1. education
2. alumni and reunions

March 2015
5 9 5 9 B r o a d way | M e r r i l lv i l l e , I N 4 6 4 1 0 | 2 1 9 . 8 8 7. 5 2 8 1
In this issue:
Development
Class of ‘65 Reunion
Sports Update
Campus Ministry
A message from
Alumni Director, Dave Pishkur ‘71
Hello Niner Nation, I hope all of you enjoyed the holidays
and are still holding true to all your 2015 resolutions. We are
entering the home stretch of the school year and I would like to
share with you what is new at Andrean.
In April of 2014 we started the Andrean High School Alumni
Association (AHSAA), and in February of 2015 elected an
executive committee with Kap Krupchak ’84 as the first
president, Al Holok ’66 and Dave Lamere 71’ are co-vice
presidents, and Kathy Yurechko ’69 serving as the first
treasurer. In all, the AHSAA has 29 members on the board.
For a complete list of the AHSAA board please check out our
alumni page at Andreanhs.org. We are still looking for younger
alumni to serve on the AHSAA board so if you are interested
please let us know. The next AHSAA meeting will be Saturday,
March 28 at 9:00 am in the library.
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andrean high school | Niner News | March 2015
The Alumni board has been directly involved in the annual
Christmas Eve Mass, which had over 800 (second largest of
all time) in attendance. This mass is very dear to many alumni
and the opportunity to gather together as the Andrean family
to celebrate the birth of Christ is very special. They sponsored
a very successful alumni sock-hop on March 7 featuring class
of 1968 grad, Gerry Bishop and his band Fox (Them 5 back in
the day) and are currently planning an alumni trivia night for
the near future. Our younger members are brainstorming to
create an event to engage new alumni as well.
Our class agents have increased over the years but the goal is
to have a minimum of five dynamic class agents per class. If
anyone is interested in becoming a class agent please call the
alumni office at Andrean. A list of what is expected as a class
agent is on the alumni site (andreanhs.com/alumni) of the
schools website.
You don’t have to live local to help out or be a class agent.
The class of 1965, the largest class in the history of the school
had 411 graduates and currently 345 are living. Pat Spicer
of St. John, IN and Ann Moser of Florida found every single
classmate still living. That is such a remarkable feat and should
be commended for the effort that took.
A few members of the class of 1984 across the country pulled
their resources and on Martin Luther King Day treated the
entire student body of Andrean to see the movie Selma. What
a thoughtful idea and what a great way to celebrate and learn
more about the great man, Martin Luther King.
This spring, the day before Easter we will welcome back
alumni and their children or grandchildren to the Annual
Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the AHSAA and the student
council. The campus ministry along with the AHSAA is also
planning an alumni retreat tentatively scheduled for May
9. More information will be sent to alumni within a certain
radius, information will also be available on the alumni page
(andreanhs.com/alumni).
On July 13, the annual school golf outing will be held at the
prestigious Sand Creek Golf Course in Chesterton, Indiana
to benefit scholarships for Andrean students. Last year we
raised over $70,000 for scholarships and had 144 golfers
participating. We would love to see some new faces joining us
this summer so please mark this date on your calendar
During the summer and fall months classes return to the
Region celebrating their significant reunions. The class of 1965
is having their 50th reunion along with a party for the classes
from 1963-1968 on August 21 in the cafeteria followed by
their formal class reunion at Innsbrook C.C. on August 22. On
homecoming, October 2, we will have our grand reunion with
tents, free food, and beverages in the end zone to welcome all
classes back followed by an adult party in the cafeteria after
the football game.
We want to continue to recognize, acknowledge, and embrace
our alumni in the advancement of Andrean. We encourage all
alumni to participate in and support the programs, services,
and numerous activities and events. I encourage you to attend
area alumni events, and to return for the homecoming and
reunion festivities to make new memories.
Andrean, with all its tradition, glory, and greatness is needed
more today than ever before. The price of this education is
currently $8,000 and we are always looking for ways to get
scholarships and aid to help many students who desire this
catholic education. It is not a Northwest Indiana issue but
nationwide issue where catholic tuition is reaching all-time
highs. All students from the premier class of 1963 to the mid
1980’s received a scholarship from the Basilian fathers and the
Sister of Cyril and Methodius. Through their vow of poverty
they made Andrean affordable for all to attend. Their enormous
generosity of spirit serves as an example for all to follow.
