Between the Lions: Summer/Fall 2019

BETWEEN

Lions

the

SUMMER/FALL 2019

NEWS and UPDATES for the St. Pius X Catholic High School Community...

Graduation 2019

Campus NEWS

Alumni NEWS

School SPOTLIGHTS

This magazine is produced by the St. Pius X Catholic High School Office of Advancement.

Chad Barwick President Steve Spellman Principal Jenn Sedlack Director of Advancement Mary Vallés Jones Associate Director of Advancement Karoline Rumps Brennan ’82 Director of Alumni Relations Deanna Jones-Puig ’01 Communications Manager Kyle Snipes Communications Coordinator Mary O’Brien Beyer ’82 Advancement Coordinator Catherine DeWitt Rice ’00 Special Events Coordinator St. Pius X, an archdiocesan high school, provides a college preparatory education for the formation of the mind, body, and spirit of each student in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Billy Howard Photography, LifeTouch, and the numerous students, parents, faculty, and staff who submitted photos used in this publication.

Contents Letter from the President

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Letter from the Principal

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Class of 2019 Graduates

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Yearbook Staff Honored by Walsworth

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Faculty Feature: Mr. Ian LaBreck

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Campus Ministry: Meet Fr. Rey, Mission Trip 2019

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From the Office of Advancement

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Fine Arts News

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Athletics News

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Parent Organizations

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Scholarship Honors Liliana Hagiopol

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Save the Date: Under the Big Top Gala

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St. Pius X News

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Spotlight on the Pius Community

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Legacy Families: Carrying on the Tradition of Excellence

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Pius Pathways

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Homecoming 2019: Save the Date

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Keeping it in the Family

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Lion Lines

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In Memoriam

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From the President

Dear Golden Lion Families, As I write this, our underclassmen are set for exams and our newest group of alumni from the Class of 2019 are embarking on their next adventure. It has been a whirlwind of grace-filled activity at the end of a wonderful year. And though it is tempting to take a quick breather, we are also in a great stage of planning for the future. We are welcoming 296 freshmen and 14 upperclassmen to St. Pius X this August, kicking off a host of summer facility projects (including brighter LED lighting for our parking lots), and making progress for the future of our campus. It is those future plans that I want to preview for you.

In the last 18 months, we’ve heard extensive feedback from different groups of Golden Lions—parents, students, faculty, advisory committee members, alumni—all with the aim of looking at our facility footprint now and through the next 30 years. Those discussions, along with the guidance of the gurus at Collins Cooper Carusi Architects, culminated in a master plan that addressed our needs in order of priority. It was ambitious, looking ahead to a time when, in partnership with the City of Chamblee, we tackle issues like traffic flow on Johnson Road and how we can safely route our student drivers home.

One of the most important takeaways was the clear call from our community to address four general areas immediately: transforming our library into a student-centered learning space that encourages collaboration and community, reimagining the Donnellan Center to address the health and wellness of students, working to improve security across campus, and finishing the Seaver Family Sports Complex.

This plan, being clear and well received, pushed us to contract with Coxe Curry and Associates to conduct a feasibility study. Their interviews with key Pius partners resulted in an overwhelming “yes” to push forward. This is a blessing, as we are eager to start working with our community to plan for these projects. Over the next year, we will sit down and talk to a sampling of friends to determine the full scope of our plan. We ask for your prayers that these conversations can become the cornerstone of new facilities that will benefit all Golden Lions in the future. We are excited and committed to shepherding this vision to fruition. Thank you for your support as this key time of planning transitions into a time of action.

Yours Gratefully in Christ,

Chad Barwick President

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From the Principal Dear Parents and Friends of St. Pius X, The Class of 2019 has graduated, the underclassmen have completed their exams and are now enjoying the carefree days of summer, and the teachers have all submitted their grades and left the building with most taking enrichment courses or working on advanced degrees over the break. A building that pulsates with energy almost 365 days a year has taken on an eerie calm. A calm that will be enjoyed for a very short time as numerous summer camps and enrichment sessions, summer maintenance and deep-cleaning of the building fill the school with activity once again. The summer arrival of the academic testing results from this past year will allow us to disaggregate the data in an effort to identify our current areas of strength and determine what areas we would like to initiate additional focus for the upcoming year.

Reflecting on this past year, I am once again filled with pride for the overall accomplishments of this wonderful school. In particular, I applaud the Class of 2019, the 61st graduating class of St. Pius X. They were a wonderful assemblage of talent and contributed much to our legacy.

Their SAT and ACT scores validated their acceptance into 208 colleges and universities all across this country as they matriculate to 77 different schools. Fifty-one percent are staying in-state, while the other 49 percent are scattering to all parts of the United States. Collectively, they have set a new benchmark by earning 21 million dollars in academic scholarship money that does not include HOPE dollars.

They have managed to keep the bar exceptionally high and set lofty goals for those that follow. The old adage, “The apple does not fall far from the tree” was clearly evident as their parents were just as wonderful and very supportive in every area of school operations and they too will be missed. You have heard me say many times, the foundation of this school lies on two factors: 1. Parents who have high expectations and will cooperatively work with us to achieve those expectations, and 2. A very talented cadre of teachers

who care for their students and continually ask them to achieve beyond what they think they can achieve, a winning combination.

Within the natural rhythm of a school year, the vacancy created by the exiting seniors is contrasted with the joy of the juniors. At the Move-up Mass they exhibited their leadership skills by taking an oath citing that they too will provide the leadership necessary for the school to continue our upward trajectory. Their joy is duplicated by the current freshman class who will no longer be the “youngest” people in the school. We look forward to welcoming the 296 freshman that will comprise the Class of 2023.

I hope that each of you had an enjoyable summer and know that daily prayers are being said for you to have a relaxing, healthy, and a safe return in the fall.

Warmest regards,

Steve Spellman Principal

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Graduation 2019

Class of 2019 Becomes 61st Graduating Class of St. Pius X Congratulations to the St. Pius X Catholic High School Class of 2019! Students walked across the stage at Greater Atlanta Christian’s Auditorium on May 18 to receive their diplomas and become the 61st graduating class of St. Pius X. In early May, the school celebrated the annual Honors Assembly, where students of all grades were honored for their hard work in the academic arena.

Graduates, faculty, and families celebrated Baccalaureate Mass with the St. Pius X community on May 16 at St. Brigid Catholic Church. Father Michael Silloway gave the homily and concelebrated Mass with Most Reverend Joel Konzen, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta and Fr. Rey Pineda, St. Pius X Chaplain.

The group joined together one last time for graduation the next morning. Following the invocation by Father Rey was the singing of “The Star

Spangled Banner” by Georgia Aguirre, Clare Hungeling, Benjamin Lathrop, and Michael Marcinko.

Graduates listened intently to valedictorian Ellie Glenn and salutatorian Ansley Boykin as they addressed the group, reminiscing about their time as students and looking forward to their futures. The two exemplary students represent all of the best attributes of St. Pius X graduates.

Salutatorian Ansley Boykin addressed her fellow graduates, reminding them of their time and listing a number of their accomplishments. She also looked ahead, “Now, as we leave our home of four years, we prepare once again to be lost and frightened freshmen. But this time, it will be different because we will be different.

This school has wrapped us in a tapestry of our own creation, molding each and every one of us into the people we are today. Although the coming years will continue to mold and change us, we will always look back on and return to our time at Pius because, Class of 2019, all

roads lead to St. Pius.”

Following Boykin’s speech, the Distinguished Alumni Award was given to Dr. Jennifer Pitra Wootten ’82.

Please read more about Dr. Wootten in the box at right.

Valedictorian Ellie Glenn addressed classmates saying, “One thing that sets St. Pius apart from other schools is the genuine desire that each student has for the real well-being and success of the entire student body. Refusing to give into the academic and social pressures of high school that could have driven us apart in competition, we leaned on each other in times of struggle.”

Principal Steve Spellman shared, “From the day this school opened in 1958 to the present day, one salient theme has stood the test of time: amazing parents. This school is successful today because of you and on behalf of everyone associated with the school. We thank you for all you have done for us during your time with us.

You have added to the legacy of this school in all areas.”

The principal also reminded the graduates of their many accomplishments while students at St. Pius X. This class completed countless Works of Mercy, served on mission trips, and graduated with the highest ACT score and tied the second highest SAT score in the 61 year history of the school. He spoke of how the group completed 1,487 college applications and were accepted at 208 colleges

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and universities. The group earned a record 21,034,447 million dollars in scholarships, not including HOPE dollars. Fifty-one percent of the group will remain in-state and 49 percent will attend out-of-state schools. He spoke of the incredible fine arts displays and the number of students who would continue studying the arts in college. In addition, he reminded the Golden Lions of their successes in athletics as well - noting that 25 students signed scholarships to play in college. “As you reflect back on your four years here, I hope that you will be proud of your accomplishments -- you have left a wonderful legacy and my prayer for each of you is that this level of achievement will follow you all the days of your lives.”

awarded diplomas to the Class of 2019. She proudly awarded the Archbishop’s Award to Julia Schlueter and Joseph Brunner.

With a mixture of sadness and excitement, we bid a fond farewell to the Class of 2019 as they move forward in their lives. We know that they will continue to leave marks on society and the world, just as they have left us with an enduring legacy of excellence. We pray that God will always guide their ways, we wish each of them a lifetime of happiness and success, and we welcome them as the newest group of St. Pius X alumni!

Superintendent Dr. Diane Starkovich offered her remarks to graduates and

Distinguished Alumni Dr. Jennifer Pitra Wootten ’82 For almost 30 years, she has been a practicing Psychiatrist in affiliation with Emory University Hospital and Grady Memorial. A dedicated, loyal, and generous alumnus, Jennifer has shared her time, treasure, and talent with St. Pius X.

I don’t know how y’all are going to do it.

But I do have one bit of advice about how it must begin. It must begin with listening.”

She went on to say, “Listening is one of the loudest forms of kindness and inherent in listening is respect and being open to another point of view. We have two ears The legacy her parents started with her five and one mouth. Even God is trying to siblings continued when Jennifer and her tell us to listen twice as much as we talk. husband, Chuck Wootten, sent their three When we are listening, we should do so children, Zach `11, Caroline `13 and Mary without judgment...As a Pius graduate, I Kate `16, to St. Pius X. During her time as can say that I have been affected. I’m not a parent, she volunteered on many parent sure if this is what makes one eligible for committees and also served on the St. Pius the distinguished alumnus award, but I can When we think of the word distinguished X Alumni Board. still sing the fight song and the alma mater, and mainly while we are at graduation, much to my children’s dismay. This place we envision pomp and circumstance, Jennifer’s goodwill extends much further will stay with you from this day to the end grandeur, and a ceremony with fuss. To the than St. Pius X. She served on the Alumni of your days.” contrary, this year’s recipient is opposite in Board for Spring Hill College, and the nature and character to all of that. She is a Parent Advisory Board at Christ the King Thank you, Jennifer, for all that you humble woman who embodies the beloved School. She also mentors at Cristo Rey have done and continue to do for our characteristics of our fine school...Pride, Atlanta Jesuit High School, serves on the community. The St. Pius X Alumni Integrity, Unity, and Sacrifice. member Health Advisory Committee at Association proudly awards to you the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award, Dr. Jennifer Wootten has been a loyal supervises clinical work in the Clarkston in recognition of your open heart and alumna and silent hero for the Atlanta Refugee clinic and is presently a member selfless dedication to living out the ideals community. After graduating from the of the Archbishop’s Lay Advisory Board. and values of St. Pius X Catholic High great class of ’82, she continued from St. School in your professional achievement, Pius X to receive her Bachelors of Science On Saturday, May 19, 2019, at the St. Pius commitment to our community, concern degree from Spring Hill College and her X Commencement ceremony at Greater for young people and overall pursuit of medical degree from Mercer University Atlanta Christian School, Wootten spoke excellence.

School of Medicine where she was awarded about the gift of listening. Through humor Outstanding Student in Psychiatry. She and grace, she shared her thoughts on how went on to be Chief Resident in Psychiatry this generation is charged “to fix what we at Emory. have broken or not gotten around to fixing ourselves. I do not have the solution, and

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Yearbook Staff Earns National Recognition Written by Golden Lines Staff Writer: Will Hollensbe ’20 An annual highlight for the yearbook staff is distribution day in May. After almost 12 months of brainstorming, designing, writing, interviewing, and taking photos, the staff finally gets to share their hard work with the student body. Creating a 400+ page yearbook is no easy task, and there are plenty of challenges and setbacks along the way, but the staff received extra motivation and encouragement throughout the year when they earned several awards and recognition from their publishing company, Walsworth Yearbooks.

