Spring 2013 Spirit magazine - Thomas More High School

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Studio 2601 is a Groovy SuccessBeamsof lightbouncedoff mirroreddisco balls anddanced aroundthe CommunityRoom andHuennekensGymnasium.Guests attired inopen shirts andbell bottoms,mini-skirts and go-go boots, sharedcocktails and memories of the Ageof Disco, that magical period inthe late 1970s and early 1980sthat served as the theme for Studio2601, Saint Thomas More HighSchool’s 30th Annual DinnerAuction.Despite being scheduled in lateApril instead of late February inorder to avoid possible conflictswith the boys and girls basketballregionals, Studio 2601 still drewa total of 285 enthusiastic guestsready to celebrate the music andthe fashions of the Disco Era.As they entered the building,party-goers walked between thestanchions and down the red carpetinto a swirl of activity. On one sideof the Main Hallway, guests couldpurchase chances for six differentraffles, with prizes ranging froman iPad Mini to a wheelbarrow fullof booze, from gift cards walletsto a home wine tasting! On theother side, they could squeeze into6 Visit us @ www.tmore.organ old-fashioned photo booth withtheir friends and create a strip ofphotographs enhanced with allmanner of silly props!From the entryway, guests easedinto the Community Room whichwas awash with colored lights andfilled with a wide range of SilentAuction prizes. Student volunteerspassed appetizers typical of theperiod – pigs-in-a-blanket, Swedishmeatballs, and deviled eggs. Forthe first time this year, guests wereable to place their bids using cellphones or smart phones courtesyof online services provided byAuctions By Cellular. Bidderswere automatically informed bytext message if they were outbidon a particular item, and thisprompted greater competition forauction items ranging from sportsmemorabilia to autographed movieposters, barbecue grills to theatertickets. Auctions By Cellular’sservices proved very effective,with the Silent Auction generatingSB$25,000 inrevenue thisyear, an increaseof 25% over lastyear!After two hoursof biddingexcitement,guests boogiedfrom theCommunityRoom to theHuennekens Gymnasium whichhad been transformed by ExcitingEvents into a Disco dance club,complete with an elevated DJbooth, illuminated dance floor, andpulsating lights that glinted off thedisco ball centerpieces Jill Wittig ofSBFour Sisters Floral had prepared foreach table. Master of CeremoniesScott Dolphin, co-host of the WMILFM 106 morning show, welcomedguests to their tables and introducedChief Administrator Mark Joerres.Dr. Joerres spoke briefly on thevalue of Catholic education andthen turned the microphone overto STM seniors Lydia Bestul andDanny Schwantes. The studentsoffered testimonials regardingtheir four years here and how theirexperiences at STM had shapedtheir lives and prepared them forthe future.It was then time for Dr. Joerres topresent the Chancellor Award. The2013 award honored the late John(DB ’53) Gardetto and his wifes
sJudy (SMA ’55) for their lifetimecommitment to Saint Thomas More.Judy Gardetto, accompaniedby four of her five children – allThomas More or St. Mary’sgraduates themselves – acceptedthe Chancellor Award plaque onbehalf of the family, and her sonJohn, Jr. (TM ’80) expressed theirgratitude.Following a delicious dinner of porkribeye and Cornish hen preparedby All Occasions Catering andserved by STM student volunteers,Auctioneer Dan Pronley startedthe bidding on an assortment ofeighteen Live Auction items. Thisyear’s prizes included a week-longAfrican safari, an autographedphoto of Packer legend DonaldDriver, and a motor scooter! Inaddition, guests had a chance tobid on several offerings contributedby faculty and staff members,including skydiving with Dr.Joerres and a month of personaltraining with STM Strength andConditioning Coach Jimmy Litscher(TM ’06).Once the excitement from the LiveAuction faded,Past Presidentand PrincipalTom Knitter tookto the podiumand challengedmembers of theaudience to digdeep and contributeto Saint ThomasMore’s “FundThe Gardetto family accepts the Chancellor Award.the Future” program.“Fund the Future”supports the school’s general underwriting, sponsorships, andoperations and the scholarship advertising, as well as Live andfund which provides financial aid Silent Auction revenues, the 2013to approximately 2/3 of current Dinner Auction generated nearlystudents. Knitter reminded those $85,000 for the STM Annual Fund,in attendance that back in the day an increase of more than $1,000when Disco was popular, tuition over last year!and fees at Thomas More were onlyabout $350 per year as compared Special thanks go out to all whowith $9,495 currently. Prompted attended, as well as to the manyby $5,000 lead gifts from Ed Zore volunteers who worked so hard(DB ’63), Brian Binash (TM ’73), to make Studio 2601 a highlyand Jim Kitzinger (TM ’75), the successful 30th anniversaryaudience responded generously. celebration. We look forward toThe total raised by the “Fund the welcoming you to next year’s SaintFuture” appeal was over $47,000, Thomas More Dinner Auction onoutstripping last year’s contributions Saturday, April 26thby some $12,000. When addedto income from reservations,STM student volunteers prepare to serve dinner and park cars at the 2013 Dinner Auction.Visit us @ www.tmore.org7
Page 2 and 3: Winter 2012-13On the Cover:Dr. Mark
Page 4 and 5: Karina Salazar-Reyes AwardedGates M
Page 8 and 9: International Student Program at ST
Page 10 and 11: 2013 Junior Cavalier Summer CampsEa
Page 12 and 13: BEN REZUTEK:Building the Future on
Page 14 and 15: In LovingMemoryOf…Eleanor Allen,
Page 16: Non-Profit OrgUS PostagePAIDMilwauk

Spring 2013 Spirit magazine - Thomas More High School

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