Saint Thomas Academy Saber Summer 2021 Issue

This year marks the 136th anniversary of the founding of Saint Thomas Academy. That milestone does not traditionally warrant a special citation, but this community has a great deal to celebrate. By using the four pillars as our north star, the Academy has thrived at a time when many of our country’s institutions have struggled. The cadets of today are unquestionably a product of the cadets that have come before them. That was the secret to our success in navigating the pandemic and political turmoil of the past year and it will be the foundation of our future. We pride ourselves on preparing the cadets to be men of action and we are certainly modeling that behavior as a community.

T hese are exciting times for Saint Thomas Academy. A recognition of the distinct value of an Academy education by a growing number of families is being translated into a substantial increase in our enrollment this fall. The renovation of Founders Hall, the creation of a science and engineering wing, a revitalized quad, and the addition of an elevator to increase accessibility for all, has led to a renewed sense of purpose in our mission. It has spurred innovative thought around how we can best meet the unique needs of our young men academically, spiritually, and physically. It has challenged some of our paradigms and reinforced our commitment to the four pillars that define Saint Thomas. And we are not stopping there. Over the course of the next couple of summers we will be updating the dining hall, addressing the remaining accessibility challenges, renewing our aquatic facility, and exploring opportunities to leverage the beauty of our lakefront. We are also working hard to ensure that a family’s financial situation does not determine their ability to be a cadet.

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.

The revitalization of our campus is indeed exciting. But of course, this institution is not defined by its buildings, but by the people whose lives are so greatly affected by their association with it. One my favorite duties as the 29th Headmaster of Saint Thomas Academy is meeting with our alumni and spending time with our cadets. While their perspectives vary, a common theme permeates their experiences. Their principled approach to their successes and failures are proof positive that the character development we espouse actually…works. Their love and passion for the Academy inspires us to tackle the problems of today and the opportunities of tomorrow.

Thank you for your support of all that Saint Thomas Academy represents. It is because of you that we can celebrate the impact we have made over the past 136 years and can look forward with hope and anticipation for the future. Please stop by campus when you are in the neighborhood. I am always up for hearing your stories of our past and your thoughts and aspirations for our future.

God Bless and Go Cadets!

Mr. Kelby Woodard Headmaster

Kelby Woodard

SABER

Saber is published by 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

Designer: Renee Dubs Ellena

Printing: Dolan Printing

Photo Credits:

Andy King Photography

Tyler Maddaus

Michael Murray Photography Saint Thomas Academy Alumni, Friends, and Family

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 Kelby Woodard

Founding Partner

Mr. Michael Ciresi ’64

Innovation= RENOVATION

BY DAVID JACOBSON

Saint Thomas Academy prides itself on both tradition and innovation. So how do those two values complement each other during the current campus renovation?

Very well, thank you.

Cadets and alumni who return to campus for the 2021-2022 school year will notice that much has changed and much remains the same. In summary, the $5.5-million first phase of a three-year, $12-million renovation will, by August 31, feature:

n A newly landscaped front area adjacent to the parking lot that can serve as parade ground, formation venue, college-style quad, event space, and makeshift lunchroom or classroom.

n Upgrades of academic spaces, such as right-sizing classrooms and organizing them into wings arranged by academic discipline, with all science/technology labs surrounding the Innovation Center on the second floor of the middle school.

n Four glass-walled classrooms facing into the interior court.

n An elevator, new lockers, and upgraded HVAC systems.

What the renovation will not include:

n Changes to the building facade and other elements of the grounds that hark back to treasured traditions.

This work — including the next two phases to be completed by August 2023 which focus on the cafeteria, another elevator to make the buildings completely ADA compliant, and the swimming pool — departs from the original plan put forth four years ago. The older plans called for a capital campaign to raise $42 million,

Headmaster Kelby Woodard takes the first swing in the demolition of his office on May 28, 2021.

“We realized the better thing to do was renovate square footage instead of adding square footage, so now we will renovate our existing facilities and update them for a new educational environment. And this does honor the historic nature of our campus by not re-doing the facade.”

— HEADMASTER KELBY WOODARD

with $34 million slated for building improvements/additions and the rest for paying down debt and contributing to the endowment.

“We took a second look,” said Headmaster Kelby Woodard, “and after living in the building for some months under COVID, we realized the better thing to do was renovate square footage instead of adding square footage, so now we will be spending $12 million to renovate our existing facilities and update them for a new educational environment. And this does honor the historic nature of our campus by not re-doing the facade.”

The change in plans also hastened the renovation, Woodard said. “This plan allows us to have immediate impact. The families sending their kids to STA right now are going to be able to enjoy the fruits of their investment. Parents are ecstatic. We rolled this out in January, and in August it will be done. That’s

impactful. And the students are excited to come back to something new and different.”

Innovation Through Conversation

Changes to the academic environment are more than cosmetic. They are philosophical and tied to the reputation and reality of the school’s academic excellence. The plans inspired much talk among the faculty, Woodard said.

“Even discussing furniture sparked conversations among faculty about how we teach. We’ve looked at varieties of furniture that facilitate different teaching styles. I’ve had teachers tell me that these conversations will have them re-look at the way they teach, and I think that’s really an important spark. It’s not just a matter of some of the facilities looking better, but it’s also inspired some really thoughtful conversations about how we educate.

“We have some faculty who have been teaching in the same classroom for 30 years. To say, ‘Look, we’re going to put up glass walls, make it a more transparent educational environment, where what’s happening in your classroom is visible to anyone walking past, where people get to witness education happening,’ is a real paradigm shift. Those glass walls were a topic of conversation, where some teachers were like, ‘What? Am I in a zoo or aquarium now?’ and others said, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s what I want to do!’ That’s why there’s only four of those rooms, and they’ll be facing into the

Construction

RIGHT: Work taking place on the first of two new elevators being installed on campus.

BOTTOM RIGHT: A view of the administrative offices after demolition in early June.

court. Jeff Smith ’97 can be doing a quadratic equation on a glass wall with a line of Cadets watching and helping each other out. Learning is happening in front of your eyes, not behind a closed door. It changes the feeling of the building. Also, we’re a college prep school, and students may see these environments when they go off to college, so we’re prepping them for that.”

Changes inside the classrooms allow for a variety of teaching and learning styles, adaptable even to specific types of exercises called for in a given lesson plan. “The front of the classroom is wherever you want it to be that day,” Woodard said. “The flexibility of having more than just one spot that you can teach from makes the space more student-centric, and so does furniture that’s easily moved when students need to work in groups. There is already a whole variety of teaching styles here, but Saint Thomas Academy has often taught

— Continued on page 6

ABOVE:

workers begin framing walls in the new classroom spaces in Founders Hall.

by preaching at students for 45 minutes and then at the end of the week testing them on how well they remember what the teacher said. That’s not what education is anymore. Now, students learn from each other, and they are part of the educational process.

“This is not a dramatic upending of what has made us so successful for the past 136 years. It just recognizes a point in time at which making some tweaks to the educational environment creates a great opportunity for us to re-think it. Students just don’t learn the way we did…or the way our fathers did.”

Striking the balance between new and old, timely and timeless, modern and traditional is key to maintaining institutional integrity and building a bridge from past to future. Although Woodard is just a year into his job, he understands that “alumni remember Bill Culbertson standing at the top of steps yelling, ‘You have two minutes,’ and when alumni are on campus those memories come flooding back. That space is still there.”

“This is not a dramatic upending of what has made us so successful for the past 136 years. It just recognizes a point in time at which making some tweaks to the educational environment creates a great opportunity for us to re-think it. Students just don’t learn the way we did… or the way our fathers did.”

— HEADMASTER KELBY WOODARD

If Woodard is ever in doubt on such matters, he has his son, Tipton ’14, to remind him. Last fall, the Headmaster toured his son through the building, explaining the renovations he had in mind and pointed down to the interior court. “I told Tipton we were thinking about a black marble floor with a Cadets logo, and he put a hand in my face and said, ‘Hold on, Dad. Look down there and see all those divots in the tiles. That’s where Cadets have stood since 1965. If you

talk to any graduate of this Academy, he’ll know where he stood in that court for formation. And those divots are where the crack drill squad has hit their rifle butts since 1965. That is history. That is who we are. You can’t touch the tile.’ So, we’re not touching the tile. We listen to our alumni and what’s important to them.”

TOP LEFT: A view of the Court during construction. Pictured are pieces of the new HVAC system upgrades.

TOP: A view of the headmaster’s office, the Aquinas Conference Room, student gathering space, and the business office spaces being framed out.

ABOVE: Work being completed in the new physics classroom, adjacent to the Innovation Center with a partial glass wall.

Renovation is a Team Effort

BY DAVID JACOBSON

Completing the renovation will be a huge team effort. Headmaster Kelby Woodard credits:

n Marty Schreier ’88 and Greg Hosch ’89 for their work on the facilities committee.

n Pam Kunkel, Director of Business Affairs, “for becoming a construction project manager, which is not in her job description.”

n Faculty and staff for their “ability and willingness to think outside the box, for their passion and energy, coming out of a COVID year and dreaming of what this place can be like when they return in the fall. We had $10,000 budgeted for a moving company, but they and some volunteers spent two days after school ended to move their own stuff and put their own blood, sweat, and tears into this project.”

n David Hottinger ’85 and his development team.

