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Thank you, Grandparents!
Thank you to all of you who attended our Annual Grandparents’ Day. It was a packed house with more than 256 grandparents joining us to spend the afternoon with their grandchildren. From being greeted by our Nolan Catholic Marching Band, to stopping by the photo booth with your grandchildren, to enjoying performances by our Ballet Folklorico and Nolan Catholic’s Royelles Dance Team, to touring our 50-acre campus, we hope you enjoyed every part of the day and created some special memories with your grandchildren.
Whether you were able to attend Grandparents’ Day this year or not, we want you to know how much we appreciate your involvement and support of Nolan Catholic.
| | 📸 See more pictures from this event here | | | | |
Carrying the Legacy:
Nolan Ecology Students Explore Costa Rica
Six days in one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth turned Nolan’s Ecology Honors students into true field biologists. From rainforest trails and river canals to sea turtle beaches and village schools, each day challenged them to slow down, look closely, and ask questions that turned simple moments into meaningful scientific data. Their cameras, notebooks, and iNaturalist logs captured not just wildlife—but curiosity, courage, and connection.
What follows is their story: the wildlife they discovered, the communities they served, and the unforgettable experiences that shaped their understanding of the world around them.
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TAPPS One Act Play State Champions!
The Nolan Catholic Theatre Company has brought home the TAPPS State One Act Play Championship with their powerful production of The Diviners.
Individual Honors:
- Best Actor: Jaden Torres
- All Star Cast: Christa Farry & Ty Wise
- Honorable Mention: Sarah Breclaw
We are immensely proud of every performer, technician, and director who brought this story to life. Congratulations, Vikings!
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Lady Vikings Finish Remarkable Season in Final Four
Lady Vikings, thank you for giving us a season full of joy and unforgettable moments.
You showed us what it means to believe in each other and play for something bigger than yourselves.
From District to Area to Regional Champions, your legacy will live on forever.
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Welcome, Ashley Smith White '03!
Director of Recruitment and Enrollment
We are pleased to welcome Ashley Smith White ’03 as the new Director of Recruitment and Enrollment for the Diocese of Fort Worth. A lifelong member of our diocesan community, Ashley is a proud graduate of St. John the Apostle (’99) and Nolan Catholic (’03), and now a parent to three Future Vikings at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Since joining the diocesan staff in 2005, Ashley has served in multiple roles, consistently demonstrating her dedication to Catholic education. In her new position, she will lead recruitment and enrollment efforts for Nolan Catholic and all diocesan schools, bringing both professional experience and a deeply personal commitment to the mission.
We are grateful for Ashley’s leadership and excited for the impact she will make in welcoming new families to our community.
Know someone who might be interested in Nolan Catholic or a diocesan Catholic school?
Invite them to connect with Ashley to learn more or schedule a personal tour:
Email: awhite@nchstx.org
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Alumni Spotlight:
Stephanie Hunter Gavin ’08
2025 NCHS Hall of Fame Inductee
We are proud to welcome Stephanie Hunter Gavin ’08 as a 2025 inductee into the Nolan Catholic High School Hall of Fame.
After graduating from Nolan Catholic, Stephanie turned her passion for supporting families and respecting the dignity of human life into meaningful work. Through Bluebonnet FertilityCare, she now guides women and couples using the Creighton Model FertilityCare System — empowering them to understand their health, embrace natural fertility, and find hope in their fertility journeys.
We are proud to recognize Stephanie and the positive impact she continues to make in our community.
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Alumni Spotlight:
Molly Hollern, M.S. ’90
After more than 20 years with KPMG LLP, Molly Hollern, M.S. ’90, and her husband, Robert Pickering, traded corporate life for a small farm on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula.
Now surrounded by evergreens, fog, and far fewer meetings, Molly is preparing to launch Fern & Fog, a new media production company.
Retirement? Not exactly—but it does come with better scenery.
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Viking Gameday Invasions Have Begun!
