Valle Catholic Schools Foundation sponsored another in its series of Lunch & Learn, for the Valle Catholic High School students. The speaker was Mr. Matthew Brummund, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigations. Mr. Brummund started his career as an attorney in 1995, a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, holding positions as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Michigan. He became an FBI agent in 2002. He is currently stationed in St. Louis raising a family of six children. Mr. Brummund spoke to students about his career path through many varied positions in the FBI. He emphasized to the students to major in what they love in college, that there are many different paths to become an FBI agent, or other similar Federal Law Enforcement organizations such as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Homeland Security Agent, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and many others in which you can serve your country and communities.
Mr. Brummund spoke about his experiences in Human Intelligence, Investigations, and a Crisis Management Coordinator during incidents such as Ferguson, kidnapping cases and Civil Rights investigations. His experiences are extensive and varied. “This type of exposure is fantastic for our high school students, from freshman to seniors, who are discerning what majors or careers paths to pursue”, Cindy Loida, Valle Catholic Schools Foundation President. “Valle Catholic is grateful to the Foundation for hosting our students in a professional Lunch & Learn series, we are so very fortunate to give them these experiences”. Fr. Edward Nemeth, Head of Valle Catholic Schools. The series continues this year and into next school year.
Mr. Matthew Brummund
STE. GENEVIEVE, MO, April 9, 2019 -- Representatives from the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) celebrated Dr. Alois (Al) Kertz and his family for their generosity in Ste. Genevieve on Saturday, April 6th at the DuBourg Centre. The Kertz family has a scholarship named in honor of their father, Al, that provides funds to support a student studying Animal Sciences or Food Sciences, preferably to students graduating from Valle Catholic High School or Ste. Genevieve High School.
Family, friends and community members from Ste. Genevieve joined faculty and staff from the University of Missouri last weekend to celebrate the Kertz award. Dr. Kertz had a unique education experience. One of seven, his parents took on a significant financial burden to send all of their children to Valle Catholic High School. His education at Valle Catholic served as a spark that encouraged him to continue on, completing two degrees at the University: a BS in Agriculture focused on Dairy Husbandry in 1967 and a Master of Science studying Dairy Cattle Nutrition in 1968. After serving several years in the military, he attended Cornell University where he completed his Ph.D., focusing his work on animal nutrition. In 2018, he received a Citation of Merit Award from the CAFNR Alumni Association, recognizing his career and research.
Professionally, Dr. Kertz has had a significant impact in his field, traveling extensively both inside and outside the US to consult on the nutrition, feeding, and management of dairy cattle. He worked for many years for Ralston Purina/Purina Mills and is currently the Founder and Principal of Andhil LLC Consulting Services. Personally, Dr. Kertz has four children, three of whom are MU graduates, and nine grandchildren.
Scholarships in CAFNR are an essential part of the recruitment and retention strategy for the college. Thanks to generous donors like the Kertz family, CAFNR is able to offer $1.5 million in scholarships each year; 83% of eligible continuing students who applied received a CAFNR scholarship. The College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources is home to 12 undergraduate degree programs, 12 graduate degree programs, and many research opportunities and real-world laboratory experiences.
Dr. Al Kertz with his grandson, Andrew, his wife Molly, and daughter Emily
Dr. Al Kertz with his daughter, Emily.
Dr. Al Kertz speaking at the DuBourg Centre
Valle Catholic Schools Foundation hosted Julie Murphy Finn in their 2nd spring "Lunch & Learn Speaker Series". This is a program supported by Valle Schools Foundation to promote and encourage their student body to dream big and to better understand all the diverse opportunities that are possible in a changing world. " The greater exposure we are able to provide the students at Valle Catholic, the more open and prepared they will be to make the important decisions that await them after their education at Valle. We continue to send exceptional students out into the world who have the skills to do well, but also the moral compass to do good", commented Cindy Loida, President of Valle Catholic Schools Foundation.
Julie Murphy Finn is a 1989 proud graduate of Valle Catholic and St. Louis University. Julie currently works for Kit Bond Strategies where she is the Director of Economic Development and Governmental Affairs. Julie was able to capture the attention of the Valle students by explaining her individual journey growing up in Ste. Genevieve and how Valle was a cornerstone of encouragement and support that helped her understand the importance of hard work, finding your passion, and dreaming big. Julie told the students that when you dream big, sometimes it is intimidating and you will be afraid, but stay true to your dream and persevere.
"You will find that being a graduate of Valle Catholic Schools means that you will have a wonderful support group of other Valle Catholic graduates around the world who will always be there for you. Throughout my professional career and personal life, being part of "The Valle Family" has meant so much to me and my family. Be faithful, believe in yourself, and wake up every morning remembering the values you learned while a student at Valle Catholic. I hope that if you remember any thing today, you remember this message".
Some of the children of the Class of 1989 Valle graduates.
Julie Murphy Finn
The Valle Catholic Schools Foundation is proud to sponsor a concert featuring Christine Westhoff, accompanied by organist, Timothy Allen, Friday, December 21, 2018 at 7pm in the Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church. Following the concert, attendees are invited to The DuBourg Centre for refreshments.
Ms. Westhoff, a St Louis born soprano, has sung throughout the USA and Europe and her recordings have been heard and broadcast all over the world. She is known for her imaginative programming and an engaging platform presence. Her program will feature sacred Christmas favorites interspersed with seasonal organ music played by Timothy Allen.
Biographies
Classically trained as a lyric operatic soprano, Christine Westhoff is a leading American artist in the area of oratorio and sacred music, bringing the beauty of sacred music all over the world. Christine’s recordings are being heard in literally every continent.