Currently, sister Carol Ann Terlicher ’73 and Fr. Mick Kopil ’86
are the only two religious left in the school. It is great and we are
extremely fortunate to have two alumni to teach religion classes
now that the Basilian fathers have pulled out and the Sisters of
Cyril and Methodius are becoming smaller and smaller.
I have had 35 relatives attend this school over the past 56
years including my wife, my three children, my three sisters,
my five nieces and nephews, two brother-in-laws and 25
cousins. I have taught and coached over a thousand more
while teaching U.S. History, Health & Safety and Physical
Education and coaching volleyball, basketball, girl’s golf and
baseball. In most recent years as the alumni director I have
had the pleasure to meet so many more alumni from 1963
on. Many strong friendships have been formed because of
Andrean and hopefully many more to come. I am proud to call
myself an Andrean grad and thank my parents for sacrificing
and giving me the opportunity to be part of the Andrean
family. We hope you remember your good days at Andrean
and continue to pray for and support Niner Nation. We have
provided a great catholic education for a half a century and
God willing will continue the dream that was Bishop Andrew
Grutka and the Andrean motto of Christ is our teacher.
May God Bless you all.
Dave Pishkur ‘71
Development
Meet Andrean’s new development director
Having been welcomed into the Andrean High School family
has been a rewarding experience. I’m reminded of how
years ago when my son met my new mother-in-law (his new
grandmother), she drew him in for a close hug and made him
feel like he had always belonged to her. To be so welcomed
is a beautiful feeling and I’m grateful for the experience. As a
new member of this community, I too have a responsibility to
embrace and understand the mission of the school, to practice
the principles of development and fundraising to the utmost
degree as well as engage and re-engage with our alumni,
parents and friends of Andrean High School.
There are a good number of moving parts to Andrean’s
development. Establishing a new Constituent Relationship
Management program is first in order. With thousands
of people connected as alumni, parents and other friends,
a high functioning database is key to maintaining good
communication. Speaking of communication, we have
expanded well beyond just improving our database. As
I’m sure you’ve noticed there are vast improvements to our
website and social media platforms. With the help of others in
With regards to events, I have introduced something new just
this past February, the Annual Phone-a-Thon. The Phone-aThon is intended to do two things: one, reconnect and update
alumni and two, jump-start our Annual Fund Campaign. It
was exciting for me from the planning stage through wrap
up! Once the word was put out there, I had a great number
of eager students and alumni step forward to volunteer. The
Phone-a-Thon ran from 6 to 8:30pm February 24th through
the 26th here at the school. Our volunteers enjoyed pizza
and pop together, had lots of fun talking with alumni, sharing
stories, and raising money for our current and future students.
Prizes were awarded for “Most Calls Made”, “Highest
Contribution Received” and a drawing for alumni contributing
$59 or more to the annual fund. The Phone-a-Thon was a
great success and I can’t wait for our next events! Those
events include an Alumni Memorial Mass in April, an Alumni
Retreat in May, the 59er Golf Classic on July 13th at Sand
Creek Country Club, and the Super Raffle on October 10th
just to name a few. All of this is important work that helps to
generate funds in support of scholarships, faculty and staff
salaries, technologies and facilities improvements.
Principal Ben Potts shared an article with me from the Alliance
for Catholic Education, “Why Catholic Education Still Matters”.
The article lists a number of reasons, but one rings out louder
to me at this moment; “Catholic education has always been
at the heart of the Catholic mission. Catholic education, and
the students who are the product of it, have been called the
“greatest work of the Church”. They have been entrusted
with the fullness of faith and have been charged with the
mission of evangelization. They are to go out into the world
and share the gifts they have received, as doctors, lawyers,
policemen, firemen, businessmen and women, teachers,
priests and religious, all as Catholic school graduates. Catholic
school graduates are leaven in society, helping the broader
community to the best that it can be.” My goal, along with the
help of leadership, development staff, board, alumni and others
is to do all I can to generate what support the school needs
to provide the very best education, tools, and environment
possible to build a student body of successful and faithful
community members.
