Melbourne Central Catholic High School Connect Spring 2021

spring 2021

School Magazine for Melbourne Central Catholic High School

Cover Photo: Current Parent Josie Quiroz

OPENING THE DOORS TO IMAGINATION The Drawing and Painting class completed an in-depth study of large murals, including an analysis of their cultural and social value.

They examined the artistry of the Sistine Chapel, the work of Matisse, and even studied local creations found in Downtown Eau Gallie and Downtown Melbourne.

These inspired the students to create mini-murals modeled after famous artworks. Students carefully planned and designed their masterpieces that came to life on the interior of our Art Room doors. Pictured is Megan K. ‘21 painting her tribute to the work of Keith Haring.

CONTENTS From the President.............................3 Legacy Spotlights.......................... 4-5 From the Advancement Office.......6 Alumni Profiles............................... 7-10 Alumni Update................................ 11-17 Around Campus...........................18-29

FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Members of the MCC Family, I started the letter the MCC yearbook staff asked me to write for this year’s yearbook with an African Proverb that very simply states, “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” Perhaps there are no better words to describe the 2020-21 school year for MCC and for that matter, all schools. Our year has been one of growth and positive change as we became more skillful sailors and worked through the challenges COVID-19 brought on what seems like a daily basis. Words and phrases like hybrid learning, quarantine, social distancing and wear your mask properly entered our educational language helping to stir our waters.

Despite the challenges, the MCC community continued to move forward. In this issue of Connect you will read about our present in stories like our first semester honor roll, college signings, athletic update, and Class of 2021 college acceptances. You will also see how our present connects to our past by reading profiles of Carol Kasch ’65, Dr. Morvarid Moini ‘03, and Kelli Kalisik ‘99. More, you will see how our present connects to our future by reading about our newly added Kathy Gotshall Memorial Scholarship and a special event we held for the Class of 2025.

Enjoy issue number two of our digital magazine. Let us know what you like and how we can make it better.

Best, Nicholas Regina

A LEGACY THAT SPANS THREE GENERATIONS

Front: Carol Walls Kasch ‘65, Marissa Kasch ‘21 Back: Julie Kasch Mullen ‘86, Beth Kasch Spinazzola ‘84, Scott Kasch ‘92 Carol with her daughter Julie at MCC Graduation 1986

It is difficult to imagine that four years in the

life of a teenager could have such a profound impact on one’s whole life. But that is exactly what happened for this MCC graduate. Not only did I receive an excellent education that fueled a successful career as a financial analyst at a leading tech firm, but the values instilled during those four years provided the framework for how I approached life. My parents were not wealthy, so I and three of my sisters attended MCC at the generosity of parishioners and families who valued Catholic education enough to sponsor students who could not otherwise afford it. Still, my parents sacrificed to send us to OLL and MCC. I remember my mother contributing to MCC long after we graduated to help repay some of what we received. Of seven children, five of us went on to graduate from college, and my youngest sister went on to earn her PhD. She has returned to MCC several times on Career Day to inspire students to strive for success.

My years at MCC began in temporary and rustic quarters. We started with only a ninth-grade class in the Navy barracks at the Melbourne Airport.

The combination of a small class and less than ideal quarters led us to focus on our academics.

We started with forty students and only two teachers. Fr. Dolan taught Religion, English, and Latin. There were no extracurricular activities. You could say we got special one-on-

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one attention. I can still remember translating Latin and diagramming sentences almost every day. I have drawn on those skills more than I thought possible in those days. As we started our Sophomore year, our new buildings still were not quite ready, so we spent the first six weeks at Brevard Engineering College (now Florida Institute of Technology) in their few new buildings. Melbourne was much smaller then, and Florida Tech was in its infancy as well.

After the first semester, we were finally ready to move into our brand-new school. I cannot tell you how much we appreciated finally having our own school. We were so incredibly proud of those fresh, new buildings. Of course, the school has grown tremendously since those early days.

But to us, it was like attending Harvard. Our school now had two grades, ninth and tenth and we were finally feeling like a real high school. I often tell our children I was an upperclassman for four years, as I was always in the senior class.

Little by little, we started adding extracurricular activities. We started a Business Club, a Latin Club, and a sports program. By the time we completed our high school education at MCC we had a full staff of teachers, a rudimentary science lab, a home economics classroom, a chapel, an administration building, and a library. We had football, baseball, basketball, track, volleyball, and cheerleading. Although most of the boys played every sport to have enough players to field our teams, we enjoyed those sports and the spirit that accompanied them with all the gusto of a much larger school. Pride ran deep in those early days; everything was fresh and new that we built from the ground up. We even had our own high school band: the Hanging Five (a surfing term) made up of the same boys that played sports who played at all our school dances.

two earning their master’s degrees. They are all successful in their chosen fields, in no small part to the foundation they received at Our Lady of Lourdes and MCC. It was a financial challenge sending all three to MCC, but never one that we regretted. I can honestly say that it was the best investment we ever made.

MCC has grown considerably since my high school years. And now, we are awaiting our youngest granddaughter’s upcoming graduation from MCC. Our granddaughter, Marissa Kasch, will be another legacy MCC graduate who has made us so proud. She has been accepted to the University of Florida where she will start in the fall. UF has a very low acceptance rate, and MCC produced several students who will also be attending UF next year. That is no small accomplishment. I sincerely hope that MCC will be here for our next generation of children. It was always more than just a high school for me, and I can say the same for most of our graduating class. Many of us still keep in touch and meet at our MCC class reunions. These were bonds that were never broken. So, go proudly, MCC class of 2021. We, who came before you, salute you and wish you every success in life.

CAROL WALLS KASCH ‘65

The graduates from our class of 1965 went on to be very successful doctors, lawyers, business executives, and teachers. But, more importantly, many became very active in their churches and communities because of the strong faith and commitment to excellence fostered by MCC. I had my own firsts at MCC: I was the first person to be engaged and the first person married from our class of 39 students. I was married at the tender age of 18 and had my first child at 19. I finally went on to receive my bachelor’s degree later in life. We had three children, and I am extremely proud to say that they are all MCC graduates. Our oldest daughter, Beth is the first of the second generation of MCC graduates. All three of our children went on to college, with

MCC Prom 1965...where it all began with her husband Rich Kasch 56 years ago.