For his part, Hottinger thanks Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Kim Hunnewell and Tom Lee ’85 and offers his perspective on how the renovation effort has taken root in the Saint Thomas Academy community. Given the changes in headmasters and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic since the capital campaign launched, “it feels good to be close to $18 million” in funds raised, Hottinger said.

One key to that effort was prioritizing the existing buildings. “To invest in our original buildings first was very deliberate,” Hottinger said. “We’re tackling accessibility with elevators in Founders Hall. To start on that early was very important to so many people in our community. This was something that needed to be done a long time ago.”

Late in Summer 2020, with Woodard new to his position and uncertainty about how the pandemic would impact the 2020-2021 school year, “We started to talk with a family about funding the elevators,” Hottinger recalled. “They said they would be in for a portion of one elevator and that they weren’t going to wait, that they would make the full gift right now instead of pledging it out for five years. That was a shot in the arm. Then we started to take off.

“When we started getting into the school, because we were open, and people saw us accomplish that safely, people realized, ‘You know what, these guys are serious.’ We persevered, and people were receptive to the story of how we kept the school open and what our plans were for the next three summers. They realized we were a train worth jumping on. That helped create the opportunity to do things now, during the summer, and not screw up an academic year with construction and renovation. People love that we’re not disrupting an academic year.”

CHIP MICHEL

Creating Opportunities for Students of

BY DAVID JACOBSON

InSaint Thomas Academy’s drive toward diversity within its student body, the school has an important ally, Chip Michel ’67, who is funding scholarships and creating connections in communities of color. Michel has long supported the Academy, giving toward the Innovation Center and the current campus renovation effort, said David Hottinger ’85, Director of Institutional Advancement.

“He’s done so much for Saint Thomas, and now he wants to focus on access and scholarship. He wants to help families that are considering Saint Thomas as an option but definitely can’t afford the price.”

Michel’s motivation for this latest chapter in his history of giving to the Academy stems from his own experience with socio-economic diversity at the Academy. “When I was a kid,” Michel recalled, “Saint Thomas Academy was a neighborhood school. There were kids of different demographics, who couldn’t afford the school. The parish priests would just call the school and say, ‘They’re coming,’ and the school would figure out how to cover it if the priest sized up that this school was the right place for this boy. When I was a kid, there was no Hmong or Somali population in the Twin Cities. The Black population might have been 1%, but Saint Thomas had a cross-section back then based on whether your dad was a factory worker or a banker or lawyer.”

As it happened, Michel’s dad owned Michel Sales, a manufacturer's representative serving the plumbing, heating, hydronic, and HVAC industries. Chip Michel helped lead that business to new levels of success until he sold it in December 2020, and inclusive hiring practices fueled that success. “The mantra we’ve always had at the company is that we don’t create jobs — we provide opportunities.”

In other words, he offered a hand up, not a handout. “Saint Thomas Academy was instrumental in providing the building blocks of who I am today,” Michel said. “As a Catholic-based institution, it taught being charitable, being giving. The only

thing you really get out of life is what you give. You were taught at STA to live your life as Christ taught you to live. It’s a Christian institution.”

Mike Barcelow ’64, Director of Major and Planned Gifts, says “He’s had success despite some bumps in the road — and some of those were craters in the road, but he got by them, and the reason he did has a lot do with Saint Thomas. It helped give him the grit he’s got. He works hard, and he cares about people, and if he tells you something, take it to the bank.”

Added Hottinger: “He gets choked up when he talks about Saint Thomas Academy. He is kind of the class captain. He’s the guy who sends out communications to classmates. He gets them fired up about supporting the school and coming back to reunions. He’s our ambassador for the Class of ’67, and he wants to support anything that helps kids get here.”

In addition to funding, Michel sees the need for outreach to communities that are under-represented within the Academy’s student body. “Saint Thomas Academy has opportunities for these kids, but they don’t know that. When

“Saint Thomas Academy was instrumental in providing the building blocks of who I am today.

As a Catholic-based institution, it taught being charitable, being giving. The only thing you really get out of life is what you give. You were taught at STA to live your life as Christ taught you to live. It’s a Christian institution.”

— CHIP MICHEL ’67

Diverse Backgrounds

it was a neighborhood school, it represented the population of the neighborhood. Now it’s a metropolitan school, but it’s not a representation of the population of the community.”

To start improving on that, Michel has reached out to clergy of at least one predominantly Black church to introduce the Academy to families in the congregation. “I have an embryo of an idea about community outreach,” Michel said. “If it works, why wouldn’t we expand that out? I don’t know who runs a mosque, but I’ll go talk to him.”

At the same time, Michel maintains the mentality he brought to his hiring practices during his business days. “We’re not pursuing diversity at Saint Thomas Academy for diversity’s sake,” he said. “Plunking kids in there based on their ancestry does not mean they’re going to succeed. We’ll get to the right diversity levels by putting it out there that if you want to go to Saint Thomas, and you qualify, that there is an opportunity.”

Michel’s full life experience and love for the Academy are now combining and culminating in his vision for the future. “I have two grandsons who go there (Henry ’24 and Jack ’25 Batzler) so I have a lot of opportunity to interact with the faculty,” Michel said. “It doesn’t appear that anything has changed in terms of their dedication since I was a student. Those people have a vocation. They’re not there for the money. The impact that the faculty made on me…it’s still there, generations later. My vision is to have a cross-section of the population. You can’t raise kids in a bubble. There’s a real world out there, and these kids are going to have to interact with each other when they get out in the real world. If we’re going to have our kids interact with the real world, then the real world should be at the Academy.”

(“We’re not pursuing diversity at Saint Thomas Academy for diversity’s sake. Plunking kids in there based on their ancestry does not mean they’re going to succeed. We’ll get to the right diversity levels by putting it out there that if you want to go to Saint Thomas, and you qualify, that there is an opportunity.”

— CHIP MICHEL ’67

TO FURTHER DIVERSITY INITIATIVES AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY, PLEASE CONTACT DAVID HOTTINGER AT dhottinger@cadets.com OR 651-683-1594.

Film Producer Ali Selim Reflects on VISTA Production of Sweet Land The Musical

BY DAVID JACOBSON

Ali Selim ’79 has experienced some thrills in life. Throughout a successful career working on films, TV ads, and most recently, shows such as In Treatment, Hand of God , Manhunt , and The Looming Tower, Selim is among the best and brightest and sees his name in lights. But none of that compared with what he felt upon learning that his 2005 film Sweet Land would live on in the form of VISTA’s production of Sweet Land The Musical

“I got goose bumps when I thought that most of the kids in that production weren’t even born when the film was made,” Selim said. “My first thought was that a film can resonate not only with its original audience, but also could touch people generations down the road — which is kind of what the film is about, generations — and have them want to reach out and touch it, make it, work on it, and live in it. That speaks to me about the power of art to live beyond its time.”

Sweet Land is an independent film inspired by Will Weaver’s short story, A Gravestone Made of Wheat . Unlike Hollywood blockbusters from major studios, independent films, if they’re noticed at all, have short shelf lives. In that context, it was even more meaningful to Selim that Perrin Post would adapt his work to a theatrical production and that Saint Thomas Academy would stage the show.

“Most films die,” Selim said. “They’re consumed and they die. They’re in the theaters, and they get a little run on DVD and they go out of print. To see your film live on and continue to breathe and keep the dialogue alive with an audience, that’s a special experience for a film maker. That

film is 16 years old now. It’s not every film that you can speak into your TV remote control and say ‘Show me,’ and it shows you. So, for my alma mater to want to keep the film alive, it’s touching. That’s a special experience.”

"That film [Sweet Land ] is 16 years old now. It’s not every film that you can speak into your TV remote control and say ‘Show me,’ and it shows you. So, for my alma mater to want to keep the film alive, it’s touching. That’s a special experience.” — ALI SELIM ’79

Selim, whose father was an economics professor at the College of St. Thomas, and whose mother was an artist, often accompanied her to the theater. As a burgeoning artist at the Academy, he found support from key individuals.

“Father Tom Kohler was a big one. Father Friberg, a French teacher, was very supportive of my pursuits. And Bruce Johnson. And I would be remiss if I did not mention the young librarian who came when I was there, Ann Girres.”

Although the VISTA production had Selim reflecting on his past, his future looks quite bright. The Hollywood Reporter in May broke the story that Selim will direct Marvel Studios’ latest series, Secret Invasion , featuring Samuel L. Jackson.

While this spring’s VISTA production brought Selim a personal, local thrill, it seems safe to say that his next thrill will go global.

MORE FACTS ABOUT VISTA PRODUCTIONS AND SWEET LAND THE MUSICAL

n Sweet Land The Musical was produced at Minnesota History Theatre following 14 years in the creation stage, and VISTA Productions was the first high school theater program to receive permission to produce the show.

n VISTA’s Sweet Land engaged Rich Hamson from Chanhassen Dinner Theatre for costuming; Grace Heatherington Tilka (Visitation ’09), now a sound engineer at the Ordway; and Tony Stoeri (VISTA/STA ’09) as director of photography for the streamed video of the production. Both VISTA alums are mentoring current VISTA technical students.

n Ann Michels and Robert O. Berdahl, who created the lead roles of Inge and Olaf, graciously shared their wisdom with VISTA leads via one-on-one Zoom calls. Similarly, the team that created the original Sweet Land The Musical — Perrin Post and Laurie Flannigan Hegge — Zoomed with the VISTA production company to talk about the creative process of developing a new musical.

n This is the first VISTA production to be performed on the grounds of the Visitation Convent. Director Wendy Short-Hays was looking for a piece that could be adapted to an outdoor environment so the students could perform for a live audience even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CAPS OFF TO THE CLASS OF 2021!

THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY WAS HELD AT THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT PAUL ON JUNE 3, 2021.

Former Golden Gopher and Green Bay Packer Darrell Thompson gave the commencement speech.

2021 Valedictorian Jordan Young

The traditional toss of the garrison caps after graduation on the stairs of the Cathedral.

CAPS OFF TO THE CLASS OF 2021!

Celebrating downstairs before the

CONGRATULATIONS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATES

The middle school was able to hold the traditional ceremony on May 19, 2021 in Holtz Gymnasium. Retiring social studies teacher

the commencement speaker.

Veteran Saint Thomas Academy staff members Mary Waldvogel (Cadet Maker) and John Kenney ’85 (Athletics).

Will Juncker and Hwaejin Chung posing for the camera.

ceremony begins.

Long-time theology teacher Kevin Zenner and family celebrating the graduation of his son, Jacob.

Dave Ziebarth (at right) was

COLLEGE DESTINATIONS FOR 2021 CADETS

Bellevue College

Bemidji State University

Benedictine College

Benedictine University

Boston College

Boston University

Butler University

Colgate University

College of the Holy Cross

Colorado State University–Fort Collins

Creighton University

Duke University

Fordham University

Gonzaga University

Indiana University–Bloomington

Iowa State University

Johns Hopkins University

Loyola Marymount University

Loyola University Chicago

Marquette University

Miami University–Oxford

Michigan Technological University

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Minnesota State University–Mankato

Montana State University

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Oberlin College

Regis University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Saint John’s University

Saint Louis University

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Saint Norbert College

South Dakota State University

St. Olaf College

Stanford University

Syracuse University

Texas Christian University

The University of Tennessee–Knoxville

United States Military Academy

University of Dallas

University of Denver

University of Mary

University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

University of Minnesota–Crookston

University of Minnesota–Duluth

University of Minnesota–Morris

University of Minnesota–Twin Cities

University of North Dakota

University of Notre Dame

University of St. Thomas

University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Stout

Wake Forest University

Western Texas College

Wichita State University

Seniors pictured in apparel for their college destination.

NEW BABY

James Lundberg (College Counseling) and his wife Kelly welcomed Austin Miller Lundberg on March 16. Austin weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce and is doing great!

DONOR NEEDED

This past school year, Science Teacher Sonya Jaworski suffered a health setback that seemingly came out of nowhere. In the summer of 2020, her kidneys suddenly stopped functioning and Mrs. Jaworski had to begin going to dialysis. Mrs. Jaworski is now on a transplant list for a new kidney and is in need of a donor. The stress of a pandemic has not made the situation any easier! You can learn more about Sonya and her story at cadets.com/sonya.

STAFF RETIREMENTS

Dave Ziebarth, John Geroux, Paul Preblich Retire After Decades at Saint Thomas Academy

An extraordinarily long-tenured faculty member who led a wide range of activities at the Academy, DAVE ZIEBARTH has retired. He was raised in Southern Minnesota, joined the Academy in 1980, and taught social studies and coached soccer, track, baseball, and football, including 13 years as head football coach. Ziebarth treasures his relationships with students and faculty from the past four decades, and many alumni name him as one of their greatest influences.

In contrast, JOHN GEROUX , who started at the Academy in 1984 and is also retiring, took a certain pride in working behind the scenes. “I just want to help,” he once said. “I want to blow in like the wind, and you turn around, and I’m not there, but I did leave a silver bullet.” Since departing his chemistry and physics classrooms in 1994, Geroux managed nearly all things audio/video at the Academy, including sound systems, screens, projectors, SMART Boards, software, and event recording on campus.

After 18 years, CHIEF PAUL PREBLICH has spent his time at the Academy as a military leadership instructor and coach of the rifle team. Chief Preblich was the first warrant officer to teach at Saint Thomas Academy, after 26 years in the United States Army. His goal of mentoring young men so that they themselves may have a better life and that they might contribute to this world in a productive manner was achieved.

The entire Saint Thomas Academy community appreciates the service of these stalwarts, who dedicated their decades to Cadets, and wishes them well in retirement.

Dave Ziebarth

John Geroux

Paul Preblich

College Counseling Accolades

NORMA GUITERREZ , Director of College Counseling was featured in a national podcast through the NACAC on her expertise in working with students through the college application process during the pandemic.

In addition, the Minnesota Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC), announced that Gutierrez received the MACAC Distinguished Service Award for the 2020-2021 school year. The award is an honor bestowed upon a veteran of MACAC with more than five years of service who has contributed to the MACAC organization, its programs and has made a difference in the lives of the students they serve.

Finally, CASEY ERICKSON, Assistant Director of College Counseling was elected treasurer-elect for the Minnesota Association for College Admissions Counseling (MACAC).

WESTLAKE RECOGNIZED

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) honors three outstanding K-12 educators for their contributions to the continued study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics within the classroom and beyond. Innovation Center Director MARK WESTLAKE is the 2021 recipient of the AIAA Foundation Educator Achievement Award. This award included a monetary award to Mark Westlake, $5,000 for Saint Thomas Academy and its continued efforts in STEM education, along with recognition at the AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala in August.

In addition, Mr. Westlake and the Innovation Center were awarded a $2,000 scholarship check from the Gene Haas Foundation.

Myser Family Foundation Teaching Award

The Myser Family Foundation Teaching Excellence Award, a financial award generously established by the Myser family (the late Buzz ’52 , Pat, John ’77 and Michael ’79 ), recognizes teaching excellence at the Academy. A committee comprised of parents, students, and faculty vote for two deserving members of the faculty who have been on staff for at least five years.

MOTHERS’ AND FATHERS’ CLUB LEADERSHIP FOR 2021-22

Thank you to Julie Wright Card and Todd Corbo for their leadership during this challenging last school year! We are welcoming Wendy Dwyer Bagley (Michael ’21 and Charlie ’24) as the President of the Mothers’ Club and John Gainor (Nolan ’23) as the President of the Fathers’ Club for the upcoming school year.

Wendy Dwyer Bagley

John Gainor

Norma Guiterrez Casey Erickson

Mark Westlake

Katie Schultz, Learning Specialist

Dave Ziebarth, Social Studies

TOP 14 CORPS OF CADETS LEADERS NAMED

Congratulations to the Corps of Cadets Leaders for the 2021-22 school year. Thomas Adams, Tucker Bakko, Finn Chalmers, Brennan Crow, Robert Cunningham, Maximilian Feist, Joseph Kolar, Jack MapelLentz, Henry Murray, Alexander Remick, Ian Rutgers, Joseph Sabre, Zach Santrizos, John Strobel, and James Walsh

CADETS OF THE YEAR

At the end of each school year, the Brigade chooses three exemplary students from among the Cadets of the Quarter recipients.

Congratulations to:

Cadet of the Year — Patrick Koegel ’24

Cadet NCO of the Year — Ed Stuart ’22

Cadet Officer of the Year — Joseph Brennan ’21.

KAYDET YEARBOOK DEDICATION

On April 28, following the Archbishop Review, cadets gathered in the Court for the annual Kaydet yearbook dedication. This year the graduating senior Class of 2021 voted overwhelmingly to dedicate the yearbook to Mrs. Anne McQuillan.

Yearbook editor, Wil Applebaum ’21 enumerated Mrs. McQuillan’s myriad contributions to Saint Thomas Academy, “We, the Class of 2021, are tremendously blessed and grateful that Mrs. McQuillan has shared her valuable time with us and has influenced our lives. She is extremely valuable to Saint Thomas Academy and to the Class of 2021.”

Mrs. McQuillan has served Saint Thomas Academy since 2008, when she joined the Academy as the Assistant to the Middle School Director. For 12 years she worked above-and-beyond in the middle school while being like a second mom to the younger students. From the complexity of orchestrating special events to the simplicity of locating a lost textbook, Mrs. McQuillan did it all with dedication and commitment. In August 2020 Mrs. McQuillan became the Facilities Director, and she has worked tirelessly to create and maintain COVID-19 safety solutions in order that students, faculty and staff could be in the building despite the pandemic. “Gracefully” is the perfect word to describe the way in which Mrs. McQuillan has served us all — the students, her colleagues, parents, alumni and the entire Saint Thomas Academy community. In everything she does, she is unfailingly kind, professional, positive, and patient. In addition to leading the facilities department, she is the liaison to the Mothers’ and Fathers’ Club, assistant coach for the cross country and nordic ski teams and former track coach. Adding to the list, Mrs. McQuillan assists the priests who reside in the Roach Residence and manages the student workers in the facilities department. Mrs. McQuillan’s most important role is that of a mother to her own children: Tommy ’11, Kelly, Kayleen, Sean ’18, and Erin.

BILLBOARD SURPRISE

Jack Martin ’21 jokingly invited local real estate celebrity Kris Lindahl to his graduation party. The Class of 2021 had championed Mr. Lindahl’s name throughout the year at events. Surprisingly, Mr. Lindahl did more than attend the party, he put Jack Martin on a billboard near his home in Woodbury honoring him and all 2021 graduates.

Anne McQuillan pictured with her family, from L-R: daughter Erin, Anne McQuillan, mom Cis Simonet, and daughter Kelly.

