John F. Kennedy Catholic School
Eagles
Take Flight to
China
2012 SPRING/SUMMER
KENNEDY
Values & Vision
Board of Directors
John F. Kennedy Catholic School
Reverend Michael Balash
Mr. James Coates ’84
Mr. Sam Covelli ’71
Dr. Anthony DeSalvo
Mrs. Pamela Dudeck, Secretary
Reverend Thomas Eisweirth
Mr. Anthony Iannucci ’65
Mrs. Darlene Jones
Father Thomas Kraszewski
Mrs. Tina (Makosky) McCue ’82
Mr. Rob Merlo
Mr. Colin Miller
Mr. James Misocky
Mrs. Kathy (Welch) Perisa ’73
Mrs. Pam Perrino, Vice President
Mr. Brian Sinchak, Ex Officio
Mr. Joe Steines ’96
Mr. John Waldorf
Mr. Patrick Wilson ’81, President
Kennedy is a World Class School
Kennedy is a world class school. This distinction goes far beyond the travels that you will read about in the
pages of this magazine. It lies at the heart of who we are and what we stand for. As a school community we
strive to be the best in the world, but more importantly, the best for the world. We are committed to excellence
in the ongoing formation of our Catholic faith, our college preparatory curriculum, our competitive athletic
tradition, our development of the fine and performing arts and our innovative use of technology.
We are a school with a mission and on a mission. Our mission has been clarified by a new foundational
document recently approved by our Board of Directors. This Kennedy Leadership Profile outlines the six
characteristics that we hope our graduates will embody by the time they receive their high school diploma.
These qualities will begin to inform everything we do from curriculum and instruction at our elementary
campus to extracurricular activities at our upper campus. In fostering these characteristics we will be living our
mission of educating leaders of courage, integrity and dedication.
Prayerful - The graduate is committed to maintaining an open communication and dialogue with God,
devoting serious time and thought to prayer and the sacramental life. The graduate will also have examined his
or her beliefs establishing an active relationship with the Catholic tradition and community.
Resilient - The graduate knows that life comes with obstacles and isn’t always easy. However, the graduate is
comforted by the fact that no obstacle is too big to overcome with faith and determination. The graduate never
stays defeated – he or she bounces back and tries again.
Articulate - The graduate is able to effectively express himself or herself and communicates with others
easily. The graduate clearly conveys his or her thoughts and ideas in an eloquent manner both in speech
and in writing.
Innovative - The graduate reaches out in his or her development, seeking opportunities to stretch his
or her mind, imagination, feelings, and religious consciousness. Additionally, the graduate is forwardlooking and seeks to find new, creative ways of solving problems with new technologies.
Compassionate - The graduate has deep concern for the well-being of other people. The graduate
begins to fully recognize the needs of others and tries to meet those needs in loving and caring ways in
the spirit of Christ.
Global - The graduate has an understanding of the needs and events in the world community. The
graduate has been inspired to develop the awareness and skills necessary to live in a global society as a
person with and for others.
Thank you for joining Kennedy in this most noble mission. Thank you for helping us become world class.
May God bless you and our Kennedy family and as always . . . GO EAGLES!
President, John F. Kennedy Catholic School
2 John F. Kennedy Catholic School
Inside
KENNEDY
John F. Kennedy Catholic School
SPRING/SUMMER 2012
Upper Campus (7-12)
2550 Central Parkway SE
Warren, Ohio 44484
P: 330-369-1804 • F: 330-369-1125
Lower Campus (PK-6)
3000 Reeves Road
Warren, Ohio 44483
P: 330-372-2375 • F: 330-372-2465
W: www.warrenjfk.com
Mr. Brian Sinchak
President
Ms. Staci Raab
Principal - Upper Campus
Mr. Joseph Kenneally
Principal - Lower Campus
Mrs. Theresa Dolan-Dixon
Director of Mission & Ministry
Mr. Jim Boyle
Director of Student Affairs
5
Mrs. Jessica McRoberts
Director of College Counseling
& Academic Services
Mr. Sinchak with student travelers Alexis Drummond, Danielle Covelli, Madison Jones, Lauren Stephenson and Marco Macali
Mrs. Jillian (Rossi) Phillips ’97
Director of Communications and Advancement
Mr. John Gillen ’50
Director of Athletics
Mission:
John F. Kennedy Catholic School of Warren,
a preK-12 system of the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Youngstown, serves families with
a firm commitment to the Gospel of Jesus
Christ and the education of the mind, heart
and soul of each student in our care. Guided
by the traditions of courage, integrity,
and dedication, we inspire the pursuit
of excellence by young people through
programs, which form the spirit, maximize
academic potential, and instill habits of
service and social responsibility. We prepare
all our students to embrace the future as
productive and faithful Christians.
Kennedy Magazine is distributed for free
to alumni, parents, faculty, administration
and friends in and outside of the Kennedy
community. Letters and correspondence can
. be directed to: Jillian (Rossi) Phillips ‘97 at
[email protected].
Editors :
Jillian (Rossi) Phillips and
Mr. Brian Sinchak
Photography by:
Carrie Leonard
Carrie O’Brien ‘12
Allie Vugrincic ‘13
Art direction and design:
Villa Beach Communications
Printing:
SCP Group
FEATURE
5
Eagles
Take Flight to
China
DEPARTMENTS
2
The Kennedy Experience
9
Catholicity
11
I Believe
12
Kennedy Commitment
14
16
Blue Pride
Corrections: In our Spring 2011 story regarding the Kennedy Mock
Trial Team, we incorrectly spelled the name of attorney and alum
Shibani Sheth Massacci.
