St. Thomas Eagles' Nest Fall 2022

eagles’ nest

St. Thomas High School Community Magazine fall 2022

Eagles’ Nest Printed September 2022

The Eagles’ Nest is published twice annually by St. Thomas High School 4500 Memorial Drive Houston, Texas 77007 713.864.6348

Rev. James Murphy, CSB - President

Dr. Aaron Dominguez ’96 - Principal

Daniel Bryant ’93 - Assistant Principal

Mark deTranaltes ’83 - Vice President for Advancement

Patricia Miller - Vice President of Finance

Rodney Takacs - Dean of Students

Keith Calkins - Director of Communications

Steve Cummings ’07 - Alumni Director

KH Studio - Layout + Design

Nathan Lindstrom - Cover Photography

eagles’ nest

St. Thomas High School Community Magazine fall 2022

DEPARTMENTS

38 Eagle Flight

Peter Bryant ’25 leads an impressive St. Thomas showing at the 2022 TAPPS Academic and Speech competition and the acclaimed St. Thomas Theater revives Little Shop of Horrors in a staging that feels garden-fresh.

58 Eagle Fight

Mastermind and maestro Kenny Martin ’01 orchestrates another stellar season for Eagle Soccer while Eagle Track and Field, Eagle Wrestling, and Eagle Rugby continue championship caliber status.

64 Eagle Pride

The 15th Annual Scholarship Breakfast honors the Basilian tradition of philanthropy while the annual Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge Society Dinner salutes prestigious alumni and stakeholders for their outstanding service.

Features

BASILIAN BICENTENNIAL

The milestone strikes St. Thomas President Fr. James Murphy, CSB with a spirit of gratitude, to reflect on the achievements of the past as well as the exciting opportunities that lay in the future.

UPROARING ROUND UPAGAIN, AGAIN, AND AGAIN

Underlying yet another outrageously robust triumph is a recurring theme that sparks, then ignites a passion within the St. Thomas student body.

SERVING UP SUCCESS

Rafael Nasr ’10 plays out his culinary dreams like an artist, applying his signature flair to the intricacies of Mediterranean cuisine with hit after delightful, delicious hit.

EXTREME GIVING UNITING VISION

The St. Thomas community celebrates a substantial leadership gift - a $250,000 investment made by DeeDee and Gilbert Garcia - that will fortify essential areas that matter most to the Eagle community.

FUELING CHANGE

Science Dean Dan Bryant ’93 is named the school’s next assistant principal, beginning with the 2022-23 academic year.

DRIVEN BY DREAMS

The 122nd St. Thomas Commencement provides one sense of finality while flashing vast potential to inspire optimism for the future.

FAREWELL WITH A FLOURISH

The swan song for renowned fine arts faculty member Mike Nebel more resembles a grand slam crescendo than a heart-tugging stroll through career appreciation.

THE OPINIONS THAT MATTER

Jake Wright ’22, Cameron Price ’22, and Wyatt Green ’22 share a unique quality that fueled their profound football success.

CULMINATION AND CORONATION

Josh McLean ‘22 owns a wicked smart love for swimming - and its most minute details that came to the surface. Chlorine in his soul.

DRIVEN BY DREAMS

BICENTENNIAL BASILIAN

200 YEARS OF GOODNESS, DISCIPLINE, AND KNOWLEDGE

THROUGHOUT 2022, Basilian Fathers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Colombia are relishing the 200th anniversary of their order - celebrations capped with a commemorative Mass at St. Basil’s Church on the campus of the University of St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto November 21.

Two hundred years guided by faith and rooted in the resolve of Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.

The milestone strikes St. Thomas President Fr. James Murphy, CSB with a spirit of gratitude, to reflect on the achievements of the past as well as the exciting opportunities that lay in the future.

President Fr. Murphy: I’ve always seen the Basilians as having this charism of doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, where it needs to be done.

We’ve consistently responded to local needs. France, Toronto, Houston, Detroit, wherever we may be, flexible to remain vibrant with the times while never compromising our core values.

The Basilians deal with reality. We take what is asked of us from all walks of the city and life, all areas of needfinancial, spiritual, family. We get to know people, develop trust, and agree on a meeting of minds. There’s intimacy and genuine care in relationships. Time and time again, we are there for Catholic education. For decades. For generations. I saw that when I first met the Basilians in college. And I see that ever-present today.

The Congregation of St. Basil developed from the humblest of beginnings in the shadows of the French Revolution and Reign of Terror.

But Basilian history didn’t simply spawn from a cluster of teaching priests isolated in rural France. Rather, the oppressed emerged to leave an emphatic legacy - refusing to succumb to the threat of the Napoleonic conception of the French Church as somehow separate from the Pope. Scholars. Educators. Leaders. Pastors. Vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. Education within the Church’s mission of evangelization. Animated by the spiritual vision of Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge

St. Thomas College was established in 1900 in an old Santa Fe Railroad warehouse on the fringe of downtown Houston. Three years later, founder Fr. Nicholas Roche, CSB purchased the property at the corner of Austin Street and Hadley Street to construct the city’s first college preparatory school for boys. Native Texan Fr. T. P. O’Rourke, CSB inspired and orchestrated the move to the school’s current 4500 Memorial Drive location in 1940.

In 1822, 10 priests and seminarians teaching at the Annonay school in the Ardeche region, south of Paris, formed a sort of association. These men would become the congregation’s founding fathers. On November 21 - the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - they selected Father Lapierre as the first Superior General and the Greek philosopher and theologian St. Basil the Great as the patron for the order. In 1863, Pope Pius IX would raise the status of the association to a religious congregation of simple vows.

More than a century of Basilian leadership tradition pivoted in June 2017 when Dr. Aaron Dominguez ’96 became the first lay principal in the school’s then 117-year history. He brought a bevy of experience in Houston education and leadership expertise to navigate the Eagle academic community into its next great chapter. Dr. Dominguez completed his Doctorate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration and his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Texas at Austin, and his Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston.

Dr. Dominguez: I understand the trust the Basilians have placed in me and St. Thomas will not waiver from the mission that began 200 years ago. When honesty and truth are embedded in your intellectual tradition, you may change with the times. But our priorities remain that our students are filled with goodness every day of their St. Thomas experience. That’s what I try to live out as a Basilian educator and instill in our faculty and staff. I view that role as an incredible responsibility to ensure our students thrive as they always have.

The Basilian Fathers founded the University of St. Thomas in 1947, as well as St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, where Fr. Murphy is forever proud to have received his introduction to the Basilians, made possible by the generosity of Piehler, Piehler, the Pontiac Dealer, as the advertising jingle would ring.

Michael Piehler had established a scholarship in the name of his father and the passion for St. John Fisher paved Fr. Murphy’s only path to attend the university. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Journalism with plans to emerge as “the next Tom Brokaw.” Rather, Fr. Murphy has lived the Basilian vocation of education for more than a quarter-century. He gained his Master of Divinity in 2001 from the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto, and his Master of Education from the Lynch School of Education at Boston College University in 2016.

In 2019, Fr. Murphy was the unanimous choice of the St. Thomas Board of Directors as the institution’s third president in its profound history. After excelling in a series of diverse roles throughout the campus community, he succeeded the Very Rev. Kevin Storey, CSB, who was elected Superior General of the Congregation of St. Basil in June 2018 after six years as the St. Thomas president.

President Fr. Murphy: St. Thomas is a Catholic school, a Basilian school, and that is foremost in our identity. Prayer is an essential element in everything we do during our academic day. This gives our students an understanding of who we are and that exposure provides them a foundation. For the good times in their lives, for the setbacks, for the tragedy. They will have that foundation to rely on. That’s the reality.

Casey Johnson ’05 believes his near lifetime association with the Basilians wasn’t so much his choice but “the Holy Spirit” choosing for him. A scholarship opportunity took him to the University of St. Thomas where he earned both his Bachelor and Master of Arts. Then an unexpected, late offer to join the St. Thomas faculty drew him back to campus where he’s an emphatic, driving force within the theology department and campus ministry.

Johnson: As a student at St. Thomas, there were semesters when I was fortunate to have Fr. Carl Belisch for the first two hours of my day - homeroom, English, and Latin. He had a larger-than-life personality. Through that witness, his kindness, his teaching style, and his love I grew a relationship with the Lord. His influence led me to be a teacher.

The Basilians laid a phenomenal educational foundation here. Most rewarding for me is to continue to grow, be challenged, and engage the students through critical thinking. The cultural demands on students may be much different today than decades before, but there’s always a desire to know the real truth and real knowledge. I’ve grown in my own faith life through the process and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

Mark deTranaltes ’83 returned to serve his alma mater in 2012 as the vice president for advancement after a distinguished corporate and leadership career. He graduated from Texas Tech in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Advertising and has contributed on the university’s National Professional Advisory Board for more than two decades. deTranaltes’ commitment to St. Thomas comes with the hope that the next generation of promising scholars may participate in the same rich Basilian experience he has found invaluable to his success. deTranaltes: Circumstances change, people do not. There’s great confidence, a position of strength, in the Basilians’ ability to develop young men. The ‘Teach Me’ in the Basilian motto is what resonates with me, that’s my beacon. ‘Teach Me’ brings an open-mindedness, a lowering of the guard, a humble admitting that I don’t have everything mastered. I’ve utilized that throughout my life and imparted that to my son (Mark ’10; Miller, Scamardi & Carrabba P.C.) long before he reached St. Thomas. Embrace ‘Teach Me’ and the possibilities are endless.

Greg Phillips ’82 shares much of deTranaltes’ sentiment. The current chairman of the St. Thomas board is an acclaimed corporate attorney and impassioned civic servant, that rare individual who inspires both respect and affection. Phillips received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Southern Methodist University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law.

Phillips: Coming through here, you learn those three wordsgoodness, discipline, and knowledge - and how to make them real in your life. I can recall many times when presented with challenges or tough times and I would draw on those three words. It’s about character, forming young men to become difference-makers in their communities.

That’s the reason I’m still involved. My formation as a man started at St. Thomas. And if the Basilians opened doors for me, the least I can do is assist in making that same opportunity available for someone who seeks the same experience. I tell students that whatever they invest is what they will receive. All the tools are available for students to grow and reach their goals. But it’s not pixie dust. You have to earn it.

Andrew Quittenton is the director of St. Thomas Campus Ministry and a member of the theology faculty. The Toronto native was initiated to the power of the Basilian ideals as a student at St. Michael’s College. He later earned his Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto and a Master of Religious Education from the University of St. Michael’s College.

Quittenton: The greatest aspects of my life I owe to the Basilians. If they had not accepted me at St. Michael’s College, I would not have attended college, studied theology at the university, met my wife, and been prepared for a move to Houston and a position with St. Thomas. This is where I started my family. The Basilians opened so many doors for me and continue to present great opportunities. I’m so grateful and blessed for this association. We often don’t recognize the gifts we’ve been handed until later in life. Then we understand that the Catholic Basilian beliefs changed our lives.

Danny Hernandez ’08 first felt the Basilian influence when he began kindergarten at St. Anne’s Catholic School. He then graduated to St. Thomas with more than a dozen of his classmates. Hernandez joined the St. Thomas theology faculty after earning his Bachelor of Arts from the University of San Diego and his Master of Theological Studies from Boston College University.

Hernandez: The Basilian impact on my life is so strong I considered a vocation to the order. It’s foundational - who I am, what I studied, how I teach. During my years as a St. Thomas student, the Basilians Fathers were genuine, could relate, and cared for me as a person. They connected and were instrumental with so many others like me. I gravitated and embraced their values.

The present and future center of Basilian life are shifting, just as from Annonay to Toronto 100 years ago. The distinguished order of Catholic priests devoted to teaching will continue in the United States and Canada, Mexico and Colombia. The great array of voices and gifts continues their singular mission and motto.

Fr. Murphy speaks for thousands of St. Thomas graduates when he says, “If it weren’t for the Basilians, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

President Fr. Murphy: This is at the heart of how I live out this charism - the person in front of me is who I am called to serve at this moment. I want our students and faculty to sense that care, that love. I want our students to grow in goodness, discipline, and knowledge, and be prepared to answer confidently for whatever the world asks of them.

“ST. THOMAS IS A CATHOLIC SCHOOL, A BASILIAN SCHOOL, AND THAT IS FOREMOST IN OUR IDENTITY... THEY WILL HAVE THAT FOUNDATION TO RELY ON. THAT'S THE REALITY.”

uniting vision extreme giving

The St. Thomas community is celebrating a substantial leadership gift - a $250,000 investment made by DeeDee and Gilbert Garcia - that will fortify essential areas that matter most to the Eagle community.

Their signature philanthropy will be honored by the naming of the DeeDee and Gilbert Garcia Board Room in Clay-Storey Hall.

Vice President for Advancement Mark deTranaltes ’83 salutes the Garcias and “the expression of their own distinct passions and desire to propel St. Thomas forward. Their invaluable support will ripple through generations of St. Thomas students and faculty who will reap the benefits of this generous offering.”

The Garcias’ profound altruism will significantly advance the St. Thomas academic enterprise. The parents of Daniel Thomas ’18 and Ben ’22 are providing measurable momentum for the school while strategically investing in creative areas of teaching and service.

DeeDee and Gilbert enthusiastically agreed that “it’s the easiest check we’ve ever written. What is shaping our boys for the rest of their lives worth in dollars? It’s priceless. We saw St. Thomas nurture them from young boys to fine young men. It was extraordinary. We just wanted to do our part so that others may have the same experience. This is a way for us to give back.”

The Garcia brothers both attended Corpus Christi Catholic school. During the high school admission process, the Garcias were drawn to St. Thomas by its strong college preparatory reputation and the camaraderie among the scholars that exhibited long beyond their campus years.

“I would encounter peers and friends in professional and personal settings and there was a brotherhood that St. Thomas graduates exuded. I thought that was special because I didn’t have that,” says Gilbert who grew up attending public schools in Corpus Christi and graduating from Carroll High School. “I could see how this Eagle community was so supportive of its own and that’s what we wanted for our sons.”

