January 2013 - Everest Catholic

Everest Collegiate High School & Academy
THE MOUNTAINEER
January - August 2013
Come visit Everest! Schedule your personal tour today!
Contact Maura Plante at: 248.241.9012 or [email protected]
In the World, Not of the World
Semper Altius!
As you will read in this edition of The Mountaineer, many remarkable events happened this past year and are
already planned for next year, such as the beginning of the Everest Collegiate High School football team this
fall!
With everything going on I cannot be more proud to announce the graduation of our second senior class
of Everest Collegiate High School in May. The twenty-two seniors achieved an average ACT score of 25.05,
well above the state and national averages, and were offered $1.8 million in college scholarship. Valedictorian
Benjamin Bates became our first National Merit Scholarship Finalist and Angela DiLaura received a National
Merit Scholarship Letter of Commendation.
At the beginning of this school year Everest Collegiate High School was named as a Top 50 Catholic High
School in the Unites States by The Cardinal Newman Society. This recognition is bestowed to schools for
their excellence in Catholic identity, academics, and civic education. It acknowledges institutional commitment to providing a truly integrated and faithful Catholic education across all disciplines and in all areas of
student activities. We feel very blessed to receive this high honor.
Semper Altius! (Always Higher!) is the constant motivator at Everest. For us, excellence is a journey and not
a destination. Part of the journey for two of our high school faculty members, Mrs. Laura Smith (Science)
and Mr. Shane Dabney (Faith and Revelation), was for them to attend the 2013 Steno Learning Program in
Faith and Science. The program is named after Blessed Nicholas Steno (1638-1686) a Catholic scientist who
made numerous contributions to anatomy, paleontology, geology and crystallography.
The program emphasized an understanding of faith, natural philosophy and science in contemporary magisterial teaching beginning with Vatican II, Blessed John Paul II’s discourse on science and Catholic Faith,
and Joseph Ratzinger’s sermons on Genesis. It also included a review of natural philosophy in the Catholic
tradition, with Augustine and Aquinas. Participants included Bob Laird, Director of Programs at The Cardinal Newman Society who stated “The Steno Learning Program brings together not only outstanding faculty
from Catholic high schools, but also a second-to-none faculty where the teachers can sit side-by-side in the
classroom and dining room with these eminent Catholic thinkers.” Mrs. Smith and Mr. Dabney are now
charged with providing in-service on what they experienced to the rest of the Everest faculty.
As we continue our mission of shaping leaders that are transforming society according to the standards
of the Gospel we invite you to be a part of the Everest experience by visiting our website and blog at www.
everest-clarkston.org.
I look forward to seeing you at our first home football game Saturday, August
31st as we take on Auburn Hills Oakland Christian beginning at 7:00 pm. Come
early and enjoy the tailgating experience!
Go Mountaineers!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Michael J. Nalepa
Executive Director
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Magazine Editor & Writer - Chelsea Gheesling
Front Cover Photo - www.marekd.com
Magazine Designer - Anne Dziekonska
Back Cover Photo - www.tylerroz.com
There are so many aspects of the workings of a school that have significant
impact on the overall effectiveness, life, and culture of the school community.
Some of the most obvious factors include the maintenance of a robust curriculum, the acquisition of an excellent, mission-oriented faculty, the ability to provide a safe and orderly learning environment, and the building of a community
allowing the school and the parent to work in tandem for the education of all
students. Each of these elements, and many more, receive a significant level of
focus at Everest Collegiate High School & Academy in order that we can provide
the best possible education and formation for all of our students. Underlying
these specific qualities at any school, however, is a set of philosophical premises
that guide and direct the school’s development of these traits. At Everest, our
school’s mission is to aid in the formation of Christian leaders who will transform society according to the standards of the Gospel. Our mission is based on
the philosophy of Christian Humanism, which says that the person of Jesus Christ, His life, His actions, and
His teachings are the model and guide for all of mankind.
An adage that I believe has great bearing on our direction as an institution is that we are called to be ‘In the
world, but not of the World.’ This saying is derived from the Gospel of John 17: 13-16. This is part of what
has been referred to as Jesus’s high priestly prayer given to the twelve apostles at the end of his final discourse to them following the Last Supper. In this prayer to God the Father, overheard by his disciples, Christ
speaks of His followers as being “no more of the world than I am of the world” and being hated because of
this. He also prays that His followers “not be taken out of the world; rather that the Father protects them
from the evil one.”
We view the person of Christ as the model of all mankind. This is the model by which we define our school,
so we must strive to understand these words as they relate to our educational undertaking. If we are truly
honest about our faith and about our intellectual and spiritual pursuits as Catholic Christians, this Gospel
passage calls us, like Christ, to be countercultural. This world is fleeting; we are here simply as pilgrims en
route to the celestial city – to borrow the extended metaphor from one of the classics read by our high school
students, John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. Life’s distractions, however, are many and alluring, making it
very difficult for us to concentrate on our main calling as Christians - that of emulating and drawing closer
to Christ, our model, in hopes of one day uniting ourselves and others to Him in heaven. These distractions,
ranging from misplaced interests to overt vice, may initially seem acceptable because of the increasing moral
permissiveness in our society; however, it is imperative that we maintain a singular focus on Christ, His life,
His words, and His actions if we are to discern how best to live within the world, without being of the world.
