopter stopped only by Kevlar, a missile blowing up his sleeping quarters just moments after leaving, and even the loss of his flight school friend whose helicopter crashed after being ensnared by an enemy kite flying above a known insurgent safe house.

“There’s a saying that there’s no such thing as atheism in foxholes,” says Shipp. “I prayed a lot in Iraq, on a whole different level.”

Despite the adversity Shipp faced during his tour in Iraq from 2005-07, he found the entire military experience rewarding. “I knew I had given back to something bigger than me, a much larger purpose. That said, I was ready for my next chapter because I had used up all nine of my lives.”

At Missouri State, Shipp was attending college on a football scholarship, studying cell and molecular biology, when his grandfather died from lung cancer. So, he made a rash decision.

“After his passing, I lost my swagger,” says Shipp. “I walked out of football practice one day to clear my head.”

The next day, the coach severed John’s scholarship for a year – to teach him a lesson. Unsure how he would pay for college, he found his answer on a tv commercial: the U.S. Army.

Shipp took off a semester and enlisted as a combat engineer in the National Guard. He completed officer school, at age 20, as one of the youngest military commissioned officers in U.S. history.

After becoming an officer he returned to school to complete his BS degree

Today, Shipp is the Head of Talent Attraction and Diversity Equity and Inclusion at Anheuser-Busch InBev. He leads workshops and training session across North American and blends both his personal experiences and historical stories to facilitate conversations on subjects that can have varying viewpoints.

One such story that he often shares is the the story of how Honda Motor Company began. Soichiro Honda, who worked on the production line for Toyota in the 1930s, was ignored when he presented his innovative concept – the 3-ring piston – to company leadership. After leaving Toyota, he started his own company and amassed a fortune by selling his invention to his former employer.

“It’s important to attract top talent,” Shipp says, “but it’s equally important to nurture creative ideas from our employees. At SLUH, Mr. Hussung encouraged us to formulate our own ideas and opinions, and to have a healthy, engaging discussion. I leaned into this approach because it was fun looking at things differently and it allowed me to have a deeper appreciation for Shakespeare.”

Shipp believes diversity goes beyond promoting social justice.

“From a business perspective, it is a booster. When we have employees representing a variety of cultures and backgrounds, it informs our product development and enriches our brand in a way that is authentic.”

A staunch advocate that “you don't change standards or expectations”

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From left: Shipp with his wife, Kyra Valdez Shipp, and their daughter Allazanna Gloria, born in 2020; Shipp with his family on a hunting trip.

to advance diversity, Shipp says what people really want is opportunity – opportunity to compete for employment. This means offering complementary programs that provide the opportunity to succeed in the workplace, as well as “casting our net in places we haven’t gone before.”

Shipp has leveraged his military experience as a co-founder of the ABI-Vets employee resource group at Anheuser Busch. He also started Hire Our Heroes, the Anheuser-Busch military recruitment program that transitions soldiers into technology, cyber security, human resources, supply and logistics.

Given all Shipp has achieved, both professionally and personally,

he is not complacent – nor does he take anything for granted, including his SLUH experience.

“SLUH taught me to lean into failure by adapting and overcoming,” he says.

“I learned that if I wanted to grow and become the best version of myself, I had to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, to be vulnerable and put myself out there. Doing this has made me more resilient – and it has been the pillar of my success everywhere.”

“Shipp has such a compelling life story because a kid coming from the Northside of St. Louis stereotypically is not supposed to rise to his career level,” says friend Darryl Frierson ‘99, who recently interviewed Shipp on his podcast, Mic

Checka. “He is a courageous leader who is constantly thinking or asking how he can help someone else.”

Looking ahead, Shipp turns his attention to helping others. “It’s all about giving back for me now. I hope to coach one day,” he says, adding he’s partial to football and track.

Perhaps you’ll see Shipp out there some day, on the field or track, coaching with his confident yet humble swagger and upbeat spirit. His message to his athletes: Set higher expectations, make no excuses. Nathaniel would be proud.

Listen to the John Shipp ‘98 interview on Mic Checka, the podcast by Darryl Frierson ‘99.

SLUH Black Alumni The legacy of Black alumni excellence is critical to the mission and experience at St. Louis University High. Please take a moment now to update your information and get connected to the other 400+ Black alumni, brothers and friends in our SLUH community.

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U. HIGHLIGHTS

MAN FOR OTHERS

Whayne Herriford ’71

BY BEN DUMONT ’92

A young man struggling with alcoholism was on a downward spiral, until he met with Whayne Herriford ’71. Now, he is more than a year sober, and his life is on an upward trajectory.

Alumni Trailblazers When it comes to equity and inclusion, SLUH is especially proud of many alumni who have done notable work toward creating a community where the wounds of poverty, hatred and discrimination are healed. Visit our Alumni Trailblazers web page where we proudly display the achievements of graduates of color.

Nominations are welcome. sluh.org/trailblazers

“You get wins once in a while, and that really feels good,” says Herriford, a private practice trauma therapist in Cincinnati.

Herriford transitioned to working as a therapist in 2011 following a successful career in human resources. Today, he helps his clients overcome a myriad of mental and emotional challenges – and given the anxiety and complexities exacerbated by the pandemic, his services are in high demand. “It’s gratifying work because you can see results.”

Helping others has long distinguished Herriford. At SLUH, he organized a walk to end hunger with fellow students in the fall of 1970. The Jr. Bills started and finished their walk at SLUH, earning money each mile to benefit a local food pantry.

