21 minute read
Around Campus
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.
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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, 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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
JUNIORS
Sophia Arteaga
Daniel Breisch
Christina Cabrera 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
SOPHOMORES
Alexis Avera Matthew Barfield Carmen Benitez Caitlin Benzler 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
SOPHOMORES Liliana Barnes
Timothy Bent Hogan Cardile Maria Del Rio Joseph DeSantis Ashton Dugger
FRESHMEN
Diego Alvarez Zoey Cook
Emma Davidson
Gabriel Hadid Joseph Hamer John Holleran 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
JUNIORS
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
SOPHOMORES
Emiliano Arriaga Cruz Alvarez Baker Lucca Colucciello Nicholas Delfino Nicholas Evans Andrew Fronk Ethan Gaydos Alina Geralds Peter Gleich Adam Kleier Jayden Mobley Benjamin Morrow Alivia Reininger Sean Rich Gabriella Salomone
FRESHMEN 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
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)
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1. Marissa Kasch ‘21 and Aaron Turner ‘21 were named to the All-Space Coast Girls and Boys Golf Teams.
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.
5. Girls’ Varsity Basketball went undefeated this season. 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.
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.
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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!
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
PRESIDENTIAL - $1,500 SCHOLARSHIP
DR. MICHAEL J. MCLAUGHLIN - $1,000 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
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
8th Grade Student Central Middle School
DAVID FRANCO COMMUNITY SERVICE - $500 SCHOLARSHIP Carolos Mendez Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
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.
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.
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.
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.
MINI DANCE MARATHON
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!
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.
DONATIONS BENEFIT LOCAL COMMUNITY
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.
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
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.
FALLEN ASTRONAUTS HONORED
Joseph Stokes ‘21 was honored to ring the bell in memory of NASA tragedies on the Challenger anniversary.
HONOR SOCIETIES INDUCTION CEREMONY
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.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
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.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK ART CONTEST
Eric Sanchez ’21 won this year’s Catholic Schools Week Art Competition.
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:
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
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.”