It is our goal at Everest Collegiate High School & Academy to model our community and our institution
around these Christ-centered principles. Whereas Christ is very clear that we are not a people of the world,
He also does not want us taken out of the world. We find out further in verses 17 & 18 that Christ’s prayer is
to “consecrate them in truth, and your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the
world.” We are then His apostles, and as a school it is also our goal to seek and to be consecrated in the truth
of God’s word. It is through our adherence to the truths set forth in scripture and further defined by the holy
Catholic Church that we are able to accomplish our apostolic mission as a Catholic school. By administering
a faith-filled curriculum that seeks to impart the beauty, splendor, and order of God’s creation; by providing faculty and staff who pursue a deeper understanding of the world around us while also illustrating for
our students their own divine purpose and profound responsibilities; by teaching our students the higher
principles that must guide and direct their thoughts, words, and actions in order to provide a safe, formative
learning environment; by working together with our families to live the faith responsibly and to educate our
students accordingly; and by framing all aspects of our life as a school in this way, we strive to accomplish a
profound educational mission.
At Everest we do not model our system, our beliefs, or our activities after the prevailing mentalities of the
world around us. We also do not disregard the many harmful realities of the world that our students will encounter on a daily basis. Life’s many iniquities do bear upon us, but we strive to keep Christ as our model, to
be reflected in all four pillars of our education – the intellectual, the human, the spiritual, and the apostolic.
As the Father sent Him into the world, so too are we called to be in the world, leading others beyond this
world to our final destination, heaven.
Yours in Christ,
Gregory Reichert
Principal - Middle & High School
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Benjamin Bates
Recognition Award
Scholar Athlete
Co-Founders Award
National Honor Society
Summa Cum Laude
Valedictorian
Blake Beauchamp
Recognition Award
Scholar Athlete
Co-Founders Award
National Honor Society
Magna Cum Laude
Salutatorian
Integer Award
Blake Burgess
Recognition Award
Scholar Athlete
Co-Founders Award
National Honor Society
Cum Laude
Richard Cross
Recognition Award
Leadership Award
Co-Founders Award
National Honor Society
Cum Laude
Angela DiLaura
Scholar Athlete
Co-Founders Award
National Honor Society
Magna Cum Laude
St. Agnes Award
Valedictorian
Class of 2013
Gabriel Fenske
Recognition Award
Senior Distinguished Service Award
Co-Founders Award
Morgan Rendell
Drama Recognition Award
Co-Founders Award
Mitchell Lasceski
Recognition Award
Co-Founders Award
Katharina Schatz
Co-Founders Award
Nicholas Greene
Co-Founders Award
Monica Lee
Co-Founders Award
Victoria Slack
Co-Founders Award
Integer Award
Sarah Harlan
Co-Founders Award
Cum Laude
Elise Mansour
Recognition Award
Co-Founders Award
David Smith
Co-Founders Award
Jennifer Hettrick
Senior Distinguished Service Award
Co-Founders Award
Cum Laude
Benjamin Marcial
Recognition Award
Drama Recognition Award
Apostolic Service Award
Co-Founders Award
Eric Suran
Co-Founders Award
Cum Laude
St. Paul Award
Thomas Lannen
Recognition Award
Co-Founders Award
Sarina Nallamothu
Recognition Award
Leadership Award
Co-Founders Award
Cum Laude
Kristen Engbarth
Co-Founders Award
Diana Zott
Apostolic Service Award
Senior Distinguished Service Award
Co-Founders Award
Check out the list of colleges to which Everest graduates have been accepted:
1. Albion College
10. Franciscan University of Steubenville
2. Alma College
11. Grand Valley State University
3. Aquinas College
12. Holy Cross College
4. Ave Maria University
13. Hope College
5. Ball State University
14. Indiana University 6. Bellarmine University
Purdue University of Indianapolis
7. Calvin College
15. Kalamazoo College
8. Central Michigan University
16. Kettering University
9. Concordia College
17. Lawrence Technological University
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18. Lone Star Community College
19. Loyola University
20. Madonna University
21. Mater Ecclesiae College
22. Michigan State University
23. Mount Saint Mary’s University
24. Oakland Community College
25. Oakland University
26. Rochester College
27. Saginaw Valley State University
28. Spring Arbor University
29. St. Joseph College
30. Texas A&M
31. Texas Tech
32. University of Alabama
33. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
34. University of Michigan - Flint
35. University of Southern California
36. Western Michigan University
37. Wooster College
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Prepared to Lead
Everest believes in the integral formation of students by providing a challenging curriculum
National Junior Honor Society
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom’s Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society held their first Induction Ceremony on
Thursday, February 28, 2013. There were 74 middle school
inductees! These students met all the requirements in five
areas: scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship, and character. Mass preceded the ceremony and during the ceremony
each student was recognized and received a certificate of
membership. The advisor, Mrs. Roberts, and all of the faculty
and staff are very proud of these students! EA Year End Awards
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Perfect Attendance
3G LiLianna LeVigne
Olivia Massarello
Emily Surmann
3B Drake Mersino
