NeWS - Archbishop Alter High School

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s C h o o l L i f e As work ensues on creating six brand new science labs at Alter this summer due to a successful start to the school’s capital campaign, one can’t help but think about the awesome learning that has always occurred in the science wing of Alter high school. From these labs that are now hollowed shells came some of our nation’s most esteemed science professionals currently working in an array of fields and practices. And even in this most recent decade, when the limitations of the antiquated laboratories were becoming more and more noticeable, there never came a limitation on the achievements born and careers inspired. While many of our younger alumni continue to pursue medical careers as so many Knights before them, many more today are embarking upon fields in research as well. Courtney Bakan ’04 studied Microbiology at ohio state and is currently working at the James Cancer hospital in the Comprehensive Cancer Center doing research on multiple myeloma and neuroblastoma, primarily through nK (natural Killer) cell biology. Courtney has already written four research papers, four journals and published two abstracts. Josh Shearer ’04 is employed at the non- Destructive evaluation Branch of the Air Force Research labs at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. he is currently performing research using laser Vibrometry for structural health Monitoring which, if successful, could serve as a detection method on various aircraft structures across both civilian and military air fleets decreasing maintenance costs and the time an airplane is out of service. Additionally, this past March, Josh presented his research from a previous project at the American society for non Destructive testing symposium in st. louis. Kristin Reeve ’06 was the only undergraduate to present at ohio state’s Medical College Research Day this past spring. Currently a junior in Biomedical science, Kristin has been studying salmonella and typhoid fever and her abstract was one of six exemplary topics selected for this annual showcasing. one of the newest, growing fields of study is Biomedical Research which only a handful of schools in the country offer, ohio state university being one. It’s a very competitive program into which only twenty students each year are accepted and 12 t h e R O U N D TA B L E the fall of 2009 will see two Alter Knights among those twenty. Monica Lachey and Tim Payne both received osu’s Biomedical Award scholarship. So what is it about Alter? how, without the latest tools and state-of-the-art environment, do our graduates, year after year, get accepted into some of the most prestigious programs and even become stand-outs among many of the finest academicians? the answers are obviously found in Alter’s people rather than its facilities. the faculty and students of Alter are truly exceptional. Alter’s science teachers are relentless in their efforts to lead and inspire generations of scientists. Fall 2008 marked the third consecutive year that Alter’s science department has received the Ohio Governor’s Award for Excellence in Youth Science Opportunities. Also, science teacher Jennifer Butler was honored with the hugh hildebrandt Award for outstanding Contribution to science education due, in part, to her yearly leadership of the science Fair process for our students. on the other side of the desk are the Alter students who are inquisitive, self-starters, demanding excellence of themselves. of the thirty-one Alter students who attended the District science Fair this past school year, twenty-one were advanced to the state level. seventeen were then able to attend states and they brought home numerous awards with 12 superior Ratings and five excellent. Jeremiah Shaw was one who received a 40/40 score and earlier in the year, he was honored at the national level by the ohio Academy of science in scientific Research & leadership. Jeremiah was one of only eleven outstanding steM students in grades 9-12 invited to present their scientific research at the annual gathering of the American Association for the Advancement of science. Indeed it’s the people of Alter who breed success, and one can only imagine what they’ll do now with the latest and greatest labs in which to flourish.
Retirements Farewell to Mrs. Bergstresser Alter’s Guidance Office Sec- retary, Judy Bergstresser, is retiring after 17 years with the school. Her husband, Bruce will also be retiring early in 2010, and the two look forward to the time they’ll then have to travel together and just enjoy life. Judy started as a volunteer in the library when her daughter was a student at Alter. It was at senior registration that Judy was informed of the job opportunity in guidance. She knew already that she liked the students at Alter so the chance for more interaction with them was very desirable. The students at Alter have always been friendly and respectful. I knew immediately that this was something I wanted to do, and I loved it even more than I expected, commented Judy. Her 17 years working with students on their college plans has been very rewarding for Judy. Í just loved helping them find their future – helping them get ready to leave Alter and move on with their lives. And now it’s time for Mrs. Bergstresser to leave Alter and we wish her the very best as she enters this next enjoyable stage of her life – retirement! Through the Eyes of Students “It’s time to be a Grandma!” After 22 years at Alter teaching Spanish, Phyllis Keller has now retired, craving more time with her six grandchildren who range in ages from under one to ten years old. In her time at Alter, she’s been a Department Chair, Spanish Club moderator and a faculty leader for the National Honor Society for many years as well. While certain she will miss the students and many of her friends at Alter come this fall, Phyllis has already spent a year missing a few of her closest department colleagues, two of whom retired before she and one who passed away. She added, “It’s just time, and I know I’m leaving the department in very good hands with this next generation of Alter language teachers.” Phyllis found her calling to teach by starting first on a pre-med track for two years at Ohio State having been accepted into the university’s Physical Therapy program. When working with severely injured patients, she became haunted by the emotion in the situation - looking into eyes that were filled with despair. The experience became a turning point for Phyllis who only knew at that time she wanted a career where she would look into eyes and find a connection to the future, to hope and excitement. It was then that her college professor of Spanish recommended she become a teacher. It was obvious to him that Phyllis had an incredible gift for languages (he was certain in her first semester that she must have studied Spanish before, but indeed she had not) and teaching is all about connecting with students and seeing in them the promise of tomorrow. It was a perfect career for Phyllis. Phyllis had a part time introduction to Alter while also working at Fairmont High School in Kettering. “The teachers at Alter were, and still are, the hardest working I’ve seen in my life. They’re why I came here and they’re why I stayed.” We’re certainly glad she did. Vaya con Dios, Senora Keller! S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 13
Page 1 and 2: s u M M e R 2 0 0 9 RoundTable A pu
Page 3 and 4: Be sure to view the many more campa
Page 5 and 6: Teacher FeaTure Technically speakin
Page 7 and 8: Full Academic - Accepting Michael C
Page 9 and 10: Spring Sports Baseball - GCl Champi
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Page 15 and 16: Everybody’s Furniture. When Anne
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Page 19 and 20: Knights In Marriage Laura Portune
Page 21 and 22: alumni announcements the Alter High
Page 23 and 24: In Memoriam We offer families of th

NeWS - Archbishop Alter High School

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