leading the way - St. Mary`s Ryken High School

A CATHOLIC COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Annual
Report
2008-2009
leading the way
Tribute to Mr. Durbin
Teacher, mentor, philosopher, dramatist, classicist, world traveler, devoted Christian...
When Bob Durbin was in graduate school studying classical
Greek and Latin, his mother asked him, “Shouldn’t you be
getting a more marketable skill?”
Those of us who know Mr. Durbin chuckle at this thought. Now
in his 40th year at St. Mary’s Ryken, and the majority of those
spent using his Latin skills, Mr. Durbin is not only a teacher, but
a beloved mentor and friend.
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a teacher, at first” he remembers.
After finishing his master’s in education from Loyola University
Maryland, Mr. Durbin heard about an immediate opening
for a Latin teacher at Cardinal Gibbons High School, also in
Baltimore. “I went to the school for an interview and was hired
that day.” Once he began teaching, though, he was hooked. “I
knew that this was what I wanted to do,” he said.
In his sixth year at Cardinal Gibbons, Mr. Durbin heard that the
order of brothers who taught at nearby Mount St. Joseph High
School was recruiting staff for a Southern Maryland school.
The Xaverian Brothers were looking to fill several teaching
positions at Ryken High School. Mr. Durbin went for an
interview where “Brother Cornelius sat down with me and
said, ‘Bob, I want someone to give these students the meat and
potatoes of English.’”
And so, in the 1971-72 academic year, Mr. Durbin began his
career at Ryken High School teaching sophomore English. In
the spirit of Catholic education, he soon found himself taking
on additional responsibilities as well. “We all pitched in,” he
said. “Brother Rom cut the grass and I was the assistant athletic
director and drove the bus that picked up the kids in Town
Creek.”
He pauses to explain that in the days before there was a bridge
connecting Solomons and St. Mary’s County, students from
A 1974 yearbook photo of several members of the team
and Coach Durbin.
Calvert County could take a ferry that left from the Navy’s
Solomons Recreation Center and dropped them off in Town
Creek. It was Mr. Durbin, along with Brother Cornelius and the
other brothers, who took them the rest of the way to high school.
When the high school
wanted to begin offering
Latin classes, it was Mr.
Durbin who stepped up
to fill the role. “If it will
possibly help the school,”
he says. “I will do it.”
Indeed, at St. Mary’s
Ryken, in addition to
teaching, he has been
the assistant athletic
director, the athletic
director (for seven years),
longtime golf and tennis
coach, cheerleading
coach, founder of the
Latin Club and the
Celtic Club, moderator
for ten years of the
Shakespearean Drama
Mr. Durbin at a recent school assembly.
Club, moderator of the
XBSS Stewards for four years, moderator with Barbara Ives for
the new Weather Club and the drama coach for five years.
Why does he like Latin? “It’s the best subject,” he says
enthusiastically and without hesitation. “I like it. It can be like a
puzzle " trying to figure out the endings of words.”
“Latin has so much value,” he continues and instantly rattles
off a list of reasons why Latin is not a dead language. “It is still
a liturgical language. It’s the core of romance languages and
influences as much as 85% of the English language. The best way
to learn the syntax and grammar of the English language is to
study Latin. Best of all, you are able to read and to translate the
great classics such as Aenid and Vergil.”
This year is Mr. Durbin’s 40th at St. Mary’s Ryken. “I guess I’m
like Cal Ripken in that regard " staying in one place for so long,”
he said. “Everyday still feels like a fresh beginning, as if it were
my first day here.”
He states that the students haven’t really changed that much
since he began teaching. “They are still the same at heart. The
students reach out for whatever we have to offer and it is our job
as teachers to get involved and to help mold them into Christian
young men and women.”
From the President
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your generosity and
support of St. Mary’s Ryken High
School. The new school year is
underway and already we can see
the numerous achievements of our
students.
