Dolores Hart, center, in her last (though not her most ambitious) film, the frothy Come Fly With Me. She entered the Regina Laudis Benedictine monastery at age 24, a highly paid Hollywood actress who had also earned an Emmy nomination. 

by Senior Editor Gail Deibler Finke

The Ear of the Heart doesn’t know what kind of book it wants to be.

It’s a sort of two-person dialogue memoir, yes. But a memoir or what? Of a child growing up in a troubled family? Of a decades-long friendship? Of a charmed rise to Hollywood fame, with a one-and-only Broadway performance garnering an Emmy nomination along the way? Of Hollywood acquaintances and their quirky ways? Of discerning a vocation to a monastic life? Of a 20th-century woman beginning a 1500-year-old cloistered Benedictine life? Of how harsh monastic life was before Vatican II? Of attempts to revitalize Benedictine life while remaining true to its nature? Of a women’s monastic order struggling with Rome to keep some of its ancient traditions? Of the accomplished and interesting sort of women who join a monastery/abbey today? Of backbreaking efforts to work land in traditional ways? Of back-breaking efforts to work land in modern, organic ways? Of the founding of a repertory theater? Of identifying and learning to live with a mysterious, debilitating illness?

The book touches on all these subjects, and more, without going into depth about any of them. The reader will look in vain, for instance, for a real explanation of how Mother Dolores (formerly actress Dolores Hart, formerly student Dolores Hicks) discerns her calling. She just does. Her faith, described mostly in terms of going to daily Mass and making retreats at the Regina Laudis monastery she eventually enters, is barely touched on. More than halfway through the book, brief excerpts from journal entries describe a mystical search for oneness with the Beloved — presumably, the sort of thing Dolores has written (or at least thought) for ages. They come as a surprise, making the previous story more understandable, but similar things are rarely mentioned again.

The first half of the book recounts Mother Dolores’s early years, childhood conversion to Catholicism, and acting career. The book’s breakneck pace is easy to miss, because for about 200 pages what she and her co-writer (former suitor and life-long friend Richard DeNeut) recount is based on things that everyone is familiar with, at least by report: family problems, school, famous actors, working on films, working on Broadway, dating, and so on. When the writers skip over things, the reader can fill in the blanks.

Not so with the second half of the book, which describes things more removed from most people’s lives: the discipline of a Benedictine monastery, the social dynamics of religious life, working with actors in a repertory theater, and so on. The gaps are more obvious, because few people have backgrounds in even one or two of these things. The second half focuses on topics rather than chronology, which makes sense in many ways but can leave the reader confused: A lawsuit against a patron, mentioned toward the end of the book, comes as a surprise although it’s mentioned obliquely in sections dealing with other things that happened at the same time. Mother Dolores’s mysterious illness (which turns out to be a kind of neuropathy) likewise is mentioned only after other things that happened later are described.

It’s not only events that are described in this kaleidoscopic way. Mother Dolores’s inner life, including her presumably profound faith, is presented in a similarly fragmented fashion. She rarely mentions Christ, although in the last few pages she does mention the Eucharist. Most of the time, when she talks about God it’s in vague terms: God is present in everyone, in every profession, in every place. And so on. One has to assume that embarking on a life of 24-hour-a-day prayer and removal from the world entails accepting a vision of something a little more concrete, but what that might be is anyone’s guess. Likewise Mother Dolores touches on, but doesn’t really explore, what relationship her calling might have to a family history of alcohol, physical abuse, and divorce (her own parents were each divorced several times) — is she not capable of a marital commitment to the two men who loved her? Or is her vocation a gift, granting her a different type of commitment than the one that had failed so many times in her own family?

That said, the problem is not one of too little said, but of trying to cover too much. Despite its heft, the book is easy to read and interesting. The reader will find out many fascinating things about a fascinating person and fascinating ways of life, from acting with Hollywood stars to chanting psalms in the dark with novices and nuns that, as a novice herself, Sister Dolores was not allowed to speak to. There are profound and moving passages along the way. But don’t expect to close the book knowing the author well. Like a play or a film, the book leaves its readers with only a glimpse of who its star really is.