BELOVED HUSTLER GOLF COACH RETIRES Mr. Jim Kelly is retiring as Head Coach of the MCC Girls Golf team. Coach Kelly reflects, “It has been an honor and privilege to coach the many student-athletes, who dedicated their time, talents, and determination to make the MCC Girls Golf team competitive every year. I would like to thank current and past athletic directors, principals, presidents, faculty, and staff for their support of the MCC Golf program. I am grateful to the parents and family members who supported the program, by hosting team banquets, attending matches and tournaments, and giving our golfers the support and encouragement they needed. A special thanks to all the corporate sponsors and their support of the team, and Crane Creek Reserve, our home course since 2000, and US-1 Golf Center, where Coach Mike and Coach Ben helped develop many MCC golfers over the years. The greatest part of coaching has been watching the golfers develop their game, as they improved with each drive, swing and putt.” Quoting golfer Bobby Jones, “Golf is the closest game to the game we call life.

You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots – but you have to play the ball as it lies.”

MCC Golf Legacy 1997-2021 TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

4-District Championships-2010, 2014, 2017, 2018 6-District Runner-up-2006-2009, 2015-2016 13-Regional Teams-2001,2005-2010,2013-2018 INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS

District Champions 1. Kelly Drack-2008 2. Marissa Boccabella-2012-2014 3. Elise Boccabella-2016,2018

State Tournament Qualifiers 1. Kelly Drack-2008 2. Marissa Boccabella-2013

Space Coast Golfers of the Year 1. Meagan Pauley-1999 2. Kelly Drack-2008

MELBOURNE CENTRAL CATHOLIC | 5

FROM THE

ADVANCEMENT OFFICE

Creating a Culture of Philanthropy Much continues to change and evolve in the Advancement Office at MCC as we work to shape philanthropy here at MCC. Part of this evolution has been the phasing out of the Cash Drawing and shifting focus to The MCC Fund.

This September, MCC invited the Hustler community to invest in our mission by supporting The MCC Fund, the foundation for philanthropy at MCC. Spearheaded by MCC Fund Chairmen, Brian ‘90 and Kristin Fleis, P’19, ‘22, ’25, Alumni Chairman, Corey Runte ‘09 and Alumni Parent Chairmen, Steve and Robin Cremerius P’07, ‘10, ‘11, ‘13 opportunities to participate include: • The MCC Fund mailing in early October • Our Holiday mailing in early December • Participation in the NCEA National Day of Giving for Catholic Schools in late January • Our Spring Mailing in April • Memorial giving opportunities • MCC12, our monthly giving program

DAY OF

GIVING 2021

$13,500+ TOTAL RAISED

108 GIFTS RECEIVED

THANK YOU

HUSTLERS!

• The Green & Gold Gala - Due to COVID this event was not held in the 2020-21 school year The 2020-21 goal is $160,000 and in partnership with our chairpeople the MCC community has invested more than $150,150 to date. For more information on The MCC Fund or to join the more than 400 donors who have made a gift to the 2020-21 campaign visit www.melbournecc.org/invest.

Enrollment We eagerly anticipate the arrival of the Class of 2025 to campus in the fall.

To date MCC has enrolled 9th graders for the 2021-22 school year.

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Council of Advisors: You Spoke, We Listened.

MCC parents recently participated in our first Continuous Improvement Survey.

Feedback included the need for parent opportunities to engage in the vision and direction of MCC. To help with this, we will reinstitute a Council of Advisors for the 2021-22 school year. The council will assist the President and Board of Directors across a multitude of areas including: Finance, Building/Grounds, Nominating, Development/PR and Mission Effectiveness.

We look forward to sharing information as the Council begins to take shape.

ALUMNI ON THE FRONT LINES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

ALUMNI PROFILE DR. MORVARID MOINI CLASS OF 2003

Pediatric Dentist Expanding Melbourne Practice Article reprinted with permission by Shawna S. Lucas, Space Coast Living Publisher

Typically, a patient falling asleep during a health examination is more cause for concern than celebration.

For pediatric dentist Dr. Morvarid Moini, DMD, MPH howev­er, it was a signal to take her den­tistry career in a different direction.

“All of my adult patients were so relaxed that they fell asleep during treatment while I was in dental school. It made me think about how I could best channel that skill and that’s when I decided that I wanted to pursue pediatric dentistry,” she said.

SCIENTIFIC STUDY + CLINICAL EXPERIENCE According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the pediatric dentistry residency program, taken after graduation from dental school, immerses the dentist in scientific study enhanced with clinical expe­rience. This training is the dental counterpart to general pediatrics, and trainees learn advanced diagnostic and surgical procedures along with: • Child psychology and behavior guidance • Oral pathology • Pharmacology related to the child • Radiology • Child development and growth • Management of oral-facial trauma • Caring for patients with special health care needs • Sedation and general anesthesia • Dietary and nutritional counseling

Jason Hook Photography

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“With kids, there’s so much fear around the treatment, that arises from the unknown and lack of trust, and that was something that in­trigued me,” she said.

Morvarid grew up in Brevard, at­tending Indialantic Elementary, Holy Name of Jesus and Melbourne Central Catholic schools before grad­uating and heading off to college. After attending dental

Office images supplied by Dr. Morvarid Moini school at Nova Southeastern University and pediat­ric dental residency at Tufts Univer­sity, she decided to come back to the Space Coast to contribute directly to the community where she was raised.

Good thing for us, Brevard is list­ed as a shortage area in a number of medical categories, including pediatric dentistry, mental health services and oncology services.

Morvarid, who tells her patients to call her Dr. M&M, hopes her work will help ease the burden a bit. “There is definitely more need than can be addressed at this time, but we will do our part,” she said. Her office is located in the central part of the county, on Sarno Road, and currently sees about 100 patients on the three days the office is open: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

“We are here to progress to a full-time schedule as our patients need us,” she said.

PREVENTION IS KEY “We can see kids as early as their first tooth, but definitely by their first birthday,” she said. Prevention is key. We treat if we have to, but really the goal is to keep them out of treatment with prevention.

Our goal is to make the process fun and easy by giving the patients a sense of control. We say ‘You are my boss. Raise your hand if you have a question and give me a thumbs up if you’re ok.’”

Ensuring patient comfort and working to build trust is critical to reducing the fear factor that chil­dren often experience with a pedi­atric dentist. We try to keep visit times short - no more than 20 or 30 minutes, because we understand they are children after all, she said.

Pearl Pediatric Dental is located at 2261 Sarno Road, Melbourne. For more information, call 321-499-2660 or online at PearlPediatricDental.com

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ALUMNI PROFILE Kelli Kalisik, Melbourne Central Catholic (MCC) Class of 1999, has always loved learning. From her first day of kindergarten, through high school and college, and now with a career in higher education, the pursuit of scholarship remains an intrinsic part of her life. Although more than 20 years CLASS OF 1999 have passed, she has often thought about the significant role MCC played in her personal development, as well as the lifelong friendships and lasting memories that were forged during these formative years.

afternoons spent with Senora Ralph practicing for the Florida State Spanish Conference.