Before leaving for Mass this morning, I read a letter of thanks from
the Romero Center, an Urban Retreat and Social Justice Center in
Camden, N. J., where two of our teachers and eight students worked
over a long weekend. I then attended Mass with our entire student
body while our gifted choir sang throughout the liturgy. Recently, our
chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed 35 new members and
11 retreats have already been held off-campus for freshmen, sophomores
and juniors. This weekend our drama club opens its fall production, You
Can’t Take It With You.
None of the above would ever be possible without the dedication of our
faculty to the mission of our school community. Throughout the pages
of this annual report, you will see the broad accomplishments of our
students. They have used the expanding horizons that our curriculum
reflects to strengthen their knowledge and skills under the mentorship
of a faculty and staff committed to engaging students in deep learning
and ethical responsibilities. The second goal of our strategic plan is “to
draw, to hold and to sustain the strongest possible faculty, who will be
faithful to the Xaverian philosophy of education and to fulfilling the
mission of St. Mary’s Ryken.”
The gifts and support that you have provided to the St. Mary’s Ryken
Fund and to the schoool’s endowments have opened the door for
48% of our student population to attend and to receive an education
grounded in morals and values. We maintain a balanced budget while
being able to grow our programs and enhance the experience that all
students receive on their journey of faith and academic growth.
Thank you for your continued support of our mission. Please know
how very grateful I am to each and every one of you for making a
difference in the lives of our students.
Sincerely,
Mary Joy Hurlburt
President
Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2009
Table of Contents
2 Advancement Office
3 Board of Directors
4 Honor Roll of Donors
5 St. Francis Xavier Society
10 Class of 2009 Accolades
12 Scholarships & Endowments
13 Honor Roll continues
16 Memorial Gifts
18 Alumni Giving by Class
Editor and Designer
Denise Krumenacker
Photography
Robert Burke
Debbie Carroll
George Hurlburt
Kathryn King
Denise Krumenacker
LifeTouch
Reid Silverman
Jeff Worcester
St. Mary’s Ryken Mission Statement
St. Mary’s Ryken is a Catholic,
coeducational, college preparatory
high school operated under the
Xaverian Brothers’ sponsorship,
committed to academic excellence and to
individualized student growth in faith,
moral probity, physical health, social
demeanor and responsible citizenship.
St. Mary’s Ryken High School
22600 Camp Calvert Road
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Tel: 301-475-2814
E-mail: [email protected]
Office of Advancement
Dear Friends,
Looking back over the year, we count among our
blessings the Class of 2009 and their many successes.
May these young men and women continue their
educational journey and become leaders in their
universities, workplaces, homes and communities.
Congratulations to the
2009 Gold & Silver
Diploma Recipients
Their achievements were a direct result of your support
and others like you in the community. In a year
of economic fluctuation, your generosity to the St.
Mary’s Ryken Fund was instrumental in ensuring that
many students could continue their education at St.
Mary’s Ryken. The Advancement Office, along with
the students, faculty and administration, expresses our
gratitude to all of you.
With the guidance of our Board of Directors, each day
we make strides towards our vision of being one of the
best Catholic, college preparatory schools on the East
Coast. With each gift, large or small, we are leading
the way. Please know that St. Mary’s Ryken is a most
worthy recipient of your philanthropy, and your gifts
have been wisely invested and stewarded properly.
Members of the Class of 1959 from
St. Mary’s Academy (pictured above) and
Ryken High School (pictured below)
During the 2010 school year, we will face many
challenges and many rewards. Yet, we find comfort
knowing that we have been blessed with an incredible
faculty and administration; enthusiastic students; and
caring alumni, parents and friends to help us lead the
way towards another successful year.
Sincerely,
§
K. Leanne Sanders
Director of Advancement
Members of the Class of 1984
at this year’s graduation ceremony
Meet the Advancement Team
Front row, from the left:
Renea Doyle, advancement
services manager; Denise
Krumenacker, director of
communications; Suzannne
Taylor, director of alumni
relations. Standing: Bob
Harmon, director of
admissions and Leanne
Sanders, director of
advancement.
