Good morning! I’m Violet Bode!

I’m Ella Schaaf!

And I’m Abbie Capesius! This is the “Bear Facts”, the weekly radio update from Bishop Garrigan High School.

Last Wednesday a group of Garrigan students went over to Forest City for the Top of Iowa Conference Art Show. Art teacher Christina Rahm took fourteen students to the show, and they ended up doing very well. Sophomore Griffin Geving took first place in the fiber and textiles category. Second place honors went to Joey Doerning in Commercial and Graphic Art, Avery Berte in Watercolor, and Darius Goche in Non-Clay Sculpture.

Spencer Doerning took third place in Paper and Book Arts, and Keegan Berte received an honorable mention in Colored Pencil Drawing. Others competing in the conference art show were Ali Lallier, Jordan Blocker, Gavin Swift, Reagan Murphy, Brooke Ludwig, Hanna Merron, Alyssa Haugland, and Lucas Behounek. Congratulations, artists!

Results were recently announced in another big contest, too. Chapter 283 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas held their annual education contest. Lots of Garrigan students received local awards, and many of them advanced to state. The big winner was sophomore Hannah Merron, whose art entry won first place at state and now advances to the national CDA education contest.

Other students who advanced to state include Owen Murphy, who placed third in poetry statewide, Isabella Waechter, whose essay was third, and Cate Birkey and Ava Snider who tied for third in the state in photography. Senior Eva Snyder won the area CDA scholarship, and other Garrigan winners include Kaya Laubenthal and Lucy Eisenbarth in art, Adrienne Kuper in poetry, Charlotte Patton and Marshall Bormann in essay, and Alice Casey in computer art. Congratulations, and thanks to the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Last Tuesday we held the induction ceremony for the Bishop Garrigan Honor Society. This organization honors students who excel in academics, activities, and service. This year fourteen juniors joined the honor society: Justin Bauer, Reagan Murphy, Ava Hough, Lauren Swift, Abbie Capesius, Violet Bode, and Brendan Plathe; plus Nathaniel Darling, Avery Lichter, Sam Plathe, Benjy Trainer, Madelyn Bronk, Kyra Deike, and Ella Schaaf.

Returning seniors in honor society are Cal Birkey, Zoey Von Bank, Audi Crooks, Savannah Waechter, Molly Joyce, Ashlyn Hovey, and Emma Bacha; as well as Avery Berte, Joey Doerning, Ellie Rosenmeyer, Marissa Rahe, Ava Kemna, Garrett Heying, Eva Snyder, Gavin Swift, Darius Goche, and Maggie Vaske. Congratulations to all the honor society members!

Yesterday Garrigan’s band and choir went to Spirit Lake yesterday for the state large group music contest. The band performed two long pieces, “The Light Eternal” and “Nathan Hale Trilogy”. The choir sang African and French songs, as well as “River in Judea” and “Come to Me, O My Love”. We’ll let you know how the contest went on next week’s show.

Next Monday we’ll be continuing a popular tradition at Garrigan. As the seniors start their last week, they’ll be showing off their pets at the annual Garrigan dog show. Weather permitting, the dog show will be held on the football field Monday morning at 8:15, with all the little kids on hand to see the animals.

We’ll have our last school mass of the year next Tuesday. After that mass we’ll be honoring the staff members who are leaving us after this school year. First on that list is longtime Garrigan president Lynn Miller. Mr. Miller has devoted forty years to Catholic education, working first at St. John’s in Bancroft and then at Bishop Garrigan. He was originally hired as a band director, then worked as principal, and finally president. Also leaving the high school is longtime Spanish teacher and honor society moderator Mrs. Twila Wichtendahl. Thanks to both of them for their hard work and service.

We’ll wrap up our Senior Spotlights this week by looking at Ava Kemna and Marissa Rahe. Here to tell you about them is Brendan Plathe.

Marissa Rahe is one of many seniors who comes to Garrigan from the Bancroft area. She was one of the students we mentioned earlier today who is a member of the honor society. She also enjoys working with little kids through the campus ministries program. Marissa plans to go into nursing after high school.

Ava Kemna is an Algona native whose biggest activities at Garrigan have been cheerleading and dance. She is also an honor society member, and she helps out with campus ministries. She’ll be off to college next fall, and we wish Ava, Marissa, and all the Class of 2023 the very best of luck in the future!

Thanks, Brendan. On this week’s Golden Bear calendar, a lot of seniors are having their graduation receptions this weekend. Tomorrow there’s a baton recital in Friedmann Auditorium.

We’ll start the day on Monday with the senior dog show. There’s conference golf that day, and at 1pm we’ll have a special presentation on human trafficking.

Monday night Garrigan will host a junior high girls track meet. There’s also a fourth grade recorder concert that night. Tuesday we’ll start the day with mass, and we’ll honor the staff who are leaving.

Wednesday morning we’ll have the fine arts award breakfast. The seniors have semester tests next Wednesday and Thursday. Baccalaureate mass will be Wednesday night at 7:00 in the Garrigan chapel.

The district track meet will be Thursday night at North Union. There’s sectional golf next Friday and a home trapshooting meet on Saturday.

That’s the “Bear Facts” for this week. Next week we’ll have a special show to say farewell to the Class of 2023. Be sure to tune in then for more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.