4B Anthony Felix
Nathan Freundl
Joseph Fritzam
Jack Lasceski
Nolan Massarello
5G Kate Funke
6G Kendall Beauchamp
Grace Lowney
6B Mitchel Lowney
Nathan Massarello
7G Athena LeVigne
Katya Dominguez
7B Nick Plonski
8G Brooke Beauchamp
8B Gunther Schutz
Northwestern University’s Midwest Academic
Talent Search Recognition Award
5B Adam Dolan
7B Derek Dobies
Shane Dolan
Sportsmanship
3G Olivia Massarello
3B Lucas Cross 4G Katrina Earnhardt 4B Jackson Dueweke 5G Kate Funke 5B Patrick Dobies
6G
6B
7G
7B
8G
8B
Katerie Thibodeau
Mitch Rozwadowski
Katya Dominguez
J C James
Clare Nalepa
Ryan Genord
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AWARDS
English as a Second Language
6G Sara Visoso 7B Alberto Backoff
6B Jose Contro
8G Adriana Arizpe
7G Alejandra Gonzalez 8B Ivan Flores
Leadership
3G Therese Allard
3B Jimmy Neme
4G Danielle Brown
4B Adam Dolan
5G Margaret Allard
5B Tim McNeil
6G
6B
7G
7B
8G
8B
Serra Lowney
Shane Dolan
Serena Carter
Nick Dueweke
Sarah Stafford
Alexander Legg
Apostolic
8G Kathryn Steel
8B Thomas Thibodeau
Semper Altius
3G Celine Legg
3B Jake Jackson
4G Daniella Mirjah
4B Michael McGrath
5G Rachel Scott
5B Joel Holmyard
6G
6B
7G
7B
8G
8B
Rachel Beltowski
Nathan Massarello
Caitlyn Quinn
Matthew Sitto
Madeline Allard
Joseph McMahon
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AWARDS
Command of English Language
6B Jose Manuel Gonzalez 8G Fernanda Del Bosque
7G Dominga Eguiguren 8B Ivan Yanez
7B Luis Sierra
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AWARDS
Study of American Culture
6G Sofia Perez Teuffer 7B Juan Contro
6B Yunkyu Lee
8G Paulina Lopez
7G Mariana Ibarrola 8B Abraham Baidon
Academic Excellence
3G Brooke Cousins 3B Sawyer Arbogast 4G Danielle Brown 4B Michael McGrath
5G Sophie Mehta 5B Christopher Rea
6G
6B
7G
7B
8G
8B
Principal’s Award
8G Madeline Allard 8B Benjamin Essensa
Fr. Gomez Award
8B Alexander Legg
Kendall Beauchamp
Shane Dolan
Regina DeNigris
Alex Cousins
Madeline Allard
Benjamin Essensa
Ancient Egyptian Museum
Math Club
Our 2012-2013 first
graders enjoyed learning
about ancient Egypt last
year. The children created
their own artifacts and
showcased them at our
Ancient Egyptian Museum.
The first graders created
exhibits with the artifacts
and presented information to their parents. The
exhibits included: Egyptian
daily life, Egyptian bread,
pyramids, the Nile River,
clothing and jewelry. In
addition, the children also
presented a short story
about Moses and displayed
the 10 Commandments
pillars that they created. Our students enjoyed sharing their knowledge about
ancient Egypt as well as
dressing up like Egyptians!
In February and May the
middle school students
in Michigan Math League
(MML), participated in a
state wide competition. The math club adviser Mrs. Roberts, would like
thank all the students
that participated in the
contest. She would also
like to congratulate the
top contestants from each
grade level. Algebra Winners
1st: Fernanda Del Bosque
2nd: Madeline Allard
3rd (tie): Sarah Stafford
Meredith Parker
6th Grade Winners
1st: Taylor Lenz
2nd (tie): Rachel Beltowski
Anna Beer
8th Grade Winners
1st: Madeline Allard
2nd: Fernanda Del Bosque
3rd: Clare Nalepa
Middle School Honors Band
Thank you to Clare Nalepa
for writing about her experience in the Middle School
Honors Band. So without
further ado…
On Saturday, May 4, three
Everest Academy band
students had the privilege
of participating in the
Michigan State Band and
Orchestra Association (MSBOA) Honors Band: Clare
Nalepa (8th grade), Maddie Allard (8th grade), and
Alex Czarnecki (7th grade).
The day began with band
students converging at
Milford High School from
all over the metro area, 72
students in all, at 8 am.
As soon as we arrived, we
signed in, got our concert
t-shirts, and sat down in
the auditorium. When we
received our section seatings, we began to rehearse
our 5 pieces. After 4 hours
of practicing, we paused
for lunch. We then got the
privilege to listen to a professional jazz band. It was
fantastic! As soon as the
musicians packed up their
instruments, we sat down
for another 3 hours of
music. The guest director,
Susan Gould, was a great
teacher. The practices
weren’t stressful at all.
Instead, she made them
fun by cracking jokes and
making the whole situation
very comfortable. The time
passed quickly, and soon
enough we had already
finished dinner and were
getting dressed for the concert. One of the composers
of our music was able to
give us pointers on his song,
and attend our concert. The
concert was the best I have
heard, and went off without
a hitch.
The chance to attend this
Honors Band was a once in
a lifetime chance that I am
sure none of us will ever
forget. To be with a complete band/ orchestra was
great. We had every single
instrument a music lover
could ask for: bass clarinets,
French horns, bass, a huge
percussion section, trumpets, bassoons, and then
the regular band instruments. It was a great experience that I will remember
forever.
Music
In March, the 6th grade
choir students wrote essays entitled ‘What music
means to me…’ as part of
our Music in Our Schools
Month activities. The
essays were judged on
grammar, structure, and
original thoughts. The
winners of this year’s essay
contest were Katelyn Allen
(6G) and Chase Smith (6B). The winners received an
iTunes gift card and a giant
Symphony bar. Congratulations!
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Benjamin Bates
Prepared to Lead
Photo by www.marekd.com
2013 Valedictorian of EC
Boys’ School
Brightest & Best
Honoree
National Merit Scholar
Finalist
Ben Bates, Valedictorian of Everest
Collegiate Boys’ High School Class of 2013 is a National Merit Scholar Finalist
and is representing Everest this year as a
Brightest and Best honoree.
