Parent Paws 9-23-2022

Welcome to the Parent Paws Newsletter!

The Parent Paws Newsletter appears in the News section of our website every Friday during the school year.

From The Principal

Homecoming week has been filled with a lot of fun activities. Join us for the tailgate party this afternoon, before the Varsity Football Game at 7 PM. On Saturday, we will wrap up with our homecoming dance at school. We ask that you please remind your student to be safe and make good choices. Like all school sponsored dances, Mr. Dempsey and myself will be breathalyzing the students upon their entrance to the dance. We also ask that you promptly pick up your student after the dance at 10:30 PM, for those who do not drive.

Gross Catholic will be embarking on our School Accreditation visit on December 1st. When we send out links for various surveys, we ask that everyone take the time to fill them out. These surveys are put together to help us better understand our community and how things are going at Gross Catholic. Thank you ahead of time for taking the 10 – 15 minutes it may take to answer your questions on these surveys. These surveys will be sent to you in a separate email next Tuesday, September 27th. Thank you in advance for your help and cooperation on taking the time to complete this short survey.

Announcements

Gross Catholic is hiring a full-time Staff Accountant. Benefits include tuition remission, medical insurance, matching 403B, generous vacation, Catholic mission and family environment, free access to all home games/events, team of fun, caring colleagues, and more! We are also hiring an Assistant Technology Coordinator You can find the job descriptions on our employment page.

Cougars Around the World Homecoming Dance: Students do NOT need to bring their ticket to the dance. Their name was put on a list when they bought their ticket. They will check in when they get to the dance. All guests from outside of Gross Catholic must have submitted a guest form in order to be admitted. Doors open at 7:00 PM and the photographer will be available until 8:00 PM. Coronation will begin at 8:00 PM with the dance following from 8:30 – 10:30 PM. Light snacks and water will be provided.

Counselors Corner

The Scholastic Awards are presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young creative teens and celebrating youth voices. The scholarship opportunities are available to 7th – 12th grade students. Follow the link, scroll down to “view categories” to see various kinds of items you can enter. More scholarship information can be found here. Note that although these categories show an image, writing is also an option in these categories. Also, there is a $10 – $30 fee for each submission.

Senior Parents – The FREE application for UNO, UNL, UNK will be available through Sept 30th. Two senior newsletters have been posted in the senior google classroom. Ask your senior to log in and show them to you! FAFSA application opens on October 1st. Remember there are great resources at educationquest.org. Please reach out to Mrs. McNamara with any questions!

Mental Health Habits: All students were introduced to a new app this week – Nurture! The counseling department will ask students to log a wellness check every Wednesday throughout this school year (Wellness Wednesday). The counselors talked to the students about creating awareness and good habits when it comes to both physical and mental health. Ask your student to show you how the app works!

Thank You for Reading Parent Paws

Finally, we want express our gratitude to you for reading this week’s edition of Parent Paws!  Stay up to date on all that is happening by going to our News section.

What You May Have Missed

Follow Us on Social Media!

Homan Receives Hall of Fame Award

Mr. Jim Homan Is Our 2022 Hall of Fame Honoree

Hall of Fame

Homan receives Hall of Fame awardEach year Gross Catholic honors a member of our faculty or staff (past or present) who has made outstanding contributions to our school community with our Hall of Fame Award. This year’s Faculty/Staff Hall of Fame Award recipient is Mr. Jim Homan. Homan will receive this prestigious award during halftime of the Homecoming football game.

Three Decades

Mr. Jim Homan began working at Gross Catholic over three decades ago. During his time as a Cougar, Jim spent many years in the classroom, teaching Theology and Web Development. He transitioned out of the classroom in 2015 and currently oversees the school website, the school information system, plus all social media accounts.

Outstanding Credentials

Jim earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Theology and a Masters of Ministry from Creighton University.

Coach and Moderator

He spent years as the Head Coach of the Girls Soccer team and as the Student Council moderator and really enjoyed both of those experiences. He retired from coaching and moderating in 2020.

Family

Homan and his late wife Darci have two daughters, Alex and Kenzie. Both are graduates of Gross Catholic and are currently studying to get their doctorates.

Interests

In his spare time, he enjoys watching soccer, walking, yoga, and traveling, especially to Nashville, Tennessee.