The Ear of the Heart: An Actress’ Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows, by Mother Dolores Hart, OSB and Richard DeNeut, is published by Ignatius Press. See a video trailer for the book, which includes brief interviews with the authors and many photos, here.

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The front of the 2012 St. Cecilia Corpus Christi procession through the streets of Oakley, OH. Photo by The Catholic Beat.

UPDATED: Piqua procession cancelled.

Once an important devotional practice throughout the world, Corpus Christi processions seemed destined for the history books for a time… but are fast gaining popularity among younger Catholics who never experienced them in their youth, and older Catholics glad to see them return.

A custom originating in 13th century Belgium, Eucharistic processions marking the local Feast of Corpus Christi quickly spread around Europe and eventually led to the feast day being adopted for the universal Church. St. Thomas Aquinas himself composed the liturgy for the Corpus Christi Mass, including the famous “Pange Lingua” and “Tantum Ergo” prayers.

Originally celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, the Feast of Corpus Christi has been transferred to the following Sunday in the United States. This year, for most Catholic parishes, the Feast of Corpus Christi will be June 2.
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A stop on the 2012 St. Teresa of Avila/St. William Corpus Christi procession. The Body of Christ is placed on a temporary altar. Photo by Theresa Czyzyk.

At a Corpus Christi procession, a consecrated Host is paraded through the streets in a monstrance, under a special canopy. People in the procession might sing, pray, or walk silently. Temporary altars are set up at various locations for special prayers. In some parishes, First Communicants wear their formal clothes. Processions end with Benediction, a short liturgy that ends with the Host being returned to (“reposed in”) the Tabernacle

“I believe the Eucharistic procession is a fantastic sign that reminds us of what we are all called to do when we process out of the church after the typical dismissal of Mass,” St. Cecilia (Oakley, OH) pastor Fr. Jamie Weber wrote in last year’s parish bulletin. “What we are called to do with the words spoken to us, and the Eucharist we have just consumed, is to take them out, literally, through our human bodies, into the neighborhoods and into the marketplaces.”

Below are the Corpus Christi processions we know about in our area. If your parish has a procession and is not listed, add your information to the comment box.

May 30:

Holy Family (Dayton, KY)

Holy Family is a Latin Mass parish that follows the Tridentine calendar, so the Feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated on its traditional Thursday date. The procession will begin at the end of the 7 pm Mass.

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The 2012 procession at Old St. Mary’s stops at the Over-the-Rhine church’s garden. Young people who just had their First Communion or been Confirmed wore their formal clothes. Photo by Donna Franer.

June 2: 

Diocese of Covington

The diocese-wide Corpus Christi celebration at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption was revived four years ago by Bishop Roger Foys. All area parishes are invited to participate. This year the Mass will begin at 10 am, followed by Eucharistic adoration from 11 am – 2 pm and the procession at 2 pm. All are then invited to Cross the Bridge for Life, a positive pro-life witness beginning at 3 pm (festivities start at 1:30).

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

The Archdiocese will not have a procession, but will hold a Eucharistic Holy Hour at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains with Archbishop Dennis Schnurr at 3:30 pm.

St. Teresa of Avila and St. William (Price Hill)

The 16th annual Corpus Christi procession from St. Teresa to St. William (approximately one mile) will begin at 2 pm with a prayer service and will end with a reception after Benediction. A bus will participate in the procession for those who can’t walk the distance. The parishes suggest parking in the lot at St. William School; a shuttle bus will transport people to St. Teresa.

Divine Mercy (Bellevue, KY)

The procession will begin after 11 am Mass and will include numerous area stops, each at a temporary altar with its own canopy.

St. Gertrude (Madeira, OH)

The procession will begin after 12:30 pm Mass.

St. Mary and St. Boniface (Piqua, OH)

A planned procession between the two parishes was cancelled on May 17. Instead, St. Boniface will host Adoration from 3-4 pm.

Annunciation (Clifton, OH)

This indoor procession will begin after 11 am Mass and end with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of St. Joseph/Altar of Exposition, where all are invited to Adoration until 3 pm. A second procession will then return to the main altar for Benediction.

