NCEA honors St. Louis educators

Three individuals and group of educators, all from high schools in the archdiocese, have been selected winners of the 2017 installment of "Lead. Learn. Proclaim" awards by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). They are: Marianist Father Ralph Siefert, president at Chaminade College Prep School; Kathleen Hertlein, dean of social studies and theology and a theology teacher at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School; Kathleen Stinehart, a theology teacher at Ursuline Academy; and the campus ministry team at St. Louis University High School — chairman Nicholas Ehlman, campus ministers Meg Beugg and Brian Gilmore, and teachers Simonie Arzalone, Daniel Finucane, Jesuit Father Joe Hill and Nick Schwertz. They were among 41 award winners, who will be feted Tuesday, April 18, at the NCEA Convention & Expo, in St. Louis. The Archdiocese of St. Louis was among only five (of 29) dioceses and archdioceses to have multiple schools honored. St. Louis finished second behind the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which had six. The Archdiocese of Washington followed with three and the Dallas and Des Moines dioceses with two each.

NEW PRINCIPALS

St. John Vianney High

Ian Mulligan is the new principal of St. John Vianney High School in Kirkwood, effective in July. The announcement by Vianney President Michael Loyet comes after a seven-month nationwide search. Mulligan earned an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Dayton and a master's degree in educational leadership from Regis University in Denver. Respected for his STEM curriculum design and implementation capabilities, he is currently the STEM coordinator at St. Gabriel the Archangel School in south St. Louis. Mulligan served as the assistant principal at Rangeview High School in Aurora, Colo., from 2013-16, where he was recruited to lead its STEM and visual and performing arts programs. From 2007-13, he taught biology, physics and geology at Regis Jesuit High School in Denver. As a graduate assistant and scholarship soccer player (team captain in 2006) at the University of Dayton, Mulligan taught biology and chemistry at Dayton Early College Academy. Mulligan attended St. Margaret Mary Alacoque School in south St. Louis County and St. Louis University High School. He and his wife, Lisa, have been married for seven years and have two children. Lisa is the program director for Girls on the Run-St. Louis. They are members of St. Gabriel Parish. Mulligan's father, Pat, is a Vianney graduate.

St. Louis University High

St. Louis University High School has named Jesuit Father Ian Gibbons as the school's next principal, beginning July 1. Originally from St. Louis, Father Gibbons entered the Jesuit order in 1995 and was ordained in 2006. Previously, he has assisted with student affairs at Regis Jesuit in Denver, created English programs at Fényi Gyula Jezsuita in Miskolc, Hungary, and worked in development at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston. After ordination, Father Gibbons spent six years as the pastoral, service and faculty formation director at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City. While at Rockhurst, he also served as the NFL's Catholic chaplain for visiting football teams. Father Gibbons has taught economics, history, Scripture, world religions and business accounting. Father Gibbons earned a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in business administration from Southern Illinois University. He has master's degrees from St. Louis University (American Studies), Boston College (Masters of Divinity) and University of San Francisco (Catholic Education Leadership).

Ursuline student claims national honor

Ursuline Academy junior Reagan Becnel has been named an honorable mention recipient of the 2017 National Center for Women & IT (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing Award. She's the only St. Louis-area student to be recognized at the national level and won the award at the local level in 2016. Becnel belongs to Ursuline's Girls Who Code Club and participates in the World Wide Technology STEM Student Forum.

Cardinal Ritter Senior Services honors employees

Christine Hannigan, dietary manager at DuBourg House Assisted Living Facility, was recently honored as Cardinal Ritter Senior Services' Employee of the Year. Sherrell Taylor, restorative aide in the physical therapy department at Mary Queen and Mother Center Nursing Home, was awarded with the organization's Mission Person of the Year Star. Additionally, 21 employees were honored for their years of service.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Paulines set winter schedule for WINE

"The Grace of Yes: Eight Virtues for Generous Living," by Lisa Hendey, will be the focus of the Daughters of St. Paul winter book club, WINE (Women in the New Evangelization): Read Between the Wine's." The club will meet for one-hour sessions at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, Jan. 18 to March 1 at Pauline Books & Media, 9804 Watson Road. in Crestwood. For more information or to register, call (314) 965-3512.

"We Are One Body" retreat

Il Ritiro Franciscan Retreat Center is hosting a "We Are One Body" retreat from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the retreat center in Dittmer. The retreat will explore what it means to live in the spirit of unity as one body in Christ. Kathleen Davis will be the presenter. Cost is $24 ($40 for two) before Jan. 20 and $34 ($60 for two) after that date. Lunch is included and scholarships are available. For more information, visit www.il-ritiro.org or call (636) 274-0554.

Doorways sees red

Doorways' annual Red event will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, hosted by co-chairs Dr. Rick and Christine Pennell and Steve and Mary Schoolman at the Ritz Carlton Hotel from 7 p.m. to midnight. The gala features dinner, dancing, auction and raffle. The black-tie optional event raises funds to provide housing and related supportive services to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Doorways has seven housing complexes in the City of St. Louis, a residential care facility and numerous assistance programs to offer hope and healing for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Doorways' programs and services span the 15-county St. Louis metropolitan area, 62 underserved counties in outstate Missouri and another 55 underserved counties in outstate Illinois. The program receives a grant from the Annual Catholic Appeal. For more information, visit www.doorwaysRED.org.