Proud to be a Gross Catholic Cougar

Mr. Jim Homan told us that he has great pride in being a part of the Cougar family over the years as a teacher, coach, moderator, and friend. He said it has been a privilege to have served this community. He wants to thank everyone for this honor.

What You May Have Missed

Follow Us on Social Media!

Parent Paws 9-16-2022

Welcome to the Parent Paws Newsletter!

The Parent Paws Newsletter appears in the News section of our website every Friday during the school year.

From The Principal

Homecoming week is filled with various dress up days and activities. Monday is our annual Cougar Golf Outing so there will be no school for students as the faculty and staff will be participating in it or working at it. More details about homecoming week can be found now. On Saturday, we will wrap up with our Homecoming Dance at school.

Gross Catholic will be embarking on our School Accreditation visit on December 1st. We are asking that when we send out links for various surveys, that each of you take the time to fill it out. These surveys are put together to help us better understand our community and how things are going at Gross Catholic. Thank you ahead of time for taking the 10 – 15 minutes it may take to answer your questions on these surveys. These surveys will come out in a separate email to each of the families and the students.

Please review the protocols (TESTED POSITIVE / EXPOSED) that Gross Catholic will be following for COVID-19 this school year. We will continue to partner with the Sarpy/Cass County Health Department with this and any other infectious disease situations that may arise. Thank you for your continued cooperation with this. Our goal is to keep a safe and healthy learning environment as well as keep your student(s) current with their classes. We aim to have every student, faculty and staff present every day as we all know this is the most productive way of educating our future leaders.

Announcements

There will be no lunch vendor for Mission Day this Wednesday 9/21. Students will need to bring their own lunch however all vending machines and microwaves will be available.

Check out the September Mental Health Newsletter from Catholic Charities.

Gross Catholic is hiring a Staff Accountant. Benefits include tuition remission, medical insurance, matching 403B, generous vacation, Catholic mission and family environment, free access to all home games/events, team of fun, caring colleagues, and more! Learn more.

Booster Club Calendars on sale through September 23rd. Please support Gross Catholic extracurriculars and school programs by buying a $50 Booster Club Calendar (Raffle Ticket). This is the 6th year for this fundraiser and it’s provided over $93,000 since its inception. We need to sell all 500 calendars to maximize what we’re able to give. Your purchase buys you 51 chances to win at least your $50 back and up to $1000 for our special drawings! Buy yours TODAY.

St. Mary’s Bellevue is hosting their annual trivia night on October 8th at the Bellevue Knights Event Center. Tables of 8 can be purchased for $75, single tickets are $10. For more information contact Mary Sasek at mary.sasek@gmail.com.

“Find The Why” challenges are back! See what it is all about and encourage your child to participate in these challenges throughout the year. Students have the opportunity to have meaningful experiences with large companies and a chance to win prize money.

Counselors Corner

Four University of Nebraska campuses will waive the undergraduate admission application fee for all Nebraska students for two weeks. From Sept. 16 through Sept. 30, applicants will be eligible for fee waivers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. Applicants for the 2023 – 24 academic year should select “fee waiver” and enter the code “NUforNE.”

September is suicide prevention month. Please read the letter with some of the activities planned for the month.

Thank You for Reading Parent Paws

Finally, we want express our gratitude to you for reading this week’s edition of Parent Paws!  Stay up to date on all that is happening by going to our News section.

What You May Have Missed

Follow Us on Social Media!

Homecoming Week 2022

Grab your passport for Cougars Around the World Homecoming 2022!

Homecoming Cougars Around the WorldSee below for Cougar Passport contest info and Mr. and Ms. Cougar Spirit contest info!!

Schedule of events!

Sunday
Sept 18		 Cornhole Tournament @4:00 pm on the G.C. Turf (Kona Ice Truck is coming – bring money!) Get your passport stamped at the tournament! (see passport contest on back)
Monday
Sept 19		 No School – Cougar Golf Classic  Enjoy the day off!
Tuesday
Sept 20		 We get to pray together at Mass today!
Crazy sock day! – How can you stand out in a foreign land?
Wednesday Sept 21 Mission Day – Watch for info from Mrs. Sweetmon!
Twin Day – Find your homie and dress the same!
Thursday
Sept 22		 Tourist Day – Dress like an adventurous tourist
Get your passport stamped for the dress up day and at the volleyball game!
Friday
Sept 23		 Orange and Blue Day – Show your school spirit!
Pep Rally Day!
Around the World Tailgate Party, 4 PM-6:30 PM in the west parking lot (weather permitting).
Get your passport stamped after the pep rally and at the football game!

