Voices - 2010-2011 - Cardinal Gibbons High School

Last September, Walt
Whitten ’70 traveled from
his home in Hawaii to
attend Cardinal Gibbons
Centennial Homecoming
Celebration and his class
reunion. Though Walt
attended classes at the
former location on WestWalt Whitten '71, Isaiah Whitten '13, Cora Whitten '92 ern Boulevard, when he
arrived at our current
Edwards Mill campus he quickly found evidence of his time at
Gibbons: Hanging on a wall in the Main Lobby was a photograph of
Walt playing basketball for the Crusaders!
As members of our current CGHS faculty and staff greeted Walt,
we soon realized he was someone we did not want to lose touch
with. He had so many great stories and memories from the years
when he and his sister, Nancy, were students at Cardinal Gibbons.
As classes began to change and students filled the halls, Walt told
us he also has a niece, Cora Whitten ’92, who is a Gibbons graduate, and her son, Isaiah ’13, is a current freshman. How exciting.
In a matter of minutes, we discovered three generations of
Gibbons students in one family. The Whittens are truly our past,
present and future!
Later that day, more than 450 of Walt’s fellow alumni joined him
Inside this Issue
W
e have redesigned Voices to reflect more clearly our
intent that the magazine be the voice and vision of
YOU – our alumni. At the same time, we want to keep
you abreast of what is happening at your school and how
the Gibbons Spirit you knew so well is as vibrant as ever.
To achieve those goals we have included stories for you,
about you, and written by you. In this issue, you will read about
Commercial Artist Peter Ruocchio ’92 who transforms giant
pieces of fiberglass, metal, and wood into fanciful larger-than-life
creations; Lexie Nichols ’99 who spent three years in the Peace
Corps in Kenya and is now a Fine Arts Instructor at Gibbons;
and John Drescher ’78, Executive Editor of the News & Observer,
who weighs in on the future of the print journalism industry.
We’ve also included a new “Reviews” section. There, you
will read your fellow alumni’s review (yes, it is a group
effort) of the recently opened 127,000 square foot addition to
the N.C. Art Museum, as well as a book review of Success
Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive,
by Erik Wesner ’96. The reviewer is CGHS Business Dept.
Chair Jana Mauney, who taught typing to Eric when he was
a Gibbons student. Lastly, a trio of Gibbons graduates will review Flights, the restaurant at the Raleigh Renaissance Hotel,
where Dean Thompson ’00 works as Executive Sous Chef.
Meanwhile, old favorites like Class Notes and Reunions
remain and promise to keep you “in the know” about your former classmates. As always, we will continue to share news about
Gibbons – its students, its teachers, its spirit. We hope you enjoy
the new Voices. Please share your thoughts about future story
ideas and any new features you would like to see in upcoming
issues with Rachelle Garbarine, Publications Coordinator, at
[email protected].
2
VOICES
at Gibbons to watch the homecoming football game and to celebrate
our school’s centennial – all the while sharing memories and creating new ones.
In 2010, Cardinal Gibbons began the next chapter of its long
and proud history. Our graduating Class of 2010 has worked very
hard all year to keep old traditions alive and to develop and incorporate new traditions for future students and alumni. Read below
what Senior Class President Adam Norris says about the newest
Gibbons tradition.
Please know we are very thankful to have met and reconnected with so many of you, the alumni of Cardinal Gibbons High
School, this year. We look forward with excitement to creating
more student and
alumni traditions in
the years to come. Gratefully,
Kirsten Monroe
CGHS Alumni
Coordinator/
Annual Giving
Assistant
Kenley Joseph ‘10, Austin Hardy ‘10, Thomas Graham ‘10,
Kirsten Monroe and Adam Norris '10
Senior Class Gift
Ringing In a New Tradition
T
his year started with a bang when the CGHS
peer leaders introduced the Alma Mater to
the freshman class at orientation, a tradition
that was reborn in the Gibbons community
with the start of the new school year. A few
days later, we cheered our team to an astounding football victory to begin the most successful
season Gibbons has ever seen. Needless to say, our class was proving
that it could lead our school in an incredibly energetic and positive
way. A council of seniors came together a few months into the year,
and began to discuss how we had influenced and would continue
to influence the community even after we graduated. Together, we
came to the conclusion that the best way to ring in our school’s second century would be with a Victory Bell, to capture the spirit and
energy of our class. Through the Class of 2010’s gift, we hope that the
Gibbons community will continue to support our athletic teams and
celebrate many Crusader victories for years to come.
By Adam Norris ’10, Senior Class President
Bell crafted by Christoph Paccard Bellfoundries in Charleston, SC and Annecy, France.
A
and just as valid when I returned
lumni will remember from their
it to her: “What if you mess up?”
high school days that nothing
Students who are only given simheightens parental suspicion faster
ple management tasks hear clearly
than a teenager saying, “Trust me,”
that they aren’t trusted with anyas they leave the house on a Friday
thing more important, and certainly
night. Parents who hear, “Trust me,”
adults hear the same message. Even
can be pretty sure that their child is
if a person has the skills and support
up to something.
system necessary for a leadership
Yet, “Trust me,” is exactly what
challenge, they are unable to act if
we want to hear from our students.
they don’t feel trusted.
In March, when the Southern AsMother Theresa once said, “I
sociation of Colleges and Schools
know God will not give me anything
Accreditation Peer Review Team
I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t
members were finishing their visit,
trust me so much.” To be trusted
the Team Chair told me that our stufully is a simultaneously inspiring
dents used the word “trust” repeat- Jason D. Curtis, Principal, with John H. Ruocchio '83, Chair of the Board of Trustees
and challenging experience, and a
edly in describing their relationship and Student Council members.
formational opportunity that students must experience now if they
with adults on campus. He found it so unusual that our students felt
are to be leaders in church and community in the future.
comfortable developing and leading new programs for adults such
Today, our alumni continue to reward the school’s trust, returnas our Board of Trustees Orientation and Family Association Board
ing to serve and lead at Cardinal Gibbons. Your parents were right:
Retreat, and noted that the mutual trust between students and facWhen you say, “Trust me,” you are up to something. You’re leadulty was the foundation of our school’s culture.
ers on the CGHS Board of Trustees, Alumni Council, and as faculty
In giving authentic leadership opportunities to students, we tell
and staff members; you’ve contributed your time and expertise at
them explicitly that we trust them. We trust that students will do
our annual Alumni Career Days and in the planning of the 100th Antheir best, using their gifts and skills to the fullest. We trust that they
niversary celebrations; and you are even leading our efforts in social
understand the mission of CGHS, and want to further that mission.
networking technology and Web site design. How fortunate our stuFinally, we trust that they care deeply about the good for all members
dents today are to profit from your contributions and to learn the
of our community.
benefits of trust from your example.
Trust doesn’t eliminate mistakes, however. I once had a teacher
at a leadership presentation ask me, “What if we trust students with
responsibility and they mess up?” A perfectly legitimate question,
Jason D. Curtis, Principal
Cardinal Gibbons Advancement
Your school’s fundraising theme this year was “Faces of the Future.”
E
ach and every alumnus could have been photographed and included in this
campaign. You are Gibbons “Faces of the Future.” You are carrying forward the
Gibbons Mission to form men and women of faith, service, and leadership in church
and community.