St. Cecilia (Oakley, OH)

The procession will begin after 10 am Mass and proceed through the streets in silent prayer. Click here for our gallery of photos of last year’s Corpus Christi procession at St. Cecilia.

St. Remy (Russia, OH)

The procession will begin at the end of 11 am Mass.

St. Ann (Hamilton, OH)

The procession will begin after Sunday Mass.

Old St. Mary’s (Over-the-Rhine)

The procession will begin after an all-parish 11 am Mass and will proceed around the block to the church garden, then back to the high altar for Benediction.

Holy Angels (Sidney, OH)

The procession will begin after noon Mass and will stop at the parish Resurrection Garden, the local Right to Life office, and a second location on the Church grounds.

St. Clement (St. Bernard, OH)

German-style procession through St. Bernard will begin at 6:30, Exposition and Adoration will begin after 10:30 Mass and will continue until the procession, which will make five stops. Reception follows Benediction.

 If your parish has a procession and is not listed, add your information to the comment box below.

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The 2012 St. Cecilia Corpus Christi procession sets out from the Oakley Church. Photo by The Catholic Beat.

Among other service projects, students at Immaculate Heart of Mary School bake biscuits for a dog shelter.

Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Anderson Township (OH) won Today’s Catholic Teacher’s Innovations in Catholic Education Award for its innovative efforts in promoting Catholic Identity in the areas of stewardship and social justice.

IHM was one of 12 schools honored by the magazine in a special March issue and at a banquet in April.

According to the school’s magazine writeup, “The list of service projects students have participated in is truly impressive. Primary students make sandwiches for an inner-city drop-in center, create Halloween treat bags for children at homeless shelters, and collect toiletries for a women’s shelter. Eighth-graders sell handmade crafts at a Christmas Fair to raise money for a school in Central America, and middle-school students make blankets and quilts for a town in Nicaragua. The students also rake yards in the fall, clear and mulch walking trails at St. Anne’s Convent, and bake dog biscuits for a local rescue shelter, among other things.”

Today’s Catholic Teacher presents awards every year for innovation in marketing, reconstructing or merging schools, curriculum and instruction, technology, and total community involvement, as well as in promoting Catholic identity.

This year’s winning schools came from Florida, Washington, Kentucky, West Virginia, California, North Carolina, and Missouri, as well as from the Ohio cities of Chardon, Parma, and Cincinnati. To see them all, click here.

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The topics of St. Hildegard’s many famous visions included food.

PATRON SAINTS OF FOOD AND COOKS

ST. MARTHA 

The sister of Mary, Martha was admonished by Jesus because she was irritated that, instead of helping her cook a meal for Jesus, Mary just sat and listened to Jesus. Jesus was visiting Lazarus and his two sisters. Jesus told Martha that all her fuss was distracting her from hearing His message. So we think of Martha as the patron saint of housewives, cooks and even wait-staff, since she was the one who served Jesus. But the next time he visited, she stopped cooking and sat with him.

ST. ANTHONY THE ABBOT

He’s the patron saint of butchers, and he’s associated with bacon. He is frequently shown with pigs and it’s possible that he used pig fat in his healing medicinals. He was adopted by pig butchers as their patron saint.

ST. LAWRENCE

Another patron saint of cooks, he was  a 3^rd century Roman deacon who was sentenced to death by slow roasting over an open fire, but was supposedly so filled with joy and faith that he told is torturers, “Turn me over, I’m done on this side.”

ST. ISADORE

He was a farmer whose plowing was said to be accomplished with the help of three angels, and so is the patron saint of farmers.

ST. NEOT

He was a monk in England who died in the 800s, and had a way with birds and animals, performing miracles with them. It is said he spent his days in a well, water up to his neck, practicing his devotions. I suppose the connection with water is why he’s the patron saint of fish.

