SABER
The Saint Thomas Academy community has approached the challenges of the past year in unique but not surprising ways. We have remained in-person at a time when the vast majority of high school students in the country remain in distance learning. We have prioritized the cadet experience and the benefits of in-person learning while maintaining high standards of care to limit the risks associated with simply being with our fellow humans. We did this not to make a point, but instead because we knew it was the right thing to do for our cadets. I think my predecessors, like George Schnell, whose impact on the Academy is celebrated in these pages, would have done the same thing. That says a lot about the character of this institution and all who are a part of the mission of this place.
It is an honor to work with what is arguably the most dedicated faculty and staff in education today. They have heeded the call to serve in these uncertain times and have risen to the challenge. They have done so because they believe so strongly in the mission of Saint Thomas Academy. The cadets of today honor those who have come before them by picking up the torch and leading at a time when so many of us are filled with fear and uncertainty. They stand on the same court where generations of cadets have stood and are fighting to be with their brothers and make a difference in their community. I am both humbled and proud to be a part of something as special as that.
The future of the Academy is bright. Interest in the kind of character formation and academic excellence that is the hallmark of an Academy education is driving an increase in prospective students and there are exciting changes on the horizon. This summer we will be providing a refresh of the classrooms in Founders Hall, creating a center of science and engineering, and improving the accessibility of our campus by installing an elevator. When the cadets show up this fall, their academic experience will be in modern classrooms that truly emphasize innovation and critical thinking.
Perhaps most importantly, we are sharpening our focus on reaching out to communities that have not historically looked at the Academy to educate their sons. This means a commitment to the financial resources and support that will make these efforts successful. Thank you for being a part of this mission as alumni, parents, grandparents, and supporters. The need for Saint Thomas Academy has never been clearer than it is right now. It is because of you that we are able to execute on that mission.
MISSION
Our mission — to develop boys into men of character — is our promise to our students, our families, our community and the world.
We accomplish this through the transformative power of an educational and life experience deeply rooted in Catholic faith and traditions, academic excellence, military leadership, and an all-male environment.
God Bless and Go Cadets!
Mr. Kelby Woodard Headmaster
Kelby Woodard
Saber
published
Saint Thomas Academy
949 Mendota Heights Road Mendota Heights, MN 55120 651-454-4570
cadets.com
Your comments, story ideas, and suggestions are always welcome. Please contact Deborah Edwards, Director of Marketing & Communications at 651-683-1532 or via email at dedwards@cadets.com
Features/Article Writers:
David Jacobson
Amy Nugent
Designer: Renee Dubs Ellena
Printing: Dolan Printing
Photo Credits:
Andy King Photography
Tyler Maddaus
Michael Murray Photography
The Family of George Schnell
Saint Thomas Academy Alumni, Friends, and Family
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LEADERSHIP
Chief Officer
The Most Reverend Bernard Hebda
Chairman
Mr. Daniel Kubes ’87
Past Chairman
Mr. Kelly Rowe ’79
Vice President
The Most Reverend Andrew Cozzens
Secretary
Mr. Kelby Woodard
Founding Partner
Mr. Michael Ciresi ’64
In Memory of the GeorgeGentlemanly Schnell
BY DAVID JACOBSON
How often these days do you hear anyone referred to as a gentleman? When the person discussed is the late George Schnell, who taught foreign language at Saint Thomas Academy from 1946 to 1984 and passed away last August at age 99, the answer is “very often.”
In fact, “gentleman” is among the first words spoken by his colleagues, usually in a voice still filled with grief. Most poignantly and significantly, “gentleman” comes from female faculty who found themselves in scarce company when joining the Academy in the late ’70s.
“At that time,” recalled Solfrid Ladstein, “there were only three other women, when Ann Girres and I were hired. There were still questions about how women would fare in an all-male environment. George was very respectful and helpful to us. He was a real gentleman.”
Said Girres: “He had a sense of deference and gentlemanliness toward the women. Chivalrous is another word I would use. He was unfailingly polite, and he was professional in his speech, his bearing, and his dress.”
Speaking of dress, it became an issue that Schnell had to handle as interim headmaster in the late ’80s, Ladstein said. “There were questions about whether women on campus were dressed appropriately. George asked me to talk to a new, young colleague about her dress, and I said no, that she might take umbrage. Then the idea of uniforms came up, and that was not popular. He finally hammered out a dress code that worked pretty well, and he carried it all off in good spirits.”
Renee DesJarlais, who taught art from 1977 until 2010 and shared Schnell’s classroom, also noted his chivalry. “Because we shared the room, I was with him at least once a day, every day. I’d come in and get ready for class, and he’d kind of hang around to make sure the boys entered the room properly. He was an incredible gentleman, a thoughtful, nice guy.”
— Continued on page 4
“At that time, there were only three other women, when Ann Girres and I were hired. There were still questions about how women would fare in an all-male environment. George was very respectful and helpful to us. He was a real gentleman.”
— SOLFRID LADSTEIN
An image of George Schnell from the Kaydet yearbook.
“He had a sense of deference and gentlemanliness toward the women. Chivalrous is another word I would use. He was unfailingly polite, and he was professional in his speech, his bearing, and his dress.” — ANN GIRRES
DesJarlais also recalled the dress code issues. “After he retired and was called back to be the interim headmaster, he hired a female teacher, who, it turned out, dressed very provocatively. I mean your head would turn. He asked me to talk to her about dressing more appropriately. I asked what she wore to the interview, and when he told me, I just said, ‘Well, that’s what you get.’ But he was very respected by students and teachers both. He was a kind, kind man, very gentle.”
As chivalrous as he was, a throwback to the post-World War II years when he started teaching at the Academy, Schnell straddled the era of “the Old Guard” at the Academy (see inset below) and times of monumental change. Beyond his leadership working with female faculty, Schnell also pioneered in the classroom, for example, letting students in his Spanish class affectionately call him Paco.
“He was a progressive teacher for his time,” Girres said. “He installed a language lab, where you sit with headphones, which was very innovative for that time.”
Added Ladstein: “He was very dedicated to advancing the study of foreign language. He was progressive in his openness to new teaching techniques.”
“George was my mentor,” said Bill Culbertson, who taught from 1968 to 2008. “He taught me how to use that language lab, where the kids wore headsets and took tests and practiced listening all over headphones. I was not a fan, but he insisted. He took me under his wing. I was a rookie. Anything I needed to know about the Academy, George was the guy I would go to. He would take me aside and say, ‘This is how we do things here.’ I was very reliant on George to shepherd me through those first years.”
To a person, the words of Schnell’s colleagues paint similar portraits of his personality and the traits that contributed to the Academy community. “He was a person of faith,” Ladstein said, “very active in church, and sang in the choir. He regarded the Academy as part of his family, not just a job, but part of who he
The Meaning of the “Old Guard”
George Schnell was a proud member of what is affectionately known as the “Old Guard” at Saint Thomas Academy. According to Ann Girres and Solfrid Ladstein, colleagues whom the Old Guard mentored as teachers at the Academy, the group included: Marv Bassett, Bob Byrne, Jack Campbell, Fred Gatto, Jim Keane, Wally Kurtz, George Langeland, Art Martin, Skip McMahon, Joe O’Brien, Father Bill Ozark, George Schnell, Tom “Beaver” Scott, Sy Turbes, and Walter Westline.
“These were men who returned to the Academy after World War II or joined the Academy after the War and stayed here for their whole careers,” Girres said. “I’ve thought about them a lot in this era when people don’t often stay in a job for their whole career. All those men had a calling to be at the Academy. They all had an allegiance to the institution and its mission, ahead of any personal agenda. They all were Catholic and all had deep, personal faith that was their moral compass. George exemplified that.”
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“He took me under his wing. I was a rookie. Anything I needed to know about the Academy, George was the guy I would go to. He would take me aside and say, ‘This is how we do things here.’ I was very reliant on George to shepherd me through those first years.” —
BILL CULBERTSON
really was. I remember his smile and laugh so well. He was always so warm and friendly. I remember his dedication. It was very important for him to do the right thing. That was most obvious in his willingness to serve as interim headmaster after being retired for four years. He felt it was his duty. He was firmly committed to the Academy and its mission.”
While interim headmaster, Schnell hired Wendy Fox, who recalled that experience. “We toured the building, talking, and we hit it off right away. Before we got too far along, I told George I was Jewish. He said, ‘Yeah? So?’ I asked if that was going to be a problem, and he said, ‘No, no, no! I think that’s great!’ And the next day I was hired.
“Once you were under his wing, he’d never let you go. Any time he’d swing by my room, he’d look through the window, and I could feel him there. So we’d hang out, and he’d ask, ‘Are they treating you OK? It’s good, right?’ Every single time he was in the building, he was always so concerned that I stayed happy at the Academy.”
When Frank Blankley joined the faculty, he looked up to Schnell and the Old Guard. “What they were guarding was the tradition of the Academy and its four pillars,” he said. “They made sure, in a gentle way, that those of us who came in later felt the same responsibility to support those things. George was the perfect embodiment of that. He always supported you, and he was an outgoing and generous member of the community.
“He was so welcoming when I came to the Academy. I remember him taking the short walk to my classroom and asking me if there was anything he could do to help me get situated. I wasn’t in his department. It wasn’t his job to take care of me, but he did it anyway. In the faculty lounge over lunch, we’d talk about everything. He was a very engaging conversationalist.”
Jerry Delgehausen, whom Schnell appointed his successor as head of the foreign language department after just three years of working together, recalled Schnell as a “good mentor and role model. We had a phenomenal working relationship. We were so much on the same page in the way we approached things and thought about things. He was highly dedicated. He put his heart and soul into everything he did, teaching, serving the Academy, and his faith community.”
— Continued on page 6
TOP: George Schnell teaching in his spanish class in 1984. BOTTOM: Schnell posing for a photo in his classroom in 1984.
“New faculty were brought into a community. We enjoyed being together so much. George would play the piano, and we would sing. I can picture groups of us standing around him while he played the piano. Music was a huge part of the experience in that community.”