When graduates walk across the Commencement stage to receive a Cardinal
Gibbons diploma, they receive more than a declaration of secondary school graduation. They receive a gift of outstanding academics, a sense of responsibility for self
and others, and an understanding of the joy and confidence of faith.
As you begin professions, build families, and accept adult responsibilities, please
remember the importance of Gibbons in your life. Join with fellow alumni who supported your school with gifts to the Cardinal Gibbons Fund, Endowment, or special
programs. Others who participated in the fall Golf Tournament, donated or purchased items on the Online Auction, attended the annual Gala, reunions and annual
events, understand the importance of our school in their lives and the lives of current
and future students. Please reflect on the best way for you to keep Gibbons a priority
throughout your life.
You are an important part of Cardinal Gibbons High School!
Together for Gibbons,
Margie Clugston
Director of Development
Alumni are increasingly giving to CGHS Endowments.
Front row:
• The Long family, Audree Long flanked by his daughters
Sandy Crutchfield and Sherry Eddins (Margaret Hedrick Long
Memorial Award)
• Mike Kilmartin ’74 (Sr. Teresita, SND & the Sisters of Notre
Dame Award)
• Margie Clugston, Director of Development
• The Ratz family, Jack Ratz Sr. flanked by his daughters Tracey
Ratz Anthony ’88 and Cortney Ratz Cowan ’95 (Jack Ratz Jr.
Memorial Award)
Back row:
• Jason Curtis, Principal
• Chris Solari ’86 (Paul Vincent McEnroe Memorial Award)
• Robert Mersch ’82 and Dan Byer (Amanda J. Rothschild Byer ’82
Memorial Award)
VOICES
3
Whether it is donating to honor our school, a particular teacher or the memory of classmates,
these five stories remind us that at the heart of giving we find community.
W
hen my wife and
I were married
and she volunteered
to be the family bookkeeper, I found myself explaining why
I choose to financially support my high
school. Having come
through the public school system, this concept
was foreign to her. College, yes – but high
school? I explained that I had two reasons,
one from the head and one from the heart.
My reason from the head was the knowledge that Catholic school tuition does not
I
began donating to
Gibbons when I
learned of plans to
move the school from
its old site on Western
Boulevard to its current
location. Gibbons had
given me so much – an
excellent education, lifetime friendships, and
a commitment to Catholic social teaching that
began as a requirement for quarterly “service
hours” but grew into a lifelong vocation
In the years since, I have viewed mailings from Gibbons with a combination of
pride and awe. Even though the building
and grounds are foreign to me, the faces look
the same. Happy, hopeful students full of
promise…eager to apply lessons learned at
Gibbons in pursuit of their own success and
for the benefit of others.
While my undergrad and business
school alma maters solicit me constantly for
donations, I prefer to send my checks back
to Raleigh. After all, it was the experience at
Gibbons that shaped me first and most ​profoundly. I’d like to think that my modest
donations over the years have eased the financial strain on a student’s family or allowed
a teacher or faculty advisor to stretch a tight
budget even further. My recent experience
in the non-profit world has taught me that
even small donations have the power to
transform an organization and the individuals it serves. John Odenwelder ’86
4
VOICES
cover the entire cost of running our school.
Our faith compels us to keep our tuition and
fees at an absolute minimum so those who
seek a Catholic education can have that option
regardless of income level. Alumni giving is a vital component in Catholic education. My reason from the heart, I said, was
much easier to explain. Cardinal Gibbons
gave so much to me, it is only right that I give
some back. At eighteen years of age, my main
concerns were how to throw more strikes or
bring up my woeful free-throw percentage.
The more important principles in life were
being taught to me, but at that time I didn’t
think much of it stuck around.
T
he 52 students
who comprised
the Class of 1982
were a unified group,
one that had something deeper running
through it. Many of
our shared values
were formed and tested during high school,
and we graduated with them securely in
place, thanks to the small class setting and
Christian principles at CGHS.
Our class united again two years ago
when one of our classmates, Amanda Jane
Rothschild Byer ’82, (Mandy) lost her life to
a courageous battle with cancer. As word got
around that Amanda had been diagnosed,
emails began to surface, with classmates
sharing stories with her about memories of
high school and CGHS.
It became clear that we needed something to keep Amanda’s memory alive. I
approached a few classmates about setting
up a scholarship or memorial through the
school in her name.
Since establishing the Amanda Jane
Rothschild Byer ’82 Memorial Endowment
Fund, over 75 percent of our class has participated, underscoring the impact the school
has had on each one of us and how it shaped
us into who we are today. I hope this endowment goes on long after I am here and that
it supports those worthy students at CGHS.
Amanda had a positive effect on us all.
Bob Mersch, Class President ’82
Now, not a year goes by when I don’t
rely on the solid foundation of education and
faith I learned and strengthened at Cardinal
Gibbons. I told my wife, Cardinal Gibbons
made an investment in me, and I am happy to
pay the dividend. Next time you are online,
check out the CGHS Web site (www.cghsnc.
org) and see how easy it is to make a contribution to the Gibbons Annual Fund. Whether your reasons for giving are from the heart
or from the head, each contribution means so
much to the continued excellence of our school.
Bryan A. McGann ’79
Alumni Chair, Cardinal Gibbons Fund
D
uring my senior
year at Cardinal
Gibbons, when I
wanted to drop out,
Principal Sr. Terisita,
SND (and a very special fellow student
who convinced me
to go see her) got me to graduation. I have
fond memories of Gibbons because of that
caring student and principal who saved my
education which, with God’s blessings, has
allowed me to prosper and give back. I continue to support CGHS through the Sisters
of Notre Dame Scholarship so that students
who want to achieve their potential are given
a little extra help and recognition.
Mike Kilmartin ’74
H
elen Field George ’44
along with two of her
siblings, Charlie Field ’52
and Shep Field, attended
Cathedral Latin High School.
Her daughter, Susanne Van Dorpe Mistric
’74 and Susanne’s son Joseph Mistric ’08
are Gibbons graduates. Helen consistently
has given back to our school, including this
year’s gift in memory of Joe O’Connell ’95.
“I just know that Jason (Curtis) and all of
you are doing such a great job of preserving
and improving the legacy of Cathedral Latin
that I will always want to be a part of it,”
said Helen. M
aking the “What I Like About School” video was a fairly long filming in the Gibbons theater with the help of Ms. Rip, Ms. Nichols
– but really fun – process. Mrs. Monroe, the CGHS Alumni and sophomore Andrew LaPointe. It was a lot of fun to just do a
Coordinator, asked Ryan Burdett and me to
bunch of random dance moves. The last step
see if we could make some sort of song about
in the process was editing the video, which
the Cardinal Gibbons Fund. I jumped all
was probably the hardest part since we had
over the opportunity – I think all four of us
to make sure the voices matched up with the
(Ryan, Maria Cannon, Ian Luther, and I) were
music track.
happy to get the chance to do something for
Overall, it took a lot of effort to make a
the school that was creative and funny. Over
little two-minute video, but it was a ton of
last summer I had actually thought of doing
fun, and we were happy to do something
a “What I Like About School” parody. When
for the school that made use of our creativMrs. Monroe asked us to do a song, it gave
ity and our apparent knack for goofy dancme an excuse to make one.
ing. I’m really glad that Gibbons gave us a
The four of us all met to record our
chance to do something like this.