Daniel Thomas was the student body president in 2018 and recently graduated with honors in economics from Texas A&M University. He declined an invitation to participate in the highly acclaimed Master program at the Mays School to accept a Wall Street opportunity. Ben begins his college career at Louisiana State University.

Gilbert is the managing partner of the highly decorated asset management firm Garcia Hamilton & Associates. He and DeeDee are illustrating a strong belief in the promise of the St. Thomas present and future. Learning by adventure. Connecting cultures and communities. Building a better world.

“To have our name permanently displayed on campus is truly meaningful for us,” Gilbert says. “We hope that it will register with future Hispanic students so that they will aspire to continue such a tradition - strive for success, achieve, and give back as a legacy for your sons.”

President Fr. James Murphy, CSB graciously embraced the Garcias far-reaching and passionate commitment to St. Thomas. “Every day, I feel tremendous gratitude for the magnificent support exemplified by DeeDee and Gilbert. I am humbled to see them step forward and continue a sterling tradition at the school, one that marries vision with benevolence.”

“We saw St. Thomas nurture them from young boys to fine young men. We just wanted to do our part so that others may have the same experience.”

The 122nd St. Thomas Commencement provided one sense of finality while flashing vast potential to inspire optimism for the future.

The Class of 2022 assembled in a stream of Red and White at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart for a celebration that included the Baccalaureate Mass. The festive evening embodied the value of a formative college preparatory experience rooted in the Basilian ideal of Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge The illustrious scholars are now prepared and poised to pursue human aims and define true worth in the eyes of God.

President Fr. James Murphy, CSB, Principal Dr. Aaron Dominguez ’96, Assistant Principal Mary Criaco, and Board President Greg Phillips ’82 welcome Eagled graduates earning nearly $11 million in merit-based scholarships to esteemed colleges and universities throughout the United States. Former St. Thomas president and principal Fr. Ronald Schwenzer, CSB served as homilist as the soon-to-be innovators, motivators, leaders, and caretakers were honored among their beloved families and supporters, saluted by St. Thomas faculty and staff whose exceptional service and distinctive contributions to Catholic pedagogy were essential to the collective achievements.

Living and excelling through the pandemic provided these scholars with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to evaluate what they truly value and solidified their decisions to pursue further studies in a chosen field or perhaps change course to best utilize their talents to make a difference in the lives of others.

Valedictorian Peyton Woodlief and salutatorian Thanh-Vinh McColloster addressed the gathering as if the graduates served as symbolic cornerstones – commemorating an establishment while also projecting future construction.

“We made it through (these four years) because of each other. Life is truly a group effort … and we have become stronger not only as individuals but a whole,” Woodlief said. “And I only hope that our time (at St. Thomas) has taught us the value of prioritizing what is most important in life. As we all move on to the next stage, I hope all the members of the

Class of 2022 can discover their own pillars to stand on along their paths. Go forward, have fun. Keep your family and friends close, God closer, and never forget to ask yourself the question of ‘what will this cost me?’”

The multi-acclaimed Woodlief will study engineering at Texas A&M University. He and McColloster were both members of the St. Thomas Chapter of the National Honor Society and gained permanent membership into the acclaimed St. Thomas Club – champion scholars with a minimum 4.0-grade point average for seven consecutive semesters.

Woodlief joined five additional St. Thomas scholars selected as National Merit Commended Students from the Class of 2022, recognized for “the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the qualifying test used for program entry.” The St. Thomas total in this esteemed category is 39 since 2017 and now includes Carrick Brogan, Mark Cheek, Landon Croker, Brett Koehn, and Carson Ondo.

McColloster, the NHS parliamentarian who will attend the University of Texas at Austin, earned finalist acclaim in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program along with Elijah Phillips ’22, both representing among the most elite scores taken from the PSAT Qualifying Test.

Previously in the spring semester, Brogan was among four Eagle coterie receiving exclusive accolades, excelling in a rigorous college preparatory environment while also separating through a compelling identity beyond the curriculum. He accepted the Rev. Carl M. Allnoch, CSB Athletic Memorial Trophy for Excellence in Academics, in honor of the 16th principal of St. Thomas. The legacy graduate was a two-sport student-athlete and an important contributor during the unprecedented four-year ascent of Eagle Swimming that included consecutive TAPPS state championships in 2019 and 2020 and strong runner-up finishes in 2021-22. Brogan will continue his career competing for Spring Hill College in the pole vault. He was described as “a leader by example and a selfless teammate while always willing to help others … truly a Man of St. Thomas.”

We made it through (these four years) because of each other. Life is truly a group effort … and we have become stronger not only as individuals but a whole.

Cooper Murray ’22 was selected for the Rev. Albert R. Gaelens, CSB Award, given to the senior student who best embodies the school motto of Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge. The 21st principal of St. Thomas executed a variety of essential roles on campus for a quarter-century before retiring in 2007. Seniors are nominated by their peers for this distinction and the faculty then votes on those receiving the most nominations.

Murray is another exemplary member of the St. Thomas Club while excelling in a series of AP courses with an “unwavering commitment to Christian principles … reaching out to aid low-income families and their children, volunteering in food pantries and mentoring younger students. There is an abundance of benevolence” in his character.

Nico Lopez ’22 received the Rev. Ronald G. Schwenzer, CSB Campus Ministry Award for most exemplifying the Man of St. Thomas motto of Faith, Service, and Leadership. The 2022 most valuable player of perennial power Eagle Soccer also displayed “a depth of kindness that his signature … his faith navigating his daily path … routinely above and beyond as an engaged minister and mentor. His gifts will be sorely missed.”

The Principal’s Service and Leadership Award was given to Zachary Hanse ’22. “A humble, kind, and genuine Man of St. Thomas … generously working with director of student activities Joe O’Brien and our service team … with an impeccable dedication including more than 200 service hours earned largely at Camp Aquinas but also involving a wide variety of campus initiatives including food and blood drives.”

Multiple Eagle graduates will move on to prestigious destinations such as the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University at Galveston, the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas Tech University, the University of Houston, Texas Christian University, Trinity University, Auburn University, Louisiana State University, and the University of Mississippi.

Eagle scholars will also attend renowned institutions including Rice University, Yale University, Baylor University, Boston College, Loyola Marymount University, St. John’s University, St. Edward’s University, St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, James Madison University, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Texas at Dallas, Rhodes College, Belmont Abbey College, the University of Arkansas, the University of Kansas, Schreiner University, the Florida Institute of Technology, The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

In between the reverence of tradition and the joyous moments of May 21 were invitations to take stock with satisfaction for the passion and perseverance in creating the journeys just completed, and next charge confidently for the ones about to embark on a shifting world. The Class of 2022 advances to lead lives of purpose marked by humility and be builders with enduring legacies, committing their gifts to change the world for the better.

LEGACY GRADS

HANSE - Patrick ’86, Zachary ’22, and Ryan ’14

HAGENEY - Charles Raymond ’02, Colin Jr. ’25, Harry V ’22, Harry III ’45, Colin ’83, and Harry IV

BABINEAUX - Wayne ’16, Nathan ’22, and Wayne ’94

LOPEZ - Nathan ’15 and Eric ’22

KOEHN - Brett ’22 and Lars ’17

HANKS - Jack ’22 and Scott ’93

BROGAN - Patrick ’87, Carrick ’22, and Jack ’18, (not pictured Tim ’80 and William Pohl ’79)

CLASS OF 2022

WALKER - Jacob ’22 and Mark ’94

RIVERA - Alejandro ’22 and Victor ’89

QUINDT - Patrick ’22 and Douglas Chambers ’61

PAYNE - Matthew ’20, David ’22, and Michael ’14

TREVINO - Gabriel ’22 and Cesar ’18

RAMOS - Julian ’16 and Diego ’22

CLASS ACTS

Their parallel journeys brought them to similar, unintentional destinations.

Like pathways through frontier and space, they encountered obstacles both obvious and unforeseen. Their tightly tuned talent, endless ambition, and deep-dive due diligence forged signature identities through exercises enlightening, tedious, rewarding.

Peyton Woodlief ’22 arrived at St. Thomas as a freshman from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School with a pronounced academic profile and lofty, justified expectations for the immediate future. Regimented and accountable with all the intellectual measurables. But the mere passing thought of Woodlief earning valedictorian was in his mind “unattainable.”

Thanh-Vinh McColloster ’22 came with similar sterling middle school achievement at St. Jerome Catholic School with a focus acutely fixed. His singular goal from the very outset was graduating in the top six percent of his class, therefore earning automatic admission into his university of choice - Texas at Austin.

The internal terms of engagement were planted if not firmly rooted in the fall of 2018.

And the pair emerged after four years of exhaustive academic challenges at the vanguard of the latest acclaimed St. Thomas champion scholars. Valedictorian Woodlief and salutatorian McColloster - exemplary men of letters rising to the highest ranks within their class based on the calculation of their four-year grade point averages.

The process was not complicated, which is never to be confused with pedestrian. If the ascent were easy, anyone could climb.

Both were members of the St. Thomas Chapter of the National Honor Society and gained permanent membership into the acclaimed St. Thomas Club - impeccable performers with a minimum 4.0-grade point average for seven consecutive semesters.

McColloster, the NHS parliamentarian, was named a finalist in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, represented among the most elite scores taken from the PSAT Qualifying Test. Woodlief was a National Merit Commended Student, recognized for “the exceptional academic promise demonstrated on the qualifying test used for program entry.”

Woodlief added select distinction in an impressive and extensive array of departmental disciplines including AP Calculus BC, AP Government/Advanced Economics, Advanced Texas Government, Advanced Journalism, Advanced Sacred Scripture, and Bioethics. McColloster excelled particularly in the Healing Racism studies within St. Thomas Theology.

Both are legacy graduates contributing to the rich St. Thomas tradition. Woodlief is following the lead of his older brother David ’18 to attend Texas A&M University and study engineering, accepting the Lechner Scholarship and the Opportunity Award Scholarship. McColloster is contributing to a deeper family heritage. He plans to pursue a medical career as have his three older brothers (all St. Thomas graduates) and his father, Patrick McColloster, M.D. with the Baylor College of Medicine.

“Science and chemistry are where I hope to apply my talents,” McColloster says. “I’ve joined my dad volunteering at the Missionaries of Charity addressing the health care needs of the homeless and undocumented. I’ve developed an empathy for those individuals who don’t have the same economic advantages and access. I understand the value of giving back to my community wherever the need may arise.”

Woodlief’s outreach was weighed in gaining the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout as a freshman, and most emphatically in the unmatched Round Up student initiative. The Basilian tradition nearly a century in the making annually contributes hundreds of thousands of dollars to St. Thomas tuition assistance. Woodlief fronted the Class of 2022 in the most recent fundraising effort, generating $11,000 in raffle ticket sales to rank in the top-10 producers for the fourth consecutive year with impressive totals of $9,505, $7,110, and $7,605.

“I was motivated my freshman year to out-sell my brother, that sibling rivalry thing,” Woodlief says. “But then a friend from middle school left St. Thomas because of financial reasons. I didn’t want to see that happen again so I was particularly driven to produce as much as I could to the grand total,” (a jaw-dropping $670,610 in 2022).

Woodlief’s uber-competitive nature extended even further away from the rigors of AP and GPA. To the ice rink of all places. A down-home, Texas-bred boy from suburbia in goal for the Cy Woods club hockey program in the Interscholastic League where he was a state champion as a sophomore and a difference-making three-year starter in the net.

Woodlief began skating when he was “four or five” and was introduced to the game before attending first grade. He developed superb mobility, instincts, positioning, and puck-handling ability. The checklist of attributes included flexibility and a wellspring of fearlessness.

Whether tracking the puck and then applying a quick-twitch, flamboyant windmill robbery or standing up and dropping to one knee or even stacking his pads to stop a hard-charging short-handed attack, there was nothing formulaic to Woodlief’s style. He knew when to roam and challenge shooters, or remain in the crease outside his goal, consistently making the save that every shot warranted.

“It was fun but I missed not representing St. Thomas in some way,” Woodlief says. “One of my best memories from this past (senior) season was having about a dozen classmates come out to a couple of games. That’s as close as I got to that pride of playing for your school.”

Goaltending is not a snapshot of past acclaim, it’s a kaleidoscope of the present, continually twirling. And so, too, are Woodlief and McColloster, top shelf in the now after meeting the most stringent of scholastic demands. Refusing complacency, ever-evolving and aspiring.

“Once the valedictorian rank was official, the recognition felt good for about 15 minutes,” Woodlief says. “I had a hockey banquet the next night and the satisfaction of those awards lasted about 15 minutes. Time to move on to whatever is next.”

As they live out their series of Warholian successes, Woodlief and McColloster are confident in confronting the next chapters of their educational and personal experience with hope and gratitude. Within the communal spirit of the St. Thomas campus community where supreme scholars are savored with all the critical attention that a gourmet gives a Chateaubriand, they are respected by peers and faculty, known and remembered as not only studious but trustworthy and loyal and courteous, engaging if not garrulous.

Valedictorian Woodlief. Salutatorian McColloster. Setting the standard. Accomplished, inspired, and inspiring Men of St. Thomas.

UPROARING ROUND UP AGAIN, AGAIN, AND AGAIN

Underlying yet another outrageously robust Round Up triumph is a recurring theme that sparks, then ignites a passion within the St. Thomas student body.

The inscription would read A little bit more.

A little bit more as it relates to embracing purpose and allegiance, sacrifice and selfless gratitude.

A little bit more in driving this unmatched student initiative again to scintillating success.

RELENTLESS PURSUIT

Somehow, some way, the unwavering Eagle student body racked the latest record-smashing total of raffle ticket salesa jaw-dropping $670,610 - with all monies contributing directly to St. Thomas tuition assistance, a Basilian tradition for nearly a century.

Yes, $670,610.