ST. VINCENT AND ST URBAN

St. Vincent was a 3^rd century martyr. He was tortured and wound up being roasted on a gridiron. After his death, the wine makers made him their patron saint. Another Urban was a bishop in France during the 4^th century and had to hide in a vineyard from his political enemies. While he was hiding, he converted the vineyard workers. After that he went from vineyard to vineyard, spreading the gospel.

SAINT DROGO

He was the son of a Flemish nobleman in the 1100s and it’s said that he could “bilocate,” meaning he was seen simultaneously working in the fields and going to Mass. Because this took a lot of energy, he is the patron saint of coffee and coffeehouses, among others.

ST. MARCO D A VIANO

He was a monk, born in Italy in the 1600s, and was sent by the pope to unite Christians in the face of the Ottoman army. Legend has it that following the victory, the Viennese found sacks of coffee abandoned by the enemy and they didn’t  like the strong taste, so they diluted it with cream and honey. The color of the coffee was like that of the monk’s robes of the Capuchin order, so they named it cappuccino.

ST. AUGUSTINE

There are several patron saints of beer, but Augustine is my favorite. He lived n the 5^th century and had a freewheeling, liquor-laden lifestyle. He earned saint status after he gave up his lifestyle and became the patron saint of beer.

ST. HILDEGARD

Hildegard was born in Germany over 900 years ago and was a mystic who received visions. One subject of her visions was eating – the kinds of foods to promote or inhibit one’s health – foods of joy and foods of sadness. Hildegard cookies are a popular monastery offering today and are supposed to help the aging process and give a positive outlook. I think it’s the Bible spices of cinnamon and cloves that do this!

HILDEGARD COOKIES

My newest favorite cookie. Absolutely addictive with just a hint of spice and a crunchy bite. For step by step photos, check out my blog Cooking with Rita at Cincinnati.com.

1-1/2 sticks butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar, light or dark

1 large egg

1 teaspoon baking powder

Couple pinches of salt, about 1/4 teaspoon

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon ea: cinnamon and nutmeg

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream butter with brown sugar until fairly light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Whisk dry ingredients together and add half to mixture. Blend. Add rest of dry ingredients and blend. Dough may be too soft to work with so you can put in refrigerator to chill. Form “walnut size balls” (about an inch) and place on sprayed or parchment lined cookie sheet. Press flat. If you want, insert slivers of almond in the shape of a cross in the middle of the cookie.

Bake 12-14 minutes just until edges are golden.

Rita Heikenfeld.

Rita Nader Heikenfeld writes a weekly cooking column and blog for the Community Press, appears every Thursday on the Son Rise Morning Show, and is the author of several cookbooks. An adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati, she is Macy’s Regional Culinary Professional  (CCP) and is a Certified Modern Herbalist. She lives “in the sticks” outside Batavia, Ohio with her family, where they heat with wood, raise chickens for eggs, and grow their own produce and herbs. You’ll find all her previous recipes featured on The Catholic Beat here.

 Rita’s Bible Foods segment airs on the Son Rise Morning Show every Thursday morning at 7:22 am (rebroadcast Friday at 6:02 am). Tune in to hear her discuss the history behind each recipe and the scripture verses that inspired it. And of course, for cooking tips!

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A 2004 painting by the late Fr. Jim Hesse, SJ, features St. Leo the Great parishioners as Christ and companions at Emmaeus.

A painting in the vestibule at St. Leo the Great Church in North Fairmount (OH) is a treasure in more ways than one.

The work of the late Fr. Jim Hasse, SJ, “The Strangers We Meet” depicts Christ breaking bread at Emmaus. Instead of more traditional representations, it depicts Chirst as a man of African descent, sitting with people of various ages and from various ethnic heritages. All the models were St. Leo parishioners.

“Fr. Jim captured spiritual life in his works, revealing the sacredness in everyday people and everyday actions,“ says Fr. Jospeh Folzenlogen, SJ, who lived and worked with the priest painter at Claver Jesuit Ministries in South Cumminsville (OH). “Jim’s paintings were mirrors in which people could see their own beauty.”

Models for the 2004 painting were Timaya Smith (the child in the foreground), Amy Egan, Darnell Edwards, Ivy Peppers, and Rick Nohle.