A classic story of George Schnell’s later years illustrates much of who he was. In an auto accident, his car rolled and landed driver-side down, so that the firefighter who came to his rescue had to climb up on the passenger side. As Fox related, “Looking down into the car the firefighter yelled, ‘Paco Schnell?! What are you doing down there?!’ The firefighter was an old student who recognized George right away. It reminded me that we always need to treat these kids well, and I could see that George really did that for all those years. To let them call him Paco in those days shows how much he cared for those kids.”
The memory of what George Schnell meant to the Academy complements a life well lived. In addition to covering his career at the Academy, his obituary explained that he was born in Ramona, SD on April 23, 1921; that he graduated from Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary, St. Thomas College, and the University of Minnesota; that he served in the Army Transportation Corps during World War II; that in 1949 he was wed to Jeanne Adams and stayed that way for 66 years until she passed; that he received a Fulbright Scholarship in 1962 and was named Teacher of the Year by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States in 1978; that he is survived by daughters Kathy and Peggy and sons Tom ’68 and Steve ’72 .
“He was highly dedicated. He put his heart and soul into everything he did, teaching, serving the Academy, and his faith community.” — JERRY DELGEHAUSEN
George and his wife, Jeanne.
Steve’s memories of his father relate primarily to his character. “What stands out is that he modeled how you should treat others. He was selfless and had a caring and concern for others. He had good values, and he didn’t just talk about them, he acted on them.
“Other students have told me that he had high expectations, but he was fair and genuinely concerned with them reaching their potential. He was patient and calm. He had a great memory for names and faces. He could remember students and which ones were whose classmates even after 40 years. He was family-focused. Family was very important to him. He loved to brag about his grandchildren, but he’d say he wasn’t bragging, he was just telling the truth. And, he loved the Academy and its mission.”
The memories shared by Steve’s older brother, Tom, reflect how his father was a mainstay even as times changed at the Academy. “Growing up, we lived five blocks away from campus,” he said. “Colonel Graham, the commandant, lived about three houses down from us, and we were used to seeing cadets walking through the neighborhood. When the Academy moved to the new campus my sophomore year, I helped my dad set up the language lab, with the reel-toreel tape players that were really something in those days. As far as his teaching goes, dad was not super strict, but you had to know the rules and follow them, so I took Latin instead of Spanish!
“He was extremely dedicated to the Academy, and he was dedicated to his faith, which the Academy also embodied. He used to work a summer job at Hamm’s, which is how that became the official family beer. He worked a late shift. He didn’t want to wake us up by walking up the stairs when he came in, so he’d sleep on the couch, and I would get up early because I knew there would be a candy bar in his lunch bucket that he hadn’t eaten. Steve may not know this, because I always made sure to get downstairs first.
— Continued on page 8
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“What stands out is that he modeled how you should treat others. He was selfless and had a caring and concern for others. He had good values, and he didn’t just talk about them, he acted on them.”
— STEVE SCHNELL ’72 , SON
If you are interested in sending a memorial on behalf of George Schnell, visit: cadets.com/georgeschnell
George and Jeanne with their children.
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“It’s a cliché, but if you looked up humility in the dictionary, you should see George’s picture. There was no flash. Show up. Teach your class. Run your department meeting. I never heard him raise his voice to a student, a colleague, a secretary, or anyone else in the building.”
— BILL CULBERTSON
“Dad loved to fish, and Grandpa Schnell lived in Stillwater, so that’s where we’d go. Dad was also quite the piano player, so a lot of neighborhood parties would end up at our house. Some of the things he taught us were that we shouldn’t be afraid to work hard. I appreciate his personal sacrifice, working two jobs. You work hard for what you believe in, and you commit to faith, family, and the Academy. He was not a preachy guy. He was more of a lead-by-example guy.”
Between George Schnell’s obituary and his sons’ appreciations of his life, it is easy to glimpse how he lived. In terms of what Schnell’s life meant to Saint Thomas Academy, Culbertson recalled one monumental occasion: “When he was awarded the Opus Sancti Thomae Award, George called and asked me to be his presenter. We sat in the backyard and talked for a couple hours to help me decide what to say, where I could work some Spanish into the speech. It was a very special night.”
“I also just remember him standing in his corner classroom and teaching the kids diligently. It’s a cliché, but if you looked up humility in the dictionary, you should see George’s picture. There was no flash. Show up. Teach your class. Run your department meeting. I never heard him raise his voice to a student, a colleague, a secretary, or anyone else in the building.”
“When George and those other guys from the Old Guard retired, a piece of the Academy went away,” Culbertson continued, his voice shaking, and then breaking, “and when George died, I cried.”
George Schnell surrounded by family.
“The idea is to give back to the school that gave me so much. I want to help kids who don’t have the financial means to go to this school, bright hard workers who should become the best they can be. Saint Thomas Academy gave me a great education, not just in terms of curriculum, but for life.”
Sweet Scholarships from Blue Bunny Ice Cream Executive Gary Wells
BY DAVID JACOBSON
The story of how Gary Wells ’66 came to provide scholarships to financially challenged Saint Thomas Academy students is as sweet as the Blue Bunny ice cream he sold en route to earning his wealth.
The story starts in Le Mars, Iowa with a decision to attend the Academy. “It was not my decision,” Wells said. “It was my mother’s decision. After my parents divorced, she felt she couldn’t control me enough for her to be comfortable. I was taking piano lessons from a Mrs. Sheehan, another of my mother’s ideas, and Mrs. Sheehan’s son had attended the Academy, so that was my connection.”
Though Wells said he “didn’t really want to go away to boarding school,” he soon grew to enjoy the Academy, living in Ireland Hall, and earning all-conference honors as a senior on the recently formed Cadet soccer team. One aspect of the Academy he most enjoyed was camaraderie, and Wells has maintained friendships with his fellow cadets, he said. “I roomed with Rick Heinz ’66 my junior and senior year. His mom was a doctor, and she also was a single mom, because her husband had died. Almost every weekend we’d go down to his mom’s place in Shakopee or their summer home in Prior Lake. Some of my other close friends were Steve Fugate ’66, who was from Janesville, Wisconsin, and Tom Graber ’66, from Madison, Wisconsin.”
Upon graduating, Wells said, “my mom told me I should try to go to college wherever I wanted as long as it was Catholic.”
Wells landed at Marquette University, where he majored in marketing and finance, joined the Tau Sigma Phi service fraternity and admired from afar the school’s legendary basketball coach, Al McGuire.
Wells’ next stop was a return to Le Mars, where he joined his father’s family business, Wells’ Dairy. Working alongside uncles and cousins, he helped expand the Wells Blue Bunny brand, including a pioneering sales program with a relatively small grocery chain called Walmart. He rose through the ranks to CEO, the position from which he retired in 2007.
In addition to the scholarships he provides at Chicago’s Leo High School, a Catholic institution in an impoverished neighborhood, Wells now provides fouryear scholarships to two cadets, because, he said, “I was proud of the place. I learned a lot. The teachers cared about the kids. When I got to Marquette, I realized even more the value of the education I’d received at Saint Thomas Academy.
“Saint Thomas Academy gave me a great education, not just in terms of curriculum, but for life in general, with the great teachers the Academy has always had and the great culture. The idea is to give back to the school that gave me so much. I just want to help kids who don’t have the financial means to go to this school, bright hard workers who should become the best they can be.”
Fall Theater Production Taught Cadets Much More than Just Acting
BY DAVID JACOBSON
In the best of times, staging a theatrical production is difficult. Fall 2020 was not the best of times.
The COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing, and in the early days of a return to classes on campus for the first time since March, not everyone was at ease. Least of all the cast and crew of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.”
On top of any stage fright they might have felt while learning new, highly emotional material, they also had to add layers of artifice to the art of acting. For example, while understanding stage directions and finding marks, they also had to do a delicate COVID-induced dance to ensure safe social distancing. Facemask requirements deprived them the customary visual cues of their co-actors’ faces. It’s no small matter to time your lines precisely when you can’t see your fellow actors smile, when you’re not sure that their mouths are done delivering lines.
Of course, not far below the surface was fear of catching the virus, despite extraordinary precautionary measures. And,
not far below that fear lingered a sense of uncertainty as to whether the production would even be possible against such a challenging backdrop.
The story of the play’s debut on December 11 — under the leadership of Elliott Hays and Wendy Short-Hays, technical director and artistic director, respectively — is testament to their strength and savvy. The story also reveals the Academy’s values and what and how the students are taught to fuel their success.
The Early Stages
The Hays’ son, Zach ’14 , had read the Mark Haddon novel from which the play is adapted, and it became a family favorite. The protagonist, Christopher Boone, is on the autism spectrum, which lent to timely exploration of themes endemic to the age of pandemic, such as isolation and an increasingly inward gaze that many people are experiencing for the first time or more intensely than usual.
“I love the story,” said Wendy Short-Hays. “It felt like the right title (play) for us. Christopher is literally in a box, which equates to social distancing and makes this play at this time so relatable.”
After choosing the play in mid-summer, the Hays gave themselves a crash course in COVID safety around theatrical production and wrote a protocol plan for school approval. Details included assigned seats for each cast and crew member when not on stage, mandatory masks, and frequent handwashing and spraydowns for pieces on the set. “The dean of students told us we were leading the way for COVID safety,” Short-Hays said.
Still, infections and exposures occurred away from the theater. Quarantines and their domino effects on play production slowed the rehearsals as various actors and actresses were occasionally unavailable and one even needed to be replaced.
Ethan Hiew ’21 performing in a scene.
The Middle Stages
By mid-Fall, it was apparent that the show could not play before a live audience in the theater. A live-streaming option remained possible. To the rescue, with cameras and technical assistance, came Marco Baca, a director at Orange Filmworks and father of Nico ’21
Soon, however, persistent student absences and the shape of the pandemic as a whole forced a switch from livestreaming to a video-taped production. “We met as a company after just losing a cast member and crew member to quarantine, siblings, because a parent tested positive. We decided to begin filming the next day because we were running out of time if we waited the two weeks for those kids to return. They were both gracious and understanding and supportive for which I give them much credit,” says Short-Hays.