We’re excited to kick off Viking Gameday Invasions, informal alumni meetups that take place wherever our faculty, staff, or administrators find themselves on college campuses or in nearby cities.
Whether it’s a quick coffee, a walk across campus, or a stop at a weekend football game, these pop-up visits give us the chance to reconnect with Nolan Catholic alumni for a few meaningful minutes.
Want to see where we might visit next? Follow us on Instagram @nolancatholicalumni to keep up with our Viking Gameday Invasion stops!
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Alumni Spotlight:
Ryan McAvoy '19
Ryan McAvoy ’19 was recently honored at Make-A-Wish North Texas’ Wranglers and Wishes event in Fort Worth, where he performed with the Fort Worth Symphony brass quintet and shared his inspiring story of a dream fulfilled.
The evening was made even more special with five Nolan Catholic alumni in attendance to support Ryan and the McAvoy family—a true testament to the strength of our Viking community.
We also proudly congratulate Ryan on completing his master’s degree in music composition. Well done, Ryan!
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Alumni Spotlight: Brian Byrnes ’88
Brian Byrnes ’88, Senior Vice President of Business Operations for the Oklahoma City Thunder, celebrated a milestone moment this summer as the Thunder claimed the title of 2025 NBA Champions on June 22. Brian and his family were on hand to celebrate the historic victory, marking another proud achievement for one of Nolan Catholic’s distinguished alumni.
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Viking Family, We’d Love to Hear from You!
Have you recently moved, updated your contact information, or reached a new milestone? We want to stay connected and celebrate with you! Whether it’s a college update, a career achievement, or a special life event, we’d love to share your story with the Nolan Catholic community.
Submit your news using the form below — your update may be featured in an upcoming issue of our Viking Connections, in The Shield, or on our social media channels.
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A Heartfelt Thank You from Nolan Catholic
We are deeply grateful to our parents, alumni, grandparents, alumni parents, and friends who supported Nolan Catholic on #iGiveCatholic Giving Tuesday. Because of your generosity, Nolan Catholic raised $115,432 from 199 donors—and those numbers continue to grow as #iGiveCatholic remains open through December 9.
This year, Nolan Catholic ranked 3rd out of 44 ministries in the Diocese of Fort Worth, earning additional “prize” funds thanks to our strong placement. Most importantly, you helped us surpass our $100,000 goal, fueling the mission that connects generations of Vikings.
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Ways to Continue Supporting Nolan Catholic
For those who still wish to participate in our Annual Fund, there is still time!
This is the final opportunity to receive a FREE table for 10 at our Mardi Gras Auction & Dinner on February 14, 2026.
To qualify, make a gift of $2,500 or more to the Annual Fund by December 31, 2025.
As alumni and friends of Nolan Catholic, your continued involvement strengthens the mission that shaped generations of Vikings. Thank you for staying connected, celebrating our milestones, and supporting the future of our students.
Once a Viking, always a Viking.
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Get Ready for the Mardi Gras Dinner & Auction
Saturday, February 14
The festive spirit is coming back to Nolan Catholic! Join us for our Mardi Gras Dinner & Auction on Saturday, February 14, at the Hurst Conference Center. Expect a wonderful evening full of great food, surprises, and community celebration — all to support our students and the mission of Nolan Catholic.
If you can’t attend in person, you can still support Nolan Catholic by:
- Bidding online during the Silent Auction or Grandparent Wishes
- Purchasing tuition-credit raffle tickets
- Donating goods or auction items
- Being an event sponsor or underwriter
We’re so grateful for all our supporters — your gifts of time, talent, and generosity make a real difference for every student at Nolan Catholic.
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Nolan Catholic High School
4501 Bridge Street, Fort Worth, TX 76103
817-457-2920 | www.nolancatholic.org
| | Important: All school communications from Nolan Catholic High School are sent through Constant Contact. If you unsubscribe from any Nolan Catholic email, you will no longer receive any weekly newsletters, important updates, or other official communications from the school. | | | | |