VISTA BAND AWARDS

DIRECTOR’S AWARD

Oliver Balfour ’21, Cooper Clinton ’23, Sam Fulton ’23, and Nick Horst ’21

This award is given annually to students who show exemplary leadership, responsibility, and musical dedication to the VISTA Band program.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG AWARD

Will Hoppe ’21

This award is given out by high school students nationwide to recognize “outstanding musical achievement and an incredible dedication to the program.”

JOHN PHILIP SOUSA AWARD

Edie Weinstein ’21 (Visitation)

This award is given to the student who displays excellence in loyalty, cooperation, leadership, dependability, musicianship, and participation.

Middle Schooler to the Rescue

Robin Espinoza recently shared this story about an experience she and her son Shilohe ’26 had this summer.

“Today as we were driving through Wisconsin, we got off at an exit to go to a gas station. The gas station was not right at the highway exit, so we had to travel a short distance to reach it. As we rounded the corner to enter the parking lot, we came upon a car in a deep ditch. It was clear that someone had missed the turn and crashed into the ditch. As we looked at the car we realized there was an elderly man and a dog trapped in the car struggling to get out.

As soon as I stopped the car, Shilohe jumped out of the car and ran down into the ditch full of mud in his slippers. He managed to get the car door open and pull the elderly man and his dog from the car. Soon after the man was pulled from the car, the police arrived to help with the situation.

XAVIER DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR

Thomas Wagner ’22 was nominated and selected as a Xavier Distinguished Scholar. There were students from around the world nominated for the award.

Once we were alone, I told Shilohe how proud I was of him. Shilohe’s response was, ‘That is what Cadets do.’”

CITIZEN SERVICE AWARD

Carver County recently recognized Emilio Gomez ’24 after his efforts with an incident in the summer of 2020. Emilio was awarded a Citizen Service Recognition Award as he and his friends pulled a man out of a lake and called for 911 service. Unfortunately, the man did not survive but the experience was a learning moment for Emilio and his friends about the dangers of water.

BRIGADE FORMAL INSPECTION

The Corps of Cadets scored 90.225 out of 100 possible points during the annual BFI, inspected by the United States Marine Corps. This score allowed the cadets to retain the Gold Star and honor unit with distinction designation.

Minnesota Council on Economic Education

Saint Thomas Academy advanced to the State Personal Finance Decathlon competition after students excelled in a virtual test in personal finance topics including budgeting, investing, insurance, and more. Four students representing the school, along with their coach, social studies teacher Dean Simmons, competed against other high schools in the championship held virtually in April.

The Minnesota Personal Finance Decathlon is a statewide competition that provides a fun, challenging, and creative way to engage students’ personal finance knowledge and critical thinking. Teams first compete online in March to qualify for the state competition. Then, the twelve top-scoring teams from schools across the State are invited to the state competition. The state champion goes on to represent Minnesota at the National Personal Finance Challenge.

This competition is a flagship program from the Minnesota Council on Economic Education providing students from across the state an opportunity to demonstrate their critical-thinking and financial communication skills. Each year, more than 300 high school students participate in the online qualifying competition that tests their familiarity with ten areas of personal finance.

In total, 347 students from 13 schools across Minnesota participated in the first round of the Personal Finance Decathlon.

EAGLE SCOUTS

Jacob Gurin ’22 recently completed his Eagle Scout project, which renovated a parking lot median and added two splash pads at St. Thomas Becket parish in Eagan.

From the project notebook of Jacob Gurin, “The first part of my Eagle project was renovating a median in the St. Thomas Becket parking lot. The median is bordered by concrete, but filled with dirt. There are decorative trees on it, but it was also covered by weeds and old overgrown shrubs. My project removed the weeds and put down preen to prevent more weeds from sprouting. We also added new mulch so the island would look better when arriving to the parking lot. This will keep the island weed-free for at least a few years and will mirror the beauty of the other recently renovated island. The second part of my project was installing splash pads in two locations around the church, near its two main entrances where there was significant erosion. The splash pads are made of brick and river rock. The splash pads will stop the water erosion that was happening and direct the water away from the church so that it does not pool and ruin the church’s foundation.”

The Nativity of our Lord Boy Scout Troop 67, held an Eagle Court of Honor on May 8. There were six Eagle Scouts this past spring and three were current cadets: Ted Lawder ’21, Luke Audette ’23 and Joseph Michel ’21.

Senior Adam Groh recently completed his Eagle Scout project at the Academy by building a ranger obstacle course outside of the Military Wing. The Cadets are already using it!

Jacob Gurin ’22 with his parents Michael and Teresa.

BASEBALL

The Cadet Baseball team finished in 3rd place at the State Championship in Class 3A, beating Sartell 16-15. There was no season for the team in 2020 and the Cadets were State Champions in 2019. Interim Head Coach John Engeswick led the Cadets to an overall record of 19-10. Seniors Zach Klemz, Ben Taxdahl, Tristan Thilmany, and Jordan Young were named to the All-Conference Team. Simon Kotok ’21, Angelo Pacyga ’21, and Michael Miller ’22 were named All-Conference Honorable Mention.

GOLF

Seniors Oliver Balfour and Jack Sexton led the Cadet Golf team this spring to a 14-1 record. The team, coached by Greg Vannelli ’72 won the Metro East Conference Championship with Sexton finishing in first place with a 73. Six golfers played in the State Sectional meet — Balfour, Sean Burns ’23, Tommy Cronin ’23, Collin Dalseth ’23, Drew Jacklitch ’21, and Sexton Jacklitch qualified for the state meet and finished 24th overall. Balfour, Dalseth, Jacklitch and Sexton were named to the All-Conference Team.

LACROSSE

The Cadet Lacrosse team had another strong season with an overall record of 12-5. In addition to another State Tournament appearance, the team also raised over $15,000 to support St. Jude Pediatric Cancer Research! Captains Oscar Berg ’21, Seppe Chiovera ’21, James McDonald ’21, and Baker Reding ’21 cinched the Metro East Conference Championship before falling to Stillwater as the #5 seed in the State Tournament. Chiovera, Brian Goblisch ’21, Matthew Hudson ’23, McDonald, and Reding were named All-Conference. Reding was the highest scoring midfielder in Minnesota, and an All-American and Mr. Lacrosse finalist.

TENNIS

Coach Erick Westerback ’82 led the Cadet Tennis team to another successful season with an extremely talented team and an overall record of 10-8. The team ended their season third in the Metro East Conference and made it the semi-finals of the state section meet. Alex Bursey ’21 and Matthew Card ’22 competed in the semi-finals of the state section meet in doubles while Danny Eldredge ’21 and Chase Konezny ’22 competed in singles. The team also received the Gold Award from the Minnesota Coaches Association for highest overall team G.P.A. Bursey, Card, Eldredge and Rory O’Meara ’21 were also named to the All-Conference Team.

TRACK AND FIELD

Led by Coach Dan Conners, the Cadet Track Team finished the season 6-1-3. The JV Team finished as Metro East Regular Sseason Conference Champions, led by Coach Kim Friede. During the Metro East Conference Championships, the Cadets set 17 personal records, advanced to the finals in every event they competed in and Freddie Plessner ’23 claimed the pole vault championship. Junior Grady O’Neill also took first place in the 400 meters. Overall, the Cadets took 4th in the MEC Championships. O’Neill qualified for the state championships in the 200 meters and finished overall in third place.

FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES HOME GAMES

FOOTBALL SOCCER

Thursday, September 9 vs. Two Rivers High School 7 p.m.

Friday, September 24 vs. Hastings (Homecoming) 7 p.m.

Friday, October 8 vs. Mahtomedi 7 p.m.

Wednesday, October 20 vs. Tartan 7 p.m.

Thursday, August 26 vs. Apple Valley 7 p.m.

Tuesday, August 31 vs. Southwest Christian 7 p.m.

Tuesday, September 7 vs. Academy of Holy Angels 7 p.m.

Tuesday, September 14 vs. North 7 p.m.

Thursday, September 23 vs. Two Rivers High School 7 p.m.

Monday, September 27 vs. Hill-Murray 7 p.m.

Tuesday, October 5 vs. Hastings 7 p.m.

“

I HAVE STAYED AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SO IMPRESSED BY THE FACULTY AND STAFF; THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE OVERALL MISSION AND THEIR MINDSET ON TRULY FOCUSING ON THE BOYS AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

”Pam Kunkel

YEAR STARTED AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | 2016

TITLE | Director of Business Affairs

FIRST JOB | My first job was working for my dad at H.C. Prange Co.; a regional department store in WI that was the catalyst for moving my parents and their family from New York to WI. My career was in the food industry working at Pillsbury, General Mills and Schwans.

HOBBIES | I am passionate about travel as well as being active with biking, golfing, running and hiking.

A FAVORITE MOMENT AT STA | My favorite moment at STA was the Commencement Ceremony in June, 2020 held in the football stadium. It was an opportunity to celebrate the boys and ensure they experienced a graduation despite the Covid shutdown.

BRUSH WITH FAME | I attended the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 with my youngest daughter, Leah. We needed to camp out outside for 24 hours before the start of the premiere to ensure we had a spot where she could get autographs and pictures with all the actors. It was quite the experience!

FAVORITE EXPERIENCE | Living abroad as a family in both Perth, Australia and London, England. These were opportunities to step out of our normal routine and share amazing adventures as a family!

WHY I WORK AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | I started at Saint Thomas because I was looking for an opportunity to support an organization with a mission I believed in. I have stayed at Saint Thomas Academy because I have been so impressed by the faculty and staff; their commitment to the overall mission and their mindset on truly focusing on the boys and their development.