2 St. Mary’s Ryken
The St. Mary’s Ryken
Board of Directors 2008-09
Mr. James Cornelsen
Chairman of the Board
President
Old Line Bank
Bowie, Md.
Dr. Keith A. Crowley
Assistant Principal
Xaverian Brothers High School
Westwood, Mass.
Mrs. Rosalie Hooper
Vice President
Hooper & Associates
Waldorf, Md.
Mr. J. Ernest Bell II, Esq. ’59
Attorney, private practice
Leonardtown, Md.
Brother Edward F. Driscoll, CFX
Principal
St. Xavier High School
Louisville, Ky.
Mr. Scott Bowling ’81
Attorney
Chapman, Bowling & Scott
LaPlata, Md.
Mr. Duncan Farmer, Esq. ’64
Principal & Attorney
Burger, Trailor, Farmer & Cohen
West Palm Beach, Fla.
Brother Cornelius Hubbuch, CFX
Principal Emeritus,
Ryken High School
Xaverian Brothers Generalate
Baltimore, Md.
Mr. Donald B. Burch
Vice President, Operations
Burch Oil Company
Hollywood, Md.
Dr. Teresa Fazio
Logistics Branch Head
Propulsion & Power
Naval Air Systems Command
Patuxent River, Md.
Mrs. Leigh Ann Candela Keller ’83
President
Travel Leaders /
Waldorf Action Travel Tours
Waldorf, Md.
Mr. Glenn Gass ’67
Project Engineer & Consultant
Leonardtown, Md.
Dr. Bruce K. Lloyd ’64
Cardiologist
Georgetown University Hospital
Washington, D.C.
Mr. James M. Burke ’86
Senior Vice President
Community Bank of Tri-County
Waldorf, Md.
Dr. Gladys I. Camp
Principal
Thomson Elementary School
Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Patricia Carruth ’88
Educator
Blessed Lambs School
Waldorf, Md.
Mrs. Mary Leigh Harless ’83
Civic volunteer
Lexington Park, Md.
Mrs. Alice Hession
Director of Sponsorship
Xaverian Brothers
Sponsored Schools
Mrs. Mary Joy Hurlburt
President
St. Mary’s Ryken
Mrs. Diane Mock
CPA and Partner
Bridgett, Mock & Associates
Waldorf, Md.
Mr. Leonard R. Raley ’74
President and CEO
University System of Maryland
Foundation
Adelphi, Md.
Mr. William C. Reuter Jr.
Vice President, Administration &
Development
DCS Corporation
Lexington Park, Md.
Mr. Robert A. Russell ’57
Senior Program Manager
Wyle Labs
Lexington Park, Md.
Brother Rodney Sulzer, CFX
Retired administrator
St. Mary’s Ryken
Venice, Fla.
Mrs. Carolyn Williamson
Xaverian Brothers Sponsors Schools,
Corporate member
Retired Faculty, St. Mary’s Ryken
Leonardtown, Md.
Mr. Michael Mummaugh
President
Paragon Properties
Leonardtown, Md.
Phase I Construction
Beginning in 2004 with the Middle States
Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
reaccreditation process, the St. Mary’s Ryken
leadership embarked on a strategic planning
process that sought to answer the question: How
best can we advance the mission of St. Mary’s
Ryken for decades to come?
A long-range strategic master plan for the
school was formed, and, in June 2009, Phase
A view of field from the top row of the stadium
I commenced with the groundbreaking for the
stadium, track and field. Photos of the construction progress are on the Web site at www.smrhs.org. Click on “Media Gallery”
at the top of the home page and then click on the “Strategic Plan Progress” channel.
