In this edition of Connecting the Dots, my story focuses on the work of someone who really needs no introduction to a large portion of the McNicholas community. But my introduction just began soon after I obtained this position three years ago. I was just sitting at my desk in June when a phone call from Gwyn Bush changed everything. Gwyn taught at Archbishop McNicholas from 1985 to 2009 and at Guardian Angels six years prior. Her enthusiasm and drive have inspired countless numbers of Rockets over those 30 years . She called me because the McNicholas Military Memorial Committee was gearing up to re-dedicate our beautiful military memorial. She and Anne Marie Daniels, former library assistant and mother of Danny Daniels '85 (now Colonel Daniels, USAF), wanted to develop a database of McNicholas alumni who had or were currently serving their country in any military branch. Its first use would be an invitation to the re-dedication of the memorial and our annual breakfast on Veterans Day 2014. As a veteran who served during the Vietnam War, Gwyn continues to hold a deep gratitude for the McNicholas Military Memorial Committee members who do so much for Archbishop McNicholas High School. They built the monument, maintain it and the grotto, provide scholarships for incoming freshmen via money raised by an annual dance, and so much more.

Gwyn and Anne Marie put together a list of approximately 50 Rockets to start our search. We published it on the school website. We ran stories in our newsletters reaching out to our entire community, and we encouraged everyone to help us build our list. This has been a huge success and a great new way for our military alumni to re-connect with their school. Their numbers at the annual breakfast grow each year. And our initial list of 50 has grown to an active database of 303. To learn more about our military memorial and our Memorial Committee, and to see the entire list of our military alumni, click here.

Gwyn now volunteers at the Cincinnati Veterans Administration Hospital, primarily "teaching" wellness classes that are a natural progression from her Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, and AP Biology courses at McNicholas. She has been excited to "connect the dots" with McNicholas graduates working there, each so dedicated to providing great care for their patients. Gwyn continually sends me messages about the comings and goings of these Rockets, namely Dr. Natalie Singer Castillo-Sang '98 (staff Urology surgeon), Mark Colley '88 (Army Medic veteran of 20 years, now hospital administration), Kim Whittle Houk, '92 (dietitian and director of MOVE), Heather Bose Steinher '90 (audiologist), Greg Wilson '02 (head surgical resident U.C. and the VA), and Jessica Zeller '05 (Navy veteran and outreach specialist). In her latest endeavor, Gwyn is helping to secure volunteers for the 38th National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) that our local VA has been honored to host. Our March alumni newsletter gave you the basic information. With the motto LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS, over 600 paraplegic or quadriplegic veterans with spinal cord injuries or disease will compete in 20 sports from hand cycling to rugby between July 17 and July 22. Gwyn's former McNicholas students who work at the VA inspired her to form the official Archbishop McNicholas High School volunteer team consisting of current students, coaches, parents, alumni, former parents and teachers...the number already committed is a fantastic 128.

If you would like to be a part of this endeavor, contact Gwyn , very soon. Corporate sponsors are starting to grab blocks of volunteer positions. As of this date, Gwyn is holding on to the following volunteer opportunities for McNicholas:

And new to our list:

Gwyn may not be able to hold these much longer. So let her hear from you now!!

Gwyn especially invites our military alumni and their families to attend any event throughout the entire week, all completely free. The competition schedule details will be available closer to July; MANY events will take place inside the Convention Center downtown. Be assured that the members of Team McNicholas honor you.

Archbishop McNicholas High School is pleased to announce exciting new recognitions for alumni. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, McNicholas High School will present three new awards. In conjunction with the establishment of these awards, McNicholas is also pleased to announce a special event on October 9, 2017, in the Café and Student Union where these new awards will be presented. (Archbishop McNicholas was ordained a Dominican priest on October 10, 1901.) The following day, October 10, the recipients will be introduced to the  students at an all-school assembly.