FAVORITE MUSIC | Any music that is fun to dance to….and musicals.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT | Wherever I haven’t been yet...love vacation as a time to explore!

FAMILY | Husband Rick; daughters Erin and Leah; son Patrick and his wife Mary, granddog Rosie.

Melissa Judy

YEAR STARTED AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | 2019

TITLE | Information Literacy Specialist in the middle school.

FIRST TEACHING JOB | Teaching English at a language school in the Czech Republic. Mostly students in high school and business professionals.

HOBBIES | Reading, going to concerts, trying new recipes and restaurants, traveling.

A FAVORITE TEACHING MOMENT | The overall growth of students. While teaching overseas I worked with a small group of students for 6 years. They were in middle school when we started and they all got accepted to their first choice when they applied to university. It was through their own hard work, but I loved seeing them excel and achieve that level of personal success.

BRUSH WITH FAME | Still waiting for it!

FAVORITE EXPERIENCE | My family and I had the chance to go on safari in 2018. We visited three countries in southern Africa and got to see two rhinos. It was during sunrise on our last day, so it was this special moment with my dad and sister.

WHY I TEACH AT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY | Working with middle school students is fun because of the energy of the students. Saint Thomas is unique because of the all-male aspect and it provides the opportunity for boys to really engage and express themselves in a space they wouldn’t have otherwise.

FAVORITE MUSIC | ’60s Motown and alternative music.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT | Charleston, South Carolina.

FAMILY | My fiancé, Brad, and a 4-year-old shepherd mix, Mabel.

“

SAINT THOMAS IS UNIQUE BECAUSE OF THE ALL-MALE ASPECT AND IT PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BOYS TO REALLY ENGAGE AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN A SPACE THEY WOULDN’T HAVE OTHERWISE.

”

Celebrating 2021 Graduates and Looking Forward

BY DAVID HOTTINGER ’85 DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

As we wrap up summer there is so much to appreciate and celebrate when we reflect upon the 20-21 academic year. We learned so much about the resilience of our community and how quick we are to care for each other. We were also reminded about just how important this tight-knit community is to all of us and how grateful we were to spend a school year in each other's company. We didn’t take for granted our ability to be with each other in the classroom, at practice for athletics and activities, or at community events.

The school year was not without its obstacles, though, and I want to offer special congratulations to the graduating class of 2021. What an example you were in leading the student body in an effort to remain open, in-person, and committed to safely doing what needs to be done to keep STA on campus even when most schools were not. Job well done!

Finishing the school year isn’t the only exciting thing going on, as evidenced by the main feature of this issue of the Saber. I couldn’t be more excited for everyone to read about the Summer Splash campus projects that will be completed at the end of this summer. With Summer Splash, we are addressing the physical needs to our buildings and infrastructure. We are excited to have the students, faculty, and community back to see these improvements this fall. Projects like these do not happen without community support, so thank you to those of you who invested in this important endeavor.

While physical improvements are exciting to see, we must not lose sight of the financial needs of our students and families. With nearly 50% of our students qualifying and receiving financial aid to attend STA, the needs are very real. The pandemic forced our Advancement Team to communicate in different ways with our benefactors and the broader community. Coffee, lunches, events, and dinners were nearly non-existent. Our efforts to communicate with STA benefactors made us utilize technology to keep in touch, be it via email, text, FaceTime, online chat portals and social media to assist with conveying what was going on at STA and the needs of the school. As for me, Zoom became my go-to on many occasions.

A special Zoom call interaction took place that may not otherwise have occurred were it not thanks to video conferencing. Tom Steele ’58 established the Steele Scholar program at STA in 2008. Since then, five Cadets have been supported during their time at STA through the Steele Scholar program. In June, through the use of Zoom, the Steele Scholars all had the opportunity to get together for a check-in with each other and Tom. It was awesome to see and hear what our Steele Scholar graduates were doing professionally and personally. It was also important for our graduates to meet our current Steele Scholar and establish a connection with him. More gratifying was the pride that Tom and Mary Steele had in seeing the outcome of their investment. It proves the power and emotion of giving and making a difference in the lives of others. Thanks for all you do for STA!

If you are interested in discussing scholarship or our building opportunties, please call or email. I’m always happy to discuss how you can help make a difference in our students’ lives.

651-683-1594

david.hottinger@cadets.com

David Hottinger ’85

56th ANNUAL COMMUNITY AUCTION

Auction Raises a Record Amount!

T he 56th annual Saint Thomas Academy Community Auction occurred on May 1, but nobody was saying “Mayday.” Quite the contrary, the event raised a record-setting amount of $808,000.

Success stemmed from the hard work, creativity, and teamwork of the 2021 Auction Co-Chairs: 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 Nicholas Mork ’23). The hybrid event drew 200 in-person attendees, grouped in parties of 10 in private rooms to enjoy dinner and a video stream of the live auction. Meanwhile, more than 3,500 people participated online from throughout the United States and other countries

From the fantastic decorations by Kari Mawn to the great show Frank Vascellero and Amelia Santaniello gave to the audience, the night was perfect and full of energy. In keeping with this year’s Community Auction theme, we say “HATS OFF” to the generosity of Saint Thomas Academy families, friends, and alumni who help keep our community thriving!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

2021 STA Give Day on October 19

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 6th Annual STA Give Day a tremendous success. Through the support of our amazing community, we were able to kick start the Aquinas Annual Fund campaign for the 2020-2021 school year. More than $650,000 was raised from nearly 1,000 individual donors. Alumni, parents, parents of alumni, friends of the Academy, and students all came together to support and advance the mission of Saint Thomas Academy.

Our Advancement Office is already putting together its plans for STA Give Day 2021, which will be held on Tuesday, October 19. Make sure your 2021-22 fiscal year gift coincides with STA Give Day 2021 and watch your mailbox this fall for details about how you can participate.

If you would like to offer a “challenge match” to your classmates or the broader STA community on Give Day 2021, please contact Mike Maxwell ’84 at 651-683-1577 or mmaxwell@cadets.com.

COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU

Headmaster Tour Commences in September

After nearly 18 months of not traveling on behalf of Saint Thomas Academy, the Advancement Office is anxious to get back on the road and visit our out-of-state alumni and friends, with our headmaster in tow. We are putting together a series of trips and events from coast to coast. Our new-ish Headmaster, Kelby Woodard, is excited to meet our extended STA family. Make plans to join us for one of these upcoming gatherings.

2021-2022 HEADMASTER TOUR

CHICAGO

September 28, 2021

NEW YORK

October 12, 2021

DALLAS

November 16, 2021

LOS ANGELES

January 2022

PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE

Winter 2022

NAPLES

February 21, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO

March 2022

DENVER

April 2022

WASHINGTON, DC

March 29, 2022

SEATTLE

Spring 2022

Look for updates in the next issue of the Saber.

CadetWorks

Connecting College-Age Cadet Alumni with Real-World Experience

Cadetworks 2021-22 will be going live in the fall of 2021.

Companies looking for interns, CadetWorks can help! Last year we helped 19 young STA alumni get an internship, and had over 30 companies, and we want to grow. This year, we want to help companies all over the USA.

Through the CadetWorks Internship program Saint Thomas Academy aims to connect businesses and organizations with dynamic and qualified college-age Cadet alumni. This program helps Cadet alumni secure relevant career experience through work experience with companies. Second, the program provides companies a connection to candidates who not only graduated from Saint Thomas Academy, but currently attend some of the nation’s top colleges and universities.

LOOKING FOR AN INTERNSHIP?

Contact John Barnes at jbarnes@cadets.com

57th Annual Alumni Open

The 57th Annual Alumni Golf Open was so much fun and we loved seeing so many of you out on the course. Many thanks to our title sponsor, Dan Brooks ’86 and RBC Brooks & Kohn Group. Year after year, this event has such great energy but this year it felt especially celebratory for us as the culmination of an unprecedented school year. We feel grateful to be able to wrap up a school year and then hit the links with so many of you as a means of celebrating all that we've endured and overcome as a community over the last 15 months. Thank you again for joining us, and we can't wait to see you at our reunion events this fall!

CLASS OF 2021

STA Athletic Hall of Fame

The following honorees will be inducted into the Academy’s Athletic Hall of Fame during Homecoming Reunion Weekend in the fall. The Hall of Fame seeks to recognize those outstanding athletes who helped establish Saint Thomas Academy as a strong competitor in Minnesota high school sports, as well as loyal supporters who contributed to the success of the Academy’s athletes and teams.

MATT HOYLAND ’08

Matt Hoyland was a member of the swim and dive team during the late 2000s, specializing in the 100-yard breaststroke. In his first year at the Academy, Hoyland was named All-Conference and All-State and aided his team in winning the state championship. During his junior and senior year, Hoyland achieved All-American times in the 100-yard breaststroke and easily won the event in the state finals. In addition to his individual events, Hoyland played a crucial role in the team’s relays. Hoyland swam the 50-yard backstroke for the medley relay, leading them to a time worthy of All-American status for four consecutive years. Through Hoyland’s dedication to the sport and team, he was able to help the team win the state championship four years in a row. After graduating, Hoyland swam for the University of Texas, where he was a part of four Big 12 title teams. He raced as a Big 12 finalist in the 100-yard breaststroke and helped his team in the medley relay. During 2012, Hoyland competed in the 100-meter breaststroke in the Olympic trials, placing among the top 150 swimmers.

