Annual Goretti Gaela which supports Tuition Assistance Program - Martinsburg Journal

HAGERSTOWN — An outstanding student, coach, teacher, alumnus and brace of philanthropists were successful the spotlight Oct. 27 during the 2nd yearly Goretti Gaela astatine The Maryland Theatre successful downtown Hagerstown, Maryland, earlier an assemblage of astir 200 people.

The lawsuit is the largest fundraising lawsuit of the twelvemonth to payment St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School's Tuition Assistance Program and generated $145,000. Among the guests were Archbishop William Lori from the Archdiocese of Baltimore; Maryland Sen. Paul Corderman, R-Washington County; and erstwhile Maryland Sen. Andrew Serafini. Clergy who were contiguous see the Rev. Thomas Gallagher, pastor of Saint Joseph Catholic Church successful Martinsburg; the Rev. Aloysius Boh, head astatine Saint Bernadette Catholic Church successful Hedgesville; the Rev. Alfred Obiudu, pastor of St. Leo Catholic Church successful Inwood; Monsignor J. Bruce Jarboe, pastor of St. Ann Roman Catholic Church successful Hagerstown; the Rev. Ernest Cibelli, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church successful Hagerstown; Deacon Jim Mason of St. Peter Catholic Church successful Hancock, Maryland; and the Rev. Peter Rettig, parochial vicar of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish successful Lewistown, Pennsylvania. They were joined by administrators, teachers, parents, alumni, parents of alumni and members of the Hagerstown school’s committee of trustees, who celebrated excellence unneurotic and shared a ceremonial meal catered by Nick's Airport Inn.

After 10 slides listing the names of sponsors for the lawsuit were viewed, Master of Ceremonies Craig O’Connor, who, on with his woman and son, is simply a Goretti graduate, kicked disconnected the solemnisation by honoring Jacob Hill arsenic the Distinguished Student Honoree. A subordinate of the Class of 2023, helium was incapable to be due to the fact that the Gaels shot team, of which helium is simply a member, was playing successful a tournament.

Hill has been connected the distinguished grant rotation each semester, served arsenic a teaching adjunct successful mathematics classes, and is simply a subordinate of National Honor Society and the 200 Club for assemblage service. He is vice president of the Student Government Association. A multisport athlete, helium has been a portion of the Goretti shot programme for 4 years, and was a subordinate of the hoops and shot teams for 1 year. He besides participates successful Chess Club and Kubb Club, the second of which is simply a tract game.

The Cokey Robertson Award was presented to Kim Kell, who was astatine Goretti from 1978-2018, during which clip helium coached baseball, volleyball, hoops and softball. In his much than 39 years arsenic an educator, Kell taught carnal education, health, beingness skills, history, geography, satellite cultures and world science. Through his Kimmer Vision program, helium supervised students filming sports contests. He won the 2009 Archdiocese of Baltimore Teacher Award and was a campaigner for 2005 Private School Educator of the Year successful Washington County.

The coaching grant is named aft Robertson, who roamed the sidelines astatine the Gael Center for 34 years earlier retiring aft the 2008 hoops season.

Gillian Austin received the Outstanding Faculty/Staff Award. She joined the module astatine Goretti arsenic a part-time euphony teacher done Cumberland Valley School of Music, increasing the euphony section from 4 girls successful the vocal ensemble to a precocious of adjacent to 35 vocal and instrumental students implicit time. She is successful the process of rebuilding the robust programme aft the COVID-19 pandemic forced the halls of the schoolhouse to beryllium devoid of student-made euphony for astir 2 years. The rapport she developed with students inspired her to enroll successful Edinboro University’s schoolhouse science program. She plans to gain her master’s grade successful acquisition science successful December.

Newsman, nationalist signaling artist, speaker, writer and ordained curate Kelly Wright joined the ranks of Distinguished Alumni during the Gaela.

A subordinate of the Class of 1974, helium came to Goretti from nationalist schoolhouse successful Washington, D.C., starting his way to fulfilling his mother’s aspiration for him to nutrient excellence and her content that God created him for thing good. While serving successful the U.S. Army, Wright began his journalism career, for which helium received galore accolades for reporting, including 2 Emmys for developing, reporting and co-producing a documentary and quality bid connected the transatlantic enslaved trade. He spent 15 years astatine Fox News, during which helium anchored “America’s News Headquarters” and co-hosted “Fox & Friends Weekend.”

To reason the evening’s honors, Serafini recognized Howard “Blackie” Bowen and his wife, Ginny, arsenic Outstanding Philanthropic Partners. Blackie is CEO and president of the committee of Ewing Oil Co. The Bowens met portion attending Goretti, their children attended and present their grandchild is simply a student. Blackie was connected the Goretti committee for 7 years, serving arsenic president for 3 of them. The Bowens person been supportive of the schoolhouse and assemblage with their clip and finances.

Corderman introduced a video of congratulations featuring Gov. Larry Hogan and presented a citation from Hogan to the Bowens.

For much accusation astir St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School, spell to goretti.org.