NHS taps 15 new members into Loretto Chapter at Montgomery Catholic

The Loretto Chapter of the National Honor Society at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School inducted fifteen new members into their society during a school assembly today. The National Honor Society (NHS), established in 1921, is a national recognition program for students who show achievement in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. High School students are selected for membership through an application process and are selected by the faculty council. Candidates must meet the chapter's requirement for scholarship, service, leadership and character in order to be selected for membership. Continued participation in service projects and upholding the ideals of the school are required to retain membership. Members must also maintain the chapter's required cumulative grade point average.

The newly inducted members of the Montgomery Catholic National Honor Society are pictured above row 1 Rebecca Hails, Kelsey Williamson, Ariel Myers, and Grace Carl. Row 2: Katie Niel, Caroline Starr, Brieanna Feller, Brianna McClure, Alexandra Gilbert, AJ Mayhan, and Phillip Spotswood. Row 3 Charles Kaiser, Roscoe Anderson, John Robert Carter, and Michael Jones.

Seven Middle School Band Students Earn Honors at Troy University

Seven students in the Montgomery Catholic Middle School Band were honored at the Southeast United States Middle School Honor Band competition at Troy University. Named to the Gold Band were Josh Stark--1st Chair tenor Saxophone and Joseph Sutton--2nd Chair trombone. Named to the Silver Band were Alex Nola--1st Chair trumpet and Joe Hernandez--3rd Chair euphonium. Named to the Crimson Band were Kyle Hudson--horn, Zach Hulcher--clairnet, and Cathy Ranieri--flute. The Montgomery Catholic Band program is under the direction of Mr. Kerry Palmer.

Middle School Sponsors Three Families for Christmas

Students at Montgomery Catholic's Middle School sponsored three families through Catholic Social Services for Christmas. Students donated their 10-minute break snack money, ice cream money, and donated money for a "dress down" day in order to raise over $700 to purchase Christmas for three families this season. Additionally, the student body also donated 213 lbs of non-perishable food items to be shipped overseas for two deployed family members currently serving in the US Military. Pictured with the presents for Catholic Social Services are the Middle School SGA Officers President Woo Jin Lee, Chaplain Wheeler Ronan, Vice President Keenan Plate, and Secretary Aidan Gilbert.

St. Bede Science Olympiad Teams Top State Competition at the University of West Alabama

Thirty-five fourth through sixth grade students from St. Bede formed three teams competing in the State Science Olympiad Competition held at the University of West Alabama and took home First, Second and Third Place in the contest. Several teams from across central and west Alabama converged on the university campus for a weekend of science competitions. The Science Olympiad is a national non-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. The Science Olympiad is also designed to encourage classroom teachers to explore new and challenging ways of teaching science. Students who participate in the Science Olympiad are taught advanced science through active, hands-on participation. All events involve teamwork, group planning, cooperation, and promote team spirit and good sportsmanship.

St. Bede has retained the top spot at this competition for the past several years and continues to maintain its First Place ranking again this year. The St. Bede Science Olympiad Teams are sponsored by Miss Heather Kirsch, Mr. Larry Meiers, Mrs. Lee Ann Barranco, and Mr. Nick Bourke. Fourth Grade participants were Patrick O'Mara, Mary Reagan Starrett, Wilson Miles, Jackson Byrd, Jennifer Westendorf, and Phoebe Hall. Fifth Grade participants were Mary Janet McLaughlin, Ashley Kim, Jacob Hulcher, Drew Tolar, Ali Harper, Trey Magden, DeLohn Wyatt, Mandy Jones, Andrew Bomberg, Paige Barranco, Ashley Sulzby, and Sean Federspill. Sixth Grade participants were Sam McLaughlin, Tiffany Cammacho, Michael Moussalli, Kristina Vanella, Sophie Williams, Rachael Fry, Dylan Martin, Matt Pouncey, Abby Rohde, Matt Donahue, Geoffrey Myers, Ryan Norris, Maddie O'Mara, Caden Bean, Tara Bourke, Patrick McGinn, Alex Castanza, and James Sherman.

Montgomery Catholic and Compass Bank Spread Christmas Cheer

Middle and High School art students at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School partnered with Compass Bank’s “Team Compass” charity to create and decorate 100 goodie bags which were filled with gifts for the elderly at Christmas. Team Compass distributes the gifts through the Central Alabama Consortium on Aging which serves senior citizens in the tri-county area. Each fall, middle and high students at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School decorate the bags which employees with Compass Bank fill and deliver to the Central Alabama Consortium on Aging for those in need.

Photo: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School high school art students pose with Mr. Daniel Robinson with Compass Bank and some of the gift bags for the Central Alabama Consortium on Aging. Pictured are: Joshua Owens, Matt Lowery, Ian Sweet, Preston Stone, Cater Elliot, Justin Hughes, Emily Madore, Jimmy Dugan, Christine Held, John Terino, James Kim, Courtney Willcox, Robert Schaum, Mr. Daniel Robinson with Compass Bank, and Anthony Costa.

Cynthia Weber Named AP Scholar

Cynthia Weber, Class of 2007, has earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of her exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the more than 1.4 million high school students in more than 16,000 secondary schools worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.

Cynthia took the AP Exams in May 2007 after completing challenging college-level courses at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.

Cynthia is the daughter of Faustin and Diane Weber and is a freshman at the University of Notre Dame.

In addition to Cynthia, Thomas Herge qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. Thomas is the son of John and Donna Herge and is a freshman at Ohio State University. Erin Plate qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher. Erin is the daughter of Jeff and Kelly Plate and is a freshman at the University of Notre Dame.

Forty Six Montgomery Catholic Students Participate in YMCA Youth Judicial

Forty-six high school students from Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School participated in the YMCA Youth Judicial Program held at the Montgomery County Courthouse November 10-12, 2007. The YMCA Youth Judicial Program allows high school students an opportunity to learn about law through preparation and presentation of a mock court case. Teams are self-determined with three youth lawyers and three youth witness on each side of the case, prosecution and defense. Student participants also serve as judges in each case.