Wende Burbridge
Development Director
Andrean High School
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andrean high school | Niner News | March 2015
Just as our students are taught that academic excellence
is a response to God’s blessing, to receive an education so
that one day they may work to help others ultimately leaving
a positive impact on the world, I too work to benefit our
community of students and faculty. To make that happen,
I hold true the Andrean mission, am sensitive to the needs
of those I serve and hold fiscal responsibility high. Since I
first started in November I’ve often been asked, “What does
a Development Director do?” To answer that question: my
primary responsibilities are to oversee fundraising, and to
collaborate with our President, Harry Vande Velde and board
on strategic planning of fundraising activities. Fundraising
includes oversight and personal attention to alumni relations,
outreach, securing sponsorships, grants, events management,
marketing and development of community partners.
our Development Office like Brendan Ryan, Communications
Manager and Dave Pishkur, Alumni Relations Director, we are
focusing on informing and involving each of you on upcoming
events, news, and pertinent information as quickly as possible.
Stay tuned everyone! It’ll just keep getting better!
Where Are They Now?
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Andrean Had a Hand in Creating
World’s Tallest Building
By Lori Dobis-Misher
When Ray Clark, Andrean Class of 1969,
was a junior walking the halls of 5959
he really had no idea what he wanted to
do with his life. So like all juniors he met
with his Andrean High School guidance
counselor Father Richard Kinsky. Father
Kinsky asked Ray what his plans were
after graduation and Ray told him that
he was not really sure. Father Kinsky
then asked Ray what subjects he liked
best and what was he good at. After Ray
replied math and science, Father told
him ‘well you should go into engineering
and Purdue has a very strong program.’
“It really was as simple as that” Clark
recalls. “I took Father’s advice, found
my niche and never looked back”. The
global skyline now has some of the most
significant pieces of architecture and
engineering including the world’s tallest
building, the Burj Khalifa, as a result
of the career of one Andrean alum:
Raymond Clark.
andrean high school | Niner News | March 2015
Clark who grew up in Gary and attended
St. Luke’s Grade School, would go on to
receive both his Bachelors and Masters
degrees in mechanical engineering from
Purdue University. Upon graduation in
1975 Clark received multiple job offers
and took a position with the prestigious
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
architectural and engineering firm in
Chicago. One of the world’s most elite
firms, SOM is responsible for both the
John Hancock (1969) and Sears Tower
(1973). This helped persuade Clark with
his decision.
Since 2010, the Burj Khalifa (formerly
called the Burj Dubai) has stood 2,724
feet tall with 160 stories and is the
centerpiece of Dubai, United Arab
Emerites. It was built to be the world’s
tallest by one-third more stories.
Clark says that the Burj should stay
the tallest for a while yet. Clark was
the lead engineer on the project and
oversaw 80+ people on the Skidmore,
Owings and Merrill team. It took
two years in the drawing phase with
approximately 10,000 drawings, four
years to construct, another two years
to complete the interior, and cost $200
billion to create. Once the Burj Khalifa
was done it began the construction
boom and a luxurious thriving new city
was born. Its significance is far more
than just the bragging rights to being the
world’s tallest building and Dubai has
become a major tourist destination.
Clark quickly
moved through
the ranks at SOM
and fifteen years
in he was named a
Partner. His 30-year
career at SOM
saw him direct the
engineering design
of numerous projects in 35 countries.
He is known in the architecture and
design field for his renowned expertise
on skyscrapers and energy efficient,
sustainable designs. Clark retired from
SOM a few years ago. He now has RJC
Engineering and continues to consult
around the globe and is highly sought
after. He spent the bulk of his career
working on projects in the Middle East
and in Asia.
Besides the Burj Khalifa, Clark was also
the lead engineer on the Jin Mao Tower
in Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China
(was the world’s tallest, now the fifth
tallest, 88-stories), Tower Palace III in
Seoul, Korea (tallest building in South
Korea, 4th tallest residential building
in world, 73-stories), Korea World
Trade Center (41-stories), Canary
Wharf London, Hong Kong Convention
and Exposition Center, GM World
Headquarters Detroit Renovation
(from Renaissance Center mixed-use
to full corporate occupancy in 2003)
and the Hajj Tents- King Abdul Aziz
International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi
Arabia.