Herriford, who grew up in Most Holy Rosary parish in North St. Louis, focused on building bridges at a time when America was tepidly embracing social justice. As the secretary of his class during senior year – and the first African American elected to Student Council at SLUH – he strived “to figure out a way to address and mitigate diversity related issues.”

“More than any one person, Whayne influenced my growth and evolution from an ignorant, naïve South St. Louis kid to someone hyper-aware of how race affects outcomes in America,” says friend and classmate Joe Castellano ’71. “He challenged me to reflect on my perceptions, biases and actions. It wasn’t easy. He pushed me. He called me out. He inspired me to look a layer below my self-perception.”

“The U. High will always hold a special place in my heart because of the relationships I built,” says Herriford, who earned an MBA from Stanford University and a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health from Northern Kentucky University.

Reflecting on his life’s work, Herriford recalls not accolades or achievements, but rather, how he has impacted others.

A gentle, quiet man of great humility, he recalls how he helped in “the development of the understanding and appreciation of differences” with students at SLUH. He proudly talks about how he helped his two adopted sons to “build a life for themselves.”

And, Herriford reflects on how he decided to pursue a new career, instead of retiring early, to provide hope to those struggling from the effects of trauma and addiction.

Beyond his profession, Herriford continues to live out the Man for Others ideal as Chair of the Human Rights Commission in his local community, board member of Cincinnati Red Bike (bike sharing nonprofit) and organizer of Room at the Table community DEI dinners/ courageous conversations. He also stays connected with his SLUH classmates and dedicated many hours to creating a special video series for their 50th Reunion.

“While I believe much progress has been made since we were teenagers, it breaks my heart to see how far we have to go to fulfill our country’s promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all of our citizens,” says Castellano. “But I am buoyed to see so many people challenging us to do even better. If there were more Whayne Herrifords around, we would get there faster.”

View the video series produced by Herriford commemorating the 50th reunion of the Class of ’71.

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Cannonball Enlightenment ALUMNI REFLECT ON TRANSFORMATIONAL MOMENTS OF IMPACT On May 20, 1521, St. Ignatius of Loyola was injured in battle by a cannonball – and thus began his enormous change of life during recovery, from a soldier to a spiritual pilgrim went on to start the Society of Jesus, the largest order in the Catholic Church. To mark the 500th anniversary of that fateful day, the Ignatian family is celebrating an Ignatian Year through July 2022.

As a tribute to Ignatius and his leadership, heroism and spirit, several alumni reflect on their own ‘cannonball moments’ when they felt called to pursue a religious vocation.

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Fr. Bill Sheahan, SJ ’85 Rector, Ciszek Hall Jesuit Residential College at Fordham University in New York In January of my senior year, two classmates and I arrived at St. Stephen’s Indian Mission in Wyoming to begin our three-week Senior Project. We would serve as grade school teachers’ aides at St. Stephen’s School. The school and the mission, at that time sponsored by the then-Missouri Province Jesuits, served Arapaho and Shoshone residents living on the Wind River Reservation.

Our schedule called for the three of us to attend 7:15 a.m. daily Mass at the mission church before going to work at the school. Although otherwise cooperative to what was asked of us, we ignored the Mass attendance requirement. Except one morning, I awoke early and could not sleep. Frustrated, I got up and decided to go to Mass.

As I headed outside, the sun barely pierced the darkness. Everywhere was silence, save for the sound of my every step as my boots punched through the frozen, crusted snow. Ahead, I noticed lights on in the church. Opening the church door, I looked up at a multicolored, Native American-style mural of the Holy Spirit covering the ceiling.

The Stations of the Cross represented Jesus as an Indian. The Christmas

creche depicted the Holy Family nestled in a small teepee. This place, so foreign, somehow felt inviting. During Mass, I felt moved to be a Jesuit.

Although it would be many years before I discerned that God was giving me the grace to be a Jesuit, I identify that morning pilgrimage, that Mass, that silence, as my ‘cannonball moment.’

Fr. Brian Fallon ’04 Vocation Director, Archdiocese of St. Louis Pastor, Church of Magdalen I had heard about the grueling schedule at SLUH, but I just thought they said it to impress the parents. But when I found myself with poor grades after freshman year, I realized I had underestimated Backer Memorial and the institution built upon it.

Ignatius of Loyola took a cannonball head-on. It shattered one leg and badly damaged another. This sent him reeling: he had miscalculated life’s meaning, and had staked his worth upon gallantry now vanished. Poor Algebra grades might not have foiled my life as badly as Ignatius, but I was in high school. I was used to catastrophizing.

My recovery looked a lot different than that of our storied saint. He was bedridden with religious books, whereas I went on a two-week backpacking trip with my scout troop. I had lightened my pack down to the necessary

U. HIGHLIGHTS

Illustration by Charles Bieg '22

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gear, but what weighed me down were my father’s questions: “You’re starting sophomore year. Who are you really? What do you really want?”

Ascending and descending mountain ranges in silence, I started to name my deeper desires. I wanted to help others.

I wanted to use my gifts to bring the world joy. Perhaps priesthood was a way I could do this. I wasn’t sure, but I knew what my next steps would be.

The recuperating soldier found solace in pursuing a life of sanctity.

He trusted in Christ and became grateful for a worldview shattered.