DAVID PREUSS ’81

David Preuss played football, hockey and baseball while at Saint Thomas Academy. During his senior year, he was recruited heavily by the University of Southern California and Ohio State to play football after being named All-American as well as earning the highest number of tackles in a season at the Academy. In hockey, Preuss played varsity starting in his freshman year. By his senior year, he was named to the All-State first team, named conference MVP, and was being noticed by numerous division I schools. In 1981, he was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars and decided to play division I hockey for the University of Minnesota until turning pro. Along with his immense athletic ability, Preuss also showed great character and sportsmanship. Reportedly, a quadriplegic man always cheered for him from the stands during his hockey games. Preuss gave the man his hockey stick, signed by the entire Gopher hockey team, as appreciation for his support. During his senior year at Minnesota, Preuss suffered a severe tendon injury, ending his hockey career.

MICHAEL “MIKE” SJOBERG, COACH

Although he did not graduate from Saint Thomas Academy, Mike Sjoberg made his mark on the Academy and its athletes through his coaching. He served as the head basketball coach from 1997 to 2013 and was also the golf head coach for a time. As the basketball head coach, Sjoberg led his team to 2 state championships, 3 second places, 6 section championships and 9 conference victories. In addition, he coached many players who went on to play at division I and division III schools. As the head golf coach, his team won 14 consecutive section titles. In addition to coaching, Sjoberg also served as a dean of students and assistant headmaster, roles in which he constantly challenged students to become better men and leaders. Sjoberg passed away in January 2021. He left a positive impact on hundreds of cadets during his time at the Academy.

GREG “MONO” MONAHAN ’81

Greg Monahan played football, hockey and baseball in high school and was highly skilled in all three. A natural leader, he was captain of both the hockey and baseball teams, leading them to successful seasons. During his junior year hockey season, Monahan led the team in points and assists and during his senior year, he was second in points. He was named All-Conference for both seasons. Monahan did not let his commitment to the Academy die when he graduated. The year after graduating, he was a volunteer coach for the hockey team. Later, he would become the varsity goalie coach and head coach of the junior varsity team. He helped lead the team to many victories, including three consecutive class A championships from 2010-2013. Monahan also coached underclassmen in baseball until recently being named assistant varsity coach. He was a part of the 2019 baseball team that surpassed Benilde-St. Margaret’s to become state champions. Monahan has pride for Saint Thomas Academy and reflects his favorite quote: “tradition never graduates.”

GARY ARMSTRONG ’68

Gary Armstrong was a three-sport varsity athlete at Saint Thomas Academy, participating in football, baseball and basketball. Armstrong truly excelled on the basketball court. In his junior and senior year, he averaged 17 points and 20 points per game, respectively. In his junior year, Armstrong started as a center, leading the cadets to second in the state tournament. As team captain in his senior year, Armstrong led the team to a third-place finish in the state tournament. Armstrong was the point leader in the tournament, scoring 73 points in three games, including a 25-point game against Cretin. He was twice named All-Conference and All-Region. Following graduation, Armstrong went to the University of Saint Thomas, where he played alongside greats such as Steve Fritz and Bob Rosier. In his senior year at UST, Armstrong had a 140-point season playing center, leading the team to the NAIA National tournament quarter finals.

SEAN FLOOD ’66

Sean Flood, son of the University of Saint Thomas coach Joe Flood, played both basketball and football for the Academy and was extremely gifted at both. During his junior year in football, Flood played running back and defensive back, leading the team to many victories including winning the Central Catholic Conference title. During his senior season, Sean was again dominant, this time playing quarterback. He was named to the Central Catholic Conference All-League team. In basketball, Sean was a natural leader and conductor of the offense. His vision of the court was amazing, giving him the ability to see openings for the offense to score. At the end of his senior year, Sean was voted for Best Athlete in the yearbook. After his graduation from the Academy, he played halfback at the University of Saint Thomas.

Hames Alumni Honors Award to Dr. Peter Matlon ’63

BY DAVID JACOBSON

With service among the standards that earns a Cadet the Hames Award, it’s no wonder that this year’s recipient is DR. PETER MATLON ’63. Dr. Matlon embodies the meaning of “walk the walk.” Rather than sitting back and pointing out the world’s problems, he works to correct them.

His post-Academy career has centered on international development with a focus on agricultural and food security issues in Africa. To prepare, he completed his Bachelors of Foreign Service degree at Georgetown University, followed by a Masters in Public Affairs from Princeton University (while also serving in the U.S. Army, including 15 months in Vietnam, 10 of those with the First Infantry Division, where he obtained a rank of Sergeant E-5 and was awarded a Bronze Star). After earning a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University, he joined the faculty of Michigan State University.

Three years later, Dr. Matlon moved to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where he served as an economist for an international agricultural research institute. Following nine years in that post, he moved to a research center in Cote d’Ivoire, where he served as Director of Research for an additional nine years.

Dr. Matlon then returned to the U.S. to become the Chief of Agriculture and Food Security for the United Nations Development Program in New York. Completing five years with UNDP, he moved to The Rockefeller Foundation and soon became Managing Director for the Foundation’s Africa Programs, which included a post in Nairobi, Kenya. His five years heading the Africa Programs were among his most exciting, as he expanded to embrace other sectors, such as health, education, and information systems. He retired from Rockefeller in 2007.

Dr. Matlon’s work in these organizations mainly focused on growing sustainable crops effectively and applying science and technology to agriculture, often at the ground level. For example, he helped farmers in Burkina Faso produce sorghum and millet, two of their most essential food crops. In Cote d'Ivoire with the West Africa Rice Development Association, he helped to drastically improve sustainable production of rice. And, at the Rockefeller Foundation, he continued studying food production and security and how to bring that to developing countries. He continues to offer his advice and knowledge in food production to developing countries through board service and consulting.

SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY REUNION WEEKEND

Thursday, September 23

• Recognition of the Hames Alumni Award and Class of 1970-71

• Alumni Memorial Mass

• Senior Alumni Dinner - Class of 1971 and Prior

Thursday, September 23

Friday, September 24

Recognition of the Hames Alumni Award and Class of 1970-71

• Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

• Cadet Football Game

Alumni Memorial Mass

• All Alumni Reunion Gathering

Senior Alumni Dinner — Class of 1971 and Prior

Saturday, September 25

• O -Campus Class Specific Events

Friday, September 24

SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY REUNION WEEKEND

Thursday, September 23

• Recognition of the Hames Alumni Award and Class of 1970-71

• Alumni Memorial Mass

• Senior Alumni Dinner - Class of 1971 and Prior

Friday, September 24

• Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

• Cadet Football Game

Saturday, September 25 On-Campus Class Specific Events SEPTEMBER 23–25, 2021

Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Cadet Football Game All Alumni Reunion Gathering

• All Alumni Reunion Gathering

Questions? Contact John Barnes at jbarnes@cadets.com

Saturday, September 25

• O -Campus Class Specific Events

Questions? Contact John Barnes at jbarnes@cadets.com

1950s

FR. ROBERT SIPE ’50 recently wrote to let us know that he has been retired since 2004 and is living at the Sipe family lake home on Lake Pokegama in Grand Rapids, MN. Sipe still helps out in parishes all over northern MN and WI and he served as a cruise priest for 8 years, where he had the opportunity to travel the world. Currently, he is trying to create a Native American History & Spirituality center on his property in order to increase understanding of the riches of the Native spiritual practices. According to Sipe, "Can still walk with a cane, balance shot, depend on Depend."

JAMES DICKS ’54 has two sons and retired to Hawaii after his wife passed away. Jim would love to hear from other 1954 boarders, so please get in touch with Jessica Sutherland at jsutherland@ cadets.com if you would like to reach out to Jim.

1950s

JACK RECH ’54 and his wife, Mary Kae, celebrated 63 years of marriage this year in sunny Arizona.

Former STA Art Teacher BRIAN LEO ’58 just can’t retire! After recently completing a monthlong art show featuring 2-D pieces and a few steel pieces at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD, he went to work on another project for his long-time customer, a St. Paul businessman for whom he has done extensive projects in the past. Eighty-yearold Brian specializes in ornate hardware such as chandeliers, gates, doors and door handles, hinges and railings and has done work on St. Paul properties like the Commodore Hotel and the University Club. Brian’s work appears in many places on the STA campus. His sculpture of four cadet figures greets visitors in the quadrangle in the front of the school. He designed the archway entrance and entry gate of Gerry Brown Stadium as well as many of the plaques that hang inside the stadium. The belt buckle worn by the Crack Drill Squad is another of his creations. All of the outside door handles of the school bear the logos of the two different campuses in the school’s history courtesy of Brian. We are so impressed with Brian’s work ethic and legacy on our campus!

1960s

THOMAS CURRAN ’60 is mostly retired, and has been working as a Private Investor. As of this coming December, he’ll have been married to Dale Harrington for 50 years!

TIM SCANLAN ’64 has been married for 54 years to Mary Rasmussen of St. Luke’s & Our Lady of Peace Schools. Tim and Mary have 5 children (all married), 12 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson. Tim is the 3rd Generation President of Scanlan Group. He took over the business from his dad, DENNIS SCANLAN ’32. Tim’s sons, RUSSELL ’02 and ADAM ’07 are the 4th generation of the 100 year old family business, designing and manufacturing surgical instruments. Tim also mentioned that he has been blessed with great friends from the Class of ’64 and beyond!

