On Ash Wednesday the Mount Michael student body gathered in the gymnasium for a morning retreat titled “Stories that Shape Us.” The retreat was led by Mount Michael Abbey’s Bro. August Schaefer OSB. After the retreat everyone gathered in the Chapel for the celebration of the Eucharist. More Photos
On Saturday, February 18, the MM Speech Team won first place at the David City Aquinas Speech Tournament. This is the third time that the team has earned a first-place finish this year, also taking home team trophies at Concordia and Lincoln Lutheran's speech tournaments. With 15 schools competing, the first place victory at David City Aquinas was close, with Louisville High School placing just two points behind Mount Michael Benedictine's team score. Mount Michael and Louisville will face off again in a few weeks at the NSAA District tournament on Tuesday, March 13 at Louisville High School, giving Mount Michael's top competitor a "home-court" advantage.
Several students earned first place medals in individual varsity events, including:
Marty Anderson in Dramatic Interpretation Blake Batten in Persuasive John Byrne in Poetry John Byrne & Ian Sheets in Duet Acting Marty Anderson, Jared Bourek, Neal Colaric, Michael Collins, & Richard Woods in OID
Other students placing in individual Varsity events were:
Jared Bourek (3rd place in Varsity Extemporaneous) Connor Moynihan (5th place in Varsity Humorous Interpretation) Ian Sheets (3rd place medal in Varsity Entertainment) Dan Sjostedt (4th place in Varsity Extemporaneous) George Townsend (2nd place in Varsity Entertainment)
The JV performers also had a good showing, including the following overall placements:
Matthew Bohnhoff (4th place in JV Humorous Interpretation) Michael Collins (4th place in JV Informative) JT Cronin (2nd place in JV Poetry) Cameron Engel (1st place in JV Extemporaneous) Rowan Gruber (2nd place in JV Extemporaneous and 3rd place in JV Informative)
The Annual Mother and Son Dinner-Dance was held at Indian Creek Country Club.
A good time was had by all. Photos
From Serving His Community To Serving His Country
An Omaha student is in Washington, D.C. for big meetings with government officials. The Boy Scout is being recognized for his heroism.
Normally, Jack Pape would be wearing his scout uniform instead of his school uniform for an interview. "It's getting tailored to make sure I look all nice and pretty for this trip."
He'll need it when he meets with top government officials this week, from the White House to the CIA. "I'm very lucky and blessed to be picked for this trip."
The Elkhorn Mount Michael High School senior was selected because of his outstanding heroism, preparedness and ongoing leadership. Pape was in Little Sioux, Iowa in 2008 when a tornado tore through the Boy Scout campsite.
"I was in the shelter that got hit and I was thrown about 20 yards backwards from the tornado. The shelter was completely gone and ran back and started working on the first people I saw who needed help."
Four of his friends, fellow scouts, died that June day. "I don't know why I was the person to be singled out for the recognition because there were so many boys there that did things similar to me."
Pape will graduate from Mount Michael in May. What will he do for an encore? Judging from his decision, it seems fairly logical. "I'll be going active duty military."
The Eagle Scout will be joining the United States Army and plans to study bomb disposal. “My mom was nervous and anxious about it. I don't know how to explain it, it's just something I feel like I should be doing."
From serving his country to mentoring and leading others, scouts will always be there, even in the face of tragedy. “This isn't me saying look at what I've done. It's really about what scouting represents. What I have done is only because of scouting."
Omaha World Herald
Read the Article from the Omaha World Herald
JEA Award Winners
Joe Bastian – Advertising/Excellent
Randy Speer – Advertising/Honorable Mention
Joe Sobcyzk – Column Writing/Honorable Mention
David Bastian – Editorial Cartooning/Superior
Benet Kinghorn – Sports News Writing/Honorable Mention
Peter Dewald – Sports News Writing/Honorable Mention
Eliot Prusa – Sports Feature Writing/Honorable Mention
Thomas Feichtinger - Newspaper Layout /Excellent
Chris Thomas – News Writing/Excellent
George Townsend – News Writing/Excellent
Michael Budler, Chris Thomas, Nate Van Haute, Joe Bastian, Joe Kucerik In-Depth Coverage/Excellent
Nate Van Haute - Feature Writing/Excellent
Graham Jewell - Feature Writing/Excellent
Nate Van Haute – Yearbook Sports Feature Writing/Superior
News/Feature Photography – Joe Bastian/Excellent
News/Feature Photography – Kim Yoonho/Honorable Mention
Sports/Action Photography Kim Yoonho/Excellent
Graham Jewell | Staff Writer for “The Mount”
The lackluster weather of this winter has left many students feeling apathetic and impatient for spring to arrive. However, for senior Tom Walter, the conditions are perfect for off-season baseball training. He has been lifting each day after school.
