Mary Poppins Poppins TAKES THE STAGE INSIDE SFD Highlights from 2022-2023 plus a look at a few new additions this school year! St. Francis Francis DeSales DeSales High School THE MIGHTY PEN Game Day Competition Cheer Team Boys Volleyball Team Girls Track 4 x 100 Meter Relay Team PLUS: Two Individual State Champion Wrestlers See Who’s in the Most Recent Alumni Hall of Fame! STATE CHAMPIONS!
IN THE MIGHTY PEN CONTRIBUTORS: Dan Garrick, Sr. Guerline Joseph, Lori Aumiller, Arius Cook, Michele Moriarty, Tim Jewett, Phil Kraker, Sarah Jacobs, and Pat Murphy Special thanks to Madeline Brobst, Tom Snyder, John Hulkenberg, Scott Reed, Arius Cook, OHSAA, Tim Jewett, Kate Shulaw, and OASSA for their photography contributions. EDITORS: Karen Cofojohn and Rob Dvorak Class of 2023 Honors Excellence in Teaching Champions Bleed Purple Answering God’s Call Let’s Celebrate Annual Giving Community Events 2 6 8 13 24 26 29 14 Evening of Distinction Digital Opt In If you enjoy reading the latest news on your phone or tablet, we encourage you to ‘opt in’ to receive an electronic copy of The Mighty Pen. Scan the QR Code below to get started! Did you know you can receive an electronic copy of The Mighty Pen? STUDENT LIFE ALUMNI ADVANCEMENT 23 Reunion Highlights DESIGN/LAYOUT: Karen Cofojohn
Christmas Blessings and Happy New Year! Welcome to our annual issue of the Mighty Pen. I hope this letter finds each of you in good health and good spirits during this beautiful time of the year. As you read this issue of the Mighty Pen I am hopeful that you will enjoy reading about the various accomplishments that made our 2022-23 school year so memorable. I am equally hopeful that you will enjoy reading about the recent progress made in conjunction with our Be The Light Campus Master Plan; namely, the addition of Franciscan Loop. I am confident that you will share in my appreciation for the enhancements to our school in recent years, which continues to enrich the educational experience for our students. We know it is critical that we remain committed to the remaining components associated with our campus master plan, a plan that will empower SFD to carry on our rich legacy as a distinctive leader of Catholic education within the Diocese of Columbus. And while I am exceptionally proud of the dynamic progress that our school continues to make with facility and program enhancements, I am even more proud of the faith development that is fostered here each day. It is in the daily interactions between our students, faculty, parents and alumni that we experience the sacred nature of God’s abundant love for us. God’s love has also been apparent through our student’s faithlife, curricular, and co-curricular efforts. Whether it is displayed through success in our service initiatives, mastery of rigorous academic content, or crowning individual State Champions and State Championship teams, the students of Saint Francis DeSales High School have proudly built on the legacy of those who have gone before them, and for that I am both grateful and incredibly proud. I would be remiss if I did not take this occasion to express my sincere appreciation to the Class of 2023 who served as incredible leaders and embraced their call to leave our beloved school better than they found it. In addition, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to iconic teachers Mr. Bill Steller, Mrs. Karen Scott, Mrs. Peggy Griffith and Mr. Dan Rotella for enriching the lives of students, faculty, administrators, alumni and parents during their careers. As we embark on the challenges and opportunities that are inherent with a new year, I humbly request that you keep the students, faculty, and administration of Saint Francis DeSales High School in your prayers. Please pray that through God’s grace we will continue to be blessed to serve as living examples of hope and light for all. Please know that we will continue to offer a daily prayer of thanksgiving for you, our parents, alumni, and benefactors. May you find peace in the knowledge that your model of faith and compassion provides a tremendous source of inspiration for our young people. In closing, may the Joy associated with Christ’s birth be with you and your family during the upcoming New Year. Peace and God’s Blessings, Daniel J. Garrick Principal LETTER FROM the PRINCIPAL “Faith is like a bright ray of sunlight. It enables us to see God in all things as well all things in God.” ~Saint Francis de Sales “May we be in this world a ray of that light which shoneforth from Bethlehem, bringing joy and peace to the hearts of all men and women.” ~Pope Francis The above words from His Holiness Pope Francis serve as a powerful affirmation of our current school theme, “Carry His Light.” This theme serves as a reminder that we are all called to be missionary disciples through our actions and our words.
Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation On May 25, at the Church of the Resurrection, the Baccalaureate Mass for the graduating Class of 2023 took place, filling the space with a sense of reverence and spiritual celebration. The Mass was presided over by Bishop Earl Fernandes, who shared his wisdom, guidance, and compassion throughout the liturgy. Concelebrating with Bishop Fernandes were ten of our partner parish priests and four deacons, creating a sacred atmosphere enriched by their collective presence and devotion. Two days later, the Class of 2023 gathered together to celebrate their much-anticipated graduation. The ceremony commenced with an invocation delivered by Mr. Bill Steller, followed by the beautiful voice of Kat Gunther-Reveal ’23 who captivated the crowd as she delivered a rendition of the National Anthem. Before the diplomas were awarded, members of the Class of 2023 and their proud families heard from teacher Mrs. Karen Scott, who delivered a moving reflection on living in the present moment. With a warm smile, she reminded the graduates to savor every experience and to find joy in the present moment rather than simply focusing on the destination. Summa Cum Laude speakers, Richael Saka and Mary Kate Moriarty, shared stories of overcoming challenges, embracing growth, and the importance of perseverance in the pursuit of excellence. As the ceremony drew to a close, Principal Dan Garrick detailed the many accomplishments achieved by this special group of students, and the Class of 2023 stood together one final time, arm and arm, singing the alma mater. Godspeed on your journey, Class of 2023. Summa Cum Laude Honors Kathryn Cavanaugh - The Ohio State University Owen Eckstein - University of Cincinnati Olivia Ettenhofer (1st in class) - The Ohio State University Hutson French - The Ohio State University Kennedy Hawk - Case Western Reserve University Brendan Lackey - University of Dayton Ethan Lackey - University of Cincinnati Caroline Leithauser - Clemson University Jennifer Mitevski - The Ohio State University Mary Kate Moriarty - University of Dayton Lauren Orzechowski - University of South Carolina Elizabeth Reash - Bowling Green State University Zackery Rennie - University of Kentucky Richael Saka - Harvard University Cedric Stewart - University of Cincinnati The class of 2023 earned over 32 million dollars in scholarships and grants. A special congratulations to the 15 students who earned the recognition of Summa Cum Laude, with a GPA of 4.15 or higher. An impressive listing of the colleges/universities the members of the class of 2023 are attending this school 2 THE MIGHTY PEN year, as well as the scholarships they were awarded, can be viewed at www.sfdstallions.org/class-of-2023.