Everest Collegiate Valedictorian
Ben Bates graduated as class valedictorian from Everest Collegiate High
School in Clarkston. He spent three
years on the varsity golf team and four
on the varsity soccer team. He participated in the drama program at Everest
for the past four years.
Texas A&M Univeristy Student
He will be attending the Honors
Engineering program at Texas A&M
University this fall. He plans to be a
petroleum engineer, working to develop energy resources in our country.
Brightest and Best Honoree
Ben Bates is representing Everest
Academy this year as a Brightest and
Best honoree.
Semper Altius
Always Higher
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Brightest and Best is WXYZ’s 34-year
tradition recognizing the academic
achievements of graduating seniors
from high schools across metro
Detroit. Each year, Channel 7 hosts a
special event at WXYZ-TV and invites more than 250 honorees and
their families to attend. There was a
segment aired on Channel 7 in June
featuring the Brightest and Best.
National Merit Scholar Finalist
Ben Bates was selected as one of only
15,000 National Merit Finalists in the
country. The incredible honor involved
more than a qualifying high score on
the PSAT; it took years of dedicated
work on Ben’s part, producing high
grades in a rigorous curriculum, and
making himself a standout among
some 1.5 million entrants.
In September, Ben was notified of his
status as Semifinalist, meaning he was
one of the highest scoring entrants in
the state of Michigan. Then in February he received his certificate in the
mail announcing that he is a Finalist.
In the following months, the National
Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)
notified approximately 8,300 Finalists
that they are National Merit Scholars,
winning an award of up to $2,500 and
eligibility for other scholarships. But
this pales in comparison to the scholarships and awards offered to NMS
Finalists by Texas A&M University, the
Student of Honors
Engineering Program at
Texas A&M University
school Ben plans to attend this fall.
The University gives nearly $100,000
in scholarships and awards to out-ofstate Finalists, without requiring Merit
Scholar status.
The National Merit® Scholarship
Program is an academic competition
for recognition and scholarships that
began in 1955. High school students
enter the National Merit Program by
taking the Preliminary SAT/National
Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
(PSAT/NMSQT®)—a test which serves
as an initial screen of approximately
1.5 million entrants each year–and by
meeting published program entry/participation requirements. The mission
of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is to recognize and honor
the academically talented students of
the United States.
Congratulations on these achievements, Ben! You have earned every bit
of this recognition, and the tuition aid
that comes with it!
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Paws at Everest for Reading Month
On Wednesday, March 27th, the Detroit Tigers’ mascot
PAWS visited Everest Academy. PAWS was invited to
come to Everest by the Duke Taylor Family to read to
the students since March is Reading Month. A narrator
read the classic “Casey at Bat” while PAWS acted out
the story. The kids, young and old, loved it! Thank you
Taylor family for hosting this fun event!
Hello Dolly
Dr. Aileen Cronin directed the EC Drama Club’s second fantastic production of the school year with the Drama Club.
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Elementary Choral Festival
Fourth graders Emma Skalitzky and Nathan Freundl
participated in the Elementary Choral Festival held at
Groves High School in Beverly Hills, MI. 80 students
from four different local schools participated. They
rehearsed three songs and performed for parents and
teachers. They had a great time, and Nathan even got to
play a xylophone for the performance! They represented Everest well and hope more students will participate
from Everest next year.
Prom
Everest seniors and juniors had a lot of fun dancing the
night away and naming their Prom King and Queen!
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Everest Collegiate Student-Athletes Honored by Detroit
Catholic League
The Everest Collegiate and Academy community would
like to congratulate the following EC Student-Athletes
who were recognized by the CHSL Coaches Association
this week. Each athlete was recognized at their team’s
respective CHSL Championship Games.
EC Winter & Spring Athletics
If you were to ask an Everest Collegiate student to use
one word to describe the Mountaineers’ winter and
spring sports seasons, they would say “CHAMPIONSHIPS.” Here is why:
2013 Girls Basketball – League and District Champions
2013 Boys Basketball – League and District Champions
2013 Ice Hockey – League Champions
2013 Competitive Cheer – Catholic League and District
Champions
2013 Girls Tennis – Number 2 singles Catholic League
Champion and Number 1 singles Regional Champion
(Freshman Carly Sutkiewicz)
2013 Boys Golf – League Champions and District Medalist (Senior David Smith)
2013 Girls Softball – League and District Champions
2013 Baseball – District Champions
2013 Girls Soccer – League, Catholic League, District and
Regional Champions and State Finalist, losing 2-1 in the
state championship game
2013 Boys Track – League Champions and Senior Gabe
Fenske and Sophomore Elliot Fenske were members of
the 1600 meter relay that set a new school record with a
time of 3:39.90.
In just 5 short years the trophy case is full. On behalf
of the entire Everest Community, a heart felt thank you
goes out to the coaches, athletes, parents and grandparents that have made this all possible.
