ALUMNI NEWS
2019
Greetings to all of our St. Louise Parish School Alumni and parents of Alumni! We hope that you enjoy reading our alumni news, as we report the achievements of our former students and keep you updated on what they are now doing. Please share your news (or your child's news) and any updates with us. We would love to hear about your higher education accomplishments, personal milestones, and career and family announcements, and you can tell us by clicking on the Alumni Update Form button below. Best wishes to all our St. Louise Family near and far - and happy reading!
The latest group of alumni - our Class of 2019
We Love Our Alumni and Hope You'll Visit
In early June, we celebrated the graduation of our eighth grade class with a memorable Mass and Commencement . This was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the journey of these 43 14-year-olds and how their lives have been shaped by their parents, their teachers, their classmates, and, of course, their Lord. It has been a privilege to partner with their parents since 2005 in raising this special group of students who composed our Class of 2019.

Our area high schools are so very fortunate to welcome such exemplary young adults as their newest students this September. I am confident that the St. Louise Class of 2019 will be fine servant leaders, setting high standards for excellence, not only academically but morally as well. Just as similar graduating classes have done in the past, these young men and women will be guided by the values - learned at home and at school - which are embedded in our Catholic faith and traditions. They are ready to embrace this next chapter of their lives with trust in themselves and in God. In this new chapter, each will take a different path but will always be united by one strong common thread… St. Louise Chargers.

For many of our Class of 2019 graduates , St. Louise Parish School has been their only school since kindergarten. They will never be a member of the student body of another school for such a large number of years. They’ll spend their next four years in high school, and then for many the next four years after that in college. But never will they be in the same school for nine years, as they were here at St. Louise. That’s probably why the memories of grade school years flood back to us when we think of childhood remembrances.

J ust as for you long-time alumni of St. Louise School, all St. Louise graduates can always return and visit their alma mater. Your former teachers and I love to see past students return. And even if you’re a more “seasoned” alumnus, and graduated before the mid-80’s - before I became principal and before current teachers Mrs. Scruggs, Mrs. Herridge, and Mrs. Williams began teaching here - you’re still welcome to come visit. Even if no current teacher or administrator is here with whom to reconnect, it's still enjoyable to take a look at the graduate photo frame in our lobby to find your graduating classmates, ask to peruse through the old yearbooks we have in the archives, and take a selfie of yourself in front of the school to show your own kids that you indeed were once a kid yourself.
Go, Chargers!
Dan Fitzpatrick
AKA Mr. Fitz



This June, Tom Lester (Class of '82) received the CYO Coach of the Year Award from the Seattle Archdiocese for his lifetime achievement of coaching St. Louise soccer teams for 15 years. Tom, at left, is shown here with St. Louise's Athletic Board president, JC Fawcett father of Anjah, Class of ('15), Amele 8th grade, and Akean 2nd grade.
The Lesters Reach the End of an Era...Again

With their daughter, Lauren, graduating this past June with the St. Louise Class of 2019, Tom and Jennifer Lester saw their family's connection with St. Louise School come to an end. 

It was 1967 when Robert and Maxine Lester, Tom's parents, enrolled their oldest son, David ('75) in St. Louise School. He was followed by sister, Mary, ('77), brother Daniel ('80) and, finally, fifteen years after Dave began at St. Louise, brother Tom ('82) was the last of the first generation of Lesters to graduate. 

After a fifteen year hiatus of Lesters roaming the St. Louise halls, the family legacy continued when the boys married, started families of their own, and all chose to send their children to St. Louise School. Over the years, the following second generation of Lesters - grandchildren of Robert and Maxine Lester - attended St. Louise:

  • Kellen (Member of the Class of 2020; Son of Dan)
  • Lauren (Class of 2019; Daughter of Tom and Jennifer)
  • Michael (Class of 2018; Son of Tom and Jennifer)
  • Avree (Member of the Class of 2016; Daughter of Dan)
  • Madison (Member of the Class of 2015; Daughter of Tom and Jennifer)
  • Payton (Class of 2014; Daughter of Dan)
  • Parker (Class of 2013; Son of Tom and Jennifer)
  • Jordan (Member of the Class of 2011; Son of Dave and Andrea)
  • Brandon (Class of 2009; Son of Dave and Andrea)
  • Justin (Class of 2006; Son of Dave and Andrea)