The half-million-dollar mark crashed for the seventh consecutive year. The riveting eight-year sales spike rose to nearly $5.9 million. The new St. Thomas standard is $75,000 more than the previous Round Up mark set in 2021. The Class of 2023 detonated the explosion with $202,515.

Round Up repeatedly reheats one of the school’s most venerable enterprises. But the yearly rise to unimaginable achievement isn’t spawned from some mythical-like force - nothing resembling the wingspan of a Cthulhu, the power of a Minotaur, the snarl of a Werewolf - even though the results defy belief.

To go record-busting for the 17th time in 19 years meant measuring beyond $595,145. Audacious, if not simply irrational. Universal commitment was essential, rather than the reliance on a few luminescent efforts.

Vice President for Advancement Mark deTranaltes ’83 spearheaded the signature brand of fundraising for the first time after more than a decade increasing philanthropic support for the school. Gazing at the colossus, he crafted a strategic plan, collaborating with Alumni Director Steve Cummings ’07, and faculty members

Darrell Yarbrough and Ray Davis, the defensive coordinator for Eagle Football.

The push was to focus on the process. To consistently execute the tedious details correctly. To channel the sentiment of the great statesman George Washington Carver - Do the common things in an uncommon way

“We presented manageable units for the students rather than emphasizing some eventual mammoth total,” deTranaltes says. “The response within the group was phenomenal. There were two leaders in every homeroom responsible to drive 18-20 students to move quotas, first one and then two and then a third. Some students needed additional help above and beyond the basic blueprint, so I was in direct contact to get everyone to the finish line. As we approached the final week, the student board adopted those still in need of help. There was simply no give.”

BREAKING THE MOLD

In recent years the roaring Round Up outcomes were driven by frantic Friday finishes, students harnessing collective and aggressive late surges to erupt outbursts of raffle ticket sales.

In 2022, the Eagles broke form and gathered the grandest take of all.

“The Thursday before the final reveal was the monster collection day, a six-figure rally,” deTranaltes says. “We entered Friday already ahead of last year’s record. The group could have sat back satisfied. But this crew seized the true meaning of Round Up into the last possible minutes. The Senior Hustle brought in another $50,000.”

THE POWER OF EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

Caleb Davis ’23 set the individual sales pace with $29,105, the third-highest individual total in Round Up history. He was fourth overall in 2021 with $12,800 but shifted into overdrive with an ever-determined motivation now that his triplet brothers Cooper, Joshua, and Major had joined St. Thomas as freshmen.

“The first thing I would say to my prospects is that I have three brothers here at St. Thomas and we’re all on some form of scholarship,” Davis says. “I have a goal to give back to the school that has been so generous with my family. They seemed to respond to my personal story.

“I kept my contact lists from the previous two years and asked for at least the same financial commitments as before, if not more. And whenever I approached someone, I left asking for three-four referrals.”

The TAPPS all-state defensive back admits that he’s “a competitive person. And whatever I’m involved in, I’m going to give it my full effort. I quickly reached $10,000 (in sales) and there was a brief temptation to ease back. But I decided to finish strong and set myself up for an even bigger senior year.”

THE KINGPINS

Davis steered a swaggering top-10 pack of entrepreneurs who generated more than $141,290.

Peyton Woodlief ’22 fronted the Class of 2022 with $11,000 for his fourth consecutive top-tier performance after impressive totals of $9,505, $7,110, and $7,605.

The precocious pair of Patrick McCarthy ’24 and Simon Pham ’24 continued sizzling sales. McCarthy’s $22,945 was the sixth-best all-time total for $33,275 over two years. Pham racked up another $21,00 to stack with his $18,000 as a freshman.

The righteous Round Up ringleaders included James Quinlan ’23 who was fourth overall with $13,990 and Anthony Hill ’25 fifth with $11,540, followed by a powerhouse threesome from the Class of 2023 - Matthew Villafranca with $10,680, Benjamin Madden $8,880, and Braydan Salinas $6,520. Robert Longo ’22 closed the top 10 with $5,720.

EYING THE PRIZE

To seize sentiment from Corinthians, “In a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

There is no mistaking the primary design of Round Up - ensuring a Basilian college preparatory curriculum and experience for all those who desire to continue the legacy.

Yet deTranaltes now eyes another perspective of the prize, adding to the impact first instilled as a student nearly 40 years ago and then through mentoring his son Mark Thomas ‘10 through three straight top-10 sales totals.

Among the lasting dividends of Round Up are core values that serve any purpose in life, a culture of inclusion and appreciation that applies to the marketplace, marriage, parenting, or simply being the best version of oneself.

“We had amazing spirit from the outset and watching true leadership develop was the most satisfying reward for me,” deTranaltes says. “The command from our leaders with their respective teams was amazing. I was blown away by that display. Tuition assistance is paramount. But breaking out of comfort zones, initiating calls, articulating the mission of the school, and closing the deals on such a grand scale are real-world skills that will benefit each student as they move forward with their lives.”

The goals that the Eagles achieved once again paled in comparison to the daily due diligence required to reach their summit.

A little bit more.

Simple and proven.

“Tuition assistance is paramount. But breaking out of comfort zones, initiating calls, articulating the mission of the school, and closing the deals on such a grand scale are real-world skills that will benefit each student as they move forward with their lives.”

The St. Thomas Basilian Fathers and stakeholders extend their deepest appreciation to all in the extended Eagle community for again making our Round Up celebration a student fundraising event unmatched anywhere in the United States, generating more than $670,610 for St. Thomas tuition assistance and more than $4.2 million since 2014.

Eagles caring for Eagles.

We were blessed to have phenomenal leadership with chairs Melina Bellomo, Paige Dominey, Barbara Villafranca, and Stephanie Yankowsky plus a legion of volunteers who devoted countless hours to support another extravaganza. This was truly a superlative effort.

Eagles caring for Eagles.

The Sunday festival of family and fun, food and friendship brought sizable crowds to campus saluting a brotherhood unlike any other and another record-smashing extravaganza.

Eagles caring for Eagles. See you March 5, 2023!

Bryant’s educational career spans nearly three decades and encompasses multifaceted leadership roles as a respected academician within rigorous college preparatory and ardent community service. This key appointment is the result of a meticulous search led by a committee of faculty and administrators.

Bryant is a 1993 graduate of St. Thomas, awarded the Principal’s Service and Leadership Award as a senior. He rejoined the Eagle family in 2015 displaying master instruction in chemistry, biology, advanced biology, human anatomy, environmental science, and computer applications. Bryant ascended to the dean of the department in 2018 and has also held numerous enterprise positions throughout campus, emerging as a vital contributor across diverse disciplines including information technology and fine arts.

“This position has been one of my career goals and I’m grateful for the faith that Dr. Dominguez is placing in me,” Bryant said. “I’m very comfortable molding curriculum and my experience should give teachers confidence in our dialogues to determine what potential directions are optimal.

I have always cherished my time as a St. Thomas student and can speak directly to the power of the Eagle brotherhood. I hope that will give parents and students confidence that I want what is best for them and will reflect positively on my alma mater. Their success is my number one priority.”

Bryant earned his Master of Curriculum and Instruction in 2007 from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, along with the Texas Principal Certification. He completed a second master’s in Educational Leadership in 2013 from the University of St. Thomas.

Bryant is diligently prepared to join a charge setting the St. Thomas vision and focus for the next decade of inventive pedagogy. In particular, he is positioned to offer a fresh, proactive perspective in responding to the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“St. Thomas is assuming that challenge head-on to assure all our students, particularly the incoming freshmen, are given all the resources possible to be as successful as possible,” Bryant says. “We’re addressing student services on campus - be it academic counseling, college counseling, social and emotional counseling. Our students face high-performance expectations, packed schedules, concerns relating to college admission and earning scholarships. COVID-19 brought even more disruption, all with the swirl of social upheaval. I will engage and boost the support for our faculty to assure each of our students graduate as a Man of St. Thomas.”

ST. THOMAS PRINCIPAL DR. AARON DOMINGUEZ ’96 ANNOUNCED IN THE SPRING THE APPOINTMENT OF SCIENCE DEAN DAN BRYANT ’93 AS THE SCHOOL’S NEXT ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, BEGINNING WITH THE 2022-23 ACADEMIC YEAR.

Bryant was chairman of the science department for six years at Incarnate Word Academy and a member of its faculty from 2003-15. He was selected as the 2017 Outstanding Biology Teacher Award winner for the state of Texas. His continued professional climb is enhancing a family legacy devoted to Catholic education, following his grandmother who taught in Brooklyn, New York, and his mother who was a middle school instructor and later a principal in Pasadena.

“The process that led to this opportunity was invigorating and confirmed my passion for the position,” Bryant says. “I’m braced to be a positive influence as St. Thomas plots for the next decade. Internally, we’re asking what our graduates must look like in the near future. We must relate to what colleges and universities are seeking but also how the marketplace continues to redefine itself. We have to be positioned to pivot to address whatever the demands require. That may mean placing more STEM in front of our students, or improving their soft skills before they leave campus. St. Thomas has always identified essential characteristics to instill in our graduates, to be faith-filled lifetime learners.

Our eyes are forward to assure they have the specific and necessary skills regardless of what profession they choose.”

In addition to his extensive work in academia, Bryant enjoys a long-standing relationship with The Woods Project, an initiative founded in 2001 by Houston entrepreneur Steve Rosencranz, who saw a need for disadvantaged students which could be bridged with outdoor education and environmental awareness.

For more than a decade, Bryant has served as a wilderness counselor for the nonprofit enrichment program, leading weekend backpacking trips that give teens a small taste of what is to come during the extended summer excursions to the Big Thicket and beyond.

“The first weekend in April I was with a group in Sam Houston National Forest,” Bryant said. “You can see even after only a few days the changes in attitude in those young people. I’m continually energized and fortified by the experience.”

FAREWELL WITH A

The swan song more resembled a grand slam crescendo than a heart-tugging stroll through career appreciation.

The last call of precocious practitioners were bent on a #BestIsStandard ethic embedded before them. A ceramic arts lab that had annually nurtured and produced a conga line of regional and national acclaim wasn’t interested in a nostalgic parade punctuating previous champion scholars. The serious intent was to close the lead shepherd’s near four-decade career climb in the most fitting, riveting way possible - mounting Everest.

When Mike Nebel fused with the St. Thomas faculty 15 years ago, he immediately began inspiring students with the fascination of interpretation. As the program’s profile expanded, his modus operandi was the familiar metaphor of the windshield and rear view mirror. The former clear and wide to see the next ripe opportunity life is offering ahead. The latter small and on the peripheral providing ever shrinking images of the past.

Translation - enjoy the results. And then target for the most bodacious yet, all emphatic testimony to the rise and reputation of St. Thomas Fine Arts and Nebel’s undeniable force of nature. For the grand finale, the maestro again forged work as a meditation between mind and matter, crafting an infectious culture that ignited imaginations, broadened creative horizons, and fostered confidence.

And another host of Eagle scholar-artists gained supreme praise from the premier juried competitions in the United States, as predictable as the changing of Grenadier Guards at Buckingham Palace. As striking as Tom Cruise making movie magic as Maverick takes to the cinematic skies and trumps all in a series of furious adrenaline-fueled flying escapades.

Caleb McClure ’22 and Nicholas Ferruzzo ’23 captured Gold Key distinction in the 2022 National Scholastic Regional Art Competition, leading the latest procession of St. Thomas merit.

The most recent stream of excellence included Silver Key status for Keenan Sencio-Sims ’24, Jack Westby ’23, Braydan Salinas ’25, Jacob Gergen ’24, George Antill ’23, and Samuel Hanse ’24. Another half dozen Eagles earned honorable mention - Luka Ljuboja ’25, Knox Vacek ’24, Alex Ostrom ’22, Brandon Maya ’23, Alex Yankowsky ’22, and Julian Winstone ’23.

Roberto Asencio ’24 also received an honorable mention for his work in Scratchboard Portrait.

Fourteen of Nebel’s scholar-artists were recognized out of 18 entries, a confirmation of the program’s aim to provide the highest caliber of education for those poised with talent and aspiration to thrive.

“This exhibition represented a range of creativity, from simplistic to complex,” Nebel says. “From seven inches in height to more than two feet. And only two seniors in the group. You can never predict what will register during subjective judging.”

The outside validation provided particular pride for Nebel after he presented a challenge that was unprecedented during his tenure.

“I wanted all my first-year students in the fall semester to have an accelerated project and compete at an elite level with second-year themes,” Nebel says. “And I wanted unique pieces. Great credit goes to the students. They knocked it out of the park with so much individual effort, dedication, and execution. They didn’t allow themselves to become frustrated early in the process when the results weren’t meeting their expectations. The clay was talking to them and they had to listen to do what the clay wanted to do, not what they wanted to do. It was a remarkable showing.”

McClure’s advance came as a Ceramic I student. “Right away you notice the tubes from the handle to the spout,” Nebel says. “He used a new glaze for a softer shine. The handle incorporates cork and the Chinese characters pay homage to his grandfather - the alpha translates into ‘Caleb McClure.’ The red dye symbolizes longevity and peace. Really impressive.”

Ferruzzo utilized “contrasting blue shades on the glaze with some white frosting effect. Stunning.”

A last slap of superiority came courtesy of Sencio-Sims later in the academic year with accolades for the 25th Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition.

The prestigious event designed to showcase the country’s best age-specific ceramic art awarded Sencio-Sims’ Spiraling Shadows, selected for the national show in March at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California. The competition was again extreme with Sencio-Sims receiving select inclusion from nearly 900 national entries. Jurors determine superiority based on three criteria: originality, technical expertise, and the emergence of a personal vision or voice.

“Keenan produced a wonderfully expressive sculpture,” Nebel says. “There was a complexity that engaged the viewer on a visceral level. The audience was pulled into the piece. The remarkable detail and finish was testament to his vision and commitment to execute.”