Ryan Burdett, Sean Magee and Ian Luther, all Class of 2010
voices, which didn’t take too long, thanks to
By Sean Magee ’10
our superb vocal proficiency. After that, we spent one Friday night
To view the video go to http://centennial.cghsnc.org/page.cfm?p=441
T
he Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes alumni who have made distinguished contributions
of time and talent to support the school and the spirit of its mission: to form men and
women of faith, service, and leadership in church and community. Alumni are nominated
to the Hall of Fame for achievements made while in school or throughout their adult lives.
.
Lt. Col. Craig Drescher ’81, a dedicated Air Force and Navy officer, father,
coach and former teacher, embodies
our school’s mission. Throughout his
life and career Craig has helped people
to help themselves. After earning a
B.A. in math education from Virginia
Tech, Craig taught math and computer
science at CGHS while coaching basketball and baseball. Craig’s sister Pat
graduated from CGHS in ’76; his brother John in ’78. Craig is married, has
a 15-year-old son, Jacob, and is expecting a new baby in the coming months.
,
Marirose Keyes Steigerwald ’80, was
a member of the founding Alumni
Board in 1984, served on the Core
Team for Blueprint for Our Future
Strategic Planning group, as well as on
the 100th Anniversary Committee for
Teachers and Faculty. She now serves
on the Alumni Council. Her husband,
Steven, attended Gibbons, their daughter, Caitlin is an ’07 graduate and their
son, Sean, graduated last year. The
couple’s youngest child, Marcy, will
be an incoming Gibbons freshman
in August.
Father John Forbes ’76, who has faithfully served the Diocese of Raleigh
as a priest for 20 years, demonstrates
the values synonymous with CGHS.
Whether leading people in prayer,
visiting the sick or extending pastoral care to priests, Fr. Forbes shows a
caring attitude to those he encounters.
He is pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes
in Raleigh, is the dean of the Raleigh
Deanery and chair of the Priests Personnel Committee, which advises the
Bishop of Raleigh on the assignment
of priests.
VOICES
5
t t t t t t t t t t t t t
Nutrition Awareness Health Fair – Women and
children sample enriched porridge, using leaves
and spoons.
Grant Project - Family members look on while the
cement slab floor of a community latrine sets.
Lexie's Going Away Party – Members of the
Chirahu Women's Group and staff at the
Samburu Health Center
Back at Gibbons after spending time in Kenya with the Peace Corps,
Lexie Nichols ’99 says you don’t need to live in a mud hut thousands of miles away
to experience the joy of faith, service and leadership.
F
aith inspired me to join the Peace Corps, though it is not a were held in the local language, KiDuruma, which I did not unreligious organization. I also pulled significantly from my derstand, but the music was beautiful and the serenity of sitting
experiences at Gibbons to meet Peace Corps expectations for quietly with friends and neighbors was an opportunity I did not
like to miss. On my way home from church, I always stopped to
leadership during the application process.
I shipped off to Kenya with about 40 other volunteers almost visit my friend Rukia and her family. She was Muslim, but like
a year after I graduated from Furman University. Once I arrived many others in my community, had no problem with Christianity.
in Kenya, I underwent two months of intensive training to learn My village was split about 50-50 Muslim-Christian, and I am still
the language, technical skills, and cultural practices we would amazed at the harmony in which they live. They demonstrate
a mutual respect and recognition of comneed to educate groups in rural Kenya on
mon ground that I wish the rest of the world
HIV/AIDS prevention and water sanitacould see and follow.
tion. At the end of the training, I was sent
After my two years of service were comto Samburu, a tiny town in the rural Coast
plete, I interviewed for and was awarded the
province, to work for the Kenyan Ministry
job of Peace Corps Volunteer Leader, workof Health.
ing in a regional office as support staff to
The next two years were difficult. The
volunteers in the field. That job moved me
combination of a new culture, distance from
across the country to Kisumu on the bank of
family and friends, constant exposure to
Lake Victoria where I especially enjoyed my
heartbreaking poverty, and malarial prowork training new volunteers and guiding
phylaxis known for causing emotional in- Lexie with her good friend Teresia whom she saw
every day at the market.
volunteer group activities.
stability made for some rough times. But the
At the end of my third year it was time to return home. I
support of Peace Corps administration and medical staff, the encouragement and kindness of volunteers who lived close by, and found a job to support my student loan payments and settled into
a comparatively bland and comfortable life. After two years, I
the love and letters from folks at home got me through it.
During my service I was blessed to work with several amaz- really felt that something was missing. I did not feel any pering women’s groups, some outstanding volunteers, and several sonal connection to my job and did not really believe in what
truly remarkable community leaders. Beyond my health work, I I was doing. When the opportunity came along for me to teach at
read over 150 books, and learned to live without the constant dis- Cardinal Gibbons, I jumped at it. I’m so grateful to the school for
traction of television. I also had the opportunity to raft the Nile offering me a position at an institution I believe in and am glad
in Uganda, see the pyramids and Mt. Sinai in Egypt, and visit me- to be part of such a nurturing community. While it may not be a
morial sites all over Rwanda. I learned to love (and cook) Kenyan mud hut in Africa, the opportunities for faith, service, and leadership are still here.
food and to appreciate local traditional dances and music.
One of my favorite experiences in Samburu happened every Sunday when I walked a mile and a half on bush trails to By Lexie Nichols ’99
the tiny Catholic church in the middle of nowhere. The services Technical Theatre Teacher, Cardinal Gibbons High School
t t t t t t t t t t t t t
6
VOICES
LOVE AT SECOND SIGHT
Michelle LaMarche ’82
and Jaimie Smith ’82
ichelle and Jaimie met in 1978 as
freshmen at Cardinal Gibbons.
They saw each other again 29 years later
at the CGHS 100th Year Anniversary
Reunion in September ‘09 and are now
engaged. They plan to marry May 11,
2011. It all started when Leslie Bryant ’82 began asking people in their
class about attending the “reunion.” That’s when they started looking
for Jaimie who they had lost touch with after he left junior year. At the
reunion, Michelle and Jaimie had a great time talking and Michelle knew
she definitely wanted to stay in touch with him. They began corresponding by e-mail. By Christmas, Michelle decided she would let Jaimie know
how she really felt and on April 13, at dawn on the sands of Myrtle Beach,
he asked Michelle to marry him.
M
1
1.
2.
3.
4.
Alumni Lacrosse Game
Harry Stewart ’36
Alumni swim meet
Alumni bringing out the Crusaders at
the Basketball Reunion
5. Katie Kabbes ’08, Jess Greiner Lowe ’99,
and Melissa Shafer ’08 came back for
the Male and Female Athlete of the
Year dinner.
6. Sepi Asefnia ’79 returned to Gibbons for
the end of the year Senior Luncheon and
addressed the class of 2010.
2
3
4
5
6
PROFILES IN COURAGE
Billy Atwell ’04
illy was diagnosed
with cancer the summer of 2002, prior to his
senior year at Cardinal
Gibbons. During this ordeal, Billy received tremendous support from
Cardinal Gibbons students
and staff. The Gibbons Jason Curtis, Nate Steele '10 (current recipient of the Billy
Atwell Award), Billy Atwell '04 and Br. Michel Bettigole.
community went beyond
the call of duty to ensure that Billy continued to stay connected and
be actively involved in the school. With tremendous effort and a positive attitude, Billy returned to Cardinal Gibbons and joined the Class of
2004, not only as a student, but as a Captain of the Varsity Football and
Wrestling teams. In recognition, the Cardinal Gibbons coaches honored
Billy with an award created in his name: The Billy Atwell Award for
Courage and Determination. Since the inception of this special award,
it has honored student athletes who exemplify the spirit of determination through hard work and persevere with great courage to attain goals.
