LeavesDuchesne High SchoolAutumn 2014

Climbing into our 90th year

dhs launChes 1-to-1

teChnology

Page 6

girls soCCer:

baCk2baCk state ChamPs

Page 8

PeaCe CorPs Volunteer

Claire donze '07

Page 14

LeavesDuchesne High School From the President

Welcome to our relaunched Leaves magazine. We hope you enjoy this comprehensive yet concise overview of what’s happening in our school community as we prepare to celebrate our 90th year as St. Peter/Duchesne High School.

In the past two years, we’ve celebrated some exciting successes, including our first Eucharistic pilgrimage to the shrine of our patron saint, implementation of a one-to-one technology program, back-to-

back state titles in girls soccer, and installation of air conditioning. We’ve also faced some serious challenges, such as increased competition for our students, a significant decrease in the local Catholic population, and the necessity of finding new ways to keep our first-class educational programs affordable for our families.

The renewal of Leaves is another step in strengthening our public relations and advancement programs. You’ve probably noticed Duchesne a lot more in the local news recently. We’re proud of what we’re accomplishing and working hard to spread the good news! We’ve also grown our presence on social media. These days, the best way to keep up with DHS is through our social media accounts and school Web site. (You can find those links in the sidebar on the left side of this page.) Our Web site has been redesigned to include more relevant information and easier navigation, and our Facebook and Twitter pages are updated several times a week with news and special features. Through these new channels, with our limited resources, we have been able to reach more people than ever before.

We took a hard look at our strategic planning and school achievements, and set out to create a Leaves worthy of that work. This is the culmination of our efforts – but it’s still a work in progress. We hope to publish two print issues every year, supplemented with electronic versions through email. Please take the opportunity to send us your feedback, and please remember to share your email with us so you won’t miss any of our future communications.

Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your loyalty. Most of all, thank you for being a Pioneer. You are part of the history and future of a proud and distinguished Catholic tradition – Duchesne High School.

Blessings in mind, body, and spirit,

Bernie A. Naumann, Jr., President

Duchesne High School publishes Leaves semiannually for alumni,

current students, parents, parents of alumni, benefactors, and friends.

The publication shares school events, highlights student and

alumni achievements, celebrates educational excellence, and

recognizes the generosity of our community. More than 8,000

readers enjoy each issue of Leaves.

Contributors

Bernie A. Naumann, Jr.President

Fritz LongPrinCiPal

Debi Westhues ‘96direCtor oF athletiCs

Alicia BungumdireCtor oF CamPus ministry

Emily Saettele KuryladireCtor oF annual giVing

Lindsay Lammert ‘09direCtor oF admissions and marketing

Kristine Nienhausalumni and sPeCial eVents Coordinator

Sandy VenetisadVanCement serViCes assistant

Carolyn Wappelhorst ‘13adVanCement serViCes intern

ContaCt us

2550 Elm StreetSaint Charles, Missouri 63301

636.946.6767

www.duchesne-hs.org

DuchesneHighSchool

@DuchesneHS @Athletics_DHS

Faith in our Future campaignnets $1.4 million For Duchesne

During the summer of 2008, Duchesne began the public phase of the five-year Faith in Our Future capital campaign. The multi-tiered fundraising effort was designed to provide the necessary resources for immediate and long-term improvements to the school, including technology upgrades, installation of climate control, facilities enhancements, and expansion of the endowment. With $1 million in advance gifts, the campaign was poised to meet its goals. Then the stock market crashed, unemployment soared, and the economic future of our community seemed much less certain.

Despite these difficulties, Duchesne’s supporters rallied to raise more than $1.4 million for the school. This funding allowed us to complete the top two campaign priorities - strengthening the school’s technology infrastructure and installing air conditioning throughout the campus. “The projects we completed were ranked as most important in our campaign feasibility study, and also had the most direct impact on our students,” said President Bernie Naumann. “The campaign helped us to immediately improve the quality of our instructional time, our learning environment, and the programs we provide.”

Technology upgrades included the addition of wireless Internet access throughout the school, as well as a new server, new access points and switches, and high-speed T5 cabling. These advancements proved to be vital for the implementation of one-to-one technology and the increased presence of technology across the curriculum. Campus-wide air conditioning was installed in two phases, beginning with the gym and Ohrman Performing Arts Center in the summer of 2011. An innovative approach using efficient, durable window units brought air conditioning to individual classrooms in the summer of 2013 - without incurring costly asbestos removal.

Naumann expressed sincere gratitude to all who supported the campaign. “Duchesne is incredibly blessed to have such a strong and supportive community,” he said. “We’ve taken huge steps in advancing our mission, and we were able to accomplish what we did because of the generosity and faith of our families and friends.”

Above: While less visible than other projects, the technology upgrades completed with campaign funds helped pave the way for curriculum updates and the implementation of Duchesne’s one-to-one technology program. Left: A massive crane lifts air conditioning units onto the roof of Duchesne’s gym. The installation of air conditioning in the gym was part of the first phase of construction, which took place during the summer of 2011.

introDucing the

Dhs leaDership team

Fritz longPrinCiPalStarted at Duchesne in August 2010Hometown

Denver, Colorado

EducationBachelor of Arts in Psychology from Creighton University; Master of Arts in Secondary School Administration from Saint Louis University

ExperienceTen years as a social studies teacher at Rosati-Kain High School, including five as an academic dean; ten years as R-K’s swim and dive coach

Why I love DHSI really enjoy the welcoming atmosphere, and our great students and faculty. Those relationships help to turn a school into a family.

Fun fact I rowed in the stroke seat of a four-man boat in college.

Debi Westhues ''96direCtor oF athletiCsStarted at Duchesne in August 2013Hometown

Saint Charles, Missouri

EducationBachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Missouri Western State University; Master of Arts in Teaching from Lindenwood University (in progress)

ExperienceSix years coaching Duchesne’s basketball, cross country, and track teams; two years as a physical education teacher at St. Dominic High School

Why I love DHSDuchesne is like a second family. I love being able to go just about anywhere and run into someone that I know from DHS. Our community is unique, and I am blessed to be a part of it.

Fun fact I can hit free throws with my eyes closed! I actually hit nine out of ten one day.

Our school administrative team features several new faces - not to mention passion, energy, and Pioneer pride. Meet the people whose collective vision is guiding Duchesne to a bright future.

Kurt CloDiusdean oF student serViCesStarted at Duchesne in August 2001Hometown

Saint Louis, Missouri

EducationBachelor of Arts in English and Physical Education from Loras College

ExperienceMore than 30 years in education, including ten years as Dean of Students at Vianney High School, and two years as an English teacher at DHS in the early 1990s

Why I love DHSDuchesne cares more for the success of its students than anywhere else I have been. Our students receive a tremendous education that meets each of their individual needs.