During Nebel’s celebrated St. Thomas stay, which included an audacious run as department dean, he orchestrated a seismic shift for the program, providing a rigorous yet supportive environment that relied on persistent curiosity and due diligence, exposing students to a wide range of traditional techniques and contemporary concepts while encouraging their signature style.

Nebel’s lab was stimulating, a fulcrum for artistic and intellectual growth. With the realization that discipline and freedom go hand in hand with gifted activities, he instilled a responsibility for student’s to find meaningful content and an effective means to express it.

Among the many constants was Nebel’s awareness of the diverse backgrounds of his students, their variety of impulse and personalities. He respected each individual

with compassion and demanding old-school, family loyalty. The dual dose of motivation encouraged them to detect their inner visions and establish a voice by combining influences from the world around them with personal identity and symbolism.

“I taught the way I would want someone to teach my sons or daughter or granddaughter,” Nebel says. “There was an expectation for their best effort and to never settle for good enough. It demonstrated the type of students St. Thomas attracts. They’re driven to achieve, regardless of the arena. And this last group wanted to not only live up to the previous success but take it to another level. Every year, so many students at St. Thomas accept leadership roles in so many areas of our campus life.”

Before Nebel joined the St. Thomas college-preparatory ranks, he had firmly established a prominence in fine art education. Two students, in particular, emerged from his photography curriculum and mentorship at Jersey Village High School in the early 1990s to achieve astonishing individual success.

Tadd Myers is a commanding Dallas-based commercial artist who learned from his teenage years the “meticulous nature of my business ... the importance of quality craftsmanship from both the technical and artistic sides.” His array of international clients range from Apple to Verizon to Chevrolet to 44 Farms to Russell’s Reserve Bourbon Whiskey and Walmart and the United Way.

Adrees Latif was born in Lahore, Pakistan before immigrating with his family to Texas in 1980. He is a Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist and enterprise editor with a career spanning

nearly three decades with Reuters covering conflict, natural disasters, sports, and entertainment. “The art and science of photography is such that a moment captured in less than a second can last a lifetime.”

The lens master Nebel owned much the same white-hot passion for the art he instilled in his students such as Myers and Latif, and others not nearly as notable but equal in desire and purpose. Nebel understood that no other medium has the ability to better preserve and celebrate fleeting moments of joy, passion, and glory, as if guided by the muse of French master Henri Cartier-Bresson who believed that “there were those who took photographs arranged beforehand and those who went out to discover the image and seize it ... To take photographs is to hold one’s breath when all faculties converge in the face of fleeing reality ... It is putting one’s head, one’s eye, and one’s heart on the same axis.”

Nebel’s picture-perfect connection to St. Thomas student life outside his strict role within the faculty seemed to penetrate every crevice of the campus community. His photography skills poignantly chronicled much of the school’s new millennium history - particularly athletics - one homecoming, one Round Up, one state championship showdown at a time.

Nebel held an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time and make the pictures come to him. Much of his tableaux illustrated the timelessness of high school years. Were it not for the obvious changes in fashion, the classic shots were almost indistinguishable from decades past. Graduating students treasured still frame passports of their Eagle journey as they set course on their next destinations into young adulthood, equipped with vivid, lasting proof of their St. Thomas times and tales.

Nebel’s own departure from St. Thomas is marked by blending an uncommon expertise within scholarship and a permeating caring that defined beyond the classroom. The mastermind behind a model program in peak prowess was committed to persistence and promise but most importantly - the process. He encouraged and empowered scholar-artists to engage in visual storytelling as the primary inspiration, with opportunities for increased exposure through exhibitions and special events a bonus dividend.

The lore of Nebel’s legacy will long reverberate throughout the confines of the Basilian campus.

Much more than a testament to longevity. His essence came from the grace he showed to everyone along the way. The breadth of his impact daunting.

“I TAUGHT THE WAY I WOULD WANT SOMEONE TO TEACH MY SONS OR DAUGHTER OR GRANDDAUGHTER... THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION FOR THEIR BEST EFFORT AND TO NEVER SETTLE FOR GOOD ENOUGH.”

BRAIN TRUST

Peter Bryant ’25 captured first place in Persuasive Speaking to lead St. Thomas to an impressive fourth-place result at the 2022 TAPPS Academic and Speech competition in Waco.

Bryant’s state championship performance along with strong multi-event showings from Diego Ramos ’22, Noa Clifford ’24, and Brandt Peterson ’23 were the catalyst igniting St. Thomas to second within the Speech and Debate events. Also contributing to the team total of 66 points were:

» Luke Martin ’23 third, William Massey ’25 fourth, and Maximiliano Molina ’25 fifth in Lincoln Douglas Debate

» Ramos second and Oscar Jaimes ’25 ninth in Original Oratory

» Aedan McDaniels ’25 third, Clifford sixth, and Ramos eighth in Poetry Interpretation

» Peterson third and Clifford sixth in Prose Interpretation

» Ramos third, Peterson sixth, and Clifford seventh in Solo Acting

» Peterson and Jorge Morfin ’23 sixth in Duet Acting

National Merit finalist Elijah Phillips ’22 finished seventh in Number Sense and eighth in Advanced Math to pace the St. Thomas Academic achievement. The team total of 38 points included significant marks from:

» Benjamin Brown ’24 second, Champion Courville ’25 third, and Joseph Romero ’22 sixth in Social Studies

» Aiden Clark ’24 fourth in Literary Criticism

» Daniel Robbins ’25 fourth in Spelling

» Brett Koehn ’22 fifth in Ready Writing

» Salutatorian Thanh-Vinh McColloster eighth in Science

» Charles Ramirez ’22 eighth in Spanish

The St. Thomas success guided by faculty members Jennifer Pearson and Darrell Yarbrough embodies the value of a rigorous college preparatory experience that prepares scholars to assume roles in leadership, responsibility, and service to society - always rooted in the Basilian ideal of Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.

EAGLE EXCELLENCE IN ACTION

Brett Koehn ’22 capped an highly acclaimed scholar-athlete career by accepting the Presidential Scholarship at Loyola Marymount University.

Koehn also earned Provost Scholar from Southern Methodist University and the U.S. Reach Honorarium from the Chevon Corporation.

Koehn was selected as a National Merit Commended Student and thrived with a deep array of achievement within the highest tiers of the St. Thomas college preparatory curriculum. His superior distinction including AP English Literature and the Special English Award, Christ in Popular Culture, Advanced AP Computer, Advanced Mandarin IV, and Film Studies.

Koehn reached All-State and Academic All-State TAPPS recognition with his second consecutive 10th-place finish at the 6A state cross country championships. He completed the 5,000 meters in 17:20.7 for a sizzling close to a significant senior season, pacing St. Thomas to a fifth-place team result.

During the 2021-22 academic year, Jackson Guyre ’23 was among prime St. Thomas students who obtained the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, the highest reward in the Boy Scouts of America.

Guyre gained merit through Troop 30 based at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Woodland Heights. His ambitious Eagle Scout project centered on partnering with the Houston Parks Board to improve Houston area parks and trails.

In February, Guyre rallied more than 80 volunteers to plant 3,100 native trees and shrubs across the Board’s six-phase forest restoration of Coolgreen Park near Green’s Bayoupark’s seven acres. In addition to the planting days, Guyre launched a digital financial campaign that generated donations from a lengthy list of community members, along with Jackson’s personal contacts. He raised $7,500 for the Board, far surpassing his official goal of $1,500.

Carrick Brogan ’22 joined the parade of high-achieving Eagles scholar-athletes continuing their careers at the collegiate level.

The National Merit Commended Student will next pole vault at Spring Hill College. His third-place performance at the TAPPS state championships contributed to Eagle Track and Field capturing second after seizing the state crown in 2021. Brogan was also a force in Eagle Swimming’s four-year rise to consecutive state championships followed by back-to-back runner-up results.

In the spring, the legacy graduate accepted the Rev. Carl M. Allnoch, CSB Athletic Memorial Trophy for Excellence in Academics, in honor of the 16th principal of St. Thomas.

BOUQUET WITH BITE

It was a show for horticulturists, horror-cultists, sci-fi fans, and anyone with a taste for the outrageous.

Director Dan Green and the acclaimed St. Thomas Theater revived Little Shop of Horrors in a staging that felt garden-fresh while honoring everything that made the musical such an invigorating blast 40 years ago. The tale of falling for (and sometimes into) the wrong guy or the wrong vegetable bloomed again with doo-wop and gonzo puppetry - funny, schlocky, nutty, and at times, sad.

“I thought it would be a fun, dynamic production for the actors and audiences,” Green says. “We tackled elements like never before but we’re always trying to up our game. Our attitude is always, ‘Why not?’”

Little Shop is satire hitched to a deliberate B-movie messiness, concocted from an adaptation of Roger Corman’s 1960 cult film.

The havoc wrought in a deal with the devil featured Casey Salvatiera ’23 as the hapless Seymour, a browbeaten botanist anxiously pining for his insecure flower shop coworker Audrey played by Danielle Bartholett (Incarnate Word Academy ’23 in her sixth St. Thomas production).

Seymour got much more than he bargained for when he started cultivating an exotic, previously unknown Venus flytrap-type that he hoped would save his Skid Row place of business. The bizarre little flora turned quite literally bloodthirsty yet made Seymour a minor celebrity. Attention brought fame. Fame brought money and love. And so Seymour was gladly coaxed into a Faustian pact with the carnivorous succulent - anything to keep the talking, singing, quite demanding plant alive, including tossing an occasional human lunch.

“Feed Me (Git It).”

The mock-horror musical proved as charming and weird and funny and sweet as ever. Salvatiera is hilarious and endearing in tremendous voice anchoring the show, letting loose with a passion. He was entirely credible as a klutzy nebbish so hopelessly besotted with Audrey that he named his weird herbal discovery after her.

Bartholett was a perfect vocal match with a combination of grit and vulnerability, drawing laughs one moment and almost tearing the audience’s heart out the next. Her plaintive “Somewhere That’s Green” almost stopped the show with its unselfish sincerity and sentiment.

Among the captivating deluxe casting: an offstage Damian Wilson ’23 providing the voice of Audrey II; Brian Deavers ’23 (sixth St. Thomas production) portraying Mushnik, the manipulative florist who is only too happy to exploit Seymour’s need for a father figure while watching business boom thanks to public curiosity about Audrey II; and Evan DeAnda ’23 as Orin, Audrey’s cruel dentist whom she wastes her favors.

Equally flawless were Katie Dickenson (IWA ’24) as Chiffon, Crystal Zoe Yokabaitis (IWA ’23) as Crystal, and Flinn Burrell (IWA ’24) as Ronette - the simply divine, sardonic Greek chorus of street urchins equipped with primo pipes, gorgeous harmonies, and flashing names borrowed from 1950s girl groups.

“The opening Friday and Saturday were two of our best-ever performances, tight and seamlessly in sync,” Green says. “Not one component was the least bit missing. We knew immediately from rehearsals that we had something special with Casey and Danielle singing duets and great chemistry between Casey and Damian. Brian exhausted his efforts to capture that yiddish accent, then sang and danced it every step. He’s a game day player. Evan stepped up and owned his role hysterically. And I can’t say enough about our do-wop trio blending so beautifully. We had big hitters from every spot on stage.”

Green’s track record for directing vibrant musicals grows more impressive each season. This latest in a series of creative productions was exceptional from the daffy, capacious script to the uptempo numbers with witty lyrics that became earworms by intermission. The garden of grizzly delights was delivered with economy and efficiency, drawing the humor out of perfected pacing and razor-sharp timing.

Green also consistently draws on the innovative talents of a superior design team for exhilarating results. For Little Shop, that need was magnified and the effort demanded an execution far beyond tutorials from YouTube University.

The essential nonhuman component was the brilliant plant puppetry. The versions of Audrey II appear partly amphibian, partly reptilian. The largest iteration of Audrey II was freestanding and squatted upon the stage as a spectacle practically worth the price of admission all by itself. Unseen was the mastered manipulation by a host of puppeteers including student directors Alessio Del Castillo ’22 (eighth production) and Joel Johnson ’22 (seventh production), Cece Lee (IWA ’22), Sophia Marcon (IWA ’25), and Julia Hernandez (Mother of Divine Grace Homeschool ’25).

“I trust the team we’ve built and we were all amazed at the overall look. Truly dynamic,” Green says about the confidence to embrace such a challenging enterprise. “We enjoyed great involvement from our artistic parents. Elizabeth Donnelly, Jennifer Dunn, Anne Frank, and Sherry Cruz all volunteered and helped craft Audrey II. My theater tech class built multiple versions of the puppet. The puppeteers were superb in matching the speech patterns to where they appeared identical.

“(Faculty member) Julie Dienno-Demarest came in and said ‘I’ll do props.’ Great, make puppets. That’s not what she expected but by the end, she made a hundred that were awesome and added to the light-hearted nature of the show.”

Additional expertise in full dazzling display was the unrivaled set construction and fluid scenic design spearheaded by faculty members Phil Gensheimer and Daniel Bryant ’93, the rich talents of choreographer Katie Macaluso and music director Josh Wilson, and the sharp lighting from audio/visual coordinator Chris Hodge.

“In this program, we push to our reach every opportunity we can,” Green says. “That’s what excites the group. The students have so much energy and drive ... you surf on top of that wave. Everyone appreciates the challenge and the struggle. Our junior and sophomore classes are filled with singers. Our senior class was incredibly dedicated with a great collaborative effort that was contagious. Whatever was needed, Mel Horner (IWA ’22) and Claire Garcia (IWA ’22) and Katy Koerner (IWA ’22) and others were leading out front ensuring every detail was met. It all worked.”

Little House of Horrors remains at heart a scrappy satirical, tuneful musical whose charms thrive most vigorously in an intimate house such as Cemo Auditorium. The catchiness of the melodies and the humor of the lyrics are ageless. The sad-happy complexity is what makes Little Shop pack a big punch, and Green’s terrific revival will only deepen the devotion of those lucky enough to have caught it.