Alumni Journal
On the cover: World class travelers: (L to R) Danielle Covelli, Lauren
Stephenson, Madison Jones, Mrs. Caryn Covelli, Alexis Drummond,
Mrs. Darlene Jones, Mr. Brian Sinchak and Marco Macali.
www.warrenjfk.com 1
The Kennedy Experience
lower campus • lower campus • lower campus
6th Grade Science Fair
Guided Reading in Action
M
rs. Oswald’s sixth grade
students showed
off their scientific abilities
by developing projects to
compete in the Kennedy
Lower Campus Science Fair. All
projects were inquiry based
and students had to utilize
the scientific method to prove
or disprove their hypotheses.
Six of the top projects were
chosen to compete at the
Lake River Science Day at
Youngstown State University
and all received Superior to
Excellent ratings! We are so very
proud of our future scientists!
Phillip Malvasi displays his project on Color and Heat Absorption
Kindergarten Celebrates
Mother’s Day
I
n preparation for their Mother’s Day Celebration, Mrs. Bash’s
Kindergarten students listened to the book, 5 Minutes Peace.
They loved it and quickly saw how the book would entertain their
moms. They talked about how to share it with Mom and soon
they were planning a play, using prior knowledge about setting,
characters, and purpose to create an original show! The children
worked, listened, followed directions and learned a great deal! The
play ended with a vow and promise to each Mom of “Five Minutes
of Peace!” The celebration also
incorporated learning in many
curricular areas. Students used
writing skills to create books as
well as wrote and illustrated traits
about their Mom and themselves
to compare and contrast. The
science lesson was aided in
planting beautiful flowers for
mom and students discussed the
parts of a plant, its needs and the
process of photosynthesis. Finally,
their religion lessons helped them
to understand how much Moms
are like Mother Mary and how
their guidance and love are gifts.
God bless these amazing kids and
their families!
Lucrissie Sims studies her book during a Reading Workshop
T
he implementation of our successful reading program included
the use of a Reading Workshop which focused on our primary
grades. The workshops are a tool to implement best practice
procedures and allow students and faculty to concentrate on:
• Decision making skills
• Mini-lessons for a more direct instruction
• Specialized time for students to do independent reading and
faculty to have one-on-one instruction time
Therefore, ALL children receive personal time and direct instruction
by their teachers. It was an amazing year and a privilege to watch
our students fall in love with Reading!
Proud Kindergarteners display their play banner for “5 Minutes of Peace”
2 John F. Kennedy Catholic School
• upper campus • upper campus • upper campus • upper campus • upper campus
Merit Scholarships
Awarded
K
ennedy continues the tradition of awarding merit
scholarships in the amount of $5,000.00 to current 8th
grade students based on their performance on the EXPLORE®
Placement Test. This is an ACT based test that helps students
explore a broad range of options for their future. The test
prepares students not only for their high school coursework,
but for their post–high school choices as well and marks
an important beginning for a student’s future academic
and career success. 2012-2013 winners of these awards are:
Matthew Baji, Rachel Cullison, Richard Loges, Marco Lucero,
Adrianna Placanica, Michael Sylvester and Taylor Vassis.
(Back Row): Michael Sylvester, Richard Loges, Matthew Baji and Marco Lucero.
(Seated): Rachel Cullison, Adrianna Placanica and Taylor Vassis.
2012 Eagle of
Kennedy Senior
the Cross Award
Places First at the Ohio
by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry,
High School Speech League Created
the Eagle of the Cross is an award given to students for their
“...you can’t
go it alone,
you have
a network
of people
supporting
you...”
integrity, values and dedication to the Catholic faith. This year, 67
teens were nominated within the six-county Catholic Diocese and
28 received the award including juniors Christina Lyons and Allison
Mintus and seniors Katherine Kamykowski and Daniel Dixon.
State Champion Tyler Luonuansuu poses with coach, Teri Dutton
C
ongratulations to Senior Tyler Luonuansuu for placing first in
Student Congress during the 2012 OHSSL State Tournament.
“Student Congress places representative student leaders in a
communication situation in which they must consider some of the
problems which actually confront our nation’s lawmakers.” Says Tyler
of his achievement, “What people might not realize about Speech and
Debate is that for the one person who achieves this honor, there is a
huge group of people including coaches, teammates and even other
opponents who give their support to you. Especially in Congress,
you can’t go it alone, you have a network of people supporting you; it
would be impossible to achieve success without them.”
(Back Row) Mr. Jim Boyle, Mr. Tom Shilling, Daniel Dixon, Fr. Matthew Albright and Mr. Michael Klockner.
(Front Row) Allison Mintus, Christina Lyons and Katie Kamykowski.
www.warrenjfk.com 3
The Kennedy Experience
upper campus • upper campus • upper camPUS
Megan Guliano –
Award Winning Essayist
J
unior Megan
Guliano won first
place in Trumbull
County in the Law
Day essay contest.
She was recently
recognized at the
Trumbull County
Bar Association
luncheon.
Junior High School
Visits Washington, D.C.
O
Megan is pictured with Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown.
2012 Relay for Life
T
eam captains Leah Roscoe ’12 and Lauren Casale ’12 helped lead
the Kennedy Relay for Life team in raising over $10,000.00 this
year. The Kennedy team made up of over 50 high school students
hosted “Pink Out” Football and Basketball games and jeans days to
raise money as well as relied on the generous help of families and
businesses to sponsor our team. Thanks to the clever theme this year
“May the Cure Be With You” the Kennedy team snagged awards for
the Best Opening Lap – 2nd Place, Fashion Show – Honorable Mention,
Best Midnight Snack – 2nd Place and winners in the categories of Most
Money Raised On Site, Best Banner, Pack of the Track, Miss Relay and
Spirit of the Relay. “Dedication pays off,” says Roscoe, “It was an honor
this year to help lead our team, raise money and have a great time
with my classmates.” Special thanks also to faculty advisor Charlene
Brown and the Kennedy 24 Hour Walkers: Sarah Miller ’14, Candace
Berry ’13, Allie Vugrincic ’13 and Patrick Casale ’15.