2023 Celebrations “Let’s take a moment to reflect on a verse from the Bible that speaks to the heart of my experience as a member of the Saint Francis DeSales family. In Romans 12:5, it says, “so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” ~excerpt from Richael Saka’s Summa Cum Laude speech Several years ago we added a new tradition to our Graduation Day celebration, asking members of the 50th reunion class to lead the graduation processional. A special bonus this year: alumnus Tom Schneider ’73 was able to present his daughter, Anna, with her diploma during the ceremony. We also take an Alumni Legacy photo each year after Baccalaureate Mass, inviting all SFD alumni, and their graduating seniors, to be in this significant picture. Faith, Family, Tradition. Alumni Legacy Photo Class of 1973 Baccalaurate Mass Alumni Legacy Photo
4 THE MIGHTY PEN Stallions showed up in 2022-2023, taking the school’s mission to heart: strengthening their mind, body, and spirit in their academic pursuits, service outreach and spiritual development. Ohio Governor’s Youth Art STATE Exhibition Alaina Jacobs ’23 Anna Schneider ’23 Feast of St. Francis de Sales with Bishop Fernandes Bon Voyage: Stallions summer trip in Italy God is Indeed Here With the help of the Make-A-Wish organization, and surrounded by her family, friends and DeSales community, Jocelyn Green, SFD class of 2025, had her wish granted at halftime of a home football game last fall. While still in treatment for her own cancer, she used her wish to provide tablets and other technology to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, to help other kids pass the time during lengthy stays for infusions and medical care. Jocelyn is proof you’re never too young to make a difference! The Golden Hearts Club, a club at SFD that raises money and awareness for pedicatric cancer, works with OSU’s BuckeyeThon, the largest student-run philanthropy in Ohio. A new tradition began in 2020 when the senior class donated a beautiful statue to add to the Senior Courtyard, in a space that is now referred to as the “Saints Garden.” Coming soon: St. Joan of Arc, the saint selected by the class of 2024 to add to our own “communion of saints.” St. Francis of Assisi Class of 2020 St. Michael the Archangel Class of 2021 St. Raphael the Archangel Class of 2022 St. Sebastian Class of 2023 Did you know?
The SFD Performing Arts Department brought Mary Poppins to the Little Theater stage last spring, and with three sold out shows, it was “Practically Perfect In Every Way!” Over the past ten years, the instructors in our Visual Arts department have come together to select student artwork to be displayed in perpetuity at the school. Once the art is selected—typically between three to five pieces each year—student artists are asked if they would like to sell their pieces to the school. If they agree, their work is professionally framed and tagged with their name, title of the piece and year. The students are not obligated to sell their work, and many students over the years have decided not to sell; it can be a difficult decision since it is usually their best piece! The painting “Moment” by Emma Doone ’23 was one of the pieces selected this past spring (picture right). Pictured on opposite page are two SFD artists, Alaina Jacobs ’23 and Anna Schneider ’23, who had their work selected into the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art State Exhibition. Alaina had a photograph selected, and Anna had two pieces selected, including a video and her mixed media self portrait. SFD ARTISTS IN SFD HISTORY The Sunday matinee of Mary Poppins marked the final spring musical for Ms. Lori Arnett as a Director. Following the performance, Ms. Arnett was presented with a plaque recognizing her contribution to the SFD Performing Arts Department throughout the years, which includes 13 productions as a Director. Congratulations to the cast, crew and orchestra on a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious performance! The SFD Little Theater recently received a facelift with new seating, carpet, paint, lights and fixtures, and a state-of-the-art AV system! Check it out at our Spring Musical, The Music Man, on April 26, 27 and 28! THE MIGHTY PEN 5 Arts in the Spotlight Did you know?
This past spring, we celebrated five outstanding faculty members: two Excellence in Teaching recipients and three beloved retirees. Mr. Rob Dvorak 24 Years at SFD Current roles include: Associate Administrator, English Teacher, and PA announcer for both the Football and Boys Basketball programs As a testament to the constant evolution of the St. Francis DeSales High School curriculum, we are excited to highlight a new class offered this year: Entrepreneurship 237. The long-term goal is to build out a complete Entrepreneurship program for SFD students, creating a base of knowledge for a future in running one’s own business or being an intrapreneur. This first course is designed to be an introduction to the concept of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship 237 focuses on recognizing a business opportunity, starting a business, and operating and maintaining a business: both as a business owner and in a corporate setting. Topics include funding sources, product strategy, branding, pricing, value propositions, research methods, marketing and more. Professional communication skills and practices, collaboration skills, problem-solving and the impact of effective presentations are enhanced in this course to prepare students to be college and career ready. Their final exam, a group project, will challenge students to create a business idea and pitch deck, applying what they have learned. Students are also working to run a business in the school on a regular basis as part of this course. They have been exposed to the results of the physical Stallion Spirit Shop and successfully developed an all new spiritwear assortment and marketing strategy for a digital Stallion Spirit Shop. The students have embraced the e-commerce aspect with new ideas in all facets, and ran a 30-day sales campaign last month. They achieved $15,600 in website sales, a new record for DeSales. The class voted to contribute profits of the website sale to the Annual Canned Food Drive and create a scholarship for the 24-25 school year. Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy! The class has also welcomed guest speakers from the community to learn from real life entrepreneurs like parent David Stein, alumna and parent Betsy (Pharion) Stewart ’97, alumna and parent Jennifer (Blackburn) Valentine ’95, Paul Rankin, Chick Fil A Owner operator, and Jill Apgar, Founder of Coco Beans. A special thanks to alumni parents Betsy and Matt Stewart ’97who have also helped the class with the website project in numerous ways. Hands On Experience Excellence in Teaching Mrs. Molly King 5 Years at SFD Current roles include: English Teacher, Cross Country Coach, and Track & Field Coach 6 THE MIGHTY PEN Congratulations to Mr. Dvorak and Mrs. King (formaly Ms. Wilson until this past November) who were presented with our 2023 Excellence in Teaching awards. Three remarkable pillars of our SFD family— Karen Scott, Bill Steller, and Peggy Griffith— retired this past June. With a combined total of 87 years of dedication, these incredible teachers have left an indelible mark on our school community. English department for the win!
