December 2019

CJ Performing Arts Presents: Sounds of the Season

The entire family can get into the Christmas spirit when CJ Performing Arts Presents: Sounds of the Season, a Christmas Concert, on Thursday, December 12 at 7 p.m. The performance will take place in the CJ auditorium.

Ensembles performing at the concert will include concert band, concert choir, liturgical choir, string ensemble, Hands in Harmony, a cappella groups Phoenix and Vega, and the new dance ensemble and guitar ensemble. The 6th grade choir from Our Lady of the Rosary will also perform. Performances will feature both sacred and secular music.

Posted December 9, 2019

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performing arts

Financial Investing Class Participates in Local Competition

Fake money - but real outcomes. That’s what students participating in the University of Dayton’s Davis Center’s High School Portfolio Competition face each year. This year, two groups from CJ made enough of a fictitious profit to present for the final evaluation.

The team, “Good to Roll?” placed third overall prior to the evaluation. Team members were Austin Baker ‘20, Nick Bridget ‘20 and Kyle Peters ‘20. The team, “Wakanda Forever” placed fourth overall prior to the evaluation. Team members were Calvin Hatcher ‘20, Meyah Haywood ‘20, Lamareia Mack ‘20 and Takiyah Watson ‘20.

“The challenge was fun and exciting,” said Hatcher. “Our group really didn't expect to do as well as we did.”

“It was really fun,” agreed Peters.

Students chose ten real stocks to “invest” their fictitious money in - $100,000 overall. “Good to Roll?” finished the competition with a profit of $7,191.96. “Wakanda Forever” finished with a profit of $6,134.28. Out of the five groups participating at CJ, four of them placed in the top seven overall.

“Throughout the challenge we were excited for the ending results but were hesitant to change our portfolio,” said Mack. “Now that the challenge is over, and knowing that we were one of the top groups in the area, it’s interesting because we didn't expect this. We were very grateful for this opportunity.”

Posted December 12, 2019

Students Attend National NCYC Conference

Last month, 20,000 teenagers from across the nation came together for three days of prayer, community and empowerment.

The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) is held every other year and this year, several CJ students attended the event.

“I have always been interested in attending NCYC since I first heard about it freshman year,” Claire Leingang ‘21 said. “I have heard only incredible things about this experience and I knew it would be an amazing opportunity for me.”

“Being able to go and show how much God has helped me and how he has changed my life is something I wish everyone was able to do,” shared Mia Andrews-Pope ‘21 who went to the conference with others from her parish — St. Christopher. 

Those who attended said they enjoyed the experience for multiple reasons.

“My favorite part was the Eucharistic Adoration we attended on Friday night,” said Chi Ejinaka ‘21. “It was hands down the most beautiful experience of my life! There were 20,000 people gathered in the stadium on their knees singing out to God united in prayer, and it was just so powerful that the emotional impact was unlike anything I've ever experienced before.”

“Seeing teens running up to kneel in front of the Lord was one of the most powerful things I have ever felt and seen,” added Meghan Jette ‘23. “I truly felt God's presence with me and everyone there.”

“I loved listening to the speakers and hearing different ideas of how faith can be lived out in our lives,” shared Mikayla Jette ‘21. “For me personally, I felt really connected to the theme of this year's conference: Blessed, Broken, Given; and each talk I went to had a different message for me to take away and apply to my life.”

All who attended said they grew from being at the conference, and would encourage others to attend.

“It is an amazing way to learn more about your faith and yourself,” said Meghan Jette.

Leingang agreed, “I would 100% recommend NCYC to anyone and everyone, no matter where one is in their faith journey. NCYC was one of the best experiences of my life.”

“Being surrounded by tens of thousands of teenagers who genuinely want to be closer to God is so powerful and transformative, and the event really does leave an impact,” shared Ejinaka.

Andrews-Pope added, “You are all there for the same reason: GOD! Another great thing about NCYC is that if you are unsure about your relationship with God you can go on this trip and find it.”

“NCYC is a great conference to attend if you are looking to get your feet wet with your faith or even if you are just looking for a way to meet new people that love Jesus and want to show it,” reflected Mikayla Jette. “It was the first 'big' faith experience I went on and it completely changed my life. It created a faith I did not expect I would have.”

Posted December 12, 2019

Students Share Gratitude at Scholarship Breakfast

It’s an annual tradition just before the celebration of Thanksgiving where students have the opportunity to share gratitude in person with contributors who help make their education at Chaminade Julienne possible.

Dozens of students and benefactors gathered for the Scholarship Breakfast on Friday, November 22.

“This is always a great opportunity for both the students and contributors to come together at the school and learn more about each other,” said Ann Szabo ‘72, Alumni Relations Coordinator.

“This was my first year at the breakfast,” shared Jason Ward ‘21. “I got to learn more about the family helping me and it was cool to talk with them.”

Ann Shillito Rougier ‘76, one of the family members supporting the Shillito Family Scholarship, spoke about her opportunity to meet those impacted by the scholarship.

“I have never had a better moment at CJ,” Rougier said. “I think because I knew several of the young ladies from years past, or reading their applicant essays confirmed we are doing the right thing. I thought a true and real feeling of believing in what we do as a family for the CJ community came over me that morning where as I left I had to hug all of them and made a vow that they would let me know how first year college was going. I was able to give them advice as a college professor on what not and what to do. They thought that was funny when I said be honest with your professor, they are also humans. (some may not seem like that). I also told them that if the author of their text is your professor, you best be reading the book!”