SERVING UP SUCCESS

Rafael Nasr ’10 is most comfortable in the kitchens at his popular Craft Pita cafe or at home. The apron is inevitably battle-stained with remnants of his creations. The first-generation Lebanese American plays out his culinary dreams like an artist, applying his signature flair to the intricacies of Mediterranean cuisine with hit after delightful, delicious hit, bold ingredients, and deeply satisfying dishes that speak from his soul.

“I appreciate the opportunity to promote my family’s culture,” Nasr says with vibrating energy. “Regardless of the turmoil and crises facing the homeland, our identity stands undeniably through food. It’s the global language. What better way to break down barriers.”

Nasr’s thriving enterprise is a blend of his Lebanese roots and the Peruvian heritage of his mother Claudia Nasr. Years ago she tirelessly learned and mapped the unwritten recipes of Nasr’s grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles that linked generation to generation. She first converted them to family-style portions for the growing household, then scaled them for the Craft Pita menu with occasional flavor forays that are wowing a diverse audience of 200-300 a day.

Food that is made entirely in house - assertive yet simple, pleasantly earthy, balanced by lemon, and tempered by tahini. Standout status includes pitas with rotisserie Naked Truth Premium chicken and certified Akaushi Heartbrand beef, crisp flatbread dressed with a za’atar herb blend, savory baba ganoush (roasted eggplant), and parsley-zinging tabbouleh and fattoush salads. All in happy harmony with organically extracted extra virgin olive oils authentic in classic taste and undefeated in their uniqueness and class. The roster rounds out with local artisan baked goods, dairy, beverages, and wines from the native region.

The salty allure of the Mediterranean quickly struck a chord within a younger, discriminating crowd, but also a broader church that includes business foursomes, parents with babies, and older couples. Within six months of his August 2019 debut, Nasr’s Tanglewood dining venue was ranked among America’s Top 100 Places to Eat according to Yelp! and later made Allison Cook’s 20 Most Interesting Restaurants list for the Houston Chronicle.

Yet, the menu is never done, always on the move as Nasr dives deep for inspiration and innovative interpretations with fresh takes on old standards that explore different parts of his home country’s culinary repertoire.

Nasr launched from St. Thomas to earn his degree in entrepreneurial management at Texas Christian University. Originally his sights were aimed at a career in finance or sports management. But those designs were shredded when Nasr bought a food truck during his sophomore year, serving up chicken shawarma and street food along Greek row on the TCU campus. The initial $30,000 investment came at a fraction of his four-year tuition payments. The introduction to rough-and-tumble commerce was equally invaluable.

”

“ I appreciate the opportunity to promote my family’s culture,” Nasr says with vibrating energy.

“Regardless of the turmoil and crises facing the homeland , our identity stands undeniably through food. It’s the global language. What better way to break down barriers. ”

“There was nowhere to eat and students were up late studying or partying. I figured I could fill the void,” Nasr says. “But I faced a ton of red tape for the permit to get started. Finally, I said what does it say when an undergraduate from the entrepreneurial school can’t get the ok to start a business to meet the needs of other students. That was the clincher. Then the real work kicked in. Class from 8:00-3:30 p.m., food prep in the commissary from 4:00-5:30 p.m., serving from 6:00-2:00 a.m. I lost my social life, but at age 21 I learned what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.”

Armed with a formidable, formal education, Nasr sold his food truck and sought the answers to what he didn’t know to even ask relating to his future endeavors. He chose his moves carefully to abstract the strict, fundamentals essential to the judicious restaurateur, the demands and tricks of the highwire risky trade.

Nasr first joined the original Island Grill on Woodway Drive. Owner and founder Faysal Haddad had immigrated from Damascus, Syria in 1981, and is as serious about hospitality as he is about his vibrant menu.

“I wanted to learn what the Houston market demanded from a Mediterranean menu,” Nasr says. “I ended up opening the Bunker Hill location. But the greatest takeaway was how Faysal respected his customers. He welcomed them every day. Ultimately, people want to go to a restaurant where they feel special.”

Next, Nasr chose a move to Austin for a one-year stay with Verts Kebap (think fast-casual Mediterranean Chipotle). He then joined Pappasito’s Cantina for insight into the renowned Pappas Restaurants, Inc. Nasr invested three years inside the privately owned behemoth. The totality of experience “shaped my operation today.”

“To say it was rigorous is a huge understatement,’ Nasr says. “Busser, server, bartender, front manager, kitchen manager. Dining rooms of 250-300 people, parties of 20, getting home at 3:00 a.m. Rinse and repeat. I knew from the outset that to live your dream, you have to ignore your ego, make sacrifices, and learn how to do it right.”

And throughout the day-to-day, night-to-night grindhouse, Nasr’s familiar mantra resounded for all to hear: “I’m going to open my restaurant. I’m going to open my restaurant. I’m going to open my restaurant.”

By 2019, the play was primed to execute. Nasr had fashioned an exciting concept and business plan, acquired financing, scouted premium Houston real estate, and committed to the highest quality ingredients from locally sourced farms, ranches, and bakers. He also tapped into the savvy expertise of his sister Sofia Nasr, who understood the power of social media, influencer marketing, and grassroots promotion to build anticipation.

Opening day arrived August 25, 2019, with a line of customers braving the scorching Houston heat for the first taste of Craft Pita. Monthly momentum mounted driven by an immediately dedicated clientele. And then the coronavirus pandemic.

The nation’s economy and capital roared to a halt, a siren reverberating from Wall Street to Main Street, landlords to lenders. The hospitality sector was hammered. Shutdowns, critical shortages of staff, food supplies, and even customers. Unprecedented times and remarkable twists and turns for an independent owner and chef maintaining a start-up business venture.

“We were so fortunate,” Nasr says. “We were built with small square footage with a high-quality take-out product. Once COVID-19 struck, we didn’t have to make radical adjustments. We opened a huge party tent out front, room to fit F250s, and created a temporary drive-through. We wanted to be there for the neighborhood and our neighborhood was there for us at the same time.

“Houston is my home. This is where my family is, my friends, my St. Thomas community, my St. Cecilia Church community. They all took care of us through the pandemic and wanted us to succeed. When you’re in high school, you’re often just going to high school. When you become a professional adult, you develop a keen understanding of the power behind relationships. I can see now how invested the St. Thomas community is in taking care of its own. It’s humbling.”

Nasr brilliantly navigated the series of pandemic-related disruptions to not only keep Craft Pita thriving but the founder has also hatched plans for a second location in West University at Buffalo Speedway and Westpark Drive.

“ Houston is my home. This is where my family is, my friends, my St. Thomas community, my St. Cecilia Church community. They all took care of us through the pandemic and wanted us to succeed. ”

“This is a tough business, physically and emotionally taxing, but serving people is the most rewarding aspect,” Nasr says. “I know people. And I know you have to get your hands into the food and understand what people like. Same thing with the business side. Get your head into the numbers and the excel and the Quickbooks and understand the economics.”

Nasr’s father Hatem left Lebanon in the 1970s during a civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities and an exodus of almost one million people. At that same time, Claudia escaped Peru during a communist takeover. They met at the University of Houston and raised Rafael, Sofia, and their sister Caterina on Houston’s west side. Both parents cooked extensively and Nasr spent his teenage summers visiting Lebanon where he was impressed and even dazzled by what streamed from the kitchens of everyday people. Those experiences also convinced him that family partnerships are best. Nasr met his wife Brittney in a class at TCU. Early in their dating days, he confessed that “just so you know, I’m about to do this crazy, stupid thing, buying and running a food truck. My free time is going to be limited.” She completely understood, remained locked into her own academic priorities, and has shared the unconventional journey to Craft Pita every step of the way.

“I’m so blessed to have had such strong support since graduating from St. Thomas,” Nasr says. “A world-class education at TCU. A series of genuine mentorships. A loving, caring family and wife. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Chef Raffi is unafraid and undaunted by the long odds of favorably navigating the continuing minefield that is his chosen profession. He begins each day immersed in what he loves and who he adores. It’s how he works, how he lives, food the center of his universe.

Stoics believe that the true good resides in our own character and actions. And in that pursuit, Aurelius sagely observed that “it never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.”

During the most supreme offensive season Eagle Football has ever brandished, quarterback Jake Wright ’22, receiver Cameron Price ’22, and offensive lineman Wyatt Green ’21 were unbeknownst prime practitioners of the Stoic teachings. Three pillars in the weekly assaults on opposing defenses and record books arrived anonymously at St. Thomas at separate intervals. They were surrounded by question marks from second and third-party judgments that suggested ordinary outcomes.

Physically unimposing. Raw or slow. If savvy or sure-handed, then undersized and unathletic and unproven.

But the trio proceeded as modern Stoics would describe with “the dichotomy of control,” silencing the doubts and noise of meaningless outside evaluations to rely on the enduring virtue of self-belief. And in the process proved yet again, that there is no device or human insight to accurately calibrate relentless drive, fierce determination, and uncommon pursuit for excellence. Wright, Price, and Green merely distinguished between what was “up to us” and what wasn’t.

And within weeks of each other in the spring of 2022, grand finale celebrations found Price as a future scholar-athlete at Yale University, with Wright seizing an opportunity at Pittsburg State to play for his father Brian Wright and Green cherishing the chance to study and perform at Trinity University.

Wright and tag-team partner Price were confirmed to be far more dangerous than advertised by their deceiving tales-of-the-tape. Neither measured above six feet tall yet they operated as a gargantuan pair without parallel for one of the most improbable joy rides of the 2021 Texas high school gridworld.

Wright topped the state’s regular-season passing charts with 3,326 yards while peerless Price was third in the Great State in receiving yards with 1,317 on 72 catches. Wright’s jaw-dropping production was against a single solitary interception in what developed into a better-thanfiction one-and-done senior rampage. He connected on 73% of his throws with 14 of his 38 touchdown tosses directed at Price. All with Green providing primo pass protection against on-rushing threats and nasty finishes in a highly productive rushing game.

Off the field, their personalities were as quiet as ants crawling on cotton. Come Friday night, their exploits exploded into overdrive with wicked-awesome fluorescence, the stuff that salivates screenwriters.

The serendipity took form after Brian Wright contacted St. Thomas head coach Rich McGuire in the spring of 2021 on behalf of his son. Jake was looking for a favorable transfer landing from Kansas for his senior high school season. The Wrights had family in Houston for support and the reputation of the Eagles’ high-octane, quarterback-friendly air raid was enticing to consider a bold move.

Jake and his mother Laura traveled to Houston during the spring break and met with St. Thomas teachers and coaches. Laura says “there was such a sense of community. I knew in my heart that it was the right move even though he was coming in as an unknown. But it was all up to Jake. There were no guarantees. He had to take that leap of faith for a shot to play college football.”

Jake counseled one-on-one with McGuire and coordinator Matt Hudson. “The offense sealed my decision. Looking at their schemes, it was a perfect fit for me. Great gut feeling. Major set up in competition. Regardless of what anyone might have thought, I believed my best would be good enough to earn the starting job.”

Price was already firmly in place on the St. Thomas depth chart. He had transitioned after completing his sophomore football season at Tomball Concordia Lutheran and quickly impacted within a group of riveting receivers that included Cameron Bonner ’21 (Baylor) and Drake Martinez ’21 (Colorado State).

When evaluating St. Thomas during the transfer process, Price shadowed 2020 Elite 11 quarterback Maddox Kopp, now at the University of Colorado.

“Right away, I loved all aspects of St. Thomas, not only the football,” Price says. “I was sold the first day on campus, felt the connection with classmates and teachers, coaches

“And I honestly viewed St. Thomas as I do Yale. Four of 40. Four years that will dramatically influence the next 40 years of my life.”

Green’s progression wasn’t nearly as immediate as his mighty mates. He entered the Eagle program more project than future star but steadily dropped weight, added muscle, refined technique, and perfected tendencies to pound on opponents with more intensity. As Green matured, he learned to collapse defenders in the run game and develop a more aggressive identity. He was also a force as a student leader within the renowned St. Thomas Round Up fundraiser, student government, and joined Price in the prestigious National Honor Society. The D-III college coaches became increasingly intrigued with Green’s exemplary scholar-athlete profile.

And a significant setback along the way fueled his impetus to advance to the next level.

During his freshman year, Green tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus cartilage in his left knee during a midseason practice. He was expected to miss the first two months of his sophomore campaign but the timeline to return was accelerated after a series of exhaustive recovery sessions with trainer Chris Valdez. The rehab was sliced to six and a half months and Green was cleared by the medical staff in time for August workouts.

“The hard knocks were a blessing, made me a stronger person in a number of ways,” Green says. “When I came into St. Thomas as a freshman, I never imagined the chance to play college football. I wasn’t very athletic and the wrong kind of big. But the physical therapy taught me how to work with much more of a purpose and I transformed myself into something better. The mental challenges were the toughest part, building confidence. That’s why the opportunity at Trinity is so gratifying, to see all that hard work pay off.”

Stoics reflect on character strengths such as wisdom, patience, and self-discipline, which potentially make them more resilient in the face of adversity. They try to exemplify these virtues and bring them to bear on the challenges they face in daily life.

Wright, Price, and Green each focused on the immediate moment and accepted whatever they could not control undeterred. The dividend, if not a lifetime of tranquility, was the absolute satisfaction of achievement in denying the doomsayers.

“Growing up, I was always on the practice fields with my dad, always in the meetings, always trying to learn as much as I could,” Wright says. “I watched the college quarterbacks up close. They seemed larger than life. And I said to myself, that’s who I want to be one day. And now the dream comes true to play college football, to play for my dad. I wouldn’t have the opportunity without so much support, and that includes the people at St. Thomas.”

CULMINATION AND CORONATION

The gold medalist is positioned and applauded atop the awards podium in direct line of sight for eyewitnesses within the natatorium and those live streaming across Texas. An array of excellence to easily recognize.

The litany of school swimming records is readily available for all to admire. And the social media swirl vibrant if not viral, exploits eminently Instagrammable. The accounts of acclaim a mere Google search away, a world wide digital footprint scantly below anyone’s radar.