The Billy Atwell Award for Courage and Determination has been
presented to: Louis Carillo ‘07, Nate Nelli ‘08 and Nate Steele ‘10.
B
BRAVEHEART
Dan Kuszaj ’93
an was awarded a Medal of
Valor from the Durham Police Department on January 14.
He received the medal as a result
of his actions on Christmas Day
’08. Dan and another officer came
upon a traffic accident and he
went to assist the driver of the car
involved, who was trapped. Dan
noticed that flames were coming from the dashboard of the car, rushed
to retrieve a fire extinguisher, and put out the flames, saving the driver’s
life. He has been a member of the department since February ’07.
D
VOICES
7
Troy Butler '82 and Maria Cannon '10
Eric Stroud and Matt Zaytoun – both '02,
Robert DiDomenico, Richard MacSherry
and Jeremy Wall – all '10
Old Avenue: Mark Cloos '09, Sean Steigerwald '09, Cameron Conklin '05
Greg Sullivan '02 and Jason Hazinski '09
Bryan McGann '79 and current students
Jenny Ferland Chapman '99
Alumni and students from the Class of 2010
The Gibbons Advantage — Career Networking Group
C
GHS is starting an Alumni Business Networking Series with
organized, bi-monthly programs, open to all CGHS Alumni
and their guests. These gatherings will feature:
•
•
•
•
Tracey Ratz Anthony '88, Jack Ratz, Sr. and Cortney Ratz Cowan '95
J
21st Annual Jack Ratz, Jr. Memorial
Junior Golf Tournament
Monday, August 9, 2010
ack Ratz, Jr. was a Cardinal Gibbons freshman and avid golfer
who died at age 15 in a car accident. Each year, his family hosts
the Jack Ratz, Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament at Wildwood Green
Golf Club in North Raleigh. The family gives a $1,000 donation to
The Jack Ratz Jr. Memorial Endowment in honor of the flite champions. This endowment supports financial aid at Cardinal Gibbons
on an annual basis.
The Ratz family has offered an additional incentive for the 2010
tournament. For each junior-golfer entrant above the number 80,
the family will add an additional $10 per entrant to their endowment donation.
Earliest tee time will be at 7:30 AM. Players must be between 6
and 18 years of age. To register, or request more information for this
year’s tournament, please contact Jack Ratz, Sr. at 919-847-8762.
8
VOICES
Short presentations on networking for business purposes
Discussions on a special interest topic
Opportunities to connect with others in your profession
Time to reconnect and build relationships with fellow alumni
Gibbons alumni have tremendous resources they can share. We will
be asking for your suggestions on topics, presenters and meeting locations. If you are interested in hosting one of these bi-monthly programs at your place of business, or joining our Business Networking
Series planning committee, please contact Kirsten Monroe, CGHS
Alumni Coordinator: [email protected] or 919-834-1625 x 278.
3rd Annual Joey O Bocce Classic
Athletic Director Dean Monroe presented a framed jersey to the family of Joey
O'Connell ‘95, at the Alumni Basketball Reunion in February. Later in the year, Joey’s
family held the 3rd Annual Joey O Bocce Classic at Gibbons to raise money to find a
cure for Cystic Fibrosis.
F
rom the outside, the boxy, brick build- the artist and remembers Peter the student.
ing looks much like its neighbors in “His enthusiasm and passion for art and dethe sprawling industrial park in Wake sign is just as obvious now as it was when he
Forest, N.C. The only hint that some- was at Gibbons,” she said.
thing different is happening here is a sign
That passion, Peter is quick to tell you,
emblazoned with the name of the building’s began even earlier when he was in the first
occupant – Ruocchio Designs.
grade and his sketch of the Mayflower caught
Once inside, it is obvious that his teacher’s eye. “She said my drawing was
what is happening is BIG. Huge metal different, made an example of it, and then,
signs cling to a wall that climbs some I was labeled the artist,” he explained. The
24-feet high, while a wooden crate, the size moniker stuck and Peter, the youngest of
of a Volkswagen beetle, sits open in the three brothers*, was hooked.
middle of the floor. Glass display cases fill
While his father was an engineer and his
another room where a king-size, bug-like, car- brothers chose careers in business and law,
toon figure stands watch from a far corner.
Peter pursued the arts, leading him down a
This is the studio of
creative path straight to
Commercial Artist Peter
Mrs. Dason’s art classes
Ruocchio ’92 who transat Gibbons. He credforms pieces of fiberglass,
its her, with “helping
steel, plastic, and wood into
me build my portfolio,
larger-than-life works of art.
which got me into the
Along with the big stuff,
he also creates everything
from logos and brochures
to scale models of housing communities yet to be
built. He bought the studio
in 2006 as a home not just
for the business he started
as a college student 13 years
ago in his North Raleigh
apartment, but also for the
passion that grabbed hold
of him as a kid in elemen- Above: Peter Ruocchio '92 (standing left), Jared
Tabor (seated) and Adam Benninger (standing
tary school.
right) on a train engine design built for the NC
Today, that passion is Railroad Company in Burlington. Right: A 19th
the heart of Ruocchio De- century engine design for the company.
signs which is known for
works of art that mix originality and real- industrial design
ism with a bit of whimsy. Some of his large- program at N.C.
scale creations also stir a sense of wow State,” he said.
The day after he graduated from
in passersby as well as clients, including developers, architects and interior designers. college in 1997 Peter crafted the business
His pieces, which take three weeks to one plan that gave way to Ruocchio Designs.
year to complete, can be found in museums, He developed that entrepreneurial spirrestaurants, and businesses throughout North it at the tender age of six. Even then, “I
knew I wanted to be self employed,” he
Carolina as well as the nation.
R e b e c c a said. He also remains firmly rooted in
Dason, Fine Raleigh where he lives with his wife Claire
Arts Depart- and where his family still resides.
For the last nine years he has
ment Chair at
G i b b o n s , worked at Ruocchio Designs alongside
knows Peter his lifelong friend and fellow Gibbons
alumnus, Brian Larson ’92, who
runs the day-to-day operations of
the company. But its artistic side is
all Peter.
Far Left: The Crabtree Tavern bottle
cap sign prior to final stage.
Left: Crabtree Tavern sign final product
Brian Larson '92 and Peter Ruocchio '92
Like his art, Peter is a study in
contrasts. On this bright April afternoon he
is dressed for business, wearing a blue, pinstriped shirt, black pants, and sensible shoes.
His jet black hair and goatee are meticulously
groomed. Still, his impish smile is a subtle
clue of the artist within.
Peter described Ruocchio Designs as a
one-stop shop of sorts that designs, builds, and
installs projects which he said helps “him
stand out” from the competition. But what distinguishes him most is his work.
His 14-foot-tall, 8-footwide, 6,000-pound 19th
century train engine along
with a contemporary one
are on display at the North
Carolina Railroad Company
in Burlington. His humongous praying mantis and
black widow spider can be
spotted at the Natural Science Center of Greensboro.
His 1,500-pound bottle cap
doubles as the outdoor sign
of a Raleigh restaurant. He
has also designed all the
interior signs for Golden
Corral restaurants across the
nation as well as the interior of many of them.
