November 5, 2021 | Issue #18
Amanda Griffiths '12 Prowls with Pride
Amanda Griffiths '12, graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in 2016 with a degree in music therapy. Amanda played the flute and mellophone, while playing in the marching band and concert band at EC. She was also a member of the choir and has great memories of EC’s former auditorium. She was heavily influenced by Mr. Juguilon teaching social justice and church history, especially his reenactment of the crusades, Deacon Pat’s life lessons, and three years of spanish with Mrs. Bradesca-Schock.
While at BW, Amanda was drum major for the marching band and interned with Laurel Lake Retirement Community providing music therapy programs for their residents. This is where she discovered her passion for working in nursing home communities. She is now developing her own music therapy programs at the Renaissance Retirement Campus in Olmsted Township. She helps residents transition to their new life with music programs including reminiscing activities, memory units, and getting them to play some percussion instruments and make music together.
“EC gave so much to me, a community that you build, a strong Catholic education, and an interest in combining music with service to others. I found my natural bridge to become a music therapist.” Amanda Griffiths '12
Rania Assily '97 Prowls with Pride
Rania Assily ‘97 is currently a history professor at Cuyahoga Community College. Rania’s father Ibrahim emigrated from Jerusalem in the 1960s to the Boston area and later to Elyria. Rania and her two sisters (Lani, Lara) and one brother (Joe) all attended St. Jude Elementary School, Elyria Catholic High School, and eventually John Carroll University. Rania earned her B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Studies, and interned at the State Department in Washington, DC helping to facilitate the International Visitor Program where foreign professionals would collaborate with Americans in their shared career fields. Rania returned to Elyria and was a substitute teacher in Lorain County high schools and grade schools before going back to DC to work at the Meridian International Center, a nonprofit organization under the auspices of the U.S. Dept. of State. She returned to Ohio and earned her masters degree in history from CSU. She says that Elyria Catholic teachers were wonderful and supportive, just really great people, and prepared her well for her experience at CSU. In 2006, Rania became an adjunct history professor at both LCCC and Notre Dame College for many years. She started teaching full-time at Tri-C in 2016 and awarded tenure in 2021. Rania says a trip to Jerusalem when she was 16, heightened her awareness of what is happening in the world and changed her life.
Rania is having students in her World Civilizations class read the story of Perpetua, about a Carthaginian Christian woman who was martyred in the 3rd century for her belief in God. The purpose of her teaching is to get her students to ask critical questions about life's meaning, and what they are
willing to live and die for. She believes her decision to teach was a direct calling from God.

“God prunes us,” she says, “to live life in a meaningful way. It is important to stop amidst our busy lives, to listen.”
- Rania Assily '97
James E. Terrell Performing Arts Center Ribbon Cutting Celebration
On October 23, 2021, over 200 alumni, parents, friends, and community members joined Mr. and Mrs. James E. Terrell for the Ribbon Cutting Celebration of the Performing Arts Center. Leadership sponsors and seat patrons arrived to be introduced to their seat by one of EC’s student ambassadors and enjoyed a champagne reception in the cafeteria. President Annie Heidersbach began the ribbon cutting ceremony by paying tribute to all the stars who made the Center possible - our donors, staff, and contractors as well as the alumni stars who have been born on EC’s stage and the current and future student stars who will launch from this new point of EC campus pride. Mr. Terrell spoke about he and his wife’s interest in both doing something special to get students excited about
Catholic education and encouraging all EC students to seek opportunities to participate in the Performing Arts. Deacon Pat Humphrey ‘71 blessed the James E. Terrell Performing Arts Center just before the ribbon was cut. President Annie Heidersbach and Mr. and Mrs. Terrell were joined on the ribbon line by Gary Fischer, the architect for the project, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Herrick '01, for whom the lobby is named, Paul Schlather '70 of the Schlather Family, for whom the stage is named, and Mrs. Suzanne Lester, Principal. The celebration concluded with three short STAR performances by Gina Rodgers '23 singing I’m the Greatest Star from Funny Girl, performing arts students portraying the star-crossed lovers of Romeo and Juliet in a promo for their Fall Play, The One-Act Play that Goes Wrong, and the Elyria Catholic Marching Band and Color Guard playing and performing Counting Stars. 
Christine Koebel Rademacher '86
and Ann Koebel Miller '88 meet two
of their family's four seats.
Mary Pronesti Siwierka '74 and son, Evan Siwierka '09 meet their seat.
Fr. Charlie meets the
St. Mary Church Family seat.
Gina Rodgers '22 performs.
Cast of a One Act Play promo
Band & Color Guard
Elyria Catholic kicks off Strategic Planning
Elyria Catholic Strategic Plan
On October 27, seventeen people representing alumni, parents, and the greater Lorain County community met to launch an exciting effort to examine the current strengths of and challenges facing Elyria Catholic High School in order to ensure that the upcoming decades are robust, successful, and transformational in fulfilling our educational mission in the Catholic tradition. Elyria Catholic is grateful to have the help and support of these amazing people who will begin their efforts with significant outreach to the greater EC community in the form of surveys, interviews, and focus groups. If you are contacted to participate, please help EC plan properly for the future. Please Meet the Steering Committee by clicking on the button.
Scott Holland '02 Memorial Scholarship recipients announced
Randy and Jean Holland along with Elyria Catholic High School are proud to announce the 2021 Scott Holland '02 Memorial Scholarship Award Winners. Following the All Saints Day Mass celebration in the James E. Terrell Performing Arts Center on November 1, these juniors were awarded the Scott Holland Scholarship; Emma Basinski, Levi Ellis, Ryan Mahaffey, and Madison McIver. They were recognized  as students who are passionate and kind to others through their enthusiastic involvement in academics, athletics, and co-curricular activities. Scott Holland '02 pursued many of his passions, lived his life to the fullest and was known for his acts of kindness. 

Applications are available to all juniors to apply for and the scholarship is applied to their senior year tuition. If you would like information on making a donation to the Scott Holland Memorial Scholarship, please visit www.elyriacatholic.com/scotthollandscholarship.

Congratulations to these young men and women who like Scott pursue their passions with overwhelming kindness to those they encounter. All the best to them as they continue to demonstrate Scott's values and character.
In Loving Memory
Sandra Smith '58
Terrence "Terry" Martin '69
Upcoming Events at Elyria Catholic - Join us!
Tickets will be available online at elyriacatholic.com/tickets beginning on November 8, 2021
Panther Prowlings
Share your news

We are currently assembling Alumni News for this fall's Panther Prowl. We want to hear about your upcoming reunions, accomplishments, job changes, marriages, and new little ones. Please send your stories with photos to Annie Cunningham by clicking on the button.
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