NEWS
Scholarship to Serabu goes to Kistler '12
Tom Lewis '73 and wife Cathy Schanzer spoke to an assembly of the Upper School on April 15 about their medical mission in Serabu, Sierra Leone.
They shared photos and the feelings that have inspired them to devote much of their lives to the people of the West African village.
"Even though it was the last period on Friday," commented Fr. Peter Verhalen '73, "Tom and Cathy held the boys' attention."
At the end of their presentation, the couple announced that Andy Kistler '12 had won a scholarship that will take him to Serabu, June 9 - 25.
"We reviewed the seven applications seperately and we both arrived at the same first choice," Lewis said. "The tipping point was Andy's expression of how this opportunity could play a significant role in his spiritual journal."
The announcement prompted a loud standing ovation.
"We were overwhelmed by the response from his schoolmates and Andy's humble reaction," said Lewis.
The scholarship, funded by Lewis and his wife, pays for the student's expenses to join Lewis and the good doctor in Serabu for their three-week medical mission.
Kistler follows in the footsteps of alumni Juan Muldoon '05 and Clint Murchison '08, who found their experiences in Serabu to be very rewarding.
Kistler will be joined on the medical mission trip by Ursuline junior Caroline Chadwick (brother of Jack Chadwick '15).
Cistercian leaps into the digital age
At a chance encounter with a Texas A&M junior at the abbey of Heiligenkreuz in Austria last June, Fr. Peter Verhalen '73 learned first-hand of the growing influence of YouTube.
"The young man was interested in religious life," said Fr. Peter. "He told me that a relative mentioned Heiligenkreuz to him and he went to the abbey's YouTube page."
Two days later, the monks in Austria interviewed the Texan.
Soon after Fr. Peter's return to Texas, work began on a YouTube channel (left) called "Cistercians in Dallas."
It features a promotional video for the school, videos of the August and March ordinations, plus a video from the new Stations of the Cross trail. More are planned.
Chris Stewart '91 founded the school's Facebook page in June 2009 when he was serving as alumni association president.
Current alumni association president Brendan Lowrey '93 and David Patrick '86 in the development office have beefed it up with helpful posts on news and events. Great minds think alike.
Alumni from two generations Peter Kurilecz '70 and Patrick McGowan '04 saw a 
need for Cistercian alumni to connect for business reasons.
The two LinkedIn pages have been merged under the name, "Cistercian Preparatory."
Trail through new acreage takes shape
Fourth Formers, their dads, and their form master installed the Stations of the Cross along the cross country trail on Saturday, March 26.
“The project has been a long time in coming,” explained Dr. Tom Pruit (left). “The Class of 2011 had hoped to take on the project when they were in Middle School.”
The father-son project also included mulching and lining the trail as well as installing benches.
Charlie Dorsey (father of Chase Dorsey ’08 and Mark Dorsey ‘15) procured the cedar trunks and installed the artwork on each.
“At the conclusion, the sons gave their dads letters they’d written,” reported Pruit. “The dads gave the sons small gifts.”
Br. Anthony Bigney, the form’s religion teacher, spoke on the meaning of each station. And math teacher Michael Humphries, now the father of two young children, spoke on fatherhood.