“Peter’s work is very creative, very cutting edge,” said Dolly Mercer, Consumer
Promotions and National Events Market
Manager for Golden Corral. “I think one
of his most compelling qualities is his positive ‘we can make this work’ attitude.”
That attitude has helped him fulfill
the dream of that young boy who drew
pictures and wanted to work for himself. As the afternoon sun streams through
his office window Peter ponders his career: “There are few people who do what
I do for a living,” he said. “Every day
is different.”
* Peter’s older brothers are also Gibbons alumni:
John graduated in ’83 and is the current Chair of
the Board of Trustees; Paul is a 1981 graduate.
By Rachelle D. Garbarine
VOICES
9
?
Photo by Scott Sharpe for the N&O
INk
ON the
BrINk
John Drescher ’78, The News
& Observer’s Executive Editor,
reports that the dark days are
over and the future is bright
for the print newspaper industry.
Q
How would you describe the current
state of the print newspaper industry?
The last two years have been difficult financially. Like many businesses, we were hit hard
by the worst recession in more than 50 years.
But we’ve turned the corner. Our revenue has
stabilized. Things are looking up.
Q
As more people turn to the online world
– by desktop or laptop – for their news
can newspapers adapt?
Newspapers can adapt and are doing so. As
a journalist, it doesn’t matter to me whether
you read us in print or online – I just want
you to read us. I’d prefer that you read us in
print and online but I’m happy if you read
one or the other. Our online readership is
strong and growing. We typically have more
than 2 million unique visitors a month. Our
online advertising revenue continues to grow
and is becoming a larger and larger part of
our business.
Q
Are newspapers facing irrelevance or
just another painful evolution akin to
the adaptations that were necessary in the
wake of radio and television?
The News & Observer’s reach and influence
are greater than ever. When you add print
and online readership, more people are reading us than ever before. Our investigative
reporting continues to make a difference in
North Carolina. In fact, many people who
follow public affairs in North Carolina say
The N&O’s investigative reporting had more
impact in 2009 than ever. That’s saying a lot.
Q
What are papers doing to adapt? What
are you doing at the N&O to adapt?
The challenge of our era is that we have to
be good in print and online. Our readers de10
VOICES
mand it. We’ve just added a new online reporter who starts her day at 5 a.m. and posts
news to our site, so our site will be fresh in
the morning. Our reporters routinely file online updates throughout the day. We publish
more and more photo galleries; we might
publish 150 photos of a State-Carolina basketball game or of a community event such as
the Krispy Kreme run.
Q
What do you see as the future of print
journalism?
There will be a print newspaper for many
years. Many people like the experience of
having a print paper in the morning with
their coffee or breakfast. People in this community stop me all the time to tell me that.
And advertisers still want to advertise in a
printed newspaper. So the print N&O will be
around for a long time.
Q
What advice would you give to students
hoping to study journalism in college?
Be fearless in taking subjects outside your
comfort zone. In this business, it helps to
know at least a little on a wide range of subjects. So take that biology or statistics class
even if it will be a struggle for you. Also, work
for your college paper and learn multimedia
skills as you do so.
Q
With today’s bloggers and citizen journalists what opportunities will exist for
tomorrow’s professional journalists?
The demand for timely, quality information
that is reported and verified isn’t going down
– it’s going up. We’re in the democracy business. Bloggers and citizen journalists can contribute information that helps our democracy.
But often their work is opinion. There is value
in that. But there also is value in accurate in-
formation that has been verified. There will
always be demand for quality reporting.
Q
On a Personal Note
Where did you go to college? What did
you study?
I received an undergraduate degree from
UNC Chapel Hill in journalism and a
masters’ degree in public policy from Duke.
Q
I believe you mentioned once that your
interest in journalism began at Gibbons.
Would you retell that story for our readers?
I attended Gibbons from 1974 to 1978. The
school paper was dormant my first three
years. My senior year, Sister Melannie Svoboda, some other students and I re-started
the paper. That was fun – to rekindle an old
school tradition that had faded.
Q
Briefly describe the positions you have
held in the news industry.
That would take awhile, as I’ve had 11 jobs
in 25 years at three papers. I was a reporter
for seven years before moving into editing.
Among my editing jobs was city editor and
front-page editor. I was named managing
editor at The State paper of Columbia, SC, in
2000; managing editor of The N&O in 2002;
and executive editor in 2007. I am the seventh
editor of The N&O in its history; that gives
me a tie to the past that I think is neat.
Q
Please tell readers what you have enjoyed most about being part of the print
newspaper industry.
I get excited about big stories and I’ve been
involved with so many big stories. That’s because I’ve been blessed to work with so many
amazing journalists. Their skill and dedication is remarkable.
The 2009-2010 School Year in Review
F
Looking Back and Moving Ahead
rom freshman orientation and homecoming to
the senior prom and graduation and everything
in between, it has been a very good year at CGHS.
Each day, we watched our students put our mission
into action and strengthen the Gibbons Spirit. In doing so, they not only achieved milestones in academics, spiritual life, athletics, and service, but set the
stage for a more accomplished 2010-2011 school year.
Administration
Most Rev. Michael F. Burbidge
Bishop of Raleigh
Dr. Michael J. Fedewa
Superintendent of Catholic
Formation & Education,
Diocese of Raleigh
2
0
0
9
2
0
1
0
Jason D. Curtis
Principal
Development Department
Margie Clugston
Development Director
Kirsten Monroe
Alumni Coordinator
Rachelle Garbarine
Marketing & Publications
Coordinator
Shermanne Porter
Joseph Hoying ‘99
Database Coordinators
Laurette Benton
Volunteer Coordinator
Cover Design
Chris Kemple, ‘89
Cover photo of Peter by
Rachelle Garbarine
Academics/Fine Arts
• The Class of 2010 received over $6.5 million in academic and athletic scholarships
for college.
• Our students enjoy 100
percent acceptance to the
finest colleges and univer sities in the country.
• The 2011 freshman class has
the largest number of students in our history auditioning for Fine Arts classes.
• We are developing technology in support of elective, core and Advanced Placement courses, offering two new hybrid online courses next year and instituting a math lab and web conferencing room.
Spiritual Life/Service
• Students participated in a new ministry, The Cardinal Gibbons Pall Bearer Society.
• Seniors took part in the first ever Senior Kairos Retreat: and students participated in
a new one-day Advent Retreat.
• Our students are the largest provider in Wake County to Habitat for Humanity and they operate Raleigh’s Shep-
herd’s Table Soup Kitchen
52 Mondays a year.
• This year students raised over $100,000 for numerous chari-
ties through more than 30
different efforts.
• We held a first ever College Campus Ministry Fair.
Athletics
• The volleyball team earned
its tenth state championship.
• Our varsity football team captured its first ever foot-
ball conference championship.
• The varsity boys’ swimming and diving team claimed its third consecutive NC High School Athletic Association
state championship.
• The 2010 male and female athletes-of-the-year are
Austin Hardy and Chloe Stapleton, respectively.
• CGHS athletes won their ninth Wachovia Cup – the annual statewide distinction for all-
around sports excellence –
in the last 10 years.