The night of that meeting, lead actor Ethan Hiew ‘21, who played Christopher, emailed a galvanizing message, illustrating what the Academy has taught him. Hiew’s email carried the subject line “The Stars” and led with a quotation from the play followed by other inside references to the script and production.
“When you look at the sky at night you know you are looking at stars, which are thousands of light years away from you. And some of those stars don’t exist anymore because their light has taken so long to get to us that they are either already dead or have exploded and collapsed into red dwarfs. And that makes you seem very small, and when you have difficult things in your life it is nice to think they are what is called negligible, which means you don’t have to take them into account when you are calculating something. I can’t see any stars here.”
Right now, it may feel like you can’t see the stars, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t still there.
This is what faith is — knowing that somewhere out there, whether it be Fate, Destiny, God, the Universe... is watching us, even if we don’t feel that it is, even if we can’t see its effects. This world is not dispassionate.
The news of “quarantine issues” and election results certainly are “difficult things in our lives.” We may feel small and helpless to this pandemic. We may feel angry. We’ve all put a lot of time and energy into our school, and we certainly need to be determined to see it go through.
But in the grand scheme of things, all this news is a negligible pushback. Stop groaning. Let’s get our breaths. Count the cubes of the cardinal numbers in our heads. We are still going to push on. We are going to do our work, and deliver God’s message to the world.
We are going to show the world how we solved the maths question on our A Level. And how we got an A*.
Have faith. Pray.
The Universe will always be watching and waiting.
Said Wendy Short-Hays: “To have Ethan step up that way… it’s what you want a lead actor to do.”
The Final Stages
Film acting is much different than the stage acting for which the Academy and Visitation School students were trained. Plus, the sporadic availability among cast and crew meant that some scenes had to be shot out of sequence, rather than shooting a straight, linear run-through of the script.
While a straight run-through lets actors naturally modulate their voices and gestures to build toward dramatic impact, out-of-sequence filming often calls upon actors to reach an emotional peak early in the shooting for a scene that appears late in the film, and then have to temper their emotion in later shooting of a scene that actually appears earlier in the film.
“The takeaway for the kids from a technical standpoint was amazing,” said Elliott Hays. “They had to handle the details of camera positions and sound mixing and other complications. They had their eyes opened wide.”
— Continued on page 12
Chris Peters ’21 delivering his performance in a scene.
The play debuted as planned on December 11, drawing roughly 300 online views, with no way of telling how many friends and family may have been watching together. The production earned multiple honors from the Hennepin Theatre Trust (see inset)
Encore
Staging the play under such adverse and ever-changing conditions is remarkable. The achievements noted by the Hennepin Theatre Trust speak for themselves. But some of the actors’ voices, and those of their adult leaders, best explain the actual educational experience that the two schools offered their students.
“The value of the process is the biggest takeaway,” said Wendy Short-Hays. “It’s not the hugs and the accolades and the applause. They focused on process, and how to find the ‘yes, and’ in this experience, as in ‘yes, this is not theater as you know it, and now you get to learn film.’”
That was fine with Hiew, who started acting in fourth grade at Visitation and plans to study film in college, partly thanks to this experience. “It was cool to learn about camera angles and to be able to do things over if a line wasn’t quite right,” he said. “It was a challenge to adapt and stay motivated when we were seeing everything going on with the pandemic, but the pandemic restrictions in a way helped the show do new creative things.
“We had to adapt a lot to the pandemic, and that’s applicable to the creative process and life in general. Lots of situations in theater just happen — someone forgets a line — and you just have to adapt and keep going. Theater has been a great
experience throughout middle school and high school. It’s really cool to see the ideas of our adult leaders come to life, and theater has helped me learn how to empathize, which is an important skill to have.”
Another actor who deeply felt the impact of performing in this play is Christopher Peters ’21, who played Ed Boone, the protagonist’s father. “I was familiar with the content and material of the play,” he said. “Also, I have a cousin who is on the autism spectrum, and I understand some of the psychology of autism. Knowing, for example, how people with autism do not like to be touched and seeing the meaning of that against the backdrop of COVID was an ‘a-ha’ moment.
“This experience did help build character. It took a lot of self-determination. Sometimes we would have to shoot things six or seven times, but we’re taught at Saint Thomas Academy to never give up on achieving a goal. I also learned about brotherhood by acting during the pandemic, where we had to watch out for our brothers to make sure they had what they needed, and then between the two schools, growing that brotherhood and sisterhood.”
Productions/Theatre Department of Visitation School and Saint Thomas Academy For their production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Ethan Hiew watching the performance of the play.
It’s Not Quite “Curtains” for Longtime VISTA Actors
BY DAVID JACOBSON
Ethan Hiew ’21 and Chris Peters ’21 started working in VISTA productions as soon as allowed in fifth grade, and both have served as cast or crew in every production since. Though both will soon graduate, their VISTA careers are not quite complete. Preparing to appear in Sweet Land, the two took stock of their unusually lengthy and consistent work in VISTA, along with Artistic Director Wendy Short-Hays.
Their credits together run the gamut of theatrical styles from comedy to drama to musical:
• Grade 5, Seussical Jr.
• Grade 6, Peter Pan the Musical
• Grade 7, Mulan Jr.
• Grade 8, The Lion King Jr.
• Grade 9, Scapino! and Les Miserables
• Grade 10, Little Women and The Little Mermaid
• Grade 11, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Newsies was cancelled by the COVID pandemic)
• Grade 12, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Short-Hays put the two cadets’ careers and accomplishments into perspective: “At a young age, especially for boys, it’s a leap of faith to get involved in theater. Ethan and Chris sticking with it this long really says something about them. I love the fact that they have developed this aspect of their character. This range and length of involvement — children’s theater, Disney, comedy, drama, Shakespeare, learning from dialect coaches and movement coaches, and committing to a different journey each time — makes them Renaissance men.”
Working so many years together, she has special memories of both Hiew and Peters. “Ethan, even in middle school, had a lower voice, so he played Scar in The Lion King. Then, I got to see him play as complex a character as Chris Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and the abandon with which he pursued that role. As an actor, it’s very exposing to scream and roll on the floor. Chris is such a warm-hearted kid, a thoughtful guy, and I love seeing him come into his own, playing Chris Boone’s father, and now I’m excited to see him play Olaf Torvik, the Norwegian immigrant bachelor in Sweet Land.”
Of course, each of these actors also has great memories of his VISTA experience. Hiew’s recollections included: “Seussical Jr. was the first time I performed, and it was really interesting to see the creative
process as well as the community behind a theatrical production. For Peter Pan I tried out, not expecting much, as I was very new to acting, only to be surprised when I landed the role of Peter Pan! From this show, I learned to memorize lots of lines and dove deep into the world of theater. This show was an experience that really encouraged me to continue theater from that moment on. Mulan Jr. was really cool, because I am Chinese, and with this show being based on Chinese folklore, the experience was also culturally enriching for me. In The Lion King Jr., one of my scene partners forgot a line, so we improvised, which taught me about thinking on my feet.”
Hiew also grasped the greater meaning of how VISTA shaped his overall education and development as a person. “I first joined theater because it was something interesting and new that I thought would be fun. And while it is all of those things, I have gotten so much more than that. Acting and theater isn’t just entertainment. As both actor and audience you learn to empathize with characters, who show you a glimpse of the diverse world we live in today. Being able to experience the world through someone else’s perspective will be a powerful tool in my future. Theater has also taught me endurance and creativity through adversity, two tools I can use to power through and think around the many challenges in life.”
From Peters’ perspective, he also sees his theater experience equipping him with life lessons. “Overall through VISTA, I’ve been able to amplify my interpersonal skills and my public speaking skills. I no longer have stage fright, and I’m comfortable talking to people, tackling challenges, and taking risks.”
Peters’ VISTA career also has provided unique and gratifying views of community. “I’ve been there since I could be there,” he said. “One of the most interesting aspects of being there so long was that I’ve been able to see upper-classmen come and go and graduate and see how the bonds of brotherhood extend across the grades.
“During Les Miserables, people coming from our community, and even people from outside our community, to see us perform was a big wow factor for me. Having goosebumps come over my body was a powerful moment, and I knew then that I wanted to stick with this. During A Midsummer Night’s Dream, our football team was playing in the state tournament, and the fact that there was such a large crowd for our Saturday performance was really impressive. It showed me that a lot of people in the Visitation and Saint Thomas Academy communities really care about theater and the arts.”
Scholarships Help in the Drive for Diversity
BY DAVID JACOBSON
Well before Saint Thomas Academy launched the Diversity Outreach Task Force headed by Director of Inclusion and Outreach Rick Stevson (Saber, Fall 2020), there was a history of scholarship funding to help diversify the Academy’s student body in terms of race and socio-economics. Now, Stevson hopes to build on that history in the context of the Academy’s overall drive toward greater diversity.
He is particularly appreciative of efforts like that of the Flaherty Family Foundation, which pioneered the Academy’s diversity scholarship funding in the 1990s as part of a then-fledgling Flaherty program that now supports more than 400 students attending Catholic schools in multiple states. Beyond simply writing checks, Flaherty plays an active role in “holistically helping kids get college-ready,” Stevson said.
“They stay in touch with their students about pursuing the financial aid they may need to pay for college. They make sure the students fill out applications, that they get the tutoring they need, even down to the detail of replacing a family’s computer if necessary.”
The long history of Flaherty support for the Academy stems from Ed Flaherty — the family patriarch, who rose from humble means by using an up-by-his-ownbootstraps approach to building the Rapid Oil Change chain. Ed sent his son, Brad ’92, to the Academy, and the Foundation typically provides scholarships for at least four students at a time, Stevson said.
Other scholarship funds focused on socio-economic diversity at the Academy include Operation Scholar (Saber, Spring 2018), the Fruen Scholarship Fund, Steele Family Scholarship Fund at STA, and Lawrence and Patricia Timmons Scholarship Fund.