2008-2009 Annual Report 3
Accolad es for the Class of 2009
•
Students received offers of admission from 173
different colleges and universities and 13 offers
of admission into college and university honors
programs
•
Almost 60% of the class received scholarship offers
(academic and athletic) totaling over $9.2 million
and approximately 20% of the class had offers
totaling $100,000 or more
•
Four students were named Commended Scholars
by the National Merit Scholarship Program - a
distinction bestowed on about 3% of all high
school seniors; 13 students were named Maryland
Distinguished Scholars (nine in academics, four in
fine arts); and 23 were named AP Scholars
The following awards were
presented at graduation on
May 26, 2009:
Brother Clyde Student
Athlete Award
Erin Leddy and
Kyle Nazarek
Sister Sara Ann Abell Service
Award
Tarah Romano
Brother Ronald Lang, CFX
Service Award
Daniel Burke
St. Mary’s Ryken Knight
Award
Addison Goodley and
Katherine Leard
Brother Lambert Award for
Academic Excellence
Jacquelyn Blake-Hedges
Cardinal’s Citizenship
Award
Katherine Leard
Xaverian Award
Addison Goodley
The members of the Class of 2009 enrolled in the following four-year colleges and universities:
Albright College
Auburn University
Berklee School of Music
Brown University
Catholic University of America
Chapman University
ClaflinUniversity
Coastal Carolina University
College of Charleston
College of Mount St. Vincent
College of William and Mary
Dean College
Drexel University
East Carolina University
Elon University
Emory and Henry College
Flagler College
FloridaInstituteofTechnology
Frederick Community College
Frostburg State University
Gannon University
10 St. Mary’s Ryken
George Washington University
GeorgiaInstituteofTechnology
Hartwick College
High Point University
Immaculata University
Indiana University
James Madison University
Johnson and Wales University
Liberty University
Mary Baldwin College
Meredith College
Millersville University
Missouri State University
Mount St. Mary’s University
North Carolina A & T University
Norwich University
OklahomaChristianUniversity
Radford University
Randolph Macon College
Roanoke College
RochesterInstituteofTechnology
SaintAugustine’sCollege
Salisbury University
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Stevenson University
Strayer University
Thiel College
Towson University
United States Air Force Academy
United States Military Academy
West Point
United States Naval Academy
UniversalTechnicalInstitute
University of Alabama
University of Delaware
University of Maryland
BaltimoreCounty
University of Maryland
College Park
University of Maryland
Eastern Shore
University of Mississippi
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina
Charlotte
University of North Carolina
Greensboro
University of Rochester
University of Vermont
University of Wyoming
Villanova University
Virginia Commonwealth
University
Virginia Tech
Washington College
West Virginia University
Wingate University
Winthrop University
WorcesterPolytechnicInstitute
XavierUniversity(Ohio)
York College of Pennsylvania
XBSS Orator
Jacquelyn Blake-Hedges
St. Catherine
of Alexandria Parish
Port Tobacco, Md.
Our
stud ents
are our best
asset
Class Speaker
Addison Goodley
St. Aloysius Parish
Leonardtown, Md.
•
96% of seniors
take the SAT more than twice
the national
average
•
76% of seniors
take four years of
math (three are
required), over
90% of seniors
take a fourth year
of science (three
are required)
•
In the 2008-09
academic year,
there were 661
participants in
sports.
•
Each year,
almost 70% of
the student body
participates in a
sport and SMR
student-athletes
have an average
3.5 GPA.
•
In 2008-09,
students
completed
9,000 hours of
Christian service
- 3,000 more than
what is required.
Seven students in the Class of 2009 received athletic scholarships and
each will play in his/her respective sport:
Patrick Brennan
Lauren Feusahrens
lacrosse
lacrosse
United States Military
Academy, West Point
R.J. Buck
University of North
Carolina A&T
basketball
University of North
Carolina
Erin Leddy
Mount St. Mary’s
University
softball
Kyle Nazerek
United States
Air Force Academy
lacrosse
Oluseun Sanusi
Hartwick University
(Oneonta, N.Y.)
soccer
Evan Ryan
United States Military
Academy, West Point
prep
lacrosse
A
Family Tradition
Pictured below are Alumni whose children are members of the Class of 2009.
