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Our Lady of Providence inspires Faith, empowers Hope, strengthens Love and the Formation of the whole person through exemplary Catholic Education
June 17, 2020 - eVision News
Serving Parents, Alumni, and Friends of Providence High School
 Two graduates receive Naval Academy appointments
The Class of 2020 has several notable achievements as the graduates head off to college in August, as noted in the previous eVision. Two of them are leaving even earlier, before the class celebrates its commencement, as they head off to the U.S. Naval Academy, a significant achievement for a school our size to have two appointments to the prestigious military college. Brigid Welch ‘20 and Andrew Henderson ‘20 head to Annapolis on July 1 and 2 for what is known as Plebe Summer in preparation for the 2020-2021 school year. They are starting a two-week self-quarantine now in order to join their 1,200 classmates for two weeks of restricted activity and four weeks of intense training. 

Brigid and Andrew continue the long string of Providence graduates who have received U.S. service academy appointments.
More School News
Seniors continue to receive awards
As the Class of 2020 prepares for its graduation ceremony on July 12, we congratulate them on their accomplishments. Additional scholarships have been reported and finalized in recent weeks, increasing the total amount the class as a whole received to more than $8.4 million in direct academic awards.This total does not include athletic scholarships or community awards. The class received nearly $95,000 in community awards, applicable to any college in most cases.

These community awards include three that were announced after the Senior Awards Ceremony. Jillian Andriott '20 received the Richard C. Scott Design Scholarship, which is a $1,000 award sponsored by TEG Architects and given to a graduating senior with an interest in pursuing a degree in a design-related field who also shows outstanding skills in the classroom. Elle O'Bannon ‘20 received a $1,000 Floyd County Bar Association scholarship, and Alex Perkinson ‘20 was awarded $300.

Another significant achievement is that 82 percent of the class earned an Indiana Academic Honors Diploma, and 99 percent of them have enrolled in a four-year college.

Due to the stay-at-home order, 2019-2020 juniors were unable to apply for the National Honor Society. Applications for the 2020-2021 school year will open in the fall. We congratulate our outgoing seniors, and a full list can be found here.
Senior committed to serving parish
Claire Reyes ‘20 is the recipient of this year’s Service Award, given annually to the senior with the most service hours. She contributed more than 400 hours to her parish, St. Anthony of Padua. Overall, the senior class contributed 6,600 hours before the stay-at-home order. She also received the Outstanding Leadership and Service Award from Catalyst Catholic, which oversees youth ministry throughout the New Albany Deanery.
Freshman makes splash in singing contest
Freshman K.B. Merchant loves to sing. She sings just about every day, sometimes joining in when she hears her favorite song, or singing while playing one of her many instruments - guitar, piano, ukulele, drums, and cajon.

During the stay-at-home order, singing helped lift her spirits, just as it does in all situations.

“It helps me escape the real world; I feel like a different person when I sing, and it makes me feel like a better person,” she said. “It helps my sanity. Not so sure about my parents’!”

When her mom told her about BroadwayWorld’s Next on Stage contest, K.B. thought it sounded like a fun opportunity, so she recorded herself singing "Right Hand Man" from the musical Hamilton and submitted it.

Her entry made it into the popular voting first round, but not in the Top 25. However, Kara said she was grateful to all those who voted for her -- and for the experience.

“Even though I didn’t make it to the top 25, I hope it just improves my exposure,” she said. “Kentuckiana is amazing for theatre and has a lot of youth talent. And I’m lucky to be a part of it.”

K.B. already has been on the Providence stage. She played Earthworm in James and the Giant Peach last fall, was in Providence Singers, and played the role of a wife and was in the dance chorus in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat . She also is on the Dance team. She said she looks forward to getting back on the stage again next school year.

“I love making people laugh, especially when I play comedic roles, or even dramatic roles,” she said. “I have always loved entertaining, and I’ve always been that kind of kid.”
Learning Lab staff fulfills promise to senior
When Kyle Wisdom ‘20 came to Providence as a seventh grader, he had a strong fear of intense weather. To cope, he began studying the weather forecast to help prepare himself before storms arrived. The staff in the Learning Support Lab supported his efforts and began to ask him for the daily weather forecast. Soon, students were asking him for the forecast too so they knew what to expect after school for outdoor practices and activities. The Learning Support Lab staff offered to invite a professional meteorologist to come to school to speak to him, but setting it up kept getting pushed back.

This spring, the staff realized their promise would go unfulfilled with school shut down for the last three months of school. So they decided to try another way to connect Kyle with a local meteorologist.