Montgomery Catholic had six legal teams, three defense teams and three prosecution teams with Matt Copeland, a junior, serving as one of the judges during the weekend. Each team was coaches by a practicing attorney who volunteer with the students in order to prepare them for the event. Montgomery Catholic’s defense teams were coached by attorneys Ms. Virginia Lucci, Mr. Richard White, and Mr. Gary Parker. MCPS student defense teams were #1 Stephen Bodet, John Dugan, Nick Moussalli, Josh Soukup, Ian Sweet, Savannah Szabo, and Aaron Weber. Student defense team #2 was Robert Dubose, Ashley Johnson, Jasmine Maye, Lowell Moore, Briana Morgan, Kierra Rumph, and Cleo Smith. Student defense team # 3 was Austin Barranco, Brandon DuBois, Justin Hughes, David McPhillips, Butler Parker, and Thomas Visco.

The prosecution teams were lead by attorneys Mr. Rob Preston, Ms. Deborah Nickson, and Mr. Julian McPhillips. The MCPS student prosecution teams were team #1 D’Jara Britton, Christine Held, Jessica Heymann, John Ingram, Amalia Ortero-Ortiz, Marie Quillin, and Lizzie Terino. Prosecution team #2 was Nichole Nickson, Andria Ransdell, Summer Rogers, Alex Taylor, Justin Taylor, and Jamiyah Woodson. Prosecution team #3 was Roscoe Anderson, Alexandra Gilbert, Rebecca Hails, Wallace Harvey, AJ Mayhan, Brianna McClure, Caroline Starr, and Alex V. Taylor.

Awards were given at the close of the event and Roscoe Anderson, a junior, was named “Lawyer of the Year.”

Montgomery Catholic Students Win State Championship with the Capital City Streaks Soccer Program

The Capital City Streaks U-15 girls team won the State Championship in Decatur, Alabama over the Veterans' Day weekend. Three team members are students at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School; they are Samai Martinez, 8th grade, Caitlin Sears and Shannon Guin, both 9th grade. The Streaks defeated United Soccer Club of Huntsville 1-0 to claim the state title and sailed through the state tournament with a 4-0 record. The Capital City Streaks 93 team will advance to the regional tournament in North Carolina in June. All three students played at the Varsity level at Montgomery Catholic last year and are looking forward to the season this spring. Pictured: The Capital City Streaks 93 State Champions.

All Souls Day Mass at St. Margaret's Cemetery

Middle School faculty, staff, and students joined other members of the Catholic community to celebrate Mass on All Souls Day at St. Margaret's Cemetery in downtown Montgomery. Celebrating the Mass were Monsignor Charles Troncale, Father John Holleman, Father James Dean, Father Patrick Driscoll, and Father David Carucci, with Deacon Jim Labadie. A new permanent altar was donated by the Catholic Cemetery Association. Afterward, the students enjoyed a picnic lunch at Riverfront Park.

To view pictures, click here: http://family.webshots.com/album/561286440LEnbBh

Second Graders Create Rosaries

October is the month of the Rosary and to celebrate, second graders at St. Bede learned about the Blessed Mother and the Rosary in their Religion classes. The students learned and discussed how the Rosary takes us through the life of Jesus and that the Blessed Mother prays to Jesus for us. The students also discussed how, as Catholics, we do not worship Mary, but we ask her help to teach us more about Jesus and to get closer to him through praying the Rosary. The students each made Rosaries from a collection of beads and string. The following day, they prayed the Glorious Mysteries together.

Pictured, Evan Miles creates his unique Rosary in Mrs. Glenboski's second grade class.

St. Bede Students Celebrate "All Hallows Eve"

Kindergarten students at St. Bede kicked off the "All Hallows Eve" or "Halloween" parties with a costume parade throughout the elementary campus on Wednesday, October 31st. At 2:00, each of the Kindergarten classes changed into their Halloween costumes and paraded all about the hallways signaling that it was officially "party time!" Many of the students were dressed as super heroes, Power Rangers, and princesses and each of the classes had a great time enjoying goodies and various treats.

To view photos from the festivities, click here: http://family.webshots.com/album/561275181zVOghy

To learn about "All Hallows Eve/Halloween" and its Christian roots, read more here: http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Halloween/

Families in Action Program a Huge Success

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s High School Parent-Teacher Council held their third annual “Families in Action” program on Monday, October 29th at the Vaughn Road Campus. Over 400 parents and students attended the event. There were three separate sessions for parents and students on various topics facing families today. The student listened to presentations on internet safety from Mr. Daniel Harbin of Harbin Consulting, defensive driving from Mr. Alan Deighton of New London School of Driving, and teen choices and their legal consequences from Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Tracy S. McCooey ’83. The parents listened to presentations by Lt. Brian McCullough of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department on drug awareness, Mr. Charles Anderson of The Anderson Law Firm on civil and criminal issue of underage drinking, and Mr. Faustin Weber, President of Montgomery Catholic, spoke about the MCPS Parent-to-Parent pledge.

Following the parent presentations, each parent was invited to sign the Parent-to-Parent pledge which opens the lines of communication in our community. Parents who sign the pledge are willing to contact and be contacted regarding their children by other parents in our community. A reception for parents and students was hosted in the cafeteria following the evening program. To view photos from Families in Action, click here: http://family.webshots.com/album/561250571uPgVtZ

Pictured: PTC Representative Colleen Dugan hands out the MCPS Parent-to-Parent Pledge cards during the 3rd annual Families in Action program at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School.

High School Town Hall Meeting, Monday, November 5th

The High School Advisory Council will host a "Town Hall Meeting" on Monday, November 5th from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. in the Belke Building's Media Center located on the Vaughn Road Campus.

On the agenda, discussion of the parent survey results from the 2006-07 academic year, the high school council's priorities for 2007-08, small group discussions, and an open forum.

Please make plans to attend this important session. For more information, contact the high school campus office at (334) 272-7220.

Montgomery Catholic’s JV Squad Receive Top Awards at NCA Camp

The Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Junior Varsity Cheerleaders returned from the National Cheerleading Association’s camp at Auburn University with numerous awards. As part of the four day event, NCA selects award winners for individual and team accomplishments. Montgomery Catholic’s JV squad received numerous awards including The “Herkie” Team Award for spirit, Superior ribbons for their cheers and chants, the Technical Excellence Award for motions, and a bid to compete at the National Championship Competition in Dallas, Texas. In addition, the girls won the “Spirit Stick” for their enthusiasm and school spirit.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Junior Varsity Cheerleaders, row 1: Rachel Ingram, Jessica Mount, Sara Lyerly, and Morgan Foxworth. Row 2: Liz Armstrong, Christine Spotswood, Caitlyn Sears, Nandi Ramirez, Brittney Wilkinson, and Marissa Marmolejo.