4 John F. Kennedy Catholic School
ur Kennedy 7th and 8th grade
students had the opportunity to
visit and learn in the nation’s capital
this spring. Highlights of the trip
included visits to the Basilica of the
National Shrine, the Pentagon and
the Smithsonian museums. A special
opportunity was presented to our
Junior High; a chance to lay the wreath
at Arlington National Cemetery.
Adrianna Placanica, Andrew Rossi, Matthew Luonuansuu and Emily
Robinson were chosen to lay the wreath based on essays they wrote
explaining what the honor would mean to them. Congratulations to our
students and thanks to them for representing Kennedy with honor.
COVER FEATURE
Eagles
Take Flight to
China
Saint Augustine
once wrote,
“The world is a book, and those who
do not travel read only a page.”
Although this fifth
century Father of the
Church could not have
dreamt of the type of
high speed air travel
we have today, St.
Augustine recognized
the importance of
exploration in the
development of the
human person. If the
world truly is a book,
then a group of Kennedy
Eagles have read it
cover to cover traveling
across the globe to
China on an economic
development tour with
the Youngstown-Warren
Regional Chamber of
Commerce this past
November.
www.warrenjfk.com 5
Eagles
Take Flight to China
“
Kennedy Eagles in Shanghai – Danielle Covelli, Mrs. Darlene Jones, Madison Jones, Mr. Brian Sinchak, Bishop George V. Murry, Alexis Drummond, Marco Macali, Lauren Stephenson and Mrs. Caryn Covelli
W
hen Kennedy was offered the
opportunity to partner with the
Regional Chamber and join business leaders
from around the country on this impressive
tour, I couldn’t refuse” said Brian Sinchak,
President of Kennedy. He added, “The trip
presented an amazing opportunity for students
to gain a global perspective on their learning.”
The travel experience included touring
the historical center of Beijing, the rural
farming areas of Hangjhou and the thriving
metropolis of Shanghai. The Kennedy
travel group also visited manufacturing
centers and participated in an economic
briefing with the Vice President of American
Chinese Business Partnerships.
“Walking along the Sacred Way, wandering
among the temples of the Forbidden City
and standing in the middle of Tiananmen
Square, I realized I was learning so much by
experiencing the culture and the history first
hand,” commented Senior Madison Jones.
Senior Lauren Stephenson concurred, “My
history and government textbooks came
alive in this real world classroom.”
One of the highlights of the trip for many
in the group included climbing to the very
top of the Great Wall of China.
“Being able to climb one of the man-made
wonders of the world will be something I never
forget. My sense of accomplishment reaching
the top pales in comparison to the achievement
of those who actually built it thousands of years
ago,” said Junior Danielle Covelli.
From atop the Great Wall of China and from
peering out the glass windows of the world’s
highest observatory in the Shanghai World
Financial Center, everyone in the Kennedy
travel group gained new perspective.
Senior Marco Macali commented, “Perhaps
cliché, but it was an epiphany for me to
realize how blessed I am to live in a country
that values the principles of democracy
and allows me to be the author of my
own life story. Even the college search and
application process is a gift that is not as
accessible to my peers in this communist
land on the other side of the world.”
“My history and government textbooks
came alive in this real world classroom.”
6 John F. Kennedy Catholic School
COVER FEATURE
This global perspective is exactly the type
of learning Kennedy strives to foster in
educating the next generation of leaders
with courage, integrity and dedication.
President Sinchak stated, “We are
committed to helping to form young men
and women to be global citizens with
a passion to serve others and solve the
complicated problems of our increasingly
interconnected world. Having the
opportunity to physically travel the world
is one of many ways we are making this a
reality for our students at Kennedy.”
Bishop George Murry, SJ, traveled with
the Kennedy group while in Shanghai.
Bishop Murry strongly supports this type
of educational travel. In fact, in his 2012
pastoral letter on Catholic education titled,
“Catholic Schools: An Investment in the
Future of Our Youth,” Bishop Murry
advocated for schools to develop applied
learning programs that involve foreign
travel. Kennedy is taking this charge
seriously with the creation of its World
Class Program.
Announced at the 2012 State of the School
Address, the World Class Program will
provide Kennedy students from grades
5-12 the opportunity to travel locally,
nationally and internationally and connect
their travels to their academic studies.
2012-2013
World Class Program
Grades 5-8
5th Grade������������Cleveland
6th Grade������������Pittsburgh,
Camp Fitch
Mother and daughter, Danielle and Caryn Covelli, enjoy a rickshaw
ride through the streets of Beijing.
7th Grade������������Columbus
8th Grade������������The Amazing Race
in Cleveland
8th Grade������������Washington, D.C.
Grades 9-12
Berlin & Prague
October 31-November 10
Regional Chamber of Commerce
Washington, D.C..
January 2013
Political Science and Social Activism
Kentucky
Spring 2013
Service and Social Justice
Italy
Easter Break 2013
Popes, Poets and Painters
Ecuador
June 2013
Global Poverty and
Catholic Social Teaching
www.warrenjfk.com 7
COVER FEATURE
Sinchak commented, “This program is
called World Class for a reason - not only
are we the first school in our area to develop
such an incredible program but also because
we must challenge our students to see
learning as an activity that goes beyond the
walls of the traditional classroom.”
technology will begin this upcoming
academic year.
Principal Staci Raab commented, “No
matter if it is by plane or internet, Kennedy
will provide outstanding opportunities for
students to see the world!”
Much like Saint Augustine’s view of travel,
while reflecting on the value of her trip
to China, Senior Alexis Drummond said,
“Sometimes we have to leave ‘our world’ to
discover ‘the world’.”
Leading educational research indicates that
global competency is a key standard in 21st
century educational curriculum.