Fun fact I was named the National Football League’s Teacher of the Year in 2005.

bernie naumannPresidentStarted at Duchesne in July 2012Hometown

Saint Louis, Missouri

EducationBachelor of Arts in Business and Political Science from Saint Louis University; Master of Arts in Secondary Curriculum and Instruction from UMKC; Master of Arts in Secondary School Administration from Missouri Baptist University

ExperienceTwelve years as an Archdiocesan high school teacher and administrator; more than 20 years of corporate management

Why I love DHSWe have a strong mission and tradition to maintain - but most of all, I love our supportive community.

Fun fact My other car is a boat. I love being in the water at Table Rock Lake and relaxing with my family.

min

d dhs launChes 1-to-1 teChnology ProgramIncreased student engagement expected to lead to improved student performance

In all aspects of their lives, young people of the 21st century lead a tech savvy existence. To best prepare our students to succeed in this new era, Duchesne must incorporate the digital world into our classrooms and learning environment. Starting with the 2014-2015 school year, all students will bring their own Apple iPads as part of their course materials – making Duchesne a true one-to-one technology campus.

Principal Fritz Long said that the change marks a new era at Duchesne. “We are all very excited about the impact this will have on our students,” he said. “This type of education and exposure to technology will ensure that Duchesne Pioneers will lead the way in their future careers.”

The shift to one-to-one technology has been thoroughly researched and planned by a committee of administrators and faculty members. For the last two academic years, Duchesne operated as a “bring your own device” (BYOD) school. Teachers and students worked together to create a more paperless, interactive, and creative atmosphere. During that time, classroom teachers found that the multitude of operating systems in use (iOS, Android, and Windows) meant that students were looking at very different things while trying to complete the same assignment. The school’s tech committee decided it would be best for all students to use iPads, in order to build consistency among classrooms.

With a very generous gift from a friend of Duchesne, the school was able to purchase iPads for each of the

Students use their iPads for an in-class assignment. Front row, from left: John Reilly ‘17 and Natalie Schroeder ‘17. Back row, from left: Emily Bennett ‘16, Tom Palmatier ‘16, and Tony Deluvia ‘17.

teachers at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. Formal faculty training on the iPad began in 2013 and will continue to be a major component of our professional development for years to come.

Faculty members have embraced the presence of technology, utilizing a variety of new teaching tools to augment classroom instruction and better connect with students. Long said that increased student engagement often leads to improved student performance. “Research indicates that students gain higher levels of achievement through interactive, technology-based education,” he said. “Being connected to the Web allows students to use innovative tools to gain knowledge through apps, videos, e-books, and other forms of multimedia. The more engaged the student is, the greater the achievement.”

Several strategies have been implemented to ensure the one-to-one transition is a smooth one. Long said that curriculum changes were made to better align Duchesne’s coursework with the technology-rich environment. “Many courses have been redesigned to take advantage of the new technology,” he said, adding that new classes were included in the Practical Arts department curriculum to improve students’ technology skills. “Classrooms are becoming much more student-focused, rather than a teacher standing in front of the class and lecturing.”

Technology Director Kim Choinka and social studies teacher Kelly (Kennedy) Brune ’91 will lead the iTeam, a specially trained team of students who will work with their classmates and teachers to coordinate technology needs. This group will help lead technology orientation sessions during the summer, as well as troubleshoot day-to-day issues that might arise throughout the school year. “The iTeam consists of students who are interested in learning more about technology,” Choinka said. “They will work side-by-side with us in implementing iPad usage throughout the school.”

The school’s technology infrastructure has been upgraded and the wireless bandwidth increased to accommodate the sharp uptick in data usage. Duchesne uses CloudPath, a secure cloud-based data services provider, to manage the school network. CloudPath allows students to access the school network with only one device at a time – rather than accessing the network with a smartphone, iPad, and other wifi-enabled devices all at once – which will help maximize bandwidth for school use.

A benefit of the one-to-one endeavor is the “green” aspect, as the use of iPads will significantly lessen the school’s paper consumption. For example, students will be able to access reading assignments on their iPads instead of relying on photocopies from their teachers. Duchesne already uses the program eBackpack to assist with the exchange of information between teacher and student. This web-based utility offers unlimited cloud storage for teachers and students, and enables assignments to be sent out, turned in, corrected, and entered into the online gradebook without using a single piece of paper. Administrators also expect to see a reduction in the amount of “stuff ” students carry between home and school. As textbooks are phased out and coursework goes paperless, backpacks should be much smaller and lighter. “No longer will students look like they’re about to hike through Europe just to go home and do homework,” Long joked.

DHS business teacher Renee (Reimer) Moore ‘86 enjoys an iPad-centered activity with her students.

bo

dy Dhs girls soccer

back2back state champs

Top left: The 2013 state champs relish their victory. Holding trophy, facing camera: Karlie Dennis ‘14, Jordan Reimer ‘14, Sam Starostki ‘15, Danielle McIntosh ‘13, and Hannah Shambro ‘16. Bottom right: Members of the girls soccer team receive the 2014 state championship trophy following their 6-0 win over Springfield Catholic. From left: Christine Portell ‘15, Brigitte Reilly ‘14, Payton Bodden ‘17, Jordan Reimer ‘14, and Bailey Rhoades ‘14. Bottom left: Coach Pat Turner ‘03 celebrates with his team following the 2014 title game.

What’s sweeter than winning one state championship? Winning two (and we know from experience)! The Duchesne girls soccer team accomplished the difficult feat of earning back-to-back state titles in 2013 and 2014.

After winning the Class 1 state championship last year, it was clear that the returning Duchesne players were focused on claiming the title again. The girls battled a tough regular season schedule to prepare them for their anticipated post-season run – and it paid off. With head coach Patrick Turner ’03 at the helm, the Pioneers found their way back to Kansas City to play in the state final four for the second consecutive year. “Everyone was driven to succeed,” said Turner. “Our returning varsity players set the tone, and our newcomers wanted to earn their spots. The leadership from our six seniors was remarkable, and the team worked hard to send them out in style.”

The girls punched their ticket to the championship game with a 1-0 victory over St. Pius X High School. The Pioneers entered their final match ready for battle, and captured the Class 1 state title in dominant fashion with a 6-0 win over Springfield Catholic High School.

“I am beyond proud of these girls,” said Debi Westhues ‘96, Director of Athletics. “They wanted to win this championship, not only for themselves and their team, but for everyone at Duchesne. They are just an incredible group of young ladies.”

Enrollment UpdateThe energy around Duchesne’s

campus has spilled over into the school’s enrollment and marketing efforts. Lindsay Lammert ‘09, Director of Admissions and Marketing, has been moving forward with fresh ideas during her first year in the position. “Ever since I joined the Advancement team last June, I’ve been working hard to find new ways to reach out to prospective students and help them see what Duchesne has to offer,” Lammert said. “Whether it’s the admissions events we put on throughout the year or our posts on social media, we’ve been able to demonstrate the true spirit and mission of Duchesne High School to the community.”