With the help of baseball coach Brent Suing and strength and conditioning coach Tim Struckman, Walter is following a six-day workout plan specifically designed to give him an edge in building strength and endurance for the upcoming baseball seasons.
While some others may crowd the weight room to look good for their girlfriends or check in the mirror to see how their “six pack abs in six months” workout is going, Walter is in there to work like it’s his job. “I am lifting to get stronger, because I know strength is key to having good performances in the spring. I don’t want to come up short of my best because of a lack of focus in the weight room, so I’m always ready to go when I’m in there,” said Walter.
Although practices don’t start until March, Walter says it seems like the lifting is part of the season itself. “The lifting program is great for team chemistry. Guys are getting in the weight room and working together,” said Walter.
Senior baseball player Evan Murray is also lifting everyday in preparation for the season, and noted Walter’s leadership. “He is usually one of the first guys in and the last guy out. Other guys see him working hard and do the same, which is leadership that is really going to help us this year,” said Murray.
Throughout the long winter, it can often be easy to slip up, but Walter has a goal system that keeps him on track to achieve. “I always write down how much I lift and how many repetitions I do, so I can keep track of my progress. Each person has their own lifting and strength goals, but as a team we are developing a sense of hard work and accountability, which is really important,” said Walter.
Walter has started lifting in the winter to help himself perform better in the spring, but more importantly he is setting an example and leading the younger players, who are still finding their way around this emerging baseball program. “I have felt myself step into the position of a leader and I just want to teach the younger guys to work hard and show them what Mount Michael baseball is all about,” said Walter. So keep an eye out for No. 17 this spring. With of all his hard work, you just might not recognize him.
Eliot Prusa | Staff Writer for “The Mount”
On Saturday, Jan. 7, hundreds of high school students and fans packed into the Mount Michael gymnasium for an intense competition. This competition wasn’t a sport of physical strength or speed. It was the 2012 Heartland Vex Robotics Tournament, and teams from across the state had built robots to compete in this year’s game, called “Gateway.”
“Gateway” is played with two alliances, one “red” and one “blue,” each with two teams. The alliances compete in matches consisting of one twenty-second “autonomous period,” followed by two minutes of driver-controlled play. Essentially, the object of the game is to attain a higher score than the other alliance by scoring barrels and putting balls in goals. Teams can also earn bonus points by doubling or negating goals.
This year, the leading Mount Michael team was entitled “The Sleepless Knights.” The team consists of juniors Josh Bloomquist, Tony Gao, Paul Kujawa, and Yun Sik Oh, as well as senior Ned McNally. “We have a great mix of personalities on the team this year. Everyone has their opinions on what direction we should take when building the robot, and definitely it keeps things interesting,” said McNally.
On Saturday, the Sleepless Knights faired quite well. They finished the qualifying rounds in seventh place out of 43 teams, and moved on to the eight alliance elimination bracket. “We were up against the number two seed. We won the first of three matches, then we thought we won the second match, but it was actually a tie,” said Kujawa. “Then we lost the next match. It was 1-1, so we had to win the next one, then we tied again, than we came up short in the last match.”
Despite the disappointing loss, the Sleepless Knights chose to look at the positive side of things. “All things considered, it went pretty well. Obviously, our goal is to win every tournament we compete in, but seventh place is nothing to hang our heads about,” said Bloomquist.
And when it comes to robotics, winning isn’t everything. “The Robotics program’s number one priority has always been teaching students about teamwork, dedication, and technology, with a good mix of intense competition,” said McNally.
Three weeks ago the Mount Michael speech team won their 1st ever team trophy with a 2nd place finish at the Ashland Tournament. Since then they have finished in 1st place at the Concordia University tournament and the Lincoln Lutheran tournament. Congratulations Knights. See detailed results via the link in the right column.