Reporting/Writing/Editing/
Photography
Alex Bass ‘96, Laurette Benton,
Richard Cox, Rachelle Garbarine,
Annette Jay, Greg Mintel,
Kirsten Monroe, Diane Ripollone,
the CGHS yearbook and
newspaper photography staffs
Layout
Lisa Doyle
VOICES is published by
the Development Department of
Cardinal Gibbons High School,
1401 Edwards Mill Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
CONTACT US:
If information has been omitted
or incorrectly noted,
please accept our apology.
To notify us of the correction,
to submit information for future
issues of VOICES, or to request
back issues of the magazine,
please contact Kirsten Monroe
at (919) 834-1625 x 278, or
[email protected]
VOICES
11
1930s Cathedral Latin
Kevin Geraghty ’64
(left) and Claudia G.
Graham ‘70: attended
the Centennial Homecoming Celebration and
returned to Gibbons
for the Alumni Basketball Reunion.
Harry Stewart ’36: is our oldest living alumnus.
He attended the Centennial Homecoming football
game and was on the All Century Football Team.
1940s
Phil Shehdan ’45: has been involved in helping
the school reconnect with many alumni. He has
also filled our history with many great stories.
Dick Godwin ’48: and his wife Juanita attended
the Centennial Homecoming football game and
alumni Homecoming Dance. He was a member of
the All Century Football Team.
Myron Gil Adams ’48: traveled from Sarasota,
Florida for the Centennial Homecoming celebration. He reconnected with Dick Godwin ’48,
whom he had not seen in more than 25 years.
1950s
*M Fred Ball ’57: worked for J. Edgar Hoover
in the FBI for three years in Washington, DC. He
spent 30 years working for the Old Bell System in
charge of communications for Jimmy Carter, the
design and installation of the back-up data communications system for Boeing for the Apollo Moon
shots and was in the Control Center for many of
the launches. Fred was also assigned to the AntiTrust trial staff of AT&T as an expert witness and
to prepare documents for the attorneys in the 10year trial that broke up the Bell system. He spent
two years behind the Iron Curtain while in the Army.
*M Clifton Burgess ’57: Retired Navy
*M Frank Prevo ’57: Retired Navy
*M Arthur C. Ball ’58: Navy and Navy Reserve,
transferred to Public Health and retired as a Captain.
*M John Bode ’58: Retired Army Infantry
*M Alexander Synowiez ’58: retired from the US
Navy in 1988 as a Master Chief Petty Officer. He
is currently serving as the Admin/Finance officer of
the VFW of Long Beach, MS. He has been happily
married to his wife, Lois, for many years.
*M Don Maus ’59 (below): graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1963. He spent six years
in the Navy, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant.
Don continued his education
at the University of Rhode
Island with a Ph.D. in Ocean
Engineering. He continued his
career in the offshore oil industry, retiring from Exxon
Mobil in 2000. Don has since
consulted, managed the design
and construction of his parish
church and written a book on the German police from 1900 to 1936. He is married with two
married daughters, and six marvelous grandchildren.
1960s
Charlie Cunningham ’61, Joe Kannan ’61, Joe
Sansom ’61, Jack Urben ’62: were all members
of the All Century Football Team and were honored at the Centennial Homecoming game.
12
VOICES
Patrick Ivey ’64 and
Harold Dover ’64: reconnected after many years at
the Centennial Homecoming Game.
1970s
Roger Barnes ’75: is a NC Wesleyan College graduate. He is married and lives in Wendell, NC.
Martha Williams Dowd ’75: is a 1979 graduate of
UNC Greensboro and lives in Pendleton, SC.
Clifton Craig Jr. ’76: is a graduate of Jacksonville
University. He owns Carolina Payphone and Carolina Prepaid Solutions. He is married to Sandra and
has two children, Alexandra and Clifton IV. They live
in Jacksonville, FL.
Barbara Ellstrom Phillips ’76: spent many
months preparing for the Centennial Homecoming
festivities. She also served on the Alumni Council
and Alumni 100th Planning Committee.
*M Robert Clowers ’77: Retired Navy
1980s
*M Thomas Boland ’80: Retired Navy, Desert
Storm
*M Craig Drescher ’81: Navy and US Air Force
Reserve
Christopher Brooks ’83: is a 1991 graduate of
NCSU Vet School. He is married to Diana and they
have three beautiful children. Christopher and his
family live in Dacula, Georgia.
Phil Domville ’83: attended the Centennial Homecoming festivities and was the organizer of the
Alumni Basketball Reunion in February
Michael Gaston ’85: lives in Knoxville, TN. He is a
graduate of NC State University and the Director of
IT for Copper Cellar Restaurants. He and his wife,
Lisa, have two sons, Nicholas and Joseph.
John Odenwelder ’86: lives in Arlington, VA, and
works with the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of
Arlington. He is the Director of Hogar Immigrant
Services which provides legal, education, and social
services to immigrants across the 21 counties of this
diocese. He credits his Gibbons education – with
its strong emphasis on community service – for this
career move.
*M John Broughton ’87: National Guard
1990s
Joe Taylor ’93, Jessie Herring ’94, Chauncey Ray
’94, and Kunga Mburu ’94: attended the Alumni
Basketball Reunion in February.
Erik Wesner ’96: wrote Success Made Simple: An
Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive. The book
has been getting a good bit of national coverage both
from Time Magazine and CNN. (Please see a review
of his book on page 14.)
Lindsay Atalese ’97: is a 2001 graduate of Appalachian State University. She works for Branch Banking and Trust and lives in Raleigh.
*M Laura Hinshaw ‘97: US Air Force.
Jeremy Barefoot ’99: authored a novel entitled,
The Traveler. Jeremy is an English teacher and the
Head Wrestling Coach at Sanderson High School
in Raleigh.
*M Adam Hurley ’99 (below left): is an army Captain, Special Forces
5th group. This
photo was taken
of Adam and Paul
Wallace ’00, while
deployed in Iraq in
support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in 2009. They
are both graduates
of West Point.
*M Brad Scheidt ’99: completed active service in
the Marines.
Lexie Nichols ’99: spent three years with the
Peace Corps in Kenya. (Please see her story on Page
6.) She works at Cardinal Gibbons as the Technical
Theater Teacher.
2000s
*M T.J. Gibbons ’00: Naval Academy graduate
and now a Naval recruiter in Charlotte.
Louis Goodmon ’00
(left): recently completed
his Master’s degree in
Humanities at the Dominican University of California. He will be moving to Chapel Hill and
attending Law School.
Louis is also involved in
fundraising for the National Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Addictions. He and his wife
had a baby, Laura Evelyn Goodmon, on July 15, 2009.
Bridget Mulder ’00: recently purchased her first
home in Raleigh. She is a Paramedic for Wake
County EMS and the Assistant Training Chief with
Six Forks EMS, helping recruits gain field experience
once they have received their EMT certification.
*M Pete Guerdan ’01: is a West Point graduate
and Captain in the Army.
Nate Scott Lambert ’01: graduated from NC
State University in 2006 and works with Greystar
Management Services as a Property Manager.
Jason Perry ’01
(left): is a graduate
of Winston-Salem
State University
and High Point
University. He is a
Professor and Coordinator of the
Sport Management Degree Program in the Department of Human Performance & Wellness at Saint
Augustine’s College in Raleigh, NC.
John Amanchukwu ’02
(right): is Director of Development at Upper Room
Christian Academy. He oversees the financial development, student enrollment,
alumni relations and the
marketing efforts of the
school. He and his family live
in Raleigh.