Fourteen Lester children - across two generations - have attended St. Louise School and the Lester family has been a part of the St. Louise School and Parish community for a total of 37 years. We will consider the next few years simply another hiatus of Lesters at our school. We eagerly anticipate the third generation of the Lester class to don the red sweaters and McDonald plaid in the years to come!
Alumni Class Notes
Alyssa Garcia ('15) graduated
from Holy Names Academy and
will be attending Pace University
in Manhattan. Pace is ranked 4th in
the nation for Musical Theatre and Performing Arts.
Cameron ('14) and Carson ('15) Stockwell celebrated their achievements of Eagle Scout.
Jacob Brennan ('15) completed a new path
along the parish's
outdoor Stations of the Cross to earn his Eagle Scout Award.


Ensign Officer Tim Bowers ('10) sailed into port on the USS Mobile Bay to celebrate Fleet Week. St. Louise alumni - left to right Brian Bowers ('12), Michael Van Hare ('12), Ensign Tim Bowers, and Ryan Blair ('12) were there to welcome him home. Click on the link to watch a brief clip of Tim being interviewed by KOMO News! https://komonews.com/news/local/local-naval-crew-arrives-home-for-fleet-week


Patrick Smith and Sarah Sprute , both St. Louise alums from the Class of 2005 , were married at Villa Academy Chapel on September 15, 2018. Sarah is a NICU nurse at UW Hospital and Patrick works for EY Seattle. They are happy to be home after living in San Francisco for four years and now reside in Seattle's Wedgewood neighborhood.
Renee Witherspoon ('13) graduated from Cascadia College in June and will be attending Western Washington University in the fall to Major in Political Science.
Erin Doyle ('08) graduated from the Univeristy of Georgia School of Law in May. Erin will begin working as an Associate Attorney at the law firm of Arnall Golden Gregory in Atlanta, Georgia in their privacy & consumer regulatory practice law.
Daniel Bladow ('08) graduated from Seattle Prep and went on to Gonzaga University where he received a B.S. in Computer Science from the School of Engineering, a B.S. in Mathematics from the School of Arts and Sciences, and a minor in Entrepreneurial Leadership from the School of Business. After graduating Daniel left for the Peace Corps. He served as a high school Math Teacher in Mozambique, Eastern Africa teaching Math and Physics to 8th, 9th, and 11th graders.
Nali Gabbert ('09) graduated from Eastside Catholic and went on to Seattle University. She worked at CYO summer camp for several summers and has since spent time participating in service immersion projects. Nali recently came to talk to our eighth-grade students about her involvement, including her upcoming adventure with Amigos, a cultural immersion volunteer program in South America.
Eric Reutter ('02) was part of a team that helped upgrade a solar panel system installation in La Posada. After seeing solar panels installed in Esperanza (organization that hosts Tijuana Trek) homes in Oaxaca the idea was born to one day install solar panels in La Posada.
Matt Carmondy ('02) is now a Doctor of Dental Surgery. He began his academic career at Washington State University and went on to earn his DDA at the Univeristy of Washington. Matt lives with his wife and newborn in Chelan.