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Hockey
All-Catholic: Chris Bradley
All-League: Ryan Bradley & Josh Essensa
Competitive Cheer
All-Catholic: Diana Zott
All-League: Tori Slack
Scholar Athlete: Monica Toohey
Girls Basketball
All-Catholic: Mary Jo Allen & Lucia Westrick
All-League: Angelina Mastromatteo & Kersten Engle
Scholar Athlete: Sarina Nallamothu
Honorable Mention: Claire Lasceski & Ashley Lowney
Coach of the Year: Mrs. Erin Van Wagoner
Boys Basketball
All-Catholic: Richie Cross, Blake Beauchamp & David
Smith
All-League: Mitch Lasceski & Ben Marcial
Scholar Athlete: Blake Beauchamp
Coach of the Year: Mrs. Ann Lowney
EC Athletes Honored for their Success this Spring
Congratulations to our EC Student-Athletes who were
recognized by the CHSL Men’s and Women’s Coaches Association this spring. Below is a list of who was honored
and what sport they play:
EC/OLL Baseball
Mitch Lasceski: All-Catholic
Steven Scott: All-Catholic
Sal Mastromatteo: All-Academic
EC/OLL Softball
Angie Mastromatteo: All-Catholic
Kathleen Balon: All-League
Ashley Lowney: All-League
EC/OLL Soccer
Megan Luttinen: All-League
EC/OLL Track
Elliot Fenske: All-League for the 4×100 relay
EC/OLL Golf
David Smith: All-Catholic
Ben Bates: All-Catholic
Tyler Rozwadowski: All-Catholic
Owen McMahon: All-League
EC/OLL Tennis
Carly Sutkiewicz: All-Catholic
EA Winter Athletics
This winter the EA athletic department decided
to add 3/4 grade competitive basketball to our
athletic options. The kids and parents loved wearing Everest jerseys and competing against other
Catholic schools. The teams did great. Although
the league didn’t keep score, our 3/4 girls team
made sure everyone knew they were undefeated.
As for the rest of the EA basketball teams, they
also had great seasons. Though no championships
were won, they learned a great deal and the future of the EA basketball teams looks promising.
EA Spring Athletics
Everest Academy spring athletics had very unfavorable weather to deal with this past spring.
Even though the conditions were a challenge the
athletes showed excitement and determination
to make the best of the season. Whether it was
cold, warm, wet or dry the athletes battled each
and every game to the end.
Our 7/8 grade baseball and softball teams and
our 4/5/6 softball team battled while playing
in a challenging athletic conference. Each day
the student athletes improved their skills while
representing Everest through their hard work and
dedication to their teammates and coaches.
Our 4/5/6 grade boys’ baseball teams came away
with success this year as our #1 squad was fortunate enough to win their division with an 8-1-1
record. The #2 squad started slow but wound up
closing out the season with 4 straight victories
against teams who had defeated them earlier in
the season.
Our middle school tennis team performed very
well on the courts this season. After only recently
starting this sport here at Everest the strides of
improvement are already being noticed by all of
their opponents.
Finally our middle school soccer team won their
division as Coach Haezebrouck and his boys defeated teams who were a year or two older than
them. It was a great way to send off our International boys with a well-deserved league title in
only their 2nd year in the division.
We look forward to a great summer break and to
a fall season of sports that begins in early August.
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Angels Among Us
Everest believes in the integral formation of students by providing spiritual formation.
Senior Trip to the Holy Land
Angela DiLaura, a senior at Everest Collegiate and a member of
the Immaculate Conception Program, reflected on her pilgrimage in the Holy Land through blog submissions. Angela was
with her classmates for their senior pilgrimage to the Holy Land
in Jerusalem, Israel during Holy Week. The following is one of
Angela’s blog submissions:
The sharp sound of a ringing telephone woke me up. I sighed
and turned over -- and looked directly into bright light. I
checked my watch: 6:00 AM. Ok, well then,
apparently it gets very light very early and
very quickly here in Israel. Moving quickly,
I packed up, grabbed some breakfast, and
headed out to the bus. Today is our last
day in Galilee; tonight we begin our stay in
Jerusalem.
By 8:00 AM, our bus was pulling up to
Capernaum. Father Daniel (Pajerski LC)
celebrated Mass in a beautiful chapel with
a glass floor... located directly above Simon
Peter’s house, the house where Jesus performed many miracles. After Mass we ran
over to the ruins of Capernaum’s synagogue.
There, Father read us the Bread of Life discourse (John 6:53-59). In this passage Christ
makes the famous statement, “Unless you
eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink
his blood, you do not have life within you.” The passage ends
with John saying, “These things he said while teaching in the
synagogue in Capernaum.” We were standing right where Jesus
Christ stood when he began to preach about the Eucharist. (Cool or what!?!)
We moved on quickly to the Mount of Beatitudes and explored
the Church built on the summit and the area around it. Our
guide Amer told us that it is likely Christ actually stood at the
Catechism Contest
It is Everest’s hope that the
contest encourages our
students to study and know
their faith. In the Prologue
to the Catechism of the
Catholic Church, it states as
the purpose: “This catechism
aims at presenting an organic
synthesis of the essential
and fundamental contents of
Catholic doctrine, as regards
both faith and morals, in the
light of the Second Vatican
Council and the whole of the
Church’s Tradition.”
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Catechism Contest Winners
1st Grade – Miss Nilo
1st: Christian Lazzara
2nd: Lucy Thewes
3rd: Logan Kolodsick
1st Grade – Mrs. Massarello
1st: Ethan Brodbeck
2nd: Alaina Byrne
3rd: Kathleen Thibodeau
2nd Grade – Mrs. Keusch
1st: Audrey Stafford
2nd: Frankie Mirjah
3rd: Paul Valentino
bottom of the slopes while the crowds stood above. If you are
quiet while standing at the top of the mountain, you can hear
the fishermen talking on the shore of the Sea. God probably
understood the acoustics of the area pretty well!