Retreat Opportunities In the fall of 2022, St. Francis DeSales High School became the newest member school to join in the Salesian Leadership Retreats held in Stony Point, New York, and have participated at this bi-annual retreat ever since. This leadership retreat, in the Salesian style, has been in existence for over 30 years. Thousands of young people from Salesian high schools in the Eastern and Southern United States have participated, giving them the opportunity to establish supportive friendships that challenge them to be holy, and step up as peer leaders in their schools. Students are challenged to go back to their school and local communities to infuse the Salesian spirit that they experienced during the fourday retreat based on Don Bosco’s Oratory model. The students selected are those who are believed to have the greatest potential as effective leaders among their peers; the following students have represented our school at the last three retreats: Aidan Zacherl ’23, Cailin Mascarin ’24, Sarah Nordmoe ’24, Brandon Heil ’24, Brendan Ballard ’24, Isabella Barry ’24, Jack Burgan ’24, Rachael Schroeder ’24, Lucy Wills ’24, Aylin Mai ’25, Bella Miller ’25, Eunice Otu-Danquah ’25, Elizabeth Woodruff ’25, Riley Holbrooks ’25, and Phu Bui ’25. We plan to continue to offer this retreat opportunity to our students, fostering an experience to come back to DeSales renewed in their faith and empowered to share this love. Did you know? Class retreats are planned each year for our students to participate in, giving them time to reflect on their relationship with God, their individual gifts, and their relationships with classmates on a deeper level. We are blessed to have a school chaplain this year, Reverend Sesu Maria Crescensis Panguraj. Fr. Crescensis not only concelebrates our all-school Masses, he also offers Mass during student lunch periods each week as well as daily Reconciliation opportunities. Recently, Fr. Crescensis shared beautiful blessings during the dedication of our Vocations Wall and Franciscan Loop. Spiritual Growth “If one is to do good, he must have a little courage, be ready for sacrifice, deal affably with all and never slight anybody.” ~St. John Bosco Welcome Father Crescensis 2022-2023 school year theme THE MIGHTY PEN 7
STATE CHAMPIONS! CHAMPIONS! COMPETITION CHEERLEADING In only their third season the SFD competition cheerleaders captured the Division III OASSA Gameday Building State Championship last March at Big Walnut High School! The Stallions finished in first place ahead of Jackson High School, and Bexley High School. The competition cheer squad finished as State Runner-Up in 2022. 35TH TEAM STATE CHAMPIONSHIP St. Francis DeSales came back from a first set deficit to secure the inaugural OHSAA Division II boys volleyball state championship after defeating Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (21-25, 27-25, 25-17, 25- 22). The Stallions were led by senior Evan Althouse with 25 kills while senior Cameron Hoying had 40 assists. BOYS VOLLEYBALL 36TH TEAM STATE CHAMPIONSHIP DAVID MCCLELLAND AND MAX SHULAW David McClelland earned his second state title, defeating St. Paris Graham’s Hayden Hughes 5-0 at 138. Last season, McClelland finished first at 132. After finishing second at 215 last season and fourth at 195 as a freshman, junior Max Shulaw pinned Wintersville Indian Creek’s Elijah Llewellyn in 3:41 in the final at 215. 85TH AND 86TH INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BOYS LACROSSE The Stallions Boys Lacrosse team returned to Historic Crew Stadium for the second consecutive season in the Division II State Championship Game. DeSales lost to Olmsted Falls 13-9 and finished the season State Runner-Up with a 19-2 record. GIRLS 4X100M TEAM The 2023 Girls 4x100 meter relay team of Katherine Dortmund, Isabella Swallow, McKenzie Amonor, and Kenyetietta Quinn won the Division I State Championship with a time of 47.28s! The championship marked the school’s first ever relay state championship! 87TH INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BOYS WRESTLING DeSales earned its first runner-up finish since 2003 at the Division II State Championships. The Stallions qualified seven wrestlers for state: seniors David McClelland (138) Owen Eagan (157), juniors Max Shulaw (215), Zack Lopez (150) and Aidan Rush (144), and sophomores Andrew Barford (165) and Lincoln Shulaw (175). 21ST STATE RUNNER-UP TEAM 22ND STATE RUNNER-UP TEAM Scan the QR Code to see our All-Ohio Athletes, Individual State Runner-Ups and more from the 2022-2023 School Year!
In 2018, Head Boys Lacrosse Coach Matt Triplet was in his 14th year at St. Francis DeSales and was faced with one of the most challenging conversations of his career. It wasn’t a conversation with an official or an angry parent; it was with one of his student-athletes who was struggling with his mental health. “One of my players had a mental health emergency and I went to talk to him. As I was talking with him I realized I was ill-equipped for that conversation and didn’t know what to do next if things didn’t turn out ok.” Luckily, the conversation turned out the way he had hoped and the player was able to get the help he needed. After this conversation, Matt took it upon himself to complete a Mental Health training course to make sure he was more prepared for the next conversation, and when he found out there was a group training option, he went a step further to organize a Mental Health First Aid training class through the Alcohol, Drug & Mental Health Board (ADAMH) of Franklin County for all Central Ohio Lacrosse Coaches. Only nine out of over three hundred coaches attended. Fast forward through the pandemic, when according to the Ohio Department of Health, youth suicide increased by 5% from 2020 to 2021. Triplet was seeing this among young athletes across the state and decided something had to change when other lacrosse coaches were reaching out to him saying “Hey, how do I help my kid?” The need for statewide training was clear, and it gained momentum when Matt sent out a frustrated tweet wanting to know why the training wasn’t being pushed by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) after a young man in Cleveland had just passed. Within a couple of days, Triplet received two responses out of the blue: one from Jerry Snodgrass, former OHSAA Executive Director who offered to help Matt navigate the process of mandating Mental Health training through legislation and avoid missteps; the other was a former Wellington lacrosse coach, Patrick Donlon, who said “If I was serious and would follow through until it was either passed or completely dead, he’d help.” Patrick then introduced Triplet to Eric Weldele of Capitol Partners, a lobbying firm who introduced them to Representative Mike Loychik, who would end up being the sponsor of the bill and ultimate champion for it in HB33. “After 9 months of work and negotiations and amendments with the OHSAA, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), and others, we had their endorsements and HB492 was formally introduced in committee in the 2021-2022 legislative session.” House Bill 492 ultimately did not make it out of the Senate, which left those involved heartbroken and frustrated, to say the least. “We had a lot of supporters out there who volunteered and spent time to help. Once it was over, I didn’t know if the team would do it again in the next legislative session. I sent a text to the team and Rep Loychik the day after it failed, thanking them for all of their help; they all responded that they were already working on a new bill to introduce in the House in the first week of the next legislative session.” House Bill 492 was reintroduced as HB82 but unfortunately, the bill once again stalled out. When it seemed like the group was out of options, McLean Fitzmartin, a 2014 graduate of SFD and former assistant coach under Triplet, reached out to Matt letting him know that his sister, Megan, the Policy Director for the Speaker of the House, wanted to help get the bill passed! “She asked me if it was important to pass as a standalone bill as HB82 or if it could be passed as part of a larger bill. I immediately responded that as long as this passed, I didn’t care who got credit.” Megan was able to insert the language in HB33 as part of the House Budget and it was passed out of the house in the 2023-2024 legislative session. After what seemed like a victory for the group, they hit another roadblock as the language had been stripped in the Senate which left everyone devastated. “I got the news during our lacrosse banquet and Eric Weldele got to work immediately.” Over the next month, “Eric pulled strings, made phone calls, and met with senators to have the language added back in.” The day when it passed the Senate, Eric sent Triplet a text saying, “Looks like you just passed a law, my friend.” Matt reflected on this achievement, “The feeling of the culmination of two years of work coming to an end in our favor was indescribable. The part many people don’t know is how many strangers reached out to me to tell “their story” and told me things that I am sure they’d never told anyone outside their family. Message after message of their, or their child’s stories was heartbreaking and overwhelming but they told me because they had someone championing something they were also passionate