Front row (from the left): Tammy Dean ’83; Ann Kovalcik ’78; Beverly Bailey ’80; Amy
Woodall Quade ’77; Trish Schiele ’78
Second row of chairs (from the left): Mike Dean ’83; Chris Cooke ’80; Thomas Bennett ’53;
James Boyd ’67; David Hamilton ’82
Standing (from the left): Victoria Dean ’09; Jacob Cooke ’09; Maura Kovalcik ’09; Chris
Bennett ’09; Victoria Fitzgerald ’09; Tom Bennett ’74; John Boyd ’09; Maggie Quade ’09;
Rayner Blair ’75; Tara Hamilton ’09; Kenneth Allston ’77; Jessica Allston ’09; Katelyn
Schiele ’09
2008-2009 Annual Report 11
En dowm ents a n d Schola rsh i ps
Through the continued generosity of alumni, parents and friends, St. Mary’s Ryken is able to offer tuition
assistance to academically talented students who may otherwise be unable to attend the school. Thank
you for your support of our students and of Catholic education.
The Sean Brady Memorial Scholarship Fund
Established in 1992 by Thomas W. Brady and Eileen F.
Valentine in memory of their son, Sean, a member of the Class
of 1992. Two awards are made annually: one scholarship is
awarded to a current student with financial need; and a second
to a graduating senior for college tuition.
The Laurie Collins Scholarship Fund
Established to honor the memory of Laurie, a member of
the Class of 1992 who demonstrated a love of school, family
and church. Scholarships are awarded to incoming students
who demonstrate academic achievement and participation in
extracurricular activities.
The James Dobry Scholarship Endowment
Created by Mr. Dobry in 2003 to provide financial assistance
for students from St. Mary’s County. Awards are based on
both academic merit and financial need.
The Kenneth B. Duke Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund
Established by family members to honor Kenneth, a 1939
graduate of St. Mary’s Academy. The fund provides financial
assistance to two students enrolling as freshmen.
The Margaret Powers Ellis Scholarship
Established by the Hurlburt Family in memory of Peggy Ellis
to honor her life-long commitment to Catholic education.
Awards will be made to students with strong academic
backgrounds and a demonstrated need for financial assistance.
The William & Violet Fenwick Scholarship
Established by the Fenwick family in 2006 to honor the
memory and continue the legacy of their parents, William and
Violet, who were committed to Catholic education. Awards
will be made to students with strong academic backgrounds
and a demonstrated need for financial assistance.
The Gabe and Joyce Gabrelcik & Sons
Scholarship Endowment
Established by the Gabrelciks in 2005 to honor the memory
of Bob Gabrelcik, a member of the Ryken High School Class
of 1971. Bob was dedicated to Catholic education and very
generous in his financial assistance for students. Students
must demonstrate both academic achievement and financial
need.
12 St. Mary’s Ryken
The Joseph Marion Gough Endowment
Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Gough, a 1945 St. Mary’s
Academy graduate and father of two alumnae, personified
commitment to Catholic education and citizenship in St.
Mary’s County. This fund, established by his estate in 2006,
will provide assistance for those students who desire a St.
Mary’s Ryken education and have financial need.
The GPG Scholarship Fund
Created in 2007 by four recent graduates - two brothers and
two of their classmates - who felt very fortunate that their
parents sacrificed to give them the benefit of a Catholic
education. The scholarship will be awarded to a well-rounded
scholar who would otherwise be unable to afford St. Mary’s
Ryken. The recipient will be academically talented and will
carry himself or herself with dignity in all academic pursuits
and extracurricular activities.
The George and Eleanor Raley Scholarship Fund
Established in 2004 by the Raley family in honor their
parents, George and Eleanor Alvey Raley. Mr. and Mrs. Raley
were strong advocates for Catholic education, sending all six
of their sons to Ryken High School. Mrs. Raley was a 1936
graduate of St. Mary’s Academy and Mr. Raley served as the
Supervisor of Maintenance at RHS and SMR from 19791991. Awards will be made to students who are residents of St.
Mary’s County, primarily on the basis of financial need.