In my own way, I am, too.

Joe Laughlin, nSJ ’17 1st Year Novice, Society of Jesus Getting to know the Jesuits during my four years at SLUH filled my imagination with the possibility that maybe I was called to become one. The Society of Jesus remained just one among many possible paths my life might take until early in my sophomore year at Saint Louis University.

One day, I was enjoying a casual conversation with my psychology professor before class. After talking for a bit, he stopped to look at me and asked, “Are you a Jesuit?”

I paused a bit before stammering out, “Uhh…no…what made you think that?”

I was surprised by the question. People had asked me if I had thought about being a Jesuit before, but no one had ever thought that I was one already!

“Uh oh,” I thought, “I better start taking this vocational discernment seriously.”

These days, when someone asks me, “Are you a Jesuit?” I have the privilege of answering, “Yes!” As a Jesuit novice, I am continuing to discern whether Jesus is calling me to labor with him in the Society of Jesus.

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Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ ’96 National Director for the USA, Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network In the Bible, God speaks from the heavens. In my junior year, a voice thundered from above when the principal called my name during the afternoon announcements. “These students must come to my office immediately after school: Joe Laramie, Scott Wallisch, Tim Chik, and…”

It was my junior year and I sat in Mr Hussung’s English class in October of 1995. That was my cannonball moment; that announcement led me to a Jesuit vocation.

The six of us arrived at Principal Owens’ office. He sat at his desk while Fr. Jim Knapp, SJ stood next to him.

“Gentlemen, we’re starting a new retreat. It’s called Kairos. You will attend the retreat at Rockhurst High in the spring, and then you’ll lead the retreat here in the fall. Will you do it?”

The six of us looked at each other and talked for a moment. Missing a week of school to go to Kansas City and then leading Kairos #1 at SLUH? “We’re in.”

On the retreat, I led my classmates in prayer and spoke to them about faith. I found it joyful and rewarding.

It was an experience of vocation, of being called to serve.

Seven of the students on this retreat went into the seminary and three of us are now priests: Fr. Scott Wallisch ‘96, Fr. Steve Kramer, SJ ‘96 and myself.

Christ was powerfully at work on that retreat. He called to me on those afternoon announcements. Boom.

Are you considering a religious vocation?

Learn more at beajesuit.org.

“Ascending and descending mountain ranges in silence, I started to name my deeper desires. I wanted to help others. I wanted to use my gifts to bring the world joy. ” - FR BRIAN FALLON '04

Insignis: Ignatius 500 Check out the new SLUH Insignis podcast episode celebrating the Ignatian Year.

Four members of our school community share how the profound conversion of St. Ignatius 500 years ago still inspires the Jesuits, especially in education.

Visit sluh.org/insignis or listen on Apple or Spotify.

U. HIGHLIGHTS

TO GIVE, NOT TO COUNT THE COST

BY NICK EHLMAN ‘99 ALUM SERVICE CORPS COORDINATOR, MATH TEACHER

The Alum Service Corps (ASC) is a post-college volunteer program for alumnae and alumni of Jesuit institutions, serving Jesuit middle and high schools throughout Denver, Kansas City and St. Louis – including St. Louis University High.

Every volunteer in the program joins ASC to give back to the mission of Jesuit education that formed them. But it is much more than a program that simply trains teachers. In fact, many ASC volunteers won’t even pursue “teaching” as a career.

For those who do, ASC provides a way to give back to the Jesuit education that they benefited from, while learning hands-on how to become an educator.

Still, there’s another group of ASC volunteers completely; one that you could find yourself amongst: those who join ASC thinking that being a teacher (or a coach or a mentor) is not for them long term. They often want to serve for just one short year. But something happens during that time. They feel a calling, and what was supposed to be one year of service turns into a lifetime vocation.

For each of these types of ASC volunteers, I believe their lives are changed for the better. Why? Because of their formative experience in the program.

SEAN AGNIEL ‘96 Director of Advancement, ASC 10 English teacher Steve Missey ’88 encouraged Agniel to consider ASC. “I saw that it had everything I was really looking for to take just one year to give back."

Originally intending to go to law school after ASC, Agniel says he "fell in love with the Jesuit mission. I've had several jobs in different cities, but it's always been in support of the mission of the Society of Jesus, and I think that can be traced back to those relationships I developed during my ASC year."

STEPHEN DEVES ’11 Math Teacher, ASC 25 "I didn't really know that I wanted to be an ASC teacher. I got my degree in accounting and had a job lined up at an accounting firm." But then Deves received a letter from a former SLUH teacher, personally inviting him to consider the ASC program. After some discernment, Deves applied to the program and was assigned to work at SLUH, where he continues to serve as a Math teacher.

Although Stephen didn't initially have plans to become a teacher, he "always had that desire to give back to SLUH in some way. I had an experienced mentor at SLUH who really guided me through it. I received tremendous support."

Is ASC right for you?

Prayer for Generosity Lord, teach me to be generous; Teach me to serve you as you deserve; To give and not to count the cost; To fight and not to heed the wounds; To toil, and not to seek for rest; To labor, and not to ask for reward, Save that of knowing that I am doing your will.

– St. Ignatius of Loyola

Learn more at alumservicecorps.com.

