Forever Zephyrs - May/Jun 2024
Alumni News for St. Mary Catholic Schools
Upcoming events for alumni & the SMCS community
Last Day of School - Thursday, June 6 - Do you remember the exhilaration of the first day of summer? Send up a cheer for those Zephyrs (and teachers!) after a productive and joy-filled school year! Graduation took place Friday, May 24 as we celebrated our newest alumni! Please give them a warm welcome as the latest in a long line of proud Zephyrs!
Greater Zephyrs Open - GZO - Monday, July 15 - Get some fellow alums and friends together to play a round at Ridgeway Country Club! Register right here, or you can also use the link to be a sponsor for GZO. This is the only fundraiser for our Booster Club, and all proceeds will strengthen Zephyr Athletics. Can't make it? Buy a raffle ticket to show your support and have a chance to win cash prizes up to $1,000! (Tickets are available through the school offices - no online purchases.)
Zephyrs Connect & Homecoming 2024!
Two chances to celebrate with the SMCS community - join us on Sunday, September 29 for an afternoon of food and fun for all ages, leading up to the pep rally to kick off Homecoming Week.
Then on Friday, October 4, come for the Homecoming Parade and tailgate, and cheer the Zephyrs on to victory over the Roncalli Jets! Watch for more details in upcoming news.
See where Zephyr Alumni are blazing trails and creating change!
"All roads lead to Rome," as the saying goes. In the case of Fr. Bill Swichtenberg (SMC 1973), his Zephyr tracks took him to the Eternal City in early May. Fr. Bill was was one of only five parish priests from the United States to be chosen to participate in the most recent session of the global synod in Rome. A synod usually refers to a formal gathering or consultation in a diocese, region, or across the entire Catholic Church. The "Synod on Synodality" is a multi-year worldwide initiative, called for by Pope Francis, to listen more intentionally to the people of God - the Church - under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. One major goal of the synod is finding better ways to fulfill the mission of the Church in a changing world. This requires being able to better reflect and respond to different pastoral needs, in order to bring the Good News of Jesus to those in all circumstances.
Fr. Bill has been serving at St. Mary Parish in Appleton since 2014. As pastor, he helped facilitate local sessions for the Synod, and brought that experience to the Diocese of Green Bay. When the organizers in Rome were looking for representation from the Midwest U.S., Fr. Bill's name emerged. Upon arriving in the Vatican at the event in early May, he was assigned to a table with priests from various locations, including Lebanon, Nigeria, and Kenya. They would consider different questions, in a format which incorporated listening, prayer, and deliberate periods of silence. "It was a gradual process," Fr. Bill explained. "The days were long, but it was very much at the Holy Spirit's pace."
Originally from Menasha, Fr. Bill has many fond memories of visiting his grandmother at 608 First Street, where his mother's family grew up right near St. Mary Parish. Of course it was only natural that he would become a student there! During those days in school and church, especially in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, it became clear to young Bill that God had a vocation for him as a priest. He recalled with affection teachers like Sr. Joy Marie, Sr. Donna Griesbach, and Sr. Anne Arthur, who instilled in him a love for learning. Upon graduating from SMC, he went on to earn a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, before eventually studying theology at St. John in Collegeville, MN. On behalf of your fellow Forever Zephyrs, Fr. Bill, thank you for your ministry and for bringing the voice of our community to the wider Church at the Synod!
VEX Robotics World Championships!
The all-senior team showed their Zephyr pride in Dallas. They battled their way to divisional quarterfinals, a feat that placed them among the top 2% of more than 11,000 VEX Robotics teams in the world!
Girls Track Conference Champs!
For the first time in SMC history, the girls dominated the conference. Zephyrs sped to a new school record in the 4x800 relay, missing the state podium by only a few seconds. Junior Nolie Anderson took 3rd in discus, and Coach Chad McCartney was named an honorary SMC Alumnus. Standouts for the Boys included senior Ashton Post making a fourth trip to State!
Stories of Alumni Adventure, Travel, and Community Service
Josh Finch (SMC 2014) is showcasing the difference that Zephyrs make in the life of a community. When he was hired by the City of Hillsboro in Vernon County in May of 2021, Josh became one of the youngest City Administrators in the United States. He had just completed a Masters in Public Administration from UW-Oshkosh, and was eager to put his considerable energy to work. He helped establish a new Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, prioritized economic development, and fostered more community collaboration. It wasn’t long before Josh’s dynamic and forward-looking style were recognized by the 7 Rivers Alliance – a tri-state consortium of leaders across southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, and northeast Iowa. The group recently named him one of their “Rising Stars Under 40”.
Josh attributes his career track to the discipline and persistence he learned at St. Mary Catholic High School. The high expectations of teachers like Ann Hoernke and Trish (Reichenberger) Hunter helped him learn the value of putting in the work to see eventual success. Experiences on the Zephyrs stage and in Forensics made him more poised in front of an audience and taught him how to think on his feet. But by far the greatest lesson from SMC was the witness of teachers who cared so deeply for their students. He saw firsthand the power of gentle and patient communication. “The more gentle you are with a conversation – it builds receptivity,” Josh shared. This approach has allowed him to float ideas effectively, facilitating constructive dialogue in the municipal setting and among other groups with diverse interests.
What advice would Josh give current Zephyrs? “Take every opportunity that comes before you… and SMC gives you so many! And when you try something new, enjoy the moment. Embrace the nerves and even the fears that come with it. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake.” Josh, Forever Zephyrs salutes you for being an example of the impact that young professionals can have in public service. We look forward to the next stop!
Life notes for alumni - weddings, births, achievements, deaths, etc.
Send us your news! Did you earn a degree? Get married? Welcome a baby? Bid farewell to a loved one? Start a new job or business? Look here for a round-up of what's happening in your Forever Zephyrs family!
Click here to share your story!
In Memoriam:
Gladys "Gladie" (Reimer) Long (SMC 1949)
Leila "Lee" (Parker) Becher (SMC 1947)
Welcome to this crazy little corner of our newsletter. Here we will feature fun photos of Zephyrs and pose the question: "What are they doing... and why?" Feel free to submit photos of your own, as well as suggestions and ideas for upcoming issues.
Look for more in the next issue of Forever Zephyrs, and until then... Stay on the right track!