Photos: Vigil Mass - Abbey Christmas Party
Back Row: Evan Murray (Football), Tom Feichtinger (Cross-Country), Lukas Buehler (Cross Country)
Front Row: Grant Ramm (Tennis) Taylor Korensky (Football), Peter DeWald (Tennis)
This year's Christmas Concert featured performances by the Mount's Band, Choir, and Strings. The Mount Michael Speech team also performed renditions of Christmas classics, comedy, and poems.
Music Sampler: African Bell Carol - Sleigh Ride - Christmas Pops Trio
Additional Music is available on the student shared drive in a folder titled 2011 Christmas Concert
Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass Photos
Looking back, there are so many things that I loved about my four years at Mount Michael— the high academic standards demanded by the teachers, the effort and sportsmanship expected by the coaches, and the support and brotherhood shared among the students. One of the aspects I took for granted was the implicit expectation that every student was going places. The question in the spring of Senior year was not if one was going to college, but where one would enroll in the fall. “I’m going to UNL to study Engineering” or “I’m going to St. Thomas to pursue a degree in Philosophy” or “I’m going to be a cadet at West Point.”
I went to a small liberal arts school in Northfield, Minnesota called St. Olaf College, where I majored in Physics and Religion while participating in numerous music ensembles and engaging in all the richness of campus life. Like my four years at the Mount, my time at St. Olaf prepared me to be successful, both personally and professionally. Perhaps the most valuable gift from the values-based education I received at Mount Michael and St. Olaf was a deeper understanding of my place in the world.
Conversations with monks, teachers, professors and peers helped me shape a world view that led me to understand the privilege I have been given. Both of my parents went to college and were able to send me to the best college-prep high school in the state, which empowered me to study at a leading liberal arts college. This privilege is not anything to be ashamed of; instead, it can be used as a tool for the greater good.
After graduating in May of 2011, I signed up for an AmeriCorps service year with a nonprofit called College Possible right here in Omaha. AmeriCorps is a federally-funded national service organization; it’s similar to the Peace Corps, but members serve within the United States. College Possible is a nonprofit formed ten years ago in Minnesota’s Twin Cities with the mission to help low-income students earn their college degrees. Upper-income students are more than ten times more likely to earn a college degree by the age of 24, compared to their low-income peers; this is a disparity that only contributes to the cycle of poverty. College Possible is making college admission and success possible for low-income students through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. Ninety-one percent are students of color who come from families that make an average of $25,000 per year. Students attend twice-weekly sessions after school during the course of their junior and senior years. My role within College Possible is a junior coach; I work with high school juniors, building the idea that college is an expectation, not an aspiration, and facilitating ACT test-prep, learning about the college application process and exploring college options. In their senior year, the curriculum shifts from test-prep to applying for admission, financial aid and scholarships. College Possible coaches continue to support our students throughout college, giving our students every benefit we can to empower them to success. Over the last ten years, 98% of our students have earned college admission, and of those, 80% have earned a college degree or are currently enrolled in college!
College Possible has done awesome things for low-income youth in the Twin Cities and Milwaukee; Omaha is the third city in which College Possible operates, and we are very excited to make a difference in this community. In our first year, we will be serving 60 students in two local public schools, and we are hoping to serve in six high schools next year, with plans for further expansion.
I’m excited to be making a difference in the lives of these students. Many never considered going to college prior to enrolling in College Possible, and now they are on a path to success. Just like at Mount Michael, the most common question posed to a College Possible Senior isn’t if he or she is going to college, but where; our students believe in themselves, and know that they are going places!
~ Kyle Svingen (’07) (article featured in the winter 2011 edition of the Michaeleen)
Yunsik Oh | Staff Writer for “The Mount” photos by Joey Bastian
Mount Michael is home away from home for many foreign students. Rwandan natives David Gatete, Songa Rugangazi, and Johnny Bucyana are no exceptions. “I love Mount Michael. Even though I am away from everyone at my home, I feel no difference. Everybody here is just like my brothers and part of my family,” said Gatete.
These three Rwandans came to Mount Michael for different reasons. Rugangazi wanted to go to a college in the United States, and his parents wanted him to go to a boarding school here so he could get adapted to American culture and the American way of learning and teaching. By searching the internet and asking around, he found out about Mount Michael.