The first accolade came at the beginning of the school year when they learned that a spread from the 2018 yearbook was selected to appear in “Idea File,” a magazine published twice a year that serves as an educational resource for schools across the country. Featured in the “Caught Our Eye” section of the magazine, the spread titlesd “Apocalypse Now” highlighted a series of unusual events throughout the 2017-18 school year, including the solar eclipse, Hurricane Irma, snow days, and even a water main break along Buford Highway that resulted in early dismissal from school.

“I loved seeing one of our spreads actually appear in the magazine,” senior editor Brooke Sledge said. “Every year we use it to get ideas for our yearbook, so it’s pretty cool knowing that another school somewhere in the country may be looking at what we did for inspiration.”

Last year’s cover was also selected to appear in Walsworth’s annual “Possibilities” book, which showcases more than 350 pages of yearbook excellence.

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According to the letter that accompanied the staff ’s personalized copy, “this honor recognizes yearbooks with the highest levels of design, photography, and coverage and places your yearbook among the best that Walsworth prints.”

“I’m actually most excited about the banner that came with the award,” junior editor Sarah Fredrickson said.

“I like having something we can hang on the wall and because everyone will be able to see it.”

!

This is the seventh consecutive year that the St. Pius X yearbook has earned the honor of being inducted into Walsworth’s Gallery of Excellence.

Finally, the 2019 yearbook was recently inducted into Walsworth’s Gallery of Excellence, which is an annual collection of the most distinguished yearbooks in the country. This is the seventh consecutive year that the St. Pius X yearbook has earned the honor.

“I’m so proud of our staff this year,” said yearbook adviser Ashley Curlette. They put in so much hard work throughout the year. They attend summer workshops, stay long hours after school, and come up on weekends to help make the yearbook the best it can be. Their ultimate goal is to produce a quality yearbook that the whole school enjoys, and official recognition like this helps them stay motivated to keep improving the yearbook year after year.”

Faculty Feature

Getting to know...Mr. Ian LaBreck

At St. Pius X, we believe that some of our greatest assets are our faculty and staff.

These extraordinary people strive to give our students the best education possible so that they are able to achieve their greatest potential. We invite you to take a moment to learn more about the real people who keep our classrooms running. Today, we meet Band Director Mr. Ian LaBreck.

What do you love about working at Pius?

The people. By far the people. From the students to the parents to the faculty and staff, there is really no other place like Pius. I don’t know where anyone could find a more caring, supportive, and motivated community.

Why did you choose to work at Pius?

When I left my interview at Pius in May of 2015 I had a really special feeling.

Pius was my first interview, but I immediately knew that if I was offered the job it would be an unconditional “yes.” There’s something about being on campus that gives anyone such a welcoming feeling, and that is what stuck with me when I visited.

What is your philosophy? How will you put your stamp on the band program?

We’re at such a special time at Pius where athletics, academics, and the arts are functioning at their highest levels. I’m looking forward to seizing that momentum and bringing our band program’s performance to new heights.

I believe in a commitment to excellence in music, leadership through example in our program, service with pride, and inspiration through spirit and musicianship. Look for the St. Pius X Band Program to bring fire to everything it does.

What’s new for band next year?

One of the most exciting things to happen to our band next year is the debut of brand new uniforms for the Marching Golden Lions! We’ll roll out our new garb sometime in October. The pit (or front ensemble) is getting brand new equipment to make every performance more efficient and more effective. We’re reorienting the senior lot this summer for our rehearsal space to face the school instead of Plaster. This gives us room to bring in a scissor lift that will help with rehearsals throughout the season.

In October, we’ll be taking the whole band program to Universal Studios on a performance trip! Look for our 2019 Marching show titled “Wanted.”

You’ll be captivated by the dramatic story of a gang of outlaws running to make their escape from the law with their heist in tact. The show will feature music by Ennio Morricone, Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin, and Muse.

AT A GLANCE HOMETOWN: St. Marys, Georgia HIGH SCHOOL: Douglas Anderson School of the Arts (Jacksonville, FL) COLLEGE/DEGREES: University of Georgia, Bachelor of Music in Music Education CLASSES TAUGHT/EXTRACURRICULARS: Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, AP Music Theory, Music Appreciation, Marching Golden Lions, Basketball Pep Band FAMILY: Seven siblings YEARS AT SPX: 4 FAVORITE BOOK: Harry Potter FAVORITE MOVIE: Pulp Fiction FAVORITE QUOTE: “Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable” - Leonard Bernstein LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF: I couldn’t whistle until summer before senior year at UGA. While backpacking Europe I tried for hours literally every day every time we were in transit until boom, a month later I could whistle.

HOBBIES: Rock climbing, hiking, skiing, and sitting by the pool FIRST JOB: Tanning salon FAVORITE ST. PIUS X MEMORY: Conducting O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen in the St. Mary’s Cathedral in Limerick, Ireland.

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Campus Ministry

News and Updates from Campus Ministry

Getting to Know Our Chaplain When Fr. Rey Pineda visited our campus last spring for the first time, there was a buzz in the air.

Long time chaplain, Fr. Michael Silloway, was appointed to be the pastor at Christ our King and Savior in Greensboro, Georgia, and the St. Pius X community was filled with a murmur of who would be the new chaplain. On his tour, several students recognized him from the Cathedral of Christ the King, where he previously served as parochial vicar.

“Is that our new chaplain?” several students and teachers asked.

Fortunately for St. Pius X, Fr. Rey is our new chaplain, and was appointed to join our school community on July 1, 2018. In his first year as chaplain, Fr. Rey has done an incredible job of being a joyful and contagious witness to Christ and His Church.

We asked Fr. Rey some questions about his experience during his first year at St. Pius X:

Ok, first things first. The burning question is, how tall are you?

In the eyes of God, a giant. For those who lack faith, 5’2”.

What was the thing that most surprised you about your first year as chaplain?

Two things: First, I was pleased to see that there were a great number of young people excited about living their faith and engaging their faith at this age. At the same time, I was very pleased to see the honesty of the struggle that people have with the faith as well.

What was the best part?

Getting to know the culture of St. Pius X, both the legacy and the excitement for the future. Also being thrown into the dance circle at the Domini Sumus retreat and having to remember how to break dance!

What was the biggest lesson you learned?

I think it’s two-fold. I learned that some of the best I have to offer has little to do with my talents or my abilities, because some of the most fruitful encounters with people were just a matter of me being present to them, and not me necessarily saying anything of wisdom. The other part is learning to trust that God’s plan is really better than anything I could envision. I had to trust that it was His Will to come here, and the fruit of that has been really amazing in my vocation.

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What is the funniest thing that’s happened this school year?

Literally everything every day.

What are you looking forward to next year?

Having a little more experience and learning how to plan more effectively to bring the ideas I have for Campus Ministry to light.

Who is someone you look up to at St. Pius X? Chad Barwick, but don’t tell him I said that.

People always talk about your Pius spirit shoe collection.

What is your next pair?

Yeezys….just kidding. I’m looking at customizing some Nike Roshe Ones in navy and gold, but I have to save up my money.

What are your top three favorite memories of the past year?

Seeing the Vatican flag fly outside our school and at many of our sporting events, Teacher Jam, and going to the Jekyll Island Tournament with our soccer teams.

The St. Pius X community loves Fr. Rey, and are so excited about his years of service to come!

Pius Celebrates a Decade of Mission Trips with Mustard Seed Communities The sun had set. The windows were down in the cramped bus, and the warm, salty air swirled in our faces. We had arrived in Kingston. It was dark, and although we could barely see the island we now called home, we knew it was everything we wanted and more. This was the beginning of our life-changing week in Jamaica working with Mustard Seed Communities. This was the beginning of our life-changing week where we would encounter the love of Christ.

For a decade, St. Pius X has been taking spring break mission trips to serve alongside Mustard Seed Communities. Mustard Seed is a nonprofit organization that serves the most vulnerable of society. It began in 1978 as a home for abandoned children with disabilities in the outskirts of Kingston, and is now a ministry spread among five countries with over 600 residents.

For St. Pius X, we have a tradition of serving in Nicaragua and Jamaica. This year, twenty students joined four adult chaperones for a week we will never forget.

Each day consisted of time spent with the residents, work projects, prayer and community time. Residents in several

“

The joy still permeates conversations and memories. The freedom we experienced comes from an encounter with Christ, and we cannot return home the same..”

homes in Jamaica require the constant attention of a staff of nurses and caretakers, otherwise known as “the aunties.” St. Pius X missionaries helped feed residents, participate in therapy sessions, read stories, and assist with prayer time. For our students, it wasn’t just about lending a hand, but really making lasting connections.

“I think my favorite resident was Jaylen,” says senior Anthony Stout. Jaylen was a new resident who had been transferred to Sophie’s Place, the home of our student missionaries for the week. “He was so energetic, and I loved watching him connect with Sterling Hudson.” Aside from the interactions, the work projects during the week brought a real sense of community and teamwork. From working long, hot hours in the farming fields, to repurposing a community playground, our student missionaries jumped right into every task that was required of them.

But what is the true, lasting impact of a mission like this? So often, our desire to serve or to go on mission comes from a

place of wanting to “give to the less fortunate.” The true beauty of Jamaica, of working with Mustard Seed in general, is that we receive so much more than we give.

We arrive with the intention of really making an impact, but ironically, we leave dramatically changed.

“My most impactful part of the mission trip was watching our young adults really embrace the purpose for our being there,” says parent chaperone Ashley Miller, Sr. “I saw [our students] living their faith and loving the MSC residents and caretakers from the moment we arrived. They came together as one to embrace the challenges of service and devotion to something other than themselves. And in the small chapel at Sophie’s Place, they lifted their voices in song like a chorus of angels. No one missed technology. Each and every one of the missionaries returned a more mature young adult than who left the week before. I sincerely believe they-we--were all forever transformed by the experience.” Every night, our mission team gathered in the chapel of Sophie’s Place to reflect, pray, and break open the experiences of the day in smaller groups. The mission of the day naturally brought our team to an encounter with Christ. Every resident, every auntie, every person we encountered in that beautiful country mirrored the image of the Creator, the Heart of the Father, the living and personal God. On our second-to-last night, while we were watching the sunset over the Caribbean, junior Kathryn Thomas remarked, “With a sunset like this, how do you not believe in a Creator?”

Likewise, junior Caroline Knight was particularly moved by a motto of Mustard Seed. “In big letters, in every chapel, is written: “He is here! Thank You, Lord.” God is in the little moments, and we don’t always take the time to notice that. But on the mission trip, we did, and it carried over to everyday, normal life.” It was true, He was there. And we are thankful for that. We took that same cramped bus back to the airport after a week of laughter, community, prayer, encounter, and pure joy.

We had braids in our hair and sunburned skin, and we were different. There is still such a sense of freedom surrounding the students and chaperones who served that week in Jamaica. The joy still permeates conversations and memories. The freedom we experienced comes from an encounter with Christ, and we cannot return home the same. We pray for many more life-changing weeks to come in the future for our St. Pius X family. He is here. Thank You Lord!

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From the Office of Advancement News and updates regarding advancement efforts at St. Pius X

IRA Charitable Rollover Great Option for Donors 70 ½ and Older The IRA Charitable Rollover allows those 70 ½ and older to make Qualified Charitable Distributions directly from their IRA, up to $100,000 each year. If you are 70 ½ or older and have required minimum distributions that you must take from your IRA, making a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA to your favorite charities is a tax-wise way to make a gift.

Distributions of up to $100,000 may be made each year and the amount will count towards your required minimum distribution but will not be recognized as income on your tax return. The distribution must come directly from your IRA custodian to the charity. This is a great way to support the Annual Fund or to add to or create an endowment fund for the benefit of St. Pius X. For more information, please contact the Office of Advancement at advancement@spx.org or your financial advisor.