In addition to Agniel and Deves, the following faculty and staff participated in ASC and now serve at SLUH: Paul Baudendistel ’90 (ASC 4), Jamie Cordia (ASC 22), Tim Curdt ’90 (ASC 4), Ryan Doyle (ASC 25), Rob Garavaglia ’87 (ASC 1), Brian Gilmore ’02 (ASC 17), Brock Kesterson (ASC 8), Frank Kovarik ’94 (ASC 7), Mike Lally (ASC 25), Steve Missey ’88 (ASC 3), Bradley Mueller (ASC 25), John Penilla ’99 (ASC 16), Joe Porter (ASC 15), Chris Stahl ’16 (ASC 31), Fr. Matt Stewart, SJ ’98 (ASC 12).

Hear from SLUH faculty and staff about their ASC experiences.

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NOTEWORTHY Discover what your fellow alumni are up to below, then explore more class notes at sluh.org/alumni.

Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie ’66 went Missing in Action on May 11, 1972.

For 14 years, his remains rested in the Vietnam War Tomb of the Unknown. In a special remembrance ceremony last summer, Governor Mike Parson officially proclaimed May 11 as Lt. Michael Blassie Day. Ken Rekowski ’74 retired in June after 48 years with McDonald’s.

Rekowski was the National Director of Drive Thru Operations across 14,000 restaurants in the U.S. His team was honored with the Circle of Excellence Award for contributing to the U.S. Business Velocity Growth Plan.

Ken Kwapis ’75 zoomed into SLUH in October to discuss film, TV and his experiences directing The Office with current students. His new book, But What I Really Want To Do Is Direct, is available now.

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5 Jr. Bills, 110 Miles Together, Tom Finan ’85, Tom Finan ’24, John Winkelman ’24, Sean Madden ’24 and Jack Perryman ’16 completed a 110-mile hike over just two weeks of an expeditious Philmont trek.

Jason Purnell, Ph.D. ’95, was named one of the medical industry’s “Top 25 Diversity Leaders in Healthcare.” As a leader at BJC Healthcare, Purnell directs the St. Louis COVID-19 Regional Response Team, a group of organizations that have centralized responses to meet the needs of those most adversely impacted by the pandemic.

James Sanders ’97, co-founder and owner of Rockwell Beer Co., opened Rockwell Beer Garden in Francis Park (St. Louis Hills) this October.

Rockwell is the first local brewery to open a satellite facility in a St. Louis public park. "It’s important that our customers see and feel the park as it is,” says

Sanders, who lives in the neighborhood. “These parks are gems, and this is an important one.”

Brooks Goedeker ’98 is now the Executive Director of the Saint Louis Midtown Development Corporation, working with Saint Louis University and SSM to manage their 400-acre development project – an area pitched to the Board of Alderman as “a natural eastward extension” of the growth spurred by the Cortex Innovation District.

Fr. Matthew Stewart, SJ ’98, who celebrated his first ordained Mass at St. Louis U. High in 2020, returned to SLUH as its full-time Director of Campus Ministry this June. Fr. Matt has served as parochial vicar for College Church at Saint Louis University and assisted at Loyola Academy of Saint Louis.

He holds multiple degrees in Music, Theology, Philosophy and Choral Conducting, and maintains a great passion for the St. Louis Blues. Go Blues!

Last summer, former international soccer player Taylor Twellman ’98 provided commentary for the UEFA European Football Championship, while award-winning broadcaster Steve Schlanger ’89 called play-by-play for the Tokyo Olympics – his fourth Olympic broadcast with NBC Sports Group.

Fr. Louie Hotop, SJ ’09 was ordained to the Society of Jesus in June.

For his first mission, he was sent to the diocese of Brownsville, TX, to work in the Rio Grande Valley along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Together with Fr. Brian Stassburger, SJ, he co-hosts The Jesuit Border Podcast, sharing stories of migrant communities.

Henry Matus '18 turned his attention full-time to Bark n Sniff, LLC, the pet nutritional supplement company he developed after facing a brain tumor at SLUH. Matus recently received the 2021 Outstanding Senior in Entrepreneurship award from the Chaifetz School at Saint Louis University.

U. HIGHLIGHTS

GOLF CLASSIC RAISES $200,000 FOR FINANCIAL AID The 10th Annual SLUH Scholarship Golf Classic returned to Old Warson Country Club for a fantastic day of golf and fellowship to benefit the SLUH need-based financial aid program. On a picture-perfect day, Andy Espe bested the field in the Shootout and won a new Acura TLX from Mungenast St. Louis Acura.

We thank our sponsors for their generosity.

CASHBAH ' 22

April 2 Be part of the celebration with the premier event supporting the SLUH financial aid program.

www.sluh.org/cashbah Co-chaired by current SLUH moms Sara Martin Buehring and Nancy Parker Tice

WE THANK OUR MANY GENEROUS SPONSORS, INCLUDING: PL ATINUM SP ONSORS Kathleen and Paul Matecki ‘74 Mary and Joseph Stieven ’78

GOLD SPONSORS Ameren Missouri Aon Patty and Mark Mantovani ‘72 *sponsors as of Jan. 21, 2022

PRESENTING SPONSOR The Kurt and Katie Mungenast Charitable Foundation Mungenast St. Louis Acura Mungenast Alton Toyota COCKTAIL RECEPTION SPONSOR The Wacker Financial Group of Wells Fargo Advisors

ABOVE: Andy Espe (center) poses in front of his new Acura with his Scholarship Golf Classic teammates (from left) Jake Whitte, Matt McHugh '94, Mike Amann '97 and John Jackson '94.