MICHAEL CARROLL ’67 retired after receiving the lifetime achievement award from the International District Energy Association. He has been married for 45 years and has 4 granddaughters to enjoy.

After graduating from St. Thomas University and the University of Minnesota Medical School, JOHN GAERTNER ’54 married his wife, Patricia, on June 24, 1961 and the two will be celebrating their 60th Anniversary this summer. Jack and Pat have eight children (two sets of twins) — four boys and four girls. All four boys are STA graduates (FRANK ’80, JOHN JR. ’82, STEPHEN ’85, and ANTHONY ’88), while three daughters graduated from the Convent of the Visitation and one daughter graduated from Cretin-Derham Hall. Seven of the Gaertner children graduated from Catholic Universities. Out of their twenty-three grandchildren, three grandsons are STA graduates — PJ GAERTNER ’19, CHARLES HAUGH ’18, and NICK SANTULLI ’17. Jack served six years as a Captain in the Minnesota National Guard and was a Family Practice Physician for fifty years before retiring on October 1, 2011. Currently, he keeps active in his family Holding Company.

1970s

TIM FIGGE ’70 and SCOTT LARSON ’70 recently got together now that they can safely socialize.

STEVEN STEFANI ’71 is living in Grosse Pointe Shores, MI and has been married for 41 years! He has a son and daughter and 4 grandchildren — all boys.

TOM NARDINI ’74, his son DOMINIC NARDINI ’09, and business partner Chris Jensen sold the Nardini Fire Equipment Company, Inc. businesses to Pye-Barker Fire & Security in Alpharetta, Georgia in December 2020. All three of them continue to work for the new owners performing local/regional/national corporate business operations, IT management, sales efforts and new acquisition opportunities.

1980s

JOHN SHEAHAN ’80 recently became the Executive Director of Special Operations at MGM Resorts International. In May 2021, he wed Donna Cannon in Islamorada, FL. John’s oldest son, Michael, is following in his dad’s

1960s

DENNIS KELLY '66 has written a new book that you won't want to miss! Dennis' latest novel, A Comedian Walks into a Funeral Home, takes place in a St. Paul funeral home and has already received high praise from some high-profile names. Purchase from Amazon or your local independent bookstore today!

footsteps and is a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and John’s daughter, Kara, graduated with a degree in communications from Concordia and is now a human resources manager for Target. Meanwhile, his youngest son, Ronan, will be starting first grade in the fall.

HEINE LUND ’82 has been making the rounds in Colorado! Here he is pictured with classmate ANDREW VILLAUME ’82 in Summit County, CO where the two men caught up on old times.

Congratulations to ERIC SCHNEEMAN ’82 on being the Retirement Solutions Regional Vice President of the Year for Securian Life.

Congratulations to MARK SHEAHAN ’82, who has been appointed President & CEO of Graco Inc. effective June 10, 2021!

1970s

TOM EMMER ’79 attended the Father/ Son Banquet this past spring and is seen posing with senior members of this year's Crack Drill Squad. Emmer was himself a member of the squad in 1979.

Congrats to DAVID DIETZ ’85, who retires from the US Navy after over 31 years of combined active and reserve service effective April 1, 2021. His retirement ceremony was onboard the USS Yorktown in Charleston, SC on March 6 with family and friends. He also moved recently to Albuquerque as the Supply Chain Director for Sandia National Laboratories.

MARK GAERTNER ’85 and GREG WALSH ’86 have been law partners for the past 21 years. Recently, the STA alumni were recognized in the inaugural listing of the Power 30 ranking of Personal Injury Lawyers in Minnesota. Congrats!

1990s

COL COLLIN COATNEY ’94 has taken a new position with the 19th Air Force in San Antonio, TX. He will continue to instruct in the F-16 with the local guard unit in San Antonio along with his new responsibilities with the 19th Air Force.

Congratulations to TIM VETSCHER ’94, who has been promoted to the position of news director at TMJ4 (WTMJ-TV) in Milwaukee.

TOM MALCHOW ’95 was recently spotted on olympic swimmer Michael Phelps’ instagram feed! Pictured above (L-R): Malchow, coach John Urbanchek, Aaron Peirsol, coach Jack Roach, Lenny Krayzelburg, Michael Phelps, and Phelps’ wife, Nicole.

BRIAN NORDIN ’97 has moved his business, Northmade Co. (www.northmade.co), to Vandalia Tower in St. Paul.

BRIAN SCHEID ’97 lives in New Jersey with his wife, Melissa, and two children. Brian is a senior reporter for S&P Global Market Intelligence.

PETER MUDGE ’98 is living in Arkansas with his wife and 3 Children, Career is Lt Col in U.S. Air Force.

ROB WORTHINGTON ’98 has been working as a Senior Executive Financial Recruiter with Empower Associates. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife, Meghan, and their two children, Hannah and Billy.

2000s

In February, BRYAN SWINTEK ’00 — a Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard — led his team to rescue 66 fishermen trapped on an ice float on Lake Michigan. As the Response/Search and Rescue Coordinator for Sector Lake Michigan, Bryan was in charge of the entire operation.

DAN SCHEID ’01 is living in Colorado and working for Leprino Foods in their International Global Supply Division.

JOE GEISER ’04 has been working at Microsoft as a Partner Development Manager since 2018.

1980s

BILL REILLY ’85 shared the photo above with us after he got together with a bunch of grade school friends. Pictured above: PAT FINN ’84, BILL WHITE ’85, MARK PILATE ’85, John Messing (Cretin ’85), RICK JOHNSON ’85, BILL REILLY ’85, TOM LEE ’85, and MATT BOSROCK ’85

CARL FORSBERG ’05 recently began an appointment as Assistant Professor of history and strategy at the US Air Force War College in Montgomery, Alabama. He was previously a Postdoctoral Fellow with Yale’s International Security Studies program.

CHRISTIAN PILHOFER ’05 and his wife, Lis, welcomed twin boys on Jan. 17th — Robert (Bobby) and Edward (Teddy). Said Christian, “Let the games begin!”

Congrats to JARED GRAY ’07, who recently got engaged to Pounnaphone Phomtalikhith, Esq. They purchased their first house together in December.

1990s

Congratulations to JIM MCGUIRE ’07 and his fiancé, Natalie Meshbesher, on their engagement in Sanibel Island, FL in March 2021!

In February 2019, MICHAEL BROMBACH ’08 founded SupDoc, a telehealth startup. While we’re now curious if Michael has psychic powers, there’s no denying that he’s giving customers virtual access to doctors at the very time they need it most.

We received the following update from JAKE MATLON ’08 (pictured above on left): “Although there were quite a few bumps in the road during my STA days, I am proud to say I have made it. Graduated from UMD with business. Joined Bloomington

Fire Dept after college as well as landing my first office job. If it wasn’t apparent in high school, I do not do well confined to a desk/ computer. The office life was not for me at all. Worked even harder to make full-time fire a career and was hired by the Duluth Fire Department in 2018. Been doing it ever since and life is great.”

JOHN MICHAEL COATNEY ’09 is still in Panama working for a non profit company, Future Scientist, out of Seattle while completing his MBA with N. Illinois University. JM and his wife will be expecting their second child in October.

NICHOLAS CREAMER ’09 was recently promoted to the position of “Senior Tax Associate” within the accounting firm he works for — CBIZ & Mayer Hoffman MaCann P.C. Nicholas prepares primarily both individual and business tax returns (specializing in business tax returns — particularly those with multi-state/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.).

2000s

FRED PLESSNER ’95 is part of the Twin Cities River Rats water ski team. Fred can be seen in the photo on the far right. He also has a daughter in each level of the 4-tier pyramid and his son, FREDDIE ’23, is also on the team as a jumper, bare-footer, and baser. The team was recently featured in the Star Tribune and on WCCO news and has free shows every Thursday. Check out the full schedule at tcriverrats.com

After getting married in Columbia in 2019, DAVID ENGLAND ’09 just celebrated his second wedding anniversary with his wife, Laura, and is getting ready to celebrate his son Daniel’s 1st birthday in May. David currently resides in Salt Lake City, UT with his family and was recently promoted to one of the top private wealth teams at his firm.

2010s

Congratulations to PATRICK CONNELLY ’10 and his wife, Kaylie, on the birth of their daughter, Emerson Michelle Connelly, on April 16, 2021.

Congratulations to MIKE DePAUW ’10, son of TOM DePAUW ’78, who recently received his MBA from the University of Minnesota.

Not only did MATT JOHNSON ’09 get married in a small, private ceremony in May 2020, but he was also featured on an episode of CBS This Morning: Saturday because of the new technology he and his bride, Josie Scheunemann, used for their first song, played live by Joshua Radin in the backyard of DAVID ’78 and Mary Johnson. Was Joshua Radin at the wedding? He was not, but his music was, thanks to the new live concert streaming platform, TOPEKA.

The debut novel of PATRICK MEISCH ’10 is now available! The work takes current-day models on topics such as resource depletion, overpopulation, and environmental degradation and extrapolates them to create a world suffering from the fallout of problems we continually brush off today on the chance that others will solve them for us tomorrow. You can now buy Those the Future Left Behind from Amazon, or your local independent bookstore!

JUSTIN

ALDUCCI ’11 is now a Business Banker at North American Banking Company — a locally owned Community Bank in the Twin Cities. Justin and his wife, Ashley, welcomed their son, Remington, in August of 2020.

PEYTON RECHTZIGEL ’11 and his wife, Brittney, welcomed their daughter Scarlett into the world earlier this month.

