Class of 2019 has many accomplishments
The Class of 2019 celebrated its commencement and entry into the Our Lady of Providence Alumni Association on Sunday. With 96 graduates, the class has put up some impressive statistics: 97 percent will go on to pursue additional education/training, 3 percent are entering the workforce, 70 received an Indiana Honors Diploma, and four received an Indiana Technical Honors Diploma. For the first time, two students each have earned the Indiana Honors and the Technical Honors diplomas. Additionally, our graduates received $10.7 million in direct college scholarship offers and donated nearly 7,500 service hours to the community during their four years at Providence. Thirty percent of the graduates are children of alumni, and 10 percent are from two-generation alumni families. Read more.
School News: Students wrap up the school year
The freshman class celebrated the end of the school year as it did when the students first came together at the beginning of the year -- with an all-class liturgy.

The House of Humility held a tree dedication in memory of the late Brandon Tevis ex-'16, a member of the House who passed away his sophomore year. The House continues to hold events to remember Brandon, who was known for his smile and caring spirit. His family attended the event, which included a blessing of the tree and a memorial plaque. 

Providence hosted the Deanery Fine Arts Fair earlier this month to recognize the artistic talents of the students throughout the New Albany Deanery. For a full list of winners, click here.
Mrs. Koetter to return to PHS
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Mrs. Sarah (Buschemeyer) Koetter '87 will rejoin the Providence staff and teach social studies part-time starting in the 2019-2020 school year. Information on open math and Spanish teaching positions is below in the Parent Connection section.
STUDENT PROFILE
Sophomore prepping early for flying career

Sophomore Jericho Brooks is getting an early start on his dream of becoming a professional pilot. His parents gifted him flying lessons for his birthday last fall, and he fell in love with flying. He recently completed his first solo flight and has enrolled in Prosser aviation classes for next school year and hopes to have his pilot's license before he graduates.

Jericho said his parents gave him the lessons because they thought becoming a pilot would be a good career, and taking lessons first would be an opportunity to try it out first. Once he was up in the air, he knew piloting would be a good fit.

"It's a different perspective - the views," he said. "It's just fun. It's a different feeling than anything."

His first time behind the controls flying solo brought new feelings, however.

"It was an experience like no other," Jericho said. "It was fun but nerve-wracking at the same time."

Jericho said flying a plane has made him a better driver on the roads, noting that he flew a plane before he ever drove a car. As a pilot, he has to monitor many more controls as well as the situation around him and the plane while also talking to other pilots and air traffic control. The experience also is faster and louder than driving a car. But he is much more attentive and alert while driving a car thanks to his flying experience.

Jericho plans to attend an aviation program in college and hopes to become a commercial or cargo pilot. He plans to continue taking flying lessons after school while taking the classroom portion of aviation at Prosser next year.
FACULTY PROFILE
Mrs. Hennessey to move to part time
After 23 years at Providence, Mrs. Karen Hennessey is retiring from full-time cafeteria supervisor. She will return to assist Mrs. Sarah Gahagen, the new cafeteria supervisor, a few days a week next school year.

"I want to stick around," Mrs. Hennessey said. "I don't want to retire completely, but my family needs me."

Mrs. Hennessey said she wants to spend more time with her husband, Dale, who retired four years ago, and their grandchildren as well as be available to help with her mother, former cafeteria worker Vonda Hardin, and a sister, who both have ongoing health needs. She will miss being around the students every day but hopes to be able to spend more time traveling.

She has two trips planned so far and will be traveling to Maine with her husband and a group of friends in July and to Sedona, Ariz., with her husband and his sister to hike.

Mrs. Hennessey said she has enjoyed all the time she spent working full-time at Providence, especially the chance to work with former cafeteria supervisor the late Mary Ann (Block) Reed '70, who was a wonderful mentor. She also enjoyed everyone who has been part of the cafeteria staff.

"And the kids - getting to know all the kids over the years," she said. "I see them out working jobs now, growing up and getting married and kids of their own, and even seeing their kids here. I've really loved it."
As a token of her years of service, the hallway outside her office has been named Hennessey Hall.