What is hidden from view, never fully appraised, appreciated, or remotely understood is the daily grindhouse endurance demanded for the swimming machine to rip and roar.

What was required for Josh McLean ’22 to summon brilliance as he stood on the starting block and experienced a percussive adrenaline surge. And amid a boiling sensory cauldron, produce one of his greatest aquaman moments, again and again and again. What was necessary for masterful McLean to uncork a furious series of precision strokes and dolphin kicks off the wall that essentially ended a race, destroying competitors to the right, eliminating the hopes of others to the left, emerging with a commanding lead that grew as he churned toward the finish.

What was incumbent for an inexplicable surge and reach to out-touch the weary at the wall when the margin separating heart-pounding pleasure and heartbreaking defeat was a mere nanosecond.

All the effort and exertion of exemplary competition. Josh McLean knows as Will Hunting knew, owning a wicked smart love for the sport - and its most minute details that come to the surface.

Chlorine in his soul.

McLean’s sensational senior season was capped by being named the Bruce Rollins Award winner as the top male swimmer of the TAPPS Division I state meet. He provoked early momentum for the Aqua Eagles, teaming with Dylan Sandrock ’22, his brother Tyler ’24, and Carrick Brogan ’22 to seize first place in the 200 yard medley relay in 1:39.01, then captured the gold in the 200 freestyle in a blistering 1:44.04.

McLean later answered the call when Eagle Swimming required a late charge to retain its championship hopes. He smashed the field in the 500 free with a dominant 4:41.31 clocking. His last triumphant hurrah was the lead leg in the 200 free relay, followed by the Sandrocks and Brogan, cashing gold with a torrid time of 1:28.82.

McLean was awash in the program’s continued wave of elite accomplishment within the Texas ranks - a second consecutive state runner-up result and third in five years for St. Thomas, along with the breakthrough state crown in 2019 and the successful title defense in 2020.

And during the course, McLean solidified his legacy as one of the top performers in the history of Eagle Swimming. Weeks before his grand finale, he shattered three school standards and contributed to two critical first-place relay results to power St. Thomas to a commanding East Regional championship.

At the 2021 state meet, McLean sizzled to third in the 200 IM medley with a school-record 2:00.49 and swam a critical backstroke stage in the winning 200 medley relay. As a sophomore in the Eagles’ championship repeat, McLean rocketed the lead leg in the third-place 200 medley relay (1:41.38), was part of the 200 free relay that took second (1:30.92), then captured fourth in the 200 IM and fifth in the 100 breaststroke.

Such a prominent individual profile didn’t appear in the offering during McLean’s introductory years to the sport. Even today he doesn’t skew sheer power and speed. After three or so years of ordinary results in summer league, he decided an emphatic change was necessary.

“I was tired of constantly getting beat,” McLean says. “I told my mom I wanted to shift to club swimming. She explained it was a big commitment but she supported the decision.”

McLean joined the city’s acclaimed Dad’s Club program. The incremental jumps within their highly competitive age-group teams were not immediate but McLean was determined as the sun rising daily in the east.

“I was done losing,” McLean says. “My work ethic started to make a difference, the times improved. I found a rhythm in the distance races. All of a sudden, I was moving up, and this was fun.”

Not all of a sudden. And a regimen not for the meek. During the 10-month St. Thomas academic year, McLean was in the Dad’s Club pool from 5:45-7:00 a.m. Then a full curriculum on campus. Next, a return to Dad’s Club for two hours in the water plus half hour dry land exercises. McLean was also a periodic participant in the St. Thomas workouts from 7:00 through 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Week after week with competition on Saturday. A day of rest Sunday. Rinse and repeat. Success built on endless laps and deep breaths.

On the mornings McLean reluctantly answered the 5:15 a.m. alarm, knowing that murderous practice laying ahead, the goals he’d embossed on his brain spurred him on.

“With the work you can get what you want,” McLean says.

Much of what he wanted was the chance to extend his career at the collegiate level. A proactive approach in seeking out opportunities led McLean to the Florida Institute of Technology, a private research university in Melbourne where he will study in the College of Aeronautics. “I instantly clicked with the coaches and the setting. It felt like home. I knew before I started at St. Thomas I wanted to compete in college. The goal now is an NCAA final. And then see what happens.”

One of the allures of swimming is that it is a ruthless meritocracy - the clock rules. You are your time. Fastest swimmers get the spoils, without allegations of coaching favoritism or bad officiating or crooked judging.

From his humble age-group beginnings, McLean leaves Eagle Swimming with a slew of signature records100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, the two relay times from the state meet, in addition to the 200 IM mark he set in 2021. And McLean wasn’t comfortable closing himself off in his own cocoon of success and focusing on himself. He grew so substantially outside the pool that he was an equal contributor to Eagle Swimming as a mentor and motivator.

“Skill, desire, dedication, sacrifice, leadership were all part of the package,” McLean says. “I put in as much as I could. There’s something left for others to chase.”

The story of culmination. And coronation.

Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends of St. Thomas High School,

For more than 20 years, I have participated in orientations for new school years. Each orientation program is an opportunity to clarify to new students that they have made the right choice in their school. It is also an opportunity for the school itself to articulate its central themes for the coming year. For the 2022-2023 school year, I would like to offer my personal themes of Welcome and Support as we embark on a renewed opportunity to teach Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.

We are welcoming not only new freshmen and transfer students, but also new faculty and staff, new families who will enhance our community through their efforts in the Mothers Club, Booster Club, Music and Drama Guilds, and much, much more. One new person creates a whole different community and I look forward to seeing what the St. Thomas community will look like as we allow each of us to bring our very best to the service of our school.

Orientation, Camp Aquinas, the Catholic Bowl, the Fall Play, Homecoming, the Annual Auction Gala, the Christmas Concert, Christmas Eve Mass, Hall of Honor Induction, completion of the New STH Stadium and Father Wilson Field, Round-Up, the Spring Musical, the Style Show, Alumni Golf Tournament, and Graduation – these are just the highlights of many events that will mark the 2022-2023 school year. Every event is an opportunity for Welcome and Support.

When alumni look back on their days at 4500 Memorial Drive, I pray that they can look back and recall someone who welcomed them – someone who supported them. Getting through high school has never been easy but we strive to do what we can for the Men of St. Thomas. In recent years we have built on that support in our house system, mentoring, and student advocacy called “Communio.”

I encourage all alumni to come back to campus to see how we have grown the campus and are still striving to teach Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge. The future of St. Thomas High School is bright and with the Welcome and Support of the whole community, every new Eagle will have the chance to fly high!

Bright smiles, one and all!

Fr. Jim Murphy, CSB

FUND

As a part of our community, you understand that our history involves ensuring every student has what he needs and is able to participate in the activities of his choice. But we have never does this alone. The Annual Fund has been able to ensure that students are able to participate in campus activities, attend classes, and have the necessary supplies needed to excel.

Your role in the Annual Fund is important and makes a significant impact in concert with our other families. When our community stands together we are always able to cover the financial gaps created when educating a Man of St. Thomas. We invite you to join us in strengthening our St. Thomas High School community through a gift toward our Annual Fund. Let’s continue to provide Unlimited Possibilities!

SOCCER STARS NOT FULLY ALIGNED

Few coaches could have scripted a cleaner, steadier ascent for Eagle Soccer.

Yet mastermind and maestro Kenny Martin ’01 has remained greedy, gunning not only for gaudier but for the grandest achievement - the golden throne of a state championship.

The program’s recent turnaround accelerated into another regular-season rocket ride. St. Thomas stormed into the 2022 postseason unbeaten in its previous 16 games with a 10-0 romp through the district. Think tapping into an inner Beth Dutton, rendering Eagle Soccer the tornado and their collective opponents the trailer park.

Martin Fútbol prescribes to sudden changes of pace and lively movement, creating havoc by getting vertical as quickly as possible after winning possession. The Eagles consistently separated from the field with a sizzling tempo and tactics fueled by superior talent on their way to a 24-3-3 mark into the TAPPS regional final, the three defeats a pair of 2-1 defeats and a 1-0 verdict to HISD Sharpstown.

A gargantuan gap greater than the fashion chasm separating millennials and Gen Z over distaste for side parts and skinny jeans. Simply too great to overcome.

“When we win the ball, our priority is to get into the final third as quickly as possible,” Martin says. “It’s about applying pressure, finding those options, and creating as many opportunities as possible.”

Martin knew from the fall preparations he would be without the wickedly ingenious ball-striking Pablo Tager ’21 who pounded 23 goals in 2021 while earning All-State distinction for the third consecutive year and Houston Chronicle

Filling the void was the known - four-year lethal weapon Santiago Labarthe ’22, an amazingly gifted midfielder and clutch scorer, deadly with either foot - and the unknown Mambo Tello ’25, who required very little time to make an empathic impact while showcasing his comfort in transition.

The tag-team sensations racked exceedingly gaudy statistics, combining in near equal doses for 42 goals and 28 assists in the regular season, essentially half the team totals in both metrics.

“If the ball was on Santi’s feet, he was not losing control and he put it wherever he wanted,” Martin says. “He found teammates on the run. He played the ball in the air. Crazy creative scorer. He may have been our best in the midfield since

That would be roughly two decades as Martin concluded his 11th season as head honcho.

“Club coaches told me Mambo was a 20-goal kind of guy and he exceeded that (24 with 13 assists). He has a long stride with the ball and is a pure, natural finisher. Got out in front, knew the net, found his spot. And he played with obvious confidence, an edge that top-tier players all have.”

Goalkeepers Nico Lopez ’22 and Lucas Wood ’25 split time during the first half of the season but Wood turned wunderkind during the district blitzkrieg - undefeated in nine starts, allowing a goal per game, and extending his near perfect slate to 16-0-2.

“Lucas was not only making the necessary saves but also converting the save-our-butt plays we needed him to make,” Martin says. “Good size. Solid feet. Didn’t rely just on his hands. Shot-stopping skills. Communicated well. And he’s like Mambo with a moxy beyond his years.”

Essential to the team’s development was sweeping through January’s Castleberry Tournament in Fort Worth. The five-win surge in three days was ignited by a scoring binge from Tello and squeezing three one-goal victories to the team title.

“We fought through tough UIL competition that weekend with guys out with injury or illness,” Martin says. “That proved to the group what they were capable of doing. Then it was just a question of not only sustaining but climbing. And we did that.”

The breakthrough morphed into one of Martin’s more balanced, unflappable outfits with the ability to set the proper rhythm on demand. Tello was named Newcomer of the Year by the Chronicle and All-Greater Houston Private along with Labarthe and defender Evan Crosswait. The trio were also recognized as All-State.

“We had 14 different guys score,” Martin says. “Crosswait and Andre Meza were rock solid in the back. Our midfield was untouchable with Santi, (senior) Ruben Vara, and (junior) Jacob Wood. Mambo with (junior) Ryan Nguyen and (senior) Nguyen Nguyen matured into a proven unit.”

So the beat went on.

Since 2017, Martin’s marauders had dropped only 25 games, including seven in 2021, winning a jaw-dropping 125 with 14 ties. In the swirl of sweet success was a measurable misery. The Eagles endured the pain of three consecutive razor-thin knockouts at the state tournament before an elimination in the 2021 regional finals.

The stage was set for redemption.

St. Thomas was one delicious win away from its fourth Division I Final Four in five years. The precocious Tello found the net three times in the 5-0 stomp over Austin St. Dominic Savio to open the 2022 postseason. The Eagles advanced to face San Antonio Antonian in Bryan with an opportunity to avenge a 2-1 neutral site defeat in early December, one of only three losses on the season by a combined margin of 5-2.

The early momentum belonged to St. Thomas after midfielder Bruno Castilla ’22 crushed his eighth goal of the season early in the first half. Eagle Soccer dominated pace and ball possession but couldn’t discover its signature scoring punch to build on its slim advantage. Two critical defensive lapses allowed a pair of goals to move Antonian in front. A point-blank penalty kick to tie in the second half sailed wide. And, ultimately, the gut-wrenching 2-1 setback prevented a state semifinal assignment with familiar foe The Village whom the Eagles had already beaten twice during the district rampage.

The Eagles’ best intention was not realized. What had been a sizzling season ended with the finality of a car over a cliff. No justice from the beautiful game after months of poetry.

“Heading into the playoffs, I knew we could beat anyone in the state,” Martin says. “But we had to execute from the first whistle, embrace the urgency of win or go home. The mental element is a skill just like kicking the ball. I felt good about our confidence and approach but the result wasn’t there. We learned we have to be better. And we will be.”

PEAK PERFORMANCES

Defending state champion Eagle Track and Field seized second place at the TAPPS state championships in Waco. Shaffer Henderson ’23 (6-02) captured gold with a personal record in the high jump and Andre Mesa ’22 (6-0) added the bronze to give St. Thomas sizable early momentum. Day 1 also included discus thrower Charlie Boettcher ’23 (130-01) and triple jumper James Dickinson ’23 (41-10) racking 4th-place results.

The Day 2 assault included silver in both the 4x400 relay (3:27.92) with Luke Anigbogu ’23, Onezieme Mouton ’23, Jose Romero ’22, and Edward Bocock ’25 and 4x100 relay (53.11) with Preston Bowman ’23, Johann Cardenas ’23, Aaron Blackman ’24, and Anigbogu.

The 4x200 relay (1:31.52) of Bowman, Blackman, Emon Malek ’24, and Trey Robinson ‘22 took fourth. Two-sport standout Cardenas also took 5th (11.13) in the 100 meters.

These latest results reaffirm the program’s premier standing among the state elite’s programs, led by head coach Nathan Labus who has consistently combined endless perseverance and drive with a steady unwavering influence since joining the St. Thomas faculty and becoming head coach for the 2006 season.

Gold medal-winning Luke Malveaux ’23, Sam Cordova ’23, Colton Ritchey ’23, and Boyd Quinlan ’24 all captured top-three results to power Eagle Wrestling to a strong fourth-place finish at the Texas Prep State Wrestling Champions.

