Homecoming week brings 90s theme, alumni back to NDCL

Fr. Anthony Suso `00 and Fr. Peter Kovacina `03 presided at the Homecoming mass

During the week of Oct. 1 to 6, the NDCL community celebrated Homecoming in true 90s fashion.

This year’s Homecoming theme, 'The 90s Are All That,' began with ‘Back to the 90s Fashion’ where students came to school dressed in 90s styles. 

From high wasted jeans to tie-dye shirts and baggy sweatshirts, students brought retro-creativity to their wardrobe for the day.

On Tuesday, students focused on being ‘All Grown Up’ as they returned to dress uniform for the Homecoming liturgy. Returning to NDCL, Father Peter Kovacina '03 and Father Anthony Suso '00 celebrated mass, making it a true home-coming event. 

Students returned to 90s attire on Wednesday by dressing like famous 90s celebrities, musicians, stars and leaders. From Michael Jackson to Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, students looked back at the people they once admired. 

Mario and Luigi enjoy lunch together on 'Throwback Thursday'

For ‘Throwback Thursday’, students dressed like their favorite 90s cartoon or video game characters. During their lunch and activity period, they had the opportunity to play Nintendo 64 and capture their costumes forever by taking photos in a photo booth. 

The finale of the school week, Friday’s NDCL Day, consisted of the Homecoming pep rally and football game against Walsh Jesuit. 

NDCL alumni joined in the Homecoming celebrations on Friday for the Annual Alumni Homecoming Social. Over 25 alumni and their families enjoyed food, beverages, raffle prizes, face painting and Lion spirit before heading over to the football game.  Under sporadic rain showers and the bright lights of Lion Stadium, the Lions defeated the Warriors, 28-7, boosting their overall record to 5-2.

Homecoming week 2012 ended with, what else, but a 'Night in the 90s' themed dance in the McGarry gymnasium. NDCL students danced and macarena’d throughout the evening, concluding a week filled with 90s fun! 

(L to R) Chris Stergar `93, Molly Randel Smith `95, Kelly Kane Keefe `93 and their families gather Friday, Oct. 5 at the Alumni Homecoming Social

Soccer Alumni Team Up With Students

2012 Alumni vs. Student Soccer Scrimmage

In preparation for the upcoming season, the NDCL boy's varsity soccer team faced an unusual opponent, a team of NDCL alumni, who like themselves, once played for the Blue and Gold.

The two teams competed against one another in an alumni soccer game Monday, Aug. 13 at NDCL's soccer field. 

Michael Sesar, boy's head varsity soccer coach, coordinated the scrimmage and recruited 30 talented alumni for the game. A very competitive game, the alumni team came up on top defeating the varsity, 4-2.

For the alumni, it was an enjoyable experience revisiting their Alma mater.  

"It was great coming back to campus and spending time with the NDCL soccer family," said Chris Bondra, a 2006 grad. 

"Coach Sesar does a great job of including the alumni on what is happening with the team and it was nice to be sharing those experiences with the guys I used go to school with as well as the current team," said Bondra.

  

After the game, the teams enjoyed a cook-out and reminisced on their experiences playing at the school. 

NDCL alum and Assistant Boy's Varsity Coach Marco DiFranco said he hopes the game will become an annual event. 

"We will definitely try and do it again next year and hopefully, make it an even bigger event with more alumni attending," said DiFranco.

 

Maj. Joe Ludick '93 shares tour of Marine One

Maj. Joe Ludick '93 and Keven Krajnak '98 pose in front of Marine One

Maj. Joe Ludick '93 hovered home this past week- in presidential style.

Ludick flew the VH-60 "White Hawk" to NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland in preparation for President Obama's visit to Cuyahoga Community College Thursday, June 14. More commonly known as Marine One, the VH-60 is the President's personal helicopter transport.

Before his promotion to Major status, Ludick personally transported the Vice President and heads of state as a HMX-1 pilot. Ludick's service in the Marine Corps also includes three deployments to the Middle East, one tour in Iraq and two tours in Kuwait. 

Ludick invited NDCL students for a private tour of Marine One on Tuesday, June 12.

Executive Student Council members Jim Vanek, Diana Muzina, Steven Takacs, and Anna Tilisky were present along with Major Gifts Officer Keven Krajnak '98 and Director of Alumni Relations Liz Maier '06.

"We are very lucky and grateful that Maj. Ludick gave us the opportunity to tour Marine One. It was interesting to hear his stories about training and the daily procedures he has to go through to make conditions perfect for the most photographed aircraft in the world," said Vanek. 

The NDCL community thanks Maj. Ludick for his service to our country and loyalty to his alma mater!

Spring Service Day at Saint Francis is May 5

We need you on Saturday, May 5 for the NDCL Alumni Association's 5th annual Service Day at Saint Francis School in Cleveland.  

We are looking for 35 alumni volunteers to make this day possible for 80+ grade school children at Saint Francis from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

This will be our fifth year planning this event and we want to make it our best yet.  Email John Werner `00, VP for Events, at wernerjt@hotmail.com to volunteer.

Super Bowl Squares and NCAA Basketball Squares on sale now!

The NDCL Alumni Association is selling squares for the Super Bowl and for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.  Squares are $100 each with fantastic cash prizes! Proceeds from these raffles go directly to the NDCL Alumni Association Scholarship.  Click here for the rules and order form for the Super Bowl squares and click here for rules and order form for NCAA squares.

When fully-funded ($25,000), this endowed scholarship will be awarded to children of NDCL alumni who meet the scholarship criteria at NDCL.  Our goal is to reach $25,000 by spring 2013--nearly $10,000 is already funded.  

Hurry! The deadline to purchase Super Bowl squares is Friday, February 3rd! 
Questions? Call Keven Krajnak `98 at 440.279.1068.

NDCL announces plans for major campus enhancements in 2012

NDCL announces plans to cut ribbons on major campus enhancements in 2012

NDCL's campus will transform in 2012 as we move forward with three exciting enhancements to our vibrant campus of faith and learning.

• Lion Stadium Initiative includes a synthetic turf field and a new all-weather track to showcase this focal point of our campus for athletic and other activities.

• The Capstone Projects
     
  • Performing Arts Center will provide a professional venue for our drama and music programs as well as assemblies and ceremonies throughout the school year.
        
  • New Athletic Facility will feature more than 8,000 square feet of practice and competition space for our student-athletes in all sports seasons.

These three initiatives represent a $3.7 million dollar investment in NDCL as we strive to live our mission to educate leaders who transform the world, as Jesus did, by living the truth in love.

Click here to learn more about these exciting initiatives.

NDCL Fund Phonathon

Junior Jimmy Vanek was one of the top callers in this year's Phonathon

Thank you  NDCL alumni and friends who generously supported the NDCL Fund Phonathon earlier this month. NDCL students manned the phones and collected 323 pledges in just 4 nights! 

In addition to connecting with alumni, our students earned real-world sales experience.  The Phonathon is just a part of our effort to reach our goal of raising $285,000 for this year's NDCL Fund.

The NDCL Fund is our annual giving program designed to fund scholarships and assistance for NDCL students. Support of the NDCL fund allows students to share fully in the NDCL experience.

Visit www.ndcl.org/giving to learn more or make your gift today!