Then, we drove down the road a bit to Tabga, the site of the
location of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, where
we saw the rock where Christ preformed the miracle. We lit
candles for our intentions. Finally, we drove another few miles
down the road to the Church of the Primacy of Peter, where
Christ instituted the Papacy with the words,
“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build
my Church.” Inside was the huge rock where
Tradition says Jesus spoke with Peter. Outside we stepped into the Sea of Galilee, saw
the large heart-shaped rocks on the beach,
and picked up stones to bring home.
Before we went to lunch we took a boat ride
on the Sea of Galilee. The sun was beating down intensely, and it was very easy to
imagine St. Peter and the other apostles
working out in the sun. The air was humid
and thick; visibility was remarkably low. How
amazing to be out on the same water that
Jesus walked on!
In the afternoon, we left Galilee for Southern
Israel, where we visited the place where the
Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Finally, we drove a few more
miles to the shore of the Dead Sea, where we took a swim.
After we dried off, we headed to our new hotel in Jerusalem,
happy to spend the evening relaxing. Since we had a little bit of
extra free time, Father Daniel took several of us to the Church
of the Holy Sepulcher, which is only a 15-20 minute walk away
from the hotel. By the time we walked through the old city,
most of the vendors had closed up their shops. The people
were heading home, giving the city a more peaceful air.
2nd Grade – Mrs. Bourdeau
1st: Jenna Spadafora
2nd: Jose DeNigris
3rd: Jackson Plas
6-8th Grade Girls
1st: Maddie Allard
2nd: Sarah Stafford
3rd: Kendall Beauchamp
3-5th Grade Girls
1st: Mia Wayne
1st: McKenna Lenz
1st: Therese Allard
1st: Brooke Cousins
1st: Andrew Gonzalvo
6-8th Grade Boys
1st: Alex Cousins
2nd: Ben Essensa
3rd: Derek Dobies
3-5th Grade Boys
1st: Tyler Carnes-Williams
2nd: Sawyer Arbogast
3rd: Michael McGrath
Catholic Schools Week Mass
Students from EC and EA participated in
the annual Catholic Schools Week Mass
celebrated by Archbishop Vigneron at
Blessed Sacrament Cathedral on Thursday, January 24th. Fr. Daniel concelebrated the Mass and EC and EA students
had great front row seats.
Archbishop spoke in the homily about
the relationship between the priesthood and Catholic schools, that both are
about offering sacrifice and that being
in a Catholic school helps to provide an
environment where students can learn
to know what God’s plan is for them and
to be able to fulfill it.
At the end of the Mass the Archbishop
presented each school with a gift. Gabe
Fenske and Sarina Nallamothu received
the gift for EC. Mitch Lowney and Rachel Beltowski received the gift for EA.
Following the Mass they were able to
enjoy lunch together and celebrate being Everest students.
Catholic Schools Week
Students always enjoy the fun of Catholic Schools Week! It is packed full of
creative costumes, awards and exciting
competitions, which the children look
forward to participating in each year.
May Crowning
On May 3rd, Everest Academy celebrated the Month Of Mary with our First
Friday Mother’s Day and May Crowning Mass. Traditionally, some of our
First Communicants dress in their First
Communion clothes and present Mary
with flowers, while at the same time
we acknowledge our own mothers in a
special way. We are grateful that Jesus
gave us His mother as our own and we
are grateful for all of our mothers.
Our Lady of Consolation Pilgrimage
This spring, the Everest Academy Homeroom Mom Organization sponsored a
pilgrimage to the Basilica and National
Shrine of Our Lady Of Consolation in
Carey, Ohio.
Eucharistic Procession
The Eucharistic procession is an activity
in which the priest leads a procession of
the Blessed Sacrament to a designated
location where the faithful receive a
benediction, or blessing. The main
reason for the procession is to foster
a greater love for Jesus Christ who is
really present, Body, Blood, Soul, and
Divinity, in the Eucharist. No matter
what our specific responsibility is, our
common goal is to grow in our friendship with Christ and to help others to do
the same. There are many ways to do
this, but none is more helpful than our
contact with Him in the Eucharist.
Below is a short excerpt from Fr. John
Hardon’s The History of Eucharistic
Adoration.
“The only-begotten Son of God is to be
adored in the Holy Sacrament of the
Eucharist with the worship of latria,
including external worship. The Sacrament, therefore, is to be honored with
extraordinary festive celebrations (and)
solemnly carried from place to place in
processions according to the praiseworthy universal rite and custom of the holy
Church. The Sacrament is to be publicly
exposed for the people’s adoration.”
Approved by Pope Julius III (October 11,
1551)
Photos by www.bradleymansour.com.
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Serving Others
Everest believes in forming integral students by providing apostolic projects
NJHS Service Project - Miracle Boxes
The National Junior Honor Society sponsored a service project called Miracle Boxes. Miracle Boxes are care
packages for our troops serving overseas. The students collected individual items until May 17th, and packaged them up to send off to our service men and women.
Miracle Boxes is a Michigan-based program run by Desert Angels. Their Miracle Box program got its name in
honor of the son of Judy Miracle, retired Everest Academy Middle School Teacher. Here is a quote from the
Desert Angel’s site: “As of October 2007 we have now named the
boxes we send “Miracle Boxes” in honor of
Ortonville, Michigan’s fallen hero, PFC Joseph
A. Miracle, US Army Airborne of the 173rd. Joseph was in Afghanistan only 35 days when he
gave his life defending his unit.”
Great Lakes Academy
In December and March, the 8th
grade girls went to Great Lakes
Academy, a charter school in
Pontiac. They read books, played
games and did crafts with the kids.
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Fox Manor
Also in December, the 6th grade
girls went to Fox Manor, an assisted living facility in Waterford.