Montgomery Catholic Crowns Homecoming Court

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School crowned their Homecoming Queen and King during the half-time festivities on Friday, October 19th. Homecoming week was filled with spirited theme days and activities which kept the enthusiasm strong through the weekend.

The 2007 Homecoming Court is Freshmen Attendant Liz Armstrong, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brett Armstrong, escorted by Barr Younker, son of Col. and Mrs. Barr Younker. Sophomore Attendant is Jessica Barranco, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Barranco, escorted by James Dugan, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Dugan. Junior Attendant is Grace Carl, daughter of Lt. Col. and Mrs. John Carl, escorted by her twin brother Peter Carl. Senior Attendant is Patricia Larriuz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Larriuz, escorted by Alex Taylor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Taylor. Senior Attendant is Gaybrielle Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Moore, escorted by James Watkins, grandson of Mrs. Annie Watkins. Senior Attendant is Lena Bachstaedter, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Gerhard Bachstaedter, escorted by Nick Moussalli, son of Drs. Samir and Cinzia Moussalli.

The 2007 Homecoming Queen is Meridith Anile, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Anile, escorted by the 2007 Homecoming King Brad Kondrak, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tomas Kondrak. The 2006 Homecoming Queen & King, Kristin Sutton and Bob Weber, crowned the 2007 court during the football game. The Homecoming Dance was held the following night at the RSA Activity Center. To view pictures from the game, click here: http://mcpsknights.org/football/homecoming.htm

To view pictures from the Homecoming Dance, click here: http://family.webshots.com/slideshow/561138497KFFQVU;jsessionid=abcqWHTPJuG_y95-hsjxr

PICE Golf Tournament Tops $100,000

The Partners In Catholic Education 7th annual Charity Golf Tournament held at the Robert Trent Jones Capital Hill Course in Prattville, AL on September 21st was a smashing success. The proceeds from the tournament will benefit Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School.

Tournament Co- Chairperson Liz Sutton announced that there were 65 sponsors for this year’s tournament, topping all previous years. The Tournament Sponsors were Dr. David Bronner, CEO, Retirement Systems of Alabama and Ben Walker, Smith Barney. There was one Platinum and several Gold Elite Sponsors. The Gold Sponsor was Knights of Columbus Councils 893, 10731, 12011, 12150 & Jim McDonald, FICF.

Silver Sponsors include: Mara Family, Montgomery Family Practice, PC, Lopez & Webster Family, Precision Land Development, Sinclair’s/Montgomery Catering, The Anderson Law Firm, Arthur & Maureen Britton, Delta Consulting Group, J. Michael Karst, MD, PA, Jenkins Brick, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Baptist Health, Capitol Container, AKD, Inc., EnterConference, OB/GYN Associates of Montgomery, and GKN Aerospace.

Hole Sponsors were Baker Family, McPhillips & Shinbaum, LLP, Larry & Beth Russo, John Lee Paint, Ialacci Family, Robert D. Reynolds – Attorney, New England Financial, and Carnival Cruise Lines & Alabama World Travel. Half-Hole Sponsors included: Pat Mullen, Wilson, Price, Barranco, Blankenship, & Billingsley PC, Fowler Family, Commercial Door Products, Cash Cars, Southern Linc, Church of the Holy Spirit, Murphy Chiropractic, McKee & Associates, Bass Lumber, Pinecrest Brokers Realty, Galassini & Associates, Quality Assurance Testing Labs, United Food & Fuel, Air Force Reserve, Azar & Azar LLC, Chappy’s Deli, Goins Sisters, Leon M. Kelley & Co., CPA, Bob & Gloria Robinson, and The Copy Center.

Beverage Sponsors were AllState Beverage and Coca-Cola Company. This year’s Hole-in-One prizes were a 2007 Hyundai Sonata from Capital Hyundai, and a trip for two to Scotland from Interactive Golf. Other Sponsors included Mary B’s, Peaches N Clean, Frier Planning Concepts, TCBY, and Michael Moore.

Special Guests this year included Al DelGreco, former Auburn University and NFL football player and welcoming by an LPGA player.

Serving on the committee with Liz Sutton were: Jerry Lopez, Co-Chairperson, Jim Baker, Mike Barranco, Chris Brunson, Ken Carlson, Dean DeLongchamp, Debbie Harvey, Mary Kelley, Mark Sadie, John Sadie, Bill Sutton, Gary Tomlin, Merrie Tolbert, Jimmy Tucker, and Bruce Szafran. The proceeds of the tournament will greatly enhance the Montgomery Catholic educational programs and capital improvements.

To view photos from the event, click here: http://family.webshots.com/slideshow/560822073aPGYzD;jsessionid=abcSzqvLF_6gCbKQyHixr

Colonel Jack Lauer named High School Dean of Students

One of the newest members of the Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s high school faculty is Colonel Jack Lauer. Colonel Lauer was an officer in the United States Air Force for 27 years, primarily working as a Logistician but also flying in an F-16 Squadron. His numerous awards include 4 Air Force Legion of Merit Medals and the Bronze Star Medal, among many other medals for superior service to our country. He is a veteran of two wars, the Vietnam War and the first Gulf War. After retiring from the Air Force in 1991, Colonel Lauer worked for an American company in Saudi Arabia for 5 year before returning to the United States in 1995 to teach Air Force Junior ROTC at a high school in Atlanta, Georgia.

After working for 12 years in the Atlanta Public School system, Colonel Lauer returned to his home in Montgomery and now serves as the High School Dean of Students. His duties include assisting the principal on all high school discipline matters and teaching 9th grade religion classes. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Northern Colorado.

Although new to the MCPS faculty, Colonel Lauer’s ties to Montgomery Catholic reach back to when his children were students. His daughter, Kim, graduated from Catholic in 1984 and son, Kevin, in 1988. Colonel Lauer currently has five grandchildren, two of whom attend Montgomery Catholic.