Homecoming Football Game

7 PM, Friday Sept 23th – Theme for the game is WHITE OUT!

Homecoming Dance

  • Saturday, Sept 24th (guest forms available at the ticket table at lunch)
  • Dress is semi – formal (There will be a place to store your shoes and keep your luggage safe)
  • Doors open at 7:00 pm (Get your professional picture taken – It’s FREE)
  • Coronation at 8:00 pm in the auditorium
  • Dance – 8:30 – 10:30 pm

Mr. & Ms. Cougar Spirit Contest

(during homecoming week!)

If you think you have the most Cougar Spirit?

Here’s your chance to show it!

  • Anybody can participate!!
  • Sign up during lunch for FREE to enter the competition (Sept 13 – 17).
  • Dress in your best costumes during homecoming week.  Get your picture taken in the counseling office before 2nd period (Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri).
  • The student body will vote for their favorite costume!
  • Prizes will be awarded at coronation.

You could be the winner!

Cougar Passport Contest

(during homecoming week)

You will receive your passport in homeroom on September 16.  As you attend events and participate in activities during homecoming week, you will receive a stamp on your passport.  If you receive at least 5 stamps, fill in the information on the passport AND turn your passport in at the homecoming dance, you will be eligible to win a prize.

Winners will be drawn at 10:00 pm at the homecoming dance.

You must be present to win!

Events/Activities to earn stamps

Sunday, 9/18 – Cornhole tournament

Thursday, 9/22 – Dress up day (Tourist)

Thursday, 9/22 – Volleyball game

Friday, 9/23 – Attend the pep rally

Friday, 9/23 – Football game

Bring a CAN of spaghetti sauce to Mrs. Sweetmon’s room sometime during hoco week (no jars allowed)

Each student will receive only one passport!  If you lose your passport, you are no longer eligible

Mrs. McNamara, Mrs. D’Angelo, Mrs. Sweetmon are the official passport stampers!

See one of these people to get your passport stamped!

2022 Distinguished Alumni Award

All of Our Alumni Are Amazing!

Coach FlipOur Distinguished Alumni Award is presented each year to an alumnus who has continued to promote our school spirit and demonstrate dedication to our motto, Dux Esto. Gross Catholic is fortunate to have so many amazing alumni living as leaders, not only in the Cougar Community, but also within our city, country and world. The candidates are nominated by their peers for this honor.

2022 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner

And the winner is… Mike Filipowicz, class of 1973! Congrats to Coach Flip and thank you for all you and your family has done for Gross Catholic High School.

We Honor All the Nominees for the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award

Mike Filipowicz ’73
Michala (D’Ercole) Jacobson ’90
Robert Greenhagen DPM ’98
Lynn (Strachota) Sorich ’82
Bridget (Goldsmith) McKee ’94

Mike Filipowicz ’73

Mike Filibpwicz, 1973 AlumniMike Filipowicz, better known as Coach Flip, Flipper or just Flip, has been a staple at Gross Catholic in many ways. As a coach in the football program, he has been a staple working with the defense. He was instrumental in helping the Cougars win the 2012 State Title and has served as both a defensive coordinator and a linebacker coach for 20+ years. His pregame speeches are probably the most memorable for all Cougar alumni, motivating and challenging athletes before big games! His knowledge and approach to the game are second to none. Mike still serves as a linebackers coach for Gross Catholic.

Mike began coaching baseball at Gross Catholic in 1989. He capped a 31 year coaching career in 2020. During his time as head coach, his team earned the Class A State Legion Championship in 2003 and two Class B State Championships in 2009 and 2010. He ended his career with more than 1200 baseball victories.

Mike and his wife Michele (Morin) ’72 have been longtime supporters of Gross Catholic and volunteered as co-chairs for CeleBration in 2019.