about, easily over 1,000 of them. Those people were all I could think about when this passed, they had someone who understood and that telling a stranger what may have been a family secret wasn’t in vain.” The mental health training that every high school coach in the state of Ohio will undergo before renewing their Pupil Activity Permit, which is now mandated by HB33, will give them a road map on what to do and how to assess a player. Matt explains, “Similar to first aid training, I am trained to know whether to give a kid a break, call the trainer, or call the squad. If a kid breaks his leg, I am not trained to set the bone, but to recognize it’s more than a sprain or a tweak and act accordingly with the appropriate professional. The same will be true with mental health training, it’ll help coaches recognize possible problems and more importantly, who to call, is it mom and dad, the school counselor, or 911?” At. St. Francis DeSales High School, we are truly blessed to have such a wonderful advocate for our student-athletes in Coach Matt Triplet! It’s hard for me to completely grasp how a team of 5-6 people have changed how all the athletes in Ohio are affected and will be able to get help from their coaches. My days and wins at DeSales will someday only be a memory for me and those around me. This will be something that will long outlast me and it’s humbling to know that some player I will never meet in a time I won’t be around could be helped by what we’ve done. “ “ - Matt Triplet LEA ING THE CHARGE Boys Lacrosse Head Coach Matt Triplet prior to the 2022 Division II State Championship Game
This fall, as a part of the Be The Light Campus Master Plan, Saint Francis DeSales High School completed Franciscan Loop—a milestone update in the effort to improve the safety and security of families and students. Franciscan Loop is designed to make the drop-off and pick-up for our parent drivers more efficient, safe, and pleasant. Thoughtfully engineered as a way to upgrade the appearance and function of the north side of the school, Franciscan Loop provides significant cuing for parent drivers and the use of a traffic light at Karl Road for drop off and pick up. Guidance Family Room Franciscan Loop Franciscan Loop Mike DeAscentis Class of 1966 Saving our parents time! The morning and afternoon commute for parents and their children should be as painless as possible. Getting on and off school grounds quickly was a major goal of the project. “Franciscan Loop has been a game changer for morning drop-off. That, in combination with the light being controlled for traffic flow, has reduced stress tremendously in our morning routine. The pick-up is also better because you can just jump in the middle lane and get out. Having kids at multiple schools, this is a huge help.” ~ SFD parent, Pam Jemison Mike has been the driving force behind several key projects at DeSales. In 2014, Mike provided important guidance and support in the reimagining and building of the front of the school, the entrance many now use. Mike then helped DeSales engineer, site plan, permit and execute Stallion Way and Franciscan Loop. All three projects have helped update Saint Francis DeSales High School in a transformative way. Mark Ciminello Class of 1983 Mark provided the landscape design and plan for the plantings on Franciscan Loop, factoring in the screening element and aesthetics of various tree species and shrubs. Mark also designed and built the Holy Family Garden located in the Student Services Center in 2020. Making it Happen Pictured at right: Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Columbus, Dr. Adam Dufault, joined in the ceremonial ribbon cutting with Principal Dan Garrick and student leaders. Mike pictured with Trevor Arnold, Franciscan Loop Project Coordinator Mark by the new landscaping alongside Franciscan Loop
Stations of the Cross Future Project Be The Light Safety and Security Crosswalks and significant pedestrian walkways allow students to get to and from cars safely. Beautification to North Campus Lush, green grass, shrubs and over 70 trees now greet families, and will continue to grow and fill in over decades. Connecting with our Faith Values A walking Stations of the Cross and statue of our patron saint will be added in a future phase. This project also directly complements Stallion Way, completed in 2021, which is now a dedicated entry and exit for student drivers. Dedication of Franciscan Loop Nick with wife, Lynn, son David ’22, and daughter, Angeline ’24, near a newly erected lightpost on Franciscan Loop. Why the Loop? Initial Rendering of Franciscan Loop Marty Hensel Class of 1975 Marty helped us design and build several of the sidewalks used to improve the safety of students as they walk to and from their rides. Nick Chintala SFD Parent Every facet of DeSales has been illuminated by Nick’s advice and generosity, including exterior lighting which now uses brighter, more efficient LED bulbs and fixtures. Nick designed the new lighting plan being used on Stallion Way and Franciscan Loop. He has also helped the school network with power companies, electricians, and suppliers to get the job done. Getting the Job Done Marty on-site at SFD
Bella Bakhshi Co-Curricular Activities and Service: Basketball, Soccer, Altar Server, Saint Vincent de Paul Club, Mind Over Matter Club, Italian Club, and Run the Race Club Pictured: Bella with her mom, Susan (Grossman) Bakhshi (2000) The Legacy Continues Gabby Dages Co-Curricular Activities and Service: Track and Field, Cross Country, Run the Race Club, Stallions for Life, and Student Ambassador Pictured: Gabby with her sister, Josie Dages (2023), her uncle, William Marshman (1966), and her mom, Heather (Marshman) Dages (1993). *Holding picture of her grandfather John Marshman (1967) Allison Heil Co-Curricular Activities and Service: Cross Country, Track and Field, Marching Band, Saint Vincent DePaul, E-Team, Student Council, Drama Club, Student Ambassadors, Run the Race Club, and Stallions for Life Pictured: Allison with her dad, Doug Heil, (1994) and mom, Karen (Ciaciura) Heil, (1995) Kaleb Kitzmiller Co-Curricular Activities and Service: Football, Track and Field, Glory Beaders Club, and Student Ambassador Pictured: Kaleb with his mom, Allison (Addington) Kitzmiller (2006) Tommy Tegeler Co-Curricular Activities and Service: Soccer, Lacrosse, Student Council Freshman Class President, Student Ambassador and Run the Race Club Pictured: Tommy with his mom, Colleen (O’Neill) Tegeler (1996) Introducing the 2023 Alumni Legacy Scholarship winners Each new school year, five Alumni Legacy Scholarships ($1,000 each) are open to incoming freshmen whose parents or grandparents attended St. Francis DeSales High School. How This Scholarship is Funded All donations made to the Alumni Legacy Fund as well as proceeds from our annual DeSales vs. Watterson Rivalry t-shirt sale, support these scholarships. www.sfdstallions.org/legacy-scholarship Special thanks to our Alumni Board and Council members who stop by the school each year to sell t-shirts during lunch periods. Design by junior Chris Jeter
Earlier this school year we completed a beautiful Vocations Wall, dedicating a space on campus that not only honors former students who answered the call to religious life, but serves as inspiration to current students to consider serving the Catholic Church after graduation. The vocations wall is located outside the school’s chapel and features an interactive display that includes interviews with graduates who have pursued vocations after their years at DeSales. The project was brought to life through the support and vision of Dan LaVille, an alum from the Class of 1969. Dan was motivated to support this project due to his friendship and admiration for alumnus Father Bill Faiella ’64. More than 30 alumni who were classmates of the featured priests or deacons also made financial contributions, and parishes where our alumni are currently serving chipped in with donations as well. Additional support was provided from the Diocese and the Serra Clubs of Columbus. For those unable to visit the school, the alumni vocations recognition videos can also be viewed on the DeSales website at sfdstallions.org under the News tab. During a recent visit to the school, Deacon Carl Calcara, SFD class of 1976, had a chance to see the beautiful new vocations wall with Principal Garrick. The school plans to continue to conduct interviews to add to this display. Serving the Faith Featured PRIESTS Fr. Bill Faiella, Class of 1964 Fr. Jerry Rodenfels, Class of 1964 Fr. Rodric Dipietro, Class of 1968 Fr. Stash Dailey, Class of 2000 Fr. Frank Brown, Class of 2003 Answering God’s Call Featured DEACONS Dcn Mickey Hawkins, Class of 1966 Dcn Carl Calcara, Class of 1976 Dcn William Demidovich, Class of 1978 Dcn Joe Ciaciura, Class of 1987 Featured SISTER Sister Elizabeth Marie Hogan, Class of 1998 Dan LaVille ’69 (left center), who was instrumental in the initial concept of the vocations wall, joined us for a dedication ceremony. Also pictured, Dan’s wife, Jeanine, Vice Principal of Operations, Phil Kraker, Deacon Mickey Hawkins ’66, and Deacon Carl Calcara ’76. THE MIGHTY PEN 13
