AROUND CAMPUS News and Notes from Our School Community First-Ever Tournament of Champions Hosted by St. Sebastian’s School
A Visit from the Former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See L. Francis Rooney III, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See from 2005 to 2008, visited St. Sebastian’s School on April 22 as part of the Birmingham Lecture Series generously sponsored by Karen Birmingham P’84, GP’14,’17, wife of the late John P. Birmingham, Jr. ’59. Ambassador Rooney, brother of Lucy Kapples P’16,’18, was introduced by his nephew John Kapples ’16 to the audience of students, faculty, and friends that filled St. Bartholomew Church. He gave a captivating presentation on the history of U.S.-Vatican relations, the Holy See’s diplomatic role in the world and his personal experiences as Ambassador, sharing insights captured in his book, The Global Vatican.
On April 19, St. Sebastian’s hosted the first-ever Tournament of Champions sponsored by the Debating Association of New England Independent Schools (DANEIS). Each school in the Association was invited to enter two advanced speakers who, in the opinion of the sending school’s coach, had achieved at the highest level of debating during the past year. John Flatley ’15 and Peter Olson ’15 represented St. Sebastian’s in the Tournament. They competed in three different events: one round of Prepared Cross-Examination Debating, one round of Parliamentary Extemporaneous Debating and two rounds of Impromptu Speaking. Olson placed second as an Individual Speaker out of 16 of the best debaters from seven New England independent schools.
John Flatley ’15 and Peter Olson’ 15 with Assistant Headmaster Michael Nerbonne.
Oral Cancer Survivor Talks Tobacco with Students St. Sebastian’s welcomed anti-tobacco advocate Rick Bender to Ward Hall on April 16 to speak to students about the dangers of chewing tobacco. Bender, who began using “smokeless” tobacco when he was only 12 years old, was diagnosed with oral cancer when he was 26. By the time he was 27, doctors had removed a third of his tongue, half of his jaw, and even
TOP: Ambassador Rooney addresses the School community n BOTTOM: (l-r) Rooney’s daughter, Kathleen, Karen Birmingham P’84, GP ’14,’17, Rooney, John Kapples ’16, Henry Kapples ’18, Headmaster Burke, and Lucy and Jack Kapples.
some nerves in his neck, permanently limiting the use of his right arm. He was only given two years to live. Today Bender travels the country to spread the word—“smokeless” tobacco isn’t safer than cigarettes. “I don’t care if you chew it, roll it up, or put it in a pipe,” he says. “It’s a poison.” He implored St. Sebastian’s students to make wise decisions in the face of peer pressure, because the consequences of using tobacco now will affect them, and their families, in the future.
2 | S T. S EBASTIAN’S M AGAZINE Volume X, Issue III
Anti-tobacco advocate Rick Bender delivers a powerful message to students.