Michala (D’Ercole) Jacobson ’90

Michala Jacobson, 1990 AlumniMichala (D’Ercole) Jacobson was active in athletics, student council and faith life while at Gross Catholic. She graduated in 1994 from  the College of Saint Mary  in Omaha majoring in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and was on the college softball team. She also obtained her coaching endorsement from UNO. She then went on to receive her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Doane University. Michala has been in the field of education for over 25 years as a teacher, administrator and coach. Michala is also an NAIA Champions of Character Certified Presenter. While coaching softball at College of Saint Mary she led her team to the NAIA National Tournament.

Most recently Michala was the Gross Catholic Admissions Director and Head Varsity Softball Coach from 2014 – 2020. While at Gross Catholic, she helped recruit over 500 students and also led the varsity softball team to two District Championships and two State Tournament appearances. Michala and her husband Chris have three daughters Ashley ’17, Emily ’18 and Rachel ’20 who all graduated from Gross Catholic. They have a 6-year-old son Noah who was born with Down Syndrome which has led her to become an advocate for those with Down Syndrome. She volunteers and supports the Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands, is a Tom Osborne TeamMate Mentor and serves on the College of Saint Mary Alumnae Athletic Board.

Robert Greenhagen DPM ’98

Dr. Robert GreenhagenRobert Greenhagen is the co-owner of the Foot and Ankle Center of Nebraska and Iowa, an adjunct clinical instructor for CPMS and a longtime preceptor for podiatric medical students. He is the section chief of the department of podiatric surgery and the department of wound care at the Veterans Administration Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System and co-chair of the podiatry department of VISN 23: VA Midwest Health Care Network, which serves more than 440,000 enrolled veterans in 10 Midwestern states. Robert was recently awarded the 2022 College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Alumnus of the Year.

Robert is very generous with his time and talents in the community. He regularly volunteers his services at the Open Door Mission and with the Special Olympics.

Robert and his wife Nicole have four children. Their oldest son is currently a sophomore at Gross Catholic. Robert and his wife Nicole have generously supported programs including the Gross Catholic soccer program and Dux Esto Drama for more than six years. Robert actively recruits new families to our school as he goes about his day-to-day routines.

Lynn (Strachota) Sorich ’82

Lynn SorichLynn (Strachota) Sorich moved to Omaha from Illinois as a sophomore and has had the Gross High Spirit ever since. She was the Decoration Chair for one of the CeleBration Events as well as helped in other capacities with a few other CeleBrations. She planned all but one of her Class of ’82 Reunion Events (Celebrating 40 this year) She also maintains the class of ’82 Facebook Page and tries to keep them updated on Gross Catholic and other former alumni. Even when there is not a reunion planned, Lynn still tries to get classmates together from her class as well as others from the 80’s from time to time.

Lynn is a substitute teacher with the Millard School District and serves as the Girls Varsity Wrestling Coach at Millard West High School. She has been married to Dave Sorich ’82 for the past 31 years and they have 3 boys Nick, Zack and Matt. In her free time she likes to craft, and hang out at their place on the river and boat.

Bridget (Goldsmith) McKee ’94

Bridgit McKeeBridget (Goldsmith) McKee4, is the owner of NoteCBD, a family run, plant medicine company. Her life goal is to educate and help humans attain wellness and improve their quality of life. Bridget has used her platform to bring attention to the sick residents of Nebraska that seek legal medical cannabis and other natural remedies. She proudly partners with other Gross Catholic alumni and is a seasoned leader within her industry and family. Dux Esto is her lifestyle.

Who Will Win?

Join us during halftime at the Homecoming Football game on Friday, September 23th to find out who will be awarded the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award.

What You May Have Missed

Follow Us on Social Media!

Parent Paws 9-2-2022

Welcome to the Parent Paws Newsletter!

The Parent Paws Newsletter appears in the News section of our website every Friday during the school year.

From The Principal

We are already into September and school is underway. Thanks to those who attended the various back to school nights. We were excited to see so many parents in attendance.

The hallways and classrooms are full of excitement and energy. We have a busy month with the upcoming holiday weekend, Grandparents Day Mass, the fall play, our Cougar Classic Golf Outing and ending the month with Homecoming. Please check our school calendar to stay in the know with all the activities coming up.