Host St. Thomas racked 131 team points, one slot ahead of TAPPS state champion Dallas Bishop Lynch. Malveaux maxed at 182 pounds in sudden victory to roaring approval from an enthusiastic Reckling Gymnasium crowd and continued an acclaimed junior season.

Cordova captured the silver at 160. Ritchey (120 Fall 2:44) and Quinlan (138 Fall 4:07) both earned bronze distinction. Trace Langin ’25 (195), Michael Kanakidis ’24 (220), and Tyler Langin ’23 (285) all reached the third-place match.

Previously, Malveaux was an individual winner and the outstanding performer leading Eagle Wrestling to third place at TAPPS State. Ritchie again ruled 113 after both were silver medalists in 2021 in their respective weight divisions.

The TAPPS team tally with nine individual place winners continued major mojo for St. Thomas with head coach Michael LeHolm. He’s now orchestrated four top-three finishes since 2019 with a pair of runner-ups.

Eagle Rugby concluded a resurgent season behind program founders Brett Mills and Jim Wolfinger. St. Thomas claimed the 2022 Varsity Cup after reaching the Division I state semifinals, racking a 2-2 record against club teams and 4-1 against single-school programs.

In the impressive march to the state final four, the Eagles posted a come from behind 28-26 victory over Strake Jesuit to clinch their playoff position and handed St. Pius X its first defeat of the season. St. Thomas was a consistent member of the national Goff Report top-25 rankings with convincing wins such as its 55-0 rampage over Katy and 31-12 over Lake Travis.

Fellow Alumni,

My name is Tommy Schulte ’00 and I am honored to serve as your Alumni Association President for the 2022-23 school year. Some of my earliest memories of STH involve me going to countless Round-Up Sundays with my dad, Tom Schulte ’72, as a child. Even from a young age, I could clearly see the spirit, the sense of community and proud tradition that makes STH so unique. As a second-generation alumnus, I truly bleed red and white and couldn’t be more fired-up to step into this role!

As I begin this year in my new role, I have been humbled and overwhelmed by the outpour of kind words and messages of encouragement from so many members of the STH community. I can’t express how much your support means to me and my family. Speaking of support, I want to thank my wife Brittany, and my daughters Ava and Mia for all their love and support. I hope that you will join me and my family on campus supporting the Eagles throughout the upcoming year!

As we prepare to welcome students back to campus, we are particularly excited to welcome the 204 incoming freshmen of the class of 2026 into the STH brotherhood. The fall is a busy, yet fun-filled time for our alumni as there are several events scheduled which are great opportunities to visit campus. The annual Alumni Rooftop Tailgate will take place on September 30th and Homecoming is scheduled for October 21st this year against The Village School. Back by popular demand, The Good ‘Ol Boys Luncheon will be held on December 18th. I encourage everyone to mark their calendars and visit the STH campus this fall. These events are great opportunities to reconnect with your fellow alumni, reunite with old friends and retell your favorite stories!

Finally, I am excited for what this year has in store for the Alumni Association. I call on my fellow alumni to get involved. I firmly believe our alumni are an integral part of what has made St. Thomas High School such a special place for over 120 years. Being a part of the STH Alumni Association is a great way serve our alma mater and to give back to an institution that has meant so much to all of us and will continue to do so for future Eagles for generations to come. EAGLE FIGHT NEVER DIES!

Sincerely, Tommy Schulte ’00 President

St. Thomas High School Alumni Association

ASSOCIATION

Founded by Fr. Donald Cooper, CSB with the mission to embrace and engage STH graduates, Alumni Association membership offers benefits at many alumni events such as Casino Night and the Rooftop Alumni Tailgate, as well as free admission to many on-campus events including football, basketball and baseball games (excluding state playoff games), theatre performances and music concerts.

Membership dues, participation at events, as well donations made by its members allows the association to generously support St. Thomas student scholarships, athletic facilities, and campus construction.

Be an active part of the brotherhood again, join the St. Thomas Alumni Association.

CAPITAL GAINS

For 122 years, St. Thomas has embraced its goal, its passion, its obligation to provide a supportive, safe environment for Eagle students to thrive, empowering them to create positive change everywhere life takes them.

The 15th Annual Scholarship Breakfast honored both donors and current recipients, and the tradition of philanthropy that remains vital to the school’s cherished Basilian heritage. Steps silent and unseen are moving St. Thomas toward a flourishing future.

Foundation Board President Greg Kroencke P ’20 joined the celebration with President Fr. James Murphy, CSB along with Vice President for Advancement Mark deTranaltes ’83, and Principal Dr. Aaron Dominguez ’96. All share the belief that the most meaningful and lasting measure of the St. Thomas experience is beyond elite academic achievement. Benefactors are often the most direct way to set in motion the exponential impact of an Eagle education fueling the rise of the next significant learners and leaders.

Kroencke succeeded David Hanse ’91 as president in 2020 after a highly successful seven-year tenure. During conventional times, the position demands leading a collaborative effort that employs long-term and active financial investing philosophy. But Kroencke and crew were forced to respond posthaste to the magnitude of COVID-19 and persistent inflationary pressures facing the economy.

The collective results were astonishing - robust return streams across strategies and sectors highly diversified while minimizing risk and volatility.

“We came through the pandemic and the market turbulence very well. The investment portfolio and asset value of our endowment are in better shape than ever,” Kroencke says. “And that resulted in our increasing our annual gift to the school by more than $100,000 which is the largest year-over-year growth in St. Thomas history. I give tremendous credit to our involved investment committee which guided us through the market decline with prudent methods that should provide significant upside over the next few years. That promotes not only our strong financial position but also increases confidence in our donor base. Knowing that the money is properly managed encourages more giving, a self-fulfilling cycle between the two.”

Since its inception, St. Thomas has prized its role in providing affordable access to the full range of opportunities that make a St. Thomas college preparatory education unique. That motivation relies on an array of funds available to students based on academic achievement and financial aid determined by a family’s ability to contribute.

The Foundation Board oversees more than 80 named and endowed scholarships made possible by the generosity of contributors since 1969, with more than half established since 2000.

Eagle students are also eligible for sponsored grants such as the Basilian Fathers Inner City Schools Scholarships, the Basilian General Counsel Scholarships, the Tom and Nancy Marcrini Foundation Scholarships, and Specs Scholarships.

Saluting the many efforts that assure a storied past continues to create promising futures, designated scholars are asked to offer testimonies at the Scholarship Breakfast relating the depth of their St. Thomas enrichment. Vincent Le ’23 and Ted Naeher ’23 provided compelling accounts of how they are learning to use their specific strengths and passions in service of God and the world only through the altruism of St. Thomas stakeholders.

“I’m always blown away by the students who speak and share their personal experiences - enlightening and uplifting,” Kroencke says. “They truly demonstrate the love and support that is generated at St. Thomas. It was great for this event to again be at full capacity representing the community. We missed this pulse during the pandemic.”

Kroencke sees daily the full force of the St. Thomas experience demonstrated by his son Zach ’20, an exemplary scholar in the Business Honors Program at Texas A&M University. Among already many distinctions, he has organized a lecture series for his fellow undergraduates that has featured several prominent St. Thomas alumni and stakeholders, including Bo Huggins P ’16, ’17, ’19.

As a senior, Kroencke flashed his uber-competitive ambition within a wide realm of disciplines. He was an emphatic force driving Eagle Lacrosse, Camp Aquinas, and the unmatched Round Up fundraising initiative. In 2020, Zach crushed one of the resolute single-best raffle ticket sales totals in school history - $35,960 - to front a sensational student body total of $525,370 with all monies designated for tuition assistance. Eagles helping Eagles.

“I continue to measure the influence St. Thomas had not only on Zach but with his brothers on campus throughout the country,” Kroencke says. “Many former St. Thomas students are making great choices and developing individual excellence that will continue throughout their lives. You are seeing them walk the walk, not simply talk the talk. They are the living examples as to why this Basilian mission is so important.”

DIVINE MERCY

The St. Thomas campus community was blessed to engage in the compelling testimony of best-selling author Fr. Greg Boyle, a riveting example of dedication to God through service to others.

The Jesuit priest with more than three decades of ministry to gang members in Los Angeles delivered a stirring and uplifting message, first to Eagle students, faculty, and staff, and later to St. Thomas parents and supporters.

Fr. Boyle is the founder of Los Angeles-based Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention and re-entry program in the United States. His mission with vision has morphed into a series of businesses including a restaurant, a bakery, cafe, and farmers markets created with the purpose of providing hope, training, and support to previously incarcerated and gang-involved men and women.

The genesis of Fr. Boyle’s involvement began in 1986 when he became the pastor of the Dolores Mission Church in East Los Angeles, then the city’s poorest Catholic parish. He witnessed almost daily a shocking display of death, shootings, and moral decay, burying more than 200 young people. Homeboys emerged as his answer to create lasting solutions to gang violence - people reinventing their lives in forward-thinking, social enterprise endeavors.

Fr. Boyle hopes that his interaction and dialogue with the St. Thomas audience will invigorate and inspire their collective spirit to provide relief wherever they may encounter deprivation.

“God’s dream for us is kinship and connection. To that end, consider taking seriously what Jesus took seriouslyinclusion, non-violence, unconditional kindness, and compassionate acceptance. Get to that place. Not so much circle the wagons in life but widen the circle. How can we all include more people?

“In your service (as St. Thomas students), you participate with communities different than your own, and it’s a chance to place yourself in proximity with those who are suffering. In the Old Testament, there were similar examples - the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. God understood them as those who had been cut-off. And because they suffered in exactly that way, God told us they are the ones who can lead the rest of us to the kinship of God.

“Don’t go to the margins to make a difference, then the motivation is all about you. Go to the margins so that those whom you encounter make you different.”

Fr. Boyle is the author of the 2010 New York Times bestseller Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion and the 2017 Los Angeles Times bestseller Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship. He has received the California Peace Prize and been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. In 2014, President Obama named Fr. Boyle a Champion of Change. Fr. Boyle received the University of Notre Dame’s 2017 Laetare Medal, the oldest honor given to American Catholics.

“Don’t go to the margins to make a difference, then the motivation is all about you. Go to the margins so that those whom you encounter make you different.”

LIVING THE PAST, SHAPING THE FUTURE

Within weeks of the spring semester, the St. Thomas Family was thrilled to first welcome the Class of 2026 in the midst of a transformative period in school history, and then blessed to celebrate the annual Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge Society Dinner, a salute of great appreciation to those prestigious alumni and stakeholders for their outstanding service to the institution and extended Eagle community.

St. Thomas actively seeks students who have multiple interests and facets to their personal and academic lives, and explore openly how those various identities play out as we bring out the best in each other.

The profound generosity of benefactors with gifts of time and treasure by every measure empowers St. Thomas to continue its impact toward building a more complete, inclusive community on our campus and beyond. Faculty investment and student services. Academic innovation and staff advancement. Relentless commitment to helping scholars succeed in learning, graduating, and serving.

Not in pursuit of others. But in pursuit of the total measure of the Basilian mission.

Together, St. Thomas moves forward, our scholars and families, faculty and staff, administration and alumni proving time and again we are capable of powerful life-alerting and life-affirming change. And, together, we are lifting our school and campus community - academically, intellectually, spiritually - to ever greater heights.

PERFECT PAIRINGS

Generations of Eagles again joined with patrons, sponsors, and contributors to make the 31st annual St. Thomas Golf Tournament a roaring success at Wildcat Golf Club.

The leadership from Thomas Glover ’08, Joel Marek ’08, Clay Rynd ’08, Jonathan Strom ’08, and Todd Zdunkewicz ’08 as chairpersons produced a field of more than 200 alumni, friends, and supporters who kept the event’s tradition of cross-course teasing alive and well. The shotgun start signaled friendly back-and-forth erupting that carried throughout the back nine turns. Not exactly an event that demanded quiet on the course.

High, windy times were in the offering with assorted shame, frosty beverages, lost balls, more shame, and loose scorekeeping pending how creative the mathematically challenged demonstrated the importance of not being earnest.

Birdies proved to be an endangered species. The National Audubon Society was notified. The 19th hole featured a feast from Ragin’ Cajun, spiritual refreshment, and signature Eagle revelry.

What an awesome, beautiful day in the brotherhood.

STRUTTING THEIR STUFF

Outrageous fun and fashion was on full display at the 51st Annual Mothers’ Club Style Show & Luncheon celebrating the Class of 2022 while benefiting the current and future Men of St. Thomas.

The River Oaks Country Club again provided the perfect spring setting. The St. Thomas community took particular pride in honoring Victor Costa ’54, one of the driving forces behind the inaugural event. At the time, Costa was respected as one of America’s most significant and successful designers. His creative insight was essential in establishing a signature St. Thomas event that now extends into its second half century.

Great appreciation always goes to the invaluable Eagle mothers who empower the Basilian Fathers to teach goodness, discipline, and knowledge, and to the generous

Special gratitude extends to Mothers’ Club President Amber Caver with event chairs Gwen McKeehan, Angela Platsas, and Lisa Weaver. The trio collaborated with Director of Special Events & Volunteer Coordinator Catherine Chandler, along with Dillard’s for providing exquisite haute couture, event producer par excellence Lenny Matuszewski teaming with senior stylist Tamara Klosz Bonar, Casablanca Productions, and The Phoenix Design Group.

In grand Style Show custom, there was no splendor to match the sartorial struts of St. Thomas President Fr. James Murphy, CSB and his fellow bastion of bespoke, Principal Dr. Aaron Dominguez ’96.

Dressed for success, one and all.

CREATIVE CLIMATE

Eagles’ Nest Fall 2021 Earns Multiple National Recognitions

St. Thomas is proud to partner with designer KH Studio in accepting multiple elite recognitions from the prestigious National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for the Eagles’ Nest Fall 2021 publication.