Parents of Alumni Tailgate set for October 11 Football Game Calling all parents of alumni - please join us for a 1958 Club football tailgate on Friday, October 11 at 6 p.m. before the Golden Lions take on Oconee County High School. The 1958 Club, a group created to keep parents of alumni connected with St. Pius X, is hosting a casual potluck tailgate behind the stadium ticketing area, near the old softball field. Tickets to the game may be purchased at the gate. Bring a dish to share. Drinks will be provided. Questions? Contact Parent of Alumni Bob Remmes at advancement@spx.org.

Unique Ways to Support St. Pius X • Did you know you can donate your appreciated stock to St. Pius X? This often offers the most tax advantageous method for making your annual gift. Directions to do so can be found at www.spx.org/support/ways-give.

• Take advantage of a generous tax credit by registering for GRACE Scholars, which provides scholarships to Catholic School students. You pay upfront, and then receive a dollarfor-dollar tax credit against your state taxes the following year. Visit www.gracescholars.org to preregister for the 2020 tax year.

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Scholarship Support Nearly Doubles with Increased Cap This year the Georgia legislature raised the cap for the Qualified Education Expense (QEE) program from $58M to $100M. The QEE bill allows Georgia individual and corporate taxpayers to contribute to Student Scholarship Organizations like GRACE Scholars in exchange for a state income tax credit. GRACE then uses the contributions to award scholarships to students in Catholic schools throughout Georgia, including St. Pius X. Thus far in 2019, contributions to St. Pius X have reached over $400,000 from 200-plus taxpayers, nearly double the amount realized in 2018. If you are a Georgia state taxpayer and do not participate in GRACE Scholars, please consider redirecting your taxes for the benefit of St. Pius X. Registration for the 2020 program is open and more information can be found online at www.gracescholars.org. Give the gift of a Catholic education to a Pius student today!

You’re Invited to the Annual FUN(d) Party in Maloof Stadium Calling all St. Pius X supporters! Join us on Friday, October 4 at 7 p.m. on the football field for the third Annual FUN(d) Party. This event brings together current parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents and friends who demonstrate their love for St. Pius X and its mission by contributing to the Annual Fund. Anyone who makes a gift or pledges to this year’s Annual Fund by October 4 is invited to attend this evening of live music in a Chastain concert-like setting. We will have chairs, tables and music ready to go, so pack your cooler and make plans to join us! Questions? Contact the Advancement Office at advancement@spx.org.

Donor-Advised Funds Growing in Popularity A donor-advised fund (DAF) allows benefactors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax benefit and then recommend grants to their favorite charities over time.

The benefits of opening a DAF include consolidating your charitable giving into one pool of funds, giving you a better sense of what you have to give, how much you give out over time, and to whom.

Assets are professionally managed and invested, and you can contribute to the fund as frequently as you like. Donoradvised funds are easy to open and once a donor fund is established, you then recommend grants to your favorite charity whenever it makes sense for you. Organizations such as the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia or your existing financial advisor can help you set up a fund. Management fees are often very low, and check writing, record keeping and other administrative tasks are handled, including the disbursement of grants to your charities. Some DAFs have low to zero minimums for opening a fund, and it is up to the donor to determine when and where the funds are disbursed (within the guidelines of the organization managing the DAF).

For more information, please contact the Office of Advancement at advancement@ spx.org or your financial advisor.

Chi-Rho Society Spotlight The Chi-Rho Society Spotlight introduces members of the St. Pius X planned giving society, which honors families and individuals who have made planned gifts to benefit St. Pius X. Chi-Rho Members: Lori and Ken Barnett Children: Abby ’14 and Sarah ’17 Type of planned gift: Will bequest Why St. Pius X is in their will: Adding St. Pius X to our will allows our family to contribute to the continuation of excellence that we wholeheartedly experienced during our many years at St. Pius X.

YOU CAN MAKE A LEGACY GIFT

$ You don’t have to have extraordinary wealth to make a planned gift.

Even a small amount can have a big impact over time.

$ Some people think they must choose between leaving a gift to their family or charity. You can do both! Many planned gifts actually save your family money.

It’s easy! A simple designation can bring incredible support to St. Pius X Catholic High School.

“Bunching” Charitable Donations Provides Tax Savings Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the standard deduction was increased to $24,000 for taxpayers filing jointly (from $12,700 in 2017). This has caused some donors to consider the ways they can continue to reap a tax benefit via their charitable giving. One such way is “bunching” charitable gifts, which can be done through a donor advised fund (see article “Donor Advised Funds Growing in Popularity”). For example, a donor who might normally contribute $10,000 to charities per year chooses to set up a donor advised fund with a $20,000 gift in year one. In year one the donor takes advantage of itemizing the $20,000 contribution. He or she also makes $10,000 worth of grants to his or her favorite charities. In year two, the donor does not make any additional contributions, but uses the remaining $10,000 in the donor advised fund to continue to support his or her charities. In year two, when the donor does not make any additional contributions to the donor advised fund, he or she takes the standard deduction. To learn more, contact the Office of Advancement at 404-633-4290 or advancement@spx.org.

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Fine Arts Department Continues to Impress Audiences at St. Pius X The fine arts department had seven ticketed events this year, for a total of 24 performances and events. Seven were sold out shows with over 8,000 attendees at this year’s events. That is almost a 30 percent increase from last year’s attendance alone. Continue reading below for highlights from the various fine arts disciplines and some great things to look forward to next year!

Band

In the fall, the Marching Golden Lions competed at the White Columns Invitational at Milton High School and the Georgia State Marching Competition in the Georgia State Stadium. The Marching Golden Lions earned 1st place overall awards in Class A in both competitions while also netting 1st place drum major, colorguard, and percussion honors as well. Also in the fall, the band program hosted its 3rd annual Lion’s Den Competition with a record 15 bands in attendance. In January, Andrew Soha ’22 won a 2nd chair french horn spot performing in the GMEA District IV Honor Band. In the spring, the symphonic band continued its success at Large Group Performance Evaluation. For the spring concert, the concert jazz band brought in world renowned artist Jimmy Brown and the symphonic band performed a diverse repertoire to send Mr. Paetznick off after his impactful 14 years at St. Pius X. Next school year the band program is excited to debut brand new marching band uniforms, new pit equipment, and a new look in their practice spot on the senior lot with a great new scissor lift! Catch the Marching Golden Lions as they present their 2019 show “Wanted.” The show will follow a gang in the wild west as they escape from the law to selections from Ennio Morricone, Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin, and Muse.

Chorus

The Men’s ensemble also provided a special presentation with music from South Africa for the school-wide Black History month assembly. Men’s Ensemble member Daniel Buckley passed two auditions to be selected for a second year to the GMEA All-State Men’s Chorus. He attended the event in Athens and rehearsed and performed with the best high school singers in the state under the direction of a guest clinician.

The SPX Mixed Chorus returned this

year to the GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation event. We upped our challenge by going in a higher classification in performance, which also upped our challenge in the sight singing evaluation. The Mixed Chorus earned a superior rating in performance and superior sight singing. The final concert of the year, “Soundtracks of Our Lives,” was a fun-filled singing and dancing extravaganza featuring all vocal ensembles and auditioned soloists with songs of their own choosing. The chorus collaborated with the Pius Players performers in featured solo selections. The SPX tech crew, under Mr. Gerel McIntosh, was an integral part of this production providing sound, lights, and special effects.

Dance

This year over 90 students participated in the dance program. Last summer, members of the Dance Company attended summer intensives at AMDA (Los Angeles), Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, American Ballet Theater (NYC) and Dance Theater of Harlem. The St. Pius X Dance Company performed at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Margaret Harris Comprehensive School, Open House, Morning of the Arts, Fine Arts Assembly, and the Spring Dance Concert and NOVO performance. The dance program continued their tradition of hosting Dresden Elementary students (4th and 5th graders) for an outreach performance. All students perform in the Spring Dance Concert and the NOVO Choreography & Benefit Performance and all participated in the Dresden Christmas Gift Project. Several seniors were accepted into the dance programs at the University of the Arts, Texas Christian University, and the University of Georgia.

Drama

In the fall, the drama department presented a modern interpretation of “Antigone” with the show’s playwright, Bonnie Roberts, present at the Sunday show. Students Neal Belden ’19 and Hailey Miller ’20 directed the Christmas Show “Charlie Brown” in December. Students also took a show on the road to perform for patients at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The Pius Players presented

Spark Ignites Outpouring of Support for Theatrical Arts Endowment Inspired by an article in the last issue of this magazine, a generous donor stepped up to offer a $5,000 challenge match with the goal of fully endowing the Bonnie Spark Endowment Fund for the Theatrical Arts. The fund was $9,000 shy of its $25,000 goal, and the challenge was issued to the greater community in the weeks leading up to and including the weekend of the spring production,“Newsies.” The community responded quickly and with great generosity, so much so that the St. Pius X Arts Society, commonly known as SPAS, offered a second $5,000 challenge match.

When the dust had settled and the donations were tallied, a grand total of $20,000 was raised, far surpassing the original goal of $9,000. The Fund will now provide annual financial support for the Theatrical Arts department in perpetuity.

“Newsies” in the spring with four sold out exposure to Sound For Film and shows. Notable SPX Alum Annie Martin Television via their last two semester ’18, was featured as Puck in the Georgia projects.

College and State University production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Visual Arts

This year, the students in Clayworks 1 visited The Carlos Museum at Emory This year Advanced Guitar performed in Decatur. The Art Association created the Charlie Brown characters for the at St. John Neumann, Open House, drama production and painted the Mini Morning of the Arts, Margaret Harris Comprehensive School, the Christmas Library outside the front of the school.

Art Association students participated Concert, Reinhardt University, the in The Atlanta Parent Magazine’s Fall University of Georgia, and Young Festival at Mercer University Chamblee Harris College. Advanced Guitar campus, helping run craft booths at the has earned superior ratings for an event. Students also submitted photos impressive five years in a row at Large for the Drexel High School competition.

Group Performance Evaluation. The The visual arts department spearheaded guitar program presented a two night the hanging of the posters in the fine concert to a packed house in April. arts hallway. Select students took part The guitar program also received a in The Atlanta Celebrates Photography new class set of classical guitars for Advanced Guitar. Mr. Kennedy hosted invitational exhibition at Binders in Midtown. Art Association will be esteemed guests Dr. Nicolas Deuson, Dr. Daniel Bolshoy, and The University participating with the Memory Project, of Georgia guitar ensemble. Advanced painting/drawing portraits of orphans Guitar recorded their fourth EP “Songs from Peru. Advanced and AP classes From the Barn Vol.III” at Callanwolde went to the Lowe gallery for a tour by Studios. They also traveled to Nashville, the gallery director, Ms. Sloan, where contemporary art and their collection Tennessee to perform, see shows, and of art and artists were discussed. The soak up the rich culture and musical annual juried show was a success with history. more than 200 entries. We were hard pushed to find space for everything!

Music Technology This year, Keith Rosemond ’04 was the Students in Music Technology had an juror. established music producer critiquing and providing feedback on their music compositions, and they have received

Guitar

Photo courtesy of Nic Cáceres ’17.

Photo courtesy of Nic Cáceres ’17.

Spotlight on Graduating Seniors On May 6 the Fine Arts Department hosted its first ever fine arts college signing day. Graduating seniors planning on majoring or minoring in a field of the arts were recognized.

We wish the best of luck to our recent graduates: Blake Buhler Long Island University Post (Theater) Kyle Cochran University of Georgia (Music-Guitar) Carmella Durand Kennesaw State University (Dance) Emily Foster University of Southern California (Music-Guitar) Caroline Hall University of Mississippi (Music-Guitar) Clare Hungeling Marymount Manhattan College (Theater) Versailles Jones The University of the Arts (Dance) Melani Macik Georgia State University (Music-Guitar) Gabby McCluskey Georgia College and State University (Music-Guitar) Justin Paetznick Georgia College & State University (Music-Music Therapy) Ava Polvino Loyola Marymount University (Theater) Jacob Ruggiero Middle Tennessee State University (Music Technology)

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Athletics News

Golden Lions stats, scores, and news

Golden Lions Roar in 2019 Athletic Seasons Another banner year saw the Golden Lions add four state championships in the winter and spring sports seasons. St. Pius X won six state crowns and finished as state runners-up twice. That success, along with 21 of 22 sports reaching post-season play, helped the Golden Lions end the 19-year run of Marist as Georgia Athletic Directors’ Association Region Director’s Cup champions. It was the sixth overall GADA Cup for St. Pius X and first in AAAA.