“Senora was one of those teachers who was tough and pushed you to do better, but you knew it was because she cared. She wanted to see you achieve your full potential and was supportive when you had done your best.”

As president of the National Honor Society (NHS), one of Kelli’s favorite activities was coordinating volunteer service projects with other members and adviser Sue Rauch.

“Participating in these activities reinforced the need to be highly organized and prioritize my responsibilities. Developing these skills in high school provided a framework for success in college and beyond.”

“I am extremely grateful that my parents believed strongly in a faith-based education and provided me with exceptional opportunities.” Enrolling at MCC, Kelli knew she would be challenged in the classroom and surrounded by academic excellence. “I enjoyed the learning environment at MCC. The small classroom size and rigorous course offerings meant I had the opportunity to fully engage in my education. Our teachers were dedicated to our success and always available to help.”

Kelli began her career at the University of Notre Dame in Academic Services for Student Athletes before transitioning to a role in Audit and Advisory Services. However, it wasn’t until Kelli entered the financial aid profession in 2010 that she truly found meaning and connection in her role and with the University’s mission. As senior associate director of financial aid operations, Kelli is involved in all aspects of the financial aid process. The University of Notre Dame meets 100% of every student’s demonstrated financial need, awarding $155 million in need-based scholarships to undergraduate students. “The work of a financial aid professional is more challenging and intellectually stimulating than you might imagine. But what is most rewarding about this profession is helping students make their dream of attending the University of Notre Dame a reality.”

KELLI KALISIK

For Kelli, attending MCC was much more than just the academic preparation she would receive. She knew MCC was committed to the formation of the whole person – the mind, body, and spirit – and that was equally as important as the learning that would take place in the classroom. As a Hustler, Kelli was a member of the volleyball and golf teams, as well as active in numerous clubs and honor societies. Kelli fondly recalls the many

“MCC instilled in me strong values of community and servant leadership. The NHS pillars of scholarship, leadership, service, and character continue to guide me.”

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“MCC instilled in me strong values of community and servant leadership. The NHS pillars of scholarship, leadership, service, and character continue to guide me.” It is with these values in mind that Kelli has become a leader in her profession and her community.

As a financial aid professional, Kelli has presented at national conferences and serves on various committees with College Board, an organization of more than 6,000 member institutions and organizations, dedicated to connecting students to college success and opportunity.

“In working with College Board, I am able to represent the needs of the larger financial aid community as well as champion national initiatives related to access and equity in higher education.”

Kelli is a strong supporter of non-profit organizations within the greater South Bend community. Most recently serving as vice president on the board of directors for Forever Learning Institute (FLI), an organization that provides lifelong learning opportunities for seniors in the community. “FLI is really an incredible organization. In its 45th year of existence, FLI offers more than 100 courses a semester that are taught by an all-volunteer faculty. The organization provides senior members of our community with intellectual stimulation, social interaction, spiritual reflection, and physical activity.”

Kelli has held positions on the board of directors for the Friends of the Snite Museum of Art and the Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley. Serving on the board of directors for the Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley, the third largest of 266 Notre Dame Clubs worldwide, Kelli helped to award over $3 million in undergraduate scholarships to local students during her 12-year tenure. She was the 2015 recipient of the Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley Award of the Year for her dedication and service to the club.

Kelli holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in higher education administration from the University of Michigan. Kelli resides in Granger, Indiana with her husband, Rob Cole. In their spare time, they enjoy golfing, traveling, and Notre Dame football.

ALUMNI UPDATE 1960s

2000s

Retired and still happily married to Kathleen. Proud to be a Grandpa.

Currently restoring a 1993 Ford F-150 pickup with only 76,000 miles.

Founder and owner of successful local business, The Elderberry Fairy.

JOHN WALKER ’69

LEIGH MILES MCDOWELL ‘02

WILLIAM REILOVA ’07

Earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and lives in Atlanta. Currently pursuing a degree in Exercise Science.

1980s

ANITA WALKER KEALER ‘88

December 2020 graduate of St. Leo/ Diocese of Orlando Educational Leadership Cohort, a program designed to develop future school leaders in our Diocese.

1990s

NEVILLE MAYCOCK ‘96

Recognized by the National Society of Black Engineers as a 2021 NSBE Golden Torch Award honoree for Distinguished Engineer of the Year 2020-21.

SARA REILOVA CACCIATORE ’03

Married to Paul Cacciatore ’04. They live in Orlando with their two children.

Sara earned a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works as an Oncology Speech Pathologist at Orlando Health Cancer Institute.

Audiologist and owner of Harbor City Hearing Solutions in Melbourne.

Married to Chris White ’97 and blessed by their three children Brooke, Amelia, and Dalton.

Married Dr. Jennifer Schierholtz in April 2019. Welcomed their little girl Kinsley Nichole on May 26, 2020. Alex is the Hometown News Staff Photographer and one of the photographers for Villon Clothing for the past six years. Accolades to date include photographing the UCF Fiesta Bowl game, AAU Junior Olympics, SpaceX launches, the President of the United States, and several professional sports teams.

CHEZ FILIPPINI ‘04

Current Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of PensacolaTallahassee.

PATRICK RIEBSAME ‘07

LIZ EVERETT WHITE ‘97

ALEX SCHIERHOLTZ ‘07

Served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps from 2013-2020. Earned a Master of Arts in Political Science from Virginia Tech in 2020.

Shop the latest selection of MCC Hustler fan geaR AT mccspiritstore.com made possible by our local vendor

Express Signs 321.722.0280

MELBOURNE CENTRAL CATHOLIC | 11

ALUMNI UPDATE ELIZABETH LEGGETT ’08

MARK REILOVA ‘09

Graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

She has been working for L3Harris, since 2013, as an Integration and Test Engineer where she met her husband.

Earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and Restaurant Management. Married to Stephanie Fritz and General Manager of Toasted Restaurant.

Universal and just bought a home in close proximity to both.

t in Orlando.

GARRETT KEALER ‘12

2010s

SARA CAMPBELL LAMANNA ‘10 & DAN LAMANNA ‘10 MELONIE RICHEY ‘08

Vice President of Technology at Altamira Technologies in McLean, Virginia.

Earned a Ph.D. in Computational Social Science from George Mason University in 2020.

Sara is a Rollins College graduate with many career accomplishments. She is married to Dan LaManna ‘10, a mechanical engineer with Lockheed Martin at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Sara will assume a leadership role in her father’s successful insurance agency.

ALYSON HOFFMAN ‘09

Currently an Associate Attorney at Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A. Practice focused on Corporate, Tax, and Estate Planning.