*M Jimmy Fisher ’02: is a West Point graduate;
he completed 15 months in Afghanistan in 2009.
*M Nathan Foust ’02: is a West Point graduate; he
completed 15 months in Iraq in November 2008.
Eric Stroud ’02: is a real estate investor and entrepreneur focused on web design consulting and
web applications. Eric stays involved with his church
and other charitable foundations. He participated
in the 3rd Annual Cardinal Gibbons Alumni Career
Day in February.
Mary Robbins ’02
(left), Kaela Pearce
’02 and Natalie Turgeon ’02: spent time together in Granada, Spain,
where Mary was living
and teaching.
Allison Russo ’03:
graduated from the
College of Charleston
in 2007 with a BA in Corporate Communications.
She is a Publicist for Lovell Communications in
Nashville, TN.
*M Lee Skiver ’03: is West Point graduate. Serving in the Army, he became a Ranger last summer.
Megan Watson ’03: graduated from UNC Charlotte with an Elementary Education degree in 2007.
She is a 5th grade teacher with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.
*M Donald “Trip” Auray ’04: is a USMA and
graduate of West Point.
*M Mark Beale ’04: is a graduate of the Naval
Academy, currently serving in Somalia with the US
Navy. He was deployed in January and will be there
for seven months.
*M Sean Cockrill ’04: is serving as a Ranger with
the USMA Airborne.
Michael James Crooke ’04: graduated from ECU
in 2008 with a BSBA and a Finance Concentration.
He works as a Commercial Relationship Specialist
for TrustAtlantic Bank.
*M David Guerdan ’04: is serving as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army.
*M JR (Wahlert) May ’04: is a Sargeant in the
Marines and currently deployed in Southeast Asia.
*M Matthew McCallum ’04: is a graduate of the
Air Force Academy and is in Flight School, 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base in Columbus, Mississippi. He is a 2nd Lt. in the Air Force.
*M Christen Holcombe ’06: is a recent West
Point graduate.
Molly O’Brien ’06: graduated in May from the
University of Connecticut. She began working for
ESPN after graduation.
*M AJ Pompliano ’06: is serving in the Army; and
completed a deployment in Iraq last fall.
Joel Smith ’06: graduated on May 8, from Furman
University with a double major in Music and Chemistry. He will go on to pursue a Ph.D. in Organic
Chemistry at UCLA.
Katelyn O’Rourke ’04: lives in Wilmington, NC.
She has recently taken a new position as the HR
Generalist for Assisted Care, a home health agency.
*M Trish Todd ’06 (left):
graduated from West Point
in the Spring of 2010. Go
Brewdawgs!
*M Mark Smith ’04: is an Ensign and currently in
flight school in Pensacola, Florida.
*M Stephen Thorn ’07: is
attending the Naval Academy.
Dennis Boyce ’05: graduated from Appalachian State
University with a BS in Ecology & Environmental Biology, with a concentration in Sustainable Development.
*M Chris Hornung ’08: attends West Point.
Kristina Boyce ’05: graduated from NC State with
a degree in Sports Management in 2009. She works
with the Carolina Hurricanes as the Community Relations Coordinator.
Molly Boyce ’05: graduated from Elon University in
2009 with a Sports Management degree. She works
for the Durham Bulls as the Sponsorship Services
Coordinator.
Kristen Nicole Edrington ’05: is a 2009 graduate
of Queens College in Charlotte and is working on a
second degree at Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, DC. She also spends her time
as a Tour Guide for the US Holocaust Museum in
Washington, DC.
*M Ashley Waddle ’05: is a
Naval Academy graduate.
*M Peter Beale ’06 (left):
graduated from the Naval Academy and is going on to Medical
School at UNC at Chapel Hill.
Patrice Dason ’06: graduated from NC State
University, Summa Cum Laude with dual majors in
Biological Sciences and Nutrition Science. She holds
school records in track at NCSU in individual events
and four of the five relay events. She was named to
the all ACC academic team in 2010 and was an academic All American all four years. Patrice was named
one of three finalists for the Kay Yow award in
2010. She plans to apply to medical school in 2011.
Erica Gierlach ’06: graduated from Elon University
in May.
Katie Healy ’06: spent her spring break in Bogalusa,
LA working with Habitat for Humanity, rebuilding
a home that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. She
graduated from the University of Dayton this past May.
*M Nick Macdonald ’08: attends the Naval Academy.
*M Jeff Beale ’09: attends the Naval Academy.
Joey DeRusso
’09 and Abby
Bouchon ’09
(right): Became
the Sports Illustrated Super
Fans of the Week
after painting
their bodies Carolina Blue for a
football game!
*M Lindsay Byrd ’09: attends the Air Force Academy.
*M Conor Hogan ’09: attends the Air Force Academy.
Ernest John Kirstein IV ’09: attends Monmouth
University in West Long Branch, NJ, under a full
scholarship. He has also been granted a full-time
assistantship in the Artificial Intelligence Program at
Monmouth this summer (Though he started college
in the Fall of 2009, with the help of Cardinal Gibbons AP classes and summer classes at Wake Tech,
he has completed his freshman and sophomore requirements and is now classified as a junior.) He is
in the dual BS/MS program in Software Engineering
and should graduate in 2013.
Jake Thomas
’10 (right):
enjoyed the
view in Mexico,
wearing his
“Gibbons
Alumni” shirt
proudly!
*M = Military
VOICES
13
Fried Green Tomatoes and Good Conversation with Friends
T
hey probably had
their first lunch
together in 1992. It
could have been at
the picnic table outside the gym at the
old Cardinal Gibbons
campus or inside
Kate Turgeon-Watson, Sarah Pearcy Walden and Shelley
Duncan Scanlon — all ‘95.
the cafeteria waiting for Rosie’s freshly baked Otis Spunkmeyer cookies. Really, they
can’t remember.
But there have been many meals together since then for longtime
friends Shelley Duncan Scanlon, Sarah Pearcy Walden and Kate Turgeon Watson (all ’95). They recently met for lunch at Flights Restaurant
inside the Renaissance Hotel at North Hills, where Dean Thompson
’00 is Executive Sous Chef. “We always love a chance to get together,
laugh and catch up,” says Kate. “And it was neat to meet somewhere
with a Gibbons connection.”
For these Gibbons grads, North Hills was a central location for
gathering, and the restaurant’s sleek, modern atmosphere was fun to
take in. (No offense to the beloved old picnic table!) On the menu: The
Mediterranean appetizer (oven roasted olives with grilled peppers);
the fried green tomato BLT on grilled wheat berry bread; the grilled
chicken panini with montrachet and artichokes in a pressed baguette
and basil aioli; and one overwhelming bowl of pasta - rock shrimp and
Maine lobster tossed with angel hair
pasta and marinara.
As these three women would
agree, great food and good conversation with friends is always good
for the soul! Three Thinkers Go to the N.C. Art Museum
J
Jess Greiner Lowe '99, Joey Hoying
'99 and Emily Turgeon '00 with
The Thinker.
ess (Greiner) Lowe ’99, Joey Hoying ’99, and I recently went to the
new NC Art Museum and spent a
lovely afternoon seeing all the outdoor
grounds and art exhibits. The new museum’s layout is pristine and beautiful
and its abundant natural light makes
the art work, sculptures and portraits
even more appealing.