Boys’ swim and dive captured its third straight state championship and fourth since 2014. Ian Grum brought home two individual crowns in the 200 and 500-yard freestyle. Blake Reynolds finished second in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events. The pair of swimmers were also members of the 400yard freestyle relay team which finished first.

Joining Grum and Reynolds on the relay was Noah Daniels and Henry Halloran.

The girls’ swim team placed second overall in the state meet. Abby Cohen paced the Golden Lions with an individual state championship in the 500-yard freestyle.

Cohen placed second in the 200-yard individual medley. Riley Hendrix won a state title in the 100-yard backstroke, while the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Georgia Brieske, Tyler Feild, Anna Maloof and Hendrix placed third.

Boys’ basketball won its third straight region championship en route to a 26-4 record on the year. The Golden Lions advanced to the Elite Eight of the state tournament for the third straight

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year and fifth out of the last seven. Senior Matthew Gonzalo was named Region Player of the Year, 4A State Senior of the Year and First Team All-State. Niko Broadway, Brian Gonzalo and Zach Ranson were voted First Team All-Region and Chase Cormier was selected 4A State Freshman of the Year.

Matthew Gonzalo also became the school’s career assist leader during the campaign.

Girls’ basketball finished the season 1415 and as region runners-up. St. Pius X advanced to the second round of the state playoffs for the first time since 2015 as senior Emma Drash led the team in scoring. Junior Wylie Sheridan, freshman Karis Coleman and Drash were all named to the All-Region team.

Sheridan averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds in region play, while Coleman poured in nine points per contest.

Wrestling finished its dual meet season 1412, and finished 10th in the DeKalb County Championships. Ten wrestlers qualified for the first round of the state tournament. Will Pentecost, Bishop Marshall, Sean Laubenthal and Dominic Thomas all advanced to the Sweet 16 of the state tournament.

Boys’ track and field won its second straight state crown and fourth in six years. Tanner Duffin broke a 53-year old state record with a throw of 66’ 10” in the shot put, while also winning the individual title for the discus.

Matthew Harris collected a state crown in the 300-meter hurdles and finished second in the 110m hurdles. The 4x100m relay team of Michael Benefield, Jason Jones, Gavin McElroy and Jared Williams placed second.

Williams also placed second individually in the 200m dash.

Girls’ track and field finished in the top 10 again, with an eighth place finish. Maggie Yankovich won the 1600m run and Morgan Vaden finished second in the 3200m run.

Several school records fell this season. The relay team of Mary Brady, Brieske, Vaden and Yankovich set a new standard in the 4x800m event. Catherine Breault joined Brady, Vaden and Yankovich to break the 4x1600m relay record. Breault also set a record in the 2000m steeple event. Finally, the 4x100m relay team of Breault, Elizabeth Heim, Lily Porter and Emma Richerson set the school event record.

Girls’ soccer rolled to its ninth state championship since 2009 with a 6-0 win over Flowery Branch and finished the season 173-2. Renee Lyles led all scorers with 36 goals, the most scored in the state this year, and was named First Team All-Region. She was joined by Eve Beyer, Helen Cherry and Ava Schwarze. Second team selections included Lauren Bynum, Emmy Glenn, Loren House and Caroline Shea.

Boys’ soccer finished its season as region champions and reached the second round of the state playoffs. The Golden Lions finished the year 11-6-2 and placed Javi Aponte, Noah Ballew, Graham Hardy and Brandon McLaughlin on the All-Region First Team.

Matthew Biando, Greg Kopanezos and Joe Murphy were named to the second team.

Boys’ tennis went to the Final Four of the state playoffs for the first time since 2015, while finishing third in the region and 15-9 overall. Hudson Feldman was named Second

Golden Lions Earn GADA Director’s Cup St. Pius X has won the Georgia Athletic Directors Association (GADA) Regions Bank Director’s Cup for the 2018-19 year. The Golden Lions won its sixth cup overall, its first in the Georgia High School Athletic Association’s (GHSA) AAAA classification, ending the 19-year run of rival Marist. The GADA Director’s Cup recognizes the athletic programs in each GHSA classification that have excelled and shown superior performance.

“This was a collective effort on the part of the entire St. Pius X family,” said Principal Steve Spellman. “The student-athletes, coaches and parents all worked together to produce such results. This award, coupled with an outstanding record-setting academics year makes this year especially memorable.”

Team All-Region in singles. The doubles team of Luke Griffin and Sebastian Giraldo were selected First Team AllRegion and Matthew Gregg and Austin Lalomia were voted to the All-Region Second Team in doubles.

Girls’ tennis ended its season in the second round of the state playoffs after finishing second in the region. Freshman Czarina Barlaan was voted to the All-Region first team in singles, while Stephanie Cozine was selected to the second team. The Golden Lions placed the doubles team of Erin Collins and Margherita Ceccagnoli on the First Team.

Baseball finished the season in the second round of the state playoffs and third place in the region. Shortstop Chandler Simpson was named Region Player of the Year batting .450 with 31 runs scored and 15 bases stolen. Michael Spear was named First Team All-Region with three home runs and 25 runs batted in. Joining him on the First Team was catcher Matt Turner and pitcher Agyei Quinichett. Pitchers Daniel Teran and Will Tippett and outfielder Jack Herring were selected to the Second Team.

Boys’ golf captured its first state title in school history with an eight-stroke victory on the layout at the Country Club of Columbus.

Carter Loflin finished at three-under par, good for second-place overall in the individual competition. Stephen Kinsel shot two-over par, and Max Muenchen and Shaun Cook both posted sevenover par, with Jack McDonald one stroke behind in the individual championship.

Girls’ golf placed second in the area and tenth overall at the state championship. Neve Thanner and Lily Osterloh paced the Golden Lions at the state tournament.

St. Pius X (1,272 points) won the overall Cup competition, ahead of second-place Blessed Trinity (1,231 points) and third-place Marist (1,209 points).

The Golden Lions finished at the top of the Boys’ Sports Program standings, ahead of Woodward Academy and Blessed Trinity. The Girls’ Sports Program saw St. Pius X finish second with 613 points behind Marist’s 645 points.

“I couldn’t be more proud and excited for our student-athletes and coaches. This is an amazing accomplishment and a testament to the hard work, unity, and commitment found in our athletic department. We are blessed to be at a Christ centered school that values strong academics coupled with a strong and comprehensive commitment to all of our sport programs. To all of our Golden Lion studentathletes and coaches, congratulations on a fantastic 2018-19 campaign,” said Director of Athletics Todd Mooney.

“Winning the Director’s Cup is such a great honor to all of our players and coaches. It validates that here at St. Pius X we are building up all of our programs and the community continues to support all student athletes.

I am blessed to be a part of such an amazing athletic department,” said girls’ soccer coach Sara Schmitt, who has led the Golden Lions to nine state titles in the past 11 seasons.

Twenty-five GHSA sports are counted in the standings each school year and each school’s eight best team finishes earn points in the standings. St. Pius X won state championships in boys’ cross country, boys’ swimming, boys’ track and field and boys’ golf, the first state championship on the links for the Golden Lions.

Volleyball and girls’ soccer won state crowns, while girls’ cross country and girls’ swimming finished as state runners-up. Of the 22 sports St. Pius X offers, all but one advanced to the state playoffs during the 2018-2019 seasons.

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Mothers’ Club Looks Ahead to New Year By: Wynne Callaway

St. Pius X Mothers’ Club has been meeting in friendship, sharing in faith and working in service together for the good of our community since 1987. We had another remarkable year in 201819 with 20-plus committees, a record breaking year of membership at 385 members and a proud contribution of $56,000 toward student scholarships and assistance. Traditional events included our 25th Holiday Marketplace where 100 percent of the proceeds went to fund needs based scholarships for current students, sponsoring our 12th “Dresden Christmas Project” to give 89 children in 29 neighborhood families a complete Christmas, hosting our annual Advent by Candlelight for 210 members and alumni moms as well as a Mother’s Retreat. We are excited for another productive and rewarding year for 2019-20!

Student/Parent Winter Service Day: This continues to be a popular and very beneficial event each February! Everyone is invited as family members and students work on four Works of Mercy service projects throughout the morning.

Pillows for Pam: This special program honors the memory of Pam Haddad Miller, a 1972 St. Pius X alum, alum parent and active member of Mothers’ Club. We make nearly 100 small pillows to give to breast cancer patients at local hospitals.

Toiletries for the Homeless: We prepare several hundred toiletry packets for the St. Vincent de Paul Society to distribute at homeless shelters.

Project Snuggle Bug: Volunteers make hand-tied fleece blankets for children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.

Please Join Us! Mothers’ Prayer Group The Mothers’ Prayer Group meets monthly at 8:30 a.m. in the Chapel to provide prayer support for the intentions of our students.

All are welcome to attend! Upcoming meetings will be held Aug. 28, Sept. 18, Oct. 23, Nov. 20, Dec. 11.

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Save the Date!

Holiday Marketplace November 23, 2019 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The largest fundraiser held

by Mothers’ Club each year is the Holiday Marketplace.

Last year, the event netted over $37,000 for our needs-based scholarship fund for current St. Pius X students. We invite you to join us this year on Saturday, November 23 as we transform our school into an extraordinary and festive Holiday Marketplace featuring over 170 artisans, student artists and our delicious Holiday Café and celebrated Bake Sale!

Letters for Soldiers: This project involves writing letters to deployed family members from the St. Pius X community. This year we were able to write letters to the brother of Jack Voss ‘20, who is deployed in Afghanistan with a Marine Task Force. His brother Luke had been away from home for four months and will return in late summer/early fall 2019. His mother Mary and Luke’s wife Carol Lynn, who is a disabled veteran, joined us to tell students about Luke and his mission, sharing with students how much of an impact their letters have in helping with the Soldiers’ morale during their deployment. You could clearly see how interested the students were and it really helped to make their letters more heartfelt.

Lion Lifeline Program: This ambitious program was started in 2015 to help ease the transition for new parents to St. Pius X. The first year is an exciting one for students as they meet their classmates and teachers and participate in a myriad of activities.

Students have Lion Leaders, orientation and other means to help them get comfortable and off to a good start. Our new parents are also coming into a new school environment with many questions, but also wanting to meet people and get involved. This Mothers’ Club initiative pairs seasoned St. Pius X mothers with incoming mothers who are new to St. Pius X. It is the intent of the program to not only answer questions and offer advice, but also to help develop friendships along the way!

Home & School Association

St. Pius X

Home and School Association Assembly Program Enhances the St. Pius X Experience By: Brian Mulligan

The Home and School Association supports St. Pius X Catholic High School’s mission by providing funding and programming to enhance the educational, spiritual and social experience of students, parents, faculty and staff. One of Home and School’s most popular initiatives is assembly programs. Offering thought provoking and compelling content, these assemblies address contemporary issues primarily for students, but we also hope faculty, staff, parents and alumni enjoy our speakers as well.

There are approximately four to five school-wide assemblies with outside speakers every school year. The Home & School Association shares responsibility with the Counseling Office and Campus Ministry in selecting the topics and speakers. As you can imagine, it’s both challenging and fun to try to find someone who will connect with a diverse student body of over 1,000 students ranging in ages 14 to 18.

This winter, an assembly featured Christian author and podcaster Matt Fradd who addressed challenges facing youth in today’s unfiltered society. Mr. Fradd was able to touch on some sensitive topics of living in the internet age in a way that connected with the teens with humor, transparency and high energy. He has podcasts and youtube videos that can be found online.

In the spring, the Home and School Association went big, featuring adventurer and author John Beede, who intertwines thrilling stories from fulfilling his lifelong dream of climbing the tallest mountain on every continent with success strategies for personal achievement. The attention and energy levels were high as he presented SPX students with a game plan

Save the Date!

Fall and Spring Blood Drives Home & School is proud to sponsor the Blood Drives at St. Pius X! Please mark your calendars for the Fall Blood Drive on October 3, 2019 and the Spring Blood Drive on March 26, 2020.