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RICHARD FOX ‘12

After high school, Richard followed his passion for Information Technology and got a jump start on his career by gaining hands-on experience, obtaining CompTIA A+ certification and guidance from experienced mentors. His hard work, dedication and strong work ethic have opened many doors of opportunity. He currently works as a Cloud Networking Systems Engineer at Global Tech Solutions. He met his beautiful wife in 2019 and married in 2020. They enjoy visiting Disney and

Earned a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Music from Florida Atlantic University. Since then, he has gone on to perform with numerous acts such as Slim Gambill from Lady A, Rogue Theory, Del Pelson, and Mylo Ranger. Garrett has opened for and performed at festivals with artists such as Young The Giant, Joywave, Bear Hands, Collie Buddz, Steel Pulse, and many others. He has performed at notable venues and events such as NAMM Show 2019, Mizner Park Amphitheater, and Culture Room.

Currently, Garrett has begun his solo indie pop/alternative project, Stumble Steady, for which he writes, tracks, and produces his own music.

His debut EP, Nobody Told The Wolves, is now available for streaming and purchase. Garrett is also in the throes of beginning his own brewing company, Kealer Brewing Company.

He is now happily engaged to Alexandra Wasserfall.

ALYSSA WALLACE ‘12

LELAND HILDRETH ‘13

BRADY BALDREE ‘14

Graduated in 2016 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. After she graduated from UCF, she taught English for two years in Almuñécar, Spain. Alyssa recently moved back to Melbourne and teaches first grade at Viera Charter School.

Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Florida in 2017, and is on track to graduate with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering Spring 2021. Currently works in Orlando for Siemens Energy as an Assistant Project Engineer dealing with large gas turbines and auxiliaries for power production.

Graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and is now a Project Engineer for Ajax Building Corporation. He lives in St. Petersburg and is engaged to Nealy Kehres ’14. They are planning a Spring 2022 wedding.

CHRISTINA PONCE CARROLL ‘13 & JOEY CARROLL ’13

Married in February 2019 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Joey runs his own lawncare business and Christina is a first-grade teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School.

They welcomed their daughter, Lucy Grace in March 2020.

CHASE CHAVEZ ‘15 CAMERON LIERMAN ‘13

Currently a Data Analyst for GEICO Marketing in Washington DC. Beginning his Master of Science in Business Analytics at the College of William & Mary in Summer 2021.

Graduated in 2018 from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. Now completing final clinical rotations to graduate from the University of Florida with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. He is also co-founder with Tim Do ‘15 of One Harbor, a Melbourne-based streetwear brand.

RACHEL CARROLL ‘13

Graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Education. She is currently a fifth and sixth grade teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School.

MARIA REILOVA ‘12

Holds a Master of Arts in Library Science and works as a Research Content Specialist at Fidelity Investments, Boston.

TELL US WHAT’S GOING ON New job? New baby? Anniversary?

Newly married? Submit your news to communications@melbournecc.org

MELBOURNE CENTRAL CATHOLIC | 13

ALUMNI UPDATE STEPHEN HAMMOND ‘15

Graduated in 2019 from Florida Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering.

He works as the Coastal Environment Project Manager for St. Johns County, Florida. As the Coastal Engineer he works to help manage and coordinate beach nourishment projects throughout the St. Johns County Coastline along with other coastal protection initiatives.

resourced schools while pursuing her master’s degree in Education.

Plans to attend medical school in 2023.

communications team at L3Harris Technologies in Melbourne.

AMELIA STIMPSON ‘17

SKYLAR KEANY ’17

Completing a degree in Tourism and Recreation Management. Currently Assistant Manager at Starbucks in Ormond Beach.

Spring 2021 graduate from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, minor in Business Management Systems. She will join the cybersecurity company ReliaQuest as a Sales Development Representative in Tampa.

JACOB CROWELL ‘16

Accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of St. Augustine on Feb. 9, 2021. Begins seminary formation in August 2021.

CLAIRE NEMETHY ‘17 AUTUMN KEANY ’16

Currently working on a Paralegal Certification. Lives in Cape Cod, MA and works as a restaurant manager.

Graduating this May Summa Cum Laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. Joining United Launch Alliance as a Communications Intern in Denver, CO.

CARLY DURGIN ‘17

May 2021 graduate from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Health Sciences, minor in Chemistry. Accepted into the Teach for America New York City Corps to teach high school science in under

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JULIA STEIN ‘17

Graduating from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Advertising in May 2021. Joining the corporate

WILLIAM WALLACE ‘17

Graduated in April, Magna Cum Laude, from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and minor in Entrepreneurship. He will join the Fisher Investments team in Tampa as a Client Service Associate.

2020s

EMILIO QUIROZ ‘20

JORDAN WHITE ‘20

Successfully completed his first semester at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He made the Superintendent’s List by achieving over a 3.0 GPA in each: MPA (military) and PEA (physical education).

Emilio averaged a 3.2 and is ranked 160 out of 1114 cadets.

On March 15, played first volleyball match as a Florida Tech Panther, collecting five kills, and registering a .250 hitting percentage to begin her career.

Weddings

BLAKELY WALTS KEMPFER ‘15

BROOKE LYNCH SANTA ‘12

Married Charlie Santa on November 30, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Married Sage Kempfer on March 6, 2021, at Kempfer Cattle Ranch in St. Cloud.

LET’S “CONNECT” ON SOCIAL MEDIA! ARE YOU AN MCC GRADUATE THAT MARRIED YOUR HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART? We’d love to hear your love story beyond high school. Share news and pictures with communications@melbournecc.org

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MELBOURNE CENTRAL CATHOLIC | 15

LOST ALUMNI

IF you know how...

TO FIND A “LOST” ALUM

Please contact the Advancement Office: advancement@melbournecc.org

321.727.0793 ext. 107

CLASS OF 1965

Michael Stafford

CLASS OF 1966

Diane Wolff Adair William Brooks Christine Mitchell Denis Rebecca Titus Keb Susan Callahan Locklin Walter Taylor

CLASS OF 1967

Robert Blackwell Charles Elder Rena Elder Foley

CLASS OF 1968

Catherine Bodette Heck

CLASS OF 1969

Mark Adams Lynn Carroll Dirk Deborah Bussendorf King Leo Neves Gregory Sutter

CLASS OF 1970 Elizabeth Gaudy Cerow

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William Coleman Karen Levy Nuce Patricia Beyer Poole Sandra Wallace Sutter

CLASS OF 1971 David Beyer Rose Marchesseault Bossman Robert Rauch John Schubert Victor Vincent Stephen Wynne CLASS OF 1972

Barbara Beyer Jim Bossman Bruce Morgan Maria Neves Susan Rauch

CLASS OF 1973

John Charbonnet Eva Marchesseault Hoopes Timothy LeRoux Anna Pearce Neil Elizabeth Donovan Nosal