Mrs. Chris Golembeski, a member of the Learning Support Lab staff, emailed WDRB’s Jude Redfield, Kyle’s favorite weatherman, and told him the story and asked if he would write or send a video to Kyle. To her surprise, Redfield followed up and created a video message just for Kyle and encouraged Kyle in his interest in studying meteorology at the University of Louisville. He also invited Kyle to shadow him at the station.

Kyle said he was thrilled to receive the video and for the efforts Mrs. Golembeski and her fellow staff members made on his behalf.

“It meant so much to me that the Learning Lab ladies did all this for me,” Kyle said. “I was so surprised when my mom told me who had planned it!”

Top seniors reflect on final semester
Maria Popson ‘20 and Brynna Walthers ‘20 have done a lot together since they first started kindergarten at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It’s only fitting, then, that the two friends graduate first and second in their class, with Maria leading as valedictorian and Brynna as salutatorian. When separate photo sessions were set up for this story, the friends asked to have their photos taken together to mark their joint achievements.

In the fall, the two will be going to separate schools for the first time, with Maria heading to the University of Louisville’s Speed School to study industrial engineering and Brynna to Purdue University in West Lafayette to study business as well as law and society, followed by law school. Maria will have much of her schooling paid for thanks to the $20,000 Jamie Parsley FAmily Foundation Scholarship as well as other scholarships, and Brynna will have her schooling completely paid for as a recipient of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana Lilly Foundation Scholarship.

Click Read More for a Q&A with them. 
PIONEER SPORTS NEWS
Athletics resuming July 6

The Indiana Department of Education, IHSAA, and Archdiocese of Indianapolis will allow our athletes to begin practice and conditioning under restricted circumstances and guidelines on July 6. Athletes with a valid 2019-2020 physical on file will not need a new physical but will need to complete the Health Update Consent Form and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis Student Health & Safety Plan , (attached or found on our website), before allowed to participate. Incoming freshmen and transfer students will need a physical and can use the 2019-2020 form, which can be found on our website. A physical must be approved and on file before a student-athlete can participate on July 6. Additional details are still being worked out on the "How To" and will be posted on all of our social media outlets as soon as they are available.

For students needing a physical, all Baptist Health Urgent Care locations (Charlestown and Highlander Point) are offering a special price of $25 for sports physicals. For more information about clinic locations, hours, and online appointment scheduling, go to www.BaptistHealthClinics.com.
Newspaper honors local student-athletes

The News & Tribune named more All-Area Teams and finalists leading up to its NTSPY Awards, held virtually last night.

Volleyball:
NTSPY finalists for Volleyball Player of the Year and named to the All-Area First team were Courtney Glotzbach '20 and rising senior Ali Hornung . Ali won the Player of the Year award for the sport for the second consecutive year as well as Girls’ Player of the Year.
Also on the First Team: Ceci Rush ‘20
Second Team: Maggie Purichia ‘20
Third Team: rising seniors Emma Kaelin and Anna Purichia
Coach of the Year: Terri (Blunk) Purichia ‘90
Team of the Year finalists

Also winning last night was Natalie Boesing ‘20 , who was named Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year and for the third consecutive year, Girls’ Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year.

Boys Soccer All-Area Team:
First Team: rising senior Luke Hesse, Alex Lancaster ‘20, and rising senior Evan Scott 
Second Team: rising senior Edward Bobkoski, Ryan Drury ‘20, Carson Happel ’20 , and Edy Lutgens ‘20
Honorable Mention: rising seniors Jacob Braswell and Josh Gettelfinger , and rising junior Billy Hoke
Coach of the Year: Jake Stengel ‘05

Girls Golf All-Area Team :
Second Team: Kennedy Allender '20
Honorable Mention: rising seniors Reese Bottorff and Lily Chapman , and Jessica Hartlage '20 and Kasey Lockard '20

Best Clutch Performance finalist:
Brigid Welch ‘20 , Girls Basketball, for her game winning shot vs. New Albany

Coach of the Year finalists:
Ryan Miller ‘99, Boys Basketball
Terri (Blunk) Purichia ‘90, Volleyball
More Sports News

Two seniors named Student Athlete of the Year
Louisville Catholic Sports has named two of our graduating seniors as Student Athlete of the Year Award winners. Chase Aldridge ‘20 received the SAY Award for Wrestling and Football, and Natalie Boesing ‘20 for Girls Tennis, Cross Country, and Girls Basketball. The SAY awards are presented by Bill Collins Ford Lincoln, and in part Birkhead Co. Heating and Air Conditioning and Roosters- Fern Creek.