Montgomery Catholic Breaks Ground on New Dolly Barranco Student Activity Center

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School broke ground on the Dolly Barranco Student Activity Center on Tuesday, October 9, 2007, on their Vaughn Road Campus as the culmination of a $3 million dollar capital campaign entitled "Faith in Education: FULL STEAM AHEAD!". This new building is named in tribute to our beloved cafeteria manager, Mrs. Dolly Barranco, who worked at Montgomery Catholic for over 30 years.

The Dolly Barranco Student Activity Center will be more than a cafeteria; it will be the center of student life for our school located in the heart of the Vaughn Road campus. This new center will be approximately 15,000 square feet and will provide for our students' needs for years to come. The Student Activity Center will serve as a "commons area" that will provide a climate controlled space to hold school-wide Mass, Parent-Teacher Council meetings, conferences, and any event that requires seating for up to 400 people.

All four of Dolly Barranco's children, as well as her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, were on hand for this special occasion. Throwing the first dirt for the building named in honor of their mother were Nap Barranco, Carl Barranco '60, Bill Barranco '68, and David Barranco '72. The building's completion is projected for August 2008, just in time for the opening of the new school year.

To view photos from the event, click here: http://family.webshots.com/slideshow/560997545OcfFdS

To read the article in The Montgomery Advertiser, click here: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071010/NEWS01/710100325/1007/NEWS05

Carl Barranco ’60 Guest Speaker for Lunch with Leaders

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School honored the Middle School “Students of the Week” by hosting a luncheon with Mr. Carl Barranco ’60 through their “Lunch with Leaders” program. Students of the Week are chosen by their teachers not only based on their academic record, but leadership, overall attitude, and work ethic play a major role in the selection of each student. One representative from both the seventh and eighth grades is chosen each week of the quarter. At the end of the quarter, the students are treated to a catered lunch with a community leader in a relaxed setting. Of the weekly winners, a “student of the quarter” is also selected.

Mr. Carl Barranco is a member of the Montgomery Catholic Class of 1960, is the President and Co-Managing Shareholder of Wilson, Price, Barranco, Billingsley, and Blankenship, PC in Montgomery, and is Past-President of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Barranco shared his thoughts of leadership with the students and urged the students that leadership evolves from an early age and to get involved now. He said, “Leaders don’t really wake up one morning and say, ‘I’m a leader.’ Leadership takes time; it’s what you do, how you act, and how you conduct yourself. It starts at school, in your sports teams, and at church in your faith. It requires you to give up your time, to give back, and to sacrifice yourself. Building character is a large part of leadership and with leadership comes great responsibility.”

Students of the Week for the first quarter are seventh graders Jack Starr, Broghan Freeland, Fran Mount, Joanne Spotswood, Sydney Hash, and Zach Hulcher. Eighth grade students are Crystie Deuter, Drew Krantz, Samai Martinez, Josh Stark, Megan Foran, and Lexie Segrest. The “Student of the First Quarter” is seventh grader Jack Starr.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic’s Middle School Students of the Week with Mr. Carl Barranco ’60 at “Lunch with Leaders.” L to R seated: Crystie Deuter, Sydney Hash, Joanne Spotswood, Broghan Freeland, and Fran Mount. L to R standing: Lexie Segrest, Drew Krantz, Mr. Carl Barranco ’60, Jack Starr, Josh Stark, Zach Hulcher, Samai Martinez, and Megan Foran.

To view photos from the event, click here: http://family.webshots.com/slideshow/561010217MaveTn;jsessionid=abc6aDSTPjGz9-ttgaqwr

St. Bede Third Grade Raises over $950 for the Montgomery Humane Society

After learning about the plight of a local pit bull, “Louis Vuitton”, who was badly burned and beaten, the third graders at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s St. Bede Campus felt called to help in the dog’s recovery. At the school’s third annual Bohemian Art Fling Arts and Crafts Show, the students held a bake sale and donated 100% of the proceeds to the Montgomery Humane Society to help nurse the animal back to health. The students raised over $950 from their sale. A representative from the Montgomery Humane Society will meet with the students and accept their generous offering on Tuesday, October 9th at 1:30 p.m. With great care from the Humane Society, Louis Vuitton is well on his way to recovery.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic Third Grade students David Bender and Susan Foran sell delicious treats to benefit the Montgomery Humane Society at the Bohemian Art Fling.

Three Montgomery Catholic '07 Graduates Named Advanced Placement Scholars

Three 2007 graduates of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the more than 1.4 million high school students in more than 16,000 secondary schools worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.
Students took AP Exams in May 2007 after completing challenging college-level courses at their high schools. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.

Thomas Herge qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. Thomas is the son of John and Donna Herge and is a freshman at Ohio State University.

Erin Plate and Cynthia Weber qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher. Erin is the daughter of Jeff and Kelly Plate and Cynthia is the daughter of Faustin and Diane Weber. Both Erin and Cynthia are freshmen at the University of Notre Dame.

Photos: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s AP Scholars Thomas Herge, Erin Plate, and Cynthia Weber.

National Hispanic Recognition Goes to Jacob Weatherly

Jacob Weatherly, a member of the senior class at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, has been recognized by the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program, as announced by Principal Sue Vaughn.

The National Hispanic Recognition Program, established in 1983, is a College Board program that provides national recognition of the exceptional academic achievements of Hispanic high school seniors and identifies them for postsecondary institutions.
Students enter the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) as high school juniors and by identifying themselves as Hispanic. This year, more than 196,000 PSAT/NMSQT takers nationwide identified themselves as Hispanic, and more than 4,000 of those students have been recognized as National Hispanic Scholars or Honorable Mention Finalists based upon their PSAT/NMSQT scores and their academic achievements. Last spring, Jacob scored a 2380 of a possible 2400 on the SAT test, placing Jacob in the 99.99th percentile of all students nationally.

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 5,200 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT®, and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns.

McCall Named Girls Varsity Basketball Coach for Montgomery Catholic

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is pleased to announce J’Varra McCall as the Head Coach of their Varsity Girls Basketball program. She replaces Coach Christine Robinson. Ms. McCall is a Program Manager with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. J’Varra McCall played college basketball for Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa before transferring to Auburn Montgomery in 1998 where she played until graduation in 2001. J’Varra began coaching in Montgomery with the Carver High School junior varsity team and was an assistant coach with St. Jude Educational Institute last season. She also coached with the AAU Alabama Twisters Squad. About the game, J’Varra said, “Basketball is like a family member; I won’t let my family down and I won’t let the game down either.”