Unique opportunities for Duchesne’s current students to shine in the public eye arose throughout the year. A group of DHS Student Ambassadors appeared on television and billboards to promote the Archdiocese of St. Louis’ High School Fair in March 2014. Duchesne students were interviewed by Newschannel 5 KSDK and Fox 2 News about their reasons for choosing to attend a Catholic high school.

Student Ambassadors also excelled at welcoming guests to campus. Students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades were invited to admissions events at Duchesne many times throughout this past school year. The year kicked off with the annual DHS Back to School Mixer, where students are invited to dance the night away in the Ohrman Performing Arts Center. Duchesne hosted the annual Basketball Bash back in January, where all grade school students were given free admission to the JV and varsity games played that night, free hot dog and soda, free entry into a raffle, and free admission to a future DHS home game. Of course, formal campus tours for families were provided at Open House in November!

Social media has provided a fun and effective way to connect with prospective students and parents. Duchesne’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/DuchesneHighSchool) and Twitter account (@DuchesneHS) allow followers to stay connected with what’s happening at school. In addition to announcements and event invitations, our updates include special weekly features like #WhyDHSWednesdays and #ThrowbackThursdays.

However, the process of building relationships goes beyond fun events or clever social media posts. Duchesne will always look for meaningful ways to connect with our families on a personal level. On the night that Duchesne’s high school acceptance letters were mailed to the Class of 2018, Lammert asked Student Ambassadors to deliver yard signs to each new Pioneer’s home. The signs included a welcome message and were hand-signed by current students. “I want to make sure each incoming freshman knows how excited the DHS community is to welcome them to our family,” Lammert explained. “It’s a very exciting time for them and we want to share in that experience.”

Student Ambassadors Shane Loewenstein ‘16, Taylor Slattery ‘14, Colleen Vonder Haar ‘15, and Tim Reilly ‘14 represent DHS at the Archdiocesan High School Fair.

sPir

it

Eucharistic Procession Marks 25th Anniversary of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne's Canonization Year

On the morning of November 18, 2013, Duchesne High School celebrated the 25th anniversary of the feast day of our patron saint, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne. St. Rose Philippine was canonized on July 3, 1988, by Blessed John Paul II. To commemorate this special anniversary, all students and faculty participated in a Eucharistic procession from Duchesne to the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne on the campus of the Academy of the Sacred Heart.

Duchesne’s Director of Campus Ministry, Alicia Bungum, said that a Eucharistic procession was a fitting way to honor St. Rose Philippine’s feast.

“The sincerest act of gratitude and love we can give is to love what is most important to another person,” Bungum said. “St. Rose Philippine loved Jesus in the Eucharist. In order to imitate her, we also need to love Jesus in the Eucharist. We are additionally blessed in that we were able to walk the same streets she walked on our way to venerate her

remains at the Shrine.”

The feast day celebration began with Mass in Duchesne’s Performing Arts Center. Bishop Edward Rice of the Archdiocese of St. Louis celebrated the Mass, specifically addressing St. Rose Philippine’s call to teaching and missionary work in his homily. The Eucharistic procession immediately followed the Mass. Duchesne students and faculty carried the consecrated host down Elm, Kingshighway, and Decatur Streets in St. Charles. Grade school students at St. Charles Borromeo were able to watch and participate by genuflecting as the procession passed. After arriving at the Shrine, each Duchesne student visited St. Rose Philippine’s tomb and showed reverence with a bow or Sign of the Cross.

Bernie Naumann, President of Duchesne High School, said that having the school’s patron saint buried within walking distance of Duchesne’s campus provided a rare opportunity to celebrate her feast day.

“We are blessed to continue the mission St. Rose Philippine started when she arrived here in 1818,” Naumann said. “It was a moving experience to see our entire student body march through the streets of St. Charles, demonstrating our love of God and our school.”

A Eucharistic procession is a traditional Catholic act of piety with roots in the 14th century. The procession is characterized by a priest or bishop holding a monstrance, a transparent display case through which one can view a consecrated host - the truly substantial body of Jesus Christ. The procession from Duchesne to St. Rose Philippine’s tomb reinforces the school’s connection to our patron saint in mind, body, and spirit. The Eucharistic aspect of the procession displays faith in the centrality of Jesus Christ and the sacramental bread as necessary spiritual food on the journey to heaven.

Bungum said that the procession’s destination – St. Rose Philippine’s tomb – held special spiritual significance. “Since the Church’s earliest years, pilgrims have traveled from around the world to visit the body of St. Peter and the early martyrs as a reminder that we are all pilgrims on our way to heaven,” she said. “How blessed we are to have a saint so near to us and to have an opportunity to be pilgrims in our very own town.”

DHS is Devoted to theSacred HeartOn the morning of March 12, Father David Skillman of Kenrick Glennon Seminary spoke to faculty members about devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through prayer. St. Rose Philippine Duchesne was a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and held a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart throughout her lifetime. At the end of his talk, Father Skillman blessed an image of the Sacred Heart, which is a replica of the image Cardinal Burke installed at the Cathedral Basilica in 2007. The image will hang in Duchesne’s chapel as a sign of our strengthened devotion to both our patron saint and the Sacred Heart.

Led by students who are members of Boy Scout troops, the Duchesne student body carried the consecrated host down Elm Street in Saint Charles on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne. Students prayed the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet as they walked.

alumni

zerr ‘59 launChes third noVel with Veteran's' day eVent

Navy veteran discusses life aboard aircraft carriers and the inspiration behind his writing

On the evening of Nov. 11, 2013, DHS alums, parents, students, and friends gathered in the chapel for a special Veterans’ Day presentation and book launch event with John J. Zerr ‘59, RADM USN (Ret.). Zerr graduated from Duchesne in 1959 and entered the United States Navy. He served for 36 years, spending much of that time as a pilot and commanding officer aboard aircraft carriers including the USS Constellation.

Zerr shared his experiences serving on carriers, focusing on the thousands of crew members who are responsible for the ships’ day-to-day operations.

“A lot of people are familiar with Maverick and Goose from ‘Top Gun’,” Zerr said. “This tells the rest of the story – what the other 4,998 sailors aboard a carrier do every day.”

Audience members enjoyed the opportunity to ask Zerr questions about military life and his personal experiences as a serviceman. Among other inquiries (“What is the food like?”), he was asked if flying was what attracted him to the Navy.

“No,” he said. “I started flying a bit later than most, and flying is what kept me in so long. But the best thing I was privileged to do was to serve as the commanding officer of an aircraft carrier. That was way beyond cool.”

Zerr discussed and read from his third novel, “Noble Deeds.” The story follows a commanding naval officer who takes his ship to sea for the first time and experiences a devastating fire.

He also paid tribute to Sr. Matthew, the DHS literature teacher who inspired his writing career.

“I consider her to be the first drill instructor I encountered,” Zerr recalls fondly. “She taught me literature and creative writing my junior year at DHS. She gave me an F as a mid-semester grade. I told her I should have gotten a C. She told me I should have gotten an A, and that for the semester I’d get either an A or an F. I did not get an F. Sr. Matthew is the reason I wanted to do this event at Duchesne.”