CLASS OF 1974 William Churchill Chris Haines Mark Maffucci John Quinlivan

CLASS OF 1975 William Cobb Richard Donahue Michael Gorman Daniel Griffin Russell Haney Ken LeRoux Debbie Altman Pooley

CLASS OF 1976

James Bixby Mary Beth Slentz Harris Kathleen Hayes Bill Kennedy Jeff Powell Mark Snyder Leslie Webster Stovall David Tegreene Michael Terrico

CLASS OF 1977 Mary Deese Barbara Donovan-Swanick Brian Earley Donna Giard Griffin Anthony Panebianco Marisa Patrizi Victoria Herring Waardenburg

CLASS OF 1978 Janet Beyer Allen Collins James Haney Sara Perers Laura Roberts Layne Salvador Robert Tyson Theresa Bennett Wolfe

CLASS OF 1979

Carmen Palacios Dick Laurie Thistle Glass Rod Gunther Eric Haney Sheila Fedor Olson Jeff Pollock Elizabeth Brandli Spriggst

MEMORIAM MCC is excited to announce the establishment of The Kathy Gotshall Memorial Scholarship.

Kathy Gotshall was a woman of great faith with a deep passion and commitment to Catholic education. A resident of Palm Bay for over 42 years, Kathy began teaching at MCC in August of 1979 where she shared her love of Science for 30 plus years. During her years at MCC, Kathy also played an instrumental role in the development of MCC’s school technology network and infrastructure. She earned both a MS and EdS from Florida Tech. Kathy was passionate about “Gift of Water” and spent many years doing mission work in Jamaica where MCC students brought water filters to provide clean water supplies while also working on school and church repairs for a poor parish in the mountains. Kathy transitioned into administration in 2003 serving as assistant principal and ultimately retiring as principal in 2011.

Many students loved Kathy’s classes, her passion for learning and science, her keen sense of humor, her laugh and wanted to follow in her footsteps as a teacher.

Kathy was diagnosed with ALS in 2018 and lost her battle in 2020. Her husband Bob established The Kathy Gotshall Memorial Scholarship in her memory.

Eight Melbourne Central Catholic High School students (two in each grade) will earn the distinction of Kathy Gotshall Scholar and receive a four-year $2,000 award. These students will excel in the classroom and demonstrate financial need. The first Kathy Gotshall Scholars will be announced in May.

Mrs. Kathy Gotshall

Rev. Eamon Tobin

Rev. Mike DiRenzo

Anita Best Brady 1973

Jennifer Spilios 1995

The Melbourne Central Catholic High School community will gather for its annual Alumni Memorial on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2021, to remember deceased graduates, faculty, staff, and religious.

Please contact the Advancement Office, advancement@melbournecc.org or 321-727-0793 Ext. 107, to add names of those who should be remembered.

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TRANSFORMING LIVES In March of 2017,

National Honor Society (NHS) met in Mrs. Kealer’s classroom to begin planning service projects for the 2017-2018 school year.

Mr. Kealer happened to be waiting in the room during the meeting and the students began asking him questions about his companion, Guide Dog Rio. They were interested in the types of services he performs and the training required for service dogs. They learned that, of the many puppies born into the selective breeding program at Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD) who undergo extensive training, only a small percentage become working service dogs.

They also learned that there is a waiting list for guide dogs for those who cannot see and service dogs for veterans who have seen too much.

Since their 1982 inception, SEGD has paired 3,200 guide and service dog teams. The students decided then and there that their next service project would be supporting SEGD.

Mrs. Kealer went to work researching how NHS could best support SEGD and learned that the training program relies extensively on raisers who volunteer to attend classes and socialize puppies in their homes and communities for a full year or more before they are re-evaluated for continued on-campus training as guide or service dogs. While the cost of veterinary care is covered by SEGD, puppy raisers take on the monthly expenses of flea and tick prevention, food, crating, bedding, leashes, toys, etc. What could be better than bringing the whole school community together for a hands-on service project that students could fund, nurture, and literally watch grow every day? NHS developed a proposal for puppy raising on the MCC campus which stressed how the project aligned with our Franciscan values of humility, inclusivity, integrity and generosity as well as St. Francis’ love of animals. As a bonus to the students, the impact dogs have in reducing stress on school campuses is well-documented.

With administrative support, in August, 2017 the MCC school community began socializing Riley who is now working as a guide dog for a mother, business owner, and writer who is progressively losing her vision to Retinitis Pigmentosa. In August, 2018 we welcomed our second puppy, Cisco (short for the Spanish, Francisco, whose name was chosen to celebrate our Franciscan charism.) After his return to SEGD and additional months of training on their campus,

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WITH EXCEPTIONAL DOGS

it was determined that Cisco would be happier placed in a home with a couple who is committed to continuing his life of service by putting his social skills and training to use as a hospital therapy dog.

time to place him with a permanent puppy raiser. Darrell is currently living in South Carolina with his puppy raiser and will return to the SEGD campus for evaluation and formal training later this year.

In 2019, the Diocese of Orlando announced that service animals in training were no longer allowed on Church properties, but this did not stop the NHS students’ resolve to continue the work they had started. In May of 2019, SEGD puppy raiser, Mr. Jon Sperling, agreed to socialize Dooley for MCC. Guide and service dogs must be intelligent, hard-working, disciplined, enthusiastic, and loyal, so it is only fitting that NHS sponsored the name of their next puppy in celebration of Coach Dooley’s 30 years of service to the MCC community.

After being fast-tracked for guide dog training, Dooley was diagnosed with cataracts, resulting in his placement with a Gold Star Family this past December. Gold Star Families are the immediate families of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict. Families apply to SEGD for a Gold Star Family dog and the wait time for just the right match can be fairly lengthy. While not serving as a guide dog as was NHS’s original hope, Dooley’s placement with this family perfectly reflects Mr. Dooley’s character and MCC’s Franciscan value of happily and selflessly helping others in whatever capacity we are called to serve.

On many Saturday mornings, NHS students worked hard washing cars and selling SEGD Walkathon raffle tickets to raise over $8,000 in direct donations to SEGD and an additional $2,000 to support all puppy raising efforts.

Since 2017, NHS students have taken two field trips to the SEGD campus in Palmetto, FL to hear alumni speak about how their dogs have profoundly changed their lives, learn about the breeding program, and tour the growing facilities, including everyone’s favorite stop - the nursery. People often ask how the MCC community dealt with the emotions of returning Riley and Cisco to SEGD after loving and caring for them for over a year. Puppy raising taught all of us that performing meaningful service for others requires effort and demands true personal sacrifice.