This past summer she hosted the first annual J. McCall Leadership Basketball Camp at Auburn Montgomery. She said, “I focus on building individual fundamentals with the players and playing a defensive-minded game. I’m looking forward to hosting the camp again at AUM and a summer camp at Catholic.” About joining the Knights, McCall said, “I’m excited about this opportunity with Montgomery Catholic. I remember the girls from last year and Coach Christine Robinson had them ready. I’m already looking forward to basketball season this winter.” The Lady Knights won the Class 3-A, Area 4 title last season. Montgomery Catholic Athletic Director Jim Tolbert said, “J’Varra has a passion for the game and a passion for teaching the game. Her enthusiasm is infectious. I know she is going to be a great asset to our school.”

3rd Annual Bohemian Art Fling Saturday at St. Bede

The Bohemian Art Fling, a one of a kind arts & crafts show, will be at St. Bede on Saturday, September 29th from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria. St. Bede is located at 3850 Atlanta Highway, at the corner of Atlanta Highway & Perry Hill Road.

Parking is available both in front of the school on Atlanta Highway and behind the school off of Perry Hill Road. Come see and purchase one of a kind artwork and various crafts from numerous vendors.

For more information, contact Deborah Nix at DNix@montgomerycatholic.org or call the school office at (334) 272-3033.

Middle School Students Support Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s Middle School student body will walk to raise funds for Montgomery’s “Buddy Walk” benefiting the Montgomery Area Down Syndrome Outreach Group’s walk to be held on October 6th at the Montgomery Zoo. The Buddy Walk was created by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to provide its affiliates and other local groups with a way to promote acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down Syndrome in their communities. The students will be walking in the Ida Belle Young park adjacent to Montgomery Catholic’s Vaughn Road Campus on Friday, September 28th.

Montgomery Catholic Students "See You at the Pole" on Wednesday, September 26th

“Gather. Unite. Pray. Come Together” (John 17:20-23) is the theme for See You at the Pole this year, with the event scheduled for Wednesday, September 26 at schools throughout the United States and in many other countries. In 2006, more than 2 million teenagers met for See You at the Pole in all 50 states. Internationally, reports came in from countries on six continents. Other countries have launched SYATP movements with their own promotional efforts, including Australia and Canada where it was observed this year on May 10.

See You at the Pole is a student-initiated and student-led movement that started in the Ft. Worth suburb of Burleson, Texas, in 1990. SYATP brings students to their school flagpoles to intercede for their leaders, schools, and families, asking God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses and countries. The San Diego-based National Network of Youth Ministries coordinates SYATP promotion. Paul Fleischmann, president of the Network, observed: “Every year, we have seen this day serve as a springboard for unity among students on their campuses. See You at the Pole unites students in prayer at the beginning of the semester. Young people have taken unprecedented leadership through this to have a positive impact at their schools.”

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s high school students will gather at 7:30 a.m., elementary students at the St. Bede Campus will gather at 8:00 a.m. and middle school students at 8:15 a.m. on the Vaughn Road Campus.

Thirty-nine 7th grade Students Qualify for Duke TIP Program

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is proud to announce thirty-nine students in the seventh grade have qualified for Duke University’s 28th Annual Talent Identification Program. The talent search identifies academically talented students scoring in the 95th percentile or higher on a grade level standardized achievement, aptitude, mental ability test or approved state criterion-referenced test. This program is recognized as a national leader in identifying academically talents students across the country.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s students who have qualified for the Duke TIP Program are Sterling Anderson, Michaela Armstrong, Hannah Barranco, Anna Vail Chancey, Zachary Cruce, Michael Dallas, Elana D’Argenio, Baines Deal, Kenneth Dickerson, Zachary Donaldson, Broghan Freeland, Sydney Hash, Gabriella Hayes, Zach Hulcher, Sydney Jarman, Megan Karst, Will Littleton, Alex Manning, Josh Marshall, Jarrett Mason, Stone Miller, David Norris, Taylor Pitters, Conner Preston, Trey Riggles, Robbie Sankey, Giselle Simms, Blayne Spigner, Joanne Spottswood, Jack Starr, Maggie Starr, Spencer, Starr, Natalie Sullivan, Shelby Taff, Sarah Talbot, Caya Taylor, Ethan Watkins, Daniel Weber, and Lexie Wilkinson.

Shannon Boswell to represent Montgomery Catholic at Junior Miss Scholarship Program

Senior Shannon Boswell will represent Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School in Montgomery County’s Junior Miss Scholarship Program on October 7th and 8th held at Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church. The Junior Miss Scholarship Program began as an outgrowth of a community floral festival and has evolved into a national scholarship program in which thousands of high school senior girls participate each year. Started in the 1920s and headquartered in Mobile, America's Junior Miss Scholarship Program is now the oldest and largest program of its kind.

Thirty-five girls from across Montgomery County will participate for thousands of dollars in various collegiate scholarships with the winner moving on to the state Junior Miss competition. The girls will be evaluated in a physical fitness routine, poise competition, talent, and panel interview.

Shannon Boswell has been a dancer with the Alabama Dance Theater since the age of three and a member of the ADT Dance Company for the past four years. She will perform a dance choreographed by ADT professional dancer Joy Ohme. Shannon says, “I have enjoyed getting to know all of the participants from various schools. We’ve had fun getting ready and learning the different routines. It’s exciting to be a part of such a great program.” Shannon is the daughter of Willie and Sheila Boswell.

Photo: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School senior & Montgomery Co. Jr. Miss participant Shannon Boswell.

Cross Country Team Claims Small School Division Title at Smiths Station Invitational

Congratulations to our Cross Country Team who traveled to East Alabama for the Smiths Station Invitational on Saturday, September 15th. The Girls won the overall title in the small schools division with Alexandra Gilbert (3rd), Savannah Szabo (4th) and Elena D'Argenio (7th) finishing in the top 10. The Boys finished second overall with John Terino third and six other Catholic runners finished in the top 30. Our team is coached by Mr. John Terino and assisted by Miss Mariangela Sullivan.