Mrs. Gahagen ready to take on role of supervisor
Mrs. Gahagen joined the cafeteria staff in fall 2017 and said she is looking forward to taking on the supervisor duties. She started working alongside Mrs. Hennessey this semester, so she is already familiar with many of the duties of ordering, managing, and supervising. She left the corporate world in logistics several years ago to raise her family, four children who will be in grades one through eight at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the fall. She can now put those skills to work managing the cafeteria and staff.

"I like logistics, organizing, and the planning of things," she said. "And I love being in the school and around the kids. I love the Providence sense of community and the culture in the building."

Mrs. Gahagen is married to Chris Gahagen '96, whom she met while they attended the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a degree in mechanical engineering. 

PIONEER SPORTS NEWS
Deanery dance coach to lead PHS team
Debbie (Popp) Miller '87 is the new Dance Team coach. She brings a
lifetime of experience in dance and coaching. As a Providence student, she was a member of the Rhapsody in Blue PomPon squad all four years and continued as an assistant coach for the squad for six years after graduation. 

In 2010, she started the St. Anthony School Dance Team for fifth through eighth graders and coached for seven years. She has worked at Providence as a member of the cafeteria staff since December 2014.

Coach Miller said she is looking forward to bringing back the Dance Team and hopes to connect its performances to the student themes for home games. Most importantly, she wants the team to have fun and be full of school spirit so that its members can have the same experience she did when she performed as a student.

"I am most looking forward to returning to something I am so passionate about, something that created so many fond memories for me while at PHS," she said. "Dance Team was a huge part of my high school years, and I want to be sure it stays around for other young girls to participate in years to come."

Coach Miller and her husband, Brian, have three children, including Trey '19 and Jake, who is in the Class of '22. She also has a granddaughter.

Season wrap ups: Softball, Track, Baseball
Track advances large group to regional
The Track & Field teams had a successful season that culminated sending one of the largest groups of student-athletes to regional in several years. The Girls Track team placed third place at sectional, behind 5A schools New Albany and Floyd Central.

Eight of the girls placed in the top three spots in their events, earning automatic bids to regional. Junior Avery Stumler placed second in the 400m run, the 400m relay team of freshman Justus Vaughn-Bowman, junior Sydney Barron, and sophomores Reese Bottorff and Julia Christie placed second, junior Kaylee Kaiser placed third in the 1600m run, Sydney placed third in the 300m hurdles, Haylee Hall '19 placed third in shot put, and the 1600m relay team of Julia, Sydney, Avery, and junior Ceci Rush placed third.

Also qualifying for regional with next best scores include Julia in the 100m and 200m, Haylee in discus, and the 3200m relay team of juniors Claire Reyes, Stephanie Koopman, Kaylee, and Avery. Although not regional qualifiers, the following top 10 finishes helped the team earn its third-place standing: freshman Sarah Boehm placed eighth in the 100m hurdles and seventh in the 300m hurdles, Reese placed seventh in the 100m, Justus placed eighth in the 200m, Stephanie placed eighth in the 800m, sophomore Lizzy Isgrigg placed fourth and Ceci placed eighth in the high jump, and Brigid placed seventh in shot put.

At the Evansville Regional, the 400 relay team of Justus, Sydney, Reese, and Julia placed seventh with a season's best time of :51.4, and the 1600m relay team of Julia, Sydney, Ceci, and Avery also finished seventh.

Boys Track came in fifth at sectional, advancing 12 athletes in 10 events. Placing in the top three were Chris Heselschwerdt '19, who placed third in the 100m; the 400 relay team of juniors Gabe Tucker and Brandon Barron, Ethan Fulkerson '19, and Chris; which placed third; Brandon, who placed third in the 200m, and Hayden Burke '19, who was third in high jump.

Also advancing to regional were Chris in the 200m, Sam Kruer '19 in the 400m, Bryce Drury '19 in the 300m hurdles, junior Austin Grantz in shot put, the 3200 relay team of Tyler Upton '19, freshman Garrett Huber, Alex Perkinson '19, and Thomas Gaines '19, and the 1600 relay team of Brandon, Alex, Bryce, and Sam.

At regional, Chris placed sixth in the 100m, Brandon placed fourth in the 200m, the 400 relay team of Gabe, Brandon, Ethan, and Chris placed ninth, and Austin placed 10th in shot put and discus.
 