They each interviewed a resident,
asking questions about their
families, careers, life experiences,
and advice they would give to the
younger generations. Everyone
enjoyed the conversation and the
friendly atmosphere!
Gleaners Food Bank
In April, the 8th grade girls went
to Gleaners Food Bank in Pontiac.
After watching a presentation on
what Gleaners is able to do for
the community, the girls packed
lunches that would later be
brought to schools for kids who
don’t have enough food to eat on
the weekends. The girls packed
4,060 meals!
Alumna Interview: Fabiana Diaz
Hello Everest community, Fabiana Diaz here. I am currently in Ingolstadt, Germany for a two-month internship at the Audi Headquarters. I cannot even believe I graduated a year ago, finished a whole
year of college, and now I am half way across the world at my first
“real” job. I am currently double majoring in International Relations
and German and minoring in International Business. My first year of
college at the University of Michigan was an experience of a lifetime.
I had the opportunity to work at the Dean of Students Office with
the Student Affairs Department and made a lot of great friends.
At first, college was very overwhelming due to the rigorous curriculum, trying to surpass your professors’ expectations, and living
on your own. All these adjustments were a challenge, but Everest
always taught me how to manage my time wisely. Since I had the
opportunity to keep busy at Everest, with all the different clubs and
sports made available to us, I was able to learn how to balance my
academic life with my social life; a skill that comes very handy in
college life. This was a big reason why I felt that my transition into
college was not as difficult as I thought it would be.
Everest really prepared me for my academic career. In high school,
my teachers expected a lot from me on a daily basis; whether it was
an FRQ we had to write for AP courses, or what seemed to be an
unsolvable math problem. These daily challenges allowed me to approach my teachers and ask questions, which has been very useful
especially when you find yourself in a 500-student lecture hall.
Not to brag, but at Everest we have some of the best and most
qualified teachers that truly enjoy what they do and take time out of
their day to make themselves available to students. From my experience at Everest, I had one particular teacher who not only taught me
everything there is to know about U.S. History and Music, but about
life. Doctor Cronin was one of the many people who had a huge impact on me and I am grateful for each life lesson she shared with me.
When I think about high school the first thought that comes into
my head is my senior trip to Israel. I think I can speak on behalf of
my graduating class when I say that it was our favorite memory. We
were so lucky to have the opportunity to go and set this tradition for
the senior classes to come. I really hope every senior is able to have
this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Going to a school with such a huge diversity of cultures, religions,
and different opinions was at first a challenge and it really made it
difficult to make friends. But Everest taught me to stay strong in my
faith and opinions, which helped me to overcome these obstacles
and to choose friends that share similar values. And just like at
Everest, I know the friendships I have made in college will last me a
lifetime. I really hope that current students take advantage of what
Everest has to offer. I also would like to challenge every senior that is
heading into college to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. Whether it is taking a “Do Aliens Really Exist?” course or
joining the “Feed the Squirrels Club.” Just like in high school, it is a
time for new experiences and a new beginning, but always remember the principles Everest taught you, because those are life lessons
that could not be learned anywhere else.
Grace Centers of Hope
Later in April, the 7th grade visited
Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac.
They helped organize the food
pantry and supplies room and
decorate the bulletin boards with
scripture passages.
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Everest Family Life
Everest provides many opportunities to come together for fun and fellowship
Semper Altius
Donuts with Dad
On Tuesday, March 19th,
in honor of the Feast of St.
Joseph, Everest invited Dads of
the Academy students to join
their children for donuts in the
Girls’ School Cafe. There was
a great turnout and the kids
loved eating donuts and showing off their Dads.
Auction Kick Off
Thank you to Brian and Cheryl
Milosch for sponsoring and
hosting the 2013 Gala Auction
Kick Off party! The party was
a huge success and lots of fun
complete with exciting raffle
prizes like jewelry and tickets
to sports events! Thank you to
everyone who attended.
Gala Auction
What an amazing celebration! Thank you to the Auction
Chair, Terri Nallamothu, and
the Auction Committee for
leading the best-ever Gala
Auction in the history of Everest! The Gross Revenue was
$370,598, up 7% from last
year; and Net Income was
$260,500, up 6%! What Terri
and her team did was nothing
short of remarkable. Terri will
be our 2014 Gala Auction Chair
and plans for our 2014 celebration have already begun!
Fr. Daniel Runs the Boston Marathon Fr. Daniel’s finish time at the Boston MaraOn Monday morning, April 15th, 2013, the
117th running of the Boston Marathon began. It was a beautiful morning, sunny, blue
skies and 50 degrees; ideal running conditions.
Fr. Daniel Pajerski, Everest Academy Formation Director, was in the first wave of runners
(based on qualifying times) that left the starting line beginning at 10:00 am. He finished
the race in 3 hours and 17 minutes, about 50
minutes before the explosions occurred. We
are grateful that Father is safely back with us
and offer our prayers for everyone who was
affected by the senseless tragedy.
Fr. Daniel qualified for the Boston Marathon
by finishing the October 2012 Chicago Marathon in 3 hours and 9 minutes. The Chicago
marathon was Father’s first marathon. Both
the Chicago and the Boston Marathon are
included in the World Marathon Majors. 18
thon (3 hours 17 minutes) was only 8 minutes
slower than his finish time at the Chicago
Marathon (3 hours and 9 minutes). When
you see the difference in elevation changes in
Boston compared to those in Chicago, his finish time in Boston, only his second marathon,
is remarkable.