You can find more information about Jack Zerr’s three novels - “The Ensign Locker,” “Sundown Town Duty Station,” and “Noble Deeds” - at his Web site, authorjjzerr.com.

Navy veteran and author John Zerr ‘59 (right, seated) signs a copy of his third novel, “Noble Deeds,” for Duchesne parent Mike Reilly (left, standing).

Alums, Parents, and Faculty Honored at Cor Duchesne DinnersEach January, the Cor Duchesne Dinner is held to celebrate Duchesne’s educational mission and to thank donors who

have made significant financial contributions to the school throughout the years. The event features three special award presentations: the Teacher Innovator Award, to a Duchesne faculty member whose classroom teaching demonstrates the use of best practices; the St. Rose Philippine Service Award, to a volunteer who consistently provides outstanding service to the school; and the Spirit of Duchesne Alumni Achievement Award, to an alum who personifies the spirit of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne in service to church, school, and community.

We congratulate our 2013 and 2014 award winners, and sincerely thank all members of the Cor Duchesne Society for their history of generosity to Duchesne. If you would like to nominate a St. Peter/Duchesne alum for the Spirit of Duchesne Alumni Achievement Award, please visit duchesne-hs.org/alumni for more information.

Teacher Innovator AwardDominic D’Urso ‘95

St. Rose Philippine DuchesneService Award

Molly (O’Brien) Reilly ‘76

Spirit of Duchesne Alumni Achievement Award

Ralph Elmendorf ‘55Betty (Bethmann) Elmendorf ‘56

Teacher Innovator AwardKris (Birk) Witzel ‘83

St. Rose Philippine DuchesneService AwardTim Mitchell

Spirit of Duchesne Alumni Achievement Award

Hank Clever ‘76

2014 Award Winners

2013 Award Winners

China is the second largest and fastest growing economy in the world, but you would never know it by looking at Guizhou Province. In this mountainous, southwestern region, farms are still plowed by oxen and homemade plows. Fruits and vegetables are carried to city streets on poles balanced on the shoulders of the farmers who grew them, and heads turn in disbelief when any non-Chinese person walks down the street. Zunyi, the city where I lived for two years teaching English as a Peace Corps Volunteer, is the same size as San Francisco, and yet hardly anyone outside of China has heard of it. Most Chinese only know Zunyi as the city where Mao Zedong was elected leader of the Chinese Communist Party during the revolution of the 1960s. Compared to the ultra-modern coastal cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, Zunyi is still in the Middle Ages.

When I first learned that Peace Corps was in China, my initial thought was “why?” I thought Peace Corps involved mud huts, African landscapes, and young, sweaty Americans putting tablets on the tongues of undernourished children. This stereotype of Peace Corps certainly didn’t mesh with the industrial powerhouse, world superpower, economic monolith “China” that peppers American news stations. That China does exist, but it is far from the China where I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer; these two Chinas are as different as East and West.

After only a few months in Peace Corps, the answer to my initial question was obvious. Firstly, for Chinese students, speaking English can be the difference between a high paying job in a comfortable city and a low paying job in the countryside. Even though knowing English is vital to getting a good job, there is a serious lack of qualified English teachers in China. This is the most obvious need that Peace Corps China fills. The second, and arguably more important job of volunteers, is simply to get to know common, everyday Chinese people. Very few Americans live in this part of China, so the only experience many Guizhou residents have of Americans is what they see from the Chinese state-run news channels and the Hollywood blockbusters that make their way here. Eventually, I came to see my job as a Peace Corps China Volunteer as 20 percent English teacher and 80 percent diplomat. Positive inter-governmental relations begin with positive citizen-to-citizen relations, so I always tried to represent Americans in a positive, friendly way.

My Catholic education played a huge part in my decision to join the Peace Corps. I graduated from Duchesne in 2007 and received an English degree from Loyola University Chicago in 2011. The emphasis that both institutions put on volunteerism and serving others inspired me to volunteer after college. The English literature education I received at Duchesne was also tremendously valuable once I found myself in command of my own literature classroom. I often thought back to the teaching methods that had the biggest impact on me as a Duchesne student, and I tried to utilize those methodologies in my own classroom.

Volunteering was an incredibly rewarding experience, both personally and professionally. Not only did I return from Peace Corps a more open-minded, more qualified, and more experienced global citizen, but during my service I also found an interest in public policy, and am now working towards my Masters in Public Policy as a Peace Corps Fellow at Mizzou. The informal diplomatic role I played in Peace Corps has also inspired me to explore careers as a real diplomat, and this summer I’ve been interning with the China Desk at the State

alumni

Claire Donze '''07

reFlections on peace corps chinaAfter graduating from Loyola University Chicago in 2011, Duchesne alumna Claire Donze ‘07 served for two years with the Peace Corps as an English teacher in China. This trail-blazing Pioneer shares her experiences as a volunteer firsthand.

alumni

Claire Donze '''07

reFlections on peace corps chinaAfter graduating from Loyola University Chicago in 2011, Duchesne alumna Claire Donze ‘07 served for two years with the Peace Corps as an English teacher in China. This trail-blazing Pioneer shares her experiences as a volunteer firsthand.

Top: A typical village in Guizhou Province, located in southwestern China. Left: The view of Zunyi city from Donze’s living room. Zunyi is similar in size to San Francisco, yet few people outside of China are familiar with it. Bottom: Claire Donze ‘07 (first row, center) celebrates Christmas with her students. Donze taught English to young adults during her two years with the Peace Corps.

Department in Washington, D.C. Without my Peace Corps experience, I doubt I ever would have found these interests. More importantly, I discovered that “taking time off” to volunteer isn’t really “taking time off.” Volunteering in any capacity, not just with Peace Corps, can open doors you never expected. Often, there is an entire world to gain.

Do you know a Pioneer who’s accomplishing great things? We want to share your story! Call the Office of Advancement at (636) 946-2603 or email alumni@duchesne-hs.org.

reunio

ns Class of 1948

Class of 1957

Front row, from left to right: Jean (Griesenauer) Schneider, Ruthann (Callahan) Blessing, Margaret (Kuhlmann) Arnold, Dorothy (Freese) Dwyer, Bernice (Kruetzer) Schuster. Second row: Lucille (Sebacher) Needham, Beatrice (Worful) Kratzer, Geraldine (Schaeffer) Schoene, Elizabeth (Honerkamp) Phelps. Third row: Dallas Barteau, James Leach, Wilfred Wappelhorst, Clifford Steinmann, Eugene Glosier, Raymond Stross, Lawrence Jacobs, Lillian (Schneider) Koch.

Members of the Class of 1948 celebrated their 65th reunion on June 23, 2013, with Mass at St. Peter Parish and a luncheon at Pio’s Restaurant in St. Charles. Ruthann (Callahan) Blessing reports that the reunion “was a very happy occasion and when leaving all were looking forward to the next get-together.”