The Hajj Tents is another one of
Clark’s most prized professional
accomplishments. When the airport
was completed it was one of the first
sustainable projects worldwide. It
incorporated 260,000 square meters
of fabric tent structures to temper
the environment below (dessert). In
2010 Clark and SOM were honored
by receiving the prestigious American
Institute of Architects award for
sustainability of a structure 25-years old.
This AIA award is to the architecture
and engineering field what the Oscars
are to Hollywood!
After college Clark married his wife
Gailee, a Lew Wallace High School
grad and they settled in Chicago. They
eventually moved back to the Region, to
Valparaiso. Ray’s older sister Dorothy
(AHS ’66) married her Andrean
sweetheart Dr. Darrell Graden (AHS
’66) and they too settled in Valpo. At the
time their mother Anne Clark was still
alive. Although traveling the globe, Ray
and Gailee wanted to live closer to their
family and lifelong friends.
While at Andrean Clark admits that
he was a solid A-B student but it was
always the math and science that he
excelled in. He was also on the track and
wrestling teams and as a freshman he
was the first one in his class to earn a
varsity letter for wrestling.
“My good friend and classmate Carlos
Mateo (AHS ’69) says that I was the
first one in our class to earn the varsity
letter but I still think it was Carlos in
cross-country” Clark laughs.
“It’s very ironic how a simple
conversation, one or two sentences
really can change someone’s life” Clark
said. “From that meeting with Father
Kinsky I found my career path and built
a life. I loved my time at Andrean and
still keep in touch with classmates.
Regrettably I never got to talk to Father
Kinsky again after graduation so I never
got to tell him how he and Andrean
impacted my life”. Father Kinsky passed
away five years ago. “Andrean is a great
school. Attending Catholic schools, St.
Luke’s too made all the difference.”
So if you happen to travel to Dubai,
take an extra minute to admire the
Burj Khalifa. Look up in the sky at this
momentous piece of art and think of Ray
Clark sitting with Father Kinsky back at
5959. And even if you are not in Dubai,
remember and tell others too that the
world’s tallest building would not be
possible as it is today without Andrean
grad Raymond Clark.
To see pictures and learn more about
some of Clark’s masterpieces, go to
Ray’s website at www.rjcengineering.net
and click on his SOM portfolio.
The Class of ’65
The third and largest graduating class
in the history of Andrean High School
In August 2015 the class of ’65 celebrate
their 50-year milestone. The formal
festivities with be held at the old “Gary
C.C.” now the Innsbrook Country Club
in Merrillville. Their Reunion Team has
chosen to support a newer Andrean
tradition with an “ALL ALUMNI EVENT”
on the Friday Evening before their formal
celebration. This informal social will
be held at the Andrean High School
cafeteria on August 21, 2015. And, as
in the past two years, the event is open
to the four classes that comprised the
student body in June 1965. (Classes of
1966, 1967, 1968). Special invitation is
also extended to those “super seniors”
from the Classes of ’63 and ’64.
The Friday party will include
refreshments, cash bar, music from the
60’s, and a fun time made for sharing
the old days with friends from upper
and lower classes. So pass the word to
your classmates, find your old pals and
maybe old flames and join the party with
the “Biggest and the Best”
If you do plan to attend please
communicate directly to Tom and Marge
Bilunas by Email: send reservation to
(AND65REUNION@Bilunas.com)
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Donations are $15, complete the order link at andreanhs.com/alumni. Your
T-shirts will be reserved and available for pick-up at the All Alumni event Friday
August 21, 2015.
Dueling Dragons were first exhibited at the inaugural Andrean Armageddon
games. We displayed them on sweatshirts in 1962, included them in our class
banner in 1963. And today, present them as our 50-year Reunion Brand. What
do they represent? Who was the original design artist? Why did they fit our
class directive and motto? If you have information, classic pictures, or actual
vintage shirts associated to the Class Dragons, please contact the Reunion
Team at and65reunion@bilunas.com
Class of 65’
Needs Your Help!