For pictures of our Cross Country Team in action, click here: http://family.webshots.com/slideshow/560497531vxsJKB;jsessionid=abcWZybOK92DEbzb8_uur

Montgomery Catholic Students Imagine Whirled Peace with Pinwheels for Peace Art Project

In today’s world, peace needs to become more than just a word. On Friday, September 21, 2007, art students at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School will participate in an International art and literacy project, “Pinwheels for Peace.” The students will “plant” pinwheels with messages of peace in the front lawn of the middle and high school, located at 5350 Vaughn Road. This year’s international theme is “Pinwheels Everywhere!”

Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started by two Art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, of Coconut Creek, Florida, as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. Groups in over 2,400 locations “planting” approximately a million pinwheels throughout the world have committed to spinning these pinwheels on September 21st. Locally, the Middle & High School Art Instructor, Ms. Joane Grant, has coordinated the Pinwheels for Peace project at MCPS since the project’s inception.

In this non-political art project – Peace is not necessarily associated with the conflict of war; it can be related to violence/intolerance in our daily lives, to peace of mind. To each of us, peace can take on a different meaning, but, in the end, it all comes down to a simple definition: “a state of calm and serenity, with no anxiety, the absence of violence, freedom from conflict or disagreement among people or groups of people.”

For the third year in a row, the Montgomery Catholic middle and high school art students have created pinwheels of all shapes and sizes. As part of the creation process, the students wrote their thoughts about "war and peace / tolerance/ living in harmony with others" on one side. On the other side, they have painted, created collages, etc. and visually expressed their feelings. The students assembled the pinwheels and on International Day of Peace they will "plant" their pinwheels in the front lawn of the high school as a public statement and art exhibit/installation.

Weatherly Named National Merit Semifinalist

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is proud to announce Jacob Weatherly as a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. The names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 53rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program were announced today by officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship® awards, worth $34 million, that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must advance to the Finalist level of the competition by fulfilling several requirements. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will be selected as Merit Scholarship winners, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

Established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Program, NMSC is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. Scholarships awarded through this program are underwritten by NMSC’s own funds and approximately 500 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

Photo: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalist Jacob Weatherly.

Mayor’s Assistant Jeff Downes '85 Speaks to Senior Economics Class

Mr. Jeff Downes, Executive Assistant to Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright and Montgomery Catholic 1985 Alumni, recently spoke to Coach Joe Arban’s senior Economics classes about opportunity costs and their effect on city budgets and the bottom line. Mr. Downes gave a variety of real examples the capital city faces when considering opportunity costs and the annual budget. Students gained a better understanding of how municipal budgeting, city services, and the costs that affect those services many take for granted each day.

Given an imaginary number and a variety of city services and budget requests, the students had to review the opportunity costs of providing for those requests and services while staying within a set budget. Senior Whitney Barranco said, “I didn’t realize how difficult the decisions for opportunity costs and their affects really were until we had to do it for ourselves. There is a lot more to it than meets the eye. It really brought it all into perspective.”

Pictured: MC Alumni Jeff Downes ’85 speaks to seniors about opportunity costs at Montgomery Catholic.

Record Number of Girls Attend Montgomery Catholic's Cheer Camp

The Montgomery Catholic Varsity Cheerleaders hosted 90 girls in Kindergarten through Sixth Grade at their annual cheerleading clinic on Saturday, September 8th from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the Fr. Pat Delahunty Gymnasium on the Vaughn Road campus. At the clinic, the girls were divided into small squads according to age and taught cheers, beginner stunts, chants, and a dance.

All of the participants will perform the cheers they learned in a pre-game show on Friday, September 21st when Montgomery Catholic hosts Montevallo.

Pictured above: Varsity Cheerleader senior Cecily McAlpine shows the Kindergarten & 1st Grade girls the motions to a cheer at camp.

To view photos from the event, click here: http://family.webshots.com/slideshow/560634450PWLtBc;jsessionid=abcO1LiCq9Gq7gFvUlXtr

Montgomery Catholic Dedicates New Field House to Pope John Paul II & McPhillips Wrestling Room

With the excitement of the new school year, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School recently dedicated their new field house in honor of Pope John Paul II and the new McPhillips Wrestling Room in honor of the McPhillips family, thanks to the generosity of Julian and Leslie McPhillips. The new 5,000 square foot facility will house locker rooms for the middle, junior varsity, and varsity boys programs as well as a practice facility for the new varsity wrestling team, which will be added to the Montgomery Catholic Athletic Program this winter for grades 7-12. The wrestling program will be coached by Mr. Tyler Countryman. Parents, students, faculty, alumni, and friends celebrated the dedication with a blessing of the building by Monsignor Charles Troncale, Episcopal Vicar and pastor of Church of the Holy Spirit. After the dedication, everyone enjoyed tours of the building and the annual “Back to School Pep Rally” with the fall sports teams in the football stadium.

To view pictures from the event, click here: http://family.webshots.com/album/560365075XaopDo

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic Athletic Director Jim Tolbert presents the first Montgomery Catholic Wrestling shirts to benefactors Leslie and Julian McPhillips at the Pope John Paul II Field House dedication. Below, Montgomery Catholic Wrestling Coach Tyler Countryman shakes the hand of Mr. Julian McPhillips at the dedication ceremony.

Montgomery Catholic Soccer Program hosts Marshall Soccer School this summer

The Montgomery Catholic Varsity Boys Soccer program hosted the “Marshall Soccer School” directed by the Marshall University Head Coach Bob Gray this summer on the St. Bede Campus soccer fields. Forty-one young men participated in the five day camp. Groups were determined by age and ability in order to create the best environment for learning, development, and skill set. Coach Gray’s philosophy of hard work combined with the importance of having fun provided the participants with a wealth of knowledge and improved skills throughout the week. Catholic Varsity Coach Tim McCormack said, “It was a pleasure working with Coach Gray and bringing a program of this magnitude to our area. I know these young men learned so much from Bob and his staff throughout the camp. We hope to bring Coach Gray and the Marshall Soccer School back again next summer.”

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic participants in the Marshall Soccer School Program.

Varsity Squad Top Team at NCA Camp

The Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Varsity Cheerleaders recently returned from the National Cheerleading Association’s summer camp at Auburn University. As part of the four day event, NCA selects award winners for individual and team accomplishments. Montgomery Catholic’s squad received numerous awards including The “Herkie” Team Award for spirit, Leadership Award, and the Teamwork Award. The girls also received Superior ribbons for their cheers and chants, the Technical Excellence Award for motions, Game Day Top Team Award, and a bid to compete at the National Championship Competition. In addition, the girls won the “Spirit Stick” every night and were awarded a spirit stick to add to the school trophy case.