Softball continues to improve
By Coach Kenny Janes

The 2019 Lady Pioneers continued the rebuilding process with an 8-20 record. The schedule remains very challenging, but the highlight of the year has to be avenging the previous year's sectional loss to Crawford County and reaching the semi-finals of the 2019 sectional, losing an extra inning game 5-4 to Henryville to end the season. We were definitely playing the best softball of the season at the end.

Three seniors made huge contributions throughout the year and especially at the end. They did not want their careers to end apparently. Anna Thomas, Katie Oelker, and Mary Short will be greatly missed for their leadership, skills, and consistent effort.

The future is definitely looking bright with returning rising juniors Kayce Quinn and Sydney Shireman along with rising sophomore Brooklynn Nolot expected to continue to shine. All three had outstanding seasons and were at the top of the state in many statistics. With the addition of some talented incoming freshmen and some upperclassmen, we look to build on the successes from this year.
 
Baseball ends season, coach to retire
The Baseball team wrapped up its fourth season of at least 20 wins with a 1-0 loss to Silver Creek in the 3A sectional semifinals. With just five losses over the season, Coach Scott Hornung '81, who is retiring from coaching, said the most memorable wins were over Trinity, New Albany, and Silver Creek in the regular season. He also noted that it is an accomplishment for the graduating seniors to have earned at least 20 wins four years in a row.

Coach Hornung said the team battled with injuries and various setbacks over the season, and he was proud of how other players stepped up and carried the team forward. It's that kind of commitment and teamwork that he will miss as a coach, but he is grateful for the opportunity to lead the program for 25 seasons.

The highlights of his career were the people, the relationships, and of course, being the first boys' program to earn a state title. He said he enjoyed the camaraderie that naturally builds between a head coach and his staff and between him and his players over a season. And he is most proud of the 2016 state title and the work that team put into achieving that milestone.

Coach Hornung said he has been touched by the many former players who have reached out to him in the last month thanking him for "teaching them the game of baseball, teaching them discipline, or just taking responsibility for their actions. That is the greatest highlight you can have."

Coach Hornung considered retiring two other times in recent years when his daughters were in high school and his oldest, Jacquie '16, was playing softball. He was missing a lot of her games, and it affected his focus, he said. But each time as he got ready to make the final decision, he changed his mind. This time, he knew the time was right.
"This time, I'm a lot more at peace," Coach Hornung said. "Ultimately, your team deserves 100 percent of you, and I just didn't feel 100 percent anymore."

Coach Hornung retires with a 473-233 record and a postseason trophy case that includes 13 sectional titles, six regional championships, and one semi-state win in addition to the state crown.
 
Girls Tennis sends three to individual regional
The Girls Tennis team lost 3-2 in the team semi-state to Washington High School on Saturday, after winning their fourth consecutive sectional and regional titles. Halli Trinkle '19 won at No. 1 singles and junior Natalie Boesing and Hannah Conder '19 won at No. 2 doubles to advance to the individual state tournament. They will compete at Park Tudor in Indianapolis on Friday, June 7, at 2:00 p.m. The team season wrap up will be in the next issue of the eVision.

Halli also has been named a Girl Tennis All-American by the National HIgh School Tennis All-American Foundation for the second consecutive year.