Please review the protocols (TESTED POSITIVE / EXPOSED) that Gross Catholic will be following for COVID-19 this school year. We will continue to partner with the Sarpy/Cass County Health Department with this and any other infectious disease situations that may arise. Thank you for your continued cooperation with this. Our goal is to keep a safe and healthy learning environment as well as keep your student(s) current with their classes. We aim to have every student, faculty and staff present every day as we all know this is the most productive way of educating our future leaders.

I hope everyone has a restful and relaxing holiday weekend.

Announcements

The varsity football game starting at 7 PM this evening is being livestreamed!

Game Time Eats is serving a buffalo chicken wrap for $5 on Wednesday, September 7th.

Unable to attend Back to School night? Please take a moment to meet your student’s teachers. Check out their videos.

G.C. Theatre Fall One Act Play is Show and Tell (inspired by the events of Sandy Hook Elementary). You can purchase your tickets now.

Cougar Classic Golf Tournament is Monday, September 19th and early bird registration ends September 5th. Register now.

Cornhole tournament has been rescheduled to Sunday, Sept 18th at 4:00 PM.

The city of Omaha has announced plans to rebuild the bridge on 42nd Street between “C” and “D” Streets (just south of I-80). Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2022. The bridge will remain closed until at least October or November 2023. All traffic will be detoured, using Center Street, 60th Street, and “L” Street. Vehicles exiting I-80 will not be able to go south. Find more detailed information about the 42nd Street bridge project now.

National Honor Society applications are now available to those eligible. Mrs. Novotny sent out an invitation to Google classroom earlier this week to those students. The completed application is due next Thursday, September 8th. Please email Mrs. Novotny emnovotny@gcgmail.org with any questions.

Homecoming is right around the corner! The dance is scheduled for September 24th. Doors open at 7:00 PM, coronation 8:00 PM and dance 8:30 – 10:30 PM. More information to come regarding the events of homecoming week!

Google’s Guardian Summaries are email sent by Google to you about your student’s assignments in their classes. Click here for more information. Click here for English or Spanish instructions on how to get summaries.

Counselors Corner

Junior and Senior Parents: Join us for a College Financial Aid Presentation! EducationQuest is presenting information virtually! We will watch the presentation together and then Mrs. McNamara will be available to answer questions related to financial aid and other college related topics. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

September is suicide prevention month. Please read our letter with some of the activities planned for the month.

Deadline to sign up for the October 22 ACT is Sept 16th.

What You May Have Missed

Follow Us on Social Media!

Back to School Night 2022

Welcome Home to the 2022-2023 School Year!

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Our annual Back to School Night is Wednesday, August 31st beginning at 6 PM at Gross Catholic High School. Parents have the opportunity to follow their child’s schedule and meet all of the teachers. Additionally, we will take the time to train parents on how to use our new Facts Family Portal and Google Classroom.

Video Series

Please take a moment or two to meet your student’s teachers via video, especially if you can’t make it to our Back to School night.

Thank You

The faculty and staff here at Gross would like to welcome you to the new school year. Again, thank you for choosing Gross to be your home for education. Dux Esto!

What You May Have Missed

Follow Us on Social Media!

Parent Paws 8-26-2022

Welcome to the Parent Paws Newsletter!

The Parent Paws Newsletter appears in the News section of our website every Friday during the school year.

From The Principal

As we approach the beginning of September, please check out the calendar. Labor Day, Grandparents Day Mass and the Cougar Golf Classic are all coming soon. It’s a busy month with these activities and then we wrap up the month with homecoming. Lots going on and coming quickly.

Back to School Night is Wednesday, August 31st. It will start in the Innovation Center at 6 PM with a tutorial on how to navigate FACTS as well as how parents can utilize Google classroom Guardian. Following this, parents will walk through their child’s class schedule and meet their teachers. There will be a Spanish translator at this event.

The first school messenger test notifications will be sent on Friday, September 2nd and October 7th. Please contact the school office, if you do not receive them.

Please notify the school if anyone in your household has tested positive or has been exposed to someone that has tested positive, so that we can do our part to protect others in the building. If your student is ill and will not be in school, please notify the office.

Announcements

The varsity football game starting at 7 PM this evening, is being livestreamed.

Would you like to check out the the Mental Health Awareness August Newsletter from Catholic Charities?