The Brother Romuald Stuedle, CFX, Scholarship Fund
Established by the Class of 1998 in memory of Brother Rom,
a devoted faculty member who taught chemistry and physics,
and coached several sports during his long tenure at St. Mary’s
Ryken. This fund awards a scholarship to a rising senior who
demonstrates academic achievement, financial need and
community involvement.
The John D. Yamnicky Sr. Memorial Scholarship
Established to honor the memory of this former parent and
member of the Board of Directors who lost his life at the
Pentagon on September 11, 2001. The purpose of this fund is
to provide a scholarship for an academically talented student
with financial need.
Distin guished Alum ni Award
Mr. Alfred Gough, III receives inaugural award and shares his story of screenwriting success
In today’s society, role models can be difficult to come by.
Students usually turn to pop stars or sports starts for inspiration.
But, how about providing them with a role model who was once
just like them?
That’s what the newly established Distinguished Alumni Award
aims to do - honor the accomplishments of outstanding St.
Mary’s Ryken graduates and celebrate their serving as positive
role models to inspire today’s students. The inaugural award
was presented this past May to Mr. Alfred “Al” Gough, III ’85.
Bitten by the acting bug in the SMR Drama Club (moderated
at that time by faculty member Mr. Robert Durbin), Al kept
drama as a hobby and went on to graduate from Catholic
University with a major in finance. He was working in public
relations in New York and in the process of applying to graduate
business schools when he remembered his dream.
“I thought, if I don’t go to film school now, I’ll never go,” he
Al Gough shared memories from his time at St. Mary’s Ryken
with the students.
said. So, within a matter of days, he packed up his car, headed
to California and enrolled in the School of Cinematic Arts at
the University of Southern California. He’s been working
steadily as a screenwriter and producer ever since. Producer
of the recent Hannah Montana movie, Al is probably better
known for creating, co-writing, and executive producing
seasons 1-7 of Smallville. He also co-wrote scripts for,
among others, Spider-Man 2, The Mummy: Tomb of the
Dragon Emperor, Shanghai Nights, Shanghai Noon and Lethal
Weapon 4.
Al shared his experiences with the students during two
assemblies and then opened the floor for questions. The
students, seeing their chance, barraged him with questions
about Hollywood, both personal and professional. They
learned that the script that was the most difficult to write
and took the longest was The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon
Distinguished Alumnus Al Gough (center) with two of his mentors:
Mrs. Carolyn Williamson and Mr. Bob Durbin.
Emperor, which took “about 30 drafts.” Shanghai Nights was the
most fun to write and Owen Wilson is his favorite actor to work
with. He politely demurred to answer the “How much money
do you make?” question.
“I would not be where I am today without some amazing
teachers,” he emphasizes. “Bob Durbin gave me my first
directing job and allowed me to fail without judgement; Harry
Hafer taught me that passion + vision equals success...and,
finally, Carolyn Williamson taught me that chasing dreams isn’t
crazy or just for other people.”
Al sheepishly admits that his “fondest memories of St. Marys
Ryken are - wanting to leave! This isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy
my time there (I did.), but I have known what I wanted to do
since I was 15 years old. The irony is, for all my time spent
wanting out, I spend almost every day of my professional life
trying to get back in! That’s what I do as a screenwriter, try to
access my inner teenager. I will always cherish my time at SMR
- and wish that I had taken better notes!”
The Drama Club in 1985.
Back row, on the far right, are Mr. Durbin and Al Gough.
Save the Date
To volunteer or for more information, please contact the
Advancement Office at 301-373-4182 or at
[email protected].
RHS Tailgate - Feb. 9, 2010
The Annual Spring Gala - Mar. 27, 2010
The SMR Fight Song Contest
Make school history by creating The St. Mary’s Ryken Knights’ Fight
Song. Deadline for submissions is January 4, 2010. More information
and the rules can be found at www.smrhs.org. Click on the Athletics tab
and then on The SMR Fight Song Contest in the blue bar on the left-hand
side.
A Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School
A CATHOLIC COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
22600 Camp Calvert Rd.
Leonardtown, MD 20650
w w w.smrhs.org