2010s

Congrats to MICHAEL BLACK ’12 on his new job at OkCupid in New York as a Senior Software Engineer.

Congratulations to KELTON ANDERSON ’13 on his graduation from Georgetown Law School in Washington D.C.! Kelton will be joining the global law firm of Winston & Strawn in D.C.

Congratulations to JOHN HANTEN ’13 on passing the Certified Financial Planner exam!

Congratulations to JOE MAHER ’13 for starting a new position as Senior Associate, TT Capital Partners at TripleTree.

In 2020, MAX MUSSEL ’13 founded a new company, Updo. Updo is a growing marketplace of at-home grooming services, including pet grooming services!

Congratulations to LUKE SCHNEEMAN ’13 for starting a new job as Senior Tax Accountant at UnitedHealth Group.

Congratulations to BRANICK WEIX ’15, MATTHEW MICHALSKI ’15, and BRENDAN QUINLAN ’16, for continuing to grow Aryeo into an amazing real estate listing platform!

Congratulations to MAC BROWN ’16, who recently received the Brad Davis Southeastern Conference Community Service Award.

DREW APPLEBAUM ’13 recently started a new position as Payments Strategy Lead at nate. nate is a digital assistant able to buy any item on any website without human intervention. Its neural networks use deep learning and natural language processing to read web code and transact online on behalf of people. nate is a venture-backed artificial intelligence startup with offices in New York and London, founded in 2018 by Albert Saniger. nate uses cognitive automation to make people’s lives better.

CONNOR FARLEY ’11 was married to Briana TerBush in a lovely ceremony at The Thayer Hotel, on the post of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, in Highland Falls, NY, on June 18th, 2021. Connor is a 2016 USMA alumnus. Serving as best man was Connor’s identical twin, DILLON FARLEY ’11 and in the bridal party was CONNOR MULHERE ’12 (also a 2016 USMA alumnus). In attendance were many ST(M)A graduates including grandfather PATRICK ’56, father GREG ’79, and uncles TIM ’81, KEVIN ’83, MICHAEL ’84, BRIAN ’87 and DANIEL ’93 The day was perfect and the wedding was memorable.

GUNNER REGAN ’13 competed in the Granite Games in Eagan June 4-6 as one of the top 120 CrossFit athletes in North America. He was excited to come home (from Florida) and represent!

Jesuit educated x2, BRADY HAPPE ’16 completed Creighton’s MBA program this past weekend. Three degrees later, Brady is excited to head back to the Twin Cities.

ODEEN TUFTO ’15 was named as a Hobey Baker Award Nominee. The Hobey Baker Award is given to college hockey's top player and Odeen, a player for the Quinnipiac Bobcats, was considered a frontrunner for the award. Criteria for college hockey's top honor include candidates exhibiting the exceptional character traits of the award's namesake, Hobey Baker. At the end of the hockey season, Odeen signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Congratulations to WOODY HUBBELL ’16 on finishing his treatment for leukemia and getting his chance to ring the bell!

THOMAS BULACH ’17 graduated from the University of Missouri.

HENRY BURKE ’17 graduated from the University of Michigan.

Congrats to SAM ENDERBY ’17 on his graduation from University of Dayton! Sam accepted a position to join the middle school team as an English Language Arts teacher at Carondelet Catholic School in Minneapolis, MN.

DAVID O’NEILL ’17 is excited to share that he has accepted a position for the upcoming school year as an English Teaching Assistant through the French National Education Ministry’s TAPIF program. He will be teaching middle and high school students in the school district of Montpellier, in southern France.

JOHN PURSLEY ’17 graduated from Creighton University.

TOMMY ODEGARD ’17 is very excited to share that he has accepted a summer internship at the University of Minnesota Athletics Department – Golden Gopher Fund! Tommy gives special thanks to John Barnes and the CadetWorks program at Saint Thomas Academy for guiding him through the internship process.

EDWIN PERRY ’17 is the very first former student of Northern Voices to be selected to serve on the board of directors with the organization.

EMMETT RICE ’17 recently became the host of "The Pulse of Spokane," a weekly talk show highlighting small business owners and community leaders in the Spokane Area. His internship with Spokane Talks Media will add to his experience producing and hosting broadcast news, live radio shows, podcasts, and comedy productions.

Wisconsin – Madison.

JOHN JAKUBOWICZ ’17 graduated from Southern Methodist University.

Thanks to the CadetWorks internship program, NICHOLAS KERN ’17 accepted an internship with Surgical Technologies Inc. as a manufacturing engineering intern for the summer of 2021!

Said Nicholas, “Thank you to STI for this opportunity and I am beyond excited for this coming May!”

Congratulations to STU WHITNEY ’13 on his Fall 2020 marriage to Emily Anderson (Vis 2014). Pictured are a number of STA alumni.

From left: ANDY GROEBE ’18, RICK ANDERSON ’80, BEN KERN ’13, TIM ANDERSON ’12, TONY PALUMBO ’13, STU WHITNEY ’13, TOM GROEBE ’14, CHARLIE ANDERSON ’25, LARRY ANDERSON ’77, JACK ANDERSON ’10, BILL ANDERSON ’85, and WILL ANDERSON ’19

SETH PRIBBERNOW ’17 graduated from Southern Methodist University.

ROBBIE STUCKER ’17, a current University of Minnesota hockey player, has been selected to represent the Big10 Hockey Conference on a newly formed national D1 hockey committee to address Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Congratulations to ANDREW TRI ’16, who was the closing pitcher for University of St. Thomas for the Regional NCAA Championship Title. Andrew got the last six outs with no runs allowed. The team qualified as one of eight teams that went on to the D-III College World Series in Cedar Rapids, IA. Andrew was one of four captains for the Tommies’ baseball team.

NICK SANTULLI ’17 graduated from the University of Missouri.

Congratulations to WILL TREACY ’17 on a number of milestones! Will married Emma Schildgen, graduated from the University of Minnesota, and started a job with ChemTreat, Inc.

MATT WATERLOO ’17 graduated from Creighton University.

TJ WRIGHT ’17 graduated from the University of Wisconsin –Madison.

Since June of 2015, SAM APPLEBAUM ’18, DREW APPLEBAUM ’13, and their father Scott, have been co-hosts of the podcast, Apple 2 Apples, a father-son podcast that’s supposed to be about sports, but you never know what topic is going to cause a generational divide. When they do discuss sports, Minnesota sports is the focus.

ALEX FARLEY ’18 won the landmark conference championship with the Men’s Catholic University Swim and

Dive team for the 5th consecutive year, personally scoring over 25 points.

HEINE LUND ’82 hit the slopes with CHARLIE BERG ’19 (son of PAUL BERG ’81) out in Breckenridge, CO.

HENRY MAY ’19, a freshman at University of Dayton, made a long eagle putt on the final hole to win the Atlantic 10 Conference championship Sunday at the Reunion Resort and Golf Club in Orlando, FL. May became the first UD men’s golfer to win medalist honors at the A-10 championship since 2008. May was also named the A-10’s Most Outstanding Rookie.

2020s

JOE D’AGOSTINO ’20 discovered the above photo of a Saint Thomas hockey scrimmage on the old campus in Congressman Tom Emmer ’79’s office recently and thought interested alumni would enjoy seeing it.

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.

Bill Quirk ’42

June 2021

Warren Waterston ’42

June 2021

Bill Walter ’46 June 2021

Richard Przybylski ’47

March 2021

Bob Ochs ’49

January 2021

Peter Castner ’51

March 2021

Bob Cummins ’51 February 2021

Frank Klein ’51

April 2021

Mike Mullin ’51

April 2021

Bill Strub ’51

April 2021

Bud Vitoff ’51

January 2021

William E. Bernstein ’52

April 2021

John Bordenave ’52

January 2021

Tom Gallagher ’52

January 2021

Charles Stanek ’52 March 2021

Vince Carraher ’53

March 2021

Don De Hart ’53

May 2021

Bill Bast ’55

April 2021

Jerry Slawik, Sr. ’53

June 2021

Peter Dwyer ’55

June 2021

Joe Monahan ’55

May 2021

Jim Weber ’55

April 2021

Jay Foley ’56

March 2021

Ted Schell ’56

March 2021

Fred Webber ’56

January 2021

Lou McKenna ’57

June 2021

Tom McMahon ’58

June 2021

Nick Musty ’58

April 2021

Fritz Wagner ’58

April 2021

Tony Wise ’58

February 2021

Michael Dooley ’59

March 2021

Michael Cormier ’60

March 2021

Jack Campbell ’61

February 2021

Bob Tansey ’61

April 2021

Bob Armstrong ’62

March 2021

Eric Lloyd ’63

March 2021

Daniel Brick ’65

March 2021

Father Wajda ’65

April 2021

Mike O’Brien ’66

April 2021

Rick Pieper ’66

April 2021

Jim Thibodeau ’67

June 2021

Tom Farmer ’69

February 2021

Jeff Beissel ’70

June 2021

Mike Niedermaier ’70

April 2021

Tim Bussen ’71

June 2021

Brian Miller ’71

May 2021

Mark Newfield ’74

June 2021

John Leenay ’76

May 2021

Paul Dolan ’78

February 2021

John Dietzen ’98

April 2021

Joseph Kratzke ’05 April 2021

THOMAS KILKELLY Former staff 1980-1999

July 2021

WILLIAM FAULKNER Former trustee 1980-1984

July 2021

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