2023 Evening of Distinction Not long after graduation from DeSales, Mike began to give back to the school through various roles. He helped his father, Bill, with many fundraisers, festivals, concessions and casino nights that supported the DeSales Athletic Association. From 1993-2005, Mike and his wife, Jeanie, taught incoming parents the required Parent to Parent classes and helped Lynn Hamilton with her Ambassadors drug-free students program. In 1996, Mike learned how to drive the DHS school buses and safely completed over 1,000 athletic rides and class trips ending in 2016 when the buses were sold. Mike has also helped the football program over the years with transportation, and recently began helping with any home game tasks. In 1993 he started helping out with the girl’s basketball program and officially joined the coaching staff in 1998. The DeSales legacy continues with Mike’s family: daughters Megan ’96 and Katie ’98, and 4 grandchildren: Kaylee ’21, Riley ’25 and twins Maddox ’28 and Brady ’28. Mike Greene ’71 2023 Sr. Sharon Goodburn Recipient Photo Shoot Location SFD Little Theater — While a student at DeSales, Mike played football and was a member of the Drama Club (president his junior and senior year). Last May we honored the winners of our Alumni Awards of Distinction and the 2023 inductees to our Athletic Hall of Fame. With seven Alumni Award recipients and five new members of our Athletic Hall of Fame, we had much to celebrate that evening. Given to alumni who have actively shown their dedication to St. Francis DeSales High School after graduation by volunteering their time and efforts to their alma mater. Sr. Sharon Goodburn Award Save the Date May 18, 2024 Evening of Distinction
THE MIGHTY PEN 15 Dr. Sara Guerrero-Duby ’72 2023 Msgr. James Berendt / Patrick Rossetti Recipient Celebrating Our Alumni After graduating from St. Francis DeSales High School, Sara attended The Ohio State University for her undergraduate degree, medical school and internship. Her medical education was supported by a United States Air Force Health Professions Scholarship. She met her husband, John Duby, during their studies at OSU. After meeting John, Sara transferred to join him at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston as they completed their pediatric training. She was then stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts to complete her active duty commitment as the only Pediatrician at the clinic. The couple returned to Ohio, and over the next 40 years, Sara notes, “I’ve had the privilege of providing primary care pediatrics to the wonderful children of this state.” Sara and John have two children, Bryan and Mary, and two grandsons, Max and Blake. She is currently still working, training future pediatricians at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine. And as retirement looms for Sara, she says she plans to stay busy “because saving the world is not a 9-5 job!” Given to alumni who are recognized for their dedication to serving the community in which they live through special projects and volunteer work, and by setting an example for others in their community. Forest “Treeze” Sharrock Award Photo Shoot Location In a Science Classroom — her favorite class in high school was Chemistry, and so began her love of science. If you look closely on the lab table, you can also see a copy of the DeSalian, the school newspaper in which Sara was a cartoonist. Photo Shoot Location School Chapel — Even though his studies and golf practice kept Bill busy throughout his high school days, he always found time to stop by the chapel, which continues to be a favorite place to visit when Bill is back at his alma mater. These alumni and honorary alumni continue to embody the spirit of excellence that exemplifies our school’s mission. They truly follow the words of our patron saint, Saint Francis de Sales, “to be who you are and be that well.” Bill Demidovich ’78 2023 Forest “Treeze” Sharrock Recipient After high school graduation, Bill studied at the University of Dayton and The Ohio State University, receiving a B.S. in Production & Operations Management. He has served as a public servant with the State of Ohio for 35 plus years and is a Business Management Consultant primarily in the fields of Human Resources and Lean-Six Sigma. Bill was ordained a Roman Catholic Deacon in 2008, and assigned to St. Michael the Archangel Parish (Worthington), where he currently still celebrates Mass. He has also served the Diocesan Diaconate Office and worked at the Pontifical College Josephinum. He is the eldest of six children, all of whom attended DeSales. He has been married to his wife Laura for 39 years, and they have a daughter, Kristin. Given to alumni who have excelled in their professional careers and exemplify the DeSales mission to live a positive, productive life. Msgr. James Berendt / Patrick Rossetti Award
16 THE MIGHTY PEN Karen served as a teacher at SFD for 32 years, retiring at the end of the 2022-23 school year. While at DeSales, she taught AP Physics C, University of Findlay CCP Physics, Calculus-Based Physics, Physical Science AP Track, and Yoga. In 1994, Karen and Val Sharritts were selected to be trained by Texas Instruments on new data collection equipment to connect mathematics and science. Over the course of the next eight years, they wrote many labs and activities to be used in the math/science classroom. They trained teachers across Ohio in math/science workshops and made many conference presentations across the US. Karen also worked on the Texas Instruments team to train teachers in the US and Puerto Rico during week-long workshops during the summer. In 1997, she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, receiving the award in Washington, DC. For 25 summers, Karen has traveled to universities and schools throughout Ohio as part of the nationally-funded Improving Teacher Quality in Mathematics and Science Program through The Ohio Department of Higher Education. Karen and her husband, Steve, love to travel the back roads of America. They have been to all 50 states and four Canadian Provinces, and plan to road trip through three more provinces this summer. Karen Scott 2023 Barbara O’Riordan Recipient 2023 Evening of Distinction Valerie has been teaching at St. Francis DeSales for 41 years. She’s been at St. Francis DeSales for all the state banners hanging in the Gym except for the first three! She is currently teaching AP Calculus BC, AP Calculus AB and the University of Findlay CCP Calculus 1. In 1987, Valerie became very active in T^3, Teachers Teaching with Technology, in the development of teaching with the graphing calculator. Valerie and Karen Scott spent many years team teaching and doing dual labs to impact their students learning of both calculus and physics, and the connections between the two subjects. Valerie is currently leading the SFD Ski & Board Club and has been a part of the club since 2004. Valerie’s passion to reach and teach others has extended to spending 18 years at Snow Trails as a ski instructor and six years with Harley Davidson and the State of Ohio as a motorcycle instructor. She and her husband Rich have ridden across country three times on motorcycles, adventuring to places such at Yellowstone National Park, Tail of the Dragon, Pikes Peak and Bear Tooth Pass. Val Sharritts 2023 Barbara O’Riordan Recipient Photo Shoot Location Her home away from home — Room 221 Photo Shoot Location Room 220 — a room she spent many years in, and is now named in her honor. Given to individuals who did not graduate from DeSales but have given their continued dedication and support to DeSales in a variety of ways. Barbara O’Riordan Award
THE MIGHTY PEN 19 Nina Ryan ’17 2023 Young Alumni Recipient Nina attended The Ohio State University where she received a degree in Food Policy from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. In Nina’s time at Ohio State, she oversaw a student-run philanthropy, BuckeyeThon, that raised over $1.6 million annually for Nationwide Children’s Hospital and brought together students and community leaders from across Columbus. Additionally, Nina worked for the Columbus Partnership on the Smart Columbus initiative, helping to bring alternative transportation options to the City of Columbus. After graduation from Ohio State in 2020, Nina followed her passions for entrepreneurship and cooking, and started a gluten-free private chef service. Currently, Nina cooks in the Main Dining Room at The Greenbrier, America’s Resort, in White Sulphur Springs, WV. Celebrating Our Alumni Justin Braun ’18 2023 Young Alumni Recipient After his time at SFD, Justin attended the University of Notre Dame, where he worked as a Teaching Assistant in the area of Finance as well as serving as a Research Assistant in the Applied Investment Management Program. Justin is also proud of the time he spent working with the Morrisey Manor Faith Life team and his volunteer work with the Mulch Madness Lead Remediation Program. Since graduation, Justin has worked for Citigroup in New York in the area of Investment Banking. When he isn’t working, he enjoys attending the Metropolitan Museum of Art and cheering (against the Yankees) at games in the Bronx. He currently lives in Manhattan. Given to alumni (10 yrs out or fewer) who have taken the values learned during their high school career to serve his/ her community and share their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their daily life. Young Alumni Award Alumni Awards of Distinction Recipients Congratulations to you all!