LUNCH SPONSOR Patti and Mark Mays GOLF CART SPONSORS SLUH Class of 2000 Stieven Capital Advisors, LP Joe Stieven '78 BLUE & WHITE SPONSORS Account Resolution Corporation, Jim Hill '84 Capital for Business Friend of SLUH Food Service Consultants Mark and Patty Mantovani The Market Street Group of RBC Wealth Management, Pete Sadlo '91 and Rob Funke '92 Millennium Pain Management, Dr. Steve Granberg '84 The Pauly Jail Building Company – Bob Pohrer '79, Joe Pohrer '75 Safety National Mary Pat and Tom Santel '76 SLUH Class of 2023 Fathers DOUBLE TEE SPONSORS AUTOCOhome Appliances Sharamitaro & Associates, CPA TEE SPONSORS JPMorgan Chase – Jim Penilla '91 The Jedlicka Family – Joe ’80, Frank ’84, John ’12 and Joe IV ’12 Owen Development – Cathy and Mike Barry '80 Jeff '98 and Idania Rombach SmithAmundsen LLC – Brian Wacker '02 The Sullivan Family – Kevin '83 and Jack '19

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REQUIESCAT IN PACE Since July 2021, SLUH has learned of the deaths of the following alumni. Eternal rest grant unto them, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Find the complete list at sluh.org/remember.

List compiled 7/1/21-1/15/22

Mr. Thomas R. Arri '50 Mr. Stephen P. Aylward '64 Matthias H. Backer Jr., M.D. '44 Mr. Christian J. Balcer '90 Robert L. Bannister, Ph.D. '54 Mr. Ronald J. Bauer '56 Mr. Marc J. Braeckel '56 Mr. Robert E. Britt '56 Mr. Nick E. Calcaterra '07 Mr. Thomas C. Cassani '49 Mr. Mark B. Chartrand '59 Mr. John J. Cleary '90 Mr. Robert E. Concannon Jr. '52 Mr. Richard B. Dalton '61 Mr. John E. Donato '52 Capt. Donald P. Dorenkamp, USAF (Ret.), PA '78 Mr. Richard T. Doyle Jr. '80 Mr. Stephen P. Forrest Jr. '64 Mr. Thomas J. Fournie '72 Mr. Richard J. Fredrick '54 Mr. Donald R. Garcia '53 Mr. Barry A. Gates '98 Mr. David J. Gund '66 Edward J. Heiden, Ph.D. '56 Mr. Ryan J. Hemkens '99 Mr. Richard A. Horner '54 Mr. Preston Humphrey Jr. '90 John J. Kelly, M.D. '56 Mr. Richard J. Klohr Jr. '28 Mr. David P. Laufer '55 Mr. Donald W. Maag Sr. '52 Mr. Charles J. McEnery Jr. '49 Mr. Leonard A. Meyer Sr. '49 Mr. Joseph H. Mueller '53

Mr. Eugene A. Naes '48 C. A. Nester, MD '66 Mr. Joseph A. O’Connor '30 Mr. John J. O’Donnell '33 William J. Ott, M.D. '62 Rev. John W. Padberg, SJ '44 Mr. Russell A. Pautler '56 Mr. Theodore J. Petersen '61 Mr. Robert F. Pfyl '55 Lt. Col. George Podrasky '55 Mr. John G. Pollock '61 Mr. Nicholas E. Porter '86 Mr. Rick J. Randazzo '74 Mr. James W. Rataj '60 Mr. Dennis Reichert '65 Mr. Richard H. Riehemann '54 G. G. Robben, M.D. '54 Mr. Thomas M. Sargent '72 Mr. Robert P. Schaefer '55 Mr. Richard Schmandt '47 James H. Stebbings, ScD '55 Richard P. Sugg, Ph.D. '59 Mr. John F. Sullivan '51 Thaddeus Szewczyk, M.D. '32 Mr. Stephen M. Tapper Jr. '59 Mr. Kenneth R. Tiemeyer '60 Mr. Kevin R. Toal III '88 Mr. Thomas J. Tobin '55 Mr. Pierre L. Troupe '72 Mr. William F. Vishy Jr. '59 Mr. Nicholas M. Walter '96 Mr. James M. Wetzel '56

Please let us know if you learn of the death of an alumnus or friend of SLUH at alumni@sluh.org.

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U. HIGHLIGHTS

LIVING LEGACIES Three Backer Awardees Distinguished by Selfless Service, Remarkable Careers

Matthias Backer, M.D. ‘44

Bob Bannister, Ph.D. ‘54

Fr. John Padberg, SJ ‘44

The first SLUH Backer Award recipient (1983), Dr. “Matt” Backer was a leader in healthcare, education and the U.S. Navy.

Dr. Bannister dedicated his professional life to education and public service.

He began his teaching career at the St. Louis Priory School and spent 30 years as faculty and vice principal at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. He led SLUH as principal from 1995-2002 and served as a consultant to the president for many years thereafter.

Bannister was an adjunct professor of Mathematics at UMSL from 1968-78 and represented the 12th Ward on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen from 1977-79. He served on numerous committees, boards and councils, including the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Public Library, the St. Louis Arena Corporation, the Arts and Humanities Commission of the City of St. Louis, the 1987-88 Board of Freeholders of the City and County of St. Louis, and the Boards of Trustees for Loyola Academy, Marian Middle School, Nerinx Hall and SLUH.