The Class of 1957 celebrated its 55th reunion with Mass at St. Charles Borromeo Church, followed by dinner. Thanks to Mary (Boschert) Knobbe, Pris (Cordes) Vanderbos, JoAnne (Lammert) Reuther, Marie (Weber) Schulte, Jeanette (Boschert) Brunstein, Dot (Hollander) Bizelli, and Evelyn (Oetker) Phillips for planning the reunion!

Class of 1962

Class of 1962 grads gathered at Bogey Hills Country Club to mark their 50th reunion on June 22, 2012. Jeanette (Schultehenrich) Garrison let us know that classmate trivia was enjoyed by all!

Classmates in attendance included Mary (Hollander) Baumann, Tom Baumann, Mary Ann (Schaeffer) Baz-Dresch, Mike Benskin, Dave Boerding, Justin Boschert, Pat (Burke) Clem, Mary (Netsch) Dyer, Margie (Burmeister) Eckert, Sandy (Saettele) Erwin, Margie (Boschert) Fortmann, Jeanette (Schultehenrich) Garrison, Don Garrison, Corinne (Dolence) Hart, Cathey (Kuhlmann) Budnik, Bill Hunsel, Mary (Froelich) Joyce, Virginia (Mattie) Kopfinger, Jim Lammert, Sandy (Wilson) Lane, Martha (Iffrig) Levengood, Bob Loeffler, Jim Machens, Dennis March, Marilyn (Garvert) Mennemeier, George Meyer, Joe Pallardy, Anita (Baumann) Pickle, Dick Rufkahr, Martha (McMenamy) Sears, Evelyn (Weber) Simon, Dick Simon, Mary (Buehrle) Smith, Mary (Leonard) Stack, Dave Stross, Joan (Keithly) Van Deven, Sue Voigt, John Walendy, Judy (Swann) Waugh, Dave Wehmeyer, Cynthia (Spencer) Woerner, Ted Yeater, and Sharon (Eppers) Smythe.

Upcoming Reunions - Save the Date!

Class of 1969 - 45th Reunion

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Blanchette Park Memorial Hall

6:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact:

Mary (Luth) Kurre

636-441-2438

Sue (Burkemper) McClintock

636-925-0460

Class of 1974 - 40th Reunion

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Bogey Hills Country Club

For more information, please contact

Terri (Allman) Loeffler

Terri.loeffler@sbcglobal.net

314-807-6084

Visit duchesne-hs.org/reunions to connect with the Class of 1974 on Facebook!

Looking to plan a reunion for your class? We’ll help you get started! Contact Kris Nienhaus, Alumni and Special Events Coordinator, at (636) 946-2603 or knienhaus@duchesne-hs.org.

Cla

ss n

otes 1942

Sister Betty Brucker recently celebrated 70 years as a Franciscan Sister of Mary. Sister Betty was President of SSM St. Mary’s Health Center for 17 years and has served on numerous local boards and committees.

1943Joseph Dilger, husband of Elizabeth (Dallmeyer) Dilger, passed away on September 26, 2012, at the age of 89.

1963Sharon (Lueck) Emge and her husband, Jerry, celebrated the marriage of their oldest grandson, Joshua Kientzy, to Megan Goors of St. Peters, Mo., on June 2, 2012. Sharon and Jerry look forward to happy occasions with their eight grandchildren - five boys and three girls, ranging in age from 6 to 21 years.

1977Mary (Woodley) Houston, RD, LD became interested in the field of dietetics at Duchesne. She went on to attend the University of Missouri, where she became a registered dietitian. In 2011, she received the Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Award from the Missouri Dietetics Association. In 2013, Mary was honored with Kansas City’s Ingram’s Magazine Heroes in Healthcare Award.

1983Congratulations to Terry Elmendorf, who received the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Missouri- St. Louis.

1996Brijette (Bloebaum) Struyk and her husband, Matt Struyk, welcomed their third child, Stella Brianne, on May 18, 2012, at 12:01 a.m. Stella weighed in at 8 pounds, 14 ounces, and measured 21 inches. She joins big brothers Brody and Beckett.

1997Dr. Benjamin Conoyer joined his father, Dr. John Michael Conoyer ’68, and his brother, Dr. John Matthew Conoyer ’95, at Midwest ENT Centre. Midwest ENT provides ear, nose, and throat specialty care in St. Peters, Mo.

2003Erica (Ledwon) Ries married Vince Ries of Iowa on December 10, 2011, in St. Charles, MO. Erica and Vince live in Urbandale, Iowa, where Erica is a registered nurse in the NICU at Mercy Medical Care.

2005Abby (Boehmer) Eich currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Aaron Eich. They met at the University of Central Missouri. Aaron is a commercial pilot for Express Jet Airlines and Abby works in a physician’s office processing medical records. Abby also has her own photography business, Abby Eich Photography.

2006Mark Povich completed his second year of the six year Ph. D. program at Washington University in St. Louis. Mark and another student created a poster of research entitled “The Effect of Symbolic Information on Delay Discounting in Humans Using Real Liquid Rewards” which was presented at the Society for Quantitative Analyses of Behavior meeting in Minneapolis.

2009Laura Ebone was recognized as one of the top 39 seniors at Mizzou by the MU Alumni Association. She studied biology and health sciences, and hopes to have a career improving world health. Laura started a two-year assignment with the Peace Corps in October 2013.

Ashley Vola took vows in the community of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in 2013. Now Sister M. Caterina, she lives in the community’s Alton convent.

2010Kristin Williams was the winner of the University of Missouri – St. Louis Student Leader of the Year Award in 2013. Kristin has been very involved in the Catholic Newman Center at UMSL. She is now working on getting her Masters of Arts degree in theology with a certificate in pastoral ministry through Villanova University.

2011Wendy Macias has enjoyed quite the softball career at Quincy University! She pitched her first-ever perfect game against McKendree University in 2012. After that, she was named GLVC Pitcher of the Week and the NFCA Division 2 Pitcher of the Week. Wendy also was selected as Quincy Athletics’ Best Newcomer of the Year and was voted team MVP by her teammates!

in memoriam

We offer the families of the deceased our deepest sympathy and prayers. We appreciate those who write to inform us of deaths within the DHS family. You may provide information by calling the Office of Advancement at (636) 946-2603 or emailing svenetis@duchesne-hs.org.

