spring/summer 2008 - Juan Diego Catholic High School

photo: Marianne Rozsahegyi
spiritus Donorum
Students participate in “Displace Me” camp to experience the plight of
Northern Ugandan refugee children. Their cardboard shelter did little
against freezing temperatures.
Invisible Children
honors JD students
and alumni
Two Juan Diego alumni and one
current student are now carrying
the bronze, silver and gold
– not for sports, but for philanthropic
achievement. They were recognized
by the international Invisible Children
organization as “Heroes”. They were
selected from among 14,000 nominees
for their efforts in raising awareness
and funds to build schools in
war-torn Northern Uganda. Amanda
Cupido, class of 2007 was one of the
top 100 “Bronze Heroes” named;
Jessa Brocklebank, a junior at Juan
Diego was one of the top 25 “Silver
Heroes”; and Claire Cushing, class of
2007 was selected as one of the top
“Gold Heroes”. The ten Gold Heroes
went to Washington, DC, February
23-24 for a “Schools-For-Schools
Summit” to discuss political advocacy
and vision for peace in Africa.
The Summit was held by Invisible
Children leaders in conjunction with
the “N. Uganda Lobby Days” in
which activists met with their own
representatives in Congress.
This year, Brocklebank was
joined by Camry Martinez, Lauren
Zaccardi and Yuki Zuzumbo to lead
the Schools-For-Schools fundraising
campaign for Invisible Children.
They decided to expand the campaign,
inviting other Utah Catholic
schools to join them. Even kindergarteners
collected coins to help during
Catholic Schools Week in January.
Juan Diego, Judge Memorial, Kearns-
St. Ann, St. Vincent de Paul, Our
Lady of Lourdes and St. John the
12
Baptist Middle & Elementary schools
raised more than $40,000 for Invisible
Children.
Papal Birthday gift
The gift of service was presented
by US Catholic youth to Pope
Benedict XVI during his visit to
the United States in April. Juan Diego
joined hundreds of Catholic schools
and parishes by pledging hours in
honor of the Pope’s visit. More than
1.7 million hours were pledged across
the country. Juan Diego pledged
5,000 hours but by year end had
far exceeded our commitment with
10,387 hours. We have had many
more hours turned in this year than
last year. Now that’s community!
photo: Marianne Rozsahegyi
photo: Jessa Brocklebank