First, we checked out some of the
Rodin statues in the outdoor courtyard
of the museum. They were very impressive, especially – The Thinker –
replica. We then walked down to the
SUCCESS MADE SIMPLE – Erik Wesner ‘96
I
n their first seven years in business, 65% of smallbusiness startups in North America fail. Gearing up
with modern technology, many with college degrees,
entrepreneurs begin with hopes and dreams, yet over
half find themselves having to close their doors. Amish
businesses, however, have a 95% success rate. Avoiding the technology they fear would take them away from family and community and
having no formal schooling beyond the eighth grade, these “plain”
people have become successful businessmen and women.
The surprising success of the Amish in business led Erik Wesner,
’96, to study the businesses of the Amish and see if they use principles that would increase the success of other startup businesses. Erik
worked among the Amish and interviewed over 50 business owners,
who generously gave their views on all aspects of business. These
included the reasons for starting a business (more a way of life than
merely making a living); marketing the product (the best advertisement is a satisfied customer); employee relations (the best employees
buy-in to the business, appreciate what they do and show it); production (no amount of marketing will help a subpar product); continuing
14
VOICES
new and improved outdoor amphitheatre stage and movie screen.
The layout is beautiful and we are looking forward to attending
some outdoor movies this summer at the venue. Next, we went
inside and explored the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Italian art
exhibits. Jess and I, particularly, being World History teachers
at Cardinal Gibbons, found some really profound pieces that we
could incorporate into certain units of our classes such as Ancient
Greece and the Italian Renaissance. It was interesting to see many familiar pieces that we recognized
from the old art museum building in the new one. The ambiance of
the new exhibits is spectacular. Moreover, the new restaurant and the
restaurant menu seem phenomenal. We did not have time to eat – but
we look forward to coming back. By Emily Turgeon’00
education (the Bible really is a practical book, learn from those who
know more than you, work for someone before starting out on your
own); and much more.
Overall, Amish business is part of the Amish
lifestyle, seen primarily as an opportunity to serve
others, not as merely a money-maker for the business owner. Erik took the lessons he learned from
talking with these business people and pared them
down into applications at the end of each chapter
which are reasonable and applicable to a modern
business. The emphasis on respect for people leads
the Amish to succeed. Their sense that they are responsible to give their best efforts to each of the
people with whom they live and work causes them to feel that their labor is more than “just a job.” Their esteem for hard work, for the determination to make a good product that they are confident will satisfy a
customer, and their deep commitment that a business is for the purpose of serving their family, community and God yields lessons that,
applied to “modern” businesses, would likely increase the success
rate of startup businesses outside the Amish community.
Book review by Jana Mauney, CGHS Business Department Chair
Classes of 1970 and 1971: Homecoming Weekend Dinner
at Casa Carbone
Reunions
Members of the All Century Football Team-Centennial Homecoming Weekend:
Frank Prevo ‘57, Joe Johnson ‘59, Fred Ball ‘57,William Banks ‘52, Charles Cunningham
‘61, Dick Booth ‘52, Harry Stewart ‘36,Tommy Farris ‘56
Alumni Calendar... August 9: 21 Jack Ratz, Jr. Memorial Junior Golf Tournament
September 3: Family Football Night @ CGHS – Tailgating
September (TBD): Alumni Business Networking Series September 27: CGHS Family Association Golf Tournament @ MacGregor Downs, Cary
October 8: Homecoming Football Game and Reunion Weekend Inaugural event for PGA- Parents of Gibbons Alumni
November (TBD): Alumni Business Networking Series
November 26: Alumni Lacrosse Game
December 4: Alumni Basketball Tournament December 17: Young Alumni “Come Home for the Holidays”
December 19: Alumni Soccer Game
2011 2010
st
January (TBD): Alumni Business Networking Series
February 10: 4 Annual Alumni Career Day
March 26: CGFA Spring Gala
March (TBD): Alumni Business Networking Series
April 7: Stewardship Mass & Community Awards Lunch
Recognition of 2011 Alumni Hall of Fame Recipients April (TBD): Joey O Bocce Classic for Cystic Fibrosis
May 19: Class of 2011 Senior Luncheon and Alumni Speaker
June (TBD): Alumni Business Networking Series
th
Members of the Class of 1995: The Joey O Bocce Classic Weekend:
Sarah Pearcy Walden, Sarah Kuszaj, Shaheen Bandukwala Syal,
Kyle Hanlin, Bob Swanson, Laura Sharkey Hibbitts, Greg Galloway
Homecoming Weekend: Harold Dover ‘64, Evelyn Robertson, Danny Martin ‘64,
Jack Urben ‘62, Patrick Ivey ‘64 and Kevin Geraghty ‘64
In
Loving
Memory
1943
Raymond Stearns
1956
Gordon Blankfard
1957
Mike Prendergast
1985
Rosalie Kriz
1988
Benjamin Mulligan
1989
Matthew Lada
1993
Christine Colangelo Call
1995
Joe O’Connell
2001
Rachel Klitzman
“Lord, for your faithful people life is changed not ended.”
VOICES
15
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit #2212
Raleigh, NC
1401 Edwards Mill Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
If your son or daughter no longer lives at home, please send his/her updated contact information to Kirsten Monroe, Alumni Coordinator, at [email protected]. Thank you.
Stay Connected
Join PGA
Has there been something missing
in your life since your child/
children graduated from CGHS?
You can stay connected by joining
Parents of Gibbons Alumni or PGA.
PGA’s invitation to “Join us”
means, “We’ll email you with offers
to do just that—join us—at a Mass,
a show, the soup kitchen, a football
tailgate and game…” Joining does
not give you something else to do; it
just informs parents of opportunities
to stay connected or occasionally
return to campus.
For more information, please
contact Liz Jochum, PGA Coordinator: [email protected]
A
G
P
Tech Talk, Gibbons Style
CGHS embraces the Web as well as
the new social media technologies
of Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
as tools to better communicate with
you and to bring our faith to the
digital world.
Cardinal Gibbons Alumni:
http://bit.ly/bAvON8
https://twitter.com/alumni_cghsnc
https://twitter.com/prinicpalcghsnc
http://bit.ly/9Tf3n4
BLOG: Principal Curtis:
http://principalcghsnc.blogspot.com/
Web Pages:
Alumni: www.cghsnc.org/alumni
News Center: www.cghsnc.org/news
Video Club: www.cghsnc.org/video
On the
Cover:
CENTENNIAL HOMECOMING
By blending
photos and
graphics,
C h r i s
kemple ’89
produced
a bold yet
whimsical
cover depicting Commercial Artist
and fellow alumnus Peter Ruocchio
’92 and his creations. This is the second
Voices cover Chris has designed since
he returned to Gibbons in 2007 as an
Art Instructor. Before that, he worked
for over a decade as a professional
artist and designer in the video game
and comic book industries. Chris
teaches Art 1 as well as some new
courses he created, Intro to Computer
Modeling and Sequential Art. He is
also a moderator of the Comics Club,
an advisor to the Yearbook, and he
oversees Crusader Comics for the
school newspaper. In addition, Chris
continues to work in comics and
freelance game design/illustration
in his spare time. He lives in Wake
Forest with his wife, Krista, and two
daughters, Mallory 8 and Phoebe 4.
If you are interested in submitting
a cover proposal for a future issue
of Voices, please contact Kirsten
Monroe, Alumni Coordinator,
[email protected].