“This effort for socio-economic access and diversity has been happening well before it was popular,” Stevson said. “Without the help of the aforementioned organizations, scholarships, and individuals, access to a great education and the best alumni network in the Midwest would not have been an opportunity for many students. We are truly appreciative of their commitment to the betterment of all of our students!
If you are interested in efforts to increase the diversity of students who are able to access the high-quality education that Saint Thomas Academy offers, you can email Rick Stevson at rstevson@cadets.com or David Hottinger, Director of Institutional Advancement at dhottinger@cadets.com .
“This effort for socio-economic access and diversity has been happening well before it was popular. Without the help of the (aforementioned) organizations, scholarships, and individuals, access to a great education and the best alumni network in the Midwest would not have been an opportunity for many students. We are truly appreciative of their commitment to the betterment of all of our students!”
Ed Flaherty of the Flaherty Foundation.
— RICK STEVSON
Honor Guard Activities
COVID-19 has provided many challenges to an already difficult time, saying goodbye to loved ones. Funerals are one of the many services provided by Honor Guard cadets. Recently, the family of Mr. Dan Forby ’52 shared their appreciation of our cadets, Jack Martin ’21 and Harvard Holmstadt ’23 . The Honor Guard handles what can be a very difficult duty as a Casket Guard with professionalism and grace. They are mature beyond their years and we are blessed to have them volunteer to serve.
The Honor Guard also took part in a service project to benefit health care workers. Many of the events the Honor Guard typically support have been canceled due to the pandemic. Ben McKinley ’23 suggested an idea to gather donations such as lip balm, hand lotion, socks, gum and other treats to bring to those working on the front lines of COVID. Simon Kotok ’21 is pictured with the baskets of donations that were collected from the 55-member company.
VISTA MUSICAL
VISTA Productions will present Sweet Land this spring. A poignant, lyrical celebration of land, love, and the American immigrant experience. In 1920, Inge Altenberg journeys to America to marry a bachelor farmer, sight unseen. But in the wake of WWI, Inge’s German heritage turns her new neighbors against the match. Under cathedral skies, the determined young immigrant and her stoic farmer fight for their lives, facing their own misgivings and the harshness of an unforgiving land. A lyrical celebration of hard-won independence and a reflection of generations past, Sweet Land reminds us of who we are — and where we came from.
VISTA BAND
Congratulations to the Boys’ Metro East All-Conference Members! Unfortunately, there was no performance this year, but we would still like to recognize the AllConference members. Individuals will receive an All-Conference plaque this spring. Adam Groh ’21 (Tuba), Chris Peters ’21 (Alto Sax), Jacob Zenner ’21 (Trumpet), James Walsh ’22 (Trumpet), Joe Brennan ’21 (Percussion), Joseph Michel ’21 (Trombone), Nick Horst ’21 (Baritone Sax), Oliver Balfour ’21 (Tenor Sax), Will Hoppe ’21 (Percussion).
Book by Perrin Post and Laurie Flanigan Hegge | Lyrics by Laurie Flanigan Hegge | Music by Dina Maccabee | From the film Sweet Land by Ali Selim ’79 and the short story “A Gravestone Made of Wheat” by Will Weaver. Ali Selim graduated from STA in 1979 and is also a former Trustee.
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT RECOUNTS BATTLE WON BY LOVE AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY VETERANS DAY ASSEMBLY
Saint Thomas Academy paid tribute to military veterans and active duty personnel at its Veterans Day assembly on Wednesday, November 11.
Medal of Honor recipient and keynote speaker Clinton Romesha recounted the battle in the Kamdesh district of Afghanistan, which resulted in him receiving the country’s highest military honor. He told Academy cadets, “I don’t ever remember being scared about getting shot or dying or getting blown up. What scared me was what was happening to everybody else. What scared me was not being able to bring all of those heroes home back to their families.” Eight U.S. soldiers were killed in the battle on October 3, 2009. It took nearly 13 hours but the unit recovered those eight men.
He continued, “When I look back to that day, I got to see so many heroic events from so many great men around me. When I got told I was receiving the Medal of Honor, it didn’t make sense. It still doesn’t make sense. Why me? I didn’t do anything special. I don’t think I did anything heroic. I did a job that I know deep down any of those guys would have done. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here. I got selected to wear (the medal), but it’s not mine. It’s for
“You want to learn something about love? Spend some time in combat with your brothers in arms. It’s not a game of hate. That’s why we won that day. We were fighting out of love
while the enemy was fighting out of hate. That will overcome any day.”
— CLINTON ROMESHA, KEYNOTE SPEAKER
each and every one of those men who served that day. For those that have put on the uniform of this nation — those who have served in past conflicts, those great men and women that are still serving today and that next generation that might be called to serve tomorrow. I got selected to wear the medal but it’s not mine.
“You can look at what happened that day… The enemy had the high ground. They had the numbers. They had the time. The enemy was trying to kill us because they hated us. They hate what we stand for, what we represent. Our guys fought that day because they loved the men to their left and right so much that they would sacrifice anything to protect them. You want to learn something about love? Spend some time in combat with your brothers in arms. It’s not a game of hate. That’s why we won that day. We were fighting out of love while the enemy was fighting out of hate. That will overcome any day.”
Eight men were killed in action in the Battle of Kamdesh. The approximately 50 soldiers in the “Combat Outpost Keating” collectively received 26 purple hearts, seven silver stars, two distinguished service cross and two medals of honor. Romesha’s remarks are available at cadetbroadcasts.com
RETIRED MAJ. GEN. DAVID D. HAMLAR
Cadets also heard from retired Maj. Gen. David D. Hamlar about his dual-track military and medical career. Hamlar retired as Assistant Adjutant General –Air, Minnesota National Guard in 2017, last responsible for maintaining two high-quality Air National Guard Wings assigned to Minnesota. After earning his bachelor’s degree, Hamlar attended Howard University College of Dentistry as a National Health Service Corps scholarship recipient, gaining a commission at the equivalent Naval rank of Lieutenant. While practicing dentistry, he entered medical school and completed his studies in three years. He spent his fourth year as a basic research scientist, which led to one year of post-graduate training in general surgery and four years in otolaryngology. Finally, a fellowship in Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery led him to Minnesota in 1994, where he attended the University of Minnesota. Hamlar served in the 121st Tactical Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard and later the Minnesota Air National Guard 133rd Airlift Wing as a traditional guardsman and general practice physician in 1995. Hamlar has
Retired Maj. Gen. David D. Hamlar
served in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and numerous military humanitarian efforts around the world.
Fleming Alumni Veterans Award Recipients
Also during the assembly, the Academy honored two alumni who have built distinguished military careers with the Fleming Alumni Veterans Award. This year’s Fleming Medal recipients were:
JEREMY HARRIS ’03, former lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, Navy Reserve Pilot.
CPT. BENJAMIN PIEHL ’07, U.S. Air Force, B1 Weapons Officer and Instructor Pilot.
FACULTY/STAFF UPDATES
KRISTIN OLDS joined the Advancement Team in January. As Advancement Associate, Kristin will assist with database maintenance, events and other outward facing tasks.
Interim Activities & Athletics Director DAN O’BRIEN recently announced he will be resigning from the Academy. O’Brien will remain as Head Coach for the Cadet Football Team.
Long-time employee JOHN PANEK passed away in December. John began his career at Saint Thomas Academy in 1982 with the Facilities Team. John will be greatly missed by many. Please keep his wife Theresa, children and grandchildren in your thoughts and prayers.
Tiffany & Co. recently recognized MARK WESTLAKE as one of our Hometown Heroes for his work printing face shield components for health care workers during the pandemic. This recognition from Tiffany & Co. is to highlight those in the community who have stepped up during all the troubles this year to help others.
MARK WESTLAKE was also named to the "2020 50 Over 50" list from Pollen. The list celebrates and recognizes Minnesotans over the age of 50 who have made significant contributions and achievements in their communities. Westake was listed in the Disruptor category, which is defined as “the status quo can sometimes feel like an immovable object, but the honorees in the disruptor category are truly irresistible forces. They’re making it clear that getting older doesn’t mean settling for things as they are. Instead, they’re working to make things better — in healthcare, education, media, or any system that needs the energy of innovation.”
JOHN BINA was featured in the latest issue of the Instrumentalist magazine for his work with imaginative rehearsal seatings.
BRANDON LUTTERMAN’s latest art exhibition entitled "Stewardship" was on display at the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center at Bethany Lutheran College. Use the QR code to watch an interview with Brandon about his display.
COACHING UPDATES
Coach MATT KELLY has resigned from the Cadet Baseball team to take a Division I coaching position with the University of North Carolina at Asheville. JON ENGESWICK will be Interim Head Coach for the spring season.
Coach TRENT EIGNER , in addition to coaching Cadet Hockey, has a new book coming out, Assault on Average
Jeremy Harris ’03
CPT. Benjamin Piehl ’07
SENIOR OFFICER PROMOTIONS
Reding Named Cadet Colonel
BAKER REDING ’21 of Saint Paul (Highland Park) was named the 2020-2021 Cadet Colonel and Brigade Commander. Reding was chosen to lead the Corps of Cadets from among 16 senior class officers based on his academic performance, co-curricular involvement, merits and demerits, military performance, and leadership abilities.
As Cadet Colonel, Reding is the highest-ranking officer in the Corps, which comprises the entire upper school student body. He is working closely with the Academy’s administrators and military leaders to implement a wide variety of events and activities at the Academy during the remainder of the school year. The Cadet Colonel also acts as liaison between Cadets and the faculty and administration.
“Baker is an outstanding young man, who has demonstrated tremendous growth in his leadership skills and potential during his time at Saint Thomas Academy,” said retired U.S. Army Col. Neil Hetherington, Commandant of Cadets. “His peers and underclassmen respect and admire him for his commitment to excellence, whether in the classroom, on the football or lacrosse field, or in living his Catholic faith through community service.”
Reding started at Saint Thomas Academy in 8th grade, having previously attended Christ Our King-Stella Maris School in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. During his time at the Academy, he has received many honors and awards.
