Thursday, June 24, 2010

McAuley High School junior Stephanie Clemons will be spending nine days this summer in the People to People Ambassador Program “Rebuilding New Orleans: Remembering Hurricane Katrina.” The program, which runs from June 28 to July 6, will be based at Tulane University and includes speakers, tours, cultural events and hands-on service projects, as well as the oportunity to meet other student leaders from across the country.

Moeller High School’s rugby team won a state championship on June 5. (Courtesy photo)

In only its second year, the Archbishop Moeller High School rugby team won the Ohio High School Rugby Championship, defeating Parma 19-7 on June 5 at Crew Stadium in Columbus. The undefeated team now posts a 17-0 record. During the game sophomore Eric Lalley had two touchdowns, which put the team up 14-0 at the end of the first half. In the second half, Joe Bracken scored off a scrum, which made the score 19-0. Parma scored with only 10 minutes remaining, making the final tally 19-7.

“Rugby has been a great addition to Moeller,” said athletic director Barry Borman. “Doug Rosfeld has done a great job, along with administrative assistant Kim Hauck, in putting together a first-class program in just two years. I have never seen kids have more fun playing a sport.”

Students from St. James the Greater School in White Oak  were among the young writers who participated in the 25th annual Power of the Pen state competition at the College of Wooster May 21. Representing Saint James were Maggie Mahoney and Kristen Gandenberger, who successfully competed in district and regional tournaments to win an invitation to the state tournament. Mahoney placed in the top 25 writers. Gandenberger placed second for all  seventh graders. She was also recognized with the Regional Best of the Best Award for her  story “Shishkabob.”

Also present for the competition were Breanne Johnson and Katie McCarthy, seventh graders at John XXIII School in Middletown. Johnson finished in the top 15 percent of the state writers after her third round of writing and was invited to write in the fourth and final “Power Round” from which the top honors were determined. She finished 10th in the seventh-grade tournament out of the original 7,000 plus students who participated in the competition initially.
 
As they graduate from their respective high schools and head off to college, Cardinal Pacelli School’s class of 2006 didn’t want to leave without presenting a gift to their beloved elementary school. Those students able to attend presented a painted bench to Kim Roy, principal, and Father Robert Obermeyer, pastor of Our Lord Christ the King/Cardinal Pacelli School.
 
“We really appreciate the class of 2006 coming back to present the school with a wonderful bench, which will be used in our office hallway,” Roy said. “Our alumni hold a special place in our hearts, and we will treasure this reminder of them.”

Second graders at St. Aloysius Gonzaga School in Bridgetown and St. Teresa of Avila School in Covedale recently met face-to-face following five months of writing to each other as pen pals. The students began exchanging letters in January and finally met in May when the St. Al’s students visited St. Teresa. The two classes attended Mass together, participated in gym class and shared cookies and juice.
 
The National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association has named the swimming and diving teams at Catholic Central in Springfield among this year’s all-stars in aquatics. The Catholic Central girls’ team was honored with the Gold Scholar Team Award with a combined GPA of 3.820, ranking 10th in the nation. To receive the individual Academic All-American distinction, a student athlete must have a GPA of 3.75 or better, be a graduating senior and have lettered in their high school swim program during their senior year. Four Catholic Central swimmers have received this prestigious honor — Brian Bourke, Kathleen O’Connor, Dennis (Sam) Sheehan and Andrew Sullivan. Central’s Patrick Greitzer, with a breaststroke time of 58.26, was awarded All-American status. Nationally, only the top 130 athletes in each event are named All-Americans.
 
Students from area Catholic high schools were among the 40 young people who received the YMCA Character Award during a program at the 20th Century Theatre in Oakley on May 24. The award recognizes tri-state teens, ages 12 to 18, who share the values of caring, responsibility, honesty and respect.
 
The award winners included: T.J. DeLaet, LaSalle High School; Kayla Marie Ellison, Roger Bacon High School; Ryan Glass, Summit Country Day; Melissa Gottschlich, Ursuline Academy; Stephen Haffner, St. Xavier High School; Martin Hollatz, Moeller High School; Maggie Kissinger, Mother of Mercy High School; Andrew Naab, St. Xavier High School; and Coleman Williams, Roger Bacon High School.
 
The young people were nominated by educators, family members, coaches and community organizations positively impacted by the award recipients. They have been active in a variety of extracurricular activities and community service projects, from tutoring younger students to volunteering with local social service agencies.