Fernando Reimers, Director of Global
Education at Harvard Graduate School of
Education, defines global competency as
“the knowledge and skills that help people
understand the flat world in which they
live, the skills to integrate across disciplinary
domains to comprehend global affairs
and events, and the intellect to create
possibilities to address them.”
The World Class Program is one of
Kennedy’s educational strategies to develop
this global competency in our students.
In addition to this program Kennedy is
one of the first schools to install distance
learning technology to allow those unable
to physically travel the globe to experience
the world. Full implementation of this
Mrs. Darlene Jones, Mr. Brian Sinchak, Mrs. Caryn Covelli and Bishop George V. Murry, S.J. joined the student
travelers in China.
Kennedy Alum
Studies in Taiwan on
Fulbright Scholarship
Meghan Dixon ’07 is a recent graduate from Seton Hall University
and a recipient of a Fulbright ETA grant for Yilan County,
Taiwan. For the 2011-2012 school year she taught elementary
school students English while learning about their wonderful
country and culture!
Meghan (center) poses with her students
8 John F. Kennedy Catholic School
Catholicity
Loving Father,
Give me Courage
to do what is right and
stand against wrong.
Give me Integrity
to live a life of honesty and
to reflect your love in all I do.
Give me Dedication
to serve others and
to spread your message to the world.
Guide me and my Kennedy Family
with your grace this day and everyday.
On the wings of Eagles we lift this
prayer to you.
Amen.
T
he first year of our Mission and
Ministry Office boasts a significant
increase in campus ministry programming
which helps to strengthen our Catholic
identity at both the upper and lower
campuses. Under the direction of Mrs.
Theresa Dolan-Dixon, we are proud to
highlight our accomplishments during
this academic school year, particularly
the formation of an All-School Prayer,
the largest school representation from the
Diocese of Youngstown at the March for
Life in Washington, D.C. as well as serving
as hosts for the All Trumbull County Mass
with Bishop George V. Murry.* Below,
please find a listing of our newest and most
successful initiatives.
Mass Offerings: The Lower Campus holds
Mass at 8:30 a.m. each Tuesday and all
Holy Days.* The Upper Campus holds two
House Masses each month as well as all
Holy Days.*
Curriculum Offerings: Theology of the
Body Program offered in the 7th grade.*
Super Camp for Junior High, Anti-Bullying
*Indicates a new initiative
Workshop, Night-Chastity and Respect for
Life*, Freshman Life Day* and Emmaus
Retreat* all offered at the upper campus.
Community Outreach: Creation of a
Monthly Mission and Ministry Newsletter*,
Quarterly Parish Mission and Ministry
Newsletter*, Girl’s Night*, Parent Retreat
Night, Mom’s Prayer and Share group*,
Project Grow Mission Trip*, Guest Lecture Human Trafficking*, Guest Lecture - Living
a Life for Christ*, Guest Lecture - Working
with Mother Teresa and Service to Others*,
Guest Lecture – Social Justice, Students
work at St. James and St. Cyril’s parishes
assisting with odd jobs.*
Innovation and Catholicity
John F. Kennedy is the only school in the
Diocese of Youngstown and the greater
region to offer a House and Family system
similar to the structure found in European
schools and the residential colleges of
Princeton, Harvard and Yale. Unique to
our small school atmosphere, each house
is made up of approximately twenty-two
students (a cross section of freshmen
through seniors). Not only are all students
affiliated with a house, but each house is
further divided into two families. Each
family is comprised of approximately eleven
students and has an assigned faculty mentor;
therefore, each house has two faculty
leaders. Our House and Family system
allows us to place students into smaller faith
communities to increase opportunities for
student leadership and highly individualized
adult mentoring.
Houses compete in the year long House
Cup Race earning points in several ways:
attendance at designated athletic and fine
arts events, having a high percentage of
the house earning honor roll, completing
service projects and taking part in house
tournaments and other competitions
throughout the school year.
Named after famous Catholic saints,
the Houses allow our students to have a
greater understanding of the Communion
of Saints and allow the students to begin
to have a personal relationship with the
saint of their house. One of the challenges
www.warrenjfk.com 9
Catholicity
What My House Means to Me
Eric Bofenkamp ’14 – House of St. Ignatius
Houses build on the idea of Kennedy being a family. Our house
members are very close to one another and having House time adds
a special element to the school day, rather than having a traditional
homeroom meeting. It is a great opportunity to get to know kids that you
might not otherwise meet and a way to broaden your Kennedy experience.
Everything our “mom and dad” (Mr. Brian Sinchak and Mrs. Barb Rupinsky) do is
for our benefit; they are constantly working to better our experience and let us
know that they only want the best for us.”
Anthony DiPaolo ’13 – House of St. Francis,
2012 Olympic Day Chairman
It was very enjoyable to watch our whole student body participate
and have fun as one group. My favorite event this year was the
Dodgeball Tournament; it was a challenge to create the brackets and make
sure that event ran smoothly. I was proud of my classmates for cooperating
and making the day fun. Olympic Day will always be one of my best House
memories and I am proud to have been an important part of making a special
day for my classmates to enjoy. I also want to thank my House moms (Ms. Staci
Raab and Ms. Linda Repasky). They have made an extra effort to make events
throughout the year special for us. They always go the extra mile.
Chanel Thornton ’12 – House of St. Mary
I like spending time with my “brothers and sisters.” Our house
shows unity. I was a junior when the Houses were created
and it changed my view on Kennedy; I am so glad that our
incoming freshmen will always know they are part of something special and
different when they join us. I think it is so nice when our dads (Mr. J. Michael
Gerstenberger and Mr. Nick Spano) find us to sign birthday cards or get well
cards for one of our family members. It is nice to know someone is always
looking out for you. Chanel is pictured participating in the “Minute to Win It”
installment of Olympic Day 2012.
Charlene Brown, Faculty – House of St. Albert
I love having my own family within the larger Kennedy
family. I think it is very cool to see friendships made
between students who might otherwise never cross paths.