Boys Golf to host sectional on Monday
Boys Golf will host and compete in sectional play at Covered Bridge on Monday, June 3, at 8:00 a.m. Providence also will host the regional competition on Thursday, June 6, at 8:00 a.m. at Champions Pointe Golf Course.
Sports News: College signings, media honors, more
Student-athletes recognized by local media
Several of our winter and spring sports athletes have been recognized by local media, including:
  • Girls Basketball: Junior Natalie Boesing, News & Tribune Girls Basketball Player of the Year nominee and All-Area First Team. Juniors Brigid Welch (Second Team) and Kaylee Kaiser (honorable mention), also made the All-Area Team.
  • Boys Basketball: Hayden Burke '19 and junior Sterling Huber, honorable mention News & Tribune All Area Team
  • Girls Swim & Dive: Junior Nadia Brooks, News & Tribune All-Area Second Team
  • Wrestling: Junior Chase Aldridge and Nathan Grantz '19, News & Tribune All-Area Second Team
  • Girls Tennis: Natalie Boesing and Halli Trinkle '19, Courier Journal Player of the Year nominees and Southern Indiana All Area Team
  • Baseball: Courier Journal Player of the Year nominee Christian Graf '19 and Southern Indiana All Area. Zach Tackett, Southern Indiana All Area
  • Softball: Freshman Brooklynn Nolot and sophomore Kayce Quinn, Courier Journal Southern Indiana All-Area Team
  • Boys Track and Field: Junior Austin Grantz, Chris Heselschwerdt '19 and Sam Kruer '19, Courier Journal Southern Indiana All-Area Team
  • Girls Track and Field: Juniors Kaylee Kaiser, Ceci Rush, and Avery Stumler, Courier Journal Southern Indiana All-Area Team
Three graduates sign to play in college
Three more graduating seniors committed to college sports teams in the fall. B aseball player Adam Uhl '19 signed with NCAA Division-III Franklin College, Boys Soccer player Austin Hughes '19 signed to play men's soccer with NCAA Division-III Wabash College, and Swim & Dive member Tanner Carver '19 committed to the Wabash men's diving team.

Adam has been a three-year starter as catcher and is a four-year varsity letter winner. He was a member of the 2016 state championship team and as a sophomore earned the Defensive Player of the Year award with his work behind the plate.

Austin was a four-year varsity member on the Boys Soccer team and was part of four sectional titles, three regional titles, and one semi-state title.
Austin's junior year, he was awarded Team MVP and Offensive MVP, along with Academic All-State. He was also nominated for the Courier Journal Player of the Year and awarded the News & Tribune Player of the Year. In his senior season, he was awarded another Team MVP, earned Academic All-State, Honorable Mention All-State, and was nominated for the Courier Journal and News & Tribune Player of the Year awards.

Tanner joined the Dive team when it was reinstated last year and received a varsity letter both junior and senior years. 
In 2018, he finished second in sectionals and advanced to Dive Regionals. In 2019, Tanner finished fourth in sectionals, barely missing qualifying for regionals.  
 

Middle School Bowling Team advances to regional
The Middle School Bowling Team had six members in its inaugural season, with students from St. John Paul II, Saint Anthony School, Sacred Heart Catholic School, and Hazelwood Middle School, which didn't have a team. Sponsor Mrs. Laura Swessel said the bowlers "improved their average by at least 12 pins over the nine-week-season," including one who showed a 27-pin improvement over the season. At the regional competition earlier this month, one girl placed second and another third in her age group, but none advanced to state.
PARENT CONNECTION
Providence hiring math, Spanish teachers
Providence is accepting applications for full-time mathematics and Spanish teachers for the 2019-2020 school year. Please email, mail, or fax resumes to: Sharon Mooney,  smooney@providencehigh.net; 707 Providence Way, Clarksville, IN 47129; fax to 812-981-2538.

Parent Notes: Summer office hours, semester grades
Cafeteria update
The Cafeteria will be closed over the summer for an update, including replacing the tile floor.

Summer office hours
Many Providence offices will be open for the summer on reduced hours. Beginning June 10, all offices will be open 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays. Regular hours will resume July 29. The following offices will be closed on the specified days:
  • Main Office closed June 24-July 5
  • Athletic Office closed July 2-12
  • Guidance Office closed June 24-July 5. Guidance counselors will be out of the office June 5-July 26.
  • Learning Differences Office closed June 5-July 26
  • Campus Ministry office closed June 3-July 26.
  • The Advancement and Business offices will remain open throughout the summer, except July 4-5.
Second semester grades
Final grades for the Second Semester will be posted in Skyward on Friday. Look for an email from Dr. Mindy (Lankert) Ernstberger '74 with information to close out the school year. The Honor Roll will be posted to the school website when it is available.

2019-2020 information
The 2019-2020 school year begins August 7. More information will be emailed in early July with registration information.
 