2023 Evening of Distinction Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Champions Bleed Purple L to R: Bob McGee ’80, Jill (Walker) White ’94, Paul Haynes ’87, David Eckert ’92, and Steve Arnold ’67 Steve Arnold, Class of 1967 Wrestling Stand-out Stat: Steve was the first State Champion in St. Francis DeSales High School’s history. During his high school career, Steve won two Central Catholic League Championships and compiled an impressive 89-9-2 record. However, his crowning achievement came in 1967 when he won the Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championship at 120 pounds to claim the very first State Championship in St. Francis DeSales High School’s history. While at DeSales, Steve was known for his fierce determination, unmatched work ethic, and technical prowess. He was a true leader both on and off the wrestling mat, always pushing himself and his teammates to be their best. Despite his individual success, Steve always remained humble and grounded. He knew that his success was not just the result of his own hard work, but also the support of his family, coaches, and teammates. “Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” ~John Wooden 18 THE MIGHTY PEN
David Eckert, Class of 1992 Gymnastics Stand-out Stat: David won 3 State Championships as a member of the Men’s Gymnastics Team —in 1990, 1991, and 1992. David made an immediate impact on the gymnastics program at SFD as a sophomore, finishing in third place on the rings at the OHSAA State Tournament. As a junior, he continued to improve as he finished as the state runner-up on the rings at the State Tournament. He also placed fourth in the floor exercise and fifth in the all-around, earning him a reputation as one of the most well-rounded gymnasts in the state. He was a key member of the 1991 state championship team, which was the first of three state titles that Eckert would win during his high school career. Eckert’s senior year was no less impressive, as he finished fourth in the rings at the OHSAA State Tournament and helped lead his team to its third consecutive state championship. His success at the high school level earned him an invitation to train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he continued to hone his skills. David’s success continued at the collegiate level, where he became a four-year letter-winner at The Ohio State University. He earned All-American honors in both his junior and senior years, finishing sixth and fifth respectively in the still rings at the NCAA Championships. He was also the Big Ten champion in the still rings in 1996, and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. Paul Haynes, Class of 1987 Football, Basketball, Track Stand-out Stat: Paul was the school’s first student-athlete to start on two state championship teams. Paul, a natural athlete, became a starter in his sophomore season at Running Back, and helped lead DeSales to the first-ever football State Championship in 1985. He had an impressive performance during this championship game, where he finished with 151 rushing yards on 17 attempts and a touchdown. Haynes’ success wasn’t limited to football. He was also a member of the 1987 State Championship basketball team, making him the school’s first student-athlete to start on two state championship teams. After high school, Haynes went on to play college football for Kent State University. He walked on in the fall of 1987 and went on to play four years for the Golden Flashes. During his time at Kent State, he led the team in interceptions during his freshman year and in tackles during his sophomore year. He ended his career with 440 tackles, a total that still ranks seventh in Kent State history. Following his successful college career, Paul embarked on a coaching career that has spanned more than two decades. He began as an assistant coach at St. Francis DeSales High School in 1993 before moving on to Bowling Green, Ferris State, Northern Iowa, Kent State, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. His most notable coaching tenure was at Ohio State University, where he served as the defensive backs coach from 2005 to 2011. During his time at Ohio State, the team won several Big Ten championships and reached the national championship game twice. Haynes also coached at Louisville, Michigan State, Arkansas, Minnesota, and is currently at Wisconsin (joining alumnus Luke Fickell ’92 who serves as the head coach of the Badgers). THE MIGHTY PEN 19 Celebrating Our Alumni
2023 Evening of Distinction Bob McGee, Class of 1980 Coach Stand-out Stat: Coach McGee’s win total stands at 348, including two State Championships — in 1995 and 2011. Under Coach McGee, the Lady Stallions stormed to a remarkable 20-win and one-loss season in 1995 en route to winning the girls soccer program’s first-ever State Championship. In his return to DeSales sixteen years later, the girls soccer program won the 2011 Division II State Championship—the fourth in program history. In between his coaching stints as the head coach of the Stallions, Coach McGee spent 11 years at the helm at Upper Arlington High School, where his Golden Bears won 164 games with eight Ohio Capital Conference titles and five district championships before culminating his tenure there in 2008 with a Final Four appearance in the Division I State Tournament. He also coached at William V. Fisher Catholic High School, Pickerington High School Central and Gahanna Lincoln High School. At Gahanna, he won another conference title before later leading the Lady Lions to two OCC crowns along with a Division I District Title in 2016. As a player, Bob was a captain of the inaugural DeSales boys soccer team in 1978 and 1979—he would go on to be the first DeSales alum to play collegiate soccer as he went on to become a captain at Adrian College in Michigan. After college, Coach McGee served as an assistant on the first State Champion boys soccer team at DeSales (1986). Jill (Walker) White, Class of 1994 Basketball, Soccer, Softball Stand-out Stat: Jill averaged an impressive 17 points per game during her senior season at SFD. Jill (Walker) White was a three-sport athlete at St. Francis DeSales High School, competing in Soccer, Softball and Basketball. White’s remarkable skills on the basketball court were evident early on, earning her recognition as a Two-Time All-League honoree and a spot in the Top Three for Career Assists. During her junior year, White helped lead her team to the Regional Final, demonstrating her leadership and talent on the court. Her senior season saw her named as a Second Team All-Ohio selection, averaging an impressive 17.0 points per game. Jill continued to excel in basketball at Capital University, where she accumulated over 1,000 points throughout her career. Her talent on the court was recognized with two All-OAC selections and an Honorable Mention All-American nod in 1998. Additionally, White’s academic excellence was recognized with an Academic All-OAC award. As a freshman, White helped lead Capital to an undefeated season and a National Championship title, serving as the team’s starting point guard. Her early success set the tone for her college career, and her contributions to the program continue to be celebrated today. 20 THE MIGHTY PEN