Reding has also served as a middle school football coach, basketball team manager (grade 10), a peer mentor and captain, co-leader of the Lincoln Society, and co-editor-in-chief of the Citation student newspaper. He is also a member of the Model UN team, the Spanish Club, and the Right to Life Club.
Reding served the Twin Cities and Saint Thomas Academy communities extensively during the summer of 2020. Following the social unrest locally, he volunteered for multiple food drives across the metro area. He also volunteered with the Academy’s youth football camp and helped modify Academy facilities for social distancing standards in preparation for a return to full-time, in-person learning in the fall.
Reding has committed to play Division I lacrosse at College of the Holy Cross.
Pictured with his parents: Andy ’88 and Francie
Five additional seniors were promoted from cadet captain to cadet lieutenant colonel. They are:
NICK HORST OF EAGAN hopes to pursue an undergraduate degree in computer science and environmental science from Stanford University, University of Southern California, Carnegie Mellon University, or the University of Minnesota. Horst attended Saint Ambrose Catholic School in Woodbury.
Pictured with his parents: Bradley and Kathleen
DANIEL M cFADDEN OF SUNFISH LAKE plans to play football at Stanford University following graduation. He attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School of West St. Paul prior to Saint Thomas Academy.
Pictured with his parents: Mary Kate and Michael
JORDAN YOUNG OF INVER GROVE HEIGHTS plans to study aerospace engineering, computer science and economics at one of several colleges: Duke University, The University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt University, Rice University, Georgia Tech, University of Virginia, or Harvard University.
Pictured with his parents: Anupama and Darren
OSCAR BERG OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS plans to apply to Marquette University, Gonzaga University, Colorado State University, University of Wisconsin Madison, University of Montana, and Montana State University.
Pictured with his parents: Jennifer and Paul ’81
JACK SEXTON OF EDINA aspires to study engineering and medicine at one of the following: United States Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, The University of Notre Dame, or Vanderbilt University.
Pictured with his parents: Michael and Judith
Casey Erickson (College Counseling) and his wife Jessica welcomed baby Vander James on January 8. Vander joins big brother Caden (5).
QUIZ & KNOWLEDGE BOWL
The Quiz Bowl “A” team of senior captain Joseph Michel, senior Alex Mohs, senior Teddy Farrell, and VIS senior Addie Cooper qualified for the Minnesota State High School Quiz Bowl Tournament. They went 8 – 4 in the regular season. This year the matches have all been held via Zoom. Senior Will Guttery has also played on the A team, as well as juniors Jack MapelLentz and Sam Trammell
The team of Cooper (VIS), Michel, Mohs, Trammell, and Guttery represented Saint Thomas Academy in the Minnesota State Tournament, where they finished 9th out of 16 total teams. The team is coached by Jamie Jurkovich and Doug Hoverson.
Qualifying for the Minnesota tournament, also qualified the team for Nationals, which will be held virtually this year on Memorial Day weekend.
Upcoming Admissions Events
Join the Admissions Office a for a TUESDAY TOUR. These (in-person) campus tours provide prospective families with an exploration of our exceptional 88-acre campus and its preeminent learning facilities, such as our Innovation Center and advanced learning tools. Tours include classroom visits, meeting with faculty and conclude with taking in Formation, a unique daily gathering for the students. Tuesday Tours are typically 90 minutes and cover much of our amazing experience.
Tuesday, March 23 @ 9 a.m.
Tuesday, April 13 @ 9 a.m.
Tuesday, May 18 @ 9 a.m.
Rifle Team
Recently, the Cadet Rifle Team took part in the 2021 Minnesota Civilian Marksmanship State Championship. The Sporter team consisting of Michael Driscoll ’21, Daniel Staelgraeve ’21, Jack Martin ’21, and Joe Brennan ’21 took first place overall, with Driscoll placing first overall as an individual (545) and Staelgraeve placing 3rd (533). Martin shot a PR as well (520). The team has been shooting in this State Championship since 2014 and has never lost; this year they not only won but set a new school and state record, breaking 2000 cumulative points (2006)!
Additionally the team entered the “precision” category. The team consisted of Patrick Minkel ’21, Joey Farrington ’21, Ty Thunstrom ’23, and Eric Zauha ’23. The team took 2nd place and Thunstrom shot a PR (506). The team is coached by CW4 Paul Preblich.
FOOTBALL AWARDS
Awards were announced in December and several cadets were honored.
OFFENSE
All-District:
Baker Reding ’21, Leo Bluhm ’22 , Danny McFadden ’21, and Joe Vascellaro ’21
Honorable mention:
Love Adebayo ’23 and Grady O’Neill ’22 .
District Offensive Player of the Year: Danny McFadden ’21
DEFENSE
All-District:
Oscar Berg ’21, Jamie Smith ’21, Ryan Creamer ’21, and Garrison Solliday ’21
Honorable Mention:
Jackson Cercioglu ’23 and Mark Rogalski ’23
District Defensive Player of the Year: Garrison Solliday ’21
District Lineman of the Year: Oscar Berg ’21
OTHER AWARDS
All-State and All-Metro First Team: Garrison Solliday ’21
Solliday also was named one of ten finalists for the Mr. Football Award. Solliday is the first player from Saint Thomas Academy to be selected as a finalist. Although, STMA had two cadets win the prestigious Mount Olivet Minnesota Amateur Athlete of the Year Award. The award was sponsored by Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Edina and recipients were chosen by Sid Hartman of WCCO. This award was the predecessor to the current Mr. Football Award.
Head Coach Dan O’Brien was also named District Coach of the Year
OFFICER OF THE QUARTER
The Cadet of the Quarter was Bennet Kotok ’22
The NCO of the Quarter was Ed Stuart ’22
The Officer of the Quarter was Joe Brennan ’22
HARVEST PACK EVENT
In February, 350 cadets participated in the first of three Harvest Pack events to help the Academy reach its goal of providing more than 108,000 meals to neighbors in need. The three packing events will benefit several local agencies chosen by the cadets, including Franciscan Brothers of Peace, St. Vincent de Paul, The Sanneh Foundation, Neighborhood House and Risen Christ.
Harvest Pack has had a dramatic decline in its packing events since March of 2020. Since that same time, food insecurity in the Twin Cities has increased significantly. Each year, Saint Thomas Academy campus ministers choose multiple schoolwide community giving initiatives to connect cadets with people who may be less fortunate and positively impact the community. This year, the campus ministers are focused entirely on meeting local hunger needs. Partnering with the Patterson Dental Foundation, the cadets have raised $25,000 to make the packing events possible. In addition to financial support for the Harvest Pack events, Patterson is also donating dental supplies to the agency partners.
WINTER SPORTS UPDATE
ALPINE SKIING
This past alpine skiing season has been productive, as many young cadets have stepped up to replace the old guard. Led by captains Adam Groh ’21, Peter O’Brien ’21, and Andre Bedros ’22 , they have taken advantage of a late season start and pushed themselves in each of the races. JV skier Emmett Wolf ’23 finished in first place at the MEC Conference Meet. With the late start and shortened season, the team enjoyed every turn racing downhill, not taking anything for granted.
BASKETBALL
The Cadet basketball team is currently 0-6 this season but has been competitive in their games. Despite requirements for athletes to keep masks on during all play, COVID-19 has still caused numerous delays and cancellations. Team captains this year are seniors John Grismer and Ryan Chamberlain. Chamberlain is averaging 15.9 ppg and 7.6 rebounds followed by Michael Thompson ’23 at 9.5 ppg, Michael Kirchner ’23 at 9.5 ppg and John Grismer at 6 rebounds/game. The Cadets are hoping things will change soon and they can string some wins together to get them ready for section play.
HOCKEY
Coaches Trent Eigner, Niko Kapetanovic, and Jimmy McCuster headed into their second year leading the Cadets since the retirement of the Vanellis. The Saint Thomas Academy Hockey team was ranked #2 in the pre-season votes and are currently ranked #5 in the state with a record of 7-1-3. The Cadet hockey team is led by seniors Jackson Hallum, Jared Wright , Tommy Deverell, and junior Max Nagel Hallum, a four-year veteran on the team, recently was drafted 91st overall in the 2020 NHL draft, to the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The Cadets have seven games left in the season and are trying to return to the State Hockey Tournament for the fifth time in a row.
NORDIC SKIING
The season has definitely been strange and unpredictable with COVID, but the Cadets have really handled all of the adversity well. Six weeks of the season were eliminated, which made it challenging to prepare for meets without having the time to condition and train. However, the team has put in double time to work really hard day in and day out in the snow and weight room. Mr. Westerback ’82, Mrs. McQuillan, Mr. Weber, and Mr. Loufek have also been huge this year in providing support and guidance to the skiers. At the time of publication, the team had skied in four meets and the Conference Championship. The team was led by captains Padon Kinzley ’22 and Tommy Hedman ’21
SWIMMING
The swim season began five weeks late and the team started off slowly. However, at the time of publication, the team looks like they will finish with their 11th straight conference title, and 26th out of the last 27 years. Next up for the swimmers will be the MSHSL section meet in early March, with the Cadets aiming for their 22nd straight section title. Coach Barnes shared, “What makes STA swimming and diving is not the talent but the heart, emotion and passion the team develops over the season. STA Swimming is special because of a unique team chemistry.” The captains leading the team are: seniors Aidan Mir, Wil Applebaum, Teddy Farrell, and junior Ian Rutgers. Overall, the team hopes to finish the season strong and make a run during the state meet.
WRESTLING
The Cadet Wrestling team is under the direction of new coaches Matt Everson and Graydon Anderson and have had an outstanding season so far. They are approaching the record for most wins by a Cadet team in a season, which is 14 wins. Currently, the team is 13-4. The team is led by senior captains Garrison Solliday and Jacob Draxler. More than halfway through the season the Cadets are peaking at the right time. They have a few matches left and are looking forward to the section tournament. Solliday has been to the state tournament the past two years and is hopeful a few more of his teammates will join him.
