ROOTED IN FAITH, TRADITION, AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
A LETTER FROM OUR PRINCIPAL
Dear Alumni,

It was such a blessing to begin Lent with our staff and student body on Ash Wednesday (despite it feeling a little strange kicking off Lent on Valentine's Day!). Our school community has stepped up big to prepare ourselves to celebrate Jesus' resurrection on Easter. Many have decided to give up the traditional sweets, soda, etc. Others have committed to more regular daily prayer or showing signs of gratitude. We have two weekly prayer groups for our guys and girls during our Knight Time lunch hour, and teachers gather during their planning periods to review the daily readings. We will have our all-school Lenten Reconciliation service and will celebrate Holy Week Mass together in March. I am encouraged and inspired by the sacrifices and commitments made by others to become more fully who God created them to be this Lent. I am surrounded by so many who are working to become saints, and it's a beautiful thing. We will continue to pray for you this Lenten season.

God, may Your light guide my day, and Your spirit bring me peace.
Amen.

Sincerely,

Pam (Ruether) Tholen '02
Principal
ADVANCEMENT NEWS
BORGIA ALUMNI SPEAKER SERIES
Prepare to greet our upcoming alumni guest speaker! Join us this week as we welcome Kelly (Lamb) Pollock '92 and learn what she's been up to since leaving high school. She will share insights from her career journey, focusing on the arts and education sector in St. Louis. This event is open to everyone and free of charge!

Serving as our host will be Ben Holtmeyer '12, and there will be a Q&A session following the presentation. Mark your calendars to join us in the theater on Thursday, February 29, at 6:30 p.m.! We look forward to seeing you there!
A GIFT FROM THE ACA
CELEBRATING GENEROSITY AT OUR ALL-SCHOOL MASS
During last week's all-school Mass, we were joined by esteemed guests from the Archdiocese of St. Louis Annual Catholic Appeal. We are delighted to share that our school received a donation totaling $177,000. This generous contribution is a testament to the kindness of donors across the Archdiocese of St. Louis, including our parishioners with the local deaneries. Heartfelt thanks to all who persist in backing our commitment to delivering accessible Catholic education for everyone. For further details on the ACA, please visit: https://www.archstl.org/aca
Thank you to our Community Partners
CELEBRATE THE KNIGHT GALA
WRAP-UP
The 2024 Celebrate the Knight Gala, held on February 17th, exceeded all expectations, thanks to the incredible generosity and support of our community. Together, we raised an astounding $358,000, with over $134,000 dedicated to our Fund-A-Need initiative, specifically aimed at enhancing our camera security system. The remaining funds will primarily support tuition assistance for our students. Stay tuned for a detailed breakdown of our achievements in next month's alumni newsletter.

If you haven't had the opportunity to contribute to our Fund-A-Need but would like to do so, simply click the button below.

For any inquiries regarding the Gala, please reach out to Anne Lober, Director of Events, at anne.lober@borgia.com.
A Gift of Love

As February, a month synonymous with love, comes to an end, it's an opportune time to contemplate the organizations close to your heart. Have you thought about including charitable gifts for your beloved St. Francis Borgia High School in your will or estate plan? This gesture costs nothing today and leaves a lasting impact.

Through estate planning, you have the ability to designate a portion of your assets to support causes that resonate with you deeply. Your generous contributions not only showcase your unwavering dedication to the education you received at SFBHS but also offer essential resources for our school. Furthermore, these contributions frequently come with tax advantages, benefitting both you and your loved ones. This approach guarantees that your love for your alma mater continues to impact our school in a meaningful and enduring way.

To learn more, please contact Donna Grahl, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at donna.grahl@borgia.com.
MEGA RAFFLE WINNERS
A big shoutout to all who participated in our recent Borgia Mega Raffle, whether by purchasing or selling tickets! Your dedication helped us achieve an impressive 94% of our target, resulting in a remarkable $80,075 brought in.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our top sellers, seniors Noah Hendrickson (132 tickets) and Julia Unnerstall (91 tickets), for their outstanding efforts!

Last but certainly not least, congratulations to our lucky winners. (See below.)
ALUMNI NEWS
IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR TREASURED ALUMS
Russell Schelich '65
February 3, 2024
Connie (Feldmann) Struckhoff '66
February 9, 2024
BORGIA LOVE STORIES
Were you aware that Borgia boasts more than 550 pairs of alumni who are married to each other? One of these couples began dating in high school, and another began their romance after their time at Borgia.

In February, we had the pleasure of celebrating the love stories of these two couples who shared their #SFBLoveStory with us.
Linda (Hoelscher) '69 and
Charles Kriete '68
Kayla (Unnerstall) '10 and
Stewart Lamke '10
Alums in the News
Congratulations to Jessica (Siedhoff) '05 and Bradley Unterbrink
Jessica and Bradley welcomed twin boys, Colter and Waylon on November 22, 2023.

Congratulations on the arrival of your precious little ones! Wishing you all the joy and happiness as you embark on this incredible journey of parenthood. May your home be filled with love, laughter, and endless blessings as you cherish these beautiful moments with your new babies.
Alumni Prayers
In thanksgiving for the sacrifices and contributions offered by those before us on our behalf, we at St. Francis Borgia High School offer our afternoon prayer for different members of our alumni each day.
If you have children who are graduates and still receive mail at your home, but no longer live there, please contact Donna Grahl, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, to update your child's address. She can be reached by phone at 636-239-7871 ext. 131 or via email at donna.grahl@borgia.com.
Athletic and Activities Schedule
Welcome to another exciting year of Borgia Athletics and Activities. Together, let’s always and, in all ways, celebrate the efforts of our students, players, coaches, and teachers as they strive to make Borgia #1 in class, style, sportsmanship, and competitiveness. Go, Knights!!

Click on the logo to see a comprehensive athletic and activities schedule.
Recently married? New baby or job?
Let us know what's going on in your life so we can share it with your classmates in this newsletter!
Send information and photos to donna.grahl@borgia.com.

St. Francis Borgia High School 

1000 Borgia Drive
Washington, MO 63090

P: 636-239-7871
F: 636-239-1198