An Investment with Guaranteed Returns As an Ohio resident, you can direct your tax dollars to support St. Francis DeSales High School by giving to the Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). If you gave to the Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund last year, Thank You! Make a gift TODAY and you can receive a dollar for dollar tax credit equal to the amount of the gift up to $750, or $1500 if married, filing jointly. Each new tax year is an opportunity to renew your investment in the future of Catholic Schools—an investment that’s quick and easy to make, and pays lifelong dividends. Go to www.sfdstallions.org/ stallion-spotlight/Emmaus-Road or scan QR code at left to see how simple it is. Check out the “Tale of Two Tax Returns.” Educating the mind, body, and spirit of each student
All Class Reunion Homecoming Festivities! Reunion season was quite busy last summer with the All Class Reunion and several classes celebrating milestone reunions. Stallion alumni gathered together at the Abruzzi Club again for the All Class Reunion, enjoying an evening of friendship, Bocce, and memories from their years spent at DeSales. Be on the lookout over the next few months for the 2024 All Class Reunion “Save the Date!” Each year, we welcome our alumni back “Home” to St. Francis DeSales for Homecoming Weekend. The weekend kicks off with the annual Traditions Mass and Breakfast, where our students have the opportunity to bring back members of their families who are alumni of SFD to celebrate those who have paved the way for them. The weekend continues at the Homecoming Football Game with the on field Alumni Tailgate! Marching Band, Flag Corps, Dance Team and Cheerleading alumni are also invited to play and cheer with the current Stallions prior to the game! Jack Baird, 2016 Julie Moreno Barber, 1988 Molly McGee Barrett, 1985 Andrea Maccioco Belt, 1983 Ryan Buechner, 2001 Karen Baker Cofojohn, 1996 Arius Cook, 2013 Mike Delfino, 1996 Tim Eckert, 1988 Kelli Jacoby Fitzpatrick, 2003 Dan Garrick, 1979 Sarah Evans Jacobs, 2017 Christina Hayes Johns, 2006 Jim Jones, 1989 Dave Lauderback, 1983 Michael McGoldrick, 2009 Molly Kubin McMurray, 2000 Beth Cook Mitevski, 1984 Megan Rossetti Polk, 2005 Kate Adams Reither, 1993 Brennan Schlabig, 2012 Darrien Scott, 2013 Trent Sheumaker, 2006 Hannah Shoemaker, 2017 Nick Slupski, 1987 Ryan Wiggins, 1997 Chris Guth Woods, 1987 27 faculty members have chosen to return to DeSales to carry on the many traditions they enjoyed as students. Tradition Never Graduates During the 2023-24 school year
Class Reunions Class of 1988 35th Class Reunion Class of 1973 50th Class Reunion There are so many more GREAT photos from these reunions on Stallion Connect. Visit connect.sfdstallions.org to see them all. Class of 1978 Class of 1978 45th Class Reunion Class of 1983 40th Class Reunion Class of 2003 20th Class Reunion Class of 1993 30th Class Reunion Class of 1988 THE MIGHTY PEN 23
1. Dominic Del Monte ’12 & his wife, Jordyn Married June 10, 2023 2. Julia Brown ’16 & Ryan Corkrean ’17 Married June 24, 2023 3. Johnathan Hayes ’17 & his wife, Jennifer Married July 29, 2023 4. Matthew Paternoster ’14 & Breanne Lehman ’14 Married August 18, 2023 5. Sarah Evans ’17 & Cole Jacobs ’17 Married August 26, 2023 6. Andrew Barber ’15 & his wife, Julia Married September 30, 2023 7. Caitlin Moriarty ’16 & her husband, Zak Married November 4, 2023 Newlyweds Not Pictured Meghan Springer ’15 & her husband, Harry Married June 10, 2023 Ragan Tuffey ’16 and his wife, Madison Married June 17, 2023 Let’s Celebrate! Wedding Bells Future Stallions 1 4 5 1 7 6 3 1. Michael ’09 & Aly (McGinnis) McGoldrick ’11 welcomed their first child, Jack, in March 2023 2. Alexa (Brown) Goff ’12 and her husband Tim welcomed their first child, Stephen James, in June 2023 3. Kelsey (Albanese) Collinsworth ’12 and her husband Jacob welcomed their first child, Charlie, in October 2023 Congratulations to Jack Miller ’15 and his wife Jordan, who welcomed their first child, Morgan, in June 2023 (not pictured). 3 2 2 1 24 THE MIGHTY PEN
Soon to be Mr. & Mrs. 1. Bella Shivley ’17 & Anthony Salmeron ’17 Engaged April 2023 2. Megan Leach ’13 & her fiancé, Jared Engaged April 2023 3. Catie Woods ’14 & fiancé, Hank Engaged May 2023 4. Cameron Barber ’16 & fiancé, Ben Engaged June 2023 5. Diana Brown ’18 & Luke Barber ’17 Engaged July 2023 1 2 3 STALLIONS CONNECT We are excited to announce that our alumni networking platform, Stallions Connect, received a makeover! Check it out to see the new and improved Stallion Connect platform. 4 connect-sfdstallions.org THE MIGHTY PEN 25 Jamie Stumph ’14 & her fiancé, Austin Engaged March 2023 Grace Kanoski ’17 & her fiancé, Kyle Engaged June 2023 DJ Strapp ’16 & his fiancée, Megan Engaged August 2023 Jake Gilmore ’16 & his fiancée, Kelly Engaged August 2023 Kristin Faulkner ’14 & her fiancé, Taylor Engaged September 2023 Best wishes to these Stallions (not pictured) who are also newly engaged: 5 Stallions Connect is for you—our Alumni—and features exclusive content like Class Notes, Alumni and Business Directories, Class Yearbooks, “Flashback Friday Features” and much more. Users will also be able to stay up-to-date on current Stallion news and events. Sign up today to reconnect with classmates, plan reunions, and get updates on old friends; your first sign in is all you need. Our alumni have over sixty years of terrific history to celebrate and share. Share yours today on Stallions Connect!
Many Ways One Mission Provide an opportunity for students to continue their Catholic school journey through high school. Sisters of St. Francis Scholarship Fund Fund for DeSales Make an impact on the lives of our students and faculty. Double your gift through your employer’s matching gift program. Check for your company on our website. Provide gifts in support of the Be The Light Campus Master Plan. Be The Light Planned Giving with a Purpose 4212 Legacy Society Ohio residents can gift $750 or $1500, if filing jointly, and receive a dollar for dollar tax credit. Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund Volunteer Your Time “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16 Annual Giving Highlights 1,419 $1,185,193 Total Giving in the 2022-23 Fiscal Year Total Gifts in support of the Fund for DeSales, Be The Light, and Restricted Giving $551,443 $381,779 $27,161 Parent, Parent of Alumni, and Grandparent Support (392) Alumni Support (305) Faculty and Staff Annual Giving $973,468 Principal Council members’ contribution to the Annual Giving total (148 members) $1,593,500 4212 Legacy Society members’ Planned Gifts total (17 members in 2022-2023) 391 Stallion Loyalty members with gifts totaling $375,151 194 New Donor with $122,361 contributing to the Annual Giving total With a sense of pride and deep appreciation, we present the Annual Report for the academic year 2022-2023 (please scan the QR code below to access). In choosing to stand alongside administrators, faculty, staff, coaches, alumni, parents, parents of alumni and friends in championing the mission of Catholic education, you have exemplified the true spirit of collaboration and community. Your generosity, expressed through the gifts of time, talent, and treasure, has forged a powerful alliance that directly shapes the lives of our students. Everything we have accomplished, and everything we aspire to achieve, is intrinsically linked to your continued support. Your belief in the power of Catholic education and the mission of our school is the driving force behind the positive changes we witness daily in the lives of our students. With the many ways to support, as shown below, your generosity has made an immeasurable impact on the students here at St. Francis DeSales High School. Your dedication remains instrumental in our journey, inspiring us to persist in our commitment to provide exceptional education grounded in faith, family, and tradition.
