CAREER CONNEXIONS

Josh Holtman ’20 spent a day shadowing Dr. John R. Corker ’03 this fall as part of St. X’s Career ConneXions program. Dr. Corker is a physician at Emergency Medicine Specialists. “I had a great time and I learned a lot about the medical field,” Josh said. Job-shadowing is just one component of the program, now in its third year. Career ConneXions guides students in their college and career choices. Student interest is growing, especially for summer internships. If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring an intern or job-shadow in medicine, business, or other fields, visit the program’s web site, www.stxavier.org/academics/careerconnexions.

Matthew DeBrunner ’18 My internship was a big success. It had a large diverse amount of opportunities for me to pursue. RJ Myers ’20 Through Career ConneXions, I was able to shadow with a surgical oncologist in Northern Kentucky at the St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. I witnessed four surgeries and got to scrub in for two of them. It was a great day and really confirmed my love and passion for medicine. Through the Career ConneXions I was able to see that medicine is the right path for me.

Dawson Adams ’19 Over the summer I was able to intern with a commercial interior design company called Loth. I was tasked with being their first ever marketing intern and I worked with competitive analysis dealing with other companies in the Cincinnati area. I specifically worked on a video campaign to help show their culture. Overall the internship was a great experience and thanks to Career ConneXions it was definitely one I will carry with me into my college years.

Bobby McAlpine ’20 Last summer I interned at a construction and engineering firm called Bansal Construction. I was a project manager. What I gained most of all was not only the experience of being in corporate America, but also seeing the advantage of being a product of St. Xavier High School. The leaders of the company were St. Xavier graduates, Men for Others. The graduates of St. X were leaders in their workplace, they set the tone.

Preserving the Long Blue Line The St. Xavier Archives

In 1962, fresh from a short teaching stint at Roger Bacon High School, Karl Hauck started his almost 40-year career at St. Xavier. After arriving at the recently completed Finneytown campus, Karl formed close relationships with History Department head Father William Garvey, S.J., as well as Brother Freddy Novacek, S.J. In addition to conversing about the school’s history with Karl, the two Jesuits also shared some ephemera and memorabilia from old St. Xavier; from there a seed was planted, and Karl began to develop an official repository for the school’s archival records.

Subsequent years saw the collection grow and expand; Karl continued to collect anything and everything for preservation: graduation programs, photographs, construction contracts, newsletters, directories, and copies of publications such as the Blueprint, Xavier Prep, Kampus Kapers, and Alumni Bulletin. The first two decades of Karl’s archival work culminated in the 1982 publication of A Century and A Half: St. Xavier High School, 1831-1981. This book, co-written and researched by Karl and five dedicated students, details the first 150 years of St. Xavier and utilizes many of the records preserved in the archives. Though he officially retired from teaching in 1999, Karl continues to gather, identify, and catalog items related to the school’s history.

Recently, an attractive and inviting space was created in the school library that allows for both an archival work area as well as a place for displays and exhibits. Serving as a resource for both St. Xavier and the wider community, the archives responds to inquiries and research requests from teachers, students, and alumni. Long-range projects include the creation of an archival website, classroom integration, alumni oral histories, magazine articles, and preparation for St. Xavier’s bicentennial birthday bash in 2031.

Though much work remains to be done, the St. Xavier Archives is on an exciting new path with boundless potential. In a 2013 interview, Karl Hauck expressed his hope that someone would eventually take over the archives. Five years later, that hope was realized when Nick Kemper ’06 began working with the school’s records and laying the foundation for a revitalized collection. Building on his knowledge and passion for history, Nick arranges revolving displays, continues to organize and catalog items, and has begun the arduous process of digitizing records.

In the words of Karl Hauck, “The nearly 200-year history of this amazing place is too valuable to lose; St. Xavier is too important to not preserve its history and memories.” The St. Xavier Archives is open during the week from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information, or to schedule a visit, please contact Nick Kemper at nkemper@stxavier.org, or Head Librarian Jennifer Donahue at jdonahue@stxavier.org.

Alumni Reflections

John Brennan ’77

Thinking back to my days at St. X High School, probably one of the most impactful individuals on my professional growth was my English teacher, Jim Downie. Mr. Downie’s passion and love for what he taught was not only transparent, but inspirational as well. As he taught, his excitement level for his subject he was teaching was infectious. You could just sense his enthusiasm. He was truly happy and joyful as he taught.