Geraldine Boschert 1936

Henry Hollander 1938

Joseph Kuehler 1938

Jeanette (Heinsz) Abeling 1940

Sr. Rose Duchesne (Armella Debrecht) 1940

Alois Rothermich 1940

Geraldine (Borgmeyer) Sebacher 1942

Mary Ann (Schneider) Kuhlmann 1944

Maxine (Potts) Ochs 1944

Earl Austerschmidt 1945

Norbert Borgmeyer 1945

Gerald Orf 1945

Kenneth Ziegemeier 1945

Lorraine (Heckmann) Pund 1946

William Willbrand 1946

Ralph Prinster 1947

Mary Lou (Fischer) Schwendemann 1947

Elmo Bernhoester 1948

Lawrence Jacobs 1948

Dorothy (Zerr) Burkemper 1949

Henry Reiling 1949

Virginia (Murphy) Scott 1949

Kenneth Simon 1949

Norbert Boschert 1950

Orest Hawryluk 1950

Dolores (Weber) Schimweg 1950

Shirley (Dwiggins) Lienhop 1952

Clarita (Boschert) Sommer 1954

Dennis Schipper 1956

Carol (Jones) Ermeling 1957

Robert Bredensteiner 1960

Gerald Glosier 1960

Nancy (Weber) Scholle 1960

Vincent Bolte 1963

Margaret (Pedrucci) Dempsey 1963

James Graham 1963

Joyce (Horst) Turan 1964

Janice (Easton) Tankersley 1965

Daniel Abeling 1967

Renee Shields 1967

Jean (Graham) Cross 1968

Carl Ostmann 1970

Dean Merritt 1972

Dennis Lukefahr 1974

Patricia (Diekamper) Proctor 1974

Michelle (Montgomery) Franz 1976

Jeffrey Hollaway 1977

Steven Ohlms 1977

Jeff Hogan 1978

Kevin Ohlms 1978

Kevin Buehrle 1980

Steven Schwendemann 1981

Gregory Booth 1982

Timothy Hopkins 1987

Jonathan Benne 1999

Justin Rohe 2006

‘94 State Champs Reunion

We will honor the 1994 DHS state championship boys soccer team on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. All members of the 1994 squad and their families are invited to join us for the varsity boys game against St. Dominic at 7 p.m. For more information, please contact Debi Westhues, Director of Athletics, at dwesthues@duchesne-hs.org.

adVa

nCement “Foresight” dinner auCtion blazes

neW trail as “pioneer expeDition”

In 1980, a group of parent and alumni volunteers with remarkable leadership and vision launched Duchesne’s inaugural dinner auction, Foresight, to benefit the school’s fund raising goals. More than three decades later, our auction has grown into a cherished Duchesne tradition and remains one of our most critical advancement events.

The 2013 auction ushered in some exciting changes. The event was rebranded under the name Pioneer Expedition: a Journey in Mind, Body, and Spirit to better align the evening’s purpose with Duchesne’s tradition, mission, and vision.

“At its heart, the auction is a celebration of our school community and educational mission,” said Emily Kuryla, Director of Annual Giving. “We wanted to honor our tradition while making the true purpose more visible to our guests and volunteers, reconnecting them with the reason for the event.”

Auction attendees enjoyed new additions, such as the photo booth and certificate shop, while still partaking in familiar favorites like the live and silver screen auctions and special raffle. Supporters responded enthusiastically to the rebranding efforts, helping to raise more than $60,000 for Duchesne in both 2013 and 2014.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to all who helped make Pioneer Expedition a success! Whether you attended the auction, donated an item, secured advertising, volunteered on a committee, or worked at the event, you played a vital role in keeping our mission strong for future generations of Pioneers. Be sure to save the date for next year’s Pioneer Expedition, which will be held Saturday, April 25, 2015!

Pio

neer Expedition

a journey in mind, body and spirit

ESTABLISHED 1924

Virtuset

Scientia

Birdie Colclasure and her daughter, Chandie ‘17, meet the newest member of their family - Lovie, the shichon puppy!

Student workers Marissa Evans 15, Dori Krieger ‘15, and Cindy Bui ‘15

We especially thank:

Volunteer chairs Renee Ehrlich and Lori Euper

Honorary chairs Terry Slattery ‘64 and Teresa Wapelhorst ‘89

Emcee Jack Borgmeyer ‘97 and auctioneer Merle Schnieder ‘70

Blue and white decor, sparkling silver chandeliers, and graceful ceiling drapes set the tone for an elegant affair.

Will and Shannon (Miller) Killeen ‘88

Mike Sullentrop ‘68, Jennifer (Gravemann) Krupich ‘99, Dawn (Keely) Lammert ‘77 and Paul Lammert ‘75Our parents seemed to enjoy the photo booth...really enjoy it.

Kathy (Plackemeier) Schmidt ‘88 and President Bernie Naumann call the Dream Home Sweepstakes winner from the stage.

stuDent liFePioneers March for Life in Washington, D.C.

On January 19, 2014, 24 Duchesne students (14 traveling with Duchesne and ten with local parishes) traveled to Washington, D.C., with a caravan of 1,700 people from the Archdiocese of St. Louis to walk in the annual March for Life. This is the second year that Duchesne has sent a group of students to the march.

Throughout the four-day pilgrimage, students prayed for an end to abortion each day at Mass with Archbishop Carlson. Students also heard from national speakers: Jewels Green, a former abortion clinic worker, shared with the students her journey from being pro-choice to pro-life; and Serrin Foster, president of Feminists for Life, pointed out the inconsistency in the popular claim that pro-choice equals pro-woman. In fact, she argued, pro-choice is an anti-woman stance.

Throughout the school year, the Duchesne Pro-Life Club meets on Tuesdays during the 15-minute Advisory period to pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy for an end to abortion. On the march in Washington, D.C., Duchesne students prayed the Chaplet several times together as they walked to the Supreme Court building with the 600,000 people who participated in this year’s march.

“It is inspiring for me to see how the devotion to our Lord’s Divine Mercy has become the heart of our student’s pro-life identity at Duchesne,” said Alicia Bungum, Director of Campus Ministry.

Freezin’ for a reason: Duchesne students braved snow and below-zero wind chills on this year’s March for Life pilgrimage.

Pannullo ‘14 Honored with Archbishop May Award

Recent graduate Ryan Pannullo is Duchesne’s 2014 Archbishop May Service Award winner. In April, Ryan received his award from Archbishop Carlson in a special ceremony at Saint Louis University. The Archbishop May Service Award is given to one graduating senior from every Catholic high school to recognize an outstanding record of service. During his years at Duchesne, Ryan has provided more than 750 service hours through activities at DHS and his parish, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Each summer, he participates in Seedbearers, a week-long project during which he builds homes in underprivileged communities. Ryan has assisted with Luke 18 retreats at his parish and is also a member of Duchesne’s Key Club, a service and leadership organization.

Ryan Pannullo ‘14 (center) receives the Archbishop May Service Award from George Henry (left) and Archbishop Robert Carlson (right).

Pioneer Student Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

Congratulations to the student athletes in the Class of 2014 who signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the college level!

Alex Dultz: Swimming, SIU CarbondaleTrevor Korba: Football, William Jewell CollegeDrew Moore: Basketball, Drury UniversityErin Neuner: Track and Field, William Woods UniversityBrad Pryor: Football, Missouri State UniversityClay Stulce: Football, William Jewell College

The cast of “If a Man Answers,” Duchesne’s spring comedy production, cracked up audiences during performances in April. The comedy marked the final production for Sharon Morgan, our longtime performing arts director. Morgan retired from classroom teaching in 2013 and directing in 2014.