Attention all Classmates of 1965....
check your closets, storage boxes,
attics, and basements for any 59’er
memorabilia that we could display on
Friday night (8-21-15) in the school’s
cafeteria during our Reunion Alumni
Party. You can drop your items off at
Dave Pishkur’s office at Andrean during
school hours from Monday, August
17th through Friday before 12:00 noon.
Be sure to label them and write any
story behind your items that we could
share with the group. We will ask you to
collect your items at the conclusion of
the evening. Please contact Pat (Markey)
Slama (mamaslama@sbcglobal.net) or
Mary Durkott (mdurkott@yahoo.com),
before taking your items in as we are
trying to prevent duplication.
1965 Classmates: Please Note
So far we have yearbooks, a cheerleader
sweater, a uniform skirt/ blazer, dance
programs. Still looking for a letterman’s
jacket, sweatshirts, football jerseys,
band, theatre, and choral items etc.
For inclusion of your reflections or memories into our Class of 65 memory book,
contact Barb Warus Bruno (bbruno@goodasgoldtraining.com).
Looking forward to a great weekend!
Pat Markey Slama, and Mary Durkott
Vintage 65-era treasures are planned for display at the Friday Reunion Event.
Contact Pat Markey Slama (mamaslama@sbcglobal.net).
andrean high school | Niner News | March 2015
Like to own a T-shirt?
Athletics Update
Tradition never graduates
By Bill Mueller
A constant focus on tradition and hard work drives the student
athletes of Andrean forward, regardless of the sport. With
change coming to the management of the school, a constant
that remains is that Andrean students continue to strive
toward self-improvement in both academia and athletics.
Andrean’s school motto is and always has been “Magister
Meus Christus (Christ My Teacher).” That saying is as true
today as it was at the founding of the school. However, there
is another saying that is very popular among students, faculty,
and alumni: “Tradition Never Graduates.” Despite the changes
that have taken place at Andrean in recent years, this tradition
remains, one of determination, education, and bettering one’s
self with a community and Christ as a guide.
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andrean high school | Niner News | March 2015
Wrestling
This year has been great
for Andrean athletics,
and our fall season has
been historic for many
reasons. In Wrestling,
our students claimed
3rd in the Griffith Super
Duel and 7th in the Lake
County Championship
with a 10-6 record for
the season. Furthermore,
our wrestlers pushed to
the 1st team spot in the
NCC All-Conference,
claimed 1st place at the
IHSAA Regionals, and
4th at the IHSAA SemiState. One wrestler in particular, Michael Kryzston, won first at
regionals and qualified for the IHSAA State Championship for a
second time.
Basketball
The men’s basketball team currently has a 10-9 record, with a
4-1 NCC record. The team will be playing for the Conference
championship this Friday, continuing on for an attempt at their
6th consecutive Sectional Championship in 2 weeks!
The women’s basketball team had a 9-16 season, claiming
second place in their conference with a 4-2 Conference record.
Football
The football team had another historic season, going 9-0 to
win the NCC Conference Champions title. Led by players like
All-American Josh Brajas, the team won their way to the State
Championship game, earning the Runner-up title.
Golf
In women’s golf, the Lady Niners won the NCC All-Conference
First team led by Lexi Prasco and Megan Kaminski. Lexi Prasco
went on to qualify for the IHSAA Individual Regional.
Soccer
The men’s soccer team earned a 6-11-1 record and was
Sectional Finalists. In conference, they earned 4th place with
a 2-4 record. Teddy Sinal and Jeremy Detmar earned the NCC
All-Conference First Team and Carter Welsch earned the NCC
All-Conference Second team honors. Issac Sarosy earned the
NCC Honorable Mention. Danny Kim and Teddy Sinal also
earned the All State Academic Honors. Cole Erickson earned
the District I Top Team Player Selection, and Teddy Sinal
earned the District I All-Area 2nd Team Selection.
The women’s soccer team was also honored with NCC
All-Conference First team players Madelyn Mandich and
Natalie Nowesnick, and Tessa Wojkovich earned the NCC
All-Conference Second Team honors. Danielle Tazic earned the
NCC Honorable Mention, as well.