For the second consecutive year, St. Thomas earned an Excellence award in the Magazine category, one of only two individual schools displaying distinction among 17 honorees otherwise representing independent public school districts. The cover story featured United States Navy Lieutenant Xavier Kelley ’09, an instructor at the preeminent fighter pilot school TOPGUN.

St. Thomas was also honored twice with Merit recognition for Excellence in Writing, Publications and Digital Media. Rarest Three Of A Kind spotlighted the emphatic successes of 2021 valedictorian Patrick Pham, his National Speech & Debate Association champion partner Gus Boettcher ’21, and 2021 student body president Luke McLane. From Long Island To Lone Star chronicled the unlikely rise of exemplary scholar-athlete Kevin Silva ’21, who sought St. Thomas as a sanctuary for high school football survival and a real-world reprieve from his home in New York in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

St. Thomas was recognized during the Annual Meeting and Celebration of Achievement at the NSPRA 2022 National Seminar on Sunday, July 17, in Chicago.

The NSPRA program annually considers hundreds of entries nationally and St. Thomas has now earned seven preeminent honors in the previous five years, the only such accolades in school history.

The Eagles’ Nest Spring 2020 publication received the school’s first-ever Excellence award, among only eight honorees and two private institutions in the Magazine category.

The Eagles’ Nest Fall 2019 earned Merit consideration in Magazine, as did the compelling cover story from Eagles’ Nest Winter 2019 featuring Arturo Chavez ’85 – Grand Designs Inspired by Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.

The Eagles’ Nest Winter 2017 received Honorable Mention distinction. Rescue Recover Rebuild Rejoice - Eagle Strong In The Year Of Hurricane Harvey recounted the compelling personal trials and accounts from the St. Thomas community during the shattering developments and aftermath of the most severe rainfall event in recorded United States history.

This latest commendation from NSPRA continues an eight-year media surge where St. Thomas has witnessed significant advances in its digital content and publications. Showcasing the authentic Eagle scholar and alumni experience through personal profiles and culture-focused topics has established real-time rapport with an ever-expanding audience. The exponential growth for the school’s social platforms includes extraordinary results in reach, impressions, and engagement measured on multiple channels.

THE TICKER FALL 2022

ST. THOMAS PEOPLE IN THE NEWS AND ON THE MOVE.

Hall of Honor member Jim Fischer ’39 celebrated his 100th birthday on May 10 among a robust gathering of more than 150 family members and friends.

Fischer graduated from St. Thomas when the school occupied its original Austin St. location before the moved to present 4500 Memorial Dr. His most vivid memories include spending many an afternoon in the downtown ball yard with classmates and the St. Thomas Basilians and being instructed to arrive at 6:00 a.m. during the week to serve Mass as an altar boy. Fischer would then serve for three or more priests each day. He also recalls his family was “so poor we couldn’t buy a sick dog a bag of peanuts.”

Jim’s dedication to St. Thomas throughout his joyful and prosperous life includes vast generosity of time and treasure. The rich Fischer family legacy includes brothers Jack ’41 and Charles ’47, sons John ’66, Jim ’71, Steve ’77, Gary ’78, and David ’86, and nephews Ken Fischer ’96, Michael Weatherly ’97, and Richard Weatherly ’98. Jim’s sister-in-law Betty was a longtime St. Thomas librarian and archivist.

When asked what words from the wise he might have for the graduating Class of 2022, Jim’s sage advice was “be good to your mothers, study hard, get a job, and save your money.”

Jason Kozel ’95 is a physical therapist at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation - Greater Heights Convenient Care Center. He is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist, specializing in musculoskeletal disorders of the spine and the extremities, both non-operative and post-operative presentations. In practice since 2001, Kozel has more than two decades of prominence with Memorial Hermann including distinction as Southeast area director, Southeast area manager, and clinic manager. He earned his Master of Science, Physical Therapy from the University of Texas Medical Center in 2001 and his Bachelor of Arts in biology from Baylor University in 1999.

Paul McHugh ’96 is the owner and president of McHugh Homes, a premier luxury home builder in Houston since 2011. With more than two decades in real estate, he was the director of marketing at Sugar Land Town Square, and later Newmark Homes and Perry Homes. From 2009-14, McHugh was first the director of marketing and then executive vice president of operations at RSL Funding, LEC. McHugh earned his Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing from Sam Houston State University in 2001.

1997 valedictorian Billy Jacobson is a sales director with Energy and Technology after previous distinction in business development with TCC Multi-Family Interiors and sales management with Corrosion Resistant Alloys, LP.

The recipient of the 1997 Rev. Carl M. Allnoch, CSB Athletic Memorial Trophy for Excellence in Academics and the Rev. Albert R. Gaelens, CSB Award earned his Bachelor of Arts in American studies from Stanford University where he was a key contributor to the 2000 College World Series runner-up. Jacobson then concluded his stellar scholar-athlete career at Rice University in 2001 for Hall of Fame coach Wayne Graham.

Greg Gatlin ’98 is expanding his acclaimed restaurant group to include Fins & Feathers in Independence Heights. The “neighborhood place” features fried chicken, Gulf Coast seafood, and other comfort fare. Pitmaster/owner Gatlin opened Gatlin’s BBQ in 2010, moved to its current location on Ella Boulevard in 2015, and earned honorable mention on Texas Monthly’s 2021 list of the state’s 50 best barbecue joints. The family barbecue success has been prominently displayed on a number of media platforms, including the Netflix docuseries ‘High on the Hog,’ a joyful journey that celebrates Black America’s creativity and essential contribution to American cuisine and culture.

Brian Kozel ’98 is a sales representative with Certified Laboratories, Inc. after six years as a corporate account executive with the Houston Dynamo. He earned his Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Texas A&M University in 2002.

Steven Herce ’99 is a vice president in his second decade with Morgan Stanley focusing on consolidation of accounts and comprehensive wealth management. He was previously a financial advisor with Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. Herce extended his scholar-athlete career pitching with Rice University baseball where he was a member of the 2003 national champions. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the 2003 MLB Draft.

Aaron Scheffler ’99 is general counsel with Sun Coast Resources after serving as an assistant general counsel with Diamond Offshore and an associate with Baker & McKenzie. The recipient of the 1999 Rev. Albert R. Gaelens, CSB Award earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center in 2006 and Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance from the McCombs School of Business Honors at the University of Texas at Austin in 2003.

Legacy graduate George Oggero ’00 is a managing attorney with Oggero Law Firm after serving P.O.&G. Resources, LP as general counsel, chief compliance officer, and land manager. Oggero has previous distinction with Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC and Parrott Sims & McInnis, PLLC. He earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 2007 and his Bachelor of Arts in English from Texas A&M University in 2004.

Wesley Barrow ’01 is a venture partner at Correlation Ventures in the New York City metropolitan area. His flourishing professional career as an entrepreneur, executive, and investor has been built by advising early stage companies how to commercialize their technology and open new markets. Barrow is also a founding partner at Lorimer Ventures and mentor at Techstars NYC and Comcast Techstars in Philadelphia. Previously he was a senior vice president at Yext, and founder and chief operating officer at Nomi. Barrow graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in cinema studies in 2005.

Adam Luker ’01 is the chief financial officer of North America Oilfield Services at Baker Hughes. He began with General Electric in 2009 with the corporate audit staff, advanced to executive audit manager, and then enterprise initiatives program leader. In 2016, Luker was promoted to CFO of GE Oil and Gas Digital. One year later he led integration of the two legacy digital divisions and software portfolios from GE Oil and Gas and Baker Hughes. The recipient of the 2001 Principal’s Service and Leadership Award earned his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Holy Cross College in 2005.

Dr. John Anderson ’02 is the owner of Anderson Eye, PLLC. He earned his Doctor of Medicine with the University of Texas Medical School after graduating Magna Cum Laude at Texas Christian University. The recipient of the 2002

Rev. Albert R. Gaelens, CSB Award trained at the Red Duke Trauma Institute at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and perfected his skills of cataract surgery and other ophthalmic procedures at Lyndon Baines Johnson Hospital, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Medical Center, and St. Joseph Medical Center.

Jack Turano III ’04 is a board certified real estate attorney at Haynes and Boone, LLP after three years as senior associate and senior counsel at Andrews Myers, P.C. Turano earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 2011 and his Bachelor of Science from the Honors College at the University of Houston.

Nick Wade ’05 led Lee College to a historic campaign in his debut as athletic director and head basketball coach - most victories in a single season (27 with an 18-game winning streak), its first South Zone championship, and its second invitation to the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament. Wade extended his scholar-athlete career to Austin College where he was a four-year contributor and helped ignite the program’s first 20-win season while winning the 2010 West Division championship of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Patrick Biron ’06 is completing his first decade as president of Birons Youth Sports, a 32,000 square-foot multi-sport development and facility in Katy. The recipient of the 2006 Rev. Albert R. Gaelens, CSB Award earned his Bachelor of Arts in theological studies from the University of Notre Dame in 2010.

Legacy graduate and 2015 Principal’s Service and Leadership Award co-recipient Jeremy Gregory ’15 and his wife Georgiana welcomed the birth of their daughter Amelia Jane in May. Gregory is a sales engineer at HTS Engineering in Houston. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arkansas in 2015.

Philip Matulia ’18 was a key contributor for Louisiana Tech baseball capturing the Conference USA postseason tournament and the number two seed in the Austin Regional of the 2022 NCAA tournament. He homered and drove in four runs in Tech’s 12-5 victory over Dallas Baptist and had two more RBIs in the regional. Matulia finished the season batting .252 with nine home runs and 52 RBIs.

Tucker Alch ’19 helped fuel a historic season for Catholic University baseball. The Cardinals reached the Division III World Series for the first time in program history while racking a school-record 34 wins and earning their first-ever regional and super regional titles. Alch earned Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year and ABCA Regional Pitcher of the Year after setting league records for wins (10), innings pitched (92.1), and strikeouts (117). He’s a two-time All-Landmark first team selection.

HALL OF HONOR

The St. Thomas High School Hall of Honor was founded in 1975 by Rev. James Wilson, CSB, and a group of dedicated alumni who believed that special recognition should be given to those alumni who best modeled the very spirit of St. Thomas. Members are chosen who personify the Basilian motto, “Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge,” and have achieved excellence in their professional lives. The most prestigious honor awarded to an alumnus is election to the St. Thomas High School Hall of Honor.

Scan the QR code below or visit sths.org/hoh-nomination

in memoriam

Anthony M. Thielen ’48, December 13, 2021

Brother of Leonard D. Thielen ’50

Joseph “Denny” Powers ’49, March 19, 2022

Brother of Charles S. Jr. ’34, Edmund ’37, and Thomas W. Powers ’44; Cousin of William J. Powers ’30 Grandfather of Stephen C. Cleboski ’06

Norman H. Sachnik ’49, April 25, 2022

Brother of Francis L. ’43 and Edward B. Sachnik ’57.

William P. Skinner ’49, April 2, 2022

Father of Bob V. Skinner ’80.

Robert H. Sheridan ’50, June 30, 2022

Father of Phillip D. Sheridan ’84.

Richard E. DePugh ’51, December 29, 2021

Brother of Donald G. DePugh ’53; Uncle of Earl J. ’58, James M. ’56, and Eric S. Morse ’98.

Rev. Louis S. Sikorski ’51, May 12, 2022

Brother of Alvin J. ’41 and Benjamin W. Sikorski ’49.

Philip L. Willenborg ’53, June 26, 2022

Brother of Ronnie J. Willenborg ’57.

Fred T. Magee ’54, March 27, 2022 Nephew of Fr. Ernest P. Magee, CSB Uncle of Franklin A. McMahan ’92.

Joseph A. Heyl, III ’55, February 20, 2022 Uncle of Patrick J. Murphy ’82.

Earl J. Morse ’58, May 27, 2022

Brother of James M. Morse ’56.

Paul E. Wrobleski ’55, March 11, 2022

Uncle of Jordan Rybak ’05.

Edward J. Szymczak ’56, April 29, 2022

Father of Bradley M. Thompson ’88.

Carmelo L. “Sonny” Danna ’66, February 18, 2022

Nephew of Joseph G. Danna ’52.

Charles A. Contella ’68, October 31, 2021

Joseph A. Dichero ’68, March 10, 2022

Dr. Robert G. Simpson ’69, Mar 31, 2022

Mark T. Lamb ’73, April 17, 2022

Son of Thomas F. Lamb ’48 and nephew of George J. Lamb ’41.

Michael C. Feehery ’76, May 13, 2022

Brother of Leo T. ’69, Paul J. ’71, Peter H. ’73, Matthew J. ’77, and Timothy J. Feehery ’79.

Lupe B. Reyna Jr. ’77, February 9, 2022

Jerry P. Charrier ’82, April 12, 2019

Brother of Michael S. Charrier ’84.

Michael S. Charrier ’84, November 27, 2021

Brother of Jerry P. Charrier ’82.

Charles W. Dotson, III ’83, March 10, 2022

Mark A. Torres ’88, April 23, 2022

Brother of Michael A. ’85 and Matthew A. Torres ’96.

Christian C. Navarro ’90, March 31, 2022

Jason B. Ostrom ’91, February 11, 2022

Father of Daniel E. ’20 and Alex J. Ostrom ’22; Brother of Bradford J. Ostrom ’96.

Bennie Jo Chiavone, February 24, 2022

Wife of Joe Chiavone Sr., ’48; Mother of Joe Chiavone Jr. ’69; Grandmother of Joe Chiavone III ’06.

Ann S. Falloure, October 4, 2021

Wife of Jack Falloure ’68, 1968 graduate of Mt. Carmel High School.

Diane R. Lamonte, February 24, 2022

Wife of Anthony J. Lamonte ’66.

Vera Stowell, May 5, 2022

Wife of Frank W. Stowell ’47.

Joan Thoede, June 26, 2022

Wife of Melvin “Buddy” Thoede ’50; Mother of faculty member Donald Thoede; Grandmother of Ben ’24 and Sam Thoede ’26.

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