I especially enjoy the camaraderie I see on Olympic Day. My house is in it
to win it, but ultimately, our goal is to perform to the best of our abilities
and represent the House of St. Albert with honor. Ms. Brown is pictured as
the Dunk Tank target as part of the Olympic Day festivities. She and science
teacher Mr. Doug Emancipator serve as St. Albert House parents (also
known as Mama B and Papa E.)
OUR HOUSES º St. Mary º St. Albert º St. Cecilia º St. Thomas Moore º St. Augustine º St. Damian º St. Anthony º St. Francis º St. Ignatius º St. John º St. Michael
of being a diocesan school unaffiliated with
a specific religious order is how to increase
Catholic identity with our students and our
faculty. We have found that this approach has
been very effective. In classrooms that serve
as the House meeting rooms, there are now
icons of the house saint. Students proudly
have designed House crests that represent the
charism or unique history of their saint and
their contribution to the Church. Some have
adopted a House prayer attributed to their saint.
Our Houses are small Christian communities
of prayer and personal care within our already
small caring school atmosphere.
Our Houses capped off the school year with
our Annual Olympic Day, sponsored by
the Kennedy Student Senate. After a day of
competition, scores were added to the yearlong
tally of fundraising, spirit appearances,
academic achievement and service initiatives.
St. Ignatius House was crowned Champions
for the second year in a row.
2012 Champions, the House of St. Ignatius. Top Row L to R: Mike Blank,
James Coates, Luke Keck, Nina Macali, Haylee Harford, Andre Jethroe,
Ryan Fowler, Michael Boggs, Sydney Lewis and Ryan Pentz. Bottom
Row L to R: House Father, Brian Sinchak, Eric Bofenkamp, House Mother
Barb Rupinsky, Dana Pipino, Rachel Pinti, Laurencia Lee, Taylor Baryak,
Lauren Stephenson and Cory Soukenik.
10 John F. Kennedy Catholic School
The third annual Kennedy Kairos trip was celebrated this spring.
I Believe
Father Thomas McCarthy ’54
Father McCarthy is a 1954 graduate of St. Mary’s High School. He attended seminary
at St. Gregory’s in Cincinnati, Ohio and earned a B.A. and M.A. from Mt. St. Mary’s
of the West in Norwood, Ohio. He is currently retired and is in residence at at Blessed
Sacrament Parish in Warren, Ohio.
I
am grateful for the opportunity to be
back in Warren, my hometown,
and back living in retirement at Blessed
Sacrament Parish, where I served as pastor
from 1983-1991. I am grateful also for the
opportunity to share some thoughts with the
Kennedy/St. Mary’s community; something
that an alumnus rarely gets the opportunity
to do. My education which began in my
family home was greatly enhanced through
the 12 years I spent at St. Mary’s grade and
high school. I believe that the same strong
influence of home, school, and parish was
responsible for my faith formation and
ultimately a vocation to the priesthood.
God blessed me with a strong academic
and faith-filled start at St. Mary’s and the
encouragement of my family.
As a retired priest, I am exempt from a
parochial assignment, but I still take advantage
of opportunities for ministry. Pastoral ministry
has been my life and continues to be my
life. The difference I see now is that there are
fewer “have to” occasions in my life. With
this leisure, the invitation to contribute to
the I Believe column enabled me to reflect on
some of the enriching experiences that have
contributed to what has been a fulfilling life
for me. Family values that I learned at home
which were enriched, ordered, and enhanced
by my time at St. Mary’s grade and high
school, have made me very grateful for the
following blessings:
• God’s goodness to me, His love for me, the
gift of faith that He has given to me, the call to
ministry that I have, all clarified from my life
experiences and from my family and school.
• An awareness from the earliest days that
we are all children of God and brothers and
sisters of one another. Faith, family and
school taught me that because I had been
blessed in so many ways, sharing what I
had with those less fortunate was not only
a good thing, but also a necessary thing to
please God and to live like a good citizen
and a good Catholic. Even if my followthrough with this belief took awhile, I did
learn it is truly the key to a fulfilling life.
• My family: loving parents and two
brothers who now have enriched me with
nine nieces and nephews and many more
in the next generation. My own life as
a celibate priest has been touched many
times over by this family. Our belief that a
community nourishes faith life begins in the
smaller community of home.
• The education, which I received early in life
in a Catholic School and continued on through
graduate school under the auspices of Church,
has given me the strength and courage to cope
with all of life’s ups and downs.
• A life plan that did not stress “getting
to the top” but enjoying the riches that
knowing and serving a variety of people
have brought. Our basic Catholic teaching
of the brother/sisterhood of us all in the
Lord has been a great lens through which
one can see life.
• Friends along the way, who supported,
challenged and enlightened the journey. Each
time I changed assignments I dreaded the
adjustment that I would have to make, only
to be pleasantly surprised by how interesting
new circumstances, new challenges and new
people can make one’s life.
• Travel. I have had many opportunities
to travel in my various assignments.
Travel opens up the world as no other
experience can. I am impressed by the many
opportunities for travel that JFK offers its
students. As I hear a plane overhead, “I
wonder where” easily pops into my mind.
In our fast paced world, opportunities to
reflect seem rare. I encourage students,
parents, alumni, and friends of JFK take
time to reflect on the concept of “I Believe.”
Each of us can, in our own way, not only
appreciate what Kennedy stands for and
accomplishes day after day, but also look
for ways we can contribute to its service for
generations to come.