But Father Daniel didn’t run the race for attention or accolades. During his months of
training and during the marathon itself, he
offered prayers for those whose intentions he
was given. He also used the opportunity to
do something he loves (running) for a vocation he loves even more (the priesthood). He
collected pledges totaling $10,000 for the
Legionary seminarians in Connecticut!
Father described the experience as “Physically grueling but a great sense of accomplishment!” A great accomplishment indeed!
Post marathon photo of Fr. Daniel & his sister
Name Pajerski, Daniel (USA)
Bib 6283
Place Overall 5176 Half 01:35:29
Place Gender 4531 Finish 03:17:11
Athletic Director of the Year
Ann Lowney reflects on her eight years as Athletic Director at Everest
“My dad always said that it didn’t matter what career I chose – ditch
digger or doctor – but I better be the best darn ditch digger or doctor I
could be.”
These are the words of Ann Lowney, quoting her father, Albert Serra,
who was father of 10 children, five boys and five girls, of which she is
the youngest girl and 8th child.
Ann took time from her busy schedule as Athletic Director (AD) for
Everest Collegiate High School (EC), to discuss her most recent accolade – being named the Archdiocese of Detroit Catholic High School
League (CHSL) “Tom Kelly” Athletic Director of the Year. The award is
named in honor of the late Harper Woods Notre Dame Athletic Director and Coach. The award is voted on by all the ADs in the Catholic
High School League, and is presented annually to a league athletic
director who best exemplifies Kelly’s good sportsmanship. Ann was
presented the award at the CHSL Hall of Fame Day on June 10th.
She believes the advent of boys´ football will be a huge factor in further growth for Everest.
“Football is important to a school,” she said. “Football games are an
event. They are only played once a week, and always on the weekends. It is a short season, with only four to five home games. And
people from the community outside the school come to these games.
The festivities around hosting a homecoming event will now involve
the whole high school and lower school, and will help us to grow.”
Everest parents can now claim a piece of the football excitement as
well. During the most recent Everest fundraising auction, participants
were offered the opportunity to purchase “a piece of history,” buying
a spot on the new football bleachers that will be carved into the hill on
the Everest football field behind the school. (Spots are still available!
For more information, contact the Everest Development Assistant
Courtney Crighton at 248-241-9006.)
A Successful Career
After playing for Oakland University’s basketball team from 1986-1990,
she served as head coach for the Clarkston High School girls’ basketball
program for 8 years, and currently is head coach for the Everest Collegiate High School boys’ basketball team, as well as the school’s Athletic
Director. After her 8 years as head of the Everest sports program, the
school has plenty to brag about. This year, Ann was forced to commission the construction of a new trophy case to hold all the “iron” now
gracing the halls outside the school’s gymnasium.
Notable EC achievements include: the girls’ competitive cheerleading
squad winning the Catholic High School League title for their division,
as well as their district title; the girls’ basketball team winning their
Intersectional league championship three years in a row, and this year
winning their first district title; the boys’ basketball team winning their
league title for the second year in a row, and also their second consecutive district title this year. Both coaches for the boys´ and girls´ teams
were named Coach of the Year for their divisions -- the girls coach, Erin
Van Wagoner, won that honor three years in a row. And Ann has been
named Catholic High School League Coach of the Year for the second
year. These honors do not even mention all the success of the many
Everest sports offered through the school’s cooperative programs with
Our Lady of the Lakes and Shrine high schools, whose teams have won
awards at the local, regional and even state level.
These cooperative programs are part of the reason for Ann’s success,
as well as for the tremendous growth of the sports program at Everest
Collegiate. Everest Academy has been in existence since 1991, but the
school only opened its high school in 2008.
Serving a Small School When asked if she wishes her talents could be used at a larger school,
she says no, because there is little difference between the two.
“The only difference between being at a small school and a big one
is the commitment of the families and staff. The best part of being
here is the Everest students and families -- the relationships I have
built. They are my dearest friends.” “At Everest, I don’t just deal with the coaches,” she explains. “I need
to know the families and the students, and how they are doing as
students. I don’t just care about how many points they score. I worry
about their entire person. These kids are truly a part of my life from
the time they arrive in August, to the time they leave in May.”
“At a bigger school, with all the competition for spots on teams,
talented players will get to play one sport. But, at a small school, you
can be a three-sport athlete and still excel. There is a lot to be said
for three-sport athletes. It’s that well-rounded aspect again. If you
play one sport, you will never know what it’s like to struggle or sit the
bench. Great players in one sport will learn to be humble and see it
from both sides in another sport.” “And I tell them, if they want to play in college, that can be accomplished no matter where they are, if they are willing to put forth the
time and the effort.”
Of this, Ann is definitely a good example.
Article by Kelly Luttinen.
Exclusively Everest Teams
Everest has been fortunate enough to be able to participate in many
sports cooperative programs with Our Lady of the Lakes and Shrine
High School. As Everest has grown though, the school has been able to
take on many of their own teams exclusively.
“In our second year, we started our own boys´ basketball team and a
sideline cheer program. In our third year we added girls´ basketball
and competitive cheer. In our fourth year we started our own girls´
volleyball team. Next year we will take on having our own boys´ football team. And several of our sports teams also added junior varsity
teams.”
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Everest Collegiate High School
Everest Academy
5935 Clarkston Road
Clarkston, MI 48348
248.241.9012
Non-Profit Org
US Postage Paid
Clarkston, MI
Permit 225
www.everest-clarkston.org
Everest Collegiate High School and Everest Academy implement the Integral
Formation® method of education developed by the Legionaries of Christ.
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