In other news, Natalie was selected to the South squad of the 22nd Annual North/South Senior Tennis All-Star teams by the and was recognized in a virtual ceremony on June 14.
Support the Football team with a Pioneer face mask
The Football team is selling Pioneer logo face masks as a fundraiser in place of its annual mulch sale. The masks are $12, and orders must be placed online by June 30. The masks will then be distributed at school in early July. All students will be required to wear masks to school in the 2020-2021 school year.
Track receives a touch up
Track & Field fundraising enabled a refresh of the track surface, including repairs to cracks and chips in the surface. The lettering on the track also received a fresh coat of paint in anticipation of the 2021 season. The team’s fundraising covered the $6,500 cost.
PARENT CONNECTION
Seniors' Commencement
Graduation will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 12. Due to social distancing, attendance at the ticketed event is limited. Those without tickets can livestream the event on the school website, Facebook page, or YouTube channel. 
Prepare for reopening under COVID-19 protocols
Watch for an email later this week outlining the requirements for the 2020-2021 school year. Parents can prepare now by reading the Indiana Department of Education’s “ Reentry Guidance ” for starting schools in August. The document outlines the phases and requirements for reopening schools for the 2020-21 school year. Parents are asked to please read the report to help prepare your students to return to extracurricular activities in July and class in August. Please prepare at home to help keep all students, faculty, and staff healthy and safe when they return to campus.
ALUMNI NOTES
Opening for Alumni Relations and Events Coordinator 
Providence has started a candidate search for an alumni relations and events coordinator. This full time, 12-month role is responsible for planning and executing key alumni events and activities throughout the year. Tasked with building community and supporting the mission of the school, the person in this role will work collaboratively with each school function to create value and excitement for PHS alumni and in the New Albany Deanery. Interested candidates will submit a letter of interest along with their resume to Debbie Fackler at dfackler@providencehigh.net by July 10.
Reunion dates for 2020

Reunion season is underway for the class years ending in 5 and 10. If you don't see your class below, contact  Ryan Miller '99  at rmiller@providencehigh.net . Note: Dates below subject to change based on the extent and length of the COVID-19 outbreak.

2020 reunions.
  • 1955: 2020 Quarterly Gatherings - Sept. 11, and Dec. 4, 2020. 11:30 a.m., The Radisson dining room, 505 Marriott Drive, Clarksville.
  • 1956: Class Gatherings - October 9, 2020. 11:30 a.m., The Radisson dining room, 505 Marriott Drive, Clarksville.
  • 1958: 2020 Luncheon Gathering: June luncheon postponed until June 2021.
  • 1960: 60-year reunion Aug. 22, 2020. Calumet Club in New Albany. Invitations to follow, and full information will be made available on our class website, www.olp1960.com. Annual mini-reunion brunch Dec. 12, 2020.
  • 1970: Sept. 19, 2020. Contact Kathy Kull at 502.558.0173 or Laura Baker Buehler at 812.923.5260.
  • 1974: Sept. 12, 2020. More details to come. Email ProvidencePioneers1974@gmail.com with questions.
  • 1980: 40 Year Reunion. Sept. 12, 2020, Covered Bridge Recreation Center, 7 p.m. Please contact Chris or Ann (Kaiser) Day for details (Chris 812.989.3268 or Ann 502.396.9943).
  • 2011: Planning has begun for 10-year reunion to be held in 2021. For more information contact Clancy Hauber at clancyhauber@gmail.com or 812.987.1729.
Lost class ring reunited with owner

In the fall of 2003, Stephanie (Moses) Lockman ‘03 wore her class ring to her freshman orientation at the University of Louisville and lost it. She assumed it was gone forever. Last week, Providence received an envelope containing her ring and a note hoping we could help reunite the ring to its owner. We called Lockman, who was quite surprised and happy to be able to have her class ring again.

We occasionally receive such notices and are so thrilled to reconnect the ring with its owner, made possible when the full name rather than initials are inscribed inside.
BLUE PRIDE ON DISPLAY
Advancement, Business offices welcome new staff
The new alumni relations and events coordinator (described in the Alumni Notes section) will fill a position being vacated by Mrs. Ronda (Miller) Stumler ‘83 , who has been the director of alumni relations and special events since July 2015 and is leaving to pursue other opportunities now that her youngest child has graduated from Providence. She helped alumni groups organize reunions and planned multiple fundraising events, including the annual Gala Dinner and Pioneer Golf Scramble.

Mrs. Stumler said she is deeply grateful for the opportunity to work at Providence, which helped her three children, Andrew ‘16, Grant ‘18 , and Avery ‘20 , attend the school where she and her husband, Dewayne ‘82 , met. She also thoroughly enjoyed working with the Providence community. 