 Katie Goett ('18) recently placed fourth in the Star Spangled Skate Competition in Everett, competing in the free skate category.
Kyle Strash (’13) is attending the University of Puget Sound. This summer he is playing Semi-pro baseball for the Seattle Studs. They won the NBC College World Series in Wichita this month.
Melissa Sta. Maria ('11) received the Dean's Award at the University of Portland for being top student in the Education Department. Melissa will be teaching second grade in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Ian Orejana ('18), Anne Marie Blank ('17), and Joaquin Galindo-Navarro ('18) are pictured left to right. Congratulations to our St. Louise alumni who took part in Seattle Prep's musical Newsies this past school year.
Joey Teplicky ('10) , shown here with parents Katie and Bill, has been awarded the USC Provost's Award and the Outstanding Public Relations Scholar Award from the Annenberg School of Journalism faculty. Joey graduated with a BA in Public Relations from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Academic Honors & Awards
Nyree Legnon ('14) - Presidents' List at Gonzaga University for fall semester 4.0 gpa
Heide Orleth ('18) - Seattle Prep Freshman Ignatian Award - Committed to Justice
Daniela Castillo ('18) - Seattle Prep Freshman Ignatian Award - Intellectually Competent
Phuoung-Mi-Vu ('15) - Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart - Mes Amis Award
Congratulations to the Class of 2015!
St. Louise is proud of our alumni who graduated from our school four years ago and now this year graduated from high school and are headed off to higher education. We wish them all the best as they continue on their college and career journeys.
Abigail Aiello /Boise State University
Mary Akers /Boise State University
Bella Anegbeod e/University of Washington
Franny Anunobi /St. Martin's University
Cameron Arsenian /Washington State University
Danny Bowers /Santa Clara University
Jacob Brennan /Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Catherine Bridges /*
Aidan Carels /Washington State University
Katarina Conces /University of Loyola Chicago
Denise Cook /Western Washington University
Olivia D'Costa /University of Washington
Alex Darragh /Boise State University
Max Dullanty /Carroll College
Max Englehart /Gonzaga University
Claire Engley /Gonzaga University
Anjah Fawcett /University of Washington Bothell
Alyssa Garcia /Pace University
Michael Greene /California Polytechnic State University
Kris Hefty / Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute           
Isabel Johnson /University of San Francisco
Iain Kirby /Xavier University
Jeremy Lim /University of Toronto
Addison Lopez /Bellevue College
Megan Lowell /Catholic University
Matthew Loutsis /Gonzaga University
Maya McDonald /Purdue University
Andrew Michaels /University of Washington
Lauren Miller /Gonzaga University
Julia Morgan /Santa Clara University
Michael Morgan /Washington State University
Colin Moriarty /University of Portland
Alison Nguyen /Seattle University
Tuan-Kiet Nguyen /University of Washington
Olivia Norton /University of Washington
Myles Nowak /Vanderbilt University
Dawson Oen /Gonzaga University
Kelly Patterson / Gonzaga University
Louis Phan /University of Washington
Emma Rausch /Creighton University
Martin Robertson /gap year
Gavin Rorie /Washington State University
Katie Scukas /Santa Clara University
Jessica Stewar t/Florida State
Carson Stockwell /University of Notre Dame
Madeline Sweeney /Western Washington University
Lily Teders /University of Washington
Will VanderZanden /University of San Diego
Phuong-Mi Vu /Santa Clara University 

* Unable to reach students or students have not responded to our inquiry.
(Top) Braden with parents Kris and Gary at our Veterans' Day Mass.

(Bottom) Army Captain Schoenlein

Distinguished Graduate
Braden Schoenlein
During our school Mass on Veterans' Day, we announced our 2018 Distinguished Graduate - Braden Schoenlein - a graduate of the St. Louise Class of 2006 and a graduate of West Point . Braden has just returned from deployment in Qatar, where she served as a Captain in the US Army.

The Distinguished Graduate Award is given nationwide annually in every Catholic school, in conjunction with the National Catholic Educational Association, to alumni who have accomplished outstanding personal and professional achievements and who can serve as examples of how Catholic schools educate people to take leadership roles in their community.  

While receiving her Distinguished Graduate award at Mass, Braden spoke to the students about her wonderful education at St. Louise - from the academic skills she learned from teachers who taught her (including Mrs. Bannick, Mrs. Danforth, Mrs. Williams, and Mrs. Herridge) to the school spirit she was immersed in, such as the CYO championships she won over the years with her classmates.

Braden also spoke of how her Catholicity helped her get through basic training, finding solace in the quietness and spiritual support at weekly Masses with other Catholic Army cadets.