“
WHETHER IT IS GREAT SUCCESS WITH AN ASSIGNMENT, ACCEPTANCE TO HIS/HER DREAM SCHOOL, OR EARNING AN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP, I LOVE WITNESSING THEIR JOY AND SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT WHEN STUDENTS REACH A GOAL
”
Lisa Deyak
YEAR STARTED AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | 2018
SUBJECTS/CO-CURRICULARS/CLUBS | English/Language Arts; Cadence co-moderator; at previous schools I coached track and field, swimming, diving, and volleyball.
FIRST TEACHING JOB | Southwest Junior High, Albert Lea, MN
HOBBIES | Reading, outdoor activities, home improvement, and traveling
FAVORITE TEACHING MOMENTS | I’ve been blessed to have too many great teaching moments to narrow it down to just one. In general, I love helping my students and athletes achieve success at new levels. Whether it is great success with an assignment, acceptance to his/her dream school, or earning an athletic scholarship, I love witnessing their joy and sense of accomplishment when students reach a goal.
BRUSH WITH FAME | While running track for the University of Minnesota, I participated in a track meet where Jackie Joyner-Kersee, world record-holder and Olympic gold medalist, was also competing. At one point, I was slated to run against her in the 55m hurdles. I was quite relieved that the heat/lane assignments were changed, and I did not have to directly compete against her. Watching her compete was something I will never forget. Even though her competitors were some of the top college hurdlers, she destroyed them. She was phenomenal.
FAVORITE EXPERIENCE | I’ve been blessed with many, but overall the experiences that I have shared with family are my most prized. Vacations, holidays, and even simple meals together all qualify.
WHY I TEACH/WORK AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | I love teaching, and I love working at Saint Thomas Academy. Collectively, the students, families, and staff at STA make an amazing team, and it's a joy to come to work every day. STA is a unique school with not only a strong tradition but the ability and drive to be innovative. The Academy’s pillars and values of faith, excellence, integrity, and respect transcend time and help us adapt to the ever-changing needs of our students and families.
FAVORITE MUSIC | I enjoy most music, but I have a special affinity for Prince.
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT | I love any vacation that includes great seafood, warm sunshine, and a sandy beach.
FAMILY | My family includes my husband, Greg, a physical therapist with Twin Cities Orthopedics; and our children Julia, who will graduate in May with a business degree from the College of Saint Benedict; and Joseph ’20, who is a freshman studying electrical engineering at North Dakota State University. Plus, we have an adorable dog named Boomer.
Jamie Jurkovich
YEAR STARTED AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | Fall 1994
SUBJECTS/CO-CURRICULARS/CLUBS |
Taught 7th grade Geography and 10th grade World History for 20 years. Quiz Bowl & Knowledge Bowl Moderator for 25 years. Coached every level of STA football for 27 years. Middle School Director for 10 years.
FIRST TEACHING JOB | Saint Thomas Academy!
HOBBIES | Educational travel, photography, gardening, and golf.
FAVORITE TEACHING MOMENTS | Naturalization ceremonies for Mr. Tangwe and Dr. Carpenter and Audubon environmental learning center trips with 7th graders.
FAVORITE EXPERIENCES | Guatemala service trips, coaching in the Prep Bowls, and relationships with all the Quiz Bowl guys over the years.
WHY I TEACH/WORK AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | The relationships with students, colleagues, and parents.
FAVORITE MUSIC | I’ll go with some favorite albums — Badlands, Some Girls, Let It Be (The Replacements), Billy’s Live Bait, Tomorrow the Green Grass, 3 Pears, Are You Shakespearienced?
FAVORITE VACATION SPOTS | BWCA, Giant’s Ridge, any cabin time with my family, and Croatia.
FAMILY | Wife Stephanie Molliconi — 28 years; Grace (Visitation ’14) and Marko (STA ’17)
“
MY FAVORITE EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN SERVICE TRIPS TO GUATEMALA, COACHING IN THE PREP BOWLS, AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF THE QUIZ BOWL GUYS OVER THE YEARS.
Incredible Generosity by the STA Community
BY MIKE MAXWELL ’84, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Give Day 2020 was an amazing success, an expression of incredible generosity by the Saint Thomas Academy community. Planning for Give Day 2020, we were uncertain of what to expect. Being a month earlier than in past years caught some people by surprise. Throw in a pandemic and a contentious presidential election and who knew what would happen.
I am happy to report that Give Day 2020 exceeded our expectations and set the stage for the balance of the calendar year. The final tally was more than $650,000 donated to the Aquinas Fund for the benefit of our cadets and faculty.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DAY:
• Class of 1964 led the way by raising nearly $66,000, more than 10% of the overall total for the day.
• Class of 1985 took the top spot for both number of donors (42) and participation percentage (28%)
• Eight Young Alumni Classes (2006-2020) were in the top 15 based on participation and number of donors.
• The Class of 2020, our most recent graduates, had the highest percentage of participation among young alumni and number two overall with nearly 22% .
• Current parents contributed more than $200,000.
“Give Day 2020 was an amazing success, an expression of incredible generosity by the Saint Thomas Academy community ”
— MIKE MAXWELL
’84
Our friendly competition with our friends at Visitation continued in 2020. After playing second fiddle to Visitation in 2019, STA came out on top this year, regaining bragging rights for the year.
Both schools surpassed their goals of raising $500k for their respective annual giving campaigns. Combined giving was more than $1.1 million dollars. Not bad for a couple of small Catholic schools.
Another successful Give Day has given the Aquinas Fund an incredible kick start for the year. As of the writing of this article, we have raised $1.1 million towards the budgeted goal of $1.5 million. A great start but our work is not done.
If you have yet to make a gift to the Aquinas Fund this fiscal year there is still plenty of time to do so. Our fiscal year ends June 30 and any amount helps us reach our goal. Feel free to use the donation envelope you will find in this issue of the Saber or please visit cadets.com/Aquinas
Thank you to everyone who invests in the Academy, our cadets and our mission! We are most grateful for the generosity of this community.
RAISED FOR THE AQUINAS FUND 200 PARENT DONATIONS
Young Alumni Classes
Academy Access Through Scholarship
BY DAVID HOTTINGER ’85 DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Throughout the halls, classrooms, and athletic venues, our young men have had the opportunity to experience in-person learning at Saint Thomas Academy while so many other students have not. During the pandemic, this experience is unique and it isn’t something our families have taken for granted. While it can sometimes be easy to forget that many of our students are able to attend Saint Thomas Academy thanks to our benevolent donors, we have been genuinely humbled by the generosity of our STA community this year.
In this issue of the Saber, we have shared the story of Gary Wells ’66 , and why he feels it is so important to give back to the Academy and provide meaningful educational opportunities to young men. I have the pleasure of knowing Gary and his wife, Kessa. They truly believe in what a Saint Thomas Academy education can do in preparing young men for adulthood. The Flaherty Foundation and Operation Scholar programs are additional examples of unique and inspiring stories of providing access to Saint Thomas Academy.
David Hottinger ’85
These stories and statistics have been highlighted before but need to be given more exposure. At Saint Thomas Academy, over 45% of our cadets are awarded financial assistance through endowment, annual scholarship or through the Fund-a-Need donations made at the annual Community Auction. This is quite a visual when you consider that almost half the court at daily formation are benefiting from financial aid. Another visual to consider is that 40% of Academy graduates also received assistance during their time at the Academy. Impact for sure!
Saint Thomas Academy prides itself on providing access. Our updated strategic plan benchmarks a five-year goal for endowment growth. This will directly result in even more financial aid and access for young men. When considering Saint Thomas Academy, please think of your connection, legacy, and your ability to pay it forward.
“...over 45% of our cadets are awarded financial assistance through endowment, annual scholarship or through the Fund-a-Need donations made at the annual Community Auction.”
— DAVID HOTTINGER ’85
MAY 1,
2021
Community Auction to Mix In-Person and Virtual Experiences
BY DAVID JACOBSON
The 56th Annual Community Auction will occur May 1 with opportunities for a mix of in-person and online participation. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck last spring, said Auction Coordinator Jodie Whaley, “We were one of the first institutions in the area to conduct a virtual fundraising event, and hopefully this year we’ll be among the last to offer a virtual event, while still including some live components.”
Many participants will choose to stay home and bid via computer. For the 200 on-campus attendees Whaley hopes to draw, to ensure safe social distancing, groups of 10 will dine in decorated classrooms and other unique school spaces. All attendees (at home or at school) can take part in the program and live auction as the auctioneer will lead the bidding process from an on-campus studio.
Auction chairs leading the charge this year are Holly and Carter Balfour (parents of Oliver Balfour ’21), Kari and Chris Mawn (parents of Hunter Mawn ’23), and Katie and Peter Mork '85 (parents of Nick Mork ’23). The theme is “Hat’s Off,” alluding to the Academy’s community tipping its collective cap “to honor our teachers, who wear so many hats,” Whaley said. “Without the work they put in to get us back into school, we wouldn’t be where we are today, offering kids this excellent education.”
This year’s $100 Raffle Ticket winner will choose from a 2021 Buick Encore, tuition for next school year, or $20,000 in cash. From among the several live-auction items and more than 250 silent-auction items, highlights include a Full Orthodontic Brace or Invisalign Treatment, a Bed and Breakfast Vacation, a Minnesota Horse and Hunt Event, Dinner and Wine Pairings for 8 at Jax Café, a Mexican Resort Vacation, Golf at Spring Hill, a St. Paul Helicopter Ride and Dinner, an iPad, a Brewery Tour, a Herman Miller Chair, and a Fit Bit.
While the pandemic forces change to such a long-standing tradition as the Community Auction, Whaley holds high hopes. Last year, she said, the all-virtual event drew more than 4,000 website hits from 28 states and four countries and grossed a record $750,000. This year, with a hybrid in-person and virtual event and a digital catalog available to a database of 11,000 people, the goal is to gross $1 million.
Co-Chairs Carter and Holly Balfour
Co-Chairs Chris and Kari Mawn
Co-Chairs Peter ’85 and Katie Mork
CadetWorks — Virtually Successful!