“Since Jim used people from the parishes and neighborhoods where he worked as his models, the paintings were not just images,” says Fr. Joe. “They were connections with people he loved. Those people were also his children.”

St. Leo parishioner Stephanie Sepate describes the painting as “a beautiful remembrance of purpose” in every life.

“In the upper left of our painting is the figure of the angel by the tomb of the Risen Lord, and the women running to share the news,” she says. “What a beautiful remembrance of purpose in each of our lives — we are not really strangers to each other but we are all one universal family in our life’s journey.”

Fr. Jim Hasse, whose paintings appeared in several publications and are held in private collections, including the art museum at St. Louis University, died in 2011. Most of his his paintings are of biblical subjects and feature African-American people he worked with. To see several galleries of his works with associated reflections, click here.

You can see all our Treasures features at once: Click on “Features” in the menu at the top of the page, or click here. To submit a treasure, old or new, send it to TheCatholicBeat@gmail.com.

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The first five recipients of the Mount Notre Dame Alumnae Association’s Spirit of St. Julie Awards.

The Mount Notre Dame Alumnae Association recognized five people for service to the school last month with its new “Spirit of St. Julie” award.

Three alumnae, a Board of Trustees member, and a former teacher received the inaugural awards. They are named for St. Julie Billiart, foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Mount Notre Dame High School in Reading (OH) was founded by the Sisters in 1860.

The honorees are:

Kathleen Conway Bell, Honorary Alumna Award. A longtime member of the MND Board of Trustees and Chair of the Finance Committee, Bell’s impact on the school earned her “honorary alumna” status, particularly for her work on the school’s strategic plan.

Amber Burley, Distinguished Alumna Award. A ’00 graduate, Burley co-founded a memorial scholarship to MND in honor of a classmate who passed away suddenly.

Roselyn Ellis Lindeman, Community Impact Award. Lindeman. a ’64 graduate, started the Parish Health Ministry at Sts Peter and Paul Church to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of members. She has brought the program to other parishes and in 2012 more than 1,600 individuals were reached.

Kathy Kissel McQueen, Sunflower Award. An ’81 graduate, McQueen serves on the MND Board of Trustees and financially sponsors a student at MND, allowing her to enrich her life from the MND experience.

Wayne Peppercorn, Faculty Hall of Fame. Peppercorn was a Physics teacher at MND for 10 years beginning in 2002, and was known for being an encouraging and helpful instructor as well as an outstanding role model. Though he retired in 2012, he still comes to MND to provide tutoring support for students.

“These five individuals have had a distinct impact on our school and our students, and are fine examples of why the MND Community is so strong,” said Larry Mock, Head of School for MND. “We appreciate the many blessings they bring in helping us all – students, faculty and staff – reach our full potential.”

Photo courtesy Mount Notre Dame High School.

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Food from area Italian restaurants and societies is a popular draw at St. Catharine of Siena parish’s annual CincItalia Festival.

St. Catharine of Siena parish in Westwood will present its annual Italian Festival, CincItalia, this weekend at Harvest Home Park.

It will feature three days of entertainment, cooking demonstrations, shopping and raffles, and food from area Italian restaurants. Sunday afternoon will feature a traditional Marian procession at 2 pm, an Italian car show, and the festivals first-ever mustache competition.

Food will be availabe from DiSasi’s, Tambellini, Five Boroughs Pizza, Dolce Vita Gelato,  and LaRosa’s restaurants, as well as from booths by the United Italian Society, San Antonio Italian Chuch, the Sons of Italy in America, and La Societa Fuscaldese Femminile.

Highlights of the three-day festival are listed below; for times and details click here.

Friday:

Adults-only “Carnivale” (ages 19 and up) music by Sal Ventura and Dr. Zooz; a live cooking demonstration by Giovanna Delli Carpini Trimpe and special guests Rita Heikenfeld (Sacred Heart Radio regular and author of our popular Rita’s Recipe feature) and Son Rise Morning Show News Director Anna Mitchell; and Italian Bartenders courtesy the Cincinnati Bartending School.