Spring Comedy: “If a Man Answers”

Key Club Recognized at District Conference

The Duchesne Key Club enjoyed a successful 2014 District Leadership Conference. The club was honored as a Distinguished Club – Diamond Level under the leadership of President Mike Pashos ’14, Vice President Adam Pundmann ’15, Secretary Maddy Pashos ’14, and Treasurer Madeline Wappelhorst ’15. The Distinguished – Diamond designation is the most prestigious award given to individual clubs. Nathan Smith ’16 was elected Division 5 Lieutenant Governor, and Lee Swearingen ’16 and Ali Bader ‘15 were appointed as District Liaisons.

Sporting their traditional aviators, Key Club members pose with their Distinguished Club award at this year’s District Conference.

Tollefson ‘14 Earns Model of Justice Award

In January 2014, Mary Tollefson ‘14 received the Martin Luther King Model of Justice Award during a ceremony at the Cathedral Basilica.

The award is presented to high school students who have demonstrated a special commitment to service to humanity through their attitude and their work in the broader community.

Throughout her years at Duchesne, Mary has worked with several organizations that serve the physically or mentally handicapped. She wrote a beautiful reflection on her experiences working with people who are often marginalized and how she has been inspired by her younger brother, Andrew, who is physically handicapped.

Mary Tollefson ‘14 was Duchesne’s recipient of the Model of Justice Award.

stuDent liFePioneers March for Life in Washington, D.C.

On January 19, 2014, 24 Duchesne students (14 traveling with Duchesne and ten with local parishes) traveled to Washington, D.C., with a caravan of 1,700 people from the Archdiocese of St. Louis to walk in the annual March for Life. This is the second year that Duchesne has sent a group of students to the march.

Throughout the four-day pilgrimage, students prayed for an end to abortion each day at Mass with Archbishop Carlson. Students also heard from national speakers: Jewels Green, a former abortion clinic worker, shared with the students her journey from being pro-choice to pro-life; and Serrin Foster, president of Feminists for Life, pointed out the inconsistency in the popular claim that pro-choice equals pro-woman. In fact, she argued, pro-choice is an anti-woman stance.

Throughout the school year, the Duchesne Pro-Life Club meets on Tuesdays during the 15-minute Advisory period to pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy for an end to abortion. On the march in Washington, D.C., Duchesne students prayed the Chaplet several times together as they walked to the Supreme Court building with the 600,000 people who participated in this year’s march.

“It is inspiring for me to see how the devotion to our Lord’s Divine Mercy has become the heart of our student’s pro-life identity at Duchesne,” said Alicia Bungum, Director of Campus Ministry.

Freezin’ for a reason: Duchesne students braved snow and below-zero wind chills on this year’s March for Life pilgrimage.

Pannullo ‘14 Honored with Archbishop May Award

Recent graduate Ryan Pannullo is Duchesne’s 2014 Archbishop May Service Award winner. In April, Ryan received his award from Archbishop Carlson in a special ceremony at Saint Louis University. The Archbishop May Service Award is given to one graduating senior from every Catholic high school to recognize an outstanding record of service. During his years at Duchesne, Ryan has provided more than 750 service hours through activities at DHS and his parish, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Each summer, he participates in Seedbearers, a week-long project during which he builds homes in underprivileged communities. Ryan has assisted with Luke 18 retreats at his parish and is also a member of Duchesne’s Key Club, a service and leadership organization.

Ryan Pannullo ‘14 (center) receives the Archbishop May Service Award from George Henry (left) and Archbishop Robert Carlson (right).

Pioneer Student Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

Congratulations to the student athletes in the Class of 2014 who signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the college level!

Alex Dultz: Swimming, SIU CarbondaleTrevor Korba: Football, William Jewell CollegeDrew Moore: Basketball, Drury UniversityErin Neuner: Track and Field, William Woods UniversityBrad Pryor: Football, Missouri State UniversityClay Stulce: Football, William Jewell College

The cast of “If a Man Answers,” Duchesne’s spring comedy production, cracked up audiences during performances in April. The comedy marked the final production for Sharon Morgan, our longtime performing arts director. Morgan retired from classroom teaching in 2013 and directing in 2014.

Spring Comedy: “If a Man Answers”

Key Club Recognized at District Conference

The Duchesne Key Club enjoyed a successful 2014 District Leadership Conference. The club was honored as a Distinguished Club – Diamond Level under the leadership of President Mike Pashos ’14, Vice President Adam Pundmann ’15, Secretary Maddy Pashos ’14, and Treasurer Madeline Wappelhorst ’15. The Distinguished – Diamond designation is the most prestigious award given to individual clubs. Nathan Smith ’16 was elected Division 5 Lieutenant Governor, and Lee Swearingen ’16 and Ali Bader ‘15 were appointed as District Liaisons.

Sporting their traditional aviators, Key Club members pose with their Distinguished Club award at this year’s District Conference.

Tollefson ‘14 Earns Model of Justice Award

In January 2014, Mary Tollefson ‘14 received the Martin Luther King Model of Justice Award during a ceremony at the Cathedral Basilica.

The award is presented to high school students who have demonstrated a special commitment to service to humanity through their attitude and their work in the broader community.

Throughout her years at Duchesne, Mary has worked with several organizations that serve the physically or mentally handicapped. She wrote a beautiful reflection on her experiences working with people who are often marginalized and how she has been inspired by her younger brother, Andrew, who is physically handicapped.

Mary Tollefson ‘14 was Duchesne’s recipient of the Model of Justice Award.

With Principal Fritz Long and Director of Admissions Lindsay Lammert ‘09, our Student Ambassadors mug for the cameras at Fox 2. Pioneer faces and voices graced billboards, radio ads, TV commercials, and news shows last spring as part of a media campaign for Archdiocesan Catholic education.

Student Ambassadors Take Over St. Louis Media

DHS Sponsors 11th “Ark” with Heifer International

This marked the 11th year that Duchesne has met our Lenten service goal to raise $5,000 to purchase an “Ark” of animals for Heifer International. Heifer International is an organization that provides animals and agricultural training to people in developing communities to give them a self-sustainable way of life. By giving a community

Heifer International representative Rev. Cleo Kottwitz (left) presents the organization’s Ark Award to Student Council officers and Mrs. Alicia Bungum (right), Director of Campus Ministry.

cows and chickens, they can provide themselves with milk and eggs, and can sell the offspring of these animals or give them as gifts to another needy community. Heifer International embodies an essential principle of social justice that the Catholic Church encourages – subsidiarity. This principle means that a person’s dignity is fully realized when one can provide for one’s self and one’s family without the charity of others.

