First Annual Monte Carlo Night Raises Over $24,000

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's First Annual Monte Carlo Night raised over $24,000! The event was held Saturday, February 21st in the Dolly Barranco Activity Center on the school's Vaughn Road Campus. All proceeds from the event benefit the school.

Guests let the "good times roll" well into the night as they enjoyed playing Blackjack, Roulette, Texas Hold 'Em, Skill Stoppers, and the Money Wheel while dining on delicious hor'douvres and a donation bar. Many people took home wonderful treasures from the Silent Auction, which included art work created by Montgomery Catholic students. The excitement continued as the "Nite at the Races" pre-recorded horse racing began.

Montgomery Catholic's Alumni Association hosted a pre-event martini bar in the Alumni VIP Room before the event. Mark your calendar for next year's Monte Carlo Night on Saturday, February 6, 2010!

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic alumni Ben Barranco '02, Alana Hataway '02, and Jeff Downes '85 enjoy appetizers and martinis in the Alumni VIP Room before Monte Carlo Night at Montgomery Catholic.

To view photographs, click here: http://picasaweb.google.com/MontgomeryCatholic/MonteCarloNight#

Catholic softball team knocks off defending state champs, snaps streak

Anisa Britt threw a one-hitter and struck out nine to lead the Catholic softball team to a 2-1 win over St. James on Monday. The win was the Knights' first over St. James since 2002 and snapped a six-game losing streak to the Trojans.

Tied 1-1 in the fifth inning, Kirsten Lancaster stole second and third and scored on an error. Lancaster finished with two hits. A Britt double drove in Catholic's first run.

Catholic (10-2) travels to Trinity today.

Archbishop Rodi Visits St. Bede Campus

Most Reverend Thomas Rodi, Archbishop of Mobile, visited Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's St. Bede Campus on Friday, March 6, 2009. Rodi began the day by celebrating Mass with the entire student body followed by classroom visits with the students.

Student Government leader Paige Barranco presented the Archbishop with a pictorial version of their Virtual Rosary. Archbishop Rodi received a big round of applause after he announced that all of the students would receive an extra 30 minutes of recess that afternoon as a gift from him. All of the students are looking forward to his return!

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic fifth grade students James Warner Cleghorn and Kris Keating pose with Archbishop Rodi following Mass.

Bradley Named A Girl Scout Young Women of Distinction

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School freshman Barbara Bradley was named as a Young Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama.

On Tuesday, March 10th, Barbara will be honored, along with three other young women and 13 women, at the 14th annual Women of Distinction Awards gala held at Arrowhead Country Club.

Bradley and her troop have worked on many community service projects for organizations like Joy to Life, Montgomery Humane Society, Montgomery Zoo, and the Montgomery Cancer Society. Barbara has also served as a council press rep for three years. She is a member of the Montgomery Fencing Club and a proclaimer at Church of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Barbara plans to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design. She is the daughter of Jean Bradley and the late Michael Bradley.

The Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama and the Women of Distinction is designed to recognize women who have become leaders and are good role models. The Future Young Women of Distinction will honor four Girl Scouts ages 14 to 18 at this year's event, a new element to the annual program.

Three Seniors Attend AUM's Sonia Kovalevski Day

Sonia Kovalevski is credited with being the first woman to earn a doctorate of mathematics (in 1874). She was also a writer and advocate of women’s rights, who helped change attitudes so universities would admit women. Sonia received private tutoring from the renowned mathematician Karl Weierstrass because women were not permitted to attend universities in Europe at that time. The University of Gottingen only awarded her a doctorate after her work was published.

AUM hosted Sonia Kovalevski Day on February 28, 2009. The event is a one-day conference open to junior-high and high-school females students who are intererted in mathmatics. The goal is to encourage more young women to consider careers in the mathematics and sciences.

Montgomery Catholic seniors Katie Niel, Lauren Gore, and Antonella Profio attended the event and had an enjoyable day. The day consisted of several seminar/workshops on mathematical topics—some involving areas of research by AUM faculty—and a discussion panel of women in math-intensive careers.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic seniors Katie Neil, Lauren Gore, and Antonella Profio with Dr. Matthew Ragland, the event director.

Senior attends Mathematical Association Annual Dinner

The Alabama chapter of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) held their annual dinner at Jacksonville State University on February 27, 2009. Montgomery Catholic's High School mathematics instructor Dr. Joe Profio '79 and his daughter, Antonella, who is currently a senior, attended the annual meeting and dinner.

The MAA is the leading professional organization in the United States focusing on mathematics appreciation and education. The guest speaker was Dr. Colm Mulcahy from Spelman College. He spoke on "New Mathemagical Principles Applied to Card Tricks" and showed examples of card tricks that appear magical unless you see the underlying mathematics. Dr. Mulcahy also writes Card Colm, a bi-monthly article on mathematical card tricks, for the MAA website. (www.maa.org/columns/colm/cardcolm.html)

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic senior Antonella Profio with Dr. Colm Mulcahy of Spelman College after his presentation at the Mathematical Association of America's annual Alabama chapter dinner.

Four Tapped for National Junior Honor Society

Four eighth grade students were tapped as new members of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School during a special ceremony held at the Middle School on Friday, February 27, 2009. Gregory Hunkins, Daria McCracken, Alex Manning, and Hannah Barranco were sworn into membership and were the guests of honor for a reception immediately following the ceremony.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic's newest National Junior Honor Society Members Gregory Hunkins, Daria McCracken, Alex Manning, and Hannah Barranco.

To view photos of the Spring Induction Ceremony, click here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/MontgomeryCatholic/JrNationalHonorSocietySpringInduction

Junior Class Hosts 10th Annual Mardi Gras Prayer Breakfast

The Junior Class of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School hosted the 10th Annual Mardi Gras Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday, February 24th, in the Dolly Barranco Activity Center. Monsignor Bill Skoneki, pastor of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Auburn, was the keynote speaker.

Each year on Mardi Gras, the junior class prepares a full spread breakfast for the entire high school student body and many distinguished guests in the Catholic community.

Monsignor Skoneki had a little fun with the students as he explained the origins of Mardi Gras and the meaning behind the symbols used in traditional Mardi Gras parades. He tossed out beads, Moon Pies, cups, and the like to the eager students.

The Mardi Gras Prayer Breakfast is the junior class on-site class retreat and following the breakfast, the students enjoyed an afternoon of fun together at the new Ace Bowling Center.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic junior class officers Molly McLaughlin, Jessica Barranco, Monsignor Skoneki, Jessica Heymann, and Justin Taylor.

To view photos from the Mardi Gras Prayer Breakfast, click here: http://picasaweb.google.com/MontgomeryCatholic/MardiGrasPrayerBreakfast2009#

Second Grade Students Help Burn the Palms

Second grade students at Montgomery Catholic's St. Bede Campus watched as Father David Carucci, pastor of St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church, burned the palms on Fat Tuesday in preparation of Ash Wednesday. The palms from Palm Sunday 2008 were burned to be used for Ash Wednesday. To view pictures from the burning of the palms, click here: http://picasaweb.google.com/MontgomeryCatholic/BurningOfPalmsForAshWednesday#

Pictured are : Montgomery Catholic second graders Austin Vickery, Jeanet Stephenson, Kendra Myers and Victoria Rodriquez with Father David Carucci, pastor of St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church.