A Jesuit for 77 years and a priest for 64 years, Fr. Padberg was one of the most influential American Jesuits of the last 50 years.

A graduate of Saint Louis University Medical school, Backer was in private practice for 31 years, attending more than 5,000 births. At different times, he was chairman of obstetrics-gynecology at St. Joseph’s, St. Anthony’s and Saint Louis University hospitals, and chief of staff at the latter two. He was a faculty member at SLU from 1954 to the time of his passing, advancing from instructor to professor and department chairman. His academic career included considerable clinical research and the publication of numerous papers and articles on medical, social and naval subjects.

During his naval career, from 1944-84, he rose from Hospital Apprentice 2nd Class to that of Rear Admiral in the medical corps. He was the Navy representative at his medical school from 1957-92, during which time more than 400 students entered the Navy medical corps.

Backer was honored with the Legion of Merit from the U.S. Navy, the service award from his medical school and the leadership award from the St. Louis Metropolitan Medical Society. He was married to Laverne Knapp for 43 years before her death from cancer, and they had 13 children. In 1997, he married Georgia Garrison-Backer BSN.

View Backer's eulogy.

A lifelong St. Louisan and Saint Louis University graduate, Bannister was an avid city historian who descended from the original settlers of St. Louis. He and his wife, Margaret, had three daughters.

He was a born storyteller and a master of puns who loved helping others.

View Dr. Bannister's SLUH Archive video interview.

An avid scholar, he earned several degrees, including a Ph.D. in Intellectual History from Harvard. He taught Greek, Speech, and history at SLUH from 195153 and served as a history professor and academic vice president at SLU from 1964-73. He was president of the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, MA from 1975-85. During these same years, 1975-85, he was the founding Chair of the National Seminar on Jesuit Higher Education and Editor of Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education. In 1986, Padberg took the reins as Director of the Institute of Jesuit Sources in St. Louis as the Chair of the Seminar on Jesuit Spirituality, and as the Editor of Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits.

Over the years, he lectured extensively about the history and spirituality of the Society of Jesus and Jesuit education, giving presentations at all 28 U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities and in the d’Arcy Lectures at Campion Hall at the University of Oxford.

Padberg had the historian’s flair for a good story and demonstrated unfailing courtesy and friendliness. He was a delightful companion and always a pleasure to be with.

Read about Fr. Padberg in America Magazine.

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GO FORTH

Onder ’82 Makes Inspired Go Forth Gift Donation Completes Funding for Dill Center for Academic Success Jim Onder ’82 takes a deep interest in St. Louis University High and has closely followed the progress of the Go Forth campaign. When he learned the Dill Center for Academic Success was just over $300,000 away from being fully funded, Onder moved into action.

Onder appreciates how SLUH set “a kid from Affton'' like himself up for success. He is passionate about the strong academic program at SLUH and is grateful for how the school served his sons, Jim ’14 and Jack ’22. The Dill Center for Academic Success caught his particular interest because it has been named by his former Cub Scout Master at Seven Holy Founders, Tony Dill ’57, and his wife, Donna.

Aware of the preference of the SLUH Board of Trustees to avoid debt for capital projects, Onder expediently made a gift of $300,000 to move the project forward. He wanted to mobilize construction so Tony and Donna Dill could have many years to enjoy the Center that bears their name.

Thomas R. Schilli Foundation Supports Chapel Renovation

BY RYAN DOYLE

The Thomas R. Schilli Foundation recently donated $500,000 to the Go Forth campaign in support of renovating the chapel and creating the David J. and Kelly E. Laughlin Campus Ministry Center.

The Thomas R. Schilli Foundation supports Jesuit schools and their partners, “guided by the Jesuit Universal Apostolic Preferences.” Jay Hammond, Ph.D. is the nephew of Tom Schilli ’64, an alumnus of Jesuit College Prep of Dallas, Professor of Theology at Saint Louis University and Board President and Executive Director of the Thomas R. Schilli Foundation.

Schilli was deeply impacted by his SLUH education and “wanted to give back in a way that would help share the intellectual and spiritual gifts of an Ignatianinformed education,” Jay reflects of his uncle.

The central location of the SLUH Chapel serves as a metaphor to understand just how meaningful Ignatian spirituality and the Catholic faith were to Tom Schilli.

“Tony was one of the few lawyers in our parish, and as such, he served as a role model to me and other aspiring lawyers,” says Onder, now an accomplished attorney himself and head of OnderLaw, LLC, the largest pharmaceutical and medical products mass tort firm in the country.

“The Ignatian formation [Tom] received at SLUH ensured that his compass would return him to the center,” Jay explains. “For Tom, the ‘center’ of SLUH connects to the halls, classrooms, labs, courts and fields where young men are trained to go forth into the world beyond campus, equipped to serve with incisive minds and discerning hearts.”

The J. Anthony ’57 and Donna M. Dill Center for Academic Success is a 6,300 square-foot space (in what was previously the old cafeteria) for School Counseling, College Counseling and Academic Administration. The space broke ground in March 2020 and will be completed this summer as a powerful new resource for Academic Excellence in 2023.

By renovating the Chapel and simultaneously creating the David J. and Kelly E. Laughlin Campus Ministry Center, SLUH will renew its most sacred space, make positive environmental improvements and reaffirm its commitment to both vocations and forming leaders of faith and excellence for the Church, and for the good of the world.