In order to reach the goal of $5,000, Duchesne held its second annual Mission Week. This year, during Mission Week alone, we raised over $3,000 for the Heifer Project! Mission Week included a pizza lunch in which $4 from every pizza went to Heifer International, a penny war among the grade levels, a beard competition, and donut sales. To celebrate the end of Mission Week, we held our second annual dodgeball tournament. The Class of 2016, the sophomores, were the surprise victors, beating the seniors and the faculty for the championship! Thank you to all who generously gave to the Heifer Project this year!

upcoming eventsFooD truck Fling | thursday, sePt. 18, 2014We’ll host some of St. Louis’ most popular food trucks - and a portion of the proceeds will benefit DHS!

alumni, parents, anD FrienDs golF outing | Friday, sePt. 19, 2014 Sponsored by the Alumni Association, the annual golf outing at The Falls Golf Club is a great way to enjoy your favorite game, catch up with fellow alumni and parents, and raise funds to benefit DHS students. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch at 11 a.m., and a shotgun start at noon.

Welcome back to campus pre-game party | Friday, sePt. 26, 2014Alumni and their families are invited to join us for barbeque and beverages before the Homecoming football game. Free game admission will be provided so our guests can cheer on the Pioneers! The party starts at 5:30 p.m.

Devoting our hearts to service Day | sunday, oCt. 5, 2014Students, parents, and alumni are invited to build community through service - and help beautify our campus! Projects include cleaning, painting, and landscaping work, and refreshments are provided for all volunteers.

open house | sunday, noV. 2, 2014Prospective students and families can visit our campus and find out why Duchesne is more than a high school - we’re a family! Our friendly Student Ambassadors will guide tours from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

holly Jolly holiDay boutique | saturday, noV. 15, 2014We’ll help you get a jump start on your holiday shopping! Stop by the DHS gym between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to browse a variety of unique booths featuring gifts, specialty items, crafts, and a variety of well-known products.

coronation basketball game | Friday, Feb. 6, 2015Relive this longtime DHS tradition as you watch the Pioneers take on the St. Dominic Crusaders! Alumni will receive free admission and special recognition during the game.

Please visit duchesne-hs.org/alumni for a complete listing of all alumni activities and events.

Congratulations, Class oF 2014!

On the evening of Thursday, May 15, Duchesne presented diplomas to 100 graduating Pioneers at the school’s annual commencement ceremony. The Class of 2014 earned an outstanding $4.1 million in scholarship offers and provided nearly 18,000 hours of community service during their years at Duchesne.

Madeline Pashos was named class valedictorian, and her brother Michael Pashos earned the honor of class salutatorian. Madeline addressed her classmates during the ceremony, encouraging her fellow graduates to meet the challenges of the future with Pioneer spirit.

“There is no way to know what the future holds; the only thing we can count on is change,” Madeline said. “Keep your mind open to new possibilities. There is no limit to what we can accomplish because our Duchesne family has nurtured us in mind, body, and spirit, giving us the strength to accept change and encouraging us to strive to reach our goals. We are Pioneers for a reason. Just as the pioneers built this great nation, so we will build bright futures for ourselves.”

Allison Marie Armbruster

Matthew Will Baker

Connor George Barry

Thomas Joseph Sanders Barry

Lawrence Patrick Beck, Jr.

Robert James Billing

Connor William Bolk

Jonathan Andrew Bredeck

Samuel Lawrence Briscoe

Kevin Paul Brusca

Justin Thomas Burian

Jessica Leigh Caswell

Katherine Elizabeth Davis

Karlie Louise Dennis

Madelyn Paige Dodson

Catherine Lian Dorsey

John Anthony Dosland

Alexandra Marie Dultz

Jack Robert Effertz

Janelle Marie Eisenbath

Brendan Montana Ellebracht

Anna Pearl Fitts

Michael Anthony Flynn-Carr

Samantha Leigh Garnier

Jace Christian Genenbacher

Sarah Cathleen Geno

Alexander Phillip Go

Brian Jeffrey Goetges

Elijah David Gulledge

Alison Elizabeth Hannegan McKee

Stephen Julius Hecht

Mary Elizabeth Hermann

Brianne Kate Hollandsworth

Jarrod Stephen Jerowski

Zachary Brian Judd

Kurt Joseph Keeven

Evan Michael Kielty

Trevor Winston Korba

Zachary Caleb Kozelichki

Nathan Michael Lane

Richard Shawn Leach

Kelly Elizabeth Mahaffy

Charles Brendan Mahood

Michael Paul McDonald

Alexa Mae Meyer

Class oF 2014

$4.1 millionScholarship dollars earned

24Colleges attending

Class oF 2014 graduatesA blue oak leaf ( ) next to a graduate’s name indicates that the student is the son or daughter of a Duchesne alum.

by the numbers

Hats off to our graduates! Members of the Class of 2014 participate in the traditional mortarboard toss following their commencement ceremony on May 15.

Holly Riane Mills

Austin Robert Montgomery

Andrew Michael Moore

Erin Nicole Neuner

Jeffrey Kenneth Noonan

James Leo Ohlman

Daniel Patrick Oleson

Ryan William Pannullo

Nicholas Harrison Pappas

Madeline Marie Pashos

Michael George Pashos

Nicholas Alexander Pashos

Jane Ann Pauley

Natalie Marie Plackemeier

Kaitlin Marie Podmore

Bradley Roger Pryor

Brigitte Ann Reilly

Timothy Patrick Reilly

Jordan Elise Reimer

Nicholas Tye Anthony Renna

Bailey Elizabeth Rhoades

Shelby Nicole Rohe

Teresa Marie Ronchetto

Patrick Daniel Rosenthal

Alexis Charlene Sallwasser

Sierra Isabella Schellhase

Anna Nicole Schmidt

Scott Anthony Schmidt

William Arthur Bufford Schneider

Nicholas David Schucker

Joshua Michael Schurk

Grace Angela Schwendemann

Brennen Sean Scott

Christopher James Setzekorn

Paige Elizabeth Shymanski

Taylor Elizabeth Slattery

Michael Bradley Smith

Clay Stuart Stulce

Alison Rae Swearingen

Rebecca Lynne Thompson

Nicholas Stephen Thro

Kaylin Nicole Tigges

Mary Elizabeth Tollefson

Katelyn Elizabeth Trautwein

Ryan Charles Tune

Anthony Jackson Turnbeaugh

Rebecca Rose Walsh

Aaron Michael Weber

Greggory Allan Wegener

Lucas Shane Weinrich

Blake Daniel Westhues

Mikael William Whelan

Melissa Lynne Wiesler

Grant Michael Willbrand

Christina Gabriella Zehr

17,937Service hours completed

10Bright Flight Scholars

(ACT score of 31 or higher)

100Graduating Pioneers

6Students who signed letters of

intent to play college sports

34Grads who are the children of

Duchesne alumni

3Students who earned early admission to Washington U.

31Students recognized as DHS

Scholars (GPA of 3.75 or higher)

1Family who produced this year’s

valedictorian and salutatorian

ESTABLISHED 1924

Virtuset

Scientia

Duchesne High School2550 Elm StreetSaint Charles, MO 63301

address service requested

Non Profit Org,U.S. Postage

PAIDSt. Charles, MO

Permit #557

mind, body and spirit

AddresseeStreet AddressCity, State ZIP