Saturday:

Date Night featuring music by Ray Massa’s EuroRhythms and Michael Sutherland’s “Sinatra and Friends” show; cooking demonstrations by Mike and Mark LaRosa with special guest Mo Egger and by Giovanna Delli Carpini Trimpe and special guest Sheila Gray; permformances by Cincinnati Opera’s touring groupe and the St. Catharine of Siena Italian Dance Group; Italian Market; wine appreciation class.

Sunday: 

A day-long event with the fourth annual Italian Auto Show; traditional Marian Procession and blessing from San Antonio Italian Church and area Italian societies; performances by the Pete Wagner Band, the Bill Antoniak Group, and the CincItalia Dancers; cooking demonstrations by Five Boroughs Pizza and by Giovanna Delli Carpini Trimpe and special guest Lakshmi Sammarco; first ever mustache contest with special appearance by Mr. Redlegs; and evening Italian cocktails with Senate bartender Chris Wylie.

Photo source unknown. For a gallery of photos from the 2012 festival, click here.

For more upcoming Catholic events, see our Events Page. 

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Jerome Bishop and James Romanello before their ordinations as deacons last spring.

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr will ordain two men to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Saturday at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains.

Jerome Bishop and James Romanello will be ordained at 11 am in a Mass open to the public.

Two other seminarians who have completed their studies at The Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, Jeremy Miller and Nathan Bockrath, will be ordained in Toledo for the Diocese of Toledo.

Deacon Bishop, whose home parish is St. Teresa of the Child Jesus in Springfield, is a retired police officer whose last position was director of intensive supervision for Clark County Adult Probations. His firs Masses will be be held at 10:30 am Sunday at St. Teresa of the Child Jesus and at 10 am Sunday, May 26th, at Guardian Angels Church in Mount Washington.

Deacon Romanello, whose home parish is Holy Trinity in Norwood, studied computer networking systems at Tomas More College in Crestview Hills (KY). His last job before entering the seminary was in technical services for Fifth/Third Bank. His first Masses will be 10 am Sunday at Holy Trinity Church and at noon Sunday, June 9th at Incarnation Parish in Centerville.

Both mean have earned Masters of Divinity, and both will be assigned to serve in the Archdiocese.

All are welcome to the ordination Mass, which includes the laying on of hands by the Archbishop and most of the priests of the Archdiocese, vows from the ordinands, anointing of ordinands, and the handing on of the Gospels.

Plan to arrive early to find parking.

Click here to learn about this year’s seminary class at the Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West.
Click here to read about this month’s deacon ordinations for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Click here to read about last month’s deacon ordinations for the Diocese of Covington.

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To couples facing problems with fertility, the Catholic Church can seem to offer only negatives: No in-vitro fertilization, no surrogate mothers, no “donor eggs” or “donor sperm” — in other words, no to what hospitals and clinics hold out as scientific, beneficial, and an answer to a prayer.

On June 8, Catholic couples can learn what the Church says “yes” to: procedures and medications that respect the dignity of all human life.

Dr. Patrick Yeung, Jr., founder and director of the St. Louis University Center for Endometriosis, will be the keynote speaker for “The Catholic Approach to Infertility,” a one-day conference hosted by Immaculate Heart of Mary parish on Beechmont Avenue (OH).

“Often couples are not sure what solutions are available within the Catholic faith,” says Dr. Jason Mattingly, a family medicine physician and natural family planning consultant. “Dr. Yeung has the unique ability to share his extensive medical knowledge on infertility and endometriosis, as well as his personal experiences dealing with these issues.”

The conference will highlight the infertility treatment approach developed by Dr. Thomas Hilgerswhich includes the reproductive science of NaProTECHNOLOGY and the tracking method of the CREIGHTON  MODEL  FertilityCare ™ system.

NaProTECHNOLOGY (Natural Procreative Technology) is a new women’s health science that monitors and maintains a woman’s reproductive and gynecological health. It provides medical and surgical treatments that cooperate completely with the reproductive system.