Bucyana said, “My mom works in Haiti. She’s a doctor and she’s been there for one-and-a-half years, since the earthquake. She wanted me to go to a boarding school since she was not at home.” Some of Bucyana’s family members also study in the states and have even graduated from college here. “Coming here was not a sudden decision,” said Bucyana.
Gatete came to America to learn English. Gatete said, “My dad owns a construction company in Rwanda, and my mom goes around to other countries buying machines for dairy products for the Rwandan people. My dad was the person who sent me here. He heard about Mount Michael from the person who helped Songa discover the school. Two years ago, our president made the French language illegal in Rwanda, and he forced all the schools to use English instead of any other languages. My dad thought it was necessary to learn English to succeed in Rwanda,” said Gatete.
Future plans for these three Rwandans remain unclear. After graduating from college, most of them are planning to go back to Rwanda and help their families. Gatete said that he wants to study engineering and architecture as his major in college, and then return to work at his dad’s business.
“I want to study industrial engineering as an undergraduate major and hopefully get my MBA after that. I would like to get work experience in the U.S. before going back to Rwanda,” said Rugangazi.
As for Bucyana, he is still largely unsure of what he will do after college; however, one thing is for certain. “I am not sure what I am going to do after graduating college because it depends on what job I get,” he said. “But I can say that I definitely enjoyed my time at Mount Michael and it is going to make an impact in my life.”
Nate Van Haute | Staff Writer for “The Mount”
Every November at Mount Michael, new faces emerge, not because of transfer students or new teachers, but because of a fundraiser for a non-profit organization put on by student council. This year, D.J. Wooten has emerged as the top facial hair grower at the Mount. Along with many other students, Wooten paid 5 dollars in exchange for a shave-free month. Although many students admire Wooten for his uncanny ability to grow facial hair, there are many other reasons why students look up to him.
Wooten grew up hearing all about Mount Michael. His dad graduated from the Mount in 1987, and after earning his PhD in nuclear physics, he got a job working in the military. Because of this, the Wooten family has lived in many different places. Wooten moved to Nebraska right before his freshman year, and knew that Mount Michael was the place for him. “It was a tough transition at first, but I have come to love Mount Michael,” said Wooten. He admits to missing his friends in Ohio, but they keep in touch with Skype. “We often play Dungeons and Dragons, which is always a good time,” he said.
D.J. Wooten loves staying involved and cherishes the little free time that he has. At Mount Michael, he is involved in robotics, band, cross-country, wrestling, and track. He said, “I love being able to play sports at Mount Michael because of the small environment.” In the classroom, Wooten excels. He maintains a competitive GPA and is regularly active in the classroom.
Wooten said that his favorite teacher is Dave Cormier, not just because of his facial hair, but because of the way he runs his class. Wooten said that there is a lot of learning, and also a lot of laughing. Outside of the Mount, Wooten is also very involved. He is active in Boy Scouts and loves adventures. “My life has been one large adventure,” he said. “I don’t know many other kids who have moved six times.”
Other students admire Wooten for his study habits and personality. Classmate Jimmy Steier said, “D.J. is a really funny kid. He maintains a perfect balance of having fun and maintaining good academic standing.” Classmate Josh Bloomquist said, “We often call D.J. Sasquatch for his facial hair, but he takes it well. He gets along with everyone in the school and is a great role model.” Although his facial hair will be gone in December, Wooten will continue to be a model student.
Evan Murray
Ken Batenhorst
Josh Rauterkus
Evan Murray, Sr., HB/SS
Kenny Batenhorst, Sr., OL/DE
Josh Rauterkus, Jr., OL/DE
Honorable Mention
Harrsion Engel, Sr., FB/LB
Preston Hendricks, Soph., HB/LB
Jonathan Hendricks, Soph., TE/LB
Tommy Maliszewski, Jr., QB/FS
Congratulations Knights!
Omaha World Hearld Article - There's no shortage of blue skies and open fields on Elkhorn Mount Michael High School's 350-acre campus. But after years of growing enrollment, the all-boys Catholic school is nearing capacity and needs more space for science labs, student residences and sports fields. Read More...
Congratulations Math Team!
UNL Math Day Class "B" Champions
2nd Place All Classes!