“With a life dedicated to community service,” says Onder, “Tony Dill truly is a Man for Others.”

St. Louis U. High is grateful to all of the donors who have made generous gifts in support of Go Forth, the most successful campaign in the school’s history.

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See how Go Forth is transforming SLUH at sluh.org/goforth.

ADVANCING OUR MISSION

Strategic Programs Support Endowment One of the more recent and significant Go Forth developments is the creation of endowed funds to support programs and departments.

St. Louis University High was blessed to receive two gifts last quarter that exemplify how a donor can support a beloved program in perpetuity.

SLUH received a $500,000 gift from an anonymous donor to create an endowed fund for Advanced Chinese Language and Culture Studies. This fund will provide resources for higher level academic studies and immersion experiences, ensuring the legacy of the school’s historic Chinese program.

Are you interested in creating endowed funds for a particular purpose? Do you want to contribute to an existing fund?

Visit sluh.org/endowedfunds.

The Aylward Family made a generous gift in honor of longtime SLUH teacher, Stephen Aylward ’64, who was tragically killed in October 2021. The Stephen Aylward ’64 Fund for Social Studies will support the Social Studies department that Aylward dedicated his professional life to and through which he formed generations of SLUH scholars.

Read these touching words from Dr. Mary Lee McConaghy, who taught with Aylward, at www.sluh.org/aylward.

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Donating from Your IRA Offers Tax Benefits IMMEDIATE TAX BENEFITS FOR YOU

TAX BENEFITS FOR YOUR HEIRS AND ESTATE

Qualified Charitable Contributions (QCD) for those 70½ and older

Naming SLUH as beneficiary of your IRA

• A typical distribution from a traditional IRA incurs taxes. Avoid paying income tax on your IRA by making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to SLUH from your IRA. • Individuals 70-1/2 or older can donate up to $100,000 annually without it being considered a taxable distribution.

HOW TO DO THIS Contact the custodian of your IRA account and request a QCD to St. Louis University High, tax ID 43-0662506.

TIP: The contribution lowers your Adjusted Gross Income, which could have the added benefit of reducing your Medicare premium.

• Naming SLUH as a full or partial beneficiary of your IRA can minimize the amount of income taxes for your heirs and your estate.

• If your goal is to support charity as part of your legacy while also leaving assets to family members, it may be more tax efficient to leave cash and appreciated assets to heirs. As charities do not pay income tax, SLUH would receive the full value of the IRA benefit, which would directly support SLUH students who depend on Scholarship.

HOW TO DO THIS Contact your plan administrator for a beneficiary form. If you are married, assure the form has signatures from both you and your spouse if the plan requires it. Advise SLUH that the school has been named as a beneficiary.

TIP: Retirement assets, such as an IRA, generally pass directly to your beneficiaries (whether individuals or nonprofits) without the complications of probate.

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“St. Louis U. High taught me how to learn. The intellectual challenge gave me the tools for success later in life, and the camaraderie among my classmates provided a safe space to express myself and to find my footing.”

- DAVID WEISS ’71 Counsel, Sandberg Phoenix (St. Louis) Designated SLUH as a beneficiary of his estate for a full scholarship

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Linda Domeyer Director of Leadership Giving 314.269.2113 ldomeyer@sluh.org

SLUH ARCHIVE

Blast from the Past

BY THE SLUH ARCHIVE COMMITTEE

SHORTLY BEFORE 1:00 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1927, A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR MANCHESTER AND KINGSHIGHWAY.

ABOVE: The 1927 tornado, which touched down at Manchester and Kingshighway, caused significant damage to the Backer Memorial, including the destruction of irreplaceable statuary and cut stone in the chapel.

LEFT: Despite major damage to classrooms, no one at SLUH was seriously hurt. Students returned to school after about a month.

Did you know?

Last summer, SLUH installed a new rooftop on Backer Memorial and opened up the skylights in the main chapel. This allows for the originally intended natural light to fill the chapel for the first time since the 1927 tornado. The project is part of the Go Forth campaign effort to renovate and restore prominence to the spiritual center of the school.

Learn more about Go Forth at sluh.org/goforth.

The storm continued along West Pine and Lindell Boulevards near the New Cathedral, destroying homes along Westminster, Sarah, Page Boulevard and other streets. It damaged the Pavilion at old Sportman’s Park at Grand and Dodier. And in just five minutes, it killed 78 people and seriously injured an additional 500 along its seven-mile path.

St. Louis University High sustained damage from the storm, less than three years after the opening of Backer Memorial, but there were no serious injuries to students. The school suffered an estimated $150,000 in damage, which was largely covered by insurance. Even though the school was without lights or telephone service for five days, most of the repairs were completed to the point where regular operation could be resumed just two weeks later – except for the chapel, which sustained extensive damage.

In the chapel, not only was the roof severely damaged, but concrete slabs had fallen on the white marble altar, breaking many pieces of statuary and cut stone. Much of this marble had come from Europe and could not be replaced.

The seniors and select juniors taking chemistry volunteered to contribute the breakage fee of about $400, which would be returned to them at the end of the school year.

Mrs. Anna Backer not only assisted in financing the repairs to the building, she donated two new white marble statues – one of St. Aloysius Gonzaga and the other of St. John Berchmans, the patron of Catholic youth. The new statues were donated in memory of the 50th anniversary of Fr. M. J. O’Connor, SJ, and were erected when the students returned to school after the Christmas break.