“It was a privilege to work with so many people whose desire was to support the advancement of our school and help educate and mentor the students who are entrusted to our care,” she said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my work at Providence, and I honestly feel that I was able to make a difference in the lives of the students because so much of my work revolved around planning fundraisers to help provide aid to the families that needed it the most, families just like mine.”
Mrs. Angie (Grantz) Koopman '83, mother of Katelyn ‘14, Alyssa ‘15, and Stephanie '20, has been part-time Advancement administrative assistant since January following the retirement of Dolores Sparks, mother of Michael Sparks ‘83 and Debbie (Sparks) Marshall ‘84, who assisted in the Advancement Office for nine years. Mrs. Koopman said she enjoys working in the school where she and her daughters attended.

"I love being in this building working alongside many hardworking teachers and staff members -- some of whom are my former classmates," she said. "Seeing the students walk past my office window in between classes full of energy and laughter brings back such great memories of my high school days. I cherish the fact that I’m able to attend the school Masses, adoration, and even the pep sessions with the rest of the school. I get to see Blue Pride in action everyday!"
Mr. Ryan Miller ‘99 is now director of advancement, following the previously announced retirement of Mr. Tony Perito, who served as vice president of institutional advancement since July 2010. Mr. Perito oversaw the addition of the roles of director of communication and director of alumni relations and special events as well as numerous fundraising activities and campaigns that ensured financial aid for our students as well as several campus updates, from the Robinson Auditorium to the Marshall Athletic Center.

Mr. Miller also is the Boys Basketball coach and previously worked in the medical field and most recently at a funeral home as a family service counselor. Mr. Miller and his wife, Danielle (Himmelhaver '99), have three children, Rece, 12, Lara, 9, and Anna, 4, who all attend Our Lady of Perpetual Help School.

He said he is grateful for the opportunity to lead the Boys Basketball program and now the Advancement Office efforts. He looks forward to working with the Providence community.

"Providence is a special place to me, most notably because, like so many alumni, I have developed some of my most meaningful, lifelong relationships and friendships through PHS,” he said. “I am looking forward to working alongside the great people and families of our community as we seek to serve, connect, and further the mission of Our Lady of Providence High School - ‘Inspire Faith, Empower Hope, & Strengthen Love through Exemplary Catholic Education’ - so that the next generation of Pioneers may experience the special community atmosphere that is Blue Pride."

Also leaving the Advancement Office is Mr. Dave Smith, who has been serving as part-time graphic designer and was formerly the Girls Soccer coach and director of enrollment. During his 20 years as head coach, he led the program to the school’s first team state title as well as 11 sectional titles, four regional championships, and two semi-state wins.
Mrs. Tricia Huber is now chief financial officer following the retirement of Mr. Larry Weimer , who has filled that role since 1998. Mrs. Huber, who is married to Chris ‘94 and is the mother of Sterling ‘20, rising junior Garrett , and Stella, a rising eighth grader at St Mary of the Knobs, has a background in public accounting, private industry, as a business owner with her husband, and most recently in nonprofit, as business manager for Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality. She said she is looking forward to serving the Providence community.

“I love the community of Our Lady of Providence; I always have as a parent, but now I appreciate this very special community even more since I work here -- the administration, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, donors, and most especially the students,” Mrs. Huber said. “I look forward to when they are back in the building again!” 
Campus Minister news

Mrs. Leah (Cissell) Kelly ‘05, director of Campus Ministry, is leaving to stay home with her children, with her third child due later this month. She has coordinated Providence liturgies, retreats, and spiritual activities since July 2014. Prior to that, she was the coordinator of programming for New Albany Deanery Catholic Youth Ministries (now Catalyst Catholic) for four years. She said she has been blessed to work with the students, faculty, and staff, and will miss those daily interactions.

“I will miss the energy of the students, the passion and love of the faculty and staff, and getting to witness the Providence community encounter Christ each day,” Mrs. Kelly said. “My greatest joy has always come from sharing my faith with others and seeing people fall in love with the person of Jesus through our Catholic faith. The fact that it was my 'job' to try and help with that is truly remarkable."
Coming Events
June 29-July 10: Main Office closed
July 6: Athletics activities may begin
July 12: Graduation (tickets required)
Aug. 3-4 : Orientation/Registration
Aug. 5: First day of 2020-2021 school year
Aug. 20: Pioneer Golf Scramble
Let Us Pray
Pope Francis’ Prayer to Mary during the coronavirus pandemic 
O Mary,
you shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the foot of the cross were united in Jesus’ suffering, and persevered in your faith.
'Protectress of the Roman People,'
you know our needs,
and we know you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
joy and celebration may return after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father and to do as Jesus tells us
For he took upon himself our suffering and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God: do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.
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Christa (Payne) Hoyland '84 
Director of Communications 
eVision reporter/writer
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