104 schools and approximately 1500 students participated in the 23rd annual UNL Math Day. For the Probe I written exam, Mt. Michael placed first in class B and second in all classes. This is the seventh year in a row that Mt. Michael has placed first in its respective class. Young-Joon Park placed 2nd (highest finish ever for a Mt. Michael student), Eun Woo Jee placed 18th, Sung Han Yoon placed 31st, Yun Sik Oh placed 37th, Ji Hoon Park placed 42nd, and Mike Collins placed 49th. Mt. Michael placed 3rd in the class B quiz bowl. More Photos....
Class B
1.Mount Michael Benedictine
2.Elkhorn
3. Duchense
All Classes
1. Lincoln East 80
2. Mount Michael Benedictine 75.4
3.Westside 74
4. Creighton Prep 73
Twenty Mount Michael Students
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AP Scholar
Behr, Adam C. |
AP Scholar with Honors
Bohnhoff, Michael K. |
AP Scholar with Distinction
Kellar, Michael R.
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STEVEN ANDERSON ’09
Steve Anderson, a 2009 Mount Michael graduate, shares his experiences of playing college football and of attending Mount Michael during his ESPN radio interview.
Steve is the place kicker for Nebraska Wesleyan University and last week kicked a game winning field goal for his NWU team. 2011 graduate Jake Rauterkus joined Steve this fall on the NWU football roster.
Listen to ESPN Radio interview
In a competition against 13 other schools which included 8 class A schools, Mount Michael's Math team place 3rd behind Lincoln East and Omaha Central.
Individual medalists were as follows: Freshmen: Jonathan Collins 1st place, Young Joon Park 3rd place, Marcus Cronin 5th place. Sophomore: Eun Woo Jee 5th place, Junior: Tony Gao 3rd place.
Mount Michael has its first ever individual state champion. Thomas Feichtinger won his state championship medal by 19 seconds over defending champion Franklin Ibarra of Lexington. Feichtinger's time was 16:00.4. Also medaling for the state runner-up Knights was Junior J.T. Cronin who came in 6th place with a time of 16:39.8. Sophomore Thomas Kalil came in 21st with a time of 17:09.9 and Senior Lukas Buehler finished 22nd with a time of 17:11.1. Rounding out the team were Junior Trey Wiemer 44th 17:53 and Freshman Marcus Cronin 52nd 18:03.6. Omaha World Herald
On Monday morning October 17, KVSS Catholic Radio broadcast live from Mount Michael Benedictine as part of their Heartland tour of area Catholic schools. Listen Now to a replay of the broadcast. Photos - KVSS Facebook
Cross Country District Champions
Congratulations Knights!
This year's District Championship Meet was held at the Mount. Mount Michael Fans gathered in large numbers to cheer on the Knights and were not disappointed. Thomas Feichtinger continued his winning ways by finishing in 1st place. The other five Knights were also Medalists. J.T. Cronin 3rd, Lukas Buehler 4th, Thomas Kalil 9th, Trey Wiemer 12th, and Marcus Cronin 13th. The Knights will compete at the state championship in Kearney, Nebraska on Friday October 21st at 3:30 pm. Go Knights!
Texting and Driving Don't Mix
Recently a school assembly was held featuring a presentation on the danger of texting and driving. It was pointed out that texting has a similar effect on driving performance as drinking alcohol.
After the presentation juniors and seniors were able to experience the new texting simulator from the Nebraska Safety Council which clearly demonstrated the danger of texting and driving. More Photos
To learn more on the topic visit AT&T’s website on Dangers of Text Messaging and Driving
During Vespers after a recent Benedictine Oblate meeting Jamie Backer, Beth Summers, and Eva Winkeler made their oblation after a one-year novitiate.
Also during Vespers Bob Bastarache and Scott Jorgensen were inducted as Oblate novices. Additionally Peg Marshall will start the novitiate but was unable to attend due to having to work. During their year of novitiate they will be instructed in the Rule and Benedictine Spirituality.
A reception was held in the monastery afterwards for the Oblates and their guests.
The theme for the freshman retreat this year was Ora et labora (Pray & Work). The day began with practice and the assigning of roles for Mass which would be said later in the day. Some students also performed a short pantomime of the story of Saints Benedict and Scholastica.
Steve Luna offered a presentation about “Men and Prayer.”