!

to achieve “Everest size goals.” Mr. Beede spoke to making the choice to believe in yourself and having the courage to embrace your goals. He talked about setting goals where your talents, education and passions overlap. His “Climb on Success strategy” can be applied in any phase of life for any interest, explaining to our teens the three main principles of “Pick your summit, Gear up, and Climb on!” You can learn more about Mr. Beede and see a snippet of his motivating speech on climbonsuccess.com.

This fall, we will start the school year off with popular speaker J.Tom Morgan on Wednesday, September 18. Mr. Morgan, a former DeKalb County District Attorney and recognized advocate for children, will address how the law impacts our teens as “ignorance is no defense.” He will speak to parents that evening and students the following day. Mr. Morgan brings the unique perspective of someone who has served as both a defense attorney and prosecutor. He is committed to educating young people and helping them avoid becoming victims or perpetrators of crimes as well as point out some differences in our Georgia law that our community may not be aware of.

Stay tuned as the Home and School Association Assemblies Committee continues to plan outstanding programming for 2019-20!

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Scholarship Created in Memory of Madame Liliana Hagiopol The St. Pius X community lost one of its finest in February of 2019 when French teacher Madame Liliana Hagiopol passed away. Born in Bucharest, Romania in 1962, Madame lived in a communist country where even her baptism went against the directives of the regime. Saddened by the state of her country and wishing for a better life for their son, she and her husband left behind their family, friends and careers to immigrate to the United States. Madame Hagiopol began her teaching career at St. Pius X in 2005. Her love for language, her new homeland and her passion for her craft were evident to all.

Madame Hagiopol’s students were stunned by her death and left wondering how to honor the teacher they had come to know and love. The St. Pius X Student Council, which Madame led for the last ten years, chose to create a scholarship in her memory, a perfect vehicle for honoring her legacy and ensuring her name lives on at St. Pius X. The 2019 Senior Class as well as Liliana’s husband, Cornel Hagiopol, joined with the Student Council to create a fully endowed scholarship. In May the first $1,000 scholarship was awarded to a student studying French.

It is appropriate to honor Madame Hagiopol by awarding a scholarship to a fine French student because from the beginning, Liliana was herself an exceptional student, not only of French, but also of language in general. One of her favorite stories was of her own scholarship, which she won as a teenager to study in France. Liliana fluently spoke Romanian, French, and English, and she was familiar with Latin and its other Romance descendants. However, she did not simply speak and study languages. She loved languages, savored their various sounds, reveled in the way the words rolled off her tongue, and enjoyed emphasizing their every syllable. As well as their sounds, Liliana loved the significance of words and readily discerned all that went into making meanings of songs, of scholarly texts, as well as of

“

She lined the walls with colorful posters of the French culture, and kept beautiful flowers and plants on her windowsill. ’If the flowers are blooming then you all get extra points,’ she’d say. I believe Mrs. Hagiopol cared for her students the same way she cared for her flowers. She loved us, nurtured us, and watched us grow. She made her students a priority.”

- Alyssa Poulos ’21 “Madame was passionate about four things: Her God, her family, teaching, and the United States of America; specifically the freedoms this country affords each of us.”

- Principal Steve Spellman

film. She shared all that she loved as she taught, presenting grammar and culture as a seamless whole by using music and film clips to bring the language to life for her students.

The St. Pius X community deeply misses Liliana, and we are proud that her memory and spirit live on in this scholarship and in the French program and World Languages Department.

To contribute to Madame Hagiopol’s scholarship fund, please visit www.spx.org/ studentscholarships.

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Save the Date for St. Pius X’s Under the Big Top Gala The St. Pius X biennial gala will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2020 in the school gymnasiums. Enjoy a lively evening, bidding on fabulous silent and live auction items, dining on a delicious dinner and dancing to the music of King Street Band. Proceeds from this year’s auction will be used to purchase two new school buses and support the St. Pius X Endowment Fund.

We’re excited to announce these fabulous live auction items: Exclusive In-Home Dinner Party Hosted by Father Rey Enjoy a 5-star private dinner party for eight guests prepared and served in your home by St. Pius X very talented chef, Father Rey. He will craft a personalized menu with 3-5 courses that will magically fit the occasion of your dinner. You will have the opportunity to fully relax with your guests, as Father Rey will take care of all preparation, cooking as well as cleaning with his awesome staff.

Everything is included in this package, including menu creation, food costs and all services. You will also be treated to a fabulous selection of wine paired with your dinner. Cheers!

02.01

2020

ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL GALA

30a Singer Songwriter Festival & Beach House Winner will receive four (4) VIP tickets to the famous 30a Singer Songwriter Festival and a four bedroom beach home for accommodations. The festival is a four day event held January 15 – 18, 2021 in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. This event showcases a series of memorable musical moments unfolding over the course of the long weekend. Audiences and performers enjoy days and nights of music, storytelling, spontaneous jams, and southern hospitality. VIP tickets provide you exclusive access at the Grand Boulevard Headline Stage which includes: VIP seating, access to the VIP Lounge at Grand Boulevard, complimentary food and beverages throughout Saturday and Sunday shows and VIP restrooms. If you need a break from the music, enjoy relaxing in a four bedroom beautifully furnished beach home. Home is 200 yards to the beach and convenient to everything 30a has to offer!

Supper, Songs & Spellmans Winner of this priceless package receives a catered dinner for 20 and live music provided by the King Street Band all in the company of our beloved principal and his wife, Steve and Maureen Spellman.

If you would like to donate a live or silent gala item, please email: gala@spx.org Big Top Pop Up Shop Visit www.spx.org/gala and shop the Big Top Pop Up Shop for amazing items: • Purchase raffle tickets to win a free year of tuition at St. Pius X • Purchase raffle tickets to win a beautifully crafted St. Pius X campus quilt. Campus quilt is full/queen size and is truly one of a kind!

• 12-ounce tumblers with lids and the Chi-Rho symbol embossed on the front • Stylish Chi-Rho charm bracelet with wooden beads Tumblers and bracelets are limited in quantity so get yours early!

Only 500 tickets will be sold for the gala and you won’t want to miss out on a very special evening with your St. Pius X family.

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St. Pius X News Gary Schmitt Named Archbishop’s Honoree of the Year

Congratulations to Coach Gary Schmitt for being honored by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory at the 12th annual NCEA sponsored Education Banquet. Schmitt was recognized alongside honorees from each of the 18 archdiocesan and six independent schools. He was selected by his peers and has been at St. Pius X as the Athletic Trainer for the past 17 years. Schmitt monitors a number of medical issues and injuries for the school’s 61 athletic teams. The certified athletic trainer devotes an incredible amount of time to our students, faculty, and staff, always with a friendly smile and great amount of knowledge.

Luke Winstel ’19 Receives Leadership Award

Luke Winstel ’19 was selected as one of the winners of the Georgia Youth Leadership Award presented by 21st Century Leaders.

This highly competitive award recognizes the top ‘20 Under 20’ from across the state of Georgia based on leadership, entrepreneurship, and community service.

The award is voted on by a committee of business leaders including the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s ‘Top 40 Under 40’ as well as high school peers with leadership training.

model for the school, exhibits growth in her field, and demonstrates leadership amongst the community. English teacher Mr. Trey Broussard was honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award, an annual award given to the teacher who demonstrates dynamism in the classroom, with the creativity to reach students of differing abilities, willingness to support the mission of the school, committed to professional development, and who gives their time outside of the classroom. Congratulations!

Student-Athletes to Pursue Careers in College

Congratulations to the following studentathletes for signing on with colleges to continue their athletic careers: Eve Beyer (University of Alabama Birmingham - Soccer), Emmett Brandford (University of Montevello - Lacrosse), Loren House (University of Hawaii at Manoa - Soccer), Nico Fontova (University of Georgia - Cross Country and Track

and Field), Tanner Duffin (signed with University of Michigan - Track and Field, attending Kennesaw State University), Luke Griffin (Lagrange College - Tennis), Michael Spear (Chattanooga State Community College - Baseball), Stephen Hudson (Berry College - Football), Christopher Miller (Georgia Tech - Football), Blake Reynolds (Monmouth University - Swim and Dive), Matthew Gonzalo (Washington University - Basketball), Riley Costas (Berry College Basketball), Matthew Harris (University of North Carolina - Track and Field), Maggie Yankovich (University of Georgia - Cross Country and Track and Field), Anna Porter (William and Mary - Volleyball), Sarah Kate Thompson (Flagler - Volleyball), Stephen Kinsel (North Georgia - Golf), Zach Ranson (Wake Forest University - Football), Michael Benefield (Butler University - Football), Chandler Simpson (University of Alabama Birmingham - Baseball), Emma Drash (Georgia State - Basketball), Abby Cohen (Georgia Tech - Swim), Anthony Tiberia (University of Mary Washington - Lacrosse).

Kramer Awarded Professional Development Grants

Social Studies teacher Kristin Kramer was awarded two grants for professional development this summer. The first, awarded

Faculty Members Honored at Awards Ceremony

English teacher Mrs. Jan Collier was honored as 2019 Teacher of the Year, awarded to the faculty member who manifests excellence in the classroom, serves as a faith-filled role

Athletic Signings

Athletic Signings

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Schmitt

by the Korea Foundation, took her to Seoul, South Korea, for 10 days, where she and 28 other social studies educators from across the United States visited a variety of historical sites, including the DMZ, in order to examine the outcomes of the Korean War and to build an understanding of the economic development and democratization of South Korea. The experience also included an overnight stay in a Buddhist temple, complete with 108 prostrations! The second, awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, allowed her to attend a five day workshop for educators in downtown Atlanta, using historic landmarks in our city to study the creation and maintenance of a color line in the aftermath of the Civil War, as well as the resistance to that segregation

by African Americans that ultimately led to its dismantling in the 1960s.

Referencing her experience in South Korea, Kramer states. “The experience was amazing. As a world history teacher, it gave me a much greater awareness and appreciation for the achievements of the kingdom of Korea, which included the first use of movable metal type for printing, as well as the amazing economic and political transformation of South Korea from one of the poorest countries in the world, run by a dictator, to the world’s 11th largest economy with an incredibly active democracy. Moreover, the opportunity to experience the culture of East Asia and gain

a better understanding of Confucianism and Buddhism was invaluable, given how important this region of the world will be in the 21st century.”

Going Out Golden: 2019

The Class of 2019 displayed their support for St. Pius X in the Going out Golden campaign with 110 gifts to the Annual Fund. The third annual campaign earned the Class of 2019 the highest participation of Annual Fund giving from any graduating class!

World Language Teachers attend Workshop

Seven of SPX’s World Language teachers attended the “Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling” workshop, which gave teachers new and engaging language acquisition strategies. These teachers learned and practiced new communicative methods by speaking, reading, and writing German for two days.

Works of Mercy Hits 7,000 Hours

The 2018-19 school year saw students perform over 7,000 hours of service. Favorite forms of service were tutoring, donating blood, playing Buddy Baseball, volunteering at Crossroad Community Ministries, and painting with Foundation for Hospital Art. By far the two most popular forms of service take place within home parishes or church

Kramer

communities (Vacation Bible School, Fish Fry Dinners, Sunday School, etc.), and here at St. Pius X. Thank you to all St. Pius X students for living out the mission of our school through service.

Class of 2023 Joins Golden Lions

After reviewing over 500 applications, the St. Pius X Admissions Office is proud to announce the school will welcome 296 students as the Class of 2023. This class matriculates from 37 different schools and 57 different zip codes. The group is 51 percent female, 49 percent male.

Enrollment is extremely healthy and the team promises to work hard to keep this pace for years to come. The office thanks everyone who has been and will continue to be unofficial ambassadors for the school. The Lion Leaders have been working hard to help acclimate our new students to life on campus. We look forward to seeing what this new class will bring to the legacy of St. Pius X. Go Lions!

Global Soap Project

St. Pius X welcomed Derreck Kayongo, founder of the Atlanta-based Global Soap Project, to speak with students this past year at the annual Black History Month all school assembly. Connected through faculty member David Sabino and with the support of Dean of Students Edye Simpson and faculty member Liliana Hagiopol ✝, the school welcomed Kayongo to address and inspire students. A Ugandan refugee during the Idi Amin dictatorship, Kayongo has a incredibly compelling story. On his first day in America, he discovered many different types of soap in his room: hand soap, face soap, body soap, shampoo, conditioner.