There is an ancient tale of the rabbis that
when the Jewish people left Egypt during
the Exodus and stopped at the Red Sea with
great fear that they had come to a dead end,
Moses encouraged them to trust in the Lord’s
promise of safety. There still was hesitation to
believe in that promise until the first person
took the step to enter the sea; it was then that
the waters parted allowing the Jews to pass
safely through the sea and for the Egyptian
army to be destroyed. Faith, education,
courage, trust, adventures, and imagination
all work to guide us through life. I believe
that these characteristics are nourished by the
gifts that John F. Kennedy School gives to its
students and families.
www.warrenjfk.com 11
Kennedy Commitment
T
hank you to Mr. Sam Covelli ’71 and the Covelli Family for challenging our alumni and friends, once
again, through the 2011-2012 Covelli Challenge. We thank him for his support and inspiration to others to
keep John F. Kennedy Catholic School moving forward at an extraordinary rate. His continued commitment to
our school has a significant impact on the lives of the exceptional students we serve. Most of all, we thank him for
investing in what promises to be a vibrant and exciting future.
The Covelli Challenge matches any new or increased gift to our Annual Kennedy Commitment Fund Drive.
The generosity of our donors makes it possible to improve and expand our programs, tuition assistance and
student services, ensuring the Kennedy Experience is as enriching as possible. With these gifts, we continue to
improve and innovate so that Kennedy is a force in our local, national and global communities.
“Just For Kicks”
Live and Silent Auction Update
T
he 22nd Annual Live and Silent Benefit Auction, once again, far exceeded expectations this
year, raising an excess of $245,000.00 in support of educational programming at both our
upper and lower campuses. If ever there was a testament to the dedication of our parents, faculty,
administration, students and friends, this event is it. Because of their generosity and commitment to
John F. Kennedy Catholic School, “Just For Kicks” is consistently the most successful in the entire
diocese - and a vibrant example of our spirit, determination and Blue Pride!
This year we had more than fifty Auction Committee Members, representing both campuses, who
logged countless hours to make the auction a success. A very special thanks goes out to our 2012
Chairwoman, Mrs. Darlene Jones for her tireless efforts, organization and willingness to guide our
school to success.
Guests enjoyed many of their old favorites on auction night including the Live and Silent
auctions, luxury Chinese auction and the $5,000.00 Grand Raffle. The auction committee was
also pleased to introduce some new favorites such as the Bubbles for Baubles table where guests
enjoyed bottomless champagne and a chance to win several pieces of jewelry and the launch of
our technology flip which raised over $25,000.00 in support of initiatives to further improve and
enhance offerings to our students.
Kennedy has become a “flagship” school, not only in our diocese, but in the entire region. In
terms of Catholic identity, academic foundation, technological advancements and so much more,
we are truly light years ahead of the pack. We are so fortunate to have a dedicated and progressive
administration and strong staff and faculty team in place. But it is the generosity and support of
donors and families that allow this team to set and reach such high standards.
12 John F. Kennedy Catholic School
Kennedy Honors
Tuition Assistance Thank You
D
uring the 2011-2012 school year, the Kennedy Family was able to distribute
over $240,000.00 to K-12 families with a demonstrated financial need. Over
80% of the expressed need was met. The percentage of need we are able to meet
would not be possible without the generous, annual gifts from several families and
organizations and we want to take this opportunity to thank the many friends who
made these gifts possible:
Albert M. Covelli Family Scholarship
Louise H. Keating Memorial Scholarship
Kennedy Club Scholarship
Eugene E. Rossi Memorial Scholarship
Genevieve K. Ryan Scholarship
Schulz Scholarship
Van Huffel Family Scholarship
Wilson Family Scholarship
Mary Ellen Cushwa Wolsonovich Scholarship
These gifts play a significant role in making Kennedy affordable for our students and
families. Another significant source of revenue comes from memorial gifts; families
choose Kennedy as a recipient of charitable donations made in memory of loved ones.
A complete list of those gifts is published each summer in our Annual Report. Enclosed
in the magazine, you will find an envelope that will allow you to make a gift to Kennedy
and the area that interests you most. Please consider making a gift to our Tuition
Assistance Fund; your gift will make the difference in the life of a Kennedy student.
Locker Room Renovation
W
e thank Dr. John Boldan ’84 and his family for their
generous contribution of $10,000.00 that served as a
groundbreaking gift to our Locker Room Renovation Project.
Inspired by the wishes of the Boldan Family, our Kennedy
Family will oversee significant improvements to our locker
room facilities, including new NATURE STONE ® flooring,
lockers, drywall and paint.
Projects that enhance the experience of our student athletes
are often close to the heart of our alumni; Kennedy boasts a
significant number of alumni who participated in athletics
during their time here. Enclosed in the magazine, you
will find an envelope that will allow you to make a gift to
Kennedy and the project that interests you most. The Locker
Room Renovation Project is critical to bring our facilities up
to the caliber of athletes who work and study here. Please
consider making a gift to this important campaign; as so many
of you know, our student-athletes take their athletic experience
with them long after they leave Kennedy.
T
he Kennedy Family
is pleased to
announce the naming
of several spaces over
the course of the year
as a testament to
individuals who gave
their time and energy
Mr. Donald Pompelia
to make Kennedy an
extraordinary place
to belong. This Fall
saw the naming
of both the Tony
Napolet Football Field,
named in honor of
Mr. Tony Napolet,
legendary coach
Mr. Anthony Napolet
who retired after 29
seasons, going 214104-3 with 12 state
playoff appearances,
including the 1991
Division IV state
championship as
well as the “Kennedy
Kitchen” named in
Mr. John Gillen
memory of Mr. Donald
“Pompee” Pompelia.
Mr. Pompelia was
an avid supporter of
Kennedy athletics,
past president of the
Kennedy Boosters
Club, coordinator of
bingo for numerous
Mr. Eugene Rossi
years and was very
active with and in charge of fundraisers for
the Kennedy Goaliners and Goaltenders.
During the 2012 “Just For Kicks” Live & Silent
Auction, the Kennedy Family stood together
to congratulate Mr. John Gillen ’50 and
name the gymnasium, “The John Gillen
Gymnasium” in his honor. His commitment
to academics and athletics over the past 50
years made the decision a natural one.