Summer reading posted
All students, including incoming freshmen, will have assigned summer reading. Writing assignments for this reading are due by the second day of English class for freshmen and of theology class for sophomores-seniors. Click here for the assignments.
ALUMNI NOTES
Class of 1969 hits $50K milestone
The Class of 1969 set new heights for class endowment fundraising efforts in honor of its 50th reunion. It is the first class to raise $50,000 for its class endowment fund. The goal was to accomplish that by May 22, the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Providence graduation, and the class met its goal.

Tom Raidy '69, Jerry Wayne '69 , and  Dottie (Galligan) Zipp '69  were instrumental in leading the charge to meet the $50,000 goal. They are pleased that their classmates rose to the challenge and believe it is a testament to the cohesiveness and specialness of their class. Read more .
Save the Date: Golf Scramble in August
The 21st annual Pioneer Golf Scramble will be Thursday, Aug. 22, at Covered Bridge Golf Course, so mark your calendars for this important fundraiser for the Annual Student Assistance Program. To become a sponsor, contact Ronda (Miller) Stumler '83 at rstumler@providencehigh.net .

Reunion planning for 2019
Reunion planning is beginning for the class years ending in 4 and 9. To volunteer to help with your reunion planning, contact Ronda (Miller) Stumler '83 at rstumler@providencehigh.net

Save the date for 2019 reunions:
  • 1955: Quarterly gatherings: June 14, September 13, and December 6, 2019. 11:30 a.m., The Radisson dining room, 505 Marriott Drive, Clarksville.
  • 1956: 2019 Gathering: October 11, 11:30 a.m., The Radisson dining room, 505 Marriott Drive, Clarksville
  • 1959: Aug. 31, 2019. Dinner and mingling at the Clarksville Radisson Hotel, 5:00-10:00 p.m. Formal Invites have been mailed.
  • 1964: Sept. 28, 2019,  4:30-?, Clarksville Radisson Hotel. Formal invites will be sent in June. For more information contact Noelle Kramer Gohmann.   
  • 1969: 50th Reunion, Sept. 20-21, 2019. Formal invites will be sent in June. See class website or email providenceclassof1969@gmail.com for more info.
  • 1979: Sept, 6-7, 2019. Friday: Football tailgate at PHS, Saturday: Tour & Mass at PHS, dinner to follow at Covered Bridge. Follow Providence Class of '79 Facebook page for details.
  • 1989: July 20, 2019, 7-11 p.m., Calumet Club in New Albany. Register here. Follow Providence High School Class of '89 Facebook page for details.  
  • 1999: Aug. 17, 2019. Bourbon Barrel Loft, 7-11 p.m. Contact Lisa (Naville) Zwissler for more info.
  • 2009: Planning underway for fall 2019. To help plan the reunion, please contact Whitney Popp Forbis.
  • 2014: July 27, 2019, Huber Orchard & Winery. Email Zach Flanagan or phone 502.777.6516.
BLUE PRIDE ON DISPLAY
CASA volunteers find PHS connection
By coincidence, three members of the Class of 1981 and one from the Class of 1980 are helping children by working or volunteering for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Floyd and Washington Counties. Lorie (Zoeller) Edwards '81, is a staff advocate for the organization that currently is under the umbrella of St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities. Sue (Crone) Glordan '81, Maria (Kinder) Triplett '81, and Ann (Kaiser) Day '80  are all volunteer advocates. Read more .
COMING EVENTS
May 28: Summer camps begin
May 31: Final grades posted in Skyward
June 1: Boys Golf sectional
June 7: Girls Tennis individual state finals
June 10: Summer office hours begin
June 12: Next eVision
June 24-July 5: Main Office closed
July 29: Regular office hours resume
Aug. 5: Orientation and registration
Aug. 7: School begins
LET US PRAY

 
May we make our homes places of relaxation,
joy, love, peace and safety.
May we be generous and considerate,
not thinking only about ourselves,
but helping others enjoy the blessings of the summertime.
Lord God, Creator of all things,
guide our steps and strengthen our hearts
during these months of summer and vacation days.
Grant us refreshment of mind and body. 
May we constantly strive to make a meaningful difference
in the lives of our loved ones and in the world around us
as we enjoy the warm days of summertime.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.



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Christa (Payne) Hoyland '84
Director of Communications
eVision reporter/writer


Our Lady of Providence High School
707 Providence Way, Clarksville, IN 47129
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