SLUH ARCHIVE

Do you have SLUH memorabilia, artifacts or pictures of historical significance? If so, the Archive Committee would like to hear from you. Please send a note to archive@sluh.org.

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IGNATIAN REFLECTION

Courage on the Course, in the Classroom How does one ingrain virtue into teenage boys? Is it possible to “teach” young men to embody courage over an 80-minute theology class? How do you instruct a teenager to be just, or loving, or contemplative, as they sit in their mildly uncomfortable desk, at 8:45 a.m.?

BY MICHAEL LALLY Theology Teacher, Cross Country and Track Coach

In addition to teaching theology, I coach cross country and track. Nerves and anxiety often strike our athletes before and during races. Coaches often dread seeing the wide eyes of shock or fear in an athlete’s face mid-race, the runner who cannot believe how fast their competitors are running, or how much it hurts to sustain the same pace. So, it is crucial that our young men become familiar with the physical and mental difficulty they will inevitably encounter.

To prepare, one of our critical practices consists of “race pace” repeats. For example, if the coaches want an athlete to run a threemile race in 15 minutes, then we will have them run a five-minute mile three times (in a row) at practice. Having encountered similar stimuli before at practice, the athlete will be able to greet the pain mid-race as a familiar acquaintance, embrace the difficulty that they knew would eventually come, and succeed in the midst of it.

What, then, does “race-pace” work look like in theology class?

In my Junior Catholic Morality Class, it involves convincing my students that the moral quandaries and issues at hand are not abstract, academic topics. We are studying moral questions that they will one day answer.

A college ethics professor, Dr. Adam Eitel, once told my class, “There are not ‘smart’ people in some other room, at some other school figuring out these problems. You are the smart people. You are in the room. You have to solve these problems.”

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I believe the same is true for my junior theology students. We study Just War Theory because some of my students will one day be in the military. Some will be engineers tasked with designing weapons of war.

We study the morality of capitalism because some of them will be business leaders. We discuss the intricacies of immigration policy, incarceration and racial disparities, because some of them will be lawyers, civic leaders and politicians. And, we talk about bioethical questions of euthanasia, abortion and CRISPR gene-editing, because some of them will be doctors or nurses, and all of them will be caretakers of loved ones.

I frequently remind my students that modern-day vice-presidential candidates, U.S senators, and Supreme Court justices once sat in similar desks at similar Jesuit high schools.

So, I often ask my students to place themselves in these moral scenarios: If you were in charge, how would you address our immigration crisis? What would your COVID vaccine implementation program look like? When do you think human life begins? If given the option, would you drop the bomb on Hiroshima?

In these scenarios, the virtuous decision is often difficult to make, perhaps more difficult than running a five-minute mile. But by beginning to practice wise discernment in these “race-pace” scenarios, our young men hopefully begin to discover the wisdom and courage, grounded in contemplation of Christ, necessary for shaping the Kingdom of God.

UPCOMING EVENTS | 2022

Dauphin Players Production Thursday-Sunday, March 3-6 Joseph Schulte Theater For tickets, visit sluh.org/boxoffice AMDG Parent Spirituality Meetings Thursday, March 17 Thursday, April 7 Thursday, May 19 For details, visit sluh.org/amdg

Classes ending in 2 and 7 are invited to reunite at SLUH in 2022. Find out when your classmates are headed back to Oakland Avenue below.

5th-45th Reunions Saturday, September 17 Classes of ‘17, ‘12, ‘07, ‘02, ‘97, ‘92, ‘87, ‘82, ‘77

Cashbah Auction Saturday, April 2 For details, visit sluh.org/cashbah Mass of Praise and Gratitude Friday, April 29 Si Commons Dance and Choir Concerts Sunday, May 15 Joseph Schulte Theater Graduation Weekend Saturday-Sunday, May 28-29

50th Reunion Saturday, October 22 Class of ‘72 55th-80th Legacy Reunions Saturday, September 17 Classes of ‘67, ‘62, ‘57, ‘52, ‘47, ‘42

Visit sluh.org/reunions to learn more.

Father-Son Golf Tournament Saturday, June 18 Norman K. Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park Fr. Hagan Alumni Cup Golf Tournament Friday, June 24 Norman K. Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park

For more events and details, visit sluh.org/calendar.

VISIT SLUH ONLINE sluhigh |

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SLUH.ORG sluhjrbills

Winter 2021-22 | 57

NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID ST. LOUIS, MO PERMIT NO. 3117

IGNATIAN YEAR PRAYER May 20, 2021 - July 31, 2021

All things work together for good, O Lord, for those called according to your purpose.

When the self-centered plans of Iñigo of Loyola were disrupted by a cannonball, you started him on a spiritual journey.

His eyes were slowly opened to your presence.

Placing his heart in Christ, he followed where your Spirit led, wisely ignorant, emptying his will and embracing yours.

Gracious Lord, transform us, the Ignatian family of the UCS Province, as you transformed the one who became St. Ignatius.

Disrupt our plans when they are not yours.

Cultivate in us the heart of Christ poor to be neighbors to all, especially those excluded by poverty and racism, and to care for our common home, ravaged by greed and over-consumption.

Unite us as friends in your Spirit to journey together, young and mature, toward a hope-filled future.

Our Lady of the Way, intercede for us, that we may see all things new in Christ Jesus, your son.

Amen.