G.C. Theatre Fall One Act Play is Show and Tell (inspired by the events of Sandy Hook Elementary). The show will run September 9th – 11th. You can purchase your tickets now.

Cougar Classic Golf Tournament is Monday, September 19th. Register today.

National Honor Society applications will be available after Labor Day. This is for new members only. Current members do not need to apply. Any questions can be directed to Mrs. Novotny at emnovotny@gcgmail.org.

Senior Spring DC trip tentative dates are March 4th – 7th. Total cost is $650 – $700. If interested please bring $50 to Mr. Powers by Friday 9/2.

The Human Sexuality Policy from the Archdiocese of Omaha has issued to Catholic school leaders. This will be added to our student hand book, effective January 1, 2023.

Please spread the word about the Alumni Volleyball Night on Thursday, September 15th. All alumni are encouraged to come to the games that evening at 5 PM (Reserve), 6 PM (JV) and 7 PM (Varsity). There will be special recognition for the 4 state champion teams as well as a reception for everyone, following the varsity game.

Campus Ministry

Junior Retreat is Wednesday, August 31st. Parents of Juniors must complete a waiver as well as the permission slip sent home in order for their student to participate. Additional information about the retreat is now available.

Grandparents Day Mass is Friday, September 9th. Grandparents should be receiving an invitation in the mail, within the next week. If you are not sure that we have your child’s grandparent address, please email dsledge@gcgmail.org, to confirm.

Counselors Corner

Students taking UNO Dual Enrollment Courses will be registering for them during their class period on Monday, August 29th.

Some dual enrollment students may qualify for an ACE scholarship that can be used to pay for your dual enrollment course. ACE stands for Access College Early and is a Nebraska-based initiative. Learn more.

New information regarding National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Eligibility is now available.

Senior Parents: College Visits are coming! Seniors have been invited to sign up to talk to college reps. Ask your senior if they signed up in the counseling office. Schools that have offered to come are: UNO, UNL, UNK, Concordia, Creighton, Metro, College of St. Mary, Wayne State, Nebraska Wesleyan, USD, KU, Kstate, Northwest Missouri State, Benedictine, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, University of Dayton! More schools will be coming! Seniors will receive emails with more information! Encourage your senior to check their email daily!

Thank You for Reading Parent Paws

Finally, we want express our gratitude to you for reading this week’s edition of Parent Paws!  Stay up to date on all that is happening by going to our News section.

What You May Have Missed

Follow Us on Social Media!

New Board Members Added

Povondra and Schneiderwind Add Their Expertise

It is with great pleasure that Gross Catholic High School announces the addition of two new members of our board, Dan Povondra and Blake Schneiderwind. Both gentlemen graduated from Gross Catholic.

New Board Member Dan Povondra’s Information

Dan Povondra graduated from Gross Catholic in 2000 where he met his future wife (Kelly Waring ‘00). While in high school, he participated in football, wrestling, and baseball. Dan attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a major in Finance and Banking. He currently serves as Vice President of Business Development at Arch Insurance.

Dan has three children; Cole (13), Evan (11), and Reese (8). He is actively involved in Jr. Cougar athletics and currently serves as head of the basketball program while also coaching teams in the baseball and football programs.

Dan said “My experience at Gross Catholic was one I will cherish and forever be thankful for. I look forward to my children having the same opportunity. I am committed to serving the Gross Catholic community and increasing enrollment to ensure the continued success of Gross Catholic for years to come.”

New Member Blake Schneiderwind’s Background

Blake Schneiderwind is an Omaha native and graduate of Gross Catholic, class of 2012. After graduating from Gross Catholic, Blake received his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his juris doctor from Creighton University School of Law. Blake is now a corporate and health care attorney at Erickson Sederstrom PC LLO.

Blake currently serves on the Gross Catholic Alumni Committee and is looking forward to joining the Board of Directors.

What You May Have Missed

Follow Us on Social Media!

 

 

Kosse Awarded Kaipust Memorial Scholarship

Honoring Leaders, Learning and Legacy!

Lauren Kosse, Class of 2026, Awarded the Mark Kaipust and Taylor Kaipust Memorial Scholarship

A shared commitment to faith, service, leadership and education has bridged a nearly 30-year gap between Gross Catholic alumnus, Mark Kaipust (class of 1998) and incoming freshman, Lauren Kosse (class of 2026).