Upon learning that the partially used soaps were Kayongo

Going Out Golden 2019

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Counseling Office Offerings

The Counseling Office at St. Pius X offers a complete counseling program targeting emotional wellness and college preparedness. Below are a few successful programs offered by the office.

Speaker, Joni Siani: The team welcomed Joni Siani for a parent night and all school assembly regarding social media.

Golden Lines Online

Red Cross Scholarship Winners

Hess

thrown away and knowing of the many hygiene-related diseases worldwide associated with the lack of access to soap, he began the life-changing international aid organization, collecting discarded soap from hotels. The group reprocesses the soap and distributes it to vulnerable populations worldwide. Through his organization’s recent partnership with Clean the World, the organizations have contributed to an incredible 30 percent reduction in child deaths globally since 2009. Active in 32 countries, Global Soap has given millions of bars of soap to refugees and people affected by natural disasters like the earthquakes in Haiti and Nepal. Kayongo was named a 2011 CNN Hero and joined the elite TED TALK speakers in 2014. He is an expert in environmental sustainability and global health and is also current CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. In 2016, the Georgia State Senate passed a resolution recognizing his journey from refugee to CEO.

Students Earn Scholarships from Red Cross

The American Red Cross sponsors a college scholarship for graduating seniors from schools that have achieved donations of over 300 units of blood in a year. Thanks to the students, staff and parents of St. Pius X, 320 units of blood were collected this year

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and Pius had the honor of awarding $3,000 in scholarships to two deserving seniors.

Jack McDonald and Marley Lentine-Brown stood out as the most deserving of the scholarship based on blood drive goals.

Just teens, Jack and Marley are already well on their way to becoming lifelong donors.

Both believe strongly in donating blood to save lives and have become regular donors.

These students will each receive a $1,500 college scholarship.

Be sure to save the date for the Fall Blood Drive on October 3, 2019!

Ayden Hess ’22 Participates in Olympic Development Program

Ayden Hess, a member of the St. Pius X Water Polo team which won the Divison 3 State Championship this past fall, recently competed in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) National Championships in Riverside, California. Competing against teams from geographic zones around the country, Ayden played for the Southeast zone in the Cadet age division. He was selected for the Southeast National team after participating in a local tryout camp and being selected to play in the regional championship tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina. Joining teammates from Florida, Ayden’s team finished fourth in the B division, defeating teams from Hawaii, Texas and the Pacific Northwest. ODP is intended to help identify players who could potentially qualify to play for national teams selected for international competition and world championships including, possibly, the Olympics as a player progresses in age and experience.

College Night for Juniors: Admissions representative from the University of Cincinnati spoke followed by break-out sessions given by the counselors.

Parent Wellness Sessions/Parent Nights: Two sessions were offered, including a book club and a program sponsored by Skyland Trail. In addition, two college mental health counselors talked to parents about how to help their students get emotionally ready for college. Parent Nights are also offered for all grades.

Lunch and Learn Programs for Students and Faculty: Discussions included stress management through guided meditation and self care. In addition, the group offered a faculty meeting program on dealing with and identifying mental health issues in the classroom. Kate’s Club offered an educational lunch about grief. Wellness lunch de-stress opportunities were also available.

Classroom Sessions: Seniors were offered sessions on college and related topics and were given a folder with information to take home.

All School Assembly: The Counseling Office organized a faculty basketball game with a focus on community building and destressing the school community.

Student Newspaper Golden Lines Launches Official News Site In February, the newspaper staff officially launched a new student news site, www. spxgoldenlines.com, in the hopes that the new platform would allow them to provide better content and more timely coverage of St. Pius X for the student body and school community in general. The staff worked hard to improve their writing and reporting skills while also learning how to build and design a website from scratch.

Golden Lines will still be published in hard copy twice a year.

Who Knew

Spotlight on the Pius community

From Homeroom to Happily Ever After “We met in homeroom our freshman year.” “We met at a basketball game but officially at volleyball practice, when I was the manager.” “We re-met in Seattle, ten years after I graduated.” These are just a few of the stories of how many St. Pius X alumni started their happily ever after. When we say all roads lead to St. Pius X, it rings so true. According to our St. Pius X records, there are 258 married Golden Lion couples.* This includes eight alumni employees who are married to alums.

Jeff Lane ‘73 and Molly Messner Lane `74 worked on the yearbook staff together and their siblings were friends. Jeff went off to Tech but came back for Molly’s Senior Prom.

Molly explains, “St. Pius X has been a focal point of our lives since 1959. We still stay in touch with so many of our classmates. It’s so nice to share this history. Coming back as adults and standing on the Messner Plaza, named after my father, reaffirms the family feel.” Both of their sons also graduated from St. Pius X. George in 2006 and Jeffrey in 2008.

Our database includes 258 married Golden Lion couples, including eight alumni employees. If you want to ensure you are included in this list, please email us at alumni@spx.org and we will connect you to your spouse.

!

Greg and Joanie Reardon Raines, both from the Class of 1980, have been married for more than 31 years. They were strictly friends in high school but started dating two years after graduation. Like so many alums in that era, they were married by Monsignor Richard Lopez and their wedding party included many classmates. “St. Pius X means family.

We met our spouse and some of our lifelong friends at Pius. We had incredible athletic experiences and got a great education surrounded by like minded peers and parents. It was such a positive influence on us that we wanted to make sure that our three children benefited from attending Pius.”

remember Mr. Spellman ALWAYS greeting me with a smile and Fr. Lopez’s witty jokes. You really make some incredible bonds with your classmates and teachers. I look forward to sending our children to St. Pius X,” said Martin. For Laura, not only did she meet her husband and lifelong friends at St. Pius X, but it was here where she was introduced to the Catholic faith. “I was baptized in the Catholic Church in 2016 and will be forever grateful for my time at St. Pius X exploring my faith.”

Ricky O’Connell `89 and Laura Patch O’Connell `94 just celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary. We were married by Monsignor Terry Young and Msgr. Lopez concelebrated. “One advantage of marrying a St. Pius alum”, said Laura “is there was no debating where we would send our kids.” This fall, their daughter Annalise will be a freshman in the Class of 2023. Coming from public school, Laura was nervous on her first day. “Msgr. Lopez saw me in the hall, stopped me, and said, “You HAVE to be a Patch.”

“That moment really impacted me, and I quickly loved the community and spirit of St. Pius X.” Some couples still like to argue about whose class was the best, but all these couples will agree that St. Pius X was life changing and the friendships and bonds they made have lasted their lifetimes. *If you want to make sure you are counted among our married Golden Lions, please email us at alumni@ spx.org and we will make sure we connect you and your spouse.

O’Connell

And that family’s tradition has continued. Their eldest daughter Caitlin Raines `08 married Patrick Quigley `08 and their youngest daughter Kelly `13 is engaged to Ryan Heard `13. Ryan and Kelly dated their senior year and continued to date while attending Clemson University.

Their upcoming wedding is in November and 14 members of the wedding party are St. Pius X alumni.

Another class of `08 alum, Martin Kaido, recently married Laura Brazell Kaido `10. They met at St. Pius X but started dating when he was at West Point and Laura was still at Pius. “We always knew we wanted each other in our lives.”

They share many wonderful memories of high school. “I

Kaido

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Pius Legacies

Carrying on the tradition of excellence...

Congratulations to these Golden Lion parents and best of luck to their new young alums!

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Sharon Fleming Adams `81 and Matthew Adams

Patricia Martinez Andino `83 and Sofia Andino

Brigid Foster Bartholomai `83 and Nicolas Bartholomai

Chris Benjamin `81, Alex Benjamin, and Chris Benjamin `16

Mary O’Brien Beyer `82, Eve Beyer, and Matt Beyer `80

Lisa Mohr Bir `82 and James Bir

Kevin Branford `92 and Emmett Branford

Georgia Brieske and Jim Brieske `82

Joseph Brunner and Mary Najjar Brunner `80

Emily Buis and Fran McLellan Buis `83

Connor Egan and Billy Egan `85

Claudia Cabrelli Harry `88 and Kate Harry

David Hungeling `91 and Clare Hungeling

Ella Cate Hungeling and Christine Salgado Hungeling `93

Nicole Hiltgen Jung `91 and Hannah Jung

John Montello and Mark Montello `88

Sonia Aguirre Northway `88, Lucas Northway `18, Andrew Northway, and Greg Northway `88

Gina Granato O’Brien `86, Robert O’Brien, and Jim O’Brien `86

William Queen and Jeanne McAllister Queen `86

Simon Richmond and Richard Richmond `87

Anthony Stout and Carter Stout `78

Ted Wach and Margo Brewer Wach `83

Ella Webb and Robyn Oliver Webb `88

Amy Foster Williams `85 and Lucy Williams

Judy Maloof Winstel `74 and Luke Winstel

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Pius Pathways

Spotlight on St. Pius X entrepreneurs The following alumni are a true testament to the mission of St. Pius X, to provide a college preparatory education for the formation of the mind, body and spirit in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church. These alumni have given back to those in need and shared their talents and faith in the Atlanta community and beyond!

Meg O’Connell `84

CEO & Founder, Global Disability Inclusion Where do you live and what St. Pius X alumni are in your family?

I live in St. Augustine, FL. Family who are Pius graduates include: my sister Kathleen O’Connell Redmond `83, my brothers, Brendan O’Connell `86 and Ricky O’Connell `89, my sister-in-law Laura Patch O’Connell `94, and my mother Pat O’Connell taught at Pius from 19871994 What were you doing before starting Global Disability Inclusion? I have always had my hand in disability work.

I was drawn to helping people who are underserved or underrepresented. I worked for SunTrust Bank in Richmond, Virginia for eight years -- starting as a teller and moving into Retail Strategic Marketing where I developed and led the bank’s initiative to create customer service programs for people with disabilities. After SunTrust, I joined Booz Allen Hamilton in McLean, VA where I spent ten years. I worked as a member of the People Strategy Team, and I also led their employee resource group for people with disabilities.

What is the mission of your company? The mission of Global Disability Inclusion is to help companies realize the business benefits, both financially and socially, of employing and creating products and services for people with disabilities.

15 percent of the global population are individuals with disabilities, and they represent a one trillion dollar market opportunity. These are numbers no company should ignore.

What advice do you have for our young alumni looking for careers? Sometimes a career is born from passion rather than from a college major. It may sound trite, but the most important thing is to find something you feel passionate about and believe in 100 percent. My career was born from a passion to help others and this revealed itself by the simple act of taking sign language classes, and meeting people who struggle to get access to basic services and employment. So try everything, you never know what will fuel your passion.

What moved you to start your company? I got into the disability field almost by accident. I was taking an American Sign Language (ASL) class back when I was working as a bank teller. I would sign with deaf customers, and word began to spread among the deaf community in Richmond that my branch had a teller who knew ASL. I saw the need for banking resources and services specifically geared for the deaf community. My supervisors agreed to create a program for their deaf customers, and we began to create videos about banking products and services in ASL and open captioning.

Things grew quickly from there, and we expanded services to all disability groups and across the entire SunTrust footprint.

I knew from this early experience, as well as from my time at Booz Allen, that the majority of companies really struggled to understand how to serve and even employ people with disabilities. Global Disability Inclusion exists to provide companies with expert resources who have designed and implemented disability inclusion programs for some of the world’s most recognized brands.

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Meg O’Connell and Dr. Temple Grandin on a panel at Trailblazing 2017, A Global Conference on Meaningful Employment.

Rachel Rieder ’13 Finds Her Balance Rachel Rieder is all about finding balance and has created her own company to help others do the same. At St. Pius X, she learned to balance her busy schedule as a student, four-year tennis player and Lion Leader. After graduating from Georgia Tech in 2017 with a degree in Industrial Engineering, Rachel worked in Supply Chain for the Home Depot while also becoming a Crossfit Trainer.

Combining her love of fitness with her passion for numbers, Rachel started Balance on Demand. Balance on Demand calculates your daily calorie intake and macronutrients (carbs, protein, fat) breakdown and provides you with a custom meal plan based on your dietary restrictions. In addition, the program generates a weekly grocery list with every item you need at the store.

