Dan Rozier (center) with Valle Catholic High Juniors and Seniors
"Your Future is Completely Malleable"
The Valle Catholic Schools Foundation was proud to host 2006 alumni Dan Rozier at the November 22, Lunch & Learn in the DuBourg Centre. Dan currently lives in Brooklyn, New York and is employed by Laundry Services, a New York City high end advertising agency focused on sports and culture. As their Creative Art Director, Dan has had the opportunity to work with top named sports legends, several major league franchises and numerous athletic companies to conceptualize and design the visuals of their advertising campaigns. He is most proud of his work with Nike which has allowed his team full creativity, access to several sports celebrities and various locations in the United States for video & photography. Dan was also instrumental in the recent Major League Baseball ad "Let the Kids Play". To view this ad click on the following link: https://www.mlb.com/video/let-the-kids-play-2-0?t=most-popular.
Dan's openness to sharing his vulnerabilities immediately engaged the junior and senior students with stories of being unsure of where to go to college or what major to pursue. With the encouragement and support of his parents, he graduated from Xavier University in Ohio with a degree in English. Leaving college in a down economy found Dan back home in Ste. Genevieve working odd jobs and searching for his purpose and career. He made the decision to return to Ohio and began driving senior citizens on errands and appointments while submitting resumes to local advertising agencies. When a volunteer opportunity arose at an ad agency Dan jumped at it. Eventually he was hired as a full-time member of the team a few months later. After gaining valuable experience and many successes in the local advertising market he once again took a big step, facing his fear, and moved to New York City to join the big leagues in advertising. When describing his work, Dan smiles and says, "Fun Chaos". He is blessed to work with so many imaginative and creative people in an industry that is ever changing. He explained there are other areas of advertising for students to consider beside Creative Art. Strategy which focuses on our culture today and identifies the market for a product and Design which is the technical side that works with the audio/visual and software programs. Leaving the students with a few thoughts, Dan says:
Dan is married and as a young father he loves living and working in New York City. It is where 90% of all advertising is headquartered and it feels like home. He is appreciative of his early life in Ste. Genevieve and says there is no other town like it. It is a community outside of urban sprawl with beautiful and historic French architecture and it gives you an experience and "story" no one else can tell. Thank you Dan!! You are True Valle Blue!!
On October 22, 2019 Seth Mueller, Valle Catholic High School class of 2016, was awarded a scholarship at the annual Scholarship Program of the College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at Mizzou. This scholarship was initiated by Emily Kertz Lampkin in honor of her father Dr. Alois Kertz and is annually supported by gifts of her three siblings and her father. This past year, a CAFNR Dean and other Mizzou alumni staff held a program at the DuBourg Centre in Ste. Genevieve to publicize this scholarship which gives preference to Valle Catholic High School graduates majoring in Animal Science or CAFNR. Congratulations to Seth! And thank you to the Kertz family! You are True Valle Blue!
Seth Mueller and Dr. Alois Kertz
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
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
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!
Juniors and seniors gathered for their Prom on Saturday, April 21st at DuBourg Centre.
Jack Staab, son of John and Carrie Staab was crowned King. Christine Peterson, daughter of Neil and Jocelyn Peterson was crowned Queen. Their court consisted of seniors Taylor Siebert & Luke Ritter with juniors Alivia Bauman & Kellen Blum. The rest of the 2018 Prom Court: Seniors: Autumn Naeger, Kaydance Heil, Hannah Viox, Thomas Otte, Clayton Drury, and Owen Schweigert.
Junior Class
Senior Class
To mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, Valle Catholic students and staff participated in a local March for Life in Ste. Genevieve. This was to coincide with the Washington DC March for Life attended by Valle seniors and juniors. The Valle silent march was held on Friday afternoon, January 19th.
This trip, made each year by juniors, seniors and parents is a wonderful opportunity to participate in what St. Pope John Paul wrote in The Gospel of Life: "It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable rights of individuals are founded and from which they develop." This year's pilgrimage was organized by Mrs. Jan Weiler, Mrs. Patty Shuh, and Mrs. Pam Basler.
Aside from standing up for the unborn, the group had an opportunity to visit the sites in and around our capital city. A special moment occurred as students placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Watch a video of the ceremony below.
The final stop before leaving Washington was a visit to the Pentagon Memorial, a permanent outdoor memorial to the 184 people who died as victims in the building and on American Airlines Flight 77 during the September 11 attacks.
The mission of the March for Life held each year in Washington DC, is to provide all Americans with a place to testify to the beauty of life and the dignity of each human person. The March unites and strategizes around a common message, and communicates a message to the government, the media and the nation in a way that is powerful and life-affirming.
Valle Catholic Class of 2017 put on their caps and gowns on Tuesday, May 16th for the Annual "Senior Walk" through an Honor Guard formed by all the students from Valle Catholic. The younger students along with many of the senior moms & dads cheered them on, gave them high fives, and shared in the excitement of their accomplishments. After the "Walk" there was an opportunity for a Last Day photo with the Valle seniors & the Valle Kindergarten class just like was taken on the First Day in August. VHS Graduation Mass is scheduled for Saturday, May 20th. Kindergarten celebration is May 23rd. Congratulations, Warriors, both big & little! See the video here!
Members of Valle Catholic High School's Class of 2018 received their rings during a special Mass held on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at the Church of Ste. Genevieve. Celebrant was Associate Pastor Father Greg Klump. Father blessed the rings, and students came forward as their names were announced by Mr. Nathan Gegg. Rings were presented by Valle principal, Mr. Paul Hinman. VHS Seniors sang in the choir, and servers were Owen, Alex and Isaac Viox, brothers of junior Hannah Viox. The ring presentation is symbolic of the students' future role as leaders of Valle Catholic High School. The students are encouraged "to view their rings as symbols of their Christian identity and all that Valle stands for." The ring is also a reminder that they will always belong and be a part of the Valle family.
On Friday, April 28th Mary Joggerst, KONA Ice owner & Valle Catholic 1st Grade teacher helped Valle seniors, Jessica Bahr and Maddie Meyer raise money for prom during high school activity period and Mrs. Joggerst's recess. $136 was raised for some of the prom expenses! Valle's junior/senior prom was held on Saturday, April 29th at the DuBourg Centre. Cole Wood, son of Ron & Amy Wood was crowned King. Anna Fallert, daughter of Mark & Julia Fallert was crowned Queen. Their court consisted of seniors Josh Bader & Emma Carron with juniors Owen Schweigert & Autumn Naeger.
Pictured above are Valle seniors before prom, and pictured below are Valle juniors before prom.