The Eucharist followed with Fr Gregory Congote presiding. His homily was on Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
After a snack break, Fr. Daniel Lenz gave an explanation of the Medal of St. Benedict along with a presentation about the life of Saint Benedict written by Saint Gregory the Great.
After lunch the students had a break. In the afternoon Virginia Tardy gave a presentation on Ora et Labora with Mount Michael prayer beads. This was followed by lectio and the presentation of the story of Blessed Pier Goirgio Frassati given by Teresa Monaghen. Next Cindy Jandrain gave a presentation on Labora/Service. More Photos
Congratulations to Mount Michael seniors George Townsend, Harrison Engel, and Michael Collins! George qualified as a National Merit Semi-Finalist and Harrison and Michael are National Merit Commended Students. George will proceed to the finalist selection next spring.
Starting at 6:30 he Mount Michael choir and band welcomed grandparents as they gathered in the gym to spend the evening with their grandsons. Several persons addressed the gathering including student council president Thomas Feichtinger.
For the next hour the grandsons gave tours of the school and told their grandparents about life at the Mount. Afterwards everyone enjoyed refreshments in the student union.
The evening concluded as everyone reassembled in the gym while the Mount Michael strings provided music. Night prayer was then sung by the entire gathering and goodbyes were said.
The sophomore retreat was held this year at Saint Patrick’s parish in Fremont, Nebraska. The presenter was Fr. Michael Eckley. The students participate in a variety of leadership activities including the creation of a shield modeled on the johari window. This activity allowed them to think about knowing their selves and others. Snacks and lunch were provided and served by several sophomore moms. More Photos
Sang-Won Bahng '11 is currently a freshman chemical engineering major at the University of
Nebraska. He was drafted into the Korean military and will be serving in August 2012. "You're
doing it for your country and paying back what your country has offered you," said Bang.
Read the entire article from the Daily Nebraskan
Article taken from "The Mount"
Aside from working as a well-known artist and art teacher at Mount Michael, Fr. Daniel Lenz spent a month of his 2011 summer in Israel working on various artistic projects and learning about Israeli culture. Lenz spent his time well in Israel; he created multiple remarkable works of art and helped the Arab, Christian, and Muslim community he lived with in the village of I'billin, Israel.
Lenz's first project was to assist in the completion of a massive 15-foot Pantocrator icon of Jesus, which took two weeks to finish. Pantocrator, which is Greek for "ruler of all", is the image of Jesus holding the Bible in his left hand and giving a blessing with his right hand.
After completing the icon, Lenz was granted permission from the Archbishop of Galilee, Elias Chacour, to begin stone work on a St. Michael the Archangel icon with 'Peace' engraved in English, Arabic, and Hebrew on a slab of limestone from Rama, Israel. This was a very hard type of limestone.
Finally, he created a large banner with the icon of Mary and Jesus on it, which was the last art piece on his list in I'billin. The banner was to be used for an Arab Catholic youth rally called the Hallelujah Festival in July.
Besides completing his line of art projects for the community, Lenz helped the village school security every morning and assisted in traffic control, allowing the students to get to their school safely. He also had the opportunity to participate in and learn about the religious traditions and heritage of the local Arabic people. "I had a number of house blessings and visits with people who had need of a priest. I also learned how to pray in Arabic with the people," said Lenz.
He also made a short trip to the Holy Land, Jerusalem, with a large group of Arabic-speaking Catholics, both Latin and Byzantine. "We all had mass at the Franciscan monastery on the Mount of Zion." He was also able to receive special permission to pray in the Cenacle Church where the Last Supper and descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost took place. "It was a wonderful experience to pray with the Christians in the Holy Land at the place of Pentecost," said Lenz.
He was able to celebrate mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth where the Holy family lived and St. Joseph worked.
Lenz also enjoyed being around and socializing with the people while there. "The people I encountered were very hospitable and loving. In the village I lived in, the Christians, Muslims and Jews got along and really had respect for each other," said Lenz. He thought the food in I'billin was wonderful and he also enjoyed learning about the Holy Land while he stayed in Haifa.
Although Lenz's trip to Israel was relatively short, he relished every moment of his stay and is looking forward to other excursions in the future. - Michael Budler '13
This year's junior class retreat was focused on service. It was held at the Pro Sanctity Center located north of Elkhorn. The retreat was presented by Jessie an Apostolic Oblate and Jeff a college student who shared his conversion journey.