Realizing there was a market out there for her product, Rachel launched her company in January 2019. “I wanted to help people save money, time, and energy by providing them with an affordable and helpful nutrition tool. I want to help people balance out their lives. To help them follow a healthier lifestyle and not look at eating as a ‘diet.’”

When asked what advice she would give to young alumni looking for careers, Rachel said, “do what makes you happy and find a way to make money at it. There are so many different opportunities out there, so never settle.”

Find Rachel and Balance on Demand at www. balanceondemand.com.

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Coming to a City Near You! We hit the road this year with our inaugural St. Pius X Alumni Road Trips. First stop...Nashville! In February, St. Pius X President Chad Barwick and Director of Alumni Relations Karoline Brennan met up with alumni spanning from 1959 to 2018 to share stories and connect the dots in the Nashville area.

In April, we were off to the Windy City! In conjunction with The National Catholic Educational Association Conference, Jenn Sedlack, Director of Advancement and Karoline Brennan hosted a special happy hour for all Chicago area alumni, parents of alumni and grandparents. St. Pius X faculty were also in attendance to create the perfect event!

Let us know if you would be interested in hosting a meet-up in your city. We’d love to see you. Please email alumni@spx.org.

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Asia Durr `15

Asia Durr ’15 has embarked on her professional basketball career following her time as a decorated college and high school player. Selected with the second pick in the Women’s National Basketball Association draft by the New York Liberty in April, Durr has settled into her new role as one of the starting guards for the team. As of July 30, The Liberty is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and Durr has started 13 of the team’s 15 games. She is averaging 11 points and two assists per game.

The team will play their last regular season game in State Farm Arena against the Atlanta Dream on September 8. Durr, who has signed an endorsement deal with Nike’s Jordan Brand, will then go overseas this winter to continue her pro career.

Post High School Education - College/Degree(s): University of Louisville Bachelor of Arts, Communications Family: Terry (father), Audrey (mother), Christian (brother), Genesis (sister), T.J. ’16 (brother) Why did you choose to attend Louisville?

I chose Louisville because of the family-oriented program, and because I also wanted to play for one of the best coaches in the country. Louisville also is one of the few schools that has a true marketing plan for women’s basketball, and that has led to a great fan-base and sell out crowds. It was fun and energizing to play in front of packed arenas every home game. They were also committed to playing for championships, which was important to me.

Being able to go to the Final Four was also a big highlight of my college career. I would make the same choices all over again.

Awards in College and High School: 2019 Kay Yow Atlantic Coast Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year 2019 Dawn Staley Award for Best Guard in the nation 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award for Best Shooting Guard in the nation Two-time ACC Player of the Year (2018, 2019) Three-Time All-ACC First Team Selection (2017, 2018, 2019)

Durr, University of Louisville

Two-time Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, Associated Press, Wooden Award, espnW First Team AllAmerican Selection (2018, 2019) 2016 All-ACC Freshman Team Selection Two-time Miss Georgia Basketball (2014, 2015) Two-time Gatorade Georgia Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year Favorite Memory of St. Pius X: My favorite memories were winning back-to-back state championships with my teammates sophomore and junior years. Another memorable moment was after our Senior Night game my jersey number was retired.

That was special because I love St. Pius X, and to have all of my hard work recognized at that moment was exciting. To know that my jersey will forever hang in a gym that I had been wanting to play in, and the school I wanted to play for, since third grade is almost hard to put into words.

How is the transition from college to the professional game been?

I feel like it has gone well. It has been challenging both mentally and physically but being able to learn what professional basketball is about and being able to improve as a player has been exciting.

Calendar of Events Friday, September 27, 2019 6:30 p.m.

Pre-Game Reunion party on Messner Plaza, atop George B. Maloof Stadium The BBQ is free to alumni and family members with a game ticket purchase. Designated seating is available for each reunion class.

7:30 p.m.

Golden Lions kick-off the football game against Loganville High School Saturday, September 28 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Alumni Service Project: Sandwich Build for Crossroads Community Ministries in the St. Pius X cafeteria Evening Class reunion celebrations, please check www.spx.org for details.

Sunday, September 29 10:00 - 10:45 a.m.

School Tours: Join us as Student Ambassadors lead tours prior to Mass.

11:00 a.m.

Alumni Mass in the Young Center Auditorium.

Mass will be concelebrated by Monsignor Richard Lopez and Father Rey Pineda.

The St. Pius X Women’s and Men’s Chorale Ensemble will perform a few selections following Mass in the Young Center Auditorium. Brunch is served immediately following the Alumni Mass and performance. All alumni and family are welcome to attend.

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!

Keeping it in the Family!

An Interview with Mary O’Brien Beyer ’82

Mary Beyer is the Advancement Coordinator at St. Pius X and wife of Matt Beyer ’80 and mother of Jake ’16, Eve ’19, and Aidan ’21.

When did Matt, Jake, and Eve start playing soccer?

Jake and Eve started playing at the Decatur YMCA Rec league when they were three or four years old. Matt started playing soccer in the 8th grade.

He played JV keeper and midfield on the ninth grade team.

Did they always want to be keepers?

Matt volunteered to practice in goal, and they never took him out. Eve became a keeper as soon as they had keepers - around 9 or 10 years old when they played 7 v 7. Jake played defense but wanted to play in goal around age 12 or 13. His coach kept promising him he would give him a shot, but he never did. So when he was in the 8th grade, he changed clubs and told the coaches at tryouts that he was a keeper. Matt would often take both of them out and train at SPX. Do you remember watching your husband play when he was at Pius?

Yes, I remember watching him and that team. I was a freshman when he was a junior, and the team was so good that year. He was fun to watch he made some crazy saves, and the fans would go nuts. This was the first SPX soccer team to make it to the state championship. Sadly they lost.

What are your greatest memories of watching your kids play keeper for St. Pius X? Mary: My greatest memory is Jake’s senior year State win. He had been out most of the season with a wrist injury, and the team was struggling.

They had won back to back state championships, and now the team finished fourth in the region so we had to travel to every game because of their low ranking. The team traveled over 1,500 miles all around the state and kept winning and building momentum. Jake came back with just a few regular season games left and then played in the playoffs. They won every game with only one goal scored on him. When they won state, it was such an emotional win for him that he was able to come back strong and help win it for the team.

Matt: I will never forget the epic PK shootout his sophomore year during a playoff game versus Dawson County when they went 15 rounds and Jake saved one for the win. They went on to win state that year.

For Eve it was either the BT shootout her junior year where they won the semifinals in overtime at BT to advance to the finals or her senior year when they took back the state championship after coming short the year before. The eight senior girls’ “goal” was to take back the state title and they did it with a solid 6-0 win.

Matt Beyer ‘80 Highlights:

• Varsity keeper for three years • Play at Erskine College where he was All-American two years • Played in Senior Bowl and named to the Erskine College Hall of Fame in 2001

Jake Beyer ‘16 Highlights:

• Three State Championship Titles • All-Region Junior Year • Played two years at Gardner-Webb University • Made the BigSouth Conference tournament team his sophomore year at Gardner-Webb and was ranked in the top 25 for saves in NCAA Division 1

Eve Beyer ‘19 Highlights:

• Three State Championship Titles, one State Runner Up • Named to the first team All-Region for the past two years • In 2019, she had 14 shutouts and is headed to UAB to play soccer

Lion Lines

Golden Lions Weddings & Births

Terracino Stewart

Petusky

Kelli Terracino `12 married Todd Stewart on March 30, 2019 in Roswell, Georgia.

Todd teaches in the St. Pius X Study Support department and coaches football while Kelli teaches at St. Jude the Apostle and coaches volleyball at St. Pius X. The couple resides in Chamblee.

Jessie Buechner Gordon ’07 and William Gordon are happy to announce the arrival of their son, McKennan “Mac” Buechner Gordon, on April 10, 2019.

Deanna Jones-Puig ’01 and her husband Mark welcomed Elisabette Genevieve Puig on January 29, 2019 at 4:53 a.m.

Elsie weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 20 inches in length. She joins big sister Annaluisa (3).

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Gordon

Quigley

Natasha Kesler `10 married Dusty Moon `07 in March 30, 2019 at the Cathedral of Christ the King. The couple resides in Atlanta.

Rachelle Esser Petusky ’04 along with husband Nash and three year old son, Robert, welcomed their second son, John Patrick Petusky, on February 18, 2019. He was born at Northside Hospital weighing 8 pound, 9 ounces and 21 inches long.

Caitlin Raines Quigley `08 and Patrick Quigley `08 welcome Charlotte Rose Quigley. Charlotte was born March 6, 2019 at 10:36 a.m., 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and 19 7/8 inches.

Kesler Moon

Jones-Puig

Kay

Barwick

Joanna LaPaglia Kay `05 and her husband Patrick, welcomed their first child, Patrick Michael Kay II, born January 29, 2019.

President of St. Pius X, Chad Barwick and his wife Christine are blessed to welcome Loretta Claire to their crew, born June 20, 2019. She arrived early, as she couldn’t wait to meet her family; Mary (13), Ambrose (10), Charlie (7), Aurelia (4) and Beatrice (2).

Ashley Miller `09 and Savannah Miller welcomed Benjamin Ashley Miller on May 4, 2019 at 12:10 p.m., 6 pounds, 10 ounces, 19.5 inches. Benjamin is the grandson of Maria Rodriguez Miller `87 and Ashley Miller and nephew of Hailey Miller `20.

Miller

Pudysz

Lisette (Buechner) and Blaise Wannemacher `06 welcomed Annie Porter on May 1, 2019. She is already loved by big brother and sister, Pace and Palmer.

Jami Terracino ’09 and William Warren ’10 tied the knot January 12, 2019, at St. Brigid Catholic Church, in Johns Creek, GA, followed by a reception at Ivy Hall, Roswell, GA. After a summer honeymoon in Scotland, Jami will be teaching 6th grade at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic School and William, who currently works for CatMedia in Tucker, will be pursuing his Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from Georgia College. The couple currently lives in Decatur, GA.

Wannemacher

Terracino Warren

Hicks

Frank Martin `13 married Marina Gunn on June 29, 2019 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

The couple will reside in Athens, Georgia.

St. Pius X Theology teacher Andrew Pudysz and his wife Julia welcomed Colette Rebekah Therese Pudysz on Friday, June 21, 2019. She weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. The proud siblings are Andrew, Jr. (8), Veronica (6), Simon (4), and Emelia (2).

Charles Hicks, St. Pius X Theology teacher, his wife Jen, and sons Will (7) and Nathan (4) welcome Adam Michael. Adam was born March 21, 2019 weighing in at 9 pounds, 6 ounces and 21 inches long.

McConnell

Martin

Spratte

Dr. Stephen McConnell `03 and wife Whitney welcome Vivian Elizabeth McConnell born January 6, 2019. Pictured are Stephen, his mom, Karen Kingery McConnell ’71 and his uncle, Father Patrick Kingery `82 who presided over the baptism in Saint Simons Island, Memorial Day Weekend 2019. All seven Kingery children and nine grandchildren have worn this baptism gown.

David Spratte `13 married Brooke Nambroodi on June 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The couple met in undergrad at UNC. Brooke is in med school at UNC and David is running his company Carpe out of Chapel Hill. The couple resides in Durham, NC.

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Lion Lines

Golden Lions Alumni News

What have you been up to since graduation?

Drop us a line at alumni@spx.org so we can share it with the St. Pius X community!

Nic Cáceres ’17 has been selected to attend the 2019 University of Alabama C&IS in Los Angeles summer internship experience.

This immersive program brings UA students to live in Los Angeles, study media and entertainment industries with faculty members who have industry experience, and intern in Hollywood. Nic is double majoring in creative media and theater.

The Jardina family was on hand for the presentation of the Mark Jardina Most Valuable Player Award at the 2018 Christmas

Cáceres

in bush float planes to small rivers and streams anywhere from 20 to 150 miles away catching over 100 fish including king salmon, rainbow and lake trout, chum, dolly, and grayling.

Caroline Porter `15 was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and will be teaching in South Korea for a year. Caroline will be graduating with honors from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with an English degree and a minor in Korean.

Friends from the Class of `71 gathered in June at Isle of Palms, SC. Pictured L-R (front) are Bill Stogner, Paul Pelt, Ray Dlugos, Julio Ramirez, Bill McKenzie, Chris Billingsley, (second row): Steve Saunders, Jack Harney, Mike Messner, Chris O’Connor, (back row): Tom Armistead, Frances Bindewald Callen and Mary Colbert Billingsley.