Finally, our eight-lane, all weather track
and field were dedicated in memory to Mr.
Eugene E. Rossi this spring. Mr. Rossi was
instrumental in securing funding for the
facility and our community is grateful to
him for providing a space for our athletes
to compete as well as a venue to host other
athletes and teams.
www.warrenjfk.com 13
Blue Pride
Varsity Club
T
he Varsity Club is now accepting nominations for the Class
of 2012. Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.
warrenjfk.com under the “Keep the Tradition” menu. Nominations
can be sent directly to Kennedy, Attn: All Sports Boosters or emailed
to [email protected]
Letters of Intent
James Coates to Attend
Penn State University
S
enior James Coates signed his letter of
intent to join the Big Ten Penn State
Nittany Lion Baseball team next fall. Coates
earned honorable mention All-State honors
as a sophomore, and also was named
second team All-Steel Valley Conference
as a freshman for his play on the diamond.
Last year, Coates, an outfielder, was named
to the second team, All-State. James is also
a student leader at Kennedy, serving as
President of Student Senate for the 20112012 school year. James plans on studying
medicine at Penn State. He is the son of
James ‘84 and Gina (Steadman) Coates ‘85
and a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish
in Warren, Ohio.
14 John F. Kennedy Catholic School
Brendan Cox to Attend
Mercyhurst College
B
rendan Cox will attend Mercyhurst
College next fall as a member of the
Division II Laker Baseball team. Brendan
earned Honorable Mention All-State as a
junior. He was named as the Eagles Most
Valuable Player freshman year and CoMVP his junior year. He was also named
as the Pitcher of the Year his freshman
and sophomore year at Kennedy. Brendan
plays Class B League baseball in the
summer and is a member of the league
champion Astro Falcons who also went
on to win the Connie Mack World Series
this summer. Brendan will play shortstop
for the Lakers. Brendan is the son of Brian
and Suzanne Cox and is a member of St.
Mary’s Parish in Warren, Ohio.
Haylee Harford ‘15
Division II Girls Golf
State Champion
C
ongratulations to
Haylee Harford,
Division II Girls Golf State
Champion! The Kennedy
freshmen clinched her
victory at the Division II
State Tournament at the
par-70 Ohio State University
Gray Course, shooting
rounds of 71 and 75 for a
two-day total of six-over
par 146.
North Coast League 2011-2012 Titles and Recognition
I
n our first year as members of the North Coast League, made up of thirteen parochial high schools in
northeast Ohio, Kennedy student athletes gained recognition in numerous sports.
Schools in the NCL are separated into two divisions, Blue for larger schools and White for
smaller schools, based on the their enrollment.
Football (White Division)
First Team - Dominic Naples, Alec Rossi,
Robert Seger
Second Team - Brandon Chinn, Patrick Kale
Honorable Mention - David Rolfe
Boys Baseball
(White Division)
Kennedy Boys were 20112012 NCL Co-League
Champions with
Holy Name High School
Gaston, Dustin Hajnosz, Mark Fronk
Second Team - Eric Bofenkamp, Andrew
Baker, Josh Lubich and Tyler Moten
Honorable Mention - Greg Mulvey
Boys Golf (White Division)
Kennedy Boys were 2011-2012 NCL
League Champions.
Second Team: James LaPolla and Billy Phillips
First Team –
RaiTwann Gaston
Second Team –
Dominic Naples
Honorable Mention – Robert Seger
Girls Basketball
(White Division)
First Team – Laurencia Lee,
Chanel Thornton
Second Team – RaiShein Gaston,
Megan Lieber
Honorable Mention – Angelene Coates
Boys Soccer
(White Division)
Kennedy was co-champions
of the NCL along with
Benedictine High School and
St. Peter Chanel. All three teams were 3-1
in the league for the season.
First Team - Frank LaRock, RaiTwann
Boys Basketball
(White Division)
Volleyball (White Division)
2011 Girls Golf (Single Division)
The Lady Eagles took 2nd place in NCL
Tournament and golfers Haylee
Harford and Kelsie Teaberry
were ranked 1st and 2nd in the
tournament respectively.
Most Valuable Player Haylee Harford
First Team Members:
Haylee Harford and Kelsie Teaberry
Honorable Mention: Alina Baker
First Team - Christina Lyons
Second Team - Chanel Thornton
Honorable Mention- Katie Kamykowski
Girls Soccer (White Division)
First Team - Megan Lieber
Second Team - Nicole Rodomsky
Honorable Mention - Sydney Lewis
Girls Tennis (White Division)
First Team - Laurencia Lee
Second Team - Madison Jones
Honorable Mention - Chandler Shoaf
Sarah Miller ‘14
Laurencia Lee ‘13
www.warrenjfk.com 15
Alumni Journal
dedication • courage • integrity
1970’s
Mark Biviano – Class of 1971, Senior VicePresident of the Rubber City Radio Group has
been appointed as a Fulbright Senior Specialist
by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship
Board, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau
of Education and Cultural Affairs, and the
Council for International Exchange of Scholars.
Biviano will now be on the Fulbright Senior
Specialist roster that will match him with
incoming program requests from overseas
corporations and educational institutions and
corporations. The program requests match the
specialist with field of expertise.
Mary Claire Mahaney – Class of 1972
Mary Claire was honored by the Independent
Publisher’s 2011 eLit Awards with a Gold
Medal in the Romance category and a Silver
Medal in the Multicultural Fiction category
for her novel, Osaka Heat. The eLit Awards
are committed to illuminating and honoring
the very best of English-language digital
works, globally.