Several Montgomery Catholic cheerleaders were nominated as “All-American” including Rachel Castanza, Hannah Been, Cecily McAlpine, Emily Madore, Haley Scanlan, Sarah Krause, Molly McLaughlin, and Jessica Barranco. The participants are judged on motion technique, jumps, tumbling, spirit, enthusiasm, voice projection, and overall crowd appeal. Two Montgomery Catholic cheerleaders were named to the All-American Team, senior Rachel Castanza and sophomore Jessica Barranco.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Varsity Cheerleaders, row 1: Jessica Barranco, Haley Scanlan, Jessica Heymann, Sarah Krause, and Rachel Castanza. row 2: Cecily McAlpine, Emily Madore, Hannah Been, and Molly McLaughlin. row 3: Autumn Guillot, Sarah Armstrong, Lora Burke, Kaitlyn Roberts, and Kelly Berher.

Middle School Squad All Cheers at NCA Camp

The Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Middle School Cheerleaders recently attended the National Cheerleading Association's Summer Camp held on the campus of Auburn University. The squad improved each day of the camp, winning awards ranging from "outstanding" to "superior." The squad received a spirit stick each day. Kennedy Thomas, Blakely Savage, and Elizabeth Walker were named NCA All-American nominees. The girls are looking forward to cheering when the Middle School football team hosts Tallassee on Tuesday, September 4.

Pictured above: row 1: Claire Galluzzi & Mary Frances Mount. row 2: Kennedy Thomas, Elizabeth Walker, Maria Rivas, Mary Ashley Allen, Jordan Heymann, Sydney Jarman. row 3: Amanda Logan, Taylor Lawhon, Blakely Savage, Peighton Jolley, Madison Roberts, Alex Kitchens, Murrey McDonald, Mallyna Sessions.

Newmeyer Named South's MVP at All-Star Games

Rising senior Colin Newmeyer was named the Most Valuable Player for the South squad at the All-Star Games. Colin scored the only goal for the South team in the first half and finished with three shots on goal. Congratulations Colin! Colin is the son of Brian '81 and Kristi Newmeyer.

Happy Independence Day!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!
As we celebrate our nation's independence with family and friends,
let us pause to thank those who have made
and continue to make our freedom possible.

Our school offices will be closed July 2nd through July 6th.

PICE Sets 7th Annual Golf Tournament for September 21st

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s PICE (Partners In Catholic Education) Organization is planning for their best tournament ever! The Golf Tournament Committee is busily planning for the Seventh Annual Charity Golf Tournament benefiting the school. The event will be held at The Legends at Capital Hill on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville, AL, on Friday, September 21st. Registration and lunch will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. There will be a $5,000 putting contest, a $25,000 hole-in-one contest, Predict Your Distance Contest, Closest to the Pin Contest, Hole-in-One trip for two to Scotland or a trip on a relaxing cruise, as well as many other wonderful door prizes. The entry fee is $150 and teams are forming now. Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of a premier golf tournament on one of Alabama’s premium courses! For more information and to register your team, call 272-7221, ext. 15.


Pictured: 2007 PICE Golf Tournament Committee Members: Event Co-Chair Jerry Lopez, Jim Baker, Event Co-Chair Liz Sutton, John Sadie, Chris Brunson, Bill Sutton, Ken Carlson, and Bruce Szafran. (not pictured: Mary Kelley, Jimmy Tucker, Marian Saliski, Debbie & Bobby Harvey, Mike Barranco, Dean DeLongchamp, and Gary Tomlin.)

Thirteen Montgomery Catholic Student Athletes Named All-State Academic

Thirteen high school athletes at Montgomery Catholic have been named "All-State Academic Honorees" by http://www.al.com/. These students have not only excelled in their sport but have maintained their place on the honor roll at school. These students are Meridith Anile, 4.0 GPA, junior, for Volleyball & Basketball; Kate Cooper, 3.85 GPA, senior, for Cross Country & Soccer; Kathy Hasselwander, junior, for Tennis; Joey Kimminau, 3.73 GPA, senior, for Soccer; Gaybrielle Moore, 3.76 GPA, junior, for Basketball; Erin Plate, 4.15 GPA, senior, for Cross Country & Track; Rob Preston, 3.82 GPA, for Basketball; Abbie Redden, 4.06 GPA, senior, for Volleyball, Basketball, & Soccer; Kristin Sutton, 3.93 GPA, senior, for Soccer; Samanthan Telofski, 3.85 GPA, junior, for Cross Country; Olivia Veres, 3.95 GPA, senior, for Volleyball & Softball; Cynthia Weber, 3.97 GPA, senior, for Cross Country & Soccer; and Bob Weber, 3.75 GPA, senior, for Football, Basketball, & Baseball. Congratulations to all of our All-State Academic Honorees for your hard work and dedication both on and off the field.

To read the entire list of 2007 Honorees, click here: http://www.al.com/highschool/resources/AcademicAll-State07.pdf

US Senator Richard Shelby Meets with Eighth Grade

Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) met with the 8th grade class from Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School during their year end trip to Washington DC. Charlie Anderson, the Student Government Association President for the Middle School, presented Senator Shelby with a plaque commemorating the visit. Thanks to Senator Richard Shelby, the students were given an opportunity to visit the Senate Chamber while it was in session and heard Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) make addresses on the Senate floor.

Catholic's Belsterling Bolsters Stellar Career by Wesley Lyle, The Montgomery Advertiser

Allison Belsterling helped raise the standards for the Catholic girls’ soccer program during her career. As she set school records for scoring and led her team to its first two playoff victories, Belsterling became one of the area's dominant players. The UAB signee is this year's Montgomery Advertiser All-Metro girls soccer Player of the Year.

"That's a nice way to go out," Belsterling said. "It's a good honor, and I'm glad to get it my senior year." This is Belsterling's fourth season as an All-Metro selection and second season as the Player of the Year. "I'm thrilled for her," said Catholic head coach, and Allison's father, Brian Belsterling. "She's worked hard throughout her high school career. She's practiced outside of practice and put in the extra work to become a shining player."