Dr. Doug Wagner, SPX Math teacher, and his sons Jim and John spent a week in June at the Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge on the Kvichak River in King Salmon, Alaska. They flew out

Jardina

Wagner

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Classic. The 2018 recipient was Niko Broadway `19. Pictured L-R, Larry Jardina `89, Matt Jardina `85, Mike Jardina `82, Mark Kelly ’70, Mary Jardina Morrison `81, Paul Jardina `83 and Dr. Phil Jardina.

Class of 1971

Porter

Markham

Chris Markham `82 has a passion for fly fishing and is one of four registered guides on the Chattahoochee River. His side gig, TIE ONE ON, was born from a desire to share the extraordinary experience of fly fishing on the Chattahoochee River. Pictured below, Chris fishes with Jorge Antona `82 and Parker Wilson `82.

Keith Rosemond `04, artist and entrepreneur, was the juror at the 2019 St. Pius X Juried Arts Show and presented the awards to our talented students. Check out Keith’s website at www.keithtwo.com.

Margo Brewer Wach `83 is the new Assistant Principal at Christ the King School, Atlanta.

She has been teaching since 2007 and spent the last seven years at St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School.

Nicholas Twiner `14 was selected as a prestigious Fulbright Scholar, serving his year in London. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 2017, majoring in Linguistics, Classical Languages and Classical Culture.

Sara Gilbert `15 was honored at the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Celebration as she received the Thomas Lozano Inspiration Award. The award is given to one studentathlete who exemplifies the qualities best displayed by Thomas Lozano (brother of

Carolann Stout `16, recently inducted into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, will be performing with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park this summer. Carolann is working towards her BFA Acting at Oklahoma City University.

Rosemond

Antona and Wilson

Twiner

former SPX math teacher Jeffrey Lozano); passion, loyalty, support and work ethic.

Sara graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. Sara works at Peachtree Planning in Comprehensive Financial Advisory.

Gilbert

Wach

Stout

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In Memoriam

We remember our loved ones Janisse Haddad, May 27, 2019 Mother of Nick Haddad `04 and Andrew Haddad `06 Martha Devine, March 21, 2019 Mother of Martha Sledge, grandmother of Brett Sledge `15, Kyle Sledge `15 and Brooke Sledge `19 Mario DiGirolamo, February 5, 2019 Father of Ann DiGirolamo `82, Paul DiGirolamo `86, Julia Digirolamo `88 Jesse Dixon, February 10, 2019 Father of D’Antonio Dixon `81 and D’Angelo Dixon `78

Patrick Belden, March 16, 2019 Father of Neil Belden `19 James Bergmann, February 5, 2019 Father of Becky Bergmann Pence `78, Mikel Bergmann `79 (deceased), Ben Bergmann `80, Tony Bergmann `83 and Ted Bergmann `84 Richard Besal `73, May 23, 2019 Brother of Bob Besal ’68, Michael Besal ’69, Betty Besal ’71, Dee Besal ’72, and Joe Besal ’74, Helen Besal `75 and Bill Besal`76 Ray Callaway, February 25, 2019 Father of Matt Callaway, father-in-law of Wynne Callaway and grandfather of Harris Callaway `18 and Ellis Callaway `20 Jerry Costner, February 5,2019 Father of Marisa Costner `99 and Brian Costner `95 Maria Jaumot Daly, March 14, 2019 Wife of Miles Daly `75 sister-in-law of Leigh Daly Longino `77 and Brock Daly `78 James Devine, May 18, 2019 Father of Martha Sledge, grandfather of Brett Sledge `15, Kyle Sledge `15 and Brooke Sledge `19

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Gloria Dlugos, June 7, 2019 Mother of Donna Dlugos Sunderdick`67 (deceased), Tom Dlugos `68, Ray Dlugos `71, Steve Dlugos `72, and Jeannie Dlugos Eber `77 Rebecca Panter DuVall `67, Janurary 22, 2019 Mother of Julie DuVall Hiland `96 (Sean Hiland), Kevin Craig DuVall `98 (deceased), and sister of Daniel Calvert Panter `59 (deceased) and David Panter `59 Deborah Ann DeDuck `68, May 19, 2019 Craig Edelen `69, February 23, 2019 Brother of Lana Edelen Brennan `67 and Debbie Edelen Register `72 David Erdman, May 27, 2019 Father of Allison Erdman Gregoire `09 Barbara Flowers, June 4, 2019 Mother of Jay Flowers ’77, Lynn Flowers `78, David Flowers `79 (deceased), Carol Flowers Laur `80 and Andrew Flowers `82 Gavin Galtere, March 17, 2019 Father of Nicolas Galtere `19 Marge Gulick, January 15, 2019 Mother of Liz Gulick Ross `85 and Robert Gulick `87

Liliana Hagiopol, February 3, 2019 Wife of Cornel and mother of Alex, St. Pius X French teacher since 2005 Gerald Haywood, April 25, 2019 Grandfather of Matt Bailey `02 and Jacqueline Kulzer `06 (deceased) George Heyburn, May 26, 2019 Father of Helen Homrich, father-in-law of Dan Homrich `77 and grandfather of Radley Homrich `09, Alden Homrich `10, Claire Homrich Dearinger `13 and Lane Homrich `16 Carol Homrich, March 24, 2019 Mother of Christine Nort `69, Patricia Golden `70, David Homrich `71, Joan Murray `74, Janice Brandt `76, Daniel Homrich `77, Mark Homrich `80, Tim Homrich `84 and grandmother of Rebecca Nort Carey `01, Radley Homrich `09, Alden Homrich `10, Claire Homrich Dearinger `13, and Lane Homrich `16 Ruth Jones, April 13, 2019 Wife of Deacon Mike Jones and mother of Kevin Jones `72 (deceased), Diane Jones Miller `75, David Jones `79 (deceased), Danny Jones `80, Robert Jones `83, Nancy Jones `84, grandmother of Michael Ulm `00, Matthew Ulm `02, Callie Ulm `05, Hannah Jones `16, Brennan Jones `16 and aunt of Rebecca Jones Rose `96.

Anne Ware Lewis, April 14, 2019 Mother of Kevin Lewis `13 and Kyle Lewis `15 Owen Lichtenwalner, March 7, 2019 Father of Sally Lichtenwalner Mrus `87, Matt Lichtenwalner `92, and Andy Lichtenwalner `97 Barbara Mason, February 18, 2019 Grandmother of Katie Kilpatrick Pansini ’11, Holly Kilpartrick ’12, and Joey Kilpatrick ’15

We Remember Sister Mary Amata May, R.S.M.

Sister Mary Amata May, Sister of Mercy for 70 years, passed away on April 10 in Timonium, Maryland at 88 years old.

Raised and educated by the Sisters of Mercy in Savannah, Georgia, Sr. Amata May entered the community shortly after graduating high school. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Mount Saint Agnes College, attended Emory University and Loyola College, where she earned her master’s in mathematics and adulthood and aging, respectively. Sr. Amata May taught at Our Lady of Assumption School prior to teaching at St. Pius X. Throughout her life, she taught in elementary and high schools in Alabama, Georgia, and Maryland. Following her career in education, Sr. Amata May worked in other ministries, including managing the Blessed Sacrament Residence, where she helped make a home for elderly people and as night manager for a residence for homeless women. In addition, she worked as a research evaluator for the University of Maryland. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Stella Maris on April 16 following interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Baltimore.

Sister Mary Amata May, April 10, 2019 St. Pius X mathematics teacher, Sister of Mercy for 70 years Hunter McCain, November 20, 2018, Judy McCain, January 7, 2019 Parents of Lisa Cordell and Carolyn Carboni, grandparents of Greg Cordell ’01, Aly Carboni ’11, and Eric Carboni ’13 Bill McHugh, March 29, 2019 Father of Laura McHugh `78, Billy McHugh `79, Beth McHugh `81, Chris McHugh Gray `83 and Maria McHugh Pagoaga `84, father-in-law of Carlos Pagoaga `84 Hutch Moore `81, January 16, 2019 Wife of Debbie Moore, father of Berkley Moore `12 and Gaines Moore

Pictured at top: Bonnie Troy Levenson`66 and Jane Fannon LeFever `66 attended the 70th Jubilee festivities for Sr. Amata May. Below: Sr. Amata May is pictured with former student Deanna Blanton Simmons ‘66 just prior to the sister’s 70th Jubilee last August. Photos Courtesy Deanna Blanton Simmons.

Emerson Podojil, June 5, 2019 Daughter of Celeste and Jeff Podojil and sister of Regan Podojil ’22

Cameron Schladenhauffen, February 8, 2019 Son of Ben and Beth Sullivan Schladenhauffen, class of `77. Nephew of Lynda Schladenhauffen Adamson `60, Joanne Novack, April 14, 2019 Susan Schladenhauffen Kessler `61, Beth Beloved wife of Tom Novack, long-time Schladenhauffen Petroff `68, Mary Ann dedicated volunteer at St. Pius X Schladenhauffen McCarthy `69, Muff Roy Tallent, February 17, 2019 Sullivan DeCelles `74 and cousin of John O’Shea `69, March 26, 2019 Father of Mary Natsch, father-in-law of Maureen McCarthy McIntosh `97, Michael Brother of Theresa O’Shea `70, Michael David Natsch, grandfather of Chris Natsch ’10, McCarthy `99, Maria Donaldson `00, O’Shea `73, Helen O’Shea Tucker `76, Brian Jared Natsch ’15, and Lauren Natsch ’20 Danny McCarthy `02 (deceased), Brennan O’Shea `77, Mary O’Shea `79, Tim O’Shea `86 McCarthy `03, Mary Kate McCarthy (deceased), Kevin O’Shea (deceased) Frank Teske, April 10, 2019 Springmann `09, Rebecca Jackson `84, Father of Karen Teske Buttermore `65, Ray Suzanne Perkins `98, Maribeth Perkins `01, Russell Parris, March 11, 2019 Teske `67 and Tim Teske `69 and Katie DeCelles Gifford `00.

Husband of Judy Timme Parris `77 and father of Melissa Parris `02 and Alan Parris `06, Mary Anne Cheek Vild `60, April 1, 2019 brother-in-law of John Timme `79 and Lea Mark Setchell `88, June 9, 2019 Husband of Melinda Northway Setchell ’93, Deacon Jim Weiss, May 11, 2019 Timme Monroe `84 brother-in-law of Greg Northway ’88 and Father of Cathy Weiss Lavallee `82 Sonia Aguirre Northway ’88, uncle of Lucas Barbara Houfek Payne `62, April 26, 2019 Northway `18 and Andrew Northway `19 John Worrell `77, May 14, 2019 Sister of Maraul Houfek Boulware `61

Eternal rest grant upon them, O Lord.

Let perpetual light shine upon them; for their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed. May they rest in peace.

Amen.

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NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No.104 Atlanta, GA

St. Pius X Catholic High School 2674 Johnson Road, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30345-1720 404/633-4290 www.spx.org

5 10 14 21

August

First Day of School Camp Golden Lion Mini Class Night Feast of St. Pius X

September

Labor Day: No School Summer Works of Mercy Due All School Mass - Honors Assembly Leadership Donor Mass and Dinner Homecoming Game Homecoming Dance Alumni Service Day Alumni Reunions 29 Alumni Mass 30 Faculty and Staff Retreat: No School for Students 2 6 13 14 27 28

3 4 11 14-15 16 18-20 24

October

Fall Blood Drive Annual FUN(d) Party All School Mass Archdiocesan In-Service: No School for Students Grades 9-11 PSAT Testing: No School for Seniors Fall Play Fall Chrous Concert

November

1 All School Mass Grandparents Day (freshman and senior classes) 3 Open House 4 Virtual School Day 23 Holiday Marketplace 25-29 Thanksgiving Holidays: No School

3 4-5 7 11 23-1/3

December

#iGiveCatholic Day of Giving Band and Guitar Concert Christmas Chorus and Dance Concert First Semester Works of Mercy Due Christmas Holidays: No School

Do you have news to share? We would love to hear from you!

If you have news to share with the St. Pius X community, please contact Deanna Jones-Puig, Communications Manager, via email at djones@spx.org.