One of the most beneficial programs at the Academy, CadetWorks engages the alumni network to find internships and relevant work experience for alumni currently in the beginning stages of their career development. The program aides them in building their resumes, gaining vital professional experiences, and developing an understanding of a professional environment. Employers receive the benefit of having access to a candidate pool that includes some of the most qualified students in the country. If you have an interest in getting involved, or have a job opening for young STA alumni, contact John Barnes at jbarnes@cadets.com.
The 2020-21 program was held virtually in December and continues to excel for both employers and interns.
Program Stats:
All Inc: 2 internships
AppyHour Inc.: 2 internships
Aris Clinic: 2 internships
Capital Partners MN: 1 internship
Compaction Technologies: 1 internship
Congressman Tom Emmer ’79: 1 internship
Golden Gopher Fund: 1 internship
Minnesota Medical Specialist: 1 internship
Mount Yale Capital Group: 2 internships
OptiSource: 1 internship
Saint Thomas Academy: 1 internship
Sampair Tax & Retirement Advisers: 2 internships
THE KAYDET IS NOW DIGITAL!
Lost your copy? Up in the attic somewhere? Now, you can find all of our yearbooks online and they are searchable by name too. Relive those Academy memories at cadets.com/yearbooks
Monday, June 14, 2021
Southview Country Club 239 Mendota Road East West St. Paul, MN 55118
PATRONIZE THESE BUSINESSES ON BEHALF OF SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY
Saint Thomas Academy is the beneficiary of charitable gambling proceeds from the Buffalo Wild Wings in Eagan, Mallards in Inver Grove Heights, and The Gnome Craft Pub in St. Paul.
All proceeds from this event go to the Saint Thomas Academy Alumni Association and their mission to invite, involve, and inform all cadet alumni. One initiative that this event supports is the Alumni Sons
Endowed Scholarship Fund. This scholarship fund gives financial support to alumni families to help make an Academy education more affordable.
Contact Director of Alumni & Community Engagement John Barnes at jbarnes@cadets.com.
for updates in the summer issue of Saber!
Alumni Association Needs
Pull-tab sellers and site managers are needed for the charitable gambling program run by the Alumni Association.
For more information, email Matt Dudley ’90 at matthew.b.dudley@gmail.com or Greg Walsh ’86 at greg@walshgaertner.com.
1940s
Our condolences to JOSEPH SCHNEIDER ’46 on the recent loss of his wife to complications related to COVID-19. Joe is retired after owning three car dealerships — Studebaker, VW, and Lincoln Mercury. Joe has 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and one great grandchild. His son Joe is a heart surgeon, Bill is a retired orthopedic surgeon, Rick is a CPA MBA, and BOB SCHNEIDER ’76, PhD currently teaches at U of Texas.
1950s
CHRIS
ROBERT ’58 said, “I have been very fortunate to have been financially rewarded while working in the high tech world. I now focus on using my estate to fund charity projects. This spring we will open a hospital in Gera, Tanzania. When we started the project, Gera had no electricity or drinkable water and the dysentery rate was 50%. After we installed electricity and drilled a well, the dysentery rate dropped to 1%. Four years later we are ready to open the hospital. What’s next? The Tanzanian children are plagued by stunted growth and a high occurrence of blindness caused by lack of protein, vitamin A, iron and zinc in their diet. To solve this problem, in January we are starting
a three year farming co-op project with about 100 subsistence farms with livestock and crops. The livestock farmers will raise goats and rabbits both of which will provide protein. In addition the urine from these animals is very high in nitrates that are necessary for fertilizer for the crop farmers. We have a list of crops that are high in the missing diet materials. We will provide high quality seeds, fertilizer and water to grow the necessary crops. It is fun to be able to improve the quality of life for less fortunate people.”
1960s
JOHN KERWIN ’63 at his farm in Clear Lake, MN.
MICHAEL MOTTL ’66 retired two years ago from the University of Hawaii after 33 years in the Dept. of Oceanography, 6 of which he served as Dept. Chair. Congrats, Michael!
1970s
CHRISTOPHER
KELLY ’70 of Omaha, Nebraska recently retired from the Juvenile Court Bench following a 20 year career during which he served 4 terms as Presiding Judge of the Douglas County Juvenile Court, and was elected by his peers to 2 terms as President of the Nebraska Juvenile Court Judges Association. He is looking forward in retirement to extended summers with his wife Jean at his family cabin on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota with visits from his 3 kids and 2 grandchildren. Chris maintains his ties to Minnesota. He has 5 siblings residing in the Twin Cities area with their families and his daughter Kathryn Kelly lives in Minneapolis and works as a prosecutor for the Chisago County Attorneys Office. He also avidly follows Minnesota’s pro sports teams particularly the Twins and Vikings. Chris values his formative experience with STA. He notes that last year he got together in Florida with his old STA pal, CRAIG NELSON ’70, after a more than 30 year time lapse. He hopes to make the 50 year celebration whenever it can be rescheduled and would love to see old friends.
1940s
DON HILLIGOSS ’48 is pictured here with three generations of his family on the front porch of a Finnish log cabin that’s over 100 years old in Black Lake, MN. Don owned Hilligoss Chevrolet/GM in Hibbing, MN and Ford Ranger in Grand Forks, MN for many years. Both businesses are now operated by his grandson, Charlie.
Congratulations to TOM TAYLOR ’77, who was recently awarded the 2020 Bob Klas, Sr. Entrepreneur Award by the Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board. This award recognizes a local entrepreneur success story.
In just about every way possible, THOMAS ELDREDGE ’79 appears to be living the dream. We recently received this envious update from him: “I am happily retired after 37 years, most recently with Andersen Corporation, and up and moved on to the Caribbean. My wife Anastasia also retired, 33 years as a Mathematics teacher at Mahtomedi High School. Now here’s the twist, She decided to not exactly retire but rather teach at Cedar International School in Tortola British Virgin
1980s
In August, DALE JONES ’80 claimed the 90th Minnesota PGA Professional Championship.
Islands and I luckily got to go too! I enjoy the sun and beaches, photography, volunteering, along with access to a Cobia 237 for time on the water visiting the outer islands. Did I mention that the world comes to the Virgin Islands to sail and I concur that it is spectacular.” Keeping sending pics and let us live vicariously through you, Tom!
KEVIN MAHONEY ’79 continues to work as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Saint Louis University and the John Cochrane Veterans Medical Center.
1980s
Babs Plunkett, wife of STEVE PLUNKETT ’81 and mother of CONNOR PLUNKETT ’14, is releasing her new book, Choose Joy: Three Keys to Investing Your Time in Retirement! The book features 50 stories of ordinary people ages 62-100 who are living with joy and purpose and many of those stories feature families from our very own Saint Thomas Academy community!
THOMAS MISUKANIS ’82 has owned and operated a private neuropsychological practice in Bloomington, MN for the past 25+ years evaluating the cognitive and
psychological functioning of patients with a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Misukanis is also an evaluator for the Baseline Assessment Protocol (BAP) for former NFL players.
2000s
THOMAS O’KEEFE ’00 was recently promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army.
In late November, BILL DORNBACH ’85, Chief Operating Officer of Viral Sign, was interviewed for KSTP about the technology Viral Sign has developed to detect the presence of a virus in the body before the onset of a fever.
Congratulations to MICHAEL KELLOGG ’85 who was recently promoted to Director, Technical Strategy: Microsoft Japan!
Congratulations to GLENN HICKOK ’87 on his recent promotion! Glenn was named Vice President of the Defense Mission Area with Noblis and will be directing Noblis’ work with the Department of Defense.
Congrats to RJ WELSH ’00, who was recently promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves! RJ is currently working for Leidos in Alexandria, VA. Following his graduation from Saint John’s University, RJ was commissioned a 2LT in the US Army Signal Corps. He holds a Master’s of Science in Telecommunications Management from the University of Maryland University College and is currently attending the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business for a Master’s in Business Administration. RJ has been stationed all over the world; from North Carolina to South Korea to Eastern Afghanistan and many places in between. His awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon,
1990s
Back in October, BEN TRACY ’94, a former WCCO reporter, was interviewed in the Star Tribune about his work as a White House correspondent.
NATO Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, and Meritorious Unit Citation. He is also authorized to wear the Parachutist Badge and the German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge (Gold).
DUSTIN LAFAVRE ’01 was married in the summer of 2019. He and his wife, Sarah, had their first child, Elliott Graham LaFavre in May 2020.
Tempore (tempore.com), the travel-tech startup from PARKER SCHLANK ’03, recently graduated from Techstars, a top-tier startup accelerator. The culmination of the program is a presentation event called “Demo Day” where each founder has a chance to pitch their startup.
Congratulations to SCOTT RUPP ’05 on his marriage to Cassy on July 18, 2020. Several STA and Vis alumni were in attendance including PETER DEVLAMINCK ’05, ERIC HANSBERGER ’06, ZACH HANSBERGER ’01, and Carrie Rupp (Vis ’01).
2000s
LORENZO BELLARD ’03 was highlighted on The Allen-Stevenson School’s Spotlight Interview page this past fall regarding his experience as a 4th grade educator and leader at the NYC-based single-sex school.
Welcome to the world, Veronica (Vera) Rose Henderson! Congrats to dad, TOM HENDERSON ’06, on the arrival of his remarkable daughter!
NICHOLAS CREAMER ’09 was recently promoted the position of “Senior Tax Associate” within the accounting firm he works for— CBIZ & Mayer Hoffman MaCann P.C. He prepares primarily both individual and business tax returns (specializing in business tax returns — particularly those with multistate/international filing requirements). He is also the “go-to resource” in his local office when it comes to advising clients on the various matters related to the multiple rounds of COVID relief legislation that have been enacted over the past year (CARES Act, PPP loans, etc.).