In appreciation of Dooley’s amazing training, NHS sponsored the name of the current SEGD puppy Mr. Sperling started raising in September of 2020. Shiloh is named in memory of the Air Force Military Working Dog who was his partner at Patrick Air Force Base from 1984-1987. We look forward to following Shiloh’s progress!

When COVID impacted MCC’s campus and moved students and teachers to distance learning in March of 2020, SEGD also had to downsize operations which sent them scrambling to find raisers for the puppies old enough to leave campus. Teaching from home afforded Mrs. Kealer the opportunity to volunteer to begin socializing eight-week-old Darrell, giving SEGD

COLLEGE

AND THE CLASS OF 2021

Below is a partial listing of senior college acceptances as of April 16, 2021. Our graduates continue to make us proud!

American University Arizona State University Polytechnic Auburn University Ave Maria University Barry University Berry College Bowling Green State University Butler University Catholic University of America Clemson University Duquesne University Earlham College Eastern Florida State College Eckerd College Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Flagler College Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Institute of Technology Florida State University Fordham University Hilbert College Hofstra University Holy Cross College Indiana University Jacksonville University

Keiser University Kent State University Lake Erie College Lake Sumter College Le Moyne College Louisiana State University Loyola University, Chicago Marietta College Mercer University Mercyhurst University Mississippi State University North Carolina State University Notre Dame College Nova Southeastern University Quinnipiac University Rollins College Saint Louis University Saint Mary’s College Saint Norbert College Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta Seminole State College of Florida Stetson University Syracuse University Texas A&M University The University of Alabama

The University of Tennessee The University of West Florida University of Alaska, Fairbanks University of Central Florida University of Denver University of Florida University of Georgia University of Miami University of New Hampshire University of North Dakota University of North Florida University of Notre Dame University of Pittsburgh University of Portland University of Rochester University of South Carolina University of South Florida University of Tampa University of Vermont Villanova University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Waldorf University Western Michigan University

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FIRST SEMESTER HONORS MCC students continue to excel academically. Names that appear in boldface are Legacy students.

SUMMA CUM LAUDE Grade point average of 4.0; no grade lower than a B; or a C in an AP course.

SENIORS

Alfred Annas Samuel Artley Yolanda Aybar Delgado Jeremy Benzler Lindsay Brandli Stevie Brito Jada Brown Angelina Bruno Nicholas Burns Joseph Canestrari Dylan Dahl Anthony Dambek Jan Duran Alicia Falzarano Rebecca Fitch Abigail Fronk Isabell Fuentes Avery Gabel Marissa Giannavola Delaney Goins Madison Henry Marissa Kasch Sabrina Kenemuth Megan Knick Anthony Kolarik Michaela Kyle Katherine Laird An Lam Cade LaMontagne Gretchen Lane Abbey Lestrange Emilie Lestrange Mia Lovett Alyssa Luceno

Chad Luchetti Stephanie MacDonald Sydney MacDonald Anne MacKay Fernando Manzano Marquez Alicia Marrone Charles Marshall Joshua Mims Gabriella Morano Rachel Moser Bader Murad Mikhael Nasnas Joseph Nasr Kyonte Padmore John Paternoster Rebecca Payan Nick Pellizzi Matthew Rieth Abigail Sadoff Eric Sanchez Anna Schaafsma Paige Schlenker Matthew Silva Luke Smith Olivia Stimpson Joseph Stokes John Struckman Ethan Thomas Samuel Tsark Aaron Turner Isabella Venanzi Hunter Wittenberg Yorka Zavala Nicholas Zizzo

Julia Canestrari James Carraway Raley Carter Emma Cassidy Kailyn Chiuchiolo Patrick Corley Anna Grace Cornell Elizabeth Darwood Taylor Davis Alexi DeFolsom Michelle D’Escoubet Jenna Du Mee Gabriel Fleis Alejandro Garcia Carlo Gozzi Madison Haire Megan Haire Morgan Haire Katherine Harnden Haley Keller Steven Klassen Megan MacKay Ranamae Malubay Mason McCormack Tyler Mecchella Dominik Quiroz Edward Roth Kelly Rush Janine Saraceno Kylie Sepulveda Mai Tran Grayson Wiley Jiayi Zhang

JUNIORS

Alexis Avera Matthew Barfield Carmen Benitez Caitlin Benzler

Sophia Arteaga Daniel Breisch Christina Cabrera

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SOPHOMORES

Colin Burns Andres Cespedes Kathryn Corley André DeMont Nicholas DesChenes Logan Elkins Milana Foley Cecilia Hadid Kylianne Justin Michael Kerestes Haley Kolarik Cole Lacey Genevieve Lujan Brendan MacDonald William Maze Robert McGovern Alexandra Merceron Charlene Monroe Leia Otero Mary Paternoster Felix Pellegrino Delaney Penn Anthony Recinos Isabella Ricart Diego Sanchez Hannah Shorthouse Grace Soehnlein Anthony Soehnlein Virginia Stewart Eva Sutton Matthew Tecson Alexander Tessier Rebecca Thiele Megan Tierney Blake Wallace Victoria Wilkie FRESHMEN

William Almeter

David Alvarez Lucia Bastida Christian Bent Charles Booth Matthew Breisch Lucas Carney Leah Carraway Mark Carroll Jane Cichock Rachel Darwood Hayden Deane Lolagrace DeSantis Thomas Do Danahi Escamilla Mellina Fair Lauren Foster Javier Garcia Lauren Giannavola Jacob Koster Joshua Kyle Cameron Laliberte Joshua Lazan Nivea Louzon Noah MacDonald Christian Maynard Marissa McKinney Kailey Ojeda Miriah Picinich Brallavan Puhalrajan Ahlana Reyes Paige Rider Michael Rizzo James Roberts Annabelle Scarlett Abigail Shea Arianna Teeter Jaime Vargas Peyton Westmoreland

MAGNA CUM LAUDE Grade point average of 3.75-3.99; no grade lower than a C

SENIORS

Hunter Conway Hunter Davidson Jeremy Goslant Dakota Lilley Karsen Nygaard Quang Pham Christina Richards Nathan Snyder James Struckman Austin Tippmann Nathan Westfield JUNIORS

Sophia Bastida Bailey Cowden Aislynn Dalessandro Elias Enriquez Nathan Meikle Noah Montijo Roxan Salonoy Joshua Wisler-Esposito

Darian Jean Charles Evan Jellett Ethan Patterson CUM LAUDE Grade point average of 3.5-3.74; no grade lower than a C

SENIORS

David Bodi Robert Booth Madelyn Kapas Rylee Moesly Bobbi Oakley Noah Schneider Dominic Segina Morgan Shaw Asher Wieder