Volleyball
The Andrean Volleyball team was an IHSAA Sectional Finalist
this year, earning 2nd place in Conference, with an overall
record of 22-11. Katherine Mirabella and Kaylie Zeilenski
earned Academic All-State Honors. Katherine Mirabella and
Korie McCrea also earned the NCC All-Conference first team
Honors. Danielle Moynihan earned NCC All-Conference
Second team honors.
Cross Country
The men’s cross-country team was Andrean Invitational
Champions, with an overall Dual Meet record of 3-4 and
IHSAA Individual Regional Qualifiers. Since 2000, our program
has qualified for Regional competition 12 of 14 years, qualified
for Semi-State competition seven of 14 years, and qualified for
the State finals in 2005-2006. This season, Jonathan Mateja
earned All-Conference Second team honors, with Danny
Kukla and Marshall Lenski earning All-Conference Honorable
Mentions.
The women’s cross-country team had a fantastic season.
They won the Andrean Invitational and the Gavit Invitational
this season. They also were the Runners-up in the Highland
Invitational, earning an overall Dual Meet record of 4-3. Since
2000, our program has qualified for Regional competition 13
of the last 14 years, qualified for Semi-State 10 of the last 14
years, and sent 2 individuals to the State finals in 2006 and
2011. The team had many IHSAA Regional Qualifiers, including
Kaycee Crist, Isabella Pradhan, Kellyn Vale, Mary Lie, Alex
Majchrowicz, and Chloe Killion. Kaycee Crist and Isabella
Pradhan also were IHSAA Individual Semi-State Qualifiers.
Kaycee Crist eared the All-Conference First team honors,
Academic All-Conference Honors, and earned 2nd on All
Time Best 5K Times with a time of 19:38. Isabella Pradhan
earned the All-Conference second team Honors. Kellyn Vale
was an All-Conference Honorable Mention student, as well
as Academic All-Conference. Liz Adams and Angeline Barthel
also earned Academic All-Conference Honors.
Campus Ministry
Christ is Our Teacher
By Stacia Bolakowski
Campus Ministry, in conjunction with the Theology
Department, has been working diligently to make Andrean’s
motto “Christ is My Teacher,” a relevant part of everyday life for
Andrean’s students, teachers, and support staff.
Students grow in faith through “Encounters with Christ”
Students have been participating in retreat-style experiences
that work to strengthen individual relationships with Christ
as well as with each other as a class. The Freshman Faith
Experience titled “Getting to Know You, Getting to Know God,”
was a day-long event held in September, and implemented by
30 senior class peer ministers, several faculty volunteers, and
Campus Minister Stacia Bolakowski. The sophomores were a
part of a similar-style event in December titled “Reality Check”
facilitated by the nationally-known NET Team Ministries out
of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Members of the junior class will
take part in their Faith Experience day on and off campus in
the spring of 2015. And currently 75 members of the senior
class have participated in one of two Kairos retreats held at
Lindenwood Retreat Center, Donaldson, Indiana, in November
and December. In its second full year, the three and a half day
retreat allows seniors to experience the journey of Jesus in the
tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises through
prayer, witness, faith sharing, and community. A third Kairos
retreat will be held from March 17-20.
Within a month’s time, everyone at 5959 Broadway rose to
the challenge again by adopting and purchasing Christmas
gifts for 57 individuals for our second annual “Adopt-a-Friend”
Christmas project in partnership with Catholic Charities in the
Diocese of Gary.
Andrean thanks Bishop Melczek, welcomes Bishop Hying
Andrean was fortunate to be a part of the history of our
Diocese during December and January during the transition
between the official retirement of Bishop Dale Melczek and
the installation of Bishop Donald Hying. Bishop Melczek
came to celebrate Mass with students, faculty, and staff, at a
special Mass in honor of his retirement and all he has done for
Andrean on Thursday, December 18. Bishop Melczek was not
only gifted with an Andrean letterman’s jacket and tickets to a
Redwings/Blackhawks game that day, but he was also a part
of a surprise “thank you” tunnel as he left school that wound
throughout the first floor of all 600+ students, teachers, and
staff. We were once again honored to have Bishop Melczek join
us to celebrate Mass on January 19 after he joined the student
body at special viewing of the movie Selma to commemorate
the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Bishop Hying’s first visit to Andrean after his official installation
on January 6 occurred when he celebrated Catholic Schools
Week Mass on Tuesday, January 27.
