available online - Bishop O'Connell High School

Why We GiveAl Bracht ’70AlumnusGoing all the way back to my days atSt. John’s Elementary, I can rememberthe CYO basketball games played in theO’Connell gym. Not only was the great biggym available to us CYO kids, there wasAl Burch refereeing the games. Not onlywas Al refereeing, he was teaching as well,something that would touch so many lives.In the spring of 1966 sitting in my homeroomclass in 8th grade, we listened tothe public announcement every day aboutwho had been admitted to the differenthigh schools. I can remember the reliefand excitement I felt when my name wasfinally announced for Bishop O’Connell.From the first day as a freshman in the“1-F Troop” homeroom under the guidanceof Brother Anselm Deegan, I wasready to roll. There was such a great senseof school spirit and camaraderie.Moving ahead four years to our senioryear, I can remember some of my friendswho couldn’t wait to graduate and moveon. It was just the opposite for me; I didn’twant to leave. High school had been ablast. I managed to learn a thing or twoand made some great friends that I stillmaintain contact with. The unknown ofcollege life was frightening compared tothe security blanket of O’Connell.Looking back on my high school years, Ican see the academic, religious, athleticand social development that has servedme very well since then. My measure oflife at O’Connell is that I would have lovedto have my three children go to O’Connellhad we lived nearby.Al Bracht, poses with his family (l to r): Al, daughter Sarah (21), son Jandro (17), wife Shannon,mother-in-law, Gretchen King, and son John (24).When the call came to support O’Connell’seffort to improve that physical plant of theschool, I was more than happy to help. Iasked some of those classmate friends ifthey would help me reach out to our classto raise funds prior to our 40-year reunionJune 2010.While we weren’t able to reach everyone,those who could support the effort weregenerous and we were able to deliver aTim and Lisa BennettParent of AlumnusHaving just dropped our son off at college,we find ourselves thinking abouthis future and reflecting on his timeat O’Connell. We have no doubt thatO’Connell has prepared him well for thenext four years—and beyond.We came to O’Connell after searching forthe right high school for our son. He wasa bright but shy kid, and we felt that thepublic schools were not bringing out hisfull potential. We were looking for a highschool that would challenge him academicallyand provide a welcoming, engagingenvironment. From day one, it was clearthat O’Connell was the right place. Theschool offers a lot of AP’s and interestingfinancial thank you to O’Connell. Maybewith this new year of 2012 coming intofocus and an improving economy on thehorizon, the class of 1970 can continue tosupport O’Connell.Thank you Bishop O’Connell for myeducation, my religious formation, theathletic training and the friends you providedme with.clubs and the student community has agreat vibe to it. Our son’s teachers wereinterested in him and they challenged himin a very supportive way. And he formedmany lasting and positive relationshipswith his classmates. His O’Connell experiencewas incredibly empowering. Histalents in science and math were nurturedand encourages and his faith grew. He isnow studying electrical engineering andat one of the leading science, math andengineering institutions in the world.We give to O’Connell so that other kidscan enjoy the same challenges and opportunitiesO’Connell afforded our son.14