FRESHMEN

JUNIORS

Liliana Barnes Timothy Bent Hogan Cardile Maria Del Rio Joseph DeSantis Ashton Dugger

Sarah Hamilton Reagan Henry Analicia Kapas Demi Mesa Dominic Pesi Paola Ramos Gabriela Rodriguez Roy Rodriguez Zamarah Santos Jagger Smith Sarah Stage Bianca Valencia Bryson Wiley

FRESHMEN

SOPHOMORES

Diego Alvarez Zoey Cook Emma Davidson Gabriel Hadid Joseph Hamer John Holleran

Emiliano Arriaga Cruz Alvarez Baker Lucca Colucciello Nicholas Delfino Nicholas Evans Andrew Fronk

SOPHOMORES

Ethan Gaydos Alina Geralds Peter Gleich Adam Kleier Jayden Mobley Benjamin Morrow Alivia Reininger Sean Rich Gabriella Salomone Ellie Bonenberger Arianna Bruno Charlotte Cornell Summer Elswick Alejandro Escamilla Sophia Fasanella Ryann Hammer Morgan Kellner Juan Pablo Martinez Isabella Militano Arnie Munoz Israel Pena-Rincon Barrett Plymale Gage Plymale Angel Rivera Annabel Ross Mia Rozengota Caden Simcox Patrick Strain Margaret Unger Ella Wheatley Gunnar Whitten Sophia Wright

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NEXT LEVEL DeAndre Pearson-Blake Football, Notre Dame College (Ohio) Tevon “Scoot” Brown Football, Lake Erie College (Ohio) Hunter Davidson Basketball, Flagler College Marissa Giannavola Softball, Ave Maria University Jeremy Goslant Lacrosse, Florida Tech Mia Lovett Softball, Lake Sumter College Josh Mims Basketball, Florida Tech Tanner Penn Lacrosse, Florida Tech Jake Rider Lacrosse, Florida Tech Nathan Westfield Baseball, Waldorf University (Iowa)

ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS

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03

01 1. Marissa Kasch ‘21 and Aaron Turner ‘21 were named to the All-Space Coast Girls and Boys Golf Teams.

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2. Nick Zizzo ‘21, shot an even par 36 and Aaron Turner ‘21, shot a 2 over par 38 to help lead the MCC Golf team to a 165-172 win over Holy Trinity.

3. DeAndre Pearson ‘21 and Vin Clark ‘22 were named to the Space Coast Daily All Brevard Football teams. Also, Alvarez Baker ’23, Scoot Brown ‘21, Bryant Espiritusanto ‘22, Noah Montijo ‘22, Ben Morrow ‘23, and Nickolas Ramsay ‘23 were named to Honorable Mention.

4. Hannah Atchison ‘22 was honored as Community Credit Union & Florida Today Athlete of the Week for Basketball and Soccer.

6. In Class 3A, Josh Mims ‘21 ranked in the top 5 in assists per game, and Hunter Davidson ‘21 made the top 10 for his scoring average.

7. At the Satellite High Reggie Johnson Memorial Meet, Yolanda Aybar Delgado ‘21 finished 1st place in the long jump event. She jumped a personal best with 17’ 2.75’’, which was over 1 foot longer than her closest competitor.

05

8. Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse defeated Satellite 18-10 in its season home opener.

9. Lady Hustlers celebrated Senior Night with a win against Wade Christian 3-2. The team ended the regular season with a record of 14-0-1.

10. Varsity Baseball defeated Space Coast 6-0.

5. Girls’ Varsity Basketball went undefeated this season.

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WELCOME TO THE HIVE On February 20, we honored the Class of 2025 with a special drive-thru celebration in our student parking lot.

President Nick Regina, Green & Gold Ambassadors,Cheerleaders, and Stingers made these Hustlers feel right at home. Welcome packs with green and gold swag and treats from the Kona Ice Truck made the event complete.

welcome to the hive, class of 2025!

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SCHOLARSHIPS Class of 2025

The following incoming freshmen were top scorers in the Scholarship Placement Exam given in October 2020.

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI - $8,000 SCHOLARSHIP

8th Grade Student Ascension Catholic School 8th Grade Student Divine Mercy Catholic Academy REVEREND PETER DOLAN - $5,000 SCHOLARSHIP

8th Grade Student Hoover Middle School Santiago Rubio Ascension Catholic School MOTHER MARGUERITE O’CONNELL - $3,000 SCHOLARSHIP

Tanner Campbell St. Joseph Catholic School John Cassidy Ascension Catholic School Michael Green Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School Beau Neckerauer St. Joseph Catholic School 8th Grade Student St. Joseph Catholic School Maxwell White Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School PADUA FRANCISCAN - $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP

Julisa Alamilla-Ramirez Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School 8th Grade Student St. Teresa Catholic School 8th Grade Student Our Saviour Catholic School Dane Jellett St. Mary Catholic School

Brian Moore Divine Mercy Catholic Academy Tessa Plaisted Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School Bryce Zimmer Ascension Catholic School Aidan Stephenson St. Joseph Catholic School

PRESIDENTIAL - $1,500 SCHOLARSHIP

Colin Bovenkerk Ascension Catholic School Liam Buchanan Divine Mercy Catholic Academy Austen Hester Sebastian River Charter Jr. High

Caitlin Schneider Norfolk Collegiate (VA) Allyssa Ramirez Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School 8th Grade Student St. Mary Catholic School

Keyana Louzon Ascension Catholic School 8th Grade Student Holy Name of Jesus Addison Schill St. Mary Catholic School

DR. MICHAEL J. MCLAUGHLIN - $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP

8th Grade Student Central Middle School JANICE DOANE MOYLES - $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP

8th Grade Student St. Joseph Catholic School DAVID FRANCO COMMUNITY SERVICE - $500 SCHOLARSHIP

Carolos Mendez Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School JOSEPH VERLANDER - $500 SCHOLARSHIP

8th Grade Student Ascension Catholic School FINE ARTS - $500 SCHOLARSHIP

8th Grade Student St. Joseph Catholic School

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AROUND CAMPUS MUSIC TO MY EARS

Band students are learning the more subtle points of music theory from scale production and performance to basic orchestral arranging.

In-person musicians have completed the learning cycle of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” and started work on a band arrangement for Smash Mouth’s “All Star.”

DIGITAL MODELS COME TO LIFE

Students in the Coding Fundamentals class are exploring 3D Printing. They created a spinning top in TinkerCad using Codeblocks. The designs were then downloaded, sliced and turned into g-code for our 3D printers. Students learned to operate the 3D Printers and watched their top being made.

They shared ideas with others as to the best shape for a spinning top and completed the process by evaluating the spin of their top and making modifications to their design.