Kosse Family. Lauren won the Kaipust Scholarship.Kosse was announced as the inaugural recipient of the Mark Kaipust & Taylor Kaipust Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship dedicated to honoring the legacy of Mark Kaipust and his son, Taylor. Mark was known as a genuinely loyal person who demonstrated great patience and a positive attitude. He lived out his mission as a Christian by serving others with his many talents and abilities.

Mrs. Kaipust Appreciates the Opportunity

Jamie Kaipust, Mark’s wife and Taylor’s Mom, appreciates the opportunity the scholarship provides to Gross Catholic students and the tribute it pays to Mark and Taylor.

“I love that this scholarship was started. Mark wanted nothing more than to achieve his own educational goals and help others achieve them as well. I can still hear him in the other room saying ‘trust the process.’ At the same time I’m sad to know Taylor never got the opportunity these kids will have, but I know Taylor wouldn’t be sad, he always wanted the best for everyone. He had such a beautiful heart and wanted to help people in big ways. Like inventing a cure for autism, and in small ways like making someone laugh. I hope the scholarship fund grows and expands to give kids a great opportunity and give more an opportunity to achieve their dreams and pay tribute to who Mark was and who Taylor aspired to be.”

Kosse Rose to the Top

Kosse, rose to the top of nearly 30 scholarship applicants by articulating how she would live out the same values during her time at Gross Catholic.

“To be the kind of leader Mr. Kaipust would encourage his son to be, I will actively participate in all kinds of high school youth groups such as LIFE, student council, softball and basketball, remain active in my home church community, and continue volunteering with veterans at the V.A. Hospital to help with my future career goals. I believe this kind of involvement and positivity by many of my new Gross classmates will make our high school continue to thrive and grow. It sends a message that Cougars have leadership and courage and aren’t afraid to tackle new challenges whatever they may be,” Kosse wrote.

Continue reading below, after the donation form,  in order to learn more about Lauren, her parents Marla and Alan Kosse and the Mark Kaipust and Taylor Kaipust Memorial Scholarship.

Contribute to the Mark Kaipust and Taylor Kaipust Memorial Scholarship

If the form is having trouble loading, try this link.

Q & A with the Kosses

Lauren- how did you feel when you received the news that you were selected?

When I received the news that I was selected for the scholarship, I felt surprised that people liked my essay. I was so excited! But, I feel lots of things, really. I feel a big responsibility to carry on some of the characteristics of two people. I feel proud to commemorate them and feel humbled to be the person chosen to honor them.

Marla and Alan- how does it feel knowing Lauren was selected as the scholarship recipient?

As parents, we feel honored that our daughter, Lauren, has been chosen to represent the Kaipust family through this scholarship. When Lauren first was notified, we felt an immediate sense of unworthiness and sadness for what the Kaipust family went through—the whole reason behind the scholarship. We remember the day Mark and Taylor died. We were traveling to the same place. And, we pray for their family. At the same time, we feel sincere appreciation at the opportunity Lauren has been given to pay tribute to the family through this scholarship.

Is there anything you would like to say/share with the Kaipust family and the scholarship contributors?

Lauren: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to honor Mark and Taylor through my work at Gross and for providing funds to put towards my education.

Marla and Alan: First and foremost, we are sorry for your loss—our deepest sympathy on the loss of Mark and Taylor. Thank you for helping Lauren with her educational path. We appreciate your generosity to assist our family with tuition, but also your continued support of Gross Catholic.

We know Lauren has many things she hopes to accomplish at school over the next four years. She feels a duty toward being a good student as well as fulfilling her role of being leader and a role model for others. Thank you for assisting in that.

Details of the Scholarship

1. Kaipust Memorial applicants must embody the qualities and characteristics Mark lived out each and every day – patience, positivity, leadership and service to others.

2. Applicants will submit a 200 word essay on the following prompts: ‘What does positive leadership look like in the high school environment and how can it lead to positive change?’

3. Applicants will provide a character reference from a non-family member. Reference should include first name, last name and email address

Applications for next Kaipust Memorial Scholarship will be available in the Spring of 2023. Contact the Admissions Office for more information.

What You May Have Missed

Follow Us on Social Media!