John Brennan Then and Now Interestingly, it was not until I was well into my career before I recognized a core philosophy that Mr. Downie clearly exemplified. I have come to understand that if you love what you do and are passionate about what you do, then you are not working at a job or a task, but rather, you are living with a sense of purpose. When you are living with a sense of purpose, you are likely to excel at whatever it is that you do. Others around you recognize your passion and zeal and are inspired by you.

Having the perspective of 40 years to look back now on my St. X experience, the concept of Men for Others clearly resonates with me.

In my career of commercial real estate investment and development, I have encountered individuals from many walks of life, and, I have encountered individuals with all levels of integrity and success. It is not always easy to operate in a field that can be largely driven by financial success and greed. As Men for Others, we are grounded in the principle of service to others. This principle has allowed me to focus my career and life on what is most important. I am blessed in that I have had the opportunity to work and partner with wonderful individuals with the same perspective.

I owe a large debt of gratitude to St. X as I was afforded the opportunity to recognize early in life through my St. X experience just how joyful life can be while living with a strong sense of purpose. This sense of purpose is well grounded in the concept of Men for Others.

Stan Dohan ’88

I am certain I would not be alone saying there are so many teachers that made such a positive impact on my education and life while at St. Xavier High School between 1984 - 1988. Some wonderful teachers that come to mind influenced my enjoyment of writing, which led to a lifetime appreciation of travel, many other cultures and even contributing to various travel blogs, magazines, and writing the mini guides on various regions for popular travel sites. Mr. Marchal, Ms. Creason, and Ms. Mascari leap to mind regarding writing. It gave me a huge jolt of confidence when I was one of four total students to test out of the English Exams my Senior Year.

Athletically, I enjoyed all four years on the Tennis Team and owe much to Russ “Tiger” King. Playing Varsity Sports on a winning, high level also instilled a lot of confidence going forward in life. Tiger always knew how to manage us and was a dedicated coach for so many years.

While we may have strayed from the strict subject matter, Tom Ballaban’s lessons on life and shared experiences were both entertaining and valuable. As long as you avoided his wrath, classes were always interesting.

Finally, it would be remiss not to note the MANY longstanding extracurriculars and traditions of St. Xavier High School. Assemblies to Masses to Kairos Retreats to Boys and Girls Clubs and Spirit Days, Walk for X and on and on.

This is also likely an oft-repeated comment, though “Men for Others” embodies the St. Xavier High School core philosophy and instilled in all of us to be unselfish, charitable and philanthropic. At every stage of my Freshman through Senior Years at St. Xavier, we were involved in Community Service and Outreach. Giving back and the Spirit of Volunteerism are parts of life in the Long Blue Line, not just a box to check.

“Networking” is a major St. Xavier advantage. St. Xavier as a high school, embodies, rallies around and organizes a more complete alumni network than most colleges. I’ve found that we all “drop what we are doing” and answer the call when it comes our way.

Allen Dohan ’59

Allen Dohan Then and Now

St. Xavier helped give me a broader outlook on life with a continued desire to learn and explore throughout the world.

I can’t nail down one person that made the most impact on me so I will mention a few. Mr. Berning, my varsity basketball coach, and Father Robinson, my varsity tennis coach, were both influential in instilling a strong desire to compete and to win fairly and honestly which carried over to Xavier University, the military, and into the business world. Although it happened infrequently, teaching us how to lose with dignity and respect was also part of the makeup of these two coaches.

Unlike today, the majority of the faculty were priests and scholastics. These were good men who were there for the students for the Greater Glory of God, both at school on a daily basis and at our annual retreat at the Jesuit retreat house in Milford as well as one retreat at a monastery in Kentucky. During my four years these Jesuits solidified my faith which through all the trauma of recent years, remains solid today.

St. Xavier helped give me a broader outlook on life with a continued desire to learn and explore throughout the world. With the solid foundation I received at St X it was an easy transition into college. Most importantly, we are all proud and loyal members of the Long Blue Line with a network of alumni friends both new and old. And finally there are two Cincinnati teams that I get excited about every year and try to make as many games as I can and they are St. X football and XU basketball.