At the Ignatian Circle reception on Sunday, August 22 at the Stage Door Canteen, which is part of the World War II Museum, historian and author Ron Drez ’58 gave a brief talk about Blue Jays
who served in World War II. The war claimed the lives of more than 50 Blue Jays.
Mr. Drez is writing a book about the history of Jesuit.
(Link to Photo Gallery is below.)

1847 Society (Sunday, August 15)

Jesuit High School held a reception at the Balcony on Sunday evening (August 15)  to thank benefactors of the 1847 Society for their generosity. Ignatian Circle Reception Photo Gallery 1847 Society Reception Photo Gallery

Alumni Share Their Experiences with the Student Council’s Executive Board Members, Who Are Prepared to Lead the School Community

The Resource Center was the setting for a leadership conference that brought together current Blue Jays and alumni.

Blue Jays who will be serving on the student council executive board in 2010 – 2011 got together with Jesuit alumni on Thursday for what was the inaugural conference on student leadership, a seminar that will be held annually prior to the beginning of the new school year.

The four-hour conference was sponsored by Jesuit’s office of institutional advancement (OIA), formerly the development and alumni office. Participants enjoyed a wide-ranging discussion about the roles and responsibilities that student leaders play, and the obstacles they face, in fostering school spirit and participation in co-curricular activities.

Attending the leadership conference in Jesuit’s Resource Center were, clockwise from left, current seniors Stephen Capella, Clay Tufts, and Peter Casey; Mason Eustis ’08 (a former senior class president and the 2008 recipient of the Harry McEnerny, Jr. Memorial Plaque); Eric Leefe ’03 (who begins his first year of teaching mathematics at Jesuit while also serving as co-moderator of the student council); Mike Prados ’83 (a longtime Jesuit English teacher and director of student activities); Tom Bagwill (director of the OIA); Brett Forshag ’84 (former chairman of the LEF drive); Mat Grau ’68 (Jesuit’s alumni director); Matt Orillion ’98 (who teaches theology teacher at Jesuit and, with Leefe, serves as co-moderator of the student council); Kevin Heigle ’69 (a member of the President’s Advisory Council and Jesuit’s Alumni Steering Committee; he is also Jesuit’s 2009 Alumnus of the Year; and, current Blue Jays Chip Arnold ’11, Peyton Vitter ’11, Mike Firmin ’11, Matthieu Robért ’12, and Alex Burch ’11.

The idea for the leadership conference originated at a recent quarterly meeting of the Alumni Steering Committee (ASC), a group of alumni who serve as advisors to Jesuit president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66, the OIA, and the alumni office. The ASC customarily invites members of the student council’s executive board to the April meeting to participate in a free-wheeling no holds barred discussion encompassing a variety of topics — student life, spirituality, spirit, co-curriculars, just to name a few. Current Blue Jays have relied on Jesuit’s alumni to impart their individual and collective wisdom, and share insights, visions, and solutions to issues and problems.

In recent years, the ASC’s April meeting has become a popular event and much anticipated by both students and alumni. Following the ASC gathering last April, one of the seniors casually suggested that it would have been helpful to him, as well as the other members of the student council’s executive board, to have held the meeting at the beginning of the school year rather than the end. The student’s suggestion resulted in Thursday’s leadership conference which began at 8 a.m. and concluded after lunch.

“This inaugural conference was a great success because there was plenty of give and take between students and alumni,” said alumni director Mat Grau. “The conference also served to motivate and instill in students the confidence, knowledge, and enthusiasm essential for them to be inspiring leaders amongst Blue Jays during the upcoming school year, and hopefully, beyond their graduation.”

View a PDF of the Latest Issue: Jaynotes Winter - Spring 2009 - 2010

Jesuit alumni recently received their Jaynotes in the mail. Alumni who have NOT received their copy should let us know. We will be happy to mail you the latest issue. Call the alumni office at 504-483-3815 or email: alumni@jesuitnola.org.

Break out of the long ticket lines and run with the Blue Jays by making an online purchase of  
a 2010 football season ticket package. Join the fans in the stands and show your
Blue Jay Spirit throughout the upcoming football season.
Get all the details by clicking the link in the box.

Online Special: 2010 Jesuit Football Season Tickets

Finney began his writing career at the young age of 17, fresh out of Jesuit High School in 1945. His love for writing continues today—he still writes three to four columns a week for The Times Picayune. He is celebrating his 65th anniversary in the New Orleans newspaper business.

“It’s never been a job to me. I go from sport to sport, season to season, doing what I love doing. Every day is a new day.”

Finney’s love of life and family is so incredibly evident. He met his wife and sweetheart, Deedy, of 59 years, at the old States newspaper; she was a former secretary at the business. Peter and Deedy have six children, 20 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Finney has linked the memorable births of each of his children to something that happened locally in the sporting world.

Finney received his award on Friday, August 6, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees Dinner in Canton, Ohio.
                                                                                                    -Copy Courtesy of Loyola University