Science Olympiad Team Wins Second Place at Competition

The Science Olympiad Team from Montgomery Catholic’s St. Bede Campus took home the 2nd place trophy at the Science Olympiad Competition held at Jacksonville High School on February 24th. The area event is an 8-hour day-long competition with 28 events from various disciplines.

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 consistently ranked in the top spots at both area and state Science Olympiad competitions over the past several years. Students received medals in 12 events in addition to winning the 2nd place trophy on February 24th. St. Bede Science Olympiad Team members are Jacob Hulcher, Sean Federspill, Mary Janet McLaughlin, Aliceann Harper, Paige Barranco, Rachel Patterson, Tara Bourke, Anna Mills, Allie Micher, Ryan Hill, James Sherman, Ann Marie Dean, Ashley Barranco, Alex Castanza, Patrick McGinn, Clay Ronan, Zach Hulcher, Giselle Simms, Will Littleton, Stone Miller, Patrick Foran, Matthew Neo, Connor Preston, and Broghan Freeland. The team is sponsored by St. Bede faculty Mr. Nick Bourke, Mr. Larry Meiers, and Miss Melanie Grayson.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic Science Olympiad Team from St. Bede pose with 2nd place trophy at Jacksonville High School.

Herge and Weber named as National Merit Finalists

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is proud to announce Thomas Herge and Cynthia Weber as National Merit Scholarship® Finalists. Thomas and Cynthia are two of over 16,000 scholastically talented high school seniors to have an opportunity to continue in the competition for over 8,200 Merit Scholarship® awards, worth over $33 million. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, students must fulfill several requirements and about one-half of the Finalists are selected as Merit Scholarship winners, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

As finalists, Thomas and Cynthia have both maintained outstanding academic records throughout their high school years, have been endorsed and recommended by their school principal, and have earned SAT scores that confirm their qualifying test performance. Thomas and Cynthia also had to submit a detailed scholarship application, including a self-descriptive essay and information regarding their participation and leadership in both school and community activities.

Ohio State University is Thomas Herge’s top school choice while Cynthia is considering the University of Notre Dame among many collegiate choices for them both following high school.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Seniors Thomas Herge and Cynthia Weber, National Merit Scholarship Finalists.

Varsity Boys Claim 3rd Annual Knights of the Roundtable Invitational Soccer Tournament

The Boys Varsity Soccer team won the Knights of the Roundtable Invitational Soccer Tournament this weekend, Feb 23 &24.

Friday night, the boys played 6A Wetumpka High School. The boys took a commanding 5-0 lead on 3 goals by Colin Newmeyer and one each by Troy Maxwell and Adam Hempen. Wetumpka managed to score 2 goals late in the second half for a final score of Catholic 5 Wetumpka 2.

To add to the excitement of the evening at halftime, our Head Coach Tim McCormack '03, proposed to his girlfriend Jamie at midfield. Jamie thought she was going to take a team photo only to find the team holding up a banner asking her if she would marry Coach Tim. The photo above is a picture of the teaming holding the banner Friday night. Luckily for Tim, Jamie said yes!

On Saturday morning, the boys took to the field to battle 5A Valley High School. The Knights went down 0-2 early in the first half before Colin Newmeyer was able to find the net to bring the score to 1-2. Valley however responded with another goal to take a 1-3 lead into halftime. After an "inspirational" speech by assistant coach Dan McCormack '96, the boys came out fired up the 2nd half to score 4 goals and win 5-3. Colin Newmeyer added 2 more goals in the second half to give him 3 for the game, his third hat-trick in 3 straight games. Also scoring goals were Adam Hempen and Justin Hughes.

Saturday evening, Catholic took on 5A Eufaula High School to determine who would win the tournament. The Knights came out strong and controlled the match from start to finish. The defensive back four of Brad Kondrack, Matt Clarke, Joey Kimminau, and Nick Moussalli along with goal keeper Greg Rhodes shut down a strong Eufaula attack. The Knights took a 3-0 lead on goals by Adam Hempen, Justin Hughes and Colin Newmeyer before conceding a goal with one minute left to play.

The Catholic players named to the All Tournament Team were Troy Maxwell, Brad Kondrack, and Greg Rhodes. Colin Newmeyer was named the Tournament MVP.

The Knights move to 5-0-0 on the season and will take on Robert E Lee on Wednesday February 28th.

Band Receives Superior Ratings at District Competition

The Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School High School Band received straight Superior ratings at the annual District Band Assessment held at Opelika High School on February 14. The band performed "Bandology" by Eric Osterling, "Two Sketches for Band" by John Edmondson, and "Dorian Rhapsody" by Elliot Del Borgo. Serving as judges were Dr. Frank Buck, Superintendent of Curriculum for the Talladega City Schools; Dr. John Ardovino, Director of Bands at the University of Montevallo; and Mr. Milton Welch, former Director of Bands at Wetumpka High School.

The band will now advance to the State Band Assessment to be held at Troy University on March 15 and 16. Although the same concert selections will be played, the judges will be selected from a pool of nationally recognized band directors.

Additionally, the band will have to complete a sightreading portion of the assessment. Scores from the three concert judges will be added together with the sightreading score to determine the final rating.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School & Generous Donors Celebrate the "Faith in Education...Full Steam Ahead!" Capital Campaign

The Most Reverend Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb, along with community leaders, Mr. Carl Barranco, Dr. Bill Saliski, and Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School (MCPS) President Mr. Faustin Weber, welcomed students, generous donors, and the community to “kick-off” a historic capital campaign for Montgomery Catholic, the oldest continuous non-public school in Alabama, on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, in the Fr. Patrick Delahunty Gymnasium on the high school campus.

The capital campaign, titled “Faith in Education…Full Steam Ahead!” is the fourth phase of a major renovation and building master plan for Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School. This historic $3 million effort will help to:
· Build the Dolly Barranco Student Life Center. Named in tribute to Mrs. Barranco who was the cafeteria manager for over 25 years. The Center will include a cafeteria to house our expanding student body, two new classrooms, and will be the largest climate-controlled facility on the MCPS campus.
· Refurbishment of the existing middle and high school cafeteria into four classrooms to meet the demands of the growing student population.
· Expansion of the middle and high school’s Chapel.
· Renovations to the St. Bede Elementary Campus facility.
· Funding the Teacher’s Excellence Endowment Fund; this will help administration reward and acknowledge MCPS outstanding faculty.
· Demolition and construction of the student locker rooms.

Generous donors have already pledged over $2 million dollars in initial support.
For more information on Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School or the “Faith in Education” Capital Campaign, please visit: http://www.knights.pvt.k12.al.us/