The day began with the celebration of the Eucharist and was followed by presentations, projects and participation in some service work around the grounds. Lunch was served by a generous group of junior class mothers who prepared a variety of delicious dishes. More Photos
Despite clouds and drizzle the Youth Rally and Fall Festival were a success. Because of the cool temperatures and rain, the Youth Rally was moved from the parking lot into the gym on Saturday afternoon. The gathering saw young people from many locales in eastern Nebraska gather at the Mount for fun and to strengthen and renew their faith.
Sunday's Festival saw plenty of clouds and drizzle in the morning, but by 2:00 pm the sky began to clear and the sun soon warmed a growing crowd, that had been slow to arrive up to that point.
Thank you to everyone who attended the events and the sponsors and friends of Mount Michael who worked so hard to make them a success.
Photos: Youth Rally - Fall Festival - Festival Clean up
The senior class recently completed a one day retreat at Boys Town. After starting the day with Mass the class participated in the ropes course. The course is designed to challenge individuals in their personal development and team building. Lunch was provided by senior moms. Father Gregory Congote and Father Daniel Lenz from Mount Michael accompanied the class. More Photos
John Levy, ‘99, is an example of a Mount Michael alumnus following the Benedictine values of hospitality and stewardship after graduation. Currently, Levy works as the Executive Direct of the Heart Ministry Center (HMC) in North Omaha, a community outreach center operating a food pantry, a clothing closet, assorted education programs, and a health clinic.
My job responsibilities vary pretty greatly said Levy. On a typical week, I will meet with donors, develop a new program or oversee a particular event, meet with clients and make sure all their needs are being met, speak to a community group or school, provide legal advice to the underserved, write a grant, and attend board/community meetings.
HMC serves more than 70,000 people a year and does not charge for its services. The center is located on 24th and Binney Street, where 25% of all violent crimes in Omaha happen within a 10 block radius. HMC operates the only choice food pantry in Omaha, which allows clients to choose their groceries for themselves, and its self-sufficiency programs have a 90% success rate.
Levy has worked at HMC for more than a year. Before his current appointment, he worked at an Omaha law firm representing clients in real estate transactions, agribusiness lending, qualified low income housing and new markets tax credits.
After graduating from Mount Michael, Levy went on to major in Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Kansas. Upon earning his B.A., Levy attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln law school and graduated with distinction. He has also served on the boards of directors and other committees for various organizations including the Anti-Defamation League, Project Interfaith, Boys Scouts of America, Mount Michael Benedictine Alumni Association, and Nebraska State Bar Association.
Besides work, Levy spends time with his wife Beth and his 15-month-old son Oliver. Through his life, he became fluent in Spanish and conversational in Quichua.
Jono Matt, ’06, studied at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and now works for the executive producer of “Son’s of Anarchy” at FX Network. The show won the Television Critics Association award for outstanding achievement in a drama, and it boasts Katey Segal who won the 2011 Golden Globe Award for best actress in a drama. Matt was recently in town for the Mount Michael Class of 2006 reunion and had an opportunity to answer some questions about his new job for the Alumni Post.
Q: What does your new job actually entail?
A: I’m the assistant to television director and producer Paris Barclay, and we’re now working on the FX show “Sons of Anarchy.” My job is to keep track of what the most recent decision is, according to daily changes on set involving, weather, actor illness, etc ...
Q: How did you find this job and get hired?
A: Paris was forwarded my resume by my college pal that worked with him on Glee. Paris was intrigued by a line in my opening sentence ‘...raised in a boarding school flanked by cornstalks.’ So he plucked my resume from the stack, and we bonded during
At the 9:30 am Eucharist on Sunday, February 26, 2012 there will be a moment of remembrance for Francis Tichota, the recently deceased brother of Br Mel Tichota. Following the Eucharist, there will be a reception for friends of Francis Tichota or friends of Br Mel who would like to celebrate Francis's life. All are invited to attend.
Mount Michael Benedictine has earned the #1 ranking from Boarding School Review for All-Boys Boarding Schools in the country in two key categories: ACT/SAT score, and affordability.
2011-2012 Speech Team
Tournament Results Updated Weekly
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