Andrean Lore What’s In A Name…
HOW DID ANDREAN GET ITS NAME -- St. Andrew or St. Andrea?!?
Back in the late 50’s when the ground work for what was to
become Andrean High School was being laid, how did they come
up with the name ANDREAN? If you say it was because the
school was named for founding father Bishop Andrew Grutka
you are only partially correct. The full story has been lost over the
school’s last 58 year history. It is time to set the record straight
and forever cement in the mindsets of the Andrean Family.
Bishop Grutka did want the school to be named St. Andrew’s.
But the good Sisters had another idea, they wanted it called St.
Andrea to honor women. And the Nuns stood firm. Without
the nuns there could be no school. So a compromise was
made and they added the “n” on the end for NEUTRAL. Thus
the Andrean name was forever born honoring both Bishop
Grutka and women.
So how did they create the name Andrean? If the school was
named after Bishop Grutka’s patron saint then why isn’t it
simply called St. Andrew’s? Well back in 1957 when Bishop
Grutka was putting together all the pieces that would become
Andrean, he got the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius to
come onboard and agree to teach the girls. (Even though the
school has always been co-ed, remember when it first opened
in 1959 and for several years thereafter, the boys and the girls
were completely separated. But that is for another Andrean
history lesson…)
Given that it was 1957 and equal pay/the women’s movement
was never even a remote possibility yet (little lone thought), it
was a pretty darn revolutionary thing for the Sisters of Saints
Cyril and Methodius to pull off. How bold of them! Sadly no
one recorded it or is alive to now tell us which nun(s) were involved or what person came up with the idea of putting the “n”
on the end for neutral. Maybe it was Bishop Grutka’s idea? But
whoever you are up in heaven now, thank you good Sisters-you were way ahead of the curve…
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andrean high school | Niner News | March 2015
Andrean gives back to local communities
Taking the concept of social action very seriously, Andrean
students, faculty, and staff, have participated in several projects
this fall and winter to help those in need in Lake County. From
November 17-21, a Thanksgiving food drive was held to benefit
the Ss. Monica and Luke Soup Kitchen in Gary. Following daily
themes like “Big Breakfast Monday,” “Tin Can Tuesday,” and
“Thanksgiving Thursday,” Andrean collected close to 1000
pounds of food to stock the parish’s pantry shelves.
Andrean’s giving spirit extended into the New Year with several
projects that coincided with the celebration of Catholic Schools
Week at the end of January. Focusing on the theme, “Catholic
Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service,”
several students and teachers traveled to St. Anthony Home in
Crown Point on January 26 to spend time visiting and playing
games with the residents. Students also wrote letters to active
military personnel and veterans, as well as participated in an
“Essentials Drive,” donating items such as socks, toothbrushes,
toothpaste, and toilet paper for Sojourner Truth House in Gary,
a women and children’s ministry of the Poor Handmaids of
Jesus Christ. Special thanks to Mr. Bill Mueller and the Athletic
Department staff for sponsoring a food drive during Catholic
Schools Week in conjunction with the girls’ and boys’ home
basketball games that week that benefitted Ss. Monica and
Luke Soup Kitchen.
Andrean High School
5959 Broadway
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
Address Service Requested
Niner News
is published four times a year
by Andrean High School
for parents, alumni,
and friends of the school
PresidentHarry J. Vande Velde III
Principal
Benjamin Potts
EditorsLori Dobis-Misher
Alumni Editorial Committee
Writer/Historian/Photographer
Wende Burbridge
Development Director
Dave Pishkur
Alumni Director
Brendan Ryan
Manager of Communications
and Constituent Services
For more Niner News visit andreanhs.com
Questions or issues, please e-mail
communications@andreanhs.com
Andrean
Summer Enrichment Program
June 15th - July 10th
Monday through Friday 8am to 3pm
Boys/Girls entering 7th/8th grade
Learn more & register at
andreanhs.org
Cost
$475 per child (before March 20th)
$500 per child (after March 20th)