We are proud of you, Braden, and thank you for taking a leadership role in serving our country!
Join Us at We Are One !

No doubt many of you have your lifelong friends from your time (and your kids’ time!) at St. Louise. Well, it’s time to get the band back together and join us at  We Are One, our disco-themed St. Louise School Auction, on November 9 th at the Westin Bellevue!

Reach out to your BFF, your CYO Coach friends, your old Room Parent buddies, your former Carpool team and put a table together! We’d love to see our alumni community well represented as we celebrate We Are One - One Body, One Church, One School. Register by September 5 th and you’ll receive your tickets at a discounted rate!

Can’t make it, but still want to participate in the fun? Our Dessert Dash this year is being sponsored by Alumni Families! You can click here to donate a dessert, gift card, or a monetary gift to support this fun part of the event! The auctioneer will call out the names of all the donors and your name will be on the Sponsorship sign for the Dessert Dash! Hope to see you there!

Julianne Read
Auction Director
Parent of Ellie (Class of '18) and Ethan (Class of '21)
Prayer Angels Have Flown to Those in Need for Past 20 Years
This year marks 20 years since our junior high students began to send “prayer angels” to those who may need a spiritual boost – for example, to someone who is ill or has a relative who is ill, someone expecting a baby, a teacher or school parent having surgery, or someone’s pet died.

The inspiration came to our junior high religion teacher Mary Herridge in 1999, when she learned of a woman who was suffering with cancer. Mary didn’t know this person personally, so she wasn’t in a position to do anything for this woman physically. Of course, Mary knew she could pray, but still she felt helpless. She then read an article written by Fr. William Treacy, a senior priest of the Archdiocese of Seattle, and Father’s words gave her Divine Inspiration. The next day, Mrs. Herridge asked her junior high students to make “paper angels.” They mailed those angels, linked in a chain, along with a copy of Father’s article, to the woman suffering with cancer.

The real miracle of this 20-years and still-going-strong angel outreach project is that most of the angel requests come from the hearts of junior high students. They request them for the ill and troubled friends, family, and acquaintances of which they become aware. Our junior high students have too been inspired to look beyond.

Fr. Treacy – who turned 100 years-old in May - is perhaps the oldest, actively-ministering priest in America. He currently lives in Stanwood, and joined us in January to celebrate his lifetime of ministry as well as the 20 th anniversary of angels flying to the prayerful aid of others.
(Left to right) Colleen Shaw Hauck ( 80 ), Fr. Treacy, Mary Herridge, former kindergarten teacher Jeanne Morrison, and Lisa Desimone, mother of alums Maria ('97 ) and Carmella ('00 ) 
Chargers Add More Hardware to the Trophy Case
Our 6th grade volleyball team were CYO Champions this year, and they were coached by Gary Schoenlein - father of alums Casey ('10), Braden ('06), and Grant ('08) - and by Ingrid Flaat - mother of alums Allina '(12), Tagan ('17) & Mason ('18) & current St. Louise student Lucy (to be Class of '21)
Upcoming Events
School's 58th Year Begins
September 3, 2019

Auction and Dinner
November 9, 2019
Please join us! Contact your former classmates or former fellow parents in your child's class, and put together a table at our gala event at the Bellevue Westin. For more information on how to create an alumni table or to request an invitation to the auction, please contact auction director Julianne Read at 425-214-5441 or auction@stlouiseschool.org

Annual School Gift Campaign (ASGC)
Begins January 2020
We appreciate the donations from our former school students and their parents!

Admissions for 2020-21
Early Application Period Runs
January 30 - February 13, 2020
Let us know if you have an upcoming 4-14 year-old and want to give them a Catholic school education.

Open Houses
November 21, 2019
January 30, 2020
A great time to check-out St. Louise for your child to attend in the future...or simply to see the school again and say hello to your former teachers and principal.
St. Louise School | 133 - 156th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA 98007
phone: 425-746-4220 | email: info@stlouiseschool.org | website: stlouiseschool.org