The CREIGHTON  MODEL  FertilityCare ™ System relies upon the standardized observation and charting of biological markers that are essential to a woman’s health and fertility. These “biomarkers” tell the couple when they are naturally fertile and infertile, allowing the couple to use the system either to achieve or to avoid pregnancy. They also help point to underlying health problems that can be identified and treated, helping women conceive.

Local practitioners of NaProTECHNOLOGY and the CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ will speak, and local couples who have had success with them will share their experiences.

The conference is sponsored by Mercy Health partners, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Family and Respect Life Office, and  FertilityCare™ Services -Cincinnati.

For information call Sylvia Corson at (513) 851-1188 or send an email here.

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Fifteen Badin seniors earned $100,000 or more in academic scholarships this year. Front row: Valedictorian Michael Kulifay, Salutatorian Elizabeth McKinley, Paige Bucheit, Lauren Donges, and Chris Pickerill. Middle row: Caroline Beckman, Nathan Peter, Anna Donnell, and Daniel Fabelo. Back row: Grant Geigle, Jacob Meinzer, Eric McGill, Greg Childs, Drew Evers. Not pictured: Stacy Fisher.

Fifteen Badin High School seniors each earned a combined total of $100,000 or more in academic scholarships this year, joining the “$100,000 Badin Scholarship Club.”

Fifty-two of the Hamilton, OH, school’s 100 graduates received academic scholarships. All were honored at the school’s Academic Signing Day assembly last week.

“We’re very proud of the academic performance of our students,’’ said BHS Principal Brian Pendergest. “Doing well in school is a primary reason to be in school. These students have made the most of their classroom opportunities, and they are to be highly commended.”

Five of the students — Drew Evers, Daniel Fabelo, Stacy Fisher, Eric McGill and Elizabeth McKinley – were tendered scholarship offers worth more than $200,000, and Chris Pickerill received nearly $550,000 in scholarship offers.

“College is expensive, and our students are paying attention to the importance of college scholarship dollars,’’ said Teresa Heinrich, dean of academics. “This is the seventh year we have had this recognition, and each year feeds off the previous one as far as our students working hard to manage their college finances.”

Seniors recieving departmental and service awards and school, local, corporate, and military scholarships were also recognized at the program, as were scholar-athletes given OHSAA and GGCL recognition.

Twenty-seven seniors received Hamilton Community Foundation scholarships, two were recognized as being named National Merit Scholarship commended students. Valedictorian Michael Kulifay received the school’s annual Patrick Connelly ’73 Memorial Scholarship.

Pendergest said the young people being honored “hit the books hard from the very first day they came to Badin, which is how you finish at the top of the class,’’  but were also “very active in school. They made some great high school memories.”

The 15 students (in alphabetical order):
Caroline Beckman (St. Ann School) will attend Miami University and major in journalism or creative writing

Paige Bucheit (St. Ann School) will attend Miami University and major in communications.

Greg Childs (St. Peter in Chains School) will attend Lindsey Wilson College and major in business.

Lauren Donges (St. Ann School) will attend Miami University with an as yet undecided major

Anna Donnell (transferred from the Hamilton Freshman School) attend Miami University and major in business

Drew Evers (St. Peter in Chains School) will attend The Ohio State University and major in business

Daniel Fabelo (St. Peter in Chains School) will attend Defiance College and major in forensic science

Stacy Fisher (St. Joseph School) will attend Miami University with an as yet undecided major

Grant Geigle (St. Peter in Chains School) will attend Cincinnati State and major in pharmacy

Michael Kulifay — Valedictorian — (Fairfield Middle School) will attend Miami University and major in accounting

Eric McGill (St. Peter in Chains School) will attend the University of Dayton and major in mechanical engineering

Elizabeth McKinley — Salutatorian — (Immanuel Lutheran School)  will attend Case Western Reserve University and major in pre-med

Jacob Meinzer (Queen of Peace School) will attend Miami University and major in business administration

Nathan Peter (St. Catherine of Siena School) will attend the University of Cincinnati and major in biomedical engineering

Chris Pickerill (St. Peter in Chains School) will attend Miami University and major in accounting and pre-med

Photo courtesy Badin High School.

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