1980’s
Albert Thigpen – Class of 1988
Albert Thigpen is the Senior Vice President of
Industry Relations and Pharmacy Operations
for SXC Health Solutions. In his current
capacity, he is responsible for the management
of the partnerships with the pharmaceutical
industry, which includes cost of goods
relationships across the Commercial PBM,
Government and Public Sector, and Specialty
business verticals. In his personal time, he is
still very active in football, coaching the last 6
years of the Warren Youth Football league, in
Gurnee, Illinois where he was also a member
of the Board. He and his wife Sara have three
children; Noah 12, Caitlin 11, and Mariah 8.
They reside in Illinois.
1990’s
Sara Elizabeth Timmins – Class of 1995
Sara is the producer of “Lake
Effects,” a full-length feature
film shot last fall in Smith
Mountain Lake, Virginia.
The movie premiered on the
Hallmark Channel on May 6,
2012. Sara is also the owner of Life Out Loud
Films, a production company in Los Angeles.
2000’s
Anne Heltzel – Class of 2002
Anne Heltzel is the author
of Circle Nine, released in
September, 2011. Anne
studied at the University
of Notre Dame where she
majored in the Program
of Liberal Studies, graduating in 2006. She
subsequently received a scholarship to The New
School in New York City and earned her MFA
in Creative Writing: Writing for Children in
2008. After graduation from The New School,
Anne worked as a literary agent’s assistant in
New York City until she was hired by Penguin
Group as an editorial assistant. She took a year
Jason Kokrak – Class of 2003
A two-time Division III State
Golf Tournament medalist,
Jason Kokrak earned his PGA
card in 2011 after capturing
titles at the Albertsons Boise
Open and the Miccosukee
Championship on the Nationwide Tour. Jason
played college golf at Xavier University in
Cincinnati and graduated in 2007. During his
college career, he won both the 2006 and 2007
Ohio Amateur titles.
Deonte’ Stubbs – Class of 2010
Deonte’ is a graduate of
Inspiring Minds, a city-based
educational enrichment
program for underrepresented
youth. Through his
participation in that program,
he was selected for the Theater Scholarship to
attend Niagra University in Niagra, New York.
In Memory
John Lapmardo, 1976
Shane Ledsome, 1997
Donald “Pompee”
Pompelia, Friend
Gregg Snyder, 1998
Richard Sawyer, 1988
Lisa Vecchione, 1985
16 John F. Kennedy Catholic School
off to live in India where she wrote Circle Nine.
After returning to the U.S. she rejoined Penguin
as an associate editor, where she edits young
adult and middle grade fiction.
A lectureship series was established in Dr. Vecchione’s
name by the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.
The inaugural event of the Lisa Vecchione Memorial
Lectureship was held on June 6, 2012. The lectureship
was founded to honor Lisa and her outstanding work
with children with cleft and craniofacial anomalies.
dedication • courage • integrity
Reunion Events
Retiring Faculty
Class of 1972 - The Class of 1972 will
celebrate their 40th Class Reunion
July 13-15, 2012.
Upper Campus
W
Friday, July 13th – Tour of JFK from
6:30 – 7:00 p.m. followed by cocktails at
Quinlan’s Pub.
Saturday, July 14th – Golf and Tennis at
Trumbull Country Club, Mass in the school
chapel at 4:30 p.m. and dinner at Trumbull
Country Club from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Mrs. Luann (D’Amico) Rossi
Mr. Thomas Shilling
Mr. Nick Spano
ith gratitude for their years
of service to the Kennedy
Family, we thank Mrs. Donna
Bobosh, Mrs. Jane Chelstowski,
Mrs. Mary Jo Dugan, Mrs. Ivana
Luka-Ungar, Mrs. Luann (D’Amico)
Rossi ’72, Mr. Thomas Shilling and
Mr. Nick Spano ’69.
Lower Campus
Sunday, July 15th – Breakfast at the
Elm Road Panera, 10:00 a.m.
Check them out on Facebook at “John F.
Kennedy Class of 1972 40th Reunion”
Class of 1992 - The Class of 1992 will
hold their reunion on August 11, 2012 at
7:00 p.m. at Vernon’s Café in Niles. The
website is www.jfkclassof1992.com for
more information & registration.
Class of 1961 - The St. Mary’s High
School Class of 1961 celebrated their
50th Class Reunion on July 2, 2011 with
Mass at St. Mary’s Church, celebrated
by Father Thomas McCarthy and dinner
at Leo’s Ristorante. Forty classmates
attended the reunion traveling from as
far as California, Texas, Virginia, Maine,
Florida, Tennessee, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Attendees were given a vase with the Class
of 1961 insignia placed on it.
Mrs. Donna Bobosh
Mrs. Jane Chelstowski
Mrs. Mary Jo Dugan
Mrs. Ivana Luka-Ungar
Class of 2002
The Class of 2002 celebrated their 10 year reunion with a tour of the school, cocktail reception and reunion dinner.
Class of 1961
Seated from left: Norma Napolet, Joan Foley Galloway, Mary McGann Elko, Sister Antoinette Dershaw, Mary Kay Meacham Hemenway, Kathy Montecalvo Smejkal, Mary Lou Galmish Rhodes, Janet Bonasera Richards, Nancy
Vennitti DeGood, Ellen Rosnagel Paridon, Dorothy Petak Fonce, Emma Jean DeSantis Thigpen and John Kanche. Standing from left: Pat Mariano, Karen Regnery Iwanicki, Mary Clark Vickers, Maryann McGrogan Miller, Lorene
Mollica Consiglio, Andy Machak, Mary Jo Tatalo Napolet, Tom Norton, Colette Hlas Sergi, George McClure, Diane Lapp, John Switter, Mary Tobin McCabe, Ivan Thompson, Ed Gabele, Paul Ronyak, Jim Pillar, John McCarthy, Ken
Dershaw, Ed Deckert, Bill Iwanicki, Ron Gallite, Mike Dailey, Paul Peirolo, Dominic Brutz, Herb Noss.
www.warrenjfk.com 17
John F. Kennedy Catholic School
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