Murphy Morrison, wife of ANDREW LEFEVOUR ’09, and a 2010 Visitation graduate, released her novel with a Minnesota publishing house on November 17, 2020! From the press release, “Ashes Ashes tells the story of family, love, secrets and betrayal. We see firsthand how the person we think we know can be the most unfamiliar of all, how webs of evil can extend beyond just one point in time, and how our enemies can be closer, and far greater, than we ever imagined.” Order from your local independent bookshop or available online everywhere.
MATTHEW ROBERTS ’09 was just awarded “Top Wrench” at the LAX Line Maintenance Base 2019/2020 at Southwest Airlines for being the top Aircraft Maintenance Technician. Criteria for the award includes work ethic, attitude, aircraft systems troubleshooting, and work performance.
2010s
Congratulations to PATRICK CONNELLY ’10 and his wife, Kaylie, on the anticipated arrival of the newest member of their family, expected March 2021!
Congratulations to DAN FITZPATRICK ’10 on his coaching promotion with the LA Clippers! Dan is now the Head Video Coordinator.
Keep a sharp eye out for the debut novel from PATRICK MEISCH ’10. Those the Future Left Behind will be available in May 2021, but you can pre-order from your local independent bookseller, from bookshop.org, or from Amazon. Patrick’s book was recently recommended in the Pioneer Press! Learn more at the patrickmeisch.com!
2010s
Saint Thomas Academy alumni sure know how to stand out in a forest! JACK ANDERSON ’10, PAT FRYKLUND ’10, CHRIS LARSEN ’10, and CASIANO ORTEGA ’10 don that unmistakable orange for deer hunting in Danbury, WI.
PATRICK O’NEILL ’10 recently authored an article on the Larson • King, LLP website about the new guidelines and rules that have been put in place within Minnesota courts to ensure the safety of litigants, jurors and court personnel. O’Neill is an attorney at Larson • King, LLP in Minneapolis.
Spotted on social media: KYLE ROHDE ’10 and DAN FITZPATRICK ’10 take a break at work with the LA Clippers to pose for a photo.
to
Congratulations to CHRISTIAN ISACKSON ’10 who is now a licensed realtor and has joined The Minnesota Real Estate Team with RE/MAX Advantage Plus. The Minnesota Real Estate Team has been the top-selling real estate team in Minnesota every year since 2006. Christian told us, “I cannot say enough about the people on this team and I am honored to join them. If you are looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, feel free to reach out!”
Congrats
CARTER SCHLANK ’10 on his engagement to Nitasha Sharma!
Congratulations to MICHAEL HERMANN ’11 on his marriage to Erin O’Brien, of Apple Valley, on October 16, 2020!
Congratulations to GUS HORNER ’12 on his new position as Process Engineer — Beverage at GEA Group.
DREW GAVIC ’13 recently moved is back home in Minnesota after living in Chicago. He is opening up an office branch for a Design Build Construction company called ARCO/Murray in downtown Minneapolis. Welcome back, Drew!
JOHN HANTEN ’13, one of our Education & Volunteer Chairs for the Alumni Association, shared the following update with us about his experience with Young Champions. “I got involved with Young Champions approximately two years ago, shortly after one of my best friend’s mother was diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s
2010s
Congratulations to MATTHEW GOLDAMMER ’12 on his engagement to Lauren Petronack (Vis ’13). Lauren graduated from St. Olaf in 2017, and just graduated in May 2020 from the Mayo Clinic with a doctorate in physical therapy. Matthew graduated from STA in 2012, the University of St. Thomas in 2016, the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2019, and now is a second-year law student at Notre Dame Law School.
disease. After attending meetings for a short period of time, I reflected on my grandmother’s struggles with Dementia, and my many extended family members who have battled Alzheimer’s and other Dementias. It doesn’t take long to come to the realization that this is something that affects so many people. Outside of being a Young Champion, I am the Vice President of Carlton Investment Services Group, LLC, a financial planning and wealth management firm in Bloomington, MN. I would like to encourage those interested in getting involved in the fight against Alzheimer’s Disease to reach out to me directly, or the Alzheimer’s Association.”
Congrats to SAM O’BRIEN ’13 on his new position as Senior Business Analyst at UnitedHealthcare!
Congratulations to JEREMY CONNERS ’14 for starting a new position as Financial Advisor at Equitable Advisors.
Congrats to ODEEN TUFTO ’15 who was recently named a Hobey Baker Award nominee, an award given to college hockey’s top player, and is considered a frontrunner. Odeen was also featured on the Quinnipiac Men’s Ice Hockey Instagram page with the
caption: “Congrats to Odeen Tufto on earning the Hockey Commissioners Association’s National Men’s Player of the Month Honor for December! Tufto led the nation with 14 assists and 17 points, posted a .668 faceoff percentage and recorded career assist!”
in Kentucky. Currently, he’s almost done with the Infantry basic officer leaders course and will be starting Ranger school soon after that.
Congrats to MAC BROWN ’16, who was named Southeastern Conference Special Teams of the week by the league office on Monday after Ole Miss picked up their first win with a 42-41 overtime victory over Kentucky. Mac has also been named a Burlsworth Trophy Nominee, given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Mac is also a semi-finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, an award given annually to the college football player “who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.”
JASON SMALLIDGE ’16, a member of the University of Nebraska Omaha hockey team, recently tied a 22 year old school record for most points scored in a game with five (1 goal/4 assists). The five points also tied a seven year National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) record for points in a single game.
JOE HARVEY ’16, an Aviation Officer with the U.S. Army, recently moved to Alabama to attend Army flight school at Fort Rucker.
MIKE RUDISILL ’16 is at Fort Benning in Georgia right now finishing up some training schools before he heads to Fort Campbell
REjournals recently featured KEVIN TOAL ’16 and the new business he started in the middle of the pandemic! Kevin’s business, Content Studios, is changing the way people sell/lease commercial real estate by offering 3D virtual tours, virtual staging & renovation, and many other forms of content that benefit both the buyer and the seller. This form of content marketing isn’t just for real estate, though — it benefits other businesses as well. Visit Kevin’s website here: https://www.contentstudios. media
Congratulations and best wishes to NATE DONOVAN ’13 and Carlie Williams on their wedding on May 23, 2020 at St. Ambrose of Woodbury. Carlie graduated with a BS in Nutrition from the University of Minnesota. She is a Registered Nutritionist, Licensed Dietician, NASM Certified Fitness Trainer and Health Coach at Profile by Sanford. Nate graduated with a BS from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, with degrees in Finance and Economics. Nate is employed by C.H. Robinson in the Finance Division working with the initiation, development and implementation of strategic finance plans.
VINCENT WREN ’16 continues to do great things! Vincent is the Volunteer Coordinator with Best Buddies Minnesota and was featured on kare11.com in early December!
MAX SHUMAN ’17 and JOEY MOTZEL ’19 posed for a photo after the Army-Navy football game this past fall.
ROBBIE STUCKER ’17 was highlighted in an article for the West Central Tribune when he returned to the ice as the Minnesota Gophers faced off against the Michigan State Spartans.
SEAN CREAMER ’19 and MATTHEW GOLDADE ’18 holding the Secretaries Cup after USMMA beats Coast Guard 24-14, in their only game of the season.
Large group photos weren’t allowed this year per COVID-19 safety protocols, but JACK KOTOK ’19 was all smiles with his roommate after the Army-Navy football game this past fall.
2020s
Congrats to DANIEL HARVEY ’20 on his graduation from the Marine Corps boot camp!
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Please send your contributions to Class Notes via e-mail to alumni@cadets.com, via the Internet at cadets.com/update (Alumni Online Community), or by mail, attention Alumni Office.
In Memoriam
Please remember in your prayers these classmates and friends of the Academy who recently passed away or of whose death we were recently notified. We have made every effort to present an accurate list.
Bob Koller ’40 November 2020
Lloyd Flynn ’40 December 2020
John Koller ’42 January 2021
Harry Strong ’42 December 2020
Bob Moore ’46 January 2021
Roger Foussard ’46 October 2020
John Peifer ’47 December 2020
John D. White ’47 September 2020
Stan Wolkoff ’48 October 2020
Msgr. Richard J. Mahowald, STD ’48 November 2020
Bill Schindler ’48 December 2020
George Glotzbach ’49 September 2020
Jim Mackey ’50 November 2020
George Robertson ’50 December 2020
Bob McKnight ’50 November 2019
Tom Gallagher ’52 January 2021
John Bordenave ’52 January 2021
Dick McDonald ’52 November 2020
Dan Forby ’52 September 2020
Jerry Palen ’52 September 2020
Frank Hurley ’53 January 2021
Bob Murnane ’53 December 2020
Fred Webber ’56 January 2021
Harry Morton ’56 October 2020
Jerry Ciresi ’56 November 2020
Jack Kenefick ’58 September 2020
Darrell Mohrhauser ’59 October 2020
Ben Storey ’59 November 2020
Mike Scott ’60 September 2020
Al Kennedy ’60 September 2020
Win Adams ’61 December 2020
Paul Hagen ’62 January 2021
Robin Rockney ’64 November 2020
Mark Gearin ’64 December 2020
Greg Marzolf ’65 January 2021
Tim Connolly ’68 November 2020
Jim Murphy ’69 September 2020
Kevin O’Brien ’69 September 2020
David Stefani ’71 January 2021
Mike McLaughlin ’73 November 2020
Sean Donohue ’75 October 2020
Tim McGough ’76 October 2020
Tom Schmid ’76 December 2020
Jim Cusick ’77 October 2020
John Heine ’79
August 2020
David Walczak ’82 September 2020
Dave Anderson ’89 September 2020
Brett Busch ’13 October 2020
Deceased Faculty/Staff
GEORGE SCHNELL September 2020
JOHN PANEK December 2020
MIKE SJOBERG January 2021
In 1988, Mike Sjoberg arrived at the Academy as the assistant basketball coach. Over the years, he became the head coach of both basketball and golf, a PE teacher, Dean of Students, and eventually rose the ranks to Assistant Headmaster before he left in 2017. During his time, he coached the Cadet Basketball team to two state basketball championships and numerous Cadet Golf championships. Mike was highly-regarded and was a statewide-recognized coach. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.