Considered a prodigy by many of her early voice teachers, Christine began her vocal training at the age of 9 and, by the age of 11 was studying and training with various university professors. Since then, Christine has devoted herself to perfecting her art and to breathing new life into the sacred texts of bygone centuries.
The 2011 release of her first recording, Ora Pro Nobis, was, for many, an introduction to the beauty of sacred music and Christine is committed deeply to the introduction and reintroduction of these sacred texts to a world that has all but forgotten many of them.
Christine’s Christmas album, Hark! became an international success. It has sold online the world over and was listed as a top seller in Independent Music sales charts. It is featured as part of the playlist for the Irish Republic’s Classical Music Station, Lyric FM.
In 2017 Christine released her patriotic recording, Glory Hallelujah! A celebration of America in well loved songs and hymns. This collection has been streamed online from coast to coast and is continuing to make an impact on the music scene.
Christine is in demand as a concert singer and recording artist. She has sung all over the world in some of the most sacred and spectacular venues. She has given concerts in Italy, England, Ireland, France, and Canada. She was a featured artist for the Arkansas Symphony and future engagements include a concert with The Priests in November 2018, a series of Cathedral recitals in the United Kingdom in June 2019, as well as the release of new recordings in Fall 2018.
Christine is represented by the Concert Artist Co-operative
Timothy Allen has worked in Cathedrals and Universities on both sides of the Atlantic. He studied Music as an Organ Scholar at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University where he studied with Nicolas Kynaston.
In 1986 Tim became Assistant Organist at Chelmsford Cathedral before his appointment, in 1991, as Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Columb’s Cathedral, Derry, N. Ireland. In a busy ten years he revived the choir of men and boys and founded a major cross-community Music Festival with his colleague from Derry’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Donal Doherty.
Tim moved to the USA in 2001 to take up a position in St Louis. In 2006 he became the Organist at Trinity Cathedral in Little Rock, moving in 2012 to his current position at St Mark’s Episcopal Church also in Little Rock. He directs a growing choral and instrumental program. He is also College Organist at Hendrix College, Conway. He is represented by the Concert Artists Co-operative.
In order for Valle Catholic students to be successful post-graduation, they must be exposed to more than just classroom learning, being prepared for success often means we must look outside the classroom format.
The Valle Catholic Schools Foundation has launched a new initiative, “Lunch & Learn”. Valle High School Juniors and Seniors will be hosted by the Valle Catholic Schools Foundation at the Dubourg Centre on a regular basis for lunch and a guest speaker. During the Lunch & Learn series, we look forward to welcoming speakers of various fields and occupations as well as topics meant to enrich and educate students in experiences outside college classes such as; interviewing, networking, etiquette, etc. Not only will the students be exposed to various industries and occupations, they will have the opportunity to make valuable networking connections and meet many of our fabulous alumni!
We were excited to welcome our first guest speaker yesterday, Maria Rozier Kiphart ‘03, Senior Manager of Consumer Insights at Procter & Gamble. Maria shared her education and career path with Valle students. She emphasized the importance and positive impact that networking can play in college, as well as how it helped her successful placement at Procter & Gamble. She discussed her role in consumer insights and the detailed and time intensive research that goes into understanding what products will be successful in various markets. Maria has traveled globally in her position and shared what a positive experience she has had at Procter & Gamble. She left the students with her email address and sincere offer to help anyone who needs “networking help” from many of the Valle graduates she is connected with through her business dealings. Thank you, Maria!
Maria is True Valle Blue!
Valle Catholic Schools Foundation recognizes Award Winning Valle Catholic Schools. Last week the administration of Valle Catholic Schools was notified that they are being recognized, and presented the St. Louis regional award of "Do The Right Thing". This special school award is presented to Valle Catholic Schools because of their commitment and recognizing those students who make positive choices, and For The Right Thing. Valle Catholic embodies the true meaning of a Catholic School that strives to give their students the educational tools to do well in the world, but also has as a primary focus to prepare their students to do good for others. Pictured receiving the bouquet of balloons from the Valle Catholic Schools Foundation are Mrs. Jill Metzger, Director of Admissions, Fr. Edward Nemeth, Head of Schools, Mrs. Elaine Blair, Grade School Principal, and the Do The Right Thing student recipients. Back row: Trey Metzger, David Tague, Natalie Kist. Middle row: Brice Prunea, Cecilia Meyer, Cameryn Hobbs, Colton Kutz, Triston Peterson. Front row: Rhea Meyer, Colton Lipp.
Members of the Foundation's Legacy Society rode the Ste. Genevieve Trolley to Cave Vineyard earlier this month for an afternoon of wine, spirits, and education. We started the day with a Mass celebrated by Father Nemeth in the Brandy Room. Wine tasting, food, and fun followed. It was a beautiful day!
The group was treated to a mini wine education class lead by owner/winemaker, Marty Strussion. They learned about growing grapes here in MO as well as the winemaking process. As they sampled Cave Vineyard’s award winning wines, they also learned about the science of food and wine pairing while nibbling various meats and cheeses. The class concluded with a sampling of Cave’s Biscotti which is baked in house. Italians have been dunking their biscotti in wine for years and it has become treat not to be missed when visiting Cave Vineyard.
After the class, the group was treated to a tour of the new Cave Vineyard Distillery and new reception space, The Brandy Room. Several of our Legacy Society members enjoyed sampling the brandy, and all seemed to agree that it was up to snuff!
If you are interested in joining the Foundation's Legacy Society contact Julie Prudent at admin@valleschoolsfoundation.org.