Belsterling never reached the state tournament with Catholic, but she and her teammates took part in several Catholic firsts. As a freshman, Belsterling and the Knights reached the playoffs for the first time. During her junior season, Catholic hosted and won its first playoff game, 3-1 over UMS-Wright. The Knights lost to eventual state champion Altamont in the second round. This past season, Catholic again hosted in the first round before losing to Altamont in the second round. Altamont went on to win its second straight state title.

Belsterling finished her high school career with a Catholic record 144 goals. She set the Catholic season scoring mark as a sophomore with 44 goals. That same year, she set the single game record with six goals against St. James. As a senior, Belsterling scored 41 goals to lead Catholic to a 19-8-2 record and the second round of the playoffs.

"I had a pretty good season last year, but I was coming off a knee injury and it wasn't my best," Belsterling said. "This year, I felt like I stepped back up." Coach Belsterling said there was a "noticeable difference" in his daughter's play this season. "Her speed was better this year and her aggressiveness was up considerably this season," Brian Belsterling said. "The mental aspect and getting her confidence back (after the injury) made a big difference." Belsterling signed with UAB in February. "It's exciting to know I'm going to be playing next year," Belsterling said. "I've wanted to play college soccer since I was little. The main thing is I want to play hard and have fun. I want to contribute to the program and help us go far."

Montgomery Catholic had several members of the Varsity Girls & Boys Soccer Teams named to the All-Metro Teams including at defenders Stephanie Cochrane and Anna Vercelli and at keeper Lauren Yates, all seniors. Named to the Boys' All-Metro Soccer Teams were Colin Newmeyer as a forward, Troy Maxwell as a midfielder, and Matt Clarke was an honorable mention. Congratulations to all of our outstanding soccer players.

Pictured: Montgomery Advertiser’s All-Metro Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Montgomery Catholic’s Allison Belsterling. Photo by David Bundy

Catholic Basketball Camp A Big Success

Improving basketball skills and having fun were the highlights of the Montgomery Catholic basketball camp held in the Fr. Pat Delahunty Gym June 11-14.

Girls basketball coach Christine Robinson, boys coach Jimbo Tolbert and members of their teams worked with 45 campers in grades K-8. Ball handling, shooting technique and defensive play were among the many phases of the game each camper worked on during the week.

The campers were divided into three divisions – NBA (grades 6-8), NCAA (grades 3-5) and Mini-Pro (grades K-2). They competed in free throw shooting, hot shot, gotcha and a three-on-three tournament. Winners of those competitions as well as several other camp awards were:

Free Throw Shooting – Spencer Starr (NBA), Henry Beesley (NCAA), Luke Craig (Mini-Pro).
Hot Shot – Michael Tyner (NBA), Henry Beesley (NCAA), India Richardson (Mini-Pro).
Gotcha – James Sherman (NBA), Jacob Hulcher (NCAA), India Richardson (Mini-Pro).
NBA 3-on-3 Tournament – Joseph Kelly, Will Littleton, Jake Lass.
NCAA 3-on-3 Tournament – Gaten Armstrong, Zachary Roberts, Jacob Hulcher.
Defensive Award – Alex Castanza (NBA/NCAA), Matthew Taylor (Mini-Pro).
Hard Work Award – Lindsey Guin (NBA/NCAA), Trip Carter (Mini-Pro).
Attitude Award – Allen Wood (NBA/NCAA), Carrie Belsterling (Mini-Pro)

Each camper received a Catholic Knights camp T-shirt and a blue and gold basketball and will be recognized at a Catholic basketball game next season.

To view photos from the camp, click here: http://sports.webshots.com/album/559448414RjgERN

John Conway Named Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction

High School English Instructor John Conway of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School has been selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction by The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). A role model to pupils, Conway was nominated by Troy Maxwell for outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in teaching. The Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction award recognizes teachers who have made a lasting difference in their classrooms by encouraging students to strive for excellence. This fall, Mr. Conway will begin his fifteenth year as a member of the High School English faculty at Montgomery Catholic.

Student members of NSHSS have the opportunity to nominate the one educator who has made the most significant contribution to their academic career. This award, bestowed by The Society upon the recommendation of a member, allows the students themselves to recognize the commitments, strengths, and gifts of their teachers, providing an opportunity for them to recognize and thank their academic mentors. What makes this award unique is that it is an honor bestowed upon an outstanding educator by a young scholar.

“Dedicated educators who exhibit a commitment to excellence deserve our highest praise and appreciation,” said NSHSS Chair Claes Nobel. “We’re excited to provide an ongoing means to do so, and we encourage our members to nominate teachers who have been pivotal to their academic success.”

Formed in 2002 by Mr. Claes Nobel, a senior member of the family which established the Nobel Prizes, The National Society of High School Scholars recognizes academic excellence at the high school level and encourages member of the organization to apply their unique talents, vision, and potential for the betterment of themselves and the world. Currently there are more than 300,000 Society members in over 50 countries.

Sara Garcia Takes 2nd Place in Golf Tournament

Montgomery Catholic Senior Sara Garcia hold the Second Place title in a field of 23 female athletes in women's golf for the 2007 AHSAA 1A-5A Girls State Championship. The state tournament was held on the Grand National Course of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Opelika, AL. Sara shot a 78 in the first round and an 83 in the second for a total of 161. Sara is an exchange student from Mexico and is pictured with Montgomery Catholic Athletic Director Jim Tolbert and Montgomery Catholic Golf Coach Bill Sutton.

Middle School May Crowning

The Middle School honored the Blessed Mother Mary with a May Crowning Ceremony held on May 17. Eighth graders Chris Bodet, Tyler Jankay, and Evan LeBarge all placed flowers at feet of the Blessed Mother statue in front of the Middle School while Jessica Mount placed a crown of flowers on her head. The students sang "Immaculate Mary", prayed a decade of the Rosary with the Hail, Holy Queen, and then sang "Hail, Holy Queen."

The "Our Lady of Grace" statue was given to the school by sisters Mary Azar and Frances Miaoulis and was blessed by Bishop Toolen on April 12, 1945. The statue stood in front of our original school site, The Gerald Mansion, from 1945 until 1965. It was rededicated by Archbishop Lipscomb on September 12, 2004 at the formal dedication of our Middle School.