Montgomery Catholic Students attend Boys and Girls State at the University of Alabama

Two Montgomery Catholic Preparatory Seniors attended the 2013 American Legion Alabama Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State conventions at The University of Alabama. The convention was held June 9 -15, and enabled more than 1,000 students to try their hands at politics and community service. This was the first time that both conventions were held at the same time.

MCPS Senior Alex Castanza with  Judge Pete Johnson,
Director of Boys State Alabama

Alabama Boys State and Girls State are leadership and government training programs. They are among the highest honors granted to high-school senior boys and girls. Students from around the state are chosen based on their demonstration of leadership, hard work, strong morals and motivation in school and community activities. MCPS students chosen to attend were Alex Castanza and Maddie O'Mara.

During the week, students conducted mock elections and learned about civic processes. Guest speakers included former Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox.

Alex enjoyed the week. He was chosen as Chief Justice for Boys State, Alabama, and as an alternate for Boys Nation. He also attended a National Competition for Youth & Government in North Carolina. Alex is the son of Diane and Michael Castanza of Montgomery.

MCPS Senior Maddie O'Mara attended
Girls State this summer.

Maddie O'Mara said, "It was an interesting week filled with learning about the electoral process, from the local level all the way up to the state level offices.  We heard from many inspirational speakers throughout the week, including Alabama Governor, Robert Bentley, and Lt. Governor, Kay Ivey.  They encouraged us to be active in our communities and to register to vote when we turn 18."  While at Girls' State, Maddie was appointed to the University of Alabama Board of Trustees by the newly elected Girls' State Governor, Ashley Archer.  Maddie is the daughter of Michelle and Col. Ray O'Mara of Montgomery.

Montgomery Catholic has 21 Seventh Grade Duke TIP Qualifiers

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School has 21 seventh graders who have qualified for the The Duke University Talent Identification Program or Duke TIPS program for the 2013-2014 academic year. The 7th Grade Talent Search, which focuses on the identification, recognition, and support of high-ability students, offers qualifying seventh grade students the opportunity to take college entrance exams alongside high school students. Many 7th Grade Talent Search participants go on to earn exceptionally high scores.  Those who qualified are: Annie Bach, Anna Katherine Barranco, Erica Blackburn, Jacob Flowers, Jonah Gier, Anna Mary Gilbert, Dylon Godwin, Reagan Herbek, Grace Leslie, Madeline Losik, Ethan Macchia, Thomas McLaughlin, Demetrios Philippou, Zoe Rutland, Drew Smith, Chloe Smith, Sydney Sprowl, Emily Talbot, Hunter Vaccaro, Grant Walker, and Benjamin Wilke.

Montgomery Catholic's Ravelo Spends the Summer at Duke

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Senior Guillermo Ravelo attended The Futures Institute: Shaping Tomorrow Now at Duke University for two weeks over the summer. Guillermo was challenged to develop the critical skill set of Futures Thinking and to apply that skill set to his personal development, academic direction, and life goals. The Duke TIPS program allows students to discover emerging trends in sustainability, nanotechnology, urbanization, biotechnology, medicine, artificial intelligence, robotics, brain science, and digital communication, create working strategies and bold responses to real world questions, helping to establish global transformation and solve planetary dilemmas, develop critical thinking that puts you on the cutting edge of social change and human development and helps develop a deeper understanding of the driving forces that are producing a rapidly expanding, volatile, and increasingly complex future.

A major focus of the course was to help students to recognize patterns, systems, emerging issues, and weak signals of change across social, economic, environmental, technological, and political domains. The week ended in team projects that explored innovations that were designed to be of benefit to future residents of megacities in emerging economies. According to his evaluation, Ravelo had a "meticulous eye for detail, intellectual curiosity and analytical skills"  that added to the course. "Guillermo lived up to the very high standards that are set for the students at the Futures Institute. He is clearly an astute observer of the world around him. His desire to learn and his intellectual focus will aid him in whatever he decides to pursue."

Guillermo is a member of the Loretto Chapter of Nation Honor Society at Montgomery Catholic, and the son of Marta and Cesar Ravelo of Montgomery, Ala.

Two Montgomery Catholic Students Give a Gift to those in Need

Ninth Grade MCPS student Ansley Rhode,
with her donation for Locks of Love.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory Students continue to give to those in need outside of school. This summer ninth grade student Ansley Rhode and first grade student Sophia Lopez both chose to cut their hair and make a donation to Locks of Love.

Locks of Love's mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

Ansley has been growing her hair out for three years in order to donate to Locks of Love. On Wednesday, July 10 she got 10 inches of her hair cut at Salon Couture by Marty Mueller. Although a bit nervous, Ansley knew this would make a difference in someones life, and the made it worth it for her. Ansley was inspired to donate to Locks of Love by her sister Abby who donated her hair 2 years ago. She and her sister both plan to continue donating their hair in the future. Ansley is the daughter of Brenda and Chuck Rohde of Montgomery.

First Grade MCPS student Sophia Lopez, donates for the first time.

Sophia was excited to get short hair and bangs!  She was equally as excited when she learned she could make someone who is very sick "happy" again by donating her long hair to be made into a wig. Her mother Julie Lopez said, "it was a proud parenting moment, and one that illustrated and conveyed love far better than words ever could." Sophia went to Voila! Salon in Pike Road to have her hair cut by Maegan Humphries in July. Sophia loves her new, sassy, grown-up 'do. Her parents, Julie and Rod Lopez of Montgomery, are very proud of her.

Visit www.locksoflove.org for more information on donations to Locks of Love.