Julia DiLoreto ‘20, one of the Shillito Family Scholarship recipients said, “I heard about her experiences at CJ and we had a great time comparing how it was back then to its present state. Plus, she shared some funny stories with us about her high school years that had us all laughing.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to meet my benefactor and thank her in person for her generosity and be able to meet her.”

Learn more about CJ scholarships available to students in grades 10-12 here.

Posted December 5, 2019

#becauseofCJ: Reflection from C.J. '14

During this season of thanks, alumni like C.J. Riazzi '14 are sharing how they are succeeding today #becauseofCJ:

Dear CJ Community,

Words cannot express the gratitude I have for the humility, faith, and culture that you all have made me blessed to be a part of. Whether you know me or not, I feel that it is only appropriate to mention that my journey to a green cap and gown was different than most of my fellow alumni. Nevertheless, I feel that different stories are what make our community great, so here is mine.

Currently, I am a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force and I have the pleasure of being stationed in Los Angeles, California. Since graduating, I have been blessed beyond measure in both relationships and opportunities. I attended one of the top business management schools in the country, completed basic military and survival training, and played four years of DI football at the Air Force Academy. While stationed in Los Angeles, I have been working to ensure the successful launch of multiple government rockets that often carry billion-dollar satellites. I have been all over the country to work with various satellite programs and rocket systems. Without going into the weeds too much, I can easily say that my college and work experience could not have been possible without the people at Chaminade Julienne. 

I came to CJ in 2012 as a six-foot-two, skinny basketball player meeting everyone else at freshman orientation for the first time including my future teammates. There was only one difference with me that day — I was not a freshman, rather, a junior transfer walking the halls at orientation. I had previously attended another Catholic school and to say that this transition was difficult would be an understatement. 

As a 16-year-old kid, it is tough to understand why you lost most of your friends and the support of many adults that you grew up knowing, just because you made a decision to change high schools. You, the CJ community, helped me see beyond these things. Over the next two years, and to this day, the compassion and affability that I received from you all is incredible. Looking back now, I can say without a doubt that the decision I made as a 16-year-old kid was one of the best decisions I have made to date.

Sports were a huge part of my life at CJ. Playing basketball for Coach Staley is something I will never forget. Every time I stepped into the gym it was meaningful. Whether heartbreak or triumph, dunking against Dunbar, Lima, and Alter, or losing against Fenwick and Thurgood, the ride that was CJ basketball will forever hold a place in my memory. The coaches and my fellow teammates made me a better player and more importantly, a better person. At CJ there were no politics or team drama. Everyone was constantly pushed to be the best person they could be and that was certainly something special. That is a large part of why I remain close with everyone that played a part in getting that team and myself where we ended up. The same could be said for my experience with the football team.

Football wasn’t even on my radar when I first stepped foot into CJ. I played when I was younger but stopped in 8th grade to put all of my focus on basketball. It wasn’t until my senior year that I walked into Coach Colvin’s classroom to tell him that I wanted to play. The rest was history. A couple weeks into the season, we were off to a very successful start. Not long after that, Coach Colvin was stopping by my classes or at lunch to introduce me to college coaches. Before long, I had taken a visit and committed to the United States Air Force Academy.
My career and ultimately my life had come full circle in a matter of two years. All of this certainly gave me the gift of humility. The ups and downs from start to finish taught me so much about myself as well as the wonderful community that I had around me. I truly owe it to Coach Colvin, Coach Staley, and every person or program at Chaminade Julienne — something I never would have realized without the help, love, and support of you all, the CJ community.

With all this said, I firmly believe that God played the main role in every single one of my endeavors. Faith is so strong at CJ. After being at the school for a short time, I was even sharing my life stories with sophomores at their retreat. I made lifelong friends at Kairos, sharing my roller coaster high school story with my peers. Most of the time I am able to visit home, I attend Wednesday morning Mass with a group of CJ alumni, parents, staff, and parishioners. It is pretty amazing to see the eclectic group of people that gather for 7:30 a.m. Mass at Emmanuel Church and it has become a highlight of mine every time that I am home. It further speaks to the sense of community and strong rooted faith present down on Ludlow Street.

Every one of these memories truly are special. They are always fun to reminisce on but at this stage in my life, they are only memories after all. The most meaningful thing that my time at CJ provided me were relationships. Visiting home and getting a drink with the Staley’s or getting wings with Coach Colvin and some old teammates serve as a testament to the strong relationships and the lasting impact that the CJ community has in my life. Just as football and the Air Force weren’t in my “plans”, in all honesty neither was CJ. As it turns out, all three of those things will go down as the best decisions of my life.

I owe everything to you all. Everything that I continually mention, humility, faith, and culture, have become staples in my life and I am positive that they are staples in yours as well. So I write this reflection as more of a thanksgiving to the CJ community. You will always hold a special place in my heart. For welcoming me and sending me off the right way. I will be sure to return often and maintain in close contact.

Thank you for all that you have done for me, making me the person I am today. I know that you will continue to inspire those behind me to do the same; cherishing humility, faith, and culture,

C.J. Riazzi, Class of 2014

Through your gift to the Annual Fund, you made this happen. Please consider making your gift today.

Posted November 27, 2019