DYNAMICS OF WIND POWER

AP Environmental Science students compared 3-blade and 4-blade windmills by calculating the amount of Force, Power, and Work for each.

Based on the results, they determined the 4-blade windmill was more effective.

SCULPTING THE HAND

The 3D Art class has been studying hands in art. Each student chose an artist that contributed a major work of art that used the hand as subject matter. The artists ranged from the “Creation of Adam” by Michelangelo on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, “The Hand of God” by Rodin to the “Giant Hands of Venice” by Lorenzo Quinn. After presenting the research to the class, students explored the sculptural process of casting using their own hands as the subject matter.

Students used a unique material to create a mold of their hands, and plaster to cast the mold. With more than one set of siblings in the class, a unique opportunity to create a sculpture including many hands was also explored.

STOCK MARKET CHALLENGE

In Economics, Seniors completed a stock market competition during the 3rd quarter, using the website HowTheMarketWorks. com. Each student had access to a $100,000 portfolio to invest in the NYSE, NASDAQ, and other markets.

They profiled the companies they invested in and answered questions on how their investments went during the competition.

Pictured here is An Lam, our Stock Market Champion.

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DONATIONS BENEFIT LOCAL COMMUNITY

MINI DANCE MARATHON

During the Lenten season, MCC partnered with Shan’s Homeless Project, a local non-profit organization that seeks to be a conduit of God’s love and mercy to the poorest members in our area. Community members donated backpacks and wrote letters to our local brothers and sisters in need.

On March 13, MCC hosted its annual Mini Dance Marathon. This event marks the culmination of year-long fundraising efforts to benefit Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, part of the Children’s Miracle Network of hospitals.

While our MDM was smaller than years past due to COVID restrictions, it was still wonderful to host an in-person event. Students learned a group-dance, played games, went on a scavenger hunt, and had fun as they “stood for those who can’t.” Thanks to all of our donors that made our 2021 fundraising total of $10,479.35 possible!

KEY CLUB DEDICATED TO SERVING OTHERS

Key Club members wrote prayers on cards, put together cross necklaces, and supplied masks attached to a typed prayer for the Easter season. These items were delivered to local assisted living communities.

HUSTLERS SHARE THEIR LOVE OF BASKETBALL

MCC Boys Basketball volunteered to referee Catholic Youth Sports basketball tournaments.

DAY OF REFLECTION EVERY BLOOD DONOR IS A LIFESAVER

Hustlers donated 70 units of lifesaving blood during our two campus Blood Drives hosted by OneBlood, including double red donations given by our type O, A negative, and B negative donors. MCC’s donations have the potential to save over 200 lives when used as transfusions during surgeries, responding to traumatic injuries, and managing cancer treatments and chronic illnesses.

The Class of 2021 took part in the annual Senior Retreat. During this retreat, the seniors reflected on their high school journey, discerning God’s presence in their lives, here on campus, and through the witness of their classmates. During Mass, Fr. Vince challenged the seniors to be Christian leaders during their final month at MCC and after high school. It was a day filled with prayer and fellowship as the Class of 2021 celebrated its many accomplishments.

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STUDENT ACCOLADES

HONOR SOCIETIES INDUCTION CEREMONY FALLEN ASTRONAUTS HONORED

Joseph Stokes ‘21 was honored to ring the bell in memory of NASA tragedies on the Challenger anniversary.

On April 14th, we proudly recognized the outstanding academic achievements of 58 inductees as they pledged their membership to 10 MCC chapters of nationally recognized high school honor societies.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK ART CONTEST

Eric Sanchez ’21 won this year’s Catholic Schools Week Art Competition.

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

FLORIDA STATE THESPIAN FESTIVAL

Eight students represented MCC in four categories at the Regional Thespian Festival. All qualified to move on to the virtual state competition held in March. Here are the results:

Gabriella Morano ‘21 and Madison Haire ‘22, after placing first in the district for their Mayflower essay submitted to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) local chapter, earned recognition at the state and national levels.

Madison placed first in the state among 11th graders for her entry, “A Journey to Religious Freedom,” and Gabby, after finishing first in the state among 12th graders, placed second in the nation.

SUPERIOR

sydney macdonald ‘21 Solo Musical; “Nothing” from Chorus Line nick pellizzi ‘21 Playwriting; “Change Before Change” original script EXCELLENT

anna grace cornell ‘22 Solo Musical; “Summer in Ohio” from The Last Five Years jiayi zhang ’22 Playwriting; “One Day Couple” original script GOOD

carmen benitez ‘23 Solo Musical; “Once Upon a December” from Anastasia emma cassidy ’22 & mary paternoster ‘23 Duet Musical; “Ohio” from A Wonderful Town thomas do ’24 Scenic Design; Aladdin Wedding Scene from Aladdin

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NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Of the 16,000 semifinalists, 7,500 seniors were chosen as Finalists.

Congratulations to Gabriella Morano ‘21 who has advanced to Finalist standing in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. She will now be considered for a 2021 National Merit Scholarship.

SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS

Madison Haire ‘22 earned a Scholastic Art & Writing Honorable Mention Award for her critical essay entry.

Megan Knick ‘21 was awarded Honorable Mention for her white-colored pencil work titled “Crystal in the Dark.”

NATIONAL YOUTH CYBER DEFENSE COMPETITION

MCC’s three CyberPatriot teams finished the year by participating in a third and final round of this national competition. In this round, teams are given a set of virtual operating systems and are tasked with finding and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities while maintaining critical services. Two of our teams reached Gold status and finished in the top 60th percentile. One team reached Silver status and completed the 3rd round despite several members being unable to attend this last competition. We congratulate all teams for their dedication to technology and to the time and effort spent to represent our school in this competition!

“When the time came to decide on educating our boys, Hogan and Riley, it was simple. Jennifer and I wanted to provide our children a quality education focused on academics, but most importantly rooted in spirituality.

My heart has always been with MCC. I am a proud graduate of the Class of 2002 - Go Hustlers! The friendships, memories, staff and education prepared me for the challenges of life, and I knew I wanted that for my children. My sons are positive people who make a point to to help others. I do not believe they would have developed that way had Jennifer and I chosen another route for their education. The bond that I share with my sons, and the bond we share as family, is in large part due to Catholic education. My parents provided me many opportunities through my education at Ascension and MCC, and now Jennifer and I can provide the same for our two boys.”

TJ CARDILE ‘02 AND HIS WIFE JENNIFER, PARENTS OF HOGAN MCC CLASS OF 2023 AND RILEY, CURRENT ASCENSION STUDENT AND FUTURE MEMBER OF MCC CLASS OF 2026

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321.727.0793 | melbournecc.org