More About the Society For more information about the Stallion Loyalty Society, please contact Michele Moriarty in the Advancement Office at 614-267-7808 or Loyal donors are the cornerstone of our success, providing the means by which DeSales can carry out its mission of providing a “holistic educational experience in the Catholic tradition which prepares the mind, body, and spirit of each student to love God, seek truth, and live virtuously.” In recognition of this important commitment, the Stallion Loyalty Society honors donors giving to St. Francis DeSales High School with various degrees of loyalty—from our Charter members, who are just beginning their lifelong commitment to annual giving, to our Lifetime supporters, who have given to the school for 10 years or more. The society recognizes and celebrates the ambition, consistency, and dedication of our donors and their beliefs in the mission of SFD. How to become a member? Simply make a gift three years in a row of $25 or more. To sustain your membership and reach new recognition milestones, make a gift every year. You can also join our Monthly Giving program. It’s easy to enroll with a credit card using our safe and secure online donation form. Do I need to give to a specific fund? You may direct your gift to any area of the school. Both unrestricted and restricted gifts qualify you for membership in the society. Why does giving every year matter? Annual gifts have an immediate impact on the greatest priorities at St. Francis DeSales High School. When you make a gift each year, you support faith-filled, academic, and cocurricular programs that “Empower Students for Life.” Loyalty Society Generosity Totals Our Loyalty Society’s gifts totaled $519,094 last fiscal year. Since the Loyalty Society’s inception in 2009, consecutive gifts have totaled $4,309,359. Why do our Stallions continue to support SFD? Our community sees the value in our mission. Our students learn to be inspired scholars, passionate creators, innovative leaders, virtuous disciples, and champions for life. 10+ 3-4 years of consecutive giving CHARTER 5-9 years of consecutive giving MILESTONE PURPLE MILESTONE years of consecutive giving Gifts of our appreciation will be sent to all Stallion Loyalty Society members on their milestone years. Consecutive years of giving are noted in the Annual Giving report at www.sfdstallions.org/annual-giving. Our boys graduated from St. Francis DeSales in 2007 and 2009 yet we choose to continue our contributions and support of DHS each year. Paying it forward is important to us in support of other young people as they journey to adulthood. The value of a Catholic education has impacted our lives both in and out of the classroom as well as on and off the playing field. We have repeatedly witnessed examples of how the DHS extended family continues to support students; families long after graduation. When you hear “once a stallion, always a stallion” it is not just a sentence - it is a belief that is put into practice. We are proud to be Stallions and part of the DHS family. –Kevin and Maureen DiDomenico 14 years We appreciate SFD due to its commitment to solid academics, continuing spiritual fortitude, strong moral convictions, and its encouragement to be civically engaged. We hope that ours and other donations help SFD continue this commitment as well as help folks who may not be able to afford a Catholic education. –Michael and Debra Shoemaker 8 years why we give THE MIGHTY PEN 27
To become a Charter Member of the 4212 Legacy Society, inform Tim Jewett, Director of Advancement in writing that you have named Saint Francis DeSales High School as a beneficiary in your financial or estate plans. For more information on how you can join the 4212 Legacy Society, please contact Tim Jewett, at 614-267-7808 ext. 404 or at [email protected]. Gifts from a Will or Trust (Bequests) Name St. Francis DeSales High School in your will or trust as a beneficiary • You maintain control of your assets • Reduces federal estate taxes for heirs • Be recognized • Fund your passion or the SFD Endowment Gifts from Retirement Plans Designate St. Francis DeSales High School as a beneficiary or leverage an IRA Charitable Rollover • Eliminate income taxes in your lifetime; helps with Req Min Distributions • Reduce federal estate taxes for heirs • Be recognized and fund your passion or the SFD Endowment Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Lisa Bresnen Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Sara Guerrero-Duby MD ’72 and John Duby MD Jasmine Austin ’13 Anonymous ’73 Rev. Jerome P. Rodenfels ’64 Gifts from Life Insurance Designate St. Francis DeSales High School as a beneficiary or donate cash values • Current income tax deductions • Be recognized for your support • Fund your passion or the SFD Endowment Gifts which pay income to you Creative strategies that can create income, protect assets and /or reduce taxes • Charitable Gift Annuities, Deferred CGA, Charitable Remainder Trusts and other options • Consult your financial advisor to best fulfill your needs and support DeSales Saint Francis DeSales High School is deeply grateful to those alumni, parents and friends who have made plans to ensure opportunities for future generations of DeSales students, carrying on the 60 year legacy of Stallions at 4212 Karl Road. With this incredible support DeSales will continue for the next 60 years, and beyond, to Empower Students For Life, with a Catholic Education grounded in FAITH, FAMILY and TRADITION. Members of the 4212 Legacy Society have thoughtfully included Saint Francis DeSales High School in their estate plans through deferred giving arrangements. These arrangements include various types of trusts, insurance gifts, IRA designations and bequests. The 4212 Legacy Society now has 28 members with over $2,020,500 in bequests to St. Francis DeSales High School. We are blessed to recognize the Charter Members: 4212 Legacy Society Stallions for Generations Christopher C. Hunkler ’69 Ryan Buechner ’01 Robert James Landis ’18 Mary Torwanna Reeves Blanche Sullivan ’71 Kimberly Buechner Carol A. Ventresca, PhD ’72 Linda A. Vollmer Heather Evans Anonymous ’69 Anonymous ’66 Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous 28 THE MIGHTY PEN
Community Events Thank you to everyone for their support of our annual Stallion Golf outing held on August 20, 2023! On behalf of our athletic department, we would like to thank our sponsors and participants for making our 14th annual Stallion Golf Outing one of our best ever! We raised $21,264.82 this year, our 3rd best total ever! A special thanks to the Girls and Boys Golf programs for helping with the event. Next year’s outing date has not been determined yet. We will send out a ‘Save the Date’ reminder in the Spring. Congrats to our 2023 champs: Nick Ruebel ’13, Julio Byrne ’14, Andy Bennett ’13 and Brian Stopar ’14. 2023 Stallion Golf Outing THE MIGHTY PEN 29 Friends in the Courtyard 2023 Friends in the Courtyard Wine Tasting and Auction has become one of the most anticipated events of the year at St. Francis DeSales. This event not only provides a fun social gathering for our community to enjoy fine wines from multiple wine distributors, beers from a local brewery and delicious food from Carfagnas, it is also one of our school’s largest fundraising events. Proceeds from this event provide financial support for St. Francis DeSales High School co-curricular programs including athletics, band, drama, and over 60 scholastic and interest-based clubs. We are thankful to our guests, volunteers, donors and sponsors for making Friends in the Courtyard a successful and fantastic event. A special thank you to alumnus Sam Carfagna ’74 who provided guests with an Italian Feast catered by Carfagna’s, as well as helped raise over $28,000 during our live auction! A big thank you to alumna Jennifer (Ricci) Kreuzer ’91 for providing guests with delicious desserts from her bakery, D-Lish Bake Shoppe. Finally, thank you to the following generous sponsors: Platinum: Buckeye Cruise for Cancer, Embroidery Design Group, Dziatkowicz Family, Elgin Family, Emmerling Family and Verne Family; Stallion Sponsors: Art Brands, Sam and Patrick Chapman with Farmers Insurance, New Northland Catholic Community, White Castle and the Saveski Family.
St. Francis DeSales High School 4212 Karl Road Columbus, Ohio 43224 THE MIGHTY PEN 33 The 2024 Wishbook is right around the corner. In February, we’ll share the new wishes our co-curricular programs have to ensure a vibrant student experience! You can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @sfdstallions!